AutomationDirect

09/01/2026

⚙️ Power transmission products keep industry moving.

From reducing motor speed and increasing torque to creating precise linear motion, mechanical power transmission components are essential to countless machines and systems.

Our Power Transmission guide takes a closer look at:
✔ Worm and helical gearboxes
✔ Linear slides, actuators, and gantries
✔ Rack-and-pinion systems
✔ Timing belts and pulleys
✔ Shaft couplings
✔ Linear bearings and rails
✔ T-slotted structural framing
✔ Stepper, servo, and gearbox solutions

Whether you're designing a new machine or replacing critical drivetrain components, this guide is a great resource for understanding the technologies that make motion possible.

👉 Visit the page to explore AutomationDirect power transmission products and learn more.



https://cdn.automationdirect.com/static/press/AutomationDirect-power-transmission.pdf

08/31/2026

Ladder Logic or Structured Text? Why not both? 💻⚙️

Ladder Logic still shines for discrete I/O, simple sequencing, and troubleshooting. Structured Text can make complex math, data handling, recipes, and motion much easier to manage.

The key is knowing when to use each one.

👉 Read the article to see where LD and ST each earn their place in modern PLC programming.

For decades, ladder logic has been the undisputed leader as a PLC programming language, but today’s controls engineers are taking greater advantage of another option, structured text.

08/28/2026

💨 Pressure measurement, right where you need it.

AutomationDirect now offers MP Sensor Inline series pressure transmitters, designed to install directly into pneumatic lines with integrated push-in tubing connections.

🔹 Ultra-compact, orientation-free mounting
🔹 4–20 mA, NPN/PNP & IO-Link outputs
🔹 ±0.5% accuracy
🔹 IP68-rated housing
🔹 Multiple tubing sizes available

Also new are additional P.Touch series transmitters, featuring a TFT touchscreen and response times under 3ms.

💲 Prices start at $197

👉 Visit the page to explore the latest MP Sensor pressure transmitters!

AutomationDirect now offers MP Sensor Inline series pressure transmitters that install directly into pneumatic lines using integrated push-in tubing connections.

08/27/2026

🔌 One I/O platform. More controller flexibility.

The new P1-UX Universal Bus Coupler lets you use low-cost Productivity1000 I/O across a variety of PLC platforms—including third-party and mixed-control environments.

⚡ EtherNet/IP & Modbus TCP support
🌐 Built-in webserver for easy configuration
🔄 Broad Productivity1000 I/O compatibility
📈 Scalable discrete, analog & specialty I/O options

Standardize your I/O without limiting your controller choices.

💲 Prices start at $43

👉 Visit the page to learn more!

AutomationDirect now offers P1-UX Universal Bus Coupler which allows the low-cost Productivity1000 I/O to be used as high-performance universal field I/O across a wide variety of PLC platforms.

08/26/2026

Faster wiring. Secure connections. Less hassle.

AutomationDirect has expanded its wiring solutions with new Konnect-It push-in terminal blocks and Klemsan MPB4 lever splicing connectors.

⚡ Tool-free push-in technology
📏 Multiple terminal block sizes
🔗 2-, 3- & 5-pole splicing connectors
🧰 Accessories for customized panel layouts

Designed to help simplify wiring and reduce installation time in control panels and other electrical applications.

💲 Prices start at $8.50

👉 Visit the page to explore the new wiring solutions!

AutomationDirect has added Konnect-It 1mm, 4mm, and 6mm push-in terminal blocks which are designed to simplify installation while ensuring secure connections.

08/25/2026

🔐 Cybersecurity is becoming part of the product-quality conversation in industrial automation.

As PLCs, HMIs, drives, gateways, and other industrial devices become more connected, customers need confidence that cybersecurity was considered before those products ever reached the network.

In this Automation Notebook article, Tim Wheeler, Cybersecurity Manager at AutomationDirect, explains what Secure by Design means for industrial customers and why it matters throughout a product’s lifecycle.

Learn about:

🔹 How cybersecurity can be incorporated during product development
🔹 Why documentation and configuration transparency matter
🔹 The importance of vulnerability management and lifecycle support
🔹 How IEC 62443 is influencing industrial product development
🔹 Why industrial cybersecurity requires an OT-aware approach
🔹 What to consider when evaluating connected industrial components

Secure by Design doesn’t replace good network design, segmentation, access control, backups, or maintenance—but it can provide a stronger starting point.

👉 Read the article to learn what Secure by Design can mean for the products you put on your plant floor.

To help explain what “Secure by Design” means from an industrial customer’s perspective, Automation Notebook spoke with Tim Wheeler, Cybersecurity Manager at AutomationDirect.

08/24/2026

🌐 The line between OT and IT is getting thinner. Is your industrial network ready?

As manufacturers look for better ways to connect machine and process data with enterprise systems, they need networking solutions that provide greater visibility and diagnostics without sacrificing reliable control performance.

In this article, AutomationDirect’s Damon Purvis explores how industrial unmanaged+ Ethernet switches can help bridge the gap between basic unmanaged switches and complex fully managed networks.

Discover how features like:

✔ IGMP snooping
✔ Port-based VLANs
✔ Port mirroring
✔ Quality of Service (QoS)
✔ Port disconnect alarms
✔ PoE, PoE+ & PoE++
✔ Industrial protocol prioritization

can give OT teams valuable networking capabilities without the management burden of a fully managed switch.

👉 Read the article to learn how edge-optimized Ethernet switches are helping OT and IT work together.

A new class of edge-optimized Ethernet switches are purpose-built for industrial environments and protocols.

08/21/2026

🔩 Build stronger, more reliable electrical connections.

AutomationDirect has added Penn-Union BBLU Series copper compression lugs, featuring long barrel construction for enhanced mechanical strength, deeper conductor insertion, and excellent pull-out resistance.

Highlights include:

✔ High-conductivity, tin-plated copper construction
✔ Long barrel design for secure connections
✔ 1-hole and 2-hole tongue options
✔ Color-coded markings for easier installation and inspection
✔ Rated for connections up to 35 kV
✔ UL Listed and CSA Certified

Plus, BBLU lugs can be installed with commonly available tools without loss of agency certification.

💲 Prices start at just $2

👉 Visit the page to explore Penn-Union BBLU copper compression lugs from AutomationDirect.

AutomationDirect has added Penn-Union BBLU series copper compression lugs which deliver superior electrical connectivity across a wide range of applications.

08/20/2026

See the heat. Spot the problem. Measure more with one device.

AutomationDirect now offers Optris Xi 410 LT infrared thermal cameras, combining thermal imaging and infrared pyrometer functionality in a compact, fixed-mount solution.

Instead of measuring temperature at just one point, the Xi 410 LT monitors an entire field of view so you can visualize heat distribution, detect hot and cold spots, and capture multiple temperature measurements.

Key features include:

✔ 384 × 240 pixel infrared detector
✔ Automatic hot spot and cold spot detection
✔ ±2°C / ±2% accuracy
✔ Direct 0/4–20 mA output
✔ PoE, USB, or 5–30 VDC power options
✔ Motorized focus and four lens options
✔ Rugged IP67 / NEMA 4 enclosure
✔ FREE Optris PIX Connect software

Optional accessories make it easy to add I/O, Modbus TCP connectivity, air purge, adjustable mounting, and more.

👉 Visit the page to explore the Optris Xi 410 LT series from AutomationDirect.

AutomationDirect now offers Optris Xi 410 LT series infrared thermal cameras that combine the functionality of a thermal imaging camera and an infrared pyrometer in a compact, fixed-mount solution.

08/19/2026

Reliable connections are built to handle the environment around them.

AutomationDirect has added Murrelektronik M12 A-coded 8-pin shielded cables, designed for dependable sensor, actuator, encoder, and control system connections in demanding industrial applications.

These cables feature:

✔ Straight or right-angle M12 female connectors
✔ Shielding for protection against EMI/RFI interference
✔ Continuous-flex construction for drag chain and robotics applications
✔ Food-grade hygienic design
✔ Rugged V4A stainless steel coupling interface
✔ Oil- and chemical-resistant TPE-S jacket
✔ IP65, IP68 & IP69K protection for tough washdown environments

Available in various lengths with open pigtail ends for easy integration.

💲 Prices start at $7.50

👉 Visit the page to explore the new Murrelektronik M12 cables.



https://library.automationdirect.com/murrelektronik-m12-a-coded-shielded-sensor-and-signal-cables/?utm_source=library&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=m12-shielded-cables-pr-826

AutomationDirect has added Murrelektronik M12 A-coded 8-pin shielded cables that are made to deliver dependable connectivity in harsh industrial and hygienic environments.