Brenner Fiedler

You're redesigning a piece of machinery or implementing a new manufacturing line, and you need to select a programmable safety control system to monitor all of your safeguarding devices. There are a lot of options out there, so how do you choose?

Here are the top ten things to consider when reviewing your options:

1.Number of I/O  - A good place to start is determining the number and types of Input and Output devices that will need to be connected to the controller. With outputs, you need to determine if feedback is required and whether each output is required and whether each output needs to monitored individually (this can increase the number of inputs required).

2. Safety I/O connectivity - It is important to consider the type of connection needed. Depending on the controller used and the hazard classification, the numbers of devices that can be connected to an input card or the controller itself can vary.  Continue reading →

It can feel like a bad “case of the Mondays” all week, every week if the work environment just doesn’t work for employees. We have all experienced days that feel like we are pulled in different directions and can’t focus to get anything done. From cramped desks, to awkwardly positioned desk heights, the work environment can deeply impact everything from employee happiness to productivity and, ultimately, the bottom line.

At Brenner-Fiedler, we know our human resources are the most important resources we have. To combat the negative effects of an uncomfortable work environment – a cause of many work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs)  -we created custom workstations using the trusted brand of aluminum extrusion we have used successfully in hundreds of builds – Maytec. This simple change made a world of difference.

There is a danger to the extensive reaching, grasping, turning and twisting that occur with assembly work. Whether it’s testing the functionality of a smart phone touch screen or fastening the headlights of a vehicle, repetitive motion and poor ergonomic work stations have been diagnosed as the cause of many Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders. Cost to companies for these issues are steep; between $45 and $50 billion annually in compensation, lost wages and decreased productivity a National Academy of Sciences study reports. And for employees? These injuries can make their working life painful and often, short lived.

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In this week's episode, SMAC President, Ed Neff, explains the advantage of Voice Coil Actuators (also referred to as Moving Coil Actuators) for linear motors. Continue reading →

Detecting a target that is close to your sensor can be tricky, but so can the material the target is made of. In this episode, Brenner-Fiedler's sensor specialist, Paul Oppenheim, sits down with host Jeremy Shubert to discuss the difference between Capacitive (detects metal and non-metal elements) and Inductive (only detect metal) Sensors. Continue reading →

Bimba answers the question "How Close Is Close Enough?".

Learn what kind of positioning accuracy you can expect from a pneumatic actuator versus an electric actuator. Continue reading →

Wondering how Nitrogen Generators can help you in food or beverage packaging? Parker Balston's Dave Connaughton explains the benefits of producing nitrogen in-house. Learn the purity levels, financial benefit and see how you can reduce your carbon footprint! Continue reading →