Quality assurance inspection.

Imaging built for automation, not adapted to it..

The Flir A6450 Long-Life Cooled MWIR Camera Seriesa is a new thermal imaging solution purpose-built for continuous industrial automation, process control, and non-destructive testing applications. Designed to overcome long-standing barriers to deploying cooled thermal cameras in production environments, the A6450 combines industry-leading long-life cooling, high-speed MWIR performance, and automation-ready integration enabling manufacturers and system integrators to deploy high-performance thermal imaging in true 24/7 operations.

“Historically, the timing and cost of maintaining cooled thermal cameras limited their use in production line applications,” said Matthew Hasty, Global Vertical Director Automation for Flir. “With the A6450, we’ve fundamentally changed that equation delivering long-life cooled MWIR performance that manufacturers can confidently deploy across continuous production processes.”

At the core of the A6450 is a revolutionary, HOT MWIR detector paired with an industry-leading linear cooler, delivering up to 27,000 hours of operational life. This extended lifespan dramatically reduces the need for annual maintenance, enabling manufacturers to shift from short service intervals to multi-year operational planning. By reducing downtime, service costs, and operational risk, the A6450 transforms cooled MWIR cameras from specialized inspection tools into reliable, long-term automation assets.

The A6450 is designed for applications where timing is critical. With a 125 Hz frame rate, the camera accurately captures fast thermal events and subtle temperature variations on moving products capabilities essential for non-destructive testing, process monitoring, and inline quality assurance.

High thermal sensitivity allows users to detect early-stage defects, material inconsistencies, or process deviations before they propagate downstream, helping reduce scrap, rework, and unplanned downtime.

Built on proven industry-recognized Flir A6700-Series electronics, the A6450 supports GigE Vision®, GenICam®, and other industry-standard protocols, enabling seamless integration into existing automation systems. Customer-driven interfaces, commands, and triggers, allow system integrators to deploy the camera quickly without custom development.

For pre-deployment testing and validation, the A6450 offers plug-and-play compatibility with Flir Research Studio, enabling users to test, tune, and validate inspection setups before full system integration.

To support diverse manufacturing environments, the A6450 offers a flexible, high-performance optics portfolio and extensive calibration options. Users can store hundreds of calibration profiles directly on the camera, making it easy to support multiple products, materials, and inspection scenarios especially in facilities with frequent changeovers. This flexibility allows one camera platform to support a wide range of applications across production lines, which reduces hardware complexity and increases deployment efficiency.

The A6450 supports automation strategies that improve product quality, reduce manual inspection labor, and minimize risk. Continuous thermal monitoring helps identify seal defects, material deformities, and other critical quality issues by revealing subtle temperature variations that indicate incomplete bonding, uneven curing, or process instability. By detecting overheating, process drift, or equipment stress early, manufacturers can intervene sooner helping prevent defects from escalating downstream and delivering safer operations with more consistent quality outcomes.

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@flir @mepaxIntPR  #PAuto #TandM

Particle analysis acquisition.

Optical inline systems group strengthen process analysis portfolio.

Endress+Hauser has acquired SOPAT, a Germany-based specialist in inline process measurement technology, retaining the company’s staff in Berlin and Chemnitz (D). This has further expanded its portfolio of measurement instruments, solutions and services for process analysis.

SOPAT and its subsidiary Parsum now come under Endress+Hauser’s liquid analysis product centre, based in Gerlingen, Germany. “The particle characterisation systems developed by SOPAT complement our existing portfolio by adding a range that is strategically important in terms of our core target industries,” said Endress+Hauser Liquid Analysis Managing Director Dr Thomas Buer.

Smart concept.

SOPAT GmbH was founded in Berlin in 2012 by Jörn Emmerich and Dr Sebastian Maaß. In 2022, it acquired Parsum in Chemnitz, a maker of inline particle size analysis systems founded in 1997. SOPAT and its subsidiary Parsum now have a combined workforce of 30. The co-founders, are to stay on as members of the SOPAT company’s management team.

SOPAT’s smart systems use a photo-optical image-based inline technology to analyse particles, droplets and bubbles in running processes in real time. The technology measures particle sizes and shapes without sampling or dilution, thereby enabling precision process monitoring, faster response times and enhanced product quality. Parsum probes, on the other hand, use a laser beam in combination with fiber-optic spatial filtering to analyse particle size and particle speed distributions, particularly for solids, powders and granulates.

Improved process insights.

Customers in multiple industries, including life sciences, food & beverage and mining, minerals & metals, use particle counting and analysis to ensure product quality. “This step is a continuation of our strategy and strengthens our analysis portfolio. We can now provide even better support for our customers across the board, from laboratory to production process,” Dr Thomas Buer said.

“Our strength lies in our combination of scientific precision and industrial practicability. As part of the Endress+Hauser Group, we can progress innovations through to broad-based industrial use more rapidly and hence contribute to more stable and resource-efficient processes worldwide,” commented SOPAT’s Jörn Emmerich. 

Co-founder Dr Sebastian Maaß added: “Accurate, reliable data taken directly from production processes gives our customers the improved process insights they need to effectively drive sustainable process optimisation in response to rising energy and raw material costs.” 

 Endress+Hauser acquired SOPAT effective 1 January 2026. Both parties have agreed to keep the details of the sale confidential.  

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@Endress_Hauser @Endress_UK @Endress_US #PAuto

Mission to zero progress.

Electrified, energy-efficient production upgrades improve energy productivity while strengthening operational stability .

ABB is advancing its Mission to Zero™ program at its Sasbach manufacturing site in Germany, demonstrating how on-site renewable energy, electrification and digital energy management can deliver meaningful emissions reductions while strengthening energy resilience.

The Sasbach site manufactures enclosures and energy distribution systems for local and regional markets, supporting ABB’s production footprint in Germany. As part of ABB’s global Mission to Zero™ program, the site is implementing a data-led decarbonization roadmap focused on energy efficiency, renewable electricity and smart energy management. Sasbach is one of 37 ABB sites worldwide currently participating in the program, which aims to significantly reduce operational emissions across ABB’s global footprint.

With manufacturing and production accounting for around one-fifth of global carbon emissions, improving energy efficiency and accelerating electrification are critical to achieving European climate targets. The Sasbach site shows how manufacturers can reduce emissions while maintaining reliable, competitive operations.

Taken together, the actions implemented at the Sasbach site deliver total CO₂ savings of approximately 3,786 tons. This includes around 2,700 tons of CO₂ savings from the purchase of certified renewable electricity from the grid, alongside annual emissions reductions of approximately 1,086 tons of CO₂ delivered through on-site measures. Of these yearly on-site savings, around 550 tons of CO₂ per year come from on-site solar generation, which has been expanded. The site now operates 3,410 photovoltaic modules, generating around 1,500 megawatt-hours of electricity annually. This is enough to supply approximately 400 homes for a year.

On-site generation will cover close to one-third of the site’s total electricity demand, reducing exposure to volatile energy prices and enhancing long-term energy security. A newly installed transformer station ensures stable and efficient integration of the renewable electricity into the site’s power infrastructure. The remaining reductions are achieved through electrified production upgrades, energy efficiency measures, and digital energy management. Together, these actions are strengthening energy resilience and supporting stable, reliable day-to-day operations.

ABB's Sasbach Plant.

“What we are doing at Sasbach shows how Mission to Zero™ works in practice,” said Mike Mustapha, President, ABB Electrification’s Smart Buildings Division. “By investing in on-site renewables, electrifying our processes and using digital energy management, the site is reducing emissions while also improving energy resilience and day-to-day operational stability. This kind of practical progress is what will matter most for manufacturers navigating the energy transition.”

In parallel, ABB has continued to modernize production processes to reduce energy demand at source. A new powder-coating facility has expanded production capacity while significantly lowering energy requirements. Designed across two levels, the facility incorporates heat recovery and operates with substantially lower installed heating capacity than conventional systems, supporting both efficiency gains and production reliability.

Additional efficiency measures across the site include full LED lighting in production areas, building automation via the ABB i-bus® KNX, waste heat recovery from compressed air systems, and optimized process controls. Twenty-one onsite electric vehicle (EV) charging stations support low-emission mobility for employees and visitors.

Together, these initiatives have significantly improved energy productivity compared with 2019 levels, while helping stabilize operations and reduce operating costs. ABB's Building Automation System (BMS) and energy management solutions bring these measures together, providing real-time visibility into energy use and enabling continuous improvement and data-driven decision-making that supports efficiency, resilience, and operational stability.

Building on these achievements, ABB has defined a clear roadmap for the next phase of decarbonization at Sasbach. Battery storage systems are planned to store excess solar electricity and support production during peak demand and night shifts. Gas-based heating systems are being progressively replaced with electric heat-pump solutions, reducing reliance on fossil fuels over time. The site is also evaluating the potential for on-site wind generation to further strengthen energy self-sufficiency in the future.

The Sasbach site joins ABB’s growing global network of Mission to Zero™ locations spanning Europe, the Americas and Asia. Mission to Zero™ began as a local initiative at ABB’s Lüdenscheid factory in Germany and has since scaled globally. Together, Mission to Zero™ sites are already reducing more than 60,000 tons of CO2e emissions from our operations per year, demonstrating how electrification, digitalization and energy efficiency can deliver measurable progress toward low-carbon manufacturing.

Through continued investment in renewable electricity, electrified processes, and smart energy management, ABB’s Sasbach site is becoming a future-ready manufacturing location that combines environmental responsibility with strong operational performance, supporting a more resilient and efficient industrial base for the region.

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@ABBgroupnews @abb_automation @admiralpr #PAuto #Sustainability #Germany

Space saving indicators.

With standard and custom illuminated bi-color graphics, providing a clear user interface in a very compact form factor.

The new DUAL ICON series 14mm panel-mount LED indicators from APEM, join their established line of dual-indicating pushbuttons. Bi-color dual indication provides a compact yet durable option for delivering more information to users of industrial, commercial, marine, and other equipment. DUAL ICON indicators are an elegant way to provide enhanced operational information to the user, without the need to resort to more complex and expensive digital interfaces.

Many applications entail presenting multi-state information to users, but control panels are limited in space. Digital displays are sometimes a possibility, although they represent a costly, complex, and even fragile approach. LED indicators are a familiar and highly visible component, and APEM DUAL ICON indicators provide double the information in a clear and efficient package, streamlining solutions.

A robust threaded barrel with anti-rotation D-cut is sized to fit industry-standard holes and panels, consuming minimal back-of-panel space. The flush bezel—made of plated brass and featuring black E-coat—seals the front of the device to provide an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, and it will withstand salt spray, humidity, extreme temperatures, and shock/vibration.

Green and red filters combine with vivid LED lighting to produce a 120° viewing angle with three different operational states: off, green icon/image, and red icon/image. Custom designs are possible, but several standard configurations are available to support many common applications:

• Green “I” for on, red “O” for off
• Green “ON”, red “OFF”
• Green “START”, red “STOP”
• Green battery full icon, red battery low icon
• Green left arrow, red right arrow

DUAL ICON indicators are available with solder FASTON terminals or three 200mm long flying leads. They are designed for nominal 12V DC operation compatible with most vehicles and industrial equipment, and typically draw just 20mA for energy efficiency. Solid state design delivers a life expectancy of 100,000 hours. DUAL ICON indicators meet the requirements for UL Recognition and other industry-relevant standards.

OEM and industrial designers should find many usability and performance advantages by integrating APEM DUAL ICON indicators into their products as an effective operator interface solution.

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@APEM_HMI @APEMINC @IDECUSA #PAuto #OEM

Redefining test development, productivity and efficiency.

Milestone with enhanced Ai for Flagship Test and Measurement software platform.

An updated version of NI Nigel™ AI, the industry’s first test-optimised AI technology, as well as new capabilities across its NI LabVIEW+ Suite have been announced by Emerson. This iteration of Nigel AI introduces code completion and contextual awareness of test projects and local hardware to further accelerate test development. Nigel AI is available through the LabVIEW+ Suite, a complete set of purpose-built tools created to aid test engineers with built-in expertise at their fingertips.

“We recognise that the role of an engineer is far more than just programming,” said Rudy Sengupta, vice president and general manager, NI test and analytics software, Emerson. “That’s why we created the LabVIEW+ Suite, to serve test professionals in a more comprehensive and intuitive way. The suite lets engineers carry context, configurations and data with them as they switch from task to task, saving significant time and empowering them to focus on the most valuable parts of their role."

The new technology reflects Emerson’s vision of reimagining productivity in the age of AI, empowering test engineers to keep pace with rising expectations for speed and efficiency while unlocking new levels of innovation through tools designed expressly for their work. This iteration builds on the initial release of Nigel AI last year with new capabilities. To better serve engineers, it has been taught test system design, test methodologies and test data analysis.

Nigel AI now has a code completion feature that suggests several intelligent next-step options during development, helping engineers select the best choice for their workflow while saving valuable programing time and avoiding potential errors. Nigel AI also gains contextual awareness of NI LabVIEW™ projects and the ability to review NI TestStand™ sequences and access local hardware, giving engineers context-rich support that accelerates development and improves accuracy.

Further enhancements to the LabVIEW+ Suite are designed to serve the large, global community of users with new features that enhance productivity and help to meet the most challenging test requirements.

New features in this release include:

• Modern user interfaces leveraging new web technologies in LabVIEW and TestStand.
• Improved debugging workflows in LabVIEW with better source code control integration.
• Containerisation through Docker Desktop™ support for Windows™ improving CI/CD pipelines.
• Installer enhancements for faster set-up.

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@EmersonExchange @Emerson_News @EMR_Automation @NIglobal #TandM #Ai

The importance of half a degree!

Roughly 80% of the world’s data centres still rely on air cooling. Fixing a ‘half-degree’ error there can avoid around $805 million (€678m)  in cooling waste every year, about $8 billion (€6.78b) over a decade, based on moderate 10 MW sites. Origo is a next-generation modular measurement platform designed to transform environmental monitoring in data centres and other mission-critical buildings from Vaisala.

Why half a degree matters.
A temperature sensor off by just 0.5 °C (32.9 °F) might sound trivial, but for example in a 10 MW data centre, that small error can cost more than $800,000 (€678,190) in wasted cooling energy over ten years. In life science cleanrooms, for example, the stakes are even higher: any critical environmental parameter such as temperature or relative humidity can compromise product integrity or research outcomes, with losses that go far beyond energy costs.

There are an estimated 12,000 data centres worldwide, with the U.S. and Europe accounting for more than a half. While liquid and hybrid cooling are growing fast for high density AI workloads, air cooling remains the universal foundation of data centre thermal management. It provides the room-level baseline cooling every facility needs, while liquid cooling adds targeted, high efficiency heat removal for the hottest racks. As a result, hybrid architectures —air for space, liquid for the densest loads— are now standard in both new builds and retrofit projects.

Impact at scale.

Reliable, precise measurement is critical for optimizing air-cooled environments. “Generic sensors with ±0.5 °C accuracy drive overcooling and energy waste, costing operators tens of thousands of dollars annually. Origo’s precise ±0.1°C and ±1 %RH accuracy and stable measurements reduce unnecessary cooling while ensuring the reliable environmental control that critical facilities depend on. It translates to performance that pays for itself in months and protects uptime for years to come,” says Anu Kätkä, Vaisala’s Product Line Manager for HVAC and Critical Buildings.

Applied at global scale, eliminating the “half-degree” error across today’s predominantly air-cooled installed base — roughly 80% of the world’s ~12,000 data centres — would avoid around $805 million in wasted cooling energy every year, totaling approximately $8 billion (€678b) over a decade.

With data centres consuming about 1.5% of global energy, and demand set to more than double by 2030, precision sensing is essential to keep energy use and emissions in check while safeguarding IT performance.

For today and tomorrow.
Origo is engineered for simplicity and long-term adaptability. Its modular design enables monitoring of multiple parameters through Vaisala’s compatible probes, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and dew point sensors, on the same platform. This flexibility makes Origo a future-proof solution that adapts to evolving measurement requirements also in other critical environments such as cleanrooms, life science applications, and semiconductor manufacturing.

Origo ensures accurate measurements and dependable performance throughout its service life, helping operators protect processes, reduce risk, and optimize resources. Its field‑replaceable probes allow quick on‑site updates with minimal interruption. Vaisala’s wide range of services, from accredited calibrations to technical support, is available to complement on‑site expertise.

Key facts briefly.
• The world runs on approximately 12,000 data centres; U.S. + Europe together represent well over a half of all sites
• Air cooling remains a standard baseline for most facilities; liquid is growing fast for high-density AI, often in hybrid setups
• A 0.5 °C error can cost a 10 MW data centre more than $800,000 (€678,190) in cooling energy over 10 years
• Vaisala Origo delivers ±0.1 °C temperature accuracy and ±1 %RH humidity accuracy for stable, reliable environmental control
• Modular design and multi‑parameter capability suit critical environments such as data centres, cleanrooms, hospitals, production facilities, and semiconductor environments.

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@_Enviro_News #DataCentres #Cooling #PAuto

Emergency call certification for Europe.

Anruitsu's Hybrid eCall evaluation solution, featuring the eCall Tester MX703330E, has obtained industry-first*1 European EN 18052:2025 certification following testing by cetecom advanced, a leader in electronic equipment certification. The certification confirms reliable end to end validation of Hybrid eCall systems operating across 2G and 3G circuit-switched and 4G packet-switched networks.

This certification enables automotive manufacturers and suppliers to more efficiently validate Hybrid eCall systems in line with European regulatory requirements, supporting robust emergency call performance across mixed network environments.

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* For Hybrid eCall-compatible PSAP simulators (Anritsu survey, January 2026)

See also:
• Reliable emergency calls anywhere, from 2G/3G to 4G. (7/10/2025)
• Emergency call test solution selected. (21/1/2026)

@Anritsu @AnritsuEMEA @NapierPR #Automotive #TandM #Europe

2D smart cameras.

Industrial vision with Edge Ai.

The launch of Gocator® 2D Smart Cameras has been announced by LMI Technologies. This is a new class of industrial 2D vision systems that deliver high-speed imaging, high-performance processing with NVIDIA Orin NX, edge-native Ai, rapid deployment, and factory-ready integration in a single, rugged device.

“The Gocator 2D Smart Camera is built for the reality of factory-floor vision: customers want precision results at line speed without the overhead of PC-based systems,” said Mark Radford, CEO of LMI Technologies. “By combining high-speed imaging with edge-native AI and our GoPxL drag-and-drop software interface in a single rugged device, we’re delivering a true all-in-one 2D vision system-fast and easy to deploy, deterministic in operation, and designed to scale into unified inspection on one platform.”

Built on the proven Gocator® smart platform and powered by GoPxL® vision inspection software, Gocator 2D Smart Cameras deliver LMI’s industrial-grade reliability to 2D inspection-without the need for PCs, external compute, or cloud connectivity. Using browser-based, drag-and-drop workflows, inspections can be designed, validated, and deployed in hours rather than weeks. The result is faster commissioning, lower total cost of ownership, and deterministic, real-time inspection performance on the factory floor.

These 2D Smart Cameras integrate the camera, processor, and vision software into one IP67-rated industrial unit, eliminating the complexity and maintenance overhead associated with traditional PC-based vision systems. Available in 5 MP and 12 MP global-shutter models, Gocator 2D Smart Cameras capture low-noise images at up to 84 frames per second with sub-10 ms latency, supporting high-speed production environments.

On-device AI and rule-based vision tools run side-by-side, enabling a wide range of inspection tasks-including defect detection, measurement, OCR, barcode reading, color inspection, and traceability-executed directly on the camera. Native support for EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, Modbus, and MQTT enables seamless integration into modern automation and PLC environments.

Gocator 2D Smart Cameras leverage NVIDIA Jetson™ Orin NX edge processing to deliver the AI performance required for demanding industrial inspection applications while maintaining deterministic, real-time operation.

At the core of the Gocator 2D Smart Camera is GoPxL, LMI’s unified vision software platform. Using a browser-based interface and drag-and-drop workflows, users can design, validate, and deploy inspections in hours rather than weeks-without writing code.

GoPxL supports live debugging, Replay-based validation, and the ability to combine AI-based tools with traditional vision algorithms within a single inspection pipeline. The platform is open and extensible, supporting Python scripting and advanced workflows for manufacturers and system integrators with specialized requirements.

Gocator 2D Smart Cameras are optimized for single-camera and small multi-station applications, where PC-based systems often introduce unnecessary cost, maintenance, and cybersecurity concerns. By delivering high-quality results directly on the device, the platform supports rapid deployment and repeatable rollout across lines and cells.

As inspection requirements grow, the same GoPxL platform provides a clear extensibility path-scaling inspection logic, AI models, and workflows across devices without abandoning existing work. For manufacturers already using Gocator® 3D Smart Sensors, Gocator 2D integrates seamlessly into the same ecosystem, sharing a common user interface, job files, and data model for unified 2D + 3D inspection.

Unlike traditional smart cameras or PC-centric vision solutions, Gocator 2D delivers a complete industrial vision system in a single device-reducing integration effort, accelerating commissioning, and lowering total ownership costs. With a perpetual licensing model and no cloud or subscription dependencies, Gocator 2D Smart Cameras are designed for long-term industrial uptime. The result: smarter, simpler, and scalable 2D vision-ready for production.

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@lmi3d @PresseBox #PAuto #Ai

Research facility in venerable university.

Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca – also known as UBB – is the oldest university in Romania, reaching back to 1581, and standing as one of the pinnacle institutions of Romanian academia. This is due to both its centuries-old heritage and its constant focus on future areas of study, research, and innovation. Recently, the Faculty of Engineering in Reșița, a branch of UBB, was able to access a program funded by the West Regional Development Agency to equip the research laboratory with a Mitutoyo coordinate measuring machine, with the aim of training students' skills.

 Mitutoyo MiSTAR 555 coordinate measuring machine defining the X and Y axes by measuring the part's outer cylinder.

UBB houses 50,000 students and features a distinctive multicultural profile in the European university landscape. The university has three major lines of study: the Romanian line of study, the Hungarian line of study, and the German line of study, offering also other languages for instruction, such as French, English, etc.

Although UBB took over the responsibility for the Faculty of Engineering in 2020, the academic history of Reșița goes back even further. The first technical students began their studies here in 1971. At that time, Reșița's rapidly developing industry needed engineers, and they filled this need.

As an integral part of UBB Cluj-Napoca, the Faculty of Engineering aims to provide initial and continuing professional training through bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs, as well as specialization/advanced training courses in fields relevant to the regional needs. Another component of the Faculty of Engineering's mission is to support the business and public institutional environments through applied research on relevant topics to this region. The high number of engineers from Reșița recruited to research and production teams in the country and abroad, is a testament to the high quality professional training provided by the University.

“The Faculty of Engineering has – and has had over the years – teaching staff with rich experience in the industrial environment, who bring added value to teaching and research activities. The major fields of study addressed are mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and applied computer science. In addition to coursework, our students also carry out activities within student circles, develop their own research (at their level), and manage to participate in many national competitions on technical topics," said Prof. Univ. Dr. Ing. Gilbert-Rainer Gillich, the dean of the Faculty of Engineering (right).

To ensure students the best mix of academic education and practical experience, the Faculty of Engineering decided to invest in high-performance technological equipment. Thus, through a program financed by the West Regional Development Agency, the educational institution managed to access the necessary funds to equip its own research laboratory with a Mitutoyo MiSTAR 555 coordinate measuring machine (CMM).

MiSTAR 555 is a 3D CNC coordinate measuring machine, which is highly reliable because of real-time temperature compensation technology that guarantees accuracy over a wide temperature range.

Commenting on the new Mitutoyo measuring machine purchase, Prof. Gillich said: “We wanted this machine because it is a high-performance piece of equipment, and with the educational software packages provided, we can train students, provide them with skills and competencies that are required by private company in the region. We were fortunate enough to receive a good offer from Mitutoyo, which led to our purchase of a top-notch machine.”

Relying on decades of experience, Mitutoyo equipment is precise, reliable, and robust, a prerequisite when these machines are used frequently by students. In addition, Mitutoyo offers educational software packages with 20 licenses, high-quality training, and technical support. The software is easy to use, intuitive, and provides detailed reports, which is another critical request for both teaching staff and researchers.

"MiSTAR 555 is used in numerous laboratory experiments across several disciplines. We manage to create applications very close to industrial ones, in the sense that measurements are taken on parts received from industry partners, new parts, or parts with a certain degree of wear. The dimensions that this machine can accommodate are 500x500x500 mm, and the accuracy is 2.2 microns," Prof. Gilbert-Rainer Gillich said.

Components manufactured today are more complex than ever, with a greater diversity of parts and tighter tolerances than ever before. This necessitates the enhancement of quality control and other metrological processes in the manufacturing process.

“The machine uses MCosmos software for dimensional measurements, and with the Geopak, CAT1000, and Scanpak component modules, you can perform precise measurements by touch scanning or point measurements for parts across the industry.”

At an advanced level of research, for both master's and doctoral students, a high-tech solution like this was the best choice for keeping up with future engineering and technological concepts. Now, with the help of Mitutoyo Romania, this was possible.

"Why do we like this machine? Besides its capabilities, the machine offers a user-friendly interface and allows the generation of measurement programs in an intuitive way. The educational software packages allow us to work simultaneously with groups of students. We particularly appreciate the availability, flexibility, and promptness with which Mitutoyo Romania offered us support, both for laboratory activities and for industrial applications. The training on how to use the machine was interactive and oriented towards practical applications. I confidently recommend Mitutoyo coordinate measuring machines to both private company and universities," Prof. Gilbert-Rainer Gillich concluded.

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@mitutoyo @UnivBabesBolyai @MitutoyoFrance  @mepaxIntPR #TandM #Education #Romania

Safe servo drive.

The Festo CMMT-AS-MP-S3 servo drive is a new product designed to simplify the implementation of high-level extended safety in automated machinery. Building on the trusted technology in their CMMT-AS servo drive range, the CMMT-AS-S3 addresses the needs of modern engineering by combining motion control and extended safety functionality in a single, compact unit. The new servo drive is particularly suited to demanding functional safety applications in assembly and handling technology, packaging machines, or the electronics industry.

Ben Lloyd, Product Manager for Electric Automation at Festo, explains: “The CMMT-AS-S3 delivers the power and precision Festo customers expect, but with extended and integrated safety features. We’ve packaged everything into a compact servo drive that requires no additional wiring or modules, delivering space and cost savings and reducing complexity while meeting the highest standards of functional safety.”

The CMMT-AS-S3 servo drive offers advanced safety and performance in applications ranging from 300 W to 12 kW. Enabling users to achieve up to PLe, SIL3, Category 3 & 4 safety levels, the new servo drive features Safe Torque Off (STO), Safe Brake Control (SBC), Safe Stop 1 and 2 (SS1 and SS2) and Safe Operating Stop (SOS), as well as Safe Maximum Speed (SMS), and Safely Limited Speed (SLS). The CMMT-AS-S3 can be used to achieve extended safety in linear or rotational motion applications in conjunction with all Festo mechanics.

Software engineers benefit from seamless integration with the Festo overall pneumatic and electric automation portfolio with multi-protocol support for common Ethernet-based fieldbuses, such as EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP™, PROFINET and ModbusTCP.

Standard safety parameters can be set without using software, but programming the CMMT-AS-S3 via the Festo Automation Suite (FAS) saves time and offers guidance at every stage. An intuitive graphical interface makes it simple to achieve safety setup, validation, commissioning, programming, diagnostics, and firmware updates. FAS saves commissioning time by offering realistic preset values and guided validation of safety functions. It also supports I/O and fieldbus configuration and the ability to generate validation reports.

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@FestoGB @festo_global @Publitek #PAuto #Manufacturing

Vendor‑agnostic OT/IoT cybersecurity solutions.

Nozomi Networks has confirmed that Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has completed its acquisition of the company. Originally announced last September, the transaction marks the start of a new phase of growth for Nozomi Networks while preserving the company’s independent operations, vendor‑neutral technology roadmap, and established go‑to‑market partnerships. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nozomi Networks will continue to support the full OT/ICS ecosystem with the same open, multi‑vendor approach that has made it a trusted partner to critical infrastructure operators worldwide.

This milestone follows a year of exceptional momentum for Nozomi Networks. The company recently surpassed $100M in annual revenue and now serves many of the world’s largest enterprises, including 5 of the top 10 oil and gas companies, 7 of the top 10 pharmaceutical manufacturers, 7 of the top 10 utilities and 4 of the top 10 mining operations. Nozomi Networks is also the first privately held OT cybersecurity company to achieve sustained cash flow and break‑even performance - further underscoring the strength of its model, the durability of its platform, and the confidence organizations place in its independent, vendor‑agnostic approach.

Other notable milestones the company achieved in 2025 include:

• Significant new and expanded partnerships with global technology leaders including Schneider Electric, Hitachi Cyber, Nvidia, Dispel, and Xona
• 24% employee headcount growth
• Among the fastest growing companies in North America on the 2025 Deloitte Technology Fast 500™
• Named to Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies 2025 list
• Named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for CPS Protection Platforms and is a Leader in the Forrester Wave for IoT Security, as well as the only recognized Customers' Choice in Gartner's Voice of the Customer for CPS Protection platforms
• Recognized by Gartner as “The Company to Beat for AI in CPS Protection Platforms”

Edgard Capdevielle

“Mitsubishi Electric acquired Nozomi Networks for the same reasons our customers trust us every day,” said Nozomi Networks CEO Edgard Capdevielle. “We have a proven track record of innovation and industry leadership and a unique vendor-agnostic approach that is a critical ingredient to our success. We will continue to advance the highest levels of quality and excellence in our platform and relationships that we always have moving forward as an independent subsidiary of Mitsubishi Electric, and we’re excited about the opportunities this brings.”

This success is underpinned by its market-leading platform, the most complete of any offering on the market. Nozomi Networks platform delivers comprehensive asset visibility, defends all attack surfaces, and helps enterprises evolve to a risk-based cybersecurity management posture. Most notably, Nozomi Networks has embedded AI since its inception, consistently pushing the boundaries of how this technology can transform OT/IoT cybersecurity. It made several enhancements to its platform in 2025, including the release of its latest version of Arc, the industry’s first cybersecurity solution to safely automate threat response in operational environments, and Vantage IQ, the world’s first private, company-trained AI assistant for OT/IoT security teams.

Andrea Carcano

“This acquisition brings us into a new era of innovation. It positions us to better serve our customers globally and meet the needs of an early majority market and the challenges of a rapidly evolving OT/IoT cybersecurity landscape,” said Nozomi Networks Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Andrea Carcano. “Nozomi is solidly positioned to extend its stature as the leader in OT/IoT cybersecurity. There is much more ahead for us, with game changing new innovations coming in 2026. We look forward to working with our customers and partners to deliver the best possible solution.”

As an independent subsidiary, Nozomi Networks remains committed to serving all its customers and partners, and maintains its brand, leadership, teams, and operations. Nozomi’s teams, offices, and points of contact remain unchanged, ensuring a seamless experience for all its stakeholders.

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@NozomiNetwork @ME_Europe @MEIrishbranch @MitsubishiElect @meuk_les #PAuto #Cybersecurity

Automotive safety.

Thermal Infrared Camera for Improved Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking and Autonomous Vehicle Safety.

Tura™, the first Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL-B) thermal longwave infrared (LWIR) camera has been developed in compliance with ISO 26262 functional safety (FuSa) standards. FLIR's Tura is purpose-built to meet the stringent perception requirements for vehicle-based night vision, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and autonomous vehicles (AV) that demand high performance, low supply risk, and cost-effective thermal solutions.

The automotive-qualified Tura features a new, high-performance passive 640 × 512 resolution far-infrared (FIR) sensor with industry-leading sensitivity critical for detecting and classifying pedestrians, animals, and other vulnerable roadway users. It delivers perception far beyond headlights in complete darkness and through challenging conditions such as fog, smoke, sun glare, and headlight glare.

"Safety and reliability are non-negotiable pillars of autonomous technology, and Tura sets a new industry benchmark with compatible FuSa features starting from the sensor," said Paul Clayton, President and GM, Teledyne FLIR OEM. "We have manufactured more than one million automotive thermal camera modules over the last twenty years for driver warning systems and will continue to provide a high-volume, cost-effective solution."

Teledyne FLIR OEM and Valeo, a key technology partner of mobility players around the globe, previously announced their collaboration, and “Valeo and Teledyne FLIR will deliver the first Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) B thermal imaging technology for night vision ADAS. This system will complement Valeo’s large range of sensors and rely on Valeo’s ADAS software stack to support functions such as automatic emergency braking (AEB) at night for passenger and commercial vehicles as well as for autonomous cars.”

Tura enhances lifesaving pedestrian automatic emergency braking (PAEB) and helps provide a smoother, safer ride. It also supports the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 127, which requires higher-speed nighttime test scenarios where existing AEB systems struggle.

Teledyne FLIR OEM thermal cameras are also deployed in fully autonomous vehicles. In addition to delivering forward-looking perception data, multiple thermal camera modules can be integrated to enhance 360-degree situational awareness. This enables reliable detection of heat-emitting objects—such as people, vehicles, and animals even in low-visibility conditions.

The Tura thermal camera module includes key safety and reliability features:

• ASIL-B Compliance: Developed in accordance with ISO 26262 FuSa standards.

• All-Weather Operation: Heated IP6K9K enclosure ensures reliable 24/7/365 performance.

• Shutterless Design: AEC-Q-qualified components maximize uptime, power efficiency, and affordability.

• AI-Optimized Integration: Simplified deployment with Teledyne FLIR OEM’s training data and Prism™ perception software, trained with millions of annotations.

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@flir @mepaxIntPR  #Automotive #Safety

Best innovator award.

Work of pioneer in industrial image processing for customer recognised.

The high-tech company TRUMPF has presented three partner companies with the Supplier Award for their outstanding and long-standing cooperation. IDS Imaging Development Systems GmbH received the "Best Innovator" award for its exceptional innovative strength.

The Why!
IDS developed a tailor-made solution for a strategically important area of application at TRUMPF in record time. It combines uEye Live monitoring technology with the intelligent IDS NXT camera platform, enabling high-resolution 4K streaming with maximum IP code 69K protection. This is laying the foundation for new opportunities in the areas of remote operation, process digitalisation and machine autonomy – key topics for the future of manufacturing.

LtoR: Dr Mathias Kammüller, Chief Digital Officer  & Managing Partner, TRUMPF, Alexander Lewinsky, MD, Jan Hartmann, Managing Partner,IDS Imaging and Jan Kistner Head of Corporate Purchasing, TRUMPF

.

“Trust, quality, and working together to move forward are our top priorities in our collaboration with our suppliers. With the TRUMPF Supplier Awards, we recognize partners who go above and beyond the everyday – through outstanding reliability, exceptional innovative strength, and the courage to break new ground with us,” says Jan Kistner, Head of Corporate Purchasing at TRUMPF. 

"This recognition shows that we are on the right track with our innovation strategy," says Jan Hartmann, managing partner of IDS. "We would like to thank all teams for their outstanding efforts and look forward to many more exciting projects with TRUMPF."

The award highlights the importance of innovation and partnership-based cooperation for the future of industrial manufacturing. IDS will continue to pursue this path consistently.

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@IDS_Imaging @TRUMPFinc @mepaxIntPR #Pauto #Manufacturing

IIoT portfolio strengthened.

WIKA acquired a majority stake in Asystom SAS in December (2025). This is a French company specialising in industrial smart monitoring and predictive maintenance solutions. The measurement technology manufacturer and IIoT solution provider has held a stake in Asystom since 2024. As the majority shareholder, WIKA now intends to play an even more active role in shaping the company’s strategic direction. The global network of their subsidiaries is to strengthen the sales and servicing of the Asystom solutions – for example for installation. WIKA will also use its research and development resources to collaborate with Asystom on the continuous development of its portfolio.

Asystom develops advanced sensors and intelligent solutions for the remote monitoring of industrial systems. The company’s core offering is based on embedded acoustic and vibration data processing technologies, combined with AI-driven analytics and diagnostic tools that enable continuous machine health monitoring. Multisensor instruments support signal acquisition, while the IIoT software layer analyses the data and detects deviations using machine learning. This enables companies in the process and manufacturing industries to identify anomalies at an early stage and perform targeted maintenance on their systems. Users can therefore avoid costly failures and organise their maintenance processes much more efficiently.

“WIKA sees itself as a driver for the development of pioneering IIoT technologies,” says Thomas Hasenoehrl, WIKA’s Vice President IIoT Systems & Solutions. “The majority stake in Asystom is another strategic milestone in this regard. The IIoT offers enormous optimisation potential for the industry, particularly in the field of predictive maintenance. With its innovative, scalable solution, Asystom complements our partner network perfectly.”

Pierre Naccache, Asystom’s CEO, says: “Industrial players need solutions that stand the test of time. With WIKA, we combine global deployment capabilities and a shared technology vision to deliver a complete, integrable and scalable approach that brings together sensors, connectivity, software and services, addressing industrial needs in the short, medium and long term. Our ambition goes beyond predictive maintenance alone: we want to provide an open and future-proof foundation for collecting, processing and turning industrial sensor data into actionable value at scale.”

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@WIKANews  @asystom #PAuto  #IIoT

Sustainability calculator.

Rockwell Automation’s Sustainability Calculator for Repairs enables manufacturers to factor CO2e emissions and waste reduction into the lifecycle management of industrial assets. The calculator provides estimates based on the globally standardised GHG Protocol for the amount of carbon emissions, energy, and waste that would be saved by repairing an asset instead of replacing it.

In FY25, Rockwell’s Sustainability Calculator estimated a total of 4.12M kg CO2e avoided emissions and 273K kg avoided waste for our customers as a result of them choosing to remanufacture or repair industrial assets. See the company’s 2025 Sustainability Report.

“The Sustainability Calculator for Repairs makes it simple for manufacturers to quantify and track sustainability metrics aligned with industry standards like the GHG Protocol’s global framework for scope 3 emissions,” said Abhishek Mehrotra, Lifecycle Services integrated customer experience manager.

The calculator is now available in most regions worldwide for Rockwell customers. Manufacturers can get a preview of their potential savings at no cost using the Sustainability Calculator for Repairs to explore the benefits of incorporating repair and remanufacturing into their operations to support their sustainability goals.

CPG manufacturer reduces CO2e emissions and hazardous waste with repair.
A global consumer packaged goods (CPG) company wanted to quantify the environmental impact of repairing industrial automation assets in one of their plants in Britain. Rockwell collaborated with this customer to better understand the sustainability issues and challenges driving their need to take action and improve operations visibility. Based on insights from Rockwell’s Sustainability Calculator, the manufacturer decided to leverage Rockwell Automation repair services, resulting in an estimated 91% reduction in CO2e emissions and avoidance of 8% of hazardous waste being sent to a landfill.

The CPG manufacturer was also able to quantify the environmental impact of their Scope 3 emissions, specifically Category 1 (purchased goods and services) and Category 4 (upstream transportation) using Rockwell’s Sustainability Calculator for Repairs.

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@ROKAutomation @ROKAutoEMEA #PAuto #Sustainability.

Esteemed Fellows in Automation.

The esteemed Fellow member grade is one of the ISA's (The International Society of Automation) highest honours, recognising only those Senior Members who have made exceptional contributions to the automation profession, in practice or in academia. “ISA is honored to recognise these outstanding achievers whose remarkable contributions have advanced the automation industry,” said Ashley Weckwerth, ISA president. “We thank everyone who submitted nominations and congratulate those being elevated to Fellow. It is a privilege to recognise their accomplishments.”

Eight individuals have been elevated to this distinguished grade for 2026.

John Cusimano

• Armexa
• For pioneering cybersecurity integration in industrial automation, leading ISA/IEC 62443 standards and advancing education and best practices in control systems and cybersecurity through community leadership.

Sarah Fluchs

• Admeritia GmbH
• For pioneering cybersecurity integration into industrial automation engineering, leading influential standards efforts and bridging the gap between control engineering and cybersecurity through groundbreaking research, tools and international community leadership. 

Ramachandra Kerur

• Sunlux Technovations Pvt Ltd
• For pioneering high-reliability automation and fault-tolerant control systems for defense, space, metro and industry, enabling safe, uninterrupted operations in critical environments, impacting over 100 space and industrial missions. 

Rao Mannepalli

• Leidos
• For pioneering leadership and sustained contributions in the development of advanced aerospace technologies and systems, including missiles, launch vehicles and weapons systems, significantly advancing national defense and space exploration. 

Andrew McDonald

• FutureofManufacturing LLC
• For pioneering a standard communication language for packaging machinery, and championing standards and innovation in the digitalisation of manufacturing through the application of advanced technologies. 

 Glenn Anthony Merrell

• Industrial Control Systems Security
• For exceptional contributions to the field of, and global recognition for, industrial control systems security, training, automation and control systems, critical infrastructure protection and global advancement of standards, security workforce development. 

Eloise L. Roche

• SIS-TECH Solutions, LP
• For significant contributions to the process industries functional safety in safety instrumented system technology through development of guidance, standards, training courses, publications and presentations. Constantino 

Seixas Filho

• Accenture
• For pioneering control and automation engineering education and advancing remote operations center implementation across Brazil, significantly shaping the growth and professionalisation of the automation field in Latin America.

Congratulations are due to ISA’s class of 2026 Fellows. Nominations for 2027 will open in June 2026.

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@ISA_Automation @automation_com  @ISAIreland #PAuto #Automation

Tool automates batch record creation.

Streamlining Life Sciences recipe creation for faster time to market.

The just announced DeltaV™ MES Recipe Importer Tool is a no-code paper-on-glass application designed to eliminate traditional barriers to digitalisation. By automating recipe creation, the software empowers pharmaceutical manufacturers to accelerate deployment and bring lifesaving treatments to market faster – even with limited information technology (IT) resources and no manufacturing execution system (MES) coding expertise.

“Many batch records that an operator must follow contain hundreds of steps, and building recipes has traditionally been tedious and extremely time-consuming,” said Nathan Pettus, president of Emerson’s process systems and solutions business*. “Our new DeltaV Recipe Importer Tool empowers teams to accomplish months of work in just a few days, accelerating validation and production while reducing costs and improving agility.”

Traditionally, converting paper batch records into digital MES recipes is a complex, time-consuming process requiring multiple workshops, configurations, reviews, tests and coding expertise. These steps often take months and demand close collaboration between IT and operational technology teams (e.g., manufacturing, quality, process, etc.). The DeltaV MES Recipe Importer Tool eliminates these bottlenecks, significantly reducing recipe creation timelines.

With a no-code approach, process developers can streamline batch record digitisation by first translating paper batch records into a preformatted Microsoft Word™ template that includes clear, step-by-step instructions. This template is then uploaded into the DeltaV MES Recipe Importer Tool for conversion into a digital batch record. Once converted, developers review and validate all content, including process instructions, step numbers and required signatures. Finally, they can use the built-in simulation tool to test workflow execution before moving into production, ensuring accuracy and compliance.

The DeltaV MES Recipe Importer Tool is part of Emerson’s Digital Batch Record (DBR) solution, which uses a streamlined approach to digitalising batch execution from recipe creation through manufacturing review. Built on the DeltaV MES platform, DBR eliminates error-prone paper processes while enabling audit-ready traceability, electronic signatures and simplified compliance – all within a validated environment.

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*The DeltaV MES Recipe Importer Tool and Emerson’s DBR solution will be on display at Emerson Exchange 2026, to be held May 19-21 in Dubai (UAE).

@EmersonExchange @Emerson_News @EMR_Automation @HHC_Lewis #PAuto #MES 

Embedded in Asia.

Anchoring high-value embedded computing capabilities in Malaysia.

The establishment of congatec's new subsidiary in Penang, Malaysia, marks a strategic expansion of its engineering and research footprint in Asia. The move signals congatec’s commitment to anchoring high-value embedded computing design, customisation and technical support capabilities in Malaysia as part of its global “local for local” strategy.

As part of the expansion, congatec has onboarded an experienced embedded engineering team from Kontron Asia, comprising 23 specialised engineers, with plans to scale the Penang operation to approximately 70 employees over the medium term. The new subsidiary strengthens congatec’s regional research and development (R&D) and technical support capabilities, enabling faster development cycles, application-ready (aReady.) solutions and closer collaboration with customers across the Asia-Pacific market.

Dato’ Loo Lee Lian, Chief Executive Officer of InvestPenang (representing the Right Honourable Mr. Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang), stated, “Penang’s 50 years of industrialisation has shaped a deep and highly skilled talent base spanning engineering, design, manufacturing, and advanced technologies. This long-standing industrial maturity enables investors like congatec to scale R&D, technical support, and regional operations efficiently, supported by talent that is both globally competitive and industry-ready.” 

“We are confident that congatec’s presence will generate meaningful technological spillovers for Penang. The integration of “Designed in Germany” quality standards with Penang’s robust industrial ecosystem—supported by our highly skilled talent—will create strong synergies for innovation and growth.”

Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), said, “congatec’s expansion to establish its R&D subsidiary in Penang exemplifies Malaysia’s shift towards high-value, innovation-driven activities within our electrical and electronics ecosystem. This investment underscores the growing recognition of Malaysia as a strategic location for advanced embedded computing capabilities. By anchoring sophisticated engineering and technical support functions here, we strengthen domestic R&D capacity, accelerate technology adoption, and create meaningful career pathways for Malaysian engineering talent. Aligned with the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, congatec's expansion contributes to Malaysia's position as a competitive hub for next-generation embedded and edge computing innovation in the region.”

Dr. Dominik Ressing, CEO of congatec, stated, “The opening of our Malaysian subsidiary is a natural next step in our ‘local for local’ philosophy. Regional development and support resources enable us to respond faster and more precisely to local requirements. Our goal is to improve customers’ time-to-market, total cost of ownership, and return on investment through local engineering expertise, while reducing barriers to application development across the APAC region.”

Mr. Konrad Garhammer, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of congatec, added, “We are delighted to welcome such an experienced and highly motivated engineering team to the congatec family. With our new location in the ‘Silicon Valley of the East,’ we gain access to an outstanding ecosystem of semiconductor manufacturers and production partners. This enables us to combine our German engineering DNA with the dynamism of the Asian market. The new team brings extensive experience in developing highly integrated embedded computing platforms, enabling us not only to expand our portfolio but also to deliver maintenance and support services within our customers’ time zones. Furthermore, we are gaining vital capabilities across production, production support, and production engineering - expertise we plan to expand further. These are decisive factors in ensuring operational excellence.”

The Penang centre will support the APAC market with standard and customised embedded computing platforms developed in alignment with congatec’s “Designed in Germany” quality standards. In addition to advanced x86-based solutions based on Intel and AMD processors, the team will develop Computer-on-Modules (COMs) leveraging technologies from Qualcomm, Texas Instrument, and NXP, alongside expanded aReady. software and solution stacks. These validated platforms are designed to shorten design-in cycles, reduce non-recurring engineering costs and accelerate customers’ time-to-market.

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@congatecAG @UnnGmbh #PAuto #Asia

Transceiver group.

The SIG (Special Interest Group) 48-V transceiver testing has been established by Can in Automation (CiA). The scope is the development of specifications related to CAN-based and LIN-based networks in 48-V supplied systems. This includes test plan specifications for 48-V physical media attachment (PMA) sublayer implementations.

The automotive industry is going to completely supply passenger cars with 48 V. The benefit: thinner power supply cables, reducing the wire harness weight. On the other hand, in-vehicle networks need to withstand higher voltage shorts. Loss of ground (GND) is also an issue. This means, PMA sublayer implementations such as PHYs, SBCs (system base chips), and stand-alone transceivers must not be destroyed by shorts.

The CiA specifications will extend the existing requirements given in ISO 11898-2 (CAN) and ISO 17987-4 (LIN). Additionally, CiA will specify related test cases for 48-V shorts and loss of GND. The SIG is chaired by Marko Moch, working with Cariad, a VW Group member (pictured).

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@CANopen #Automotive #Communications #Standards

Carbon dioxide sensor.

Engineered for accuracy, built to endure.

The SCD53 CO₂ sensor, from Sensirion, is designed to address an increasingly relevant challenge in gas sensing: maintaining accuracy long-term without relying on costly manual recalibration or regular exposure to outdoor fresh air. This their next generation high-performance CO₂ sensor is to be launched in late 2026.

Many sensors in use today successfully apply automatic baseline calibration algorithms (i.e., “ABC” or “ASC”) to maintain their accuracy over time. These assume regular exposure of the sensor to air at the atmospheric baseline concentration. However, not all applications can guarantee fulfillment of this condition, including demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) systems for permanently occupied spaces, exclusively mechanically ventilated buildings, or smart greenhouses.

The SCD53 combines Sensirion’s leading expertise in photoacoustic NDIR sensing with advanced laser technology for excellent long-term stability independent of fresh-air based recalibration algorithms. Furthermore, the sensor provides best-in-class accuracy, with robustness against dust, vibrations or mechanical forces. Integrated humidity and temperature compensation, as well as optional pressure correction, enable reliable readings across a demanding range of environmental conditions. On-demand measurements, compact sensor size and a reflow solderable LGA package make integrating SCD53 simple, flexible and cost-efficient.

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@sensirion #Environment #PAuto

Innovative optical quantum clock wins.

TOPTICLOCK has been awarded the 2026 SPIE Prism Award. The award in the Quantum Tech category was presented during a ceremony at Photonics West 2026 in San Francisco (CA USA), recognising outstanding achievements in photonics innovation. TOPTICLOCK is the first fully integrated, commercially available optical quantum clock based on a laser-cooled, single trapped Yb⁺ ion.

Housed in two robust 19” industrial rack units, it delivers a new benchmark in transportable frequency standards with relative frequency instability and accuracy at the 10⁻¹⁷ level. Designed for remote operation, it provides a stable optical frequency standard output at 871 nm, enabling seamless integration with optical frequency combs to realise rf or pulse per second outputs for timekeeping and advanced synchronisation.

LtoR: Mark Tolbert, CEO, Dr. Thomas Renner, President & CSO, Toptica, Dr. Stephan Ritter Senior Director, Dr. Wilhelm Kaenders President, Founder & CTO, and Dr. Jürgen Stuhler, VP Quantum Technologies. (Pic: SPIE and Joey Cobbs,TOPTICA Photonics SE)

“The transition from scientific instruments to be operated by expert personnel in academic laboratories into an industrial product for real-world environments has long been a goal for optical quantum clocks,” said Dr. Wilhelm Kaenders, President and founder of TOPTICA. “With TOPTICLOCK, we are closing this gap – making the world's most precise commercial time and frequency reference. We have already deployed first units at customer sites for high-end applications in navigation, metrology, and fundamental science.”

“We thank all people at TOPTICA who have been contributing to master this challenging endeavor and are grateful for the of the ongoing support from German national metrology institute PTB. A special thanks goes to our first lead customer for his trust in our capabilities to build the first version of TOPTICLOCK and the German ministry of science, technology and space (formerly named ministry for education and research) and the collaboration partners for funding and working on a predecessor research project “opticlock”, in which a first demonstrator of a single Yb+ ion clock was successfully realised.” adds Dr. Jürgen Stuhler, Vice President of Quantum Technologies and former coordinator of opticlock.

Unlike microwave-based cesium or optical rubidium clocks, TOPTICLOCK significantly outperforms hydrogen masers and other commercial frequency standards in both stability and accuracy. It was developed as a turnkey solution for users who demand cutting-edge performance without needing deep quantum technology expertise – combining push-button operation, auto-calibration, and user-definable sequences. Applications include:

• National and international time services (UTC) and contributions to TAI (Temps Atomique International)
• Network synchronization and long-term holdover in GNSS-denied environments (Global Navigation Satellite System)
• Satellite navigation and space-based infrastructure
• Fundamental quantum metrology and highest precision physics

TOPTICLOCK marks the company’s first complete commercial quantum technology solution, building on the company’s 30 years of expertise in narrow linewidth laser systems and optical frequency control.

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@TOPTICA_AG @PresseBox #Pauto #Photonics

Virtual commissioning of drive solutions.

NORD now offers digital twins for system development. Based on a myNORD configuration, it is now possible to request individually created drive systems as simulation models. This allows engineers to verify early in the planning phase whether the drive concept is suitable for the system. Virtual commissioning significantly reduces the project time even for complex systems.

Since the publication of the FMI (functional mock-up interface) technical standard in 2010, it has become more and more common to work with simulation models in system planning. NORD Drivesystems also uses data-based simulations for the development of its components and drive solutions. The system provider is now using this know-how to help its customers achieve greater efficiency and availability of its drive systems even in the planning phase by offering a digital service: With digital twins of its drives, NORD enables virtual commissioning.

Users can configure drive systems or components for their requirements as usual via the myNORD customer portal. They select components and their features such as performance, mounting options or outputs. Then, they can request a simulation model for the fully configured drive system. The process was developed by NORD in cooperation with the software company Machineering from Munich, which specialises in virtual commissioning.

The advantage of these digital twins of the NORD solutions is the significantly faster availability of the entire system. The simulation models are inserted into a similarly simulated system. In this environment, the drive configurations can be extensively tested. If adjustments are required, they can be easily implemented based on the data. Errors can be remedied in the early stages of development, avoiding potential later damage. Only once the virtual drive system has been validated by the customer, it will be manufactured and delivered by NORD. As the drives are already functionally integrated into the system control at this point, actual commissioning is possible in a very short time. The overall process from configuration to commissioning is reduced from several months to only a few weeks.

Virtual commissioning of drive systems is of special interest for any technically demanding solution. Therefore, NORD particularly focuses on components that play a decisive role in automating production processes. The manufacturer is kicking off the virtual commissioning with its range of high-efficiency IE5+ and IE4 motors, along with the corresponding gear units and frequency inverters. Simulation models will then gradually become available for other NORD product areas as well.

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@NORD_Drive @mepaxIntPR #Pauto