Thursday, 30 September 2021

Closed, but service continues!

Computer Solutions (COMSOL) has decided to close after 42 years. In a message to customers and supporters principal Chris Stephens says that it is time to "relax and fulfil other ambitions."

In order that PEmicro products (Multilink and Cyclone development tools and device programmers) continue to be served he was anxious that his customers should not be completely left without support. Someone who could provide the sort of Engineer to Engineer support that COMSOL have always been proud to supply.

eVision are PEmicros German distributor that can offer the level of service required. So after some discussion he entered into a marketing arrangement with eVision run by Werner Schoeppner. They have been selling PE in Germany for four years long enough to put together a comprehensive Web site and to really get to know the products. They hold good stocks and they have EU, Great Britain and rest of the world sales and shipping covered. Chris says, "Next time you need a cyclone or USB multilink please give them a try and tell them COMSOL/Chris sent you!"

Those currently using the USB multilink but need something with a bit more Oomph then the Cyclone range  is suggested. It can be used both for development and also for production where it supports a wide range of features including batch and even secure remote operation.

In the engineering tradition (Engineers never completely disconnect!!!) he will continue to get mail at sales@computer-solutions.co.uk but "will only look for it daily rather than every 10 mins as previously. So feel free to have a chat and to ask any general microprocessor based questions"

The information-packed website will continue on-line. It will be kept live providing technical insights on the products and then redirecting viewers to sites where they can purchase the items they used to be available from Computer Solutions Ltd. The "Information zone" consists of articles produced as background tutorials on subjects of interest to those designing new products. 

Global catalogue recognised with award.

Mouser Electronics has been named the 2020 Global e-Catalogue Distributor of the Year by Molex. This is the second consecutive year — and fifth year overall — that Mouser has received this prestigious distribution award. Molex also honoured Kristina Cole, Corporate Supplier Manager at Mouser, with the Molex MVP Award.

Mouser received the Global e-Catalogue Distributor of the Year award for helping Molex achieve outstanding financial growth in e‑catalog sales, as well as for driving significant customer growth for Molex worldwide.

“For the second year in a row, Mouser has excelled in customer service, sales, and product breadth, playing a key role in our success,” said Fred Bell, Vice President of Global Distribution at Molex. “Congratulations to all of the worldwide teams at Mouser on this well-deserved award.”

“We are thrilled and greatly appreciative to Molex for these awards, which recognise our teams’ top-tier efforts,” said Jeff Newell, Senior Vice President of Products at Mouser Electronics. “Mouser strives to be the distributor with the widest selection of Molex products, and we’re proud of our continuing collaboration.”

Earlier this year, Molex honoured Mouser with the Americas e-Catalog Distributor of the Year, APS e-Catalogue Distributor of the Year, and European e-Catalogue Distributor of the Year awards. Mouser previously earned the Global e‑Catalogue Distributor of the Year award in 2019, 2015, 2014, and 2013, the European and APS e-Catalogue Distributor of the Year awards in 2019 and 2018, and the Americas e-Catalogue Distributor of the Year award in 2019.

 @MouserElecEU @MolexConnectors @Publitek #Electrics #Pauto

Wednesday, 29 September 2021

Soft touch sensor!

The human hand exhibits a dexterity yet unmatched by technology. Force sensors can close this gap by offering feedback on the grip force, thus avoiding damage to delicate and fragile objects such as food and human body. The Sateco elastomer sensor works according to the capacitive operating principle and can continuously measure both touch and compressive force. It is soft and flexible, can be shaped three-dimensionally, and is suitable for various applications in agriculture, food, electronics, surgery and generally in cobots and prostethics.

Both the sensor's footprint and dimensions can be freely designed. As a result, it can be customized to curved surfaces and integrated seamlessly between the body structure and a soft surface. This enables an ergonomic design of robotic grippers, prostheses and exoskeletons and both on small and large surfaces. Used on the surface of a body structure the material feels similar to a human skin and offers a life-like soft and comfortable human-machine interaction.

The sensor combines two measurement functions in one component. It can detect the approximation of a body part at a short distance and precisely measure its exerted force as well. This keeps the combination compact and enables predictive operating and measurement systems.

Thanks to its elastomer material, the SXTSC sensor is robust, shock and impact-resistant, and it also enables high durability, even in rough environments at high (+85°C) and low temperatures (-40°C).

Silicone is gentle on the skin. Optional texturing of the surface can make it even more comfortable to wear. Silicone is chemical and temperature-resistant with regard to food.

The material’s flexibility makes it particularly compliant to soft and fragile object, helping in e.g. automated harvesting, packing and labelling of fruits and vegetable.

Samples including evaluation electronics are available in a starter kit and enable a quick and uncomplicated start into the new technology.

@mepaxIntPR #Sateco #Robotics #Food #Medicine

Pulsed light sources.

A series of pulsed light sources for time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy has been launched by Edinburgh Instruments. The VPL, VPLED and HPL series of pulsed diode lasers and LEDs expand the range of compact, monochromatic sources on offer, while the AGILE supercontinuum laser provides tunable picosecond pulses across the visible and NIR regions.

Roger Fenske, CEO, said “We are excited to expand our portfolio with this new range of pulsed light sources. This will help meet the ongoing requirements of our customers and will bring added capability and functionality to their work procedures.”

The HPL diode lasers are designed for time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) from picoseconds to microseconds and are fully compatible with Edinburgh Instruments systems. They are the perfect choice for challenging samples with low brightness, thanks to their high repetition rates up to 80 MHz and high-power output mode.

For longer decay times, the VPL and VPLED series may be used. The pulse width of these sources can be varied from 50 ns up to 1 ms so they are ideal for Multi-Channel Scaling (MCS) measurements, providing higher pulse energies than picosecond lasers and LEDs.

AGILE is a white-light picosecond pulsed laser available as a TCSPC source in the FLS1000 Photoluminescence Spectrometer. Coupled to the excitation monochromator in the FLS1000, its output wavelength can be tuned from <400 nm="" to="" up="">2,000 nm removing the need for multiple monochromatic sources.

<400 nm="" to="" up="">@Edinst #Laboratory #Laser

Support for Wi-Fi 6E.

ETS-Lindgren has announced support for Wi-Fi 802.11ax tests in the newly opened extension band from 5.925 GHz to 7.125 GHz. Using Anritsu’s Wireless Connectivity Test Set MT8862A, OTA testing on 160 MHz wide channels located in the Wi-Fi 6E band is now available. ETS-Lindgren’s EMQuest EMQ-100 Antenna Measurement Software controls the MT8862A, device modes and all measurement hardware to yield a fully automated TRP or TIS pattern measurement.

The Wi-Fi 6E test package for EMQuest can be applied to existing OTA test systems as an upgrade and is recommended for all new systems testing Wi-Fi SISO or MIMO configurations. User equipment (UE) developers and access point (AP) manufacturers can easily upgrade their OTA chambers to characterize and validate the increasingly pivotal role Wi-Fi plays in user satisfaction.

EMQuest EMQ-100 offers a wide range of fully parameterized test methods for measuring basic antenna performance metrics, as well as testing both radiated and conducted performance of various wireless devices. Flexible in its design, the EMQuest EMQ-100 can be used to analyze antennas in stand-alone applications, or to test an embedded antenna system and radio module against any of the industry standard OTA-radiated performance test requirements.

Anritsu’s Wireless Connectivity Test Set MT8862A supports the latest Wi-Fi technologies, including 802.11ax in 80 MHz legacy bands and 160 MHz in the Wi-Fi 6E band. The Anritsu MT8862A, dedicated to the WLAN standard, is optimized for stable and reliable connections with wider dynamic range, even in a faded environment. It is enhanced with a new radio module to support the 6 GHz band and 160 MHz channels, in addition to existing 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band support. The test configuration is easily expanded to support 2x2 MIMO measurements using two MT8862A WLAN testers.

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.

ETS-Lindgren’s flexible approach to instrumentation remains a key advantage for OTA test labs. ETS-Lindgren has a long tradition in supporting all major instrumentation manufacturers, including those addressing the new 5G, Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi technologies. James Young, Director of Business Development with ETS-Lindgren said, “Our software team does a top notch job at supporting the constantly evolving OTA measurement requirements. Feedback from system users tells us the flexibility to choose best-in-class instrumentation across brand and model number is a key decision point in our favor. While it is not easy to keep up with all the firmware and hardware changes happening in wireless technologies, great partners like Anritsu really help.”

Industry benefits from this collaboration and the availability of instrument-agnostic EMQuest software.
Anritsu Market Development Manager, Keyvan Yasami, added, “Expanding the frequency range to 6 GHz spectrum and addition of 160 MHz bandwidth supports the most recent regulatory and industry requirements for conformance and performance evaluation. This addition enables R&D applications as well as certification testing in a single integrated test platform. It continues Anritsu’s commitment to developing solutions that meet the design test requirements associated with emerging technologies.”

@AnritsuEMEA @anritsu @ETSLindgren @NapierPR #TandM #Communications

Gas analysis capabilities in China enhanced.

Servomex has enhanced the capabilities of its China team with two key appointments to its Purity and Specialty (P&S) division.

Xiaowei Zhai is a new addition to the Servomex team, joining the China Business Unit as Sales Manager, China P&S. The post was previously held by Kevin Xu, who takes on a new challenge as Business Development Manager, China P&S.

Shanghai Skyline
The P&S team provides expert solutions and application support for customers operating in the industrial, medical, and UHP gas markets, including China’s important semiconductor manufacturing sector.

Xiaowei will lead and develop the China P&S sales team in supporting customers in these key markets, delivering orders and sales objectives as part of Servomex China’s Five-Year Strategy, growing the direct sales business, and co-operating with channel partners.

The holder of a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Xiaowei previously worked for Air Liquide for 13 years, starting as a Management Trainee in their Electronics division and rising to the post of Senior Commercial Manager, where he led a team of more than 20 members.

Kevin’s new role will see him work closely with Servomex’s worldwide P&S experts, global and local sales teams, and other Servomex Business Development Managers. He will apply his industry and sales experiences, product and application knowledge to support Servomex’s profitable and sustainable long-term business growth.

Based at Servomex’s Shanghai Business Center, both men will report to the China Business Unit Director Michael Xie. He said: “I’m delighted to welcome Xiaowei into the Servomex team and wish him every success. He brings with him many years of experience in creating business leads and opportunities, setting sales strategies, managing negotiations, and agreeing contracts for the electronics industry, especially in semiconductors.

“The skills he has developed will benefit our customers as he assists them in finding the right solutions for their individual applications.

“I would also like to congratulate Kevin on his new role. His contribution and leadership in the last two years have seen our P&S business in China experience significant growth and maintain a good upward trend.

“In this important and swiftly changing market, Servomex needs to look forward, ensuring we are on the pulse of market developments, especially in high purity gas applications. Kevin’s contribution will play a major part in ensuring we accomplish that.”

@Servomex @codacomms #PAuto #China

Tuesday, 28 September 2021

The future of electrotechnical engineering.

Eplan is heralding the future of electrotechnical engineering, with a focus on ease of use for both experienced users and for newcomers to the software with their new Eplan Platform 2022. The intuitive user interface, based on use concepts most will already be familiar with, offers a high degree of recognition and improves the user experience at the same time.
Eplan Platform 2022 is characterised by being easy to use and delivering high performance.
The new platform is now ready for launch and includes a newly designed user interface, improved workflows and many additional functions in connection with complementary cloud services. Overall, the new engineering software is characterised by its ease of use and high performance. This can be seen in the integrated ribbon bars, the Backstage View users may recognise from many other established software solutions, and significantly improved user ergonomics. The new, more intuitive user interface takes its cues from common international user concepts, making it easy to get started with the software.

Workflows in the age of digitalisation
The Eplan developers also really focused on the topic of workflows and designed the software to improve collaboration along the industrial value chain. This is because CAE solutions such as the Eplan Platform are something like a company’s “backbone” in engineering and product development. They are typically very deeply integrated into the customers’ infrastructure and strategy, and are planned years ahead on the investment side of things. So one of the clear goals as the company was developing the Eplan Platform 2022 was optimising data exchange between the individual stakeholders in companies’ ecosystems. Cloud applications such as Eplan eBuild, eManage (now also available in a full version), and eView provide additional impetus for completely new forms of collaboration in the context of the Eplan Platform. The added value of the new cloud-based software solutions enables greatly improved cooperation between companies and their customers, partners and suppliers.

Tested and put through its paces
Electrical Designer Markus Sommer at J. Wagner GmbH, one of the global leading manufacturers of innovative coating technology for surface finishing, is convinced of the new user interface. “The uniform user guidance in the new Eplan Platform 2022, based on established concepts from today’s working world, really makes it easy to quickly get started with the software, especially for new employees. The myriad functions that Eplan offers are well structured and clearly arranged, and the integrated ribbon technology is just fun to use.”

Sometimes the added value can be found in the details, as it is for Eplan Administrator Michael Noack at KSV, a control cabinet manufacturer in Koblenz, (D). One of Noack’s responsibilities is maintaining the master data. He took a very deep dive into the Eplan Platform 2022 as a beta tester and for him, the new device management functions is a clear step forward: it now allows all a device’s properties to be saved depending on the variant. 

“The technical properties can now be depicted with more variation and greater precision in the new Eplan Platform 2022,” he explains. “With routing, for example, it is now possible to correctly map auxiliary contact blocks of contactors whose connection change their physical position depending on the substructure.” As a result, the connection diagram is even more precise and aside from simplifying the electrical engineering, it also makes the later routing within the control cabinet even easier.

Changeover to subscription model
The Eplan Platform 2022 is exclusively available as a subscription. This minimises the investment risk by way of low entry prices and more flexible planning possibilities for individual software use. With these subscriptions, Eplan is also strengthening its relationships with its customers to better address what they actually need for their daily work.

@EPLAN_global @EPLAN_DE @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Manufacturing

Trouble-shooting fluctuating measurements.

Some measurement systems, like those monitoring pH, are very sensitive and prone to interference. Small current or voltage surges can cause large fluctuations in readings.

The connections at the back of
Microlink 751 data acquisition unit
Here are some simple tests to follow to determine the cause of the errors. The Microlink 751 multi-function USB unit is taken as an example but many of the tips also apply other systems. Work through the tests one-by-one, eliminating sources of error as you go.

1. Check that the Microlink is working properly. First remove other factors in the system that might be causing the problem, then check the Microlink itself.

    (a) Remove any power signal conditioner. This provides surge protection and noise filtering. It should remove interference from other equipment but a faulty one could cause its own problems.
    (b) Move the Microlink to another location. If you are using it in a laboratory for example, take it home.
    (c) Connect the Microlink to a different laptop running on battery power, not on mains power.
    (d) Now you can test whether the Microlink is the source of the noisy, fluctuating, data. Connect together the first positive input pin, the first negative input pin and the 0 V input pin. With the Microlink 751 these inputs are on pins 20, 1 and 19. You could use paperclips to connect the three pins. Leave all other inputs unconnected.
The Microlink is now shorted out: if it is working correctly it will produce a reading of zero. If not the fault lies with the unit and Technical Support should be contacted and the unit returned. If the reading is zero then the problem is very unlikely to be caused by the Microlink and you can go on to step 2.

2. Once the DAQ unit has been eliminated as the source of the fault, the power supply to the computer should be tested. Plug the laptop into the mains - the reading should still be zero.

3. Reconnect any power signal conditioner. Again, check that the reading is zero.

4. The sensors should be tested one-by-one. For example, place a pH probe in a known solution and see if the reading is as expected. Keeping the signal wires short and far away from electrical machinery helps reduce noise. The electrodes may also require cleaning. electrodes.

5. Move everything back to the original location. If the readings become erratic go through the tests again.

6. Disconnect from the laptop and connect to the original computer. Again, if you now get noisy readings repeat the tests. 7. Finally make the measurements in a real situation.

Discovering at which stage the problem occurs will allows the identification of the source and the taking of remedial action.

@DataAcquisition #PAuto #Calibration

Most VLMs in western hemisphere!

Mouser Electronics is continuing its heavy investment in state-of-the-art automation in its global distribution center to increase order processing, accuracy and speed, helping customers further reduce time-to-market.

4th largest VLM installation in the world.
Mouser has installed 102 vertical lift modules (VLMs), the most at any company in the Western Hemisphere and the fourth largest VLM installation in the world. VLMs are essentially giant vertical filing cabinets, complete with shelves and an automated elevator to bring the components to the employee’s workstation. This increases efficiency and floor space and can reduce an employee’s walking time by 45 percent or more.

In addition, the distribution center features multiple Ultipack and I-Pack machines, a sophisticated automated system for sealing and labeling shipments that can process up to 14 orders per minute. Mouser is also currently installing an OPEX Perfect Pick system and an AutoStore system — all of these investments are focused on getting orders processed, picked, packed and shipped in a very short amount of time.

“As automation technologies continue to evolve at a rapid pace, so too do advances in warehousing and logistics,” says Pete Shopp, Mouser Electronics’ Senior Vice President of Business Operations. “The resulting efficiencies in picking and packing help meet our goal of providing exceptional customer service.”

Mouser’s massive global distribution center, located on the 78-acre campus of its corporate headquarters in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex (TX USA), handles a vast inventory of more than 1.1 million unique SKUs for products from over 1,100 manufacturer brands. Processing tens of thousands of orders weekly — most within 15 minutes — and maintaining a strong commitment to customer service, Mouser employees are handling the technological advancements with great success.

Though the adoption of start-of-the-art automation acts primarily as a means of boosting efficiency, productivity, accuracy and speed, the systems also enable more sustainable operations and improved customer satisfaction.

@MouserElecEU @Publitek #Components #PAuto

Friday, 24 September 2021

Virtual real world torque measurement!

Student engineers are using a newly launched torque sensor for predicting the energy efficiency of a competition-grade electric car.

Young technologists from the University of Sheffield alleviated their disappointment at the Covid-cancellation of Shell Eco Challenge Rally by instead developing a computer simulation tool for predicting electric cars’ energy efficiency.

The university has a long association with the Shell Eco Challenge, in which student teams from around Europe compete to see whose car electric will cover the greatest distance on a single charge. So, when Covid shut down the event, rather than abandon their efforts Team Sheffield shifted their focus and set about a related project.

“We have been developing our own computer simulation tools for predicting our electric vehicle’s (EV’s) energy efficiency,” says student Lucy Edwards. “This has let us calculate our vehicle’s competition score for the 40 minute/15km competition run.”

To put the competition into context, Shell Eco EVs achieve upwards of 800 km/kWh, whereas the EVs on the road today may achieve only 15 km/kWh (at the same 25 kph). The competition EV are of course ultra lightweight, very aerodynamic single seaters and the drivers chosen by weight, whereas their road-going counterparts are better adapted for say a family day out. However, the competition demonstrates the potential of electric propulsion and, over the years, has undoubtedly helped development of the technology.

Sheffield’s involvement is extra-curricular but provides a great opportunity for the students to apply what they have learnt in lectures in a practical context.

To build the simulation tool, the students used their knowledge of engineering theory to create a mathematical representation of all the energy losses present in the car. A key piece of data was the motor efficiency curves, which were derives using a dual-purpose powertrain test rig and motor dynamometer. This was developed in-house and based around a TorqSense SGR521, the latest product from from Sensor Technology Ltd.

In fact, Sensor Technology is a regular supporter of Shell Eco Challengers; over the years it has supported several teams from mainland Europe and now one from Britain. “The student teams basically need to run lots of tests on their drive motors and map out the results,” explains Mark Ingham of the company. “As such they are really no different from motor test engineers the world over.

“We are far and away the most active supplier of torque measuring technology and expertise to the Eco Challenge. It is very gratifying to know we give young engineers at the start of their careers a solid grounding in such an important subject, which they will be calling on for decades to come.”

Like their professional counterparts, the young engineers tend to want to develop a test rig that is accurate and easy to use. Usually, they also have space and time constraints, so want a compact design which is quick and easy to set up for each test.

“Our new SGR510/520 range fulfils all these requirements,” says Mark. “It’s only been on the market for a couple of months but is already proving itself to be a favourite in EV test labs around the world – and that is a rapidly growing market at the moment.”

For the Shell Eco Challenge, teams across Europe have to design and build their own electric cars and motor controllers in-house. Typically, powertrains are based on either a brushless DC, or PMSM motor - and complex control algorithms are needed for precision control. This requires custom electronics, typically based on MOSFETs and other carefully chosen low power loss components.

In fact, the rules of the Challenge are such that the controller is included in the motor testing that is done on each teams’ entry. In effect, the capabilities of each piece of hardware are quantified so that the teams can see how they compare with each other.

Lucy sums up the team’s year: “With the tools and hardware we have developed we have posted competitive competition scores. Of course, we are all hoping that soon Covid restrictions allow us to meet our competitors face to face and compete car against car. That will be real world engineering at its best.”

@sensortech @shell_ecomar @sheffielduni #Education  #Transport 

Locating methane leaks reliably.

Sensirion has developed a stationary methane leak detection system - Nubo Sphere. It is designed as a future-proof, end-to-end solution offering high performance at low total cost of ownership, thus changing the state-of-the-art in methane leak detection. It has never been easier to reliably locate and quantify unintended methane emissions across various industries. The deployment of real-time, continuous methane concentration data enables leak detection much earlier than was previously possible through human interaction, ensuring fast, accurate and cost-saving damage control through rapid incident response actions for increased safety and a reduced environmental burden.

Methane (CH4) concentrations in the atmosphere have increased by more than 150 % since 1750 and are considered a major contributor to global warming. CH4 has been identified as an even more powerful greenhouse gas than CO2, making an immediate reduction of emissions necessary. Given its short-lived nature, there are actionable options that reduce the environmental burden on a short timescale. In the US alone, around 13 million tons of CH4are being released into the air each year - enough to heat ten million homes for a year. Studies show, however, that only about 40 % of CHin the atmosphere originates from natural sources such as volcanoes or permafrost soils, while the remaining percentage is caused by human activities. Reducing that portion of the total CH4 emissions has thus become a priority for leading nations across the globe, as only then will it be possible to achieve the goals of climate initiatives like the Paris Agreement. And although anthropogenic emissions come from a variety of sources, the oil and gas industry represents the energy sector's largest source of emissions, holding the key to responding to the world's climate challenge.

Relying on Sensirion's market-leading environmental and air quality sensing know-how paired with expertise in scaling solutions into high volumes, Sensirion is therefore developing a stationary methane leak detection system, "Nubo Sphere", for use along the whole oil and gas value chain. It is an end-to-end solution for real-time monitoring of methane emissions, offering high performance at low total cost of ownership. The compact and robust system design enables reliable and highly accurate data from any natural gas infrastructure at all times via data upload to the Nubo cloud. It is fast to deploy and easy to use, while two exchangeable sensor cartridges ensure low maintenance expenses and provide a future-proof, sustainable set-up. The system follows the concept of plug and play: mount the Nubo Sphere nodes on-site and start measuring within minutes.

"With Nubo Sphere, we enable various industries, including oil and gas, to locate and quantify methane leaks reliably and cost-efficiently. Sensirion's offering is unique: cost-efficient yet highly reliable, easy to use and maintain, and based on yet another innovative sensor technology from Sensirion. It makes me very proud to provide the oil and gas industry with the right tool to enable its efforts in methane emissions reduction and thus contribute to stopping climate warming", says Susanne Pianezzi, Sales Director at Sensirion. 

On October 12 and 13, Sensirion will participate in the CH4 Connections 2021 conference in Fort Collins (CO USA) The methane emissions conference will highlight energy industry players promoting methane emissions reductions across the energy value chain as a pathway to a low-carbon world by addressing how effective regulations, science-based methane accounting principles, advances in methane emissions research, and leak detection technologies can accelerate the transition to a low-carbon world. Visit the event to talk to Sensirion's experts about the Nubo Sphere solution.

@GasTechnology #sensirion  #Pauto #Environment

Temperature systems Global sales appointment.

AMETEK Land has appointed Jesper Kristiansen as its Senior Director of Global Sales.

Jesper Kristiansen

In his new role, Jesper will have full responsibility for leading AMETEK Land's commercial strategies, working with the global sales teams to maintain its market-leading position in metals and power markets. He will also have the goal of accelerating growth in the glass, hydrocarbon, and industrial processing markets. The appointment is part of an organisational change that will see the Directors of Sales in America and Asia, and all European Regional Sales Managers, report directly to this new position.

A member of the AMETEK team for 17 years, Jesper has held a variety of sales and marketing management roles and was most recently Director of Global Sales for the AMETEK Sensor Test & Calibration. He has a degree in business studies from The Esbjerg Business Academy (DK), and lives in Hareskovby, north of the Danish capital Copenhagen, with his family.

Jesper will report directly to Justin Smith, Divisional Vice President/Business Unit Manager of AMETEK Land, who said: "I'd like to congratulate Jesper as he takes on this new leadership responsibility. He brings a wealth of expertise and experience in channel management to his new role. Jesper has a truly global perspective of our operations. He will be focused not only on our worldwide business strategy but also on supporting, driving, and strengthening our regional sales partners."

@landinst #PAuto 

Thursday, 23 September 2021

Remote monitoring of HVAC systems.

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems play an important role in the everyday operation of commercial and industrial buildings. They ensure comfortable temperatures and good air quality for occupants, as well as appropriate climate control for merchandise. But how do you know if your HVAC system is operating normally and whether it is running optimally to save energy and money?


According to Moxa remote monitoring systems that allow facility managers to visualize the status of various HVAC equipment and environmental parameters can help prevent potential system failures and improve operating efficiency.

HVAC equipment is usually controlled by a building management system (BMS) or building automation system (BAS). Various sub-systems go into a BMS. The mechanical system is where the actual physical operations of the building take place. These operations include cooling, pumping, and ventilation, involving many pieces of mechanical equipment. The electrical system, as the name suggests, involves electrical and power equipment, such as transformers, panels, generators, and uninterrupted power supplies (UPS). Along with boilers, generators, heat pumps, fans, chillers, and pumping units, all these critical sub-systems need to be monitored to detect any abnormal readings and alert building operators so that they can perform proactive maintenance.

Therefore, connectivity is the first and foremost step in developing a remote monitoring system for your HVAC system. To make the installation and operation of your connectivity solution hassle-free, Moxa suggests you keep the following considerations in mind:

Interoperability Made Easy
The purpose of a connectivity solution is to make remote field information available to building operators. The monitoring devices chosen must be able to retrieve data from numerous HVAC equipment and sensors that communicate through a variety of protocols, such as Modbus TCP or BACnet/IP. For equipment that does not have a communication interface to output status data, additional hard-wired sensors are needed to capture equipment data and environmental conditions. Environmental monitoring applications often require sensors to measure CO2 density, water pressure, airflow, temperature, and humidity. For equipment monitoring, vibration, power failure, and power consumption are also commonly measured in the field. Advanced sensors often come with networking interfaces that can directly connect to the main communication backbone. If such sensors are not available, then remote I/O units might be required.

Connectivity Solutions That Simplify Configuration and Troubleshooting
Depending on the project scope, an HVAC system might require a large number of monitoring devices. The larger the implementation scope, the more installation and configuration effort is required. Wiring is also something to consider when you are planning your monitoring network. Some features, such as Ethernet cascading, could go a long way in increasing installation efficiency.

Configuring monitoring devices one by one can be painstakingly slow if no user-friendly tools are available. Routine maintenance tasks, such as configuration backups or device firmware upgrades, are often time-consuming and cumbersome if performed manually. Therefore, when selecting connectivity devices to monitor your HVAC system, consider solutions that already come with easy-to-use configuration tools and troubleshooting utilities that can help you quickly pinpoint the cause of a communication problem and minimize downtime.

Pay Attention to Cybersecurity
Although enabling remote connectivity for all your devices allows you to benefit from the convenience of real-time information, it also exposes you to additional cybersecurity risks. Always make sure the selected devices come with basic built-in security features, such as password protection, secure network protocols, and data logging for events. Besides security on the device level, the system level should also be protected by firewalls and regular vulnerability scans to minimize potential risks.

Case Study: Supermarket Savings
Moxa has helped customers around the world develop reliable communication for remote monitoring their HVAC systems. For example, in Taiwan, Moxa assisted the operator of major grocery chain in monitoring the power usage in their HVAC systems in order to optimize energy consumption. Specifically, the operator wanted to enable automated demand response control — based on the real-time temperatures in the hypermarket during business hours — to decrease the activation time of chiller systems and help save energy and reduce operating costs. To automatically enable the settings adjustment of the chiller, pump, and fan, Moxa ioLogik 2500 smart remote I/Os were deployed to provide programming-free control logic through Moxa's Click&Go Plus function. Also, Moxa ioLogik E1200 Ethernet remote I/Os were used to collect serial, digital, and analog data from chillers, pumps, power meters, and resistance temperature sensors (RTD). Moxa remote I/Os come with MX-AOPC suite, making the integration of a variety of field data acquisitions into MYSQL or other databases easy.

@MoxaInc #PAuto #BMS #Food

Only a joystick required!

Lifting a steel beam, moving a container or controlling a crane does not require much raw strength nowadays. On the contrary, what is required is dexterity and a joystick. Kristianstads Lyftdon AB in Sweden has long experience of producing ergonomic solutions for the operator cabins from which you control cranes and industrial operations. With the help of HMS Anybus technology, their new joystick can be used in industrial applications using PROFINET.

Kristianstads Lyftdon AB, or KLAB, are experts in ergonomic lifting and driver’s chairs for industrial use. They develop and build operator cabins for larger cranes used in the steel industry, heating plants, waste-handling stations, etc. With a focus on ergonomics, they produce everything needed inside an operator’s cabin — the most important operational part being the steering device itself, the joystick, which the operator uses to control the machine.

“We have been making joysticks since the start in 1978 and have a good idea of what the industry needs,” says Sven Holmer, owner and chairman of KLAB. And continues “When we designed our latest joystick, we wanted to provide it with bus communication. Previously, these solutions have often been hard-wired. As the industry is increasingly moving towards Ethernet communication and several of our major customers are in central Europe, PROFINET was the network we mainly wanted the joystick to communicate on. ”

Any network
KLAB’s technology partner recommended them to use Anybus CompactCom from HMS to enable the joystick to communicate on PROFINET. Just as the name suggests, Anybus allows the joystick to communicate on any network — fieldbus or industrial Ethernet. You can easily switch to another Anybus CompactCom and thus communicate on other networks such as EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, Modbus-TCP or CC-Link IE Field. This opens up opportunities to sell the joystick in new markets, in other parts of the world.

“We start with PROFINET,” says Sven Holmer at KLAB, “but of course we also see new opportunities now that the joysitick can communicate on other industrial networks in other markets.“

Any form factor
Anybus CompactCom is also flexible in terms of form factor. Users can choose to integrate a chip that contains all the necessary software, or a so-called Brick including hardware and software for PCB mounting. A third alternative is a complete CompactCom Module which is simply plugged into the end product.

KLAB chose the Brick solution — Anybus CompactCom B40 — which suited the joystick well in terms of size, functionality and price.

Embedded web server makes data available
Another major advantage of the Anybus solution is that it has a built-in web server that allows KLAB to store data from the joystick — both for control and analysis. This means that KLAB and their customers can gain important insight into how the joystick is used by operators. This opens opportunities to refine and improve the product for different applications. The web server also makes it possible to access and configure the solution from anywhere.

Sven Holmer describes the implementation of Anybus technology as relatively easy — From idea to finished and working product in about a year. “We could definitely have done it faster, but we have a lot to do and development projects like this often have to wait a bit,” says Sven Holmer. “However, we have not encountered any major problems and with good support from HMS, the communication solution came into place smoothly.”

@HMSAnybus @AllThingsPROFI @mepaxIntPR #KLAB #PAuto #HMI

Environmental sensors for air quality monitor.

The next-generation indoor air quality monitor Atmocube from ATMO® relies on Sensirion environmental sensors for the measurement of CO2, formaldehyde, particulate matter, temperature and humidity.

In recent times, air quality has become an increasingly important issue. It affects not only the way people live, travel and eat, but also the manner in which buildings are designed. Modern buildings strive to achieve high energy efficiency to save natural resources used for heating. But more airtight buildings can often mean that there is less air exchange through walls, roofs, windows or cracks, reducing access to fresh air that is essential for a healthy indoor environment. The consequence is that airtight buildings are often too insulated for healthy living, trapping not only heat but also increased levels of air pollutants. Monitoring indoor air quality makes it possible to control it by optimizing ventilation to avoid symptoms that come from high air pollution levels, such as sensory irritation, disrupted cognitive abilities and "sick building syndrome".

This is where Atmocube from ATMO®  comes in. Atmocube, a next-generation indoor air quality monitor, tracks a wide range of air pollutants - such as CO2, formaldehyde, PM1, PM2.5, PM10 and VOCs - and vital environmental parameters, such as relative humidity, temperature, atmospheric pressure, ambient noise and light levels.

Thanks to Atmocube's hardware design and its linked mobile app, building occupants can easily check the safety of the surrounding environment and be more confident in their health and well-being. Atmocube helps building owners implement their indoor air quality strategies to comply with healthy and green building standards more effectively. The product also helps increase the efficiency of facilities operations, because the device controls HVAC through building management systems. Prior to its official launch, Atmocube's product design was acknowledged by the world's oldest independent design institution, iF International Forum Design GmbH in Hanover (D). Atmocube won the iF Design Award 2021 in the "Professional Concept" category.

"We've been using Sensirion sensors in multiple products, primarily due to their accuracy, overtime stability and small footprint. Having integrated the newest sensors from the Sensirion portfolio, such as the CO2, and formaldehyde sensors, along with its traditional sensing solutions into Atmocube, we've created an all-in-one monitoring device with extensive functionality and great performance," says Alex Pyshkin, R&D Director at ATMO® .

Sensirion, the leading expert in environmental sensing, offers innovative sensor solutions that provide detailed and reliable data on key environmental parameters, such as humidity, temperature, carbon dioxide (CO2), formaldehyde, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Highest-level design flexibility thanks to compact and miniaturized sensor solutions, reliable, long-term and stable technology and the most accurate measurements - combined with unique expertise - make Sensirion the partner of choice and leading provider of environmental sensor solutions.

"Being able to count ATMO® among our customers fills us with pride. Atmocube is an ideal application for our environmental sensors. Sensirion and ATMO® are united by the will to enable smart and innovative applications that increase the health, comfort and safety of end users," says EunJo Lee, Key Account Manager at Sensirion.

@atmotube @sensirion #Automation, #BAS

Most accurate hydrocarbon sensor.

The “MPS™ Mini” a miniaturized version of NevadaNano's highly popular Molecular Property Spectrometer™ (MPS™) Flammable Gas Sensor has been launched*. The new sensor is "the world’s most accurate hydrocarbon sensor in its class" and eliminates the need for maintenance during its 10+year lifetime.

“We have extended our market-leading reliability, accuracy, and lifetime with enhanced algorithms which extends our market-leading position of detecting 19 of the most common combustible gases found in residential, commercial, and other general use environments,” said Ralph Whitten, President, and Member of the Board of Directors, at NevadaNano. “This new product in a lower cost package specifically targets IoT and high volume applications. This enables our customers to set new standards in connected gas sensors and helps companies create safer working environments in industrial, commercial and consumer applications.”

The newest addition to NevadaNano’s MPS Product family, the MPS Mini Flammable gas sensor measures the thermodynamic properties of the air-gas mix and accurately reports 0-100% LEL across 19 flammable gases without the need for field calibration. This performance meets the need for flexible sensor platforms in a wide range of non-industrial applications and makes it ideal for residential and commercial applications like smart meters and IoT devices. In essence, the Mini Flammable creates safer environments for people and their surrounding communities.

Integrated, real-time measurements and built-in compensation for temperature, pressure, and humidity enhance the accuracy of all NevadaNano’s MPS flammable gas sensors. Gas concentration readings are accurate across the entire environmental range, including rapid environmental transients, delivering best-in-class accuracy. The Mini Flammable, like all MPS sensors, is inherently immune to drift, decay, or poison.

*The sensor will debut this week at Sensors Converge in Booth #733 (21-23 Sept 2021 - San Jose CA USA).

#nevadanano #PAuto #Hydrocarbon

Robotics for recycling & waste.

AMP Robotics Corp. has installed its first AI-guided robotics systems with Recyco,  the leading recycling and waste management business in Northern Ireland (Omagh, Co Tyrone).

An AMP robot in operation on a fibre line
The project includes two robots—a single AMP Cortex™ unit along with a tandem unit—installed on Recyco’s fibre lines for quality control to improve pick rates and bale purity. Recyco is the first deal closed with REP-TEC Advanced Technologies, AMP’s recently appointed official reseller and integrator for customers in Britain or Ireland, with several other projects in negotiation.

“We’re delighted to bring our first robots to the UK and Ireland as we continue to see strong demand for our AI and automation solutions and build our pipeline in Europe,” said Gary Ashburner, European general manager for AMP. “Recyco has been a superb partner in this process, and recognizes our technology addresses chronic staffing challenges it and many recyclers face, while aligning with its goals of maximizing recovery, increasing landfill diversion, and advancing sustainability.”

AMP’s proprietary technology applies computer vision and deep learning to guide high-speed robotics systems to precisely identify, differentiate, and recover recyclables found in the waste stream by color, size, shape, opacity, and more, storing data about each item it perceives. AMP’s sorting technology can pick upwards of 80 items per minute, about twice the pace of a human sorter, and the company has recorded up to 150 picks per minute with its tandem units. The company’s AI platform can quickly adapt to packaging introduced into the recycling stream with recognition capabilities to the brand level—increasingly critical as demand for sufficient quantities of high-quality recycled material grows to meet consumer packaged goods companies’ commitment to use of post-consumer recycled content.

"AMP's robots have quickly doubled the pick rates we were accustomed to, maintaining and even improving the purity of our bales, which we depend on to maximize prices with our end-market buyers," said Michael Cunningham, owner and CEO, Recyco. "We're proud to be leading the way for AI-powered recycling in these islands, and look forward to continued gains in productivity and efficiency."

“It’s great to have our first robotics installation go live this month, with the project running very smoothly from start to finish,” said Colm Grimes, founder and CEO of REP-TEC. “We started the installation on a Friday evening, and by Sunday evening, we had both Cortex systems ready for the shift starting the next morning.”

AMP now has more than 160 systems installed globally, covering North America, Asia, and Europe. The company’s AI platform, AMP Neuron™, encompasses the largest known real-world dataset of recyclable materials for machine learning, with the ability to classify more than 100 different categories and characteristics of recyclables across single-stream recycling; e-scrap; and construction and demolition debris, and reaching an object recognition run rate of more than 10 billion items annually.

@AMPRobotics @REP_Technology @letsrecycle #Pauto #Recycling #Ireland

Instrumentation scholarship awarded.

The winner of the 2021 ProComSol Instrumentation Scholarship Program this year is Jaxon Few of Oklahoma (USA). 

Jaxon Few
Jeffrey Dobos
, President of ProComSol stated “We received a record number of applicants this year. Jaxon’s essay stood out from the rest and it was an easy decision for the scholarship committee. I wish Jaxon success in his Instrumentation studies and with his future career in the process industry.”

Jaxon grew up in a small town in southeastern Oklahoma. He was raised on a small cattle ranch where his family raises and sells cattle. In high school he participated in sports and FFA (Future Farmers of America). He is currently enrolled in the Instrumentation program at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology and looks forward to a rewarding career in instrumentation.

"We are already making plans for the 2022 scholarship program and encourage colleges and universities to promote this program to their students."

ProComSol intends to continue and grow this program to make awards every semester. Hopefully both students and education administrators will take advantage of this program.

@ProComSol @okstate #Pauto #Education #USA

Wednesday, 22 September 2021

Process data and diagnostics from many field radar level transmitters.

Gathering and communicating critical measurement and diagnostic data in oil and gas applications can be extremely challenging due to the harsh and remote conditions associated with these operations. A company in Kuwait recently needed a way to acquire data from dozens of radar LEVEL transmitters in the field, and in addition, provide power to these transmitters because there were limited power sources available at the site. Moore Industries HES HART to Ethernet Gateway System was able to fulfill both of these requirements.

The client multi-dropped six output loop-powered radar level transmitters to each single-channel HES for data acquisition, and utilized the HES transmitter excitation power supply feature to power the transmitters. The gathered process and diagnostic data was then sent over MODBUS/TCP from the HES back to the client’s BPCS (MODBUS/TCP Host) for higher level control, data acquisition and monitoring functions.

The HES offers a flexible and economical way to gather process data and instrument diagnostics from smart HART instruments and share it over an Ethernet infrastructure via its embedded web server or with MODBUS/TCP and HART-IP hosts. This enables fast and seamless connectivity for advanced monitoring of critical process variables and parameters. In addition to the single channel configuration outlined above, the HES is also available in a four channel configuration supporting up to 64 HART devices. The HES communicates with all HART 5, 6 and 7 devices including smart valves, multivariable flowmeters, pressure, pH, level, and temperature transmitters and more.

@MII_Worldwide #PAuto #Oil_Gas #Kuwait

Architecture and specification approved.

FDT Group™ and OPC Foundation have announced their memberships have approved the update to the FDT OPC Unified Architecture (UA) companion specification (CS). The new specification launches the only protocol-agnostic, server-level, universal Device Information (DI) Model for both process and discrete manufacturing applications, empowering next-generation, open automation FDT architectures.

The updated FDT OPC UA companion specification is a key technology development unifying data for both IT and OT while enabling the transmission of uniform, real-time process, network, and device information for any OPC UA Client in the enterprise.

FDT Server-based distributed architectures with a built-in, “pre-wired” OPC UA Server seamlessly allow access to all device and network information and metadata via any authenticated OPC UA Client or application. Standard OPC UA browsing techniques are used to expose this information so that authorized OPC UA Clients can connect to the FDT Server to browse, collect, and act on the data as needed. Optional support for a Publish-Subscribe environment allows for efficient, real-time data monitoring and exchange.

“The new companion specification matches the strengths of the FDT 3.0 IIoT platform by harmonizing IT/OT data access for any OPC UA Client supporting smart manufacturing practices,” said Thomas Hadlich, chairman of FDT architecture and specification. “Based on the new OPC UA ‘System Architecture’ template, the updated CS now references OPC UA for Device 1.01 and supports new process device data along with mapping for protocol support files as outlined in FDT 3.0. These important use cases, driven by the automation industry, meet the FDT 3.0 Server architecture requirements and have been strengthened by mapping of Device Type Manager [DTM] static functions and by describing I/O signals for configuration and observation of production process and/or of device performance. The enhancements included in the universal information model will drive industrial automation monitoring and visualization optimization for the enterprise.”

Since 2011, FDT Group and OPC Foundation have collaborated in support of a unified DI model to promote device- and network-level data access in a uniform way for higher-level enterprise applications. The two organizations first announced the release of their joint DI model companion specification in 2016 based on the FDT 2.0 client/server architecture, and as of today, FDT 3.0 Server distributed architectures are supported by a new server-level universal DI model enabling end users to freely mix and match any device with any device information model, from any vendor, and communicate on any network while the FDT Server transparently unifies all the device information and pushes the data to the enterprise for any OPC UA Client in real-time.

“Without interoperability and reliable information, we can’t open automation to innovation,” said Jim Luth, OPC Foundation CTO. “Both OPC Foundation and FDT Group are key industry organizations and leaders in their respective IT and OT interoperability and data domains. Harmonization introduced via the collaborative universal device information model in the new FDT OPC UA companion specification solidifies IT/OT convergence and the path opening automation innovation for both the process and discrete markets. The result empowers a data-centric powerhouse core for any application, allowing the industry to evolve manufacturing best practices with a service-oriented architecture securing the exchange of data to effectively make use of valuable information.”

FDT’s secure, data-centric platform runs behind the scenes at the core of any automation architecture, harmonizing technologies, solutions, and people for today’s infrastructure and tomorrow’s intelligent enterprise. Visualization capabilities with the Universal DI Model are closely aligned with the requirements of major end user associations and their recommendations for an open architecture to make production data easily and securely usable for asset monitoring and optimization. These collaborative efforts supporting new FDT 3.0 architectures are another example of technologies, solutions, and people working together to help achieve a brighter future in industrial manufacturing.

See: IIoT platform enables uniform IT/OT data access to enterprises. (10/06/2021)

@FDTGroup @OPCFoundation #PAuto

Circular portfolio.

Dinkle International's circular connector portfolio, provides dependable connectivity options to ensure increased equipment productivity, even in the most challenging conditions.

Circular connectors for power, signals, and networking are easy to install and maintain for industrial applications, even in the most challenging field and factory environments.
Products are available in M12 and M8 sizes with a variety of pin arrangements, each following standard coding protocols to facilitate integration with industrial control systems, sensors, and actuators of all types. Various configurations are available for single-ended and double-ended cordsets, with straight or angled male or female connectors. Also available are casing-mount device connectors (front lock and rear lock) with pigtails, and solderable PCB connectors.

Nickel-plated die-cast fittings deliver a positive mechanical connection even in applications with high humidity, large temperature changes, and/or excessive vibration. Copper alloy gold-plated contacts for conductors and grounding pins provide reliable electrical connectivity, and sealing rings ensure that installed connections are airtight and waterproof.

Circular connector products are UL Listed, RoHS compliant, waterproof and dustproof to IP67 and above, and all are designed to resist corrosion from salt spray for 96 hours. They also are designed in accordance with appropriate standards, such as IEC 61076, 60512, and 60529.

High-quality cables are constructed in various materials to suit a wide variety of industrial applications. PVC is best when high rigidity and solvent resistance are required—and for high-temperature, high-pressure washdown environments. PUR exhibits high tensile strength and tear/bending/abrasion resistance, good for applications with frequent movement, such as robotic arms, with some models rated for bending over four million times.

Power connectors are offered in S- and T-Code. Signal connectors are configured for A-, B-, and D-code. Network connectors are available for PROFINET, Ethernet, CC-Link, CANopen, and PROFIBUS DP. The communication cables are shielded and meet the growing demand for integrating more sensors and actuators in the field.

#DinkleInternational #PAuto #Connectors

Industrial display.

Review Display Systems (RDS) has announced the introduction of a new 13.3-inch TFT display module from industrial display manufacturer Tianma. The P-series P1330FHF1MA00 features Full HD (FHD) resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels), a wide 16:9 aspect ratio and in-plane switching (IPS) technology which provides excellent optical performance.

Justin Coleman, displays division manager, RDS said, “The Tianma 13.3-inch P-series display offers a strong feature set that provides excellent optical performance and a colour gamut that delivers bright, saturated colour display images that can be easily seen from all viewing directions. P-series display modules have been specifically designed for use in a wide range of human-machine interface (HMI) applications where reliable, long-term operation in challenging application environments is required.”

Tianma P-series (Professional series) TFT display modules have been designed and developed to deliver exceptional optical performance and meet the demanding requirements of the industrial and medical display markets and applications where reliable and consistent operation is considered paramount.

The 13.3-inch display features a contrast ratio of 1000:1 and a white LED backlight, complete with integrated driver, provides a specified brightness rating of 1000cd/m² and a 50K hour half-brightness lifetime. In-plane switching (IPS) technology enables a wide viewing angle of 88 degrees in all viewing directions (left, right and up, down). These key characteristics ensure that the 13.3-inch P-series TFT module produces display images that are bright, colourful, and highly consistent.

The 40-pin LVDS data interface supports 8-bit RGB which enables a colour palette of up to 16.7M colours. The 13.3-inch display module features mechanical outline dimensions of 308mm (w) x 188mm (h) x 10mm (d) and an active display area of 293.76mm (w) x 165.24mm (h). An operating temperature range of -20°C to +70°C is supported.

These Professional-series TFT display modules are suitable for many varied applications including industrial process control, factory automation, in-vehicle systems, instrumentation, point-of-sale systems, digital signage, and medical equipment.

#RDS #PAuto

Sensor manufacturer opens plant in Hungary.

Due to positive business development and the increased demand for sensor solutions, Sensirion Holding decided to establish a new production site in Debrecen, (H). Location factors such as proximity to European customers, the level of training of potential employees and support from local partners justify this choice as an ideal location.

The Debrecen subsidiary, which was built using sustainable methods, was completed at the end of July this year. This new production site is a strategic expansion, meaning existing jobs in Switzerland or at other sites will not be affected. Sensor production has started successfully and the first mass flow meters have already been shipped to customers.

"I'm delighted with the extremely successful start in Hungary. We've laid an important foundation for expanding our module production capacities and responding to the growing demand for sensors in various markets," says Johannes Bleuel, VP Operations at Sensirion.

Construction work began on June 30 last year and proceeded without complications. The first sensors came off the line in the new production hall at the end of August, and the first mass flow meters for ventilators have already been shipped to customers.

"We're very pleased to have welcomed many new employees in Debrecen. However, we still have vacancies advertised and are happy to accept further applications," says Laszlo Abraham, General Manager at Sensirion Hungary Kft.

Sustainability plays an important role at Sensirion. The production site was designed to be completely fossil-free (geothermal energy/heat recovery coupled with a storage system), following the example of the production site in Stäfa, and has been built accordingly.

"The idea of sustainable development is also reflected in the use of state-of-the-art LED lighting and the recycling of packaging and paper. In addition, a company-owned park with native fruit and ornamental trees, as well as an orchard meadow and an apiary, complements the new production site," says Patrick Good, Head of Infrastructure at Sensirion.

At the beginning of September, it was also decided that in the future a new development team would be established for Sensirion Automotive Solutions in Debrecen. The broad expertise of this seven-person team will allow it to independently handle fully comprehensive modular projects that meet the standards required by most European automotive customers.

@sensirion #Pauto #Hungary


Emissions Monitoring in accordance with evolving standards.

Equipped with automated validation capabilities, the Rosemount™ XE10 system provides reliable measurement data to help prevent shutdowns and simplify compliance.

The new Rosemount™ XE10 Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) recently announced by Emerson, is designed to help industrial plants meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations and evolving sustainability demands. With its built-in performance analytics and automated validation capabilities, the new system ensures accurate emissions monitoring and reporting to help plant operators reduce the risk of non-compliance shutdowns and penalties.

The Rosemount XE10 CEMS is certified 
to the  European  emissions directives
EN 14181 & EN 15267 & complies with 
U.S. EPA 40 CFR Part 60 
and Part 75 regulations..
Designed for rapid deployment, the new system is a compact and standardised solution certified to the European standards EN 14181 and EN 15267, which govern the quality assurance requirements for automated measurement systems of stationary source emissions. The system also complies with the emissions reporting requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“Real-time data reporting and quality assurance are critical to regulatory compliance,” said Iain Howieson, vice president and general manager for Emerson’s gas analysis business. “The new Rosemount XE10 CEMS is equipped with fully automated calibration to facilitate drift checks. This ensures reliability and helps operators prove to regulators that the ongoing operational performance of the system meets the mandated quality assurance requirements, such as the Quality Assurance Level 3 test of the EN 14181 standard, which saves operators time and money and gives them the peace of mind for continuous, reliable monitoring of emissions.”

The XE10 CEMS also provides simplified web-based access to built-in performance analytics, enabling visualisation of actionable process information for faster and smarter decision-making. This empowers plant operators to shift their strategy from reactive to proactive environmental compliance.

As a modular, integrated emissions monitoring system, the Rosemount XE10 is simple and fast to configure and comes complete with a gas sampling and conditioning system and up to three gas analyser modules. Each module can accommodate different measurement ranges for different gas components, including CO, NOx, SO2, CO2, and O2.

To reduce risk and complexity, the system is backed by an integrated service approach that provides end-to-end support, including start-up and commissioning, installation in accordance with regulatory assurance standards, and support for the mandated annual surveillance tests to verify the continuing validity of the system’s calibration function.

"The XE10 CEMS is the latest example of Emerson’s commitment to helping customers navigate environmental and regulatory challenges as part of an overarching environmental sustainability framework, an approach that includes supporting industrial manufacturers with the deployment of low-carbon fuels and power sources, reducing emissions leakage, improving energy and resource efficiency, and decreasing waste."

@Emerson_News @EMR_Automation @Rosemount_News @HHC_Lewis #Pauto #Environment

Tuesday, 21 September 2021

Supporting technology start-ups!

Anglia Unicorn is a dedicated division to help technology start-ups get off the drawing board and into the market faster from Anglia Components. It was conceived to provide start-ups with the innovative technology ideas they need and offers engineering resources, evaluation hardware and software tools along with samples from Anglia’s world class technology partners, all free of charge.

Commenting on the launch, John Bowman, Chief Technology Officer at Anglia Components, said, “The support offered by Anglia Unicorn has been carefully curated to help technology start-ups and university spin-outs all the way through to venture capitalists, investors and equity funds who are working with technology companies that need help getting to the next level. We want customers to think of the Anglia Unicorn team as their technology adviser alongside their legal and financial advisers. This service isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ solution. We listen to what companies need, and provide a bespoke programme to meet those specific requirements.”

Although the partnership between Anglia Unicorn and the start-up ideally begins with a concept, in practice, the customer may already have a proof-of-concept based around an off the shelf solution such as a credit card sized single board computer or Arduino-type platform.

Anglia Unicorn is able to offer help regardless of what stage the project is at, they offer start-ups a free confidential consultation where they can discuss the concept, the key project milestones and the ultimate vision for the product. This meeting will yield key technology recommendations to help deliver this vision as quickly, reliably and cost-effectively as possible. This proposal is backed up with support from Anglia’s extensive engineering resource, which includes a highly skilled and experienced field application engineering team, along with access to other specialisations from the Anglia eco-system if needed.

@angliaLive @NeeshamPR #Pauto