“Letterbox” display. - The new Powertip 3.9 Inch Bar-Type display, is the latest addition to Inelco Hunter's “Letterbox” range of touch panels. The display features a high-resolution screen with a full viewing angle.

Power Transformer respects the environment. - A first-of-its-kind Ester Oil-Immersed Power Transformer has been released to the market by smart energy solutions leader, CHINT, offering a sustainable alternative for use in the energy infrastructure.

OT Cybersecurity Conference. - The Ireland Section of the International Society of Automation is holding the second OT Cybersecurity Conference in Mullingar* in November 2024. It is being organised in partnership with Cyber Ireland. Entitled Ensuring Continuous Compliance: Navigating NIS2 for Secure and Resilient OT Systems, it will concentrate on several current aspects including legal directives. A call for papers was released recently.

EMC filters. - The MF423-4-3D-BS Three Phase EMI Filter Series from EMIS provides superior performance at significant interference levels, essential for reducing electrical noise and ensuring clean supply of power in a wide range of applications from renewable energy to industrial machinery.

Short Wave Infrared cameras. - The Forge®️ 1GigE SWIR (Short Wave Infrared) 1.3 MP camera has been introduced by Teledyne FLIR IIS. The first camera in this SWIR series is equipped with a wide-band and high-sensitivity Sony®️ SenSWIR™️ 1.3 MP IMX990 InGaAs sensor. The advanced sensor captures images across both visible light and SWIR light spectrums (VisSWIR) with 5μm pixels, providing an extended spectral range from 400nm to 1700nm.

Pressure Transmitter for hydrogen. - The AST2000 and AST4000 from AMSYS, offers two variants of a pressure transducer specially certified for applications with hydrogen. These pressure sensors are suitable for use in fuel cells, hydrogen storage tanks and filling stations with the EC79 certificate. The sensors are made from a single piece of stainless steel without oil filling and welded seams to prevent inclusions and leaks from the outset.

Managing large groups of data collection agents or telemetry fleets. - The launch of Fleet Data Management, a new solution designed to upgrade traditional telemetry from a static system to a dynamic, adaptable framework has been announced by Apica. This framework is not just a one-size-fits-all, but it's tailored to meet the specific operational requirements of modern businesses, ensuring compatibility and reassurance.

OT targeted by cybercriminals. - Operational Technology (OT) networks have increasingly become targets for cybercriminals. To address this growing threat, Moxa has introduced its new EDF-G1002-BP Series of 2-port Gigabit LAN firewalls. Moxa EDF-G1002-BP Series firewalls protect mission-critical assets in infrastructures such as Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), water treatment centers, distributed control systems, and PLC/SCADA in factory automation, helping operators improve network security and uptime.

Strategic process technology partnership. - A joint memorandum of understanding for a strategic partnership was signed by SICK and Endress+Hauser last October. Since then, the project has been examined and plans for implementing the cooperation have been drawn up. Following approval by the respective supervisory bodies, representatives of both companies have now signed a corresponding agreement. The closing of the transaction is planned for the turn of the year 2024/2025 and is subject to approval by antitrust authorities.

Operational technology cybersecurity: Easier said than done! - How do engineers deal with construction challenges associated with implementing cybersecurity in operations technology? This article in Control Engineering, will discuss the lack of experience system integrators have with cybersecurity and the lack of experience cybersecurity implementation firms have with design/bid/build project delivery.

Energy effects the environment. - This book from the pen of David W Spitzer of Spitzer & Boyes, uses science and data to examine the effects of energy on the environment and current strategies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Although carbon dioxide mitigation may be beneficial, they have not halted or reversed the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Mono displays. - A range of Monochrome LCDs for applications that do not require a colour display has been announced by Inelco Hunter. The advantages of a monochrome display are lower cost, lower power consumption and lower processing requirements. The Transflective type LCD screens combine low power with high brightness, making them suitable for sunlight-readable portable products.

PoE switches in automation. - Industrial automation is a complex and rapidly evolving field that requires robust and versatile networking solutions. One technology that has emerged as a key enabler of automation is Power over Ethernet (PoE), which combines power and data transmission over a single Ethernet cable. (Automation.com)

AI and air quality. - The Seminar programme at this year’s Air Quality & Emissions show (AQE 2024 19-10 October 2025 Birmingham GB) will feature a presentation on the use of AI in air quality by Airly co-founder and CEO Wiktor Warchalowski. The seminar, free to attend, will begin at 10:30am on the second day.

Identifying people, products and places. - Gravotech, an international leader in the marking and engraving markets for over 80 years, has announced its acquisition by Brady Corporation, the international manufacturer and marketer of complete solutions that identify and protect people, products and places.

Gas analyser certified to to EN15267-4 QAL1. - The portable analyzer GT6000 Mobilis, from Gasmet Technologies, launched in 2023, has received EN15267-4 QAL1 certification (MCERTS). The EN15267-4 QAL1 certification for the GT6000 Mobilis further establishes Gasmet as a trusted partner for customers seeking accurate and reliable gas analysis in various applications.

Funding for industrial analytics leader. - A $50 million (€46m) Series D funding round led by leading global investment firm Sixth Street Growth has been closed by Seeq. Participating also are existing investors including Insight Partners, Altira Group, Second Avenue Partners, and Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures. This round brings Seeq’s total funding to approximately $165 million (€151m). Nari Ansari, Managing Director at Sixth Street Growth, will join Seeq’s Board of Directors

Unlocking AMR Vision capabilities. - Innodisk has announced its cooperation with Advantech. This collaboration leverages Innodisk's customizable MIPI camera modules and Advantech's Intel x86-based AFE-R360 solution to enhance AI-powered object detection and recognition capabilities, expanding visual applications for Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) in smart factories, warehouses, and retail environments.

Extended switch product range for port technology. - An extended range of switchgear products is being launched by steute with DNV approvals. These switching devices have been developed for applications often involving exposure to damp and wet (including saltwater). Their key features also include a wide temperature range (down to -60oC, depending on the series).

Self-contained microwave spectrum monitor. - The latest innovation from Anritsu enables users to integrate their well known spectrum analysis technology into any platform or system. Their MS27200A is a self-contained microwave spectrum monitor module that goes all the way from 9 kHz up to 54 GHz with onboard processing. The module has 110 MHz Real-Time Spectrum Analysis (RTSA) bandwidth with a DANL of -164 dBm (with preamp), which means the module is capable of receiving the most faint and intermittent signals.

Hybrid connectors. - Modern automotive E/E architectures use both high-speed data connectors for differential data transmission, for example for automotive Ethernet, as well as classic signal and power connectors, for example for CAN or LIN bus. The cooperation between ept and Rosenberger integrates both types in combined hybrid connectors which can be assembled on the printed circuit board using either conventional soldering technology or the advantageous press-fit technology.

Solvent waste. - EnOcean to BACnet Gateway is part of a solution, from Contemporary Controls, that Argento Scientific used for biopharmaceutical companies that need to prevent solvent waste overflow. Solvent waste, such as methanol, acetonitrile, sodium hydroxide and other hazardous chemicals, requires safe and dependable waste management solutions. Spills present potential dangers to both health and environment.

How to assess HMI hardware buying decisions. - With so much demand for HMI technology, there is no shortage of available HMI hardware. This means that choosing the best device for your application requires serious examination of the options. To navigate these considerations, Automation World spoke with seven industry experts