Monday 30 December 2019

Display for people moving applications.

Beijer Electronics has signed an agreement with Otis valued at more than 150 MSEK (€144m). Otis is part of the listed United Technologies group, the world’s leading manufacturer and maintainer of people-moving products, including elevators, escalators and moving walkways. Otis offers products and services through its companies in approximately 200 countries and territories.

The contract spans over a period of five years for the supply of display solutions for Otis product line Compass®. The agreement confirms Beijer Electronics ambition to have some of the world’s leading global companies as core customers in long-term relationships.

Beijer Electronics offers fully integrated and flexible display solutions, tailored to match mission-critical requirements.

“We are delighted to have been chosen by Otis to provide a custom display solution that will help drive Otis’s success in the market now and in the future. This is the beginning of a partnership for many years that will benefit both organizations.” says Haden Howell, Vice President, Key Accounts, Beijer Electronics.

Beijer Electronics sees the agreement as a confirmation of the corporate strategy: "Our processes now fully match the requirements of large enterprises with high demands and attention to detail, and we are thrilled to take the next steps together with Otis in our collaboration." says Stefan Lager, CEO of Beijer Electronics.

Deliveries starts in spring 2020 and will gradually contribute positively to Beijer Electronics’ result during the year.

#Transportation @beijerinc @OtisElevatorCo

Monday 23 December 2019

Glass free pH sensors.

The Memosens CPS47D, CPS77D and CPS97D ISFET pH sensors, just launched by Endress+Hauser, are for applications where glass pH sensors present risk of breakage in challenging process conditions. ISFET sensors are made of unbreakable PEEK and are available with three different reference systems, providing a glass-free pH sensor to suit every requirement.

ISFET Memosens CPS47D and CPS77D sensors are equipped to meet the strict demands of hygienic applications. Because of their new design, with an increased chip surface, these sensors are easy to clean. They deliver stable and reproducible measured values, even after sterilization and autoclaving up to temperatures of 275 °F (135 °C); come with the usual hygienic approvals for the food and life sciences industries, such as USP, EHEDG and 3A; and are TSE/BSE-free. They can last at least 25 CIP cycles - a significant improvement in CIP stability compared to conventional ISFET sensors. In addition, the Memosens CPS77D offers maximum bacteria tightness because of its microporous ceramic diaphragm.

Chemical processes at low temperatures, and where there is a high proportion of organic solvents or solids, pose specific challenges for pH measurement. Even at low temperatures, the Memosens CPS97D has a fast response time and is chemically stable thanks to its PEEK stem. Also, its open diaphragm does not become clogged in the case of high solids concentrations. The firm gel used in the reference is also extremely resistant to chemicals.

Digital ISFET sensors with Memosens technology store calibration, sensor, and process data. A significant increase in process safety can be achieved through combining the Liquiline platform with efficient sensor management using Memosens Plus software. Using Memobase Plus software, the sensors can be cleaned and calibrated under optimum conditions in a lab. This not only increases the operating life of the sensors, but also makes commissioning and maintenance considerably easier, while reducing process downtime to a minimum. The stored data can also be used for predictive maintenance and process optimization.

Friday 20 December 2019

Wind sensor in the cold!

A VENTUS X ultrasonic wind sensor, from the OTT Hydromet Group, has been deployed by researchers at the Summit Station on the Greenland Ice Sheet in the Arctic, 10,000 feet above sea level, as part of a project investigating the role of aerosols in cloud formation. With integrated heaters and no moving parts, the wind sensor does not require recalibration – a vital feature of equipment in one of the most remote locations on Earth.


Aerosols are important in cloud formation because they act as condensation nuclei, providing seeding sites for water vapour condensation, and as ice nucleating particles which modulate the formation of ice in clouds.

The Greenland Ice Sheet is of critical importance to human society because of its role in global sea-level rise, and is of particular concern because it is melting at an increasing rate. An understanding of aerosol-cloud interactions is therefore extremely important; especially where clouds are comprised of both ice and supercooled liquid water, because this represents a major source of uncertainty in weather and climate models. Scientists from the University of Leeds School of Earth and Environment, and the (British) National Centre for Atmospheric Science are therefore seeking to reduce this uncertainty with the use of advanced remote sensing technology, such as radar and lidar, in combination with satellite observations and a suite of other ground-based sensors (such as the VENTUS) and state-of-the-art numerical weather and climate models.

The project is seeking to determine the extent to which different aerosol properties cause significant changes in clouds, and to quantify the role aerosols may have on the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet. In addition, this work is evaluating regional and global numerical weather and climate model performance against the project’s observations; to identify any deficiencies that lead to biases in cloud occurrence, cloud thickness, and phase partitioning.

#Environment @OTTHydromet @AtmosScience @_Enviro_News

Human-machine interface for adverse ambient conditions.

With the new variants in its Ex BF 80 product series, the steute business unit Extreme is not targeting the mass market of human-machine interface users. There is however an essential difference between these new devices and conventional products: they have been developed especially for use in explosive environments and in temperatures ranging from -60°C to +65°C.

The new series comes in three different housing sizes, to incorporate one, two or three elements. Users can choose between various actuators, signal lamps and key switches, including emergency stop buttons and mushroom buttons. All models are suitable for mounting on e.g. machine enclosures, walls or panels – also and especially in adverse environments involving high levels of wear and tear. They meet protection class IP 66 and have been developed especially for all manner of "Extreme" applications.

Following the wishes of some of our customers, steute has now extended its compatible temperature range even further. This has been facilitated through the re-design of all actuators. Hardly noticeable to the eye, the new design includes features such as sealings which are suitable for even lower temperatures.

The extended temperature range down to -60°C is included in the new ATEX/IECEx approval. It opens up additional options for the steute Ex command devices, e.g. applications in shipbuilding, offshore technology and the oil and gas industry. The subzero range of steute Extreme switching devices is thus steadily growing.

#PAuto #EX #steute #HMI @mepaxIntPR 

Efficiency in laboratory testing.

The Instrument Calibration & Maintenance System (ICMS) for the Matrix Gemini LIMS from Autoscribe Informatics provides busy laboratories with another tool to improve quality and compliance as well as drive efficiency. Proactively scheduling the calibration and maintenance of every piece of equipment in a timely manner ensures maximum instrument availability within the laboratory.

Their operational status and audit history can also be tracked automatically to prove compliance. It also avoids entering results against an un-calibrated instrument or one that has not been maintained correctly by providing immediate feedback on availability at the time the results of a particular analysis are entered.

Details on calibration include scheduling of calibration intervals and the permitted instrument calibration limits. Actual calibration results are checked automatically against these limits and out of limit results will be flagged with the instrument status automatically changed to make it unavailable.

ICMS is applicable to any equipment in the laboratory. By keeping a record of all equipment within the laboratory together with a history of all maintenance events for audit purposes, the laboratory can demonstrate that it follows standard calibration and maintenance procedures. ICMS can provide reminders of pending calibration and maintenance tasks with an automatic change of status occurring when calibration or maintenance is overdue and after it has been performed.

In addition, all faults, breakdowns and non-routine occurrences can also be recorded. By showing the time, date, user and description of the problem, all maintenance issues can be tracked. Especially useful in multi-laboratory/multi-site operations is the ability to record the location of the equipment so it can be found quickly.

A hierarchical list of instrument sub-components may be associated with the equipment along with their part number and supplier information to allow easy re-ordering of spares. Every component in the hierarchy can be independently maintained and/or calibrated ensuring the equipment is only available for laboratory work if all the components and also within their maintenance and calibration period.

#TandM @AutoscribeLtd @DenisBulgin

Wednesday 18 December 2019

New I/O Modules.

Hot on the heels of the recent release of three specialty input/output modules* for the groov EPIC® platform, Opto 22 has now announced two more modules to close out the year. For system integrators and engineers, the new I/O modules provide more options for bringing field bus networks into groov EPIC, as well as meeting requirements for temperature control applications with high I/O count.

GRV-CCANI-2 (serial communication, 2 channels, CAN 2.0B, channel-to-channel isolation) is the first module in the groov EPIC platform to provide hardware support for an industrial field bus. This new module enables existing CAN networks to be brought into IIoT applications using groov EPIC’s fluid IT/OT connectivity tools, like Ignition Edge®, Node-RED, and MQTT. groov EPIC also supports integrating CAN data into control applications using IEC 61131-3 languages, and enables mobile visualization of CAN data using groov View™. Up to 8 CAN buses per processor at network speeds up to 1 Mbps are supported.

GRV-ITM-12 (analog input, 12 channels, thermocouple or millivolt) provides a high-density, low-cost temperature sensing option with two isolated zones and 6 channels per zone. Each channel is software configurable to one of seven millivolt ranges or eight thermocouple types (Type B, E, J, K, N, R, S, T). GRV-ITM-12 is accurate to 0.1% of the configured range over 20-bit resolution for V/mV sensing, with accuracy ranging from 2.0-5.0 °C for thermocouple sensing.

*Three I/O modules join family! (22 Oct 2019)


#Pauto @opto22

Monday 16 December 2019

Electronic product award.

Harting’s T1 Industrial has won the award for 'Passive and Electromechanical Product of the Year' at the Elektra Awards held recently in London.

Commenting on the award, Simon Asbury, Director of Sales and Marketing at Harting UK, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that the Elektra Awards have recognised the innovative and visionary nature of the T1 Industrial and Single Pair Ethernet. We’re confident that this new technology standard will help to efficiently deliver the many benefits of Industry 4.0 to our customers and we’re looking forward to working closely with them as we develop further applications and solutions.”
Tim Griffin (centre), High Service Level Distributor Manager at Harting UK, with Kieron Murdock (left), Regional Vice President - Northern Europe at Avnet Abacus, and MC Ben Hamlin
The Elektra Awards recognise companies and individuals for their excellent performance, innovation and contribution to the global electronics industry and winning an award is seen as one of the most prestigious accolades a company or individual can receive.

With the T1, Harting has established a new technology standard which transmits data via Ethernet at speeds of up to 1 GBit/s with just one pair of wires, making it the perfect solution for Industry 4.0 and the IIoT.

Industry recognition for establishing this new standard highlights the immense potential of the new technology, which can supply both data and power in an IEC 63171-6 industry-standardised interface for Single Pair Ethernet (SPE).

SPE will be one of the key technologies that significantly shape the success of the IIoT. The factory of the future will require high data streams and the industrial sector needs connectivity which adapts itself to increasingly growing demands. The T1 Industrial brings Ethernet from the cloud to every sensor, thus enabling the IIoT.

#PAuto @hartinguk @HARTING

See also Test product of the year!

Friday 13 December 2019

Managing industrial wireless networks.

Plantweb™ Insight platform adds two new Pervasive Sensing™ applications that manage wireless networks more efficiently with a singular interface to the enterprise

Emerson has added two new IIoT solutions to its Plantweb™ Insight data analytics platform that will enable industrial facilities to transform the way they manage their enterprise-level wireless network infrastructure.

As digitalisation and wireless technology adoption continue to rapidly expand in industrial facilities throughout the world, the need for greater visibility of network infrastructure performance is key. These new Plantweb Insight applications provide a quick-to-implement, scalable IIoT solution that helps customers advance their digital transformation strategies and achieve greater operational efficiencies.

“We were able to infuse a decade of experience with wireless technology into these new offerings,” said Brian Joe, wireless product manager with Emerson’s Automation Solutions business. “Our customers will now be able to manage and improve hundreds of networks through a singular interface, realising significant efficiencies in individual network and wireless device management and maintenance.”

The new Plantweb Insight Network Management application provides continuous, centralised monitoring of WirelessHART® networks. This first-of-its-kind application provides a singular, consolidated view of the status of all wireless networks in a facility, with embedded expertise and guidance for advanced network management.

A key feature of the Plantweb Insight Network Management application is a configurable mesh network diagram, providing visualisation of network design and connections along with device-specific information. It also provides an exportable record of syslog alerts, network details outlining conformance to network best practices and more.

While the new network management application provides a holistic look at wireless networks, the Plantweb Insight Power Module Management application drills down to the device level, allowing facilities to keep their wireless devices appropriately powered so they can continuously transmit key monitoring data. By aggregating power module statuses, users can evolve traditional maintenance planning and implement more efficient and cost-effective practices.

These new applications further enhance the Plantweb Insight platform, a set of pre-built analytics primarily focusing on monitoring key asset health. Other applications in the platform include pressure relief valve monitoring, heat exchanger monitoring and steam trap monitoring.

#PAuto @Emerson_News @EMR_Automation @HHC_Lewis

Industrial box thin clients.

The industrial box thin clients from Pepperl+Fuchs are a reliable and rugged generation of computers for visualizing process information. They have been specially developed for use in harsh conditions and 24/7 operation in industrial environments.

Designed to withstand high temperatures, shocks, and vibrations over long periods, the new BTC14, and the already familiar thin clients BTC12—designed for dual-monitor applications—and BTC01—the first quad-monitor generation.

The BTC14 has four digital uniform DisplayPorts®, enabling processes to be visualized on up to four Ultra-HD (4K) screens, thus giving an optimal overview of all information. Thanks to additional mounting kits and its rugged design, the BTC14 can be installed in a hugely varied number of ways. The long-term availability and the modern computer platform make the BTC14 future-proof. The preinstalled Pepperl+Fuchs VisuNet RM Shell 5 firmware simplifies both virtualizing host systems and performing quick and intuitive configuration.

The Thin Client portfolio is rounded off by the innovative VisuNet Control Center management tool, which enables efficient and centralized management of all Thin Client devices when used with the RM Shell 5 firmware: from the BTCs in the control room and production-related workstations to remote monitors in the field in Ex Zone 1/21.

#PAuto @PepperlFuchs @mepaxIntPR

Partnership extends laboratory products offering.

Yokogawa UK has signed a distribution deal with TDK-Lambda, an industry-leading provider of power supplies. Through Yokogawa’s extensive distribution channels, customers across Britain will now benefit from even easier access to TDK-Lambda’s best-selling range of laboratory power supplies.

Seán Evans,TDK-Lambda (left), and
Lee Thomas, Sales Manager Yokogawa UK.
Jonathan Scott, Sales Director, TDK-Lambda UK, commented: “We are excited about our partnership with Yokogawa UK. As an expert provider of measurement solutions, it has the extensive distribution channels world-class customer support, and industry knowledge needed to bring our products within reach of new customers.”

Yokogawa UK will carry three popular product lines of programmable power supplies. The GENESYS range features high power density, user-friendly interfaces, and multiple remote programming methods to suit a variety of laboratory applications. The high power GSP models in the next generation GENESYS+ range utilise Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology to offer improved performance and functionality, with efficiencies of up to 92%. Finally, power supplies in the compact Z+ range are suitable for either bench or 2U rack mounting, with power levels from 200 to 800W, and voltages of up to 650V. Power supplies from all three product lines also benefit from a 5-year warranty.

Lee Thomas, UK Sales Manager, Yokogawa UK Ltd, said: “We are pleased to add TDK-Lambda’s industry-leading power supplies to our offering. Having access to these innovative products will enable us to provide an even more comprehensive service to our customers and help resolve their power supply requirements across new and demanding applications.”


#TandM #PAuto @Yokogawa_Europe @TDKLambda_UK @ArmitageComm #Britain

Thursday 12 December 2019

"Data is power" examined.

Manufacturing companies are working on a European data infrastructure in which they shall have full control over their data and in which real-time processing and artificial intelligence (AI) for the digital transformation and networking of industry are possible. Gaia-X is the name of the project, and it calls for new solutions.

The Friedhelm Loh Group is playing a leading role in it and showcased a turnkey application for Gaia-X at the start of October. Learn more about the Gaia-X digital large-scale project and other solutions for the challenges of digital transformation in the new issue of “be top” – in the printed magazine or online.

“Knowledge is power and if you have power over data, you have power over processes, economic and political developments, and even people. If you have data, you have the best chance of gaining an edge on your competitors and being successful in business, ” states Prof. Friedhelm Loh, Owner and CEO of the Friedhelm Loh Group in the editorial of the new “be top” customer magazine.

How can companies safeguard this data and, by extension, their technological know-how at the same time? The cover story of the new “be top” magazine investigates this question and shows how the Friedhelm Loh Group, together with partners, is already supporting customers today with concrete solutions to overcome these and other challenges of the digital transformation.

Further topics of issue 02/2019 are:

  • Influencers: Influential experts for purchasing decisions
  • Electromobility: An ultra-strong future
  • Science: Brain research at the speed of light
  • Switchgear engineering: A far-sighted trio
#Pauto @Rittal @Rittal_Ltd @PresseBox

Hollow shaft rotary actuators.

The new HLMT series hollow shaft rotary actuators from JVL A/S take a novel approach to decentralised precision positioning tasks on rotary tables and automated machines where a through aperture is required for routing services or maintaining a clear line of site. Available in the Britain from Mclennan the design features an offset motor mounting in five model variants with clear through-hole diameters from 20 to 30 mm and rated torque output of 5 to 142 Nm. The actuators are used with JVL’s MAC motor® and ServoStep® integrated servo and stepper motors or with other manufacturers motors in NEMA 17, 23 and 34 frame sizes.

The HLMT includes a comprehensive choice of options making installation straightforward and cost-effective. These include built-in absolute encoders for positioning accuracy to +/- 10 arc-sec and lost motion to 2 arc-min. Built-in home (datum) sensors are also available and standard or crossed-roller bearings options suit standard or heavy duty axial and radial rigidity requirements (axial load to 800 N on the largest model). Gear ratios available are 5, 10 or 18:1 with higher ratios on request.

With its inherent high torque, axial load capability, low run-out and platform parallelism the HLMT series is particularly suited to rotary table applications but will also suit machine set-ups where slip rings, electrical wiring, rotary fluidpower joints or laser line-of-sight needs to be routed for moving to stationary platforms. The durable geared actuator meets the IP65 protection class, as does many of the JVL integrated motors.

The product depth and flexibility of JVL’s range of integrated servo and stepper motor allows almost any choice of machine control interfacing with the added benefit of decentralised control for reduced installation and wiring. With no need for control cabinets, decentralised control can yield tangible cost and time savings. Control options cover individual or multi-axis stand-alone motion control with step and direction or analogue +/- 10 VDC inputs. JVL’s own ‘point & click’ graphical programming is also available across all its integrated motors. For MAC® series integrated servomotors, the control options extend to a wide choice of Industrial Ethernet or other common protocols including CANopen, DeviceNet, Profibus, Profinet, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT. POWERLINK and more. Wireless Bluetooth, WLAN and Zigbee systems are also available. The HLMT series may be purchased for use with third-party stepper and servomotors of choice, allowing the option to build through-hole rotary actuators with the customer’s preferred motor/motion controls supplier.

#PAuto #Mclennan

Wednesday 11 December 2019

Enhancing truck and railcar loading.

New Turnkey Flow Measurement Solution Enhances Truck and Railcar Loading Operations

Emerson now offers a MID-certified, turnkey flow measurement solution in Europe that enhances truck and railcar loading operations by improving measurement accuracy and traceability, increasing loading bay availability, and reducing operating costs. The new solution addresses custody transfer applications for downstream terminals, refineries, LNG plants and chemical plants, where accurate and reliable measurement of all product transfers is essential. It is also intended to help these operations achieve Top Quartile performance, or performance metrics within the top 25 percent of peer companies.

The solution features accurate and reliable technologies that not only assure measurement accuracy but also help operators increase availability by minimising downtime. The assembly’s compact and modular design also significantly reduces engineering complexity as well as commissioning and installation time for new loading platforms and simplifies upgrades to existing loading installations.

The Emerson module uses Micro Motion™ Coriolis flow meters to provide highly accurate, stable and repeatable measurement of mass and volume flow and density. Rosemount™ transmitters measure pressure and temperature, and an Emerson preset batch controller manages the loading of hydrocarbon liquids into the trucks and railcars, and automatically controls a Daniel™ control valve for low flow start-up, high flow rate control, low flow shutdown and final shut-off. A loading arm, an air separator, grounding and overfill protection can be provided to meet application requirements.

“Using Emerson’s flow module to improve loading operations contributes to greater operational efficiency and can help companies achieve Top Quartile performance,” said Thomas Sautier, flow solutions product manager for Emerson’s Automation Solutions business. “At a typical bay where 20 trucks per day are loaded, the accuracy improvement of flow measurements with Coriolis technology compared with mechanical meters can help to save more than €50,000 in financial imbalance risk per year.”

With a volume flow rate accuracy of up to 0.05% for liquids, the Micro Motion ELITE® CMF-Series Coriolis meters reduce measurement uncertainty and can improve the accuracy of the truck load by up to 150 litres.

The assembly supports implementation of Industrial Internet of Things strategies with digital intelligence and powerful analytical software embedded in the Coriolis flow meters. The flow meters offer smart diagnostics, accessible via a range of digital communications, providing an online health status of the device and process that is available on demand, either on-site or remotely, without interrupting loading operations.

The assembly has been developed in compliance with the requirements of both the European Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) and the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML).

#PAuto @Emerson_News @EMR_Automation @HHC_Lewis #Europe

Cybersecurity courses agreement.

The International Society of Automation (ISA) and the University of Akron, an influential public research university in the region (OH USA), have entered into a workforce training agreement to offer the ISA IEC62443 Cybersecurity Training and Certificate program in Akron.

Through this arrangement, the University of Akron will now host ISA courses, taught by subject matter experts, on the university’s campus. This ISA Open Enrollment Center will complement the University of Akron’s curriculum for workforce development of industrial cybersecurity professionals. Associates in both IT and operations technology (OT) should attend these classes for information on how to assess risk, design, and implement cybersecurity plans to protect vital automation control systems based on ISA IEC62443 Cybersecurity Standards.

“Our mission in education is clear: answer the workforce needs of industry,” says Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, dean of the University of Akron’s College of Applied Science and Technology. “With an investment from private donors, we have created an Industrial Control System Testbed for industry use in maintaining their systems and exploring new ways to protect them. The ISA site use agreement is a perfect complement to this critical need.”

“ISA is pleased to add an open enrollment location in Akron for cybersecurity short courses,” says Mary Ramsey, executive director of ISA. “The state of Ohio has shown its commitment to IT and OT cybersecurity training and education through its new Cyber Range co-hosted at the University of Akron and the University of Cincinnati, as well as the University of Akron’s control systems testbed for industry use. These actions complement our vision to create a better world through automation, and we are pleased to build this relationship to serve the need for cybersecurity workforce development in Akron.”

Ohio universities are working together to offer comprehensive education on the rapidly changing world of cybertechnology. The ISA curriculum will enhance these offerings and will help fulfill the regional need for workforce development opportunities for OT cyber professionals.

• ISA created the ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance to advance cybersecurity readiness and awareness in manufacturing and critical infrastructure facilities and processes. The Alliance brings end-user companies, automation and control systems providers, IT infrastructure providers, services providers, and system integrators and other cybersecurity stakeholder organizations together to proactively address growing threats.

#Cybersecurity #PAuto @ISA_Interchange @uakron #USA

Climatic chamber verification (Video).

Michell Instruments' fast-responding Optidew 401 chilled mirror hygrometer makes an ideal humidity reference for climatic chamber verification. Their latest video demonstrates how to set up and install the Optidew in a climatic chamber to ensure optimal performance and reliability.


Environmental chambers are used in a variety of applications where defined temperature and humidity conditions are required. Although humidity and temperature probes are built into climatic chambers to provide control, these probes are usually selected for their response speed and repeatability rather than accuracy. Chilled mirror hygrometers, such as the Optidew 401, are used to verify the temperature and humidity conditions of the chamber, providing reference values of the climate inside.

The Optidew 401 chilled mirror hygrometer is compact, lightweight and able to measure dew points between -40 to +120°C. Its remote hybrid sensor provides a fast, dynamic response to changes in humidity with an accuracy of ±0.15°C dew point and ±0.1°C.

• Michell Instruments are marketed through Instrument Technology in Ireland.

#PAuto #Environment @Michell_Inst

Tuesday 10 December 2019

CAD Software.

RS Components (RS) has introduced the latest version of its award-winning free-for-use DesignSpark PCB electronics CAD software. New features within DesignSpark PCB version 9 include dangling connection detection in schematics, net selection in copper pour areas, and enhancements to Excellon NC drill files.

Other improvements include:
• Symbols changed and saved in the component editor are now automatically updated in preview windows.
• Dialogue boxes such as Add Component in the library manager can be resized so component names can be read in full.
• Add Text allows selection of text style and alignment.
• Users can exit Cross Probe mode as soon as a selection is made.
• Buttons for easier selection or deselection of all or individual layers in the Plotting dialogue box.
• New Library Wizards provide options for creating and saving a new library item.
• A new Goto bar allows searching by component name.
DesignSpark PCB software is a set of free-to-use rapid PCB prototyping tools offering schematics unlimited in number and size, unlimited layers, nodes, pads and connections, integration with RS and manufacturer parts libraries, a library editor to create custom libraries, and integration with free-to-use DesignSpark mechanical and electrical CAD systems. PCB schematics and files created in DesignSpark PCB can also be imported into the more powerful DesignSpark PCB Pro by users where a more complex set of design rules and characteristics are required.

Among the new features of Design PCB version 9, schematic design now provides a dangling connections report, showing up any component pin where a net has been generated but not completed or assigned. In addition, designers can now select nets located within a specific copper pour area, rather than having to select from all nets in RSthe design, as previously.

Maurice Banting, Head of Design Software and Tools commented: “DesignSpark PCB is our flagship entry point for electronic design engineers on tight budgets who are looking to explore a wider range of PCB design options. Combined with DesignSpark PCB Pro, and our comprehensive range of model libraries and footprints, customers have access to a set of resources that are geared towards helping them accelerate their design time-to-market. We are committed to improving our functionality and drawing on feedback from our user community, to ensure that cost barriers to innovation continue to fall for engineers around the world.”

New and existing DesignSpark PCB users can download version 9 here free of charge for both personal and commercial use. Support is available via video tutorials, libraries and an online DesignSpark engineering community of more than 850,000 members.

#PAuto @RSComponents; @designsparkRS

Test product of the year!

Yokogawa’s WT5000 Precision Power Analyzer has won the prestigious “Test Product of the Year” trophy at the annual Elektra Awards hosted by Electronics Weekly. This is the second award the WT5000 has been recognised for in 2019.*


Clive Couldwell, Group editor, Electronics Weekly 
AV Magazine, Kelvin Hagebeuk, Marketing Manager, 
Yokogawa Europe - Test&Measurement & Ben Hanlin.
The award was presented on the 4th December at a ceremony in London in the presence of an audience of leading industry professionals. The event has been a highlight within the industry calendar for 17 years, where leading figures from the electronics field gather to celebrate their achievements and reward the market leaders from across the blossoming sector.

Kelvin Hagebeuk, European Marketing Manager, Yokogawa Europe Test & Measurement, said “The Yokogawa community of precision makers is very excited and most of all honoured to win another prestigious award. For us at Yokogawa the WT5000 Precision Power Analyzer is the leading building block in our mission to enable customers to develop zero emission technologies. A mission which ultimately provides a sustainable future for generations to come. The electronic industry is best equipped and positioned to directly influence a sustainable usage of energy resources”, he added: “The Elektra Awards recognises good work, which is inspiring and energising to all involved especially the innovative and highly skilled precision engineering team.”

The event was organised by Electronics Weekly and was hosted by Ben Hanlin.

*Power product of the year (22 Jun 2019)


#TandM @Yokogawa_Europe @ArmitageComm


See also: Electronic product award.

Monday 9 December 2019

Call for papers - IIoT & Smart Manufacturing.

The IIoT & Smart Manufacturing Conference, (14-17th April 2020 - Galveston TX USA) encompasses advances in connectivity, automation, and security within the operational context of hybrid manufacturing applications across multiple vertical industries and focuses on real-world applications that examine the challenges of adoption, integration, and implementation of new technology.

“Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has emerged as a major technology with a big impact on industrial automation systems—and on the automation professionals involved with the design and maintenance of such systems. One of the biggest challenges in the adoption IIoT technologies is Cybersecurity, " says Dublin based Carlos Mandolesi, Programme Chair

ISA recently created the IIoT and Smart Manufacturing Committee to establish a forum for the automation community to discuss the adoption and challenges of applying these technologies in industries globally. With its multitude of members, volunteers, and subject matter experts, ISA contributes a vast amount of expertise in IIoT and industrial cybersecurity. This new conference will be an important vehicle for content sharing on such critical topics.”

The committee is still accepting abstracts which should be 200 words or less and describe what the noncommercial presentation will cover. Slide presentation materials must be provided in electronic format (MS PowerPoint) prior to the conference for review and approval.

A publication release form will also be required.

If your abstract is accepted and you agree to submit a presentation, you are also agreeing to register and present at the 2020 ISA IIoT and Smart Manufacturing Conference.

#PAuto #IIoT #cybersecurity @ISA_Interchange  @arc_advisory

Supporting Gen5 testing.

A new PCI Express test solution, supporting the Gen5 Base Specification Stressed Receiver Test has been released by Anritsu Corporation.

The new solution uses their Signal Quality Analyzer-R MP1900A Series, which offers Automation Software for Base Specification Calibration and BER Measurement Software supporting the SKP Filter. With this release, customers can easily configure a measurement environment for early-stage development of Gen5 IP and devices, aiding faster introduction of PCI Express 5.0.

Costs are minimized as the MP1900A offers all the pattern generation, error detection, jitter generation and noise generation functions required for PCI Express tests in a single unit. Gen1 to Gen5 transmission speeds can be supported by upgrading the equipment via software, providing customers with a high performance PCI Express test solution at lower cost.

Development Background

New technologies, such as IoT and AI, are expected to see rapid growth as commercial rollout of 5G services makes it feasible to transmit large volumes of data at high speeds.

The data centers supporting these new technologies require increasingly faster processing and greater data handling capacity. This means that data-center transmission equipment, servers, and storage devices need internal interfaces able to support faster, higher-capacity data transmissions. Base Specification 5.0 of the next PCIe Gen5 standard has been completed and increases data transfer speeds to 32 GT/s. As a result, development of equipment supporting this standard is urgently required.

With this release, Anritsu supports Gen5 Rx tests for IP and inspection of devices in the early stages of standardization and development, offering all-in-one Gen1 to Gen5 measurement support. Expansion of measurement functions to meet new emerging standards and trends will also help customers design inspection times.

Outline of Signal Quality Analyzer-R MP1900A Series

The Signal Quality Analyzer-R MP1900A Series is a multichannel BER tester meeting the design and verification requirements for high-speed bus interfaces, such as PCI Express 4.0/5.0, USB3.2/4 and Thunderbolt, as well as next-generation network interfaces such as 200G/400G/800G Ethernet. The MP1900A series incorporates a built-in Pulse Pattern Generator for generating high-quality waveforms with industry-best-of-class levels (Intrinsic Jitter of 115 fs rms) plus a high-input-sensitivity Error Detector, as well as a high-accuracy Jitter generation source (SJ, RJ, SSC, BUJ), CM-I/DM-I/White Noise source, Link Training function and support for LTSSM analysis.

These features make it the ideal solution for various applications, including compliance tests, margin tests and troubleshooting. In addition, it also supports PAM4 evaluation of PAM4 devices, including optical modules and NICs, used by 200G/400G/800G Ethernet in data centers. Since a single unit covers both PCI Express and high-speed Ethernet applications, it supports the introduction of various next-generation interfaces while cutting equipment costs.

#TandM @Anritsu @NapierPR

Turbidity sensor.

Exner's turbidity sensor EXspect 271 can now be used up to a process pressure of 16 bar.

The EXspect 271 is an NIR backscatter sensor for measuring turbidity. The sensor is distinguished not only by its cost-effectiveness, but also by its compact and durable design. It is suitable for determining medium to high turbidity values in a large number of applications, especially in the field of the food and beverage industry. The cleaning and sterilisation by means of CIP and SIP procedures are of course possible. A further advantage of the sensor is the spherical design of its measurement optics. This minimises the adhesion of air bubbles and the formation of deposits.

The compact sensor EXspect 271 has been available since February this year and has already proven itself in a wide variety of applications in dairies and breweries. Thi is a further improvement. Thanks to design and productional optimisations it is now possible to use the sensor up to a process pressure of 16 bar.

#PAuto #E-P-E @PresseBox

Friday 6 December 2019

A clean connection.

Businesses in the food industry who want to shorten set-up times and reduce production stoppages can do so by using connectors. As a result, Harting have developed the Han® F+B series. The series is specially designed to provide strong resistance to detergents, function in a wide temperature range from -40 to +125° C and prevent the build-up of dirt. The housings are certified by Ecolab and have FDA 21 approvals.

Hygiene and safety are particularly important in food processing, so machines and equipment must be easy to clean. Circular shapes and smooth junctions, transitions surfaces, threads and seals were chosen for the Han® F+B to ensure a hygienic, easy-to-clean design and to make it harder for dirt and bacteria to accumulate.

An interface for food production must also be resistant to the water jets used to clean equipment (IP69K) and the Han® F+B meets these requirements. Coupling and uncoupling is fast and easy with the specially designed housing profile, which enables secure handling, even in humid environments.
If machine downtime occurs, users no longer need to open a cable gland on the control cabinet to decouple devices. As a result, costly detaching and re-establishing of hardwired connections is eliminated and machine downtimes are greatly reduced.

For secure identification, the connectors are blue (a black version is also available) and the housings can be used with hybrid contact inserts for data, signal and power. This makes it possible to configure future-proof machine design for processing units, including Ethernet. With the use of an adapter, the user can integrate a selection of Han® 3A inserts, including RJ45 interfaces, signal inserts with up to 21 poles as well as power contacts for currents up to 40 A.

#PAuto #Food @HARTING

Seamless Communication from the Field Level to the Cloud.

Pepperl+Fuchs has become the first company to offer IO-Link masters with an OPC UA interface and is therefore paving the way for end-to-end, transparent, and seamless communication from the lowest field level to the cloud

The automation specialist Pepperl+Fuchs has acquired the business of Comtrol Corporation. Comtrol is a pioneer in the field of Ethernet-based industrial communication and a leading provider of IO-Link masters. Pepperl+Fuchs has therefore strengthened its position as a system provider in the IO-Link sector and has become the first company to be able to offer IO-Link masters with an OPC UA interface.

OPC UA is an Ethernet-based communication protocol and provides an easy and flexible method of communication between machines or between a machine and the cloud. OPC UA is characterized by its independence, which gives customers incredible flexibility when designing their IoT systems, and ensures that they have complete freedom, no matter which platform they choose to use.

By combining OPC UA and IO-Link, Pepperl+Fuchs has opened up completely new possibilities for end-to-end, transparent, and seamless communication from the lowest field level to the cloud. If IO-Link functions as the interface for the identification, diagnostics, and parameter data from the sensor technology, OPC UA provides the perfect solution for transmitting this data to PC- or cloud-based systems in full and in parallel with time-critical control communication. This is the only way to realize broader visions surrounding Industry 4.0 as detailed data can be collected from the lowest field level and evaluated in a target-oriented manner.

#PAuto @PepperlFuchs @mepaxIntPR

Remote visual inspection.

Ashtead Technology has recently invested in a major upgrade to its fleet of instruments for the advanced remote visual inspection of assets such as engines, turbines, aircraft, vehicles, processing plant, buildings and locations with poor or limited access.

“These investments are part of an ongoing strategy to continually acquire new technologies; so that our customers don’t have to,” comments NDT Market Manager Steve Drake. “By offering a wide range of technologies, we can ensure that each customer employs the most appropriate instrument for every job, without a frequent requirement for capital expenditure.

“When customers contact us they expect us to have the solution they need, so we are constantly adding to and refining our rental fleet. For example, recent investments include upgrades of the Olympus IPLEX videoscopes to the highly portable G-Lite, and upgrades to the IPLEX NX models to include 3D modelling.”

Lightweight and rugged with powerful imaging capability, the G-Lite is the latest videoprobe from Olympus, delivering excellent image quality by employing the same technology as much larger systems. Steve says: “Better quality images provide better reports, which inform better decisions, and with image streaming from videoprobe to tablet / mobile, it is possible for users to share live inspection results with colleagues and quickly gain a second opinion.”

By upgrading the IPLEX NX systems to include 3D modelling, Ashtead has enabled its rental customers to create 3D models of inspection areas for intuitive flaw visualisation. This means that they will be able to see the precise shape of flaws in critical components and thereby make better decisions on repair requirements.

There are no minimum or maximum rental periods for the IPLEX systems; they can be hired for one day or one year. Depending on availability and location, they are normally available on a next or same-day delivery to support urgent inspection requirements.

#PAuto #NDT @ashteadtech @_Enviro_News

Thursday 5 December 2019

Pressure sensor with mobile equipment.

Variohm EuroSensor’s new EPT31LE series pressure sensor features extremely fast power-up and response times and a low power consumption that perfectly suits mobile equipment pressure monitoring used in combination with battery and/or solar powered wireless transmitting systems.
Aimed at remote pressure monitoring tasks on agricultural machinery, heavy construction equipment and similar demanding applications, the sensor’s supply voltage is 3 or 5 VDC and current consumption is just 6 mA with more than twenty pressure range variants from 0.6 to 5000 bar in gauge or vacuum units.

Based on their well proven EPT3100 series pressure sensors with an innovative low power consumption piezo resistive sensing element and ASIC circuitry, the EPT31LE features impressive accuracy, non-linearity and stability specifications with safety secured through generous overrange and burst pressure ratings. The compact sensor is based on a 22 mm diameter 304 stainless steel housing with a 22 mm AF Hex fixing. Stainless steel wetted parts up to 2000 bar, and titanium wetted parts for all pressure ranges above assure durability for the most common hydraulic oils and liquid mediums. Measuring medium temperature range is -40 to +125 °C and long life is assured with more than 10 million operations.

The flexibility built into the sensor includes all common port configurations including NPT, UNF, SAE and metric thread options. Four output options include 0.3 to 2.7 V, 0.3 to 4.5 V and I2C digital. For electrical connection the sensor includes 600 mm cable with free ends with custom electrical interfacing and other modifications available on request.

#PAuto @Variohm @mepaxIntPR

Advanced analytics.

Seeq Corporation has achieved Amazon Web Services (AWS) Industrial Software Competency status. This designation recognizes that Seeq has demonstrated technical steps proficiency and proven customer success building solutions targeting one or more of the primary steps in discrete manufacturing or process industries in Product Design, Production Design, Production/Operations. These specialized software solutions enable companies in process and discrete manufacturing industries to increase the pace of product innovation while decreasing production and operational costs in their value chain.

Achieving the AWS Industrial Software Competency differentiates Seeq as an AWS Partner Network (APN) member that has delivered proven customer success providing specialized solutions aligning with AWS architectural best practices to support the Production and Operations category in the AWS Industrial Software Competency.

“Seeq is proud to be one of the APN Partners to achieve AWS Industrial Software Competency status,” says Steve Sliwa, CEO of Seeq. “By leveraging the agility of AWS, Seeq enables process engineers, managers, teams, and data scientists to derive more value from data already collected by accelerating analytics, publishing, and decision making.”

AWS is enabling scalable, flexible, and cost-effective solutions from startups to global enterprises. To support the seamless integration and deployment of these solutions, AWS established the AWS Partner Competency Program to help customers identify Consulting and Technology APN Partners with deep industry experience and expertise. To receive the AWS Industrial Software Competency designation, APN Partners undergo rigorous AWS technical validation related to industry specific technology as well as an assessment of the security, performance, and reliability of their solute

Seeq’s advanced analytics solution is also now available in the AWS Marketplace, enabling customers to rapidly investigate and share insights from process manufacturing data stored either on premise on in the AWS cloud.

#PAuto @SeeqCorporation @awscloud 

Motors and drives.

The International Society of Automation (ISA) has published a second edition of Motors & Drives: A Practical Technology Guide.

A practical guide developed by 30+ year industry veteran Dave Polka. This is an invaluable resource for design engineers, automation and control specialists, maintenance technicians, and students.A thorough discussion of drive systems and components, common motion control applications, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

This new release has been updated to reflect innovative new motor and drive technologies that are safer, smarter, and easier to program and implement; provide superior diagnostic capabilities; and deliver seamless integration.

Dave Polka
"The second edition will continue to serve as a straight-forward guide for those seeking to understand the key engineering principles of motors and drives," says the author Dave Polka, who is a widely recognized expert in developing training and technical support materials for major drive manufacturers. "However, while basic theory of AC and DC drives haven't changed, technology certainly has. The book takes a fresh look at how market demands have advanced motor and drive technology and are pushing the industry in new directions."

As a result, Polka says he has incorporated a substantial amount of new and updated content to highlight recent technological developments, explain complex technical concepts and define buzz words-such as "harmonics" and "power quality"-in practical, easy-to-understand terms.

While demystifying drive and motor technology used in today's modern manufacturing processes, the book is rooted in the practical side of drive and motor use, with the "design engineering" side of technology presented in commonly used terms. Included are clearly stated summaries, and highly relevant review questions, glossaries, and reference tables for formulas and conversions.

The book is suited to a broad range of professionals, particularly engineers who are unfamiliar with motor and drive technology and technicians who are technically literate but not accustomed to complex theory and mathematics. In addition, design engineers, automation and control specialists, maintenance technicians, and students will find it useful for tutorials and as a desk reference.

#PAuto @ISA_Interchange

Wednesday 4 December 2019

Battery management in electric cars.

Rimac Automobili is planning to incorporate ADI’s (Analog Devices) precision battery management system (BMS) integrated circuits (ICs) into Rimac’s BMS. ADI’s technology provides Rimac’s BMS with the ability to extract maximum energy and capacity out of its batteries by calculating reliable State of Charge and other battery parameters at any given time.

"Rimac is a technology powerhouse in the field of high-performance electric vehicles,” said Rimac CEO Mate Rimac. “We develop and manufacture key electrification systems for many global automotive companies and raise the bar for performance electric vehicles with our own hypercars. Our application of BMS is among the most demanding in the world, requiring the highest accuracy, massive current and voltage draws over very short time scales, and rapid dynamic adjustment within the battery management control system. We have decided to adopt the Analog Devices portfolio of battery management ICs across our complete product line of battery management systems. ADI’s ICs are an integral part of our in-house developed BMS that we are using in our own vehicles, but also for many global car brands. We have benchmarked these ICs in the market and selected Analog Devices for superior precision measurement accuracy and product robustness over the lifetime of the vehicle. We look forward to working with Analog Devices in the future to achieve high performance BMS in our vehicles and battery packs.”

The Rimac C_Two is a fully electric hypercar capable of speeds of up to 258 miles per hour. With 1,914 horsepower under the hood, the C_Two accellerates 0-60 mph in 1.85 seconds and 0-186 mph in 11.8 seconds. To support these high-performance outputs, the Rimac team designs and engineers superior underlying technologies, such as electric drivetrain and battery packs.

BMS technology acts as the “brains” behind battery packs by managing the output, charging and discharging as well as providing precision measurements during vehicle operation. A BMS also provides vital safeguards to protect the battery from damage. A battery pack consists of groups of individual battery cells that work seamlessly together to deliver maximum power output to the car. If the cells go out of balance, the cells can get stressed leading to premature charge termination and a reduction in the battery’s overall lifetime. ADI’s battery management ICs deliver the highly accurate measurements, resulting in safer vehicle operation and maximizing vehicle range per charge.

“High performance electric vehicles require high precision electronics,” said Patrick Morgan, Vice President, Automotive Electrification and Infotainment, Analog Devices. “Precision accuracy directly translates to maximizing battery capacity and range with fast charging time. We are pleased to support Rimac with our precision battery management ICs for its leading-edge electric vehicle systems with the goal of achieving some of the best performance in the world.”

#Automotive @ADI_News @AutomobiliRimac

President for LIMS provider.

Autoscribe Informatics has appointed Claude Hatfield as President, North American Operations. Claude assumes responsibility for leading the North American operation to achieve its revenue, profit and cashflow objectives while encouraging global teamwork.

Claude Hatfield
John Boother, President of Autoscribe Informatics, said “The timing has been perfect as Claude’s availability exactly met with our planned objective. I am personally very excited about the future for Autoscribe Informatics as we have invested significantly in our people and added some key hires to the organization in recent months.”

Claude brings with him a wealth of knowledge of the informatics market which includes significant experience in the Pharmaceutical industry. He held a number of positions at Ortho Pharmaceutical including coordinating workflows to meet product release and designing, developing and validating laboratory robotics systems. While at Zymark Corporation, he launched new business ventures providing the pharmaceutical industry with laboratory automation consulting services and a state-of-the-art laboratory to develop and validate automated analytical methods.

In 1999, Claude co-founded VelQuest, who provided market leading LES systems for the commercial pharmaceutical market. His role included involvement in all business-critical activities from strategy, budgeting and sales through to product development and delivery. He remained with VelQuest for many years and continued through its acquisition by Accelerys in 2012 as Senior Director of Sales. In recent years he has worked as an independent consultant.

Claude Hatfield said “I look forward to working with the entire Autoscribe team in continuing to build the company and take it to the next level. I am very motivated and confident that I can add significant value in helping Autoscribe achieve and surpass its goals.”

#LIMS #PHarma @AutoscribeLtd @DenisBulgin

Tuesday 3 December 2019

3 Gigabit Ethernet Switch.

Red Lion Controls have just released their innovative new NT328G Layer 3 Ethernet switch. Offering 28 high-speed ports (24-Gigabit, 4-10 Gigabit) and reliable wire-speed switching performance, the NT328G offers exceptional performance and reliability to meet the current and future needs of the Oil & Gas, Water & Wastewater, Energy, Transportation, and video and security sectors, as well as other bandwidth-intensive industrial applications.

“Industrial customers are demanding reliable wire-speed Layer 3 switching performance that is scalable to 10Gigabit speed to meet current and future bandwidth-requirements. Customers now have access to a future-proof and durable switch solution that addresses industrial requirements from the network edge to the core.” said Diane Davis, director of product management at Red Lion Controls.

Red Lion’s NT328G Layer 3 industrial Ethernet models feature a flexible mix of copper and fiber ports, allowing for a vast variety of connection options, with Layer 3 routing that provides the ability to route across VLANs or subnets—versatility that ensures scalability. The industrial-grade NT328G’s robust feature set includes network redundancy, advanced, integrated security, policy-based traffic control and easy-to-use configuration and management—reducing operating costs while providing continuous monitoring of network activity. Its sleek but rugged IP30 rackmount metal housing is constructed for long-life use in harsh industrial environments, including wide operating temperature conditions and hazardous locations—durability that ensures reduced downtime. Ideal for large-scale and/or any industrial network, the NT328G has the flexibility to meet both present and long-term speed and media requirements—delivering investment protection for years to come.

• Red Lion Controls products are marketed in Ireland through Instrument Technology.


#PAuto @redlioncontrols @mepaxIntPR

Solderless connectors.

Intelliconnect  has extended its award-winning range of solderless, field-replaceable connectors to include a version for 0.047” semi-rigid cables. When assembled, semi-rigid cables can be factory formed or routed as required in situ.

Roy Philips, managing Director of Intelliconnect (Europe), commented, “The addition of our new 0.047” semi rigid cable connector extends the choice of solderless connectors available to our customers and provides a very useful alternative to conventional types for assembling connectors to a wide range of cables with no loss in performance or reliability. Solderless assembly speeds manufacture and facilitates field replacement in the event of wear or damage to the connector.”

Typical applications include civil and military telecommunications, civil and military aeronautics, military equipment, space and measurement systems.

This innovative Intelliconnect clamp connector series offers customers a convenient alternative for terminating semi-rigid cable with no loss in performance or reliability. Other solderless attachment connectors from Intelliconnect are available for 0.085” and.0.141” cables.

The stainless-steel 0.047”, 2.9mm and SMA connectors have been designed for applications where reliability, durability, robustness and high-frequency performance are very important. Key features include field replaceable capability, guaranteed equivalent performance to solder connection, no special tooling required and cable retention force similar to soldered versions.

System designers will find the main advantages of these solderless connectors are faster assembly time, repeatability and high performance and they also provide field replaceable connectivity in the event of wear or damage to the connector.

#PAuto @Intelli_Connect @proactivefleet

AI inference development platform.

Xilinx has announced its AI inference development platform, Vitis™ AI is available for immediate download free of charge.

Combined with the Vitis unified software platform, Vitis AI empowers software developers with deep learning acceleration, as part of their software code. Vitis AI integrates a domain-specific architecture (DSA) and configures Xilinx hardware to be optimized and programmed using industry-leading frameworks like TensorFlow and Caffe. It provides the tools to optimize, compress and compile trained AI models running on a Xilinx device in as little as one minute. Xilinx has also open sourced Vitis accelerated libraries and Vitis AI models, as well as corresponding example designs that can be used from endpoint to edge in addition to cloud platforms.

At the Xilinx Developer Forum (XDF) Americas in early October, Xilinx first unveiled Vitis, a unified software platform that enables a broad new range of developers – including software engineers and AI scientists – to take advantage of the power of hardware adaptability. Five years and a total of 1,000 man years in the making, Vitis automatically tailors the Xilinx hardware architecture to the software or algorithmic code without the need for hardware expertise. Rather than imposing a proprietary development environment, the Vitis platform plugs into common software developer tools and utilizes a rich set of optimized open source libraries, enabling developers to focus on their algorithms.

Vitis is separate to the Vivado® Design Suite, which will still be supported for those who want to program using hardware code, but the new platform can also boost the productivity of hardware developers by packaging hardware modules as software-callable functions.

@XilinxEMEA @XilinxInc @NeeshamPR