Blog for Process Automation.

The Endress+Hauser Process Automation Blog has been launched to help its customers and peers understand the most significant challenges and solutions spanning the chemical, food and beverage, life sciences, oil and gas, power and energy and water and wastewater industries. The blog's newest section features insights into another growing trend within the industry, energy transition. The blog is providing much-needed insight and subject matter expertise to the process automation industry.

“Collaborating and building relationships with customers and peers in the industry is essential and necessary,” said Nathan Hedrick, product marketing group manager at Endress+Hauser. “As instrumentation experts, we want to ensure we educate and share information and knowledge on trends, best practices and solutions to help our customers improve their processes, solve challenges and realize their goals.”

The company’s top 10 performing blog posts from last year, highlighting trending solutions and challenges, include:

1. Radar vs. ultrasonic level sensors
2. How to measure hydrogen in natural gas with Raman spectroscopy
3. Facility Tour: Explore Endress+Hauser’s Level+Pressure USA
4. Increasing operational efficiency in the food and beverage industry with smart instruments
5. Understand your accuracy requirements with reliable instrument calibration
6. Raman Spectroscopy vs Gas Chromatography (GC) for LNG transport
7. US representative partner spotlight: Instrumentation and Controls
8. Maximize the benefits of your smart plant instrumentation with Heartbeat Technology
9. Free space radar or hydrostatic level sensor: What to consider when using in the food and beverage industry
10. Radar foam detection technology saves wastewater treatment plants from losing valuable resources and time

“We’re able to share the expertise from each industry subject matter expert, and that’s of the utmost importance to us as leaders in process automation,” said Mark Thomas, industry marketing group manager at Endress+Hauser. “We believe in trust, transparency and open lines of communication. That starts with sharing our knowledge and findings with our customers, representatives and colleagues.”

@Endress_US @Endress_Hauser @Endress_UK #PAuto 

Dive Into automation cybersecurity.

The ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance (ISAGCA) recently launched its official blog, Building a Resilient World: Practical Automation Cybersecurity, and they now share it with the wider community. The ISAGCA blog is the source for compelling thought leadership that drives the industry forward, deep dives into digital transformation, and insights into automation cybersecurity from those who “walk the talk.”

Some recent articles.
• Digitalization: Time for Some Straight Talk in the OT/ICS Community
• Improving Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity through the ISAGCA
• Cybersecurity—Why It’s Part of Your Safety Plan (Whether You Know It or Not)

Cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities are clear and present dangers to facilities, processes, and the safety of communities.

In today’s connected world, every digital device is a potential vulnerability point. Recent attacks on safety systems in multiple industries have proven that threat actors have the capability and motivation to cause significant physical damage and put lives at risk.

"We are at a crossroads in our fight against cybersecurity vulnerabilities and attacks. It’s no longer enough to assess risk and adjust our internal processes behind closed doors. It’s time to bring your expertise to the table," said a spokesman.

Governments around the world are becoming more concerned about the impact of cybersecurity vulnerabilities, especially when it comes to critical infrastructure applications. Regulatory activity is ongoing, and experienced technical experts need to weigh in on how those regulations are crafted and implemented.

"We won’t win this fight by standing alone. We will win by joining together. If we leverage our collective intelligence and experience, we will jump-start a revolution that results in a safer, more secure world."

#PAuto @ISA_Interchange #Cybersecurity

New blog launched directed at the pharma sector.

Digital channel for experts to exchange ideas on current solutions and forward-looking topics affecting pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing.

Pharmaceutical and biotech professionals can now find useful information and example-driven approaches that address current manufacturing challenges as well as forward-looking pieces speaking to regulations and other issues facing the industry in the near future in the Pharma Manufacturing Blog just launched by Werum.

The new professional blog will allow experts to share opinions and ideas concerning such wide-ranging topics such as Digitization, Industrie 4.0, Plug & Produce and Big Data. Other frequent topics will be those relevant to generic drugs, reducing time to market, and regulatory requirements.

As the market leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing execution systems (MES), Werum IT Solutions brings heft to the blogspace: "Werum is an expert in pharmaceutical and biotech processes, and our managers and consultants are familiar with complicated industry challenges and dedicated best practices," says Karl Hoffmann, Senior Director Marketing & Business Development at Werum IT Solutions GmbH. "We actively contribute to various organizations, such as ISPE and GAMP, taking part in working groups to promote timely topics like Pharma 4.0. The new blog is a platform to expand upon this thought leadership to help shape and improve the future of pharma manufacturing."
Visitors can easily post comments without logging in, and Werum also is inviting guest bloggers to share their experience with the industry (the company will provide guest writers with login data).

@Werum  #Pauto  #Pharma

Transparency in the blogosphere!

Though not strictly instrumentation we though this event might interest our visitors. Last March “Rock the Blog” at the CeBIT Global Conferences in Hannover (D) celebrated a tremendous debut. Now this event “of, by and for bloggers” is hitting the road with a satellite event in Berlin.

The new satellite event – which takes place on the evening of 17 November 2015 in Berlin – has an impressive list of speakers, including Richard Gutjahr, Klaus Eck and Markus Beckedahl, discussing the topic of “Transparency as a Raw Ingredient in Digital Transformation”.

• Markus Beckedahl is one of Germany’s best-known Internet activists and Editor in Chief of netzpolitik.org. Last July the German Attorney General conducted an investigation against him on the grounds of treason. The investigation was called off in August, as Beckedahl continues his fight for citizens’ basic rights in the Digital Age.

• Moderator, journalist and blogger Richard Gutjahr has been giving a lot of thought to the issue of quality online journalism for years. Among other things, he is one of Germany’s most active journalists on snapchat. Gutjahr also moderated an interactive TV show – “Supernerds”, broadcast by the WDR television network – devoted to the topic of digital monitoring.

• Klaus Eck, publisher of pr-blogger.de and head of the Eck Consulting Group, is an expert on content marketing and reputation management. In his book, “Transparent und glaubwürdig” (Transparent and Credible), he analyses how companies and people can survive in a transparent society. According to Eck, any brand can leave a positive imprint on the Web by skillfully employing social media and blogs.

The venue for “Rock the Blog Satellite” is the Games Science Center in Berlin (Kreuzberg district). The panel discussion begins at 6:30 p.m. Beginning around 7:30 p.m. a networking session including drinks and snacks will take place in Berlin’s ZukunftsMuseum. Admission costs €20.

• “Rock the Blog” will be back at CeBIT 2016 – once again as a full-day event on Friday, 18 March, within the scope of the CeBIT Global Conferences in Hall 8.

Foundation joins the blogosphere!

The Fieldbus Foundation has launched a new blog dedicated to providing comprehensive information about its open, non-proprietary FOUNDATION™ fieldbus technology. Located at fieldbuscentral.org, the blog will continue the foundation?s mission to share news about global developments in the fieldbus marketplace.

Built upon the WordPress platform, the new "Fieldbus Central" blog has a streamlined design, which simplifies navigation to various sections and topics. This includes both current fieldbus-related posts and an archive of older posts and comments from the Fieldbus Foundation's original blog. Visitors can also access the foundation's Twitter page ( @FOUNDATIONField) from the site.

Fieldbus Foundation Global Marketing Manager Larry O'Brien explained the purpose of the new blog: "The Fieldbus Central blog is the focal point of our overall social media focus and the go-to place for all things new in the world of FOUNDATION fieldbus. Its objective is to provide an open environment where people can read about everything that's happening with FOUNDATION technology, from our news releases to new products, new installations, coverage of seminars and conferences, as well as a link to our other social media sources, such as new YouTube videos."

Instrumentation blog!

Instrumentation equipment manufacturer Mantracourt has announced the launch of a 'Blog' about specialist electronic measurement devices for sensors, to assist engineers working in the field of measurement and instrumentation.

The Blog is to provide engineers with informative articles about using Mantracourt's technologies, as well as giving engineers access to discussions hosted by several of its specialist engineers.
The most recent entry discusses special features about Mantracourt's 'Strain Gauge Amplifier', a device that is used in conjunction with strain gauges and load cells in such environments as construction and process control. The entry is entitled "7 Things You Need To Know About The SGA".

Mantracourt is a leading manufacturer of industrial measurement technologies and a world leader in the design and manufacture of electronics for measurement technologies, including strain gauge, temperature, pressure, voltage, current, potentiometer, rate, flow, LVDT and displacement in either analogue, digital or wireless form.

"The Mantracourt Blog is a productive way for us to discuss the less obvious aspects of our technology," said Kelly Voysey, Sales and Marketing Manager at Mantracourt. "It enables us to present detailed technical descriptions, applications and special features in a blog discussion. In this respect, it is proving to be interesting and useful to a broad range of engineers working in this field."

Other topics include the Mantracourt T24 wireless telemetry range, a flexible low power radio system designed to enable the transmission of high accuracy measurement data from load cells, inclinometers, accelerometers, displacement and pressure sensors. With a combination of transmitter and receiver technologies, engineers are able to remotely monitor instrumentation readings. The Blog entry discusses the use of this system for the remote switching and monitoring of mains appliances.

"Many of our technologies are best understood in terms of real world applications, rather than basic data sheets. The electronic measuring instruments blog is giving us an ideal forum to explain how we are working with engineers to overcome measurement challenges and introduce new technologies. Followers of the blog are able to subscribe to our blog feed, so that they can receive our updates automatically."

Mantracourt have recently announced the release of their Wireless Active Repeater, a module that allows wireless instrumentation transmission to span around obstacles such as buildings or walls as well as increasing range.

The repeater acts as a transparent link between Mantracourt’s T24 Acquisition modules and a base station or a handheld display. The Active Repeater was originally developed to achieve greater coverage for wireless load cell technology in the construction sector.

Music for musings!

New engineering manufacturer’s glog offers chance to win an iTunes voucher

Steve Sargeant, Managing Director of LCM Systems, is giving away a free iTunes vouchers for the most amusing British export story submitted to his new blog A Manufacturers Musings.

The blog was started this summer and is a collection of opinions and thoughts on various issues affecting British manufacturers. The latest entry talks about the pitfalls of the export market and cites a number of examples of the frustrations that go hand in hand with selling to global industry. Steve is encouraging fellow manufacturers and buyers to add their stories and solutions for tackling some of these issues. The craziest export story posted on the blog will receive an iTunes voucher, courtesy of LCM Systems.

Other blog entries include pieces on whether we should use the term telemetry or wireless, whether engineers are open to marketing messages sent through to their mobile phones and a discussion on why there is a technology lag between load cells and pressure transducers.
 

Best corporate blog...

Emerson honoured for "Best Corporate Blog” by BtoB Magazine

This is the official account from Emerson on something we commented on already on our blog , "A tale of two media", last week. where we quoted from the citation which said that the blog was selected for relevance, rich features, and frequent content updates

Emerson Process Management has earned the 2010 “Best Corporate Blog” award from BtoB Magazine for the “Emerson Process Experts” blog, led by chief blogger Jim Cahill.

This blog features technology and application specialists throughout the company − and sometimes customers − sharing their experiences, suggestions and tips on applying process control and monitoring technologies in plant operations to improve safety, reliability and performance.

“What makes our Experts blog so meaningful is how tightly it reflects the daily challenges customers face,” said Kathy Button Bell, chief marketing officer for Emerson. “We strive in all of our communications to reflect an intimate understanding of customer challenges, and encourage conversations about how Emerson can help them solve those issues.”

When the Emerson Process Experts blog began four years ago, the goal was simple. Give a voice to the many technology, application and business experts within the Emerson Process Management organisation. While the blog has been prolific and successful in achieving this goal, the hundreds of postings have also revealed an important truth about social media.

“Some people might pursue a blog as a publishing tool − a way to tell their story,” says Jim Cahill, social media manager for Emerson Process Management. “But blogs like this are equally important as listening devices, making your organisation available for customers to respond to what they read, ask questions, seek help. If you are listening, you can respond in a meaningful way. We call it ‘living at the surface’.”

As we have said before we find it extraordinary that Emerson is almost unique - but not quite - in the automation industry to sufficiently value this phenomenon to appoint a Social Media Manager.