60 years of connectivity and connections.

Built on the principle of establishing direct personal relationships with customers

F C Lane Electronics is celebrating 60 years of trading since their foundation on 12th of April 1966. The company was established by the much-respected Fred Lane (1931-2024), who had previously been running a division of an electronic components business dealing in a variety of device types and selling across the Britain as well as to several overseas markets.

One of the primary reasons why FC Lane has been so successful for so long was Fred Lane’s original vision to specialise in just one type of component - the connector.

Time has shown this to be a wise decision as connectors are an essential part of almost every electronic product or system manufactured. As the electronics industry rapidly evolved throughout the decades that followed, the connector industry developed newer, more sophisticated, and smaller products to keep pace with and help the industry’s development process. From day one, Fred Lane ensured his company remained at the forefront of interconnection technology.

Starting life in outbuildings behind a public house provided few clues to how they would develop into the multi-million-pound operation it is today. But, as any good businessman knows, careful planning from day one allows a business to spend valuable resources on the right things – people and products. This is a philosophy that Fred Lane followed throughout his personal leadership, and which today sees FC Lane Electronics employ 70 people with a finished product and parts inventory level approaching nine million pounds.

The company quickly expanded into premises in the centre of Horsham in a building due for short-term redevelopment before finding its eventual home - Slinfold Lodge. Combining traditional office environments with modern assembly and test facilities, Slinfold Lodge itself, is an imposing country house set in its own grounds and is surrounded by a golf course. Slinfold Lodge remains to this day the headquarters for FC Lane Electronics and its sister connector manufacturing company, Weald Electronics.

Nick Wheeler, Sales Director of Lane Electronics, says, “Our success continues Fred Lane’s principle of building direct personal relationships with our customers, offering a wide range of products, high levels of customer service and supply adaptability, adding value to our customer’s supply chains. We have very long-standing relationships with our suppliers, such as that of our forty years of working with EATON Souriau, which reflects our deep knowledge and experience of the connector market” .

Lane Electronics connectivity solutions include RF and Fibre-Optic connector and cable assemblies, widely used in defence and security applications, and is a franchised distributor for many of the industry’s leading electrical and electronic connector manufacturers including EATON Souriau, CINCH Fibreco, HUBER+SUHNER, HellermannTyton, Positronic, Nicomatic and LEMO.

Backed by a strong commitment to quality, reliability and traceability procedures Lane Electronics also hold a significant number of key approvals. Next day delivery is available on more than 90% of standard products while, for non-standard products, rapid in-house development, assembly and testing of specialist military, industrial and motorsport circular connectors is available lead times which are generally much quicker than those offered by other connector suppliers.

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@FC_Lane @proactivefleet  #PAuto #Electrical

Cobot family launched.

Payloads from 7kg to 30kg, best-in-class top speed of 5.8 m/s, longest reach and highest arm load on the market.

ABB Robotics is combining the flexibility of cobots with higher payloads and performance, with the launch of its new PoWa cobot family into the rapidly expanding global collaborative robot market, which ABB Robotics estimates will grow by 20 percent annually through to 2028.

The new PoWa family addresses a long‑standing gap in the market between traditional cobots, that often lack the speed and payload required for industrial applications, and conventional industrial robots, which are designed for highly specialised, large-scale automation environments, going beyond the needs of many collaborative tasks.

“Cobots are growing significantly faster than traditional industrial robots, driven by demands from both small and midsized companies starting their automation journey as well as large enterprises,” said Andrea Cassoni, Head of Collaborative Robots at ABB Robotics. “These customers are seeking higher speeds and payloads, but also greater ease of use, and compact designs. Established manufacturers want to automate heavier, fast cycle applications, without the complexity and operational rigidity of traditional industrial robots. We are meeting these needs with the global launch of our high-speed PoWa™ cobot family – a name that symbolises its powerful, industrial-grade performance in a compact collaborative robot form.”

PoWa extends ABB Robotics’ comprehensive cobot offer with industrial-grade performance including six different payload categories, from 7kg to 30kg, the longest reach and highest arm load on the market and best-in-class top speed of up to 5.8 m/s.* Purpose-built for compact environments and ideally suited for applications such as high-speed machine tending, palletising, screwdriving and arcwelding, PoWa enables manufacturers to automate heavier and faster processes, while maintaining the flexibility, ease of use and compact footprint of collaborative robotics.

PoWa cobots are exceptionally easy to use, through programmable buttons on the arm-side interface and no-code programming and are compatible with an extensive ecosystem of third-party accessories. PoWa can be unboxed and operational within an hour and enables seamless plug-and-play with a wide range of tools, blending industrial-grade connectivity and performance with collaborative robot flexibility.

Powered by the ABB OmniCore controller platform, the new PoWa cobots deliver best-in-class motion control, speed, and precision and can be integrated with ABB Robotics’ expanding suite of AI-powered software, including Robot Studio® and Wizard Easy Programming, enabling intuitive programming, fast deployment and maximum uptime.

Ensuring collaborative robots can do more things, in more places, and do it faster, safer and smarter is part of ABB Robotics vision for more autonomous and versatile robotics (AVRTM). By developing a new generation of intelligent, flexible, adaptative, and collaborative multi-skilled robots, ABB Robotics furthers robots’ ability to learn, understand and plan independently, giving them greater autonomy and versatility.

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* Speed of PoWa™ 10 and PoWa™ 13

@ABBRobotics @nvidia @ABBgroupnews @abb_automation #PAuto #Robotics 

Medical robot.

The TX2-60L MedX Ready, a high-precision six-axis robot engineered for medical and surgical applications has been launched recently by Stäubli. Developed within an ISO 13485-compliant Quality Management System (QMS) and in accordance with the requirements of medical environments, the robot is equipped with MedXguiding, an intuitive manual guidance function, underscoring Stäubli’s long-standing commitment to innovation, safety, and clinical performance.

Stäubli partners with medical technology manufacturers and integrators to co-create solutions that meet stringent clinical requirements across surgery, rehabilitation, imaging, and diagnostics. Integrated Stäubli robots bring precision, reliability, and safety to a wide range of medical devices and systems, contributing to the development of new technologies for neurosurgery, orthopedics, oncology, and other medical applications.

The company's history in medical robotics dates to 1985, when the world’s first documented robot-assisted surgical procedure, a neurosurgical biopsy, was performed using Stäubli’s PUMA 560 Unimation robot. Since then, Stäubli robots have supported major advances in the field, such as Zimmer Biomet’s ROSA One® Brain for neurosurgery and ROSA® Knee System for orthopedics, Quantum Surgical’s Epione® for interventional oncology, and the RoboticScope from BHS Technologies. More recent innovations include the ALAYA spinal surgery robot from Cyber Surgery and United Imaging Surgical’s uIGS Brain 750 medical imaging system, both of which were recently CE-marked.

Advancing development, integration, and clinical performance.
The TX2-60L MedX Ready is a compact, rigid, six-axis robotic arm designed to excel in precision-critical procedures, while meeting the hygiene, safety, and integration requirements of operating rooms and medical device systems. It offers several key features that align with the strict requirements of integrators, manufacturers, and clinical environments:

MedXguiding: The TX2-60L MedX Ready is available with MedXguiding, an intuitive manual guidance function with configurable transparency, compliance, and other operating modes. It allows clinical teams to position instruments precisely while maintaining safe, controlled motion in medical environments. MedXguiding is designed to reduce setup time, support ergonomic workflows, and provide a natural, responsive interface for working with the TX2-60L MedX Ready.

ISO 13485 QMS: The TX2-60L MedX Ready is developed within an ISO 13485-certified site, complementing its development within an ISO 13485-compliant QMS. This signifies rigorous process discipline, documented quality procedures, and continuous improvement across the facility. For medical device manufacturers and integrators, this level of quality control helps streamline audits and accelerate time-to-market.

Validation & Documentation: Each robot includes Stäubli’s comprehensive Validation & Documentation package, providing medical device manufacturers and system integrators with compliance documentation, including certificates, control plans, production checklists, inspection reports, and component traceability, ensuring that the robot has been thoroughly tested and approved. This level of validation minimizes integration risks, reduces regulatory workloads, and simplifies machine acceptance.

“With TX2-60L MedX Ready, we’re giving medical device manufacturers a precise, cleanable, and safety-first platform that integrates seamlessly into clinical systems, so innovation can move faster from concept to operating room,” says Rudolf Weiss, Global Head of Life Robotics at Stäubli. “Stäubli supports every step, from certification to preventive maintenance, ensuring reliable performance so you can stay focused on your vision and success.”

The core attributes of a high-precision assistant for medical applications:

• High-performance industrial robot (6 axes)
• High connectivity & integration flexibility
• Enhanced safety
• Medical grade design and compliance

Backed by Stäubli’s global services and lifecycle support, the TX2-60L MedX Ready provides a reliable foundation for medical technology innovators seeking to deliver consistent, high-quality performance in clinical environments. From approval and certification processes to preventive maintenance and expert servicing, Stäubli enables customers to bring advanced medical solutions to market efficiently and sustainably.

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@StaubliRobots @PresseBox @UnnGmbh #Robotics # Medical #PAuto

Stringent security requirements confirmed.

The SEMI E187 certification has been received by Antaira Technologies. This certification confirms that Antaira’s industrial network switch solutions meet the stringent security requirements of modern manufacturing.

LtoR: Kelvin Yen, IT Director of SGS Cybersecurity Lab
& Frank Hou, Global CEO of Antaira.

Kelvin Yen, IT Director of SGS Cybersecurity Lab and General Management Office, stated: "As the semiconductor industry’s cybersecurity requirements for equipment continue to escalate, SEMI E187 is emerging as a pivotal security benchmark for the global supply chain. Through third-party verification mechanisms, manufacturers can not only establish cybersecurity capabilities that earn market trust but also contribute to the security maturity of the entire industrial chain. SGS is honored to have assisted Antaira in completing this verification, as we work together to drive the implementation of these critical industry standards."

"Achieving SEMI E187 compliance is a testament to our ‘Resilience-first' engineering philosophy," said Frank Hou, CEO at Antaira Technologies. "We understand that in the semiconductor world, a single hour of downtime can cost millions. By securing the network layer, we are providing our partners with the hardened infrastructure they need to build with confidence."

In the fast-evolving world of semiconductor manufacturing, cybersecurity is a necessity for operational success. SEMI E187 is widely recognized as a key industry benchmark for equipment security, specifically focusing on how devices connect and communicate safely. By meeting these demanding requirements, Antaira provides a powerful defense for modern fabrication facilities through its certified industrial networking solutions. For fab operators, selecting SEMI E187-certified network devices represents a commitment to a secure networking backbone that safeguards sensitive data and maintains uninterrupted production.

Antaira’s SEMI E187-certified industrial Ethernet switches embed security at the architectural level and not as an add-on layer. By integrating SEMI E187 compliance directly into its core firmware development and lifecycle management processes, Antaira delivers a high-trust network environment where cybersecurity is intrinsic to every deployment within a semiconductor manufacturing facility.

Certified Antaira solutions feature:

• Validated Endpoint Protection — Every connection point across the facility is authenticated and hardened against unauthorized access.
• Secure-by-Default Configurations — Factory-default security postures eliminate misconfiguration vulnerabilities from initial deployment.
• Proactive Vulnerability Management & Long-Term Support Roadmap — Structured security patching cycles ensure network defenses evolve in step with the threat landscape.

As the global semiconductor supply chain faces increasing scrutiny over cybersecurity posture and vendor accountability, Antaira’s adherence to this standard, as it is phased in across switch models, establishes a transparent, verifiable security baseline across the manufacturing ecosystem. For system integrators, OEM partners, and fab operators alike, Antaira-certified infrastructure is the foundation upon which resilient, future-proof semiconductor production is built.

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@AntairaTech @SGS_SA @OConnell_PR #PAuto #Cybersecurity

Front runner in industrial Ai.

TwinThread has been named a Front Runner in LNS Research’s inaugural 2026 Industrial AI Platforms Solution Selection Matrix (SSM). TwinThread’s positioning in the Front Runners upper right and most favored quadrant recognises the company’s comprehensive product innovation, scalable architecture, and distinct and pragmatic approach to deploying agentic Ai for manufacturing operations.

LNS Research, a premier research and advisory firm for the industrial sector, conducted this evaluation using its rigorous "3P Evaluation Model" to assess candidates’ ability to serve the rapidly evolving industrial Ai market. The evaluation scores suppliers across three critical dimensions:

• Product: Compares candidate capabilities against the LNS Research Industrial AI Functionalities Stack, consisting of key characteristics for industrial advanced analytics, data platforms, and dataOps functionalities.
• Potential: Measures capacity for long-term growth and viability, factoring in scale, market positioning, financial resources, and management strategy.
• Presence: Assesses global market prominence, proven customer success, and the vendor's capability to serve diverse industries and customer sizes.

As a Front Runner, TwinThread was commended for invoking an execution-focused approach that prioritises tangible operational value over generic Ai hype, empowering business users, process engineers, and subject matter experts to collaborate and solve high-impact problems at scale.

TwinThread’s strong positioning in the matrix is driven by its robust and purpose-built industrial Ai capabilities. The company provides a comprehensive edge-to-cloud platform, with prebuilt ISA-88 batch system integration and Model Factories for rapid and repeatable deployment. It maintains a core suite of ready-to-deploy applications for delivering advanced predictive and prescriptive analytics, including the ability to make closed-loop setpoint adjustments.

Furthermore, TwinThread stood out in the selection for its distinct, disciplined approach to agentic Ai. Rather than rushing generic Ai offerings to market, the company employs a three-pronged strategy that combines ML-driven analytics, autonomous orchestrating agents, and an intuitive user interface.

Beyond its core technology, TwinThread is recognised for its exceptional flexibility and scalability. The platform is engineered to accommodate diverse manufacturing environments and varying levels of digital maturity, operating seamlessly at scale across multiple sites, all without requiring heavy customisation. This helps users secure quick wins and progressively expand into full-stack integrations. Additionally, TwinThread's strategic presence within the global industrial ecosystem further underscores its industry expertise and ability to deliver widespread value.

“Being recognized as a Front Runner by LNS Research validates our core mission to amplify human expertise through purpose-built Industrial AI,” says Erik Udstuen, co-founder and CEO at TwinThread. “In a crowded market, our execution-focused strategy stands out because we don't just deliver data models, but instead provide actionable, closed-loop solutions. This positioning reflects the real-world value our platform brings to operations teams striving to maximize uptime, perfect their batch quality, and uncover hidden capacity across their enterprises.”

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@twin_thread @LNSResearch #Ai #PAuto 

Visibility of operator graphics across the enterprise.

Accelerating edge ecosystem for real-time enterprise operations intelligence.

Emerson continues to define the industrial edge with the release of DeltaV™ Live Enterprise View, a new application that securely extends real-time control system visualization beyond the control room. The new software joins Emerson’s rapidly expanding edge application ecosystem and empowers engineering, maintenance, reliability and leadership teams with browser-based, read-only access to live plant displays – as operators see them – without requiring display conversion, additional engineering or changes to the control system.

The ability to take fast, decisive action in today’s volatile markets is a critical enabler of operational excellence. However, layered solutions without native integration introduce latency and ongoing engineering overhead, constraining enterprise productivity. DeltaV Live Enterprise View addresses this challenge by leveraging Emerson’s innovative edge capabilities to deliver DeltaV Live displays via secure, read-only browser access available to users from any location within the network with a viable internet connection.

 

“DeltaV Live Enterprise View is an ideal fit for organizations leveraging the DeltaV Edge Environment as a secure OT-to-IT data platform,” said Seán Saul, vice president of product for Emerson’s process systems and solutions business. “As one of several high-value applications available in a rapidly expanding DeltaV Edge Marketplace, DeltaV Live Enterprise View builds on Emerson’s enterprise operations platform and boundless automation vision by delivering operator-grade, real-time control system visualization to relevant operations personnel through a standard web browser – strengthening collaboration to improve operational performance.”  

Most enterprise visualization solutions require duplication, transformation or redesign of graphics. In contrast, DeltaV Live Enterprise View automatically renders graphics as they are configured in DeltaV Live, delivering instant, visible, role-based value. Enterprise users see what operators see, customised to their own needs, lowering friction and speeding adoption.

DeltaV Live Enterprise View’s secure, read-only visibility of operations is delivered via unidirectional data flow through the DeltaV Edge Environment. The DeltaV Edge Environment provides secure access to fully contextualized DeltaV data while maintaining proper system boundaries.

DeltaV Live Enterprise View joins an existing marketplace of powerful applications available at the edge including DeltaV Edge Explorer, DeltaV Agent.Connect and a wide variety of curated open-source applications such as Grafana, Jupyter Notebook and Node-RED. The applications empower users to drive enterprise-wide optimisation via advanced analytics, AI assistance, customizable dashboards, trending, alarm analysis, workflow automation and batch investigation.

As Emerson expands upon its vision for the enterprise operations platform – the first flexible, software-defined OT-ready digital platform built on scalable control, industrial AI and zero trust cybersecurity – more applications like DeltaV Live Enterprise View will continue to enable seamless scaling from edge to enterprise.

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@EMR_Automation @EmersonExchange@Emerson_News @HHC_Lewis #PAuto #Ai

Suppression of unwanted signals.

EMI Filter for high-field MRI systems and sensitive imaging processes.

The MF420-2CF-M MRI Filter, from EMIS, is a specialised electrical filter for use in Magnetic Resonance Imaging rooms to block unwanted electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio-frequency interference (RFI) from entering or leaving the MRI environment.

Designing or selecting an EMI filter for high-field MRI systems is very different from general electronics filtering as MRI environments are extremely sensitive to RF noise and require shielded-room integrity as well ultra-high attenuation across wide frequency bands.

EMI filters are critical in MRI High-field systems which operate with very low-level RF signals in an environment featuring strong static magnetic fields. External EMI contamination can degrade signal-to-noise ratio, create artifacts in images and cause regulatory non-compliance. Even cables entering the MRI room can act as antennas and leak noise into the shielded enclosure.

MRI EMC filters provide strong suppression of unwanted signals over a wide frequency range up to 10GHz, preventing external noise from affecting MRI signals and ensuring high-quality diagnostic images. These filters are typically installed at the point where power lines or signal cables enter an MRI shielded room, for example:
1. Power line filters - Main AC supply (single/three-phase), Gradient amplifiers, RF amplifiers.
2. Signal line filters - Ethernet / data lines, patient monitoring systems, fire alarms, intercoms, sensors.

MRI filters are specially designed to meet the strict performance requirements of equipment manufacturers and ensure compatibility with high-field MRI systems and sensitive imaging processes. The filter components are enclosed in a shielded and sealed metallic housing that protects against dust, moisture, and corrosion ensuring long-lasting performance.

Key features include:

• Connection via threaded conduit and flexible wire leads, allowing fast and secure installation in shielded MRI rooms.
• Designed with an internal discharge bleeder resistor that safely discharges stored electrical energy when power is turned off, reducing the risk of electric shock during maintenance.
• Designed with low leakage current, ensuring patient safety by minimising unintended current flow.

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@proactivefleet #EMIS #PAuto #Electronics