Major European investment for metals monitoring.

Sensmet, the Finnish developer of a unique continuous metals monitoring technology, has received a major investment (€1.5m) from EIT RawMaterials which is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, to help secure the supply of critical and strategically important raw materials.

Sensmet will use the funds to leverage the scale-up and deployment of its µDOES® online metals analysers to strengthen Europe’s raw materials resilience and competitiveness. 

“Our highly innovative technology provides process managers with continuous measurements for key metals within liquid process streams,” explains Sensmet CEO, Dr Toni Laurila (right). “This enables them, for example, to extract critically important metals much more efficiently than would have been previously possible when relying on laboratory analysis.”

This technology is deployed in numerous applications within raw material value chains – including wastewater treatment, battery recycling, lithium production and fertilizer manufacture. Sensmet has been chosen for this investment because continuous measurements in these applications enable and enhance the recovery of metals that are critically important for the digital economy.

EIT RawMaterials’ mission is to secure a sustainable, independent supply of materials for Europe. EIT RawMaterials is a Knowledge and Innovation Community cofunded by the European Commission and one of Europe’s most active innovation ecosystems in the raw materials sector. The organisation supports technologies and industrial solutions that strengthen Europe’s security of supply for critical raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements (REEs), which are essential for batteries, renewable energy systems, and advanced manufacturing.

“Our business aligns perfectly with the goals of EIT RawMaterials,” adds Toni Laurila, “so we are honoured to receive this investment, and excited to see how we can use it to scale the µDOES platform and accelerate growth.”

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@Sensmet_Ltd @EITeu @_Enviro_News #PAuto #Europe

Breakthrough in D-band Wireless.

World-leading transmitarray-based high-speed connectivity.

Anritsu and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have demonstrated a major advance in D-band wireless communications by validating a beam-steering transmitarray antenna system using advanced test equipment. The achievement confirms the feasibility of stable, high-capacity wireless links for next-generation backhaul, industrial, defense and future 6G networks.

Using Anritsu’s precision test equipment and VTT’s steerable transmitarray antenna, the teams achieved high-speed wireless links across the 110–170 GHz D-band. Link performance and beam-steering behavior were assessed under realistic over-the-air (OTA) conditions using wideband modulated signals up to 8 GHz bandwidth. This system-level characterization, from signal generation to OTA performance, confirmed multi-gigabit data rates in the tens-of-Gbps range, including 20 Gbps over 1 m and reliable operation up to 7 m, setting a new benchmark for D-band connectivity.

The demonstration features a lightweight, scalable transmitarray antenna developed by VTT, incorporating advanced phase-shifting elements and vector-modulator MMICs. Its electronically steerable design provides rapid, precise beam control without mechanical movement, maintaining signal strength under changing conditions. Supported by Anritsu’s state-of-the-art test equipment, the results reflect a proven, instrumentation grade measurement approach that ensures reliability and scalability for future deployments. 

“Anritsu is proud to collaborate with VTT to advance the practical use of D-band wireless technology. Together, we have validated performance levels that bring high-frequency wireless links closer to real-world deployment,” said Jonathan Borrill, CTO, Test & Measurement, Anritsu.

“This milestone shows how strategic partnerships turn deep tech into competitive advantage. By combining VTT’s steerable transmitarray expertise with Anritsu’s precise instrumentation grade validation, we shorten adoption cycles and scale D band from the lab to live networks — creating growth opportunities across critical infrastructure, manufacturing, defense, 6G and beyond,” said Tauno Vähä Heikkilä, Director, Strategic Partnerships, VTT.

Anritsu and VTT will now engage with industry partners to evaluate use cases and prepare the technology for upcoming field trials and deployments, marking a landmark step toward realizing the potential of D-band wireless for next-generation networks. About VTT VTT is a visionary research, development and innovation partner. We drive sustainable growth and tackle the biggest global challenges of our time and turn them into growth opportunities. We go beyond the obvious to help the society and companies to grow through technological innovations. We have over 80 years of experience of top-level research and science-based results. VTT is at the sweet spot where innovation and business come together.

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@Anritsu @AnritsuEMEA  @NapierPR #TandM #Communications #Finland

Optical spectrum analyser proves essential.

The promise of quantum computing could extend the potential of digital technology far beyond the capabilities of today’s conventional computers. However, ensuring that quantum computing fulfil its potential requires the deployment of special lasers able to keep emissions at an accurate wavelength in the visible or near-infrared (NIR) spectrums. With such lasers becoming increasingly complex to design and manufacture, the need for precise measurements over a wide wavelength range is of paramount importance.

University spin-out Vexlum, based in Tampere, Finland, is one of very few companies worldwide with the facilities, technology and expertise to manufacture Vertical External-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VECSELs) for quantum computers. The vital factor in quantum applications is the ability to emit light at a single frequency with an extremely narrow bandwidth. Generating this precise output means Vexlum’s technology must control the three main elements of a high-power laser system: the semiconductor gain, the optical pump and the external cavity.

Other laser solutions for producing high power over a narrow bandwidth require three separate components, namely a seed laser, amplifier and main emitter. In contrast, the unique advantage of the Vexlum VECSEL is its single-module concept. This ‘three-in-one’ design offers several benefits, not least its compact size and simplicity in comparison with competing products. In addition, the Vexlum VECSEL produces higher optical power output than either an edge-emitting laser or a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL).

To emit light reliably at the specified wavelength of a quantum application, the VECSEL requires precise characterisation. However, quantum applications operate at many different wavelengths.

Vexlum overcomes these challenges by relying on Yokogawa’s optical spectrum analysers (OSAs), which combine two capabilities: ultra-precise (>1 nm) wavelength measurements that minimise uncertainty and assure the test engineer of conformance to a quantum application’s tight wavelength specification; and a wide wavelength range from visible light up to 1700 nm. By using an OSA with these attributes, Vexlum not only achieves effective characterisation of its VECSELs, but also avoids the need to maintain multiple test systems.

Yokogawa’s easy-to-use AQ6370E OSA provides a wavelength range of 600 nm to 1700 nm, supported by a typical wavelength measurement accuracy of ±0.015 nm and 0.02 nm resolution. For detailed analysis of VECSEL emissions, the AQ6370E features a high-resolution HCDR (High Close-in Dynamic Range) mode that sharpens the spectrum around the peak and provides a clearer visual representation of the side modes than is possible in standard mode.

Vexlum has been characterising VECSELs using Yokogawa instruments since its earliest days as a research unit of Tampere University. Today, the 30-employee company is ramping up its production operations to volume. At the core of this growth is Jussi-Pekka Penttinen, Vexlum’s CEO, CTO and co-founder. He knows all about the benefits of deploying the optimal OSA in the company’s research, development and manufacturing operations.

“Put simply, we’re not able to verify the performance of VESCELs without the Yokogawa AQ6370E OSA – it’s essential for precise characterisation throughout our R&D and production,” he says. “It’s not only the performance and wavelength range of the OSA that meet our requirements, we also really like its usability. Moreover, the scope it provides to automate test operations enables us to maximise productivity in our laboratory and factory.”

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• The full Vexlum case study is available online..

@Yokogawa, @Yokogawa_EU, @Yokogawa_Europe @NapierPR #Vexlum #TandM #Laser

Turnkey cleanrooms.

Finland has specific expertise and experience in the cleanroom sector, and some of the leading Finnish businesses in this sector have formed a working partnership to offer complete solutions in international cleanroom markets, with particular emphasis on sustainability. 

The new partnership has been created within the ASC alliance (Alliance for Sustainable Cleanrooms) to meet the internationalisation objectives of cleanroom industry participants, building on the success of previous collaborative projects. "Clients ordering cleanroom solutions often seek turnkey solutions, so with this new cooperation, it is more than achievable," says Jukka Vasara, vice president at Granlund, who initiated the alliance.

The ASC members believe that cleanroom clients typically have two main priorities: fast project completion on schedule, and quality as a top priority. This is because errors can disrupt production, which can be very costly. “The strength of the alliance,” Vasara explains, “lies in decades of expertise in design, project management, and system capabilities, alongside technological excellence.”

Background.
Cleanrooms are essential for many crucial processes, so demand is high, particularly for sustainable, turnkey solutions, and this is one of the major justifications for the ASC Alliance. For example, laboratories and production facilities require strictly regulated environments in electronics, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, food, and semiconductor industries, as well as in hospital pharmacies, operating rooms, and the optical industry. Cleanrooms are classified according to ISO into classes 1–9, and according GMP into classes A to D. Each class defines how clean the air must be, specifying how many particles are allowed per cubic meter of air. The standard's requirements must be meticulously followed, and thoroughly documented. In pharmaceutical cleanrooms, microbiological contamination must also be measured and controlled.

In practice, clean air is typically achieved through effective ventilation and filtration. Consequently, cleanrooms consume high levels of energy, and therefore possess a large carbon footprint. To enhance energy efficiency, the sizing and regulation of cleanroom ventilation systems need to be demand-driven, with accurate monitoring and control systems that are reliable in the long-term. The sustainability of cleanrooms can be further enhanced through initiatives such as the reduction of chemical usage, and better waste management.

The Alliance for Sustainable Cleanrooms. (ASC)
The ASC combines the specialised expertise of its member companies in cleanroom technology, enabling them to provide comprehensive solutions for customers in international markets. The ASC has recently benefited from ‘Group Explorer’ funding from Business Finland, which will enable the alliance to explore new global opportunities, expanding market access and building a stronger international presence.

Members of the alliance include:
• Vaisala - monitoring and measurement solutions
• Granlund - cleanroom design
• Halton - ventilation solutions
• Cleamix - decontamination solutions
• LED Tailor - blue light solutions
• Hermetel - cleanroom elements
• Zeus Tech - validation, measurement, and testing solutions
• Kavika HealthCare - furniture solutions

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@VaisalaGroup @_Enviro_News #Cleanroom #Finland

Nanoparticle detection added to environmental portfolio.

ENVEA has acquired Airmodus, a leading manufacturer of nanoparticle detection systems for the environmental monitoring industry. The acquisition will enable ENVEA to expand its product portfolio with a unique technology, which will be key for future regulations and expand its geographic footprint with an aerosol centre of excellence in Helsinki (FI).

LtoR: Rony Akiki, R&D Director Aki Pajunoja, CEO of Airmodus ,Trevor Sands, CEO Envea Global, Joonas Vanhanen, Co-Founder and CTO at Airmodus, Gregoire Didier, Director Strategy & ESG at Envea.

Founded in 2010, Airmodus develops and manufactures nanoparticle detection systems and analysers. Its key products include Condensation Particle Counters (CPCs) and Particle Size Magnifiers (PSMs). It also provides a wide range of accessories for aerosol measurements, as well as maintenance and calibration services. Based in Helsinki, Finland, the company sells its products in nineteen countries and has distributors in thirty.

Trevor Sands, CEO of ENVEA, said: “We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of Airmodus, a leading manufacturer of nanoparticle detection systems. With the addition of Airmodus' expertise and technology, we will be able to provide our customers with even more comprehensive environmental management solutions. We are excited to welcome the Airmodus team to the ENVEA family and look forward to working together to continue to drive innovation in the industry.”

Romain Azoulai, Director on the Carlyle Europe Technology Partners (“CETP”) advisory team, said: “This acquisition will significantly expand ENVEA’s R&D capabilities and product offering across nanoparticle technology, as well as further enhancing its position as a leading buy-and-build consolidation platform. Airmodus' cutting-edge technology and expertise will enable ENVEA to develop new and innovative solutions for its customers, further strengthening its position as a global leader in environmental management solutions.”

“We are pleased to be joining the ENVEA family and are excited about the opportunity to further develop our technologies and product offering alongside the ENVEA team," said Aki Pajunoja, CEO of Airmodus. "This agreement will allow us to leverage our expertise and accelerate our growth plans, enabling us to play a greater part in contributing to cleaner and healthier environments globally.”

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@EnveaGlobal @airmodus @codacomms #Environment #Finland

Rainfall and nickel concentration on environmental conditions.

Continuous metals monitor reveals environmental improvement opportunities.

A new continuous metals monitoring technology was recently trialled at a river by a Talc production plant in central Finland. The trial was conducted to assess the possibility of avoiding the need to sample and analyse large numbers of environmental water samples.  The new monitoring technology employs Micro-Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy (µDOES®), and was supplied by the Finnish company Sensmet.

“The results were extremely enlightening,” explains Jari Sirviö, Development Engineer for Elementis, the plant’s owner. “Luckily, a heavy rainfall event occurred during the brief trial, and we discovered a rapid increase, and subsequent decrease, in nickel concentration that closely followed the rain. This strong correlation between rainfall and nickel provides an important insight into the behaviour of nickel, and raises a number of important questions; it also highlights the enormous benefits that can be gained from continuous monitoring.”

It is common practice globally, to monitor metals concentrations by sampling for laboratory analysis, and the plant had previously taken samples three times per week. In contrast, the continuous and automated monitor makes a measurement every 5 minutes, 24/7. “Lab analysis would not have been able to demonstrate the correlation between rainfall and nickel concentration,” Jari explains. “We are therefore delighted to see that this new monitoring technology can deliver greater insights into the factors affecting water quality, so that we can continuously improve our environmental performance.”

Background.
Employing over 1,300 people at more than 24 locations, Elementis is a specialty chemicals company with operations worldwide. The company is focused on distinctive, high-value solutions and products to improve performance and enhance sustainability for customers in the personal care and product performance specialties markets. The Elementis plant at Sotkamo produces Talc according to market demand, as well as Nickel concentrate as a by-product.

Talc is one of the softest minerals, and with platy and hydrophobic characteristics it adds value to a range of industrial products including paper, paints & coatings, polyester putties, plastics, ceramics, food, and fertilizers.

Nickel is used in a wide range of industrial applications such as the manufacture of stainless steel. However, its importance has been heightened in recent years as a component of rechargeable batteries – in electric vehicles for example.

Environmental monitoring.
Elementis constantly aims to design better products that use less resources and create less pollution. In addition, the company has identified water management, waste minimisation and ecological impacts as material issues within its sustainability strategy.

A water treatment plant was built at the Sotkamo facility in 2021, using lime to raise the pH of site wastewaters and remove contaminants such as metals. In compliance with an environmental permit, together with Finnish environmental law, high quality process monitoring ensures the receiving environment is not polluted by the discharge, and includes an upper limit for nickel in the receiving river water of 0.034 mg/l.

During the period immediately after the installation of the neutralisation plant, a large number of laboratory samples were taken as the plant was optimised. This prompted Elementis staff to investigate the possibility of continuous analysis, which led to the trial of Sensmet’s µDOES® analyser.

Continuous multi-metal monitoring technology.
Sensmet's Micro-Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy, µDOES®, enables the multi-metal real-time analysis of aqueous samples. In addition to nickel monitoring, the technology can also be utilised to monitor elements such as lithium, sodium, cobalt, manganese, nickel, copper, and more.

The patented µDOES® technology is based on atomic emission spectroscopy. A micro-discharge (electric spark) is created directly inside the aqueous sample, causing a microscopic volume of the fluid surrounding the spark to be flash-heated to 10 000 °C. Molecules in the micro-discharge are dissociated into atoms, which are excited to their respective higher electronic states. Upon returning to their ground state, these atoms release their excess energy by emitting light at their characteristic wavelengths. The µDOES® measures this atomic emission spectrum to derive quantitative analysis of the sample, displaying measurements locally, and transferring data to the user’s DCS and database as needed.

Conclusions.
The µDOES® analyser has provided the Sotkamo staff with new insights into the factors affecting nickel levels, which enables the development of mitigation measures. “Sensmet’s continuous monitoring technology has delivered a real lightbulb moment for us,” Jari Sirviö explains. “Now that we know about the correlation between rainfall and nickel concentration, we can investigate a range of options that could be employed to lower nickel levels, and with continuous monitoring we will be in a better position to evaluate the results.”

In recent years there has been a global trend toward greater use of continuous environmental monitoring. “This has been enabled by advances in technology,” explains Sensmet CEO Dr Toni Laurila. “However, as this trial has demonstrated, continuous monitoring delivers a range of other important advantages, that combine to further improve environmental protection.”

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@Sensmet_Ltd @_Enviro_News #Environment #Pauto

Concrete carbon solution.

As the climate continues to warm, so does the demand for technologies that can reduce CO² emissions and/or efficiently remove CO² from the atmosphere. Proposed solutions for sequestering CO² are plentiful, but there are serious issues around how to verify the claims made by the promoters of these innovations. Accurately measuring the veracity of claims has become a key issue in the private sector’s Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM)*, which is increasingly emphasising the need to monitor, verify, and report the amount of CO² that is actually captured and stored.

Jonne Hirvonen & Tapio Vehmas

Carbonaide, a Finnish company serving the concrete industry, has a clear answer to this challenge – and it’s market-ready. Their technology utilises CO² to produce a carbonate mineral. With support and cooperation from the measurement technology company Vaisala, Carbonaide’s solution is practical and straightforward, and underpinned by accurate monitoring.

Big challenges call for smart solutions.
Climate changing CO² emissions come from many sources, but the concrete industry alone emits 8% of global CO², mostly in the form of emissions from standard Portland cement manufacturing. As a major global contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, the concrete industry is under enormous pressure to lower its carbon footprint. A single ton of Portland cement creates an astounding 800–900 kilograms of CO² emissions, and with regulations increasingly tightening around concrete production emissions, efficient technologies to reduce the CO² emissions from concrete are in high demand. The challenges are several-fold: How to remove CO²? Where to store it? How to do this affordably? And – just as importantly – how to accurately measure performance?

Simply stated, Carbonaide’s expertise is in the transformation of concrete from a large emission source into a carbon storage sink. The company’s CEO is Tapio Vehmas, an analytical chemist by training with more than 20 years of experience in the concrete sector. He is one of the co-founders of Carbonaide, alongside COO Jonne Hirvonen. As Vehmas puts it, “Our goal is quite focused – to create a more sustainable future with cutting-edge tech that doesn’t just reduce the carbon emissions of concrete, but also stores more CO² than it emits throughout its lifetime.”

Explaining the Carbonaide proposition, Vehmas says, “As experts in both carbon curing and sustainable carbon dioxide value chains, we offer an effective and robust decarbonisation technology for pre-cast concrete manufacturers. With our technology, a concrete manufacturer can reduce cement consumption in daily production and also decrease the carbon footprint of its products by mineralising CO² into concrete.”

Carbonation is traditionally considered as a degradation mechanism of hardened concrete. In Carbonaide technology, carbonation is reversed into beneficial mineral formation during the concrete hardening process. Carbonate mineral formation enables the utilisation of CO² as a supplementary cementitious material and provides permanent storage of gaseous CO².

Carbonaide COO Jonne Hirvonen is eager to talk about the advantages of their production-ready innovation and the ways his team has benefitted from Vaisala’s advanced measurement tools. “Our unique advantage is that we accurately measure and control the carbon-curing process. Just as importantly, we have pushed our product to be as easy as possible to install and start using. The majority of our measurements are CO² levels – and the quality of online measurement data is a top priority for us.”

Hirvonen continues, “Unlike many, our carbonation can be efficiently and accurately verified by process measurements, without the need to constantly sample the concrete products. One early challenge we faced was that CO² is usually measured in either ppm levels or for workplace safety purposes – but our range requirement is very wide. For this reason, we needed new solutions that did not impose risks on the quality of our measurements. At this point it became clear that Vaisala could play an important role in our solution.”

Carbonaide’s initial requirements were quite simple. As they developed their process, they understood that significant measurement needs would arise, so they were eager to go with a partner who really understood this. Hirvonen is also keen to emphasise that partnering with Vaisala was not only useful in the initial development stages. “If your business is expected to grow, you should only work with partners that are able to help at both the early stages, and also later, during implementation on a larger scale.”

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*Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM)

@CarbonCredits @VaisalaGroup@_Enviro_News #PAuto #Environment #Finnland 

Control systems leadership in Finland.

ABB has signed a channel partner agreement with Insta Automation Oy^*, an independent specialist in industrial automation and digitalization solutions, to grow its control systems business in Finland.

The two companied will work together to strengthen their distribution channels, improve industry knowledge and increase lead generation across many industries, including water, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and energy. The deal follows a project that they have have already started work on together, deploying ABB Ability™ System 800xA distributed control system (DCS) at one of the country’s wastewater plants, and familiarity through Insta regularly purchasing ABB’s low voltage components and electrical equipment over many years. There will be opportunities for expansion to other automation system products and potential international cooperation.

The DCS – a digital platform for automated control and operation of plants and processes – sits at the heart of process and energy industries as they undergo digital transformation, ensuring safe, efficient and reliable operations and enabling data collection and analytics for real-time insights. The flagship ABB Ability System 800xA has helped ABB to remain the #1 distributed control system market leader for 22 years as ranked by the ARC Advisory Group. Around 35,000 ABB DCS have been installed in more than 100 countries to date.

“We know that this major partnership with ABB will be of great benefit to the Finnish market where there are modern, dynamic demands and world-leading innovations across industries,” said Jarkko Järvilehto, Vice President, Industrial Automation, Engineering and Turn-Key Services, Insta Automation. “Alongside ABB, a large and global player, we can grow our offering with proven technologies, solutions and training while evolving for our customer base. We look forward to sharing our own strengths and ideas as we move forward together.”

“Insta is known as a respected family business and has long been trusted as a pioneer of safe digitalization and futureproof solutions in Finland,” said Jukka Träskbäck, Head of System and Service Sales, Process Industries, ABB. “The demand for reliable automation solutions and digital transformation expertise is growing as all industries tackle the energy transition by preserving resources, reducing maintenance and supporting customers to cut their carbon emissions. Together, with DCS and other systems, we can work with many plants, mills and facilities.”

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^*Insta is a Finnish family business with strong values and is a trusted partner for customers in intelligent industry, defense and cyber security. Combining its expertise with intelligent technology, the company improves customers’ performance as digitalization increases. Insta’s operating culture is founded on people, expertise and responsibility. It has more than 1,000 employees in Finland.

@ABBgroupnews #PAuto #Finland

Automation for biorefinery.

Fintoil, together with Neste Engineering Solutions, has selected Emerson’s automation software and technologies to maximize the operational performance of its biorefinery being constructed in the port of Hamina-Kotka, (FIN). The plant is to be the third-largest crude tall oil (CTO) biorefinery in the world and produce advanced biofuel and biochemical feedstocks that help lower emissions and reduce reliance on fossil-based fuels.

The plant will refine CTO, a by-product of the wood pulping process, to produce a sustainable feedstock for renewable second-generation diesel, as well as rosin, sterol pitch and turpentine used in the chemicals, foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals industries. These CTO derivatives have a carbon footprint up to 90% smaller than their fossil-based equivalents.

“This state-of-the-art facility, which utilizes Neste Engineering Solutions’ NEXPINUS™ technology, uses 40% less energy than a conventional tall oil refinery, and is the perfect example of efficient and sustainable production that supports the circular economy,” explained Fintoil CEO, Jukka Ravaska. “Working with Neste Engineering Solutions and Emerson to implement the latest digital automation technologies will enable us to operate the plant safely and efficiently, minimize operating costs and deliver large-scale production of biofuel and biochemicals as a viable alternative to fossil-based products.”

To reduce project risk and ensure schedule and budget are maintained, Emerson will apply its Project Certainty methodology, which digitalizes project execution and uses practices such as remote testing of equipment. And to enhance plant security performance, Emerson consultancy services will advise on the implementation of cybersecurity best practices.

“Emerson expertise and technologies are playing a significant role in helping companies achieve their ambitious decarbonization and environmental sustainability goals, including the accelerated transition to cleaner fuels,” said Mark Bulanda, executive president of Emerson’s Automation Solutions business. “Our project expertise and latest advanced digital solutions are not only helping Fintoil develop the production capacity of a sustainable fuel, but also optimizing plant efficiency to lower its overall environmental impact. We are very pleased to have Neste Engineering Solutions as a partner in this project because of its extensive experience in the CTO business.”

In addition to providing NEXPINUS, engineering procurement and construction management for the project, Neste Engineering Solutions will also be responsible for delivering the entire application software for the new CTO biorefinery.

Fintoil, together with Neste Engineering Solutions, will implement Emerson’s DeltaV™ distributed control system, DeltaV safety instrumented system and DeltaV Live operator interface software to enable efficient production, greater visibility of operational performance and process, and emergency shutdown for improved plant and worker safety. Advanced measurement technologies that have minimal maintenance requirements and diagnostics made available through Emerson’s asset management software will enhance equipment reliability and performance, contributing to greater plant availability and throughput, and lower cost of ownership.

Construction of the facility is expected to be completed in 2022. The expected annual capacity of 200,000 tons will create a 400,000-ton reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, which is roughly 1% of Finland’s total emissions.

@EMR_Automation @EmersonExchange @NesteGlobal #PAuto #Finland

Award announced for instrument design.

The Fennia Prize^* has been awarded to Vaisala in recognition for the industrial design of their new Indigo handheld instrument. This highlights the commitment, customer centricity and creative work behind Vaisala’s world-renowned measurement solutions.

“Combining the technology and design, the Indigo handheld is a key part of the company’s brand. Vaisala is well on its way in utilizing design in a strategic and customer-oriented manner that covers product design, brand and communication,” competition jury comments the awarded product.

The Indigo handheld is a portable measurement instrument for industrial use. A special attention has been paid to its design, customer experience and usability, as it needs to be easy to take along and operate reliably in varying measurement environments while providing the same robustness as the fixed-mounted devices.

Sauli Laitinen

“The design goes beyond the products’ look and feel. The product design must meet the customer needs as well as the highest standards of accuracy, reliability, and ease of use,“ says Sauli Laitinen, Head of Design from Vaisala.

“In essence, the key area of the design expertise is the combination of form and function. Vaisala’s greatest assets in the industrial design are world-class UX-team and unbeatable application knowledge together with our ability to provide answers to the questions our customers didn’t even know they had.”

The awarded Indigo handheld product will be launched later this year.

* The Fennia Prize competition awards companies and organisations that use design strategically in their business operations. The competition is arranged every second year by Design Forum Finland and Fennia in cooperation with Elo and the Finnish Patent and Registration Office. Design Forum Finland’s mission is to help Finnish companies to grow and succeed by using design as a competitive asset. Fennia Prize 22 is a part of the Design Forum Finland Awards concept, which also includes Design Forum Finland’s other prizes, Kaj Franck Design Prize and Young Designer of the Year.

@VaisalaGroup @Design_Forum  #Automation #Finland

A million dollars for automation!

The future of industry is in the hands of the next generation of industrial engineers and operators. Schneider Electric has made a one million euros donation to the Aalto Factory of the Future education and innovation program.

Technology for Teaching

Schneider Electric supports education, research, and consultancy for IEC61499-based applications through its Industrial Automation University Programs. Several universities are currently running programs or projects around IEC61499 technology, including Berlin University of Technology and Economics (Germany), LIT Cyber-Physical Systems Lab at Johannes Kepler University Linz (Austria), Lulea University of Technology (Sweden), and The Technical University of Munich (Germany).

Higher Education institutions who are interested can contact their local Schneider Electric office.

Schneider Electric’s donation includes 200 licenses for IEC61499-based technology and the EcoStruxure™ Automation Expert industrial automation system, including remote working licenses, access to online training libraries, automation control hardware, and programming support for the students working on laboratory-scale EnAS production demonstrators.

“Aalto University has a vast amount of specialized knowledge that the fourth wave of industrialization requires,” said Valeriy Vyatkin, Professor of Electrical Engineering, Aalto University. “The goal of the Factory of the Future program is to convert that knowledge into practical competence for industrial use while inspiring students towards a future in industrial automation. The right tools and software make that easier for both the students and the faculty. We are grateful to Schneider Electric for their generous donation.”

“We are proud to support the education of more than 120 future automation experts at Aalto University,” said Dr. Barbara Frei, Executive Vice President, Industrial Automation, Schneider Electric. “Schneider Electric has a long history of supporting higher education institutions and their students with technology and expertise. The industries of the future will be more agile, sustainable, and resilient because of these new engineers and the innovative technology they will bring.”

According to McKinsey Global Institute’s Skill Shift: Automation and the Future of the Workforce paper, automation will accelerate the shift in workforce skills, gaining momentum to overtake the progress seen in the past 15 years. The research found that growth in demand for technological skills will rise 55 percent by 2030.

Today, there is a shortage of expert automation programmers to work on specific closed automation systems. Software-centric automation makes automation programming easily understandable by traditional IT programmers, which greatly expands the potential workforce.

Factory of the Future
The Aalto Factory of the Future serves as a project platform for using advanced information technologies on future systems. It focuses on flexible architectures made up of modular autonomous intelligent production units and aims to develop production system technologies, such as artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0 architectures, Industrial Internet of Things, wireless communication (5G, Wi-Fi 6), edge, fog and cloud computing paradigms, virtual integration, digital twins, remote commissioning, operation and predictive maintenance, human-robot collaboration, simulation, and virtual and augmented reality.

“The business field has plenty of opportunities when it comes to founding startups,” said Vyatkin. “This program will help us transfer our research results into practice for the industry to use. Training students in the use of software-centric automation is an investment in future industrial technologies. Thanks to this collaboration, students can study a technology that will become much more widespread in the future. An open automation platform is not tied to a single closed automation system. It is a versatile tool that also gives job applicants a step up in the labor market.”

“The Factory of the Future program is a collaborative effort to provide the skills and information students need in a digital, software-driven automation world,” said Jani Vahvanen, CEO Finland, Schneider Electric. “It’s exciting to work with the new generation as they take up the mantel for the future of industrial automation. As the worlds of information technology and operational technology continue to merge, there is no limit to what’s possible. Aalto Factory of the Future is proving that right now.”

Software-Centric Industrial Automation
An automation system must operate efficiently while communicating data between a host of other systems at the same time. Proprietary, closed and vendor-specific automation systems make developing automation applications complex and labor-intensive. Software-centric automation, based on the IEC61499 standard for interoperability, streamlines data communication between devices. For example, when transmitting data to a manufacturing execution system or in the cloud for analysis.

With software-centric automation, programming is 3 to 4 times faster. The software can be vendor-agnostic, meaning that the developed application can be used in other manufacturers’ devices. This not only makes the automation solution more flexible but also makes it much easier to modify systems and modernize equipment, as needed. Open, interoperable software-centric automation saves time, increases efficiency, and helps future-proof automation systems.

@SchneiderUKI@AaltoUniversity @McKinsey_MGI #PAuto #Education #Finland

AI in the sewer.

Millions of litres of wastewater generated by households and businesses flow unnoticed through the sewer system to their destination, the wastewater treatment plant. Identifying and locating problems in the underground system has been challenging, but now a system created by the Finnish start-up, Neuroflux, generates automatic alarms when they detect sewage in the wrong place.

A small start-up is an exceptional operator in a field that has traditionally been only for water utilities and their large automation providers. Working simultaneously with many water utilities comes with certain benefits: good ideas spread quickly from one utility to the next.

"The small and agile team has also been our strength", Julia Kariniem smiles. "You can easily chat with us, and we are able to react to changing needs in stride. European water utilities do amazing work to keep water flowing smoothly for all of us, and it is very rewarding to be a part of it."

Inspiration for the idea was originally sparked by an innovation competition organized by the Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority HSY in 2016. The event took place at a local wastewater treatment plant, where water engineers and programmers gathered to think about how to best take advantage of the utilities' network measurements, such as water flow and energy data.

"Data visualisations for water utilities began to take shape during the hackathon, and the results were considered so interesting that the development continued in a project with HSY", explains Julia Kariniemi.

Sewers go quiet at night
Sewer infrastructure consists of hundreds of pipe kilometres as well as pumping stations that push wastewater forward until it reaches its final destination, the treatment plant.

Even sewers follow our daily rhythms: morning showers increase the amount of wastewater, and at night the sewer goes quiet too. Because wastewater also follows these familiar patterns, visualisation is a useful tool for water utilities, offering valuable information about unusual events in the network.

Visibility under the ground
Analytics developed quickly alongside the visualisations, providing the water utility with automatic alarms for patterns that indicate problems in the network. "There are hundreds of pumping stations in the Helsinki region alone", Kariniemi points out. "It is impossible to monitor each measurement manually."

Growing interest from other water utilities led to the foundation of the new company. Today, almost half of the Finnish population is covered through the Neuroflux service through their water utilities. This year, the system was adopted by the 2021 EU Green Capital Lahti.

Problems in the sewers have direct consequences for the environment. If there is a blockage in a pumping station, wastewater does not move forward in the network and may spill uncontrollably in the surrounding environment. Sometimes it works the other way: water leaks into the sewer from rain, lakes, or other bodies of water, stretching the treatment plant's capacity and wasting resources. "Improving wastewater management is a motivating goal, because it has significance for both the environment and the community", Kariniemi describes.

@neurofluxltd @hsy_fi @GreenLahti2021 #PAuto #Wastewater

Communication acquisition.

HMS Industrial Networks has acquired 60% of all shares in the Spanish company Owasys Advanced Wireless Devices S.L. Headquartered in Bilbao with 20 employees, Owasys is a wireless communication company designing and manufacturing products for utility vehicles and industrial machines.

LtoR: Javier Gurtubay Francia, CEO, Owasys, Damaso Orbe Larrondo, Sales Manager, Owasys, Oscar Cedergren M&A manager, HMS, Joakim Nideborn, CFO, HMS, Miguel López López, R&D Manager, Owasys, Juan Carlos Cabado Ramos, Sourcing Manager, Owasys.

Owasys offers wireless embedded communication platforms to enable remote monitoring and control of a wide range of mobile machines. The portfolio includes key products like owa4x which is an IoT gateway for processing and transmission of data from wired and wireless sensors, devices and peripherals to the cloud, and owa450 which is an IoT platform for controlling and monitoring of data from vehicles and industrial machines at the Edge.

A selection of value created by Owasys’ solutions include reduced fleet downtime and data-driven maintenance to optimize service schedules.

“Owasys allows HMS to enter the vertical of mobile machines and utility vehicles which is an interesting part of our strategically important ‘Information Centric’ playing field. With Owasys, we strengthen our position for remote access and data solutions beyond our current sweet spot in factory automation.” says Staffan Dahlström, CEO of HMS Networks, and continues “Owasys has an impressive technology and customer base for a company of their size and HMS will provide a good platform for future development”.

“We are very excited to be able to continue to develop our market together with HMS. We see good opportunities for technology collaborations and HMS’ international presence will be of great use for Owasys in our continued expansion” says Javier Gurtubay, CEO of Owasys.

The 60% share in Owasys was acquired by HMS from the existing management team who remains in ownership of 40% of the shares and will continue to manage the business. Owasys is expected to have Net Sales of €5.5 million and EBIT of 1.4 million in 2021.

@hmsnetworks @OWASYSM2M @mepaxIntPR #Industry #Wireless

Accelerating the delivery of environmental benefits.

The Finnish city of Lahti is accelerating the delivery of environmental benefits with the assistance of Vaisala. With sustainability at its core, and featuring in many of its products, Vaisala (a Finnish company) is Lahti’s ideal partner.

The European Commission established the annual European Green Capital Award in 2008 to promote and reward commitment and innovation to resolve environmental challenges. Lahti has been awarded the prestigious title of European Green Capital 2021, with previous winners including Nantes, Copenhagen, Bristol, Ljubljana, Essen, Nijmegen, Oslo, and most recently Lisbon.

Vaisala’s roots in environmental measurements can be traced back to its origins, when in the 1930s Professor Vilho Väisälä invented some of the operating principles of radiosondes; updated versions of this are still used to this day to measure vital meteorological parameters. From a humble beginning, Vaisala has grown to become the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of weather monitoring equipment and services. The importance of measurements undertaken with Vaisala equipment has grown enormously, enabling researchers to track, model, and predict climate change.

Curiosity and innovation were two key features in Vaisala’s early development. They still underpin the company to this day, together with a clear customer focus, product quality, and sustainability.

Sustainability
As a core value, sustainability drives every aspect of Vaisala’s operations; from its own business practices to the impact of its products. Vaisala has integrated the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its strategic planning in order to contribute to sustainable development and find inspiration for the development of new business and sustainable business practices.

Few companies can claim to operate on 100% renewable energy, but this is one of the ways in which Vaisala has knitted sustainability into its everyday operations. In recognition of its achievements, Vaisala was recently ranked 14th in the Financial Times (GB) list of 300 European climate leaders. However, for Vaisala, the greatest sustainability impact is through the use of its products: customers can, for example, prepare for extreme weather, make renewable energy production more efficient, or reduce emissions from their industrial processes.

In addition to its world-leading role in meteorological measurements, Vaisala develops measurement technologies for industrial applications in almost every sector. These technologies enable customers to optimize their processes, lower costs, reduce waste, decrease energy consumption, and in some cases reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases.

There are perhaps too many applications to list here, but good examples include advanced carbon dioxide measurement technology in supermarkets and food storage facilities to enable safe monitoring of natural refrigerants rather than CFCs and HCFCs, which are very powerful greenhouse gases. Similarly, Vaisala has developed a unique in-line gas monitoring probe for biogas, which enables operators to optimize the generation of renewable energy, derive more value from organic waste, improve profitability, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and recycle agricultural nutrients.

Many of Vaisala’s industrial measurement technologies enable process optimization. For example, sensors measuring the refractive index of liquids are used in a wide variety sectors, including food and beverage, semiconductors, chemical and refining, pulp and paper, textiles and pharmaceutical. In brewing, for example, in-line sensors are used to optimize every stage of the process and ensure the production of consistent quality beer.

Quality
Ever since the company was founded, Vaisala has demonstrated a heavy commitment to product quality. This is because customers use data from Vaisala instruments to make important decisions, so there is a constant drive in the company to find ways to make the products perform better. This focus on product quality has become a brand value for Vaisala and is one of the main reasons for the company’s enduring success.

The quality, flexibility, and reliability of Vaisala’s products have generated an extraordinarily wide global customer base, but the list of applications has stretched even beyond planet Earth. When working on NASA’s Mars rovers, the scientists needed reliable sensors that would be sufficiently robust to operate in the challenging Martian climate. Vaisala’s humidity and pressure sensors have therefore been measuring on Mars in the ‘Curiosity’ rover since August 2012 and in the ‘Perseverance’ rover since February 2021.* The core technologies employed by these sensors are the same as those deployed in applications here on Earth.

Curiosity, innovation, and customer focus
While Vaisala constantly seeks to recruit individuals with curiosity, drive, and imagination, it also focuses on developing products that meet customer needs. This is achieved by continuous and strong investments in R&D and an over-riding culture of continuous improvement.

Vaisala’s ability to solve customers’ problems stretches back through its history. In the early 1970s, humidity was measured by hair hygrometers or psychrometers which were bulky and notoriously unreliable. In 1973, Vaisala introduced HUMICAP®, the world’s first thin-film capacitive humidity sensor. Since then, Vaisala has become the market leader in relative humidity measurements, and thin-film capacitive humidity sensors have developed from one company’s innovation into a global industry standard. Initially developed for meteorology, HUMICAP sensors are now employed in applications as diverse as greenhouses, bakeries, warehouses, construction sites, brick and timber kilns, wine cellars, museums, and art galleries.

More recently, Vaisala technology has been utilized in the fight against COVID-19, with customers seeking accurate, reliable measurements for parameters such as carbon dioxide inside the incubators that are used to cultivate viruses for vaccine development.

Partnership with the European Green Capital 2021

Vaisala’s sustainability story continues with the European Green Capital. Air pollution causes an estimated 7 million premature deaths per year globally, 400,000 of which are in Europe. While Finland enjoys better air quality than most countries, some 1,800 premature deaths still occur every year. The partnership between Vaisala and Lahti will therefore focus on air quality and involve the installation of two compact air quality monitoring stations in the city centre.

Vaisala’s compact air quality sensors will monitor continuously and complement the reference-grade air quality monitoring stations that Lahti has been using so far to assess the quality of air in the city. The data will also help to investigate the sources of pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and fine particulates, which are likely to be derived from diesel vehicles and wood-burning stoves.

In Lahti, Vaisala continues its long-standing mission to provide customers with the world's most reliable measurements where it truly matters. With this data, researchers and decisions-makers can optimize their operations and make decisions to tackle the greatest climate and sustainability challenges of our time.

* Red, hot and humid? Finding out! (16/2/2021) and More news from the Red Planet! (15/4/2021)

@VaisalaGroup @GreenLahti2021 @EU_ENV @EU_GreenCapital @SustDev #Environment #Europe

Biogas innovation wins.

Vaisala's MGP261 biogas instrument is a winner in the Finnish Quality Innovation competition, where it won the Circular economy and carbon neutrality innovations category. After being recognized as an outstanding example of innovation in the field of sustainable technologies, the instrument now advances to the finals of the global Quality Innovation Award competition.

“This is a great recognition for a product as revolutionary as the MGP261. The Vaisala CARBOCAP® MGP261 Multigas Instrument for Methane, Carbon Dioxide, and Humidity was first introduced in early 2019, with instant benefits for the biogas industry. The Vaisala MGP261 transforms waste into value: The better the entire process is monitored and optimized by reacting to changes in gas composition and humidity, the more efficient the biogas plant becomes. This translates directly into improved profitably for customers and is also good for the planet,” says Vaisala Project Manager Otto Tierto.

The Quality Innovation Award The Quality Innovation Award competition was founded by Laatukeskus Excellence Finland in 2007. It has since grown to become an annual international competition with eight categories. Vaisala’s viewLinc Continuous Monitoring System won the global Quality Innovation Award in 2018 in the Business Innovation category for large companies. In 2021 the international award ceremony will take place in February in Belgrade, Serbia.

A sustainable solution for a greener tomorrow
Lowering greenhouse gas emissions and responding to waste management issues in a time of population growth is challenging. Renewable energy, especially biogas, is a key part of the solution: 

Industrial and municipal waste and wastewater treatment plants, landfills, and even farms can produce electricity and heat from biowaste by using a combined heat and power engine. But running one profitably means improving the quality of the produced biogas; this has been a tough goal to achieve, until now. 

The Vaisala MGP261 is the world’s first in situ three-in-one biogas measurement instrument. It works directly in the biogas stream and is Ex certified up to zone 0.

 “We all need to do everything we can to halt the climate change by transitioning to a circular economy and turning waste into energy,” says Jutta Hakkarainen, Vaisala’s Industrial Measurements business’ Strategy and Business Development Director. “In a resource-efficient business, raw materials are used in an economical and sustainable manner instead of letting them go to waste. Vaisala’s MGP261 multigas instrument helps the biogas production processes become more efficient and improves the biogas quality.” 

@VaisalaGroup @Laatukeskus #PAuto #Finland 

Automation and allied subjects examined in Nordic event!

Teknologia 19, the leading event in technology in the Nordic countries, will be held in Messukeskus Helsinki from 5 to 7 November. The current topics and phenomena of the field are prominent in the themes of the fair programme. More than 90 % of the stands at the fair have already been sold.

The Teknologia fair will offer programme at five different programme points as well as the stands of the exhibitors. The themes of the programme include, among other things, coding, robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning as well as the development of digitalisation.

On 5 November, the first day of the fair, the programme is targeted especially at students in the field of technology, who can discuss different career options with representatives of companies in the field of technology at the stands of the exhibitors. The stage programme also includes information briefings and addresses to future technology professionals.

“Our member companies are excited to participate in the student day and are happy to welcome students to the fair. New people also bring new ideas to companies, and we feel that it is important to start a dialogue with people interested in the field as early as possible. In the future, companies will need increasingly diverse expertise,” says Advisor Jan Sucksdorff from the Association of Finnish Technical Traders.

The event includes exhibitors from all over the world.

“Almost all of the stands at the fair have already been sold, and the programme planning is also well underway,” says Annina Niemi, Sales Manager of the Teknologia 19 fair.

Competitions
In addition to students, Teknologia 19 attracts a large number of international companies to the fair. In addition to Finland, exhibitors from many countries in Europe and throughout the world.

Teknologia 19 presents several different fields of technology. They include automation, electronics, hydraulics and pneumatics, mechanical engineering, sheet metal work, maintenance, AI and robotics, as well as ICT. The theme of the event is Humans, Responsibility and Technology.

The Startup Competition and the Amazing Robots competition reach their finale at the fair
Entrants can participate in the competition until 31 August, after which the jury selects 5–7 participants for the finals held on Wednesday 6 November at the fair. The winner of the competition is awarded a stipend of €10,000 donated by the Finnish Fair Foundation. The Startup Competition is organised in cooperation by the Teknologia fair as well as Fiban (Finnish Business Angels Network).

Another competition held at the Teknologia fair is Amazing Robots, which aims to increase the visibility of and interest in information technology, robotics and artificial intelligence in Finland and encourage students to combine expertise from different fields with an open-minded approach. The practice before the robotics competition and possible qualifying rounds will be held on Tuesday 5 November, while the finals will take place on Wednesday 6 November. The first prize is a stipend of €10,000, the second is a stipend of €5,000 and the third is a stipend of €2,000. The competition is organised by the Finnish information technology and electronics association in cooperation with the Mikrobitti magazine and the Teknologia 19 fair.

The winners of both competitions will each receive their award at the evening event of the Teknologia 19 fair on Wednesday 6 November.

#PAuto #Finland @messukeskus

System integrator acquires industrial digitiser.

The technology company Protacon has acquired ARROW Engineering Oy, which specializes in improving the productivity of the manufacturing industry through digitalisation and visual management. With the acquisition, the parties will be able to continue to offer new types of services to their current customer base. The deal is Protacon's fifth acquisition this year.

(LtoR) Timo Akselin, Lotta Akselin, Veli-Matti Nurminen, CEO, Protacon Group Oy, Pekka Pylkkänen, CEO, Arrow Engineering Oy, Sami Kajan, Kalle Häkkänen, Juho Vuohelainen, Arrow Engineering Oy

“ARROW, an internationally operating company, will bring to our customers its expertise in industrial production management and software products with a strong position and a vast array of views based on data from different industries. We can take advantage of each other's know-how, for example by offering a wider range of services and developing management by knowledge services for the future” says Veli-Matti Nurminen, Managing Director of Protacon.

Protacon will bring a new shift to ARROW's services and product development

“We share a common view of the challenges and possibilities of industrial digitalization for our customers. Our services complement each other almost perfectly. We can create entirely new types of service, for example for the paper and energy industries by combining strengths in product development, customer service and customer deliveries" says Pekka Pylkkänen, Managing Director of ARROW Engineering Oy.

“Our ability to respond to the most demanding delivery projects will rise to a new level. We can also continue to invest heavily in the development and internationalization of our services. A common vision of digitalisation and significant synergy benefits make Protacon an ideal new home for us and is an excellent innovation for our customers.”

ARROW Engineering Oy will continue as a subsidiary as part of the Protacon Group. The company has operated for 25 years and currently serves about 500 customers in 30 countries. ARROW is one of the most prominent players in its own area of ​​expertise, in the digitalization of the management of floor-level production in the manufacturing industry and in the development of operative activities in industrial production.

"We expect ARROW to strengthen our competitive position especially in the global market," says Timo Akselin, Management Board Member responsible for the growth strategy of Protacon.

“As a whole, ARROW is a unique player, as the company is offering a corresponding service package that is not in the market. We have a large and significant common customer base, but no overlaps in the offering. We are also happy to make ARROW part of the story of Protacon.”

• The deal is already Protacon's fifth this year. In January, the company acquired software company Netwell Oy and Descal Engineering Oy, which produces industrial design services. In March, Protacon acquired a significant portion of Inray Oy, a supplier of real-time measurement systems, and in April the technology company Vision Systems Oy's business operations. Acquisitions have been the focus of Protacon's growth strategy, targeting companies globally producing industrial services and products as well as on companies producing software development services in Finland and neighbouring regions.

@protacon #Pauto @arroweng_FI

The Grandmother retires!

After almost 20 years of reliable service a Gasmet FTIR multigas analyser has finally been retired. The instrument, which is a Gasmet 9540 was purchased at the end of the last century by VTT, the Technical Research Centre of Finland.

“We have utilised this analyzer in a variety of research projects over the years and it has performed extremely well. However, some of the spare parts are no longer available so we have purchased a new Gas DX4000 as a replacement,” comments Mari-Leena Koskinen-Soivi, a Research Scientist at VTT working in sustainable syngas R&D and analytics.

Mari-Leena Koskinen-Soivi

The old Gasmet 9540 was originally purchased for online wet gas analysis on a pressurised flat bed reactor conducting research work on catalysts, providing simultaneous analysis of compounds such as ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, methane, ethane, ethene, benzene, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and others.

Mari-Leena says: “We affectionately call this instrument the ‘Grandmother’ - the main advantage of the old Gasmet 9540 over our laboratory instruments was its speed and simplicity. We still have a requirement for the continuous analysis of multiple gases – usually over 60 compounds – so we are excited to see how the new Gasmet DX4000 will perform.”

Jari Jaakkola, from Gasmet says: “The core technology is still the same, but our FTIR instruments have continued to develop and improve since VTT bought their first instrument. Apart from the new instruments being smaller and lighter, VTT will see a vast improvement in performance. However, I am sure that Mari-Leena will be pleased to discover that the newer instruments have retained the speed and simplicity of their ancestors.”

Established in 1942 and employing over 2,400 staff, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd is the leading research and technology company in the Nordic countries. VTT has a national mandate in Finland, using research and knowledge to provide expert services for domestic and international customers and partners in both the private and public sectors.

VTT develops new smart technologies, profitable solutions and innovative products, production processes, methods and services to produce technologies that benefit society. Much of Mari-Leena’s work is focused on efficient methods for the generation of renewable energy, and is therefore contributing to the global fight against climate change.

Mari-Leena has worked at VTT since 1979; starting in peat research and later moving to gasification. For the last 15 years she has been working with catalysts and synfuels. “Accurate multigas analysis is therefore a crucial element of our work,” she adds. “Continuous online monitoring provides much greater insight into process conditions and helps us to understand the chemical processes that are taking place. With the ability to fulfil this role on hot, wet complex gas mixtures, FTIR is one of our most important analytical tools, and with proven reliability lasting 20 years we don’t have to worry about the quality of Gasmet instruments!”

@Gasmet_Tech  #PAuto #Finland @VTTFinland

Ruggedised PLCs will boost processing uptime at Lapland gold mine!

ABB is currently upgrading the automation system at Agnico Eagle's gold mine in Lapland, with eight of its latest ruggedized PLCs for controlling equipment in harsh conditions and extreme climates. The PLCs - scheduled to come online by the end of 2013 - will control the sedimentation process of the concentrating mill at Europe's largest gold mine: Agnico Eagle's mine in northern Finland which is 150 km inside the Arctic circle near the town of Kittila.  

ABB won the original contract for the main automation system at the gold mine, and configured and installed electrical automation based on its 800xA Extended Automation system and industrial IT architecture. The project involved a large amount of ABB automation components including ABB's 800 series operator interface panels and AC500 PLCs for the underground control of pumps, air conditioning, the motors used in ore crushing and processing, etc.  

However, a number of items of plant equipment came with automation from other vendors, including PLCs that were supplied with the sedimentation facility that forms part of the mine's concentrating mill. The PLCs were normal industrial grade types, but housed in freeze-protected cabinets located outdoors. Since installation however, this facility has suffered a number of process stoppages because of the environment at the mine - which includes very wet and humid conditions and winter temperatures as low as -40 degrees C. If a process stoppage happens in winter the impact can be severe, as the weather can quickly add to the problem by freezing and blocking pipelines. 

There have been some four or five stoppages a year, stemming from power outages, extreme cold temperatures, or water droplets that form on the PLC modules when the cabinet doors were opened. In wintertime, condensation can happens in seconds - almost the instant the cabinet doors are opened and the benefits of the cabinet's ingress protection are lost - because of the very low temperatures and the moisture-laden air around the concentrating mill. The same problem can also happen in springtime, as temperatures can swing between -25 and +15 degrees C from night to day - leading to heavy condensation. 

The mine operators decided to upgrade this part of the control system to improve reliability and uptime. They were very happy with the PLCs that provided control in the hot and humid underground environment and turned to the supplier of these - main automation vendor ABB - who proposed a solution based on the XC PLC. XC is an 'extreme conditions' variant of the well-known AC500 PLC family that is installed underground. It has built-in protection against a very wide variety of threats posed by harsh environmental and operating conditions including high and low temperatures, high humidity, low air pressure, salt mist and hazardous gases, and vibration and shock. In this case, the new ABB XC PLCs will be installed at the mine's above-ground processing centre - with some I/O modules located at a remote water pumping location and connected using ProfiNET.

Mining is one of the key target applications for this PLC.  The harsh environment at Kittila poses no problem for the XC PLC which can operate in temperatures from -30 degrees C, with reliable system start-ups in temperatures as low as -40 C, more than meeting the problems that might arise. Its circuit boards are conformally coated to protect against moisture ingress. And the PLC is protected against vibration and shock and will tolerate a lot of mechanical stress - such as accelerations up to 4 g from random vibrations up to 500 Hz, or 2 g from sinusoidal vibration. This built-in protection means that the ABB PLCs are being installed in standard uninsulated stainless steel cabinets - without any need for freeze-protection heaters. 

"Ruggedized PLC technology opens up new design possibilities, allowing automation to be sited right where the control I/O is needed, in many cases without high-specification environmental protection - as at this mine is deep inside the Arctic circle" says Risto Haavisto of ABB Finland. 

Agnico Eagle's gold mine in Finland is located in Kittila, in the northern Lapland region. With an estimated lifetime to 2037, Kittila's reserves are estimated at almost 33 million tonnes. The mine employs over 600 staff and contractors, most of whom are local residents, making a big contribution to the regional economy. Ore was originally mined from two open pits, starting in 2008. Since 2010,the mining has moved underground. Some 3,000 tonnes of ore is currently transported daily to the surface crusher using underground haul trucks via a 3km-long ramp access system. 

New technical cybersecure member!

Codenomicon, a Finnish cybersecurity company, has joined ISCI as a technical member.

Codenomicon brings to ISCI (ISA Security Compliance Institute) a wealth of experience in detecting software vulnerabilities. Much of today’s protocol testing foundations are based upon work done in the late 1990s by researchers at VTT and the University of Oulu in Finland. Founders at Codenomicon, Ari Takanen, Rauli Kaksonen and Mikko Varpiola, were all participants in ground-breaking and foundational research in software vulnerability testing.

“Codenomicon is passionate about securing critical infrastructure and our values align with ISCI’s mission,” stated Mike Ahmadi, Codenomicon’s Global Director of Energy and ICS Security. “We are enthusiastic about participating in ISCI’s programs and initiatives and proud to have our cybersecurity test platform included in ISASecure ™ programs.”

Codenomicon specializes in identifying unknown software bugs. Its products, the Unknown Vulnerability Management (UVM) tools, offer software developers a simple process to ensure security and robustness in their products.

“Codenomicon’s staff includes some of the most knowledgeable cybersecurity experts in the industry,” said Andre Ristaino, Managing Director of the ISA Security Compliance Institute. “We are grateful for their contributions.”