Automation management platform deployment.

KUKA has reached a significant milestone in industrial automation with the successful deployment of KUKA AMP (Automation Management Platform) at KTPO, one of North America’s major automotive manufacturing facilities.

Marc Fleischmann

The open orchestration platform is now live and actively supporting production operations, connecting existing automation infrastructure with next-generation AI-powered technologies. "Manufacturing is entering a new era," says Marc Fleischmann, Chief Software and AI Officer of KUKA Group. "Traditional automation is expanding and transforming. The future lies in combining the precision and reliability of proven industrial automation with the capabilities of AI-powered systems. KUKA AMP provides the foundation for that next step." By combining proven industrial automation with AI-driven decision-making, KUKA AMP enables manufacturers to increase operational flexibility, enhance productivity and unlock greater value from production data.

The implementation represents another step in KUKA Group’s strategy to bring Artificial Intelligence out of pilot environments and into real-world manufacturing at scale. The United States is a significant market for KUKA Group and home to more than 3,400 employees across engineering, manufacturing, software development, systems integration and customer support functions. Since 2006 KUKA has been operating KUKA Toledo Production Operations (KTPO).

The next major leap forward will be driven by Physical AI – a new generation of intelligent technologies that enable machines and robots to better understand their environment, learn continuously from operational data and make increasingly informed decisions in real time. Factories generate enormous amounts of data. Until now, much of this information remains dormant in isolated systems. KUKA AMP helps customers to transform this data into actionable insights, allowing automation systems to better understand production processes, coordinate activities across workflows and continuously improve performance.

"KUKA AMP creates a scalable foundation for Physical AI," says Fleischmann. "It provides an automation platform that lets customers integrate their own AI models and generalize them in production with a shared context layer. By continuously collecting and analyzing operational data, it creates a closed loop system that can improve performance over time and helps organizations scaling intelligent automation."

First deployment of initial version in Ohio.
The first operational deployment of KUKA AMP is taking place at KUKA Toledo Production Operations (KTPO) in Ohio (USA), and initially focuses on autonomous, mobile robots (AMR). The 335,000-square-foot facility manufactures more than 300 vehicle bodies per day – approximately one every 2 minutes KTPO has produced over two million vehicle bodies, generating vast amounts of production data.

Since 2006, KTPO has produced the body-in-white for every Jeep® Wrangler sold worldwide and, since 2019, for the Jeep® Gladiator. The highly automated facility combines KUKA's expertise in welding, joining technologies and systems integration, operating with 285 robots and more than 60,000 connected devices across the production environment.

The facility offers an ideal environment for demonstrating how established industrial automation can be enhanced through AI-driven technologies. “Testing the alpha version of KUKA AMP at KTPO is an important step forward. KTPO is a familiar environment for us, so we can focus on evaluating the platform under realistic conditions and accelerate improvements that will help deliver the best possible experience for our users”, says Fleischmann. The goal is to help manufacturers drive higher efficiency through more comprehensive automation without replacing existing assets. By connecting mobile robots, machines, software systems and data sources, KUKA AMP enables companies to automate more complex processes, increase operational flexibility, reduce changeover times and unlock greater value from existing factory data.

"Physical AI should not be viewed as a disruption, but as the next evolution of industrial automation," Fleischmann adds. "Manufacturers want a practical path forward that builds on decades of investment. KUKA AMP is being developed in the United States and provides that path by connecting and gradually augmenting today's factory with the autonomous factory of tomorrow."

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@UnnGmbh @pressebox #KUKA #Automotive #PAuto

Strengthening North American industry collaboration.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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@THEMCAAorg #CPCA #PAuto #Canada

Fieldbus modular remote I/O.

Removes barriers for delivering smart factory integration.

The North American availability of Dinkle's iO-GRID X modular remote I/O family has been announced. The iO-GRID X series is a modular and adaptable platform for original equipment manufacturers and factory automation integrators to incorporate digitalisation into machines and systems.

Remote input/output (I/O) solutions reduce wiring labor, minimise control panel space requirements, lower material costs, and offer improved control system scalability. Remote I/O is a leading technique for connecting field devices such as sensors, actuators, and other monitoring/control devices with minimal wiring, and it requires only a single network connection and power circuit to each station location. Almost any application and industry can benefit from remote I/O, including machinery, automated manufacturing and logistics, building automation, and more.

By choosing the capable iO-GRID X platform, designers can realise benefits of mixing-and-matching modular slice-type I/O to support various field requirements, while using their preferred micro controller, PLC, or other host system.

The iO-GRID X fieldbus coupler modules support major industrial Ethernet communications protocols at up to 100Mbps, including EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, Modbus TCP, and CC-Link IE Field Basic. Each interface module includes two RJ45 interface plugs and an integrated two-port Ethernet switch for convenient station expansion using daisy-chain cabling. LED indicators provide clear operational status information, and the module accepts firmware upgrades using a standard USB Type C connection.

Over 20 types of I/O modules are available, accommodating varying I/O counts and signal types, with integrated indicator lights for easy identification of channel status. 

Key specifications include:

• Discrete input and output modules are available in 16- or 32-channel sinking or sourcing versions, with either push-in connections or 34-pole IDC connectors.
• Analog input and output modules are available in 4- or 8-channel voltage or milliamp current versions, with 12- or 16-bit resolution.
• Resistance temperature device (RTD), thermocouple (TC), serial communication, high-speed counter (HSC), and pulse output modules are also available to cover the needs for most any application.

Modules operate throughout a wide ambient temperature range of -10 to +60DegC, and they mount securely to DIN rails with a reliable mechanical and grounding connection, while gold-plated spring-loaded connectors ensure positive module-to-module connectivity. Two power supply sizes are available to handle varying I/O counts, both accepting standard 24 VDC. All models are CE and UL certified.

Detachable terminal blocks and convenient push-in design ensure quick module replacements without rewiring, along with easy expansion of existing installations. Push-in terminal blocks require no tools for wiring completion, and large wire entries ease installations. IDC connectors provide a high-density wiring option.

Daudin remote I/O solutions, including iO-GRID X, help systems integrators and equipment builders create more efficient and flexible control systems. Standard products address most applications, and Daudin also offers customisation options via extensive hardware, firmware, software, labeling, branding, and application-specific design capabilities. Daudin is committed to collaborating with end users to create innovative solutions for intelligent and connected power, networking, and communications designs.

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#DinkleInternational #PAuto #Connectors, #NorthAmerica

Empowering smarter home electrification.

Enables homeowners to add high-demand appliances without costly service upgrades.

The launch of ReliaHome™ Flex, a new modular energy management system which empowers homeowners and builders to add electric appliances without costly service upgrades has been announced by ABB. Designed to work with any brand of load center, ReliaHome Flex installs in minutes and scales easily for retrofits or new construction. Managed through the intuitive ReliaHome app, it delivers real-time insights and customizable automations, giving homeowners confidence and control over their energy use.

With electricity accounting for 44 percent of U.S. residential energy use – and set to rise by up to 22 percent by 20502 – demand for flexible energy management solutions is growing. For many households, adding even a single high-demand appliance can require a service upgrade costing anywhere from $3,000–$5,000 for a panel upgrade, to $5,000–$8,000 or more if the utility must upgrade transformers or trench service lines. ReliaHome Flex addresses this need by allowing homeowners the ability to add EV chargers, water heaters, HVAC systems, or induction cooktops without costly service upgrades.

ReliaHome Flex is built around two core components: the Hub and the Controller. The Hub acts as the central intelligence of the system, connecting to the home’s router via Ethernet for simple commissioning and managing wireless communication with all Controllers and the ReliaHome app. Each Controller manages single-pole or dual-pole loads up to 60 A, using information from the Hub to intelligently balance demand and prevent overloads.

The Hub and Controllers communicate through a built-in secure mesh network, ensuring reliable, seamless coordination between modules – fully independent of the home’s WiFi. This means the system continues functioning even if the WiFi signal is weak or the home temporarily loses internet connectivity.

Controllers can be installed in as little as 10 minutes and can be placed anywhere along the branch circuit without accessing the main panel, allowing for greater flexibility when managing loads that are not colocated or near the main panel. Through the ReliaHome app, homeowners gain real-time and historical energy insights, along with proactive notifications when appliances are turned on or off for load management.

“ABB is committed to shaping the future of electrification across North America,” said Adam Mease, Business Line Leader, Energy Distribution NEMA at ABB. “With ReliaHome Flex, we’re removing one of the biggest barriers to electrification: costly and time-consuming service upgrades. By providing a simple, modular solution that works in both existing homes and new construction, ABB is making smarter, electric-ready homes accessible to more people.”

Building on the award-winning ReliaHome™ Smart Panel introduced in early 2025, ReliaHome Flex expands ABB’s residential portfolio with a universally compatible, modular solution that supports both retrofit and new construction applications.

In retrofit applications, paired controllers enable homeowners to add new appliances without upgrading their load center or utility service. In new construction, builders can optimize service sizing, reduce costs, and work within utility constraints while ensuring homes are energy-ready.

Owners of EVs and battery systems will also benefit from the integration capabilities of ReliaHome Flex, which will allow them to better control their EV charging output and optimize the runtime of their battery backup.

From circuit protection to surge protection – and now energy management – the ABB ReliaHome portfolio delivers trusted, future-ready solutions for today’s connected homes.

ReliaHome Flex is available to order now in North America.

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@ABBNorthAmerica @ABBgroupnews @abb_automation #Electric #North_America

New COO to drive transatlantic growth.

Strengthens organisation for drug discovery and development.

Symeres has appointed Gabriella Gentile as Chief Operating Officer (COO). This strategic addition to the executive team supports Symeres’ transatlantic growth ambitions, building upon its strong foundations in existing and novel modalities.

Gabriella Gentile

Gabriella brings more than 25 years of international experience in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and services industries. She has held senior roles at Catalent, Roche and Aptuit, where she led major transformation programs focused on operational performance, lean methodologies, and change management.

In her new role, Gabriella will lead the transformation of global operations at Symeres, focusing on expanding capabilities across the pharmaceutical value chain from inception to investigational new drug (IND). She will apply her proven leadership to align business operations with measurable performance outcomes, reinforcing Symeres’ commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

“I’m delighted to join Symeres at this exciting time in their growth," said Gabriella Gentile, “Symeres operates under a cultural philosophy of openness and transparency, and I look forward to being part of developing new next generation therapies”. She added, “I am ambitious in my expectations of how my global operational experience can positively impact Symeres’ growth targets and I’m committed to delivering outstanding customer experiences. Symeres’ growth trajectory makes this an exciting time to join.”

Guillaume Jetten, Symeres CEO, added “I’m delighted that Gabriella has accepted this position. ‘Gabriella brings a set of highly relevant skills and experience from both her background in medicinal chemistry, but also her decades of large Pharma and biotech experience that will support the future growth plans of Symeres”. 

Most recently, Gabriella served as global improvement director at Catalent, where she developed and implemented standardized operational frameworks across multiple sites. Prior to that, she consulted independently on global change and operational excellence programs, helping organizations improve performance and implement strategic business initiatives.

Her appointment marks another significant step in Symeres’ expansion strategy, as the company positions itself as a global biotechnology leader bridging European innovation and American market presence.

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 #symeres #Pharma #Americas

Direct drive linear motors.

Performance, versatility and simplicity for machine builders in Europe, North America and Asia.

An addition to its Kollmorgen's IC Ironcore DDL motor family has been announced. This expands beyond 230 VAC products with a new capability to support 400/480 VAC-powered applications. The new direct drive linear motor delivers a continuous force range up to 8,211 N and peak force up to 13,448 N. When powered at higher bus voltages, the motor is inherently capable of delivering its rated force at higher speeds, making it ideal for applications like machine tools, semiconductor manufacturing, battery production and industrial automation that require rapid and precise movement of heavy loads.

“We’re proud to greatly expand the size range, power range and versatility of our direct drive linear motor portfolio with the addition of the high-voltage IC Ironcore DDL,” says Chris Cooper, senior director of product management. “This latest Kollmorgen product enables machine builders to achieve an entirely new level of linear motion performance that differentiates their designs in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.”

Simpler, lighter, more compact machinery.
In environments with a 400 or 480 VAC bus voltage, the IC Ironcore DDL may eliminate the need for a transformer that would otherwise be required to run a motor with a lower voltage rating. In addition, a motor that runs at a higher voltage can perform a given amount of work at a lower amperage level. This lower current draw in a higher-voltage environment may allow for the use of a smaller drive amplifier and a lighter cable set.

With smaller drives, lighter cables and no transformers, machine builders may be able to use a smaller control cabinet with lower cooling requirements. In addition, the IC Ironcore DDL motor also offers a water-cooling option that increases continuous force output by up to 40–60%, potentially allowing specification of a smaller-size motor. All of these advantages support a lighter, more compact, and sustainable machine design that’s simpler and more affordable to build and delivers greater value to both OEMs and their customers.

Enabling versatile solutions for customers worldwide.
Another key benefit of the IC Ironcore DDL motor is that it enables OEMs to serve global markets without significantly redesigning their machines for each region. The 230/400/480 VAC bus voltage rating meets the needs of most customers across North America, Europe and Asia. The motor is UL and CE Certified — plus RoHS and REACH Compliant — simplifying the approval process for selling machines in each target market worldwide.

The IC Ironcore DDL motor joins Kollmorgen’s complete lineup of direct drive linear motors including the ICD Ironcore Low Profile DDL and the IL Ironless DDL. When paired with AKD® or AKD2G servo drives, these motors offer ultimate precision, smoothness and reliability for demanding applications. AKD2G dual-axis servo drives can even synchronize two motors — for example in an x/y table application — while saving even more space in the control cabinet.

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@AboutKollmorgen @mepaxIntPR #PAuto

3D sensors for quality inspection and metrology in North America.

SmartRay has expanded its sales and support in North America, bringing its expertise closer to customers in the region, particularly the automotive sector.

Lto R: Erik Schilling, Sales Manager USA & Canada ad Volker Weinmann, Global Sales Manager, JOSY

Based in the Midwest, Erik Schilling, Sales Manager USA & Canada - JOSY, is an expert with a strong focus on SmartRay’s automated weld inspection solution. Located near Detroit, Mr Schilling will be closer to the largest automotive concentration in North America, an industry in which JOSY is the preferred weld inspection solution for leading brands. He will also provide local support to our partner, Abicor Binzel, an international welding solutions specialist.

JOSY offers a turnkey solution for non-contact visual 3D inspection. Providing exceptional quality, accuracy and reliability, JOSY (Joining Systems) meets the precise quality and accuracy demands of automotive production.

Commenting on his new role, Erik Schilling said: “I’m excited to be part of the growing SmartRay team, providing weld inspection solutions for our customers, and to support the sales team in this region. SmartRay’s technology plays a key role in automated weld inspection for automotive manufacturing and being in this location will allow us to be at the forefront of shaping the future of this important and evolving industry.”

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 @SmartRay3D @codacomms #Automotive #Testing #Metrology

Connectors for North America.

Cliff Electronics have now extended their SLIMS FeedThrough Connector series to meet the requirements of the market in North America. The introduction of imperial 4-40¼ inch full thread cap screw mounting option will increase acceptance in the USA where M3 threaded connectors are not commonly used. Their DualSLIMS range allows customers to choose between mounting the connector adapters from the front of the panel which permits simple and fast changing of connectors in the field, or the rear which brings a lower profile flush appearance to the connectors when rack mounted or side by side.

John Hall, Managing Director of Cliff Electronics, says "Many of our major customers design and manufacture in North America and offering a 4-40 imperial mounting thread option will simplify design-in of our DualSLIM products and increase our sales of this great product family".
 

DualSLIM connectors offer panel builders and system integrators the ability to mount up to 20 connectors in a 1U, 19” rack panel. At just 19mm wide the SLIMS range offers a more compact alternative to Cliff’s very popular 26mm wide XLR form factor FeedThrough product range. Just 16 of the existing XLR design, can be mounted in a 19” rack panel.

The DualSLIM FeedThrough connector range is available in a plastic frame with a plain or countersunk Ø2.5mm or Ø3.2mm fixing hole. A metal frame version is also available finished in nickel or black with Ø3.2mm plain or countersunk fixing holes or M3, #440 thread. Panel cut out dimensions are 17.15mm (0.675in) x 22.86mm (0.9in) with mounting hole centres of 29mm.

The DualSLIM connector range has 14 different versions including HDMI, USB3 A-A, USB3 B-A, USB2 B-A, USB2 A-A, USB2 A-B, USB-C F-M, Cat5e, Cat5e Shielded, Cat6, Cat6 Shielded, Cat3, Cat6A Shielded and blank plate. With a total number of 11 variants of each type, the total number of possible variants is 252.

With its high panel density and low profile if rear mounted the Cliff Electronics DualSLIM may be used in audio, broadcast, AV and communications installations, medical, education and research, industrial control and space. DualSLIM can also be designed in alongside 1U rack mounted NUC computers and mini-PCs, such as Raspberry Pi, for projects of every scale; from custom-tuned gaming machines to industrial applications and are ideal for space constrained embedded or IoT systems, digital signage, media production and video conferencing applications.

All of Cliff’s FeedThrough connectors allow standard, off the shelf, connecting cables to be used for internal connectivity, simplifying and speeding up system assembly and facilitating easy repurposing of equipment.

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@proactivefleet #CliffElectronics #PAuto #Electronic #North_America

Information and communication acquisition completed.

HMS Networks has finalized the acquisition of Red Lion Controls from Spectris Group Holdings Limited. The two companies are now one entity and can start working together on common go-to-market strategies and product offerings.*

Staffan Dahlström

The acquisition, which was first announced December 11, 2023, has now been approved. This means that HMS Networks now has 1200 employees in 18 countries. Most staff are stationed in the U.S., Sweden and Germany.

What to expect.
For HMS and Red Lion customers, there will be no initial changes. The HMS and Red Lion company names remain unchanged and product brands will be marketed and sold as before through the same channels. Production and shipping are handled from the HMS and Red Lion entities respectively. Contact details and email addresses remain, with the exception of India where Red Lion staff will get an hms-networks.com address.

Synergies ahead.
Going forward, the merger of the two companies will provide many synergies, especially as it widens the American market for HMS and the European market for Red Lion. The greatest proportion of Red Lion’s sales comes from North America, through a well-developed distributor network that HMS will be able to utilize to drive sales of HMS’ gateway and remote access offering. With about 60 percent of its sales in the large automation markets in Europe and well-developed and targeted market channels, HMS will be able to cross-sell selected parts of the Red Lion offering in Europe.

“We are thrilled to welcome all new employees and valued customers of Red Lion to the HMS Networks family, marking an exciting new chapter in our journey. As we now jointly initiate the integration process, we look forward to leveraging our combined strengths, shared values, and commitment to delivering exceptional customer value. Over the next few quarters, our focus will be on ensuring a seamless integration and actively pursuing synergies between our companies. Together, we look forward to accelerating our position in the North American market.”, says Staffan Dahlström, President and CEO of HMS.

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* Information and communication technology leader expands presence in North America. (15/12.2023)

Red Lion products are marketed in Ireland through Instrument Technology.

@hmsnetworks @redlioncontrols @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Communications

Leadership change ensures growth continues.

Jerry Duque is now General Manager of the HIMA business in North America. He had already assumed the role of legal representative there last year. Together with the entire HIMA Americas team, Duque will continue to drive business growth in North America.

Jerry Duque

He succeeds Frits Luikenaar, who retired in December 2022. With this appointment, the provider of safety-related automation solutions is pursuing its strategy of strengthening customer proximity in key markets and driving the expansion of its sales and service presence.

"North America is an important market for us. Jerry and his team bring many years of experience in sales, engineering and service as well as in project execution – excellent prerequisites for creating added value for our customers in North America," explains Jörg de la Motte, CEO of HIMA. 

"HIMA has a significant installed base in North America and enjoys a high reputation for its modern technologies. I look forward to playing an active role in shaping HIMA's growth trajectory," says Jerry Duque.

As an electrical engineer and MBA with experience in the oil and gas industry, Jerry Duque started his career at HIMA in 2014 and has held various positions as Sales Director in different regions – since 2021 as Sales Director for the USA and Canada. In addition to his duties as General Manager for HIMA Americas, Jerry Duque will continue to assume the duties of Sales Director for the USA and Canada.

HIMA continues to expand its team and partnerships with leading suppliers in the field of functional safety in the region. "We are looking for further partnerships to further accelerate our growth and advance the digitalization of functional safety with added value," he explains. 

The company also plans to open new regional offices in the eastern United States. In addition to the traditional markets of the oil and gas industry, refineries, chemicals and petrochemicals, and intends to develop its rail business in North America.

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#HIMA #PAuto #NorthAmerica

Technology and engineering centre to project delivery across North America.

ABB has established a new regional operations center for North America, bringing technology expertise closer to customers and building on its similar resources globally. An initial $1 million investment has been made for the new Mexico Technology and Engineering Center (MXTEC) in the city of Merida, Yucatan, to help the technology leader to reach higher project delivery capacity and increase 

competitiveness. 

Mauricio Vila, Governor of Yucatán (MX) with  Anders Kornblad, ABB 

Global Operations Manager (Pic:Yucatan State)

The new center will initially serve ABB’s orders pipeline from process industries including mining, pulp and paper, battery manufacturing and metals.

The center, located within the modern SkyWork building alongside a community of technology and cyber security companies, will be a go-to resource for ABB engineers and covers disciplines including automation, electrical and software engineering. It will mean an approximate 25 percent uptick in engineering capacity, with some projects involving commissioning of ABB Ability™ System 800xA® distributed control system (DCS) at customer sites. Further competencies for supply chain, project management and sales support may be added in the future.

ABB’s move comes at a time when industrial companies are addressing their supply chains and either near shoring or near sourcing to ensure security and reliability of operations. Mexico is establishing itself as an emerging center of excellence for communications, engineering, IT and manufacturing across industries, including automotive, process industries and energy. For ABB, it is well-placed for growth and will link ongoing operations in both North America and South America.

Recruitment and employment of 30 engineers, mainly from the pool of local talents, is ongoing while ABB also establishes meaningful connections with Mexican universities. The newest employees have received training at ABB’s Czech Operations Center in Ostrava and are now onboarding using a customized development program.

“Our aims for the Mexico Technology and Engineering Center are to grow our engineering competencies and capacity to deliver projects with local resources in the same time zones as Mexico, the US and Canada, but also become part of a technology-focused community in Merida where people can stay for a long time and grow their careers,” said Michel Blondeau, Hub North America Operations Manager, ABB. “Its success relies on talents and efforts of our new local team, and we’re pleased to see them successfully onboarded and ready to complement our operations centers in Europe and India.”

“The opening ceremony in Merida provided an opportunity to meet with our implementation managers and the new crop of talents who will make this center a success,” said Vicente Magaña, Process Industries, ABB. “The location and people have been carefully selected and as a business ABB can look forward to seeing engineering projects delivered in North America primarily using regional resources. We’re part of a burgeoning technology space in Mexico and have the chance to build as part of that community.”

@ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @abb_automation #PAuto #Mexico

Certified DC meter for rapid EV chargers.

A major step forward in supporting the deployment of fast electric vehicle (EV) chargers in North America, LEM's bi-directional DCBM will enable makers of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) to accelerate their certification for DC metering requirements following Certified Test and Evaluation Professional/National Type Evaluation Program (CTEP/NTEP) certification. The DCBM will simplify the process of the manufacturers having to qualify their own charging stations for UL listed certification and, for extra peace of mind, will undergo a fresh audit every quarter.

Claude Champion, General Manager at LEM USA says, “The US and Canadian markets for EVs are continually expanding but this growth could be held back by insufficient access to rapid DC charging stations. LEM understands exactly what the sector needs and has worked closely with EVCS manufacturers and installers when developing solutions like the DCBM 400/600. We are ready to help make a zero-carbon future possible for North America.”

Capable of monitoring current, voltage, temperature and energy, the new meter has been designed with data security, e-mobility, digitization and flexibility in mind and is a UL recognized component for the United States and Canada. The DCBM 400/600 complies with the standards UL 61010 and UL 810 with its certification in the FTRZ category for EV applications. To achieve this certification, the meter had to pass reinforced insulation tests, temperature testing of all its components and sub-assemblies, testing for protection against electric chock, durability of markings tests, equipment temperature limit tests and resistance to heat/fire risk tests.

In California, where there is a long-term transportation strategy of reducing CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions, it has been recognized that a widespread and reliable fuelling infrastructure is essential to meet the goal of increasing the usage of low-emission hybrid electric and zero-emission battery electric vehicles.

To achieve this, EV users need a ‘gas station’ like experience so vehicle charging times need to be reduced to just a few minutes. Direct current fast charging (DCFC) makes this possible by converting AC into DC outside an EV, by-passing its on-board charger (OBC) and delivering up to 350kW of power directly to the vehicle’s battery pack.

However, while this method boosts charging power, the conversion stage generates power losses – costs that are not covered by the EV owner. That’s why knowing exactly how much energy has been delivered to a vehicle after AC has been converted to DC is crucial for accurate and transparent billing.

Ideal for DCFC stations from 25kW to 400kW, the DCBM 400/600 enables costs to be managed precisely and integrates the signed billing data sets according to the Open Charge Metering Format (OCMF) protocol. The new meter doesn’t just deliver authentic billing but also secure communications and easy connectivity to Cloud services. Based on a straightforward plug & play approach for rapid and easy integration, even when retrofitting to existing charging stations, the DCBM 400/600 has a moveable measuring element for use with any type of charging station architecture.

Other features of the meter include an Ethernet communication capability, supporting the HTTP/REST protocol and Network Time Protocol (NTP) time synchronization, which again simplifies integration into many different types of EVCSs. Also, bi-directional energy metering makes it compatible with V2G (vehicle-to-grid) and V2X (vehicle-to-everything) standards. Finally, the robustly designed DCBM 400/600 is accurate in temperatures of -40°F to +185°F and has an IP20-rated casing.

@LEM_Inc #Automotive #EV #NorthAmerica

OEM manager for air quality.

Blake Hasty has been appointed OEM Sales Manager at Alphasense for USA/Canada & Americas to enhance customer partnerships and drive collaboration with its OEM customers.

Blake Hasty

Based in Texas, USA, Blake will focus on working in partnership with OEMs to fully understand their applications and develop next-generation solutions to meet these needs. This approach will assist Alphasense’s OEM customers to deliver instruments and systems with sensor technologies that meet the specific needs of end-user applications.

He joins Alphasense with extensive experience gained with large companies in the petrochemical, refining and industrial safety sectors, as both an end user and equipment provider. In working for companies such as Dräger, and taking a hands-on approach to customer relationships, Blake has developed a deep understanding of the current needs and future challenges of the industries in which he specialises.

Commenting on the role, Blake said: “Being in the industry for almost 15 years, in roles from operations through to engineering, means I have a great understanding of the customer journey from start to finish. This allows me to fully appreciate the challenges that our customers and industry as a whole face, and to work with the team at Alphasense to develop solutions to meet these challenges.”

Erik Børgesen, DVP Business Manager MOCON Europe added, “Blake is a highly skilled and knowledgeable sales manager, who will make a significant contribution to the Alphasense team. We pride ourselves on having a workforce which is focused on delivering industry-leading, next-generation technologies, and Blake will be a key driver in this for the US region.”

@AlphaSenseInc @codacomms #PAuto #OEM

Forward focus...

In-person conference to bring together industry’s leading automation professionals to share insight on innovations in sustainability, safety and production performance

For the first in-person Emerson Exchange (EMREX) since 2019, Emerson will bring together customers, experts and industry leaders for a four-day conference to share the latest innovations across process, hybrid and discrete industries. The conference will be held during the week of October 24, 2022, at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Centre in Grapevine, (TX USA).

Registration is now open to Emerson customers. Early bird registration ends on August 31.

Emerson Exchange 2022 offers a unique opportunity for automation professionals to engage with their peers, broaden their knowledge base and gain valuable insight on the latest market trends, technological breakthroughs, and project success stories from around the world.

Keynote presenters include Mark Bulanda, executive president of Emerson’s Automation Solutions business; Mike Train, Emerson senior vice president and chief sustainability officer; and AspenTech CEO Antonio Pietri.

A comprehensive agenda of more than 300 presentations, technology exhibits and educational courses will focus on a broad range of topics relevant to today’s energy, life sciences, chemical, refining, food and beverage, power generation, renewables, hydrogen, biomass, water and mining industries.

Roundtable sessions led by industry experts and Emerson executives will explore how advanced automation technologies are helping companies make measurable progress in energy source decarbonisation, emissions management, electrification, energy efficiency, and other areas involving environmental and economic sustainability.

This year’s event will also feature in-depth panel discussions on industrial cybersecurity techniques, digital transformation case studies, decision-making strategies, project execution roadmaps, safety and operations best practices, as well as live product demonstrations, an opening night networking event, music jam, collaboration forums and much more.

• Details of EMREX EMEA conferences through the years may be found her.

@EmersonExchange @EMR_Automation @Emerson_News @HHC_Lewis #EMREX22 #PAuto #Americas

Test offering strengthened by agreement.

Seica has entered an exclusive sales, support, and distribution agreement with Focused Test, Inc. (FTI) of Boulder, (CO USA).

This partnership offers new and existing customers in North America the strengths of two diverse, uniquely positioned companies. Mr. David Sigillo, Vice President of Seica. says, “We are excited to offer not only Seica OEM branded test solutions, but also FTI’s test solutions for Gallium Nitride and Silicon Carbide power devices and MEMS Sensor and handling with factory automation.

"Seica welcomes the opportunity to combine its 22 years of experience with that of FTI, to expand both companies’ marketplace in North America.” Mr. Peter Hancock, President of Focused Test says, “…we are happy to be working with Seica who has a large North American operation and as an OEM are able to support our products from applications to service and field installations.”

#seica #TandM  #NorthAmerica

Standards for vibration & temperature.

AVT Reliability® has strengthened its position in the US and Canadian asset management market after achieving the UL 61010 US and C safety standard for its tri-axial fixed vibration and temperature sensor, Machine Sentry® MSF-1.

The company opened its first US subsidiary in Rockford, Tennessee in January this year to service and support an increased demand from clients. It has also established a local distribution network and support partners in the US and Canada for its Machine Sentry® product range.

The UL 61010 is the US & Canada equivalent of the European CE product safety standard and covers electrical products for use in non-hazardous locations.

Managing Director of AVT Reliability®, Frederic Thomas, said: “The UL 61010 certification comes in response to the increasing demand from new and existing customers in the North American market.

“AVT Reliability® has already met the demanding safety standards required to attain Hazloc, ATEX and IECEx certification. With the UL 61010 certification we are now able to assure our clients across North America that MSF-1 meets extremely high safety requirements, whilst also being one of the most cost-effective, user-friendly wireless condition monitoring tools on the market.”

The MSF-1 sensor is a wireless intelligent tri-axial vibration and integrated temperature sensor, which connects via a Bluetooth®. Storing up to 5,000 readings and with a five-year battery life, it can be installed anywhere from harsh environments such as chemical plants and the oil and gas industry, to the food and beverage sector, and is also available with an optional internet gateway.

@AVTLtd @RightAgency @ULdialogue #PAuto #NorthAmerica

LIMS technical director in America.

Scott Krieger has joined Autoscribe Informatics as Director of Technical Services, North America. Autoscribe Informatics provides the industry leading configurable Matrix Gemini Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

Scott Krieger

Scott will be bringing his extensive leadership experience to the organization, working closely with the Technical Services team to streamline the implementation and support processes as the company continues to grow.

Scott has significant experience in both laboratory environments and the management of a Technical Services operation. His previous roles have included Quality Analyst/Engineer at bioMerieux, Business Analyst/Project Manager and more recently Director of Professional Services at ATL, leading a LIMS implementation team.

President of Autoscribe Informatics, John Boother, said: “Scott is an important part of a strategic expansion of the key personnel driving our North American operations. In all of the customer satisfaction surveys that we have conducted in the past, our technical and customer support has always rated very highly. Scott has the technical and leadership skills to further improve these ratings as the business moves to its next stage of development. Scott has a proven track record of ensuring customer satisfaction through successful product and service delivery in the laboratory informatics industry.”

#LIMS @AutoscribeLtd @DenisBulgin

Process instrumentation market to grow in North America.

The Process Instrumentation and Automation market in the United States, valued at $13.9 Billion (€12.32b), is projected to grow 4.4 percent by 2023 to a total of $17.3 Billion (€15.34).

The Measurement, Control & Automation Association (MCAA) has published its Annual Market Forecast. The report, prepared by the analysts at Global Automation Research, focuses on the Process Instrumentation and Automation (PI&A) markets in both the United States and Canada. Twelve industry segments and 12 product categories are examined in-depth, with a forecast timeline extending to the year 2023.

Three industries accounted for over 50 percent of the 2018 total process automation market: Chemicals, oil refining and electric utilities. These three industries, plus food & beverage, and pharmaceuticals will be the fastest growing segments over the 5-year forecast period.

Paul Rasmusson, President, Global Automation Research LLC, said, “There are strong growth drivers in each of these industries including the build-out in ethylene plants, capacity expansions in oil refineries, new natural gas-fired generators, and the growing drive for automation to improve productivity, enhance quality and safety, and extent plant life in the pharmaceutical and food & beverage sectors.”

The report shows that O&G process automation spending recovered strongly in 2018, with most of the growth in the midstream segment. And, the U.S. steel industry spending is growing, as the companies expand capacity to meet tariff-related domestic demand.

Rasmusson cautioned, “A slowing global economy, could reduce demand for plastics, creating an excess in ethylene production and oil refining capacity causing delayed or cancelled projects. A U.S. recession would reduce demand for process industry products across the board, undermining the forecast growth in process automation spending.”

Process control systems and process control valves continue to dominate the market value, accounting for 60 percent of the total for 2018. The fastest growing product categories are electronic flow, electronic level, and Remote I/O. The report shows that the displacement of some older technologies (e.g., mechanical flowmeters, mechanical level meters, and data acquisition instruments) continue as electronic flow and level meters and expanded DCS, PLC, and SCADA capabilities are adopted by the process industry.

The Market Forecast also includes information for the Canadian Process Automation Market which is valued at $1.3 billion and forecast to grow to $1.5 billion by 2023, a five-year CAGR of 3.4 percent. Five industries—F&B, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, oil refining and electric utilities will grow above average. Two major industry sectors are struggling. The O&G sector growth is limited due to the takeaway shortfall in Alberta causing lower prices. Growth is further limited as Alberta implements curtailment rules that limit the number of new wells, in the hopes of better prices on low volume. The Canadian metals industry spending dropped after the Trump tariff, however, the most recent indications that the tariffs will be dropped could restore some spending in this sector.

@THEMCAAorg  #PAuto #GlobalAutomationResearch 

Gas analysis leader's appointments on both sides of Atlantic.

Servomex has appointed three new Regional Sales Managers (RSMs) to its sales teams for the Americas and EMEAI regions.

Jesse Underwood and Rodney Clark have both joined the Americas team. Working with the company’s Industrial Process and Emissions (IPE) customers, they will report to Servomex’s VP Sales Americas IPE, Bob Heth, who is based in Houston, Texas.

Stéphane Barret will be based in France as part of the EMEAI team. Supporting customers in France, southern Europe and Africa, he will report to Jan Hordijk, Regional Sales Leader EMEAI.

Underwood becomes RSM for the Americas IPE Gulf 1 Texas region, responsible for managing and developing channel partnerships and direct sales in Texas. A former Senior Business Development Manager at Emerson, he has a wealth of experience in the analytical industry as an RSM, product manager and product specialist, as well as in direct sales.

Clark is the RSM for the Americas IPE Gulf 2 East region, managing channel partnerships and driving direct sales in that region, which includes Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and part of Texas. He is an experienced product sales specialist with an extensive history of working in the instrumentation and analytical manufacturing industry, most recently as a Product Sales Specialist at ABB.

Bob Heth said: “I’m pleased to welcome Jesse and Rodney to their new roles and I’m certain their knowledge will be of great benefit to our customers. Both have a great understanding of the technical and application environments in which the IPE market segments operate, which will help our customers find the right solutions for their applications.”

Barret joins the Servomex team from Endress & Hauser, where he was Account Manager for Development Gas Analysis for France and Algeria. He also provided some technical support for liquid gas analysis.

Jan Hordijk said: “I am delighted to welcome Stéphane to Servomex and wish him every success. His expertise, applications knowledge and experience will provide enhanced support for our customers in the region.”

@Servomex  #PAuto #NthAmerica #EMEAI

Users driving digital transformation.

We always enjoy these user-group events because they offer the opportunity for Editors/Journalists to meet those who use equipment rather than those who make the instrumentation. Their focus is not necessarily the same as that of the manufacturers. We have been attending Emerson events (#EMREX) for many years now and they do have a special atmosphere. Indeed the user groups of each manufacturer have a different feel and in some ways present the ethos generated by the ethos of the supplier company.

The worldwide Emerson user community "at the heart of the industrial digital transformation" will host two Emerson Global Users Exchange conferences "to collaborate, network and solve the challenges in achieving Top Quartile performance – representing the top 25 percent of peer companies in operations and capital performance." Professionals from industries who provide the backbone of everyday life including oil and gas, power generation, water and wastewater, life sciences, refining and chemical share better performance solutions that can improve earnings up to 15 percent.

Emerson Global Users Exchange: The Americas

Registration is open for the Americas annual conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, Oct. 2-6, 2017. The event theme is ‘Powering Collaboration’ and will include keynotes, technical paper presentations, industry forums, workshops, technology roundtables, ‘Meet the Experts’ sessions, exhibits, awards and Emerson technology roadmaps. The event also features a keynote presentation by world champion adventure racer Robyn Benincasa and an address by Mike Train, executive president, Emerson Automation Solutions, as well as an evening networking event at US Bank Stadium – the future site of Super Bowl LII. (Mike Train was at the joint NIBRT/Emerson Biopharma event in Dublin last month - see our report!)

Emerson Global Users Exchange: Europe, Middle East and Africa

The Europe, Middle East and Africa biennial conference will be at The Hague, NL, March 7-9, 2018. The Hague conference theme is ‘Connect, Communicate, Create’ and will build upon the increasing success of its predecessors, allowing delegates an even greater opportunity to network with peers and explore new industry opportunities to expand digital intelligence to the entire manufacturing enterprise. (The last European Meeting was held in Brussels last year (2016) - see our report!)

For Users, By Users
The Emerson Global Users Exchange is a user community committed to extracting the most from their automation investments and enables global industry to achieve Top Quartile performance in the areas of safety, reliability, production and energy management. Shaped by users, for users, the event is managed by an Emerson customer board of directors, comprising users from a range of industries who formulate the conference content and guide the direction of the users group at large.

Presentations from both events will provide delegates peer-to-peer best practices to extract the greatest value from technology investments, solve engineering challenges, drive improved performance, dramatically enhance safety and compliance, reduce capital and engineering costs, increase profitability through effective energy management, and create successful system migration and lifecycle management paths.