Leading researcher joins photonics company board!

Dr Melba Crawford, Associate Dean of Engineering for Research, Director of the Laboratory for Applications of Remote Sensing, and Chair of Excellence in Earth Observation at Purdue University, has been elected to the Headwall Photonics's Board of Directors.

Dr Melba Crawford

Dr. Crawford is a leading expert in the field of remote sensing and agronomy with a focus on data analysis and image classification, particularly for agricultural applications. Dr. Crawford previously served as President of the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society.

"With experience working with imaging sensors deployed on satellites to hyperspectral sensors built for small UAVs, Melba has a very distinguished track record not only of teaching the science of remote sensing, but of successfully deploying the technology across her fields of study," said David Bannon, Headwall's CEO. "I believe that her experience will help to further establish Headwall as a leading spectral instrumentation company with global impact, especially in the rapidly-growing field of remote sensing and crop science."

"Headwall continues to pioneer the design and deployment of spectral imaging technology across all the markets it serves," said Crawford. "In the field of remote sensing, we're always looking at new ways of observing and monitoring the environment to improve agricultural yield, assess the health of our natural resources, and contribute to our overall knowledge of the planet," continued Crawford. "I am excited to join the Headwall Board."

Pinch valves for optimised processes.

Festo has launched a new pneumatic pinch valve – the VZQA – which provides reliable control and shut off in food and drink production processes. The valves are durable, energy efficient, easy to service, and flexible, thanks to their simple construction, and as a result provide a cost effective alternative to conventional valves such as diaphragm and ball valves.

These pinch valves are a clean and technically straightforward solution for use with a wide range of media such as liquid, fibrous, particulates or granular substances. They provide smooth media flow and as such they are ideal for optimising filling and metering systems as well as for use with suction and compressed gas controls. In all applications their compact design saves valuable installation space, which enables engineers to enhance the design of their process.

“The free flow design of the VZQA pinch valves minimises flow resistance, reliably preventing them from becoming blocked or clogged and since they are operated directly via the pilot air signal, they are extremely cost effective,” says Steve Sands, product manager at Festo. “The new valves are available with different connections, housing materials and sealing components for a wide variety of configuration options to suit individual application requirements.”

There are two versions of the pinch valve available: a normally open (N/O) version for media pressures from 0 – 4 bar and a unique, normally closed (N/C) version for media pressures from 0 – 6 bar. By increasing or decreasing the pilot pressure, the valve’s sealing cartridge opens or shuts off the flow, as appropriate to the version, without any additional actuators and with no risk of blockage.

The VZQA pinch valve can be actuated with low operating pressures. Depending on the medium and media pressure, an operating pressure of just 0.3 – 1 bar is sufficient in filling and metering applications to tightly shut off the media flow.

The high performance valves are extremely easy to service which enables food processing managers to save downtime and associated costs. The pinch valve’s sealing cartridge can be changed in just a few minutes in four simple steps and without special tools, and they can be cleaned easily in situ thanks to their full media passage flow and very little dead space. The sealing cartridge is available in EPDM, NBR, EPDM-FPA and silicone to suit a wide range of demanding applications and media.

Made from aluminium or stainless steel, the pinch valves prove themselves in even the most challenging environments and the internal parts offer the same durability against aggressive media. Thanks to a patented sealing cartridge, the valves can withstand the very high demands in continuous daily operation, whether abrasive, corrosive, highly viscous or neutral media is used.

Focus on home and factory automation.

Mouser Electronics, Inc. is teaming up with celebrity engineer Grant Imahara and a group of visionaries in the home and factory automation industry, including Insteon, AiroCorp, TE Connectivity, and Factory Automation Systems, to announce an exciting new Home and Factory Automation Series. Grant Imahara - Mythbuster The new Home and Factory Automation series is part of the Empowering Innovation Together™ program and is available only on Mouser.com. It focuses on innovative automation technologies that were once only seen in science fiction movies or TV shows like The Jetsons. It highlights some of the companies that are making these technologies a reality. Filmed on location inside the Insteon smart home, known as Insteon’s engineering lab, engineers can learn about the newest technology connecting the human experience with devices to make everyday life more efficient and productive. For example, discover how new factory automations are being embedded across factory floors to provide better efficiencies with real-time data leading to an optimization of the global supply chain. Since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, factories have looked to increase productivity with automation. Analysts have said we will soon see a completely automated factory. With the new Innovation Spotlight, watch a new era of automation that makes factories smarter by building easily scalable network machines to ensure codes are met and productivity is more efficient. Home Automation is the promise of technology that understands humans on a deeper level.  Engineers are now designing homes with voice command-driven automated technology. In the future, homes will have artificial intelligence seen in movies like “Iron Man” that will respond without a command. It knows and understands your needs. Learn what technology is currently available and what is being developed to make home automation ideas a reality. The home automation topic is about futuristic thinking and invites engineers to explore these answers. “We are excited to introduce some of the leading innovators in the fields of artificial intelligence, and home and factory automation,” said Glenn Smith, Mouser President and CEO. “This program is going to be very engaging for many of our customers, and brings a whole new meaning to ‘connecting’ our engineers with both educational and relevant content. We anticipate a great response on the new series from our engineering community.” “With new devices coming out like the Apple Watch and the Nest Learning Thermostat, this connected technology and Home and Factory Automation Series couldn’t be timelier,” said Grant Imahara. “Our society has such a huge dependence on smartphones, tablets, computers, and similar technologies to make their lives easier that this move to the connected home and factory makes perfect sense.” This exciting new program is part of Mouser’s ongoing Empowering Innovation Together™ initiative. These and other topics will be discussed as part of the new series, and will be showcased through articles, videos, engineering blogs, and interviews conducted by Imahara. Watch what the experts have to say in Mouser’s Innovation Spotlight, as Grant Imahara conducts key interviews with some of the leading automation companies, including networking technology expert Insteon, artificial intelligence and automation startup AiroCorp, and factory automation leaders TE Connectivity and Factory Automation Systems. • The Empowering Innovation Together Home and Factory Automation Series is sponsored by Platinum Program Partner Analog Devices and Diamond sponsors Altera, Murata, TE Connectivity. This new series is the third installment and follow up to the popular Robotics and Space series programs launched earlier this year from Mouser Electronics and Grant Imahara.

New sales director at M2M provider!

Wayne Derbyshire is the new Sales Director EMEA at the M2M connectivity solutions provider Stadium United Wireless.

Wayne Derbyshire

Tony McFadden, Stadium Group Commercial Officer commented: “Wayne, formerly Sales Manager at the Company, will be responsible for accelerating further the already high growth achieved by Stadium United Wireless for the EMEA region. With a clear focus on winning new business from new vertical markets, Wayne, supported by the UK and Shanghai R&D teams, will drive market share through our design-led strategy of creating world class, next generation solutions for our new and existing client base.

“Since entering the Electronics industry more than 20 years ago Wayne has developed a strong track record of success in commercial roles within the electronics distribution and manufacturing sector. With a talent for building strong and lasting commercial relationships with clients, he has a demonstrable track record of success in understanding, and executing on, the complex needs of customers in the Wireless M2M sector.

“As we drive forward our growth plans this position strengthens our EMEA presence and is a critical step in our global strategy.”

Plug-in DC modules for reactive loads.

The Reactive Load powerMod series of plug-in DC output modules that are optimized for driving DC motors and other reactive loads has been introduced by Excelsys Technologies. Backed by a five-year warranty, the new XgR and XgT powerMods offer design engineers increased system robustness and reliability by providing complete protection where loads can generate high levels of reverse energy, such as in industrial and medical applications.

“Our new XgR and XgT Reactive Load powerMod series ensures that our market-leading plug-and-play, user-configurable power modules can be used in the harshest of electrical environments,” said Gary Duffy, Excelsys CEO. “By providing protection against the reverse energy produced by reactive loads, we provide our customers an off-the-shelf product to meet the most demanding applications.”

Frequently, 24 volt and 48 volt rails are used to power pumps, motors, fans, compressors, capacitor banks, batteries, or combinations of inductive and capacitive loads, in complex systems that come with unique system design challenges. The new XgR and XgT powerMods offer proven performance and reliability under harsh conditions and challenging applications, while still maintaining flexibility, efficiency and all the benefits — including forward and backward compatibility— of Excelsys’ existing UltiMod, Xgen, and XF platforms.

The XgR and XgT modules come equipped with a built-in OR-ing function and an anti-reversal diode. The OR-ing circuit, utilizing a MOSFET to maintain high efficiency, offers N+1 redundancy to the user when the powerMods are used in parallel operation. The anti-reversal diode across the output, which is rated for the full current of the module, offers increased ruggedness when the modules are used in reactive load applications.

The new XgR and XgT powerMods can deliver output voltages from 8.0V to 58V. The feature-rich powerMods provide a suite of output signals and user-configurable functions, including local and remote output voltage adjustment; adjustable current limit; dynamic voltage trim/adjust, alternative current-limiting techniques; and inhibit/enable functions. The modules can be connected in series or parallel, enabling them to achieve compliance with all voltage/current requirements.

The modules’ additional standard features and options are: dual safety approvals (UL/EN60950 2nd edition and UL/EN60601-1 3rd edition and -40°C start-up temperature. Standard features for medical applications include leakage current (300 and 150 micro-amps), 2 MOPP, and 4KV isolation. They also include OVP, OTP, OCP, MIL STD-810G compliance with shock and vibration. All products offer highest efficiency (up to 92%), are SEMI F47 compliant.

Typical applications for the XgR and XgT powerMods include medical (e.g., clinical diagnostic equipment, medical lasers, dialysis equipment, radiological imaging, and clinical chemistry) and industrial (e.g., test and measurement, industrial machines, automation equipment, printing, telecommunications, audio equipment, harsh industrial electronics, hi-rel/MIL COTS and radar).

As a world-class power supply manufacturer, Excelsys has a global applications team to support and assist customers with their specific system needs.

Vertical integration of production plants & ERP systems for consistent Industrie 4.0 infrastructures.

A close collaboration has begun between COPA-DATA and COSMO CONSULT, the leading pan-European Microsoft Partner for the enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution Microsoft Dynamics NAV. The goal of this partnership is to offer customers a simple and secure real-time connection of the process level with Microsoft Dynamics NAV, and thereby create a seamless information flow between the ERP level and the production environment.

In many industrial firms there is still a gap between the planning and administrative level and the production control level. Valuable information such as process and production data are often fragmented or only partially exchanged. Only a complete integration of the two worlds – ERP and process level – can offer a continuous and consistent information exchange between production, planning and control, thereby allowing for well-thought-out planning and a sophisticated corporate structure.

More consistent, transparent information flow
Using zenon software, companies can achieve a simple and secure real-time connection of the process level with Microsoft Dynamics NAV. Information from production can be quickly processed at an administrative level and the requirements of the ERP system are implemented directly at the process level.

Flexible interface connects system environments
The Microsoft Dynamics Connector sends data on relevant processes to the ERP level via a bidirectional interface, while simultaneously receiving control instructions. Companies can hereby directly connect their process level with the ERP level and receive a complete information overview. Production data and events are available in real-time and allow quick intervention. This enables optimal staff and material investment, because production data is immediately available. The Microsoft Dynamics Connector can be implemented as an independent tool or in interplay with zenon as an HMI/SCADA system for the visualisation and control of industrial processes.

"We would like to achieve the highest level of integration of all business processes for our customers. To reach maximum transparency over all processes and corporate areas we need a smooth data exchange across all production and logistic zones – whether it is to identify an order in a production process or to examine current key performance indicators. With COPA-DATA we are able to offer this to our customers and interested parties," explains Gerrit Schiller, Executive Vice President of COSMO CONSULT AG.

Bundled competencies
The partnership of the two companies, COPA-DATA and COSMO CONSULT, enables combined activity on the market, the ability to bundle competencies and benefit interested parties and customers with jointly applied projects.

"We are very pleased about the collaboration with COSMO CONSULT. Together we can offer a wide range of customers and interested parties a professional end-to-end solution – from order processing, to production, right up to delivery – and thereby achieve real added value," adds Stefan Reuther, Head of Business Intelligence at COPA-DATA GmbH. "Thanks to the collaboration, our customers can profit from seamless communication, a complete overview of all required information, as well as a more efficient production."

Integrated industrial cybersecurity courses and certificate programs.

Building on its global leadership in industrial cybersecurity and its commitment to help prepare a new generation of workers capable of preventing potentially catastrophic cyberattacks, the International Society of Automation (ISA) has introduced an expanded suite of industrial automation and control system (IACS) cybersecurity training, including three new technical training courses with associated certificate programs. The three new ISA industrial cybersecurity training courses include: Assessing the Cybersecurity of New or Existing IACS Systems (IC33) IACS Cybersecurity Design & Implementation (IC34) IACS Cybersecurity Operations & Maintenance (IC37) By combining these three new courses and aligned certificate programs with its current course offerings in IACS security—Using the ANSI/ISA-62443 Standards to Secure Your Industrial Control System (IC32); Cybersecurity for Automation, Control, and SCADA Systems (IC32E); and Introduction to Industrial Automation Security and the ANSI/ISA-62443 Standards (IC32C)—ISA is able to deliver a comprehensive set of industrial cybersecurity training solutions and address the complete “lifecycle” of cybersecurity training requirements. ISA’s cybersecurity certificate programs are offered to those who successfully complete the requirements of ISA’s cybersecurity courses. Passage of each of the three new certificate exams bestows specialist recognition—enhanced evidence and endorsement of a cybersecurity professional’s subject-matter proficiency. ISA already offers a first tier, introductory cybersecurity certificate exam—leading to the designation as ISA99 Cybersecurity Fundamentals Specialist—for those who complete ISA courses IC32 or IC32E. Those who complete all four core ISA cybersecurity courses (IC32, IC33, IC34 and IC37) and pass all corresponding certificate exams will achieve the designation level of ISA99 Cybersecurity Expert. However, individuals may explore the training and designation that are most appropriate based upon their current experience and job requirements. “No organization has a more complete set of industrial cybersecurity courses and certificate programs and is better capable of providing the all-encompassing, expert training needed to develop a highly skilled and well-prepared industrial cybersecurity workforce than ISA,” declares Dalton Wilson, ISA’s Director of Education Services. “We now provide everything from a general overview of industrial automation security to detailed instruction on how to best leverage ISA’s series of industrial cybersecurity standards through a full-circle exploration of IACS assessment, design, implementation, operations and management.” At the core of ISA’s marketplace leadership in IACS cybersecurity training is the ISA/IEC 62443 set of standards, which are proven to prevent and mitigate IACS security vulnerabilities across all key industry sectors and critical infrastructure. Reducing these vulnerabilities is critical since they can open the door to potentially devastating cyber damage to the industrial plant systems and networks used in power generation, water treatment, refineries and other vital industrial facilities. The ever-rising volume of industrial cyberattacks combined with the increasing diversity and sophistication of cyberwarfare tactics have generated a tremendous demand for qualified industrial cybersecurity professionals. In fact, the demand for cybersecurity professionals is growing 12 times faster than the overall job market. Outlined below are descriptions and other important information on each of the three new ISA cybersecurity courses and related certificate exams.