High-voltage contactors for Europe.

Deliver safe and reliable switching performance of up to 1500VDC for fast charging and energy storage applications

TTI IP&E – Europe is now stocking the ECP series of high-voltage contactors from TE Connectivity, a world leader in connectors and sensors. The ECP150B, ECP250B, and ECP350B are hermetically sealed and allow bi-directional flow. The ECP series contactors come with a continuous current capacity of up to 500A and a maximum switch voltage of 1500VDC at 1000A in 30ms or less, meeting the safety robustness needs of high-voltage applications, including battery energy storage systems, solar inverters, and EV charging applications.

“The push for higher system voltages to improve power density and enhance efficiency while reducing installation costs continues,” says Dermot Byrne, Industry Marketing Director - Transportation at TTI Europe. “The ECP series contactors with high continuous current carrying capacity can be used in a wide range of applications where fast, safe, and reliable emergency disconnection of high DC voltages is required.”

With a compact form factor, measuring 104mm × 75mm × 108mm, and weighing approximately 1300g, these contactors are easy to handle and integrate into space-constrained designs. They feature a reliable dual coil design that automatically switches to 5W hold status after about 200ms energisation with 50W coil power, which minimises power consumption. The ECP series comes equipped with an auxiliary contact to monitor the power/main contact.

The enhanced insulation distance of the contactors fully meets the DC-1 utilisation category requirements in the UL/IEC60947-4-1 standard. All products within the ECP series are RoHS and ELV compliant with the EU Directives and come with UL, TUV, and CE certifications.

---

@ttiinc @TEConnectivity #PAuto #Manufacturing #Transport

BAC Certification secured.

The EnOcean SmartServer has been successfully certified by the BACnet Testing Laboratories (BTL). This milestone underscores the company´s commitment to delivering open, interoperable building automation solutions that meet global standards, expanding possibilities for customers worldwide.

BACnet certification verifies that SmartServer meets rigorous international standards for building automation and control networks. The certification ensures that the SmartServer offers customers several key benefits. It enables seamless integration with BACnet-certified devices, offering flexibility and eliminating reliance on proprietary systems. System integrators benefit from faster deployment into existing systems, reducing installation time and complexity. Long-term compatibility with BACnet’s global standard safeguards customer investments as the industry evolves. Independent testing has confirmed the reliability and compliance of SmartServer, minimizing implementation risks.

“The BACnet certification underscores our commitment to providing robust and future-proof solutions for building automation. Customers fully benefit from the SmartServer’s advanced capabilities with confidence in its interoperability and reliability,” emphasizes Rich Blomseth, Director of Product Management for EnOcean.

Technical excellence for seamless integration.
The SmartServer offers advanced features designed to simplify integration and enhance system performance. It provides multi-protocol support, including BACnet and LON for standard building automation networks, EnOcean for energy-harvesting wireless sensors and switches, Modbus for industrial control systems, and LoRaWAN for long-range IoT devices. With native support for EnOcean-based devices, SmartServer enables direct communication with battery-free sensors, ensuring seamless data collection and automation. In addition, the SmartServer enables universal data access. This allows users to consolidate data from multiple systems into a single management interface. Communication between different protocols is also possible and data formats can be standardized for seamless integration with analysis and optimization tools.

Versatile edge computing platform for building automation.
The BACnet certification strengthens the SmartServer as a versatile edge computing platform for building automation. EnOcean thus underscores it’s innovate strength and empowers building managers and system integrators to achieve seamless communication across diverse automation networks.

Bridging cloud intelligence and building automation.
The SmartServer plays a key role in reducing energy consumption. It connects cloud platforms like Undagrid and EnOcean Studio with existing building management systems. This bridge enables older properties to adopt modern building practices. By translating cloud insights into concrete actions, the SmartServer helps drive efficiency across HVAC and automation networks.

---

@EnOcean @BACnetIntl #Pauto #Environment #Standard

Contour measurement.

The new Leuze  ROD 300 series of laser scanners for accurate contour measurement and ROD 500 for precise AGV navigation have been introduced. These laser scanners in the ROD 300 series for contour measurement and the ROD 500 series as a high-resolution variant for navigation tasks are characterised by high scanning rates with simultaneously high angular resolution.

Whether on a conveyor or on an automated guided vehicle system: When sensors are used to detect contours, precision and attention to detail are what count. Leuze is launching two new laser scanner series that are perfectly suited for this. The devices of the ROD 300 series reliably detect contours even during fast production and logistics processes. Thanks to their high scanning rates and angular resolution, the laser scanners of the ROD 500 series are optimally suited for navigation tasks. Another advantage is the sensors' integrated window monitoring, which detects if the optics window becomes dirty. This enables predictive maintenance and contributes to high system availability.

With their high resolution of 0.025°, the laser scanners of the ROD 500 series can precisely determine the contour of parts, even with different surfaces (high-gloss or matt).  

Perfection in precision.
The devices of the ROD 300/500 series scan at a frequency of up to 80 Hz. This means that moving objects are reliably detected and the data quality remains optimal even at high speeds. With their high angular resolution of 0.025° at 10 Hz , the laser scanners of the ROD 500 series determine the contour of the parts even with high-gloss or matt surfaces. The new laser scanners can be integrated into almost all production processes. Their rugged design also contributes to this: protection class IP 67, high-quality aluminum base and the built-in laser diode make the ROD 300/500 laser scanners resistant to external influences. The sensors also work in temperature ranges from -30 °C to +60 °C. This makes them suitable for applications in both the deep-freeze sector and for high-temperature requirements, such as in battery production.

The laser scanners of the ROD 500 series can create a very precise map of the environment. In ongoing logistics operation, the ROD 500 is ideally suited for collision-free navigation of the FTS via natural navigation.

Natural Navigation made easy.
The new laser scanners can also be used for navigating driverless transport systems (DTS). They create a very precise map of the environment, such as the material storage area. In logistics applications, a scanner from the ROD 500 series enables collision-free AGV navigation via natural navigation. A further benefit from the compact design of the laser scanners, with dimensions of 80 x 80 x 80mm, is that the sensors can be integrated even into the small installation spaces of mobile vehicles.

If the integrated window monitoring detects that the window is dirty, it issues a maintenance notice. The warning threshold can be adjusted. This predictive maintenance contributes to high system availability.

---

@LeuzeUK @LeuzeUSA @mepaxIntPR #Manufacturing #Transport #Automation

Bus organisation directors.

The CAN in Automation (CiA) nonprofit association has re-elected its board of directors. 

Christian Schlegel (CHS Consulting), CiA Business Director, chairs the CiA Business Committee (BC), comprising five elected CiA members (Bosch, Emsa, ESD, Microcontrol, and Vector) and representatives of established CiA Marketing Groups. The BC proposes the annual budget and manages worldwide the CiA marketing activities.

Magnus-Maria Hell (Infineon), CiA Technical Director, leads the CiA Technical Committee (TC). Participants of the TC are five elected CiA members (Bosch, Emsa, ESD, Microcontrol, and Vector) and representatives of established CiA Interest Groups (IGs). This committee coordinates the development of CiA technical documents (specifications, guidelines, etc.).

Holger Zeltwanger is the re-elected CiA Managing Director, organizing the daily business of the nonprofit association promoting the internationally standardized CAN (Controller Area Network) serial communication system. This includes also CAN-based higher-layer protocols (HLP) such as CANopen, J1939, etc.

Magnus Hell, Christian Schlegel, Holger Zeltwanger

The CiA organisation comprises currently more than 700 members. The TC has established seven IGs: CANopen, CANopen FD, Profiles, Lower layers, J1939, Safety + security, and High availability. The IG “Ethernet on CAN” is in foundation. It is intended to specify the mapping of Ethernet frames to CAN frames. In the first step, a mapping to CAN FD frames is planned.

Additionally, CiA is establishing the Special Interest Group (SIG) “radar sensors”. It is planned to specify an application layer independent profile and the mapping to CANopen and J1939. Main use cases of these radar sensors are commercial road vehicles and off-highway as well as off-road vehicles. Automated-guided vehicles (AGV) und autonomous mobile robots (AMR) are other application options.

---

@CANopen #PAuto #Communcations

Data portal progress.

Data isn’t just the driver for project planning and design. The Eplan Data Portal offers users access to high-quality product catalogues from a continually growing pool of renowned component manufacturers. The portal has now passed the mark of more than two-million sets of static device data from around five hundred manufacturers! By using integrated configurators, users have far more than four million data sets at their fingertips. It’s a nearly limitless and ever-increasing variety of components that can quickly and easily be integrated into projects – and the data quality is naturally top notch.

Around five hundred manufacturers are represented in the Eplan Data Portal – and the numbers keep rising.

More than four million device data sets available means an enormous amount of variety for projects. However, it isn’t just the quantity, but rather the quality of the data. “Quantity and quality is something that goes hand in hand for us,” says Eplan Head of Content Quality Management Rainer Ackermann. “We have high expectations for the quality and completeness of the data sets so that we can offer our users the greatest possible added value. That’s also why we continue to work on the Eplan Data Standard, or EDS.” Manufacturers are also striving to meet these expectations of providing data sets that are as comprehensive as possible. This can include components for control cabinets, the 3D representation of a device, dimensions for drilling patterns, connection diagrams as well as commercial data, device numbers and text descriptions.

Siemens energy automation and building technology integrated.
Siemens has been represented in the Data Portal with energy automation and building automation products for many years. Now, protection and automation devices from the Siprotec 5 family have been added. Protection, automation, and monitoring of the power grid are essential for a resilient network. "We need a secure and reliable power supply to establish a sustainable infrastructure and achieve our net-zero goals," explains Stefan Werben, Portfolio Manager of Siprotec Medium Voltage Products at Siemens, adding: "We are pleased that we can now additionally support those customers who have chosen Eplan as their engineering platform to efficiently realize their projects in the construction, operation, and expansion of plants."

Sauter, a leading technology manufacturer in the field of building automation, system integration and building services, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and Freiburg, Germany, recently added to the Eplan Data Portal their ecos504/505 range of products for integrated room automation. “The positive feedback from our customers as well as from within our own company has motivated us to provide even more device data in the Eplan Data Standard,” says Sauter Head of Marketing and Product Management Peter Schoenenberger.

Rittal has stored around 7,300 devices in the Portal

A majority of the device data stored in the portal – 1.4 of more than 2 million components – are already available in the Eplan Data Standard. The EDS increases and guarantees the quality of the data sets so that they can be used efficiently – ideally from engineering through to production. Rittal has around 7,300 devices stored in the Eplan Data Portal – around 5,600 of them in the Eplan Data Standard. These include control cabinets, control cabinet accessories, Blue e+ climate control devices and more. 

There are almost no limits globally speaking as well: If a device data set is created using ECLASS as a step file in an IEC format (the European standard), the Eplan software automatically also supports the NFPA device data set (the American standard). With this multi-standard support in one single data set, macros can also be saved in accordance with various standards that the Eplan Electric P8 software then recognises automatically. Furthermore, modifiable data from configurators and selectors of various manufacturers can also be used. These have linked their product catalogues directly with the Eplan Data Portal.

Development continues Less visible but at least as important is the continued development of the data quality in the Eplan Data Portal. This year the focus is on preassembled cables. To ensure that machine cabling works as efficiently as possible with the new Eplan Cable proD solution, 3D data for the connectors is also being successively introduced. Technically speaking, functional improvements are also on the horizon: The Eplan Data Portal will be able to be directly integrated into local device management with the upcoming release of the new Eplan Platform 2026. This will again even further simplify selecting components and accelerate project planning and design work.

---

@EPLAN_global @siemensindustry @Rittal @mepaxIntPR #PAuto

Air leak detection.

New acoustic Imaging Camera helps professional inspectors locate smaller compressed air leaks faster and accurately.

The Si1-LD, an industrial acoustic imaging camera that brings faster and more accurate compressed air leak detection to those operating on a modest condition monitoring budget has been introduced by FLIR. The Si1-LD offers improved detection and quantification capabilities in comparison with the existing FLIR Si124-LD Plus, along with a higher upper limit frequency range.

Compressed air systems typically lose 25–30% of their air to leaks, resulting in proportionally higher energy bills, costly unplanned production stoppages, shorter compressor operating life, the need to purchase extra compressor capacity, and increased maintenance expenses for the additional equipment.

Leveraging the advantages of ultrasonic technology, the new FLIR Si1-LD pinpoints leaks with enhanced imaging sensitivity at an affordable price. It offers a number of stand-out capabilities and features:

• An array of 96 microphones (2–100 kHz) facilitates the automatic detection, location, and measurement of compressed air and vacuum leaks from a safe distance of up to 130 m. Support comes from a 12 MP color camera with 8× digital zoom and LED lamp, facilitating the easy capture of visual details.
• Bandpass filtering allows inspectors to effectively tune out any confusing and/or incorrect sources of ultrasound without manual tuning. Ideal for challenging leak detection applications where user input is advantageous, the inspector simply uses the bandpass filter to undertake manual tuning of the required frequency range and clearly displays the source of interest on very rare occasions when needed.
• Single-handed operation of the lightweight, compact FLIR Si1-LD ultrasonic imager and industry-leading AI makes for an easy-to-use device with minimal training perfect for fast-paced inspections across large facilities.
• The touch-screen interface displays high-resolution images for easy issue identification with real-time, on-device quantification in terms of leak volume flow rate and leak cost per year. Users can leverage this data to prioritize repairs. The data is also suitable for inclusion in sustainability reports as an indication of energy reduction initiatives.
• Wireless data transfer ensures seamless reporting/analytics options, using either the online FLIR Acoustic Viewer or offline FLIR Thermal Studio effortless data backup and organizational team sharing, while also providing the backbone for Over The Air (OTA) firmware updates. The software gives users the ability to create reports through pre-built or fully customizable templates.

“Many manufacturing and process plants are seeing their energy bills creep up through leaky compressed air systems, increasing OPEX [operational expenditure] and eroding margins,” said Darrell Taylor, Global Acoustic Business Development Manager at FLIR. “If you want to find leaks quickly and easily with minimal technician training, our new Si1-LD industrial acoustic imaging camera provides a fast and precise solution that supports sustainable manufacturing. As well as reduced energy consumption, the new device helps you save on maintenance, repair, operation, and capital/OPEX costs all while enhancing worker safety. With its minimum detected leak rate [MDLR] of 0.01 L/min at 2.5 m, our Si1-LD offers the market’s best combination of performance and ease-of-use in its price point.”

The new acoustic imaging camera comes with two batteries, additional battery cover, battery charger, camera neck strap, hard case, USB memory stick, access to free versions of online & offline acoustic analysis and reporting software, and two-year warranty. A new accessory is the data transfer cable. This handy cable allows users to connect directly from the camera to a PC/laptop, supporting easy file access at organizations that forbid the use of WiFi and USB drives. Users can upload their acoustic images into FLIR Thermal Studio software or the FLIR Acoustic Viewer

Two versions of the Si1-LD are available, with and without WiFi. All other features are the same.

---

@flir  @mepaxIntPR #Pauto

Smart Safety Test saves time and promotes efficiency.

BASF’s largest new construction project in China, the Zhanjiang Verbund Site Project (ZVSP), requires high personnel and time expenditures for tests, especially Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), Integration Factory Acceptance Test (IFAT) and loop tests. To reduce these efforts, BASF has opted for the HIMA Smart Safety Test, integral part of SILworX®, HIMA’s engineering, diagnostics and test tool which enables a flexible, automated test concept over the entire life cycle of a safety system.

Peter Sieber, Vice President Strategic Marketing of HIMA Group remarked: “This project is an excellent example of how close collaboration between a user and a solution vendor can create added value at project implementation and operation. It is also a prove of HIMA’s commitment supporting clients in making the complexity of functional safety more handable.”

The FAT and IFAT for the first segments of the plant was carried out traditionally. After the manual execution, it became clear that a new way needed to be followed in order to meet the high-ranking project objectives and to increase efficiency. This, amongst other aspects is born by the complexity of the start and stop sequences to be tested. So, the decision was made to automate future tests with the HIMA Smart Safety Test. By doing so, fully testing of all static functions as well as the sequences got automatically tested and the test evidence got created and documented automatically.

Reflecting timelines and dimensions of this capital investment of BASF in China, new ways of implementing the safety functionalities where required to achieve the project objectives while maintaining plant safety of the highest level achievable. Based on a close collaboration between BASF and HIMA engineers a new concept for testing and verification of safety functions got implemented across the entire project.

The new solution leads to a time saving and cost reduction. In addition, the test quality and accuracy of individual tests could be optimized. Based on that a lot of small deficiencies could be found and cleaned up during the process, which resulted in a faster FAT and IFAT. Test reports that comply with the specifications, reducing a large amount of documentation – including the handling of manual test reports.

The BASF team was highly satisfied with the project quality and delivery speed, and both parties are currently exploring how to apply the smart safety test during the upcoming loop tests and automatic proof testing during the plant operations.

---

#HIMA #PAuto #Safety China