Optical transmission network co-operation. - Anritsu Corporation has joined the OpenROADM Multi-Source Agreement (MSA), which defines specifications that facilitate multi-vendor interoperability for optical transmission networks. Anritsu's participation in these efforts aims to enhance efficiency and flexibility of the optical transmission network.

Inductive at high speeds. - Measuring inductive distance sensors featuring IO-Link interface have been launched by Pepperl+Fuchs. The devices are suitable for Industry 4.0 applications and offer not only high-precision measurement capabilities, but also comprehensive information for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance.

3D sensors for quality inspection and metrology in North America. - SmartRay has expanded its sales and support in North America, bringing its expertise closer to customers in the region, particularly the automotive sector. Based in the Midwest, Erik Schilling, Sales Manager USA & Canada - JOSY, is an expert with a strong focus on SmartRay's automated weld inspection solution.
Pic right shows: Erik Schilling, newly appointed Sales Manager USA & Canada and Volker Weinmann, Global Sales Manager, JOSY.

Eric Wendt is Vice President of Supplier Management with Mouser Electronics.

'Unscheduled downtime!' - Unscheduled downtime can prove extremely costly and even be an organisation's downfall. When a production line suddenly stops it has the potential to disrupt the entire supply chain, leading to delays in product delivery and customer dissatisfaction. Teledyne FLIR specialize in the design and production of thermal imaging equipment including thermal cameras and sensors.

Panel PC set to revolutionise Industrial IoT. - A groundbreaking achievement in advancing IoT interoperability has been announced by Advantech. Their Arm-Based HMI TPC-100W series, featuring NXP's i.MX 8M Mini quad-core processor, has achieved Arm® SystemReady IR Certification.

Panel Computers for harsh environments. - Moxa has launched its MPC-3000 Series panel computers. Designed to address the diverse needs of industrial environments, the MPC-3000 panel computers offer a range of screen sizes, a robust feature set, and industry certifications aimed at reliability, durability, and versatility in demanding operating environments.

Intelligent power management. - Delta has announced the launch of its new SMART PDU I-Type power management unit. This innovative 1U DC distribution unit delivers unparalleled flexibility and control for telecom network operators, tower companies, data center planners, and infrastructure engineers. With up to 21 intelligent, programmable breakers and remote management capabilities, the SMART PDU I-Type optimizes power distribution while significantly reducing operational costs. Its compact design maximizes valuable rack space, making it an ideal solution for modern, space-constrained telecom and data center environments.

Revolutionising torque measurement. - The TorqSense SGR521 transducer from Sensor Teachnology, is a significant enhancement in their innovative TorqSense rotary strain gauge series. In addition to standard digital outputs such as RS232 and USB, the TorqSense SGR521 now features an optional Ethernet output, providing users with enhanced connectivity and data transfer capabilities. This allows for seamless integration with various systems and facilitates real-time monitoring and analysis.

More than just energy-efficient drives. - According to the German Environment Agency, electric drives in the industry and trade sectors consume nearly two fifths of the total electricity in Germany. Particularly electric drives and the aggregates powered by them therefore have a great and economic energy saving potential. With its highly efficient latest-generation IE5+ motors, system provider Nord DriveSystems offers an optimum solution for the significant reduction of energy and resource consumptions.

Managing energy. - Emerson has launched its new Energy Manager solution, a pre-engineered hardware and software offering designed to simplify industrial electricity monitoring with quick setup and intuitive operation. Ready out of the box, the Energy Manager solution monitors asset energy use in real time, allowing manufacturers to gain deeper insight into energy consumption and operating costs, lowering carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and maximize energy and operational efficiency.

OCV sensor. - The new DCR 1048i OCV sensor from Leuze, combines 1D/2D code reading with Optical Character Verification (OCV), enhancing quality control in industrial automation. They have expanded their Simple Vision portfolio with a powerful sensor for print quality verification:the DCR 1048i OCV .

Field data as actionable business data. - As part of its ongoing commitment to enhancing industry connectivity, Teledyne Gas & Flame Detection (Teledyne GFD) is making its new and proprietary Teledyne GDCloud™ available with the company's GS700, GS500 and Shipsurveyor portable gas leak detectors, as well as its PS200 portable four-gas monitor for personal safety and confined space applications. The integration of cloud connectivity significantly enhances the gas leak detection process by visualising all instrument data and turning it into actionable business insights.

Certified for secure product development. - Endress+Hauser has received the ISA/IEC 62443-4-1 certification for the secure development of products, thus laying a further building block for compliance with the European Cyber Resilience Act.

Connectors with heart! - The unique heart shape of the new. LV bolted connector from Pfisterer offers advantages when it comes to installation. It is suitable for all conductor shapes and types – including 120° sector. At the same time, the electrical and mechanical properties of the connectors have been significantly improved. The result is a new generation of bolted connectors that sets new standards.

Switches for Ex and extreme environmental conditions. - The steute business division Controltec recently introduced compact and robust solenoid interlocks for explosive zones to its range of safety switchgear. The Ex STM 515 series is now being further extended to include an "Extreme" variant. This means: the STM 515 "Extreme" can be used in adverse ambient conditions, such as dust, dirt, wet and vibrations.

Instrumentation excellence celebrated. - The 2024 Instrumentation Excellence Awards celebrated the very best of the instrumentation sector in a glittering ceremony in London. The event, sponsored by ABB, BWW Communications, ifm electronic, Micro-Epsilon, Napier and Vega Controls, brought together all the movers and shakers from the fields of test, measurement, control, sensors and monitoring. (Instrumentation Monthly)

Industrial scales. - Whether in production, retail or logistics, industrial scales ensure that processes run precisely and efficiently. However, to ensure that industrial scales deliver reliable and standardised results, they are subject to strict regulations. These regulations can vary greatly depending on the region and area of application, and ensure both accuracy and safety in the respective industries. Industrial scales such as Combics® and Signum® from Minebea Intec fulfil the highest international and local standards to meet the requirements of a wide range of markets.

Dan Barlow is new General Manager at Laser Components UK.

Compact Ex command devices. - A new series of Ex command devices currently being launched by the steute business division Controltec features flexible and direct integration in machine and plant enclosures within Ex zones 1 and 21. The Ex ES 97 series is based on the Ex 97 series of position switches. This series is already well established in complex application fields, most particularly explosive zones, and has dimensions to EN 50047.

Touch displays. - The latest STM32 Touch Display in a larger 10.1 inch size, from Inelco Hunter, expands the range of cost-effective STM32 displays. The screens incorporate PCAP Touch Technology, with a choice of sizes from 3.5" to the new 10.1".

WLAN tester enhanced. - An option that evaluates the RF transmit and receive characteristics of 2x2 MIMO as defined in IEEE 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7) for Anritsu's Wireless Connectivity Test Set MT8862A (WLAN Tester) has been introduced.

Embedded communication interface. - The Anybus CompactCom family offers a range of ready-made communication interfaces that can be embedded into any industrial machine or device, enabling connectivity to all major industrial networks. The new Anybus CompactCom B40 Mini adds a soldered-on option to the existing lineup of modules and pluggable bricks.

Durable, visible and functional display. - IDEC Corporation has expanded its operator interface (OI) family with its new HG1J Series touchscreen. This device uses the latest innovations to provide vivid visualizations and responsive multi-touch operation, all in an extremely compact form factor so the technology can be used in more applications than ever before. The HG1J Series is the successor of the HG1G Series HMIs, and it provides an upgrade path for existing installations.

Introduction to Codes and Standards for I & C Engineers. - If you're an instrumentation and controls engineer or studying to become one, this article from Control Automation introduces a few of the codes and standards with the largest influence on the discipline — including ISA-5.1, ISA-5.4 and ISA-101.01. (Denis Lynch, Amentum)

Laser power meter with calibration. - The PRONTO-250-FLEX laser power meter from GENTEC-EO offers flexible calibration options to ensure that customers only pay for the functions they actually use. The compact, handy device is exclusively distributed by Laser Components in Europe and is ideal for mobile use during maintenance and repair work.

Cost-efficient temperature sensor. - The STS4L is the latest addition to Sensirion's STS4x temperature sensor series and is the ideal solution for cost and space-sensitive applications. With adapted accuracy specifications, it offers top performance and industry-leading lead times.

Pocket-size mobile thermal camera. - The iSee Mobile Thermal Camera just launched by Fluke, is a pocket-sized, portable thermal camera with the resolution to deliver detailed image quality comparable to professional cameras, with full temperature range analysis. Utilized by inserting the hardware into a smartphone, the iSee Camera detects heat output, which can highlight abnormal temperatures easily and efficiently. Prioritizing the worker, the portability of the iSee camera is particularly beneficial for roles that require accurate thermal imaging from a safe distance or on the go.

#CINC24 Cyber conference report. -

Safety Symposium. - The HIMA Group, a global leader in safety-related automation solutions, proudly marked a significant milestone: the 50th anniversary of Sella Controls. On October 9, 2024, a safety symposium was held in Birmingham to commemorate this achievement, honouring Sella Controls' journey from its modest beginnings in Whaley Bridge to its status as a leader in safety and control systems, now part of the HIMA Group.

Entry level cellular routers. - Advantech has updated its ICR-2000/2400/2500/2600 series of industrial cellular routers. These routers are engineered to provide reliable wireless communication on mobile networks using traditional cellular technologies, with a focus on supporting Category 4 (Cat.4) services on LTE networks. The series also includes models utilizing the 450 MHz band, as well as Cat-M/Cat-NB technology with 450 MHz support.

Optimal performance of industrial switches. - One of those essential, although frequently misunderstood, features of an industrial Ethernet switch is Quality of Service, or QoS. Essentially, QoS is a set of technologies that prioritizes network resources to an organization's most important applications, data flows, or users. Sending prioritized packets ahead of other less important traffic guarantees the availability and consistency of network resources for mission critical applications and data integrity during periodic network congestion.

Partnership builds on Industrial Analytics and AI capabilities. - Seeq has announced a strategic partnership with AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software. Core to the partnership is the native integration between the two companies' platforms that will simplify access to operational data in context, enabling chemical, energy, metals, mining, and utility organizations to improve their operations and production outcomes.

i^² = j^² = k^² = ijk = -1 -
At Broome Bridge, William Rowan Hamilton had a eureka moment & came up with a new algebra he called quaternions. So excited was he by his discovery, he scratched the fundamental formula with his penknife on the bridge. His quaternions revolutionised algebra and would later help to put a man on the moon and be used for CGI in movies.

Chris Warnes is Managing Director at the new London offices of E-CUBE.

Excellence in environmental, social & governance (ESG). - Anglia has been presented with the prestigious award for 'Supplier Excellence in Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)' by Generac, a leading energy technology company headquartered in WI USA.

Measuring CO₂ emissions and Carbon capture. - Newly released software from Ex-i Flow Measurement Ltd enables their SFC3000 flow computer to calculate CO₂ emissions from gas fuelled industrial processes and power stations and also record carbon subsequently captured for storage facilities rather than being released into the atmosphere.

Honour for Ireland automation branch. -

Building an enterprise framework for SCADA system for better results. - Replacing a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system allowed California American Water to improve efficiency, compliance and reporting at a facility that had endured many challenges. (David Dudley in Control Engineering)

Unique Pressure gauges and thermometers with QR. - The stainless steel pressure gauges and mechanical thermometers from WIKA have been given a facelift. Their design now incorporates a "blue identity". All visible elastomer parts are coloured in the brand's characteristic blue. In addition, the gauges now have a QR code on the dial. This takes users directly to a standardised WIKA product passport with all the data on the respective instrument.

Which one of 18 million ways to detect air leak? - Although the sound produced by a small leak is inaudible to the human ear a high performance acoustic imaging camera such as the FLIR Teledyne Si2 – LD will have absolutely no problem identifying the source. Launched earlier this year the camera is capable of detecting leaks of 0.05 litres per minute at a distance of 10 metres, meaning those elevated air lines pose no problem for this latest instrument in the FLIR acoustic imaging camera line up.

Mobile air quality monitor. - Traditional air quality monitors have been anchored to one location, largely for reasons of size and power, but a new technology resolves that restriction and opens up a new world of opportunities in air quality management. 'Airly Orbital' is a compact, low-power device with built-in GPS and cellular communications to allow mobile air quality monitoring.

Masters of the air! -

High power PCB relay. - Omron Electronic Components Europe has launched the G7EB-E2 high power PCB relay. The relay is a new, higher capacity variant of the G7EB series, featuring enhanced current carrying and breaking capacity, providing a low footprint and cost-effective yet highly reliable alternative to contactors.

LIMS improvements in labs and industries. - Xybion has announced the launch of Xybion LIMS 10.0. Building on over 200 customer implementations, and the knowledge and experience of Autoscribe Informatics in LIMS and ELN software, combined with Xybion's over forty years of experience in building life sciences SaaS R&D LIMS and QMS software, Xybion LIMS 10.0 represents a major milestone in the LIMS industry. It presents users with a modern look and feel that provides an intuitive and user-friendly digital workspace.

Software verification. - The latest release of TrustInSoft Analyzer 2024.10 (TISA), which includes new and substantially updated features that streamline software testing workflows has been announced, significantly accelerating the testing process while ensuring compliance with strict industry safety and security standards.

PPE recognition for safety. - Innodisk has introduced an innovative AI-based InnoPPE recognition solution to improve safety and compliance in high-risk industrial environments. This solution ensures real-time detection of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including safety helmets and gloves, and seamlessly integrates with existing surveillance systems.

RS's Simon Meadmore is joining the Leadership Group of The Electronic Components Supply Network (ecsn).

Visualizing and automating equipment and machinery. - The SmartAXIS touch family from IDEC Corporastion has been updated with the new FT1J Series combined PLC+HMI. This device combines a built-in full function controller, both onboard and expandable I/O, and an advanced technology 4.3" touchscreen display, in a compact all-in-one form factor that is rightsized for visualizing and automating a wide range of applications. The FT1J Series builds on the success of the FT1A-C and -M Series 3.8" PLC+HMIs, which remain available, and provides designers with another size option.

Four-wire spiral hose launched. - Danfoss Power Solutions has launched its Aeroquip® by Danfoss GH493 four-wire spiral hose in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This premium hydraulic hose meets or exceeds four key industry standards in flexibility, lifetime, and working pressure — EN856 Type R12, EN856 Type 4SP, SAE 100R12, and ISO 18752 — offering reliable performance in demanding high-pressure mobile and industrial machinery applications.

Accurate testing of transformers boosted. - Transformers are a crucial part of electricity distribution and transmission networks, performing the important conversion steps between the very high voltage at which power is transmitted over long distances to intermediate voltages in local networks, then down to the 240 V or 120 V at which electricity is typically supplied to households and commercial users.

Updated DCS boosts plant efficiency and future-proof operations. - Leveraging 30 years of continuous innovation and reliability, ABB's updated Freelance 2024 distributed control system (DCS) offers greater plant adaptability, faster and more reliable device communication, improved system security, and seamless data exchange. The updated version ensures future-proof upgrades for existing projects and easy implementation in new projects.