Quality assurance inspection.

Imaging built for automation, not adapted to it..

The Flir A6450 Long-Life Cooled MWIR Camera Seriesa is a new thermal imaging solution purpose-built for continuous industrial automation, process control, and non-destructive testing applications. Designed to overcome long-standing barriers to deploying cooled thermal cameras in production environments, the A6450 combines industry-leading long-life cooling, high-speed MWIR performance, and automation-ready integration enabling manufacturers and system integrators to deploy high-performance thermal imaging in true 24/7 operations.

“Historically, the timing and cost of maintaining cooled thermal cameras limited their use in production line applications,” said Matthew Hasty, Global Vertical Director Automation for Flir. “With the A6450, we’ve fundamentally changed that equation delivering long-life cooled MWIR performance that manufacturers can confidently deploy across continuous production processes.”

At the core of the A6450 is a revolutionary, HOT MWIR detector paired with an industry-leading linear cooler, delivering up to 27,000 hours of operational life. This extended lifespan dramatically reduces the need for annual maintenance, enabling manufacturers to shift from short service intervals to multi-year operational planning. By reducing downtime, service costs, and operational risk, the A6450 transforms cooled MWIR cameras from specialized inspection tools into reliable, long-term automation assets.

The A6450 is designed for applications where timing is critical. With a 125 Hz frame rate, the camera accurately captures fast thermal events and subtle temperature variations on moving products capabilities essential for non-destructive testing, process monitoring, and inline quality assurance.

High thermal sensitivity allows users to detect early-stage defects, material inconsistencies, or process deviations before they propagate downstream, helping reduce scrap, rework, and unplanned downtime.

Built on proven industry-recognized Flir A6700-Series electronics, the A6450 supports GigE Vision®, GenICam®, and other industry-standard protocols, enabling seamless integration into existing automation systems. Customer-driven interfaces, commands, and triggers, allow system integrators to deploy the camera quickly without custom development.

For pre-deployment testing and validation, the A6450 offers plug-and-play compatibility with Flir Research Studio, enabling users to test, tune, and validate inspection setups before full system integration.

To support diverse manufacturing environments, the A6450 offers a flexible, high-performance optics portfolio and extensive calibration options. Users can store hundreds of calibration profiles directly on the camera, making it easy to support multiple products, materials, and inspection scenarios especially in facilities with frequent changeovers. This flexibility allows one camera platform to support a wide range of applications across production lines, which reduces hardware complexity and increases deployment efficiency.

The A6450 supports automation strategies that improve product quality, reduce manual inspection labor, and minimize risk. Continuous thermal monitoring helps identify seal defects, material deformities, and other critical quality issues by revealing subtle temperature variations that indicate incomplete bonding, uneven curing, or process instability. By detecting overheating, process drift, or equipment stress early, manufacturers can intervene sooner helping prevent defects from escalating downstream and delivering safer operations with more consistent quality outcomes.

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@flir @mepaxIntPR  #PAuto #TandM

Particle analysis acquisition.

Optical inline systems group strengthen process analysis portfolio.

Endress+Hauser has acquired SOPAT, a Germany-based specialist in inline process measurement technology, retaining the company’s staff in Berlin and Chemnitz (D). This has further expanded its portfolio of measurement instruments, solutions and services for process analysis.

SOPAT and its subsidiary Parsum now come under Endress+Hauser’s liquid analysis product centre, based in Gerlingen, Germany. “The particle characterisation systems developed by SOPAT complement our existing portfolio by adding a range that is strategically important in terms of our core target industries,” said Endress+Hauser Liquid Analysis Managing Director Dr Thomas Buer.

Smart concept.

SOPAT GmbH was founded in Berlin in 2012 by Jörn Emmerich and Dr Sebastian Maaß. In 2022, it acquired Parsum in Chemnitz, a maker of inline particle size analysis systems founded in 1997. SOPAT and its subsidiary Parsum now have a combined workforce of 30. The co-founders, are to stay on as members of the SOPAT company’s management team.

SOPAT’s smart systems use a photo-optical image-based inline technology to analyse particles, droplets and bubbles in running processes in real time. The technology measures particle sizes and shapes without sampling or dilution, thereby enabling precision process monitoring, faster response times and enhanced product quality. Parsum probes, on the other hand, use a laser beam in combination with fiber-optic spatial filtering to analyse particle size and particle speed distributions, particularly for solids, powders and granulates.

Improved process insights.

Customers in multiple industries, including life sciences, food & beverage and mining, minerals & metals, use particle counting and analysis to ensure product quality. “This step is a continuation of our strategy and strengthens our analysis portfolio. We can now provide even better support for our customers across the board, from laboratory to production process,” Dr Thomas Buer said.

“Our strength lies in our combination of scientific precision and industrial practicability. As part of the Endress+Hauser Group, we can progress innovations through to broad-based industrial use more rapidly and hence contribute to more stable and resource-efficient processes worldwide,” commented SOPAT’s Jörn Emmerich. 

Co-founder Dr Sebastian Maaß added: “Accurate, reliable data taken directly from production processes gives our customers the improved process insights they need to effectively drive sustainable process optimisation in response to rising energy and raw material costs.” 

 Endress+Hauser acquired SOPAT effective 1 January 2026. Both parties have agreed to keep the details of the sale confidential.  

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@Endress_Hauser @Endress_UK @Endress_US #PAuto

Mission to zero progress.

Electrified, energy-efficient production upgrades improve energy productivity while strengthening operational stability .

ABB is advancing its Mission to Zero™ program at its Sasbach manufacturing site in Germany, demonstrating how on-site renewable energy, electrification and digital energy management can deliver meaningful emissions reductions while strengthening energy resilience.

The Sasbach site manufactures enclosures and energy distribution systems for local and regional markets, supporting ABB’s production footprint in Germany. As part of ABB’s global Mission to Zero™ program, the site is implementing a data-led decarbonization roadmap focused on energy efficiency, renewable electricity and smart energy management. Sasbach is one of 37 ABB sites worldwide currently participating in the program, which aims to significantly reduce operational emissions across ABB’s global footprint.

With manufacturing and production accounting for around one-fifth of global carbon emissions, improving energy efficiency and accelerating electrification are critical to achieving European climate targets. The Sasbach site shows how manufacturers can reduce emissions while maintaining reliable, competitive operations.

Taken together, the actions implemented at the Sasbach site deliver total CO₂ savings of approximately 3,786 tons. This includes around 2,700 tons of CO₂ savings from the purchase of certified renewable electricity from the grid, alongside annual emissions reductions of approximately 1,086 tons of CO₂ delivered through on-site measures. Of these yearly on-site savings, around 550 tons of CO₂ per year come from on-site solar generation, which has been expanded. The site now operates 3,410 photovoltaic modules, generating around 1,500 megawatt-hours of electricity annually. This is enough to supply approximately 400 homes for a year.

On-site generation will cover close to one-third of the site’s total electricity demand, reducing exposure to volatile energy prices and enhancing long-term energy security. A newly installed transformer station ensures stable and efficient integration of the renewable electricity into the site’s power infrastructure. The remaining reductions are achieved through electrified production upgrades, energy efficiency measures, and digital energy management. Together, these actions are strengthening energy resilience and supporting stable, reliable day-to-day operations.

ABB's Sasbach Plant.

“What we are doing at Sasbach shows how Mission to Zero™ works in practice,” said Mike Mustapha, President, ABB Electrification’s Smart Buildings Division. “By investing in on-site renewables, electrifying our processes and using digital energy management, the site is reducing emissions while also improving energy resilience and day-to-day operational stability. This kind of practical progress is what will matter most for manufacturers navigating the energy transition.”

In parallel, ABB has continued to modernize production processes to reduce energy demand at source. A new powder-coating facility has expanded production capacity while significantly lowering energy requirements. Designed across two levels, the facility incorporates heat recovery and operates with substantially lower installed heating capacity than conventional systems, supporting both efficiency gains and production reliability.

Additional efficiency measures across the site include full LED lighting in production areas, building automation via the ABB i-bus® KNX, waste heat recovery from compressed air systems, and optimized process controls. Twenty-one onsite electric vehicle (EV) charging stations support low-emission mobility for employees and visitors.

Together, these initiatives have significantly improved energy productivity compared with 2019 levels, while helping stabilize operations and reduce operating costs. ABB's Building Automation System (BMS) and energy management solutions bring these measures together, providing real-time visibility into energy use and enabling continuous improvement and data-driven decision-making that supports efficiency, resilience, and operational stability.

Building on these achievements, ABB has defined a clear roadmap for the next phase of decarbonization at Sasbach. Battery storage systems are planned to store excess solar electricity and support production during peak demand and night shifts. Gas-based heating systems are being progressively replaced with electric heat-pump solutions, reducing reliance on fossil fuels over time. The site is also evaluating the potential for on-site wind generation to further strengthen energy self-sufficiency in the future.

The Sasbach site joins ABB’s growing global network of Mission to Zero™ locations spanning Europe, the Americas and Asia. Mission to Zero™ began as a local initiative at ABB’s Lüdenscheid factory in Germany and has since scaled globally. Together, Mission to Zero™ sites are already reducing more than 60,000 tons of CO2e emissions from our operations per year, demonstrating how electrification, digitalization and energy efficiency can deliver measurable progress toward low-carbon manufacturing.

Through continued investment in renewable electricity, electrified processes, and smart energy management, ABB’s Sasbach site is becoming a future-ready manufacturing location that combines environmental responsibility with strong operational performance, supporting a more resilient and efficient industrial base for the region.

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@ABBgroupnews @abb_automation @admiralpr #PAuto #Sustainability #Germany

Space saving indicators.

With standard and custom illuminated bi-color graphics, providing a clear user interface in a very compact form factor.

The new DUAL ICON series 14mm panel-mount LED indicators from APEM, join their established line of dual-indicating pushbuttons. Bi-color dual indication provides a compact yet durable option for delivering more information to users of industrial, commercial, marine, and other equipment. DUAL ICON indicators are an elegant way to provide enhanced operational information to the user, without the need to resort to more complex and expensive digital interfaces.

Many applications entail presenting multi-state information to users, but control panels are limited in space. Digital displays are sometimes a possibility, although they represent a costly, complex, and even fragile approach. LED indicators are a familiar and highly visible component, and APEM DUAL ICON indicators provide double the information in a clear and efficient package, streamlining solutions.

A robust threaded barrel with anti-rotation D-cut is sized to fit industry-standard holes and panels, consuming minimal back-of-panel space. The flush bezel—made of plated brass and featuring black E-coat—seals the front of the device to provide an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, and it will withstand salt spray, humidity, extreme temperatures, and shock/vibration.

Green and red filters combine with vivid LED lighting to produce a 120° viewing angle with three different operational states: off, green icon/image, and red icon/image. Custom designs are possible, but several standard configurations are available to support many common applications:

• Green “I” for on, red “O” for off
• Green “ON”, red “OFF”
• Green “START”, red “STOP”
• Green battery full icon, red battery low icon
• Green left arrow, red right arrow

DUAL ICON indicators are available with solder FASTON terminals or three 200mm long flying leads. They are designed for nominal 12V DC operation compatible with most vehicles and industrial equipment, and typically draw just 20mA for energy efficiency. Solid state design delivers a life expectancy of 100,000 hours. DUAL ICON indicators meet the requirements for UL Recognition and other industry-relevant standards.

OEM and industrial designers should find many usability and performance advantages by integrating APEM DUAL ICON indicators into their products as an effective operator interface solution.

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@APEM_HMI @APEMINC @IDECUSA #PAuto #OEM

Redefining test development, productivity and efficiency.

Milestone with enhanced Ai for Flagship Test and Measurement software platform.

An updated version of NI Nigel™ AI, the industry’s first test-optimised AI technology, as well as new capabilities across its NI LabVIEW+ Suite have been announced by Emerson. This iteration of Nigel AI introduces code completion and contextual awareness of test projects and local hardware to further accelerate test development. Nigel AI is available through the LabVIEW+ Suite, a complete set of purpose-built tools created to aid test engineers with built-in expertise at their fingertips.

“We recognise that the role of an engineer is far more than just programming,” said Rudy Sengupta, vice president and general manager, NI test and analytics software, Emerson. “That’s why we created the LabVIEW+ Suite, to serve test professionals in a more comprehensive and intuitive way. The suite lets engineers carry context, configurations and data with them as they switch from task to task, saving significant time and empowering them to focus on the most valuable parts of their role."

The new technology reflects Emerson’s vision of reimagining productivity in the age of AI, empowering test engineers to keep pace with rising expectations for speed and efficiency while unlocking new levels of innovation through tools designed expressly for their work. This iteration builds on the initial release of Nigel AI last year with new capabilities. To better serve engineers, it has been taught test system design, test methodologies and test data analysis.

Nigel AI now has a code completion feature that suggests several intelligent next-step options during development, helping engineers select the best choice for their workflow while saving valuable programing time and avoiding potential errors. Nigel AI also gains contextual awareness of NI LabVIEW™ projects and the ability to review NI TestStand™ sequences and access local hardware, giving engineers context-rich support that accelerates development and improves accuracy.

Further enhancements to the LabVIEW+ Suite are designed to serve the large, global community of users with new features that enhance productivity and help to meet the most challenging test requirements.

New features in this release include:

• Modern user interfaces leveraging new web technologies in LabVIEW and TestStand.
• Improved debugging workflows in LabVIEW with better source code control integration.
• Containerisation through Docker Desktop™ support for Windows™ improving CI/CD pipelines.
• Installer enhancements for faster set-up.

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@EmersonExchange @Emerson_News @EMR_Automation @NIglobal #TandM #Ai

The importance of half a degree!

Roughly 80% of the world’s data centres still rely on air cooling. Fixing a ‘half-degree’ error there can avoid around $805 million (€678m)  in cooling waste every year, about $8 billion (€6.78b) over a decade, based on moderate 10 MW sites. Origo is a next-generation modular measurement platform designed to transform environmental monitoring in data centres and other mission-critical buildings from Vaisala.

Why half a degree matters.
A temperature sensor off by just 0.5 °C (32.9 °F) might sound trivial, but for example in a 10 MW data centre, that small error can cost more than $800,000 (€678,190) in wasted cooling energy over ten years. In life science cleanrooms, for example, the stakes are even higher: any critical environmental parameter such as temperature or relative humidity can compromise product integrity or research outcomes, with losses that go far beyond energy costs.

There are an estimated 12,000 data centres worldwide, with the U.S. and Europe accounting for more than a half. While liquid and hybrid cooling are growing fast for high density AI workloads, air cooling remains the universal foundation of data centre thermal management. It provides the room-level baseline cooling every facility needs, while liquid cooling adds targeted, high efficiency heat removal for the hottest racks. As a result, hybrid architectures —air for space, liquid for the densest loads— are now standard in both new builds and retrofit projects.

Impact at scale.

Reliable, precise measurement is critical for optimizing air-cooled environments. “Generic sensors with ±0.5 °C accuracy drive overcooling and energy waste, costing operators tens of thousands of dollars annually. Origo’s precise ±0.1°C and ±1 %RH accuracy and stable measurements reduce unnecessary cooling while ensuring the reliable environmental control that critical facilities depend on. It translates to performance that pays for itself in months and protects uptime for years to come,” says Anu Kätkä, Vaisala’s Product Line Manager for HVAC and Critical Buildings.

Applied at global scale, eliminating the “half-degree” error across today’s predominantly air-cooled installed base — roughly 80% of the world’s ~12,000 data centres — would avoid around $805 million in wasted cooling energy every year, totaling approximately $8 billion (€678b) over a decade.

With data centres consuming about 1.5% of global energy, and demand set to more than double by 2030, precision sensing is essential to keep energy use and emissions in check while safeguarding IT performance.

For today and tomorrow.
Origo is engineered for simplicity and long-term adaptability. Its modular design enables monitoring of multiple parameters through Vaisala’s compatible probes, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and dew point sensors, on the same platform. This flexibility makes Origo a future-proof solution that adapts to evolving measurement requirements also in other critical environments such as cleanrooms, life science applications, and semiconductor manufacturing.

Origo ensures accurate measurements and dependable performance throughout its service life, helping operators protect processes, reduce risk, and optimize resources. Its field‑replaceable probes allow quick on‑site updates with minimal interruption. Vaisala’s wide range of services, from accredited calibrations to technical support, is available to complement on‑site expertise.

Key facts briefly.
• The world runs on approximately 12,000 data centres; U.S. + Europe together represent well over a half of all sites
• Air cooling remains a standard baseline for most facilities; liquid is growing fast for high-density AI, often in hybrid setups
• A 0.5 °C error can cost a 10 MW data centre more than $800,000 (€678,190) in cooling energy over 10 years
• Vaisala Origo delivers ±0.1 °C temperature accuracy and ±1 %RH humidity accuracy for stable, reliable environmental control
• Modular design and multi‑parameter capability suit critical environments such as data centres, cleanrooms, hospitals, production facilities, and semiconductor environments.

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@_Enviro_News #DataCentres #Cooling #PAuto

Emergency call certification for Europe.

Anruitsu's Hybrid eCall evaluation solution, featuring the eCall Tester MX703330E, has obtained industry-first*1 European EN 18052:2025 certification following testing by cetecom advanced, a leader in electronic equipment certification. The certification confirms reliable end to end validation of Hybrid eCall systems operating across 2G and 3G circuit-switched and 4G packet-switched networks.

This certification enables automotive manufacturers and suppliers to more efficiently validate Hybrid eCall systems in line with European regulatory requirements, supporting robust emergency call performance across mixed network environments.

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* For Hybrid eCall-compatible PSAP simulators (Anritsu survey, January 2026)

See also:
• Reliable emergency calls anywhere, from 2G/3G to 4G. (7/10/2025)
• Emergency call test solution selected. (21/1/2026)

@Anritsu @AnritsuEMEA @NapierPR #Automotive #TandM #Europe