News

Leading manufacturer of high-performance interconnect systems, Nicomatic is showcasing its high-reliability, space-proven modular interconnects – including its new FFCs for space: dense, lightweight flexible cables that ensure signal and power connection in all types of space applications – on stand D37 at Space-Comm Expo 2024, taking place from March 6 to 7, at Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Farnborough, UK. 

A growing space powerhouse, with industry turnover of £17.5 billion in 2022, the UK contributes 6.5% to the global space market. The UK’s largest space industry event, Space-Comm Expo gathers space, aerospace & defence, and downstream & upstream industries for two days of high-level networking, exhibition, education and business, focused on the commercial future of space. Supported by key industry associations, Space-Comm Expo showcases developments in technology and the end-to-end supply chain for products, services and applications servicing commercial enterprises, Government and defence organisations. 

Harsh-environment electronic space systems demand highly specialised interconnect components to ensure peak technical performance and secure data transmission in the extreme conditions of space – including vacuum, radiation and dramatic temperature fluctuations. Nicomatic’s DMM, CMM and EMM Series connectors have all been specified in recent space applications, including the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ExoMars astrobiology programme to search for signs of past life on Mars (CMM connector in the ExoMars Orbiter), China’s space programme for exploration on the Moon (custom connector in the Jade Rabbit rover), the ESA-led JUICE space mission (CMM connector in JUICE’s mass spectrometer for the observation of Jupiter’s icy moons), and multiple other international space and satellite programmes. 

Dense, lightweight and designed to be folded or coiled, the new FFCs (flat flexible cables) for space not only deliver significant weight and space savings, but also overcome space industry challenges by integrating cables into complete interconnect solutions. Manufactured from NASA-grade materials to meet outgassing requirements, FFCs for space create strong board-to-board connections on PCBs and display boards in electronic equipment, systems and sub-assemblies, linking data and power points in tight areas. These lighter, more flexible interconnects ensure robust, reliable signal and power connection for electrical harnessing systems in satellites, exploration rovers, solar arrays, research orbiters, HD cameras, radar and satcomm systems, communication units, optical sensors and simulators.

DMM Series 2mm pitch low-profile metal connectors comply with MIL-DTL-83513G and enable a far wider choice of arrangements compared to other mil-spec connectors, such as Micro-D or Sub-D. Highly modular, contacts can be signal (LF), power (HP) or coax (HF), with up to 10 million arrangements for board-to-board, board-to-wire, wire-to-wire or panel mount. 

CMM Series 2mm pitch MIL-DTL-55302F connectors also offer signal, power and coax, with more than 20 million arrangements possible. They save up to 60% space and up to 50% weight compared with other connectors offering the same functionality. Shock-and-vibration-resistant, oxygen-free, radiation-resistant and able to withstand temperature cycling between -60°C and +260°C, CMM connectors are proven to withstand the rigours of space applications.

On a 1.27mm pitch, the MIL-DTL-83513 conformant EMM Series is more than 40% smaller than its parent CMM, or 20% compared to Micro-D. Key features include reversed contacts, integrated 90-degree back protection and interchangeable hardware. Again, extreme modularity is offered, with 4 to 60 signal contacts for board-to-board (thanks to secure wiping length) or board-to-wire configurations.

Highly experienced in solving the complex interconnect problems found in space projects, including creating custom solutions, Nicomatic engineers are available on stand D37 at Space-Comm Expo and throughout Nicomatic’s global network of offices.

The MCF3 fuse series:
– 2.4 x 1.5mm, smaller than “1206” size
– UL Listed for both AC32V and DC72V
– RoHS compliant and Pb-free
– Robust wire-in-air construction
– very low resistance compared to “thin film”fuses.
– Satisfies IEC60079-11 10.6.2 requirements for encapsulation.
SOC was founded in Japan. We make fuses for over 60 years. We have
global coverage with offices in Europe, the USA and Asia. SOC fuses are
known for their outstanding quality. Our philosophy is to use only the
best raw materials. We manufacture our fuses to the highest quality
standards in IATF 16949 certified factories.

SOC Europe B.V.
info@soceurope.nl
www.soceurope.nl
+31 33 450 400

Pickering Interfaces will showcase its range of industry-standard modular signal switching & simulation products for electronic test & verification – including fault insertion and sensor simulation modules for Hardware-in-the-Loop simulation, as well as RF & microwave switching up to 110 GHz – on stand D32 at Space-Comm Expo 2024, taking place from March 6 to 7, at Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Farnborough, UK.

A growing space powerhouse with an industry turnover of £17.5 billion in 2022, the UK contributes 6.5% to the global space market. The UK’s largest space industry event, Space-Comm Expo gathers space, aerospace & defence, and downstream & upstream industries for two days of high-level networking, exhibition, education and business, focused on the commercial future of space. Supported by key industry associations, Space-Comm Expo showcases developments in technology and the end-to-end supply chain for products, services and applications servicing commercial enterprises, Government and defence organisations.

“At Pickering, we know that space industry electronics engineers have unique testing needs driven by requirements around long operating life, high reliability and hostile environmental conditions,” said Steve Edwards, Product Manager at Pickering. “Our modular products are based on familiar open industry standards that ensure long-term availability, shorten development time and ultimately speed time-to-market. With expert-level knowledge in architecting switching and simulation systems, we help our customers achieve their test objectives efficiently and deliver products with intuitive tools to enhance development teams’ design efforts and productivity. The result is scalable COTS test systems that can be optimised to meet their needs today and in the future.”

Pickering will showcase the following switching & simulation products, solutions and demos on stand D32 at Space-Comm Expo 2024:

• PXI/PXIe programmable precision resistor, RTD, thermocouple and LVDT/resolver modules for environmental sensor simulation
• Fault insertion modules that can be used to switch signals between simulations and real-life devices
• A 21-slot fully hybrid PXIe chassis and single-slot PXIe embedded controller
• The first modules in a new MEMS-based RF PXI & PXIe multiplexer family
• A configurable PXI microwave switch platform that allows RF test engineers to combine a wide range of high-performance relay types, while minimising chassis slot usage
• Turnkey LXI microwave switch & signal routing subsystems – including a custom 12×12 LXI microwave switching matrix demo

Pickering Interfaces stands behind its manufactured products with a standard three-year warranty and guaranteed long-term product support. For pricing and availability information, visit: www.pickeringtest.com

New research from Hanwha Vision, the global vision solution provider, has found that well over one-third (37%) of European manufacturers are turning to AI-enabled video as a means of solving their business challenges.

This exceeds the number who favour established industrial technologies such as automation and robotics (32%) and places AI video alongside 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT) and other technologies as key means of solving challenges.

A further one in two (52%) manufacturers plan to use AI-enabled video to notify operators of plant and equipment failure, while over 45% plan to deploy it to identify blockages or queued items on production lines, as well as spot manufacturing errors in finished goods leaving production lines.

AI-enabled video combines networked video cameras with AI to automatically detect and classify objects and their specific attributes. Using algorithms built into the camera, it can alert users when specific behaviours are identified – such as a warehouse operator not wearing safety gear or an unexpected object on a production line.

Pread Um (Suk Bong), Product and Marketing Director at Hanwha Vision Europe, said: “2024 is poised to be the year that AI-enabled video breaks through to mainstream use. Thanks to rising awareness of AI in the mainstream and proven business successes using AI-enabled video, more manufacturers are turning to the technology to solve challenges outside of security.”

“Video holds huge potential in streamlining manufacturing operations, providing valuable data to inform factory strategy and planning, and helping to secure people and assets. It’s encouraging to see so many manufacturers are not just recognising this, but actively planning to adopt AI-enabled video for these uses.”

To better understand leaders’ attitudes towards AI-enabled video in the post-ChatGPT era, Hanwha Vision conducted research among 1,000 individuals in organisations across five European countries (UK, Netherlands, Italy, Germany and France). Operations and security leaders were questioned on the technologies they will adopt to address a range of strategic business challenges, such as finding new efficiencies, introducing new processes and controlling costs.

This more “intelligent” use of video marks a dramatic shift from the security function that CCTV, as it was formerly known, has historically fulfilled. Indeed, the traditional role of video cameras in “maintaining a safe and secure environment” is cited by far fewer respondents in Hanwha Vision’s research (26%).

While the research found that AI-enabled video technology is finding favour with a wide business audience, it also unearthed potential barriers to adoption by manufacturers. Chief among these was the imagined need for training in the technology, cited by 40% of respondents overall. Yet investing in intuitive video systems that work “out-of-the-box” can vastly reduce the amount of training and technical knowledge required by operators to use AI-enabled video.

Another potential barrier to adoption lies, perhaps unsurprisingly, in concerns around cybersecurity. Not unique to video technology, this might reflect wider concerns about data security and the potential for networked devices to be compromised. Working with responsible manufacturers that have a longstanding commitment to cybersecurity best practices and are compliant with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will help address such concerns.

Read the full research paper here.

Texys is proud to introduce the MIB-PTP-E, a class-leading thermal camera system from our core brand Texense. This device is a significant evolution of our proven, high-end Micro-Bolometer from our infrared temperature sensing range. The MIB-PTP-E has been designed for many applications including industrial & military vehicles, aircraft, but also for motorsport.

Fast & highly accurate thermal camera

The MIB-PTP-E is a micro-bolometer based thermal camera system delivering the highest level of performance in the Texense range. This device provides a fast data output, reaching 100 Hz at whole frame through Ethernet PTP v2.

Designed to withstand harsh conditions while offering qualitative data, the MIB-PTP-E offers a high level of performance, allowing you to record data stream thanks to 8GB of integrated memory. This means you are capable of logging 2 hours of data at 100 Hz when equipped with the MIB-PTP-E, no matter the environment!

Another key point: if the sensor is recording, the data is still available live, online on the webserver, meaning you can log data inside the MIB-PTP-E and on the webserver simultaneously. The device’s interface allows you to parameter triggers on request, which makes it a programmable tool at your convenience that users can control via the web interface, directly available with the device’s IP, with an automatic synchronization.

Lightweight, ruggedized & compact infrared sensor

Thanks to its optimized & lightweight housing, the MIB-PTP-E can be easily installed for temperature measurement. It is a reliable and accurate solution, with 1%FS accuracy at 200°C and an 80×60 pixel camera resolution. Designed to be used in extreme environments, its user-replaceable window is a unique feature which will enhance the device’s lifetime.

Almost everyone is aware of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution in the automotive industry. The switch from diesel and petrol engines to electric power is constantly in the news, and despite some obstacles to widespread adoption, the clock is ticking to a total switch by 2035. Here Gareth Tomkinson, Business Development Manager in Renishaw’s CMM & Gauging Products Division, explores the role of metrology in solving these challenges.

The global importance of reducing our reliance on fossil fuels has set the scene for the replacement of combustion engines with e-transportation. However, a snapshot of sales in 2023, showed EVs made up only 16 per cent of new car registrations in the UK, according to Zapmap. While they may be an increasingly common sight on the country’s roads, widespread adoption by the majority has yet to come.

Driving change

Whilst early EV adopters enjoy the benefits of a more peaceful, carbon friendly motoring experience, they are also learning to live with new issues like higher purchase prices, low battery range and lack of charging infrastructure. Across the world, governments, local authorities, large employers and manufacturers all have a part to play in providing improvements that encourage EV adoption as part of the overall drive to net zero.

Changing lane

Further upstream, manufacturers have switched some of their traditional powertrain lines, by removing the equipment used to machine cylinder heads, cylinder blocks, cranks etc. and replacing this with new processes for components like rotors and stators for electric motors. Although the electric motor is far from a new technology, the high efficiency versions required on such a mass scale do bring new engineering challenges. At this early stage in the evolutionary cycle of the ‘new’ electric motor, we see engineers applying their talents and producing a constant stream of incremental design improvements. However, each of these new designs must go from the CAD (Computer Aided Design) screen through a manufacturing process and end up as a finished product with the precise tolerances attributed to each part. This makes quality checks essential to ensuring efficiency, reliability and safety, especially important with new and relatively unproven designs.

These inspection checks are used by manufacturers in two distinct ways: Firstly, as a standard pass or fail quality check for individual components. Secondly, as a source of data that can be used to make constant micro-adjustments to upstream machining. Much like the small steering wheel adjustments we make to keep a car in between the white lines on a highway, these ‘process control’ adjustments help to nudge machining operations towards the ideal size and prevent drift towards out of tolerance limits.

Two-way traffic

Providing inspection solutions that cater to the changing needs of the automotive industry requires a two-way conversation. It’s almost impossible for manufacturers to predict exactly what new designs will arrive on their inspection table in the future. However, a flexible measurement system, such as Renishaw’s REVO® five-axis measurement head, is now available with a wide range of different sensors that can be tailored to future demands. These include rapid tactile scanning probes, non-contact camera-based sensors, a surface finish sensor and an ultrasonic thickness probe. Renishaw has worked closely with our customers to understand their unique requirements and match these to the systems we provide.

Down the road

As the manufacturing industries we serve evolve, so must we. As companies race to find better EV designs, inspection must not only be rapid and reliable, but flexible too. Improving the driving range of EVs means manufacturers must produce a range of prototypes with new components, experimenting with different materials and designs. Providing flexibility in the manufacturing inspection setup is increasingly important to help lines that are retooled or upgraded.

Flexibility is also important because even though the future currently looks likely to be heavily dominated by electric vehicles, manufacturers will offer a diverse range of propulsion technologies for the various niches of sustainable transport. Much like today’s mix of vehicles using petrol, diesel and LPG, each suitable to different applications, vehicles powered by eFuels, hydrogen and batteries might all have a place tomorrow.

When working on burgeoning technologies such as electric vehicles, it can be difficult to foresee revolutionary step-changes before they appear. Future predictions are also notoriously tricky to get right. By prioritising early discussions with customers, providers of metrology equipment can develop innovative and agile inspection solutions. Renishaw is providing inherently flexible technologies to meet its customers’ demands, helping to create more efficient, reliable and affordable EVs for a more sustainable future.

For further information on what Renishaw is doing for the automotive industry, visit www.renishaw.com

Global motion technology company Schaeffler announces the expansion of its operations in the U.S. with the addition of a new manufacturing facility focused on producing automotive electric mobility solutions. This announcement represents the company’s commitment to innovation and growth in the Americas region.

Schaeffler is investing over USD 230 million in building the new greenfield manufacturing facility, strategically located in Dover, Ohio, as well as future expansions in the state until 2032. As part of an agreement with the State of Ohio and JobsOhio, the company will receive incentives via grants and tax credits for these investments that will create 650 jobs in the state. These jobs will lead to growth at the company’s current facility in Wooster, Ohio, and the new manufacturing facility in Dover.

Construction of the new facility will begin in mid-2024 with an estimated completion in the third quarter of 2025. Once complete, the first phase of the facility will boast roughly 130,000 square feet of advanced manufacturing space dedicated to electric mobility solutions for the automotive industry. Products manufactured at this site will include electric axles for light and medium-duty vehicles.

“Our new plant will play a pivotal role in shaping our future in the Americas region,” said Marc McGrath, Chief Executive Officer of Schaeffler Americas. “Dedicated to advancing our innovative product offering, our new Dover, Ohio facility will feature state-of-the-art production processes so we can better serve our customers, while also adopting sustainable practices, as we continue to pioneer motion,” continued McGrath.

The new facility will produce products with cutting-edge technology, featuring Schaeffler-designed and manufactured tools and equipment. The products include electric axles, showcasing Schaeffler’s dedication to delivering sustainable and efficient high-performance solutions for the rapidly evolving electric vehicle market. Beyond innovation, sustainability is at the core of Schaeffler’s operations. The new facility will incorporate eco-friendly practices, aligning with the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility and to be climate neutral by 2040.

Serving the Dover Community – Committed to Ohio

The new manufacturing facility location is in the proximity of Schaeffler’s customers, major automotive OEMs, strategic suppliers, rail, access to highways and to the company’s Wooster facility, which specialises in the manufacturing of transmission systems and serves as an innovation hub for automotive electric mobility.

The new facility will create approximately 450 job opportunities by 2032. Positions include manufacturing operators (assembly, welding and CNC), material handlers, manufacturing leaders, engineers, maintenance technicians, tooling technicians, quality professionals and other support staff.

Schaeffler is committed to fostering innovation and expertise and investing in the next generation of manufacturing. Partnerships with local technical colleges will ensure a robust talent pipeline and provide the community both apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship opportunities to be part of the future of electric mobility.

For more than 40 years, Schaeffler has considered the State of Ohio a vital partner. The company has relied on the state’s talented and committed workforce to keep its original equipment and aftermarket facilities operating smoothly and the quality of its products at the highest level.

Schaeffler strives to be a strong, contributing corporate citizen in each of the communities it operates, and looks forward to developing a positive relationship with the City of Dover and Tuscarawas County.  As part of its commitment to Ohio, Schaeffler recently completed an expansion in Wooster of almost 90,000 square feet to produce electric motors and components for electric powertrain systems.  Schaeffler also announced an increased relationship with The Ohio State University (OSU) to create a new battery cell research and development centre that will open in 2025.

Schaeffler will plan a groundbreaking event later this year to commemorate the start of construction at its future site. More information on this event will be available in the near future.

Ambitious growth plans in the Americas

Schaeffler has 15 plants in the Americas region and five Research and Development locations, with U.S. manufacturing locations in Ohio, South Carolina, Missouri, and Connecticut and has made sizeable investments in the region over the past decade. The U.S. represents a strategic growth market for the global manufacturer.

Schaeffler chose Dover, Ohio for the new manufacturing facility which will be a cornerstone to the company’s journey toward shaping a sustainable and efficient future in motion technology.

Schaeffler is reviewing if this new facility is a potential candidate for benefits provided under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act with the goal of further improving the domestic electric vehicle supply chain and local workforce skill sets.

Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO of Schaeffler AG, concluded: “We are convinced that the trend towards more electrification will continue. At the same time Schaeffler is ideally positioned to benefit from its technological leadership in hybrid and fuel-efficient technologies, in particular in the US. On that basis we are committed to support our clients achieve their emission reduction targets and to realise our growth ambitions.”

Safe to use and contamination-proof

Metering and handheld operating devices in hygiene-critical application areas, such as in medical equipment, require designs optimized for safe handling as well as resistance to dirt. binder has therefore equipped its 709 and 719 snap-in series with a new overmolding that supports single-handed mating and unmating, but also improves resistance to contamination.

binder, a leading supplier of industrial circular connectors, is offering its 709- and 719-series products with a new overmolding for the straight versions. The connectors featuring snap-in locking are characterized by high retention forces – measured against their size – but can still be quickly mated and unmated. These properties are beneficial in metrology and medical-device-technology applications, for example, which are subject to enhanced functional safety requirements.

Safety properties improved

Both in instrumentation and in medical technology, it is often important to protect devices and their interfaces against contamination from the environment, so binder engineers have developed a triangular overmolding design that features no gaps, grooves, or undercuts allowing dirt to accumulate. This significantly increases the applications’ resistance to contamination. Furthermore, the straight product variants are very easy to handle thanks to the new type of overmolding, making one-handed mating and unmating safe and comfortable.

When developing the new overmoulding, the product designers at binder succeeded in maintaining the properties at the same high level as the previous version, despite the new design without special kink protection. The kink protection ensures that the strands do not break under mechanical stress – when the cable kinks. This was proven in advance by means of bending tests.

Product series at a glance

The 709 and 719 snap-in series offer users the benefits of a fast and secure locking system with high retention forces. The products are available as male and female cable connectors with or without strain relief. The 3- to 5-pole series have been designed for wire gauges up to 0.25 mm2 (up to AWG 24) and soldering or dip soldering termination. The IP40-protected products achieve a mechanical lifespan of 100 and more mating cycles.

About binder
binder, headquartered in Neckarsulm, Germany, is a family-owned company characterized by traditional values and one of the leading specialists for circular connectors. Since 1960, binder has been synonymous with the highest quality. The company works with more than 60 sales partners on six continents and employs around 2,000 people worldwide.

The binder group includes the binder headquarters, 16 affiliated companies, two system service providers as well as an innovation and technology center. In addition to Germany, the binder sites are located in Austria, China, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA.

Figure caption:
The new overmolding design improves contamination resistance as well as operating safety. Photo: binder

Fields of application:

• Measurement technology and instrumentation
• Medical-device technology

Features:

• Protection degree: IP40
• Pin count: 3- to 5-pin
• Termination: soldering, dip soldering
• Rated voltage: 60 V
• Rated current: 3 A
• Operating-temperature range: -25 °C to +70 °C
• Lifespan: >100 mating cycles

Company address:

Franz Binder GmbH & Co.
Elektrische Bauelemente KG

Roetelstrasse 27

D-74172 Neckarsulm/Germany

Tel. +49 (0) 7132 325-0

Fax +49 (0) 7132 325-150

info@binder-connector.de

www.binder-connector.de

Reversing UK manufacturing’s poor record for adopting new technology will be tackled head on at MACH 2024 as The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) launches its new Knowledge Hubs initiative, showcasing how to adopt new technology to improve productivity and efficiency in manufacturing.

The programme showcases new technology that is readily available to UK manufacturers, helping them to understand the potential adopting such technology can bring to their operation, as well as when to adopt it and how to implement it to best effect.

The Knowledge Hubs initiative will have dedicated stands across the event, each focusing on a particular type of technology including Automation and Robotics, Sustainable Solutions, Additive Manufacturing, Consumable Tooling, and Data and Artificial Intelligence.

In recognition of the importance being placed on these hubs, each is being managed by one of the specialist centres from the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, such as the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

The Catapult network is recognised for the cutting-edge research and development work being conducted at its various centres.  The network collaborates with thousands of innovative businesses across a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, space, health, digital, energy, transport, telecoms, the urban environment and many others.

The MTA, which organises the MACH event on behalf of the engineering-based manufacturing community, has been campaigning for greater adoption of new technology for some time. It will expand upon this at MACH 2024, which opens its doors at the NEC in Birmingham on 15^th April, by explaining that implementing proven, readily available techniques in manufacturing processes is the fastest way to boost the UK’s output.

James Selka DL, CEO of the MTA, said: “The MTA is part of a united front of UK manufacturing organisations, along with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) and MACH 2024 Headline Sponsor Lloyds Bank, to increase the uptake of technologies such as automation and robotics.”

“Only by embracing what the hubs are trying to achieve will the UK restore its position as a sovereign manufacturer, re-establishing itself as a major player on the global stage.”

“To have brand agnostic input from the High Value Manufacturing Catapult network, running our Knowledge Hubs, is an indication of the importance these organisations place on our initiative.  Combined with the ability to see advanced technology, live and in action, in a fully working state – MACH 2024 is a must-visit for all the UK’s manufacturing community.”

The need for this approach was recently brought into sharp focus in a new report highlighting the UK’s lack of investment in technology and its poor adoption of robotics in industry. The figures, from the International Federation of Robotics, showed the UK languishing outside the top 20 developed nations in terms of the global utilisation of industrial robots in manufacturing – lagging not just behind the economic superpowers, but also the likes of Spain and Finland.

The Automation and Robotics Knowledge Hub will showcase how easily the technology can be adopted into existing manufacturing operations, automating repeatable processes, improving accuracy and consistency, and reducing repetitive and monotonous tasks.

MTC Chief Automation Officer, Mike Wilson, commented; “Robotics and automation is key to solving the UK’s productivity puzzle.  This under-pinning technology will help manufacturers achieve high productivity and net zero aspirations while solving some of the UK’s labour shortage issues.  It is also a significant contributor to strengthening the UK’s supply chain and securing resilient UK manufacturing capability.”

The Sustainable Solutions Knowledge Hub, sponsored by Lloyds Bank, will guide manufacturers on how investing in energy efficient technology now, backed by government incentives, can help offset energy cost increases, improve business fitness for the future and help balance the ‘cost of doing business’.

Dave Atkinson, UK Head of Manufacturing SME & Mid Corporates, Lloyds Bank commented; “Understanding how to get to Net Zero is one of the biggest hurdles for UK manufacturers.  Many are looking for help and advice with the challenge they’ve been set by their supply chain and customers to improve sustainability and reduce their carbon emissions.  Lloyds Bank are delighted to be partnering with the MTC to deliver the Sustainable Solutions Knowledge Hub at MACH 2024, providing impartial guidance on how small and medium sized businesses can accelerate their journey to Net Zero.”

The Additive Manufacturing Knowledge Hub is designed to help visitors looking to learn how to develop, adopt and use additive manufacturing and 3D printing technology in their manufacturing processes.  Expert advice and wayfinding will be on offer from AM-UK on how to utilise the technology for making production parts and products directly from design data – building accurate components by adding layers of material to obtain the final shape with minimal waste.

The Consumable Tooling Knowledge Hub is where visitors should head to receive impartial advice on how to optimise their machining processes and how to deal with real-life machining challenges.  The Hub will offer advice on matching the most suitable cutting tool material and insert geometry with the workpiece material to be machined, through to key considerations such as tool paths and cutting data.  Visitors can meet experts from the AMRC who will be on-hand to help visitors with the complexities of metal cutting.

The Data and AI Knowledge Hub will explore how SME’s can use this technology to drive growth and innovation in manufacturing by measuring the output of their current operation, looking for opportunities to improve and ensuring supply meets demand.  The aim of the Knowledge Hub is to provide advice and wayfinding, addressing the manufacturing applications that can be supported by data, technology and automated processes.

The Knowledge Hub initiative was handed a major shot-in-the-arm with the recent announcement by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt of £4.5 billion of funding to support advanced manufacturing. The funding will directly benefit several of the exhibition’s key themes, especially Sustainable Solutions, where £960 million has been earmarked for clean energy manufacturing through a Green Industries Growth Accelerator.

James Selka concludes; “The UK must adapt to the global environment, accepting there will be partial de-globalisation.  Greater adoption of the latest, most powerful technologies will therefore be vital to achieving this, helping improve manufacturing efficiency and optimising productivity. Through our Knowledge Hubs at MACH 2024, the MTA are doing everything we can to help UK manufacturers focus on the new technology, explain when to adopt it and how to implement it to best effect.”

MACH is the UK’s only live, national event showcasing sustainable, innovative technologies used across the manufacturing spectrum and is the destination of choice for companies looking to adopt and invest in the digital revolution.

The exhibition is more than 90% sold but prime locations within the show halls are still available for businesses looking to exhibit. Nevertheless, the MTA has said companies still considering exhibiting should not delay their decisions so they can secure the locations of their choice.

Rohde & Schwarz has announced details for the one-day UK seminar of its Demystifying EMC European tour, to be held at the Leonardo Hotel and Conference Venue, Hinckley Island, Leicestershire, on 21 March 2024. Free to attend, the event runs from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm and provides a day of technical presentations, exhibitions and live demonstrations to explore the capabilities of modern EMC.

Visitors attending the seminar at Hinckley will learn the latest in electromagnetic standards, test techniques, and design for compliance. The day will start with a briefing about the latest updates from standards bodies such as CISPR from Mathias Hofer of Rohde & Schwarz. Arturo Mediano of the University of Zaragoza will present the magic of conducted emissions testing and demonstrate how state of the art EMI receivers can be useful for measuring and debugging conducted emissions problems in electronic circuits.

The following session will focus primarily on EMC design and troubleshooting.  The ever-popular Lee Hill of Silent Solutions will present a practical demonstration of real-time spectral analysis, with a focus on debugging, followed by Mathias Hofer describing immunity testing for the real world and its implications on amplifier selection. The day will close with a panel discussion, looking into the future for EMC standards and test methodologies as technological progress continues to gather pace over the next decade.

“Now in its 10th year, Demystifying EMC continues to present fresh content each time. Known for its comprehensive coverage, inclusive of multiple markets and industries and product types, it offers great value to everyone in the EMC world,” said Christina Gessner, Vice President Spectrum & Network Analyzers, EMC & Antenna Test at Rohde & Schwarz. “It is the premier place to be for the exchange of knowledge from established leaders in the industry, including Rohde & Schwarz, Eurofins E&E, Unit 3 Compliance, EMC Partner, Wurth Electronic, Kiwa, Powell Electronics Inc, Element, and Horiba Mira, alongside our partner companies TTid and Electro Rent.

For more information and to register, please visit: www.rohde-schwarz.com/DEMC.