Cybersecure custody transfer for hydrocarbons.

A cybersecure, scalable architecture helps operators improve operational continuity, reduce lifecycle complexity and build a resilient foundation for future growth.

Emerson's DeltaV™ FB3000 remote terminal unit (RTU) technology has been extended to provide midstream energy companies with a strategic automation foundation for standardising liquids operations. New liquids capabilities, proving and batch management functionality will help operators deliver a cybersecure, unified approach to measurement, control and operational visibility, strengthening confidence in critical transactions.

The midstream liquids market has traditionally faced limited options for reliable liquids measurement with proven batching capability. As sparse options have offered limited updates and supply chain and availability issues, pipelines transporting crude oil, refined petroleum products, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas liquids, condensate, specialty chemicals and liquid hydrocarbons have struggled to maintain and prove accurate measurement, standardise and automate processes across assets and facilities, and improve cybersecurity standards to meet increasing scrutiny and regulation in the hydrocarbon industry. The DeltaV FB3000 RTU – well-known in the industry for bringing gas measurement, control, communications and cybersecurity together on one common platform – now supports integrated proving and batch management functionality for liquids.

These enhancements help companies standardise liquids and gas measurement, control, communications and cybersecurity on a common platform. Operators can standardise processes across hydrocarbon pipelines, gathering systems, terminals, storage facilities and production assets into a single scalable architecture that reduces complexity, leads to consistent cybersecurity practices and supports phased modernisation efforts.

“Many operators continue to manage liquids measurement, control and communications through separate systems that increase complexity and long-term costs,” said Aaron Boettcher, vice president and general manager for Emerson’s energy and transportation solutions business. “The DeltaV FB3000 RTU helps simplify that environment by consolidating these critical functions into a single, scalable platform. With Emerson’s ability to mobilise local automation expertise around the world, operators can standardise assets, accelerate modernisation efforts and position their operations to better adapt to evolving business and regulatory requirements.”

Advanced Pulse Module and proving and batch management functionality in the DeltaV FB3000 RTU help operators improve measurement integrity and streamline operational workflows. In addition, Zero Trust-centred cybersecure-by-design architecture helps protect critical measurement data throughout the custody transfer lifecycle. Global lifecycle support helps oil and gas operators improve performance, better manage maintenance and lifecycle costs, and build a flexible, secure foundation for expansion, operational improvements, new product additions, updates and upgrades.

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@EmersonExchange @AspenTech @Emerson_News @EMR_Automation  @HHC_Lewis #PAuto #Oil_Gas 

Towards cost effective drive systems.

A competence centre for energy efficiency. 

Nord Drivesystems helps system operators to design drive solutions tailored to their application, thus making targeted use of efficiency potential. For this purpose, the company provides a competence centre with specific consultation services. Energy-efficient drive systems reduce energy consumption and thus the energy costs of the respective systems. Users can benefit from this consultation expertise.

Optimising energy and operating costs for drive systems.
During its TCO consultation (TCO = total cost of ownership), the system provider evaluates all costs across the components’ life cycle and recommends how drive systems should be optimally sized to ensure cost-effective energy and cost management. This encompasses all costs associated with the purchase, operation, potential maintenance and recycling of a drive system.

Spotting savings potential.
With its Nord ECO service, the drive specialist supports companies in the energy-efficient optimisation of applications through retrofitting. As a first step, users can use the Nord ECO Quick Calculator online to estimate whether upgrading to a higher efficiency class is worthwhile and determine the expected break-even point for a retrofit.

Nord ECO then provides a real-time analysis of the application’s energy consumption. The system is installed between the drive and the power supply. Over a period of two months, it records data on sustained loads, peak loads and irregular operating conditions. In this way, Nord provides transparency regarding the energy that is actually used and that which is not. On this basis, the system provider draws up a proposal for the drive design, which can be used to improve the system’s performance and efficiency.

Configuration of drive systems with high efficiency.
Finally, Nord offers components that enable customers to put the recommendations into practice. Well-known examples are the IE5+ synchronous motor and the integrated gear unit/motor concept DuoDrive. In both cases, permanent-magnet synchronous motors achieve a high level of efficiency that exceeds that of the highest energy efficiency class (IE5). They also deliver constant torque across a wide speed range. This makes it possible to reduce the number of variants.

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@NORD_Drive @mepaxIntPR #Sustainability #PAuto

A Strategic European Champion in industrial robotics.

Industrial robots support advanced manufacturing processes across strategic industries with their variety, speed and precision.

As European nations increase investments in security, the ability to manufacture strategically important systems within Europe has become a critical priority. From aerospace systems, communication equipment, batteries and advanced sensor technologies, modern defence manufacturing increasingly depends on highly automated and resilient production. In this environment, Stäubli offers significant strategic value as Europe's leading robotics manufacturer.

Supporting European industrial sovereignty.
Robotics is an industry in transition. In the past decade, ownership of Europe's largest industrial robot manufacturers has shifted outside the continent. German manufacturer KUKA has been fully owned by China's Midea Group since 2022. Comau, founded in Italy, came under majority ownership of a U.S. private equity firm, One Equity Partners, in 2025. Swedish-Swiss ABB Group agreed in 2025 to sell its robotics division to Japan’s SoftBank Group (see also "Robotics Divested!" 5/11/20267).

Industrial robots are essential to modern manufacturing and play a critical role not only in defence and security, but also in sectors ranging from semiconductors and pharmaceuticals to automotive and energy. As European companies across sectors seek to reduce dependencies and improve supply chain resilience, Stäubli—as the last major manufacturer of industrial robots to remain independently European-owned—offers a trusted source of advanced automation technology.

Stäubli’s European operations have been anchored in Faverges (F) for over a century. Today, the Robotics Division’s core development and manufacturing are centred there, combining engineering excellence with local production capabilities, ensuring direct customer support, secure supply chains, and long-term technological independence. Its presence helps ensure that critical industrial capabilities remain developed, produced and supported within Europe.

Driving innovation and delivering trusted technology.
For decades, Stäubli has been recognised for its expertise in highly demanding sectors such as life sciences, semiconductor manufacturing, electronics, aerospace, and clean energy. The company's high-performance industrial robots are known worldwide for their precision, reliability, cleanroom capabilities and long service life, which make them particularly well suited for mission-critical production environments. In strategically sensitive sectors, Stäubli's independent European ownership offers an additional layer of confidence: reduced exposure to shifting export controls and geopolitical risk, and a supply chain that remains accountable within Europe.

A strategic asset for Europe's future.
As Industry 4.0 and sustainable manufacturing continue to accelerate, robotics will play an increasingly important role in Europe's economic future. Stäubli represents far more than a successful industrial company. It reflects European engineering expertise, technological innovation, industrial capabilities, and a strong commitment to long-term competitiveness, all of which contribute to Europe's evolving industrial landscape.

At a time when strategic technologies are advancing rapidly across the globe, the continued development of a strong European robotics ecosystem remains an important factor in supporting industrial innovation and competitiveness. Stäubli's ongoing growth contributes to the expansion of advanced manufacturing capabilities, supports efforts to strengthen industrial value chains, and reinforces Europe's position as a leading participant in the global industrial sector for years to come.

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@StaubliRobots @EU_Growth @PresseBox @UnnGmbh #Robotics #PAuto #Robotics #Europe

New MD appointed for electronics group.

Nick Bartholomew has been appointed Managing Director of Lane Electronics and Weald Electronics, a long-established manufacturer of rugged circular connectors serving the aerospace, motorsport, industrial and transportation markets.

Nick Bartholomew 

Nick brings more than 26 years of senior leadership experience in defence, rail and aerospace prime contracting. He has led major business units and programme teams operating in complex, safety-critical environments. His career spans sales, contracts, purchasing, operations and major transformation programmes, giving him deep insight into customer expectations, supply-chain performance and the technical demands of mission-critical markets.

A Sussex native, Nick is passionate about strengthening UK manufacturing supply chain resilience, accelerating product innovation and driving growth in fast-paced, high-reliability markets. He is particularly excited to lead two organisations renowned for customer service, technical expertise, customisation and responsive delivery.

Outside work, Nick lives in Sussex with his wife, Sarah, and their three daughters. He is a long-standing Brighton & Hove Albion supporter and an enthusiastic padel player and paddleboarder.

Nick Bartholomew says: “I am energised by the opportunity to lead Lane Electronics and Weald Electronics into their next phase of growth, building on strong foundations and expanding their presence in existing and emerging markets. A key opportunity is to bring our motorsport experience to a wider range of sectors, helping customers meet demanding connectivity requirements where reliability, customisation and responsive delivery matter.”

Lane Electronics supplies LF, power, RF and fibre-optic connectors and cable assemblies that are widely used in defence and security applications. It is a franchised distributor for many of the industry’s leading electrical and electronic connector manufacturers, including Eaton Souriau, HUBER+SUHNER, Weald Electronics, HellermannTyton, IEH, Positronic, Axon’, Nicomatic and LEMO. The company has supplied connectivity solutions for more than 60 years. 

With design, manufacturing and test facilities at its Slinfold Lodge headquarters in Sussex, Weald Electronics can tailor connector solutions to meet customers’ specific requirements on short lead times. It also provides bespoke, value-added electrical and optical termination services for connector products.

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@FC_Lane @proactivefleet  #PAuto #Electrical

Automation and health partnership announced.

The International Society of Automation (ISA) and the Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) Society — a society supporting the international PHM community across all sectors and domains — have signed a technical partnership agreement to advance their shared goals.

The two organisations have agreed to plan for contributions to the other’s events and to collaborate on standards development. As an ANSI-accredited Standards Developing Organization (SDO), ISA can identify existing ISA committees where PHM experts can participate and create new standards writing committees where both organisations agree that technical areas overlap.

Claire Fallon

"This partnership brings together two communities that depend on reliable, data-driven insight into industrial systems," said Claire Fallon, CEO of ISA. "By working with the PHM Society, we can connect our standards and certification expertise with their research and practitioner network, which benefits members on both sides."

The PHM Society holds conferences in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region bringing together original equipment manufacturers, technology companies, academic institutions, and public research and development organisations. The Society also carries out professional development programs that add value to the broader PHM community.

ISA hosts the ISA Automation Summit & Expo and the Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity Summit each year, in addition to developing widely used global standards and conformity assessment programs, certifying professionals, providing education and training, and publishing books and technical articles. It also offers networking and career development programs for members and customers worldwide.

"The PHM Society seeks technical partnerships that create mutual value, and ISA's automation expertise is a strong match for our goals," said Andrew Hess, president of the PHM Society. “We look forward to collaborating on programs that serve engineers, researchers, and organisations working in prognostics and health management."

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@phmsociety @ISA_Automation @automation_com #Health #Automation

Robotics divested!

ABB has announced that it had signed an agreement to divest its Robotics division to SoftBank Group Corp. (SoftBank) for an enterprise value of $5.375 billion (€4.75b).

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The process to obtain the regulatory approvals is managed by SoftBank. ABB confirms that it has been informed by SoftBank that the Office of the Working Mechanism for Foreign Investment Security Review in China has prohibited the acquisition of the ABB Robotics business in China. ABB and SoftBank are in close dialogue and are working constructively on the transaction.

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@ABBRobotics @SoftBank_Group @ABBgroupnews @abb_automation #PAuto #Robotics

Rugged tablet is tops in Ai.

The new Durabook R12 available from Bressner combines rugged tablet technology with up to 412 TOPS of Ai computing performance for demanding industrial and mobile field applications. Unveiled last month (Oct 2026) the new system combines high-performance Ai computing with an exceptionally rugged design, making it ideal for demanding applications in industrial environments, defense, public safety, and field service operations. The R12 is now available from Bressner.

Powerful Edge Ai for demanding applications.
Powered by an Intel® Core™ Ultra Series 3 processor (Panther Lake), the Durabook R12 delivers up to 180 TOPS of integrated Ai performance through its combined CPU, GPU, and NPU architecture. With the optional Nvidia® RTX™ 2000 Ada GPU, total Ai computing performance increases to an impressive 412 TOPS. This enables demanding Ai workloads, image and video analysis, and sensor data processing to be performed directly in the field, without relying on a continuous cloud connection.

The 12.2-inch WUXGA display (1920 × 1200) features DynaVue® technology and delivers up to 1,200 nits of brightness, ensuring excellent readability even in direct sunlight. Optional multi-touch functionality supports different operating modes, including glove, stylus, and wet-touch input. 

Rugged, versatile, and built for the field.
The R12 meets MIL-STD-810H requirements, withstands drops from heights of up to 1.83 meters, and features an IP66 rating for protection against dust and powerful water jets. With an operating temperature range of –29°C to +63°C, along with MIL-STD-461G and ANSI/UL Class I, Division 2 certifications, the tablet is well suited for extreme industrial and security-critical environments.

For seamless integration into existing infrastructures, the tablet offers two Thunderbolt™ 4 ports, USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and optional 5G/4G LTE connectivity. Modular expansion options allow additional interfaces and card readers to be integrated according to specific application requirements.

The dual-battery design with optional hot-swap functionality supports uninterrupted field operations and provides up to 20 hours of battery life when equipped with two high-capacity batteries. An optional detachable keyboard transforms the tablet into a versatile 2-in-1 computing solution.

Combining rugged hardware, powerful Ai capabilities, and flexible configuration options, the Durabook R12 is ideally suited for applications such as industrial condition monitoring, mobile maintenance operations, AI-powered image analysis, and tactical deployments in the defense sector.

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@BRESSNER_Tech @DURABOOK  @UnnGmbh @PresseBox #PAuto