Company acquisition responds to building global sustainable demands.

Advancing technologies essential for achieving a carbon-neutral future.

The Board of Directors of Anritsu Corporation has approved the acquisition of 100% of shares in DEWETRON GmbH, a leading Austrian provider of power measurement and data collection instruments based in Grambach, (A) in April 2025. The share transfer agreement was signed with TKH Group N.V., a shareholder then. Completion of the transaction remains subject to standard regulatory approvals and general closing conditions.

DEWETRON specialises in high-speed power measurement and data-collection instruments that analyze various physical quantities. The company delivers comprehensive solutions combining sophisticated test instruments with tailored software to meet customer requirements across multiple sectors, including automotive, aerospace, renewable energy, and industrial applications. 

This acquisition responds to accelerating worldwide efforts toward building a sustainable society, particularly in electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle development, solar and wind renewable power, and infrastructure power optimization. These rapidly growing sectors require systems that simultaneously measure physical quantities and control data, alongside high-precision test instruments capable of evaluating even the smallest power losses with high accuracy.

This acquisition directly supports Anritsu's GLP2026 medium-term management plan, which identifies electric vehicles and battery technology as key development focus areas. Welcoming DEWETRON into the Anritsu Group will create significant synergies with high-capacity power supplies and charge/discharge test equipment developed by Anritsu's subsidiary TAKASAGO, LTD., as well as with Anritsu's existing test solutions.

The combined expertise will strengthen Anritsu's contribution to advancing technologies essential for achieving a carbon-neutral future.

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@Anritsu @AnritsuEMEA @DEWETRON @microwavevision @NapierPR #TandM  #Power

Management team at sensor manufacturer.

A new management team of at E+E Elektronik has been announced. Wolfgang Pucher has taken up his position as Technical Managing Director while Min Kim has been responsible for the Market Division in May 2024. This new set-up strengthens the company's management and provides new impulse for future development.

Wolfgang Pucher (top)
and Min Kim

Wolfgang Pucher took over the management of the Technology Division at E+E Elektronik on July 1, 2024. His area of responsibility includes development, production, quality management, calibration laboratory, IT and technical infrastructure. Wolfgang Pucher studied mechanical engineering and completed his doctorate in measurement technology at the Technical University of Graz. In 1997, the 61-year-old joined Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH, where he held numerous management positions in the development of measuring devices and precision machines. As Head of Development, he has many years of experience in development, production, assembly, quality management and marketing.

Min Kim has over 23 years of professional experience, including 15 years in various international management positions. The 52-year-old studied economics and business administration in Germany and built up his initial expertise in particular at the Robert Bosch Group in Asia-Pacific regions. His portfolio also ranges from global sales management to the integration of acquired companies. Since May 1, 2024, Mr. Kim has been responsible for the Market Division at E+E Elektronik. In this role, he is responsible for sales and marketing, product management, purchasing and logistics, human resources and all seven subsidiaries.

They are both two highly experienced managers. A statement from the company said, "Their expertise in their respective fields will contribute to developing E+E Elektronik from a recognized, solid company to an innovative global market leader with pioneering technology. Together, new market opportunities will be developed, and the customer base is to be expanded. In addition, the optimization of development and production processes and the promotion of innovative solutions are on the agenda.""

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• E+E Electronik products are marketed in Ireland through Instrument Technology.

#Epulse #PAuto #Austria

Gas analysis expert appointed for DACH region.

A new Key Account Manager for Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH) has been appointed by Servomex. Mehdi Regaya has a technical background in engineering and excellent market knowledge which will be highly beneficial in developing relationships and engaging with customers to support them further in meeting their gas analysis challenges.

Mehdi Regaya

Fulvio Sullini, EAI Sales Manager, said, “Mehdi has a proven track record in our industry and will be an asset both to the team and our wider customer base in the DACH region. His contacts and connections will help develop Servomex’s already successful position in Europe for delivering innovative gas analysis solutions.”

With significant experience in the gas and water analysis industry, Mehdi will focus on connecting with customers both existing and potential, and driving continued success in Germany, and with channel partners in Switzerland and Austria.

He speaks fluent German, English, French and Arabic, enabling him to work with customers and channel partners directly.

Commenting on the appointment, Mehdi said, “Servomex is well-known in the industry and I’m proud to be joining the team and learning about the company. I’m excited to meet with our existing network of customers and work with the wider team to deliver innovative solutions and drive sustainable growth while expanding our sales network."

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@Servomex @codacomms #PAuto #DACH

Control system to improve power plant operations.

Gas turbine control system ensures maximum efficiency with low maintenance costs and high reliability of plant assets

The selected upgrade the gas turbine control system at the Salzburg AG* HKW Mitte plant which is to improve productivity and enhance asset lifecycle and reliability is by ABB.

In September 2021, ABB won the contract to upgrade the existing Advant Master based Egatrol 8 gas turbine control system to the new 800xA based Egatrol X turbine control system.

“Turbines sit at the heart of a power plant and ABB's gas turbines control systems have been supporting power plants and helping utilities provide electricity to households across the world,” said Martin Zlatanski, Project Manager at ABB Energy Industries in Switzerland.

“ABB teams in Austria and Switzerland teamed up to support the customer along this journey, listening carefully to understand its requirements. We collaborated closely from the design phase until and including commissioning. The result is a successfully executed the project, a new Egatrol X turbine control system based on ABB’s Ability™ System 800xA® distributed control system, and a satisfied customer,” Zlatanski added.

The Site Acceptance Test (SAT) was completed in August 2023, followed by a successful trial run closed by the end of November, along with Provisional Acceptance.

Customer benefits.
The ABB teams designed and upgraded the plant’s gas turbine control system within another planned shutdown. The software engineering team of ABB Switzerland used an in-house code translation process, a virtual gas turbine model, and a system simulator to achieve a fast and virtually error-free software translation and validation.

The hardware design, which features ABB’s new I/O evolution kit to evolve the Advant S600 rack I/O to new modular 800xA S800 I/O, allows for significant reduction in commissioning effort and elimination of the risk of re-wiring errors.

“Thanks to the IO evolution kit and the modular hardware design, ABB Austria was able to install the new Egatrol X in less than half the anticipated time. The control system was commissioned within the planned C-inspection of the gas turbine, therefore avoiding extra downtime,” said Thomas Höher, Head of Hardware Engineering at ABB Energy Industries in Austria.

"ABB’s combined efforts, deep process expertise, and domain knowledge ensured fast and smooth upgrade to ABB’s Egatrol X gas turbine control system. In addition, our plant is now equipped with the latest version of ABB’s Distributed Control System 800xA,” said Sebastian Schuller, Head of Thermal Generation & District Heating, Salzburg AG.

“This project will strengthen our relationship with Salzburg AG and we will continue to support them with solutions and services that digitalize, automate and electrify industry, to ensure safer, smarter and more sustainable use of our planet’s resources,” concluded Richard Winkler, Project Manager at ABB Austria.

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*Salzburg AG für Energie, Verkehr und Telekommunikation is an energy and infrastructure service provider in Salzburg and upper Austria.

@abb_automation @ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @admiralpr #PAuto  #Energy

Resilience to jamming and spoofing.

Septentrio is strengthening its market reach for high precision GNSS modules by signing a distribution partnership with CompoTEK for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. With over a decade of experience as a distributor of modules and semiconductors, CompoTEK support its customers during the purchasing and sourcing process, works closely with them during the design-in phase, and also offers long-term product support.

“We are excited about our new partnership with CompoTEK, a company with long-term experience and knowledge of the high-accuracy positioning technology and market. We are extending our existing sales and application engineering channels, with a goal of complete coverage of US, Europe, Asia and beyond as well as efficient local support,” commented Jan Reisen, sales manager at Septentrio.

The mosaic™ high-accuracy RTK module makes use of all available GNSS constellations and signals for maximum positioning availability even in challenging environments. Its small form factor and low power consumption makes it ideal for high volume applications and assembly lines. The built-in AIM+ Advanced Interference Mitigation technology ensures resilience to GNSS jamming and spoofing*, making mosaic™ a reliable positioning component in any robotic, drone or machine control system. 

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* Jamming & Spoofing
Jamming is a form of radio interference which occurs when GPS frequency is overpowered by other radio waves, resulting in accuracy degradation or event total loss of position.
Spoofing is a malicious form of radio interference, where misleading signals are sent into the receiver, resulting in faulty coordinates, which lead the target away from its predefined track.

@Septentrio #CompuTEK #GNSS #Communications

Capability of calibration laboratory enhanced.

The calibration laboratory of sensor specialist E+E Elektronik has been commissioned by the Austrian Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying (BEV) to provide the national measurement standard (etalon) for CO₂ gas concentration. This makes the calibration experts from Engerwitzdorf (A) the highest metrological authority in the country for a further physical quantity following humidity, dew point and air velocity. As the BEV's designated institute, E+E Elektronik is authorised to perform special calibrations at the level of a national metrology institute for these physical quantities

Dietmar Pachinger

"The fact that we are now also a designated institute of the BEV for CO₂  gas concentration, following humidity, dew point and air velocity, delights us. It further demonstrates the great expertise of our calibration laboratory, something that our customers have been benefiting from for years," says Dietmar Pachinger, Head of the E+E Calibration Laboratory.
 

National Metrology Institutes or its designated institutes are at the top of a country's metrology hierarchy. By providing the binding national measurement standards (etalons), they ensure the connection between legal metrology to the internationally recognised SI system of units and thus ensure globally comparable standards.

The E+E calibration laboratory has been entrusted with this important task for humidity and dew point since 2004, and for air velocity since 2011. In April 2021, the designation for CO₂ gas concentration was also granted.

As a designated institute, E+E Elektronik is committed to maintaining and further developing the national etalons in accordance with the current state and requirements of metrology. The prerequisite for this, in addition to the necessary metrological expertise and equipment, is a stringent quality management system in accordance with EN ISO/IEC 17025. In addition, E+E Elektronik is subject to regular monitoring audits by the BEV and international calibration experts.

The Engerwitzdorf  laboratory

To ensure the equivalence and international recognition of national etalons, E+E Elektronik participates in key comparisons by the CIPM/BIPM (Comité International des Poids et Mesures / Bureau International des Poids et Mesures) or EURAMET (European Association of National Metrology Institutes). Furthermore, E+E Elektronik is represented on international committees in the field of metrology for the pertinent physical quantities.

The calibration and measurement capabilities (CMC data) of the designated institute are listed in the BIPM Key Comparison Database (KCDB) under the name BEV/E+E Elektronik. According to the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA), E+E Elektronik is entitled to show the CIPM-MRA logo on its BEV/E+E calibration certificates. Calibration certificates from institutes that have this logo enjoy the highest level of acceptance and are of particular interest to accredited calibration bodies due to their traceability to a National Metrology Institute.

In addition to special calibrations as a designated institute, E+E Elektronik also offers accredited measuring device calibrations for the physical quantities humidity, dew point, CO₂ , air velocity, air flow, temperature and pressure. To this end, E+E Elektronik is accredited as a calibration laboratory according to EN ISO/IEC 17025 under identification number 0608 by the Austrian National Accreditation Body/Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs. The decisive feature of accredited calibrations – in contrast to so-called ISO or in-house calibrations – is the traceability of the measurement results to a national standard and thus their international comparability.

#EplusE #Standards #BEV #Austria 

Eddy current test instruments for Austria.

Rohmann GmbH is expanding its network of global agencies by cooperating with the consulting engineers for material sciences IB Winkler based in Laakirchen (A).

Karl Winkler-Ebner

Karl Winkler-Ebner, engineer, has become the new contact person for clients in Austria, who have so far been served directly by their headquarters in Frankenthal (D).

"Rohmann GmbH develop and manufacture eddy current testing instruments and systems in Germany, and a most extensive variety of industries use these instruments and systems all over the world. We are pleased to have found in Mr Winkler‑Ebner, a sales partner with extensive experience in non‑destructive testing."

They believe that their clients in Austria will be very well served by Mr Winkler-Ebner with his knowledge of materials, his 35 years of working in NDT and Advanced NDT for plant operators in testing and damage analysis, for constructors of industrial plants, audit and inspection companies like TÜV Süd and TÜV Austria as well as with the work in his own company.

Through his experience, Mr Winkler-Ebner is able to provide the optimal comprehension of a vast range of requirements to be met by the materials testing and the conception of customized solutions. Based on his experience from his work for audit and inspection companies, he is very much aware of the high priority attached by individual business companies to quality assurance and will be able to provide the best support to our Austrian clients.

#PAuto #Rohman #Austria

Unique calibration laboratory.

E+E Elektronik operates an EN ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration laboratory for humidity, dew point, CO2, air velocity, mass flow, temperature and pressure at its headquarters in Engerwitzdorf (A). Accredited calibrations are needed wherever particularly high accuracy of the used measuring instruments is required. The calibration certificates issued confirm the traceability of the measured values to the national standard to comply with globally recognised standards.

Measuring equipment monitoring plays a central role in modern, automated production processes. If measuring instruments do not deliver the required accuracy, this endangers a smooth process flow, safety and also the quality of the end product. For this reason, regular calibration of the used measuring instruments is an essential part of most quality assurance systems.

Thomas Blumhagel

"Due to the current corona pandemic, many companies have currently shut down or stopped production. This interruption can now be used to have the measuring instruments used in the production process checked and calibrated", recommends Thomas Blumhagel, Head of Sales and Marketing at E+E Elektronik. The accredited E+E Elektronik calibration laboratory offers an option to do so.

Their calibration laboratory is accredited by Akkreditierung Austria/Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs (BMDW) according to EN ISO/IEC 17025 under the identification number 0608. The E+E Calibration Service includes manufacturer-independent measuring instrument calibrations for the measurands humidity, dew point, CO2, air velocity, mass flow, temperature and pressure.

The decisive feature of an accredited calibration is the traceability of the measurement results to a national standard, as it takes into account the measurement uncertainties of the entire calibration process. In contrast to ISO or works calibration certificates, only accredited calibration certificates are internationally comparable.

Since 2004, the E+E calibration laboratory, as a Designated Institute of the Austrian Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying (BEV), has provided the "National Etalon" (measurement standard) for air humidity. In 2011 the designation for air flow velocity was also assigned. The calibration experts in Engerwitzdorf are thus the highest metrological authority in the country for these two measured variables.

As a Designated Institute, the E+E calibration laboratory can carry out special calibrations for humidity and air flow velocity at the level of a National Metrological Institute (NMI). This is of particular interest for other accredited calibration laboratories, Designated Institutes or NMIs.

Especially for the calibration of high-precision dew point mirrors, the metrological capabilities of the Designated Institute are in demand internationally. "In Europe and even worldwide, only a handful of laboratories cover a comparable scope of calibration", says Dietmar Pachinger, head of the E+E Elektronik calibration laboratory.

• E+E Electronik is represented in Ireland by Instrument Technology.

#PAuto #TandM #Epulse

"World Cup of Automation!"

The agenda for the Copa-Data Global Partner Academy 2018 included presentations and in-depth workshops with experts, practical reference visits and international networking under the event slogan "World Cup of Automation".

This year's Copa-Data Global Partner Academy (GPA) in Vienna (A) had 215 participants representing 98 companies from 30 countries. The third-annual GPA, the worldwide rendezvous for members of the company's partner community, brought together twice as many people as it did in 2016.

Johannes Petrowisch, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Copa-Data, was delighted by this growth, commenting: "This GPA shows the continuous growth trajectory that we and our partners are experiencing worldwide. It is a strong sign that our zenon software is delighting so many experts throughout the world and that automation is advancing in harmony with digitalization. We would like to warmly thank all participants."

One highlight was an insight provided by Ulrike Huemer, lawyer and CIO of the city of Vienna, into city development and planning for one of Europe's largest and, at the same time, most liveable city regions. The city of Vienna has already been following a digital agenda for increasing transparency and decreasing bureaucracy for its citizens for several years now. In the lawyer's speech, she focused on a key challenge for the coming years: interlinking all social sectors that are involved in the digital transformation. International participants at GPA 2018 agreed with her conclusion that only through open discussion and dialogue between economy, industry, society and public authorities can the advantages of digitalization take effect.

Furthermore, Copa-Data partner companies obtained extensive know-how on the new zenon 8.00 and zenon Analyzer 3.20 software versions. Example applications from around the world underscored the variety of solutions that can be implemented with zenon – from ergonomic human-machine interfaces and powerful control stations to cloud-connected production analyses across different locations. GPA participants benefitted both from face-to-face conversations with company technology experts and in-depth workshops on technical and sales topics.

The agenda was rounded off by two reference visits. In the energy distribution sector, participants at Wiener Netz's premises were able to get an idea of how 46 transformer stations and a 28,000 km distribution network provide energy to the city of Vienna and other parts of Austria. In the pilot factory for Industry 4.0, which was initiated by TU Wien, the Technical University of Vienna, GPA 2018 participants gained insights into the future of industrial production with a focus on smart, cyber-physical production systems.

The Copa-Data  British technical & sales team accompanying partners Roy Coleman and Lee Hancock of Applied Integration and Capula.

Photo:Stefanie Starz,

@copadata  #PAuto #Austria

30 years 'setting parameters instead of programming" in automation!

COPA-DATA will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its founding on September 1, 2017.

Thomas Punzenberger

With the vision of making automation in industry a hands-on and enjoyable experience, Thomas Punzenberger founded Ing. Punzenberger COPA-DATA GmbH in 1987 in Salzburg. What began as a small start-up is now a company which boasts international success, with subsidiaries, distributors, partners and customers based all around the globe.

Since its foundation, COPA-DATA has dedicated itself entirely to technology. By the end of the 1980s, the brothers Thomas and Alexander Punzenberger recognised the potential software systems offer to industry – and to the energy industry in particular.

“Right from the start, our aim was to develop automation software which was to be better and simpler than any other system on the market,” explains CEO, Thomas Punzenberger. “At that time, many advised us against establishing our system on the basis of Microsoft Windows, because this was not common practice in the industry. Our concept of  'setting parameters instead of programming' was also met with a great deal of scepticism at the begnning. But our success proved us right. Both decisions have contributed significantly to our growth over the last 30 years.”

Software “made in Austria”
As a privately owned Austrian family business, COPA-DATA is independent of external investors and stock markets and can therefore trade with flexibility, agility, and autonomy. Although more than 90 percent of the turnover is generated through exports, the zenon software is developed exclusively at the company's headquarters in Salzburg. From here, the product is distributed via eleven subsidiaries, 16 distributors, and around 200 partner companies around the world.

With the 30 year anniversary fast approaching, it is fitting that COPA-DATA recently appointed a larger management team of three people at the beginning of the year. This will prepare the company well for the future. In terms of both its turnover, which stands at 31.4 million euros (2016), and number of employees, of which there are presently around 230 worldwide, COPA-DATA has set itself an ambitious course for growth over the next five years.

Pioneer of the digital Smart Factory
With its high-performance software systems, zenon and straton, and a growing network of professional partner companies, COPA-DATA now supports companies in the automotive, energy & infrastructure, food & beverage, and pharmaceutical sectors as they undergo a digital transformation to the Smart Factory. This extends from traditional automation projects for visualising, monitoring, and controlling machines and equipment, right up to cloud-based Industrial Internet of Things solutions for cross-location data analyses or predictive maintenance.

“As the industry becomes increasingly digitalised and the previously separate worlds of OT and IT begin to merge, application scenarios which include entirely new elements are emerging for zenon. This allows us to make inroads into additional business sectors such as smart cities. Our software is best equipped for the new challenges faced by the industry and we have many more innovations in the pipeline for our customers over the coming years,” explains Punzenberger.

@copadata  #PAuto #Austria

Humidity & air velocity calibration at the highest level.

E+E Elektronik maintains the national standards for humidity and air velocity in Austria as a designated laboratory of the Federal Office for Metrology, BEV (Bundesamt für Eich- und Vermessungswesen). Recently, the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) authorised E+E Elektronik to use the CIPM MRA logo (International Committee for Weights and Measures - Mutual Recognition Arrangement) on its BEV/E+E calibration certificates.

Website provides an overview of all
E+E calibration services including
online calibration request.

Only National Metrological Institutes (NMI) and their designated laboratories, which are the highest metrological authorities of a country, are permitted to use the CIPM MRA logo. The prerequisite for this is that their Calibration and Measurement Capabilities (CMC) data is listed in the BIPM Key Comparison Database (KCDB). A certificate issued by a laboratory under the CIPM MRA is accepted by assessors from Conformity Assessment Bodies with the highest level of confidence.

As designated laboratory of the BEV, E+E Elektronik is an implicit cosignatory of the MRA. The E+E calibration laboratory undergoes regular audits by international experts, participates in international measurement comparisons and established a quality management system certified according to ISO 17025.

E+E Elektronik offers calibration services for humidity, dewpoint, air velocity, gas mass flow, temperature, CO2 and pressure. Calibrations are carried out either in the designated laboratory (NMI) or the accredited OEKD calibration laboratory. Additionally, the E+E service department performs in-house or on-site ISO calibrations according to the E+E standard.

E+E products are marketed in Ireland by Instrument Technology.

Automation company wins ISV partner award from Microsoft.

Microsoft Austria has awarded the internationally operating software manufacturer Copa-Data first place in the partner category Independent Software Vendor (ISV). Microsoft is thereby acknowledging Copa-Data's outstanding software solutions. In the course of this year's Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Orlando, (FL USA), Microsoft Austria General Manager, Dorothee Ritz, handed over the prize to Copa-Data representatives Phillip Werr and Johannes Petrowisch.

Copa -Data's Johannes Petrowisch

The industry, as well as the public sector, are experiencing a flourish in digitalisation. Increasingly important in this context are storage, provision and subsequent processing of data in cloud applications. This establishes new business domains, strengthens companies' competitiveness and innovation capacity, contributes to more intelligent handling of valuable resources and reduces costs. As a long-standing and twofold Gold competence Partner of Microsoft (Application Development and Intelligent Systems), the company relies on the extensive cloud solutions with Microsoft Azure.

 “In the coming years the entire cloud market will see an enormous potential for innovation and growth," explains Jürgen Mayrbäurl, Business Evangelist Azure & Business Manager at Microsoft Austria. "In COPA-DATA we see a highly innovative partner at our side, who is creating a strong bridge between Microsoft Azure and industrial automation as well as digitalisation. This offers great opportunities such as intelligent improvement of production processes.”

The automation software, zenon, created by COPA-DATA in Austria, links data from the sensor level right to the cloud and to mobile devices. Over 300 drivers in zenon ensure connectivity and communication between diverse machines and devices and thereby achieve hardware independence and flexibility. These are core elements for a digital future in automation when considering the Smart Factory of Industry 4.0, Smart City and the Internet of Things (IoT).

“The close partnership with Microsoft is very valuable for us. We are already working on numerous projects with Microsoft Azure," explained Johannes Petrowisch, Copa-Data Partner Account Manager. "It is an honour for us to receive the ISV Partner award. It inspires us to continue developing and introducing innovative solutions to the market for our customers, based on the newest Azure Services with zenon”.

Students refresh their maths skills in Vienna!

After high school, many graduates take advantage of their new-found freedom to seek employment or travel before continuing their formal education. When they return to their studies, they often come to the realization that they have not retained enough knowledge from high school to thrive at university. Professors at the Vienna University of Technology (Vienna UT) noticed in particular that many of these students were not prepared to pick up their mathematics studies from where they left off in high school. In addition, students joining the university came from different backgrounds with different levels of knowledge.

At Vienna UT, university-level mathematics courses are essential for programs such as Engineering, Economics, Computer Science, Physics, and Urban and Regional Planning. Proficiency in high school mathematics is expected of all students in these programs. To help the students whose math skills were not at the required level expected of high school graduates, the research group of Prof. Breitenecker at Vienna UT developed a refresher course that would be offered in the weeks leading up to the start of the semester, with the goal of raising students’ mathematical proficiency. This optional course would cover topics that were most essential to the programs participants were enrolled in. A diagnostic test at the beginning of the course identified concepts that demanded closer attention and steered the direction of the course for each student.

Since the course was held over a short period of time, the resources were simply not available to design and grade exercises for a large number of participants, let alone return results in time to provide effective feedback. In order for the refresher course to be most effective, a web-based assessment system with automatic grading capable of handling mathematics was crucial - this is where Maplesoft™, a subsidiary of Cybernet Systems Co was called in!

This is where Maple T.A. became an important tool for Vienna UT. “After a long period of testing different environments in commercial and open software we made the decision to choose Maple T.A. because of its powerful algebraic possibilities and the randomization feature,” noted Andreas Körner, Lecturer at Vienna UT. “The grading function, especially the automatic and prompt feedback to students, was also important. The programming interface allowed the adoption of the grading routine to user defined grading algorithms which helped to reinforce the didactical nature of the lectures. We invested time and effort in creating examples and tests, and with that we now have a system of assessment that is efficient, one that offers students a flexible way of completing tests, and instructors a smooth administration of lecturers.”

Maple T.A. is a powerful online testing and assessment system designed especially for courses involving mathematics. It offers features such as standard math notation, sophisticated plotting, free-response math questions, and intelligent grading, allowing instructors to truly assess student understanding of math-based concepts. Because it is designed especially for courses involving mathematics, it is particularly suitable for use in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses. In addition, Maple T.A. is compatible with virtually any course management system, including Blackboard®, Moodle™, and Brightspace™ by D2L™, so it can be seamlessly incorporated into existing course infrastructure.

Following each session of the refresher course at Vienna UT, students could go to Maple T.A. to begin practicing what they learned immediately. Whenever students encountered problems they could not solve, they received hints and feedback in Maple T.A. that helped them work through the problem on their own. This feedback allowed students to refine their skills and ultimately master the concept without depending on a professor or teaching assistant. “Maple T.A. is an asset to staff and students especially during the refresher course,” Stefanie Winkler, Assistant, Vienna UT noted. “A large amount of students can work independently without generating more administration work.”

A comparison of the results from the diagnostic test held at the start of the refresher course and the final test showed vast improvements in students’ grades. The majority of students failed the diagnostic test at the start of the course. However, by the end of the course, results showed a significant shift: most students scored 70% or higher. Over the last few years, students’ test results have continued to reflect the same trend. “Since 2008 when we began the course, these test scores show a consistent increase in students’ mathematical skills year after year. Using Maple T.A. in our refresher course has been very useful. Maple T.A. made it possible to bring students closer to a level of mathematics necessary to successfully pursue their area of study,” Prof. Felix Breitenecker commented.

Since the refresher course was first offered to Electrical Engineering students in 2008, the program has been expanded to seven different fields of study. Maple T.A. has also been adopted into other courses at the Vienna UT, and students’ exams are now beginning to be administered online using Maple T.A. in some engineering courses.

Questions developed by the Vienna UT team, covering math topics such as Integral Calculus, Linear Functions, Vector Analysis, Differential Calculus, and Trigonometry, have been added to the Maple T.A. Cloud, making them available to all users of Maple T.A.

Manager for Drive sales!

Markus Weber is the new Sales Manager of the WEG subsidiary Watt Drive Antriebstechnik GmbH (Watt Drive). Markus’ remit involves steering all sales activities, including field sales, internal sales and exports. As the new department head, he is responsible for approximately 20 sales staff in Austria. However, his role is not limited to the Austrian market, it also includes worldwide sales of Watt Drive products.

Markus Weber

A key task is to further integrate WEG's extensive motor and automation portfolio for the Austrian market into Watt Drive’s sales structure and to boost sales of the geared motor specialist’s products at WEG's international branches.

Weber brings 20 years of sales experience to his new position and is very familiar with the Austrian market and drive technology. With a background in mechanical engineering, he joined WEG as Key Account Manager in Austria in 2009. Three years later, after Watt Drive was acquired by WEG in 2011, Weber assumed the position of Field Sales Manager at Watt Drive. Prior to his time at WEG, Weber spent three years as Motors Sales Manager for Austria and Eastern Europe at Lenze Antriebstechnik. He also worked at Rosenbauer International for many years as Area Manager of South America.

Weber is based at Watt Drive headquarters in Markt Piesting, (A), and reports to Wolfgang Meyer, Managing Director at Watt Drive. His successor in his previous position as Field Sales Manager is Thomas Listmayr, formerly Acting Sales Manager Austria.

"We are positioned in the market as an internationally active full-spectrum drive technology provider. We therefore want to reinforce the combined Watt Drive and WEG sales organisations at an international level. Weber is the perfect choice for the General Sales Manager position because he knows both organisations and technology portfolios very well having worked in sales at both Watt Drive and WEG. He also combines extensive knowledge of the Austrian market with international sales experience," comments Meyer.

E+E Elektronik wins large contract for humidity transmitters!

The National Meteorological Service of Germany relies on sensor technology from Austria

The Austrian sensor specialist E+E Elektronik has won the contract from the Deutscher Wetterdienst - DWD (National Meteorological Service of Germany) to equip its weather stations with new humidity/temperature transmitters.

The DWD is Germany's highest authority for meteorology, weather and climate and operates almost 2000 weather monitoring points and stations. All previous humidity transmitters across the entire measurement network are to be replaced by 2015. The high-end transmitters deliver precise measurement results for exact weather and climate forecasts.

The humidity/temperature transmitters in use here are the EE33 series (type J). The devices feature high-precision and reliable measurement results even under the most challenging of ambient conditions. At the heart of this transmitter is the monolithic HMC01 measurement cell developed by E+E using thin-layer technology. Thanks to the unique E+E sensor coating, the measurement cell is optimally protected against condensation and chemical contamination. This was a factor that also persuaded the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) to procure these transmitters for themselves.

Previously humidity and temperature were each recorded using a separate transmitter. With the new humidity/temperature transmitters from E+E Elektronik, both these measurements can now be taken using a single instrument. A further benefit: measurement results will in future be transmitted digitally, not via analogue means.

All instruments are manufactured in Engerwitzdorf (A). The first hundred transmitters are scheduled to ship during August 2013.

E+E Elektronik itself operates a state-accredited calibration lab and holds the National Standards for relative air humidity and air flow velocity in Austria on behalf of the Bundesamt für Eich- und Vermessungswesen - BEV (Austrian Federal Office for Metrology and Surveying).

• E+E products are marketed in Ireland by Instrument Technology.

Distributership extended in Europe

Hover-Davis has announced expansion of AdoptSMT Europe GmbH sales and support distribution adding the countries of Austria and Switzerland to its territory that already includes Britain, Ireland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Greece and Malta.

AdoptSMT Group has successfully distributed Hover-Davis products throughout Europe since 2006. In this expansion of its relationship with AdoptSMT Group Hover-Davis is pleased to include full Austrian and Swiss sales and support and distribution authority to AdoptSMT Europe offices in Grödig (near Salzburg) Austria and Teufen, Switzerland. Customers in Austria and Switzerland may now purchase Hover-Davis tape and label feeders from directly through AdoptSMT exclusive of a pick and place equipment investment.

“AdoptSMT has continued to expand sales, service and support coverage throughout Europe in recent years adding regionally focused service centers, staffing and offices that provide cost effective and expedited expert knowledge. In that respect we are very excited to offer our Hover-Davis customers direct access to AdoptSMT in their home market. With headquarters in Grödig and an established office in Switzerland, AdoptSMT is uniquely positioned to service the SiPlace® replacement market as well as service the growing demands for label feeding along with our other feeder products. The replacement feeder market is increasingly affected by obsolescence, longer lead-times and availability. These are all challenges that AdoptSMT successfully overcomes for it’s customers through their focus into this market and our mutual cooperation. Customers in the Austria and Switzerland may now enjoy this expanded support through AdoptSMT ,” states Mike Cyr, Hover-Davis General Manager.

Erhard Hofmann, Managing Director AdoptSMT Europe GmbH, notes: “Our sales team is very excited that we are recognized for our ongoing successes including expansion of services and offices, staffing and also the success of the 2011 Feeder Trade-In program. Austria and Switzerland are very important markets for us. We are very excited to directly support our local customers with new Hover-Davis tape and label feeders. Now we can also better approach and support customers with headquarters in Austria or Switzerland and factories in the neighbouring Central and Eastern European countries.”

Coriolis technology reduces maintenance & ensures custody-transfer accuracy

Adria-Wien Pipeline GmbH (AWP) has upgraded custody-transfer measurement on the Adria-Wien pipeline in Austria by replacing existing turbine flowmeters with Micro Motion® ELITE® High Capacity Coriolis flowmeters from Emerson.

Micro Motion flowmeters used to
upgrade measurement systems
or Austrian crude-oil pipeline

AWP is focusing on using the latest technologies in its plants and automation. "Concerns over reliability and maintenance of the turbine meters prompted our upgrade to the latest measurement technology," said Ing. Walter Fellner, Adria-Wien Pipeline GmbH. "We chose Emerson’s Micro Motion ELITE high capacity flowmeters because they are maintenance-free and exceeded our accuracy needs for custody transfer."

The Adria–Wien pipeline carries crude oil from the Transalpine pipeline at the Italian-Austrian border to the Schwechat refinery near Vienna, Austria.

Emerson supplied two Micro Motion ELITE High Capacity flowmeters with MVD™ (multivariable digital) transmitters. The flowmeters were added to the refinery in-feed lines in a parallel arrangement that allowed them to be installed individually without interrupting the flow of crude oil.

Emerson’s Rosemount® 3144P temperature transmitters were also installed to provide accurate line flow temperature measurements, as required by the Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) regulations. The temperature data is used to compensate for the effects of temperature on volume flow in custody transfer applications. Data from the Coriolis flowmeters and temperature transmitters is communicated to the existing host system using an RS485 Modbus connection.

To help AWP ensure the accuracy of its custody transfer measurements, the ELITE High Capacity Coriolis flowmeters also feature Emerson’s Smart Meter Verification – an easy-to-use, automatic diagnostic tool that quickly verifies the complete meter performance (sensor, drive and signal processing), without interrupting the flow measurement or process flow. This allows meter performance to be tracked without removing it from the pipeline.

The ELITE High Capacity range includes ten sensor models covering DN150-DN400 (6-16 inch) line sizes. They have flow rates up to 3,265,870 kg/hour, (3,266 tonnes/hour) and density accuracies of ±0.0005 grams per cubic centimetre.

Components for Austria and central Europe

congatec has announced its cooperation with Ineltro Halmer Electronics GmbH, headquartered in Vienna (A). Ineltro has a long and successful track record of distributing electronic components in the Austrian market. Effective immediately, the company will now offer the complete range of congatec products in Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic and Southern Europe.

"Ineltro has many key contacts in the electronic market in Austria and Eastern Europe, which will help us gain new clients from a wide range of markets. At the same time, Ineltro possesses the necessary specialist know-how to be able to support these clients and their respective applications. With Ineltro we have found a reliable partner, who is as interested in a long term partnership as we are," explains congatec CEO Gerhard Edi.

Wolfgang Martinschitz, Ineltro's managing director, adds: "The congatec product range complements our existing portfolio with products that offer a high degree of integration, enabling our clients to further increase their competitiveness. Our corporate structure enables us to work flexibly and efficiently, and our service and application engineers guarantee a high level of technical competence. We are expecting great synergies and already see concrete possibilities for increasing congatec AG's visibility."