Radwell International’s Blog

It’s been over 50 years since the birth of the Programmable Logic Controller. We look back at the history of the PLC and how replacing hard wired relay systems changed the world of manufacturing.

It was the year 1964 when a young cunning engineer, Dick Morley, was unemployed, had a new baby, a mortgage to pay and only $1,000 in the bank. Morley had previously worked a desk job designing atomic bombs, airplanes and communication systems performing the duties he was instructed to do. 

Companies today see the potential that exists with automation. When looking towards the optimization of a facility, it is imperative to plan and understand the needs of the operation. Depending on each given business, different automated applications will be best-suited for each respective operation.

Today, more then ever, industrial automation is becoming highly prevalent and relied upon to keep up with growing industry expectations. Stemming from the Industrial Revolution manufacturing rapidly increased, which then brought  Mechanization. This made the manufacturing process more optimized and required less labor and amplified production. Currently, with the implementation of automation, we can expand production even further. Now machines are capable of much more and are able to work around the clock and extended productivity.

A servo motor is a rotary actuator or linear actuator that allows for angular position, acceleration and velocity. It has capabilities that a regular motor doesn’t possess. Servo motors work with sensors for precise control of movement. The controller is the most sophisticated part of the servo motor, as it is designed for precision.

Servo motors are a combination of specific parts, which include a DC or AC motor, and are suitable for use in a closed-loop control system. Servo motor applications include robotics, automated manufacturing and computer numerical control (CNC) machining applications.

The two types of servo motors have different uses. AC Servo motors can handle higher current surges and tend to be used in industrial machinery.

Improving warehouse productivity can feel like a daunting task. There are so many moving parts within a warehouse operation that it may seem impossible to align everyone’s priorities for the good of the operation. But making improvements can provide big returns. We’ve chosen five basic tips to help streamline and improve your warehouse’s productivity.