Emerging technologies!

The Ireland Section's Emerging Technologies Conference 2025 was held in early April 2025 in Cork. It explored the upcoming technologies that are shaping the ICS industry particulary in the Pharma sector which is so innovative in the Munster (South of Ireland Province) area.

Industry leaders, experts and professionals, designers and users, met to explore the latest trends, innovations, and technologies shaping the future of automation.

Catching up!

The conference was very well attended and a large number of suppliers and consultatnt companies supported the event with small table top displays ath edge of the Conference area. During the breaks there was plenty of time for networking and discussion. As it was the first ISA event of any size since the restrictions of the Pandemic some years ago this interaction was more than appreciated by many renewing friendships and enjoying again face to face interaction.

A lot of this discussion centred on the new tarriff regulations announced the previous evening (Irish time) by the current USA Regime on the rest of the world with a palpable sigh of relief from those involved in the Pharma sector though tinged with some residual anxiety as to what might in store in the next few months.

The event was opened by Patrick Corbett, the newly elected* President of the Ireland Section of the International Society of Automation.

The event opened with a keynote presentation "Making Your Data Work For You!" co-presented by John McKeon and Patrick McCarthy, Gallarus Industry Solutions.

Michael Lawlor and Conor O’Sullivan of Sanofi discussed "Equipment Digital Twin – From Concept to Reality"

Some of the speakers in full flow!

Tom Doyle of Fortinet, a Platinum Sponsor of the event, then made their Showcase Presentation.

Ciarán Ó Drisceoil, Associate Director Digital Plant at Lilly gave a users view of the Challenges and opportunities of IT/OT integration in life sciences using ISA Standards (ISA 95).

Industrial AI – A New Industrial Revolution was the especially current topic from Deon van Aardt of AVEVA (SolutionsPT)

MTP was the subject addressed by Rockwell's Jim Butler with Enhancing Manufacturing Flexibility and Efficiency with Module Type Package.

Pio Murphy discussed the practical zapplication with "RTMS Digital Plant enabling Lilly Kinsale Operational Excellence." Kinsale is the location of a long established plant by the American Pharma company Eli Lilly.

Global software innovator Compucal's CEO, Dónal O'Sullivam, gave a study of an Asset Management Digital Transformation Project with Hanley Calibration Services.

A very interesting and relevent talk on today's innovation topic was "Upcoming Regulation for Users to Test Safety Functions," was given by Services & Support Manager at Pilz, Michael Gyilfoyle. This is particularly relevent in view of regulations and directives eminating from the European Commission.

Networking at the edges!

Digitalisation, getting ready for renewable gas was the interesting talk given by Frank Smiddy from Gas Networks Ireland, where he showed just how far this is changing our use of fuels.

Finally Liam Deasy and Seán Wallace of NeoDyne examined Driving Success in Digital Transformation.

All in all ISA Ireland organising committee are to be congratulated on the smooth organisation of this event. It was a worthy successor to events like this organised by the section in its almos 50 years of existance and a good portent for future events.

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* See "Passing the Chain!" (18/3/2025)

@IrelandISA @ISA_Automation #PAuto #TandM #Pharma #Ireland