The 12 Most App-reciated Apps in Automation?!

Automation Apps The 12 Most App-reciated Apps in Automation?!

16.01.2014Author / Editor: Sariana Kunze / Dominik Stephan

12 apps have passed the preliminary round of the Automation App Award and now go forward to the final. Now it is up to you to vote for the automation apps in the categories technology, catalogue and corporate to find the award winner. The names of all participants will go into a draw to win an iPad contributed by our affiliated portal elektrotechnik..

Related Vendors

National Instruments Germany GmbH

microsonic GmbH

U.I. Lapp GmbH

Siemens AG

ipf electronic gmbh

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You decide which automations apps in the categories technology, catalogue and corporate win an award.
(Picture: elektrotechnik)

At this year’s SPS IPC Drives 2012, elektrotechnik is for the first time offering the Automation App Award. Firms had until the end of September to enter their automation app, in the categories technology, catalogue or corporate, for the competition. After an objective preliminary selection, elektrotechnik is now starting the next phase – voting by users. We are offering an iPad in a draw for which all participants who vote up to the 5th November are eligible! The winner of the iPad will be announced by mid-November.

Top or Flop – Automation apps in test

Besides Wolfgang Leppert, chief editor of elektrotechnik, an app specialist from Vogel Business Media and the app expert Gary Boeing, executive partner of the apploft GmbH, our readers will help in deciding which app is top and which a flop.

1. Technology app: PARTcommunity 3D CAD models

The PARTcommunity 3D CAD models app is a download-service for 3D CAD data.
(Cadenas)

The PARTcommunity 3D CAD models App from Cadenas is a download-service for 3D CAD data. This app gives engineers and purchasers in the machine and installation construction sectors, as well as in the automotive industry, direct access to components from more than 300 manufacturer-certified catalogues of international firms. The 3D CAD models conform to the most important international standards and are available for most common CAD systems, such as CATIA, Autodesk, Inventor, SolidWorks, Creo Parametric, NX, AutoCAD, Solid Edge, etc. Besides the free download of 2D and 3D CAD models, the app is said to enable individual configuration of the CAD models by the user.

Download iPhone/iPad iOS

Download Android

2. Technik-App: sphinx open online Viewer

sphinx open online is a platform for online visualisation of mission-critical information.

Viewer-Client for calling up and displaying panels.
(in - integrierte informationssysteme)

This information is made available through existing standardised data sources of the firm, such data bases, field busses, ERP, MES or SCADA systems. The app is aimed at the needs of managers, controllers and monitoring personnel who have to know up-to-the-minute readings for electricity, water, gas etc. The device is essentially a viewer client for calling up and displaying panels. The app is pre-configured in such a way that it connects with a demo-server on the internet.

Download iPhone/iPad iOS

Gallery

The 6 finalists in the category technology apps: l. to r. PARTcommunity 3D CAD models, sphinx open online Viewer, Data Dashboard for LabView, EXTEND 7000, eDrives and Phoenix Contact Safety.

All CAD models are certified by the manufacturer.

Gallery with 39 images

3. Technik-App: Data Dashboard for LabView

With Data Dashboard for LabVIEW, measurements can be displayed on the iPad,

Diagrams simply called up by LabView.
(National Instruments)

with additional help from diagrams, display instruments, text-display elements and LEDs; communication with the system is also possible. This means that, without programming work for apps or websites, a connection can be made to network environment variables or data from web services.

Download iPad iOS

Download Android

4. Technik-App: EXTEND7000

The EXTEND7000 app displays alarms from SCADA and PLC systems on mobile appliances in order to inform repair and maintenance personnel immediately about irregularities in automated installations.

The application EXTEND7000 enables comprehensive and integrated access to SCADA systems (e.g. WinCC, InTouch etc.) and maintenance systems (e.g. IBM-Maximo) on a single mobile device
(Schad)

Combined with an integrated CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System), the app enables the maintenance team to react immediately to alarms and to prepare corresponding job orders on the mobile appliance in one working process. Due to this seamless integration of unplanned and planned repairs and maintenance, the decision-making process can be optimising using real-time information, thus reducing down-times.

Download iPhone/iPad iOS

5. Technik-App: eDrives

eDrives is an app for projectioning electric drives. eDrives enables an initial rough planning of a drive systems even at the at concept phase of an installation.

Mobile projectioning of electrical drives.
(mechapro)

On the basis of a little input information, it is possible to test whether a drive can be realised in the given setting, or which performance figures are required from the drive. Switching between different European and American units system prevents errors that occur in manual conversion. Calculated results can be saved and sent by e-mail. Version 1.0 initially supports only spindle drives with toothed-belt stage and/or gears on the motor. The masses set in motion and external effective forces are transferred via intermediate mechanical elements to give the torque acting on the drive. The transfer of feed speed and motor rotational speed as well positioning resolution and resolution of the motor encoder is achieved in the same way. At the same time, the moments of inertia reduced onto the motor are calculated and output.

Download iPhone/iPad iOS

6. Technik-App: Phoenix Contact Safety

With this safety app, machines and installations can be checked as required by machine guideline 2006/42/EG.

Test if the machine or installation complies with machine guideline 2006/42/EG.
(Phoenix Contact Electronics)

Via a checklist, the users are led through the essential points of the machine guideline. At the end, you receive an overview of the criteria satisfied and/or open points which can be downloaded as a PDF for further processing. The app can furthermore determine the necessary performance level (PLr) with the risk graph according to EN ISO 13849-1 or work out the MTTFd value for a safety function. Both of these help in getting a feel of risk-assessment and the failure probabilities of safety functions. As a further feature, it is possible to call up current information on the functional safety technology via Facebook and to find contact persons from Phoenix Contact on the topic of functional safety.

Download iPhone/iPad iOS

1. Katalog-App: Siemens Industry Online Support

The Online Support app enables access anywhere to over 300,000 documents for all products by Siemens Industry. The documents provide support during realisation problems of projects, rectifying faults or extending and planning of installations. Via the app, users reach FAQs, downloads of the latest firmware or software versions, handbooks, certificates, characteristic curves, application examples and tools, product information releases (e.g. announcement of new products) or successor types after product discontinuation.

Scanning product-codes/EAN codes with direct display of all technical information on this product, incl. graphics data (CAx data).
(Siemens)

With the camera, product/EAN codes can be scanned with direct display of all technical information on this product, incl. graphics data (CAx data). The news area gives information via selected releases on new functions, reports or events. Furthermore, the app is available in six languages (German, English, French, Italian, Spanish and Chinese).

Download iPhone/iPad iOS

Download Android

Gallery

Gallery with 39 images

2. Katalog-App: Lapp Group Catalogue

The Lapp Catalogue app covers a great selection of cables and high-flexibility conductors, industrial connectors, bolt technology, customised confection and system solutions, automation technology and technical accessories.

Lapp catalogues and flyers at a glance.
(Lapp)

Via sheets and full text search, the corresponding products can be found quickly and ordered via the direct connection to the Lapp Kabel e-shop. Due to the large selection, the main catalogues require large data volumes and should preferably be downloaded on a WLAN connection.

Download iPhone/iPad iOS

Download Android

3. Katalog-App: ipf electronic

In the Catalogue app from ipf electronic, operating manuals and data sheets can be searched for using the article number.

Enter article-number and access operating instructions and data sheets.
(ipf electronic)

If the existing problem cannot be solved using the manual, the app enables contact direct to the relevant field service staff member. A further feature is the news area, in which current product and company news from von ipf electronic is available.

Download iPhone/iPad iOS

1. Corporate-App: Mikron Group

This app has been subdivided into the two areas Mikron Machining and Mikron Automation. Mikron Machining develops and constructs production systems for the manufacture of small to medium-sized individual parts from metallic working materials.

Mikron lists all products with descriptions.
(Mikron)

Mikron Automation develops and constructs assembly systems for assembling small to hand-sized products and component assemblies. In the Mikron app, the entire product portfolio is displayed. In addition, the app has a comprehensive video archive available, with Mikron solutions, an interactive works location map, up-date news and support.

Download iPhone/iPad iOS

Gallery

Gallery with 39 images

2. Corporate-App: Baumer

Baumer brings together news, catalogues and brochures for the Apple iPad in an app. In the form of a shelf view, the user receives an overview of brochures and product catalogues.

News, catalogues and brochures from Baumer for the Apple iPad.
(Baumer)

These can then be downloaded and stored at the terminal. With this app, it is possible to call up, online and offline, news, product developments, catalogues, brochures and press information.

Download iPad iOS

3. Corporate-App: microsonic Ultraschall-Sensorik

This app helps in finding the right ultrasonic sensors for industrial automation technology and industrial vehicles. It makes available detailed sensor information and the corresponding operating instructions – even without internet connection. The app contains a product catalogue including data sheets for ultrasonic sensors by the manufacturer microsonic.

Sensor information and the relevant operating instructions for ultrasonic sensors in overview.
(microsonic)

Besides the sensor search, operating instructions and information for everything to do with microsonic are supplied.

Download iPhone/iPad iOS

* * The author is on the editorial staff of elektrotechnik.

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