Laser welder. - The new Branson™ GLX-1 Laser Welder, from Emerson, offers users flexibility to meet the growing demand for joining small, complex or delicate plastic components and assemblies. Its small footprint and modular design make it compatible for use in ISO-8 cleanroom environments, while an integral automation controller simplifies installation and interfaces with production robotics.

Rainfall and nickel concentration on environmental conditions. - A new continuous metals monitoring technology was recently trialled at a river by a Talc production plant in central Finland. The trial was conducted to assess the possibility of avoiding the need to sample and analyse large numbers of environmental water samples. The new monitoring technology employs Micro-Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy (µDOES®), and was supplied by the Finnish company Sensmet.

Embracing LIMS. - A new case study released by Autoscribe Informatics (A Xybion Company) highlights how CIA Labs has streamlined their approval process, reduced the burden of paperwork, and improved their overall turn-around times by adopting Autoscribe’s Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

Hydrogen-Powered vehicle fuel efficiency & reliability. - >The TESCOM™ HV-7000 Series two-stage pressure-reducing regulator,from Emerson, is designed to maximize fuel efficiency and improve reliability in hydrogen-powered vehicles. Easy to install, HV-7000 Series regulators provide stable pressure delivery, high reliability, and long service life for heavy-duty vehicles powered by fuel cells or hydrogen combustion engines.

Communication in energy parks. - Cepsa, one of Spain's largest integrated energy companies, operates two energy parks in the south of Spain. For years, employees at the plants have relied on Pepperl+Fuchs products to communicate with each other and document daily tasks such as maintenance. The introduction of 5G has now created new standards in terms of availability, network coverage, and latency, opening an opportunity to gradually replacing existing Smart-Ex® 02 inventory with the intrinsically safe Smart-Ex® 03 5G smartphone.

Accurate industrial lasers. - A range of high-precision Industrial Lasers from BEA Lasers is now available from BEC Distributors. The green and red laser modules are used to aid accurate, precision alignment.

Maximize production and enhance efficiency with AI. - Seeq and Equinor, an international energy company, have announced a multi-year commercial agreement for the Seeq Industrial Analytics and AI platform to be leveraged across Equinor’s global assets to further accelerate digital transformation outcomes.

Hydraulic hose replacement and repair on site. - Danfoss Power Solutions has launched its on-site hose assembly workshop program. The program brings hydraulic hose replacement and repair capabilities directly to construction, oil and gas, mining, and other sites where hydraulic equipment operates, minimising operational disruptions.

A tiny but practical camera... - This autofocus camera is tiny, but definitely not to be underestimated: The uEye XS from IDS Imaging Development Systems weighs just 12 grams and fits into almost any application with its size of just 26.4 x 23 x 21.7 mm. Thanks to its autofocus and 5 MP CMOS sensor, it delivers consistently sharp images and videos from a distance of just 10 cm – for example in hand-held scanners, on robotic arms or in passport photo machines. The uEye XS starter set is ideal for testing the camera. In addition to the compact USB2 camera, it includes a cable, a tripod adapter and a tripod.

Merger benefits environmental management and gas sensing. - ENVEA Inc., global leader in environmental management solutions, and California Analytical Instruments (CAI) the leading provider of continuous, online single and multi-gas analytical sensing technologies, have joined to form one group – CAI ENVEA Group.The formation of this new group will benefit the industry in multiple ways, offering a broader expertise by combining research and development as well as training, support and service.

Faster USB hubs. - The world’s first industrial USB Hubs certified by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) is now bwwn offered by Moxa. With USB 3.2 Gen 1 SuperSpeed 5 Gbps data transmission rates through every port, the new UPort USB 3.2 Series hubs deliver ten times the performance of USB 2.0, even in heavy-load applications.

Locating battery defects. - Battery manufacturers are being helped by AMETEK Surface Vision to improve quality and productivity by detecting and identifying defects in the production process with its industry-leading inspection system. Defect detection is a major consideration in battery inspection, as defects lead to product quality and safety issues as well as reduced productivity.

Ye olde analyser! - A competition to find the oldest working Signal gas analyser in the world has been inaugurated by the company. Any Signal customer can enter by emailing the serial number of their instrument along with a couple of photos, before 14th June 2024. There will also be a prize for the best photo – irrespective of the instrument’s age.

Precise liquid water analysis. - This innovative photometric analyzer is a rugged and reliable solutionand brings a new level of precision for liquid water analysis. It delivers flexible, real-time, online process analysis capability with robustness and reliability in a wide range of industrial applications, and is ideal for liquid water analysis in EDC, acetic acid, and acetone.

Using AI to Help Operators and Technicians - Reviewing use of Microsoft Teams in the manufacturing industries, Dominik Wee, corporate vice president of the manufacturing and mobility industry group at Microsoft, says it “continues to see strong and consistent double-digit year-over-year growth in frontline workers’ monthly use” of the application. Based on this insight, Wee contends that Microsoft can help “transform manufacturing facilities by augmenting the capabilities of the frontline with AI (artificial intelligence) to help free up workers to focus on higher-value tasks and activities.” (Automation World).
Domenico Traverso has been appointed as the president of its Fluid Conveyance division of Danfoss Power Solutions.

Industrial plugs and sockets. - Inelco Hunter has announced the availability of Amphenol's Industrial range of Plugs & Sockets, which combine toughness with ease of use and safety-critical features.

IS0 11898-2. - The nonprofit CiA (CAN in Automation) has developed the CAN SIC (signal improvement capability and the CAN SIC XL transceiver specifications. The related CiA 601-4 respectively CiA 610-3 have been submitted to the ISO standardization body for integration into the third edition of the ISO 11898-2. Unfortunately, the released standard contains some inconsistencies and not fixed findings. This is why CiA has released a corrigendum proposal for ISO 11898-2:2024, which has been developed jointly by CAN physical layer experts within the association.

BAS control series. - Contemporary Controls' line of Sedona controllers—the BAScontrol series and the Micro PC Edge series—are both compatible with the N4 Sedona Driver to deliver a one-tool solution for your Niagara N4 (version 4.11 or later). The BAScontrol series of unitary controllers are ideal for general purpose applications, such as controlling fan coils, heat pumps, lead-lag pump sequences, and constant volume air-handlers and RTUs. The Micro PC Edge controllers utilize technology developed for two highly popular micro PC platforms but designed for commercial applications.

Protection from catastrophic actuator failure. - Severe injury or death can be caused by the explosive forces released if a high-pressure spring-loaded actuator device fails, along with significant damage to equipment and facilities. However, there is often a lack of regular inspection and maintenance, and the risks have attracted little attention in terms of technology or regulation. A pioneering new energy containment safety device designed to reduce these risks has been launched by Survitec.

Displays for signs. - Sunlight readable, wide viewing angles and low power consumption. A range of large format e-Paper display modules have been introduced by Review Display Systems (RDS). Three e-Paper display modules are available initially, these include a monochrome 13.3-inch display, a colour 25.3-inch display and a monochrome 31.2-inch display.

A new era in field testing for diverse applications. - The Site Master MS2085A Cable and Antenna Analyzer and the MS2089A with Integrated Spectrum Analyzer groundbreaking test and measurement instrumentation have been unveiled by Anritsu. These latest entries to the Anritsu lineup are designed from the ground up to further cement Anritsu's dominance in the installation and maintenance arena and to also address the multifaceted demands of the general-purpose market. They redefine industry standards for functionality, precision, and user-friendly operation, marking a transformative leap forward in field testing technology.

Breakthrough in powertrain innovation. - University College London's (UCL) HyperMile Racing Team proudly announces a pioneering advancement in automotive technology aimed at revolutionising efficiency in the Shell Eco-Marathon. Harnessing the power of Sensor Technology's TorqSense rotary torque transducer, the team has developed an innovative powertrain system poised to redefine performance standards in the eco-racing sphere.

The importance of metrology in modern industry. - On the occasion of World Metrology Day on May 20, 2024, Bruno Martin, Director Quality Management & Director Metrology at Minebea Intec, gave an expert interview. In this interview he sheds light on the fundamental role of metrology in modern industry and explains why precise measu-rements are essential for product quality assurance and reliability.

Ethylene producer's furnace operations. - A large US ethylene producer has been provided with 28 thermal imagers by Ametek Land. This is to provide continuous, highly precise, temperature measurements for optimum process control in its four cracking furnaces. Ethylene is a key element in a range of everyday items from plastics to polymers and is produced by cracking hydrocarbon feedstocks at high temperatures with steam.

Ultrasonic imaging solutions for manufacturing, utility, and process industries. - Teledyne FLIR has announced a business and technology partnership to provide industrial customers with leading-edge predictive maintenance solutions, beginning with the FLIR Si2-Series of acoustic imaging cameras: Si2-Pro, Si2-LD, and Si2-PD.
Danfoss Power Solutions has appointed Xianwei (Roy) Chen as the president of its Editron division.

Robotics challenge. - Their 2024 Robotics AI Startup Challenge has been announced by ABB Robotics. This is a global competition designed to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions in robotics. The challenge is part of ABB’s ecosystem for innovation, with a previous challenge resulting in the acquisition of Sevensense in January 2024.

Pressure sensors with gel protection. - Gel-protected pressure sensors in SMD housings from AMSYS, are very popular due to their wide range of applications, whether in pneumatics, wearables or medical technology. This inexpensive yet robust design is now also available in a version for relative pressure up to 2 bar.

Contactless data and power transmission. - The advantages of contactless connectivity are many. It not only ensures reliable transmission, but also makes maintenance considerably easier and enables an almost unlimited number of mating cycles. By using RoProxCon®, from Rosenberger, both data and power can be transferred efficiently, e.g. in turntable mechanisms and robot arms. The robust connectors are able to withstand high shock loads and transmit 30 W of electrical power via inductive coupling.

Discussing ultrasonic flowmeters. - Dr. Jesse Yoder speaks with Process Instrumentation's chief editor Jesse Osborne about the interworking and best uses of ultrasonic flowmeters.

The future of checkweigher operation has arrived! - New standards are been set by Minebea Intec with its latest innovation, the "Blue HMI" user interface for checkweighers. The interface enables intuitive operation and thus offers maximum user-friendliness. The new generation of Minebea Intec checkweighers can be configured, controlled, tested and audited more easily with Blue HMI.

All-in-one gateway for worldwide use. - HMS Networks has announced significant updates to the Netbiter solution for remote management of field equipment. The new Netbiter EC360W gateway now comes with a fully revamped graphical user interface for Netbiter Argos Cloud to enhance user experience.

New range of test and measurements tools. - Extech has just announced the launch of its new series of measurement tools. This latest offering includes the advanced EX-series of multimeters and clamp meters, the innovative IAQ320 air quality monitor, and the versatile BR450W borescopes. These tools are engineered to offer exceptional value without compromising on the critical aspect of safety.

MES integration simplified. - Körber has certified Syntegon, a global manufacturer of pharmaceutical process and packaging technology, as “PAS-X MSI Plug & Produce Ready”. This cooperation aims to enable seamless integration of PAS-X MES, their leading Manufacturing Execution System (MES), with Syntegon's systems. This is particularly relevant for joint customers in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and cell and gene therapy industries.

High temperature relays. - Omron Electronic Components Europe has addressed the need for denser packed onboard relays with the introduction of higher temperature relays that provide Class-F coil insulation.

Silver lining to air quality aid withdrawal. - Following the disappointing news that the British Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has withdrawn funding for the latest round of Local Air Quality Grants, the air quality instrumentation company Airly has announced two cost-free offers that it hopes will allow councils to make progress on their air quality monitoring programs.

Safety in oil and petroleum transfer operations. -= Danfoss Power Solutions has launched its Boston by Danfoss EHP530 and EHP531 antistatic hoses. Designed for oil, fuel, and gas transfer applications, the hoses increase safety, reliability, and ease of use. Suitable for suction and discharge applications, EHP530 and EHP531 antistatic hoses enhance safety by protecting against static buildup and discharge.

Ultrafast laser solution. - The FemtoFiber ultra series, from Toptica, is the next generation of femtosecond fiber lasers designed specifically for multi-photon microscopy, two-photon lithography and semiconductor inspection.

Innovative mobile robot with AI. - The first Flexley Tug T702 autonomous mobile robot equipped with AI-based Visual SLAM navigation technology and the new AMR Studio software has been announced by ABB Robotics. This enables first-time robot users to easily program and operate entire fleets of mobile robots. The new capabilities simplify configuration and can reduce commissioning time by up to 20 percent, paving the way for a workplace where intelligent robots operate autonomously, amid a critical shortage of skilled labour.

Laser sharp website. - Laser Components has completely redesigned its Internet presence. This not only affects the external appearance: the entire content architecture has been reorganized. This strongly customer-oriented structure was based on a comprehensive market and customer analysis.

Basics of remote Input/Outputs (I/O). - Henry Martel of Antaira, mantains that ac strong comprehension of what I/O or "input/output" is required to navigate the world of industrial control and automation.

Pressure valves for high-precision manufacturing. - The AVENTICSTM Series 625 Sentronic Proportional Pressure Control Valves has been announced by Emerson. With a control deviation of less than 0.5%, the new valves are designed to deliver highly accurate, electronic proportional pressure control and provide the flexibility needed to support sophisticated pneumatic control engineering applications. Data acquisition software (DaS) software included with Series 625 Sentronic valves also make it possible to quickly startup, monitor and control valves directly on a PC.

Expert-driven insights for accelerated value across the enterprise. - The launch of the an Industrial Enterprise Monitoring Suite, the Seeq Vantage, Seeq's first industrial enterprise monitoring app, was announced at the company's global industry conference, Conneqt 2024, in Miami (FL USA). The Seeq Industrial Enterprise Monitoring Suite provides a comprehensive, automated view into operational performance—past and present. This broader view enables better decision making and continuous improvement across today’s complex, industrial ecosystems.

Miniature liquid flow sensor platform for subcutaneous drug delivery. - In the changing landscape of the healthcare industry, Sensirion's SLD3x series is contributing to the improvement of subcutaneous drug delivery with miniature, and highly accurate digital liquid flow sensors. Customizable solutions ensure optimal dosing and enhanced patient safety forvarious subcutaneous therapies.

Software for OPC and IoT cloud. - > Softing Industrial Automation has released the latest version V5.35 of dataFEED OPC Suite to offer comprehensive support for SINUMERIK 840D CNC machines as well as the integration of web services.

Switches to provide added features. - In keeping with its mission to future-proof industrial networks, Moxa has upgraded its flagship EDS-4000/G4000 Series of controlled Ethernet switches with support for MX-NOS firmware version 4.0 (V4.0). The new firmware brings enhanced diagnostics, hardened security measures, and more powerful capabilities to the world’s first IEC 62443-4-2 certified line of Ethernet switches. The EDS-4000/G4000 Series now numbers 68 switch models, all designed to accelerate digital transformation in industrial spaces such as power, transportation, maritime, and factory automation.

Hybrid connector system. - The MX-DaSH family of data-signal hybrid connectors just introduced by Molex unify power, signal and high-speed data connectivity in a single connector system. These innovative wire-to-wire and wire-to-board connectors are designed to support the transition to zonal architecture and address the full range of emerging applications requiring reliable data transmission. These include autonomous driving modules, camera systems, GPS and infotainment devices, LiDAR, high-resolution displays, sensor-device connectivity and more.

The latest in test excellence. - Emerson’s Test and Measurement business, formerly NI, has announced its premier NI Connect event will showcase the latest in intelligent NI test and measurement technologies driving innovation and enhancing business performance. The event for test and measurement customers and business and technology leaders runs May 21-22 in Austin, Texas.

Environmental, Social and Governance - The first Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report has been presented by WIKA recently – two years before required by law. This confirms the company’s commitment to sustainability and transparent reporting.

Printed & flexible sensors explored. - Sensors act as a middle ground between the physical and digital. They measure all sorts of variables from touch, temperature, and heart rate across many different sectors, which IDTechEx’s report “Printed and Flexible Sensors 2024-2034: Technologies, Players, Markets” explores in detail. As technology continues to become streamlined and autonomous, there is a great demand for multi-functionality and seamlessness, meaning a high demand for sensors that can be printed and applied to flexible surfaces. This report explores the main sectors where this technology is in most demand.

3/5/2024

Advancing air quality management through AI. - Innodisk has taken a pivotal step forward in environmental sustainability with the launch of its latest innovation, the "iCAP Air" air quality management solution. This solution empowers businesses worldwide to enhance air quality, sustainability, and human health. Additionally, business can benefit from monthly AI-generated air quality data report, providing valuable insights for informed decision-making.

Transparent flow of goods. - Pepperl+Fuchs is expanding its RFID portfolio with a new UHF reader, the IUR-F800-V1D-4A*, for connecting external antennas, especially for use in gate applications in logistics. The company has been providing reliable RFID systems for industrial applications for over three decades. In factory automation, these systems are primarily operated with PLCs to ensure safe processes and transparency in production.



Advanced process control increases polyester production. - The world-leading producer of high-tech polymer materials, Covestro, is being helped by Emerson to enhance the operational performance and sustainability of its manufacturing facility in Barcelona (ES). As part of a continuous plant improvement programme aimed at reducing emissions from production and external energy sources to net zero by 2035, Covestro has optimised the esterification process used to produce polyester.

Portable furnace thermal imaging system. - A lightweight Portable Furnace Thermal Imaging System for use in harsh environmental conditions has been launched by AMETEK.It is small and light and fits easily into Pelican flight cases, allowing it to be transported to and around plant locations easily. This means it is ideal for performing regular inspections and surveys, leading to prolonged furnace lifespans, optimised burner efficiency, reduced energy consumption, and improved plant profitability.

Regenerative AC/DC electronic load converter and grid simulator. - The GE&EL+ vAC/DC SiC, from Cinergia, the most complete and versatile Regenerative AC/DC Electronic Load Converter and Grid Simulator on the market has been introduced by Intepro Systems. The GE&EL+ vAC/DC SiC offers revolutionary new regenerative AC/DC technology. Starting at 50kW the device is ideal for testing a wide range of applications, including renewable energy, power HIL (hardware in the loop), smart grids, batteries, and electric vehicles. This device is both an AC and DC grid emulator and can also works as a load.