Fast-growing renewable energy industry factor for new enterprise.

Industrial Ethernet hardware and software for mission-critical data communications networks operating in harsh environments.

From its new base in Copenhagen (DK), Westermo is to provide vital local support for companies in the key energy, rail, water and wastewater, and maritime sectors that are looking to implement robust and reliable industrial network solutions.

Kenneth Olsen (top) and 
Örjan Axelsson 

Kenneth Olsen, a vastly experienced international sales and business development specialist, becomes the company’s inaugural key account manager for business in Denmark. Örjan Axelsson has been named as managing director (MD) of Westermo Denmark, and will perform the new role in tandem with his existing position as MD of Westermo in Sweden and Finland.

Westermo previously supported its Danish customers through an authorised distributor. However, the company was keen to establish its own premises, enabling it to strengthen its position in the country and enhance the level of support it provides to its customers.

“Establishing close proximity to our customers has always been an important aspect of the Westermo expansion strategy, and that will continue to be the case moving forward,” said Axelsson. “By strengthening our presence in Denmark, we will not only be able to offer companies our full, broad range of industrial data communications solutions, but also comprehensive support at a local level. This will lead to enhanced customer satisfaction, and will help us to forge stronger, trusted relationships.”

A major factor behind Westermo’s move into Denmark is the country’s fast-growing renewable energy industry, in which government support for infrastructure development has incentivised investment in wind and solar power. In addition, the Danish national grid is undergoing significant expansion, with a large number of grid projects set to be launched over the next decade, while Denmark is also set to see major growth in sectors such as rail signalling and telecommunications, water and wastewater treatment, and shipping.

“Such a major level of growth creates an increasing need for highly reliable, secure and resilient data communications networks to support these key industries,” said Axelsson. “Westermo is a global company with an extensive portfolio of proven solutions. For the past 20 years, Incom has provided outstanding support for Westermo products in Denmark, but the company is now scaling back its operations. With the addition of local support through our new office in Copenhagen, this makes us the ideal partner to solve Denmark’s toughest networking challenges, helping to ensure seamless connectivity and continuous operation in some of the country’s most vital industrial applications.”

---

@WestermoUK @westermo @HHC_Lewis #PAuto #Power

Strategic investment accelerates sustainability in shipping.

Emerson has made a strategic investment in Frugal Technologies, a Danish-based company that offers fuel optimisation technologies that reduce energy use and emissions in shipping fleets. The investment aligns with Emerson’s fuel management and propulsion control and optimisation expertise in its marine systems and solutions business.

“Frugal Technologies’ mission aligns very well with our commitment to drive innovation that supports our customers in their sustainability journey,” said Jon Stokes, group president of Emerson. “Our shipping customers demand the best fuel consumption measurements and data available to make better, more informed decisions, and Frugal, combined with our technologies, provides an unparalleled value proposition for fuel optimisation.”

On average across vessel types, fuel consumption accounts for approximately 60% of operating costs. Frugal’s cloud-based propulsion optimisation software uses AI technology to collect data related to dynamic conditions such as weather, cargo load and propulsion and develop optimal engine models for ships. Frugal estimates its propulsion solutions generate savings of up to 15% in fuel consumption, contributing to a lower carbon footprint.

“Our propulsion solution supports two critical pain points in the market: optimising energy use to reduce fuel costs and helping ship owners comply with more stringent emissions targets,” said Peter Hauschildt, co-founder and chief executive officer of Frugal Technologies. “Our fuel optimisation technology complements Emerson’s marine expertise and automation portfolio, and together we are well positioned to help fleet performance leaders better manage their fuel costs and meet their sustainability targets.”

New global environmental regulations have sparked innovation to support shipping companies in their sustainability journey. The International Maritime Organization has stated its goals to reduce the carbon intensity of international shipping by at least 40% by 2030 and 70% by 2050.

---

@EmersonExchange @Emerson_News @EMR_Automation @IMOHQ @HHC_Lewis #Marine

Expertise for green hydrogen site.

ABB has been contracted by Danish company H₂ Energy Esbjerg ApS to provide basic electrical engineering for the power distribution from grid point of connection to electrolyzers, and for other process equipment at its 1 GW hydrogen production facility in Esbjerg and hydrogen distribution hub in Fredericia (DK). The plant, among the largest hydrogen developments in Europe, will produce up to 90,000 tons of hydrogen per year – the equivalent of about 1.9 million barrels of oil per year.

With this project, booked in Q3 2023, ABB will build on its expertise in the Power-to-X sector (PtX) for the development of green hydrogen, which already includes collaborations in Sweden, Norway, and elsewhere in Denmark.

The PtX facility in Esbjerg, scheduled to start operating by 2027, will convert renewable electricity from offshore wind into green hydrogen to support the decarbonization of heavy industry and road transportation. The hydrogen may also be used for the production of green e-fuels like methanol and ammonia.

“ABB is focused on supporting the EU’s priority to develop renewable hydrogen,” said Per-Erik Holsten, Head of Northern Europe at ABB Energy Industries. “We are increasingly active in the pioneering Power-to-X market which is essential in meeting global energy transition goals and achieving a low carbon society in the future.”

“It was important to collaborate with a company that has the knowledge of managing energy consumption and optimizing energy efficiency during green hydrogen production,” said Julian O'Connell, Project Director of H₂ Energy Esbjerg ApS. “It is also critical to ensure we have a reliable and readily available supply of power to support operations at the distribution hub.”

The project by H₂ Energy Esbjerg ApS is expected to create up to 60 permanent jobs and supply enough green hydrogen to meet the annual fuel consumption demands of more than 10,000 trucks, around half of all trucks in Denmark, and for heavy industry.

The International Energy Agency’s Global Hydrogen Review says the pipeline of projects for the production of low-emission hydrogen is growing at an impressive speed and it could reach up to 24 Mt per year by 2030, if all projects are realized.

---

@abb_automation @ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @AdmiralPR #PAuto #Denmark

6G research.

Anritsu Corporation has announced the extension of its 6G research activities to include new innovative research together with Aalborg University in Denmark.

This new 6G research program will develop novel techniques for channel sounding and communication channel sensing in new 6G frequency bands, including the millimeter-wave and sub-terahertz bands. This will be enabled by Vector Network Analyzers from Anritsu, which have specific features to enhance the measurement methods, together with antenna and measurement systems technology from Aalborg University.

As industry and standards organizations discuss and plan the frequencies and waveforms to be used in next-generation mobile communications (such as 6G, IMT-2030), detailed understanding of radio channel characteristics is key piece of information. This research program will enable new techniques for high resolution and wide bandwidth radio channel characterization, which will contribute to system modelling and performance evaluation for 6G technologies. Also, for candidate 6G technologies, the work will support the evaluation of ‘Joint Communications and Sensing’ techniques and waveforms that are currently being researched.

Jonathan Borrill, Head of Global Market Technology at Anritsu stated: “We are very pleased to further extend our 6G research activities and to collaborate with Aalborg University. The university has a proven world-class capability and knowledge for channel sounding and OTA measurements, and we believe that this research program will contribute world-leading results and test capabilities to the industry.”

Wei Fan, professor and leader of “Wireless Propagation and Over the Air testing” research group with Aalborg University stated: “Radio channel modelling is essential for design and development of 6G system and interfaces, which starts with reliable measurements of channels by using high-fidelity channel sounders. We are very happy to work with Anritsu, a world-leading radio frequency test instrument manufacturer, to develop state-of-the-art channel sounders for 6G communication and sensing systems in this project.”

@AnritsuEMEA @Anritsu @aalborg_uni @NapierPR #TandM #Research #Denmark

Chief for sustainability appointed.

Danfoss Power Solutions has named Carina Christine Skovmøller as director of its Centre for Sustainability, a newly created role. Based in Copenhagen (DK), Skovmøller reports directly to Andreas Schumacher, senior director, Centres of Excellence.

Carina Christine Skovmøller

Skovmøller and her team will support the organization in its ESG (environmental, social, and governance) journey, focusing primarily on sustainability. She’ll be responsible for driving Danfoss Power Solutions’ sustainability strategy as part of Danfoss’ overall 2030 ESG commitment. She’ll also play a key role in helping Danfoss Power Solutions customers reach their decarbonization goals.

“I look forward to helping Danfoss Power Solutions apply the 2030 climate goals on a divisional and business unit level,” Skovmøller said. “The development of specific roadmaps will help us achieve these targets and put us on a path toward a decarbonized and circular product portfolio, ultimately helping us realize our goal of becoming our customers’ preferred sustainability partner.”

“This newly created role is of great strategic significance as it aligns closely with our sustainability goals,” Schumacher added. “Carina is exactly the type of leader we need to ensure we meet the objectives of our ESG ambition. At Danfoss, we want to be a flagbearer for the green transition, and Carina can help us get there.”

Skovmøller has more than 10 years of experience working in the sustainability field. She joins Danfoss Power Solutions from Syngenta Nordic, where she served as head of sustainability, public affairs, and communication. Prior to Syngenta, Skovmøller worked for 13 years within the international building sector at Velux Group, holding various leadership positions that included head of global CSR and sustainability. For the past 11 years, she has served as an adjunct associate professor at the Copenhagen Business School.

Skovmøller holds a doctorate in sustainability and environmental studies and a master’s degree in marketing and economics, both from Copenhagen Business School. She earned her master’s degree in communications and journalism and bachelor’s degree in business studies from Roskilde University.

@DanfossPower @Danfoss @NapierPR #PAuto #Sustainability

Capturing Carbon Dioxide from waste incinerator!

Researchers from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) are working with this highly innovative waste incineration plant to develop a process that is able to capture CO₂from its emissions. The pilot carbon capture plant has proved highly successful so maybe this is the way forward for EfW facilities?

Pics:Hufton&Crow/ARC

The Amager Bakke Waste-to-Energy Plant is one of the largest CHP plants in northern Europe, with the capacity to treat 560,000 tonnes of waste annually. Developed by the Copenhagen-based waste management company ARC (Amager Ressourcecenter), which is jointly owned by five Copenhagen-area municipalities, the CHP plant features a number of innovations including a rooftop artificial ski slope, which is part of an outdoor activity centre known as CopenHill.

Carbon capture pilot plant

The owners of the Amager Bakke plant are planning to apply for 1.5 billion DKK ($230 million USD) for a CCS plant capable of capturing 500,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year – if the right regulatory framework and sufficient funding is provided by the Danish state. This plant would employ the same amine scrubbing process that has been proven by the pilot carbon capture plant.

A case study, Decarbonization technology proven at Waste-to-Energy Plant has been published and shows that the project is utilising advanced gas analysers from Vaisala (FIN) to measure carbon capture efficiency and therefore CCUS viability. These analysers are unique because they operate inline an in real-time. 

@VaisalaGroup @_Enviro_News #Pauto #Waste #Denmark

Temperature systems Global sales appointment.

AMETEK Land has appointed Jesper Kristiansen as its Senior Director of Global Sales.

Jesper Kristiansen

In his new role, Jesper will have full responsibility for leading AMETEK Land's commercial strategies, working with the global sales teams to maintain its market-leading position in metals and power markets. He will also have the goal of accelerating growth in the glass, hydrocarbon, and industrial processing markets. The appointment is part of an organisational change that will see the Directors of Sales in America and Asia, and all European Regional Sales Managers, report directly to this new position.

A member of the AMETEK team for 17 years, Jesper has held a variety of sales and marketing management roles and was most recently Director of Global Sales for the AMETEK Sensor Test & Calibration. He has a degree in business studies from The Esbjerg Business Academy (DK), and lives in Hareskovby, north of the Danish capital Copenhagen, with his family.

Jesper will report directly to Justin Smith, Divisional Vice President/Business Unit Manager of AMETEK Land, who said: "I'd like to congratulate Jesper as he takes on this new leadership responsibility. He brings a wealth of expertise and experience in channel management to his new role. Jesper has a truly global perspective of our operations. He will be focused not only on our worldwide business strategy but also on supporting, driving, and strengthening our regional sales partners."

@landinst #PAuto 

Monitoring Technology in North Sea.

Wellhead pressure monitoring used as safety measure during the installation of replacement platforms and topsides during two-year redevelopment

Tyra field - North Sea.

Total E&P Denmark A/S has awarded Emerson a contract to provide wellhead pressure monitoring technology to enhance safety during the multi-year redevelopment project to extend the life of Denmark’s biggest gas field.

“Emerson’s wireless technology has been successfully deployed within offshore applications around the world, helping improve the safety of people and operations,” said Roel van Doren, president of Emerson Automation Solutions in Europe. “The ability to offer a complete solution capable of providing real-time measurement and awareness to help Total monitor and respond to pressure changes safely was a key factor in the use of Emerson technology.”

The Tyra field in the Danish part of the North Sea has been in production for more than 30 years but is today suffering from seabed subsidence. Since production started in the 1980s, the seabed has subsided by more than five metres, reducing the air gap between the sea level and the bottom of the platforms. In order to keep the Tyra field in production, Total E&P Denmark is replacing the existing wellhead platforms with new and elevated topsides. The 13-metre-high jacket extensions and new topsides will be installed on top of the existing jacket structures.

The Tyra redevelopment project will ensure continuous production from Denmark’s biggest gas field, while safeguarding Danish North Sea infrastructure. The $3.3 billion investment in the redevelopment is the biggest ever in the Danish North Sea. Once completed, Tyra is expected to produce more than 200 million barrels of oil equivalent. The current Tyra field has two production complexes, Tyra East and Tyra West, which are linked to satellite fields Harald, Roar, Svend, Tyra Southeast and Valdemar.

During the two-year shut-in, Emerson technology will monitor wellhead casing pressures as a safety measure. With power and cable infrastructure unavailable, a wireless and battery-powered solution is required. Emerson will provide more than 200 Rosemount™ wireless pressure transmitters to be installed on the four riser platforms. The devices will transmit data to two standalone Emerson DeltaV™ PK Controllers, to be installed on the offshore accommodation platforms. Data will be presented to construction workers locally on human machine interfaces and relayed to an onshore monitoring point and data historian.

#PAuto #Denmark @EMR_Automation @Emerson_News

Green go-kart in education!

At the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), engineering students are taught electronics and challenged with real-life industrial equipment driven by electric motors and drives manufactured by Nidec.

SDU gives young engineering students an opportunity to be part of developing the green technology of the future in a creative study environment with modern teaching facilities and dedicated teachers.

The students have access to a genuine go-kart 

The use of high-tech technologies in the form of real-life industrial equipment and advanced electronic techniques is an important part of the teaching and education of Denmark’s future electronics specialists. As part of the teaching projects, the institute and the students have access to several advanced electronic test benches, which gives them a good insight into the handling, testing and research of different combinations of industrial electronic equipment and teaches them to test torque, speed, load, etc. under realistic conditions.

The test benches combine different set-ups of advanced variable speed drives and high-tech electric motors, which have the flexibility to test a wide variety of electronic equipment. The test benches use Nidec Leroy-Somer motor units (servo motors, LSMV and IMfinity induction ranges) and Control Techniques Unidrive M600/M700 drives.

Each semester, the electronic engineering degree programme includes project work on a current topic, for example how to design the electronic controller of an electric go-kart motor. In the course of the project, the students work with the design of variable speed drives, programming, modulation and simulation of the drives as well as the design of electronic hardware. The students have access to a genuine go-kart with an electric motor as well as a corresponding test bench with programmable drives and electric motors.

All in all, the realistic project provides useful knowledge and intuitive understanding of the control of electric motors, which can also be used in connection with variable speed drives for electric cars,
robots, etc.

 @NidecMotorCorp #Education #Green #Denmark @SyddanskUniv

Pharma MES partnership endorsed!

Werum IT Solutions has recertified NNE Pharmaplan as “Endorsed Service Partner” for Europe, the USA and China. Thus, NNE Pharmaplan, an international company specialised in pharma engineering, is qualified to support pharma and biotech companies with the implementation of Werum’s PAS-X MES.

From left: Mogens Larsson, VP Automation and IT, NNE Pharmaplan, Torsten Isenberg, Senior Director Services, Werum IT, Søren Mordhorst, Morten Kollberg, Manufacturing IT, NNE Pharmaplan

The collaboration brings together Werum’s PAS-X MES software, designed to increase efficiency, improve productivity and meet regulatory requirements during pharmaceutical manufacturing, with NNE Pharmaplan’s expertise in pharma engineering and customer service. The PAS-X software is used by the majority of the world’s top 30 pharmaceutical and biotech companies but also by many regional and mid-sized manufacturers. NNE Pharmaplan will provide local support for Werum customers during all MES implementation phases.

“We have been successfully working together with NNE Pharmaplan for many years,” says Torsten Isenberg, Senior Director Services at Werum IT Solutions GmbH. “As an Endorsed Service Partner, NNE Pharmaplan has the knowledge to provide our customers with high quality professional services and support. The main objective of our PAS-X Service Partner Program is to ensure a high level of support for our customers through reliable, experienced and certified partners.”

Søren Mordhorst, Manager Manufacturing IT at NNE Pharmaplan A/S, adds: “We are pleased to have renewed our partnership and to have certified PAS-X specialists throughout Europe, USA and China. Given our broad expertise within automation and IT in modern pharma production we can provide customers with consultancy and implementation services from the conceptual design phase to implementation, ensuring a high level of support on the PAS-X part as well”.

Driver & motor cuts energy usage!

The prospect of improved energy efficiency, increased operational reliability and lower maintenance costs appeals to any business.It was these three factors which ensured Emerson was able to help Stål & Plast, a Danish extrusion specialist, improve its production processes by replacing three worn-out DC electric motors with energy-friendly Dyneo PM motors and a Unidrive M variable speed drive at the company´s extruder plant.

The annual energy savings have been calculated at an average of 9% or 90,000 kWh, which is particularly interesting in the long term, keeping in mind that over 10 years, 95% of the total costs of an electric motor is directly related to the energy consumption.

Stål & Plast A/S, which is located right in the heart of Denmark, manufactures bench tray systems which are used in greenhouses and nurseries worldwide. The raw plates are manufactured at a modern co-extrusion plant operated by three extruder motors, one 175 kW motor and two 71 kW motors. The extruder plant´s three worn-out DC motors were due for extensive reconditioning or alternatively an expensive and time-consuming replacement, as new DC motors would have to be made to order.

As the DC technology is expensive and outdated in terms of energy consumption and moreover associated with high operation and maintenance costs, A/S, Jacob Braa Sørensen, managing director of Stål & Plast, in consultation with Emerson Industrial Automation, decided to upgrade the extruder plant by purchasing highly efficient Dyneo PM motors from Leroy Somer, which are controlled by a Control Techniques Unidrive M700 variable speed drive.

One of the aspects that mattered most to Stål & Plast A/S was that Emerson was the only supplier that could offer to replace the motors and the controls as a total project for which they would assume full responsibility.

The replacement took place in collaboration with the service partners Lindpro as the professional installer and automation provider for the project, and Ølgod Elektro, which routinely handled commissioning and running-in.

Stål & Plast A/S manufactures a broad range of top-quality bench tray systems, which are used in greenhouses and nurseries worldwide. The tray systems are manufactured on a fully automated vacuum forming machine. The company manufactures its raw plates on a modern co-extruder that makes it possible to manufacture the plates in three layers.

The main reason for choosing a motor technology with permanent magnets was, first of all, the long-term energy savings on power consumption but also the higher operating torque, the operational reliability of PM technology and the very low maintenance costs compared with DC technology.

Calculations showed that Stål & Plast could reduce the annual energy consumption of the three motors by an average of 9%. The extruder accounts for 75% of the plant´s total energy costs, of which most is consumed by the extruder motors.

Over a period of 10 years, 95% of the total costs of an electric motor are directly attributable to the energy consumption, whereas the purchase price and the maintenance costs represent as little as 5% of the total costs of the investment when choosing the Dyneo PM motor technology from Emerson.

Since 1984, they has manufactured Ebb/Flow products in high impact polystyrene, which is sold by a worldwide network of distributors. The distributors are typically nursery construction companies that install the tray systems as part of a total project purchased by a nursery.

Over the years, the tray systems have been thoroughly tested against common fertilisers, temperature impact, UV radiation and normal daily wear and tear in a modern greenhouse. This know-how is used to improve and optimise the products on an ongoing basis.

The tray systems are produced on modern fully automated vacuum forming machines that are optimised for the production of Ebb/Flow products. The production plants are primarily operated by robots and monitored by trained staff with years of experience.

The company manufactures its raw plates on a modern co-extruder that makes it possible to manufacture the plates in three layers. As a result, the finished trays can be manufactured in accordance with the customer´s exact requirements and with all the desired characteristics.

#PAuto @EmersonIndAuto #Denmark 

Acquisition for clearer vision in Denmark! #PAuto

Stemmer Imaging in Denmark has purchased Image House A/S – the leading supplier of vision solutions and vision components in Denmark. The acquisition becomes effective from the 1st of April 2015. Being Europe’s largest machine vision technology provider, Stemmer is represented in 11 countries with local offices, covering 19 sales regions.

Image House A/S is amongst the most well established companies within the European business of industrial video inspection, also called machine vision. The company is located in Copenhagen, (DK), and has been reselling components and industrial vision systems in that country for 29 years. Prior to this acquisition, Stemmer and Image House have successfully collaborated for many years as Image House distributes Stemmer’s components.

Effective from the 1st of April 2015 Stemmer Denmark acquires 100 percent of Image House A/S. Hans Steenberg, the founder of Image House A/S, will oversee the transfer to Stemmer: He stays with the company as Managing Director until the 31st of March 2015. After that he will still be available as a resource when needed. From the 1st of April 2015, Stemmer in Denmark will be managed by Managing Director Peter Trollsås.

Current Image House Marketing Manager Annette Runge will continue in the new organisation as Office Manager and will onwards be responsible for the daily administration of the Danish office. Karsten Nielsen, currently responsible for the Stemmer sales office in Denmark continues as Sales Manager for component sales within the new organization. He shares the role as Sales Manager with Image House Sales Manager Mick Pelby, who will be responsible for solution sales. Both are carrying many years of experience which will now be united within the new organization.

"The acquisition of Image House A/S by Stemmer has been under consideration for some time. It is an expected and natural move for Stemmer after the acquisition of the similar company Parameter AB in Sweden", says Hans Steenberg. "The employees of Image House A/S will find a new home in a bigger organization with the world´s largest portfolio of imaging products and services. Our customers will benefit from Stemmer’s larger product range, high stock level and superior level of competence which is now combined with the Image House high standards providing turn-key vision solutions for end users, OEM’s and integrators. Image House Holding A/S will concentrate its focus on the remaining affiliates in the group including IHFood A/S, Image House PantoInspect A/S and IHPostal A/S.”

According to Christof Zollitsch, Managing Director of the Stemmer head office, the Danish machine vision market is an interesting one with good growing perspectives: “We already had invested in spreading our sales territory in northern Europe with the acquisition of the Swedish company Parameter AB in 2014 who had a small sales team in Denmark. Adding the machine vision expertise and the deep local Danish market know-how of the Image House experts will dramatically increase our presence and service offering in that country. In the new setup, Stemmer will be able to provide its unique product portfolio and service range to Danish machine vision users. This will support Danish users of machine vision technology to raise their competitive advantage.”

Stemmer started its European activities in 2004 with the integration of a British company and the establishment of a subsidiary in Switzerland. Expansions in France and Benelux followed in 2005 and 2012. In 2014, Stemmer acquired Parameter AB and opened offices in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Poland. Stemmer now serves 19 European countries. More than 220 employees provide reliable customer service in all areas related to imaging and machine vision.

HVDC control upgrade in Scandinavia.

ABB has commissioned the upgrade of the control and protection system of the Skagerrak 3 HVDC link between Norway and Denmark. The installation and commissioning time was only four weeks to minimize outage time.

In addition to the system upgrade, the delivery included control of the bipolar configuration of Skagerrak 3 and Skagerrak 4. The former transmission link was delivered by ABB in 1993. The latter, currently under construction by ABB, will be delivered later in the year. In 2007, ABB also delivered an upgrade of the control systems of the adjacent Skagerrak 1 and Skagerrak 2 HVDC links.

"This upgrade reinforces ABB’s focus and commitment to supporting customers throughout the lifecycle of the products and systems it delivers," said Hanspeter Faessler, head of ABB’s Grid Systems business, a part of the Power Systems division. “It also underlines the company’s emphasis on growing its service business.”

ABB has significant experience in delivering HVDC system upgrades around the world. Since 1990, the company has been awarded 20 major upgrade projects, including 15 major upgrades of control and protection systems.

ABB pioneered HVDC technology 60 years ago and has been awarded around 90 HVDC projects representing a total installed capacity of more than 95,000 MW, which accounts for about half of the global installed base.

The MACH system is the world's most extensively deployed control system for HVDC and FACTS with over 1,100 installations in operation. It is extensively used across a range of installations from small, highly demanding HVDC Light links, to large HVDC power transmission system, with power ratings of over 6,400 megawatts (MW).

The Skagerrak 3 HVDC link, owned by the Danish transmission system operator, Energinet.dk, and the Norwegian equivalent, Statnett, stretches over 240 kilometers and crosses the Skagerrak Strait. It enables transmission between the mainly hydroelectric-based Norwegian system and the wind and thermal power-based Danish system.

Robots to create jobs!

Who would have thought it - Robots being responsible for  job creation? It has been demonstrated repeatedly that automation and robotics increase productivity and efficiency and growth. The Automating Manufacturing Programme, funded by the British Government aims to increase the competitiveness of manufacturing there, which will create growth and in turn result in greater employment. 

Robotics in the food industry!

The latest study conducted by the market research firm, Metra Martech,  Positive Impact of Industrial Robots on Employment published recently by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) in Tokyo, demonstrates that 3 million jobs have been directly created in recent years by the use of robots and a further 1 million positions  estimated globally by 2016.

Mike Wilson Chairman of the British Automation and Robots Association (BARA) said "This is great news for British manufacturing. The IFR study highlights the importance of robotics to the future growth of UK industry and the jobs it will create as a result. The recently launched government funded Automating Manufacturing Programme is providing assistance to companies looking to use automation to improve competitiveness and drive growth....Together we can make UK manufacturing the best in the world and create the jobs that our country needs."

The report found that between 2000-2008, manufacturing employment increased in nearly every major industrialised country, even as the use of industrialised robotics increased sharply. This trend is now being seen in China, Brazil and other emerging markets as they rapidly increase their use of robotics. In Brazil, the number of robots almost quadrupled during the study period with both production and employment rising by over 20%.

The report also highlighted 3 areas of importance with respect to growth in this market:

• Robots carry out work that is unsafe for humans
• Robots carry out work that is not viable in a high wage economy
• Robots carry out work that would be impossible for humans

One of the case studies cited was the company Odense Steel Shipyard (DK) - an excellent example of robots saving jobs in a high wage economy. Shipbuilding in Europe has been in decline in the last 2 - 4 decades but robots have been key to efficiency savings to Odense. The company has invested in an autonomous, robotic arc welding system that has yielded big dividends. Productivity increased six fold when compared with manual welding, speeded up production time and made quality improvements, whilst also protecting the jobs of the qualified welders.

The British Government is providing, through the PPMA Group, up to £600,000 of funding to promote automation in manufacturing.  Chief Executive Officer of the PPMA group Chris Buxton commented "we are delighted that the Government has put its full weight behind a programme that recognises the importance of automation in UK industry and the positive effect this has for growth and employment."