Tuesday 31 August 2021

Table-top exhibition to accompany seminar.

The slow take off after almost two years of closure and zooming includes the return of face to face conferences and exhibitions.

Exhibitors include:

AJM Engineering Management
Belcom
Endress + Hauser
HMS Industrial Networks
Hitex
Procentec
Siemens WAGO
Taking place at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham (GB) on November 17th 2021, The PROFIBUS and PROFINET International (PI) free-to-attend seminar will be supported by an exhibition with live product demonstrations. This will be of great value to Designers, Production/System Engineers, Instrument Technicians/Engineers and C&I Engineers involved in the design, operation and maintenance of modern automated factories and process plant.

The event addresses key practical issues arising from the use of digital communications technologies in process industry and automated manufacturing applications, with particular attention to Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

A further seminar and exhibition is scheduled in Scotland's second city, Glasgow, 24th March 2022.

@ProfibusUK  @AllThingsPROFI #Pauto #IIoT #Fieldbus #Britain

Simultaneous dual-port 400GbE measurement & 200GbE.

The 400G Dual/100G Quad Channel Expansion MT1040A-020 option offers upgraded functions for Anritsu's popular Network Master Pro. 

Installing this new MT1040A-020 option in the MT1040A supports simultaneous dual-port 400G Ethernet (400GbE) measurements using a combination of two 400G measurement modules. As a result, since data Tx and Rx tests can be performed simultaneously, it is possible to both test networks as well as measure the latency and execute quality tests of 400G equipment efficiently using just one MT1040A unit. Additionally, testing of 200GbE used in data centers is also supported.

By upgrading the MT1040A functions to support 400GbE in response to customers’ requirements, Anritsu is contributing to the deployment and smooth operation of high-speed networks.

Development Background
With the start of 5G services and the spread of Cloud computing, as well as the rapid increase in teleworking, supporting increased network speeds and larger data capacities has become an urgent issue for communications network operators. As a result, demand for 400GbE is increasing as a means to cope with reinforcement of these networks. However, configuring stable and high-speed, large-capacity networks using 400GbE requires careful attention to key points, such as assuring the quality of equipment prior to constructing the overall network.

On the other hand, reducing network costs is a continuing requirement, while the increasing complexity of network functions and test items demands a test solution offering easy evaluation of network equipment.

Product Outline
The 400GbE Network Master Pro MT1040A is a portable tester for evaluating the communications quality of various network types operating at speeds ranging from 10 Mbps to 400 Gbps. With its stackable configuration of measurement modules, the MT1040A can support simultaneous dual-port 400GbE measurements using a combination of two 400G measurement modules, facilitating quality tests (BER, throughput, frame loss/latency, etc.) of 400GbE equipment. Moreover, in addition to supporting 400GbE, the MT1040A also supports 200GbE, offering network operators a cost-effective, all-in-one quality tester.

The useful, automatic, one-button test function for pass/fail evaluation of multiple test results cuts the test burden and reduces the need to support inexperienced operators performing complex on-site work. of network problems.

@Anritsu @AnritsuEMEA @NapierPR #TandM #Communications

Wednesday 25 August 2021

Resolving media disruptions in data transfer.

Today’s ecosystem of industrial automation is characterised by many media disruptions during the processing and transfer of documentation. It is essential to resolve these issues within the development process for machines and plant systems – via targeted collaboration among all stakeholders and systems. Data created in the engineering process must be shared with everyone involved in the process. The ideal goal: machine builders and system integrators, control cabinet manufacturers, component manufacturers and also the machine or plant system operator all work networked together.


Operators of production facilities, machine builders and system integrators, control cabinet manufacturers and component manufacturers all have one thing in common: they all work together along the value chain, from the planning through to operating a finished machine or plant system – and continuously exchange information in the process.

The ecosystem of industrial automation
What does this process – the collaboration among the various process participants – look like today? In the planning phase, the characteristics of the desired machine or plant system are described. If the company has particular supplier specifications, these are also detailed and then passed on to the operator, who takes the specifications into account when designing the machine or system. The planning phase is followed by the preplanning process. Additional information such as devices, release lists from Excel, specifications in Word or preplanning tools such as Eplan Preplanning are taken into account and, in turn, are used by the basic engineering designers to prepare a quote, for instance. In the case of more complex production lines, this is traditionally taken care of by a system integrator, who is also responsible for the detailed engineering and for generating electrical and fluid-power schematics.

The new Eplan Platform 2022 with a completely redesigned user interface: the practical ribbon bars using modern technology flexibly adapt to the application.

Data is enriched in the Eplan Project
The project created with systems of the Eplan Platform – Eplan Electric P8 or Eplan Fluid, for example – is now transferred to the control cabinet manufacturer. This manufacturer creates the virtual prototype of the switchgear system in the form of a 3D assembly of the control cabinet using Eplan Pro Panel. The control cabinet is then built, approved and commissioned by the operator. With the delivery of the switchgear system, the control cabinet manufacturer processes are complete. The company hands over the Eplan Project, which has been enriched with data, back to the machine builder or system integrator, who then commissions the machine or plant system based on the final project data. The project is then made available to the operator, who can access the current documentation, for instance using Eplan eView, in the event that servicing or maintenance becomes necessary, and who can digitally document any changes using the redlining function as needed.

This process describes the daily work in this ecosystem of industrial automation. The challenge, however, is that all the data for an automation project is created and added at various stations along the value chain. Often, all the project participants are working with partially inconsistent data, which ends up making the process even more time consuming and error prone. For instance, the drive power of a motor is changed at some later point in a project, but this change isn’t taken into account when the machine or plant system is commissioned. As a result, the documentation is not up to date.

All changes in a project are centrally available in Eplan eView. The advantages are obvious: project documentation is always up to date – along the entire product life cycle and into operation and service scenarios.

A “data container” as the central source of information
This is where Eplan comes in: the systems of the upcoming Eplan Platform 2022, in combination with the new Eplan eManage cloud service, network together machine builders and system integrators, control cabinet manufacturers, component manufacturers and the operators of machines or plant systems. Eplan CEO Sebastian Seitz explains: “We connect companies with their clients and suppliers via the cloud, for easy and secure data sharing. The Eplan Project as the central, digital model of an automation solution supplies all processes with the necessary data. What we’re talking about is a sort of ‘data container’ that is fed from the systems of the Eplan Platform. This generates added value in the digitised collaboration of all participants – through secure data transfer and central access to the Eplan Project.” A new feature includes the connection to the cloud via Eplan ePulse, which also significantly facilitates mobile working in design and engineering.

An important building block is device data, which is provided on the Eplan Data Portal. What matters here is the quality and depth of the data, something being intensively advanced with the Data Standard.

Cross-project collaboration via the cloud
Using the new Eplan eManage, projects can easily be uploaded to the cloud and managed and shared from there. More specifically, this brings together the worlds of on-premises software and the cloud. Clear access rights via role management ensure data security and provide flexibility for accessing projects. Users of Eplan Electric P8 and Eplan Pro Panel can conveniently upload their projects to the cloud and transfer them to the Eplan Platform for further processing. This is accomplished without the time-consuming sending of project data via email or using an FTP server. And the centralised, clear availability in the cloud also enables all project participants to search quickly for specific content. With Eplan eView, all the changes in a project are centrally available. The advantages are obvious: project documentation is always up to date – along the entire product life cycle and into operation and service scenarios. 

High-quality digital device data is a key factor in:

• Processing orders in shop floor management and deriving production orders.
• Controlling automated machine fleets (Rittal Automation Systems).
• Providing information to partially automated workstations (for instance, simplifying wiring processes with Eplan Smart Wiring).

An important component of this method of working is device data, which is provided on the Eplan Data Portal. Seitz says, “What matters here is the quality and depth of the data, something we are intensively advancing with the Data Standard.” Comprehensive, integrated and end-to-end digital data serves as a project accelerator. And don’t forget, the data are consistent and the data transfer is secure.

Seitz continues: “With these optimised processes and increased efficiency, companies can optimise their machine and plant system design processes and sustainably increase the availability of their machines and plant systems. Collaboration among all participants ultimately increases the quality of the data and thus the added value.”

@EPLAN_global @mepaxIntPR #PAuto 

Data communications on U-Bahn.

Stadler Deutschland GmbH has awarded Westermo the contract to supply data communications technology for a new fleet of trains for the Berlin U-bahn metro in Germany. The data networks will support mission-critical systems on-board the two- and four-carriage trains, including the train control and management system (TCMS) and systems that ensure passenger comfort and safety.


“Stadler and Westermo share a long-term relationship of very successful collaboration. We are happy to continue this with the new metro-trains from BVG for Berlin City,”
 says Alexander Höfling, Head of Procurement, Stadler Germany.
 
The contract, worth more than 5 million euros, includes data communication technology for 606 cars, with an option on an additional 894 cars. Westermo will provide up to 8,500 of its compact Viper Ethernet switches to manage data networks on the BVG J/JK-series underground rail carriages. The new carriages are designed to be very energy efficient, produce less noise and provide greater passenger comfort. Delivery of the Westermo products will commence at the beginning of 2022 and continue over a five-year period.

“Westermo has many years’ experience of successfully providing data communication technologies in mission-critical on-board rail applications,” says Jenny Sjödahl, CEO of Westermo. “One of our major strengths is our ability to provide networking solutions suitable for both train management applications and systems for enhancing passenger experience – which was a key requirement for this project.”

@westermo @WestermoUK @HHC_Lewis #Transport #Germany

Starter Kit Options for IT/OT Convergence.

Advantech and Lynx Software Technologies have partnered to offer multiple Mission Critical Edge Starter Kit options that enable the convergence of IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology).

LYNX MOSA.ic™ for Industrial, Lynx’s mission critical edge platform, provides virtual air gapping between the control automation and other workloads. It is available for implementation on select Advantech industrial hardware, which reduces integration time for OT edge processing. These Mission Critical Edge Starter Kits enable the following:
  • Implementation of the edge use cases in the OT domain
  • Virtual air gapping of IT and OT workloads
  • OT operators’ ownership of the system management
  • vPLC, Machine Learning and Security running on the same system
  • Ability to host cloud workloads in the OT domain without impacting operators

The foundational building block in LYNX MOSA.ic for Industrial is the LynxSecure® Separation Kernel, which provides strong isolation of applications, deterministic real-time performance and management of critical system assets to increase immunity to cybersecurity attacks. Additionally, Lynx has developed unique management technologies that allow Mission Critical Edge systems to be deployed at scale and meet the strict requirements of systems that enable OT & IT convergence.

Many networks across a variety of verticals including government, military, financial services, power plants, and industrial manufacturing have been so-called “air-gapped.” This means they are physically and logically isolated from other networks where communication between these networks is not physically or logically possible.

The combination of Advantech hardware and Lynx software allows users to have IT/OT collaboration and network separation. In the starter kit, hardware partitioning is provided by Lynx Separation Kernel (LSK). Additional features ideal for customers include the following: 
•Nodes based on LynxSecure Separation Kernel Hypervisor 
•Support for multiple guest OS (VMs) 
•Virtual KVM support 
•Explicit allocation of storage and other dedicated resources 
•Precise definition of inter-VM connectivity and communication

“One of the primary concerns expressed to us by OT operators has been how to deploy edge technologies in the OT domain,” said Pavan Singh, vice president of product management, Lynx Software Technologies. “By leveraging virtual air gapping, OT operators can focus on the business benefits of new data and machine learning technologies without worrying about the impact on their operations.”

Advantech hardware devices targeted for both Level 1 operational hierarchy for direct control and Level 2 supervisory control include the MIC-770 modular industrial PC and the UNO-137 embedded automation computer. Depending on the level of consolidation needed, both devices combine with LYNX MOSA.ic for Industrial for an ideal OT/IT solution.

“We’re happy to be able to support the LYNX MOSA.ic for Industrial solution with our MIC-770 and UNO-137 industrial computing devices,” said Jon Towslee, Sr. Director, iFactory, Advantech Industrial IoT Group. “We’re always trying to offer more ways for customers to be able to securely and easily deploy solutions at the edge. Our goal is to continue working with innovative solution partners to make data connectivity easier and more efficient to adopt when utilizing our industrial, intelligent devices.”

Advantech’s MIC-770 series of PCs provide high-performance computing, multiple I/O interfaces, and flexible expandability with the integration of i-Modules and iDoor. They can be widely deployed to support various industrial IoT applications. The MIC-770 series can be equipped with a wide range of processors to provide custom entry-level and high-end solutions. With the provision of multiple I/O for connecting devices, MIC-770 systems can serve as a data gateway and industrial controller.

UNO-137 is an industrial-grade integrated IoT edge gateway ideal for industrial automation. Its new modular design includes a base unit and an optional extension kit, which supports Advantech’s iDoor technology to integrate additional industrial Fieldbus, I/O, and wireless communication.

@Advantech_USA @AdvantechEurope @LynxSoftware @NeeshamPR #PAuto #MissionCritical

Traps impeding OT data acquisition.

Oliver Wang, Product Marketing Manager, Edge Connectivity and Computing at Moxa explains the Three Types of Traps That Impede OT Data Acquisition

Industrial digital transformation seeks to break down the silos between an enterprise’s information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT), translating the physical behavior of OT devices into digital data, and distilling insights with the help of IT’s analysis.

Through OT-IT collaboration, these actionable insights can optimize the overall physical operational system. For instance, data from manufacturing execution systems (MESs) in factories can be integrated with the data from a customer relationship management (CRM) system to shorten time-to-delivery, expand production capacity, and reduce costs, among others.

However, according to the latest Industrial 4.0 Maturity Index, 96% of studied enterprises are still starting out on their digital transformation journey, while just 4% of the enterprises have attained the “visibility” or “analysis” maturity stage. Evidently, the journey has not been kind to most enterprises. Based on experience, the beginning is the hardest, with OT data acquisition being the most challenging part.

Three Types of Traps That Impede OT Data Acquisition

  1. Invisible environmental traps: Imagine your OT data comes from a drilling well in the middle of a desert where temperatures range from 40 to 50°C, an oil pipeline system that stretches for hundreds of kilometers in freezing cold areas, a transportation system of a fast-moving train that deals with high levels of vibrations, a chemical fuel tank, or a switchgear system inside an unmanned high-voltage substation. A variety of environmental interferences, such as extreme temperatures, vibrations, airborne chemicals, and electromagnetic radiation, can easily cause the malfunction of OT data-acquisition electronics, which results in data transmission instability from time to time, or worse, data inaccuracy, which leads to errors in analyses later on. For example, the large automated warehouse systems in smart factories generate strong electromagnetic interference at the moment of startup, causing anomalies in the network equipment nearby. Network disruption, even if just for a second, could wreck the accuracy in the calculation of incoming inventory as well as the production process of the entire product batch.
  2. Unexpected design traps: All OT equipment, from sensors and controllers to control systems, has one thing in common: it is intended to enable highly specialized industrial applications. By design, industrial equipment is for a special purpose. Controllers and sensors used in a drilling well are not the same as the ones supporting power monitoring devices, for example. But if you want to understand the correlation between control levels of a drilling well and power consumption, OT data must be collected from a variety of specialized equipment. Only now, most people realize that every device uses a specific communication protocol that only it can read and understand. Therefore, to glean OT data from more sources, it is necessary to first acquire the ability to “talk to” different devices; otherwise, it makes it much harder to analyze diverse OT data, and it entails direct cost increases.
  3. Data identification traps: Data generated from OT equipment or systems is mostly raw data, meaning it does not come with context. For instance, PLCs collect temperature data from sensors deployed in a variety of locations to support monitoring. When the temperature goes above 45°C, fans will be switched on to bring the temperature down. However, for OT data analysts, the raw OT data (i.e., 45°C ) captured directly from the PLCs lacks context, as they cannot tell what devices were sourced, the data acquisition time, and data owners, etc. This raw data is nothing but a meaningless value in their eyes. Therefore, preprocessing raw data and giving it a context is a key aspect in OT data acquisition. To achieve this, OT equipment vendors must incorporate IT capabilities in their development focus as IT user habits are very much involved in the preprocessing of raw data. Furthermore, if there is too much data, data analysts will be drowned in the sheer workload of converting the collected data into a uniform format for a database, which, fortunately, can now be facilitated by data transformation technology.

Step Up OT Data Acquisition to Accelerate IT/OT Convergence
OT data plays a deciding role in whether an industrial digital transformation endeavor takes off or crashes before getting off the ground. Before starting a project, it is wise to take stock of the different ways of obtaining OT data and the types of OT data available, as well as plan for converting the data into the format and contextures required by the IT database. Avoid these three kinds of traps and align with your company’s needs to strengthen the OT data acquisition ability ahead of time. In doing so, IT/OT convergence will effectively have to be sped up to allow you to take the first step towards industrial digital transformation, firmly and steadily.

@MoxaInc @OConnell_PR #Pauto #Industrie4

Universal connectivity.

Their complete line of interface modules, used to simplify and improve reliability of automation connections and signal conversions, in a compact form factor has been announced by Dinkle International. Users will realize many benefits in their designs by taking advantage of these universal interface modules.

Signal Interface Modules
When creating automation systems using major PLC brands like Allen-Bradley, Keyence, Mitsubishi, Omron, Siemens, and more, designers are challenged to connect an ever-increasing number of equipment signals to the I/O modules. These signals may be discrete (on/off at anywhere from 5VDC up to 120VAC), analog (usually 4-20mA or 0-10VDC), or other specialized signaling levels.

Even standardized equipment designs may need to be automated using a variety of controller and I/O makes/models to comply with end user requirements. Instead of being constrained to standard factory wiring arms and bulkier terminal blocks, users can gain flexibility selecting from a range of universal interface modules and associated cables, which are available with popular industry-standard connectors like:

  • IDC (14-pin, 20-pin, 26-pin, 30-pin, 34-pin, 40-pin)
  • D-Sub (37-pin, 44-pin)
  • MDR (50-pin, 68-pin, 100-pin)
  • Terminal Blocks

A single wiring harness routes from the I/O module to the interface module. Some Dinkle interface modules are available with traditional screw-cage terminal blocks, but most versions use newer push-in design (PID) terminations—which are a superior choice due to their compact size, faster installation, improved long-term reliability, and vibration resistance—all of which contribute to connection stability. Other available features:

  • Available LED status indications for termination points.
  • Provisions for clear marking and color coding.
  • Terminal blocks and materials are UL1059 recognized and IEC60947 approved.
  • Reverse-polarity protection in some models.
  • Industrial-grade cables in shielded and unshielded versions.
  • Various extra-slim relay options for providing signal isolation.
  • Standard DIN rail mounting.

Dinkle also offers many other complementary products in this line, such as power distribution and serial communication modules, power supplies, and accessories.

The Efficient Interface Choice
Dinkle universal interface modules provide up to 30% space savings over traditional methods, reduce inventory needs, and provide up to 70% labor savings due to PID terminations. For designers of microcontroller- or PLC-based systems, these modules provide an economical, compact, flexible, universal, and reliable termination solution.

#DinkleInternational #PAuto #Connectors

High camera order intake & promising new products.

The industrial camera manufacturer, IDS Imaging Development Systems,  was able to exceed industry expectations in the first half of 2021. Instead of the 7% increase in turnover forecast by the VDMA for the machine vision industry, the company has so far generated more than double this growth.

The company expects consistently high growth until the end of 2021. The positive order situation and the strong development of foreign business give the camera manufacturer every reason to do so, despite the challenging procurement situation. Compared to the same period in the previous year the increase in turnover was particularly strong in North America.

The company bases its growth forecast for the VISION year 2021 primarily on the new IDS NXT cameras with artificial intelligence, as well as on the high demand in the 3D segment. New products, such as the cost-effective, industrial-grade Ensenso S, will explicitly complement the IDS product range in these areas. IDS is also expanding the uEye portfolio with new sensors and a new small C-mount housing camera – especially in the low-cost range for particularly price-sensitive and high-volume applications. On the software side, the new SDK IDS peak with many modern programming interfaces and new convenience functions promises real added value for both uEye and uEye+ users.

"We are developing innovative products and platforms in order to continually set new impulses for our customers and partners with new powerful solutions," explains Managing Director Jan Hartmann. By establishing its own development unit in Serbia last year, the industrial camera manufacturer has already paved the way for even more active AI research and development. "Cameras and artificial intelligence, a combination that allows IDS to reinvent itself and contribute to shaping the future." In the area of tension between increasing demand, high standards of efficiency and sustainability as well as security of supply, embedded vision solutions with AI – such as IDS NXT – are becoming more and more important.

With the online platform visionbay, IDS has now also opened a virtual marketplace for image processing with AI. There, users can access the know-how of experts in the field of artificial intelligence, get access to complete image processing solutions and thus save valuable development time.

@IDS_Imaging  @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Vision 

Tuesday 24 August 2021

New CEO appointed at energy harvesting pioneer.

After 20 successful years, the last five of them as Managing Director of EnOcean, co-founder Andreas Schneider has left the company at his own request on 31 July 2021 to take on new entrepreneurial challenges. Raoul Wijgergangs succeeds him as EnOcean’s new CEO. He has over 20 years of experience in the IoT industry and is also a co-founder of the Z-Wave Alliance.

"I would like to personally thank Andreas Schneider for his constant commitment and tireless dedication to the company and every single employee," said Dr. Peter Klein, CFO. "Under his leadership EnOcean has been able to expand and consolidate its market position even further. The fact that we as a company have successfully come through the Corona crisis confirms this. The entire EnOcean team and I wish him all the best for the future. At the same time, I am looking forward to the upcoming collaboration with Raoul Wijgergangs as the new CEO and I am sure that together we will build on the outstanding work of Andreas Schneider."

The new CEO Raoul Wijgergangs said "I am honoured that the Management Board puts so much trust in me as the new Managing Director, and I am very much looking forward to this new professional chapter. As the world leader in sustainable IoT, EnOcean will certainly be even more in demand in the coming months and years. With that in mind I see great opportunities not only in the commercial real estate but also in the industrial IoT. What’s more, the company’s focus on interoperability with products supporting the EnOcean radio standard, Bluetooth Low Energy and Zigbee Green Power makes it a real IoT power house. I thank Andreas Schneider for his successful work over the last years, without him EnOcean would certainly not be where the company is today. And of course I’m very much looking forward to be working with such an innovative team with a strong expertise and great technical know-how."

Before joining EnOcean, Wijgergangs was CEO at Disruptive Technologies in Oslo and worked as Vice President/General Manager at Silicon Labs as well as Vice President/General Manager of the Z-Wave business unit at Sigma Designs in Copenhagen, to name but a few positions. He studied Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at H.T.S.’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, and completed his MBA at the Twente School of Management, University of Twente, Netherlands.

@EnOcean @NeeshamPR #PAuto #Energy

Electrical podcast success.

Schneider Electric has reached 10,000 listeners with ‘The Electrician Podcast*’. Launched in March 2020, the podcast welcomes business leaders and experts from the electrical sector to discuss how electricians can grow their knowledge, skills and business.

Top episodes to date include ‘Set up for success: Mastering your operation’ where industry professionals discuss the benefits of job management software for tradespeople, as well as ‘Being an influencer in the electrical industry’ where two electricians discuss how becoming influencers in the electrical space has transformed their businesses.

“We’re proud to see that our partnerships with key electrical professionals have resonated with our electrical audience. The vast range of topics, interviews and advice that we’ve provided throughout the two series of the podcast has helped electricians to stay up to date with the latest news and regulations, in turn helping them in their day-to-day job,” said Nico van der Merwe, Vice President of Home and Distribution at Schneider Electric. “Throughout the series we will continue to discuss the key opportunities and challenges facing the industry and how to succeed in this competitive market.”

* Listen and subscribe to The Electrician Podcast through any major podcast streaming platform including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.


@SchneiderUKI @Schneider_E @teamlewisglobal #Electrical #Pauto

Service to process industry completely changed.

Process Insights Inc., has enhanced its customer support with the launch of GO Remote Connected Service (GO).

Joe Schwab, Chief Commercial Officer, Process Insights said, “GO Remote Connected Service has completely changed the way we help customers around the globe, providing a faster, more efficient and productive service as well as being able to identify problems before they become major threats to the facility."

GO is an intelligent, safe, fast, and efficient service that minimizes unexpected downtime, and provides reliable support around the clock, globally. Customers will benefit from this state-of-the-art service by being able to access industry-specific technical support from a team of experts from any device. Customers can use GO whenever it is needed, ensuring a timely response. Information is shared in real-time, and accessed via smart devices and apps, reducing travel time and costs.

The new service works on multiple smart devices, including Realwear. It is easily configurable and customizable to individual specific requirements. Operating remotely allows technicians to access real-time monitoring, analysis, and status of systems.

Traditionally, service would have been performed by technicians via an onsite visit, and only after the fault or total failure occurred. With the GO, a robust, safe remote service solution, now service technicians can access real-time monitoring, analysis, and status, easily to track service history, and download service reports.

This preventative maintenance solution means that potential major malfunctions can be identified in advance, reducing the need for unexpected shutdowns in industrial facilities, also sparing personnel and travel expense.

Utilizing Process Insights’ GO software, customers can track service history, download reports, schedule maintenance visits, track orders, view contract details, and manage deliverables. 

Download App.

Scott Fleishner, General Manager for Process Insights – The Americas, stated “we have best-in-class experts on hand to help with emergency support, as well as general advice and maintenance. This all leads to seamless, proactive support where and when needed, and affords our customers immediate access to our experts. It’s all about reducing downtime.”

@ProcessInsights @codacomms #PAuto 

Live remote monitoring stations virtually.

Meteor Communications will provide a virtual exhibition booth at this year’s Water, Wastewater & Environmental Monitoring event, WWEM 2021 (13/14 Oct 2021). Visitors to the booth will be able to view live examples of continuous, real-time remote monitoring stations and integrated data in the Meteor Data Cloud.

Delegates will be able to seek expert advice on how and where to install remote cameras for monitoring flood prevention assets for example, as well as how to apply the latest image recognition functionality.

Experts will also be available to provide help with water quality monitoring applications – where to install equipment; what to monitor, and how to obtain real-time data remotely. Visitors will be able to compare the relative merits of purchasing monitors and subscribing to the company’s ‘Water Quality as a Service’ offering.

Pre-registered delegates will be able to access the conference sessions free of charge. Delegates are invited to pre-book virtual meetings with Meteor Communications to ensure that appropriate expertise can be provided.

@MeteorComms @_Enviro_News #Water #Environment

Monday 23 August 2021

Filter options for machine builders.

Schaffner has extended its popular FN3270 series to provide more options for machine builders. Building on the strengths of the very successful FN3270 filter range the new FN3271 filter is an extremely compact and lightweight filter design requiring minimum mounting space in installations and cabinets.

15 different filter models are available to meet the specific needs and deployment for most industrial applications. These include industrial viable speed electrical power drive systems, motor drives and systems containing frequency inverters and servo drives.

With its enhanced performance the FN3271 offers an ideal solution for EMC challenges, where the impedance at the connection to the noise source is high (> 100 Ohm). The internal configuration of the FN3271 is optimised for this application. For applications with low impedances at the noise source the existing FN3270 remains the option of choice.

These new EMC filters provide the attenuation performance required to fulfil EN 61800-3/A11 and the filter performance is guaranteed under full load operating conditions. Solid, touch-safe terminal blocks are fitted to all filter models from 10 to 100 A, offering sufficient contacting cross section according to the EN 60204-1 installation standard.

To improve the safely of installations optional transparent protective covers are available for all filters with busbars from 150 to 1000 A. These provide protection to the installer, operator, or inspector by avoiding accidental contact with live conductors. The protective covers can easily be retrofitted even if the filter is already installed and connected.

@proactivefleet #Schaffner #PAuto

Concentrator system with multipoint analog alarm.

Moore Industries' NCS MAAThe NET Concentrator System® (NCS) has a new versatile Multipoint Analog Alarm (–MAA) option that allows users to quickly set up simple or dynamic alarming schemes. The -MAA option utilizes a built-in ISaGRAF program providing a flexible alarm configuration that is accessed via easy to use web pages through the on-board web server.

The NCS with the -MAA option allows users to configure up to 32 alarms. Each alarm can be freely assigned to any of the eight relay outputs on the Relay Output Module (ROM). This enables each relay output to be driven by one input/alarm or multiple inputs/alarms. Each alarm can be configured as high or low with its own deadband setting and can optionally include alarming on any NCS system faults.

MAA window Designed specifically for demanding industrial applications, the modular and reliable NCS remote I/O system provides a real-time signal gateway between the field or factory floor and your control strategy and handles a wide-range of signal inputs and outputs including current, voltage, relay, RTD, discrete, thermocouple, resistance or potentiometer.

The rugged NCS features robust RFI/EMI protection, Peer-to-Host and Peer-to-Peer operation, full channel-to-channel isolation, data logging capabilities, superior 20-bit input and 18-bit output resolution, and installs in harsh ambient temperature conditions. The NCS is the ideal solution when you need to network new and existing legacy process sensors, instruments, and final control elements with monitoring and control systems.

@MII_Worldwide #PAuto 

Focus on hydrocarbon monitoring.

This year, the main focus of the Signal Group booth at AQE 2021, will be hydrocarbon monitoring because the 3010 MINIFID is currently undergoing MCERTS testing and a new portable Methane/Non-Methane FID analyser will be unveiled with a video explaining the clever design features that have been built into the new unit – the SOLAR Xplore.

“Many customers are not aware that we also manufacture a comprehensive range of accessories such as gas dividers for linearity and calibration checks, heated sample lines, sample pumps and filters, NOx converters, cooler dryers, zero air generators etc., so delegates can come to us for advice on almost any issue relating to gas monitoring," says Signal Group’s Stephane Canadas.

The virtual booth will also provide an opportunity to see a demonstration of Signal Group’s innovative Series 4 analysers with detachable wireless tablets.

Pre-registered AQE delegates will be able to access the AQE Conference sessions free of charge, but Stephane is urging delegates to pre-book virtual meetings with Signal Group (either through the event website or directly at their own website) to ensure that appropriate expertise can be provided.

@GasAnalysers @_Enviro_News #AQE #AirQuality

Virtual booth serving environment protection.

OTT HydroMet is to host a virtual exhibition booth at this year’s WWEM 2021 event; providing visitors with access to a world of expertise in sensors, dataloggers, telemetry and data management software for monitoring water and meteorology.

Taking place on 13th and 14th October 2121, and with a clear focus on Water, Wastewater & Environmental Monitoring, WWEM 2021 will provide pre-registered visitors with free access to a range of conferences and workshops, as well as the opportunity to arrange appointments with experts from OTT HydroMet’s global locations.

“As a virtual event, WWEM will enable us to provide technical support from almost any location in the world,” explains OTT’s Application Development Manager for Europe Katja Weber. “However, given the variation in time zones, we are encouraging visitors to pre-arrange appointments with us; either via the exhibition portal or directly via our website.

“At traditional exhibitions, most of the visitors are looking for help and advice such as: where to install monitors; which sensors to deploy; what service/calibration routine to choose; which loggers can handle remote operation; what telemetry method would be most cost-effective; how the system should be powered, and which data management platform to employ,” explains Katja.

“Experts from OTT HydroMet will be available to discuss all of these issues, as well as to demonstrate the latest technologies. There will also be a live feed to real-world water level data from one of our customer sites.”

@OTTHydromet @_Enviro_News #Water #Environment

Friday 20 August 2021

Indoor air quality (post Covid)

A survey commissioned by Vaisala*, shows that people would feel safer with more data on indoor air quality. The survey, which included over 4,000 respondents in the USA, France, Germany, and Finland, was conducted in the summer of 2021, studying people’s concerns regarding indoor air during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than one third of the respondents are concerned about the indoor air quality in their place of work, and more than half said that concerns with indoor air quality impacts their motivation to visit public spaces. Around two thirds of respondents also said that these concerns impact their motivation to travel.

“Vaccination rates are high in the surveyed countries, but the survey revealed high levels of concern with air quality in indoor spaces. We believe this is because, intuitively, people understand that infection risk is higher in indoor spaces where people are in close proximity with each other, and where ventilation is insufficient,” says Anu Kätkä from Vaisala’s product management.

“When people spend too long in a poorly ventilated space, their exhaled breath causes carbon dioxide (CO2 ) levels to rise. Higher levels of CO2  impact people’s well-being, health and performance, but importantly, monitoring CO2 levels can highlight when the risk of COVID-19 transmission is high and better ventilation is required. By monitoring CO2  levels in indoor spaces, organizations can therefore provide the reassurance that the survey respondents need.”

Respondents want more data on indoor air quality at workplaces
Out of all the respondents, the Finns are the most confident about going back to work: 71% of Finnish respondents feel safe about returning to the workplace. 70% of French respondents feel safe about returning; 65% of American respondents, and just 55% of the German respondents.

50% of all respondents said that they would feel safer about returning to work with more information about indoor air quality.

Indoor air quality can be monitored with instruments that measure, among other parameters, CO2 , humidity, and temperature. These parameters can be used to automatically inform ventilation and building management systems so that indoor air quality can be optimized.

“Indoor air does not only affect exposure to airborne diseases but also employees’ energy levels, because exhaled breath increases CO2 levels which, in turn, increase drowsiness,” Kätkä continues.

Indoor air quality monitoring needed in public spaces

The survey also studied people’s perception of indoor air quality in public spaces, such as shopping centers, sports facilities, and public transportation. Overall, people are more concerned about indoor air quality in public areas than at their place of work. 50% of all respondents would like more information in the workplace, whereas 60% would like more information on indoor air quality in public spaces.

The concern with indoor air quality in public spaces translates into a reluctance to travel, with 65% of respondents saying that concerns with indoor air quality in public places affect their motivation to travel.

Schools, shopping centers, restaurants, stations and airports all benefit from indoor air quality monitoring. Viruses travel faster in dry air, but humidity can make people feel unwell. It is therefore important to monitor and maintain optimal conditions, and to share the monitoring data with all stakeholders, including staff and members of the public.

Majority of people want more accurate data on indoor air
Based on the survey results, indoor air quality is a concern in the mind of at least every third person, and more than half of all the respondents want more information and data on air quality inside those places where they spend time. This means that facility managers face important decisions.

“In recent years, many countries have implemented regulations concerning the monitoring of indoor air quality parameters such as CO2. These regulations are designed to ensure optimal air quality, but in order to achieve this goal, accurate and science-based data is essential,” explains Kätkä.

Reliable measurement instruments perform a key role in decision making to prevent the spread of diseases and protect people’s health. The prerequisite for healthy indoor air is efficient ventilation and air conditioning that prevents diseases from spreading, keeps the mind clear, and ensures a healthy environment.

* The survey was conducted between June 21, 2021 and July 11, 2021 together with the market research company Norstat in Finland, France, Germany, and the United States. The survey gathered approximately 1,000 respondents in each country, and the respondents included both men and women aged 18-65.

@vaisalagroup @_Enviro_News #HVAC #AirQuality #coróinvíreas #COVID19 #coronavirus

Process monitoring for medical apps.

Increased interest from the MedTech sector since the introduction in late 2020 of the new medical compliant versions of Kistler’s ComoNeo cavity pressure monitoring and maXYmos manufacturing process monitoring systems make Stand G26 at Interplas 2021 the ideal opportunity to show the new products to the British plastics industry.

Kistler MaXYmos Med version
ComoNeo 4.1 has several new features needed to comply with the medical market requirements including LDAP Windows authentication and extra logging to store all device changes. The ComoNeoPREDICT, a DoE model based system uses AI and supervised machine learning algorithms based on neural networks to predict the characteristics of injection-moulded parts.

As more injection moulders are providing assembly services to their MedTech customers, the validation of the manufacturing process becomes essential. The Kistler MaXYmos ML, the first process monitoring system to meet the strict FDA and the new European Medical Device Regulations (MDR) for quality assurance in the MedTech sector, simplifies the validation process by delivering 100% confirmation that each step in the manufacturing process has been carried out within the product specification.

The unique combination of Kistler’s ComoNeo 4.1 and MaXYmos ML ensure conformity with both FDA and European MDR whilst delivering higher productivity, zero rejects and accurate costings.

@InterplasUK  #Kistler, #Medical

Thursday 19 August 2021

New name new direction same service.

The Industrial Internet Consortium® (IIC®) has changed its name to Industry IoT Consortium® (IIC®). They also have a new logo and tagline: “Technology Innovation. Business Transformation.”

This new brand reflects a new direction. This recognises the need to focus on technology deployments to solve technical problems and apply that technology to address pain points that improve end-user business results. THe mission is now to bring transformative business value to organizations, industry, and society by accelerating the adoption of trustworthy IoT systems.

Work on best-practice frameworks, innovative testbeds, and liaising with Standards Development Organizations will of course continue, as will targeting services toward members in core verticals of IT, Networks, Academia & Research, Manufacturing, Energy & Utilities, and Healthcare.

Industry organizations and technology providers continue to turn to IIC and its members to provide credible resources for IoT support and guidance. "Our new focus on driving technology innovation that fosters business transformation will help our members and their customers get a return on IoT investment," said a statement.

@IIConsortium #IIoT #PAuto 

Wednesday 18 August 2021

New flow control app for compressed air and gases.

Filling containers with compressed air or other gases such as nitrogen can be achieved more profitably and economically with the new Flow Control Motion App from Festo, developed for use with its VTEM Motion Terminal. As a leader in industrial automation, the company is continually developing new Motion Apps for the VTEM in order to reduce complexity and time to market for machine builders.

The VTEM combines digitalisation with pneumatics, marking the start of a new age of automation technology. Digitised pneumatics intelligently connect the mechanical system, electronics and software, ensuring better overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) combined with lower energy consumption. The quickly activated Motion Apps can be used to control the piezo piloted valves for almost all pneumatic tasks: increasing flexibility and energy efficiency to accelerate production processes.

For example, it is common practice for food product containers to be purged with inert gases like nitrogen. With the new Festo Flow Control Motion App, users can control the flow rate of compressed air and gases at up to 600 l/min digitally and simultaneously on up to eight independent channels. For more precise dosing, the integrated sensors can be combined with external flow sensors. This saves energy and reduces wastage of expensive process gases.

The versatility of this App-controlled approach becomes evident when we expand this filling example. Controlling the flow using the app allows the gas to be precisely dosed. The closed loop control enables the precise filling quantity to be defined. Another advantage is that this flexible, digitised gas control is tamper-proof. The Selectable Pressure Level App can be used to move filling nozzles to bottles or containers quickly and accurately, achieving flexible parameterisation – which in turn shortens the cycle times. After filling, the nozzles are retracted at reduced pressure to save energy.

Adding the Leakage Diagnostics Motion App means maintenance is simplified too, as it automatically monitors for leaks. Malfunctions can be detected and pinpointed to a specific actuator using diagnostic cycles and defined threshold values – the reliable basis for predictive maintenance.

Thanks to the easy activation of additional functions via Motion Apps, machine developers can create a basic machine type using the Festo VTEM Motion Terminal and then select the relevant Motion Apps to equip it with added value functions and features as per the customer requirements or market opportunities. The ability to copy and transfer parameter sets makes commissioning easier and saves time. Assigning functions via software has the added benefit of preventing operator tampering and protecting know-how, since it’s not possible to tell from the outside which functions the valves are executing.

@festo_global #PAuto 

Robotic training courses.

Online versions of popular classroom-based robot training courses continue.

ABB Robotics range of robot training courses have been available online for almost 12 months. Built on the same materials used in its popular classroom-based courses normally run at ABB’s Robot Training Centre in Milton Keynes (GB), the Virtual Classroom Training programme is ideal for beginners and experts alike, covering topics including programming, safety and operation.

Each course is instructor led, with options pitched at different competency levels running from two to five days depending on the course topic. Participants will get the same certificate as the normal Milton Keynes classroom-based courses.

The following courses are available:

IRC5 Operator Course (2 days)
IRC5 Programming and Operation (4 days)
IRC5 Advanced Programming, Stage 1 (5 days)
IRC5 SafeMove Second Generation (3 days)
RobotStudio Offline Programming (5 days)

Course requirements are only a computer with internet connection, webcam, headset with microphone and RobotStudio, which can be downloaded free of charge via their training portal page. A whole range of courses are available including classes that can be attended at the Milton Keynes facilities.

These virtual training courses provide the ideal opportunity to keep staff up to speed on robotic technology during these unprecedented times. They play a key role in helping to futureproof businesses for when operations are allowed to operate at maximum capacity post the pandemic. These virtual training courses provide a hands-on experience, to gain the required skills set to operate modern manufacturing systems from the comfort of your own home.

@ABBRobotics #Pauto #Training

Tuesday 17 August 2021

Design of ultrasonic level transmitter recognised and lauded!

An innovative product which increases accuracy and optimizes performance in industrial water processes.

ABB’s LST200 ultrasonic level transmitter was awarded best in category for physical, as well as technical, design by Red Dot. The winning ABB transmitter is particularly notable for solving the surface condensation challenge often faced by plant owners, where a buildup of water has historically affected accuracy of essential plant readings. The LST200 uses new generation, active surface technology known as a “Lotus Effect” whereby the liquid will drop off before it pools into larger drops that could then cause problems, offering an effective and cost-effective solution.

Jacques Mulbert, President of ABB’s Measurement & Analytics Division said: “To win a product design award of this magnitude is an honor. When developing the LST200, we focused on building in design and technical excellence throughout to create a product that features an intuitive user experience and powerful industrial capabilities with the overall aim of making measurement easy.”

The Red Dot Award is a highly regarded international design prize which began in 1955. More than 15,000 admissions are submitted annually from over 70 countries around the world.

The Red Dot Awards jury said “This robust level gauge impresses with a simplicity that has been thought through down to the last detail. It presents itself as a proven means of ensuring efficiency and reliability.”

The smart ultrasonic level transmitter is used to measure distance between one object and another by establishing the time between emission and reception. It can be used in various industrial environments but has been designed especially for the water and wastewater treatment applications. Its design focuses on simple operation and reliability. It is modular which lends itself towards ease of installation, maintenance and upgrading. A built-in interference filter ensures that information obtained from the sensor can be used and analyzed easily.

Innovative features include the adaptive intelligent algorithms based on long-term experience data and the inclusion of the ABB Ability™ Field Information Manager software for the PC which improves customer configuration efficiency.

Using an ultra-stable algorithm, the device can detect environmental changes including temperature, disturbance, measuring distance and signal strength. It then automatically compensates the variations to keep the device performing at its best.

@ABBMeasurement @reddot #PAuto #Design

IoT and 5G—The perfect combination opened up.

The IoT (Internet of Things) has been around in business for a long time. But now, thanks to the new 5G mobile communications standard, it is able to tap into its full potential. You can find out what Opportunities for this for the electronics manufacturing industry will be opened up “live” at productronica 2021 from November 16–19, 2019 in Munich (D). 

The Internet of Things (IoT) can’t be slowed down—not even by the coronavirus pandemic. IoT remains one of the fastest growing technology sectors. The market research firm Statista therefore expects that there will be nearly 31 billion IoT devices online by 2025. Other estimates predict more than double that amount.

productronica 2021
Exhibitors on the topic of IoT/5G/6G

iTAC (Hall A3, Booth 161) -iTAC offers MES and IIoT solutions for transparent, automated production processes, and provides various services for the networking, automatization and analysis of manufacturing processes. 
Cimetrix (Hall A3, Booth 437) - With the industrial IoT platform Sapience, manufacturers, software developers and OEMs gain access to devices that were previously difficult to connect. 
Segger Microcontroller (Hall A1, Booth 174) - Segger delivers complete end-to-end solutions for every IoT scenario that cover all areas from development tools up to standard firmware components. 
Orbotech (Hall B3, Booth 320) - The Israeli company distributes new technologies and solutions for manufacturing processes in the field of 5G. 
Rohde & Schwarz (Hall A1, Booth 375) - A new family of test devices is tailored to 5G applications in development, type testing and production. 
Fraunhofer IZM (Hall B1, Booth 228) - A new generation of thick film paste makes it possible to manufacture extremely high-resolution structures necessary for 5G applications. 
Aurel (Hall A2, Booth 481) - The Italian company Aurel develops production systems that are precisely matched to the PI pastes from the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems.

According to Market Research Future, the global market for IoT in manufacturing alone is to grow to USD 751.3 billion by 2023, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24%. Grand View Research predicts a global market volume of US$ 1.11 trillion in the sector by 2028. The reasons for the analysts’ optimistic outlook include advancing automation, predictive maintenance and supply chain management.

The IoT study from Computerwoche and CIO highlights this trend: 44 percent of the industrial businesses surveyed stated that they had increased their IoT budget during the pandemic. The funds primarily went toward quality control and logistics, followed by networked production systems and intelligent products.

More IoT thanks to 5G and 6G
Thanks to the new 5G mobile communications standard, there is now a significant expansion to the range of applications, not just in the industrial setting, but also in the areas of energy, health, science and consumers. With high bandwidth, strong transmission performance and low latency, in many areas 5G represents the technical foundation for the next stage in the development of IoT.

However, this basis is not perfect. Researchers and companies are already beginning to prepare the next 6G mobile communications standard. This appears to achieve the things that were promised by 5G, according to an interview by Ivan Ndip from the Fraunhofer Institut IZM. 6G is to once again significantly increase the performance of mobile communications in terms of peak throughput, users’ data rates, reliability, latency, as well as energy efficiency and precision of localization. The use of terahertz frequencies from 100 GHz therefore allows for data rates up to a terabit per second and latencies of around 100 microseconds – fifty times the data rates of 5G and a tenth of the latency. All with a much higher concentration of connections (devices per square kilometer). Here, 5G can “only” support up to one million networked IoT devices in an area of one square kilometer. 6G increases this tenfold.

Semiconductor market benefits from IoT and 5G
The rapid growth of networked IoT devices therefore demands not only more and more semiconductors, but also increasingly high-quality components for them. This applies to all industry segments and IoT relatives (IIoT, IoMT, AIoT, etc.).

As such, IoT analytics expects the IoT semiconductor market to increase from USD 33 billion (2020) to USD 80 billion by 2025. The focus is on IoT microcontrollers (MCUs), as well as chipsets for IoT connectivity, IoT AI and IoT security.

However, the lion’s share goes to IoT connectivity chipsets, with 35 percent. Here, cellular IoT chipsets are now playing a leading role. For this segment, IoT analytics expects a CAGR of 37.5 percent between 2020 and 2025, driven by 5G and “Low Power Wide Area” (LPWA).

Yet, according to analysts, the IoT semiconductor market is still in its infancy. This is expected to change in the years to come. The share of IoT-specific semiconductors will increase from 7 to 12 percent between 2019 and 2025. The Internet of Things is starting to establish itself as a driving force for the semiconductor industry. However, this means that chip manufacturers also increasingly need to meet the typical requirements of IoT, such as ultra-low power, small form factors and integrated security.

@productronica @COMPUTERWOCHE @AnalyticsIoT #IoT #Pauto

Supporting OTA Measurement on Wi-Fi 6E.

Anritsu Corporation and Bluetest are combining their recent product upgrades to create a strong and up-to-date OTA measurement solution for verifying the WLAN RF-performance in this new 6 GHz band, as well as of existing WLAN standards (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) in the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. The collaboration provides customers with a complete WLAN Over-the-Air (OTA) test solution capable of transmit power (TRP) and receiver sensitivity (TIS) measurements on devices and access points.
Measuring the OTA performance in life-like, but repeatable conditions, enable manufacturers of small and large WLAN equipped devices, including IoT and smart home appliances, to optimize the radio performance and end-user satisfaction.

6 GHz has for a long time been the upper frequency limit of most public communication systems. This is now changing with the WLAN standard IEEE 802.11ax expanding up to 7.125 GHz range (“Wi-Fi 6E”). The growth of WLAN connected devices and services are expected to benefit greatly from this increase in available frequency space and number of 160 MHz channels.

The Anritsu Wireless Connectivity Test Set MT8862A is dedicated to the WLAN standard, hence optimized for stable and reliable connections with wider dynamic range, even in a faded environment such as in the Bluetest reverberation chamber. It is now updated with a new radio module adding support for the 6 GHz band and 160 MHz channels, in addition to the already supported 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. The test setup is easily expanded to support 2x2 MIMO measurements using two MT8862A units.

Bluetest has meanwhile upgraded the complete range of reverberation test systems with an increased default frequency coverage. The compact and cost-effective RTS25 chamber is upgraded by adding the new 6-7.125 GHz band. This chamber is primarily targeting the buzzing WLAN and Bluetooth industry. The best seller RTS65, as well as the larger RTS85 and RTS95 now feature 4x4 MIMO support for frequencies all the way up to 12 GHz, in addition to previously released 5G FR2 packages with 2x2 MIMO support up to 43.5 GHz.

Bluetest Product Manager Klas Arvidsson says: “Increasing the default frequency range from 6 to 12 GHz with full support for multiple 4x4 MIMO carriers means we are fully prepared for continued evolution of the WLAN and 5G standards and shows the strength of our flexible product design.”

Keita Masuhara, Product Manager, IoT Test Solutions Div., Anritsu Corporation, adds: "Expanding to 6 GHz band spectrum is expected to bring new services and it will require concrete performance evaluation to prevent issues regarding to new challenges. Anritsu has been working with Bluetest to provide valuable solutions for OTA RF performance evaluation. I am convinced that the new measurement system will contribute to efficient performance testing."

The Anritsu MT8862A as well as all Bluetest chambers with the extended operating frequency range are available for order, and upgrade packages are offered for already installed systems. The updated Bluetest chambers are accompanied by corresponding upgrades to the line of accessories, such as reference antennas, ISS11 Attenuator System and ISS11 Instrument Switch.

@AnritsuEMEA @NapierPR #Bluetest #TandM #WLAN

Virtual event unites automation industry for digital technologies in Britain.

Following the recent announcement from the British Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, where £53 million funding is being made available for manufacturers to boost competitiveness through digital technologies, Rittal and Eplan have partnered with the likes of GAMBICA, B&R, Machineering, Omron, Panasonic, Phoenix Contact and Rockwell Automation, to bring The Future Forum. The online event aims to address the scope, possible effects of automation as well as the solutions currently available.

The event’s strongly practical orientation will be particularly in evidence with live talks and software demonstrations which provide insights into industry trends, as well as tips and tricks that’ll help to streamline daily tasks in engineering and manufacturing.

Among the many highlights of the Future Forum will be keynote presentations from both GAMBICA and the Rittal and Eplan management board. Nikesh Mistry, Sector Head for Industrial Automation at GAMBICA will be kicking off the series of talks and demonstrations and will discuss the latest industry trends and how the pandemic has acted as a catalyst for digital innovation and adoption. Nikesh will also talk through challenges faced and obstacles tackled by members and how digitalisation has helped companies with efficiency, sustainability and profitability.

Live between 09:00 and 17:00 on the 6th October, all those interested in attending can register free of charge here

Shane Hope, Managing Director at Rittal comments “we’re witnessing rapid technological progress, with digital platforms, automation and many other innovations are changing the world around us. As we look to the future, we know that major changes will take place. The Rittal and Eplan Future Forum will provide the opportunity to network, participate in panel discussions and discover ways in which to overcome challenges associated with implementing automation.”

@Rittal_Ltd @EPLAN_global @beisgovuk @gambica #PAuto #Digitization #Britain