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Industrial Automation Insights & Update
Stay ahead with insights, news, and updates from the world of industrial automation and the Automa.Net community. From industrial automation trends to member stories and platform news - our blog keeps you connected to what matters in the automation industry.
Is the 6BK1621-0AA00-0AA0 Still the Right Gateway?
The 6BK1621-0AA00-0AA0 links PROFINET to BACnet/IP. Compare specs and sourcing options before you specify or replace this Siemens module.
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From Raw Stock List to Bid: How a Medium-Sized Industrial Surplus Dealer Automated Quoting
How a surplus parts dealer automated part matching and pricing of stock lists: a pilot on almost 20,000 rows, results and next steps.
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Sourcing Hard-to-Find Allen-Bradley Drives: 7 Best Practices
Sourcing Allen-Bradley drives gets harder once a model is discontinued. Learn seven practices that shorten the path to a verified replacement.
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Which Obsolete PLC Modules Should You Source First?
Find the obsolete PLC modules worth sourcing first. Compare part numbers, lifecycle status, and compatibility to keep legacy systems running.
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Alternatives to Discontinued Allen-Bradley Servo Motors
Find discontinued Allen-Bradley servo motor alternatives. Compare OEM replacements, cross-brand swaps and refurbished units.
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Centralized vs Decentralized Inventory: Which Fits Your Plants?
Compare centralized vs decentralized inventory across carrying costs, lead times and service levels, then choose the right model for each part.
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Best Practices for Industrial Surplus Management
Industrial surplus management starts with correct nameplate data and pricing of idle stock.
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VFD and Servo Drive Failures: Common Fault Codes and What Is Repairable
Common VFD and servo drive failures: what overcurrent, overvoltage and encoder faults mean, what to check first and which faults are repairable.
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Why Legacy Industrial Equipment Needs Better Stock Visibility
Poor stock visibility on legacy machines hides which spare parts exist and fit. Learn how retrofit gateways link consumption to your stock ledger.
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Sourcing Legacy Automation Components in Europe: 2026 Guide
Sourcing legacy automation components in Europe means identifying parts, vetting suppliers and managing cross-border risk.
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7 Tactics for Negotiating Bulk Pricing on Industrial Components
Master negotiating bulk pricing industrial components with supplier comparison tactics. Learn how to secure volume discounts and lock in better terms.
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Critical Spares Matrix: A Practical Guide for MRO Teams
Build a critical spares matrix ranking parts by risk, lead time and production impact. Includes a template and steps for obsolete automation parts.
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Is Real-Time Inventory Tracking Worth It for Distributors?
Is real-time inventory tracking worth it for distributors? We weigh accuracy gains against cost, data risk and ROI workflows.
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Finding Hard-to-Find PLC Parts: A 2026 Sourcing Guide
Learn a repeatable process for finding hard-to-find PLC parts: part number lookup, compatibility checks, and sourcing obsolete or refurbished modules.
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How to Clean Bills of Materials for Industrial Procurement
Learn how to clean bills of materials for industrial procurement.
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