Position switches.

One of the features of the recently developed ES/EM 97 series of position switches currently being launched by the steute business unit "Automation" is a modular design.

The actuator heads can be easily fastened, replaced or turned in 90o steps with four captive screws. The switching inserts can be removed after opening the screw-free cover – simplifying installation.

With these features, steute aims to make its ES/EM 97 series universally applicable throughout the automation industry. Accordingly, it has a wide range of actuators (various fulcrum levers, roller levers, spring rods…) and dimensions to EN 50047, the prevalent standard for automation technology.

The new series can also be used in machine safety applications, i.e. as position switches with safety function. Paired with a suitable receiver, they achieve a safety level in line with Performance Level e to EN ISO 13849-1 and SIL 3 to EN 62061.

For the position switches with safety function, two additional actuator heads are available. In the "AZ" version, the ES 97 becomes a safety switch with a separate actuator – the classic design for position monitoring of guard doors in line with machine safety. And the ES 97 SB is suited to space-saving hinge-mounted position monitoring of turning guard doors.

The steute business unit "Automation" is thus expanding its product range to include a – like all steute switching products – particularly flexible, robust and high-quality series of position switches which can be flexibly adapted to suit individual applications.

@mepaxIntPR #steute #Manufacturing #Pauto #Automation

Learning about digital transformation.

A new Digital Transformation Training Series has been announced by the The International Society of Automation (ISA).

The training series is a set of courses that cover emerging technologies associated with digital transformation. The goal of the series is to increase the foundational knowledge of these technologies and explain how they can be applied to drive efficiency across multiple industries. The series is well-suited for engineers, technicians, business leaders, and managers engaged in industrial automation and its related fields.

“The ISA digital transformation series will help organizations cross the chasm on adoption of digital technologies and upskill workforce across their enterprise,” said Prabhu Soundarrajan, ISA Executive Board Member and President-elect for 2024.

The Digital Transformation Training Series’ first course, Introduction to IIoT — The Industrial Internet of Things (DT101), is now available. This course will provide more awareness of the industry 4.0 movement as businesses begin shifting more towards increasing digital transformation efforts for conventional industrial and manufacturing processes. Students will learn about the basic concepts of internet of things (IoT), how these concepts and underlying technologies have evolved, and how they are currently being applied to industrial applications.

“This training is different for two reasons. First, it’s modular-based and will keep growing over time. Second, it includes a mix of theory and strategy with hands-on practical applications that are related to real-world controls and automation professionals that they live in every day,” said Jeff Winter, Division Director of ISA’s Smart Manufacturing & IIoT Division (SM/IIoT) and Industry Executive, Manufacturing at Microsoft.

Additional topics on big data and data visualization are currently under development and plan to be released in late 2022.

@ISA_Interchange #PAuto #Training

Domain-specific brewery process control.

The ABB Ability™ BeerMaker intelligent process control solution just launched will further support breweries in their operational efficiency through digital transformation. ABB’s brewmaster, who has the notable achievement of qualifications from Technical University of Munich in Weihenstephan (D), devised the new package alongside a team with deep process knowhow.

“Our new solution is from our own ABB brewmaster for brewmasters and truly has domain-specific knowledge embedded as well as ABB’s expertise from years in this field,” said Marcello Gulinelli, Global Head of Food and Beverage, Process Automation, ABB.

It will benefit beermakers seeking to optimize their processes, reduce their impacts on water and energy resources and meet consumer demand for more sustainably crafted drinks. The new solution is based on the ABB Ability™ System 800xA® distributed control system and will help brewers improve process quality, achieve high engineering and operator efficiency, enhance safety and boost plant productivity. It has been made available to ABB’s end customers and channel partners.

As part of its launch, ABB Ability BeerMaker will be presented at this year’s drinktec, the world’s leading beverage and liquid food trade fair, held in Munich from September 12 to 16. The timing of the event coincides with the city’s Oktoberfest, which returns after a two-year break due to COVID-19 and runs from September 17 to October 3.

The process automation solution comprises a technological package including a control system with batch functionality following the worldwide S88 standard and a digital twin to simulate new recipes. Crafted and tested with brewing knowledge from ABB’s brewmaster, it can be adapted for each customer using a variety of parameters.

Ready-made and tested templates and objects bring a high level of automation and intelligence of plant functions into operators’ hands. There is a prepared inventory for queue handling, diagnostics and comprehensive cleaning in place (CIP) support.

Designed to meet the industry’s need for intuitive, visual solutions, BeerMaker will help to empower operators to manage their preferred operating procedures and have freedom to use the package on computers, tablet or mobile devices. Teams can gain greater process certainty by testing on a real-time digital twin, a complete and operational representation of the control system and a powerful tool for companies deciding on a new strategy to easily simulate new recipes.

Additional digital solutions based on ABB Ability™ Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) have the capabilities to identify energy consumption, beer or extract losses and provide reporting functions and dashboard visualization. These include the ABB Ability™ BatchInsight concept, which can use big data analytics to identify process anomalies at the earliest stages. Operators and customer brewmasters will benefit from making decisions in real time to further improves processes, quality and productivity.

“We’re confident this is a technological package that is ready for advanced and digital solutions,” said Gernut van Laak, Brewmaster and Global Food and Beverage Solution Manager, ABB. “It can be applied within a customer’s installed base to enhance efficiencies and help reach sustainability targets.”

“We are using the full breadth of our automation and control system platform and connect the whole factory, including shop floor operations, simulation, digital and control room solutions, with less engineering and always with the possibility for expansion. We’re looking forward to further work with brewing customers to optimize to their plant specifics.”

Breweries will experience intuitive controls and high-performance human-machine interfacing, fast detection and resolution of process disturbances, consistent alarm messages, report management and standard operating procedures (SOPs), while engineers will benefit from a structured application design with process technology functions, and powerful pre-testing with built-in simulation.

@ABBgroupnews @abb_automation @drinktec #PAuto

Compact Ethernet/IP encoder.

Wachendorff is expanding its range of Ethernet-based encoders: Encoders with the EtherNet/IP protocol are now available, including the most compact in the world: the WDGA58F. Wachendorff's R&D team has succeeded in minimising the sensor to an installation depth of just 46.5 mm.

The encoders are certified by the ODVA. The resolution in single and multi-turn can be individually configured via an integrated web server (single-turn 16 bit, multi-turn 43 bit).

The very high environmental data, e.g. temperature range from -40 °C up to +85 °C, shock 1,000 m/s² or vibration 50 m/s² at 10-2000 Hz, allow the use in harsh industrial environments as well as in mobile working machines.

The devices with hollow end shafts eliminate the need for additional couplings and the devices with shafts guarantee a long-lasting and stable connection with their very high bearing loads of up to 400 N.

@Variohm @mepaxIntPR #wachendorff #PAuto 

Investment to complement vision for wireless and the evolution IIoT portfolio.

A strategic investment has been made by Emerson, through its corporate venture capital arm Emerson Ventures,  in Spearix Technologies, whose adaptive, multi-core radio processor provides a system-level solution for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) wireless communication.

Through the investment and Emerson Ventures’ value-add strategic investment approach, Emerson will support Spearix’s technology and early stage growth while expanding upon its own IIoT capabilities. Emerson Ventures is the first corporate or institutional investor to make an investment in Spearix. In conjunction with the investment, Emerson has also entered into an engineering collaboration agreement with Spearix.

“As the IIoT grows, billions of sensors and radio frequency (RF) transceivers will operate near others in low-cost, unlicensed RF bands. Wireless networks are increasingly challenged by a variety of RF aggressors, which can impact reliability and range,” said Thurston Cromwell, vice president of development and innovation, and head of Emerson Ventures. “We believe technologies like what Spearix is building have promise in overcoming the obstacles caused by interference and congestion. Emerson will realise even greater reliability and range through the implementation of Spearix technology into our robust industrial wireless mesh network portfolio and associated software products. Spearix technology also presents an enormous opportunity to significantly improve the performance of many other wireless communication protocols.”

“Emerson Ventures’ investment will enable Spearix to drive its advanced RF and Digital Signal Processor (DSP) architectures forward and continue to deliver solutions that resolve connectivity issues in harsh and congested RF environments,” said Laura Schafer, vice president and general manager, pervasive sensing and connectivity solutions at Emerson. “This technology offers a novel hardware and software approach that has the potential to significantly improve performance while preserving investments made in existing communication protocols.”

Based in Cedar Park, (TX USA), Spearix’s primary product offering is a multi-core radio processor and associated software that adapts to optimise performance and power based on measured environmental conditions. The technology has been shown to greatly improve the connection reliability of industrial protocols while operating under heavy interference induced by high-power, high-bandwidth pervasive Wi-Fi operation.

“At Spearix, we have ambitious plans and goals, and we are excited to partner with Emerson, which brings the same innovative thinking we rely on each day,” said Manas Behera, founder and chief executive officer at Spearix. “Emerson is an ideal fit for us, as they have the right people, technology, processes and market expertise. Together, we think we’re going to solve a tremendous challenge currently facing IIoT.”

Juan Conchas, vice president of sales and marketing at Spearix, added: “The Emerson partnership is a key step in commercialisation of Spearix technology unlocking many new use cases in high-value applications beyond industrial. The market is calling for industrial level reliability across many emerging applications, particularly in open spectrum bands like 2.4GHz where coexistence will be a challenge.”

The investment will complement Emerson’s vision for WirelessHART® and the evolution of its IIoT product portfolio. Emerson led the development of WirelessHART as an open standard in the 2000s, establishing it as the leading wireless protocol for industrial applications. Integration of Spearix technology offers a step-change in reliability and range that is fully compatibility with existing WirelessHART systems and will improve co-existence and spectral efficiency, provide larger network support to reduce total cost of ownership, offer higher data rates to accommodate data-rich devices, and provide redundancy for critical applications.

@Emerson_News @spearixtech @EMR_Automation@EmersonExchange @HHC_Lewis#PAuto #IIoT

Appointment highlights talent, diversity & inclusion in power.

Danfoss Power Solutions has appointed Robin Carter-Cooper as global director of talent and diversity & inclusion (D&I), effective immediately. Based in Grand Blanc, (MI USA), Carter-Cooper joins the human resources leadership team, reporting directly to Christina Fuchs, vice president of human resources.

Robin Carter-Cooper

In this newly created position, Carter-Cooper will guide talent management and D&I initiatives across Danfoss Power Solutions. She brings more than 10 years of leadership experience to the role, focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in high-performing work cultures.

“I’ll be drawing on my experience cultivating welcoming, diverse, and inclusive cultures to lead the Danfoss Power Solutions team in implementing DEI and organizational transformation best practices,” Carter-Cooper said. “We strongly believe that intentional DEI programs ultimately lead to organizational and personal growth and success. I look forward to leading this effort at Danfoss Power Solutions.”

“Robin will play a key role in advancing our talent management and D&I focus across the business,” added Fuchs. “The diversity of our staff drives innovation and increases our agility in a fast-evolving world. This is especially relevant with Danfoss’ expanding global footprint and strategic ambition to lead the green transformation.”

Prior to joining Danfoss Power Solutions, Carter-Cooper served as chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer for Oakland County in Michigan. Prior to that, she was executive director of diversity, equity, and inclusion and 504 compliance officer for Rochester Community Schools in Rochester Hills, (MI USA). Carter-Cooper has also held health education leadership roles at Genesee Early College and the University of Michigan, both located in Flint, Michigan.

Carter-Cooper holds an education specialist degree in school administration educational leadership from Oakland (Michigan) University, a master’s degree in health services administration from Central Michigan University, and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Georgia State University.

@Danfoss @NapierPR #Power #DEI

Anniversary discount announced!

Fluke Networks has announced a new limited time discount promotion on a range of bestselling copper and fibre testing solutions, with major savings.

In recognition of Fluke Networks 30th anniversary, customers can now benefit from a limited time discount offer on many of the bestselling copper and fibre solutions designed for installing and testing critical networking infrastructure.

The ‘No fuss. Just savings’ offer was developed in celebration of Fluke Network’s 30-year anniversary, following the launch of the company’s first cable tester in December 1992. Customers are invited to take advantage of exclusive savings on a wide range of products, with discounts of £800 (€930) offered on the DSX-602 PRO CableAnalyser through to £4,000 (€4650) on the DSX2-5000QI-G-INT CableAnalyser.

The substantial discounts are available to all customers in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent states (EMEACIS). The offer is available for a limited time between September and December 2022 and is valid with purchases of qualifying products only made from Fluke Network’s authorised distributors.

Robert Luijten, Fluke’s Training Manager and Test & Measurement Expert said: “We are pleased to provide our customers with a limited-time discount on some of the most powerful and sophisticated copper and fiber testing solutions available in the market. Historically, Fluke Networks has provided loyal customers with great opportunities to move up to the next generation of testers with our popular trade-in programmes. Many customers have taken advantage of this over the years. However, our new ‘No fuss. Just savings’ offer no longer requires trade-ins. Customers can now enjoy no returns, registrations, or hassles – all they must do is contact their local distributor to take advantage of these great discounts.”

Resolve and prevent network connectivity faults.
Fluke Networks range of testers for twisted pair copper cabling can locate connectivity faults quickly to minimise downtime and lost productivity. The testers provide accurate, error-free certification even in the most complex projects that may involve several teams, different media types and multiple testing requirements. The range can be used to test up to Cat.8 cabling that can support the transmission of data up to 40Gbps over balanced twisted-pair copper cabling.

The DSX is built on Fluke Networks’ modular Versiv™ cabling certification system that can cut cabling installation and maintenance costs by up to 65%. Cornerstones of the Versiv system are the intuitive Taptive™ Graphical User Interface for ease of use and error-free operation and the ProjX™ management system which ensure that all testing is carried out efficiently and correctly. The Versiv system was recently upgraded with a high dynamic range Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) and an MPO fibre inspection camera. Accelerate fibre testing and certification

Fluke Networks’ fibre testing tools are the preferred option for network cabling installers, architects, technicians, and engineers due to their rugged design, accuracy and ease of use. While fibre optics has become the preferred option for reliable connectivity within smart buildings, data centres and other networked environments, locating faults can be a lengthy and costly process. The Versiv-based OptiFiber Pro OTDR makes this easy. Thanks to the EventMap function, the tool automatically identifies events including connectors, splices, bends and splitters.

The CertiFiber Pro, another feature of Fluke Networks’ Versiv system, offers an optical loss test set with the fastest time to certify. This means two fibres at two wavelengths can be measured in just under three seconds, providing automatic pass/fail analysis to meet critical industry standards or custom test limits.

Depending on the modules that are inserted in the Versiv mainframes, the system transforms itself into a copper cable tester (DSX), fiber loss and length tester (CertiFiber Pro), an OTDR (OptiFiber Pro) or into a fiber inspection instrument with a camera (Fiber Inspector Pro or Fiber Inspector Ultra). All products feature the same user-friendly interface. Being able to operate and program different testers with a common user interface is unique in the industry. Moreover, the measurement data gathered by the different testers can be easily consolidated in a single report by a LinkWare-supported personal computer or a LinkWare Live cloud-based service. LinkWare Live enables Project Managers to manage jobs and testers from any smart device.

@FlukeNetDCI @FlukeCorp @NapierPR #TandM #PAuto #Electrical #EMEA