Automation & control trends.

Featured articles include: • Thriving Amid Disruptive Innovation • Advanced Manufacturing Automation Strategies Open Up • Transformative Technologies Enable Innovation

“The world of manufacturing is an exciting, ever-changing landscape that is continually being driven to new heights of productivity, efficiency, and quality through the application of innovative technology,” says Bill Lydon, the 40-year industry executive, editor, consultant, and commentator who recently announcement his retirement.

In this edition of Automation.com’s 8th Annual Industrial Automation & Control Trends Report, Bill reveals how advances in more than a dozen technology areas are enabling digital transformations and corporate resilience. Supplementing Bill’s thoughts on the trends driving industry forward is the Insider Insights section—a collection of views from technology suppliers who are helping to empower manufacturers and shape the future of industrial automation.

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@automation_com @ISA_Automation #PAuto #Automation #Manufacturing #Publishing

Display on the skids!

Danfoss Power Solutions is supplying its DM700 display for use on the third-generation Elise 900 skid steer loader manufactured by FIRSTGREEN Industries (previously known as Kovaco Electric). The all-electric machine takes advantage of the display’s 7-inch screen, excellent sunlight viewability, and rugged IP66/IP67 ingress protection ratings, providing the ideal combination of features for this demanding application.

Lukáš Rameš, chief operating officer, FIRSTGREEN Industries, said: “When we introduced the display, every customer was happy with it. Now we are working on retrofitting older machines so they can use the display. We already have some orders for the retrofit kits, which can rebuild generation 2 machines into gen 3.”

During the design phase of the third-generation Elise 900, FIRSTGREEN Industries customers requested a hard-mounted display instead of the previous control by mobile phone. Mobile phones are not particularly robust, and their small screens and poor readability in direct sunlight make operator ease of use a challenge. In contrast, a robust embedded display can help improve productivity and support better operator safety.

With support from Technotrade, FIRSTGREEN Industries’ trusted technology advisor and a Danfoss Power Solutions Premier Partner, the DM700 emerged as the display of choice.

Situated in the top right corner of the Elise 900 cab, the Danfoss DM700 display is connected to the skid steer’s CAN bus system, providing reliable, rapid communication and higher data throughput – a considerable advance in comparison with the phone’s Bluetooth connection. Furthermore, the display overcomes the distractions of using a personal device for machine operation, along with problems that emerge if the phone is misplaced or not charged. The large screen area of the DM700 also provides better visibility of important machine information for the operator.

Using the display, users can set three profiles customized to the needs of various operators or working conditions, including travel speeds and hydraulic settings. Productivity is further enhanced through the DM700’s ability to display error messages and diagnostics, minimizing machine downtime.

The control joysticks can also be customized. In comparison with the analog joysticks of previous generation Elise 900 models, Danfoss JS1-H CAN joysticks offer greater accuracy and enable the adjustment of parameters. The result is a more intuitive control system customized to operator preferences. Moreover, the joysticks are more reliable and simpler to install, service, and replace as there are only four wires instead of the 25 required with the previous analog devices.

Safer operation is a further benefit of the display. In addition to prompting the operator to shut the door and fasten the seat belt to start the machine, the DM700 can help avoid rollovers by showing a real-time overview of the skid steer’s roll and pitch angles.

Although the DM700 display is an option on the third-generation Elise 900, FIRSTGREEN Industries reports that all purchasers to date have selected the hard-mounted display and anticipates that 95% of long-term sales will include it.

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@DanfossPower @Danfoss @NapierPR #Automation #PAuto

Battery with long service life.

The new Li-Ion battery pack BP-LIO-1525 from Bicker Elektronik offers five times more charge / discharge cycles than conventional lead-acid batteries and thus guarantees a particularly long service life. The high-quality battery pack impresses both in industrial use and in medical technology applications with its approvals according to IEC / EN 62133-2: 2017 and UL 62133: 2017 Ed.2.

The BP-LIO-1525 has an integrated BMS (Battery Management System) to optimize service life and safety. The BMS monitors and controls the entire charging and discharging process for each battery cell in the energy storage system. The NTC temperature sensor, which is led outside, enables permanent monitoring of the Li-Ion cell temperature for charging optimization and operational safety.

In terms of system integration and economy (TCO), Lithium-Ion cells enable energy storage devices with space and weight savings of up to 75% - compared to conventional lead-acid batteries. Lithium is the lightest metal in the periodic table and has ideal electrochemical properties for providing high specific energy densities (Wh / kg). Also many times higher than with lead-acid batteries is the number of charging cycles and the realizable Depth of Discharge (DoD). Finally the service life under comparable operating conditions is up to five times longer.

With the help of the system present function, the output of the battery pack remains deactivated (output voltage = 0V) until the main current path is released by bridging the communication plug. Otherwise the BMS locks the MOSFET main switch permanently. Since the components on the BMS board run in standby mode, this power-saving function also increases the shelf life of the (charged) BP-LIO-1525.

The integrated cell balancing ensures a balanced and uniform charge of all cells, so that the full capacity of the lithium-ion battery pack remains permanently usable. This has a particularly positive effect on the service life, number of cycles and capacity of the energy storage. 

@bicker_de @PresseBox #PAuto #Medical

Smallest 75W PSU.

Gresham Power Electronics, has announced the availability of their new (M)WLP75 power supply series. This “smallest of its class” power supply measures just 2 x 3 x 1 inch, making the (M)WLP75 series the smallest convection cooled 75 Watt AC:DC converter available on the market today.

Following the recent and very successful launch of the world’s smallest 120W power supply, the new (M) WLP75 open frame series is the fourth and smallest addition to the EOS low profile high efficiency (M) WLP series of products. Available in medical and industrial versions the (M)WLP75 has many market leading features including; 75W convection rating, efficiencies up to 93%, -40 to 70°C operation, standby power < 0.3 Watt, weight just 150g, dual fusing, Class II Option available for medical applications and RoHS compliance.

“Low profile, high power density power solutions from EOS allow our customers to shrink their applications without compromising on power or costs”, comments Dave Wellman, Sales Manager of Gresham Power Electronics. “We are now able to supply our customers with evaluation samples for their latest projects.”

EOS power supplies meet the requirements of demanding applications in the medical, computing, networking and industrial market segments, smart electricity grid technology and innovative LED lightning systems.

In addition to EOS Power Gresham is now supplying products from a number of major power supply manufacturers including SL Power, Vox Power, Telkoor and Digital Power. Gresham has also added a new range of Defence power products for land based or vehicle applications to complement its world leading naval power systems.