News

Valeo, the key technology partner of mobility actors around the globe, and Teledyne FLIR, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, have started a strategic collaboration to bring thermal imaging technology to the automotive industry to enhance the safety of road users.

Together, the team already secured a major contract in late 2023 from a leading global automotive OEM to deliver their new thermal imaging cameras as part of a new generation of advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) driver-aide technology to improve vehicle and road safety.

Valeo and Teledyne FLIR will deliver the first Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) B thermal imaging technology for night vision ADAS. This system will complement Valeo’s large range of sensors and rely on Valeo’s ADAS software stack to support functions such as automatic emergency braking (AEB) at night for passenger and commercial vehicles as well as for autonomous cars. The collaboration brings together Valeo, the world’s leader in automotive camera technologies, with Teledyne FLIR, the world leader in thermal imaging technology, to create the next generation of multispectral sensor fusion systems for automotive safety.

Valeo will leverage its extensive expertise in automotive vision systems to integrate Teledyne FLIR thermal vision technology and supply the OEM with a complete solution for night vision, including perception software based on Valeo’s AI and Graphical Visualization stack.
“Valeo has the most extensive portfolio of perception solutions on the market and we are looking forward to working with Teledyne FLIR to add thermal imaging to our offer,” said Marc Vrecko, president of Valeo comfort and driving assistance. “This new camera and its perception software will complement our offer and improve the overall performance of ADAS and autonomous vehicles systems to bring even more safety to road users, especially at night.”

“Teledyne FLIR continues to make tremendous strides in developing and incorporating thermal imaging into automotive safety systems, from aftermarket driver-aid technologies to autonomous robotaxis,” said Paul Clayton, vice president and general manager, Teledyne FLIR. “Our work with Valeo enables us to make thermal imaging technology ubiquitous within transportation, from passenger cars to semi-trucks, allowing more drivers and automated vehicle safety systems to see in complete darkness, in cluttered environments, and in adverse weather where other incumbent sensors struggle.”

Improving Roadway Safety for Vulnerable Road Users

In the United States, preliminary data from the Governor Highway Safety Association found that 2022 marked the deadliest year on record for pedestrians since the organization began tracking such data in 1981. The record number of pedestrian deaths, with three-quarters occurring at night, highlights the need to do more to protect vulnerable road users, which also includes bicyclists and large mammals. In response, regulators in the United States are introducing proposed rulemaking for stricter testing standards for automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems, including requiring testing at night. However, existing AEB systems do not include thermal imaging, which is crucial for detecting and classifying living objects in low-light conditions and inclement weather.

To learn about the Teledyne FLIR automotive program, visit https://www.flir.com/adas.

Happy New Year everyone! As we move into 2024, PowTechnology asked CEO, Dave Oakes, to review 2023, our first year as ‘PowTechnology’ and to give us a preview of 2024.

“2023 was our first year operating as PowTechnology and what a year!

Our new name generated an incredible energy across the organisation, building on the growth and diversification that went before.

 2023 was our strongest year ever and we are extremely optimistic for continued success in 2024, with new colleagues, new technologies, new sectors opening up and a very exciting new partnership with Siemens.

PowTechnology have been intelligent automation specialists for over 30 years. We have always been innovators in harnessing data from sensors and machines to the cloud.

In 2023, I believe our success was based on the expansion of both our technical sales and our development teams, allowing us to progress further into edge processing, AI and anomaly detection technologies.

The results have been incredible! We successfully delivered projects which helped customers optimise asset reliability, enhance performance and boost sustainability. There are now around 40 case studies on our web site. What an amazing endorsement of our digital transformation capabilities!

For me, the Ardent Fuel-It project really exemplifies our current IIoT capabilities. Ardent is a multi-category rental equipment specialist, which has historically differentiated itself through digitalisation.

They came to us with a vision for their Fuel-IT smart fuel tank and within six months they had a proof of concept!

Now, they have a market-leading digital transformation solution, which collects level, flow, dispense and GPS location data, as well as offering authorised dispersals, with users identifying themselves and the asset being fuelled. Ardent have differentiated themselves within the rental market, with delighted customers reporting 50% reductions in fuel consumption via dispense control and successful challenges of fuel suppliers who charge for more product than supplied.

I love it when PowTechnology helps customers to solve their real-world problems! 

I’m also delighted that PowTechnology was recognised once again by industry peers. We were proud to be a finalist in the Instrumentation Excellence Awards in the category ‘Digital Transformation Award’. We were also delighted to be Industry Update Magazine’s Industry4.0 Company Of The Year!

It’s a fitting testament to the PowTechnology team and their determination to help customers optimise their processes, whether that be to promote safety, sustainability, service or strategy.

Our recent appointment as a Siemens Solutions Partner is an incredibly exciting development!! This partnership represents the formalisation of our long-term relationship with Siemens.

PowTechnology are now deploying easy retro-fit, scalable, fully customised and integrated Industry4.0 solutions involving Siemens instrumentation. It’s a true symbiotic relation, whereby Siemens are able to use PowTechnology to deliver solutions requiring remote connectivity.

The PowTechnology-Siemens synergy is strong across many sectors, including chemicals, mining, aggregate and cement. The use of IIoT solutions for abstraction and discharge of mine water, data analysis of bitumen and belt weighing, as well as the tank/silo level for which we are better known, delivers major benefits.

With these sectors in mind, we will be exhibiting at Hillhead 2024, the biggest exhibition of its kind in the aggregates, recycling and construction products industries.

We will also be exhibiting and speaking at Instrumentation Live in a couple of weeks and other industry-specific events to be announced shortly.

IIoT solution development has also been ongoing throughout 2023 and we have a number of launches planned as well as further expansion of our engineering and development resource.

Q2 should see us launch Metron5, the next evolution of our proven Metron4 telemetry hardware. It will interface with a broader range of smart sensors and offer greater edge processing capabilities.

PowTechnology have also been working on our MetronView platform and will be launching a range of new features including greater versatility to customise views, incorporate graphics and mapping and deploy new communication protocols.

We are also moving our website to a new platform to make it faster and easier to navigate.

In summary, 2023 was a truly exceptional year and we are better placed than ever to build on that! I’m really excited and confident for 2024!

My fellow Directors and I would like to thank the whole PowTechnology team for their enterprise and commitment and congratulate them on the success that it continues to deliver!”

What can PowTechnology do for you?

Please browse PowTechnology’s web site and get in touch with any queries you have or applications you would like to discuss. +44 1827 310 666 sales@PowTechnology.com or use this contact form.

Instrumentation Live, sponsored by IndySoft, is coming to the National Conference Centre in Birmingham on 17 January 2024. This brand new table top event is the ideal platform for showcasing your latest technology in the fields of test, measurement and control. Taking place alongside Electronics Live, the NCC will be the place to be come 17 January 2024.

Taking place during the event are the seminars. Throughout the day, visitors to the exhibition will be able to find out more about electronics and instrumentation in the seminar theatre.

• 11.40am: PowTechnology, Will Brown, The Sense In Sensing: What Can The Industrial Internet Of Things (IIoT) Do For Me?

  This presentation is aimed at any sensor supplier, integrator or sensor user, who could derive greater benefit from collecting and channelling sensor and instrumentation data to optimise processes.

  Our post-pandemic world demands connectivity to remain relevant and digitalisation is now a necessity for organisational success. Yet, perceived cost & complexity remains a barrier for many. 

  We’ll be using real applications to demonstrate how intelligent deployment can deliver dramatic results, even with modest investment. Measuring a few key parameters can be extremely effective to optimise efficiency, maximise resource and minimise waste.

  Whether you are measuring level, flow, pressure, temperature, vibration, humidity or monitoring energy usage, understanding your processes can help you to optimise them. Benefits include:

  • Lowering operational & energy costs
  • Preventing breakdown before it occurs
  • Maximising resource and reducing waste
  • Compliance with legislation
  • Improving service to customers
  • Differentiation from competitors
  • Introducing new revenue streams

  Reliable sensor data can promote safety, sustainability, sales and service. If you are a sensor supplier wishing to add connectivity to your offer or a manufacturer wishing to maximise benefit from new or existing sensing technology, this presentation will provide you with a proven path to success.

• 1.40pm: Sensor Technology, Mark Ingham, New Developments in Torque Measurement and Display
  
  Expert Mark Ingham from Sensor Technology takes to the stage at 1.40pm to outline what is new in the measurement of Torque and how that data is available for observation and analysis. For over 40 years, Sensor Technology has researched and developed solutions for customers’ torque and load measurement problems, developing its own unique technologies for the instrumentation, test and OEM markets worldwide.
  
  
• 3.00pm: Sensing Innovation Leadership Council, Peter Loftus, UK Sensing Innovation Ecosystem
  
  The UK has a rich history of innovation in Measurment, instrumentation and sensing technologies yet is not a leading nation in the manufacture of sensing systems. The impact that may have on UK end users of sensing systems is poorly understood but the Sensing Innovation Leadership Council was established to help identify opportunities to enhance the overall process of innovation and application. The talk will provide a brief resume of the Council’s efforts in this direction to-date and the opportunities that we see for the future.
  

Instrumentation Live is a free-to-attend event that aims to attract key decision makers that are looking to source the latest products and solutions and stay up-to-date with the latest developments. Visitors benefit from the unique opportunity to see all of the instrumentation market leaders under one roof while exhibitors enjoy an incredible ROI from the highly-targeted and relevant crowd that the exhibition will attract. Exhibitors already signed up to be at the event include Michell Instruments, Micro-Epsilon, ION Science, POWTechnology, Calex Electronics, Trafag, Dewesoft, Asset Instruments Engineering, Luso Electronics, Rheintacho, D.A.T.S., Status Instruments, Winters Instruments; Sensing Innovation Leadership Council;Alphasense; Magnaflux; Mettler Toledo; Display Technology; Indysoft; GI Systems; Acoustic Camera; Strainsense and European Springs and Pressings.

To register for free to attend Instrumentation Live, please visit instrumentationlive.co.uk.

TTI, Inc. – Europe, a world leading specialty distributor of electronic components, has signed an authorised distributor agreement with Rosenberger, a leading manufacturer of impedance-controlled and optical interconnect solutions in high-frequency, high-voltage and fibre-optic technology. TTI Europe now stocks Rosenberger products, so electronics designers can access a more in-depth portfolio to find the perfect solution for their application.

“Rosenberger is very well respected in the market for its advanced technology, and we are delighted to have signed this EMEA distribution agreement with them, giving our customers access to a wider product portfolio in high-frequency, high-voltage and fibre-optic technology,” said Ronald Velda, Supplier Marketing Director Europe – Connectors & Emech for TTI. “Our significant stock package investment demonstrates our dedication to both Rosenberger and to providing better technical solutions for our customers, making us thrilled about the future and about growing together.”

“We are excited to expand our EMEA channel strategy with this new agreement,” says Frédéric Klein, Sr Vice President Global Sales Interconnect at Rosenberger. “We share a mutual focus in industrial, aerospace & defence and transportation markets, as well as a strong cultural alignment, which will set the course for common growth and future success. We are confident that our strengths in cutting-edge technology and highly efficient manufacturing processes coupled with TTI Europe’s extensive sales network and strong stock commitment will form a powerful partnership, adding real value for customers that rely on the precision and reliability of our products.”

TTI Europe looks to build strong partnerships with its trusted manufacturing associates so electronics engineers have access to the best products and expertise all from a single source. The expansion of TTI Europe’s portfolio means customers can benefit from the high availability of connectivity solutions so they can advance their designs while also realising the convenience and efficiency advantages of purchasing from a ‘one-stop shop’.

Rosenberger offers high quality standardised and customised connectivity solutions for mobile communication networks, data centres, industrial test & measurement, automotive electronics, high-voltage contact systems, medical and industrial electronics, as well as aerospace engineering. The product range includes RF coaxial connectors, components and accessories, RF measurement products and cable assemblies.

For further information on the latest Rosenberger products available from TTI Europe, please visit https://www.ttieurope.com/content/ttieurope/en/manufacturers/p-s/rosenberger.html.

A&T Enclosures Limited, a bespoke electrical enclosure manufacturer based in Brierley Hill has announced the appointment of two new directors as the business continues to grow year on year.

Tracey Owens who has been with the company since 2015 has accepted the position of Commercial Director and Wayne Mansell who has worked for the organisation for twelve years has accepted the role of Operations and Facilities Director.

The move will see Tracey and Wayne bring a wealth of knowledge and experience across all departments throughout the company and will ensure that A&T Enclosures Limited continues to thrive in the coming years.

Tracey and Wayne commented ’We feel this is a milestone in our careers, and we would like to express our deepest thanks to each and every one of you who has played a significant role in our journey. We are excited about the challenges that lie ahead and confident that we can drive our company forward towards further heights of success.’

The appointment of these two new directors is yet another significant milestone for the Black Country business, who just last year celebrated their thirtieth year in business with a commemorative visit from the Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street MBE and the Mayor of Dudley, Sue Greenaway.

The organisation continues to be a leading provider of bespoke electrical enclosures and with the additional support of both Tracey and Wayne in their new roles, we have no doubt that the company will continue to thrive for many years to come.

Instrumentation Live, sponsored by IndySoft, is coming to the National Conference Centre in Birmingham on 17 January 2024. This brand new table top event is the ideal platform for showcasing your latest technology in the fields of test, measurement and control. Taking place alongside Electronics Live, the NCC will be the place to be come 17 January 2024.

The free-to-attend event aims to attract key decision makers that are looking to source the latest products and solutions and stay up-to-date with the latest developments. Visitors benefit from the unique opportunity to see all of the instrumentation market leaders under one roof while exhibitors enjoy an incredible ROI from the highly-targeted and relevant crowd that the exhibition will attract. Exhibitors already signed up to be at the event include Michell Instruments, Micro-Epsilon, ION Science, POWTechnology, Calex Electronics, Trafag, Dewesoft, Asset Instruments Engineering, Luso Electronics, Rheintacho, D.A.T.S., Status Instruments, Winters Instruments; Sensing Innovation Leadership Council;Alphasense; Magnaflux; Mettler Toledo; Display Technology; Indysoft; GI Systems; Acoustic Camera; Strainsense and European Springs and Pressings.

Also taking place during the event are the seminars. Throughout the day, visitors to the exhibition will be able to find out more about electronics and instrumentation in the seminar theatre:

• 11.40am: PowTechnology, Will Brown, The Sense In Sensing: What Can The Industrial Internet Of Things (IIoT) Do For Me?
• 1.40pm: Sensor Technology, Mark Ingham, New Developments in Torque Measurement and Display
• 3.00pm: Sensing Innovation Leadership Council, Peter Loftus, UK Sensing Innovation Ecosystem

To register for free to attend Instrumentation Live, please visit instrumentationlive.co.uk.

Optical Surfaces Ltd reports that it has received a follow-up order from Magdalena Ridge Observatory (MRO) to produce three second generation off-axis beam compressors to expand the capabilities of the facility’s optical interferometer.

The Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI) project’s mission is to develop a ten-element imaging interferometer to operate at wavelengths between 0.6 and 2.4 microns with baselines from 7.8 to 340 meters. The technical and scientific goals of the interferometer are to produce model-independent images of faint and complex astronomical targets at resolutions over 100 times that of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Dr Michelle Creech Eakman, Professor of Physics at MRO commented “To minimize diffraction effects from long distance propagation, the original 7.5x off-axis beam compressor supplied by Optical Surfaces was designed to allow a 95-mm beam of starlight to be reduced in size for the final division among instruments on the telescope. Because of the excellent performance of this optical system, we decided to single source from Optical Surfaces Ltd for three second-generation beam compressors that offer a better field-of-view to aid interferometric alignment.  These beam compressors will be crucial components in the MROI as they will allow us to work in the smaller beam space (less than 20mm diameter) outside the vacuum system.  We are hoping to attain first fringes during the first half of 2024”.

Dr Aris Kouris, Sales Director at Optical Surfaces Ltd added “Located at 10,600 ft above sea level in the Magdalena Mountains, our beam compressors for the MROI are subject to considerable variation in temperature. This necessitates that we incorporate invar element tie bars in the beam compressor design to provide thermal stabilization. Our beam compressors incorporate high-precision off-axis mirrors, which provide an unobstructed output and highly efficient transmission. Beam compressors are the optical tool of choice for decreasing the diameter of a collimated input beam to a smaller collimated output beam. The reflective design of our beam reducers is achromatic and with protected silver coatings can operate from the visible spectrum to far IR without adjustment”.

For further information on high precision ellipsoidal mirrors please visit https://www.optisurf.com/index.php/products/conic-sections/ellipsoids/ 

Saki Corporation, an innovator in the field of automated optical and X-ray inspection equipment, will be exhibiting at the 38th Nepcon Japan at the Tokyo Big Site Exhibition Center. From January 24 to 26, visitors to the show will discover Saki’s state-of-the-art inline total inspection line solutions for Smart Factories and latest hard- and software innovations in the “Electrotest Japan” exhibition area on Booth 15-2 (East Hall 2) as well as on Booth 35-14 (East Hall 4) in the brand new “Power Device & Module Expo” area.

Saki will offer booth-visitors a first-hand look at the unique features that demonstrate its Full SMT Line, Smart Factory and M2M capabilities. These include the latest hardware and software releases with an emphasis on total inspection line solutions that offer reliability, speed, quality, and value for applications across key sectors including automotive, EMS, and industrial markets.

The show line-up will feature:

< Electrotest Japan – Booth 15-2 (East Hall 2) >

Saki’s innovative single operation capabilities, together with a prototype of their software system called “One Programming / Saki Link”, will serve as a showcase for the company’s data-driven approach to ongoing productivity enhancement. SPI, AOI, and AXI programming operability is unified, and device configurations are done in batches using a shared data library. 

Alongside the new software system, QD Analyzer and Multi Process View (MPV) demo station will present Saki’s software strength that greatly improves process troubleshooting and determines root causes. These innovations will help clients increase automation to solve labor & resourcing issues, tackle skills shortages, improve productivity and achieve greater manufacturing quality and efficiency. 

< Power Device & Module EXPO – Booth 35-14 (East Hall 4) >

The Power Device and Module Expo is a new addition to Nepcon Japan focusing on the automotive, energy, railroad, and industrial equipment sectors. Designed specifically for the power semiconductor manufacturing applications, Saki will exhibit its latest X-ray total automatic inspection system for power modules, the AXI 3Xi-M200, on a dedicated Saki booth #35-14 in East Hall 4.

With its special Planar-CT (PCT) scanning method, combined with advanced in-house image-processing algorithms that calculate the luminance of each pixel in three dimensions to reconstruct images with the maximum possible accuracy, Saki’s X-ray solution fulfills inspection capabilities and flexibility required by semiconductor manufacturers far beyond standard SMT inspection processes with precision, speed, and ease.

“We are looking forward to once again showcasing our latest technologies at Nepcon Japan. With our range of inspection machine and software solutions we aim to help address changes and challenges faced by electronic manufacturers today and in the future,” said Ken Katsumi, Chief Sales Manager of Saki’s Sales Headquarter.

For more information about Saki visit www.sakicorp.com/en/.

Diagnostic test waiting lists are at record levels in the UK, with targets to reduce the backlog to pre-pandemic levels being missed. The nationwide shortage of specialists plays a key role in delays, but the impact of outdated scanning equipment is often overlooked. Here, Stewart Goulding, managing director of stepper motor supplier Electro Mechanical Systems (EMS), explains why modern, reliable equipment is essential to tackling the backlog.

Over 180,000 patients in England were waiting more than 13 weeks for diagnostic tests at the end of last year. This includes X-ray and ultrasound scans, which are used to detect tumours and bone fractures.

A key reason for increased waiting times is the lack of radiologists and radiographers, with a recent Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) study showing that 97 per cent of cancer centres experienced delays due to staff shortages.

However, as NHS staff attempt to tackle the backlog safely and efficiently, their efforts are being hindered by outdated scanning equipment. Although medical guidelines state that diagnostic machines should be replaced every ten years, a survey found that 41 hospital trusts had at least one X-ray machine over 20 years old.

This has led over half of surveyed radiologists to believe they are not properly equipped to run their services safely and effectively.

Outdated equipment issues

The impact of outdated equipment is wide ranging. Long wait times reduce the chances of early detection, which is essential when diagnosing illnesses such as cancer, as it enables treatment to begin before it spreads further.

Additionally, upkeep of older equipment puts pressure on already stretched NHS budgets, with 27 of the 41 trusts surveyed by the RCR spending a combined £20million on repairs to these machines during the last three years.

Although predictive maintenance is an increasingly common way of reducing unplanned equipment downtime, this often requires newer technologies such as smart sensors, which cannot always be integrated into decades-old machines.

A further issue with older scanning equipment is that it may expose patients to more radiation, as modern X-ray machines use around 96 per cent less radiation than equipment from 50 years ago.

Modern medical imaging

Currently, three per cent of the NHS budget is spent on radiology devices. However, with the creation of the NHS medical technology (medtech) strategy that supports access to innovative devices, there could be funding available for newer scanning equipment.

Investment in modern radiology machines would help trusts tackle delays, decrease repair costs and limit radiation exposure. Updated equipment also offers further benefits to the way patients are diagnosed and later treated.

Recent developments in X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology mean that scanners can use artificial intelligence (AI) to produce clearer images as well as help to detect cancer. The more swiftly and efficiently patients are diagnosed, the sooner they can begin treatment.

To enable imaging machines to accurately diagnose a wide range of medical conditions and illnesses, motors are essential. These devices give scanning equipment a full range of motion, allowing optimal positioning for capturing clear images.

Many medical imaging machines depend on stepper motors, a type of brushless DC electric motor, to manoeuvre them. The reliability of these motors is essential, allowing NHS staff to reduce the diagnostic test backlog without being limited by temperamental equipment.

EMS supplies FAULHABER Precistep stepper motors, which have a long service life that is essential for continuous operation without performance loss or unscheduled downtime.

In addition, FAULHABER stepper motors can make repeatable motions without the need for closed loop control. This means they are well suited to the meticulous positioning requirements of scanning machines. Precision made stepper motors also supports increased patient comfort, as the motors operate smoothly, reducing noise and vibration.

As the NHS strives to reduce diagnostic test waiting times, sufficient staffing levels in radiology departments will be essential. However, the need for modern imaging equipment powered by reliable motors cannot be overstated when it comes to tackling the backlog.