There's little question that end users would like to spend less rather than more money to operate their production machines. But when improved total cost of ownership (TCO) comes with a higher initial price tag, it might be a difficult sell. In this month's cover story, Senior Technical Editor Dan Hebert helps machine builders navigate through the options and dazzle their customers. Also in the January issue: Learn how variations on basic linear motion technologies can bring precision and accuracy to non-traditional applications; find out how to protect your system from unwanted access, whether internal or external; and offer your thoughts on how columnist Jeremy Pollard might have better handled a recent network "Armageddon."

Read the January digital edition.