Flushing Rings with integrated valves.

The Rosemount™ 319 Flushing Ring with valve-integrated design, ensuring accurate differential pressure measurement and lower maintenance suitable for a wide range of differential pressure applications has been introduced by Emerson.

Available in Traditional and Compact options, the new Rosemount 319 Flushing Rings provide a process-to-seal connection and allow for faster diaphragm seal maintenance without disconnecting them from process flanges.

Both versions of the Rosemount 319 Flushing Rings come pre-assembled including the flushing ring, matching valves and connections, allowing technicians to commission devices faster by eliminating the need to procure and assemble components on-site. Rosemount 319 Flushing Rings are factory leak-tested so users can mount products to vessels right out of the box. When installed, diaphragm seal maintenance is significantly faster without compromising safety while reducing stocked inventory and management of multiple vendor piece-parts. Version-specific features include:

• The Rosemount 319 Traditional flushing ring design utilises a flow-through cleaning action and can be sized to fit almost any application. Configurations are offered with a choice of ball valves, needle valves or gate valves, and in multiple materials, flange types, sizes and ratings.
• The Rosemount 319 Compact flushing ring design removes residual build-up quickly, cleaning five times faster over 30% more surface area and 50% fewer leak points than other flushing rings. Assemblies accommodate a wider range of applications due to their smaller footprint for accurate differential pressure measurement in applications that have limited space for flushing ring installation. Configurations are offered with needle valves and in multiple materials, flange types, sizes and ratings.

“Rosemount 319 Flushing Rings with integrated valve assemblies are designed to eliminate procurement and on-site labour cost,” said Nicole Meidl, product manager, Emerson. “Products can be commissioned faster and more efficiently, and DP level seal systems can be easily accessed for future maintenance with reduced shutdown timelines. Efficiencies like these reduce risk, cost and complexity for our customers.”

@EMR_Automation @Emerson_News @EmersonExchange @Rosemount_News @HHC_Lewis #PAuto

Uninterrupted telecommunications for Galápagos.

The Galápagos Islands are a volcanic archipelago, roughly 1,000km off the coast of Ecuador, in the Pacific Ocean. As a province of Ecuador, mobile network operators (MNO) from the mainland are obligated to provide cellular services on the islands. This supports both the 30,000 permanent residents and close to 300,000 tourists that visit the islands each year. Connectivity is provided by several MNOs and internet service providers. However, the only connection back to the mainland is via satellite.

To maintain uninterrupted services in accordance to stringent regulatory conditions, remote monitoring solutions and access to equipment at various sites across the islands are essential. To support a satellite operator-managed service to one of its MNO customers, telecommunications consultant Specialized RF, developed an out-of-band remote access solution for the monitoring and control of critical equipment. The solution utilises Westermo industrial cellular gateways and easy-to-use remote access management platform WeConnect, which enables secure remote connections to applications on the network edge.

“I needed a way to establish secure remote access, for my clients, to the equipment deployed on the islands, because typically it takes hours for human resources to travel to these sites,” said Jens Langenhorst, consultant and owner of Specialized RF. “After researching various options, Throughput Technologies, the Westermo distributor in South Africa, introduced me to the Westermo cellular gateways.”

Deployment of the remote monitoring solutions are at cellular tower sites located across the islands. These applications had specific criteria and limitations to work within. For example, the available power source at the sites is only 48V DC. Furthermore, to provide redundant connectivity, a dual SIM gateway with external antennas that can be positioned outside of the typical metal racks or shelters was needed. The Westermo industrial cellular gateways were ideally suited for these applications, providing the required functionality and designed to withstand the environmental demands ensuring reliability and a long lifecycle.

“The selling point for me was the WeConnect secure VPN service. Not only was it easy to set up and configure, but it was already integrated into the Westermo cellular gateway. My satellite clients employ specialists around the globe and using WeConnect they can access and recover any issue remotely, within minutes. Furthermore, this solution now unlocks a much wider set of available global skills that can assist anytime, anywhere. In turn, simply put, it results in improved cellular services and uptime in the Galapagos Islands,” explained Langenhorst.

@WestermoUK @westermo @HHC_Lewis #Communications #Equador

Plant director for air quality products manufacturer.

Alphasense has appointed Doug Knifton as Plant Director to develop its manufacturing processes, introduce new products and help the business explore adjacent markets and applications.

Doug Knifton

The main focus of this role will be to further Alphasense’s manufacturing capability through streamlining processes and the implementation of innovative and effective systems. These improvements will result in increased output, reduced lead times and improved quality.

With over 29 years of experience in senior management roles within companies such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Elekta and Powerlase, Doug brings a wealth of experience to the role. His knowledge spans innovations in technology-lead, capital equipment operations including semi-conductor, laser optics, medical devices and analytical instruments.

Commenting on his role, Doug Knifton said: “To meet the needs of our customers now and in the future, we’re focusing on product development, with an eye on how the markets are developing and how our sensors can help. We’ll be further strengthening partnerships with our customers and designing products to fit their applications.

“I’ll also be working closely with the whole Alphasense team internally by ensuring everyone is equipped to meet our customer needs through investment in facilities, processes and people. I’m determined to use the experience I have to drive us forward in existing and new markets.”

@AlphaSenseInc @codacomms #PAuto 

Sanitising drinking water.

A Municipal Water Treatment Plant is using Blue-White's FLEXFLO® Peristaltic Metering Pumps successfully to meter sodium hypochlorite to sanitize drinking water.

Chlorine has been used to disinfect drinking water in the USA, and in many other regions throughout the world, since the early 1900s, and it remains the most frequently used municipal water disinfectant worldwide due to its low cost and effectiveness at deactivating a wide range of pathogens. The two most common chlorine products for this application are chlorine gas (Cl₂) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), a.k.a. bleach. For the most part, both chlorine compositions function the same way, in that they dissolve in water to form free chlorine in the form of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hypochlorite ion (OCl−).

Despite this similarity, they are two very different products. Choosing which form of chlorine chemical to use is an important decision among municipal drinking water managers, and requires balancing many factors including the overall costs, safety procedures and risk management, and more.

The Challenge.
A Municipal Water Treatment Plant located in Indiana supplies drinking water to 60,000 city residents, as well as surrounding populations.

The treatment plant had been using Gas Chlorine to treat their drinking water however, for many reasons including the increased safety issues associated with using gas chlorine, transportation issues, and requirements for advanced emergency management plans to be in place, the decision was made to switch from the Gas Chlorine to less problematic Sodium Hypochlorite, liquid chlorine.

The change to Liquid Chlorine meant that the equipment being used to feed the chemical also had to be switched out. The preferred method for delivering the 12% concentration of Sodium Hypochlorite at 30PSI is Chemical Dosing / Metering Pumps.

Because sodium hypochlorite poses some of its own challenges, careful consideration was given to the type of pump to be used, Diaphragm or Peristaltic. One of those challenges is that, as the chemical begins to degrade during the treatment process it produces bubbles. Most often referred to as off-gassing. These bubbles will eventually cause diaphragm-style pumps to vapor lock and lose their prime resulting in increased maintenance, downtime, and added expense.

The Solution.

FLEXFLO® M4 metering pumps in situ

For this reason, the decision was made to install Peristaltic Metering Pumps to dose the hypochlorite. Peristaltic pumps are not affected by air bubbles, the bubbles simply move through the pump tubing, while the pump maintains a constant rate of flow with no potential for vapor lock. Because of this characteristic, Peristaltic pumps have been widely accepted as the preferred technology in many applications, including municipal drinking water.

Also taken into consideration was, other than occasional pump tube replacement, peristaltic units do not require regular maintenance. Diaphragm pumps, on the other hand, require ongoing maintenance as valves and pump heads must be regularly cleaned.

The Water Treatment Plant initially purchased a total of eight FLEXFLO® M3 and M4 Peristaltic Metering Pumps, manufactured by Blue-White® Industries. Seven of the pumps are used to meter the Sodium Hypochlorite to sanitize the drinking water. The eighth pump is used to dose Polymer into the blending system to get solids to settle at the bottom of the filters. There are a total of 11 FLEXFLO pumps now in service throughout the plant.

The Result.
The results have been outstanding. The Water Treatment Plant Manager appreciated the excellent outcome achieved with the switch to Sodium Hypochlorite and FLEXFLO Chemical Feed Pumps. In addition, they were grateful for the expert consultation and service they received from Paul Hayes at Living Waters.

FLEXFLO® Chemical Metering Pumps dependably deliver smooth and accurate chemical dosing to the system. Operators appreciate the pump’s bright, easy-to-access, and highly responsive 5-inch display screen, and the intuitive screen is as simple to work as a cell phone and features easily recognizable icons.

They have a wide 10,000:1 turndown ratio to meet a broad range of dosing requirements and are equipped with a brushless DC motor for trouble-free and energy-efficient service.

M3 remote control signal options include Pulse, 4-20mA, and as technologies advance, these metering pumps are field upgradable.

@BlueWhiteInd #Water #Automation

Hygienic pressure switch.

The PSD-4 electronic pressure switch from WIKA is the universal solution for industrial automation tasks – also in hygienic applications and under harsh conditions. The pressure switch is also suitable for industries with high hygienic requirements due to EHEDG and 3-A certification.

An accuracy of < ±0.5 % and minimal long-term drift ensures that it permanently ensures an accurate representation of the process pressure for more than 100 million load cycles. The pressure switch is available with a digital output signal as well as a switchable and scalable analogue output. In addition, it can also be easily monitored via the self-diagnostics.

Condition data and the diagnostic functions allow consistent monitoring. Pressure or temperature values that are above or below the specifications are displayed directly in the system. The data also allow conclusions to be drawn about changing process conditions. Additional information helps to check the loading.

The scalable analogue output enables the measuring range to be adapted at a ratio of 5:1. In addition, the output signal can be configured specifically for the application. Thus the PSD-4 can be used flexibly.

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• WIKA products are marketed in Ireland through Instrument Technology.

@WIKANews #PAuto  

High-speed low power industrial computing!

The BOXER-6646-ADP is the latest addition to the Review Display Systems (RDS) range of fanless embedded Box PC products from embedded computing solutions supplier, AAEON.

Key features 

- 12th Generation Intel Core i7, i5, i3 Processor SoC
- Dual-Channel DDR5 SODIMM slot
- Support for Multi-LAN including 2.5GbE Ethernet
- Support for M.2 2280 M Key High speed NVMe SSD
- SuperSpeed Plus USB 3.2 Gen2
- Wide DC voltage input range 10 to 35V
- Wide operating temperature -20°C to +60°C
- Compact size 220mm (l) x 154mm (w) x 61.6mm (h)
- Onboard TPM 2.0

Featuring a compact form factor the AAEON’s BOXER-6646 is an exceptionally versatile, all-purpose computing solution. Powered by 12th Generation Intel Core processors with dual-channel DDR5 support and equipped with industry-leading features such as a DIO port, multiple 2.5GbE LAN, and four display ports, the BOXER-6646 is capable of support heavy processing workloads and provides a versatile industrial computing solution.

The power efficient BOXER-6646 benefits from a hybrid CPU architecture of up to 12 cores and 16 threads, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and DDR5 support. With a 28W CPU alongside Intel Gaussian and Neural Accelerator technology, the BOXER-6646 is able to handle high-speed industrial computing while ensuring low power consumption.

The BOXER-6646 features a compact mechanical form factor equipped with multiple 2.5GbE LAN ports, three 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 slots, and a quadruple display interface featuring both HDMI 1.4 and DisplayPort 1.4. With a wealth of high-speed connectivity, the BOXER-6646 has potential as a durable autonomous mobile robot (AMR) solution.

Providing an enhanced expansion capability, the BOXER-6646 chassis contains a removable 2.5” SATA drive bay for additional storage on top of the 64GB system memory offered through the device’s DDR5 support. A bottom-side service window is available for expansion key access, enabling easy integration of 5G, Wi-Fi, and NVMe modules via the BOXER-6646’s M.2 3052, M.2 2230, and M.2 2280 ports.

@ReviewDisplays  @ReVis_Solutions  @AAEON #PAuto #PC

Cybersecurity for Connected Serial Devices.

In this article, from the MOXA group, the challenges industrial operators face is discussed along with their solutions that enhance cybersecurity with minimal efforts.

Industrial network security is not an option anymore—it is a necessity. A spate of recent cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure has underscored the need for industrial leaders to prioritize cybersecurity. Needless to say, these types of cyberattacks lead to tremendous cost and inconveniences to industrial operators, investors and end-users. To make matters worse, predicting where the next cyberattack is going to strike is almost impossible, meaning that anyone or anything connected to a network can be a target. To enhance network security, you can replace equipment with newer models that feature embedded security functionality. However, this will be costly and involve time-consuming efforts in deployment and installation. Besides, legacy equipment is most likely still in a good working condition. A more realistic option is to update the security patches of existing equipment. Unfortunately, some legacy equipment still uses legacy operating systems that do not support the latest security patches anymore—Windows XP is one such example.

Challenges to Secure Edge Networks.
To improve operational efficiency, industrial operators must take advantage of the capabilities of today’s networks to realize real-time remote monitoring. However, it also means that field devices can’t be air-gapped any longer. The first challenge is connecting legacy equipment that uses RS-232/422/485 communications to a local area network (LAN) or the Internet, which uses Ethernet communications. Serial-to-Ethernet devices, for instance, serial device servers or protocol gateways depending on the application’s required transparent transmissions or protocol conversions, can connect serial-based equipment to Ethernet-based networks. Once legacy devices are connected, security concerns unfortunately raise their ugly head, especially if the connection doesn’t have proper protection. Therefore, it’s essential to find a secure serial-to-Ethernet device that ensures secure connectivity without replacing existing serial devices.

How to Choose Secure Serial-to-Ethernet Devices.
Nowadays, security standards such as IEC 62443 and NERC CIP are available to help secure network infrastructure. These security standards include guidelines that help verify qualified networking devices and component suppliers. Thus, it’s an easy way to find a secure serial-to-Ethernet device that complies with industry security standards.

Moxa is an IEC 62443-4-1 certified networking solution provider, and the security design of its serial-to-Ethernet devices is based on the IEC 62443-4-2. With security embedded functions, these serial-to-Ethernet devices enhance network security and reduce the chances of unwanted actors accessing serial equipment through Moxa devices.

Real-world Examples.
Moxa's secure serial device servers and protocol gateways have helped its customers ramp up their connectivity security in a variety of industrial settings. To show how the company has helped its customers enhance cybersecurity, below are two real-world examples, showcasing how Moxa NPort 6150 serial devices servers and MGate MB3000 protocol gateways strengthen cybersecurity in the energy industry.

Ramping Up Connectivity Security for Gas Stations.
A Moxa customer owning over 600 gas stations in the U.S.A. required real-time monitoring of the levels in their oil tanks with ATG (automatic tank gauge, usually with serial interfaces) to schedule inventory replenishments as needed at remote sites. They also needed data from POS terminals at gas pumps to be sent back to the store for transaction processing and records. These connectivity requirements are security sensitive. Information regarding the tank levels needs to be well secured so that it could not to be manipulated, and the POS data contains confidential information of consumers, which needs to be protected. To enhance connectivity security, the connection between the gas station and the in-store IT room needs to be protected. In addition, to ensure the connected devices are operating at accepted security levels, IT personnel are required to execute vulnerability scans periodically to update firmware and security patches, keeping the communication systems safe.

As a solution, Moxa NPort 6150 serial device servers were installed. The servers feature basic security functions such as user authentication and accessible IP list to ramp up device security with device access control. During operations, the Moxa NPort 6150 supports a data-encryption function to enhance transmission security when sending serial data over Ethernet. To assist in daily maintenance for IT personnel, NPort 6150 serial device servers support tools that make configuration and management of devices easier.

Enhancing Cybersecurity in Data Centers.
A data center service provider had been a frequent target of cyber intruders, resulting in serious data losses and significant penalties over the past five years. To reduce the chances of being hacked, cybersecurity had become a corporate-level initiative. Their security risk assessment does not focus solely on vulnerabilities in the server rooms, but also extends to all network entry points, including the power sources that supply the server rooms.

To monitor power usage and quality, the power supply equipment, including switchgears, PDUs, and UPSs, are connected to networks so that operators can receive real-time information.

Moxa MGate MB3000 protocol gateways were installed to bridge communication between serial-based Modbus RTU devices, such as power meters used inside power supply equipment, and Ethernet-based SCADA systems in the control center. Today, when IT personnel are required to perform a vulnerability scan, they scan thousands of MGate MB3000 protocol gateways so that immediate action can be taken if a vulnerability is identified.

To make IT personnel’s work easier, Moxa also performs vulnerability scans periodically and, if needed, takes necessary action, such as updating security patches and firmware to reduce potential threats. In addition, MGate MB3000 protocol gateways have an easy-to-use configuration tool in both GUI and CLI format, helping OT and IT users handle mass firmware updates. Moxa MGate MB3000 protocol gateways not only allow its customers to monitor power usage in their serial-based devices but also ease security concerns and daily operation efforts at the same time.

@MoxaInc @OConnellPR  #Pauto #Comms

Building security and safety.

The increasing demand for comfort, safety and energy efficiency in facility management is leading to rapidly progressing digitalisation in buildings. Considering that 90% of buildings are owned properties, wireless solutions are cost-efficient and ideal for retrofitting as they can be easily integrated in existing building automation systems.

For increased building security, SAG Smart Line mortice locks can prevent door motions (actuations of the latch or bolt). The wireless SAG Smart Line locks use an energy harvesting switch from ZF with the established EnOcean RF standard. The ZF energy harvesting switch generates the required energy for RF protocol transmission by mechanical actuation. As a wireless and batteryfree solution and due to the very small and compact size, these switches from ZF offer high flexibility to fulfill individual customer requirements. Hence, these switches are completely maintenance-free and a smart, energy-saving solution for building automation systems. Besides the EnOcean RF standard which is used by SAG Smart Line Door Locks, the ZF energy harvesting switch can also be applied with protocols like KNX-RF, Bluetooth or customer-specific solutions.

By replacing existing mortice locks in a building with SAG Smart Line door locks, doors can be quickly retrofitted at low cost during ongoing operation or integrated into the building automation system. Based on the transmitted RF protocol, information about the room usage can be generated to optimise resources like heating, air conditioning or light. Early warning alerts can also be triggered in case of break-in, fire or water damage which can be controlled by these sensors. In addition, public toilet facilities can display whether they are vacant/occupied, or alternatively track usage to allow preparation of cleaning scheduling.

@zfswitch_sensor  #Safety #Energy 

Training engineers through adveisor programme.

Mouser Electronics has announced its sponsorship of the adveisor programme at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), one of the leading universities in Europe for electrical and mechanical engineering.

The TUM adveisor programme is a one-year soft skills programme designed for first-year electrical engineering students. The course is designed to provide real use-case challenges to develop skilled and knowledgeable engineers who are able to communicate confidently, project-manage and master the dynamics of effective teamworking.

“At Mouser, supporting students is rooted in the company’s foundation.’ states Mark Patrick, Technical Marketing Manager, EMEA at Mouser Electronics. “The students of today are the engineers of tomorrow and the adveisor programme will help them to apply their learning to real world challenges – empowering innovation through practical problem solving and effective communication.”

Mouser kicked off the partnership by delivering a collaborative workshop at TUM with Arduino and Red Pitaya on the fundamentals of circuit theory and pulse measurement in December of last year. The first workshop was held by Mouser’s in-house engineers Rafik Mitry and Aly Barakat.

“We’re thrilled to have Mouser’s support and collaboration on the adveisor programme,” commented PD Dr.-Ing. habil. Dirk Wollherr, at TUM. “We think Mouser’s involvement brings real value to the electrical engineering students, supporting them to develop their skills through interactive workshops.”

Mouser and TUM’s shared ambitions to nurture the next generation of engineers and empower innovation has enabled a strong start to the programme and successful partnership moving forward together.

@MouserElecEU @TU_Muenchen @Publitek  #Electrical #Germany

3.4 million Olympic swimming pools per annum!

Research reveals a need to invest in an additional 469 wastewater treatment facilities annually.

Global wastewater treatment capacity needs to increase annually by 8.56 billion cubic meters and investment in an additional 469^[1] treatment facilities per year is required to meet United Nations (UN) goals^[2]. These are the findings of independent research commissioned by ABB ahead of World Water Day (WWD) on March 22, 2023.

3.4 million Olympic swimming pools per annum required!

As the UN prepares to report on progress made against its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), ABB’s research focuses on SDG 6.3 which aims to improve water quality by halving the proportion of untreated wastewater globally, increasing recycling, and minimizing the release of hazardous materials. The UN says 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water, while more than 4.2 billion people lack safely managed sanitation.

However, treating wastewater is energy intensive, with the industry consuming up to three percent of the world’s total energy output^[3] and contributing to over 1.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions^[4].

“This research proves more needs to be done to help support the UN goals and accelerate progress in tackling water scarcity,” said Brandon Spencer, President of ABB Energy Industries. “But we need to ensure we are achieving these wastewater treatment targets in the most energy and resource efficient way possible to make it sustainable. This is where technology is key.”

While increasing wastewater treatment capacity is a priority, the early integration of technology to drive efficiency at plants is also vital. ABB’s automation, electrification and digital solutions are helping monitor, analyze and manage wastewater plant operations. In association with crucial measurement and control solutions, which collect and transmit a wealth of operational and diagnostic data, ABB systems help optimize resource efficiency and reduce energy consumption.

Development Economics, which has over 20 years’ research experience, utilized the same data employed by the UN to assess what real-term measures are needed. Based on modelling using a 50-million-liter daily capacity wastewater treatment plant as the benchmark, a further 469 treatment facilities – the volume equivalent of 3.4 million Olympic swimming pools – is required each year.

The scale of the challenge linked to UN SDG 6.3 is highlighted in a report^[5] from 2021 assessing the volumes of wastewater collected, treated, and reused. The research, which is used by the UN, concludes that 48 percent or 171.3 billion cubic meters of wastewater is uncollected or untreated annually. To meet SDG 6.3 – which targets halving the proportion of untreated wastewater by 2030 – these figures need to be reduced to 24 percent and 85.65 billion cubic meters.

In 2022, ABB’s Energy Transition Equation report^[6] analyzed how better use of wastewater could relieve pressure on water supplies through greater integration of automation and digital technologies:

• Wastewater sites can reduce carbon emissions by up to 2,000 tons per annum
• With over 50,000 plants worldwide, 100 million tons of CO2 could be saved each year
• By applying a package of automation and digital solutions, water companies can reduce carbon emissions as well as deliver annual operational savings of up to $1.2 million (€1.12m) per plant.

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[1] The figure of 469 is based on a 50-million-liter daily capacity greenfield plant and is calculated by dividing the 8.56 billion m3 by the 50ML daily capacity, assuming 365 days operation.
[2] https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/water-and-sanitation/
[3] https://iwa-network.org/learn/circular-economy-tapping-the-power-of-wastewater/
[4] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-018-0187-9%22
[5] E. Jones et al, Country-level and gridded estimates of wastewater production, collection, treatment and re-use, Earth Systems Science Data, February 2021  (pdf)
[6] https://new.abb.com/process-automation/energy-industries/energy-transition/wastewater

@ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @abb_automation @UN_Water #PAuto #WasteWater

Power solutions portfolio expanded.

Addition of eGaN® technology strengthens distributors range of power technologies

Anglia Components PLC has significantly expanded its portfolio of power solutions following the signing of a distribution agreement for Britain and Ireland with EPC (Efficient Power Conversion), a leading provider of gallium nitride (GaN)-based power management technology.

LtoR: David Pearson, Technical Director, Anglia; Alex Lidow, CEO, Efficient Power Conversion; John Bowman, Marketing Director, Anglia.

Anglia offers its customers a full portfolio of the mainstream power technologies, including Silicon MOSFET and Silicon Carbide, and GaN, allowing them to select the solution that is most appropriate to their design from a size, efficiency, and cost perspective. The addition of EPC enhancement mode gallium nitride (eGaN) FETs and ICs strengthens Anglia's range particularly in the low voltage (sub-400V) end of the market. In many applications, EPC eGaN devices deliver lower system cost, higher performance and greater power density.

John Bowman, Marketing Director of Anglia, explained, "Power is attracting considerable focus from our customers at the moment. Their concern is driven both by environmental and economic considerations. EPC impressed us as a company that is pro-active in its approach to the market, anticipating customers questions about adopting this technology and helping them on the design journey to a smaller, more efficient system design. Our FAE team is benefitting from this approach as they undergo comprehensive and in-depth training on the range."

Stefan Werkstetter, vice president Sales EMEA at EPC added, "We believe in developing relationships with channel partners with strong local expertise and wide and deep customer relationships in their region. Anglia fits that mould perfectly, with an exceptional FAE team and great traction in the UK and Ireland market. Our eGaN technology is widely applicable in industrial applications, including DC-DC converters, motor drive, medical, wireless power, server, 5G, solar, class-D audio and general comms infrastructure designs, all areas where Anglia is strong. We believe that they will be very successful in collaborating with customers to ensure that they achieve the potential that eGaN technology can offer."

@angliaComponent @EPC_Corp  @NeeshamPR #PAuto  #POwer

Appointments and promotions follow reorganisation at gas analysis leader.

Servomex has announced the latest round of promotions following its recent reorganization. Five new manager-level appointments are part of its pursuit of Operational Excellence that underpins its internal strategic review.

Servomex’s President, Andy Cowan, said: “This latest announcement of promotions falls in line with our very clear objective for Servomex for the years ahead as part of the recent major strategic review. That objective is to ensure that we enhance our best business practices. We can do so by ensuring that we employ the very best people for the job and that’s what we believe we have done.”

Karen Gargallo has been appointed to Business Unit Manager of Industrial Process & Emissions. Kieran Dray is now the Manufacturing Engineering Manager, and Matt Chambers, based at the USTC, has been appointed to the Business Unit Manager of Purity & Specialty. Joining them is Claus Agersbaek who has been appointed to the position of Business Unit Manager of Chroma and Chris Edwards has taken the role of Business Unit Manager of Hummingbird.

This latest news follows the announcement of four new directors – Martin Cox, Mike Proctor, Sang Won Park and Sarah Chalk* – being appointed to the senior management team. They join Tyrone White, Global Operations Director, Jeff Taher, Director of Continuous Improvement, Michael Xie, Director – China, Daven Hindocha, Finance Director, Victoria Hammond, Human Resources Director and Oskar Ekstrom, General Counsel. 

 “I congratulate every person who has so clearly displayed the aspirations we want to see at this level and stepped into the places of their predecessors with confidence, experience and expertise. We believe this reorganisation and, more importantly, the people within it will help cement Servomex’s name in the industry as we strive to streamline our operations and maximise Operational Excellence,” concluded President Cowan.

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* See "Four new top-level appointments in company reorganisation." (6/2/2023)

@Servomex @codacomms #PAuto 

Advances in Flowmeter Technology (2 volume set).

Dr. Jesse Yoder's New-Technology Flowmeters Part 1  (CRC Press) describes the origin, principle of operation, development, advantages and disadvantages, applications, and frontiers of research for new-technology flowmeters, which include Coriolis, magnetic, ultrasonic, vortex, and thermal. Focusing on the newer, faster growing flowmeter markets, the book places them in the context of more traditional meters such as differential pressure, turbine, and positive displacement. 

Taking an objective look at the origins of each flowmeter type, the book discusses the early patents, for each type, and which companies deserve credit for initially commercializing each flowmeter type. This book is designed for personnel involved with flowmeters and instrumentation, including product and marketing managers, strategic planners, application engineers, and distributors.

His Conventional Flowmeters: Volume II (Kindle Edition) covers origin, principle of operation, development, advantages and disadvantages, applications, and frontiers of research for conventional technology flowmeters, which include differential pressure and primary elements, positive displacement, turbine, open channel, and variable area.

@flowresearch @routledgebooks #Pauto

Flame detection.

The Spyglass™ SG50-F series of flame detectors from Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection makes the safeguarding of people and assets easier than ever before. With updated optics and algorithms, and on-board video in either colour or near-infrared options, the SG50-F series offers superior performance and security.

For any facility to protect its most valuable resources such as human lives and capital assets, reliable flame detection systems are a necessity. Spyglass™ SG50-F series open-path flame detectors elevate the level of reliability and functionality available in comparison with existing flame detection products on the market. Notably, these innovative flame detectors come equipped with HD video capabilities, allowing for the detection of fires that may not be visible to the naked eye. Colour video is effective in detecting fuel fires like gasoline and jet fuel, while the near-infrared video option can detect fires caused by other fuels such as hydrogen and methanol.

The on-board video also enables remote confirmation of fire situations and provides valuable information on fire progression and suppression methods. Such information can prove vital in responding to fire emergencies and enabling users to make important safety decisions from a remote location.

Spyglass™ series products from Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection feature a robust and durable housing. Made from 316L stainless steel to meet IP66/IP68 and NEMA 250 6P protection rating standards, the enclosure houses state-of-the-art optic technology and advanced software algorithms, enabling rapid and reliable fire detection. The range offers improved optical flame detection capabilities, with a quicker detection time and better performance even over extended distances. They can serve as a cost-effective alternative to employing multiple line of sight point gas detectors, which would entail higher initial costs and maintenance expenses. Notably, these detectors also offer industry-leading false alarm immunity to several challenging environments while performing in adverse climates.

Carrying a wide range of global approvals that include ATEX, FMus, FMc, IECEx, EACX and SIL2, all Spyglass™ flame detectors work by analysing the absorption of radiation caused by gases in the atmosphere and comparing it to background atmospheric absorption. They come with triple infrared (IR3) and UV-IR options to suit a range of applications. The IR3 version is specifically designed to detect hydrocarbons, making it ideal for applications such as refineries, oil and gas platforms, FPSO (floating production storage and offloading) systems, petrochemical plants, marine facilities, compressor stations and turbine enclosures. There is also an IR3-H2 option for hydrogen and energy transition applications.

The UV-IR option is a solution for both hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon fires. It's perfect for battery rooms, as well as ammonia and metal-based applications. There is even a UV-IR-F option offering suitability for munitions facilities. It can be supplied with configuration and video display software, the Spyglass™ SG50-F series offers multiple output options for easy detector communication, such as 4-20mA, Modbus, HART and relays.

@flir @mepaxIntPR #Safety #PAuto

Rugged industrial computer.

The ECX700-AL ruggedized x86 PC for outdoor edge computing applications has been introduced by DFI.

Key Features: • Ruggedized, IP67/IP69K rated PC BOX • Intel® Atom® Processor E3900 series • Smart Vent (drains water automatically) • Communications (Wi-Fi/LTE/CANBUS) • Wide temperature: -40 to 70° C & Wide voltage: 9~36V • 4GB DDR3 onboard, 64G eMMC • Optional WiFi, LTE, CanBus • BIOS with security boot

Its impeccable performance capabilities, compact size, and high durability make it the ideal solution for outdoor operations. The ECX700-AL is a rugged computer with a waterproof and dust-proof design to withstand harsh environments and any type of climate. Stable performance is ensured with its wide operating temperature of -40 to 70 degrees Celsius. It is also equipped with a smart vent that drains water automatically, preventing typical problems such as condensation within the system or excessive heat.

An external SIM slot provides convenience for users when changing SIM cards, and the high-gain antenna delivers a high-quality signal. Versatile I/O settings including a combo port that supports 2 CANs and 2 COMs as well as selective display ports (HDMI/VGA) help integrators meet demands for various applications.

Powerful outdoor IoT edge computing features facilitate data collection and transmission for traffic management, green energy facilities, meteorological stations, shore facilities, and high-altitude or high-latitude locations. Implementation is also enabled for factories and manufacturing facilities with high humidity and extreme temperatures, such as refrigeration equipment factories.

@DFI_Embedded @mepaxIntPR #PAuto 

Deep learning detecting anomalies.

An update for the AI vision system IDS NXT now also provides anomaly detection.

In quality assurance, it is often necessary to reliably detect deviations from the norm. Industrial cameras have a key role in this, capturing images of products and analysing them for defects. If the error cases are not known in advance or are too diverse, however, rule-based image processing reaches its limits. By contrast, this challenge can be reliably solved with the AI method Anomaly Detection. The new, free IDS NXT 3.0 software update from IDS Imaging Development Systems makes the method available to all users of the AI vision system with immediate effect.

Software and hardware for image evaluation with AI

The intelligent IDS NXT cameras are now able to detect anomalies independently and thereby optimise quality assurance processes. For this purpose, users train a neural network that is then executed on the programmable cameras. To achieve this, IDS offers the AI Vision Studio IDS NXT lighthouse, which is characterised by easy-to-use workflows and seamless integration into the IDS NXT ecosystem. Customers can even use only "GOOD" images for training. This means that relatively little training data is required compared to the other AI methods Object Detection and Classification. This simplifies the development of an AI vision application and is well suited for evaluating the potential of AI-based image processing for projects in the company.

Another highlight of the release is the code reading function in the block-based editor. This enables IDS NXT cameras to locate, identify and read out different types of code and the required parameters. Attention maps in IDS NXT lighthouse also provide more transparency in the training process. They illustrate which areas in the image have an impact on classification results. In this way, users can identify and eliminate training errors before a neural network is deployed in the cameras.

IDS NXT is a comprehensive AI-based vision system consisting of intelligent cameras plus software environment that covers the entire process from the creation to the execution of AI vision applications. The software tools make AI-based vision usable for different target groups – even without prior knowledge of artificial intelligence or application programming. In addition, expert tools enable open-platform programming, making IDS NXT cameras highly customisable and suitable for a wide range of applications.

@IDS_Imaging @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Manufacturing #AI

Best bioprocessing supplier in Asia.

For the fifth consecutive year, Körber has been awarded the Asia Pacific Bioprocessing Excellence Award (ABEA) in recognition of its Werum PAS-X MES, the world’s leading manufacturing execution system for pharma, biotech and cell & gene therapy production.

The Asia Pacific Bioprocessing Excellence Award honors exceptional experts, organizations and technologies that offer excellence enabling significant added value in biotech manufacturing, focusing on faster processes, lower costs, and higher quality. With this award, Körber's biotech community acknowledges the innovations of Körber's Business Area Pharma and the continuous development of its software products.

The latest PAS-X MES 3.3 version will further drive the transformation of MES through cloud and SaaS operations in Asia Pacific and globally. Additional emphasis is put on intelligence and analytic products to ensure customers get the most out of their manufacturing data to drive efficiency.

"We are delighted to receive the 'Best Bioprocessing Supplier Award: Software' for our Werum PAS-X MES for pharma, biotech and cell and gene therapies for the fifth year in a row," said Teerapong Cheepchol, President Software Asia, Körber Business Area Pharma, during the award ceremony in Singapore. "Many thanks to our customers who appreciate our efforts so much. This award is a true proof of their trust in our experience and expertise in this highly regulated industry. This success is the validation that drives us every day to develop innovative software products that make the difference – for our customers and the global challenges of the pharmaceutical industry". 

The award ceremony was held in conjunction with the 10th annual Biologics Manufacturing Asia 2023 conference on 15-16 March 2023 with more than 100 pioneers from the bioprocessing industry gathered. (Picture shows Teerapong Cheepchol, President Software Asia at Körber Business Area Pharma, accepting the “Best Bioprocessing Supplier Award: Software” at the award ceremony.)

@KoerberPharma @WerumKarriere #PAuto #Pharma 

Low capacity torque sensor.

The low capacity models of Sensor Technology’s non-contact torque sensors offer accurate measurement down to 200mNm (0.2Nm), for applications such as precision and high speed robots, medical devices, protheses and implants, small drives and micro motors.

The new TorqSense SGR 510/520 torque sensors cover capacities from 0.2Nm to 1Nm, making the full range 0.2Nm to 13,000Nm. The bigger units in the SGR family are designed for use in machine tools, production and processing plant, heavy duty pumps and similar large scale installations.

Based on a full four-element strain gauge bridge design, the SGR sensors have the ability to accurately measure and record sudden spikes in torque load. This ability is becoming increasingly important in automated machinery, integrated systems, test rigs and continuously monitored plant.

“Torque spikes can have an immediate effect on operations, or may indicate the beginnings of a problem,” explains Mark Ingham, Sensor Technology’s Sales Director. “The SGRs are designed to accurately record all torque data from any type of system, big or small, simple or complex, yet be robust enough for use in virtually any environment.”

The TorqSense SGR measures the torque 4000 time per second and uses high performance signal conditioning to provide a corruption-free, high bandwidth torque monitoring solution. This is further enhanced by 250% overrange and 400% overload capabilities, elimination of side and end load errors and real time temperature compensation. The non-contact signal transmission means the sensor exerts no load on the shaft it is monitoring, while maintenance-heavy slip rings have been designed out.

Three analog output channels on the 511 mean the SGR can measure real-time speed and power alongside the torque monitoring. A third output is dedicated to self-diagnostics and/or status functions. An Ethernet gateway module can also be fitted to the unit.

As well as analog outputs, TorqSense SGR 520/521 is also fitted with digital outputs for interfacing with state of the art instrumentation and laptops. Options include RS232, CANbus and USB. A digital input is provided so that the 520/521 can be set up directly from a PC running specialist configuration software such as Sensor Technology’s TorqView or LabView.

“Using the USB output, it is possible to connect upto 10 SGR 520/521s into one fully integrated system,” comments Mark, “allowing even the most complex installations to be comprehensively monitored from a single workstation. Torque measurement is playing an increasingly important role in modern plant and machinery monitoring and control, enabling steady increases in efficiency, productivity, availability and accuracy - all key drivers in the advance towards tomorrow’s technology.”

@sensortech #Pauto

Marketing drives in India.

Bhupesh Katakkar has joined the global innovator and manufacturer of variable frequency drives (VFD). He has worked with Invertek for more than nine years as a sales partner with a detailed knowledge of the automation sector and industries in India, having worked as an industrial electronics engineer in the drives and controls industry since 1992.

Bhupesh Katakkar

“Having worked with Invertek for many years I know only too well how its VFD technology is respected worldwide for its reliability, durability, and energy efficiency in motor control applications. Within the next three to five years I want to see Invertek as one of the top drives players in the Indian market and a force to reckon with,” he said.

“We have great potential for growth in India and it’s going to be exciting times developing new opportunities in a wide range of industries throughout the country.”

He will be responsible to Justin Peters, Factory Sales Manager, at Invertek Drives who has responsibility for the global sales team.

“Bhupesh has a thorough understanding of the market in India and having worked with us for many years as a sales partner he fully understands the strengths and benefits of our Optidrive variable frequency drive technology. We look forward to developing our brand and sales within the region,” said Justin.

Earlier this month Invertek revealed plans for a new £6.3m Innovation Centre at its global headquarters in in Britain. This is in addition to more than £10m being invested by its parent company, Sumitomo Heavy Industries, in an extension to its manufacturing facility, allowing it to increase production to 1.2m units a year.

A new Application and Training Centre has also been completed at the site and is due to be officially opened in June.

@Invertek_Drives #PAuto

Automating large photovoltaic solar power project.

Support the national effort to decarbonize New Zealand’s energy sector.

Advanced automation solutions are to be provided to help ensure the safety and reliability of New Zealand’s first large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power project. Emerson’s renewable power generation expertise will help solar energy company Lodestone Energy quickly and safely complete its two 23-megawatt sites at Kaitaia and Edgecumbe— an important step in supporting New Zealand’s ambitious goals of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Solar PV – which converts sunlight directly into electrical energy – has become one of the fastest growing renewable energy sources. But efficiently generating and delivering solar PV power requires precise orchestration, integrating a wide variety of third-party systems with automation and control technology to provide operators with intuitive functionality and comprehensive visibility. Emerson’s advanced automation architecture will combine powerful control software and technologies with enterprise data solutions to create an integrated, scalable control solution to maximize output and profitability while simultaneously contributing to grid stability.

“New Zealand’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is an ambitious endeavor that will require many renewable power generation sources to be safely and rapidly brought online,” said Peter Apperley, general manager of engineering at Lodestone Energy. “Emerson’s expertise in automation software for power generation and sustainability will help us more quickly build a world-class facility, while also more seamlessly integrating with the national grid to drive successful, efficient operation over the lifecycle of the plant.”

Lodestone will take advantage of Emerson’s Ovation™ distributed control system and new OCR3000 controller to provide comprehensive control to minimize the impact of variability and intermittency in solar PV power generation. The same technologies will also make it easier for operators to quickly respond to grid frequency events. Ovation enterprise data solutions will provide secure monitoring of solar PV operations from the control room or mobile devices, measuring, monitoring and reporting key performance indicators to increase visibility of plant operations.

"Meeting New Zealand’s renewable energy goals will require power generation companies to rethink the way they operate, democratizing data and increasing visibility for everyone across the enterprise,” said Bob Yeager, president of Emerson’s power and water business. “Lodestone’s strategy perfectly aligns with Emerson’s boundless automation vision of an advanced technology stack leveraging integrated, scalable control to provide access to critical data not only across the plant and industrial edge, but also throughout the enterprise.”

Lodestone’s solar PV project requires multiple interfaces to third-party systems, including inverters, high voltage switchboards, weather stations, site security systems and grid authority remote terminal units. Ovation will act as a process orchestration tool to seamlessly connect these devices to provide fast and intuitive visibility for operators. In addition to providing flexibility and visibility of operations, Emerson’s Ovation platform is ideally suited to support compliance with New Zealand’s energy participation code.

@Emerson_News @EmersonExchange @EMR_Automation #Lodestone #Energy #PAuto #NewZealand

Appointment for digital performance success.

"We are thrilled that Charlotte Warchol is joining Centreon. Her 15 years of experience in services and customer relations are essential in helping us continually improve customer satisfaction, a growth driver for Centreon," said Julien Mathis, CEO of Centreon.  The leader in digital performance monitoring had just announced the appointment of Charlotte Warchol as Chief Customer Success Officer.

Charlotte Warchol

An expert in the IT and customer relations industry, Charlotte Warchol will lead the Customer Success department, which includes the Professional Services, Education, Customer Care, and Customer Success teams. She will oversee the transformation and continuous improvement strategy of the customer journey and partner relationships, as well as the development of an innovative catalog of service offerings.

A graduate in marketing from IAE Gustave Eiffel Paris, Charlotte Warchol began her career at Alcatel-Lucent, where she managed customer service projects before joining Armatis, where she held various positions, including project manager, pre-sales and project manager. She then joined Orange Applications for Business as manager of the project team before returning to Armatis to head IT operations. Prior to joining Centreon, Charlotte had been leading the Customer Success department at Vocalcom since 2018.

"I am delighted to join Centreon, where the 'Customer First' value is a reality every day. Every decision is made with a focus on customer satisfaction, which is essential for a Chief Customer Success Officer. The Customer Success department is seen as a real profit center, and I am convinced that we will achieve great things with my teams!" said Charlotte Warchol.

The appointment of an expert in customer relations confirms Centreon's desire to continuously improve the services delivered to its customers.

@Centreon #PAuto #IT

Hydrostatic transmissions.

Danfoss Power Solutions has launched its PC-GO propel solution for single pump/motor hydrostatic transmissions. Comprising the new PC036 safety controller and PC-GO propel software, the ready-to-use platform cuts propel subsystem development time by up to 35% while simplifying compliance with environmental and safety regulations. The software is ideal for a wide variety of applications, including wheel loaders, telehandlers, dump trucks, street sweepers, and forestry equipment.

PC-GO is a fully developed propel system software solution that’s configurable using the Danfoss PLUS+1 service tool for quick and simple customization. Housed on the PC036 controller, the system is designed to work with Danfoss hydrostatic pumps and motors, offering easy and seamless integration of the entire propel system. This results in short and focused development cycles with fast machine startup.

“PC-GO’s validated software package and preconfigured parameters enable machine startup in less than three days. Comparatively speaking, it could easily take two years to write a program like this from scratch,” said Aaron Rodriguez, product application engineer, Danfoss Power Solutions. “Our plug-and-perform system embeds more than 30 years of experience in the automotive field so there’s practically zero development effort, which is highly beneficial to OEMs without large software engineering teams.”

PC-GO offers multiple adjustable drive modes, including an ECO mode feature that maintains the desired vehicle speed in transport mode while reducing engine speed. This reduces idle losses of the work function hydraulics, lowering fuel consumption and noise, and can allow for engine downsizing.

PC-GO offers numerous built-in protections, including engine overspeed protection, pump and motor overspeed protections, mode-dependent speed limitation, cold start protection, and temperature protection. In addition, the software includes pressure limiting, cruise control, and anti-stall, as well as robust error monitoring. With its PC036 safety controller, PC-GO is a PLd SIL 2 functional safety compliant system. It features fully integrated safety functions and has been tested, validated, and documented for compliance with international safety regulations such as Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.

The PC036 controller’s robust housing offers reliable performance in harsh environments. It can be mounted inside the engine compartment or elsewhere on the vehicle, providing greater installation flexibility.

@DanfossPower @Danfoss @NapierPR #PAuto #Sustainability

Artificial intelligence in industry.

Using business AI applications in industry analysed by Henry Martel, Field Application Engineer, Antaira Technologies 

If there is an overarching technology theme to 2023 it is Artificial Intelligence. Despite its recent hype, however, Artificial Intelligence or “AI” is not a new concept. Its roots date back more than 70 years to a young British mathematician named Alan Turing. In 1950 Turing suggested that since humans have the innate ability to combine available information with reason to solve problems, why can’t machines?

Fast forward to the 1990s when Artificial Intelligence went from science fiction to science fact, thanks to landmark advancements in computational processing power, rule-based algorithms, neuroscience, and data storage capacity.

Today, artificial intelligence is being fully realized in industries as diverse as entertainment, manufacturing, finance, retail, and agriculture. AI can be found in autonomous vehicles, the optimization of pricing based on consumer and customer behavior alone, interactive chatbots like ChatGPT, automated financial planning, healthcare management, cybersecurity, Amazon product recommendations, and, countless other uses.

At the foundational level, AI is about extracting value from historical and real-time data. Data is a commodity that we have virtually no limit in our capability to collect, whether it's from sensors, cameras, or the importing of internal and external datasets. AI analyzes patterns hidden within “big data” in mere seconds and displays human-like cognitive processing in the form of reasoning, deep learning models, planning, and creativity to gain more contextual knowledge. For instance, the LinearFold AI developed by Baidu in 2020 was able to predict the RNA sequence of the COVID-19 virus in only 27 seconds, making it possible for researchers at that time to develop a vaccine.

Artificial Intelligence Subsets.
As with the human mind, AI is always learning. Each time AI performs a round of data analysis and processing, it tests and measures its performance and then uses those results to develop additional expertise in helping gain insight. This ability, better known as the AI subset Machine Learning, is constantly discovering new patterns and generating awareness from collected data. Other subsets of AI are:

• Neural Networks that utilize nervous system science,
• Deep Learning, which is like Machine Learning but uses a neural network of three or more layers,
• Robotics enabling advanced robot control and the robot's natural interaction with humans, and
• Computer Vision that trains computers to capture and interpret information from image and video data.

So how can AI improve your business? Let’s look at a few examples.

AI in Industrial Automation.
Perhaps more than any other field, Industrial Automation is a prime candidate for AI. Industrial automation already has many AI-driven systems with proven value. For example, asset monitoring in predictive maintenance is used in Industry 4.0.

Combining an existing industrial network with the capabilities of AI allows for more efficient and intelligent control of factory automation systems and business functions such as automatically adapting an assembly line to manufacture products that meet changing customer requirements. Complete inference solutions are now available that combine all the necessary hardware with ready-to-deploy AI algorithms in the cloud or in-house servers, eliminating the hurdle of having an inexperienced engineering team attempt to develop the algorithms themselves. Zero-touch AI devices connect to servers on power-up for instant configuration and real-time updates without any manual set-up by an on-site administrator. By being able to quickly and seamlessly interact with a factory’s IT infrastructure business processes, and automation systems, AI can hasten the adoption of autonomous mobile robots, collaborative robots, and computer vision systems, as well as the deployment of analytic tools including intelligent digital twins, order-controlled production, supplier selection, and predictive maintenance help drive operational efficiency and workplace safety.

AI in Agriculture.
AI in agriculture helps farmers ensure healthier food by minimizing the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation. All the while, it promotes greater crop yields and reduces the farm’s environmental impact on human resources.

Operating a farm requires collecting, analyzing, and using accurate data while monitoring hundreds of fluctuating variables that will determine a crop’s success. This data-intensive task is a natural fit for AI. AI will track and analyze variables ranging from weather patterns, hours of sunlight, planting cycles, and timing the migration of insects... to the use of fertilizers, insecticides, and irrigation systems. Data collected from in-ground smart sensors or from drones capturing real-time video streaming of fields can be integrated by AI with reports from the National Weather Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to make predictive analytics that assists in decision-making. AI can also predict potential yield rates of a given field before a vegetation cycle is ever started in a process known as yield mapping.

AI in Warehouse Management.

Applying AI in a warehouse or distribution center can guarantee accurate inventory data on-demand and a more complete understanding of customer requests in real-time. AI helps warehouses and distribution centers recognize their current situation by uncovering ordering patterns, tracking supply chains, and targeting areas to lower overhead costs. It also does away with antiquated Excel spreadsheets and time-consuming, overly complex formulas that always seem to come out wrong.

Modern warehouses deploy AI solutions for different technologies, such as automated robots (i.e; smart forklifts) that mimic human behavior, and software platforms for managing inventory management, material handling, processing and packaging, supply chains, and demand planning. AI interconnects all these different systems and technologies so they work in unison.

AI-driven robots, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are today delivering tremendous value in warehouse operations. Robots can safely handle heavier loads than a human, and will more accurately pick, place and transport loads by following precise instructions and routes without experiencing fatigue or colliding with human workers. While they work AI-driven robots, AGVs, and AMRs actively collect data that enhances visibility across the enterprise, whether it is spotting recurring patterns that can predict possible inventory shortages, pinpointing root causes of equipment failures, or locating small, easily overlooked anomalies. Warehouse systems with AI become more innovative, faster, and more efficient in providing precisely what customers need on-time worldwide.

AI in Healthcare.
Artificial intelligence in healthcare has the potential to reshape the way patients are diagnosed, treated, and monitored, resulting in drastically improved outcomes and enabling more personalized treatments. Potential applications and business benefits of AI in healthcare are broad and far-reaching, from analyzing x-rays for early detection of disease to predicting outcomes from electronic health records. AI eliminates the need to manually record data, freeing up time otherwise spent on data entry.

In medical research, AI is being used to automatically collect patient biological data around the clock to establish massive databases. By analyzing vast amounts of clinical documentation quickly, AI helps doctors conducting research pinpoint disease markers that would otherwise be overlooked.

Industrial Ethernet Switches as AI Tools.
Leveraging AI’s competitive advantage in the business world requires mountains of data combined with high-performance networking muscle. This is typically driven by accelerators, Central Processing Units (CPUs), Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) storage devices, and Network Interface Cards (NICs) connected to a GPU or PCIe Switch.

Industrial Ethernet switches also play a critical role in AI and data analytics by acting as a central station for all the connected devices to communicate with each other. Industrial PoE switches can supply up to 100W of power to Powered Devices, for instance, IP cameras, LED lighting, wireless access points, and remote IoT sensors detecting temperature, humidity, pressure, moisture, and other data shared with AI. Transmitted data collected by an industrial switch is applied to artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms. High-speed, low latency industrial Gigabit switches are also finding a home in the distributed applications AI often requires, at times even replacing InfiniBand switches which have long been the preferred network interconnection technology for GPU servers.

As human decision-making and reaction times are increasingly proving insufficient for managing modern enterprises, AI is helping business leaders overcome shortcomings by delivering insights based on the analysis of all available information with unprecedented speed and accuracy.

@AntairaTech  #AI #Ethernet #Communications

Bulk handling drives.

NORD Drive Systems offers suitable drives for belt conveyors, bucket elevators and other transport systems for different types of bulk materials. Whether sand, coal or food such as grain or sugar – a quite considerable share of the goods transported on road, water and rail is bulk material. This wide range of different materials shows how diverse the requirements for drive systems are when transporting bulk goods.

“Our Industry Sector Management has extensive knowledge of bulk handling and is well acquainted with the industry's requirements”, explains Jörg Niermann, Head of Marketing at NORD. The drive specialist offers customised drive systems for transport systems such as belt conveyors, bucket elevators and screw conveyors. “Our portfolio comprises highly robust systems for applications in harsh environmental conditions, as well as explosion-protected and particularly hygienic drive systems.”

In order to tailor systems for all applications, the industry experts use the comprehensive NORD modular system. It comprises components such as frequency inverters, motors, gear units, couplings and brakes as well as fans, base frames and back stops, which are individually matched. For many applications, the basis is a gear unit from the MAXXDRIVE® industrial gear unit series. These gear units, which are principally installed in one-piece UNICASE housings, are available in eleven sizes with torques of up to 282,000 Nm.

For the bulk material industry, NORD developed the MAXXDRIVE® XT industrial gear unit. The power and speed ranges of the application-optimised two-stage right-angle gear units have been designed for applications requiring low speed ratios in combination with high powers. Its robust design makes the MAXXDRIVE XT resistant to dirt and reliable in rough operating conditions. A special sealing concept reduces maintenance. Large roller bearings and centre distances increase the load capacity and service life of the components.

For lower-scale applications, NORD geared motors are used, which have been optimised with regard to energy efficiency. With its profound industry knowledge, application expertise and technical support, NORD develops individual drive solutions for all types of applications in the field of bulk handling, providing worldwide support to system operators for storing, conveying, weighing, dosing, loading and unloading.

@NORD_Drive @mepaxIntPR #PAuto