Enhanced remote telemetry unit (RTU) models.

Cost-efficiency with enhanced scalability and simplified use

The expanded TBox LT2 Family Series of RTUs (Remote Telemetry Units) from Ovarro has been announced. The new models — LT2-500, LT2-510 and LT2-520 — are designed to meet evolving industry requirements and customer demands for more cost-effective and still reliable solutions in a range of sectors including water, power, oil and gas and the process industry.

The new TBox LT2 models address several key challenges faced by customers by offering cost efficiency, scalability and ease of use. These streamlined models provide a more affordable option without compromising on essential features, ensuring that cost-conscious customers can still access high-quality products.

“As the need for efficient and economical solutions grows, Ovarro identified a gap in the market for high-performance RTUs at a lower cost,” said Roy Gerding, product line director at Ovarro. “Customers across various sectors, including district cooling, irrigation, water distribution and district heating, expressed a need for scalable solutions that offer essential functionalities without unnecessary complexities.”

The TBox LT2 models are designed with scalability in mind, offering tailored solutions that fit smaller applications while maintaining reliability and performance. Furthermore, the models boast simplified configurations and reduced input/output (I/O) options, facilitating straightforward implementation and making them user-friendly for a wide range of applications.

The new Models All the new models retain the complete Tbox RTU/programmable logic controller (PLC) function set, allowing for remote monitoring and control in industrial processes.
The LT2-500, designed without direct field I/Os, is ideal for communication protocol gateway applications. This makes it suitable for simple operations requiring remote monitoring and control without the need for extensive I/O capabilities.
The LT2-510 features ten digital input/output channels, providing a balanced solution for applications requiring status and flag control, offering essential I/O capabilities for moderate monitoring and control tasks.
Meanwhile, the LT2-520 also offers ten digital input/output channels, along with four analog input channels, making it well-suited for smaller full automation applications. 

The models extend the TBox LT2 range below the LT2-530 model.

“The TBox LT2 series outshines competing technologies in its versatility and reliability in remote monitoring and control applications,” added Gerding. “Its robust design integrates advanced communication capabilities, including support for multiple protocols such as Modbus, Distributed Network Protocol 3 (DNP3) and Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT), which ensures seamless connectivity across various industrial environments.”

Companies can now gain the benefits of the TBox at a lower cost. For example, in automated heating systems, the TBox has been shown to reduce energy consumption by up to 70 per cent compared with traditional systems. Another advantage of the TBox is that it provides real-time data access and reports on equipment run time, so operators can implement more proactive maintenance and inspection strategies and yield a higher return on investment (ROI). Ovarro also offers the TBox LT2 as a remote gateway to measure key performance indicators (KPIs) from critical machinery and operations, sending data to StreamWebscada for visualisation of the process.

"At Ovarro, we continuously strive to align our products with market demands and feedback, meeting the precise needs of our customers worldwide,” said Gerding. “The enhanced TBox LT2 series now includes more scalable options tailored to diverse applications with different levels of complexity, without compromising on performance or cost-efficiency.” 

 The new TBox LT2 models will be available starting in the third quarter of 2024.

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@ovarro_ltd @StoneJunctionPR #PAuto #Cybersecurity

Managing large groups of data collection agents or telemetry fleets.

Fleet Data Management for Managing Telemetry Agents

The launch of Fleet Data Management, a new solution designed to upgrade traditional telemetry from a static system to a dynamic, adaptable framework has been announced by Apica. This framework is not just a one-size-fits-all, but it's tailored to meet the specific operational requirements of modern businesses, ensuring compatibility and reassurance.

Fleet Data Management integrates with other services and tools within the Apica Ascent platform and third-party solutions. This integration ensures organizations have a holistic understanding of their technology environment and can leverage telemetry data for various use cases, such as active observability, user experience monitoring, security, and compliance. An essential part of the Apica Ascent platform, this telemetry offering enables comprehensive observability, helping organizations monitor, analyze, and optimize their applications and infrastructure effectively.

Addressing the challenges of traditional telemetry.
Static data collection methods are increasingly inefficient in today's fast-paced digital environment. These outdated systems struggle to respond to rapid changes, leading to delays and missed opportunities for optimization. Collecting data indiscriminately incurs high costs, wasting resources on gathering and storing irrelevant information. Traditional telemetry systems also often suffer from rigid configurations, leading to errors and reduced performance, and vendor lock-in can limit options, stifling innovation and adaptability. In addition, today, many enterprise organizations are struggling to deal with a heterogeneous fleet of data collectors, configuration drift and inconsistencies, static data collection methods that result in a lot of “noise” and cumbersome integration into observability solutions.

What they say “A telemetry pipeline is foundational for any modern observability architecture. Fleet management solves the first mile problem that is a barrier to accelerated rollout of telemetry pipeline implementations. We are solving this with our integrated Fleet Data Management solution,” said Ranjan Parthasarathy, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Apica. “In today's complex digital ecosystems, the ability to collect, analyze, and act upon telemetry data in real-time is essential for maintaining optimal system performance and ensuring a seamless user experience,” said Mathias Thomsen, CEO, Apica. “Our new Fleet Data Management solution enhances the efficiency and flexibility of data collection and integrates seamlessly with our observability platform. This empowers organizations to achieve unprecedented visibility and control over their IT environments, driving innovation and operational excellence.”

These challenges are handled head-on. It supports various agents, including OpenTelemetry Collector, Fluent-bit, OpenTelemetry Kubernetes Collector, and Telegraf, to avoid vendor lock-in and fully support OpenTelemetry standards. This diversity ensures smooth integration across various agent types through a BYOA (Bring Your Own Agent) strategy. Additionally, Fleet Data Management offers a centralized hybrid management system, consolidating the management of both on-premises and cloud-based telemetry agents, streamlining the setup, updating, and maintenance for enhanced security and efficiency.

Fleet Data Management transforms traditional telemetry by automating agent configurations, customizing data collection strategies, and scaling efforts based on real-time environmental factors. This dynamic scalability ensures optimal resource use, increasing data collection during peak usage times and scaling back during quieter periods to save on costs. Centralized control over agent configurations and software versions makes rolling out updates, patches, or new features easy, ensuring all agents operate efficiently without manual intervention.

Its consumer-grade intuitive interface simplifies managing agent configurations, reducing errors and accelerating data collection. This user-friendly interface ensures that IT teams can quickly adjust settings without extensive training or the risk of misconfiguration, leading to more reliable performance. Apica’s approach supports a broad spectrum of open-source agents, adapting swiftly to changing needs without requiring deep technical knowledge.

In addition, Fleet Data Management solves first-mile challenges often experienced in the initial stages of data collection and ingestion, including the following:

• Data volume: The sheer volume of data generated by modern applications and infrastructure can overwhelm systems, leading to data loss or delays.
• Data variety: Telemetry data comes in diverse formats (Logs, metrics, traces), requiring flexible ingestion and processing capabilities.
• Data velocity: Real-time or near-real-time processing is often required, demanding high-performance ingestion systems.
• Data quality: Data accuracy, completeness, and consistency are crucial for reliable analysis.
• Data security: Protecting sensitive data during collection and transmission is paramount.

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* Apica keeps enterprises operating by providing full-stack visibility. Their Ascent platform delivers advanced telemetry, data management, and active observability, enabling organizations to detect and resolve modern data challenges. Business operations today depend on understanding the health of multi-cloud, hybrid, and on-premises environments to keep business-critical applications and systems active, accessible, and affordable to ensure optimal user experiences. This platform significantly reduces, prevents, and resolves outages and minimises revenue loss. 

@apicaio @Notified #PAuto #Manufacturing

Telemetry partner programme invitation.

Ovarro is inviting companies that currently work in the water, energy or any other critical infrastructure sectors to join its new Ovarro Authorised Partner (AOP) programme.

Distributors, system integrators, engineering, construction and procurement (EPC) companies and more can become part of Ovarro’s extensive global partner network. In doing so, they join a programme that already includes more than 50 value-add partners from large multinationals to independent sole traders.

“At Ovarro, our ambition is to have a world-class partnership programme,” explains Tom Cork, Vice President of Channel Sales at Ovarro. “We collaborate closely with our partners to deliver mutual growth for them and ourselves, and to help them access new opportunities, markets and customers that are currently out of reach.”

Companies are assessed in tiers for the AOP programme, and each tier gives access to a range of benefits. They include dedicated account management plus enhanced pricing and discounts on Ovarro’s market-leading services, asset management, products and technologies including its RTUs, data loggers and software.

Access new opportunities
Ovarro has developed its AOP programme with the primary aim of helping its partners grow and expand, as quickly and self-sufficiently as possible.

That includes reducing response times to market demands. Ovarro’s in-house engineers and product teams handle the innovation aspects of the partnership with its technologies and services and, with this support, the AOP is better equipped to achieve market penetration.

“The AOP programme is designed to connect technologies and our partners in a global network, and help our partners diversify and expand in-line with our own extremely steep growth curve,” explains Cork. “Our strategy is to achieve this by through innovation, expansion and penetrating new markets.

“We believe the Ovarro portfolio — which is increasing through new product development (NPD) and recent acquisitions — can complement the line cards of many established companies in the water, energy and critical infrastructure sectors. For example, our RTU portfolio is flexible and can be easily incorporated into existing solutions.”

Going forward, Ovarro plans to add certified training to its AOP programme. This will enable AOPs to become fully self-sufficient to sell and support Ovarro’s technologies in new markets, and be better poised for growth. A global conference is also planned for later this year to provide in-person networking.

“Put simply, partnering with Ovarro provides companies with the potential to access opportunities, markets and customers that may currently be unreachable,” says Cork. “We can grow together.”

@ovarro_ltd @StoneJunctionPR #Infrastructure #PAuto

Wireless load sensors and load cell telemetry.

Two new high-performance load sensor products from Strainsert Inc., based on license-free, 2.4GHz telemetry with a working range up to 800 metres, will facilitate straightforward and cost-effective installation for single- or multi-sensor use over long distances, problematic installations and otherwise challenging load measurement tasks. Especially compelling as an alternative for system set-ups where long and noise-prone cable runs in traditional wired systems prove complex and expensive, the new wireless load sensors and load cell telemetry systems are available exclusively in Britain from Ixthus Instrumentation.

The new products include wireless load pins with integrated wireless transmitters, configured as standard or custom designed clevis pins or shackle bolts for single or multiple sensor systems. Complementary to these wireless-integrated sensors, the newly available T24 series wireless load cell telemetry system comprises modular transmitters, base stations and accessories with the adaptability for conversion of existing wired Strainsert sensors with strain, current or voltage output - or for the development of completely new wireless system designs. With IP67 rated enclosures and built for the harshest conditions for weighing and load monitoring tasks in aerospace, industrial, construction, mobile machinery and more, the range is supported with comprehensive software tools for straightforward configuration and monitoring.

Strainsert’s T24 wireless transmitter modules are available in two module sizes with a choice of batteries – a compact AA cell version or for longer battery life a larger sized D cell module. The electrical and range performance specifications for both modules are similar. The 4-wire bridge measurement and 4.5 to 5.25 VDC excitation characteristics suit Strainsert sensor requirements. The modular system offers a choice of four USB powered base stations that are used for interfacing with PCs or PLCs through a choice of USB, RS232 or RS485 ports for configuration and control. They work in concert with the T24 transmitter modules, facilitating the data capture through the T24 software toolkit which is included with the wireless systems. Further system accessories include Modbus Gateway and ASCII serial interfaces, analogue and relay output modules and wireless range extenders for up to 1600 metres. Also included are wireless handheld receivers and LED display modules.

The wireless load pin has all the specification characteristics and interfacing possibilities offered by the T24 telemetry systems with the potential advantage found in its integrated load sensor component and transmitter design that can further aid installation planning and commissioning.

@IxthusInst @mepaxIntPR #strainsert #PAuto 

Remote telemetry units for improved operational efficiency.

Matthew Hawkridge, chief technology officer at Ovarro, looks at the benefits of working with a Remote Telemetry Unit partner with an eye on the future.

Running a successful business in the 21st century means integrating technology within all aspects of operations. One of the most valuable benefits is that data can be analysed and interpreted to improve operational efficiency — and the most effective was of accessing this resource is with a Remote Telemetry Unit (RTU).

Choosing the right RTU partner can deliver continuous improvements — yet businesses commonly ask, how should RTUs be implemented? 80 per cent of success in these projects is down to execution, including investments in technology, and your telemetry partner’s knowledge and experience provides the greatest part of the solution. Their insights and understanding can help you achieve your business goals. Here are five ways in which the right technology partner can help:

1. Monitor processes better
Historically, data from machines was measured manually — a time-consuming process — or not at all. That meant management teams had little visibility of how processes were performing, or how to make improvements. However, thanks to advances in RTU technology these processes can now be automated so at-a-glance data provides valuable insights. The right technology partner will also help teach your employees how to understand and interpret this data, increasing the skillset within your business and creating a highly effective workforce.

Employees can feel empowered in being able to operate and understand new technology platforms, improving the culture of the whole business. Ultimately, the outcome of these technology platforms is greater efficiency, which feeds through to more profitability and enhanced shareholder value.

2. Better visibility of asset health
A specialist technology partner with access to the appropriate RTU platforms can provide live insights into the health of assets, regardless of location. Your partner should also help you specify a device that operates most-effectively within the most demanding site conditions.

For example, an RTU with multiple, independent communications links, redundant power supplies and redundant process controllers provides another buffer to site conditions and future technological developments. Because they are resilient with layers of redundancy, RTUs are a reliable part of an effective and ongoing management information system.

Ovarro TBox RTU.

The RTU monitors day-to-day critical asset information such as fuel and coolant levels, hours of run-time, oil temperature, faults, load levels and more. It monitors the external environment too, for example the local temperature. This is useful in harsh environments: engineers can take pre-emptive actions to prevent LNG assets overheating or freezing, without the need for routine inspections that can be hazardous and time-consuming.

3. Rapid response to changing events
Businesses operate at a fast pace in quickly-changing environments, and those that are most reactive will increase their market share. Communication is vital for this. The internet, laptops and smart devices have facilitated radical improvements in communication and so, too, has the cloud.

The RTU, and a partner like Ovarro that understands these opportunities, can bring all these together. Businesses can implement an integrated approach to communication, even if they are in geographically dispersed locations.

As processing speeds continue to improve, more automation will be introduced into industrial processes. Having this built into your RTU platform will allow you to keep up with developing technology. That’s why it’s always worth checking that your technology partner can provide these kinds of insights and understanding. These improvements are already facilitating the development of blockchain technology, which is redefining the concept of digital twins. Our customers are beginning to utilise blockchain technology to create a digital store of physical objects, and the RTU is the essential link between these two.

4. Add value to the customer proposition
Evolving RTU technologies within the industrial space can shape how your customers interact with your products and brands. The most successful companies fully-use the data available to understand their customers’ behaviour, and significantly increase their bottom lines.

5. Future-proof your business
RTUs have been used for decades for digitising industrial processes as the data acquisition portion of a SCADA system. While this has improved visualizations for operators, many integration partners have kept their customers up-to-date with latest advances in analytics and in decision-support solutions that apply, for example, Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Through transformative operational improvements and dynamic adaptability, AI can outperform conventional decision-support technologies. Your RTU partner should work with you to develop cost-effective solutions that are more adaptive to constantly changing conditions. The real benefit of AI is automating complex tasks, and providing consistent and precise optimum set points as part of an automated process.

The answer?
Industrial manufacturers that are unable to capture, interpret and act upon asset-generated data will soon lose out to competitors. Advances in RTUs, and the value of choosing the right systems integrator, means that industrial processes are already routinely capturing and storing vast amounts of data.

Businesses can turn this data into a competitive advantage. Manufacturers’ business models are changing as they shift to production of higher-value products or look to provide more services. RTU specialists are critical to this movement, helping deliver more efficient processes and responding quickly to changing conditions.

@ovarro_ltd @StoneJunctionPR #PAuto #RTU

IIoT monitoring and automation almost anywhere.

The Quantum Remote Telemetry Unit (QRTU) and the QSolarBattery is being shipped now by Quantum Automation. These standardised yet customisable hardware platforms are part of the growing array of Q-Line products which are enabling end users and systems integrators (SIs) to deploy industrial internet of things (IIoT) and automation solutions anywhere, regardless of whether internet connectivity or power are readily available.

The QRTU is a complete edge hardware solution for all remote commercial, industrial, and utility/infrastructure data collection and control applications. Numerous options are available to incorporate PLCs from major suppliers such as AutomationDirect, IDEC, and Allen Bradley.

Any type of I/O signaling or communications protocol can be supported, and an edge wireless gateway provides connectivity via the cellular network of choice for installations where internet service is not available. Power can be supplied by the user—supplemented with the Quantum Uninterruptible Power Supply (QUPS) if desired—or by the QSolarBattery for a complete off-grid solution.

A customised QRTU system can be shipped in one box and is easily installed, so you can begin monitoring and controlling your remote applications quickly. The system is UL Listed and includes detailed documentation and engineering drawings.

The QSolarBattery system is a complete package with everything needed to power remote monitoring and control panels anywhere there is sunshine. It includes:

· Solar panel · Lithium ion battery · Charge controller · Pole-mount or ground-mount options

Over a dozen configurations are available, with four different solar panel wattage sizes and battery capacities ranging from 30Wh to 480Wh to support up to four hours of runtime, depending on the load. These systems are designed to deliver regulated power output, not just a variable battery voltage, using a battery management system with eight layers of safety and optimisation built in.

Battery and solar components carry the relevant UL certifications, and the compact form factor is built for outdoor operation in temperatures ranging from -20°C to 65°C. Quantum Automation is available to help size a system to best meet your needs.

While the QRTU and QSolarBattery can each be used for standalone applications, they work together particularly well for industrial-grade monitoring and control applications located near or far, with or without available networking or power connectivity. Applications include:

· Oil & gas: Production, well and tank monitoring, leak detection, compressor stations · Environmental: Solar and wind tracking, paint booths, HVAC equipment, landfill monitoring, water treatment · Agriculture: Soil moisture monitoring, weather monitoring, irrigation, pump houses · Golf courses: Lake monitoring, pump control, timers, sprinklers · Water districts: Tank monitoring and pump control · Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS): Bridge/tunnel/freeway signage, overpass pump houses, battery charging stations, temporary power, smart trucks · Entertainment: On-location movie filming support

Combined with the Quantum Cloud Server (QCS) IIoT remote monitoring and control cloud-based solution, users can interact with remotely-sourced vital data anywhere via any device capable of hosting a web browser, such as a laptop, smartphone, or tablet.

@quantautomation #PAuto #IoT