Wednesday 31 January 2024

Reliable and sustainable lifecycle Goals.

Tiered lifecycle offerings align service levels with unique end user needs, facilitating goal achievement and maximizing return on investment.

Control Station has expanded its client services capabilities with the rollout of Digital Lifecycle Solutions (DLS). The company is widely recognized as a leader in process analytic and optimization solutions. With the introduction of its DLS offerings, Control Station now empowers licensees of its award-winning products to maximize the value of their technology investments and to achieve their reliability and sustainability goals.

Control Station users located in over 70 countries—and growing—are already familiar with the company’s PlantESP control loop performance monitoring (CLPM) solution and its capabilities for both monitoring operating conditions and suggesting optimal tuning values. The new DLS offerings build upon application services previously delivered to licensees of the PlantESP solution. Developed to align with different stages of a manufacturer’s operational journey, the enhanced services leverage PlantESP’s comprehensive PID control loop analytics to proactively analyze asset performance on a plant- or an enterprise-wide basis, apply advanced forensic and state-based analytics, and capitalize on intelligence captured by other on-premises and cloud-based computing and visualization platforms.

“DLS provides a means for process manufacturers to amplify the impact of their technology investments in lockstep with their pursuit of business-critical reliability and sustainability initiatives,” shared Dennis Nash, Control Station’s President and CEO. “With the introduction of DLS we’re addressing a common challenge that routinely hampers the achievement of those goals.”

Users of advanced application technologies often struggle to capture the full potential of their investment due to a lack of training, overextended personnel, or other issues. In addition to the technology becoming shelfware, licensees of these technologies fail to meet more essential goals of improved asset reliability and sustainability. Control Station’s DLS offerings address these challenges directly, assisting users so they can take full advantage of PlantESP’s capabilities and realize valuable and ongoing optimization results.

“Alignment is the key to success,” noted Jon Stevens, the company’s Director of Services. “Meeting customers at their unique level of preparedness and equipping them with the support and tools that are appropriate for that specific time is what distinguishes our lifecycle approach.”

In collaboration with assigned project champions, the DLS offerings guide customers through three lifecycle phases: Identify, Implement, and Maintain. Each phase incorporates increasingly sophisticated methods of analysis and recommendations for corrective action. Customized DLS charters define the agreed-to project scope and document both performance goals and resource commitments. As a strategic partner in the charter’s execution, Control Station’s engineering staff lend expert support through onsite and virtual means.

Process optimization is a specialty skill, and CLPM software like PlantESP has made extraordinary advances in helping users of all types find success. Control Station is now partnering with users through DLS to emphasize value addition through service excellence, helping process manufacturers further amplify the benefits of their optimization technology investments.


@Control_Station #Pauto #Automation

Reactor control.

The AGI Glassplant Pilot Reactor Controller has been launched for easy control, automation and monitoring of any pilot reactor and associated devices via a single software interface. Designed for the pharmaceutical, chemical, CRO/CMO, agrochemical, and flavour and fragrance sectors, this modular and scalable system provides easy integration of third-party devices, offering secure and robust data connections to help reactors reach their full potential.

The controller is an easy-to-use, turnkey solution that is ideal for chemists and chemical engineers looking to scale up from lab to pilot plant or, conversely, down from production to pilot. Using OPC Unified Architecture, this next generation reactor controller offers universal connectivity with a vast range of reactors and peripheral devices – including circulators, stirrers, sensors and pumps – via a no-code software interface, allowing quick set up and process replication without specialist programming knowledge. Multiple users can visualize every connected device via an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, and data is collected, processed, compiled and logged in a single .CSV file for further analysis.

The flexible Hub and DAQ design is easily configurable to suit individual laboratory needs, with easy-to-access connection ports that can be customized to specific process requirements. Additional DAQs can be added as necessary, enabling scale-up and control of even the most complex processes. The system provides numerical and graphical live displays that can be customized to specific data interpretation needs, enabling real-time process oversight and control for close tracking and modification of reactions on the fly. The AGI Glassplant Pilot Reactor Controller also features integrated, user-programmable safety procedures – with high and low level alarms – as well as operator-defined safe standby procedures and a physical remote standby trigger for complete peace of mind.


@agi_glassplant @kdmcomms #PAuto

Smooth and even control.

Danfoss Power Solutions has partnered with Australian crane manufacturer Franna to improve the performance of its MAC 25 crane. With the PVG 48 proportional valve at the heart of the work and steering subsystems, Danfoss is delivering a reliable, precise, future-proof solution.

Franna, a Terex brand, is a leading manufacturer of pick and carry cranes with a rich heritage of design and engineering excellence. For more than 40 years, Franna has been a leader in the Australian market, and today its products are at work in more than 30 countries across the globe.

Franna’s MAC 25 mobile articulated crane features a maximum lifting capacity of 25 tonnes (27 tons) and a maximum boom length of 18.4 meters (60 feet). The crane offers maximum safety, excellent roadability, intuitive operation, and unmatched versatility. True to the company’s heritage, the crane’s design has been tested, proven, and continuously improved over the years.

In 2021, Franna began looking at other options for the MAC 25 crane’s main control valve. The company required a solution that was precise, reliable, and future proof to accommodate increasingly sophisticated electronic control systems. The Danfoss PVG 48 proportional valve, then in development, emerged as the superior solution.

PVG 48 is a pre-compensated proportional control valve for applications requiring flow rates of up to 180 liters per minute (47.6 gallons per minute). The latest member of the PVG load-sensing valve family, PVG 48 is ideal for machines such as wheel loaders, aerial lifts, and cranes in which precise flow and controllability are essential.

Danfoss launched the PVG 48 valve to the general market in June 2023 with Franna as a key pilot customer. On the MAC 25, the valve turns operator joystick inputs into quick, accurate boom movement.

“The PVG is extremely precise and reliable. It does what you want it to do repeatedly,” said Adam Murchie, project engineer, Franna. “It’s the ideal choice for MAC 25 and likely to end up in other of our cranes, too – not least in future launches where more advanced electronic controls are key. We wanted a future-proof valve. PVG 48 is it.”

Franna MAC25 Crane
The PVG 48 valve integrates easily with electric actuators, sensors, and digital controls, opening a range of possibilities. One of them is to automate certain machine functions so the crane assists – or even takes over from – the operator. Such a function can be advantageous in many situations, particularly when instant reaction is required to ensure safety.

With the change to PVG 48, Franna also switched to Danfoss counterbalance valves. Together with PVG 48, they ensure smooth and safe activation of the crane’s boom.

“Controllability is smooth and even – very refined,” said Quentin Bourke, product support technician, Franna. “The initial tiny bounce on the front tires, which you sometimes see when operators raise or lower the boom, is completely gone. Extension or subtraction of the boom is impressively smooth, too.”

Bourke adds that initial feedback from crane operators using MAC 25 with a PVG 48 and Danfoss counterbalance valves is positive, too.

“Together with Danfoss, we’ve managed to create the exact kind of MAC 25 crane feel that we hoped for,” Bourke said. The these proportional valve is already at work in more than 100 of Franna’s MAC 25 cranes throughout Australia.


@DanfossPower @Danfoss @TerexCorp @NapierPR #Pauto #Automation

Changes at semiconductor leader company.

It has been announced that Richard C. Puccio, Jr. is to join Analog Devices as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer . In this role he will set ADI’s financial strategy and lead the company’s global finance operations. He will report to CEO and Chair Vincent Roche.

Richard Puccio
“Rich brings tremendous experience and capability from his more than three decades of leading financial advisory and high-growth business operations activities in complex technology sectors, and this makes him a great addition to ADI’s leadership team. We welcome Rich’s sharp business acumen to enable ADI to accelerate the effectiveness of our operations in a world of increasing opportunity and complexity,” said Vincent Roche, ADI’s CEO and Chair. “I would also like to thank Jim Mollica for his partnership and contribution as interim CFO, and I look forward to Jim’s continued leadership in ADI’s finance organization,” continued Mr. Roche.

Mr. Puccio joins ADI from Amazon Web Services (AWS), the leading global cloud and technology services provider, where he served as CFO. In his role at AWS, Mr. Puccio partnered closely with the business to manage more than 200 fully featured services, including compute, storage, databases, robotics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), mobile, and security, among many other technologies. Prior to his role at AWS, Mr. Puccio was at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for nearly 29 years, where he served as a partner for over two decades. During his tenure at PwC, Mr. Puccio primarily served clients in the global technology, semiconductor, and semiconductor capital equipment industries.

“With its innovative spirit, amazing talent, and dedication to enriching lives and the world around us, ADI has exceptionally strong growth potential. I’m delighted to be joining ADI as the company’s new CFO and look forward to bringing my digital, software, and platform experience to the company as we play an increasingly important role in creating the Intelligent Edge and driving new levels of shareholder value,” said Mr. Puccio.

Mr. Puccio earned his AB in Economics from Harvard University and his MBA from Boston University.


@ADI_News #PAuto #AI

Energy Labelling regulation for mobile devices.

SmartViser and Anritsu have joined forces to usher in a new era of mobile device testing for the energy labelling regulation. This strategic partnership leverages SmartViser's expertise in test automation and Anritsu's cutting-edge testing solutions to deliver comprehensive, efficient, and innovative testing solutions for the ever-evolving mobile ecosystem.

The integration of SmartViser's automated testing solutions with Anritsu's advanced test solution creates a synergistic approach to smartphones and Tablets Testing for the EU Energy labelling regulation, providing manufacturers and service providers with a comprehensive suite of tools. This collaboration aims to streamline testing processes, accelerate time-to-market for new devices, and enhance the overall user experience.

The EU Regulation of Energy Labelling for smartphones and Tablets was published in the Original Journal of EU on the 20th of September 2023 and after 21 months of transition period will become mandatory on the 20th of June 2025.

Jonathan Borrill, CTO for Anritsu T&M, says: "We are proud to inform partnership with SmartViser and contribute to smart energy initiatives towards a decarbonized society. Combining SmartViser's innovative solutions with Anritsu communications technology will bring revolutionary and a major step towards achieving carbon neutrality."

Commenting on the partnership, Gilles Ricordel CEO of SmartViser stated, "We are thrilled to collaborate with Anritsu, a renowned name in the testing and measurement industry. This partnership represents a significant leap forward in our mission to provide cutting-edge testing solutions for the rapidly evolving mobile landscape. By combining our automation expertise with Anritsu's industry-leading technology, we are empowering our customers to deliver products and services in the market that exceed consumer expectations."

SmartViser was selected by EU to create the first pilot application for Android and ios in order to test smartphone devices and tablets energy class and battery consumption.


@Anritsu @AnritsuEMEA @SmartViser @EU_Commission @NapierPR #TandM #Communications

"The lab of the future is here!"

Digital tools to enhance lab productivity.

Two cutting-edge digital products – LabNavigator™ and Next-Gen Introspect™ – are to be introduced, by Tecan, at the SLAS2024 International Conference and Exhibition (3-7/2/2024-Boston MA USA) to improve the efficiency of laboratory operations. The new tools bring the transformative power of digitalization to laboratory operations, empowering researchers and lab technicians with the most advanced, user-friendly, integrated technologies.

The scale-up of laboratory research is often hindered by a lack of automation expertise and the complexity brought by disconnected workflows. As throughput increases, digitalization is crucial to overcoming these challenges by streamlining lab processes, as well as maximizing overall lab effectiveness and helping lab technicians to overcome skill barriers.

LabNavigator is a cloud-based, intuitive digital product that guides lab operators through end-to-end workflows using a single, straightforward interface. It builds an interconnected lab by seamlessly combining lab equipment – including Tecan liquid handling platforms and selected third-party devices – as part of an open digital ecosystem. LabNavigator creates easy-to-follow end-to-end workflows, enabling entry-level staff to effectively operate systems via a user-friendly interface that provides quick and easy onboarding. This not only multiplies the impact of experienced personnel, it increases the quality and reproducibility of lab processes. Overall, the ‘single pane of glass’ approach unifies heterogeneous automation systems to enable seamless scalability across multiple labs.

Tecan’s second digital product announcement is Next-Gen Introspect, which will be commercially released in Q2 2024. This state-of-the-art laboratory insights tool builds on Tecan’s well-established platform, Introspect. The next generation platform offers intuitive user experience, employing advanced data science to convert instrument and workflow data into actionable insights that will maximize the utilization, quality and performance of instrument fleets. Next-Gen Introspect unlocks service excellence by enabling remote diagnostics and service support, leading to higher instrument uptimes and fewer unplanned outages. The existing features focused on run success rates, consumables consumption and real-time monitoring, have been meticulously enhanced, helping lab managers to truly maximize their valuable resources. Both Next-Gen Introspect and LabNavigator are built on modern and secure back-end architectures, ensuring data and process security.

“The lab of the future is here,” said Dr Klaus Lun, Executive Vice President of Life Sciences Business Division at Tecan. “We have been empowering our customers to improve lab productivity through automation for over 40 years, and we are proud to champion the advantages of digitalization. With LabNavigator and Next-Gen Introspect, we can provide tangible results for our customers – reducing operator training needs, increasing run success rates, maximizing overall equipment and labor efficiencies, and providing data-driven actionable insights.”


@Tecan_Talk @SLAS_Org @kdmcomms #Laboratory #TandM #Digitalisation

Infrared detector breakthrough.

Advanced LTO Infrared Detectors for FTIR spectroscopy applications

Laser Components has introduced its latest achievement in detector technology. By creating an ultrathin LTO detector (Lithium Tantalate - LiTaO3), the company has developed a design that minimizes noise while increasing responsivity by four times using sub-pixel binning.

The Advanced LTO Infrared Detectors operate well within room temperature with no depoling concerns and require no temperature stabilization, typical for DLaTGS detectors. These pyroelectric detectors operate within single channel voltage mode without the need for cooling.

The Advanced LTO Infrared Detectors can maintain high performance up to 1 kHz and can be used out to approximately 10 kHz with fast response to IR flux changes. The flexibility to choose a wavelength range that best fits an application is enabled with the selection of transmission windows. The prominent choice being a KBr window that transmits out to 30 μm with an option for a parlyene moisture protective coating. Additional BaF2, CaF2, CsI, CVD diamond, silicon, and ZnSe transmission windows are also available.


@LCGermany @lasercomp_uk @PresseBox #Automation

Tuesday 30 January 2024

Self-calibrating drive actuator.

The Fisher™ easy-Drive™ 200R Electric Actuator just introduced by Emerson is for use on Fisher butterfly and ball valves. When paired with these valves, the new actuator performs accurately and reliably under the extreme conditions found in many heavy industries, particularly oil and gas installations in cold remote locations. These actuator/valve assemblies increase uptime, improve performance, and reduce the risk of emissions posed by gas-operated systems locations.

Many pneumatic valve actuators installed in remote locations are operated using natural gas, but this technology releases atmospheric emissions every time the valve is actuated. Electric actuators address this issue by eliminating control-related emissions, but existing solutions have limitations, each of which is addressed by the 200R actuator.

  • Easy installation & calibration: The 200R calibrates itself when a user simply clicks one button using the easy-Drive Configurator Software, provided free of charge with the actuator.
  • Low energy usage: Operates on 11 to 30 VDC power and consumes less than 0.4 watts when in the holding position mode, making it suitable for use in applications without available utility power.
  • Low temperature operation: Operates in temperatures as low as -40°C (-40°F), eliminating the need for a space heater in all but the most extreme temperature applications.
  • Loss of power positioning: In the case of loss of power, the actuator can be driven to the user-defined position using its optional RPU-100 reserve power unit.
  • Remote monitoring & configuration: Real-time monitoring of position, movements, cycles, travel time to position, and power loss available via a Modbus RTU serial interface.

The 200R is an extension of the easy-Drive actuator portfolio, which also includes actuator options for both globe and rotary valves.



@Emerson_News @EmersonExchange @EmersonProcess @EMR_Automation @FisherValves #PAuto

Smaller current sensor for high-power apps.

The transition to a decarbonized economy is accelerating fast and the demand for innovative technologies is increasing to support the large-scale adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). Lightweight and compact design of power electronic components is key to enabling efficient design and increasing the driving range of EVs – adding value to Tier 1 supplier / OEM system engineers and consumers.

After working closely together for several years, LEM and Semikron Danfoss have designed a new concept, called Nano, that merges the capabilities of LEM’s range of current sensors with Semikron Danfoss’s DCM half-bridge power module platform for high-power automotive applications. The collaboration results in a core-based sensor that is 60% smaller than anything previously available without any compromise on performance.

“The Nano current sensor is a great example of how LEM is able to work hand-in-hand with industry specialists to tackle customers’ system challenges and create innovative current sensing solutions that deliver optimal performance levels. This project was a significant challenge, and the beauty of its success lies in the perfect collaboration with Semikron Danfoss. Both teams have been able to work almost like one single team. We have been able to push the boundaries because we created a synergy from our different expertise.” says Damien Coutellier, Senior electronics engineer and Nano project manager at LEM.

The newly developed sensor makes it possible to completely integrate the sensing function into the power module, minimizing component footprint, simplifying assembly and keeping costs down.

It is particularly ideal for use with electric vehicle (EV) traction inverters with the DCM platform, but also compatible with other Semikron Danfoss power module platforms. The innovative idea behind the Nano concept was to design a core-based current sensor that could fit into the unused space between the top side of the power module and the gate driver board.

This enables the footprint of the current sensor to overlap with the footprint of the power module. As a result, the Nano current sensor does not take up additional space in the inverter. Also, no additional components are required to fixate the sensor mechanically and connect it electrically to the driver board. This delivers the highest level of integration that a core-based current sensor can achieve. The Nano current sensor is mounted on the DCMTM power module, which uses the latest generation of 750V and 1200V SiC MOSFETs and has a rated current of 200A to 1000A.

Characteristics of the DCM platform mean that the new device satisfies insulation coordination requirements for 800V batteries per IEC 60664-1. At the same time, superior mechanical robustness, high-temperature stability and protection from humidity and vibrations enable inverters to deliver stable and reliable performance in a range of environments.

“By working hand-in-hand with LEM, Semikron Danfoss was able to develop a unique solution that combined the best of both worlds – our expertise in power electronics with LEM’s current sensing and metrology knowledge. As a result, this plug-and-play solution will save our customers a great deal of time and effort because they will no longer have to worry about the current sensor footprint, assembly, validation, testing or even performance – they are all taken care of in a single package,” says Thomas Zöls, Senior Electrical Engineers at Semikron Danfoss.


@LEM_Inc @semikrondanfoss #EV #Automotive

Appointments at pyrometer leader.

AMETEK Land has introduced a new industry team structure to transform its approach to its customers, products, and solutions. The changes will mean a continued focus on global industrial solutions, and a drive to help customers meet their industry challenges.

James Cross
James Cross has been promoted to Head of Industry Management following five years as Regional Sales Manager in the Middle East as then Global Industry Manager for Hydrocarbon Processing industries. This new position will see James working with partners and customers to demonstrate where LAND’s technology is solving their most complex challenges. Commenting on the changes, he said: “This new role will allow me to highlight to our partners and customers where our technology is solving their most complex challenges. This is particularly important with the shift in industry towards safer, more intelligent, more sustainable manufacturing processes.
“I love having the strategic freedom to focus on solving serious challenges that can be replicated globally and across multiple industries. This means I’m constantly learning about new processes and how we can contribute to a more sustainable industry.
“AMETEK Land has seen the industrial landscape change and evolve dramatically, from its primary focus towards digitalisation to decarbonisation, and now to an equal focus on both. This is underlined by a demand to make more from less, with a reduced risk to human operators and engineers in the plant.”

Manfred Hayk
In addition, Manfred Hayk has taken on the role of Head of Product Management. This role will be focused on developing high-quality, accurate products in line with the wider team to support all industrial applications. He said: “I’m pleased to be working in this important role, which will see LAND develop new products and software to meet our customers’ process challenges and innovate with new algorithms to improve accuracy, save time, and increase safety.
“But it’s not an individual role – I look forward to the collaboration and teamwork across the whole AMETEK Land team to continue the market-leading product and application support we are known for.”

These team changes are key to AMETEK Land’s ongoing development towards greater digitalisation and decarbonisation, which balances between reacting to customer process challenges and innovating based on an expert understanding of what can be done with its technology.

These developments include building algorithms built into the company’s smart pyrometers to improve accuracy while saving operators significant amounts of time, and software development kits (SDKs) supplied with camera technology to allow developers the freedom to produce features using the accurate temperature data output by AMETEK Land instruments. The company is also building closer partnerships with industry-leading manufacturers, producing case studies and evidence showing the value of investing in advanced instrumentation


@landinst @codacomms #PAuto

Monday 29 January 2024

Component supplier of the year.

Anglia Components has announced Bulgin* as the recipient of its prestigious Supplier of the Year award. Bulgin specialises in the design and manufacture of environmentally sealed waterproof connectors and electronic components.

German Casillas, Chief Commercial Officer at
Bulgin John Bowman, Marketing Director
at Anglia.
Commenting on the award, John Bowman, Marketing Director at Anglia, said, “Bulgin is Anglia’s number one connector franchise. This is not just down to their innovative products, but the exceptional support provided by the Bulgin team at all levels from management, commercial, engineering, marketing and logistics. Bulgin’s customer orientated focus matches our own at Anglia, and this award recognises the unwavering commitment and support Bulgin provides on a daily basis.”

German Casillas, Chief Commercial Officer, and Eric Smith, Distribution Sales Director, at Bulgin, added, “We’re delighted to receive this award from Anglia. They represent a key part of our distribution network and we value the team’s strong relationships with their customer base. We’ve seen significant sales growth and great customer acceptance of Bulgin through Anglia, and we hope that this partnership may long continue.”


*Headquartered in Cambridgeshire (GB), in 2023 Bulgin celebrated 100 years of manufacturing components to cater for a global customer base across a variety of markets, including marine, agriculture and consumer electronics. In 2016, Bulgin announced the strategic incorporation of sister company Arcolectric into its business offering to expand Bulgin’s expertise and range, particularly in electromechanical switches.

@angliaComponent @Bulgin_ @BWW_Comms #PAuto #Components 

Wi-Fi I/O module.

The WISE-4250 dual band industrial WiFi I/O module, from Advantech, features interchangeable I/O and sensors integrated with IoT data acquisition, processing and publishing. Data can be sent directly from Edge to Cloud with higher security and no loss functions. All Wi-Fi channels can be flexibly connected with a smart roaming function. Users can directly configure products with devices via a HTML5 based web page user interface. Products support RESTful API in JSON format for any IoT integration.

It supports 2.4/5GHz dual band concurrently, enabling leverage of both frequencies at the same time, reducing wireless interference against device data transmission delay. Diverse I/O modules support a wide range of data acquisition. WISE-4250 provides a number of embedded drivers which can easily plug-and-play with wireless modules. The data logger provides data resume functions ensuring zero data loss during on-line, off-line and power off situations. Users can easily find real data with RTC time stamps.

Secure Edge-to-Cloud AES encrypted security is built-in with 802.1x, up to WPA3 Personal and Enterprise, and effortlessly configurable via P2P (peer to peer) functions with mobile devices. Push data to SCADA, the cloud, or private servers while integrating IoT through RESTful web APIs or diverse protocols.

The WISE-4250 features and industrial-Grade design suitable for use in harsh environments. The device will operate over wide temperature and humidity ranges and provides voltage endurance. Diverse mounting methods and fast roaming simplify implementation in a wide variety of applications.

Elevate system connectivity with WISE-4250 - key features include:

  • Wi-Fi IoT Wireless I/O Module.
  • Wi-Fi Dual band 2.4/5 GHz up to 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac.
  • Support interchangeable I/O and Sensor module and easily configured with web UI MQTT, Modbus/TCP, SNMP, SNTP, TCP/IP, HTTP, HTTPS, UDP, and DHCP protocols supported.
  • Supports smart roaming function.
  • Supports X.509 and up to WPA3 /TLS1.3.
  • UDP based AES-128 encrypted wireless P2P (Peer to Peer) function for multiple modules.
  • 10000+ data logger with SNTP/RTC time sync and WDT auto connection recovery. Reduces installation wiring costs.

@Advantech_IIoT @AdvantechIA @proactivefleet #PAuto

Friday 26 January 2024

Virtual reality health and safety training.

Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) and BioPharmaChem Skillnet, one of 70 Skillnet Business Networks nationwide, have launched an exciting new Virtual Reality (VR) programme designed specifically for workplace health and safety training.

Ireland is the third largest exporter of complex pharmaceutical goods and medicines and the second largest exporter of vaccines in Europe, with over €100bn in annual exports, 84,000 people directly and indirectly employed, and a further 10,000 jobs to be created over the next five years. The use of innovative technologies such as VR, increases engagement and knowledge retention while decreasing training time, and engages learners in real-world scenarios that teach important skills and concepts.
Dr Paul Maguire, Head of Innovation and Knowledge Transfer, TU Dublin acknowledged the importance of the ongoing collaboration between the research partners: "We are delighted that TU Dublin is continuing our involvement with BioPharmaChem Skillnet, an organisation that is supporting one of the largest and most important sectors in Ireland providing thousands of jobs. This partnership highlights the world-leading research capabilities of Brian and this team in the VR/AR space and their ability and desire to solve immediate industry challenges. It also spotlights the excellent working relationship that TU Dublin has with BioPharmaChem Skillnet, facilitated by David Gardiner in TU Dublin Innovation via our Open Labs R&D outreach initiative."

The programme is the third course co-developed by the Skillnet Business Network and TU Dublin, which harnesses the power of VR and offers an innovative approach to mixed reality training for diverse industries. The VR technology provides a seamless interface with existing simulations in a modular framework to train staff across many sectors in Ireland. It follows on from the success of the previous two VR programmes ‘Aseptic Techniques for Biomanufacturing,’ and ‘Power Handling’, both of which were nominated for multiple innovation and industry awards.

The new programme was developed in collaboration with Dr Brian Vaughan, Founder and Director of the Virtual Interaction Research Lab (VIRal) at TU Dublin. VIRal is a cutting edge virtual, and augmented, reality research and development environment, in a large, dedicated space.

BioPharmaChem Skillnet provides upskilling to businesses of all sizes in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, medical device, and chemical supply sectors. The network’s mission is to further advance Ireland’s position as a world leader in health innovation through leading-edge talent development solutions.

“This is our third time working with BioPharmaChem Skillnet and we have always found them to be an insightful forward-thinking organisation pushing the boundaries of training in the industry. It's always great to work with them to co-create Mixed Reality training applications that incorporate cutting-edge technologies with robust pedagogical principles and methods,” said Founder & Director VIRal, Dr Brian Vaughn.

"As the BioPharmaChem sector continues to embrace immersive technologies, we identified the potential for virtual reality to address some of the known key challenges in health and safety that are high risk and time consuming," said Susan Costello, Network Director, BioPharmaChem Skillnet. "VIRal at TU Dublin was able to provide the expertise required to transform the concept of a VR programme into a reality. Dr Brian Vaughan and the team in TU Dublin ensured that the process ran seamlessly and were able to advise, adapt and reinvent when required. The programme would not have been possible without their expertise and the support of Skillnet Ireland, BioPharmaChem Ireland along with the expertise and time that industry members gave to articulate the needs around this training for the sector."

Pictured at the launch are (l-r): Siobhan Broughan (Skillnet), David Gardiner (TUD), Susan Costello and Brendan Kellet (BioPharmaChem), Dr. Brian Vaughn and Jazheel Luna (TUD VIRaL), Sinead Keogh (IBEC), and Dr. Paul Maguire (TUD).


@WeAreTUDublin @BPCSkillnet #PAuto #HandS #Safety

Reliable, versatile and user-friendly compact switches.

New plug-and-play unmanaged industrial Ethernet switches.

A new range of compact, easy-to-use unmanaged industrial Ethernet switches has been launched by Westermo. Their SandCat five port fast Ethernet switch series offers a cost-effective, plug and play solution for industrial applications that complements Westermo’s range of managed switches. Supporting 100 Mbit/s, these versatile devices have been designed to meet the increasing network complexity, reliability and bandwidth demands of utilities, marine, manufacturing and energy industries.

“The SandCat is a high-quality, unmanaged switch series that offers unparalleled reliability, simplicity and performance,” explained Rasmus Sjöström, Product Manager at Westermo. “Versatile SFP options and a comprehensive range of industry certifications help to deliver maximum application flexibility needed to meet the expanding size and complexity of data networks."

The SandCat switches provide a low-cost option for connecting multiple end-devices to the network and the availability of a fibre port enables communication over larger distances or different sites. Although managed switches are used widely to enhance configuration and security of data networks, the SandCat series is ideally suited to extend the port count of managed switches, enabling the installation of more end-devices. The switches can also be used when a central device is required to create a physical topology for optimal redundancy and remote access or to act as a simple switch within factory automation applications.  

This series is designed for mission-critical applications using DIN rail mounting in harsh industrial environments allowing Ethernet connections to be established between drives, inverters, HMIs, PLCs and I/O units. The switches meet EMC, isolation, vibration and shock standards enabling installation in challenging industrial environments. An IP30 grade metal housing, operating temperature of -40°C to 75°C, wide power input range, multiple small form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceiver options, and extensive industry approvals and certifications ensures maximum application flexibility.


@WestermoUK @westermo @HHC_Lewis #PAuto #Power

ARM64 industrial computer,

Moxa has introduced its first embedded industrial computers to feature 64-bit ARM architecture to help asset owners address increased processing demands from new technologies. Built around an Arm Cortex-A53 dual-core 1 GHz processor, Moxa's UC-2200A is an economical, reliable gateway for embedded data acquisition boasting a wide range of interface options, a compact footprint, and compliance with IEC 62443-4-2 cybersecurity requirements for host devices.

The UC-2200A is available with an open mPCLe socket or with the mPCIe society pre-installed with a CAT 4LTE module featuring Verizon and AT&T carrier approval. All models ship with Moxa Industrial Linux 3, which is based on Debian 11 and will be supported for bug fixes and security patches until 2031. Optionally, units can ship with Moxa Industrial Linux 3 Secure for additional security features to comply with the IEC 62443-4-2 cybersecurity standard for host devices. The UC-2200A is just the first release in a new line-up of 64-bit ARM models that Moxa will be introducing throughout 2024 including quad-core models supporting CANbus, 5G LTE, and onboard DI and DO.

Reliable wellhead monitoring systems are essential for analyzing pressure and temperature information based on data continuously collected from end devices.

Communication devices face unique hurdles in industrial environments, especially when deployed in remote edge-to-cloud applications. The new UC-2200A from Moxa overcomes those challenges by offering a broad temperature tolerance of -40 to 70° C and industrial certifications including CID2, CE, FCC, ATEX, and UL, resulting in an MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) of approximately 1 million hours. Although compact, the UC-2200A features the ideal number of I/O interfaces for flexible configuration, such as two Giga LAN ports, a USB port, and two RS-232/422/485 serial ports.

Hackers are increasingly sophisticated in their abilities to disrupt or threaten industrial networks. Connectivity and convergence in industrial networks bring a greater risk of cyber threats, as each system and device represents a potential attack surface. For that reason, Moxa optionally offers the UC-2200A with Moxa Industrial Linux 3 Secure to comply with IEC 62443-4-2 Security Level 2 (SL2) requirements for host devices. IEC 62443-4-2 provides a security-enabling Linux platform that integrates secure-by-design hardware and software features to protect IIoT data and infrastructure against cyber threats. While SL1 protects against unintentional or accidental misuse, SL2 safeguards against intentional violation by a malicious attacker. Without this certification, asset owners and system integrators would be required to spend significant time testing and validating the security of the computing platform and its components before integrating their applications.

With Moxa Industrial Linux 3 Secure, the UC-2200A is more resistant to cyber assaults. The Secure Boot function guards the hardware and software under a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) to block unauthorized changes to the device during boot time and prevent malicious updates from being used for malware exploitation. Additionally, the system failback function supports detecting the last secure working state to which the computers can be automatically restored if critical updates fail or unauthorized software changes are detected. Furthermore, Moxa provides a security hardening guide and tools to support the analysis of potential threats.


@Moxa_Europe @OConnellPR #PAuto #Energy

Thursday 25 January 2024

Application note on temperature monitoring in steel.

Helping the steel industry meet global decarbonisation challenges with a range of solutions.

With the steel industry responsible for approximately 7% of global man-made CO2 emissions, finding a way to meet the ongoing demand for steel while reducing and eventually eliminating carbon emissions, is a major challenge.

Ametek Land offers steelmakers several temperature monitoring solutions, and the technology, to meet their challenges when transitioning to more sustainable methods of steelmaking, supporting decarbonisation in several ways.

A specially designed solution, the Slag Detection System (SDS) from LAND, leverages the capabilities of mid-wavelength thermal imaging to help deliver improved yields, higher quality steel, and reduce costly downstream processing for EAF steelmaking operations. It is specially designed to withstand the harsh conditions of continuous operation in a steel plant, with minimal maintenance requirements.

Other solutions from LAND that play a part to help improve product quality, efficiency and reduce emissions include:

  • The MWIR-640 390, a mid-wavelength thermal imager that provides reliable, robust and real-time thermal imaging measurements and imagery
  • The NIR-2K is a high-precision thermal imager capable of producing high temperature measurements. It combines high accurately with high resolution measurement temperature distributions to identify hot and cold spots for process optimization
  • Offering a full temperature measurement range of -20 to 1000°C, the LWIR-640 long-wavelength thermal imager provides high-precision temperature measurements and thermal profiles to continuously control, document and visualise industrial processes.

Manfred Hayk, Head of Product Management at Ametek Land, said: “Process parameters are changing throughout the industry in a bid to bring down carbon emissions. We know that there is no single solution to carbon reduction in steelmaking. However, several changes to existing practices can each make a significant contribution to decarbonisation in the industry.
“We offer accurate, reliable, proven solutions for temperature measurements that support these changes. For example, switching to thermal imagers rather than dip thermocouples helps support decarbonisation efforts by reducing the use of consumables, and delivers more information to support process efficiency.”

A new application note looks at all these processes, and explains the importance of accurate temperature monitoring within each of them, along with expert advice on the best method to use.


@landinst @codacomms #PAuto #Steel

Bespoke Rack PCs for industry.

Impulse Embedded’s workshop team builds powerful bespoke computers to customer’s exacting specifications to create fully robust computers that can easily integrate into any pre-existing system. Their Senior Production Technician, Andy Shaw, recently built a VELA Rack PC that was designed to meet the rigorous demands of industrial environments.
The VELA, powered by Advantech, is Impulse’s flagship series for industrial computing. It is built, configured, tested and shipped from their facility in Newcastle-under-Lyme (GB) and is available in both rack and tower formats. Because they keep all the component parts in stock, the VELA series can ship anywhere within Britain with a quick turnaround.

In this recent order for an ongoing project with a fixed BOM, Impulse Embedded integrated carefully chosen components to meet the customer's demands for their application. The rack PC has an Intel Core i5-10500TE 2.3GHz processor, an Intel embedded CPU that guarantees availability for at least seven years from release date, which is vitally important for this customer to save on software redevelopment costs.

The chassis has a sleek, space-saving design with a 19" 2U rack-mount chassis that houses the ATX motherboard, optimising the use of valuable rack space and one slim optical drive bay, which allows the customer to load application-specific software before deployment into the field, enhancing the efficiency of the device. It also features two 3.5" hot-swap drive trays, making the drives easy to replace or upgrade without losing valuable productivity time.

Multiple integrated high CFM fans within the chassis further fortify the device’s durability. The fans prevent overheating during extended operating periods and thereby minimise downtime in harsh environments where high temperatures are prevalent.


@ImpulseEmbedded @Advantech_IIoT @AdvantechIA @proactivefleet #Automaption #PAuto

Shaping strategy in pharma software business.

Jan-Henrik Dieckert has been promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Software Business Unit within Körber Business Area Pharma. In this role, he oversees operational customer business globally and lead the service strategy.

Jan-Henrik Dieckert
“We are excited to announce the appointment of Jan-Henrik Dieckert to this role,” says Jens Woehlbier, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Software at Körber Pharma. “Jan-Henrik brings over 15 years of experience with our company, having played a key role in establishing and expanding our sales organization in North America, EMEA, China and leading the global sales and marketing of our software products. We wish him great success in his new position.”

As COO, Jan-Henrik Dieckert will be responsible for shaping and implementing the service strategy of the Software Business Unit. He will guide pharma, biotech, and cell & gene customers through their digital transformation journey by leveraging Körber’s suite of software products within the pharma sector.

He was most recently Chief Sales Officer (CSO) Software at Körber  As executive board member he was responsible for worldwide sales and marketing of the Werum PAS-X product suites and led the global sales and marketing teams of BU Software. He holds a degree in Biotechnology and has more than 15 years of experience in Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) for pharma, biotech, and cell & gene therapy manufacturing.


@KoerberPharma @WerumKarriere #PAuto #Pharma

Multiband cellular antenna.

This new multiband cellular antenna is an ideal choice for grid operators deploying infrastructure for smart metering and other IoT applications.

Customer sampling and availability of their AC97002 multiband cellular antenna has been announced by The Antenna Company. The AC97002is designed for ease of installation with indoor smart meter gateways and other IOT applications.

The AC97002 antenna highlights the following benefits:

  • Reliable radio coverage over frequency bands of 698-960 MHz and 1700-2690 MHz, with efficiencies up to 75% in sub-GHz bands.
  • Flexible in-cabinet installation enabled by compact size of 45mm x 170mm x 35mm.
  • Simple and fast install with smart meter gateways using variable length, detachable cable with Fakra D connector.

In addition, the AC97002 supports the following features:

  • Omni-directional radiation pattern.
  • Horizontal or vertical mounting on metal or non-conductive surfaces.
  • ROHS and REACH compliant.

As countries, such as Germany, mandate the rollout of smart meter gateways, reliable connectivity is essential to provide secure data communication between the premise equipment and the wide area network.

“The AC97002 antenna is an ideal choice for grid operators deploying infrastructure for smart metering. Installation is greatly simplified through the use of a smart detachable cable, to streamline cable routing and reduce installation time.”, said company CEO David Favreau.  “The high antenna efficiency of the AC97002 improves the success rate of achieving network connectivity when mounting the antenna inside metal cabinets with smart meter gateways.”

The AC97002 is currently sampling and available for customer evaluation.


@antennacompany @SRSTechPR #Communications #PAuto

Wednesday 24 January 2024

Machine vision range.

Teledyne FLIR IIS (formerly Point Grey Research) has introduced the new Dragonfly® S USB3 camera series to its machine vision portfolio. The new series is a result of Teledyne’s constant commitment to set and enhance vision industry standards for customer success. It addresses the market’s essential need for a modular, compact, and lightweight camera for at-scale manufacturing, volume-based applications, and multi-camera systems.

Dragonfly S has a modular design to accelerate the inception stage of imaging application development for a diverse range of industrial and non-industrial segments. “This is a first-of-its-kind practical option for factory automation and embedded vision-based device manufacturers,” said Sadiq Panjwani, General Manager at Teledyne FLIR IIS. “The modular concept of the new camera empowers engineers to quickly test, develop, and deliver competitive vision products to market at scale.”

The camera series is ideal for embedded or handheld device applications such as biometrics kiosk solutions, ophthalmoscopy, 3D scanning, automated optical inspection, and more. It is available in multiple configurations, from board-level to a fully-enclosed module in a ruggedized aluminum case. The USB connector is offered in a rear or side orientation with screw-in locking mechanism. These modular options provide maximum flexibility and durability, allowing seamless integration in tight spaces. The cased models are Class B EMC safety compliant as mitigating electromagnetic interference is critical for healthcare and residential applications. Additionally, an onboard image buffer ensures that every captured image frame is reliably transferred to the host CPU.

The first of its series Dragonfly S is now available for pre-order.


@flir #PAuto #PointGreyResearch #Vision

Tuesday 23 January 2024

Emergency stop switches.

Expanding robotic and industrial equipment applications call for small form factor emergency stop switches.

IDEC Corporation has expanded their line of emergency stop (E-stop) switches with new XA/XW series short body models has been expanded by IDEC Corporation. These industrial-grade and outdoor-rated models are designed in the space-saving size essential for robotic and industrial equipment applications, with innovative features to meet the increased requirements of international safety standards.

Modern E-stop challenges.
While E-stop switches have been a fundamental design and safety element of automated systems for decades, two factors have prompted an update of these devices. The first factor relates to the proliferation of smaller-scale automated equipment with increasingly limited on-board space but a need for E-stop functionality. Examples are robot teach pendants, mobile robotics, production machines, and industrial vehicles. The second factor concerns revisions to safety standards.

Safety standard ISO3691-4 (2020) requires E-stops to be accessible from both ends and both sides of industrial vehicles, which can be difficult or impossible to achieve without compact devices. In addition, any detachable or cableless control stations—such as pluggable portable teaching pendants or wireless controllers—are now required by ISO13850 (2015) to incorporate measures for avoiding user confusion regarding whether the E-stop is active or inactive. While there are various ways to achieve this, the XA/XW E-stops change color through illumination to indicate if they are active or inactive, which is a leading way to comply with the standard.

Addressing new E-stop requirements.
IDEC has designed the XA/XW series to minimize the installation depth behind the mounting surface. Available in industry-standard diameters of 16mm for the XA and 22mm for the XW, these new E-stops now require only an industry-leading 12.6mm of space behind the mounting surface for solder terminal styles, and just 18.0mm for tab terminal styles.

All devices are rated IP67/69K and UL Type 4X for outdoor installation, and they can be specified with or without illumination. Operating temperatures range from -25 to +55 or +70 °C, depending on the model.

When users select the active/inactive version for compliance with ISO13850, the E-stop cap color is opaque white when the device is inactive and red when the device is active. This unique feature is designed so that users will recognize the device is plugged into equipment and usable only when the E-stop is red. If the device is white, then the E-stop is not connected.

The E-stops follow a standard push-lock and pull or turn to reset action, and the top cap uses cap-color direction arrows to comply with ISO13850. The body base is high visibility yellow with an angled “escape structure” design so debris will not hinder operation, and a green ring acts as a secondary visual indication of the E-stop pressed or not-pressed status.

The E-stop physical mechanism uses IDEC’s unique and patented “reverse energy structure” for an additional degree of safety, with a spring arranged to operate the E-stop if it is physically damaged in certain ways. Competitive devices can fail to drive equipment to a safe state under these conditions.

Even though the XA/XW series features a compact body, the non-illuminated version offers two NC contacts for integration with safety circuits, and one NO contact for illumination and/or monitoring. Contacts are rated for an industry-leading 250,000 operations at 24V and 100mA, ensuring exceptional durability.

Improved safety for any application.
The IDEC XA/XW series is designed to meet the latest safety standards in an industry-leading small form factor rated for challenging environmental conditions. Space saving E-stops are needed for robotics, AGV/AMR, medical device, tabletop machine, and other industrial applications. EV chargers, power generators, outdoor conveyors, and specialty industrial vehicles all need robust E-stops that are easily installed in limited spaces. As designers are increasingly using wireless controllers and detachable pendants for these applications, the active/inactive capability of associated E-stops is a key requirement.

The IDEC portfolio of E-stop switches is ideal for providing technical performance and regulation-compliant capabilities for a wide variety of applications.


@IDECUSA #PAuto #HMI

Reliable and energy-efficient drive units.

In intralogistics, parcels of different weights must be transported continuously – often over relatively long distances. Special requirements are placed on performance, reliability and energy efficiency of the drive technology used. For this purpose, Nord Drivesystems designed suitable drive solutions.
Nord drive solutions for intralogistics will be presented from 19 to 21 March 2024 at LogiMAT in Stuttgart (D)

Nord Drivesystems has developed the DuoDrive gear unit/motor combination specifically for intralogistics. A highly efficient IE5+ synchronous motor from Nord is integrated into a helical gear unit, achieving an extremely high efficiency. DuoDrive achieves a constant torque over a wide speed range and thus allows for a significant reduction of drive variants in a system. This results in minimised administrative costs and streamlined service processes.

Compact, maintenance-friendly, pluggable.
In addition, the decentralised NORDAC ON frequency inverters have been optimised for the requirements of horizontal conveyor technology. With their compact design, easy maintenance and full pluggability, they are especially suited for large intralogistics systems with various drive units. In the NORDAC ON+ version, they are specially designed for the combination with the IE5+ motor.

Nord does not only support its customers with suitable and resource-saving drive components, but also with competent services. The Nord ECO service, for example, helps to find the most efficient drive solution for a specific application. Here, the energy consumption behaviour of a system is checked with the aid of a measuring device. The data evaluation reveals the fields in which the system may work inefficiently, and NORD provides recommendations for efficiency-optimised drive solutions.

Consequently acting in a responsible manner.
At LogiMAT, Nord will also present its sustainability programme. The drive specialist commits itself to act in an ecologically, economically and socially responsible manner – providing security for those customers who are also amenable to the Supply Chain Act.


@NORD_Drive @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Drives

New APAC component centre opened.

Mouser Electronics has opened a new Customer Service Centre in Melbourne to support its growing number of customers across Australia and New Zealand.

"This is an exciting time for our business as we expand into Australia to better serve our customers in this part of the world," said Mark Burr-Lonnon, Mouser's Senior Vice President of Global Service & EMEA and APAC Business. "Melbourne has a thriving tech community and manufacturing base with a large amount of activity, especially in the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and electronics manufacturing service (EMS) sectors. This office gives us a strong local presence to serve customers with best-in-class service and support."

Australia is the world's 53rd largest country and home to a growing number of tech companies and start-ups. The country is considered a world leader in silicon-based quantum computing.

Mouser's new Customer Service Centre in Melbourne will have a team of members onsite to personally assist with orders and respond to customer calls, all in local language, time zone, and currency. This will be Mouser's 12th office in the APAC region. Mouser's other APAC locations include Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangalore and Pune, India, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. The Melbourne office will be Mouser's 28th service centre location worldwide.


@MouserElecEU @Publitek #PAuto #IoT

Large format display.

21.5-inch Full HD TFT display features high brightness specification

Review Display Systems (RDS) has announced the introduction of a new 21.5-inch TFT display module from industrial display manufacturer, Chefree Technology Corporation. The C23061500501-215H features Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels), a 16:9 wide aspect ratio, and vertical alignment (VA) mode display technology which ensures excellent optical performance and wide viewing angles.

The 21.5-inch display features vertical alignment (VA) wide viewing technology which enables viewing angles of 89 degrees in all viewing directions (left, right and up, down). The display module features a white LED backlight with integrated driver, and a 30K hour half-brightness lifetime, which enables a specified brightness rating of 1500cd/m² and ensures that the 21.5-inch TFT module produces display images that are bright, clear and colourful.

The dual channel LVDS data interface supports 8-bit RGB colour data which enables a colour palette of up to 16.7M colours. The 21.5-inch display module features mechanical outline dimensions of 495.6mm (l) x 292.2mm (h) x 10.35mm (d) and an active display area of 476.64mm (l) x 268.11mm (h). An extended operating temperature range of -20°C to +85°C is supported.

The 21.5-inch TFT display module is ideal for many varied applications including industrial process control, factory automation, in-vehicle systems, point-of-sale systems, digital signage, and medical equipment.


@ReviewDisplayUS #HMI #PAuto

Enhanced environmental protection for push-buttons.

Details of the latest additions to EAO's rugged Series 82 family of push-button HMIs have been released. The series now includes device featuring vibration-resistant cable connections and rear sealing.
The new cabled versions of EAO’s popular Series 82 pushbutton switches are available with a choice of a 200 mm straight or 90° offset cable. They provide significant advantages in terms of mounting flexibility as they can be optimised for a wide variety of application and mounting scenarios simply by selecting the appropriate connector.

Variants with the 90°- offset cable exit point are particularly useful in machinery with low-depth back panels. The cable version with M12 connector is impressively robust and easy to mount and targets demanding machinery applications. The cable version with tin-plated cable though offers R118 certification, making it ideal for HMI applications in heavy-duty and special-purpose vehicles. All the new devices feature rear over-moulding and IP67 protection as standard while SUS 316L stainless steel casing and enhanced vibration-resistance are available options.

Typical applications 
§ Food and beverage industry
§ Machinery and production facilities
§ Heavy-duty and special-vehicles
§ Passenger transportation systems and busses
§ Access control and security systems
§ Ticketing and vending machines

According to Robert Davies, Marketing Manager with EAO Ltd, pushbutton switches and indicators are often exposed to extremely harsh operating conditions: “In the food and beverage industry for example harsh alkaline cleaning agents often cause corrosion problems”, Davies said. “Other external factors such as hard-to-remove dirt, fine dust, severe vibrations and blunt impacts can also severely reduce the reliability and lifetime of HMIs. The new additions to the Series 82 family of push-button switches are ideal for use in the most challenging environments”.
@ECSN_UK #EAO #PAuto #Food

Monday 22 January 2024

Energy harvesting high lights.

Enabling a new era in energy-efficient lighting control, EnOcean has introduced the 2nd generation Bluetooth® switch module PTM 216B. This revolutionary energy harvesting module builds upon the success of its predecessor, the groundbreaking PTM 215B—the world's first energy harvesting Bluetooth® switch module. Setting industry standards for mesh network lighting control solutions, the new PTM 216B signifies a leap forward in technological innovation.

With the new EnOcean PTM 216B module, customers can now address even more applications thanks to the use of the latest generation kinetic harvester ECO 260. The combination of the new harvester with the latest generation system design, allows for more than double the radio transmission power compared to its highly successful predecessor, the PTM 215B. This significantly increases the usable communication distance. This enhancement enables control of high-bay lighting, expanding the application areas to include warehouses and architectural projects with high ceilings. PTM 216B brings great flexibility in terms of installation locations and repositioning capabilities. In modern offices with adaptable layouts and flexible walls, the elimination of wiring significantly streamlines the installation process.

NFC technology for quick and easy integration.
EnOcean devices such as PTM 216B can be quickly configured using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. NFC is a short-range wireless technology that enables communication between devices in close proximity, typically within a few centimeters. It allows two devices equipped with NFC capabilities to establish a connection by bringing them close together, triggering the exchange of data. A common use is for making contactless payments.

The integration of EnOcean devices into networks via NFC provides a simple, quick and reliable way of setting up lighting installations.
• Simple: no qualifications are required to set it up.
• Quick: optimized installation time.
• Right first-time: no need to revisit a site to correct any parameters.

Many different designs thanks to partner network.
Thanks to the extensive EnOcean partner and OEM network, energy-harvesting switches based on the PTM 216B and other EnOcean switch modules are available in a wide range of designs from multiple switch manufacturers around the world, all of which blend well into any environment. The unique combination of these features makes PTM 216B an ideal choice for lighting control and building automation use cases. Official switch OEM partners make use of the “Battery-free by EnOcean” brand to make sure it contains genuine technology from EnOcean for real maintenance-free operation in the field.


@EnOcean @NapierPR #Pauto

Saturday 20 January 2024

New deployment options for edgeConnector products.

Customer demand for compact devices for edge applications powered by ARM processors is experiencing a significant increase. By integrating ARM 32-bit compatibility into its edgeConnector products, Softing Industrial is responding to the increasing demand for edge applications using ARM processors.

Previously, edgeConnector solutions were only available for integration into large PCs. In June last year, the integration of ARM 64-bit was successfully implemented. Now Softing Industrial presents the latest version 3.80 of edgeConnector Siemens, edgeConnector 840D and edgeConnector Modbus, which also offers ARM 32-bit support for compact hardware solutions.

"The introduction of ARM 32-bit compatibility in our edgeConnector products marks an important step in our innovation strategy," explains Abel Jimenez, Product Manager at Softing Industrial. "This development opens up the possibility for our customers to use our solutions in a wider range of devices for edge applications, such as WAGO Compact Controller 100, WAGO PFC 200, and Open-Source Hardware Boards like Allwinner A20. We remain committed to providing the most advanced and flexible solutions for the changing needs of the industrial environment."

The Docker-based software modules of the edgeConnector product family enable access to process data in SIMATIC S7, SINUMERIK 840D and Modbus TCP controllers. They can be deployed quickly, run on standard hardware, and can be easily managed centrally. They provide users with a straightforward and secure way to integrate data from production into innovative and flexible industrial IoT solutions.


@SoftingIA @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Communications