Collaboration for IIoT Connectivity Solutions. - Advantech, Behr Technologies (BTI), Hitachi Solutions America, and Microsoft are collaborating to deliver wireless communications solutions with unmatched scalability, reliability, and security for private industrial internet of things (IIoT) networks.

Legacy PSUs. - Replacements and alternatives for legacy Kingshill linear power supplies are available from Powerstax. For many years Kingshill made a very large number of a wide variety of their very popular linear power supplies commonly used in high reliability industrial, test and measurement, instrumentation systems and offshore platforms.

European grant aid awarded for microscopy development. - Imec has announced that Niels Verellen, one of its young scientists, has been awarded an ERC Starting Grant. The grant of 1.5 million euros (for 5 years) will be used to enable high-resolution, fast, robust, zero-maintenance, inexpensive and ultra-compact microscopy technology based on on-chip photonics and CMOS image sensors.

Connectors range. - The new panel mounted Series 763 male M12 connector from from Foremost Electronics, is an A-coded square flange male connector and is uniquely positionable and lockable which makes the installation of cables a simple and flexible operation.

Motors that let you know when it's time for a service. - Simone Wendler, food and beverage segment manager for ABB's motors and generators business, explains what to expect from a new generation of wireless motor sensor that offers powerful data collection and analytics in a small package.

Boulting Technology has promoted former Strategic Projects Director, Robin Whitehead as its new managing director.

Fuel Analyser. - PAC has officially launched the OptiFuel, a top of the line FTIR Fuel Analyser. The new OptiFuel provides superior precision and portability with expert service and support worldwide. The unit comes in a rugged yet elegant design with a friendly user interface, which makes it ideal for refineries, pipelines, terminals and mobile labs.

Advance for CAN FD network designers. - CAN in Automation (CiA) association has released the CiA 601-3 bit-time setting recommendation. The document provides rules and background information about the setting of bit-times in CAN FD networks.

Measurement synchronization using GPS. - Camille Bauer Metrawatt AG equips its highly-accurate measurement devices in the SINEAX AM, SINEAX DM5000, LINAX PQ and CENTRAX CU series with GPS* modules. The pre-configured GPS modules synchronize the integrated time measurement of the devices using GPS signals, to ensure that each measurement value is recorded with the globally correct date and time.

New e-Book on robots introduced! - A new e-book titled Service Robots features a foreword by celebrity engineer and Mouser spokesperson Grant Imahara, Service Robots provides examples of how service robots differ from collaborative robots, presenting familiar robot forms we already see around us, as well as emerging trends in service robotics.

Testing welds. - The rapid testing of resistance-welded spots, independent of defined test plans, is the subject of the "Free Testing". Creating task-oriented test plans requires comprehensive information about the component to be tested and its possible weak points. The PHAsis.one ultrasonic inspection device by VOGT Ultrasonics is the ideal tool for testing in the laboratory and in production.

AOI system. - A new video is online launched by Seica, showcasing the new DRAGONFLY next > series, an AOI system providing optical inspection capabilities for through-hole technology (THT) components of electronic boards, as well conformal coating (CC), increasingly used today to protect the products after manufacturing.

Humidity for OEM Applications. - The EE1900 humidity module from E+E Elektronik is optimised for the measurement of relative humidity (RH) or dew point temperature (Td) in climate and test chambers.

ISA slate for 2019. - The results of the election of officers of the International Society of Automation (ISA) have just been revealed. The ISA election is conducted by Survey and Ballot Systems (SBS), a company that has been conducting online elections for over 20 years. Irish readers will remember that both Eric Cosman (right) and Nick Sands participated in the very successful FPID conference held in Cork two years ago.

Supporting clean drinking or process water. - The new Memosens CCS50D chlorine dioxide sensor is part of a new platform from Endress+Hauser which supports safe and effective disinfection for clean drinking water, pathogen-free cooling water and high-quality process water

Interoperability, cybersecurity goals drive initiative. - The International Society of Automation (ISA) and The Open Group have agreed to a liaison Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate cooperation in advancing and harmonizing the development of a multivendor, interoperable, secure control architecture for application across the process industries. Activities will include sharing of best practices, document review and joint forums.

Speaking the language of intelligent buildings! - The BACnet Testing Laboratories (BTL), have confirmed that the automation software zenon by Copa-Data complies with the criteria of the BACnet standard.

CO2-neutral power. - Though not automation as such we though our visitors might be interested in this "alternative fuel" story. Silent-Power (Projects) Ltd. (Silent) is a company that produces and installs both industrial and modular synthesis plants for renewable methanol. It is working to bring its modular plants to private homes.

Base station analysis. - PIM over CPRI software for Anritsu's BTS Master™ MT8220T and MT822xB handheld base station analyzers has been introduced. This allows passive intermodulation (PIM) measurements to be made from the ground for the first time.

Space saving Ethernet switch. - The EKI-2525LI from Advantech, is an unmanaged 5-port Ethernet switch in an ultra-small enclosure whit fits in the palm of a hand, making it the ideal solution for environments with limited space, such as electronic control panels, cabinets, and high-density industrial plants.

Secure remote access in manufacturing. - Jonathan Wilkins, marketing director of obsolete industrial parts supplier EU Automation, discusses secure remote access and the challenges it presents.



Darcy Simonis is industry network leader for ABB's food and beverage operations.

Leader on the edge! - Adlink Technology has been named Edge Computing Company of the Year in the sixth annual Compass Intelligence awards. The awards honor the top companies, products, and technology solutions in mobile, IoT and emerging technology industries. The company won its award in the category of IoT Data.

Stepping stone between wireless sensor and IT system. - The Sensor Bridge from .steute's "Wireless" business unit is a new and key component for its wireless network sWave-NET®. As a classic middleware, this software interface processes all messages received from wireless switching devices in the field and bundled by access points. The Sensor Bridge then relays these messages to applications registered specifically for this purpose.

Ethernet to the Field! - Organizations are cooperating to promote developments for Industrial Ethernet to expand use of EtherNet/IP™, HART-IP™ and PROFINET™ into hazardous locations in the process industry. They have announced the publication of a joint white paper, "Ethernet to the Field," which lays out the vision and timeline for the realisation of an Ethernet technology suitable for use in remote and hazardous locations founding in the process industries.

Protecting PSUs in harsh conditions. PULS Power DIN rail power supplies are inherently robust and deliver high efficiency, reliability and long service lifetime even under challenging ambient conditions. However, these properties can be diminished, especially in tough ambient conditions, for example high air humidity with a great deal of condensation and a concentration of conductive particles in the environment, where the attraction of dust particles may be due to electrostatic charge, etc. To ensure long-term reliability of a customer’s system under such conditions, power supplies with conformal-coated PCBs are recommended.

Clean air zones. - The organisers of AQE 2018, the Air Quality & Emissions show, have announced a partnership with the Environmental Industries Commission (EIC), for the hosting of a one-day seminar on 21st November focusing on the development of Clean Air Zones (CAZs).



Dr Shean McMahon is Divisional Vice President of Research and Development with Ametek Surface Vision.

Accelerometer modules. - Silicon Designs (SDI) has introduced its Model 2422H low-voltage, specialty hermetic, MEMS variable capacitive accelerometer modules.

Automation leaders to meet! - The Annual Leadership Conference of the International Society of Automation (ISA) brings together Leaders in the Automation Profession from around the world to engage, share best practices, and network while enhancing the professional competence of the Society. It will be held in in Montréal, Canada in October 2018.

Pluggable terminal blocks. - JPR Electronics is now stocking the CamBlock Plus range of screwless pluggable PCB mounted terminal blocks. CamdenBoss are renowned as a leading specialist manufacturer in the terminal block market, providing high performance engineered interconnection and enclosure solutions.

19/7/2018

Testing in vehicles and test benches. - HMS Industrial Networks has introduced version 5 of the IXXAT® Automotive Configuration Tool (ACT) for the IXXAT FRC platform, targeting automotive testing applications.

Comparison & Calculation of Industrial Control System Life Cycle Costs. - Bedrock Automation has announced the availability of the fifth in its series of white papers supporting implementation of Open Secure Automation (OSA®).

Intelligent & multifunctional sensors. - Generating, transporting and processing information are central tasks in the Industry 4.0 environment. The basis for all the information is intelligent sensors which provide the required input. With their BOS 21M ADCAP, Balluff have a newly developed optical multifunction sensor series.



The NCDA has presented a Legislative Award to Michael Marlowe, the past Executive Director of the Automation Federation.

Sorting fibre facts from opinions! - In the public discussion about digitisation and broadband expansion, which is characterized by emotions and political maneuvers, even industry insiders often have problems in distinguishing between facts and opinions. Laser Components’ fibreoptics symposium (18 October 2018) offers a forum for all those who want to leave the general media buzz behind and delve deeper into the topic of fibreoptics.

We love STEM! - Emerson has hosted its latest ‘We Love STEM’ outreach event in Britain, helping to inspire the next generation of engineers required to meet the manufacturing industry’s current shortfall. More than 40 children from four local schools attended the STEM Inspiration Day to encourage interest in science, technology, engineering and maths.

Control and Estimation! - The platform for Advanced Control and Estimation R5.02 is a software suite that brings together advanced plant process control technology developed by Shell and the real-time control technology that Yokogawa has developed in its role as a control system supplier.

Brexit concerns - 150 Business Leaders, including many GAMBICA members, representing some of Britain's biggest engineering employers and some of its most innovative smaller companies have written to the Prime Minister to express their concern about the possibility of a 'No deal' scenario.

MES in Europe. - The Connect Group has chosen Aegis' FactoryLogix® digital MES platform, across their four manufacturing sites within Europe, providing contiguous execution management and exact traceability.

Most innovative in Germany. - SLM Solutions Group AG has again been selected as one of the most innovative companies in Germany. In a study, Focus and Focus Money examined the 5,000 German companies with the highest number of employees. SLM Solutions prevailed in the surface and material processing category.

Connecting in freezing conditions. - CryoCoax is a new division of Intelliconnect Europe specialising in connectors and cable assemblies for Cryogenic Systems. CryoCoax cabling and connectors are used across many applications and industries, those already addressed include measurement and testing, system quantum computing, space and instrumentation.

Collaborating Innovator in network configuration. - ADLINK is now a Collaborating Innovator of the Open Networking Foundation (ONF) operator-led consortium.

Communicating Temp transmitter. - OPTITEMP TT 53, from Krohne is a new universal programmable 2-wire temperature transmitter for resistance (RTD) and thermocouple (TC) elements. Aimed at the Chemical, Oil & Gas and the Power Generation industries, it features HART 7 communication, NAMUR NE 107 diagnostics as well as Ex approvals.



Alberto Prada Morales has been appointed as Channel Manager for Advantech in Iberia.

Explosion proof flow computer. - sThe E126 explosion-proof flow computer for corrected gas and liquid volume measurement has been launched by Fluidwell. It measures the actual flow, temperature and pressure and converts it with an ideal gas formula to gas volume at reference conditions.

Moisture Transmitter for harsh applicatiosn. - Michell Instruments has introduced a new version of its market-leading 2-wire Easidew Dew-Point Transmitter, with a simultaneous analog and digital modbus RTU output and a rugged 5 pin M12 electrical connection.

Rental torques sense! - Equipment rentals are increasingly helping companies overcome the hurdle of finding investment capital to fund development and verification projects. Having survived more than one downturn and recovery, Sensor Technology already has a rental option in place for its TorqSense range of torque sensors. Potential users can choose to rent the equipment, rather than purchase it, thus circumventing the bottleneck of raising capital purchase approval.

Test kit for broadband. - A complete package for control and acceptance measurements in FTTx and PON networks with wavelengths of 1310 nm, 1490 nm, 1550 nm, and 1625 nm is offered by Laser Components.

Safety working with robots. - The BMW Group is working with Pilz for safety when working with robot assistants, : the automation company carries out the conformity assessment including final CE marking. Thus Pilz ensures safe human-robot collaboration (HRC) at multiple production sites of the BMW Group.

Differential noise measurement. - Anritsu Corporation has introduced industry's first solution capable of conducting extensive characterization of the differential noise figure of differential devices used in high-speed wireless communication systems.

Large enclosure system. - Rittal is supporting control and switchgear engineering on the way to Industry 4.0 with its new VX25 large enclosure system. The company now permits the merging of real and digital workflows for significantly greater efficiency thanks to maximum data quality and consistent engineering.



Servomex has appointed Gerd Buettner as Regional Sales Manager (Germany and Eastern Europe).

New HQ started. - Schaffner has laid the foundation stone for the new headquarters of the globally operating Schaffner Group. The stone was laid at a brief ceremony last Tuesday, (3rd July 2018), on the Attisholz-Süd site in Luterbach (CH).

Safety Instrumented Systems life-cycle examined! - The International Society of Automation (ISA) has published a new book that covers the entire life-cycle of safety instrumented systems (SIS)—including specification, design, analysis, programming, installation, maintenance, and change management. Safety Instrumented Systems: A Life-Cycle Approach by Paul Gruhn, PE, CFSE, and Simon Lucchini, CFSE, MIEAust CPEng, leverages the performance and documentation requirements defined in the ISA/IEC 61511 functional process safety standard along with the authors’ nearly 80 years of safety system experience, expertise and insights.

Integrated production control system. - Yokogawa has added new functions to the CENTUMTM VP integrated production control system, and will release it as CENTUM VP R6.06 later this month. CENTUM VP is the core product in the OpreXTM Control and Safety System family of solutions.

UPS for tile manufacturer. - Peronda, a leading Spanish ceramic tiles manufacturer, has chosen Delta’s high-efficiency Ultron DPS series Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) to protect their mission critical applications.

Vision sensor. - The Vision Sensor IV Series has been upgraded by Keyence with an optical character recognition (OCR) capability that can offer a simple, three-step (1 minute) set-up routine and more stable detection through high-intensity illumination and high-performance lens technology. In addition, the ultra-compact size makes the vision sensors easy to retrofit for companies updating their equipment.

Test & Measurement representation in Benelux. - Anritsu Corporation have signed a distribution agreement with AR Benelux, a leading provider of test and measurement solutions for EMC, Satcom, RF/µwave for the telecoms and defense industries.

Performance evaluation. - The GX90XA-10-V1 module enables Yokogawa recorders and data loggers to be used in performance evaluation tests for the development and production of electric vehicles (EVs), fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs), and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) as well as the on-board batteries used in such vehicles.

DP for HVAC. - The EE600 differential pressure sensor extends the product portfolio for HVAC and building automation of E+E Elektronik. The transmitter is available with full scale 1,000 Pa (4 inch water column) and 10,000 Pa (40 inch WC) with each four selectable measurement ranges.



Boulting Ltd has promoted Michelle Stott, to the position of HR director.

Gateway module introduced. - The QuantumX CX27C gateway module from HBM is the latest addition to the QuantumX modular data acquisition system It offers test engineers maximum flexibility in testing their applications and simultaneous integration of up to 199 sensors in PROFINET IRT in real time.

Cloud-based VPN solution simplifies IIoT applications. - With huge investment in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) predicted over the next decade, robust, resilient and secure networks are critical for providing actionable data. To support this, Westermo has enhanced its WeConnect service to offer greater security, reliability and ease-of-use when establishing remote connections to networks and industrial equipment over the internet.

Light guide/light pipe systems. - Foremost Electronics is now offering its British customers flexible light guide/light pipe systems from the long established Mentor.

Continuous ground gas monitoring. - The GasClam 2 in-borehole continuous ground gas monitor for better management and prediction of risks associated with ground gas emission and migration has been enhanced by ION Science.

Non-contacting angle encoders. - Two non-contacting models have been added to Variohm EuroSensor's wide range of high accuracy angle encoders. Both are from their Swiss distribution partner, Contelec AG, and feature separate magnet and sensor components for continuous rotation in a two-part design that requires no mechanical bearing or joint - and with no wearing parts and IP68 protection class, they offer an effectively limitless mechanical working life.

Fibre optic connections. - Souriau has been developing fiber optic connectors for four decades. As soon as fiber optics began to be used in telecommunications and manufacturing, connector solutions adapted to this technology had to be invented which were radically different from those designed for electrical connections.