The International Society of Automation (ISA) today released the dates, locations and Call-for-Papers deadlines for ISA’s Division Symposia taking place between April–September 2013 in various locations across the USA.

ISA Division Symposia offer outstanding learning, personal development, networking and social opportunities. Attendees meet face to face with renowned experts and presenters, and gain the high-value, peer-reviewed technical content needed to stay on the cutting edge.

Below is a chronological listing, along with the pertinent details, of each ISA event scheduled for 2013. For more specific information about ISA Division Symposia and abstract submission, contact Rodney Jones at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Click to find the Details of different Divisions Symposia

Rockwell Automation has announced that its PlantPAx process automation system is now registered as a FOUNDATION Fieldbus integrated host system. The PlantPAx system with EtherNet/IP and ControlNet network connectivity passed tests for “61b,” the Fieldbus Foundation’s most demanding host profile. Host profile 61b helps ensure interoperability among multivendor environments, making it easier for users to configure and maintain fieldbus devices.

“This distinction further solidifies the status of Rockwell Automation as a leader in FOUNDATION Fieldbus technology,” said Steve Pulsifer, director of Process Market Development, Rockwell Automation. “Meeting the Fieldbus Foundation’s interoperability standards demonstrates the ability of the PlantPAx process automation system to help manufacturers address production issues with real-time, plantwide intelligence.”

The Fieldbus Foundation created its Host Registration Program to benefit both end users and automation suppliers by establishing standards in the multivendor FOUNDATION Fieldbus environment. To register under process 61b, the Fieldbus Foundation requires the following mandatory host features:

• Block installation
• Multiple capability levels
• Enhanced function block
• Profiled custom function blocks
• Configuration of scheduled control function blocks
• DD V5.1 device-level access

At PACK EXPO 2012, Rockwell Automation will showcase innovative and scalable solutions that help ease integration, optimize productivity and achieve sustainable objectives. The additions to the Rockwell Automation control and information platform, including a new integrated drive-motor system, servo drive and motor, managed switch, programmable controllers, and a virtual monitoring solution, help machine builders lower their Total Cost to Design, Develop and Deliver packaging machinery.

“Machine builders have traditionally been forced into dedicated control and visualization environments for each application,” said Mike Wagner, manager, Global Packaging Business, Rockwell Automation. “Our new additions work within a single, convergence-ready control platform and design environment, which helps machine builders reduce their engineering time and integration risks, and helps the end customer more easily address production issues with real-time, plantwide intelligence.”

The Rockwell Automation booth (N-3626) at PACK EXPO will feature innovations to its control and information platform including the following.

The Allen-Bradley Kinetix 6000M integrated drive-motor combines the high-performance Allen‑Bradley MP‑Series food-grade servo motor and Kinetix 6000 multiaxis servo drive technologies into a single, compact, on-machine package. Machine builders can reduce control-system enclosure size, cut wiring time, and simplify cabling with the seamlessly integrated system.

The International Society of Automation (ISA) announces that it has produced a new book that enables more informed decision making in selecting energy production and energy use options for the future.

Future Energy: Opportunities and Challenges by Thomas W. Kerlin, Ph.D., presents the scientific principles underlying the capabilities and limitations of each potential energy production and energy use technology so that energy choices can be based on facts, not conjecture or misperceptions.

“It’s inevitable that we must produce and use energy in new and improved ways,” says Dr. Kerlin, professor emeritus from the College of Engineering at The University of Tennessee. “However, without quantitative assessments using verified scientific principles, claims about the capabilities of various energy options must be viewed as unsubstantiated opinions. This book presents the essential science in a comprehensive, yet easy-to-understand way.”

The energy challenges, Kerlin says, are clear: Mounting world population and increasing energy appetites in emerging economies are increasing competition for energy resources among all nations. While many sources of additional energy production exist—fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal, oil sands and oil shale), biofuels, solar, wind, hydroenergy, geothermal and nuclear—they all have positives and negative ramifications.

“The key is to furnish enough sustainable energy while avoiding waste, unnecessary disruptions to our lives and unacceptable environmental consequences, especially climate change,” points out Dr. Kerlin. “The purpose of this book is to help readers understand the facts and principles that dictate our options for the future.”

The book is designed for students in energy-related courses, for energy industry professionals who want to broaden their knowledge beyond their field of specialty, and for anyone who wants to obtain a balanced, evidenced-driven perspective on energy issues. The science and technology are presented in a rigorous and complete manner yet in a way that is simple and intuitive for the reader.