Digitising packaging lines. - Drug manufacturer Heel has successfully implemented Werum PAS-X MES 3.3.0, Körber's NextGen MES for pharma, biotech, and cell & gene therapy, at its main plant in Baden-Baden (D). The pioneer in scientific research into natural pharmaceuticals has been producing medicines, such as Neurexan® and Traumeel®, based on natural active ingredients for over 80 years.

The FSK Innovation Award has been awarded to Eduard Kremer, a scientific assistant in the field of polyurethane technology at IKV Aachen.

Assessing Cobot Safety. - Collaborative robots (cobots) are designed to work alongside humans in a safe manner. Their use in industry over the past 10+ years has proven their ability to be used safely. But just like any other piece of machinery, safety can be subject to a number of factors. (Automation World)

Extend Equipment Lifecycle with Maintenance Best Practices. - To ensure the success of projects in 2024, it is crucial to have a well-planned strategy and the right team to execute it. Maverick's field service teams have a wealth of experience in multiple control system platforms, including instrumentation, calibration and field device setup. By collaborating with plant personnel, they can effectively prolong the lifespan of equipment in a safe manner and assist in planning for future maintenance and commissioning needs. Outstanding results for maintenance projects may be achieved with the support of the right team. Details to be found on this white paper.

Andreas Pauly has joined the Rohde & Schwarz Executive Board as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Christina Gessner has taken over as Head of the Test & Measurement Division.

SPS Fair 2023: Technology Trends. - While Germany's SPS fair hasn't yet returned to its pre-pandemic size in terms of visitors and exhibitors, it still maintains its place as the number one discrete automation show in Europe. This ARC Insight is one of two reports that summarize the impressions gathered by the team of ARC analysts who visited this year's SPS fair, the autumn counterpart to the larger but less focused Hanover show in the spring.

Exciting opportunity for real-time measurements in a metals refinery. - Traditionally, hydrometallurgical production processes have relied heavily on regular sampling and laboratory analysis for process control. However, lab analysis is costly and incurs a significant delay, which means that real-time control of such processes has not hitherto been possible. A recent trial, using the Sensmet µDOES® continuous analyzer has demonstrated that online metals monitoring is now possible; representing an enormous opportunity for the optimization of lithium production processes – and lithium has become very important nowadays. The trial compared Lithium and Sodium measurements by laboratory analysis with a new continuous analysis technology, and demonstrated excellent correlation between the two different methods.

Refrigerant manufacturer is plant of the year. - FieldComm Group has announced that the Daikin Industries Ltd. Plant in Kashima, Japan, has been selected the 2023 Plant of the Year. This is the 21st annual awarding of this unique international honor, presented to end user companies in the process automation industry to recognize the exceptional and valuable application of FOUNDATION™ Fieldbus, FDI™ and/or HART® Communication technologies.

Progress towards sustainable development recognised. - Servomex has been awarded the EcoVadis Gold Rating for sustainable business practices for the second year in a row. Servomex achieved its first Gold Rating in 2022, with EcoVadis recognizing areas including the environmental emergency measures the company has in place, and its specialized treatment and safe disposal of hazardous substances.

Control on world's widest paper machine. - ABB has been selected as a project partner for the installation of the world's widest uncoated machine-glazed (MG) paper machine at Gascogne Papier's kraft pulp and paper production plant in Mimizan (F) They began deliveries early in 2023, with QCS and drives deliveries to the plant planned for 2024, along with commissioning of the machine.

Major cybersecurity conference held in Ireland. - The ISA Ireland OT Cyber Security Conference in partnership with Cyber Ireland took place in Mullingar on the 21st November 2023. Two hundred automation professional attended. Dónal Óg Cusack, DePuy Synthes and Cyber Ireland OTSec SIG Chair, moderated the conference and provided his redlfections afterwards. (Cyber Ireland)

Information and communication technology leader expands presence in North America. - HMS Networks AB has entered into a binding agreement with Spectris Group Holdings Limited to acquire the Red Lion Controls business, a well-established US-based provider of industrial automation solutions, through the acquisition of 100 percent of the shares in Red Lion Controls Inc. and Red Lion Europe GmbH as well as certain assets in other jurisdictions ("Red Lion"), significantly expanding HMS' presence in the North American market and complementing HMS' offering.

HNP Mikrosysteme has appointed of Suzanne Coleman Wilhelmsen as Head of Business Development for North America.

Significant emhancement for software source code analysis. - TrustInSoft has announced that their analyzer now includes memory mapping, in addition to its already highly accurate target hardware awareness. Low-level software relies on mappings between program variables and chipset-specific memory regions. Memory mapping awareness is therefore of high importance when analyzing low-level code that accesses specific memory regions (like bootloaders or device drivers).

Innovations in EV and connected transportation. - Mouser Electronics has released a new eBook in collaboration with TE Connectivity, exploring EVs and the rapidly evolving landscape of connected transportation. This new eBook highlights emerging engineering topics such as V2X ecosystems, fleet telematics with 5G, the future of high-powered EV charging and other design trends providing insights into the EV and connected transportation eMobility revolution.

Towards the quantum internet. - Quantum networks will be the infrastructure for many disruptive applications, such as efficient long-distance quantum communication and distributed quantum computing. A quantum communication testbed is now operational between Universität des Saarlandes (D) and Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft des Saarlandes Saarbrücken (D), with dimensions that can simulate real life applications. TOPTICA lasers control the quantum memories and synchronize the two network nodes.

Wireless module IoT range expanded. - Anglia Components has expanded its wireless module range with Telit Cinterion. After Telit's acquisition of Cinterion, Thales' cellular IoT product business, Anglia's existing partnership with Cinterion has been expanded to stock, sell and support the entire range of products and services from Telit Cinterion. Anglia's FAEs have been trained on the expanded offering.

Strategic partnership to exceed customer expectations. - Kollmorgen has announced a new partnership with RML Machinery. With over 40 years of hands-on experience, RML Machinery is acknowledged as a reliable and experienced one-stop-shop machine builder, specializing in customized system solutions and AGV applications.

Sustaining lithium-ion recycling plants. - Korea’s SungEel HiTech Co., Ltd., a specialist in lithium-ion battery recycling, has selected Emerson to provide advanced automation solutions in support of sustainable production and operational efficiency goals at the newest of three lithium-ion recycling plants located at SungEel’s Hydro Centre complex in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do.

Flowmeters market update 2023. - For more than three decades, ARC has been recognized globally for our detailed market analysis and unrivaled accuracy. A case in point is the Flowmeters market.

Reliable network infrastructures for oil and gas industry. - Companies in the oil and gas industry understand that to guarantee precise process automation and real-time monitoring for operations that run around the clock, they need robust, effective, and future-proof network solutions. Two real-world examples that demonstrate network reliability to these operations are provided in this article from Moxa.

Device certification and edge compatibility. - Advantech's products are now available in the Microsoft Azure Certified Device catalogue. This ensures customers get Internet of Things (IoT) solutions up and running quickly with hardware and software that has been pre-tested and verified to work with Azure IoT services.

Induction heating. - AMETEK Land supports industries including manufacturing, automotive, aerospace and construction with highly accurate and reliable temperature measurement solutions for induction and heat treating applications. The company offers a wide range of dedicated pyrometers, line scanners and thermal imagers to optimise these heating and processing applications. Induction heat treatment is a highly versatile technique widely used to alter the mechanical properties of materials including metals and alloys. However, accurate temperature control is crucial to achieve the desired temperature and material properties, and to control both the heating process and induction generator.

Sensor for flow in rivers, streams etc certified. - NIVUS initially demonstrated a prototype NivuFlow Stick in 2018, and received its first order for a commercial product in 2020. This was a response to the demand for a simple but accurate tool for measuring discharge flow rates in streams, rivers and channels. The company has just announcecd that their NivuFlow Stick has received an independent calibration certificate from METAS, the Federal Institute of Metrology in Switzerland.

Approaching the changes in cloud evolution. - Because of the wide range of requirements from other departments, such as operations, marketing, finance and maintenance, pre-planning is the key for any IIoT application. Leaders in both IT and OT must work together to decide on the degree of information that needs to be collected as well as what type of analytics are required. (Automation.com)

LIMS rapid enhancements. - Matrix Gemini version 6.11 has been released by Autoscribe Informatics. In the past twelve months there have been 6 new software releases. It is a testament to the agile approach of the development team that fully tested releases are available on average every two months.

The convergence of IT and OT monitoring. - The Centreon 23.10 software release among multiple enhancements, significantly simplifies the monitoring of industrial and edge environments by leveraging Raspberry Pi, a robust mini server on which a monitoring poller can run. This new application enables unprecedented visibility into industrial processes, assets, and infrastructure while reducing the cost and complexity of monitoring.

Innovation leadership recognised. - Seeq is a finalist of a 2023 Geo and Global AWS Partner Award, recognizing leaders around the globe playing a key role helping customers drive innovation and build solutions on Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Business fields restructuring announced. - steute Technologies has announced a comprehensive restructuring of its business fields. The company will now appear on the market with three divisions: Meditec, Leantec and Controltec. These new divisions are the result of a strategic repositioning in order to meet the current demands of the market and to provide a clearer orientation for customers.

Digitalised production simulated. - Digitalised production processes can be simulated in detail on a small scale with fischertechnik’s revolutionary Agile Production Simulation, for instance with a driverless transport system and quality control using artificial intelligence (AI). The compact simulation model provides a unique opportunity to learn about and simulate future technologies using a hands-on approach.