Mr. Thorsten Scheidler has been appointed managing director for Palomar Technologies' operations in Europe.

Drive systems for transportation & mobility. - Gefeg-Neckar Antriebssysteme GmbH is a drive systems expert for transportation machinery and materials handling equipment applications in mobility, medical, logistics and many other branches of industry. The German designer and manufacturer, represented in Britain by motion specialist Mclennan, includes a custom designed drive systems capability specifically aimed at integration on Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs).

Pioneer installation in digital mining. - The enterprise-grade digital platform ABB Ability™ Genix Industrial Analytics and AI Suite is being installed to enable Gold Fields’ Salares Norte project in Chile to drive efficient, sustainable and remote operations.

75 years monitoring and analysing ndustrial temperature measurements. - 75 years of producing innovative systems and solutions for industries including metals, glass, hydrocarbon processing and power generation is being celebrated by AMETEK Land . Founded in 1947 by Tom Land, AMETEK Land now employs around 150 people worldwide, supporting customers with industrial temperature measurement, combustion efficiency and emissions monitoring.

Multi-functional shut-off valve. - A new shut-off valve for pipelines has been tailored by WIKA for applications in the process industry. The model PBV-FS with flange connection is suitable for controlling media flow, for the combination with pressure measuring instruments and as a connection between piping systems.

Towards an instrumentation device profile for OPC UA Field eXchange. - The OPC Foundation (OPCF) and the FieldComm Group (FCG) are collaborating to drive multi-vendor interoperability of instrumentation devices based on OPC UA and the extensions for the field level, named OPC UA FX (Field eXchange). This development will incorporate preliminary work by both organizations. This will ensure that the market will have only one single standard. The aim is to provide an interoperable interface between PLC / DCS and instrumentation devices, such as transmitters, instruments, and actuators. The solution shall support different industries such as oil & gas, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, water & wastewater, and pulp & paper.

Photometric gas analyser. - The new SERVOTOUGH SpectraExact 2500 is built on the proven legacy of its iconic, industry-leading predecessor. Designed around an easier-to-use digital platform, the new analyzer is a rugged and reliable product ready to handle a wide range of industrial applications, including ethylene production, carbon capture, ethylene dichloride production, and the direct reduction iron process.

Collaboration to lead to global leadership in large-scale green hydrogen production systems. - ABB and Hydrogen Optimized Inc. (HOI) have signed an agreement to expand the companies’ existing strategic relationship. This includes an investment by ABB into Key DH Technologies Inc. (KEY), the parent company of HOI, as they seek to accelerate the fast-emerging green hydrogen production segment with unique large-scale architecture. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Water, wastewater & emissions returns to life! - WWEM 2022 will take place live at the Telford International Centre (GB) on 12th and 13th October. This follows last years hugely successful virtual event. Covering regulations, standards, process control, pollution prevention, test methods and monitoring, WWEM will focus on Water, Wastewater and Environmental Monitoring in both process water and natural water resources.

Sustainability Trends in Manufacturing. - Sustainability has become one of the fundamental tenets of a successful business model for many companies, ranging from small businesses to large enterprises, and in this Insight we look at Sustainability Trends in Manufacturing. (ARC Advisory)

Innovation in vacuum recognised. - Climeworks has been awarded with the Innovation Award by Busch Vacuum Solutions for its advanced use of vacuum technology. Climeworks is the first company to use Direct Air Capture technology to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In this way, the company is actively making an important contribution to reducing global warming.

Web browser application for LIMS. - Matrix Gemini version 6.5 has been released by Autoscribe Informatics. In a major upgrade to the underlying technology Autoscribe has introduced a new web browser application for Matrix Gemini known simply as the New Matrix Gemini Web application. By adopting the latest technologies and standards Autoscribe are ensuring that Matrix Gemini meets, and will continue to meet, the changing requirements of a modern laboratory informatics solution.

Power connectors. - The latest addition to Schaffner's extensive range of IEC power connectors. The new IL13P-S is a C14/C20 IEC dual locking power connector offering an innovative solution to prevent accidental disconnection in data-centres, PDUs, servers, industrial equipment, medical devices, audio/broadcast and other critical power systems.

Verify active and passive devices more efficiently and accurately. - Anritsu Company has enhanced its VectorStar™ vector network analyser (VNA) family with comprehensive spectrum analysis capability creating the world’s first single sweep VNA-spectrum analyser solution that supports 70 kHz to 220 GHz.* With the spectrum analyser option installed, VectorStar can conduct single connection VNA and spectrum-based measurements to create a more efficient and accurate testing environment to verify active and passive devices during the design, troubleshooting, or characterization stages.

Sustaining a fen and capturing carbon dioxide. - In 2001, five organisations came together to set out a vision for the Great Fen, with the aim of providing a more sustainable future for the area. In many respects, this work focuses on restoration by managing water levels, so a network of monitoring wells has been established. In this article, Wendy Strain from OTT HydroMet explains how this monitoring program is helping to achieve the ambitious goals that have been set for the Great Fen.

Remote I/O Modules for RTD measurement. - Acromag’s newest addition to the Busworks® NT Series of expandable remote Ethernet I/O modules is the NT2620 Series RTD/resistance module. Designed to be a cost-effective modular solution, it supports four RTD/resistance inputs and two bidirectional discrete digital I/O channels to monitor temperature limits with conditional logic. NTE Ethernet I/O models have dual RJ45 ports and a webserver with Modbus TCP/IP or EtherNet/IPTM communication to monitor or control the internal I/O channels.

Throttle position sensors at Le Mans. - As part of the electronic fuel injection equipment on the naturally aspirated 90-degree, DOHC V8 engines Gibson Technology chose Variohm EuroSensor’s Euro-XPD series Hall Effect angle sensors (pictured below right) to provide precise throttle position feedback. As with all Gibson Technology powertrain systems, long endurance and extreme reliability are key factors and over the complete duration of this year’s 24-hour race, the 28 cars competed without any issues.

Predictive maintenance of computers for IIoT. - The relentless pursuit of excellence in the IIoT world has renewed an interest in predictive maintenance solutions that ensure higher equipment reliability and system uptime. Since computing systems are the pillars of the IIoT, implementing predictive maintenance for them is essential to realizing the full potential of the IIoT.

On-line natural gas analysis. - Sustainability and the facilitation of the energy transition are of global importance today. Qmicro by Sensirion has therefore developed the DynamiQ-X NG2210 and NG2220: as solutions to increase gas analysis capabilities and cover green gases, minimizing the total cost of ownership to gas distributors. The analyzers’ ability to store data for at least two years, also facilitates compliance with legislation and enables observation of long-term trends.

Data centre automation business enhanced. - ABB has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement with ATS Global* to extend the reach of the ABB Ability™ Data Center Automation (DCA) business. The company has become a Global System Integrator (GIS) and will work with ABB to combine expertise and resources, testing the advantages and effectiveness of potential collaborations for data center customers and growing their respective businesses.

>Countries investing the most into predictive maintenance. - ​A 2021 report from IoT Analytics estimated that the 6.9-billion-dollar predictive maintenance market will reach $28.2 billion by 2026. Distrelec has analysed where some of the top predictive maintenance companies are in the world and how much support they are getting from investors. (Automation_com)

Carbon fibre inspection. - Building off the success of the AirCarbon II automatic inspection system introduced in 2016, Fraunhofer IGCV, Europe's largest application-oriented research organization, partnered with SGL Carbon GmbH and Chromasens GmbH to develop the next generation AirCarbon III for monitoring carbon fiber production and adjacent processes. The AirCarbon III system relies on the Chromasens allPIXA wave line scan camera and a Chromasens Corona II LED line scan light to achieve seamless and continuous surface monitoring.

Connector for e-mobility. - Han® HPR is a globally recognised standard for connector housings which require special protection against environmental influences in power generation plants, rail vehicles or ships. To expand the connector range to cover harsh environments with limited installation space, HARTING is adding Han® HPR Compact hoods and housings to the series.

Excellence in the service of automation! - The International Society of Automation (ISA) has announced the 2022 ISA Celebrating Excellence award recipients. The ISA honors and awards program is the Society's opportunity to formally showcase and celebrate the remarkable achievements and contributions of its members, partners, and other automation professionals.

IIoT gateways. - Moxa AIG-300 Series IIoT gateways, with robust hardware design and rich software functions, are ideal for use in distributed and unmanned sites in harsh operating environments where they help in reducing unplanned downtime. The gateways come equipped with the powerful Arm® Cortex-A7 dual-core 1 GHz processor featuring 2GB DRAM, along with the flexibility of one CAN 2.0 port, four Digital Inputs, four Digital Outputs, two RJ45 Ethernet ports, two serial ports, and a USB 2.0 port, along with connectors for Wi-Fi, LTE Cellular and GPS.

Excellence in Automation Winner. - Each year, the ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute (WCI) presents the ISA100 Wireless Excellence in Automation Award to a global end-user company that has demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation with ISA100 Wireless technology. This award was presented to EnQuest UK for leadership and creativity in the design and implementation of ISA100 Wireless Applications for Safe Gas Detection.

The Antenna Company has appointed Justin Diederix as VP of Operations.

Safety system. - The Acti9 Active Safety System, the latest in Schneider Electric's Acti9 range of safety system controls, offers a digitally enhanced connected system with complete visibility at final distribution. The next generation of Acti9 Active, which features the hybrid Acti9 Active arc fault distribution board (AFDD), brings an innovative addition to the Acti9 Isobar P range of distribution boards, incorporating efficiency, safety, and best-in-class connectivity compliant with the latest wiring regulations BS7671 18th Edition Amendment 2.

"We've got the power!" - The LCC1200 series of fully-enclosed, conduction-cooled AC-DC power supplies from Advanced Energy is now available from TTi Europe. Rated at 1200W and boasting 93.5% efficiency, these power supplies incorporate a thermal baseplate and can deliver full output power over a wide operating temperature of -40°C to +85°C without derating. The target applications for the power supplies include telecommunications antenna and base station equipment, control consoles, and outdoor/indoor signage. A constant current mode is also available for LED lighting and horticultural lighting applications.

Raquel Mateus Tejada (Spain Section) has been elected to be the next ISA District 12 Vice President (EMEA).

At the edge of transition. - ARC Advisory Group recently attended the 45th annual Honeywell Process Solutions Users’ Group (HUG) Americas conference in Orlando, Florida. Conference attendance and energy alike were strong, with over 1,200 attendees, nearly as many as (pre-COVID) 2019. This year’s theme was “At the Edge of Transition,” which seems to highlight the churn we are witnessing in the market. As is usual, Honeywell used the event to introduce several new solutions. These solutions included both hardware and software, but software dominated the event again.

Calculating humidity. - The Humidity Calculator by E+E Elektronik enables complex humidity calculations to be performed easily and in real-time. This free calculation tool works online in any recent browser and can also be installed as an app on smartphones or a PC. Up to 15 humidity-related parameters can be computed with the practical calculation program. In addition, the E+E Humidity Calculator features a separate calculation mode for determining the pressure dew point.

Optical spectrum analysers. - Yokogawa has launched two new optical spectrum analyzers (OSAs) to fulfil market demands for an instrument capable of measuring a wide range of wavelengths to meet new needs in optical product development and manufacturing. The Yokogawa AQ6375E and AQ6376E are the only grating based OSAs covering SWIR (Short-Wavelength InfraRed) over 2 μm and MWIR (Mid-Wavelength InfraRed) over 3 μm with world class optical performance.

Sensors for asia. - Leuze has opened its new production site in Malacca (Malaysia) within a construction time of just 16 months. With immediate effect, Leuze sensors will be produced there for the international market. Leuze's Asian customers are primarily supplied from Malaysia

Ethernet-to-fibre media converters for industry. - Antaira Technologies has just introduced its IMP-C1000-SFP-bt-T and IMP-C1000-SFP-bt-24-T Gigabit single-port media converters with IEEE 802.3bt 90W PoE++. Both converters give network administrators the means to interconnect long-distance fiber networks to copper-based 10/100/1000Base-T Ethernet with minimum cost and complexity.

Implementing a hierarchy of automation safety - The considerations surrounding design and implementation of industrial automation safety are extensive, with specialized training required to fully address each potential issue. In fact, before planning for any safety-related systems, it is important certified experts perform a safety audit to assess the conditions and determine the proper design path. In part this is because safety standards and regulations evolve over time, so the concept "we've always done it this way" doesn't hold up. (Control Engineering)

Moisture in semiconductor sector. - With trace-level moisture analysis and next generation reliability, the Servomex SERVOPRO DF-700 Series delivers accurate Tunable Diode Laser moisture measurements trusted by UHP gas producers globally, with industry-leading lower detection limits. It now introduces an all-digital gas analysis platform, with a bigger screen and increased functionality, more reliable filter, and a solid-state storage drive that offers ultimate reliability. Inside the more efficient design there are fewer components which provides more room as and when services are required, with an improved assembly.

Support for PCIe 5.0. - Granite River Labs (GRL), a leading firm for digital connectivity test solutions and services, and Anritsu Corporation announced that their jointly-developed PCI Express® (PCIe®) 5.0 automated test solution has been approved by PCI-SIG® for "gold suite" product compliance testing. The solution combines Anritsu's Signal Quality Analyzer-R MP1900A BERT series with GRL's PCI Express 5.0 CEM Specification Receiver and PLL Peaking and Bandwidth test automation software.

Advanced features and hardware for gas analyser. - A new version of the Endress+Hauser J22 TDLAS gas analyser, an update to the initial release in 2021 has been announced. The J22 tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) analyzer continues the tradition established by its predecessor with best-in-class accuracy, a user-friendly interface, integrated diagnostics, and a host of modular hardware.