Strengthening North American industry collaboration.

The successful integration of member services and activities from the Canadian Process Control Association (CPCA-ACCP) with the The Measurement, Control & Automation Association (MCAA) has been announced.

This milestone strengthens MCAA's position as a leading North American association representing the measurement, control, and automation industry and reflects a shared commitment to advancing member success through greater collaboration, expanded resources, and stronger industry engagement across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

As manufacturers, channel partners, and service providers navigate increasingly complex market dynamics, access to timely business intelligence, professional development, and strategic industry connections has never been more important. The integration creates new opportunities for companies across North America to engage, collaborate, and grow within a broader industry community.

All MCAA members have access to an extensive portfolio of resources and benefits, including:

• Expanded North American networking and business development opportunities
• Industry-leading market intelligence, benchmarking, and economic reporting
• Enhanced education, training, and professional development programs
• Greater access to industry advocacy, thought leadership, and best practices
• Increased organizational resources to support long-term member value and sustainability

"As our industry continues to evolve, collaboration across borders is essential to long-term success," said Teresa Sebring, President of MCAA. "We are proud to welcome our new Canadian members and look forward to working together to strengthen our industry and create new opportunities for manufacturers and channel partners throughout North America."

MCAA also extends its appreciation to CPCA's members, volunteers, and industry partners whose leadership and dedication helped build a strong and respected voice for the Canadian process control industry.

This integration reinforces MCAA's commitment to expanding its presence and engagement throughout Canada while providing an inclusive platform for companies across North America seeking deeper industry connections, actionable market insights, and opportunities to accelerate business growth.

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@THEMCAAorg #CPCA #PAuto #Canada

Simulator-based training for nuclear sector.

Policies in both the US and Canada aim to enable the deployment of next-generation nuclear technology as part of a diversified energy mix.

ABB has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SimGenics, an advanced plant simulator company, to support the development and provision of engineering, training and distributed control system (DCS) simulators for the nuclear energy industry, primarily in North America. The collaboration comes at an important time, with both US and Canadian governments implementing policy frameworks to stimulate the deployment of nuclear energy to generate electricity.

Drawing on their collective expertise, the MoU will allow ABB and SimGenics to explore how they can support the greenfield power generation industry predominantly. This will include complete plant process model and simulation across conventional large nuclear power plants, small modular reactors (SMR) and advanced modular reactor (AMR) facilities. As well as being installed at offsite R&D centers for testing and validation purposes during the design stage, the simulators can also be used onsite at operational nuclear power plants as engineering and training systems.

Nuclear power generation is expected to play a key role in US domestic policy, with the country’s Department of Energy looking to secure a reliable and affordable energy supply by enabling the rapid deployment of next-generation nuclear technology. In Canada the federal government views nuclear power as an important component of a diversified energy mix, having created the Canada SMR Action Plan to drive development, demonstration and deployment of SMRs.

“Against the backdrop of growing energy demand, nuclear power offers a reliable, low-carbon solution as part of the future energy mix,” said Per Erik Holsten, President of ABB’s Energy Industries division. “Partnerships are instrumental for advancing modern, advanced nuclear technologies, and comprehensive simulation and training capabilities will be crucial to enable capacity growth in nuclear power as part of the future energy ecosystem.”

As part of the MoU and in order to optimize productivity, safety and operational efficiency, ABB will be able to supply automation, electrification and digitalization solutions to non-critical areas of nuclear facilities, as well as long-term service support through ABB Care to end users and reactor technology providers. SimGenics will be able to provide critical solutions, including engineering, training and DCS check-out simulators – to develop dynamic process models that mimic the behavior of various types of nuclear power plants. The ABB Ability™ System 800xA Simulator can then integrate these process models within control system infrastructures, to create a realistic simulator.

“Simulators have a crucial role to play in advancing nuclear energy,” said Francois Laubscher, Chief Operating Officer of SimGenics. “We look forward to collaborating with ABB to harness its automation, electrification and digital expertise to support the safe and productive operations that are required within the nuclear and power generation industries.”

Engineering and training simulators serve as virtual environments where solutions can be tested and refined in safe and developmental scenarios, enabling the nuclear energy workforce to develop operational skillsets using collaborative technology. Simulators can help reduce risk, prevent equipment failure and unplanned plant shutdowns and identify potential operational issues early*.

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* Development, Use and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plant Simulators for the Training and Authorization of Personnel (IAEA TECDOC pdf)

@ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @abb_automation @NRCan @ENERGY #PAuto #Energy #NorthAmerica

Connectors, components & test accessories for the North America.

Cliff Electronics has strengthened its global distribution network through a strategic partnership with DigiKey, a leading global distributor headquartered in the USA. This collaboration opens new doors for Cliff in the North American market while providing DigiKey customers with immediate access to high-quality, components with same-day shipping options.* 

Key Benefits & Partnership Highlights:

• 
  Expanded Access to North American Market: With DigiKey stocking Cliff products in the US, American OEMs and engineers benefit from fast, local access to a broad range of Cliff components.
• Enhanced Brand Visibility Across Key Sectors: The partnership boosts Cliff’s presence in key markets such as professional audio, instrumentation, broadcast, and industrial control.
• Same-Day Shipping and Low MOQ Support: DigiKey’s fulfilment capabilities allow same-day deliveries and low minimum order quantities, supporting both rapid prototyping and production-scale needs. Support for Design Engineers and OEMs:

This partnership enables quicker development cycles and easier access to Cliff’s innovative solutions for design engineers globally.

Cliff’s manufacturing ensures product quality, flexibility, and agility in responding to design customization requests, with DigiKey providing a fast distribution channel to global customers.

“Partnering with DigiKey enables Cliff Electronics to serve our growing international customer base more efficiently. Their reputation for service, speed, and global reach complements our commitment to quality and innovation.” – John Hall, Managing Director, Cliff Electronics

“Cliff’s range of high-quality, reliable components fills a critical demand across several engineering sectors. Our customers value rapid access to trusted products, and Cliff’s precision engineering innovation will greatly benefit our customers.” – Heather Fulara, vice president of interconnect, electromechanical and industrial automation at DigiKey.

Cliff and DigiKey will continue to collaborate on growing product ranges, launching new SKUs, and enhancing support for design engineers. The partnership is a key part of Cliff’s long-term strategy to expand internationally while maintaining local service and expertise. 

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*The Cliff product range now available via DigiKey.

@digikey @proactivefleet #CliffElectronics #PAuto #Electronic #USA

Automation partner at ethylene complex.

A Leveraged Procurement Agreement (LPA) to support automation at Dow’s Fort Saskatchewan Path2Zero expansion project (CDN).

ABB has signed a Leveraged Procurement Agreement (LPA) to support as the automation partner for Dow’s Path2Zero project at Fort Saskatchewan in Alberta, (CDN). According to Dow, the project, which is currently under construction, will create the world’s first net-zero Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions ethylene and derivatives complex1, producing essential building blocks needed for many of the materials and products on which society relies.

The project will involve a brownfield expansion and retrofit of Dow’s existing manufacturing site 330 km north of Calgary, which when complete aims to decarbonize approximately 20 percent2 of Dow’s global ethylene capacity. It represents one of the largest private sector investments in Alberta's history, according to the province’s government.

To achieve net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions, Dow has designed the site to recover and convert its cracker off-gas to hydrogen, which will be used as a clean fuel in the site’s furnaces3. In addition, carbon dioxide emissions will be captured and stored permanently, reducing existing emissions and abating most emissions from the addition of the site’s new capacity.

The collaboration will explore how ABB’s solutions will support the decarbonization of Dow’s manufacturing facilities by driving energy efficiency, automating processes, and using digital tools to optimize operations. As part of the LPA, ABB will explore expanding the existing ABB Ability™ System 800xA® Distributed Control System by adding approximately 25,000 new Select I/O channels and conventional I/Os. ABB will also supply all the hardware, design and engineering of cabinets.

“We are proud to apply our automation expertise and collaborate with Dow to make strides towards a lower carbon future,” said Per Erik Holsten, President of ABB Energy Industries. “Industrial energy consumption accounts for about a quarter of energy-related CO2 emissions4. As the global economy and population grow, so will demand for materials and goods, increasing the importance of using technology to enable more sustainable manufacturing.”

To meet Dow’s automation requirements and ‘design once, build many’ philosophy, ABB will also look to deploy its Adaptive Execution™ methodology to write a standard solution across future sites that helps reduce risks, manage costs and deliver high-quality solutions on time.

With work having started in December 2024, the site is expected to increase approximately 1.8 million metric tons of ethylene capacity in a phased approach through to 2030. It will also create up to 5,000 jobs during peak construction and approximately 500 full-time jobs once operational.

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@ABBgroupnews @abb_automation @Dow_Canada #Pauto #Canada

Investment in advanced AI software for rapid production testing of batteries.

Emerson has made a strategic investment through its corporate venture capital arm Emerson Ventures in EECOMOBILITY, a start-up that specialises in advanced battery testing and monitoring software for electric vehicle, energy storage and industrial markets.

EECOMOBILITY builds AI software, rapid battery testing and characterisation systems designed to identify defects that may lead to fires or performance issues. Combining advanced characterisation techniques and AI, their solutions portfolio can be applied at the cell, module or full battery pack level, making the company a key asset in the automotive sector.

“EECOMOBILITY’s AI-driven software for fault detection and battery testing aligns with Emerson's acquisition of NI and growing leadership in test and measurement technologies and expertise across the automotive sector,” said Thurston Cromwell, head of Emerson Ventures and vice president of development and innovation at Emerson. “Our experience in high-volume battery production testing will help accelerate EECOMOBILITY’s product development and market reach, especially in the automotive, energy storage and industrial technology sectors.”

EECOMOBILITY specialises in AI and offers platform-agnostic software that supports both standalone applications and seamless integration into customer solutions, regardless of cloud or hardware infrastructure. The software features rigorously tested, self-learning technology to ensure high speed, accurate results, easy customisation and rapid deployment.

“With this investment from Emerson Ventures and anticipated collaboration with Emerson’s Test and Measurement business, EECOMOBILITY will be better positioned to transform transportation electrification,” said Dr. Saeid Habibi, chief executive officer of EECOMOBILITY. “Given Emerson’s leadership in automation and commitment to sustainability, we are confident their support will help us expand the development and applications of our EECOPower technology, enable strategic partnerships and accelerate our growth.”

Emerson Ventures will co-invest with Automotive Ventures, RISC Capital and a North American OEM (original equipment manufacturer).

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@Emerson_News @EmersonExchange @EMR_Automation @HHC_Lewis #PAuto #Canada

Subsurface simulation delivers complete end-to-end CCS model.

ABB has signed a partnership with Canadian-based Computer Modelling Group (CMG) – a global simulation technology company that has been involved in carbon capture for over 20 years – to incorporate subsurface modelling into their existing digital twin technology for commercial carbon capture and storage (CCS) operations.

Being able to simulate scenarios at every stage of the captured carbon dioxide’s journey from surface to underground – whether to subsea or land aquifers – reduces risks and saves costs by allowing operators to test options in a virtual setting.

With this collaboration, ABB will use its Ability™ OPTIMAX® energy management system to integrate above ground digital twin technology with CMG’s subsurface modelling, providing a full end-to-end solution.

“Capturing and storing carbon dioxide underground is a highly technical and challenging process. Being able to deliver proof of concept across the entire CCS process is crucial to accelerate adoption,” said Brandon Spencer, President of ABB Energy Industries. “Without subsurface modelling, industry simply cannot calculate the cost or manage the risks, which is crucial if we are to scale the CCS market to the extent required to support decarbonization of industry and emissions reductions in line with the Paris Accord.”

Subsurface modelling enables businesses to assess risks against various operating scenarios. These risks include losses or leakage often caused by unexpected physical and chemical reactions underground between the carbon dioxide, water, rocks and cement, or technical faults such as wellbore failure caused by salt precipitation.

“This partnership brings together two powerful technologies to develop a product to support the intelligent, real-time operational decision making required to make carbon storage a success at scale,” said Pramod Jain, CEO of CMG. “Advanced subsurface modelling is necessary to assess and monitor risks of CO2 injection against various operating scenarios and is critical to the safety, feasibility and scaling of carbon capture and storage projects. We are pleased to partner with ABB, a global leader in innovation, to provide our industry leading, subsurface simulation capabilities to their enhanced digital twin technology.”

In its updated Net Zero Roadmap (pdf), the International Energy Agency highlights CCS as a key contributor to reaching net zero emissions targets, but stresses that rapid progress is needed. Although the project pipeline offers a positive outlook, with CCS projects tripling in 2021 and nearly doubling again since, CCS still represents a small percentage of all decarbonization technologies deployed. For countries to achieve their net-zero commitments, uptake by industry needs to grow 120-fold by 2050 but if successful, CCS alone could be responsible for reducing global industrial carbon emissions by 45 percent, according to McKinsey & Company.

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@abb_automation @ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @IEA @McKinsey @NapierPR #PAuto

Fifty years of analysis.

ABB is marking the 50th anniversary of its Quebec (CDN) factory which today manufactures market leading products for industrial analytical measurement and is one of the largest suppliers of optical sensors for detecting greenhouse gas emissions from space.

What began as a local enterprise, Bomem Inc., founded in 1973 by visionaries Dr. Henry Buijs, Gary Vail and Jean-Noel Bérubé, has grown into a flagship facility with over 400 employees. In 1999, Bomem entered a new era when it was acquired by ABB, allowing the factory to tap into ABB's resources and global reach, further extending its impact.

Furthermore, today the factory houses ABB’s largest Measurement & Analytics research and development group, consisting of 150 engineers and scientists.

“In its 50-year journey, ABB's Quebec factory has both pushed the boundaries of industrial analytical measurement, and also reached for the stars, literally,” said Jean-René Roy, Global Business Line Manager, ABB Measurement & Analytics. “Through pioneering gas analysis technology, ABB continues to support global climate change initiatives, delivering advanced solutions that monitor our planet and protect its future. This milestone is a testament to the power of innovation, dedication, and commitment to a greener, safer world.”

Revolutionizing gas analysis through innovation.
Manufactured in Quebec, ABB's Sensi+™ analyzer monitors natural gas quality through a single device for continuous and simultaneous measurements of H2S, H2O and CO2, eliminating the need for multiple analyzers, multiple maintenance schedules, and reducing hours of operator training and services.

At the same time, the ABB suite of natural gas leak detection solutions uses an innovative approach to gas detection, with sensitivity 1000 times greater and speed 10 times faster than traditional equipment.

Also out of Quebec, ABB designs and manufactures one of the largest portfolios in the world of laboratory, at-line and process FT-IR/FT-NIR analyzers. Used for quality control, these solutions increase productivity while lowering environmental impact in industries such as oil and gas, chemicals, and metals.

In recent years, optical sensors built by ABB in Quebec have played a vital role in detecting greenhouse gas emissions from space. Space-based gas analysis enables unbiased reporting across jurisdictions, crucial to verifying climate commitments. The ABB-built optical sensors offer 100 times higher resolution than comparable technologies, identifying emissions sources precisely.

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@abb_automation @ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @AdmiralPR #PAuto #Canada

Going for gold!

Valentine Gold Project is the largest undeveloped gold resource in the Atlantic Canada region.

Marathon Gold has agreed to a contract with ABB to design and commission the process and power control system for its Valentine Gold Project in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, moving the project another significant step closer to a timely startup. The order was booked in the third quarter of 2023.

Currently under construction, the open-pit mining and conventional milling operation will become a flagship project for Marathon Gold as its Valentine Gold Project represents the largest undeveloped gold resource in the Atlantic Canada region. The company projects an average production of 195,000 ounces of gold per year for the first 12 years of the expected 14-year mine life. The project remains on schedule to achieve mill commissioning in Q4 2024 and first gold production in Q1 2025.

“We’re very happy that ABB was selected for this project and we’re looking forward to working with the Marathon Gold team to keep it on track,” said Sachin Jari, Head of Mining, North America for ABB Process Industries. “It is set to become a very important gold mining operation in Canada and one that our experienced project team will make a positive impact on. They have decades of experience working with mining projects of similar stature in Canada and globally.”

ABB’s scope of delivery includes the design, supply and commissioning of the mine’s process and power control systems, both integrated under the company’s flagship ABB Ability™ System 800xA® distributed control system (DCS).

Additionally, by unifying these historically disparate systems under one common framework, mine operators can gain greater visibility across the operation, helping them find more ways to enhance safety, plant efficiency, staff responsiveness and profitability across the mining value chain. This integrated automation system will also be based on ABB’s Select I/O and Industrial Ethernet networks, which will help the project team mitigate any late changes or schedule delays to this project and simplify evolution of the mine’s automation systems through its various, planned production phases.

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@abb_automation @ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @MarathonGoldMOZ @AdmiralPR #PAuto #Mining #Canada

Setting new standards in innovation in the analytical space.

The mixed-model production line increases the output by 100 percent and reduces lead times by more than 30 percent.

ABB has partnered with Porsche Consulting, a leading management consultancy and a subsidiary of the sports car manufacturer, to reshape the landscape of analyzer manufacturing, solidifying ABB’s position at the forefront of the analyzer market.

The collaboration drives the deployment of a mixed-model production line for ABB’s process and laboratory analyzers manufactured in Canada, leveraging best practices from the automotive industry. The new production line offers optimized logistics, quality control and operations management, leading to 100 percent increase in output within the same floor space, and more than 30 percent decrease in lead times.

The production floor of the ABB factory in Quebec City, Canada

During the project, every aspect of the manufacturing process – from the production line setup and logistics to quality control methods and operations management principles – was examined and reimagined. In addition, change management approaches were introduced to prepare the factory staff for addressing the market's evolving needs, such as enhancing manufacturing and planning methods with test automation, live operations KPIs, and decoupling manufacturing subassembly product lines.

"Porsche Consulting helped us rethink our manufacturing systems. We wanted to be closer to the customers with better lead times and better reactivity, and to offer customers better visibility of the status of products during manufacturing,” said Marc Corriveau, Head of Global Operations, Analytical Busines Line, ABB. “The smart, digital and lean manufacturing process pioneered through this collaboration will shape the future of analyzer production, meeting the ever-evolving demands of the market and enabling us to maintain unmatched quality and service for our customers.”

Since the delivery of the first units in the spring of 2023, production has ramped up to double capacity, a testament to the efficiency and success of the innovative approach. Furthermore, the reduction in lead times has empowered ABB to respond swiftly to dynamic market demands.

The collaboration marks the latest chapter in a long-standing partnership between ABB and Porsche Consulting, which has encompassed diverse projects from strategic visioning to pragmatic operational transformations.

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@ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @abb_automation @PorscheConIta @AdmiralPR #PAuto #Canada

Power management system for potash project.

Integration of power and process technologies into one of the world’s largest potash sites will increase electrical and substation visibility to support maximum uptime

ABB has been selected by BHP to deliver a power management system for the Jansen Potash Project in Canada, which will provide nutrient-rich potash fertilizer to enable more sustainable farming globally. The global resource company is progressing the US $5.7 billion Jansen Stage 1 Potash Project which is expected to achieve first production in late 2026.

ABB recently expanded its ABB Ability System 800xA Power Control Library software to in-clude more options to commun-icate with and control electrical devices throughout the power infrastructure for mining and mineral processing operations.

“ABB will not only ensure high levels of availability, process visibility and energy management but also demonstrate interoperability with a third-party control system on this important project,” said Max Luedtke, Global Head of Mining, Process Industries, ABB. “Our teams have been working in the Canadian potash mining sector for many decades and anticipate growing to even greater levels of domain understanding using new available data and alerts.”

The order includes ABB Ability™ System 800xA Power Control Library, a digital application to monitor industrial electrical systems. It will help BHP on its journey towards an automated, electrified and digitalized site where engineers can monitor and quickly troubleshoot disturbances. The system will cover the electrical substation equipment remotely, reducing the time taken for fault diagnosis and problem solving.

BHP’s 100 percent-owned Jansen Potash Project in Saskatchewan, Canada, is planned to be the largest potash producing mine in the world with an initial Jansen Stage 1 capacity of 4.5 million tons per annum (Mtpa) and potential for 16 to 17 Mtpa through future development. Potash, a potassium-rich salt used as a fertilizer to improve the quality and yield of agricultural crops, is an essential plant nutrient and is increasingly vital due to land scarcity and a growing world population. Around 70 Mtpa is currently produced globally with a current market reliance on Canada and emerging potash-producing regions.

ABB will ensure high levels of availability and efficiency of the energy supply to the process. BHP will also have access to data for the electrical substation and electrical assets and the bank of information available will build over time, allowing trends to be identified and actions taken.

@ABBgroupnews @abb_automation @bhp @admiralpr #PAuto  #Fertiliser

Renewable wood residues into chemicals.

A memorandum of understanding with Origin Materials, Inc. (“Origin,” “Origin Materials”) has been announced by Emerson. Origin is world’s leading carbon negative materials company, and Emerson are to provide advanced digital automation technologies and consulting services for Origin’s first world-scale manufacturing facility, Origin 2. Emerson has already supplied automation for Origin’s first commercial facility, currently under construction in Sarnia, Ontario (CDN).

Emerson’s expertise and advanced automation solutions will enable Origin Materials, based in West Sacramento, (CA USA), to fully automate its pioneering production process at Origin 2. The plant, to be constructed in Geismar, Louisiana, is expected to convert about 1 million dry metric tons of wood residues each year into carbon-negative materials for applications that include polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic and carbon black.

Origin’s platform technology turns the carbon found in sustainable wood residues into useful carbon-negative materials for a wide range of end products, including clothing, textiles, plastics, packaging, car parts, tires, carpeting, and toys, representing a more than $1-trillion total addressable market.

“We’re excited to partner with Emerson, a company known to enable operational excellence through advanced digital automation technology,” said John Bissell, co-chief executive officer of Origin Materials. “Using intelligent sensors, simulation, and data analytics modelling software we will drive productivity rates as we scale our business to meet the tsunami of global demand for sustainable materials.”

The Origin 2 plant, expected to be operational in 2025, will use Emerson’s Plantweb™ digital ecosystem, which includes intelligent sensors and control valves, production optimisation systems, advanced data analytics software, modelling and simulation technology, distributed control systems and secure networking.

“Leveraging a digital engineering strategy from the start will help bring bold, visionary concepts like plant-based plastics to market faster, helping accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy,” said Mark Bulanda, executive president of Emerson’s Automation Solutions business. “With new decarbonisation technologies, it’s essential to be able to develop and scale innovative production methods with minimal risk and the greatest efficiency possible. Our collaboration with Origin is an exciting step toward realising the benefits of net-zero manufacturing for a more sustainable future.”

@EmersonExchange @EMR_Automation @Emerson_News @OriginMaterials @HHC_Lewis #PAuto

I/O modules for hazardous areas.

Acromag’s new BusWorks® NT series remote I/O modules are now UL Listed for Class 1 Division 2 Groups A, B, C, D hazardous locations with volatile substances in the United States and Canada. This certification permits the use of the BusWorks NT series remote I/O modules in environments with flammable liquids, gases, or vapors. The Class I Div 2 certification is often required for electronics deployed in chemical, oil, gas, mining, and other manufacturing facilities. 

With the higher safety rating, the Ethernet modules can be installed closer to sensors and actuators to reduce installation costs for monitoring and control of automated machinery. The Ethernet modules have also passed testing for the European ATEX and IECEx Zone 2 safety certification that is widely accepted in many countries globally for explosive atmospheres.

“The new NT Series Ethernet I/O modules are now internationally certified for safe use in areas that may contain volatile substances,” states Robert Greenfield, Acromag’s Business Development Manager.

NTE Ethernet I/O models have dual RJ45 ports and a webserver with Modbus TCP/IP and Ethernet/IP communication to monitor or control the internal I/O channels. An integrated DIN rail bus allows connections of up to three NTX expansion I/O modules. Each I/O module adds up to 16 input or output signals allowing a mix of voltage, current, temperature, TTL, and relay control signals networked on one IP address. The space-saving design requires only 25mm of DIN rail per module. Ethernet I/O modules distribute 9-32V DC power along the DIN rail bus to expansion modules. Hazardous location approvals, high noise immunity, and -40 to 70°C operation make this ideal for use in harsh environments.

The NT2000 Series offers a broad variety of I/O signal processing options. Nine I/O configurations are available as either NTE Ethernet I/O or NTX expansion I/O models. Analog I/O models feature eight differential or sixteen single-ended inputs for monitoring current or voltage signals. Discrete I/O models provide 16 tandem input/output channels with either active high/low input and sinking/sourcing output. A six-channel mechanical relay output model is also available. For temperature monitoring, a thermocouple input model supports many sensor types and also millivolt ranges. More models will release over the coming months for additional I/O functions.

Profinet communication is planned for release soon. Each module will support all three protocols which are selectable using any web browser to configure the network settings and I/O operation. The modules typically function as a network slave, but also offer Acromag’s i2o® peer-to-peer communication technology to transfer data between modules directly without a host or master in between. Multicast capability is included.

Acromag, a mid-sized international corporation, has been developing and manufacturing measurement and control products for more than 60 years. They offer a complete line of industrial I/O products including process instruments, signal conditioning equipment, data acquisition boards, distributed I/O systems, and communication devices.

@Acromag #PAuto #North-America

Colaboration to lead to global leadership in large-scale green hydrogen production systems.

ABB and Hydrogen Optimized Inc. (HOI) have signed an agreement to expand the companies’ existing strategic relationship. This includes an investment by ABB into Key DH Technologies Inc. (KEY), the parent company of HOI, as they seek to accelerate the fast-emerging green hydrogen production segment with unique large-scale architecture. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

LtoR: Justin Trudeau, PM Canada, Olaf Scholz, Bundeskanzler BRD, Joachim Braun, President ABB Process Industries and Andrew TB Stuart, President & CEO KEY & HOI.

The signing follows the two companies’ showcase of their green hydrogen technologies at the August 23, 2022 German-Canadian Atlantic Renewable Hydrogen Expo in Stephenville, Newfoundland (CDN), which was attended by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Hydrogen produced with low-to-zero carbon dioxide emissions is widely recognized as essential to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

By accelerating the strategic collaboration between ABB and HOI launched in 2020, the two companies are advancing the deployment of economic large-scale green hydrogen production systems to decarbonize hard-to-abate industries that address a wide range of essential needs – energy, metals, cement, utilities, ammonia, fertilizers, and fuels for aircraft, ships, trucks and rail.

The companies will leverage their respective capabilities and resources to rapidly commercialize HOI’s patented RuggedCell™ high-power water electrolysis technology for the world’s largest green hydrogen plants. Water electrolysis is the process of applying electrical energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. RuggedCell™ technology converts renewable electricity such as hydro, solar and wind power into green hydrogen for industry.

“We look forward to building on our companies’ two-year working relationship to pursue the enormous global opportunity of green hydrogen,” said Joachim Braun, Division President, ABB Process Industries. “Following a rigorous validation of the RuggedCell™ technology, we are confident that, in combination with ABB’s high-power rectifiers, it can become a category leader in the large-scale green hydrogen segment. Our complementary technologies will strengthen the Hydrogen Optimized value proposition and fast-track the commercialization of the RuggedCell™.”

“This agreement positions us for success in the large-scale segment with customers requiring installations in the hundreds of megawatts to multi-gigawatts,” said Andrew T. B. Stuart, President and CEO of KEY and HOI. “ABB’s global footprint, commercial relationships and technology leadership in high-power rectifiers, distributed control systems and manufacturing automation provide us with the market reach and capabilities to achieve our company’s goals.”

Global electrolyzer capacity will reach an estimated 3,100 gigawatts by 2050, according to a June 2022 report published by DNV. The group forecasts that electricity-based green hydrogen will be the dominant form of hydrogen production by the middle of this century, accounting for 72 percent of output.

The proceeds of ABB’s investment into KEY, led by ABB Technology Ventures (ATV), will be used to advance HOI’s intellectual property development, build up corporate capabilities for increased business activity and introduce automated manufacturing and robotics. This will accelerate the rollout of gigawatt-scale electrolyzer manufacturing.

@ABBgroupnews @abb_automation @h_optimized #PAuto #Canada #Germany

Monitoring emissions from space!

With ABB’s technology, the GHGSat team is able to precisely locate and measure methane emissions from any given industrial site on earth*. The launch of three new ABB-built high-resolution methane sensors doubles the company’s capacity to monitor customer sites. In addition to the three units being launched – Luca, Penny and Diako – six additional units are under fabrication at ABB.

Pic: Space Flight Laboratory

Space is the only location allowing emissions to be monitored freely across jurisdictions and report on improvements or otherwise. Measuring different sites with the same sensor ensures that emissions are compared consistently. Space measurements are also especially useful for sites where ground sensors are economically not viable or too complex to deploy.

GHGSat announced the initial constellation contract with ABB in October 2020, with first deliveries started in 2021. The launch of three additional units strengthens GHGSat’s lead in-orbit, operating the world’s largest constellation in the world dedicated to GHG emission monitoring.

According to the International Energy Agency, methane is responsible for around 30 percent of the rise in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution, and rapid and sustained reductions in methane emissions are key to limiting near-term global warming and improving air quality (Report 23/2/2022).

"Satellite data is critical for stakeholders globally to take immediate action for a sustainable future. The first full year of commercial operation for GHGSat satellites confirmed the impact our technology can have. We’re excited to double our capacity and accelerate the change needed to make a difference for our planet,” said Stephane Germain, CEO of GHGSat.

“This is an exciting milestone for our team as we witness the efficiency of applying our serial production knowhow to space sensors manufacturing which in the past have been mainly one-off contracts. Our partnership with GHGSat led to a paradigm shift in the industrial space sector. Not only does this set new standards in our space offering for the private sector which is growing at a rapid pace, but it also allows us to expand our expertise and solutions offering,” said Marc Corriveau, General Manager ABB Measurement & Analytics Canada.

*For more than two decades, with involvement in the Canadian SCISAT mission and the Japanese GOSAT satellites program, ABB has been at the forefront of greenhouse gas sensing from space. ABB optical equipment already in space cumulates more than 100 years of reliable operation. Since 2003, the SCISAT sensor tracks long-term subtle composition changes in the Earth's atmosphere down to parts per trillion of more than 70 molecules and pollutants. Weather agencies across the world base their predictions on ABB equipment flying onboard the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather satellites (NPP and JPSS), which improves the timeliness and accuracy of weather forecasts for up to seven days, helping save lives through advanced warning evacuations.

@ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @ghgsat @IEA #Environment #PAuto #Canada

Green building for Canadian arm of automation company.

Endress+Hauser Canada has erected one of the country’s “greenest” commercial buildings for 20 million euros. The recently-opened customer experience and process training center in Burlington, Ontario, roughly 50 kilometers southwest of Toronto, is energy-autonomous and CO2 neutral. The 4,400-square-meter facility – twice the size of the current location – houses a process training center, a large calibration lab, repair facility, training center and state-of-the-art office and recreational space for around 120 people.

Endress+Hauser has maintained a presence in Canada since 1990 with its own sales center, which manages customers from Manitoba, to the Atlantic provinces. The employees at the headquarters in Burlington, in addition to locations in Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton, are supported by various sales representatives. Whether primaries, metals & mining, oil & gas, food, chemicals, life sciences, water & wastewater, and power & energy, the resource-rich country is home to virtually all industries.

New building symbolizes brand values
The new building in Burlington reflects the solid growth of the past years. “The Customer Experience Center is an impressive example of Endress+Hauser’s global strategy of cultivating and managing customer partnerships. This is how we grow – in Canada and worldwide,” says Matthias Altendorf, CEO of the Endress+Hauser Group. The building also represents the brand values of the Group. “It demonstrates our dedication to customers and our commitment to sustainability.”

“The new building is designed to express our standards as a company, not only to our customers but the public as a whole,” emphasizes Managing Director, Anthony Varga. In planning the project, Endress+Hauser Canada focused on the needs of the customers. “We can provide the best possible support to our customers over the entire lifecycle of their systems. We offer an inviting environment while setting standards for ecological building design.”

Hands-on training

Process training unit!

At the heart of the new building is a process training center, the second of its kind in Canada. Such process training units (PTU) can be found at Endress+Hauser locations around the world. Customers can use these pilot plant systems to practice hands-on how to operate a wide range of measurement instruments and profit from a long partnership with Rockwell Automation and other manufacturers. This allows customers to simulate conditions similar to their own operating environments.

Endress+Hauser places a high value on sustainability and energy efficiency in construction projects all around the world. The new building in Canada covers its electricity needs with more than 800 solar modules installed on the roof. These panels can generate around 408,000 kilowatt hours of electricity on an annual basis, exceeding the needs of the building so that electricity can be fed into the grid. A geothermal system draws heat from 50 wells at a depth of 180 meters and distributes it across the entire building via 63 heat pumps.

Well thought-out architecture
The south-facing windows in the upper floor capture sunlight, while the triple-glazed façade prevents heat loss. A four-meter-high Ficus tree in the atrium improves the air quality and symbolizes the “green” mindset. Thanks to all of these measures, the building is one of the greenest structures in the country. Endress+Hauser is the first private company to strive for all three certificates from the Canada Green Building Council: Net Zero Energy, Zero Carbon Building Standards and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in Gold.

@Endress_Hauser @Endress_CA #PAuto #Canada

Regional head of surface inspection solutions provider.

AMETEK Surface Vision has appointed Vincent Roy as Regional Sales Manager for Canada. His role will be to develop relationships with customers and to achieve strong revenue growth for both the SmartView^® and SmartAdvisor^® brands.

Vincent Roy

Working closely with existing and new customers, this appointment will add value across all markets including paper, metals, nonwovens, and plastics, utilizing Vincent’s extensive sales and industry experience to develop relationships and increase product support.

Commenting on his role, Vincent Roy said: “The markets in which AMETEK Surface Vision is active are changing and developing fast. AMETEK Surface Vision has the technology and products to meet these challenges, and I’m proud to be joining the team, helping customers by offering effective and well-adapted solutions. My experience and approach to sales, particularly with North American paper mill producers, will help me to meet the needs of our existing and future customers.”

Vincent will report to Francois Levac, Americas Business Director, who added: “Vincent has a broad range of experience in customer-facing roles and will certainly be an asset for AMETEK Surface Vision. His personality and technical focus, approach to problem-solving, as well as his sales and marketing experience, will be of great benefit to our growing team.”

Before joining AMETEK, Vincent held sales and account roles in related industry companies including Constant America, Buckman, and CIBA Chemical. He also holds a Paper Technologies degree from the Trois-Rivières College.

@surfacevision @codacomms #Pauto #Canada

Supporting clean energy investment.

TransAlta Corporation has selected Emerson as the main automation contractor in its planned conversions of coal-fired units to natural gas. The project is part of TransAlta’s $2 billion (€1.8b) Clean Energy Investment Plan that will convert its existing coal assets in Alberta, Canada, to natural gas and extend its leadership in clean and renewable energy. The coal-to-gas (CTG) conversions at TransAlta’s Keephills and Sundance power plants will help to substantially reduce emissions while providing firm, clean, reliable electricity to Alberta (CDN).

Keephills

TransAlta operates more than 70 power generation facilities across Canada, the United States and Australia. The conversions are part of the utility’s ongoing efforts to leverage wind and natural gas to provide low-cost, low-carbon electricity to consumers. Emerson will lead the design, procurement, installation and commissioning in the replacement of automation systems for CTG projects at both power plants. In the last five years, Emerson has completed 25 CTG conversion projects in North America.

Sundance

Emerson will integrate the new burner management system and replace outdated controls with its Ovation™ automation technology. As plants are converted, Emerson will also provide its high-fidelity digital twin simulator, which will be used as a training tool for operations staff, giving them a safe environment to become adept at handling complex operating scenarios.

The conversion of the first unit begins in autumn 2020, with the projects expected to be completed by 2024. Emerson’s experience in plant conversions, strong local presence and expertise from local Impact Partner Spartan Controls were key factors in its selection for this project. Emerson Impact Partners serve as an exclusive sales channel for many Emerson brands.

“Conversion to natural gas is breathing new life into aging coal plants,” said Bob Yeager, president of Emerson’s power and water business. “TransAlta is to be commended for its commitment to environmental stewardship while taking steps to further enhance its competitive position.”

#PAuto #Canada #Power @EMR_Automation @Emerson_News

New Regional manager for surface inspection solutions.

AMETEK Surface Vision has appointed Éric Charette-Béchamp as its Regional Sales Manager for Canada.

Éric Charette-Béchamp

François Levac, Director of Sales – Americas, AMETEK Surface Vision, said: “We are delighted to welcome Éric to the AMETEK team. His industry experience and extensive skill set will be invaluable to new and existing customers of both AMETEK Surface Vision and Land.

“He will work closely with our regional distributors of AMETEK Land’s temperature measurement solutions, and with users of our SmartView® and SmartAdvisor® inspection systems, to provide integrated solutions for a range of market applications in Canada.”

In addition to AMETEK Surface Vision, he will also serve as Regional Sales Manager for AMETEK Land, reflecting the close application and market synergies between the surface inspection and temperature measurement process solutions provided by these two business units.

Éric has more than 20 years of experience in the manufacturing sector in Canada. His expertise in after-sales service and problem-solving will benefit both the Surface Vision and Land customers across the country.

He joins AMETEK from Albany International, where he was a sales and service engineer for 14 years. He has also worked as a paper machine superintendent for Bowater (now Resolute Forest Product), in Donnacona, Quebec.

Éric holds bachelor’s degrees in Biochemistry and Chemical Engineering, as well as a master’s in Business and Administration (MBA), from the Université Laval in Quebec.

 @surfacevision #PAuto #Canada @codacomms

Acquisition increases consultancy strength and digital expertise.

Acquisition expands Emerson’s consultancy strength and digital transformation expertise!

iSolutions Inc., a Canadian-based consulting group with expertise designing and implementing data management solutions has been acquired by Emerson. The acquired company provides organisations with decision-support tools to make data-driven production and operational decisions based on the analysis of real-time insights from integrated field and plant systems.

The acquisition will accelerate delivery of Emerson’s new digital transformation roadmap by adding proven skillsets in information technology/operational technology (IT-OT) and application knowledge to help integrate data from the plant floor to business systems.

“We make the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) tangible through our approach focused on business needs and readiness,” said Thomas Waun, general manager for Operational Certainty Consulting at Emerson. “With the addition of iSolutions expertise, Emerson can expedite roadmap implementation and digital transformation deployments across organisations – helping them realise faster return on technology investments and achieve top quartile performance in the areas of safety, reliability, energy consumption and production.”

iSolutions has a proven reputation with North American upstream oil and gas, power and utilities customers for its successful and repeatable methodology that transforms plant data into real-time key performance indicator (KPI) visualisation and business intelligence. In addition, its expertise will strengthen Emerson’s Operational Certainty Consulting organisation with the addition of a data management practice for process, hybrid and discrete businesses.

As part of Emerson, iSolutions will help organisations deploy Emerson’s Plantweb™ digital ecosystem, the industry’s most comprehensive IIoT platform.

“We’re excited to join Emerson and expand the reach of our expertise throughout Emerson’s global organisation,” said Anil Datoo, on behalf of the four founding partners at iSolutions. “Together we can continue to make digital transformation practical, accessible and achievable.”

@iSolutions_Inc #PAuto @EMR_Automation  @HHC_Lewis 

Megaproject safely and successfully delivered.

North West Redwater Partnership leverages Emerson’s capital project and automation expertise to reduce project complexity and improve engineering consistency

Emerson has completed a $73 million (€64m) contract for automation systems and cloud engineering services, helping North West Redwater Partnership design, execute and complete its first-of-a-kind Sturgeon Refinery. The Alberta, Canada refinery uses innovative technology designed to produce ultra-low sulphur diesel for local consumption as well as for export to markets that demand low sulphur fuel.
Using key elements of Emerson’s Project Certainty methodology, North West Redwater Partnership reduced global automation engineering complexity and completed the instrumentation and control scope for refinery automation. Emerson completed its entire scope of work with zero safety incidents.

The project team selected Emerson’s automation technologies and petrochemical project expertise to manage the refinery’s process control and safety system scope and help it safely begin producing diesel from synthetic crude oil in late 2017. This Refinery relies on an innovative, one-step process that, when fully operational, will convert diluted bitumen feedstock directly into ultra-low sulphur diesel while capturing carbon dioxide emissions.

“The unique nature of this refinery makes it important for us to manage all of the project components to minimise complexity,” said Jim Quinn, vice president of engineering for North West Redwater Partnership. “Emerson did an excellent job as the main automation contractor and continues to offer us exceptional support for the systems and services they delivered.”

As main automation contractor responsible for the entire instrumentation and control scope, Emerson provided integrated project management to reduce complexity and support North West Redwater Partnership with the alignment of multiple contractors. Cloud engineering using Emerson’s Remote Virtual Office technology enabled rapid mobilisation of resources and collaborative engineering, ensuring on-time automation delivery from experts around the globe.

“We’ve built world-class project execution and automation delivery capabilities throughout Emerson, and this truly unique project demonstrates the results of that vision,” said Jim Nyquist, group president for Emerson’s Systems and Solutions business. “Combining Emerson’s cloud engineering technology and Project Certainty methodologies helped support North West Redwater Partnership in delivering innovation to the entire oil and gas industry.”

The Sturgeon Refinery uses Emerson automation software and technologies, including DeltaV™ control and safety systems and AMS asset management software, as well as Rosemount™ instrumentation and Fisher™ control valves. The project team also leveraged DeltaV Operator Training Solutions and hands-on training to ensure operator readiness from the first moments of commissioning and start-up.

The refinery will process 79,000 barrels per day of diluted bitumen, while simultaneously capturing an estimated 1.2 million annual tonnes of carbon dioxide, which will act as a valuable feedstock to assist in enhanced oil recovery of up to a billion barrels of light oil that would otherwise have been unreachable.

@EMR_Automation  #PAuto  @Emerson_News #Canada