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Purpose of This Website
The purpose of this website is to explore the automation of
European and American manufacturing and processing industries
(primarily that of Programmable Logic Controllers and Robotics)
and compare it with that of U.S. railroad industry automation.
Similarities and differences between the industries in areas such as
technology, process application, functional and environmental
requirements, and standards and norms are explored. It is
intended that through this analysis possible synergies and
techniques can be identified which could lead to an increase in
efficiency of operations of railroads via the application of factory
automation practices or technologies.
About the author
Blake Kozol is a Pittsburgh, PA native currently living in Europe and
an employee of one of the largest electronics and automation
companies in the world. He has ten years experience in the
European and U.S. railroad signaling and communications industry,
having worked for two major suppliers, as well as experience on
several industrial automation product platforms. Blake is familiar
with railroad signal and factory automation applications. He is
currently managing product development and sales of a
safety-critical railroad wayside automation platform, and is the
author of three pending patents. Although currently residing in
Europe Blake continues to spend a great deal of his time in the U.S.
He is fluent in English and German.
