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TE Connectivity, a world leader in connectors and sensors, has earned for the sixth year in a row a place among Fortune magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies.

The annual survey, conducted by Fortune and Korn Ferry, is given to top executives, directors and financial analysts to identify the companies that enjoy the strongest reputations among their peers and across industries.

“I am proud of our global teams, who continue to innovate and work diligently to ensure that our customers, our employees and our owners continue to have positive experiences with TE despite an ongoing dynamic macro environment,” said CEO Terrence Curtin. “We remain focused on our commitment to creating a safer, sustainable, productive and connected future, and we appreciate this recognition from the business community.”

To compile the World’s Most Admired Companies rankings, corporate reputation and performance are measured against nine criteria, including investment value, quality of management and products, social responsibility and ability to attract talent.

Emerson has combined its comprehensive power expertise and renewable energy capabilities into the Ovation Green portfolio to help power generation companies meet the needs of customers navigating the transition to green energy generation and storage. By uniting the recently acquired Mita-Teknik software and technology with its own industry-leading Ovation automation platform, deep renewable energy knowledge base, cybersecurity solutions and remote management capabilities, Emerson has created a new extension of its power-based control architecture. The resulting portfolio focuses on the emerging clean energy market to provide simplified renewables automation to help power producers build and scale sustainable operations.

Renewable electricity capacity has seen record growth in recent years. However, transitioning to cleaner energy systems or scaling up existing ones is a complex undertaking for power producers. Wind turbines, solar arrays, lithium-ion batteries, hydrogen electrolyzers and hydroelectric power all use a wide variety of automation software and technologies. As renewable portfolios grow, the number of applied technologies will multiply, increasing learning curves and adding complexity to operations as solutions from different vendors require additional integration. While some existing systems can provide layers of connectivity between very specific assets, the Ovation Green portfolio will deliver a single set of purpose-built software and solutions that supports different technologies in one standardised, intuitive system.

“Countries around the globe are focused on transitioning to a clean energy economy in the coming decades, and while green energy is a simple concept everyone understands, the road to implementation is not always clear,” said Bob Yeager, president of Emerson’s power and water solutions. “With the Ovation Green portfolio, our software, support and solutions are unified in one system from a single trusted provider to help power producers more quickly, easily and reliably manage their renewable electricity operations.”

 Full access to real-time and historical operations information empowers owners and operators with greater visibility and control of all renewable assets across the enterprise. Through an integrated portfolio of data-driven asset control and management solutions, Ovation Green technologies provide secure, standardised access to data, independent of equipment manufacturer or system type, across a single or multiple sites.

By gathering, collating and contextualising vast amounts of data created by renewable generation and storage assets, Emerson’s Ovation Green portfolio provides a clear view of renewable operations in a seamless space. The portfolio will empower actionable intelligence from a unified platform to drive faster, more informed decisions to increase availability and production while reducing operations and maintenance costs.

Emerson’s Ovation Green portfolio will be featured at the Intersolar and Energy Storage North America Conference February 14-16 in Long Beach, California. 

To learn more about Ovation Green technologies, please visit Emerson.com/Ovation-Green.

NI has announced validation by the FiRaTM Consortium of its UWB PHY test solution. NI’s solution can now be used by device manufacturers and chip designers to automatically test the conformance of their Ultra-Wideband (UWB) enabled products against version 1.3 of FiRa’s PHY specifications.

UWB is useful for devices requiring low power operating over a short range that can coexist with other Radio Frequency (RF) signals for the purpose of providing real-time location information and can also perform data exchanges with remote objects. The NI UWB PHY test solution is based on the NI PXI platform, giving users the ability to custom-tailor a solution that entirely meets their needs in a compact format. Users can add functionality such as data acquisition channels or DUT control interfaces to customise their solution.

“As wireless standards continue to evolve, so does the complexity of testing and automated testing standards will become increasingly critical in improving time-to-market,” said David Hall, Director of Marketing, Global Business Units, NI. “NI is excited to receive FiRa Validation of our UWB PHY Test Solution. We can now provide our customers with a UWB test bench that has successfully undergone the rigorous validation procedure defined by FiRa.”

The FiRa Certification Program defines processes for verifying that candidate devices conform to the FiRa Consortium requirements and test specifications. “Based on FiRa’s rigorous process to evaluate test tools, we are pleased to validate NI’s VST 2nd generation, PXIe-583x PHY Conformance test tool,” said Clint Chaplin and Reinhard Meindl, co-chairs of the FiRa Compliance and Certification Working Group. “This provides FiRa Authorized Test Labs and member companies the ability to verify PHY conformance with a known Validated Test Tool”.

Part of NI’s FiRa-validated UWB Test Solution is the second-generation Vector Signal Transceiver, the PXIe-583x. This family of RF testers is primarily aimed at engineers working on RF front ends for wideband standards, such as 5G and Wi-Fi 6E/7. The increasing complexity of devices, test cases and modulation schemes make them rely on NI’s VST based solutions to help validate the performance of their devices. One of the most unique attributes of the VST is its highly scalable software architecture. The UWB specific parts of this test solution leverage the ultra-flexible and efficient toolkit from its partner, MaxEye Technologies. MaxEye’s experience in the development of communication layers for RF technologies, as well as the development of their associated test methods, makes them the ideal partner for these solutions.

Accurate and reliable flow rate measurement for water, including ultrapure water, at up to 1000 litres per minute is easily achieved with the new SU Puresonic flow sensor from ifm electronic. Since this innovative sensor uses ultrasonic technology, it delivers results that are not influenced by the conductivity of the water, making it an ideal choice for use in water filtration and purification systems as well as in more general applications where precision and dependability are key requirements.

These new sensors use a stainless steel measuring pipe free of measuring elements, seals or moving parts. This means no additional restriction to the flow is introduced by the sensor and the risk of leaks and/or blockages, which can occur in mechanical flow measurement systems, is eliminated. As a further aid to reliable operation, the sensors also incorporate a self-monitoring system. This can be used to alert users to, for example, increases in particulate matter in the medium or to the build-up of deposits on the inner wall of the measuring pipe.

SU Puresonic sensors are available with G1 and 1” NPT process connections and a measuring range of 1 to 240 litres per minute, and with G2 and 2” NPT connections and a measuring range of 5 to 1000 litres per minute. All versions have an IO-Link output that provides comprehensive real time data for flow rate, medium temperature and sensor status, as well as a 4-20 mA analogue output, a pulse output, a switching output and a diagnostic output.

Compact construction means that installation is straightforward, even in applications where space is restricted, such as on water manifolds with a 50 mm pitch. Set up is equally straightforward as, unlike clamp-on devices, SU Puresonic sensors offer plug-and-play operation with no need to make adjustments for pipe material and wall thickness.

PCB Piezotronics (PCB) is introducing its new model 3743F, extending its “F” series of MEMS DC response sensors, which also includes 3711F, 3713F, and 3741F.

PCB Model 3743F utilises variable capacitance MEMS technology for stable and accurate measurement in a wide input voltage range from 5 to 32 Vdc. It simultaneously measures acceleration and low-frequency vibration in three mutually-orthogonal axes (X, Y, Z).

Designed and developed by PCB, model 3743F triaxial differential output accelerometer features:

Model 3743F makes precise measurements in harsh environments, providing accurate readings over a wide operating temperature range. It is ideal for testing aircraft flight/flutter, in-flight vibration, low frequency aircraft/airframe vibration measurements, space launch vehicle vibration, automotive ride quality, road load data acquisition (RLDA), and structural dynamics. For additional applications, please talk to your PCB representative.

The titanium package is stud mounted and has an integral hermetic 9-pin receptacle that mates with PCB’s 037Gxx / 037ENxxxNU detachable shielded cable assembly, sold separately. The 3743F is currently shipping in 6-8 weeks.

The Model 137B29B sensor broadens PCB’s current line of single and dual channel ICP blast pencil probes, and continues to feature a unique pencil shape that allows shock waves to progress smoothly across the sensor, providing distortion free measurements.

For more information visit bit.ly/PCB-3743F. For technical inquiries and application support, please contact Jennifer MacDonell, MEMS Product Line Manager at PCB Piezotronics, at JMacDonell@endevco.com.

ION Science is committed to protecting lives and preserving the environment by offering pioneering gas sensing technology that monitors and improves air quality. Two key air quality pollutants that ION can detect are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Particulate Matter (PM).

Particulate matter pollution is an enormous problem across the world. An estimated 91% of the world’s population lives in areas where air quality levels exceed WHO limits. Particulate matter sensors measure the quantity and size of (fine) dust particles, with both parameters influencing air quality. The NextPM particulate matter sensor now available from ION, has been independently verified by the South Coast AQMD as the world’s best-performing, low-cost particulate sensor. It features advanced technical innovations that enable ultra-precise measurements to be obtained, even in extreme climatic conditions. Including direct measurement of PM1, PM2.5 in both µg/m3 and pcs/L, compared with most alternatives that only measure one fraction, and smart sample conditioning to remove humidity effects.

Volatile organic compounds have a high vapour pressure and low water solubility. Many VOCs are human-made chemicals that are used and produced in the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals, and refrigerants. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are typically higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors and the easiest way to manage VOCs inside of buildings is a ventilation system.

Monitoring VOCs, both indoor and outdoor is important, to ensure that harmful levels are not reached, the ION PID sensor variants most suitable for air quality monitoring are:

• MiniPID 2 PPB Sensoris optimised to low-end ppb sensitivity while offering a wide dynamic range and is perfect for measuring indoor and outdoor air quality over a wide range of environments.
• MiniPID 2 HS Sensor is the most sensitive VOC sensor on the market designed for high sensitivity applications, allowing sub ppb measurement.
• MiniPID 2 10.0 eV sensor is a good choice for spaces that require selective measurement of highly toxic VOCs such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene.

ION Science’s PID technology is ideal for air quality and emissions monitoring purposes, thanks to the patented fence electrode technology found in all ION Science MiniPID sensors, this helps to eliminate false positives, delivering reliable results.

Using the two gas sensing technologies, MiniPID sensors and NextPM particle sensors, in combination, is an effective way to monitor air quality and emissions for the safeguarding of human and environmental health.

See ION Science’s full range of sensors or to understand more about how to deploy the technology, visit – https://bit.ly/3HR2cWC

Determination of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil continues to be an area of interest for scientists as they are the most common contaminants that are toxic to human and environmental receptors. These contaminants include various molecules that are grouped into aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Generally, initial field-based soil analysis is non-specific and, while useful, the results are normally supplemented with those of more accurate and precise lab-based techniques. Here Paul Vanden Branden, director and product manager at laboratory equipment supplier SciMed, discusses the performance of field-based non-dispersive infra-red spectroscopy (NDIRS) technology for petroleum hydrocarbon determination compared to traditional lab-based methods.

Typically, the analysis of oil-contaminated soils during site investigation and remediation involves a range of non-specific field-based screening techniques and specific lab-based fingerprint techniques completed off-site by commercial laboratories using certified analytical methods.

Typical non-specific field-based techniques include NDIRS, portable gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), ultra-violet fluorescence spectroscopy (UVFS), visible-near infrared (vis-NIR) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and photo-ionisation detection (PID). These are used to screen total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), quantify aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons during site investigation, identify potential hydrocarbon concentration hotspots and compare TPH concentrations in the environmental.

Generally, the lab-based fingerprint techniques used are either GC-MS or high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). These provide in-depth data into aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon speciation, qualitative and quantitative hydrocarbon degradation due to weathering or engineered remediation, and have high sensitivity and accuracy for risk indicator compounds, which is required to meet regulatory requirements.

While the lab-based fingerprint techniques offer high accuracy and precision, the procedures involved are often time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, they are not seen as cost-effective methods for decision making needed during site investigation, remediation monitoring and validation.

Over the past decade, various field-based analytical technologies have been developed, expediting hydrocarbon determination on site and increasing the number of soil samples that can be analysed at lower cost. However, more data is needed before these can be widely adopted, such as their performance and accuracy for different soil types, different levels of contamination and different fuel types. Furthermore, comparison of their ability to quantify different hydrocarbon groups for risk assessment purposes and evaluation of whether they can offer a good alternative to lab-based technologies for remediation monitoring and validation is still limited.

Field-based NDIRS

In analytical chemistry, extraction procedures aim to separate the analyte quickly, quantitatively and using as little solvent as possible. A recent report by Concawe outlined how solvent-based extraction field technologies, including NDIRS, performed well for the detection and quantification of TPH between 100 and 10,000 mg kg^-1, independent of soil type and fuel type. The NDIRS instrument used in Concawe’s study was the Infracal 2 ATR-SP TPH analyser, which can perform TPH determination of hydrocarbons in five to ten minutes, significantly faster than lab-based GC-MS.

For the experiments covered in Concawe’s report, scientists used a hexane extraction method, adding 1% v/w to soil samples and shaking them for two minutes. This extract was cleaned using activated silica gel and Whatman no. 40 filter paper. For level three spiked soils, the extracts were further diluted five times in accordance with the Infracal 2’s detection range. Before each measurement, the attenuated total reflectance (ATR) crystal was cleaned with 99.9% isopropanol and zeroed every hour. To measure a sample, 60 μL was deposited into the ATR crystal, and the solvent was given time to evaporate before the measurement was taken.

The report concluded that the NDIRS field test provides GC-MS comparable TPH recoveries and meets the performance requirements for many regulatory standards. This means scientists can use the Infracal 2, which SciMed supplies, to conduct cost-effective petroleum hydrocarbon analysis on-site, without outsourcing to commercial analytical labs.

To speak to one of SciMed’s team about how the Infracal can help you in your application, fill out an enquiry form on the company’s website.

Endress+Hauser is heading into its special anniversary year with momentum. In 2022 the measurement and automation technology specialist increased consolidated sales by almost 17 percent to more than 3.3 billion euros. Nearly 16,000 people are employed worldwide by the Group. The family-owned Swiss company also has a confident outlook for 2023, a year in which it is celebrating its 70th birthday.

From start-up to global player

On 1 February 1953, Georg H Endress and Ludwig Hauser officially registered their enterprise. The company has since grown from a two-man operation to a leading global provider of process and laboratory instrumentation, automation solutions and services. The Group boasts sales and support organisations in 125 countries and manufactures in all major economic regions, thus making the family-owned company a genuine global player.

Strong growth, positive outlook

“2022 was marked by strong growth. We continued to reliably support our customers despite strained supply and logistics chains,” reports CFO Dr Luc Schultheiss. Thanks to a further increase in incoming orders, Endress+Hauser is heading into its 70th anniversary year with strong momentum. “We expect double-digit sales growth in 2023 as well,” says the CFO. The company is looking to create new jobs around the world and is planning to invest heavily in buildings and equipment.

Focus on long-term success

Endress+Hauser has nearly doubled its sales volume in the last ten years and grew its headcount by more than 50 percent. Far more than 1.5 billion euros from the Group’s own financial resources was invested in new buildings and equipment in the same period. “Our customers value us, our employees are dedicated to the company and our shareholders think long term,” emphasises CEO Matthias Altendorf. “We can be proud of what we have achieved and can look into the future with confidence.”

Anniversary celebration

Employees will be celebrating the Group’s 70th anniversary through both small and large events and activities all over the world. From 26 to 28 June 2023, Endress+Hauser is inviting customers, partners and industry experts to attend the Global Forum in Basel, Switzerland, to jointly discuss the sustainable transformation of the process industry. Endress+Hauser will present its audited financial statements on 4 April 2023 in Basel.

Automation systems are widely known to provide boosts to productivity and cost-effectiveness for industry. These benefits typically increase with more complex and sophisticated systems, which allow the user to achieve more. However, for machine builders and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), the increased complexity of automation can result in more time-consuming and expensive projects, presenting greater challenges to being cost competitive and profitable. Here, Stephen Hayes, managing director of automation technology expert Beckhoff UK, explains how the latest technologies can reduce project costs for machine builders and OEMs.

Return on investment (ROI) is a constant concern for industrial businesses, owing in part to the cost for manufacturers of procuring new equipment and systems. One of the areas where ROI is particularly important is in regards to automation systems and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies. With newer technologies, there is a greater focus not only on total cost of ownership (TCO) for the system itself, but also the returns it brings in production benefits.

Machine builders and OEMs play a vital role in helping industry to achieve these production benefits by designing and creating increasingly sophisticated automated equipment. However, the more complex a system is, the more complicated the design and development stage is. If a machine has multiple moving parts or numerous sections that require motion control, it leads to complex wiring and bulkier overall design footprints. The complexity of the wiring and cabling in turn adds to the development time, in turn increasing project costs.

The trouble for OEMs is that price point can be a deciding factor for customers. As automation technology has developed, more businesses have begun creating new systems, meaning OEMs and machine builders must routinely compete with lower-cost entrants into the market. Remaining viable in such a market requires competitive pricing for advanced automated systems, while staying profitable.

Project costs for OEMs and machine builders are further compounded by shipping, installation and integration times. The bigger footprint of more complex systems means increased shipping costs. Similarly, the greater number of cable runs required to provide power and communication to motion components adds to on-site installation time. From Beckhoff’s experience, many machine builders find this as one of the biggest sources of cost in an automation project.

It is with these challenges in mind that Beckhoff launched its Automation Without Cabinets range of products. This range helps OEMs and machine builders to lower system complexity, reduce shipping costs and shorten installation times to reduce overall project costs, making ROI attainable for customer and OEM alike.

Machines built with the Automation Without Cabinets concept in mind can involve fewer components than other designs, by incorporating products like the AMP8000 compact distributed servosystem. These are comprised of a servomotor with a built-on, rear-mounted servo drive. This rear-mounting means the overall servosystem has the same mounting dimensions as a standard servomotor, while also providing performance benefits such as unobstructed heat dissipation and little to no motor derating, compared to a top-mounted design.

The overall machine can occupy a smaller footprint, which reduces shipping expenses and means simpler assembly, disassembly and reassembly during testing and transporting.

Complementary to this is the reduced number of cables. This is because the backbone of Automation Without Cabinets is products that are compatible with EtherCAT P cable technology, which provides ultra-fast EtherCAT communications and 24 V power in one standard four-wire ethernet cable. This means we can help address one of the most time and cost consuming processes for machine builders and OEMs.

The commissioning and site installation stages can often be some of the most expensive parts of a project, especially when integrating more complex systems into production facilities. Reducing the number of cables makes this process simpler and faster for OEMs, reducing labour costs and strengthening the ROI on a commissioning or installation project, helping OEMs remain competitive and profitable in an ever-changing automation market.

In many plants you will find cameras, lighting and other hardware that was once part of a visual inspection system but is no longer fit for purpose. Do you have to rip it up and build from scratch? Here, Zohar Kantor, vice president of sales at visual inspection software company Lean AI explains why an equipment-agnostic software technology could can breath new life into your existing machine vision hardware.

It is estimated that between 2017 and 2020, approximately 270,000 machine vision systems were installed around the world. How many of these are still performing as they were intended to? It is impossible to know the exact figure, but this is a field where technology is moving very quickly. Solutions that were promised to be cutting-edge just a couple of years ago quickly become unsuitable.

A common issue is the lack of interoperability between different hardware components, or between hardware and software. Some software solutions are vendor-specific, requiring you to buy new cameras and other sensors to get the best out of the latest artificial intelligence solutions. You face the problem that economists refer to as ‘‘sunk costs.’’ You have already invested considerable money in your machine vision equipment, so do you really want to rip it out and start again?

Retrofit and rejuvenate

Quality managers and plant managers are unfortunately not fully aware that there is an alternative solution in retrofitting. If a software solution is equipment-agnostic, meaning it is designed to operate with hardware from different vendors rather than being exclusive to one, you can bring new capacity to old investments.

If your existing image acquisition equipment is perfectly okay in terms of image quality and illumination, then the software was the problem. Why not leverage your existing hardware by finding a software solution that will work in tandem with it? We are currently putting this theory into practice with a leading powder metal company in Canada. Lean AI’s artificial intelligence algorithms are designed to work with any hardware, so we can make use of cameras and computer hardware already in the plant, removing the need for the customer to rip this out and start again. Retrofitting in this way saves time, money and risk.

If only a small fraction of the 270,000 machine vision systems installed between 2017 and 2020 are no longer performing the tasks they were intended to then there is a huge opportunity to retrofit an equipment-agnostic software technology to breathe new life into your existing hardware. This is a problem in any industry where technological progress is flourishing, but with Lean AI’s software, you may not need to replace your hardware as soon as you think.

Lean AI uses patented deep learning algorithms to automate the process of building an AI inspection model for your production line. Discover more at lean-ai-tech.com