Friday 29 July 2016

International distribution for cybersecurity solutions.

Icon Labs has added six distributors for its industry recognized Floodgate cyber security solutions. Icon Labs now has distribution partners worldwide including in Scandinavia, Israel, France, Canada and Britain as well as in the United States.

Icon Labs’ Floodgate Security Framework solution provides a platform for developing secure, connected devices. The platform makes it easy for device developers to incorporate security into the architecture of the device itself and provides security management and visibility, device hardening, data protection, and secure communications. Natively securing the devices themselves provides extra layers of protection, audit, and compliance independent of the secure perimeter, reducing the need for expensive and complicated security appliances.

Icon Labs’ Floodgate Security Framework provides:
• Security policy management
• Event and command audit log reporting
• Integration with the McAfee ePolicy orchestrator (ePO)
• Integrated embedded firewall
• Firmware and intrusion detection support
• Support for RTOS and Embedded Linux based devices

“Modern industrial automation, utilities, and embedded devices are complex connected systems that often perform critical functions,” says Alan Grau, CEO of Icon Labs. “Industry, governments, businesses, etc., have recognized that no longer can they rely on just protecting the network. They need to protect the devices themselves. They are now requesting that security be built into all the various components and devices that make up the network. Even small edge devices can be the entryway for cyber-attacks and need to be protected. Icon Labs and our network of distribution partners are rising to meet that challenge!”

"Our customers tell us that providing cybersecurity is becoming an essential requirement for any device that is connected to the internet. They understand that every day these threats are becoming more dangerous, more critical," says Thierry Le Gall, General Manager of I.S.I.T in France. "By adding the Icon Labs Floodgate Security Framework to our portfolio, we are able provide developers with the ability to effectively build in high quality security into products."

"Icon Labs is the leader in providing cybersecurity - an increasing requirement for embedded systems, particularly in safety-critical and high-integrity world," says Chris Hills, founder and CTO of Phaedrus Systems in the UK. "By adding the Floodgate Security Framework to our portfolio, we are able provide developers with the ability to build security into their architecture."

“The battle against cyber-attack is never ending,” says Tomer Bogin, CEO of ScaleIL in Israel. “The Icon Labs Floodgate platform enables our customers to develop cost effective solutions against a constantly evolving threat menace. Not only does Floodgate provide a defense, it also allows us to monitor the attacks so that we know who and what is doing the attacks.”

#ICONLabs #PAuto

Mobile friendly website!

Olmec has published a new, mobile-friendly website providing a much simplified browsing experience for visitors. The new site highlights the company’s three key areas of expertise; vision inspection, inspection machines and track & trace and illustrates their capabilities with practical examples of use covering web inspection, code inspection and seal inspection

For simple vision applications, Olmec can guide customers towards the perfect combination of vision system, lighting and lens, with support with installation if needed. A range of proven user friendly inspection systems cover applications from code reading to laser perforation inspection. When requirements go beyond simply a camera to include product handling, configuration and rejection, Olmec can help with fully automated turnkey solutions, no matter how in-depth the requirements. With track and trace such a critical requirement in the pharmaceutical industry, Olmec has partnered with Domino Printing Sciences to power SerialTrac, a complete compliance system for the serialisation, aggregation and verification of unique codes.

Olmec-UK managing director, Rob Pounder sums up Olmec’s ethos: “We’re a team of engineers who love to understand how things work and how to make things work and as a result of that we are driven by solving problems. The people that we have in our company are very skilled, very passionate about what they do, very diligent and very capable. We become an extension of our customers’ project team and they see us as an integral part of the team. We understand the product and live and breathe the problems that they are facing so we are as motivated as they are to find the right solution. This means that they get great systems that exceed their expectations and great service – we’re a company that they should consider as ‘one of their own’.”


@OlmecUk #PAuto 

IIoT through the FOG!

Yokogawa Electric Corporation has invested in FogHorn Systems, Inc., a Silicon Valley startup that is a leading developer of fog computing technology. Yokogawa aims to foster development of fog computing technology through its investment in this company. In so doing, Yokogawa hopes to expand the range of solutions that it provides.

Fog computing
An architectural concept for the realization of edge intelligence and the suppression of communications with the cloud by establishing a ‘fog’ distributed computing layer between the cloud and devices in the field. Fog computing eliminates communications delays and fluctuations by locating the processing of certain data near the field devices that generate the data and sending only essential information to the cloud. As such, there are high expectations that this technology will lead to a number of new IoT applications.
Due to the continued growth of cloud computing services and the huge number of devices that have access to cloud resources, there is a growing concern over issues such as network congestion and data processing delays. Fog computing (see box) is gaining traction as a technology solution to this problem.

FogHorn Systems, a pioneer in the development of software for fog computing applications with outstanding expertise in this field, has attracted the interest of various companies that are promoting IoT. Led by March Capital and GE Ventures, the company has succeeded in raising $12 million in funding from multiple investors, including Yokogawa, Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH, and Darling Ventures. There is also a group of investors who invested in the company prior to this round of fundraising. Yokogawa’s stake in the company is worth $900,000.

Yokogawa offers a wide range of control solutions that help its customers improve the safety and efficiency of their operations and make the most effective use of their assets. These solutions include field instruments, control systems, manufacturing execution systems (MES), and management information systems. Industrial IoT (IIoT) technology is making rapid inroads in the control field, and it is expected that fog computing’s enablement of real-time and distributed processing in edge computing applications will significantly accelerate its adoption.

Through this investment in FogHorn Systems, Yokogawa will gain access to the latest fog computing technologies and will also make available its knowledge and expertise in process control and plant operations that will help this company further refine its fog computing technology. Yokogawa aims to make use of fog computing to strengthen the solutions that it provides.

Yokogawa has drawn up a long-term business framework and formulated a vision statement that reads, through ‘Process Co-Innovation,’ Yokogawa creates new value with our clients for a brighter future. ‘Process Co-Innovation’ is a concept for an automation business that will utilize all of Yokogawa’s measurement, control and information technologies. Accordingly, Yokogawa will seek not only to optimize production processes but also the flow of material and information within and between companies, including their value and supply chains. Yokogawa is committed to working with customers to create value through the effective use of IIoT, a key to ‘Process Co-Innovation.’

Tsuyoshi Abe, Yokogawa vice president and head of the company’s Marketing Headquarters, said of this investment: “Highly reliable and stable communications are an essential requirement in manufacturing and many other fields. Fog computing is a breakthrough that helps to enhance the use of cloud resources. It is also expected to provide Yokogawa many more opportunities to utilize IIoT in its control business. In line with our corporate brand slogan of ‘Co-innovating tomorrow,’ Yokogawa will use FogHorn’s technology to develop new solutions and create new value in collaboration with its customers and partners.”

@YokogawaIA  #PAuto #IoT

Gas detection product managers appointed.

In line with an ambitious long term growth strategy, Ion Science has announced the appointment of James Graham and Natalie Wright as Gas Detection Product Managers.

Natalie Wright
Natalie will be responsible for the company’s portable gas detection instrumentation, including the well proven Tiger handheld VOC (volatile organic compound) monitor. With vast experience of the industry and PID (photoionisation detection) sensors, Natalie has been employed at Ion Science for some eight years. Formerly Technical Sales Support Supervisor, other roles have included Service Technician and Lamp Room Assistant.

James Graham
James, who brings over ten years’ B2B product development skills to the role, will focus his expertise on expanding Ion Science’s growing range of fixed PID monitors, such as the newly launched Falco for humid and condensing environments. He has a strong background in taking customer insights and creating innovative value propositions that are a market success. Throughout his career, James has been Product Manager at CR360 Ltd, IMServ Europe Ltd and Fibrefab Ltd.

“I would like to congratulate Natalie and welcome James to the Ion Science team,” comments Duncan Johns, Ion Science Managing Director. “James consistent track record in successfully launching new products and experience in full product lifecycle management processes will help strengthen the sales and marketing function. With her long career at Ion Science, Natalie has garnered a broad perspective of this industry and in-depth technical knowledge of the products that support it.

“We look forward to their combined skills helping reinforce our position at the forefront of innovative gas detection instrumentation,” Duncan concludes.

@ionscience  #PAuto

New APP for gas monitoring staff.

The Gasmet APP is now available free of charge on both iOS and Android Smartphones, providing anyone with an interest in gas monitoring with quick and easy access to an enormous volume of highly useful information.

The APP contains a link to a library of information on 500+ compounds providing IR spectra in addition to chemical formula, molecular weight, boiling point etc. for each gas.

A dew point calculator predicts water and sulphuric acid dew points from H2O, O2, and SO2 concentrations provided by the user, helping stack testers and process engineers prevent problems relating to sample condensation. In addition, a Combustion Calculator provides estimates oxygen levels for a variety of user-selectable fuels from variable inputs for moisture and CO2.

A Unit Conversion tool is available for almost any compound, providing mg/m3 to ppm and vice versa, at zero or 20 Deg C.

Conveniently, the Gasmet APP also works offline and doubles as a spectrum viewer for the proprietary Calcmet .SPE, .REF, and .BKG file formats.

Commenting on the value of the APP, Gasmet’s Antti Heikkilä says: “This will be of tremendous value to the users of Gasmet FTIR analysers, providing them with fast access to commonly requested information. However, the APP will also be a useful tool for anyone involved with emissions monitoring, regardless of which analyzer they are using.”

The Gasmet FTIR Spectrum Library App is available from the AppStore for iPhones, iPad etc. and Google Play for Android.

#Gasmet #PAuto 

Thursday 28 July 2016

RF shielding effectiveness measurement.

Wave Scientific now provides an RF shielding effectiveness measurement service which measures the performance of 19” racks, cabinets and other small enclosures
Shielded racks have been widely used in military facilities for many years and are also increasingly used for commercial purposes such as IT and Telecommunication infrastructure. They may be used both for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) purposes and also for protection from Electromagnetic Pulses (EMP).

Measurements of the shielding performance of racks and cabinets can be challenging as their small dimensions limits the size of antennas and other equipment that can be used inside the enclosure.
In order to optimise these measurements, Wave Scientific has designed a series of small broadband antennas specifically for performing shielding verification measurements of small enclosures. Using these antennas along with small signal generation and RF amplifiers allows measurements of high levels of shielding performance over a wide frequency range.

Wave Scientific offer measurements either at spot frequencies or with a swept frequency response and can cover frequencies up to 40 GHz. Measurements can include magnetic and electric field shielding effectiveness as well as plane wave and microwave field attenuation measurements.

The shielding effectiveness measurement of racks and cabinets complements Wave Scientific’s well-established shielding effectiveness measurement service for evaluating shielded rooms and large shielded facilities.

@WaveScientific #PAuto

Business growth leads to new appointments.

SolutionsPT, has responded to business growth with the appointment of a Managed Platform Product Manager and a new Marketing Manager for its Wonderware UK & Ireland arm.

David Wilkinson
David Wilkinson is tasked with developing the company’s Managed Platform product range, both technically and commercially, to meet the needs of new and existing customers.

Joining the company from process technology specialist, GEA, where he spent three years as an automation manager, David brings with him a wealth of experience in control engineering and expertise in distributed control systems and SCADA solutions.

Shannon Fisk
Shannon Fisk joins as marketing manager for Wonderware UK & Ireland and will oversee the brand’s marketing activity, strategically promoting its latest software solutions and supporting the business in achieving its growth goals. Shannon previously held a marketing position at accountancy software specialist Sage, and more recently worked for payroll expert, Moorepay.

SolutionsPT specialises in providing industrial IT services to assist manufacturers in improving operational efficiencies, through operational intelligence, disaster resilience, cyber security and mobile technology solutions. The company is also the sole-authorised distributor of Wonderware in the UK and Ireland.

Sue Roche, New General Manager at SolutionsPT, commented: “David brings with him a strong background in engineering and process control and he already has practical experience of our products and solutions. His expertise, combined with Shannon’s appointment to strengthen the marketing team, demonstrates how we are looking to offer customers an unparalleled level of service and support, be that either technically or commercially.”

@SolutionsPT #PAuto

Metal free flowmeter!

There are no metals in the fluid path of F-462N Series inline Variable Area Flowmeters from Blue-White Industries,  making these units well suited for use in many ultrapure applications.

Constructed of tough, chemical resistant Polysulfone, F-462N flowmeters offer better resistance to high temperatures, pressures and a broad base of harsh chemicals, than many plastic flowmeters on the market.

The high capacity F-462N utilizes precisely engineered ridges molded into the meter body, which guide PTFE floats. Calibration range is 2.0 to 80 GPM/8.0 to 300 LPM and permanent direct reading scales are easy to read.

F-462N features Polysulfone 2” F/NPT fittings with FKM O-Rings and half union adapter connections. Socket fusion fittings are available.

Maximum fluid temperature is 200 degrees at 0 psi. Maximum working pressure is 150 psi / 10.3 bar at 70 degrees F/ 21c. An optional splash shield is available.

@BlueWhiteInd #PAuto

Wednesday 27 July 2016

Broadening awareness of integrating both OT and IT to protect against cyberattack.

The SANS Institute (SANS)—a global leader in cybersecurity training, certification and research—is the latest and seventh working group* in the Automation Federation (AF).

As the umbrella and outreach association of the International Society of Automation (ISA)—the developer of the world’s only consensus-based series of industrial cybersecurity standards (ISA/IEC 62443)—the Automation Federation works with government and industrial leaders to mitigate security vulnerabilities of operational technology (OT), namely industrial automation and control systems (IACS).

By specialising in cybersecurity training, certification and research, SANS has developed worldwide expertise and experience in information technology (IT) and OT cybersecurity. The Global Information Assurance Certification’s (GIAC) Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional (GICSP) serves as a foundational certification of skills required to secure infrastructures as IT and OT continue to converge.

In adding SANS as one of its working groups, the AF takes a step forward in broadening awareness around the need to integrate both operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) perspectives and expertise in safeguarding IACS from cyberattack.

Understanding the distinctions between IT and OT, and how they can work together is essential to ensure the safe, proper operation of IACS and to prevent potentially catastrophic damage to critical infrastructure as a result of industrial cyberattack.

“The threat of cyberattacks around the world continues to mount,” points out Michael Marlowe, the AF’s Managing Director and Director of Government Relations. “There is growing recognition that implementing comprehensive cyber-defenses will require best-practice solutions from both IT and OT sectors. The addition of the SANS Institute to our working groups is very exciting because it positions us to make significant progress in this vital area.”

“The SANS Institute, ISA and the Automation Federation have been helping to build the next generation of IACS security workers for years,” says Michael Assante, the SANS lead for Industrial Control System (ICS) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) security. “Together we can help organizations and professionals build safer and more secure infrastructures."

Patrick Gouhin, ISA Executive Director & CEO, says the addition of SANS as an Automation Federation working group will foster the meaningful dialogue and mutual understanding necessary for effective collaboration.

“All three organizations recognize the great potential that exists to build on our unique strengths and experience, and approach the threat of industrial cybersecurity in a more comprehensive and integrated manner,” Gouhin says. “SANS’ involvement as an Automation Federation working group is a vital first step toward realizing that potential.”

*The SANS Institute joins The Alabama Technology Network, The Propulsion Instrumentation Working Group (PIWG), the Industrial Extension Service of NC State University, Cerritos College, Cleveland Community College, and Northern Virginia Community College as Automation Federation working groups.

@SANSInstitute #PAuto #Cybersecurity 

Substantial increase in installed base of IO-Link in industry.

The results of the market survey into the number of sold devices for the technologies of PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) are published annually. More recently, IO-Link has been included in the notarised statistical analysis of the number of installed nodes in the field.
After a surprisingly high number of installed nodes was reported in the first survey for 2014, the rate of increase in the 2015 survey surpassed all expectations. With over 3.5 million nodes in the field, an increase of 63% compared to the prior year (cut-off date: December 31, 2015) was achieved.

Companies especially appreciate the easy installation and parameter assignment of IO-Link as well as its fieldbus neutrality. The fieldbus-independent IO-Link standard is thus the ideal solution for many companies that allows them to connect products to different systems and controllers worldwide. Accordingly, IO-Link has been implemented in almost all fieldbus systems established in the market. This also applies to almost every well-known PLC manufacturer.

The success of IO-Link is also demonstrated by the unabated growth in the number of members within PI's IO-Link community. In 2015 alone, 29 companies joined the IO-Link community. This trend is continuing in the current year. So far this year, more than 10 companies have elected to collaborate with IO-Link and to bring products into the market, increasing the total number of companies active in the IO-Link community to 124 (at start of April 2016). The increased number of member companies corresponds directly to the growth of the portfolio. The number of different products with IO Link technology grows daily.

IO-Link is future-proof. Consistent communication from the ERP level to the sensor level is essential for Industrie 4.0. With IO-Link both cyclic and acyclic data exchange with the higher levels is possible. For example, it is possible to load configuration data in the sensor or actuator or vice versa, to deliver diagnostic or statistical data.

Because IO-Link is integrated worldwide in all major automation systems, the connection to the ERP level is already possible today. As a result, IO-Link is the only technology for the kind of intelligent connection of sensors and actuators that is essential for a digital factory. In other words, with IO-Link the user is ideally prepared for the requirements of Industrie 4.0.

#PAuto @AllThingsPROFI  #IO-Link

Ethernet connectivity in Zones 1 & 2.

The IS1+ remote I/O system from Stahl is for use in zone 1 and 2 hazardous areas. It gives users versatile options to embed field devices into sophisticated automation structures via standard Ethernet technologies.

This is achieved with various I/O modules for transmitting intrinsically safe and non-intrinsically safe signals, and even pneumatic signals by means of a solenoid valve module. In addition to Modbus TCP, the system supports EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, and even Fieldbus foundation FF HSE, providing a pathway to reliable, high-performance system solutions for data transfer in hazardous areas that are quickly becoming a necessity as Industry 4.0 and the "Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)" become increasingly more prevalent.

At present, a number of task force groups are working on feasible solutions and requirements for Ethernet in process applications. The fast IS1+ Ethernet connection via fibre optics cables with 100 Mbit/sec. bridges very large distances of up to 30 km while providing excellent interference-free data transfer. The "optically inherently safe" (op is) type of protection according to IEC/EN 60079-28:2015 ensures explosion protection and hot-swap capability in zone 1. An integrated web server provides assistance for commissioning the system and checking the network status.

Integration into a plant asset management system is handled by means of a powerful DTM that is used to parameterise and diagnose the IS1+ systems and connected HART field devices. Even "HART via Ethernet" can be very easily implemented with IS1+. Familiar user benefits of IS1+ such as multifunctional I/O modules and preventive maintenance messages according to NE107 remain available in Ethernet environments as well. R. STAHL offers a standard warranty extension for three years free of charge on all IS1+ modules.

Stahl products are marketed in Ireland through Douglas Controls & Automation.

 #Stahl #PAuto #EX

Automated sample digestion system.

The latest addition to the Thomas Cain range of sample preparation equipment, the DEENA II from SEAL Analytical, is finding global success in environmental laboratories because automation saves time and money, improves safety and lowers the risk of human error.

“These benefits appeal to the managers of every laboratory in every country,” says SEAL President Stuart Smith. “So there has been a high demand for these instruments in labs with a regular requirement for the analysis of metals.”

The DEENA ll is a sample digestion system that fully automates the digestion process ensuring that each sample is treated exactly the same. Pre-programmed, but customizable software manages accurate dispensing of small volumes of reagents into sample tubes, ensuring thorough mixing, correct heating, and filling to a prescribed volume once digestion is completed. The intuitive DEENA software also enables overnight digestions.

A variety of models are available, ranging from a 96 position block for 15ml tubes, to a 30 position block for 50ml tubes. An auto syringe accessory is also available which accurately dispenses standards and automatically spikes samples.

“Automating digestion results in less handling of acids, which is always preferable,” adds Stuart. “However, automation also improves lab efficiency, and unattended operation frees staff for other work.”


#SealAnlytical #Laboratory

Continuous gas analyser analyses 12 gases simultaneously.

In response to the worldwide need for highly accurate, easy-to-use and cost-effective process gas analysis and emissions monitoring systems, the Rosemount™ CT5400 continuous gas analyser has been launched by Emerson.

Uniquely combining tunable diode laser (TDL) and quantum cascade laser (QCL) technologies within the same analyser, the CT5400 uses a patented ‘laser chirp’ to provide near-instant high-resolution spectroscopy to detect and identify a range of molecules in both the near and mid-infrared range of spectroscopic light with an enhanced dynamic range from sub ppm to percent levels.

“By using the chirp methodology, the Rosemount laser-based gas analysers have a significantly quicker response time and make continuous measurements. Sub-second measurements give operators the ability to make adjustments to their processes and avoid costly upsets that can develop into emergencies. In this way, the CT5400 offers plant managers and analyser operators greater peace of mind,” says Dr Ruth Lindley, product manager for Emerson QCL analysers. “The measurement is direct or ‘first principle’, unlike many traditional technologies where the measurements are inferred. This improves accuracy and eliminates the need for frequent calibration, saving engineer time and substantially reducing running costs.”

Unlike traditional process gas analysers requiring continuous calibration and verification, and other single laser-based systems which are limited to measurement of one or two components, the modular and scalable design of the CT5400 can incorporate up to six high-resolution laser modules and can detect, measure, and monitor up to 12 critical components simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple analysers and sample handling systems. The CT5400 is a high-accuracy, low-cost alternative to other analyser technologies available today.

The CT5400 rack-mounted analyser is designed for process applications, DeNOX/SCR, ammonium nitrate precursors, continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS), and continuous ambient monitoring systems (CAMS). Sharing many of the same measurement principles as the recently released Rosemount CT5100 analyser, which comes in a ruggedised Class 1 enclosure for hazardous area installations, the CT5400 is a cost-effective alternative for plants with an existing shelter or safe area application.

@EmersonProcess #Pauto @Rosemount_News 

3D-print design on International Space Station.


Mouser Electronics Inc. is teaming up with celebrity engineer Grant Imahara for the International Space Station (I.S.S.) Design Challenge, the newest series in the exciting Empowering Innovation Together™ program. Mouser is accepting entries for this incredible competition now through Oct. 7, 2016.

The I.S.S. Design Challenge, co-sponsored by Mouser’s valued suppliers Amphenol and Intel®, is a call to college and university students, engineers, and makers, to create a 3D-printable project designed to help I.S.S. astronauts in space. Designs may include small electronics to be used with the object. All entries will be judged by Grant Imahara and a former commander of the I.S.S.

“Imagine how exciting it would be to see your design made in space,” said Glenn Smith, President and CEO of Mouser Electronics, a leading global distributor of the newest semiconductors and electronic components. “We are really excited to present this unique contest. We hope our wide range of electronic components will enable people to create whatever their imagination sparks.”

For the I.S.S. Design Challenge, Mouser has partnered with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Made In Space along with Hackster and MacroFab. The winner of the I.S.S. Challenge will receive a 3D printer, a consultation with Made In Space — pioneers in additive manufacturing technology for use in the space environment — and the prestige of seeing their design 3D-printed aboard the I.S.S.

“I love that this first-of-its-kind contest allows future engineers to build their confidence as a whole, and share in a global community of innovation,” said Grant Imahara.

@MouserElec #ISS 

Tuesday 26 July 2016

Variable speed drives eliminate reliability issues.

Athader, based near San Sebastian (Donostia)in the Basque Country of northern Spain, manufactures coil processing lines, mainly slitting lines and levelling and cut-to-length lines for steel, stainless steel and aluminium material. Equipment manufactured by the company, which is part of the Bradbury Group, is destined for customers that include steel coil processors, rolling mills and profile and tube manufacturers, 80% of which are located outside of Spain.

Until recently, in order to match customer specifications, Athader used a number of different brands for its drive requirements. However, the company was becoming increasingly frustrated with reliability issues. When a coil processing line line experiences a breakdown situation, there is a high probability of production losses for the customer, as well as the potential to damage mechanical parts. As a result, Athader’s preference is to use drives, motors and global solutions supplied by Emerson. According to the company, because a number of its machines are bespoke in line with specific customer needs, the adapted solutions provided by Emerson are fundamental to business success.
This is important considering the type of machines manufactured by Athader, such as steel winders/unwinders, stacking machines, rolling machines, longitudinal and transversal shears, packaging machines and cutting systems. With regard to the latter, a rotary shear device for high thickness coil is expected to work at 100 m/min, while a flying shear system for very high yield stress material (with a high pressure rating of 1100 Mpa) works at 50 m/min. Despite these elevated speeds, precision must be to within ±0.2 mm.

Aside from the high performance and reliability of Unidrive M variable speed drives, Athader says that the products provide impressive speed and response, which in turn allows high dynamic application control with repeatable precision. The intelligent modules used with the drives permit the company to manage comprehensive programs requiring motion in several axes and profiles synchronised with high precision. This involves fast and accurate movements that serve to minimise the number of rejected items and maximise production uptime, all without inducing stress on the mechanical parts.

Athader favoured the straightforward integration capability of Unidrive M, thanks principally to a complete set of communication modules that support most traditional field buses and the latest Ethernet-based technologies.

Among the recent applications at Athader was the development of a transversal cutting line for steel bands up to 25 mm thick and 1800 mm wide. The Emerson solution includes a control cabinet (8 x 800 x 2200 mm modules) and three control desks (entry, main and exit). The cabinet includes a total of 19 AC drives in a DC bus configuration that ensures stability and optimised energy consumption.

Moving through the cutting line in sequence, the uncoiler is served by a single Unidrive M701 (45 kW) featuring an Si-Application option module and dedicated unwinder software. From here, the unwound coil moves into two levellers, each of which relies on two Undrive M700 units in parallel (180 and 160 kW respectively) with accompanying software. In addition, four Unidrive M200 drives (from 5.5 to 7.5 kW) are deployed for auxiliary elements. The next station, a flying shear, features one Unidrive M700 (110 kW) with Emerson’s dedicated software, along with a single Unidrive M200 (5.5 kW) for the conveyor. In addition, a total of 10 Unidrive M200 drives (from 0.55 to 5.5 kW) control further parts of the system, such as inspection and evacuation conveyors, stackers and stores. The cabinet also features two Emerson SPMC2402 DC rectifiers working in parallel.

The complete line is controlled by a Siemens PLC, while adjustment and supervision is made via a 15” colour touchscreen.

Two networking configurations are featured: Profinet connects the PLC with drives, encoders and remote I/O, while Ethernet allows the checking and changing of system parameters via a remote PC, including the parameters of the Emerson drives. This capability makes for easy fault-finding and element replacement.

Athader states that working with Emerson’s solutions support has allowed the company to optimise its machine designs. For instance, production speeds have increased by more than 300%, from 200 to 600 m/min for longitudinal systems. In addition, the machines can now process a wider range of materials, from 12 mm band thickness (500 MPa) in the past, to the current 25 mm thick (1100 MPa).

As a result of this evolution, Athader’s latest generation of machines offers a more intuitive environment for the operator. Furthermore, commissioning time has been reduced from 6 weeks to 3-4 weeks, while machine-side and remote control are better facilitated thanks to user-friendly software and Ethernet technologies.

Before commencing the project, Athader sought a technological partner which would allow the company to progress its development efforts more quickly, which has certainly turned out to be the case. Aside from the high quality of its products and solutions, Athader was attracted to Emerson because of its expertise, proactive attitude, hands-on approach and open collaboration with its technicians.

Moving forward, Athader expects to introduce more products from the Emerson portfolio into its production, including high efficiency induction motors, high dynamic AC motors and geared motors.

@EmersonIndAuto  #PAuto #Spain 

Industrial IT services provider has new General Manager.

Sue Roche is the new General Manager at SolutionsPT. She has previously served as Business Unit Manager of SolutionsPT’s Wonderware UK & Ireland division, and will assume full responsibility for all of SolutionsPT’s operations and will report directly to the Board, whilst retaining her position as lead on Wonderware UK & Ireland.

Sue Roche
Sue has been with SolutionsPT for eight years and has played a key role in shaping the company’s evolution from traditional SCADA provider, to industrial IT experts capable of providing fully integrated industrial hardware and software solutions. Her appointment as General Manager is part of SolutionsPT’s market strategy to go ‘beyond HMI’ and deliver solutions which embrace cloud, mobile and virtualisation technologies to meet customer requirements for high availability and resilience.

Sue has presided over Wonderware UK and Ireland during a period of substantial growth for the business which has seen it take on a number of significant projects for both new and existing clients, adding some of the largest and most influential businesses in Britain to the company’s books. This has included a major sales expansion with a leading water and wastewater customer, whilst significantly growing the company’s presence in the dairy sector.

Sue said SolutionsPT is firmly focused on continuing this growth and working with Wonderware parent company Schneider to become Britain and Ireland’s leading SCADA and industrial IT supplier. She said: “We’ve had some fantastic wins over the last few years and have expanded into new sectors such as Infrastructure as well as growing our presence in key markets such as Food and Drink and Life Sciences. Wonderware will continue to be at the centre of our offering but we believe that our complementary industrial IT expertise, which includes mobility, cyber security and a managed service offering, will enable us to work with clients and the Systems Integrator community to deliver a holistic solution capable of delivering real efficiencies.”

@SolutionsPT #PAuto 

Monday 25 July 2016

Simpler multipole connector assembly.

The Han® Multiplier range from Harting has been expanded. These Multipliers help simplify the assembly of connectors where multiple contacts are carrying the same potential (voltage).

Interlinked cabling of decentralised control cabinets in a modern factory/ production line environment often creates situations where multiple contacts need the same potential (e.g. Ground or 24V), for example when providing connections for sensors, switches and Powerbus daisy chaining. In such cases, Han® Multipliers allow for the use of a single feeding line instead of multiple feeding lines of the same potential. For example Han® Multipliers are particularly useful for connecting motor drives/inverter control wiring in either star or delta connection arrangements.

The Han® Multipliers, which are simply pushed onto the appropriate equipotential contacts, can therefore significantly reduce both labour and material costs and installation times by simplifying connections.

Han-Yellock®with integrated Multipliers
There are several standard connector types within their range that can accommodate these multipliers, including Han-Yellock® - an IP67 compliant, smoothly contoured design with single-handed push button mating that supports cable-trunking drag-through installations. Inserts can be loaded from the front or rear side of a bulkhead panel. Multipliers are available in various types, such as 3:2, 2:3 etc., up to 5 way size and loaded from the front mating side of the insert.

Harting has also recently developed a separate single 15 way Han-Yellock® Multiplier Block insert, based on its 16A rated Han E® crimp contacts, which can also be fitted with the full range of Han-Yellock® Multipliers. The key feature of this particular insert is that it will also fit into Harting’s Han-Modular® system concept.

As a result, their multiplier concept can now be applied right across Harting’s multipole I/O connector range of die-cast aluminium IP65 compliant Han® B and compliant IP68 Han® HPR high-strength construction hoods and housings, rugged plastic Han-Eco® series and can also be used inside switch cabinets, integrating with the Han-Snap® series.

The latest Han® connector series of inserts that offer this Multiplier functionality is the new finger-push cage clamp termination Han® ES Press range. Han® ES Press can accommodate rear plug-in Multipliers/Jumpers from 2 to 12 way versions.

Howard Forryan, product marketing specialist at Harting Limited, said; “These Multipliers provide an example of how Harting continues to develop new innovative connector technology design solutions for our world renowned series of rugged Han® rectangular multipole connectors. Harting also takes great care to ensure that these advances also provide backwards compatibility, allowing upgrades and improvements to be accommodated for minimum extra cost.”


 @hartinguk @Harting #PAuto @PeterBushComms

Valve diagnostic system for nuclear utilities.

Emerson Process Management and Teledyne Test Services (TTS) jointly developed and introduced the QUIKLOOK 3-FS diagnostic system, a new platform for testing air-operated (AOV) and motor-operated (MOV) control valves used in the nuclear industry. The dual platform minimises the cost, time, and complexity of testing safety-significant valves and helps nuclear utility managers improve the safety and efficiency of their operations.

Before this collaboration between Emerson and TTS began, many valve maintenance teams at nuclear facilities were buying separate test solutions for the two different kinds of valves. Teledyne’s QUIKLOOK platform, for example, was supporting MOV testing, and Emerson’s Fisher™ FlowScanner™ software was primarily used for AOV testing.

Now, Emerson and TTS have simplified the process by providing one AOV/MOV test platform. The QUIKLOOK 3-FS system combines FlowScanner circuitry and software into the TTS QUIKLOOK platform and provides capabilities not available in either previous product. Its features include plug-and-play measurement sensor recognition and data-conversion utilities. The QUIKLOOK 3-FS system’s updated user-interface software supports strain gauge measurement devices, supports up to 16 sensor channels, and enables interfaces to popular design-basis calculation and margin-analysis software utilities.

“The QUIKLOOK 3-FS system captures and documents fast-occurring phenomenon ─ up to 50,000 Hz ─ and reports measurements with extreme accuracy,” said Jeff VonAhnen, FlowScanner platform product manager for Emerson. “It enables nuclear-utility managers to diagnose control valves and meet regulatory testing requirements including the upcoming provisions of ASME Appendix 4.”

In an enclosure the size of a small suitcase, the QUIKLOOK 3-FS system is portable. Emerson and TTS will combine forces to sell and support the new QUIKLOOK 3-FS system.

@EmersonProcess #PAuto #Teledyne-ts @FisherValves

An automation and controls industry first - PAC Project.

Opto 22 has announced immediate availability of version 9.5 of PAC Project™, a Microsoft® Windows®-based integrated software development suite for industrial automation, process control, remote monitoring, and Internet of Things applications.

About PAC Project
The complete list of PAC Project components:

PAC Control—an intuitive flowchart and scripting control programming software application for developing control programs that run on SNAP PAC controllers. Ideal for sequential control, batch and process control, PID loop control, and more. Using the built-in scripting language OptoScript™ simplifies complex math, conditional branching, and string handling.
PAC Display—a human-machine interface (HMI) development application used to create graphical interfaces to monitor and operate a control system. Support for alarm management, recipe handling, operator logging, real-time and historical trending, multimedia, and unlimited tags puts PAC Display on par with competing HMI development applications costing thousands of dollars more per seat.
PAC Manager™—a configuration and maintenance tool used to set up and inspect controllers and I/O data in real time.
EtherNet/IP Configurator—a configuration tool for establishing communication between an Allen-Bradley® PLC system and intelligent remote SNAP I/O.
SoftPAC™ (included with PAC Project Professional™ or available separately)—a software-based programmable automation controller for PC-based control.
OptoOPCServer™ (included with PAC Project Professional or available separately)—an OPC 2.0-compliant server used to consolidate and publish SNAP PAC System™ data to OPC-aware clients, including third-party HMIs such as Wonderware’s® InTouch, Intellution’s® iFix™, and Iconics’ GENESIS32™ and GENESIS64™.
OptoDataLink™ (included with PAC Project Professional or available separately)—connectivity software used to enable bidirectional data transfer between the SNAP PAC System and enterprise databases—such as Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, and MySQL—without brokering the data through an HMI.
    The most significant addition in this version is new firmware for Opto 22 programmable automation controllers (PACs) that includes an HTTP/S server with a RESTful API, providing developers with secure, programmatic access to control variables and I/O data using any programming language that supports JavaScript Object Notation (JSON). This new capability closes the IT/OT gap, allows for rapid Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) application development, provides for secure data exchange using open Internet standards, and reduces time to market in machine and system design.

    The addition of a secure RESTful server and an open, documented API to a programmable automation controller (PAC) is a significant, ground-breaking industry innovation, because REST architecture and associated technology are intrinsic to the Internet of Things and paramount to web and mobile-based application development. Opto 22’s implementation of REST directly into a commercially available, off-the-shelf industrial PAC is unique in the market and places the company as the first and only industrial automation and controls manufacturer to offer this industry-changing technology.

    Other features found in this new version include new tools to develop modular control applications with nested subroutines, new debugging tools to reduce development time, support for a worldwide installed base of legacy Optomux® I/O systems, and integration of third-party systems and protocols with the IIoT. To provide enhanced security and auditing for HMI access, PAC Project now offers sophisticated user groups and data rights, as well as the ability to embed video directly into HMI windows.

    An Industry First
    PAC Project 9.5 provides updated firmware for Opto 22 SNAP PAC S-series and R-series controllers that enables a secure HTTPS server on PAC controllers. Combined with a RESTful open and documented API, this new version allows developers to write applications that access data on the PAC using the developer’s programming language of choice with the well-known and widely supported JSON data format. This new capability allows software and IoT application developers to decrease time to market, reduce the development learning curve, and eliminate layers of middleware for secure Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications.

    Firmware version 9.5 for SNAP PAC R-series and S-series PAC-R and PAC-S controllers enables REST endpoints for both analog and digital I/O points as well as control program variables including strings, floats, timers, integers, and tables. REST endpoints are securely accessed using the new, fully documented RESTful API for SNAP PACs. Names of RESTful endpoints are derived from a configured PAC Control program strategy file and are therefore unique to each PAC’s program and I/O configuration.

    Client data requests are returned in JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) format, enabling PAC controllers and I/O to be used with virtually any software development language with JSON support, including C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, node.js, Python, PHP, Ruby, and many more. Database support is also available for database tools that work with JSON, like MongoDB®, MySQL®, and Microsoft’s SQL Server®. With the release of PAC Project 9.5, developers are no longer tied to a specific manufacturer's software development environment. They can use the development environment and language of their choosing to write new software, create web services, and build Internet of Things applications.

    RESTful data from PACs is secured using TLS encryption over HTTPS connections authenticated using basic access authentication (Basic Auth). RESTful data access can be restricted to read-only use, or allow reading and writing to I/O and strategy variables. The HTTP/S server is disabled by default and must be configured and enabled to operate, preventing unwanted or unauthorized access to the controller over HTTP.

    Also included in this release are two Node-RED nodes, used for communicating with SNAP PAC controllers through the RESTful API with Node-RED, a visual tool for wiring up the Internet of Things. Node-RED is an open-source, graphical, flow-based application development tool designed by the IBM® Emerging Technology organization that makes wiring up APIs, represented as “nodes,” simple and easy to do. Node-RED is particularly useful for developing IoT applications that interact with cloud-based platforms and APIs, such as IBM Bluemix®, IBM Watson™, Amazon’s® AWS™ IoT, AT&T® MX2, Microsoft Azure®, and Google Cloud Platform™.


    More information on working with the new RESTful server for Opto 22 PACs, reviewing the open and documented RESTful API for SNAP PAC controllers, and using SNAP PAC Node-RED nodes.

    @opto22 #PAuto 

    Friday 22 July 2016

    PAC addition closes the IT/OT gap!

    Opto 22 has added a RESTful API to its industrial programmable automation controllers (PACs), significantly closing the IT/OT gap and enabling rapid Industrial Internet of Things application development, reduced time to market in machine and system design, and faster automation and control project deployment.

    The addition of a secure RESTful server and open, documented API to a programmable automation controller (PAC) is a significant and ground-breaking industry innovation. REST architecture and technology are intrinsic to the Internet of Things and paramount to web and mobile-based application development. Opto 22’s implementation of REST directly into a commercially available, off-the-shelf (COTS) industrial programmable automation controller is unique in the market, and places the company as the first and only industrial automation and controls manufacturer to offer this industry-changing technology.

    Through this new RESTful API, developers gain secure programmatic access to new or legacy physical assets through control variables and input/output (I/O) data using any programming language that supports JavaScript Object Notation (JSON). Available through a free updated firmware release for Opto 22 SNAP PAC programmable automation controllers (PACs), the RESTful API includes an HTTP/S server accessible from any HTTP/S-compatible client.

    Rapid IIoT ROI
    Billions of sensors, machines, and devices already exist in industrial infrastructure but are currently unable to connect to the IIoT. This legacy equipment holds valuable untapped data needed to improve business processes and decisions in almost every enterprise and every industry. Opto 22’s platform enables developers to rapidly design, prototype, and deploy applications to connect existing assets to the IIoT and share their data, capabilities, and resources with other connected systems and assets.

    “The industrial automation and control industry is in transition right now,” says Benson Hougland, Vice President of Marketing and Product Strategy. “Vendors who have relied on a product development strategy based on proprietary and closed technologies have become outdated. The future of the industrial automation and process control industries lies in the rising API and data economies made possible through open standards-based technologies.

    “Our objective with the rollout of these new features is to enable IIoT developers to build their applications faster using well-known Internet tools and technology. Through a RESTful API to our PACs, we’ve enabled our customers and partners to rapidly design and roll out IIoT applications using the language and tools they're familiar with, while at the same time future-proofing their technology investments for decades to come.”

    An API to the Real World™
    “The Industrial Internet of Things is built on the idea of seamlessly sharing data between disparate assets to identify new opportunities for businesses to become more competitive,” said Matt Newton, Director of Technical Marketing for Opto 22. “With these new features, when our customers and partners ask us how to connect their existing and future systems to the Industrial Internet of Things, we can simply tell them, there’s an API for that.™”

    Streamlining IIoT Architecture
    A communication disconnect between the physical world and the digital world is slowing the adoption and rollout of the IIoT. Industrial assets exist in the physical world and use physical electrical signals like current and voltage levels to communicate. Digital systems of the Internet do not understand or communicate with these types of signals.

    To cope with this disconnect, current Industrial Internet of Things applications involve layers of gateways and middleware to translate between the physical and digital worlds. As a result of this complexity, businesses have been slow to reap the rewards of IIoT applications and technologies.

    To expedite return on investment for IIoT applications, Opto 22 flattened IIoT architecture by bridging the communication gap with open standards-based Internet tools and technologies. Opto 22’s RESTful API to its automation controllers, combined with HTTP/HTTPS access, provides IIoT developers with secure access to the billions of legacy physical assets in industrial system infrastructure today. These features minimize the integration time and cost of IIoT applications by eliminating complex protocol converters, gateways, and middleware.

    “To accelerate the development, rollout, and return on investment in IIoT applications, Opto 22 has cut through the complexity of current system architectures and provided a robust, scalable platform designed to meet the needs of information and operations technology professionals,” says Hougland. “These new capabilities support the increasing convergence businesses are seeing between information technology and operations technology.”

    “We built this platform to provide our customers and partners with a solution that offered three key characteristics,” states Bob Sheffres, Vice President of Sales. “First, it had to be tough enough to survive the harsh environments of industrial applications. Second, it needed to appeal to both industrial automation and information technology practitioners—bridging the IT/OT gap—as well as tap into the millions of developers who know and apply these technologies every day. And finally, and most importantly, we wanted to provide the platforms, technologies, and tools that allow our customers, partners, system integrators, and OEMs to distinguish themselves from their competitors, future-proof their technology investments, accelerate their time to market, and solve tough automation problems more quickly than ever before.”


    @opto22 #IoT #PAuto

    Automation & controls system security!

    The second edition of Industrial Automation and Control System Security Principles has just been published This is a highly acclaimed book on industrial cybersecurity that became ISA’s best-selling publication during 2013 - the year of its initial printing.

    The title of the second edition - Industrial Automation and Control System Security Principles: Protecting the Critical Infrastructure - was expanded and updated to reflect the latest advances in industrial automation and control system (IACS) security. IACS serve as the operational underpinnings of critical infrastructure, such as power generation, water treatment, petroleum and chemical processing, and other vital operations.

    “The updated edition covers the latest thinking and approaches to IACS security,” says the book’s author, Dr Ronald L. Krutz, P. E., CISSP, ISSEP, Chief Scientist at Security Risk Solutions, Inc. “I wanted to highlight the latest developments—from industrial, governmental and commercial sources—in industrial cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection, and show how they can be practically applied to protect IACS.”




    #PAut #ISAuto

    Thursday 21 July 2016

    Gateway line expands support for Intel® IoT Gateway technology.

    ADLINK Technology has released three ADLINK IoT gateway models supporting Intel® IoT Gateway Technology. The MXE-110i, MXE-202i, and MXE-5400i, based on the Intel® Quark™, Intel® AtomTM, and Intel® Core™ processors, respectively, further expand the scope of ADLINK’s IoT gateway-based scalable computing platforms. From energy-saving applications to intelligent analytics, ADLINK’s IoT gateways supporting Intel® IoT Gateway Technology provide the ideal IoT-ready industrial platforms for a wide variety of applications.

    Intel® IoT Gateway Technology enables development of intelligent gateways, which are critical to connecting systems with next-generation intelligent infrastructures and increasing business value for a world of applications. The ADLINK IoT Gateway product line, fully supported by Intel® IoT Gateway Technology, with integrated Wind River® Intelligent Device Platform XT, and McAfee Embedded Control, is available for Intel® IoT Gateway Software Suite, Intel® IoT Gateway Pro Software Suite, and Intel® IoT Gateway Pro Pilot Software Suite.

    “We understand customers require an application-ready solution to tackle the complexity of IIoT infrastructure. We’re happy to leverage Intel Gateway Technology to provide seamless connectivity between devices and the cloud, ensuring the interoperability of edge devices through an open architecture enabling rapid application and service, all to successfully equip new connected applications with minimum effort,” said Roy Wan, general manager of ADLINK’s Measurement and Automation Product Segment.

    “A key motivator in the adoption of IIoT functionality is the potential to unlock knowledge from their data,” said Rose Schooler, vice president IoT Strategy and Technology at Intel. “Because ADLINK’s full spectrum of IoT gateway platforms utilize the latest version of Intel IoT Gateway Technology, developers will be able to utilize new enhancements designed to help prototype and develop IoT applications more quickly than ever.”

    @ADLINKTech_usa #PAuto  #IoT

    The latest version of Intel® IoT Gateway Technology enables enhanced user interface, security, scalability, interoperability, and manageability, as well as support for a wider variety of fieldbus communication protocol, including Modbus (RTU/Ethernet), BACNet, CAN for industrial applications, Exegin, Zigbee, Open Z-Wave, and 6lowpan empowering smart buildings. Other features include support for MQTT, Bluetooth/BLE, CoAP, XMPP device-to-cloud protocol, as well as AllJoyn and IoTivity (open source software framework) to enable seamless device-to-device connectivity.

    New additions to ADLINK’s IoT gateway product line include the MXE-110i, MXE-202i, and MXE-5400i The MXE-5400i, based on Intel® Core™ i3, Intel® Core™ i5, and Intel® Core™ i7 processors. These processors deliver exceptional performance and manageability, optimized connectivity, and rugged construction for mission-critical applications. The gateway performs dependably under an extended operating temperature range (from –20°C to 70°C with industrial SD card), making it the optimal solution for outdoor intelligent transportation, digital surveillance systems, and industrial automation applications. The MXE-202i gateway, powered by the Intel® Atom™ processor E3826, features two processing cores with an SoC design, delivering the computing performance needed to handle the flow of data from sensors, while power-efficient enough to perform reliably in a fanless enclosure. Finally, the MXE-110i gateway, based on the Intel® Quark™ Soc, is suitable for applications requiring enhanced energy efficiency, such as smart agriculture, smart factory, and automated building environments.

    HART communicators for hazardous areas.

    ProComSol has added new HART Communicator kits for hazardous areas to its range. The communicators use the popular TAB-EX series of Android Tablets from ecom instruments. The kits include the tablet, HART modem, and the DevComDroid DD based Smart Communicator App for Android.

    Jeffrey Dobos, President of ProComSol tells us, “For a price point lower than a HART Communicator only device, a full featured productivity platform is now available for hazardous areas. It is a HART Communicator and so much more.”

    The DevComDroid App is a full functioned HART Communicator. The entire DD Library from the FieldComm Group is included and regularly updated with subscription. New DD’s can also be added very simply by the user. The App can perform full configurations of Valves, Multi-Variable devices, and complex devices such as Radar Level and Coriolis Flow meters. The user interface is modern and intuitive. No training is required.

    The COM-TABLET is preloaded with the DevComDroid App. Other Apps are available from the ecom instruments website or from the Google Play Store. With the addition of device management, inspection, and safety Apps (many of them free!), the COM-TABLET becomes more than a HART Communicator. It becomes a versatile and time saving tool for hazardous areas.

    The Bluetooth wireless interface between the HART modem and tablet provides user safety and comfort. There are no wires to tangle or trip over.

    All components are certified for use in hazardous areas. Hazardous areas covered include CSA (Class 1, Division 1), ATEX, and IECEx. There is also a COM-TABLET Windows version for Class 1, Division 2 hazardous areas. Visit the website for details.

    @ProComSol #Pauto @ecominstruments #HART

    Wednesday 20 July 2016

    Turning sod in Constance!

    Baumer is investing in its future with a new building in Stockach on Lake Constance (near to Constance) in Southern Germany.
    Groundbreaking ceremony for the new development and logistics centre
    At the Stockach – Bodman-Ludwigshafen site, in addition to a central logistics center for Europe, a new high-tech center for Research & Development and Production is being built. The investment volume is approximately EUR 30 million. In doing so, the international family-owned company is intensifying its sustainable and long-term development of the Baumer Group. The aim of the new logistics center for Europe is that it can react more quickly and flexibly to the rapidly growing demands of the market.

    In the new high-tech center, importance is placed on sustainability and the latest infrastructure with a high level of networking between humans and machines (Industry 4.0). The project is being realized in several construction phases. In the course of the year, three buildings should be built on the 48,000 square meter site: a three-storey production building, a logistics building, and an administration building.

    In the initial expansion phase, the new site offers space for between 300 and 400 workplaces. The opening of the new high-tech center is planned for Fall 2017.

     #Baumer #PAuto

    Fellow appointed to Dublin institute.

    Francis (Fran) Behan has been appointed as Adjunct Innovation Research Fellow at the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) Hothouse.

    Fran Behan
    Fran Behan is an Innovation Effectiveness Manager at Corning Incorporated, Sullivan Park Research facility in New York, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of glass, ceramics, and related materials, primarily for industrial and scientific applications.

    A graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology where he studied Applied Physics, Fran gained postgraduate qualifications at the Institute of Physics, London and the Open University, Milton Keynes from where he was awarded an MBA. Fran represents Corning on the American Management Associations (AMA) International & Innovation Council and is also a member of the Institute for the Study of Business Markets (ISBM) – SMEAL Business School, Penn State, PA.

    As a leading international expert with strong marketing, sales and program management skills, Fran is a sought–after expert in the application of the innovation process and practice within Corning where he has held a number of roles since joining its Optical Fiber Division in 1986.

    Announcing the appointment, Professor Brian O’Neill, Director of Research, Enterprise and Innovation Services at DIT, said:

    “Fran Behan brings an extraordinary wealth of experience to innovation and enterprise support at Dublin Institute of Technology and I believe he will make a most distinguished contribution to DIT Hothouse. As part of his role as Adjunct Innovation Research Fellow, we look forward to his input into our strategic research plans and in venture panel meetings to review new start-up strategies. Where they are mutually beneficial to both Corning and DIT Hothouse, he will bring to bear his wide ranging scientific and technology-related contacts in relation to the industrialization of new start-ups."

    DIT Hothouse, which manages all incubation, knowledge transfer and research commercialisation activity across DIT, has an excellent track-record of achievement that exceeds that of many universities in Ireland, Europe and the US. DIT Hothouse has successfully commercialised DIT research in eight of the 14 key government Research Priority areas.

    On the incubation side, DIT Hothouse, in collaboration with IADT, manages the New Frontiers Entrepreneur Development Programme at DIT, a start-up programme for knowledge intensive businesses which, over the past 10 years, has assisted nearly 400 entrepreneurs to establish 260 sustainable businesses which now employ 1,300 knowledge-based workers, and have attracted over €154 million in equity investment.

    Mr. Behan is the first appointment to the role of Adjunct Innovation Research Fellow, which has been facilitated through the DIT Foundation.

    @ditofficial #Pauto #Ireland