Gravotech is an international manufacturer and marketer of engraving, marking and traceability solutions addressing applications of personalization, identification and signage. Gravotech’s product portfolio includes innovative and high performing marking and engraving machines based on laser and mechanical technologies, and a comprehensive range of engraving materials and consumables. Over the years, Gravotech has become a key player and industrial partner for many major industrial corporations as well as luxury goods manufacturers and retailers.
Arnaud Linquette, President and CEO of Gravotech said, “The sale of Gravotech to a market leader in printing and high-performance adhesive material solutions provides us with an excellent opportunity to expand into new markets and generate long-term profitable growth. Over the past several years, we have enhanced our new product development and manufacturing capabilities and broadened our portfolio of precision direct part marking and engraving solutions. We look forward to further developing and growing our business with Brady.”
“We are pleased to welcome the Gravotech team to Brady,” said Brady’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Russell R. Shaller. “Gravotech offers specialty laser and mechanical engraving capabilities intended for direct part marking within a variety of industries and applications. The addition of Gravotech expands our product offering into precision direct part marking and engraving, which aligns with Brady’s market leading position in product identification solutions and specialty adhesive materials. We intend to expand Gravotech’s addressable market utilizing Brady’s global footprint throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas.”
About Brady
Brady Corporation is an international manufacturer and marketer of complete solutions that identify and protect people, products and places. Brady’s products help customers increase safety, security, productivity and performance and include high-performance labels, signs, safety devices, printing systems and software. Founded in 1914, Brady has a diverse customer base in electronics, telecommunications, manufacturing, electrical, construction, medical, aerospace and a variety of other industries. Brady is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and as of July 31, 2023, employed approximately 5,600 people in its worldwide businesses. Brady’s fiscal 2023 sales were approximately $1.33 billion.
The PROFINET specification is continually being further developed based on customer requirements. Following its annual publication schedule, PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) recently released the V2.4 MU5 specification following extensive review. This version includes comprehensive security definitions for PROFINET Security Classes 2 and 3. At the same time, the GSDML and certification are also being continually further developed. This is creating a solid basis for developers and is ensuring the safety, security and reliability of PROFINET networks.
PROFINET was intentionally developed for the broader market and is being used in a variety of industries. As the first available implementation of Ethernet APL, PROFINET over APL is advancing growth in process automation. It’s also established in the high-end range of motion control. Tried-and-tested IRT technology is available in an ever-increasing number of drives. At the same time, PROFINET is preparing steps for TSN (Time-Sensitive Networking) so it can meet the requirements of the future. PROFINET’s architecture is perfectly suited towards the requirements of the digital transformation. On the one hand, easy data access is possible through an open TCP/IP channel or an integrated PN_Record_Rd/Rw. PROFINET models have been mapped to OPC UA in the meantime as well.
PROFINET is a central component of the PI ecosystem. Both technically and organizationally, there’s close coordination with other technologies, such as IO-Link, SRCI, omlox, MTP and NOA. Over 800 committed members are active in working groups, intensively grappling with customer requirements. This close cooperation enables the seamless integration of PROFINET into the overall automation environment. Developers and users alike benefit from a broad spectrum of solutions and a strong community which advances the further development and success of PROFINET.
The details of the study can be obtained directly from Omdia.
Sustainability lies at the heart of Schneider Electric’s mission. The company employs multifaceted strategies to promote a sustainable world. One key approach involves assisting customers in reducing energy consumption while maximizing the impact of the energy they use. As a trailblazer in the transition to a cleaner and more equitable industry, Schneider Electric’s significant contributions to carbon emissions reduction are publicly disclosed every quarter.
Jean-Louis Guillou, VP Drives - Industrial Control & Drives, highlights the remarkable impact of Variable Speed Drive. Currently, 42% of the total avoided carbon emissions in the Schneider Electric carbon emission report can be attributed to Variable Speed Drives and the more efficient utilization of electrical motors—an achievement that Jean-Louis describes as “absolutely fantastic.”
Jean-Louis Guillou observes that the trends in drives align with broader industry shifts. Intelligence is increasingly embedded in products, and with each new drive generation, processing power doubles — a deliberate effort to improve monitoring and control to further improve overall efficiency. To achieve optimal motor performance, continuous monitoring and adjustment are crucial. This necessitates smart automation equipment that can be intelligently controlled. In certain industries, up to 50% of total energy consumption is attributed to electrical motors. By employing smart drives to regulate these motors, energy consumption can be reduced by up to 20%, as explained by Jean-Louis Guillou.
Schneider Electric and HMS Networks have maintained a strategic partnership for two decades. During this time, HMS Networks has been instrumental in developing network connectivity solutions for Schneider Electric’s popular variable speed drives, enabling seamless connectivity to industrial control networks. These networks span various protocols, including PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, Modbus TCP, and more. The collaboration between Schneider and HMS Networks has been essential in achieving a solution for supporting multiple industrial communication protocols.
HMS Networks plays a crucial role in advancing digitalization within the industry. Their communication interfaces support a wide range of industrial network protocols, enabling manufacturers of industrial equipment to seamlessly connect to any type of network without the burden of in-house development and maintenance. By partnering with HMS Networks, companies like Schneider Electric can offer their customers world-class and reliable network connectivity.
As the world moves toward greater efficiency and sustainability, digitalization is becoming ubiquitous. Connectivity is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. In the future, everything will be interconnected. Schneider Electric and HMS Networks share a vision of continued collaboration to drive this transformation forward. Jean-Louis Guillou, Vice President for Schneider Drives division, sums it up: “Digitalization is happening all around us. Connectivity isn’t just nice to have; it’s an essential requirement. Let’s continue working together to shape a connected and sustainable future.”
After more than 25 years with SCHURTER, Rolf Hausheer will retire at the end of 2024. His career at SCHURTER began in April 1999 as Head of Procurement. His strategic decisions and his ability to build valuable supplier relationships contributed significantly to the efficiency and effectiveness of procurement. In 2009, Rolf Hausheer was appointed to the management team with responsibility for Supply Chain Management, including Sourcing, Customer Service and Warehouse. Since February 2024, Rolf Hausheer has been leading SCHURTER AG as MD ad interim. Despite the additional responsibility as MD, he retained the leadership of Supply Chain Management and supported the strategic direction of the company as Co-Program Management Officer.
Steffen Lindner has taken over the role of Managing Director of SCHURTER AG on 1 July. He already manages the SCHURTER subsidiary in Germany and oversees all company activities in EMEA, including product management, engineering, sales and production. With his proven leadership skills and international experience, Steffen Lindner is ideally suited to achieve SCHURTER's goals. At the same time, the responsibility for Supply Chain Management has been transferred to Oswald Fiegl, the acting COO. Rolf Hausheer will now focus on organisational projects within the company's strategy, where he can effectively apply his extensive business experience.
The PI Innovation Award was created by Physik Instrumente (PI), a high-tech company based in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. “For more than fifty years, PI stands for innovations that make the seemingly impossible possible. This was our motivation and inspiration to create such an award,” explains Markus Spanner, CEO of the PI Group. The award recognizes outstanding doctoral theses with exceptional innovation potential, placing a special emphasis on the best possible knowledge transfer—from research to successful application in practice. “The practical application goes hand in hand with the high medical relevance of the work. This is exactly what convinced us,” says the jury, consisting of a panel of professors from the faculty and Dr. Steffen Schreiber, Director Global Innovation & Scouting at PI, in its statement.
“We see the PI Innovation Award as additional motivation for our students, for which we are very grateful. This year, the award recognizes a thesis whose practical relevance has already led to the founding of a publicly funded start-up company. We warmly congratulate the winner, Dr. Teresa Wagner,” said a delighted Prof. Dr. Thilo Stehle, Dean of the Faculty of Science.
In the thesis entitled “Two Birds with One Stone: Theranostic Applications of Nanobodies”, Dr. Wagner describes the manufacturing, characterization, and application of nanobodies as theranostic tools that can be used for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications in the context of precision medicine. A total of fourteen doctoral theses were submitted for the award.
Based in Porto, Portugal, FALL SAFE® is producer of critical-use personal protective equipment, specializing in fall protection equipment and systems. Since 2003, the company has been recognized as a category leader and innovator of highly technical and functional safety products for diverse end markets. FALL SAFE® designs and manufactures a wide variety of fall protection safety products including harnesses, self-retracting lifelines (SRL’s), descenders, belts, anchors, ropes, lifelines as well as other technical fall protection products including various safety accessories. FALL SAFE® continues to lead through innovation, with the sole purpose of keeping workers safe and protecting the lives of countless professionals working at heights around the globe. As part of the transaction, FALL SAFE® TRAINING, a fully certified training facility, helps to train workers at heights from around the globe.
“Adding FALL SAFE to our growing, world-class portfolio of SureWerx brands moves us further toward our goal of becoming the global leader in Safety and Productivity,” said SureWerx CEO, Chris Baby. “FALL SAFE brings us one step closer to building a robust and innovative Fall Protection portfolio as part of the SureWerx platform. FALL SAFE’s expertise in the most technical and demanding portion of the Fall Protection market around the globe sets them apart from their competition. We are thrilled to be adding this highly respected brand to our market-leading portfolio of best-in-class safety products.”
“FALL SAFE has always focused on delivering innovative, performance-driven products and solutions to end users through its distribution partners,” said FALL SAFE Founders, Jan and Paula Ekman. “We are thrilled to be partnering with SureWerx, a company that holds the same values and commitment to worker safety as FALL SAFE. Their reach into the global industrial markets and access to over 4,000 distributors across multiple channels will undoubtedly accelerate growth of the FALL SAFE brand.”
IEN Europe: Dr. Büchsner, the Stabilus Group has just completed the acquisition of Destaco. What do you expect from this investment?
Dr. Büchsner: Both immediate and long-term effects. We’ll now be able to serve the market with a considerably broader line-up of products and comprehensive system solutions. Furthermore, Destaco is another component of our strategy for the future. In our Strategy 2030, we’ve set clear goals for how we want to shape the motion control market. In addition to organic growth, we’ll continue to look out for potential acquisitions that make a good fit with our company.
IEN Europe: Let’s focus first on the added value for your customers. Who can benefit from your combined portfolio – and how?
Dr. Büchsner: Our products and solutions are ideal for a wide range of manufacturing companies. Since the pandemic, we’ve seen that more and more companies are shifting their production back from emerging markets to industrialized countries. Due to the higher production costs and a decline in qualified workforce, companies are necessarily looking to increase their use of robotics and automation, which have since emerged as genuine megatrends.
With our combined portfolio, we can now offer these companies attractive and competitive solutions for all motion control tasks. While the products of the Stabilus Group are meant for controlled motion sequences and exact vibration isolation, Destaco’s components – including power clamps, end-of-arm tools, and grippers – are used for robotics and automation. Our customers can use all these solutions to boost their productivity and build manufacturing lines based on innovative technologies.
IEN Europe: Yes, but there’s no shortage of suppliers in the automation sector. What’s special about Destaco?
Dr. Büchsner: Our experts have studied the market intensively. In Destaco, they found a high degree of alignment with our own company, much greater than just a technological fit. Both partners have a long history – Destaco was founded in 1915, Stabilus in 1934 – and in both cases, this stability is paired with an ability to continually innovate and generate steady growth. Both companies have close, longtime customer relationships and established distribution networks that complement each other ideally. The potential to grow faster together than alone is very high for both partners. And so we’re very pleased now that the acquisition has been finalized after the purchase agreement was signed on October 11, 2023 and the authorities granted the necessary approvals.
IEN Europe: How have the management and staff reacted to the change?
Dr. Büchsner: Positively. We made it clear from the beginning that we want to develop Destaco further. The Destaco brand, with which the company’s employees identify to a great degree, will be retained as an independent expert brand under the roof of the Stabilus Group; the same goes for its product portfolio, which we want to combine with our own very soon so that we can offer our customers a complete range of products and solutions. And of course, we’ll continue to provide a comparable level of employee benefits to our new colleagues, including the different global 401(k) plans – based on the US model – without interruption. And we are very happy that Stefan Eggers will continue to serve as Destaco’s CEO.
As for our own employees within the Stabilus Group, we can assure them that there will be no overlaps or redundancies in the portfolio and therefore no jobs are threatened by the acquisition. On the contrary, we expect to continue on a sustained growth course under our STAR 2030 strategy. Destaco will now be a part of that. Furthermore, our sound finances give us the financial flexibility to continue growing our core business in a targeted manner.
IEN Europe: How will the cooperation between Stabilus and Destaco develop in the near future and when will it become visible?
Dr. Büchsner: Destaco is now also an important expert brand within the Stabilus Group, like 5 other brands that already belong to the Group in the industrial sector.
It is important, as I have already mentioned, that the Destaco brand remains the same strong brand together with its product lines such as Robohand or Camco. Just like all the other industrial brands of the Stabilus Group.
The benefits of the integrated offering will be felt by our customers, especially on the sales side. For example, we expect the first joint automation trade fairs for Destaco and our expert brand ACE to take place from October this year.
IEN Europe: You mentioned your strategy STAR 2030. What is that, exactly, and what role does the acquisition of Destaco play in it?
Dr. Büchsner: With STAR 2030, we want to shape the future from a strong position. One of the most pressing strategic goals is to expand our industrial business – our second most important segment after the automotive business – through continuous growth and position our company as a solutions provider to an even greater degree. Destaco’s expertise and capabilities will play an important role in this endeavor. They too are part of our future motion control ecosystem, with which we want to achieve our vision of being the world market leader in smart motion control technologies by 2030. We’ve communicated the substantive elements of STAR 2030 to our employees in detail since it was adopted in July 2022. And it’s plain to see that they are “living” our vision and strategy every day.
IEN Europe: Are you planning further acquisitions to achieve your goals, or are you satisfied with the current set-up of the Stabilus Group?
Dr. Büchsner: Since 2016, we’ve pursued a strategy of supporting and accelerating our organic growth with external acquisitions. The successful integration of our expert brands proves that this strategy has been successful. That being said, we operate in a dynamic market in which chances to realize attractive synergies could present themselves in the future. We will analyze such chances carefully. And so we do not wish to rule out further, well-reasoned acquisitions to further extend the Stabilus Group’s market position.
IEN Europe: Thank you very much for your time, Dr. Büchsner.
According to the German Parcel and Express Logistics Association (Bundesverband Paket und Expresslogistik e. V.), 4.15 billion courier, express and parcel shipments were sent in Germany alone in 2022. Annual shipment growth to around 4.9 billion is realistic by 2027. Against this backdrop and the generally prevailing shortage of personnel, there is only one solution for shipping and logistics companies to cope with this immense volume of orders: increased automation. The global robotic integrator AWL offers RODE, an intelligent robotic depalletiser solution. One of the locations where RODE adds value is for DHL eCommerce in Rotterdam. In this machine, two Ensenso 3D cameras from IDS Imaging Development Systems GmbH are implemented to provide the required image data.
The intelligent robot-supported depalletiser, therefore, automatically destacks any packaged goods such as cartons, bags or containers from pallets and thus ensures their continuous processing - without delays or downtime. Even "extra shifts" at peak times can be implemented at any time, e.g., to cope with the increased workload during Christmas. This frees up staff for more qualified tasks, such as the subsequent processing of consignments or handling customer inquiries. At the same time, it relieves employees of physically and ergonomically demanding tasks and reduces the risk of injury.
At DHL eCommerce in Rotterdam, RODE processes up to 800 parcels per hour with a maximum weight of 31.5 kg each and places them on the corresponding sorting belt. The particular difficulty here lies in the robot's picking of parcels of different sizes and weights. It must independently recognize the position of the objects in three-dimensional space and decide which package to pick next. It then has to determine the best gripping position and avoid collision with other parcels or the machine.
"This intelligent robotic solution integrates AI image processing and high-tech gripper technology. The system recognises products and can flip the items to ensure that the required long side is leading," explains Sander Lensen, R&D Manager at AWL. Two Ensenso X36 3D cameras provide the necessary image data. They are able to provide robust 2D and 3D information on products on a pallet measuring 1200 x 1200 mm and a maximum height of 2400 mm. The integrated image processing system processes this further and enables the depalletiser to identify each individual package and determine the corresponding gripping position - for robust robot-assisted picking.
Each Ensenso X36 3D camera system consists of a projector unit and two GigE cameras with either 1.6 MP or 5 MP CMOS sensors. AWL has opted for the 5 MP variant for its solution. Mounting and adjustment brackets, three lenses as well as sync and patch cables for connecting the cameras to the projector unit are also included in the scope of delivery. The integrated FlexView2 technology ensures an even better spatial resolution as well as a very high robustness of the system with dark or reflective surfaces. The 3D systems are delivered assembled and pre-calibrated. However, focussing and calibration is also easy to set up using the setup wizard integrated in the software. The latter they have in common with the RODE depalletiser - it is also easy to integrate into its working environment and aims to give its users a competitive edge in the world of logistics automation.
"The intralogistics market is a growth market. The number of robot solutions required will increase rapidly in the coming years. The type of products that need to be recognised will change constantly. This will be a challenge for all components and the demands on the camera," explains Sander Lensen. However, image processing is also developing rapidly. Smart solutions that combine camera technology with artificial intelligence are on the rise. They hold great potential for tackling both increasingly demanding tasks and the worsening shortage of skilled workers. Carton by carton, parcel by parcel, pallet by pallet.
Moxa announced its new MRX Series Layer 3 rackmount Ethernet switches that support 64 ports with up to 16 ports of 10GbE speed to accelerate data aggregation for industrial applications and help users build high-bandwidth network infrastructure to realize IT/OT convergence.
The rising number of connected devices and increasing adoption of data-intensive applications like video data transmission are boosting the requirement for high-bandwidth networks. Video surveillance and AI-oriented applications with ultra-high definition (UHD) videos are examples of these demands. Furthermore, the analytic needs for more intelligent applications for business innovation also make the MRX-Q4064/G4064 Series ideal Ethernet switches for handling high-bandwidth transmission requirements.
The MRX-Q4064/G4064 Series combines impressive switching performance with a sophisticated exterior and is the winner of the Red Dot Product Design 2024 award. The rackmount Ethernet switches offer industry-leading 16 and 8 10GbE ports, respectively, aggregating large-scale data transmissions. In addition, the port trunking features allow grouping up to eight 10GbE ports into a single 80 Gbps link to maximize transmission bandwidth. The MRX-Q4064/G4064 Series delivers both system and network reliability. Continuous system operation relies on stable operating temperatures and power supplies. Intelligent temperature control functions, 8 fan modules, and dual power supply modules ensure MRX-Q4064/G4064 Series uptime and stability. Moxa’s Turbo Ring and High-availability Static Trunk (HAST) technologies provide redundant network paths and connectivity to achieve high availability for large-scale network infrastructure.
The MRX-Q4064/G4064 Series was developed to simplify deployment and maintenance for engineers. The modular design of its Ethernet interfaces, power supplies, and fans tremendously increases deployment flexibility. The rackmount Ethernet switches have built-in LCD Modules (LCMs), allowing engineers to check device status and quickly troubleshoot. Hot-swappable modularity empowers module swaps without affecting operations.
TouchNetix is proud to announce a groundbreaking new touch/force button-enabling solution - TactoSense. TactoSense enables combinations of touch and force sensing, alongside haptic triggering, and LED feedback. This is all easily facilitated by aXiom’s single chip technology. The aXiom technology is a TochNetix development. With its unique sinusoidal Tx drive, it delivers up to 80dB of SNR, >100 times the SNR you’d expect from a traditional touch controller. Using this solution, customers can integrate buttons, button bars, sliders, or joysticks within a variety of smart surfaces and materials.
Facilitated by aXiom’s patented force sensing technology, TactoSense supports up to 26 buttons concurrently and customers can easily tune specific buttons to be force and/or touch enabled, in addition to combinations of multi-touch, multi-force and hover detection. TactoSense offers exciting opportunities for customers to integrate tactile buttons with a mechanical feel, all without complicated integration or prohibitive costs. This technology can be integrated within a variety of touch surface materials, including plastic, leatherette and even metal, making it an attractive solution for the automotive, industrial and consumer sectors.
TactoSense Demo Kits are currently available for customers to experience.
The demands on modern production lines are enormous: They need to be highly productive, optimally efficient, easy to operate, and as flexible as possible. However, the more that different configurations and technologies are used and combined in manufacturing, the more complex the working environment becomes, both for the teams in production and maintenance and for operations management and optimization. It’s therefore essential that machines and systems support people in making correct decisions – in other words, based on reliable data. At the core of the issue are two key questions: What’s the machine or system doing (right now)? And, what do I need to do now? The answers to these questions are provided by plant or machine visualization that makes information about the process and the status of the machine accessible and helps operator teams make the right decisions.
If there’s no cross-plant visualization, companies waste a lot of the potential of their processes. When information has to be laboriously collected and compiled from different systems, errors and misinterpretations can easily occur. In addition, there’s a time delay in the operators’ reactions to changes in the process, and without a uniform diagnosis errors may be detected too late. And last but not least, the teams need to be trained on the different operating systems and visualizations, which costs extra time and money. All of these problems can be avoided with user-centric and uniform visualizations for machines and systems, and even more advantages can be realized along the entire machine and plant lifecycle.
Even during the planning phase, the right technologies can lay the foundation for a harmonious, scalable visualization. With the SIMATIC WinCC Unified system, visualizations are engineered once and can then be used on both control panels and operating PCs. The Simatic HMI Unified Comfort Panels can also meet increased requirements for hygiene or environmental conditions, so that a large number of applications can be covered with a single system. Standardized library elements for process objects can be used to ensure that a valve type is always displayed in the same way in the visualization and has the same functionality in operation. This makes it easier for users to find their way around the visualization. Another advantage: With libraries, development teams can centrally manage and version elements and interfaces, which makes future adjustments easier. In Simatic WinCC Unified, the Template Suite also supports project planning as a design system: It contains ready-made templates, images, and objects as the basis for your own HMI, which significantly simplifies and accelerates the development process.
Openness is important not just at the machine level but also at the plant level. In the pharmaceutical and food industries in particular, there are efforts to replace relatively rigid production lines with a modular "production carousel" where machines can be flexibly combined as production islands or production modules. Of course, these "plug & produce" concepts also require correspondingly modular, manufacturer-independent concepts for automation and visualization solutions. The foundation is provided by the Module Type Package (MTP), and Siemens offers the Simatic MTP Creator that can be used to create an MTP file from the TIA Portal. This file contains all the information on PLC data and connection as well as an abstract description of the visualization. From this description, the configuration is automatically generated after the file has been read in during instantiation and the corresponding visualization is generated using an appropriate library. This is how the Simatic WinCC Unified along with the Simatic MTP Integrator creates the connection to the machine via OPC UA, the PLC tags, and the HMI elements automatically with a single click – even on machines equipped with systems from other manufacturers.
More convenience for users
The result is a unified visualization for the entire line or manufacturing environment – with little engineering effort for the OEM and little effort for the integrator to orchestrate the process. In turn, plant operators benefit from simpler operation of their plant(s) with standardized HMI interfaces. There’s also less training effort, and operators can use their resources in operation and maintenance more flexibly and efficiently. Innovative methods of user identification also make a contribution: In addition to identification via password-protected logins and RFID tags, companies can now use solutions in the industrial environment that are already familiar to their operating and maintenance teams from their private lives. The Simatic WinCC Unified Air app for Android and iOS uses biometric authentication of the end device and guides users through the login process at the Simatic HMI Unified Comfort Panel via Bluetooth.
However, these innovative applications and functions aren’t just convenient, they also crucial offer better support to operators in machine setup. For example, the Italian machine manufacturer Comi S.p.A. has used Simatic WinCC Unified to make the configuration of the preheating bed of its thermoforming machines so intuitive that the production teams no longer need any special training. The process is now automatically set up via a custom Web control created specifically for this use case, and it’s been integrated directly into the operator interface. There are significant savings for the plant operator as well: The improved user guidance helps increase productivity by up to 10 percent, reduce cycle time, and achieve a better process quality.
In Simatic WinCC Unified, extensions can also be implemented via scripting: With the Simatic WinCC Unified JS Connector, global Java script modules can be developed in Visual Studio Code, and the JavaScript source code can be exchanged between Simatic WinCC Unified ES and Visual Studio Code. In addition, the WinCC Unified RT Debugger can be used to efficiently test scripts. Siemens is addressing another challenge in machine and plant engineering: Over the next few years, many companies will need to attract young talents to the automation field, and graduates will also want to apply the high-level language skills they acquired during their studies to this area.
IT and OT are also merging in the field of visualization in another way. Web technologies and secure interfaces make it possible for users to access system information from a large number of end devices via secure connections: for example, via Web clients and open interfaces. With Simatic WinCC Unified, users can use the GraphQL Server to easily query data from production using IT methods, and conversely to return it just as easily to production to create individual dashboards. Using Industrial Edge, modern technologies for data acquisition and analysis can also be retrofitted during operation – and integrated just as seamlessly into plant visualization with appropriate solutions. This is how the merger of IT and OT ensures greater transparency in production and allows operators and management to always keep an eye on their processes, even in a highly flexible, modular, and adaptive manufacturing environment.
Following the launch of the CVGC carbon vacuum gripper for collaborative robots in 2019, COVAL is now ready to launch its redesigned second generation, based on feedback from customers, integrators, manufacturers and operators. This new generation also takes into account current and future trends in the collaborative robot market: greater application diversity, growth in the number of manufacturers, increased co-presence with operators and handling of heavier loads.
In response to these changes, COVAL has developed a CVGC that is highly versatile due to its multiple configuration options. Each customer can configure "their" carbon vacuum gripper to exactly meet their requirements. It is available in 3 sizes (240 x 120 mm, 320 x 160 mm, 350 x 250 mm), with 2 types of gripping interface (foam or suction pad) and with or without an integrated vacuum generator.
The CVGC is available with a choice of 3 mounting interfaces and 6 connection cables. This makes it perfectly compatible with all major brands of cobots.
The CVGC Carbon vacuum gripper is now equipped with a multi-stage pump, which means increased performance. It can handle heavier loads thanks to the lightness of its carbon structure, which is 2.5 times lighter than steel and 6 times stronger. This meets a growing demand from manufacturers and contributes to the CVGC's versatility.
As the CVGC is designed to work with operators, performing separate, simultaneous or alternating tasks, the vacuum gripper is equipped with an edge guard made of flexible, resistant material to protect the operator in the event of contact.
The various functions of the CVGC vacuum gripper (display, vacuum generator, vaccuostat, silencer, connectors, etc.) are housed in a case that protects them from shocks and damage.
With its ultra-light vacuum gripper, COVAL can transform any collaborative robot into a tool for improving productivity and health in the workplace in a wide range of industries: food processing, packaging, plastics processing, etc.
Emerson launched the AVENTICS™ Series XV pneumatic valves designed with interoperability in mind to provide machine builders across multiple industries and factory automation applications with a flexible and cost-effective valve platform.
Series XV valves provide higher flow rates in a compact valve package that enables more efficient and flexible pneumatic system performance for factory automation, automotive and tire, and food and packaging applications. This helps manufacturers boost productivity and allows them to offer products customized for specific markets and customer preferences.
Series XV valves include the XV03, providing flow volumes up to 350 liters per minute in normal conditions (NL/min), and the XV05, scheduled for release in October 2024, providing up to 880 NL/min. All valves in the Series XV line use proven AVENTICS core technology and include metal threads, parallel wiring, aluminum base plates and compact dimensions to make it easier to integrate into production system designs. The series use consistent interfaces and have wide connectivity from single wiring over parallel connections such as D-SUB connectors. They also support leading fieldbus protocols, including PROFINET®, Ethernet/IP, EtherCAT, Powerlink, Modbus TCP, IO-Link, AS-I, to simplify integration into machine control networks.
Wheelchair racing demands exceptional performance from athletes due to the high friction generated by constant hand-wheel contact. Traditional gloves often fail to meet the standards required by athletes like Tatyana McFadden, an 8-time Paralympics Gold medallist. Before adopting CRP USA’s solution, Tatyana used standard mould kits for her gloves, finding the quality inadequate. Conventional methods struggled to produce gloves that could withstand the intense stress of wheelchair racing while maintaining precision and comfort.
Tatyana recalls, “My first wheelchair racing gloves were called ‘harness gloves’. They were shaped like thumbs and made of heavy-duty fabric with rubber padding. Their softness made me feel the impact every time I hit the hand ring. By the 2008 Paralympic Games, my team and I began making hard gloves. We would take plastic beads, melt them in a pot of boiling water, and then mould the plastic to my hands. This process took days to perfect. Sometimes we would have to start over and throw the whole plastic glove back in the water. Once perfected, I did not let the gloves out of my sight because they would melt if left in the car or in the heat for too long. Over time, the plastic would wear down, so we made the gloves thick, but they were heavy.” Even these gloves were not up to Tatyana's needs for the highest sporting level.
In 2015, a significant change occurred when Tatyana had the opportunity to experiment with 3D-printed gloves. In 2016, Tatyana connected with CRP USA to continue developing 3D printing racing gloves, aiming for them to be "stronger and more durable” compared to what they were using in 2015. “After a friend of mine told me about CRP USA,” Tatyana adds, “I reached out to them and shared my story. I was so excited when I met everyone in person. They are an incredible partner and have really helped me so much. Not just in their innovation but the confidence they gave me since I do not have to worry about the performance of my racing gloves.” Tatyana explained that the CRP USA team helped bring her vision for the current gloves to life, making the vision a reality.
Strength and durability were undoubtedly important characteristics that Tatyana required from CRP USA to compete at her best, but they were not the only ones. Lightness, stiffness, resistance to wear and tear, and resistance to weather were other important features Tatyana wanted for her new gloves. “When I met with the CRP USA team,” she specifies, “we also talked about heat, rubber, weather effects, and straps for the gloves so they can stay in my hands better. When competing outside, we face various weather conditions, and I want to be ready for anything. My gloves have cracked in the past. My strokes produce a lot of force when I hit the hand ring, and my previous gloves lasted less than a year. I also wanted a better way to add rubber to the hand rings. The CRP USA team listened to my needs and managed to satisfy them in the best possible way.”
Before the construction of the parts, discussions with customers are essential to understand their needs in order to satisfy them as best as possible. After several meetings with Tatyana, the CRP USA team opted for Laser Sintering technology and Windform XT 2.0 as the manufacturing material. This solution was selected as the best one to address Tatyana's everyday challenges. In this specific case, the rubber used in the 3D printed gloves is a standard off-the-shelf item. The CRP USA team trims it to size and bonds it to the gloves using a structural adhesive. This operation demonstrates the high professionalism of the CRP USA team and the compatibility of Windform XT 2.0 with various components, ensuring seamless bonding without any issues.
Nathan “Nate” Baker, Senior Project Coordinator at CRP USA, explains, “Throughout her career, Tatyana found that the quality and detail of her gloves were just not up to the high standard she needed. That's when the Windform range of composites for 3D printing, created by our Italian partner CRP Technology, came into play. At CRP USA, we have tried several different Windform materials for her, with the gold standard becoming Windform XT 2.0.”
Windform XT 2.0 is known for its superior mechanical properties. These properties ensured the gloves could withstand the constant, high-friction environment of wheelchair racing without deterioration. This durability significantly extended the lifespan of the gloves compared to traditional materials. Additionally, the flexibility and shock-absorbing properties of Windform XT 2.0 ensured maximum comfort, allowing Tatyana to focus solely on her performance without discomfort or distraction.
CRP USA hollowed the parts out and inserted an internal structuring. This allowed a reduction in the weight of the gloves while maintaining strength, integrity, and improving durability. This was a significant contribution to Tatyana's agility and speed during races. The weight reduction was indeed substantial, with the resulting 3D printed gloves in Windform XT 2.0 weighing approximately 100 grams, a 50% reduction from traditional gloves. Once completed, the 3D printed wheelchair racing gloves in Windform XT 2.0 underwent testing for weight and durability, and the results were excellent. Tatyana was very satisfied with the outcome: “I remember using the gloves in Windform XT 2.0 for the very first time on the track and on the road," she says. "I was so impressed by how light and durable they were. My hands felt so light, it felt like I wasn't holding onto anything. When I first put my hands into the glove, it was so smooth. They had also built in two holes where I could strap on the gloves to my hands instead of using additional clips.”
CRP USA and Tatyana continue to collaborate to enhance the 3D printed wheelchair racing gloves, focusing on improving grip and comfort, especially when competing in the rain. This ongoing partnership ensures that Tatyana always has access to the latest advancements in additive manufacturing technology, allowing her to maintain her competitive edge. As Tatyana emphasizes, “CRP USA team keeps finding ways to make the gloves even better. Together, we continuously strive to improve my performance.”
About Tatyana McFadden:
Tatyana McFadden is a Paralympic champion with 20 medals, including eight golds, and 24 World Major Marathon wins. She is known for her relentless pursuit of excellence and is currently training for the Paris Paralympics 2024. On June she is the new American record holder in the 400m
Stratasys, a leader in polymer 3D printing solutions, announced that it will provide 3D-printed materials for an upcoming lunar mission to test their performance on the surface of the moon. The experiments are part of Aegis Aerospace, Inc.’s first Space Science & Technology Evaluation Facility mission (SSTEF-1), planned for 2025. SSTEF is a commercial space testing service, developed by Aegis Aerospace in Houston, Texas under NASA’s Tipping Point program, to provide R&D services on the lunar surface. The SSTEF-1 project focuses on technology development for space infrastructure and capabilities for the moon and near-earth space. The Stratasys experiments are sponsored by Northrop Grumman Corporation.
In this moon mission, Stratasys will provide 3D-printed samples that will be brought to the lunar surface by an unmanned lander in a carrier structure 3D-printed by Stratasys. Three materials will be the focus of two different experiments led by Northrop Grumman.
The first experiment assesses the performance of a sample coupon part made with Stratasys’ Antero® 800NA FDM® filament filled with tungsten. Antero 800NA is a high-performance PEKK-based thermoplastic with excellent mechanical properties, chemical resistance, and low outgassing characteristics. Adding tungsten is intended to provide shielding against harmful radiation such as gamma rays or x-rays.
The second passive experiment is designed to see how 3D-printed materials perform in space. It will include Antero 840CN03 FDM filament, which features ESD properties for use with electronics and was used on the Orion spacecraft. The experiment will also include a new ESD photopolymer manufactured by Stratasys partner Henkel for use with Stratasys’ Origin® One 3D printers and designed for high-heat environments. This experiment will subject coupon samples of the 3D-printed materials to moon dust, low pressure that can lead to outgassing, and the rapid temperature swings that result from virtually no atmosphere on the moon.
“Additive manufacturing is an important technology for space missions where every ounce of weight matters and high performance is essential,” said Chief Industrial Business Officer Rich Garrity. “This set of experiments will help us understand how to fully leverage 3D printing to keep people and equipment safe as we travel to the moon and beyond.”
Parts will be brought to the lunar surface by an unmanned lander in a Stratasys 3D printed carrier structure made from ULTEM™ 9085 thermoplastic, which is a material also commonly used in commercial aircraft interiors.
Pic 2 and Pic 3:
The Stratasys FDM® Antero 840CN03 radiation experiment housing containing radiation shielding test samples – including Stratasys FDM Antero 800NA tungsten filled material (dark gray) and SL Somos PerFORM material (white). The materials are part of an experiment between Stratasys and Northrup Grumman to test how certain 3D printed materials hold up under lunar conditions. (c) Stratasys
In Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM), the material is applied to a base plate as a wire using arc welding, weld bead by weld bead. This has several advantages compared to powder-based processes: wire is significantly cheaper as a starting material and most materials are available in wire form. In addition, both the complex powder handling and the vacuum technology can be dispensed with. However, the biggest advantage is the very high build-up rate that can be achieved using WAAM. Depending on the material used, this can be up to 650 cm³ pro per hour.
The Berlin-based company GEFERTEC develops and builds machines that use the WAAM process for the 3D printing of metals. The arc machines, which are available as 3-axis and 5-axis versions in different sizes, integrate sophisticated arc welding technology, user-friendly CAM software and a machine tool to create a ready-to-use additive manufacturing solution. In the currently largest expansion stage with an installation space of 8 m³, components weighing up to 8000 kg can be manufactured. Specially developed CAM software uses the CAD data of the workpiece to generate the data that the CNC control uses to precisely position the welding head.
The machine then produces the near-net-shape workpiece fully automatically. After the 3D printing process, the surface of the component is completely or partially machined, depending on the requirements of the application.
Temperatures play an important role in the WAAM process. This is because the temperature distribution in the workpiece and the cooling behavior are essential to ensure the quality of the finished component. "During machine operation, welding is only started when the underlying layer has cooled down to a certain temperature," explains Martin Lange, product development employee at GEFERTEC. If the intermediate layer is still too warm, this leads to uneven build-up behavior - the layer thickness would vary too much and the geometry of the component would not be maintained. The corresponding temperature measurement technology is solved in the machine with a pyrometer. After completing a layer, the welding head moves to the starting point of the next layer, where the pyrometer measures the temperature of the component. And only when this has dropped to the preset value does the machine continue working. "In most applications, we set a value of 150 °C to 200 °C for the intermediate layer temperature," says the development engineer: "This is ideal for the reproducibility of the weld seam height." Pyrometers from the CT series from Optris are to be used in the arc machines that GEFERTEC will supply in future. These have a compact measuring head that can be easily integrated into the machine. The separate electronics box, which is located in the control cabinet, has various outputs through which the value is transferred to the machine's control system. In this way, the interlayer temperature is set perfectly to the right value during operation.
In order to determine the temperature accurately with a pyrometer, the emissivity must be known exactly. A falsification of the measurement can also occur if the view of the measuring surface is not unobstructed. "With our arc machines, we can also print components made of titanium, although the development of a lot of smoke cannot be avoided," says M. Lange, explaining the problem. In this case, the use of ratio pyrometers, such as those from the CTratio series from Optris, is recommended. As the ratio of the intensities at two wavelengths is formed here, the measurement can be carried out reliably despite disturbed vision. "This is why we will probably use the CTratio series pyrometers in machines in the future if the user wants to use them to print titanium components," says M. Lange.
Infrared cameras are also used in the development of the arc machines and especially in the qualification of the processes. "In the context of our investigations, it is advantageous to be able to record an overall image and thus obtain a spatial distribution of the temperatures," explains Martin Wolter, who works as a welding engineer in process development at GEFERTEC. This makes it possible to examine temperature distributions and cooling processes, which are required for the qualification of the processes. The use of a Spotfinder infrared camera such as the Xi 400 from Optris is particularly helpful here. This has an optical resolution of 382 x 288 pixels.
"As the spectral range used in the current infrared camera is not optimal for use on metal surfaces, we only get a qualitative statement and no real temperatures," M. Wolter emphasizes a small disadvantage of the current infrared camera. In order to determine the actual temperatures in the melt pool and its surroundings, a new infrared camera from Optris, the PI 1ML, which is specially designed for applications with metals, may be used in future. It uses a measuring wavelength in the range of 1 µm; in this spectral range, the emissivity of metals is significantly higher than in the usual spectral range between 8 µm and 14 µm. This enables more accurate and better temperature measurements in this application.
The infrared cameras from Optris can be connected to a PC via a USB interface in order to transfer the recorded images. With the PIX Connect analysis software, which Optris supplies together with the infrared cameras, the thermographic images can be evaluated in real time. The software also makes it easy to archive the images.
An example can be found in the offerings of MicroStep, a global manufacturer and supplier of CNC cutting machines, using cutting technologies such as plasma and oxyfuel, laser, and waterjet.
For more than 10 years, MicroStep has been relying on servo motors and drivers of the MINAS series from Panasonic Industry and witnessed the constant technical upgrading of the drives. These constant improvements helped MicroStep with their regular technology migration to maintain the quality of their systems. After the MINAS A5, the company integrated Panasonic’s MINAS A6 servo drives into their machines. They are part of a highly dynamic servo driver family with a wide power range from 50W to 15kW and are suitable for many different areas of applications beyond CNC machines. Characterized by a compact but also robust design, the servo drivers and motors of the MINAS A6 series have been equipped with essential functions for damping resonance frequencies while eliminating vibration tendencies.
“We chose Panasonic Industry’s MINAS servo motor and drive solutions due to their proven reliability and high quality. The zero vibration of the servo motor series was a key factor for choosing them, as any spurious motion can impact the machining process,” comments Pavol Varga, Technical Director from MicroStep. In addition to the servo motors and drives being extremely precise and fast, Panasonic is a globally operating company with a long heritage in manufacturing and can guarantee the quality of its products and also the on-time delivery. “Working with a vendor of that caliber enables us to fulfill customer expectations, aided by a reliable support team with a high level of technical expertise,” adds Varga.
Another important aspect of integrating the MINAS servo motor and drive solutions into their CNC machines was the availability of higher-output motors that enabled MicroStep to extend their product portfolio upwards to more powerful systems and solutions.
Since these systems are deployed in an industrial environment, it is also critical to ensure that the motors involved require little maintenance work and do not cause operational troubles. “Our servo motors of the MINAS family are protected by a dust-proof and heat-resistant oil seal made of a material with a high temperature resistance. Furthermore, the motors can be selected by type according to the operation environment. These features render our products ideal for production environments that are exposed to dust, heat and oil mist. Direct-mount connectors are used for the motor power supply and encoder input and output to improve the sealing performance so that the motor achieves an IP67 degree of protection”, remarks Stanislav Zaujec, Senior Sales Engineer from Panasonic Industry.
As MicroStep grew steadily and started delivering CNC cutting machines to customers all around the world, a reliable partner for motion solutions was needed. In 2013, Panasonic Industry started to provide MINAS A5 servo drives, which enabled MicroStep to meet their customers’ production demands. The high quality and especially zero-vibration of the servo drives convinced MicroStep to implement the Japanese technology into the CNC lineup. But not only the features and quality of the products convinced MicroStep to rely on Panasonic Industry. Thanks to a close contact with the local team, MicroStep also gets support with the design-in and implementation processes. Existing machines get regular updates, and the development of new solutions can be handled very effectively and quickly.
“We are very content with the personal support we have experienced over one decade with Panasonic Industry and we are looking forward for an even longer partnership with them”, Alexej Makuch, MicroStep’s Managing Director sums up.
Integrating advanced servo motor and driver solutions like the MINAS series from Panasonic Industry can help ensure that precision applications like CNC machines and other advanced industrial solutions fulfill all of the demands for quality, performance, and reliability. Paired with a dependable pre- and aftersales service that supports with design-in, implementation, updates and trainings, MicroStep and Panasonic Industry are looking forward to working on new developments and projects together.
Nabtesco, manufacturer of precision cycloidal gears, offers a comprehensive range of automation solutions for the production, handling and packaging of food products. Whether high speed handling, robotic assisted positioning or dynamic pick and place applications are required, Nabtesco has the right gear solution for any food industry application. The special design of these innovative gearheads makes them extremely precise (max. hysteresis loss of 1 arc.min), robust (shock resistance up to 500% of rated torque) and compact (about 50% shorter than multi-stage planetary gearheads). They allow high speeds and accelerations with absolute reliability, excellent repeatability and path accuracy. Even in applications with very fast and sudden movements, they ensure fast and precise gripping and placement.
The Neco® and RD-C series gears have a special hygienic design with smooth surfaces and optimised seals. This makes them easy to clean. On request, Nabtesco can supply the precision gears with special coatings or filled with H1 food-grade lubricants. The hygienic design of the Neco and RD-C gears makes them ideal for use in packaging machines and filling systems, as well as handling and positioning systems such as Scara or pallet loading robots.
The Neco range of fully enclosed gearheads meets the most demanding requirements for performance and ease of use. They achieve high precision with a maximum hysteresis loss of 0.5 arcmin and are fully corrosion protected. They are ideal for all hygiene-critical handling and positioning applications where a combination of good cleanability, excellent performance and high efficiency is required, thanks to their easy-to-clean design, high precision and rigidity, and excellent efficiency. Another advantage: The extra cost of oversized systems is eliminated thanks to the modularity and flexibility of the range. Instead of using a separate interface to connect each type of motor, a flexible system of modular bushings and flanges ensures easy adaptation to all standard servo motors.
The RD-C range of compact gearboxes is the choice when the application requires a hollow shaft. The large hollow shaft provides ample space for data and power cables, as well as drive shafts, to pass through the centre of the gearbox. Another advantage is that the hollow shaft does not remain rigid. It is designed to rotate at the output speed. This makes it possible to position the drive shaft directly using a sensor mounted on the hollow shaft. The RD-C series is available in three versions, making it extremely versatile for use in a wide range of applications. The RDR-C series is designed for angular mounting. The RDS-C series is for direct mounting and the RDP-C is a belt-driven version.
Lika Electronic's RD7 rotary actuator combines the benefits of automatic changeovers and adjustments with the advantages of wireless technology. It makes production processes more flexible and efficient, shortens changeover times, cuts costs, reduces downtime and minimises the risk of errors and material waste. It easily replaces manual handwheels and position indicators, for example when modernising existing equipment. It also reduces installation problems by eliminating signal wiring and makes it easier to programme and control the actuator network remotely. An alternative RS-485 wired communication (Modbus RTU compliant, wired and plugged output options) is available on request.
The RD7 rotary actuator integrates the motor, encoder, controller and antenna in a single package that is very compact and takes up less space than conventional manual handwheels and position indicators. The robust housing is dustproof and waterproof to IP65. The through hollow shaft has a diameter of up to 20 mm (0.787 inch). Adapter flanges, reduction sleeves and high torque adapters can be supplied to meet individual installation requirements. The RD7 is also equipped with a diagnostic LED and some buttons for setup and jog functions, and can also be supplied with a 7-segment display.
The drive eliminates the need for communication cables, reducing installation costs. Using a single 2.4 GHz wireless transceiver with DIN rail mounting compatibility, up to 32 units can be controlled simultaneously and remotely on the same network. Production data and diagnostic information can also be collected. The transceiver is PLC compatible and also CC-Link and EtherNet/IP compliant. A software tool is supplied free of charge. It has been designed to configure all units connected to the network via wireless communication and store their operating parameters in up to 100 setup recipes. As there is no need for communication cables, the units have a small footprint and can be easily installed in places that are difficult or dangerous to access, such as high places or where it is difficult to run cables. A range of transceivers, repeater hubs and cables are available to simplify connection and reduce electrical work. Typical applications for the RD7 Positioner include changeovers on packaging and bottling lines, filling machines, pharmaceutical equipment and food processing machinery. As mentioned above, it is also ideal for replacing handwheels and position indicators when retrofitting outdated equipment.
In most cases, temperature measurement in industrial production environments is based on two physical effects: the temperature dependence of a resistor or the thermoelectric effect (Seebeck effect). ifm now offers new IO-Link temperature measurement modules for such resistance thermometers (Pt100 and Pt1000) and thermocouples (type J and type K). The measured temperature values are then made available digitally via IO-Link to higher-level controllers.
The resistance thermometers and thermocouples are connected via four M12 connectors on the module. The resistance thermometers can be connected using 2-wire, 3-wire or 4-wire technology. The individual connections can be configured conveniently via IO-Link. The type of measuring element – Pt100, Pt100, thermocouple type J or type K – can be specified there. Depending on the measuring line, the parameters ‘cold junction offset’ and ‘zero-point calibration’ can also be set for the thermocouples. The resolution of the temperature measurement with the new module is 0.01 °C, and the accuracy over the entire measuring range is ±0.3 %. With a protection rating of IP67 or IP69K, the modules can also be used in harsh industrial environments.
The new IO-Link temperature measurement modules are suitable for all applications in which several temperatures need to be detected and in which measuring resistors or thermocouples are used. A typical example is thermoforming of components for vehicle interiors where precise temperature control over the entire component is important. The new modules can also be used in machine tools, packaging machines and ore processing in mining.
FLIR unveiled ADGiLE, a fixed-mounted methane monitoring solution. Featuring optical gas imaging (OGI) with comprehensive edge detection analytics, ADGiLE is the oil and gas industry’s solution to meeting environmental stewardship and efficiency goals. The system, featuring a pan-tilt gas imaging camera, edge computing device, connectivity, and FLIR United VMS software within a ruggedized package, can help companies address the ever-evolving requirements for reducing methane gas leaks within oil and gas production, transmission, and storage infrastructure.
Designed for wide-scale site video monitoring and continuous leak detection applied to storage tanks, compressors, separators and many other equipment in the oil and gas industry, ADGiLE offers an industry-first, end-to-end fixed methane detection solution that leverages FLIR’s uncooled GF77a OGI technology, and is consequential to industry demands concerning methane mitigation.
FLIR ADGiLE pairs the GF77a with platform analytics processed at the edge to detect emissions through automatic early detection, quickly pinpointing the leak source. It provides the critical situational awareness on the emission event that isn’t possible with other methane detection technologies, such as satellite and aerial based detection methods. Data is displayed via the FLIR United VMS software back at the control room, which can be configured with custom alerts, areas of interest, and pre-set imaging pathways for a truly automated experience.
The solution primarily focuses on midstream and high-concentration methane upstream applications. It works to detect and prevent high volume emission events, compared to FLIR’s existing cooled handheld OGI technology, leveraging FLIR’s unmatched edge detection analytics built upon decades of detection data and experience to deliver consistent, accurate results. The system increases both site efficiency and safety, as it operates equally well during the day and in total darkness at safe distances, pending atmospheric and site conditions.
FLIR ADGiLE uniquely meets the most serious methane leak detection challenges while providing operational insight to understand emissions that are a part of routine industry processes versus fugitive emission events. The system can also help prevent false readings, saving time and resources by avoiding the need to manually investigate and confirm specific leaks. At the same time, it can still detect intermittent leaks that happen and are too often missed by deployed aerial detection technologies using a wider temporal frequency. It can generate situational awareness that addresses the full range of challenges stemming from various methane emission scenarios.
Process Sensing Technologies (PST) has recently launched a range of intrinsically safe optical liquid level switches. Using innovative infrared technology and the principle of total internal reflection, these hazardous approved switches are suitable for a wide range of applications, including presence or absence of any liquid, petrochemicals/oil and gas, heavy-duty automotive, leak detection, hydraulic reservoirs, tank/container levelcontrol, and downstream analyzer protection. The switches offer an almost instantaneous response time and switch point repeatability of +/- 1 mm, providing highly accurate readings, and require no calibration.
These liquid level switches are highly robust and resistant to chemical attack, with an operating temperature range between -30 and +80°C (-22…+176°F). The switches are housed in 316 stainless steel and come with a choice of sensing tip materials, making them ideal for use in challenging environments. ATEX, UKCA, and IECEx certified, these switches offer metric and imperial process connection options with NAMUR output. The PST range of intrinsically safe optical liquid level switches offer exceptional reliability and accuracy for use in challenging environments and are designed and certified to meet the highest industry standards.
Building on the success of the acclaimed FLEXI-FLOW Compact series, Bronkhorst presents a comprehensive line extension offering unparalleled versatility and precision in gas flow measurement and control. FLEXI-FLOW Compact sets a new standard in compactness, functionality and adaptability, serving a wide range of applications with precision and efficiency.
The latest iteration of the FLEXI-FLOW Compact range introduces a number of innovative models and features, including instruments tailored for lower flow ranges from 0-5 mln/min. In addition, the range now includes downported instruments for applications where top-mounting is required, and flow controllers with integral shut-off valves to provide a higher degree of leak tightness or emergency shut off. One of the key enhancements to the FLEXI-FLOW Compact Series is the inclusion of EtherNet communication, providing seamless connectivity and integration capabilities for modern industrial environments.
The new models, like the original FLEXI-FLOW Compact instruments, utilise a unique through-chip sensor combined with proven bypass technology. These thermal mass flow meters and controllers offer exceptional performance and are 35% smaller than traditional instruments, making them the smallest on the market for flow ranges up to 20 ln/min.
Advanced sensor technology ensures not only stable flow control, but also fast response times, with settling times of less than 150 ms, enabling precise control even under dynamic process conditions. Integrated temperature and pressure sensors and an on-board gas database ensure unparalleled accuracy over varying process parameters, making the instruments adaptable to a wide range of applications. They also offer comprehensive monitoring and control features, including integrated temperature and pressure sensors, a USB-C port for easy setup, optional Bluetooth communication for improved accessibility, and NAMUR status indication via coloured LEDs and digital output parameters.
Whether as pre-configured models, built-to-order solutions or customised multi-channel systems, the FLEXIFLOW Compact range offers unrivalled flexibility to meet specific application requirements. With free and intuitive software tools for configuration, diagnostics and predictive maintenance, Bronkhorst ensures seamless integration and optimal performance in various industrial environments.
PULS announced the launch of its new series of PISA-M 4-channel electronic circuit breakers (ECBs). These devices are the perfect safety and power distribution tool for applications with power requirements ranging from 90 W to 480 W. The electronic circuit breakers manage the current distribution on the secondary (load) side of a control system separating it into smaller “power islands” which are easier to maintain and reduce the risk of costly total power outages.
The PISA-M ECBs provide comprehensive safety solutions for power systems. They protect system components from over-current and short-circuits as well as wiring from overheating. In addition it also protects the system power supply from overload. The on-board protection features combine to ensure a high system robustness and reliability. This benefits users with less time spent on maintenance, lower replacement costs and more focus on operations. One feature is a digital coded interface providing an easy way for maintenance staff to remotely control the devices and to monitor the operational system status. This means power distribution can be managed easily via a PLC and a central user interface.
With a width of only 22.5 mm, PISA-M is one of the smallest 4-channel electronic circuit breaker in the market. This compact design means it can fit into any system, freeing up valuable space in control cabinets. Push-in connectors on the front of the PISA-M allow for a quick and tool-less installation, saving time and effort. In addition, two-colour LEDs that show the status of each output channel in real-time, and a button is provided on each channel for easy on/off switching and resetting, operating the PISA-M is straightforward and effortless.
PULS provides a number of versions of PISA-M ECB. The 4ADJ modules are adjustable, allowing each output channel to be set to the required current value from 1 to 8 A. If a plug-and-play device with fixed currents is needed, PULS offers PISA-M versions with fixed output current settings (e.g. 2 A, 4 A, 6 A, 8 A). This flexibility allows customers to choose the version that best fits their specific needs, making the installation process even faster, easier, and more secure.
CTX offers cooling solutions for power supply units, transducers, battery chargers, frequency converters, electric drives, and inverters. Which heat sink to use depends on the power dissipation and on the requirements of the particular device. Extruded profile heat sinks, cold forging heat sinks, and PCB board or SMD heat sinks for natural convection are typical options for robust and low-maintenance devices.
Effective thermal dissipation through natural convection is achieved with aluminum profile heat sinks. This is made possible by the rib-like construction called fins, which results in a large overall heat sink surface area. Aluminum profile heat sinks are generally manufactured from an aluminum extruded alloy with a thermal conductivity of 200-220 W/mK.
The CTX portfolio comprises both standard and project- or application-specific cooling solutions. The spectrum of standard extruded heat sinks includes fin, comb and finger heat sinks, as well as PCB-board heat sinks. Standard profile heat sinks range from 12.4 mm to 750 mm in width, with a weight between 130 g/m and 75.1 kg/m and thermal resistance Rth between 81.6 °C/W and 0.04 °C/W.
On request, CTX will also perform post-CNC machining, based on customer drawings. The cooling specialist’s services likewise include professional surface treatment, like wet-painting, chrome plating, anodizing, or powder coating. CTX also offers its customers labeling of their heat sinks by means of screen printing or laser engraving, as well as surface treatment by sand blasting or glass ball blasting.
Yamaichi Electronics' IEC 61076-2-012 compliant Y-Circ M system is IP65 / IP67 waterproof and dustproof and uses independent sealing concepts for screw and push-pull connectors, as both the socket and mating connector are equipped with their own standard O-rings to ensure effective sealing. When the push-pull socket is mated with an M12 threaded connector, sealing is achieved by an O-ring at the bottom of the socket, which is activated by a precise torque. However, when the M12 push-pull is used as a cable connector, it has its own O-ring that seals the collar of the receptacle, thus preventing ingress of media at an early stage.
Another advantage is the use of standard O-rings. Unlike form sealings, these are available worldwide without tooling costs. The use of standard O-rings also allows automatic assembly when integrating the insulators into customer housings.
An outstanding feature of the Y-Circ M is the ability to switch flexibly between push-pull and screw locking without compromising sealing. This is because the seals are not worn by the other system during mixed mating cycles, but retain their full sealing effect.
This allows flexible switching between locking types for up to 100 specified mating cycles, guaranteed by the manufacturer, while maintaining full sealing performance. This flexibility is particularly beneficial in applications where different locking systems are used without compromising the reliability of the connection.
This forward-thinking design also allows the manufacturer to make their device "push-pull ready" and still use the classic screw locking system if required.
TDK Lambda introduces the 400 to 750W rated RGB series of ruggedised non-isolated DC-DC converters. Operating from input voltages of 9 to 18V, 18 to 32V or 18 to 60V, these buck step-down converters can deliver output voltages adjustable from 0.8 to 8V or 3.3 to 24V with output currents of up to 60A (depending on the power level). The series is designed to be used in harsh environment applications including medical, automated guided vehicles (AGV), industrial mobile robots (IMR), industrial, test, measurement, and battery-powered equipment.
Efficiencies of up to 98.5% allow the product to deliver high usable power in demanding thermal environments with case temperatures of -40°C to +115°C, while providing a longer battery life. With a 1/16th brick pinout and measuring 38.1 x 49.5 x 13.0mm (WxLxH), the converters are encapsulated to provide shock and vibration performance to MIL-STD-810G. The five-sided aluminium case reduces radiated EMI and enables conduction cooling to a cold-plate for fanless operation.
The basic feature models include an output voltage adjustment pin, negative logic remote on-off, remote sense, input under-voltage, over-current and thermal protection. An optional adjustable current limit is also available to reduce stress on the input source, converter, and load in the event of an overload. All models carry the CE and UKCA marks for the Low Voltage and RoHS Directives and are designed to the IEC/UL/CSA/EN 62368-1 safety standards. Evaluation boards are available for quick and easy testing.
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