Spectrum analyser enhancement. - Anritsu Company is expanding the analysis bandwidth along with the addition of a Tracking Generator option for the Field Master Spectrum Analysers. These spectrum analysers provide benchtop performance in a ruggedised handheld battery power format that has made them indispensable for RF engineers working in a wide range of communication industries.

Virtual process line visualisation. - EMG is renowned for its expertise in flat materials production and processing, especially steel and aluminum. Whether in the hot or cold section, on coating, annealing, galvanising or tinning lines - their systems have become an integral part of ensuring quality, stability, and process control in demanding production environments. Now EMG has launched a digital process line visualisation tool on its website - a highly intuitive and interactive resource for anyone seeking clarity, insight, and product information.

How to handle the deadtime that hampers process control. - Deadtime is the interval between the application of a control effort and its first discernible effect on the process variable. Deadtime is most common in processes that involve a transport delay between the actuators and the sensors, such as water flowing through a bathroom's plumbing from the hot water valve to the shower head. (Control Engineering)

Easy monitoring of robot fleets. - Remote monitoring, fault identification, visualisation and optimisation of robot fleets – all of these actions can be performed conveniently, securely, and efficiently with the SCOPE platform, which Stäubli has now made even more powerful with a recent update.

Weighing in explosive areas. - Safety is a top priority for any business, especially when it comes to operations in potentially explosive environments. Mettler Toledos' comprehensive guide provides the knowledge to choose Ex-area-approved weighing solutions that meet your specific process requirements and regulations.

NbTi cable for cryogenic applications. - Intelliconnect (Europe) is an authorised distributor for Niobium/Titanium (NbTi) cable manufactured in the USA by their sister company EZ Form Cable. Suitable for operation down to millikelvin (mK) temperatures, this cable is widely used in Quantum Computer, Ai and other research applications.

Handheld thermal imagers affirm commitment to continuous improvement. - al imaging spot temperature cameras: the FLIR TG268 and TG298 have been released by Flir. They are built on the robust success of the FLIR TG267 and TG297 and provide professionals in the utility, manufacturing, electrical, automotive, and industrial sectors with lightweight, handheld, affordable condition monitoring tools featuring a number of key improvements.

Manage, automate and digitalise operationsin life science. - TrackWise Manufacturing is an artificial intelligence (Ai)-assisted, cloud-native platform just introduced by Honeywell. It is designed to transform how life sciences companies manage, automate and digitalize operations. The platform is one of the first in the life sciences industry to offer a revolutionary new approach to workflow management that bridges the gap between the digital and physical manufacturing environments.

Panel PC has integrated controller. - Inelco Hunter has announced the availability of a new 10.1-inch Panel PC, which features an integrated controller board, making it particularly suitable for applications requiring speed combined with a powerful processing capability. A 12-inch Panel PC version is also available.

Digital dissolved oxygen sensor. - The release of the Rosemount™ 490A Optical Dissolved Oxygen Sensor has been announced by Emerson. This is a digital Modbus-enabled measurement device designed to enhance operational flexibility, simplify installation and reduce maintenance costs across many industrial applications in the water/wastewater treatment, biopharmaceutical manufacturing, food and beverage processing, and steam power generation industries.

Legacy replacement testing. - Seica SpA has intruduced the new VALID LR system, designed to provide a solution for customers looking to replace legacy test systems which are no longer supported by the original manufacturers. The native multi-resource architecture of the Valid LR gives it the flexibility and performance required for the seamless migration of existing test programs and fixtures, while preserving original fault coverage, ensuring a smooth transition for users.

Benefit for automation professionals. - The International Society of Automation (ISA) has launched Connect Forums on their ISA Connect platform, enabling members to exchange ideas and expertise on various automation topics within a members-only community. Members engage with automation professionals across sectors, dive deep into cutting-edge automation topics and get real-time answers to their toughest questions. The focus is on technologies that cross-industry segments, allowing members to get insights from anywhere.

Connect distributor of the year. - Mouser Electronic has been awarded the 2024 Global and Americas Distributor of the Year Awards from Harwin, the manufacturer of interconnect components. Harwin cited Mouser's continued expansion of the Harwin market share, combined with strong sales revenue, as basis for the awards.

Industrial AI Moves from Hype to Reality - Hannover Messe 2025, themed "Energizing a Sustainable Industry," proved to be a vital pulse check for the industrial sector. This year’s event offered a clear snapshot of an industry in the midst of significant change. A set of tightly connected themes stood out across discussions and showcases, highlighting the emerging priorities and technological pathways steering the future of manufacturing and industrial operations. Here’s a closer look at the four most prominent trends from Colin Masson (ARC Advisory).

Seamless bi-directional HART data transmission. - A significant feature update for the HES HART to Ethernet Gateway System has been introduced by Moore Industries. This introduces HART Tunneling which enables remote communication with HART field devices. This new feature allows seamless bi-directional HART data transmission between PC-based HART software applications and HES connected field devices over Ethernet.

Verifying indoor-penetrable RIS technology. - Accurate and flexible measurement environments are becoming essential in the research of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) technology, which is gaining attention as a next-generation high-frequency communication solution. In a recent demonstration by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) of Korea, Anritsu’s vector network analyser (VNA) MS46122B was utilized as a key measurement instrument, proving high-precision performance even in compact setups.

Stepper motors. - The humble stepper can offer surprising cost effectiveness with uncompromised performance at extra low voltage. The new, optimised EMMB-ST and EMMT-ST stepper motor family from Festo can be used in conjunction with the CMMT-ST servo drive controller to create a coordinated servo system at an attractive price. The stepper motor family includes models designed for regular and advanced industrial automation applications, enabling machine builders and system designers to choose the most cost-efficient option.

Optical aerosol analyser. - Unlock essential data for unmatched precision in air quality monitoring. A new, cutting-edge Optical Aerosol Spectrometer designed for real-time particulate matter (PM) monitoring, delivering ultra-precise data in any environment has been launched by ENVEA. The OPM250 is a next-generation analyzer with a unique counting efficiency design for improved measurement accuracy and high-quality data. With a wide particle size range from 0.178µm to 29.4µm, the OPM250 is suitable for urban air quality monitoring, industrial emissions monitoring and scientific environmental research, as well as in-vehicle use due to vibration resistance.

Reflections on Hannover Messe 2025 - It's been quite a week globally with US imposed tariffs, reshaping international trade dynamics, to understate things slightly. Against this backdrop, Hannover Messe proved to be the perfect stage for exploring how industry can navigate these challenges while accelerating innovation and sustainability. (E42 Pty Ltd's Glen Fry gives his thoughts.)

Is Ai Food Manufacturing’s Recipe for Success? - Manufacturers in the food and beverage industry who successfully adopt Ai will see the biggest benefits from the careful combination of computer vision for improved quality control and machine learning for predictive maintenance. (Automation World)

Multispectral infrared imaging. - FLIR MIX, an advanced multispectral imaging solution designed to bring greater detail and accuracy to infrared imaging has been launched by Teledyne Flir. By blending thermal and visible-light imagery, FLIR MIX gives researchers and engineers a powerful new way to analyse, interpret, and share complex thermal environments with greater accuracy.

Duncan Schleiss has been inducted into the Process Automation Hall of Fame.

Ultrasonic welder. - Emerson is to launch the first model in its next-generation Branson™ Polaris Ultrasonic Welding Platform, an innovative, entry-level system that provides the flexibility and control capability to meet diverse manufacturing needs. This model, the Branson Polaris Integrated Welder (IW), offers intuitive and ergonomic design to streamline operation and serviceability with actuator, power supply and process controls in a single unit.

Why Ai needs its hand held. - Ai-powered tools are everywhere now, promising us less effort and better results. Sounds great, right? Well, as anyone with previous experience who’s actually brought them into their campaigns knows, the reality can be quite different. (BMon)

Keeping an eye on the volcano! - > Following the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in La Palma in 2021, the National Geographic Institute (Instituto Geográfico Nacional - IGN) has strengthened its system for monitoring volcanic activity on the island with a new gas detection tool. The FLIR G343 OGI camera, supplied by Apliter Termografía, can identify carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in real time with high accuracy, improving risk assessment capabilities in areas affected by volcanic activity.

Metal bellows coupling. - > Despite constant or increasing overall performance, modern and innovative mechanical engineering is characterized by decreasing external dimensions. This development can also be observed in the area of drive technology. The necessary connecting elements play an important role. The KPS metal bellows coupling from JAKOB Antriebstechnik, shows what it can do.

Cooperation for industrial intelligence. - Seeq has launched its latest software product, Seeq for CONNECT, featuring seamless integration with AVEVA’s industrial intelligence platform CONNECT. This launch represents a significant milestone for Seeq and AVEVA emphasising both companies’ dedication to collaborative innovation and specialized software solutions tailored to meet the unique market demands of the process manufacturing industry.

Instant digital transformation of industrial plants. - The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) relies on comprehensive sensor and process data from the field level. Pepperl+Fuchs, together with Bosch Digital Twins Industries and Syntax, showcased (at HM25) a joint product that demonstrates how easily aggregated data can be transferred to established cloud platforms such as AWS and MS-Azure.

Don't throw away those probes... - The measurement technology company Vaisala and the logistics services provider H.Essers have cooperated to develop a bespoke monitoring solution for multiple sites across Europe, with a focus on sustainability. In addition to protecting the environmental conditions experienced by goods throughout the supply chain, the monitoring solution also allows for humidity and temperature probes to be reused.

Driving More Effective/Efficient OT Cybersecurity - The 2025 ARC Industry Forum Cybersecurity program provided attendees with an overview of the latest developments in the ever changing world of industrial operations and cybersecurity. This session explored user views and adoption of new strategies to improve security efficiency and effectiveness. (Sid Snitkin)

Hannover Messe 2025 "A new chapter for industry has begun ..." - The exhibiting companies have impressively demonstrated that, technologically, we hold all the cards for competitive, sustainable and innovative production in Germany and Europe. The trade fair has provided industry with orientation and given it a boost – in what really are challenging times. In many conversations, exhibitors reported a burgeoning confidence that now needs to be consolidated.

High-precision metrology. - SmartRay is launching the smallest field-of-view 3D sensor of its cutting-edge ECCO X series which will deliver advanced inline metrology to an expanding range of challenging industries. The ECCO X 012 model represents a game-changing development for high-precision automated inspection in applications such as BGA (Ball Grid Array) inspection, PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) inspection and wafer inspection, as well as medical applications and other small Field of View (FOV) applications.

Lifecycle change management. - Software capabilities drive increased collaboration across the enterprise for better business outcomes. Version 6.LTS of Emerson's DeltaV™ Mimic dynamic simulation software has been launched. The software has been enhanced to support performance and collaboration across the enterprise, helping eliminate silos of data that limit visibility into operator performance and providing tools to create digital twin simulations that deliver continuous value far beyond project execution.

Direct drive linear motors. - >An addition to its Kollmorgen's IC Ironcore DDL motor family has been announced. This expands beyond 230 VAC products with a new capability to support 400/480 VAC-powered applications. The new direct drive linear motor delivers a continuous force range up to 8,211 N and peak force up to 13,448 N. When powered at higher bus voltages, the motor is inherently capable of delivering its rated force at higher speeds, making it ideal for applications like machine tools, semiconductor manufacturing, battery production and industrial automation that require rapid and precise movement of heavy loads.

Flow & environmental sensor manufacturer expands facility. - The expansion of Sensiron's production facility in Debrecen, (H) has been completed. The additional building comprises roughly 7,000 m2 of new production and logistics capacity. This will significantly increase production capacity for sensor modules to support Sensirion’s ambitious growth objectives. Sensirion is also strengthening its position as an attractive employer with secure jobs and good working conditions at its Debrecen site.

Machine vision camera. - The launch of an ultra-high resolution industrial camera that merges the power of a Sony 245.8-megapixel CMOS area sensor with the lightning-fast CoaXPress-12 (CXP-12) quad interface hs been announced by SVS-Vistek. One of the most advanced cameras ever introduced, the new SVS-Vistek shr811CCX12 enables the acquisition of precise, detail-rich 19200 x 12800 pixel color images at data transfer speeds of 12.4 frames per second to significantly improve quality, reliability, and yield.

Dr Nathalie Huther is the new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)with High Force Research.

Continual power supply for critical infrastructure. - The recent power outage at London’s Heathrow airport resulted from a substation transformer fire, which highlights the importance of the early detection of problems in critically important infrastructure. As demand grows for continuous transformer monitoring, Vaisala has released a new enhanced version of its Optimus™ OPT100 DGA monitor by adding oxygen and nitrogen parameters.

High spec shielded connectors. - The ERNI MicroSpeed 1.00mm connectors from TE Connectivity improve data transfer speed and reliability in industrial automation applications. This shielded connector family with 1.00mm pitch enables high-speed data applications up to 25Gbit/s and are available through TTI IP&E – Europe .

Asset management software improves user experience and enhanced cybersecurity. - The release of AMS Machine Works version 1.8 by Emerson is helping reliability teams eliminate data silos and expand their capabilities. This latest software update unites all modern AMS condition monitoring hardware data under a single platform to help organizations simplify management and increase cybersecurity of their reliability programs in a wide range of process industries, including oil and gas, chemical, life sciences, mining, metals, minerals, water, power and utilities, pulp and paper and more.

Emerging technologies shaping the ICS industry! - The Ireland Section's Emerging Technologies Conference 2025 was held in early April 2025 in Cork. It explored the upcoming technologies that are shaping the ICS industry particulary in the Pharma sector which is so innovative in the Munster (South of Ireland Province) area. Industry leaders, experts and professionals, designers and users, met to explore the latest trends, innovations, and technologies shaping the future of automation.