Friday 29 July 2022

LoRaWAN industrial sensing and I/O solutions.

Advantech has introduced Two new LoRaWAN Industrial Sensing and I/O Solutions, further increasing its LoRaWAN capabilities. Advantech LoRaWAN products provide a device-to-cloud solution by simply sending collected data through the LoRa gateway to the cloud. LoRaWAN offers industrial users’ low cost, long distance, low power, high security connectivity.

With Advantech Edgelink IoT gateway software 200+ edge devices may be connected via southbound interface to different platforms via the northbound interface inside the gateway. This allows users to simply plug-and-play without worrying about data parsing processes.

The WISE-2200-M is a LoRaWAN Modbus read/write communication device. WISE-2200-M supports maximum 128 address and 30 rule settings and can easily connect to Modbus sensors and meters for many different applications. WISE-2200-M LoRaWAN provides a better connection compared with traditional wireless technology.

Features include:

  • Wide coverage wireless technology
  • Unique LoRa modulation tech powered by Semtech. Communication continues when RSSI is -130dbm
  • Range can be up till 15 km in line-of-site installation.
  • Supports bi-directional communication and multicast function
  • Supports Standard Protocols - Support Modbus/RTU protocol with max. 128 address and 30 rules setting and supports LoRaWAN wireless communication protocol.
  • High Security supports both public and private network infrastructure. AES 128 encryption between end-device and network server.
  • Plug and Play - QR-Code with device Serial number and EUI address on device, can pre-configure device’s information directly on network server.
  • Compact size with simple installation process

The WISE-4610 Advanced Industrial LoRa/LoRaWAN Wireless I/O Module features selectable Private LoRa and LoRaWAN options. It provides a longer communication range and better penetration through concrete and steel and crates less interference than 2.4GHz spectrum. The application ready I/O module can be fitted with an IP65 enclosure and powered by solar rechargeable battery or 10~50VDC input. It also supports GPS, Galileo, BeiDou, GLONASS systems.

Features include:

  • Flexible Modular I/O design, compliant with various kinds of I/O and Sensor solutions.
  • Supports Modbus/RTU protocol
  • Real Time Action supports digital output channel for remote power or switch on/off function.
  • 3 power supply options - DC line power, Battery power (optional) and Solar power (optional)
  • Supports GNSS Positioning (optional)
  • IP65 Rating (optional)

Low interference with high penetration rate LoRaWAN, created for machine-to-machine (M2M) and Internet of things (IoT) networks, is not a single technology, but a variety of low-power, wide area network technologies. Compared with traditional mobile networks, LoRaWAN is accepted as having lower cost with higher power efficiency.

@AdvantechIA @AdvantechEurope @proactivefleet #PAuto #Communications

Thursday 28 July 2022

"Better decisions" from elder of corporate journals.

Issue 3/2022 of ABB Review, the company’s technical journal has been issued by ABB. The lead topic for this quarter is “better decisions,” examining the decision making benefits of digital solutions throughout the enterprise, from the boardroom to the plant floor. As decision makers need to understand and analyze data quickly and accurately, ABB provides a broad variety of technical solutions to support them.

ABB’s RobotStudio, the world’s most-used simulation and offline programming tool for robotics is such a solution. The RobotStudio AR Viewer app is an augmented reality (AR) application for mobile devices that visualizes, in the real environment, the industrial robots configured beforehand in RobotStudio. The AR features enable precise positioning of a robot on the shop floor, which contributes to a better understanding of how it will fit into the space, helping to speed the planning of manufacturing processes.

The ABB Ability portfolio of digital solutions, a collection of more than 170 IoT offerings serving commercial and industrial customers in a wide range of settings is also referenced in the new edition. Combining software innovation with connectivity, ABB Ability helps the company’s customers to improve countless decisions across an enterprise to drive greater productivity, enhance agility and lower emissions. The new ABB Ability™ Energy and Asset Manager cloud solution is one such example described in the new ABB Review. It is accessible from any location and any connected device and optimizes the energy consumption of data centers, among other facilities.

“Traditionally, operators took decisions based on gut instinct, born of long experience and formal training,” writes ABB CEO Björn Rosengren in the issue’s opening pages. “Today, data-mining techniques and artificial intelligence are helping operators take better decisions by making available a wealth of information that was previously inaccessible.”

ABB Review has been in continuous publication since 1914, making it one of the longest-running corporate journals of any kind. A perennial source of technical inspiration and education, it presents some of the company’s most cutting-edge innovations across scientific and technological domains in a raft of commercial and industrial contexts, setting out the unique point of view of ABB researchers, engineers and technicians on key technology trends and topics.

@ABBgroupnews #PAuto #IIoT

Communicator software released.

A new Android based Smart Device Communicator Software for Foundation Fieldbus (FF) has been released by ProComSol. The software uses the Device Descriptor (DD) for the connected FF device so the user has full access to every Parameter and Method.

According to Jeffrey Dobos, President of ProComSol, Ltd, “DevComFF.Droid offers an alternative to the traditional high cost FF Communicators. With a FF communicator that can fit in your pocket, utilizing a modern, App interface, the user has quick and easy access to the FF instrument data. Android devices are continuously improving so the DevComFF.Droid communicator performance keeps improving as well.”

The Android App (DevComFF.Droid), in combination with the Softing mobiLink multi-protocol communicator (our PN: MOBI-FF), is a full functioned FF Communicator. The entire DD Library for FF devices from the FieldComm Group is included. New DD’s can be added very easily by the user. A FF communicator that uses DD’s can perform full configurations of Valves, Multi-Variable devices, and complex devices such as Radar Level and Coriolis Flow meters.

DevComFF.Droid allows the user to view and edit device parameters and even save all the device parameters as a PDF file. The PDF file can then be shared with anyone in the world via the mobile network connections available in an Android device. Saving and sharing FF device configuration documentation is now faster and more convenient.

@ProComSol #PAuto #Fieldbus

Metals and mining software.

AspenTech, an Emerson majority-owned subsidiary, has entered into an agreement to acquire Micromine, an end-to-end mining software provider. This acquisition will build on AspenTech’s leading software portfolio, furthering its diversification strategy into the metals and mining market and facilitating the digital transformation and sustainability goals of the industry.

The transaction with AspenTech, which closed in May 2022, accelerates Emerson’s software strategy and demonstrates commitment to build a higher growth, more diversified and cohesive portfolio. This proposed acquisition of Micromine is an example of how Emerson and AspenTech will drive growth through continued investment and M&A.

Micromine, headquartered in Perth, Australia, offers solutions relevant to every step of the mining process from exploration, evaluation, design and planning through production and optimisation. Micromine’s solutions are used at over 2,000 sites across all major mining regions.

Following AspenTech’s completion of the proposed acquisition, Emerson will continue to be a 55% shareholder in AspenTech.

@AspenTech @Emerson_News @EmersonExchange @EMR_Automation @MICROMINE #PAuto 

Wednesday 27 July 2022

Trace moisture, moisture in liquids and trace oxygen.

The new Michell* Multi-Channel Control Unit (MCU) provides up to four independent measurement channels with any combination of moisture in gas, moisture in liquids or oxygen concentration. Installed indoors in a safe area, the MCU allows operators to monitor these crucial parameters from multiple hazardous area-installed analysers. 

It is designed for use with any combination of the Michell Promet I.S. process moisture analyzer, the Michell Liquidew I.S. moisture in liquids analyzer and Ntron Minox-i oxygen transmitter.

The new Michell MCU features up to four 2.8” color touch-screen LCDs with a clear, easy-to-use interface. This allows for set-up and control of dew point or trace moisture in gases or liquids, as well as oxygen measurement, directly from the control room. The unit displays moisture content in ppm, dew point, % O2, ppmV O2 plus analysis pressure. Alarm status and a choice of ISO or IGT#8 calculations are also displayed for each channel. The digital or analog outputs are user configurable.

Promet I.S. and Liquidew I.S are industrial hygrometer systems for measurement of high pressure, process gases and vaporized liquids in:

  • Natural gas production and processing
  • Offshore natural gas export pipeline or transmission pipeline monitoring
  • Fiscal metering of gas
  • Gas storage facilities
  • Hydrogen production, storage and transportation including natural gas injection
  • LNG production processing and receiving terminals
  • Gas generation industries

• Michell Instruments are marketed in Ireland through Instrument Technology


* Michel are part of the Process Sensing Technologies (PST) group.

 @Michell_Inst @ProcessSensing #PAuto 

Rounding fir-tree slots.

Turbine and compressor discs have so-called fir-tree mounting slots into which the turbine blades are inserted. The established production methods for these mounting slots are broaching, wire cutting or milling. But these techniques produce burrs and sharp edges in the fir-tree slot. For flawless assembly and to prevent injuries, the edges of the fir-tree slot and blade root must be burr-free, with a defined radius. This is the only way to guarantee that the components function properly. In particular, the pressure surfaces that blade roots and discs are in contact with during operation are subject to very narrow tolerances of 10–20 µm. For the blades to be perfectly positioned, it is essential to prevent shape variation in pressure surfaces during deburring and rounding.

Repeatability.
Standard engineering practice for this process step is mechanical, semi-robotic deburring and rounding with grinding wheels or brushes. These tools used wear over time, producing inconsistent machining results over their life span. For example, sharp edges can slice off brush tips, make brush wear hard to predict, and therefore lead to varying results as well as heavy process contamination due to the brush residues. Likewise, grinding wheels are subject to uneven material removal, which the robot movements have to compensate for, and the abrasion causes process contamination.

On complex workpiece geometries, rounding results are often asymmetrical because the grinding wheels or brushes cannot be fine-tuned to the exact geometry of the fir-tree slot, or because they cannot get into hard-to-reach areas at all. These asymmetrical and inconsistent rounding results often fail to meet tolerances, cause shape variation and therefore increase both your reject rate and your costs.

Comparing alternatives.
In the quest for an alternative process with convincing finishing results, an engine manufacturer worked with OTEC to evaluate two different mass finishing technologies.

The first process, in a round vibratory trough, proved inexpedient for the application:
even after several hours of processing, it was unable to bring all the edge breaks within the tolerance range. The rounding produced in the tests was neither symmetrical nor repeatable. Furthermore, the increased noise level and associated vibrations were a problem given that sensitive measuring devices are used close by.

The second process, in the OTEC stream finishing machine, quickly achieved very promising results at the first attempt:
By positioning the component precisely, all the edge breaks were within tolerance in just 15 minutes, with highly symmetrical rounding along the entire edge. Additional runs confirmed that the process was repeatable and stable. Shape variation was less than 1 µm – so low that not a single adjustment was required in upstream broaching. Lastly, the low-noise, low-vibration process was suitable for use near sensitive measuring devices.

These advantages have already convinced several engine manufacturers:

  • Minimal process time of just 15 minutes
  • Highly symmetrical, uniform rounding
  • Reliable, repeatable process results
  • Residue-free burr removal
  • Minimal shape variation in fir-free slot pressure surfaces
  • Reliable, measurable compliance with narrow tolerances of less than 1 µm
  • Purely mechanical material removal, without the use of chemical process accelerants

How does stream finishing work?
In mechanical stream finishing, which was developed in-house by OTEC, components such as turbine discs and turbine or compressor blades are clamped in a holder and immersed in a rotating container filled with an abrasive or polishing medium (media). The workpieces can also be rotated or set at specific angles in the media flow.

The relative motion between the component and the media produces an even finish. The enormous machining forces of up to 9 tons used in stream finishing can remove material faster and more precisely than any other type of surface finishing process: depending on component size, initial state and preparation (e.g. pre-chamfering) they can produce a radius of up to 700 µm within 15 minutes. And because the media granules are so fine, the rounding process is also suitable for complex, hard-to-reach geometries.

OTEC is the only supplier of stream finishing machines with integrated automation for large and heavy components: the newly developed SF-HP is suitable for workpieces up to 650 mm in diameter and weighing up to 200 kg.

Their stream finishing technology is an ideal choice for components with similarly demanding post-processing requirements. Examples include turbine and compressor blades, turbine blade roots, blisks, servo valves, gear wheels, ball screw nuts and landing gear components. The OTEC Finishing Centre is ready to assist in defining processes – whatever the geometry, surface quality or rounding requirements. They will help to identify exactly the right process for each component.

@Pressebox #OTEC #Manufacturing, 

Tuesday 26 July 2022

Ensuring royal water quality.

Royal water quality Looking to find ways to keep improving water quality, the managers of the English Royal Parks have installed a continuous water quality monitor; an ESNET (Environmental Sensor NETwork) system from the company Meteor Communications.

The Serpentine, in London's Hyde Park, is monitored by the British Environment Agency which collects samples for bacteriological analysis every week between May and September. However, the ESNET continuous water quality monitor was installed to improve understanding of the factors affecting water quality.

George II (Hannover) & Caroline
Covering an area of around 16 hectares, the Serpentine was created in 1730 by the wife of George II, Queen Caroline. Originally fed by the River Westbourne and Tyburn Brook in the 1730s, the lake's water was later pumped from the River Thames. Today, water is pumped from two boreholes from within Hyde Park.

The water quality monitoring system was installed in February 2022, measuring key parameters including Blue/ Green Algae, Chlorophyll, Temperature, Conductivity, pH, Turbidity and Dissolved Oxygen. Measurements are taken continuously in real-time with updates every 30 minutes to the MeteorCloud™ web portal, with instant alerts for any issues that may influence bathing water quality. “The ESNET system will provide essential data for the future management of the lake,” explains the Royal Parks’ Dr Pawel Szynkarczuk. “We need this empirical data to better understand short- and long-term trends, as well as the factors affecting water quality. For example, a key advantage of a continuous time-series dataset is the ability to correlate water quality incidents with potential impact factors such as ambient temperature and heavy rainfall.

“The Environment Agency’s laboratory tests are more focused on bathing safety, whereas the wider variety of parameters monitored by ESNET will provide greater insights into the factors affecting water quality generally. The ESNET system will therefore allow us to make informed decisions, whilst also enabling us to measure the impact of any improvement measures.”

Water quality improvement measures currently include litter/debris removal as well as aeration at 24 points around the lake. However, the large population of wildfowl in Hyde Park is the likely cause of any water pollution; with raised nutrient levels during summer being an area that is carefully monitored. The water quality challenges presented by the wildfowl are compounded by Park visitors feeding the ducks and geese by throwing food into the water. Raised nutrient levels during summer are therefore carefully monitored, and an initiative is underway to try to alter visitor behaviour. “We have a campaign entitled ‘Help Nature Thrive’, which is designed to discourage overfeeding – it’s not good for the birds and it certainly isn’t good for water quality,” explains Assistant Hyde Park Manager, Ian Nightingale. “In the past, we have had to address raised nutrient levels on two occasions by dosing the water with a modified bentonite clay which binds with free reactive phosphorus. While this method appears to be effective, it is expensive, so the provision of continuous monitoring will enable us to fully evaluate the cost/benefits of any future water quality improvement measures.”

The ESNET system has been installed at the Environment Agency’s water sampling point, adjacent to the lake’s bathing area, and the water quality sensors are built into a compact water quality sonde which is permanently located beneath the water surface. In order to maintain the highest levels of accuracy, the sonde is routinely swapped out with a pre-calibrated sonde by Meteor Communications.

The entire system runs on very low levels of power, with a small solar panel meeting the power requirement of the entire ESNET system. “This is very important,” explains Meteor MD Matt Dibbs. “These systems are usually installed in remote locations for customers such as the Environment Agency and utility companies; frequently these sites have no pre-existing power or communications capability.

“We were recently consulted by the Environment Audit Committee and provided them with a live demonstration; explaining how ESNET systems are monitoring UK rivers and providing alerts when potential pollution incidents could threaten bathing water quality. We hope that the Serpentine ESNET system will deliver similar benefits; helping the Park managers to improve the lake’s water quality.”

@MeteorComms @EnvAgency @_Enviro_News #Environmental #Water

Monday 25 July 2022

Real-time qualified industrial PCs.

Today, more and more industrial customers are using PC (Personal Computer) technology for high end sophisticated real-time control applications. These computers have high CPU processing capabilities in relation to their costs when compared to software and hardware development for dedicated platforms.

Typical applications where such PCs are used are:
  • CNC and Motion Control
  • Robotics and PLC applications
  • Medical applications like surgical robots or computer tomographs
  • Real-time data acquisition

Regular PCs are designed for standard office use while such industrial applications need hardware which is more suitable to their respective environment: Industrial PCs (IPCs)!

These Industrial PCs fulfill various requirements like mechanical robustness, power consumption, connectivity, storage.

However, some control systems require hard real-time latency predictability while the processors of the x86 architecture today have sophisticated power saving mechanisms which may have serious impact on the requested determinism. These CPUs also have a special protection and correction mode known as system management mode (SMM). This mode is not traceable by the operating system and is a source of unpredictability in the system. Also other features that may be controlled in the BIOS may have an influence on the IPC's real-time behavior like Hyper Threading or GPU settings.

Thus, one of the IPC selection criteria will be the real-time capabilities of the respective solution. Especially in the case applications have the need to run the Microsoft Windows operating system in conjunction with a real-time extension or real-time hypervisor software solution, this becomes an important and sometimes challenging selection criteria.

For that purpose, acontis has developed a standard scheme to determine and compare the real-time capabilities of Industrial PCs

An excerpt of different IPCs from various vendors have been pre-validated for real-time use.

Appropriate BIOS settings as well as real-time results are published here on their website.

@PresseBox #acontis #IndustrialPC

Friday 22 July 2022

Smart solid state drive.

Samsung Electronics has successfully developed a second generation of its pioneering SmartSSD*.

“Commercialization of the first-generation SmartSSD, in collaboration with AMD, established that the computational storage market has great potential,” said Jin-Hyeok Choi, Executive Vice President and Head of Memory Solution Product & Development at Samsung Electronics. “With the upgraded processing functionality of the second-generation SmartSSD, Samsung will be able to easily address increasing customer needs in the database and video transcoding sectors, as we expand the boundaries of the next-generation storage market.”

The new proprietary computational storage incorporates data processing functionality within a high-performance SSD. Unlike existing SSDs, this SmartSSD can process data directly, thereby minimizing data transfers between the CPU, GPU and RAM. This technology can avoid the bottlenecks that often occur when moving data between storage devices and CPUs, resulting in markedly improved system performance and much higher energy efficiency.

The SmartSSD is playing an increasingly important role, especially with the growth of next-generation technologies such as AI, machine learning and 5G/6G, which require large amounts of data processing.

Leveraging software and intellectual property (IP) developed by customers, along with in-built Arm cores, Samsung’s second-generation SmartSSD enables much more efficient data processing. Compared to conventional data center solid-state drives, processing time for scan-heavy database queries can be slashed by over 50%, energy consumption by up to 70% and CPU utilization by up to 97%.

Since its development in 2020 through the joint efforts of Samsung and AMD, the first-generation SmartSSD is being supplied to global IT companies including video communications platform providers. The first-generation SmartSSD was recognized as an Innovation Awards Honoree at CES 2021 for its outstanding performance and energy efficiency.

“Powered by Xilinx Versal™ Adaptive SoCs from AMD, second-generation Samsung SmartSSDs enable improved CPU efficiency and greatly reduced energy consumption by efficiently integrating the computing and storage functions in data centers,” said Sina Soltani, Corporate Vice President of Sales, AECG, Data Center and Communication Group at AMD. “As data-intensive applications continue to grow, second-generation Samsung SmartSSDs will deliver the superior performance and efficiency required for this expanding market.”


* Samsung Electronics is leading efforts to standardize SmartSSD technology through close collaboration with the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) and with NVM Express, while seeking to expand the boundaries of SmartSSD devices through technological validation for a wide variety of applications.

@Samsung @SNIA @NeeshamPR #Memory #dataprocessing

Energy efficient motor-drive solution.

High efficiency, energy-saving motor with integrated fanless inverter suited to both new installations and retrofitting

The MPD Series inverter with motor, suitable for pump and fan applications has been launched by Delta. The new series delivers the benefits of energy efficiency, intelligent water supply and ease of operation by featuring a Delta MSI class IE5 energy efficiency synchronous reluctance motor coupled with a motor-mounted Delta MP300 variable frequency drive. This combination drives down the cost of daily operation, while the high level of integration supports decentralized solutions, reducing wiring and simplifying setup. Available in power classes from 0.75 to 22 kW, it features the IP55 construction that keeps out dust and jetted water from all directions. The fanless drive provides long-term reliability and low maintenance.

“Whether targeting residential areas, commercial buildings, or factories, pump system manufacturers can be sure of delivering their customers’ significant energy savings. Additionally, thanks to the integrated monitoring system the drive can handle the conditions that lead to mishaps such as flooding and production delays in the pump system. With support for IEC standard motor flanges, the MPD Series is ideal for both new installations and retrofitting,” said Martien Heesterbeek, Product Manager of Industrial Automation Business Group, Delta Electronics EMEA region.

Energy-efficient and fully featured.
With energy costs rising, the efficiency of water pumps during operation is of growing importance. Thanks to the use of a high-efficiency motor coupled with the latest variable frequency drive technology, the MPD Series fulfills efficiency class IES2 according to IEC 61800-9-2. The motor-mounted Delta PLC supports 14k steps to implement a range of multi-pump operating modes, such as alternating operation to facilitate maintenance and extend equipment life, constant pressure mode for energy-efficient staging, and redundancy.

A sleep mode can automatically detect falling water demand, entering a hibernation mode to avoid frequent switching on and off. The integrated clean function removes foreign objects from the blades and minimizes extended periods of no operation. Scheduling can also be defined to improve overall energy efficiency. Further protection mechanisms, such as burst pipe and high/low pressure detection, limit property damage by stopping water flow and providing an alarm output. Should the water supply be cut off, the pump slows to a stop to avoid damage. Cavitation events are also monitored: If small vapor-filled cavities form in the pump, the inverter can give an immediate warning in order to increase reliability and reduce wear.

System integration through smart communication.
The MPD Series offers an in-built RS-485 communication interface for easy integration into existing control systems. If required, optional communication cards are available for EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, and PROFINET DP. An optional Bluetooth communication interface is also available for more efficient commissioning and maintenance. When coupled with the Android app, smartphone users can access operational information via a dashboard, configure pump operating parameters, and are provided with handling guidance on error messages. If desired, the motor drive, MP300, is available separately for use with alternative motors.

@mepaxIntPR #deltaww #PAuto #Water

Control with OPC UA server.

Baumüller uses OPC UA (Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture) as an interface for the transmission of data between different nodes, eg visualization or edge controllers, etc. and to this end, has developed a new software tool for communication via the control technology through to the drive level: ProDataX .

OPC UA serves as a common data exchange standard for secure, reliable, manufacturer and platform-independent communication in IoT, M2M and industry 4.0 environments. The requirement for communication between the components of different manufacturers via OPC UA to work is that each device involved in the communication must meet the current specifications of the OPC Foundation.

The company has now implemented the three most important parts of the extensive catalog of OPC UA Foundation specifications for its applications:

  • DA (Data Access) for access to machine data and parameters
  • Security via certificates, to ensure that only authorized nodes have access to the OPC UA server
  • With OPC UA methods , the oscilloscope function of the Baumüller devices can also be used for other suppliers, for example

Control units with OPC UA server
The basic idea of ​​OPC UA is that all hardware manufacturers involved in a system provide an OPC UA server for their components connected to the communication. Baumüller offers the ProDataX software tool for this purpose.

ProDataX provides an OPC UA server interface that can run not only on the Baumüller control hardware but also on standard PCs with the Windows operating system. ProDataX can be configured using the Baumüller ProMaster and ProDrive programming/operating tools.


@be_in_motion @UnnGmbh @pressebox #PAuto

Thursday 21 July 2022

Hygienic bimetal thermometer.

The new bimetal thermometer model TG58SA bimetal thermometer from WIKA, meets the stringent requirements of the pharmaceutical industry, the food industry and also biotechnology. The display instrument is in an ASME BPE-compliant design, meets the 3-A Sanitary Standard and has EHEDG and ATEX approval.

This makes the thermometer as flexible as it is globally applicable. The selection of industry-standard scale ranges and process connections (clamp, DIN 11864, VARINLINE®) also reflects this. All information about the connections is lasered on. In addition, the active length of the sensor is indicated on the dial to ensure correct temperature measurement.

The new measuring instrument, whose stem has a hemispherical bottom, can be cleaned in a process-safe manner in accordance with 3-A and EHEDG. It is suitable for CIP/SIP and wash-down processes.

The hygienic features of the TG58SA are complemented by a robust design. The thermometer offers a high overtemperature resistance. Its shatterproof window is also UV-resistant.

• WIKA products are marketed in Ireland through Instrument Technology.

@WIKANews #PAuto #Pharma

Cylinder sensors.

The latest technological advances in solid-state cylinder technology enable maintenance or service engineers to solve multiple pneumatic or electric drive issues with a single device, according to Festo.

“Solid-state switches are today's default technology option,” 
says Steve Sands, Head of Product Management at Festo GB. “Their absence of moving, mechanical components gives them a long lifespan, with mean time between failure (MTBF) of more than 4000 years. This means solid-state switches are the technology of choice over traditional reed switches in around 90% of pneumatic and electric drive applications.”
 
Modern automation machinery uses positional feedback to trigger sequential movements. In pneumatic applications, this takes the form of cylinder sensors that detect the position of the piston within the actuator. Similarly, the sensors act as movement reference points in electric axes and prevent clashes or over-runs.

Solid-state sensors are typically constructed with four magneto resistive sensors connected in a Wheatstone Bridge. When the cylinder piston magnet reaches the solid-state switch, the individual sensors' resistance changes, altering the bridge voltage. After amplification and processing, this creates an output signal from the solid-state sensor. As a result, solid-state sensors are protected against overload, reverse polarity and short circuits. They are also immune to wear and tear and insensitive to inductive and capacitive loads. Typically, the maximum current is 100 mA, and the maximum cable length is 30 m.

The latest solid-state sensors from Festo have moved the technology on another step. The Festo SDBT-MSX incorporates Hall Effect sensors and a micro-controller that enable approximate setting of the sensor, with the actual switching point being 'self-taught' by cycling the actuator a few times. This means that the actuator is driven to its end positions and the sensor learns the required switching point. Adopting this technology saves set-up and commissioning times and means a person doesn't have to enter inside the machinery whilst the power is on, reducing risk.

Incorporating a micro-controller also means that the sensor’s functions – NPN or PNP switching, Normally Open or Normally Closed switching, or output signal duration – can be modified easily: meaning maintenance or service engineers can solve multiple issues with a single device.

@FestoGB @festo_global @Publitek #PAuto

Valves for hydrogen fueling stations.

15,000 pounds-per-square-inch double block bleed and hand valves offer redundant protection from high pressure and superior sealing technology to avoid leaks

The TESCOM™ Anderson Greenwood Instrumentation H2 Valve Series for hydrogen applications up to 15,000 pounds-per-square-inch (psi) (103.4 MPa) has been launched by Emerson. The new solution reliably isolates process pressure in high pressure gas applications such as hydrogen fueling stations and tube trailers, reducing fugitive emissions and improving safety.

As it moves from tank to pump, hydrogen is transferred at pressures of up to 15,000 psi (103.4 MPa). To protect personnel and prevent leaks, it must be effectively controlled and isolated. The Double Block Bleed (DBB) valve’s positive double block arrangement provides two layers of positive shutoff that shield maintenance staff from high pressure during instrument maintenance. Its modular design reduces the number of potential leakage points, and the reinforced sealing technology reduces the risk of fuel entering the atmosphere through the valve stem.

Among the cleanest fuels when produced using renewable resources, compressed hydrogen gas is used to power fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). In 2021, 142 new hydrogen refueling stations began operating, the biggest increase in a single year, raising the total to 685 active stations worldwide. And, in January 2022, Global Market Insights Inc. predicted that the FCEV market will exceed $15 billion by 2027. To meet this growth demand, fueling station original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) must source reliable, high-performance components to ensure overall equipment effectiveness and ensure station safety.

“Given the pressures that hydrogen is subject to in these applications, it’s critical that equipment operates safely and reliably, every time. That’s why we’re committed to specifically developing components to help our customers effectively store and precisely control compressed hydrogen gas,” said Rob Lindquist, director of global marketing for TESCOM precision fluid control at Emerson.

The hand-operated, maintenance-free design of the hand valves and double block and bleed valves in the H2 Valve Series minimizes maintenance and downtime. With low operating torque and adjustment-free seal technology, these hand valves deliver a low cost of ownership in a compact solution.

For OEMs looking to safely minimize risks for operators, the H2 Valve Series provides several safety features. Each valve has a convenient QR code, allowing operators to quickly access the valve’s specs during maintenance and installation. The product also ensures that no high-pressure liquid or gas is released during maintenance. The valves are compliant to the ISO 19880-3 hydrogen fueling standard.

@Emerson_News @EmersonExchange @mepaxIntPR #Tescom #PAuto 

Monitoring high-speed processes.

With high speed to new spheres!

When fast-moving scenes need to be captured in all their details, a high-performance transmission interface is essential in addition to the right sensor. With uEye Warp10, IDS Imaging Development Systems is launching a new camera family that, thanks to 10GigE, transmits data in the Gigabit Ethernet-based network at a very high frame rate and virtually without delay. The first models with the IMX250 (5 MP), IMX253 (12 MP) and IMX255 (8.9 MP) sensors from the Sony Pregius series are now available.

Compared to 1GigE cameras, the uEye Warp10 models achieve up to 10 times the transmission bandwidth; they are also about twice as fast as cameras with USB 3.0 interfaces. The advantages become particularly apparent when scenes are to be captured, monitored and analysed in all details and without motion blur. Consequently, applications such as inspection applications on the production line with high clock speeds or image processing systems in sports analysis benefit from the fast data transfer.

The GigE Vision standard-compliant industrial cameras enable high-speed data transfer over cable lengths of up to 100 metres without repeaters or optical extenders via standard CAT6A cables (under 40 metres also CAT5E) with RJ45 connectors. The robust uEye Warp10 cameras are initially offered with C-mount lens holders. IDS is already working on additional models. In the future, versions with TFL mount (M35 x 0.75) will also be available for use with particularly high-resolution sensors up to 45 MP. The cameras are supported by the powerful IDS peak software development kit. 

 @IDS_Imaging @mepaxIntPR #PAuto 

Website for interconnections!

New website for growing product segment

Eighty years ago ODU became known through electrical contacts and then through connectors. Comparatively a newcomer in the product portfolio are the Mass Interconnect interfaces. Details of these are now featured on their new website

Making things as easy as possible for the user was not only the primary goal in the development of the ODU-MAC® Black-Line mass interconnect interface. The same applies to the new website: anyone who wants information will get the results quickly and compactly.

The mass interconnect systems are mainly used for testing printed circuit boards and electronically assembled components. What is decisive there? Reliable measurements and great flexibility. Not surprisingly, ODU's contact technology is convincing here due to its high reliability. Equally important is the individual configuration of interfaces, for which the modular connectors are ideally suited. "It was the next logical step to offer our own mass interconnect interface," said Tobias Eder, product manager at ODU.

In order to meet the requirements of as many applications as possible, the ODU-MAC® Black-Line portfolio is constantly being expanded. The latest extension is a so-called electronics housing, which can be used as an alternative to the adapter. It allows connectors to be attached to the rear panel for individual test requirements. At the same time, the housing protects electronic components and cables.

@PresseBox #ODU #PAuto 

Wednesday 20 July 2022

Innovation centre in Singapore.

Palomar Technologies, is expanding its Innovation Center in Singapore to meet a growing demand in Southeast Asia for process development and specialty OSAT for advance semiconductor new product introductions.

Palomar opened its Innovation Center – Singapore in November of 2018 to address a vital market need for process development, device package prototyping, test and measurement, process maturation, and low-volume production. In 2019, market demand pushed Palomar to make its first expansion. This second expansion gives the center the added ability to work closer with customers on their specific needs.

The Singapore Cntre currently supports a wide range of customer applications including:

  • Micro optics used in 3D Imaging, LIDAR and Optical Sensors
  • RF LDMOS and RF GaN power amplifiers
  • High-reliability RF Microwave modules
  • Silicon Photonics and laser diode placement bonding
  • Thermal and Motion Sensors
  • Optical transceiver packaging
  • Active Optical Cable packaging
  • VCSEL, EEL, EML, LED placement and bonding
  • Lens placement and lens attach bonding

“Strong demand from our regional Asia Pacific customer base has driven us to expand the footprint of our Singapore Innovation Center for the second time in five years,” said Rich Hueners, Managing Director, Palomar Technologies (SE Asia) Pte Ltd. “This expanded area will serve to host plasma cleaning, dry boxes and customer-specific test equipment while the original lab area will continue to host the die attach, wire bond and vacuum reflow equipment. We are looking forward to forging ahead with new customer requirements in this larger space.”

 @PalomarTech #PAuto #Packaging

Tuesday 19 July 2022

Towards 100% Renewable Electricity by 2030.

Emerson has joined RE100, a global initiative bringing together businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity. This alignment with other sustainability pioneers in the effort led by Climate Group, in partnership with CDP, is the latest step in Emerson’s plan to source 100% renewable electricity by 2030.*

Mike Train
“Emerson's renewable energy strategy will play an important role in our goal to reach net zero operations by 2030,” said Mike Train, Emerson’s chief sustainability officer. “Our engagement with RE100 enhances Emerson’s ability to drive further investment in renewable electricity and support the overall decarbonisation of the grid in the key markets we operate in, such as the US, Mexico, Europe, China and India.”

To achieve the 2030 target, Emerson will leverage a broad range of renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower. Due to recent efforts in the renewables procurement space, Emerson anticipates sourcing 25% of its global electricity usage from renewable sources in 2022. The company has also installed on-site renewable electricity generation systems at several facilities worldwide and will expand implementation of these systems going forward.

As part of the company’s net zero operations objective, Emerson is targeting 100% renewable electricity coverage from contracted electricity sources and on-site generation assets. Electricity usage drives approximately 75% of Emerson’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

“We are delighted to welcome Emerson to RE100,” said Sam Kimmins, director of energy at Climate Group. “By committing to 100% renewable electricity by 2030, Emerson joins over 300 of the world’s leading businesses committed to driving market change. This sends a powerful message that renewable electricity makes good business sense, and we encourage others to follow.”

Emerson established its Energy Sourcing Committee in 2021 to increase the company’s use of renewable electricity, collaborating globally to evaluate and implement renewable energy purchases. Emerson also works with third-party energy specialists active in energy markets to identify emerging opportunities.


*Emerson's latest Environmental, Social and Governance Report.

@Emerson_News @EmersonExchange @EMR_Automation @theRE100 @HHC_Lewis #PAuto #Energy

Innovators' meeting.

Patent approvals reach new record

Drs Andreas Mayr and Christine Koslowski
Since 2000 Endress+Hauser has invited all employees involved in patent filings to the annual Innovators’ Meeting. No in-person events were held in the past two years because of the coronavirus pandemic. The company thus used this year as an opportunity to celebrate the event’s 20th anniversary. 360 innovators were invited to attend the two-day session at Europa-Park in Rust, Germany to be creative and celebrate with one another.

Patent figures at a high level.
“Innovation continues to be a driver of our success and our innovation rate is high. The numbers nevertheless show us that the innovation process is suffering from a lack of personal interaction,” says Dr Andreas Mayr, Chief Operating Officer at the Endress+Hauser Group. With 258 initial filings, Endress+Hauser is slightly under the prior year’s figure of 276. “Many ideas arise through coincidental encounters and the sharing of information. Together we are simply more creative and innovative.”

One reason to celebrate is the new record of 764 worldwide patent approvals. Since many innovations in multiple countries are filed as patents, this figure is regularly above the number of internal patent submissions. The intellectual property rights portfolio, which protects the Endress+Hauser products, solutions and services from imitators, now comprises a total of 8,600 patents and patent filings.

Endress+Hauser places a high value on research and development. In 2021, the Group invested more than 210 million euros in R&D, which equates to 7.4 percent of sales. “This ensures that our pipeline continues to be filled with new products. We will introduce more than 30 new products to the market this year as well,” says Andreas Mayr.

Focus on personal encounters.
“This year’s Innovators’ Meeting is designed to offer a platform to take advantage of the potential of personal encounters,” says Dr Christine Koslowski, Director of Intellectual Property Rights at Endress+Hauser. “We expanded the program to two days and brought our innovators together from various Endress+Hauser companies to work on new ideas. Three of these concepts were awarded a financial and time budget to develop them further.”

The afternoon of the second day was reserved for a celebration ceremony and other awards presentations. The Innovators’ Meeting honoured Endress+Hauser employees for economically significant and especially creative innovations. Awards are also handed out for process improvements or the reuse of existing solutions. More than 100 employees were recognized.

@Endress_Hauser @Endress_UK @Endress_us #PAuto

Telecommunication test laboratory launched.

Anritsu Corporation and its authorized Swiss distributor YOTAVIS AG have launched the Swiss Communication Competence Center (SCCC), an open telecommunication test laboratory that allows companies and engineers to test new products and innovations for quality, performance, and compatibility.

The laboratory, located in the Switzerland Innovation Park in Biel/Bienne (CH), offers an extensive range of measurement equipment, as well as a team of telecommunications technology specialists. These facilities allow to conduct a wide variety of measurement tasks within the neutral and confidential confines of the SCCC. The SCCC is a creative space that will accelerate the use of the best new modern communication technologies in rapidly developing products such as autonomous cars, drones, wearable devices, smart IoT devices and much more.

Riccardo Rossetti, the General Manager of Anritsu EMEA GmbH says: “Testing is at the core of ensuring quality, so we decided to bring our best Anritsu technologies to the SCCC to help the entire ecosystem with product development and enable faster time to market for their new innovative solutions. We want to establish strong cooperation with other key stakeholders to make sure the centre of excellence becomes an open environment where everyone – students, start-ups, our customers, and other organizations – can use the best testing technologies and Anritsu expertise in the latest communication technologies to build state of the art products.”

At every stage, from blueprint to a high performing and reliable product, engineers and companies from Switzerland and Europe need a variety of test methods to verify the performance of their devices. Thanks to the SCCC, which is fully equipped with an extensive range of ‘ready to use’ instruments, these tests can be done faster and at lower costs.

The on-demand equipment in the SCCC can emulate 3G, 4G, and 5G, as well as WLAN and Bluetooth or IoT wireless networks. For wired LAN and WAN networks, the SCCC allows the measurement of high-speed links, providing data on error performance, quality of fibre links, and much more.

Explaining the idea behind the SCCC, Stefan Junker, CEO of YOTAVIS AG, says: “This unique lab is created with a mission to establish easy access to high quality test and measurement solutions based on a concept of a ‘sharing community’ - engineers from industries such as electronics, healthcare, education, or research will have access to modern technologies without the need to invest in sometimes expensive equipment.”

The idea of an innovative test lab is also supported by ASUT, the independent association of the telecommunications industry in Switzerland. Its CEO Christian Grasse states: "It is remarkable that a globally active company like Anritsu is committed to establishing a centre of excellence in the communications sector. This commitment underlines the importance of Switzerland as a business location for the telecommunications industry."

@AnritsuEMEA @NapierPR #YOtavis #SCCC #Communications #TandM #Switzerland

Portfolio of drive solutions.

Development of the NORD LogiDrive system solution into a product family Extended solution space of standardised geared motor versions

NORD Drive Systems has expanded its successful LogiDrive concept with new markets and products to give additional applications access to the benefits of standardised, industry-optimised geared motor versions. With the new LogiDrive product family, the company offers a wide portfolio of perfectly matched drive solutions, which meet many different requirements and purposes – be it energy efficiency, version reduction, cost-effectiveness or flexibility.

LogiDrive is an energy-efficient, service-friendly and standardised modular system. Depending on the industry and objective, different NORD products are combined into one drive solution, which is 100% tailored to the respective industry standards and application requirements. The new extended LogiDrive solution space is intended for conveyor applications in the fields of post & parcel, airport and warehouse, and comprises one advanced version with IE5+ synchronous motor technology and a basic version with IE3 asynchronous motors. While the LogiDrive advanced drives address issues such as energy efficiency, version reduction and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), the basic LogiDrive's main focus is on cost efficiency.

User-friendly plug-and-play technology
All LogiDrive systems are efficient and extremely easy to maintain and install thanks to plug-and-play technology. The entire system has a modular design, so that all components of the drive technology can be individually serviced. This minimises maintenance and repair costs. All connections are made using simple plug connections while integrated maintenance switches and manual control switches ensure a high level of user-friendliness. NORD also supplies the cables. Potential sources of error are thus eliminated, and commissioning is facilitated. The compact design saves space and is light in weight thanks to the aluminium housing. Thanks to the design of the motors used and the operation on the frequency inverter, the same motor variant can be universally used worldwide.

The new LogiDrive solution space comprises the following geared motor versions:

LogiDrive for post & parcel and airport.

  • Advanced: IE5+ synchronous motor and two-stage helical bevel gear unit or DuoDrive plus NORDAC LINK frequency inverter installed close to the motor.
  • Basic: IE3 asynchronous motor, two-stage helical bevel gear unit and NORDAC FLEX frequency inverter

LogiDrive for warehouse.

  • Advanced: IE5+ synchronous motor (ventilated or unventilated), two-stage helical bevel gear unit and NORDAC ON+ frequency inverter with integrated multi-protocol Ethernet interface
  • Basic: Fixed motor-inverter combinations consisting of IE3 asynchronous motor (87 Hz) and NORDAC ON frequency inverter with integrated multi-protocol Ethernet interface plus worm gear unit

The whole concept is designed for optimum performance, highest efficiency and best possible user-friendliness. Utilising the high overload capacity of the motors and the system’s wide adjustment range, all solutions are individually tailored to each customer and specifically designed for the system’s individual load range.

@NORD_Drive @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Transport


Secure rugged router.

AMETEK Abaco Systems has introduced the VSR8000, a fully rugged secure router featuring Juniper Networks® Junos® vSRX Virtual Firewall. This provides a commercial off the shelf (COTS) line replaceable unit (LRU) version of the recently launched 3U VPX VSR347D. This fully ruggedized secure router is a clear indicator of Abaco’s commitment to offering a full networking solution. The VSR8000 utilizes vSRX from Juniper Network in a fully rugged and SWaP optimized package to offer the only fully rugged solution on the market.

Pete Thompson, vice president of product management for Abaco Systems, said, “Providing hardened security in demanding environments is at the core of Abaco’s commitment to innovation. The VSR8000 delivers exactly what our customers need to succeed in demanding environments by providing a fully rugged, COTS secured router. This expands our offering of secured routers, giving customers the choice between a backplane deployed board (VSR347D) or LRU (VSR8000). We are committed to providing capable and highly optimized solutions.”

Abaco has taken its proven SBC347D single board computer (SBC), added an efficient, high-performance software environment, and integrated it into a fully rugged package that meets a wide range of MIL-STD qualifications including MIL-STD-810H for rain, sand, and salt fog. The VSR8000 combines Abaco’s knowledge and expertise with SBCs, networking, and rugged LRU systems into a market-leading rugged secure router. Designed to ease the transition from the RTR8GE, the VSR8000 saves on both time and cost for customers.

Acting as a drop-in replacement for the RTR8GE, this router’s combination of updated software, identical interfaces, and mechanical mounting points provides flexibility by offering the right options for legacy architectures. The software architecture provides a plan to overcome obsolescence and provides for the next generation of SBCs and other form factors using an x86 architecture processor.

With eight ports of 1000BASE-T, users can connect to multiple networks and devices while maintaining a high level of security for each one. The VSR8000 acts as an essential gateway between the outside world and local networks to keep intruders out and data secured. It is ideal for both new and existing users looking for a secure router system.

With high levels of environmental qualifications, it meets extreme demands presented by altitude, decompression, overpressure, sand, salt fog, rain, shock, and vibration. This secure router can be utilized on a wide range of applications, including: edge of network security; command and control; electronic warfare; radar; surveillance; situational awareness; imaging; AI and autonomy; rugged industrial and transportation; and other high-performance embedded computing applications.

@AbacoSys #Communications

Monday 18 July 2022

Air quality monitoring capability more comprehensive!

Ashtead Technology has announced the launch of the TSI BlueSky™ 8145 air quality monitor which measures additional gas and weather parameters compared to the standard BlueSky™.

The newest monitor in the low-cost BlueSky™ range has been designed to meet the needs of those looking to undertake gas monitoring (CO, CO₂, NO₂, SO₂, O₃), in addition to measuring particulate matter (PM) mass concentrations, temperature, relative humidity (RH) and barometric pressure (BP). The latest model can work in conjunction with two optional solar power and cellular accessories that are also new to the range.

By growing its equipment range, Ashtead Technology has enabled its clients to expand their air quality monitoring projects by measuring more parameters to help make informed decisions regarding air quality. The BlueSky™ 8145 provides accurate data that can be used to compare with exposure levels and as part of risk analyses.

“This is a major addition to our equipment fleet,” says Senior Sales Manager Josh Thomas. “The latest 8145 model has new gas sensors that clients can use to measure common pollutants Ozone, Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, and Sulfur Dioxide, plus the ability to measure barometric pressure – meaning that clients can get an all-round stronger picture of air quality within and around their buildings. In addition, the latest model still simultaneously monitors particulates PM1, PM2.5, PM4 and PM10, ambient temperature and relative humidity.”

While specifically designed for outdoor environmental monitoring, the BlueSky™ can also be used by anyone interested in air quality - including inside buildings, homes and manufacturing facilities to measure indoor air quality.

The BlueSky™ 8145 has two power options: AC mains and Solar if used with the new solar panel system. It also has two connectivity options: WiFi or Cellular if used with the new cellular accessory. The optional accessories can therefore be used to provide peace of mind for constant, reliable access to the cloud.

The BlueSky™ 8145 and optional accessories are available to rent or purchase from Ashtead Technology.  Ashtead Technology is a  Gold Channel Partner with TSI.

@AshteadTech @TSIIncorporated @_Enviro_News #Environment

80 years connecting!

What began in 1936 with Otto Dunkel's idea to manufacture interference-free wire spring connectors has developed extraordinarily since the company was founded in 1942. ODU established itself early as a globally active connector specialist with currently over 2,500 employees - 1,400 of them at the main site in Mühldorf am Inn (D). Other production sites are located in Romania, the USA, Mexico and China.
The company ethos and the innovative strength of the founder are the basis of the still privately managed family company ODU, which is therefore independent of investor interests - the legacy of the company founder lives on in the three letters as the abbreviation of the name.

The company sees itself as a specialist for high-end connectors and high-quality system solutions. In the spirit of Otto Dunkel, the experts are especially in demand for innovations for complex technical issues.

Not least due to its own testing and research laboratories, certified production processes and the high vertical range of manufacture in its own company, ODU is a reliable partner for its customers in all matters with the highest quality and safety standards.

The pioneering spirit of ODU also makes it possible to have appropriate solutions ready for future challenges. For example, the system solutions for connectors in the area of ​​fiber optic technologies enable the interference-free transmission of large amounts of data both over longer distances and in harsh environments, with high temperature fluctuations or in magnetic environments.

The company continues to grow in its 80th year and is investing almost 60 million euros in the company headquarters. With the new five-storey building for the turning shop, including laboratories and offices, ODU is building upwards for the first time. An additional assembly hall will also be built in the near future.

"ODU will celebrate its 80th Company anniversary with its employees at a large company party on July 22, 2022. The company maintains a tradition of working hard together - but also celebrating - after the depriving pandemic period. After all, the employees with their many years of know-how are the most important foundation for continuing the 80-year success story. This is reflected both in many community activities, a family atmosphere, comprehensive career and further training opportunities and in a high proportion of trainees in twelve technical and commercial professions. To this end, ODU cooperates with the surrounding universities and offers four dual degree programs."

 @PresseBox #ODU #PAuto

Friday 15 July 2022

Greenhouse automation winner hires chief business officer.

Team Koala, led by Koidra, an artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) - enabled industrial automation platform company, won the third edition of the Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge (AGC) at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in Bleiswijk (NL). Team Koala was the only AI team that outperformed the Dutch reference growers, providing 27.8% more in net profit than the reference growers, along with the lowest operating cost. 

In this third edition of the competition, five international finalists were selected out of 43 teams from 23 countries. Each of the finalists grew a lettuce crop using a fully autonomous algorithm. The goal was to use the lowest feasible input of resources, such as energy and CO2, while producing the maximum number of good-quality heads of lettuce. Each team created their own AI algorithms to autonomously determine the set points for temperature, amount of daylight and artificial light, heating, and CO2 concentration—along with other cultivation-related parameters, such as crop density, spacing moments, and day of harvest.

Koidra’s founder, Kenneth Tran, led teams winning the first AGC competition in 2018, the online challenge in 2021, and the growing round of the third challenge in 2022. Seeing the potential of AIoT in transforming greenhouses, Kenneth launched Koidra with a mission to build an autonomous growing technology scalable across greenhouses, vertical farms, and crops—and more broadly across process-based manufacturing industries.

Soojung Smith
Appointment
In an additional announcement the company has appointed Soojung Smith as their Chief Business Officer. Soojung Smith brings a wealth of strategy, sales & marketing, and operations experience in the U.S. and globally to Koidra in her new role as Chief Business Officer. Her experience includes time spent with AT&T as a Director of Marketing & Sales, and with the international consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers as their Head of Strategy Consulting Unit, Southeast Asia Practice. During a 10-year tenure at Microsoft, Smith launched and scaled Office Cloud business and Office 365, and she led the global Enterprise sales group’s transformative change to cloud initiatives by building a new worldwide sales planning and operations team. She also founded two startups, while coaching startup founders and their leadership teams, providing an ideal base for her current position with Koidra.

She says, "I am thrilled about Koidra's mission to modernize industrial operations using the power of Deep Tech, A.I., IoT, which will bring higher efficiency, more savings, and full automation."

The AGC win, coupled with the hiring of Smith, provides impetus and a strong base for Koidra as it continues its growth not only in indoor farm automation, but also in the wider field of industrial automation.

@WURglas @WUR #koidra_ai #IoT #Agriculture

Thursday 14 July 2022

Best in Europe for interconnect, sensor, antenna and high-speed cable solutions.

TTI - Europe has received the ‘Best Performance – EMEA 2021’ award from Amphenol. The prestigious award has been given to TTI Europe as the distributor that achieved the highest POS growth for Amphenol’s EMEA business in 2021.

“TTI is an incredibly important and valued partner and this award is a reflection of TTI’s strong partnership, support and commitment to Amphenol, for which we are truly grateful,” said Annette Tyler, Corporate Director – Distribution, at Amphenol. “TTI is a well-deserved recipient of this award, contributing towards our overall success and growth during the last year. We look forward to celebrating new milestones together in 2022 and beyond.”

“We are exceptionally honoured to receive this award, which recognises our hard work and focus, and it is a testament to the partnership we have with the Amphenol organization across all the divisions,” said Ronald Velda, Director Supplier Marketing Europe Connectors at TTI. “We want to thank Amphenol for their on-going support as well as colleagues in TTI for their dedication.”

TTI Europe stocks a wide range of Amphenol products for applications in various industries such as automotive, communications, commercial aerospace, industrial and IT. For example, the latest addition to the portfolio is the Excelǀmate type CCS2 combo plug for charging electric vehicles (EVs) with AC and DC power. This air-cooled system enables OEMs to deliver higher current for faster charging while reducing the installation cost dramatically.

@ttiinc @amphenol @Publitek #Communications

Mitigating vulnarabilities in industrial networks.

Felipe Sabino Costa, LATAM Industrial Cybersecurity (IACS) Expert with Moxa, discusses how to mitigate three common industrial network vulnerabilities.

Since industrial networks are primarily built and expanded to address growing business demands, it may be easy for administrators to overlook common system vulnerabilities. For example, when adding a device to a newly built or expanded network, do you know which industrial Ethernet switches have unlocked ports? Or, do you simply connect new devices without a second thought?

It must not be forgotten that ignoring common system vulnerabilities in today’s world could put your entire network at risk. The following scenarios summarize some common system vulnerabilities in industrial networks that may be exploited during the three main stages of a cyberattack: exploration, utilization, and attack. After examining the threats, tips will be provided on how to strengthen your industrial network security.

Stage 1 Vulnerabilities: Exploration and Infiltration.
Recall the last time you logged onto your network. How complex was your password? Although weak passwords may be easier for busy administrators to remember, they are also easier for malicious actors to crack through a brute force attack. Making it easy for an attacker to guess your network login credentials is like putting the keys to your house in a location that is easy for a robber to find.

Deploying whitelist control powered by deep packet
inspection can prevent hackers from injecting
unauthorized commands.
Attackers commonly exploit open ports on networks. For instance, Ethernet switches act as gates through which information is sent and received on networks. If you leave the door open, intruders can walk right in. By scanning your network, hackers can identify open ports and infiltrate your network just like a burglar entering through an unlocked gate.

How to Mitigate.
One of the simplest ways to enhance your network security is to ensure that users create a sufficiently complex password to reduce the likelihood of an attacker guessing your credentials by brute force. For additional security, you should also consider a login failure lockout mechanism that limits the number of unsuccessful login attempts, which may indicate a brute-force attack. To protect your network from port scanning, you can create a whitelist of ports that are accessible through your firewall and also disable WAN pinging.

Stage 2 Vulnerabilities: Utilization and Network Control.
During the second stage of a cyberattack, the malicious actor has already infiltrated the network and is using resources on the network for their own purposes. Even though they are not actively wreaking havoc on the network, they are secretly gathering information and laying the groundwork for a more harmful attack.

Network segmentation builds boundaries to protect
production lines without impacting each other when
cybersecurity incidents occur
For example, a hacker may be using various scanning tools to learn about your network topology so that they can find their next target and access or control more devices. The attacker can even use command injection to bypass authentication requirements or grant themselves higher levels of user privileges to execute prohibited commands and commandeer network devices for nefarious purposes.

How to Mitigate.
To limit the attacker’s ability to move throughout your network and commandeer your devices, we recommend network segmentation and traffic control. For example, you should partition your network into smaller segments and control the communications that pass through these segments. In addition, deploying whitelist control to prevent command injection can also limit the severity of the security breach.

Stage 3 Vulnerabilities: Services and Data Disruption.
Stealing or destroying critical business data from networks will be costly and harmful to any organization. However, these malicious actions are far from the worst case scenario of a successful cyberattack. During the last stage of a cyberattack, the hacker is no longer studying networks but actively causing damage.

During stage 3 of a cyberattack, the hacker could make a machine or network resources unavailable to authorized users by temporarily or indefinitely disrupting services on a host. This is typically called a Denial of Service (DoS) attack, which involves flooding a targeted machine in an attempt to overload it with pings. Furthermore, a hacker could unleash malware, including ransomware to deny you access to your network resources until a ransom is paid.

How to Mitigate.
Although damage has already been done by the time the cyberattack reaches stage 3, you can still mitigate the overall harm to your network by ensuring sufficient DoS or DDoS (distributed DoS attacks that involve multiple systems) protection and deploying industrial IPS for ransomware and other malware. You should also maintain reliable system backups and blacklist unauthorized protocols to minimize data loss.

With cyberattacks targeting more and more industrial networks, it is crucial to identify and mitigate system vulnerabilities before these weaknesses are exploited by those who intend to do harm. There are two directions you can take to enhance network security. One is to ensure that your industrial networks have a foundation–secure network infrastructure, which allows authorized traffic to flow to the correct places. Alternatively, you can identify critical assets and give them layered protection, such as industrial IPS or whitelisting control.

Moxa EDS-G4012 12G-port Gigabit managed Ethernet switches are compliant with the IEC 62443-4-2 industrial cybersecurity standards


@MoxaInc @OConnell_PR #PAuto #Cybersecurity