Testing water consumption in appliances. - A major appliance manufacturer selected its FTI Flow Technology's QCT_PA12 in-line ultrasonic flow meter for testing water consumption in appliances. FTI will supply over 150 flow meters in 1/8-inch and 1/4-inch sizes for the testing program. The QCT_PA12 Series flow meter was preferred for its high accuracy and reliability over the flow range.

Measuring hydrogen in the fuel cell. - The leading developer and manufacturer of core parts for automotive electronic management systems in South Korea has recently launched a hydrogen leak detector that provides reliable real-time monitoring. To achieve maximum durability even in the harshest environments, Hyundai Kefico relies on Sensirion sensors.

Magnus Hell (Infineon) has been elected as CiA Technical Director at the CiA General Assembly.

Remote telemetry systems can help overcome the biggest cybersecurity threats. - According to research by Cybersecurity Ventures, the cost of cybercrime is predicted to hit $8 trillion (€7.36trl) in 2023 and grow to $10.5 trillion (€9.66trl) by 2025. Attackers will always find new ways to penetrate systems, and companies are continually assessing how their systems might be attacked and how much money it will cost to protect them. Here, Philippe Willems, engineering manager at Ovarro, the specialist in remote telemetry systems, discusses the enduring challenge for critical infrastructure companies and what it means for suppliers.

Ethernet-APL is ready to use. - Endress+Hauser is soon launching a full portfolio of Ethernet-APL* measuring devices that transmit data via the PROFINET protocol. Expectations in the process industry for the new physical layer are enormous. Now, Ethernet-APL has shown that it can meet these expectations. The company successfully conducted two load tests of a realistic Ethernet-APL setup with components from various manufacturers. The results confirm the new technology's reputation as a game-changer in industrial communication.

O-RAN test solution. - The ORAN Test Platform MX772000PC and O-RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU) Emulator Platform Software MX773000PC solution for efficient evaluation of O-RAN Radio Units (O-RUs) has been introduced by Anritsu. The integrated solution creates a flexible and efficient test environment to ensure O-RU performance is compliant with O-RAN and 3GPP standards.

Threat modeling company joins conformance scheme. - The International Society of Automation (ISA) Security Compliance Institute (ISCI) announced today that IriusRisk SL has joined ISCI as a Technical Member in support of the ISASecure® Cybersecurity Conformance Scheme.

Ultra-rugged connectivity for IIoT. - Ultra-robust Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) and USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity solutions have been released by Fischer Connectors. They are designed to meet the specific requirements of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications in rugged environments.

Industrial connectivity roadshow for Ireland. - MatrikonOPC will be in Ireland visiting companies next month (On April 25th, 26th and 27th, 2023). They are scheduling private presentations and welcome expressions of interest.

The Cyber-Physical Battle in OT. - To truly tackle this challenge head on, cyber and physical security will need to be addressed together in ways the two functions previously haven't been. (Automation InSights)

Duct-mounted carbon dioxide transmitter. - Vaisala has expanded its product portfolio for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) products by launching the new Vaisala GMD110 carbon dioxide transmitter to support the growing demand for building energy efficiency and sustainability.

Industrial LAN. - An industrial dual-radio wireless LAN access point optimized with added router capabilities that securely extends connectivity to the ever-growing number of WiFi devices deployed on high-density plant floors has been launched by Antaira Technologies. Empowered by 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi and boasting ultra-reliable stability thanks to the embedded Qualcomm IPQ4029 SoC chipset, the Antaira ARS-7235-5E-AC-T accelerates data transmission speeds up to 867Mbps to facilitate uninterrupted access to a steady, strong wireless signal.

Co-operation in 6G research. - Anritsu Corporation has announced the extension of its 6G research activities to include new innovative research together with Aalborg University in Denmark.

Charge measurement accuracy in EV. - The CAB 1500 is the latest member of LEM’s CAB series of automotive grade design sensors that use the properties of fluxgate transducer technology to deliver the high accuracy and low offset required for reliable coulomb counting – measuring the discharging current of Li-ion batteries to estimate their state of charge (SoC).

Visualization enables overall equipment efficiency. - With Talk2M® Visualization from HMS, machine builders get a fast and cost-efficient path to visualize machine data and get dashboards of historical data combined with notifications and reports. This ready-to-go IoT solution facilitates and improves decision-making processes related to machines.

Affiliation programme yields optical results. - The partnership between Laser Components Detector Group and the University of Arizona Wyant College of Optical Sciences(AZ USA) is yielding numerous benefits. At the recent Photonics Days, an event co-organized by the university, Laser ComponentsS researcher Dr. Motasim Alomari presented his research on "Uncooled pyroelectric infrared detectors based on deuterated L-alanine doped triglycine sulfate (DLaTGS)" to a broad audience of optics and photonics professionals.

Thermal imaging in food. - In the food industry, it’s essential to carefully control the temperature of perishable goods throughout production, transportation, storage, and sales. Using FLIR thermal imaging cameras, you can make automated non-contact temperature measurements in many food processing applications. Analog video outputs can be viewed on video monitors, and digital temperature data, including MPEG4 video outputs, can be routed to a computer via Ethernet.

DOL damper-fan system replaced by variable frequency drives. - Replacing an inefficient damper-based fan system with Invertek variable frequency drives has helped a Brazilian ceramics producer reduce energy use in part of its process by 60%, while increasing the quality of its products at the same time.

Meeting air quality demand. - Alphasense has increased its production capacity, automated elements of calibration and upgraded software for its Optical Particle Counter (OPC) products to meet rising industry demand. Since the launch of the latest iterations of its OPC-N3 and OPC-R2 products in 2021, Alphasense has seen demand grow significantly as air quality moves up the global agenda.

Temperature measurement in metal product manufacture. - AMETEK Land has supported a major metal products manufacturer to significantly reduce its costs. Based in Faridabad, Haryana, India, Amar Udyog is a leading manufacturer of grey iron, ductile iron, and SiMO machined castings, and has become a highly reputed OEM supplier for many popular brands.

Kunji Wei (top) General Manager and Yao Zhou, MD of Finance and Admin.with HIMA China.

New smart switchgear factory planned. - Schneider Electric has broken ground on its new smart factory in Dunavesce, Hungary. With a planned investment of €40 million, the new site will span 25,000 ² and have a headcount of 500 employees. Their 36th smart factory in Europe, this will be the 22nd engeneering-to-order factory in the region, producing primary and secondary switchgears, low voltage cabinets and components, and state-of-the-art SF6-free AirSeT medium voltage switchgear range, all made-to-order to individual customers’ specifications.

Mobile thermography for the discerning developer. - By integrating FLIR’s industry-leading thermography, magicplan now allows developers to integrate essential energy loss and damage information into their reporting and planning. From pinpointing inefficiencies in insulation through to identifying water damage, magicplan works with the FLIR ONE Edge Pro to detect everything from extreme heat to pervasive cold spots - all of which can signify problematic damage

Certification for emergency-call system. - President Hirokazu Hamada of Anritsu Corporation has announced that the eCall Tester MX703330E software has successfully conducted the independent certification as a PSAP Simulator by NavCert, an EU-accredited test body.

Advanced Process Control and Online Optimization. - Projects today must address capital and energy concerns, improve operational safety, meet sustainability and environmental goals, and manage controllability and yields. Advanced Process Control (APC) and Online Optimization technologies can help achieve these objectives. (ARC Advisory)

Updated Veterinary LIMS System. - The latest release of Autoscribe Informatics' starter systems has been announced. The 4Q22 release includes an improved Veterinary LIMS starter system, and two updated modules for Matrix Gemini LIMS, aliquots and derivatives, and improved security groups.

Bringing tablets to the factory floor. - The new HT4P Safety Commander, developed by IDEC Corporation, is building on the success of the HT3P by incorporating end user feature requests for additional networking and operator interface functionality. The unit is an ergonomic device enabling users to securely hold and protect a human-machine interface (HMI) tablet, while providing power, networking, and hardwired emergency stop (e-stop) and other operator interface devices.

I/O remote module with integrated output relays. - 32 digital optocoupler inputs and 32 dry contact relay outputs offer easy integration. The R2-EC0902D0 32 digital input/output remote module has been launched by Delta. Featuring 32 integrated relays on the output, supporting 2 A at 30 VDC/ 250 VAC per channel, and 32 24 VDC digital inputs, the unit greatly simplifies the implementation of digital I/O on EtherCAT networks. The high level of integration reduces system costs by eliminating the need for a separate coupler, digital input/output modules, and external relays.

High-speed low power industrial computing! - The BOXER-6646-ADP is the latest addition to the Review Display Systems (RDS) range of fanless embedded Box PC products from embedded computing solutions supplier, AAEON.

Hygienic pressure switch. - The PSD-4 electronic pressure switch from WIKA is the universal solution for industrial automation tasks – also in hygienic applications and under harsh conditions. The pressure switch is also suitable for industries with high hygienic requirements due to EHEDG and 3-A certification.

Sanitising drinking water. - A Municipal Water Treatment Plant is using Blue-White's FLEXFLO® Peristaltic Metering Pumps successfully to meter sodium hypochlorite to sanitize drinking water.

Alphasense has appointed Doug Knifton as Plant Director.

Uninterrupted telecommunications for Galápagos. - To maintain uninterrupted services in accordance to stringent regulatory conditions, remote monitoring solutions and access to equipment at various sites across the Galápagos Islands are essential. To support a satellite operator-managed service to one of its MNO customers, telecommunications consultant Specialized RF, developed an out-of-band remote access solution for the monitoring and control of critical equipment. The solution utilises Westermo industrial cellular gateways and easy-to-use remote access management platform WeConnect, which enables secure remote connections to applications on the network edge.

Flushing Rings with integrated valves. - The Rosemount™ 319 Flushing Ring with valve-integrated design, ensuring accurate differential pressure measurement and lower maintenance suitable for a wide range of differential pressure applications has been introduced by Emerson.

Training engineers through advisor programme. - Mouser Electronics has announced its sponsorship of the advisor programme at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), one of the leading universities in Europe for electrical and mechanical engineering.

Building security and safety. - For increased building security, SAG Smart Line mortice locks can prevent door motions (actuations of the latch or bolt). The wireless SAG Smart Line locks use an energy harvesting switch from ZF with the established EnOcean RF standard. The ZF energy harvesting switch generates the required energy for RF protocol transmission by mechanical actuation. As a wireless and batteryfree solution and due to the very small and compact size, these switches from ZF offer high flexibility to fulfill individual customer requirements.

New-Technology Flowmeters. - Advances in Flowmeter Technology surveys the full range of modern flowmeters for product managers, strategic planners, engineers, distributors, and students. The origins, principles of operation,controls and instrumentation, and the relative advantages of each major flowmeter type are thoroughly explained. Extensive coverage of new types that employ cutting-edge technologies - such as coriolis, magnetic, ultrasonic, vortex, thermal flowmeters - is provided. The text includes comparative examples, placing these new types of meters in the context of more traditional ones, such as differential pressure, turbine, and positive displacement flowmeters.

Why Do Artificial Intelligence Implementations Fail? - Artificial intelligence Implementations have the potential to transform the manufacturing industry by enabling greater efficiency, higher quality, and reduced costs.(Marianne D'Aquila, ARC Advisory)

Appointments and promotions follow reorganisation at gas analysis leader. - Servomex has announced the latest round of promotions following its recent reorganization. Five new manager-level appointments are part of its pursuit of Operational Excellence that underpins its internal strategic review.

Power solutions portfolio expanded. - Anglia Components PLC has significantly expanded its portfolio of power solutions following the signing of a distribution agreement for Britain and Ireland with EPC (Efficient Power Conversion), a leading provider of gallium nitride (GaN)-based power management technology.

Centreon has appointed Charlotte Warchol as Chief Customer Success Officer.

Low capacity torque sensor. - The low capacity models of Sensor Technology's non-contact torque sensors offer accurate measurement down to 200mNm (0.2Nm), for applications such as precision and high speed robots, medical devices, protheses and implants, small drives and micro motors.

Best bioprocessing supplier in Asia. - For the fifth consecutive year, Körber has been awarded the Asia Pacific Bioprocessing Excellence Award (ABEA) in recognition of its Werum PAS-X MES, the world's leading manufacturing execution system for pharma, biotech and cell & gene therapy production.

Deep learning detecting anomalies. - In quality assurance, it is often necessary to reliably detect deviations from the norm. Industrial cameras have a key role in this, capturing images of products and analysing them for defects. If the error cases are not known in advance or are too diverse, however, rule-based image processing reaches its limits. By contrast, this challenge can be reliably solved with the AI method Anomaly Detection. The new, free IDS NXT 3.0 software update from IDS Imaging Development Systems makes the method available to all users of the AI vision system with immediate effect.

Rugged industrial computer. - The ECX700-AL is a rugged computer with a waterproof and dust-proof design to withstand harsh environments and any type of climate. Stable performance is ensured with its wide operating temperature of -40 to 70 degrees Celsius. It is also equipped with a smart vent that drains water automatically, preventing typical problems such as condensation within the system or excessive heat.

Centreon has appointed Charlotte Warchol as Chief Customer Success Officer.

Artificial intelligence in industry. - If there is an overarching technology theme to 2023 it is Artificial Intelligence. Despite its recent hype, however, Artificial Intelligence or “AI” is not a new concept. Its roots date back more than 70 years to a young British mathematician named Alan Turing. In 1950 Turing suggested that since humans have the innate ability to combine available information with reason to solve problems, why can’t machines? (Henry Martel, Antaira Technologies).

Hydrostatic transmissions. - Danfoss Power Solutions has launched its PC-GO propel solution for single pump/motor hydrostatic transmissions. Comprising the new PC036 safety controller and PC-GO propel software, the ready-to-use platform cuts propel subsystem development time by up to 35% while simplifying compliance with environmental and safety regulations. The software is ideal for a wide variety of applications, including wheel loaders, telehandlers, dump trucks, street sweepers, and forestry equipment.

How to Decouple Software from Hardware in Industrial Automation. - Listeners to this podcast will learn How to decouple software from hardware in automation and other nsights from Greg Boucaud of UniversalAutomation.org.(ARC Advisory)

Semiconductors and electronic components outlook steady in EMEA. - Steady growth for the company in the EMEA market this year is predicted by Mouser Electronics . With over one million parts available to sell, the company has what is considered the widest selection of products worldwide and has broadened its line card by adding more than 170 new manufacturers in the last two years.

Automation helps in struggle against transmissable diseases. - The Fast MDx platform relies on automation technology from Festo for pipetting and dispensing. Included in the system are Festo handling gantries with electric axes, heat sealing from Kbiosystems and Fast MDx's patented, ultra-fast qPCR thermal cycler, the NGX2.

Modular edge computer. - Advantech has released UNO-2372G V2 Elkhart Lake Compact Modular Box PC. Their UNO-2000 series of embedded automation computers are highly rugged, fanless systems. The modular design offers vigorous computing performance and flexible scalability with various I/O ports to support IoT Connectivity. The unit features high processing capacity, 4K resolution display ports, optimized I/O port and expansion options to support wire/wireless IoT edge data transmission and processing.

100h long-term backup. - Bicker Elektronik has introduced a new DC UPS solution for long-term backup applications. The 24V emergency power supply is equipped with the particularly safe and durable LiFePO4 battery technology and offers backup times of up to 100 hours. Consisting of the UPSI-2406D intelligent charging and control unit and the BP-LFP-13250S battery pack, the DC UPS solution is ideal for protecting embedded industrial PCs, controllers, drives, sensors, measuring systems, lighting and safety technology and many other applications.

Electronic DP cell. - Krohne has added an electronic differential pressure (eDP) version to the OPTIBAR family, the OPTIBAR 5060 eDP. It aims at level, density and differential pressure applications within closed vessels as well as density compensated level measurement in open tanks.

Office opened to serve Middle East. - HIMA is pursuing a strategy to strengthen customer partnerships in key markets and enhance collaboration between its partners, sales and engineering services. The latest example is the new head office in the Middle East region.

Towards to smarter and safer wind turbines. - Envision Energy, the subsidiary of Envision Group providing world-leading green technology, is adopting Analog Devices' MEMS sensor technology in the company's new generation of smart wind turbines. Initial goals for the collaboration include enabling new levels of wind turbine safety through enhanced real-time monitoring of vibration, tilt, and other information that can be used to inform safer windmill operation and design. Leveraging new capabilities offered by advanced MEMS sensors adds intelligence at the edge for real-time monitoring, further advancing the green energy revolution.

Automation contract for gas-to-liquids plant. - Front-end design services for automation, electrical and advanced digital solutions at Cerilon's first gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility has been awarded to ABB. The greenfield site in North Dakota, USA, will produce up to 24,000 barrels (3.8 million liters) per day of high-performance synthetic energy products including ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), naphtha and lubricant base oils from natural gas reserves.

Frequency extender modules for signal generators. - Anritsu Company has introduced frequency extender modules for its Rubidium™ line of signal generators, in partnership with Virginia Diodes, Inc. (VDI). Covering 50 GHz to 1100 GHz, the modules complement Rubidium's best-in-class performance by providing the industry's broadest frequency coverage and best output power to create a sub-THz signal generator solution for emerging scientific, wireless communications systems, and body and material scanner applications.

Engineering an upside-down lighthouse. -

Haviv Ilan is to be the next president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Texas Instruments.

Handheld indicator & smart probes. - The Indigo80 handheld indicator extends the Vaisala Indigo product family’s measurement capabilities to portable use. Together with the Indigo80, Vaisala also launches two Indigo compatible probes HMP80 and DMP80, complementing the robust Indigo measurement ecosystem for industrial applications.

Pressure measurements for reliability, safety, and cybersecurity. - Responding to “The Wisdom of Correct Pressure Measurements,” Joe Weiss provides additional thoughts from his time in nuclear plant instrumentation and control. Joe says the cybersecurity issues that affect pressure measurements are common to other process measurements. (ISA blog)

Inspecting batteries production. - Ametek Surface Vision has developed its high-performance inspection systems to overcome the challenges in battery production processes to improve quality and reduce defects.

Web panels. - A new range of high-quality multi-touch Panel PCs from Kontron is now available from Review Display Systems (RDS). The Web Panel Line is available with three high resolution, widescreen IPS (in-plane switching) TFT displays, in 7.0-inch (1024 x 600 pixels) , 10.1-inch (1280 x 800 pixels) and 15.6-inch (1366 x 768 pixels) sizes, integrated PCap (projected capacitive) touch technology, and flexible, scalable performance from Arm-based i.MX6 single or dual core, i.MX8M quad core and Intel Atom-based dual and quad core processors.

sUVC disinfection. - Bolb Inc. has developed an LED for the first time that delivers an output power of 100 mW at a UVC wavelength of 265 nm. As a result the UVC LEDs distributed by Laser Components now cover exactly those wavelengths at which the best possible disinfection results can be achieved.

Regional logistics hub opens. - Endress+Hauser has announced the opening of a new 48,000 square-foot Indianapolis, Indiana-based regional logistics hub (USA), marking a further milestone in the company’s project aimed to boost the fulfillment of customer orders and satisfaction on a local and global scale. At an output power of 100 mW (265 nm), 110 mW (270 nm), and 120 mW (275 nm) per chip, they are currently the most powerful options available on the market.

The death has occurred of Don Zee, 60th President of the International Society of Automation (2005) RIP.

Twenty separate parts replaced with one! - The easy-e™ Trim Cartridge, is a complete trim repair solution for Fisher™ easy-e globe valves from Emerson. This factory-assembled repair cartridge combines all valve replacement parts, plus the bonnet, into a simple and ready-to-install repair solution, streamlining the repair experience while creating time and money savings throughout the maintenance process.

Mitigating harmonics. - The Ecosine Active Sync is a modular product, from Schaffner, that has been on the market for around five years and actively mitigates the harmonics sent back to an electrical network, reducing or suppressing disturbances by taking the harmonic current generated by non-linear loads and converting it. In Europe, the current level for effective harmonic mitigation is 50Hz and the AHF solution is ideal for applications where harmonics levels are continually changing, such as when producing high quality products like semiconductor wafers.

High speed camera. - Vision Research's has introduced the Phantom T4040 high-speed camera, surpassing the frame rate capabilities of other high-resolution, high-speed cameras and featuring an updated platform that is 50 percent lighter than the closest equivalent model. The T4040 camera features a groundbreaking back side illuminated (BSI) 2560 x 1664 sensor that maximizes light sensitivity with a peak quantum efficiency over 90 percent.

Hamid Sarshar has been named President of TESCO Controls, the controls intega rator.

Energy harvesting light switch. - Thanks to the success and interest that has been received from the KNX-RF energy harvesting light switch module from ZF, a collaboration is starting with light switch manufacturer Retrotouch.

Integrating carbon capture and storage (CCS) into industrial operations. - Working to make the capture, transportation and storage of industrial carbon dioxide emissions more accessible, ABB has signed a partnership agreement with Pace CCS, a global leader in engineering solutions for this market. The two companies will apply their respective expertise to make it easier for industrial companies to implement CCS infrastructure by lowering the CAPEX and operational investment required to enter this market.

Making laboratory miniaturized spectral sensing affordable. - IDTechEx’s report “Emerging Image Sensor Technologies 2023-2033: Applications and Markets” explores a diverse range of image sensing technologies capable of resolutions and wavelength detection far beyond what is currently attainable. Many of these emerging technologies are expected to make waves within numerous sectors, including robotics, industrial imaging, healthcare, biometrics, autonomous driving, agriculture, chemical sensing, and food inspection. IDTechEx expects that the growing importance of autonomous technologies will lead the emerging image sensor market to over US$500 million (€471m) by 2033.

Benchtop FTIR spectrometer. - A benchtop FTIR Spectrometer, the IR5, designed and manufactured at their global headquarters in Scotland has been announced by Edinburgh Instruments. The IR5 is the first Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer of the Edinburgh Instruments brand, renowned for its expertise in instrumentation for Raman, fluorescence, and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopies.

Best in Europe. - TTI, Inc. – Europe has won the ‘Best Distributor of the Year EMEA – 2022’ award from Smiths Interconnect, supplier of electronic components, subsystems, microwave, optical and radio frequency products that connect, protect and control critical applications in the commercial aviation, defense, space, medical, rail, semiconductor test, and industrial market segments. The award celebrates the distributor that achieves the highest level of sales growth across EMEA compared to the previous year.

User friendly website with new functions. - The new STEGO Group website has been successfully relaunched. The new website offers user-friendly navigation, a modern design and a wealth of new features that make it easier for customers to satisfy their needs for information and technical data on STEGO products.

Infrared machine vision. - For users of Teledyne FLIR fixed thermal camera solutions such as the FLIR A38/A68, the GEVA 400 iNspect package offered by Teledyne DALSA is a simple and affordable solution. It is pre-loaded with iNspect software (now with 16-bit camera support) that connects to GigE-based FLIR thermal camera platforms including the FLIR A70, FLIR A400/A700, and FLIR A38/A68.