Abstract
Bosch Rexroth Keeps Its ‘Eye’ on Next-Generation Engineers
A group of young engineers has completed a training course, claimed to be unique, in association with drive and control specialist Bosch Rexroth (www.boschrexroth.com), equipping them with a combination of theoretical and practical skills in hydraulics.
Through its work with the Staffordshire-based JCB Academy, Bosch Rexroth is inspiring the next generation of engineers by helping students to understand how hydraulic systems work, how they are maintained and the factors that determine maintenance plans.
Since The JCB Academy’s inception in 2010, the tailored course, known as ‘The Bosch Rexroth Challenge’, has provided practical training to more than 350 sixth form students. The course enables pupils to explore aspects of control, hydraulics and sensor technology.
Following classroom lessons, JCB Academy students go to Bosch Rexroth’s St Neots HQ for practical training. The group also enjoys an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the London Eye – one of the iconic landmarks for which Bosch Rexroth has supplied drive systems and expertise.
The Bosch Rexroth Challenge was recognised by HRH the Duke of York as a key contributor to the success of the JCB Academy during a royal visit in 2012.
Commented Jim Wade, Principal of the JCB Academy, ‘The work of the Bosch Rexroth team not only provides the skills and knowledge which underpin the learning, but they also deliver this with a passion that enthuses students with the desire to become future engineering leaders’.
He continued, We work with a range of industrial partners to ensure the curriculum reflects good industrial practice and the Bosch Rexroth project is always the highlight of the year for students and staff alike. Bosch Rexroth’s continued commitment to the development of the next generation of young engineers is an inspiration and we’re grateful for their support over the last seven years.
Said Jim Malin, Training Manager at Bosch Rexroth, We are proud to have been involved with the JCB Academy since it was first established. It is our belief that Industry must work more closely with the education sector to provide our young people with access to real-life applications and hands-on training if we are to address the current skills shortage in the UK.
To find out more, visit http://www.jcbacademy.com/ and https://www.boschrexroth.com/en/gb/training/ind
The Staffordshire-based JCB Academy – Bosch Rexroth is inspiring the next generation of engineers.
The iconic London Eye is one of the projects for which Bosch Rexroth has supplied both drive systems and expertise.
Highest Building Automation Flexibility Claimed for New Digital Addressable Lighting Interface–Gateways
ABB (www.abb.com) is launching two new easy-to-install i-bus Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI)-Gateways in single- and two-fold versions. They act as an interface between DALI and KNX installations, incorporating the DALI power supply. The difference is that the two-fold DALI-gateway has two outputs allowing twice as many DALI devices. DALI groups, scenes and emergency devices can also be connected.
A DALI-Gateway serves as the interface between the KNX installation in the building and the digital DALI lighting control system and therefore unites the two most important building automation standards.
The new DALI-Gateways DG/S 1.64.1.1 (single-fold) and DG/S 2.64.1.1 (two-fold) each come with a DALI power supply and have emergency lighting features for DALI self-contained emergency lights.
Intelligent light management with DALI has a number of advantages including flexible components, ease of installation and simple programming. Alongside KNX building automation, DALI has become the most important lighting control in the building management system. DALI systems have benefited greatly from a steadily growing market.
KNX controls and monitors the lighting system with the gateway by means of broadcast, single or group control.
Device Programming Boosts Firm’s Productivity and Flexibility
An advanced automated programming system by Adaptsys (www.adaptsys.com) is boosting productivity and enhancing the flexibility of the device programming service offered by Action Circuits, one of the largest European providers of electronic device programming and reeling services.
The BPM 3900 Universal Automated Programming System is thought to be the first of its type to be installed in Europe, and it combines a programming speed of 100 MB/s with the claimed largest memory support in the industry – 256 GBe.
Action Circuits’ (UK) decision to purchase a state-of-the-art automated programming system resulted from the changing market for surface-mount programmable devices. Not only were production volumes increasing and devices shrinking but the range and diversity of the programmable devices themselves were also growing.
‘The increased throughput of small footprint devices coupled with the range of technologies and packaging types has increased dramatically’, said Martin Harvey, Commercial Director of Action Circuits (UK): To be able to support all these devices with a single machine gives us several advantages – particularly a reduction in the number of systems, sites and sockets we require, which in turn saves money, simplifies our processes, reduces the need for training on different systems and cuts the size and space requirements.
Programming speed is very important and as the BPM 3900 offers the claimed highest speed of any universal programmer on the market, this ensures that the programming process is efficient. Moreover, Action Circuits can turn orders around more quickly.
Incorporated is a new WhisperTeach with Auto-Z feature, which reduces set-up time for precision placement of the industry’s smallest chip scale packages and removes reliance on the operator.
The company was also able to use existing peripherals such as device feeders and programming sockets from existing handling platforms on new programming products and could preserve the intellectual property created from working with other BPM Microsystems products.
An advanced Adaptsys automated programming system is boosting productivity and enhancing the flexibility of the device programming service offered by Action Circuits.
The BPM 3900 Universal Automated Programming System is probably the first of its type to be installed in Europe.
Setting the Stage for Complete Lifting Systems
Altra Industrial Motion (www.altramotion.com) used this year’s Stage|Set|Scenery exhibition in Berlin as an opportunity to promote three of the group’s power transmission brands – Stromag, Bauer Gear Motor and Warner Electric.
These brands allow Altra’s engineers to design and manufacture bespoke lifting and positioning equipment for stage applications, using high-quality components that are designed to integrate for efficient, reliable performance.
Explained Cedric Gomez, Global Market Director for Vertical Systems, ‘The combined engineering experience of Stromag, Bauer and Warner totals almost 200 years. Each brand has its own unique expertise and is regarded as a leader in its respective field. As part of the Altra Industrial Motion Corporation, we are able to provide a complete, packaged solution designed by engineers understand the capabilities of each brand. ‘We were displaying a demonstration of the typical system that we design for stage applications on the stand which drew a lot of interest’, he said.
The lifting system on display was a winch package that uses components from each of the three brands. The winch is driven by a Bauer geared motor with stopping power provided by an electromagnetic brake with manual release from Warner Electric. Stromag provided a limit switch, which enables the winch position to be controlled with extremely high accuracy.
A Warner Electric FENIX brake.
A Stromag Series 51 limit switch by Altra.
Electromagnetic Flow Meter for Hygienic Applications
An electromagnetic hygienic flow meter, newly released by Badger Meter and available at Bell Flow Systems (www.bellflowsystems.co.uk), is a fully stainless steel, robust device, especially designed to be used in the food industry and to meet the highest requirements.
The new MS1000 is available with various process connections and installation lengths for food, beverage and pharmaceutical applications. It is also resistant to aggressive chemicals used in sterilisation-in-place (SIP) and clean-in-place (CIP) processes.
The MS1000 benefits from the attributes of all electromagnetic flow meters, having no mechanical moving parts and the meter bore is free of obstruction producing a negligible pressure drop and giving the meter long life with long-term high accuracy.
The high accuracy makes it a good option for dosing or mixing applications and, with digital and analogue outputs, the measurements can be transferred to control systems.
The meter also benefits from Modbus RTU RS232/RS485 communication as standard and with optional Ethernet, Hart or MBus interfacing, making it a flexible option to integrate into existing systems.
Effluent Treatment Problems Highlight Need for Contingency Planning
According to an independent study commissioned by Siltbuster Process Solutions, 30% of companies in a mix of industries have had a significant effluent treatment problem in the past year which has put their compliance at risk, with effluent treatment plant failure or breakdown the most common cause (31%). To help, the organisation is running a series of training courses on contingency planning.
The independent study – ‘UK Industrial Effluent Treatment’ – among production directors and engineers responsible for over 156 manufacturing sites in the United Kingdom identifies a lack of investment, production pressures, plus poor understanding of the interplay between production and wastewater treatment as lying at the root of the problem.
A third of the companies questioned said investing in waste treatment plant is a priority; however, 28% of production heads report that their treatment plant is significantly under invested in 41% of the companies last invested in the plant more than 5 years ago and 23% more than 10 years ago; 15% argue that this is because the Board is only interested in investing in production lines; a further 13% say that effluent treatment is viewed as a boring area which senior management does not want to think about.
The research suggests this is symptomatic of the low profile that effluent treatment generally has within some organisations. For instance, although 64% of companies want their plants to deliver major product innovations, 31% of production heads complain that they are not involved in new product development until all the decision-making is done.
This is a major issue, as product innovation and effluent treatment are closely linked; a new product formulation can cause a change in effluent characteristics and for 26% in the study this leads to treatment problems.
Rich Matthews, General Manager of Siltbuster Process Solutions said, According to our research 28% of production sites routinely suffer from treatment problems which are directly due to spikes in production. These companies don’t have enough effluent treatment capacity, yet most are under pressure to further boost production. In such a situation, something has to give – and if care isn’t taken that could be compliance! The research identifies a myriad of other causes of effluent problems including changes in cleaning chemicals (18%), unreported spillages (18%), staff error (15%), production methods (10%) and shift patterns (5%). The businesses need to spend some time contingency planning, thinking about how they’d respond to problems, should they arise. At the moment, unexpected effluent treatment problems currently cause considerable disruption and incur huge costs.
Siltbuster’s research bears this out. Over a third of companies interviewed are so unprepared when problems strike that they resort to expensive tankering to take effluent off site until issues are fixed. A further 20% reduce, pause or even stop production. Only 10% think to use temporary treatment equipment, despite the fact that it can provide a substantial net cost saving when compared with the alternatives.
To help companies, Siltbuster Process Solutions is running a series of training courses on contingency planning around the UK from October. To find out more, visit www.SiltbusterProcessSolutions.com
This independent study identifies a lack of investment, production pressures, plus poor understanding of the interplay between production and wastewater treatment.
Compact Smart Switches for Industrial Ethernet
The latest from Moxa (www.moxa.com) is its SDS-3008 smart switch, a new product line within the company’s industrial Ethernet switch family.
This smart switch offers an intuitive one-page dashboard, which allows users to activate pre-configured IA protocols in one click, simplifying human–machine interface (HMI)/Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) integration. With its compact size and flexible mounting design, the smart switch allows for high installation flexibility.
‘When a network upgrade is required, the most common concern for engineers deploying managed switches is their complexity during the whole system life cycle’, noted Jack Lin, Product Manager of Moxa’s Industrial Ethernet Infrastructure Division.
‘That’s why we developed the smart switch. It supports the most required management functions, and has a 3-2-1 design for ease of use: three pre-configured protocols; two installation methods; and a one-page switch dashboard’.
‘We believe’, he said, ‘that the smart switch is an ideal solution for the manufacturing industry, especially machine builders who are on their way towards the IIoT and industry 4.0’.
These smart switches support EtherNet/IP, PROFINET and Modbus/TCP industrial protocols, and the configuration can be done in one click via the smart UI. With just 2 cm width and DIN-rail and rack-mounting options, the smart switches are designed for flexible installation. The three-way DIN-rail kit allows users to install the switches horizontally or vertically.
Digital Ecosystem Expanded with New Dual-Mode Wireless Gateway
Having over a decade’s worth of wireless infrastructure and technology development experience, Emerson (www.Emerson.com) has announced a new dual-mode wireless gateway that supports both IEC 62951 WirelessHART and ISA100.11a industrial wireless communications standards.
This latest addition expands the company’s wireless portfolio and provides customers an easy way to take advantage of WirelessHART technologies from many suppliers.
‘With our new dual-mode gateway, we’re excited to give ISA100.11a users an easy path to the improved operating performance they are seeking’, said Bob Karschnia, vice president and general manager, wireless, Emerson Automation Solutions.
He continued, ‘WirelessHART has proven in ten years of successful deployments around the world to provide the highest reliability and most robust self-organising, self-healing network, for the lowest cost’.
Serving as the backbone of a wireless infrastructure, wireless gateways and access points increase the amount of real-time information available to automation systems, applications and analytics tools to help organisations improve responsiveness and decision-making.
Critically, they must possess robust, ‘always-on’ security to limit network vulnerability. When deployed efficiently, they can require the least hardware necessary to keep costs low while keeping operating reliability high. Finally, customers consistently seek ease-of-deployment as a key consideration.
A future release of Emerson’s dual-mode wireless gateway will be integrated into the Cisco 1552WU, a combined WirelessHART and WiFi solution for industrial hardened wireless, and will seamlessly integrate into Emerson’s industry-leading security and network management tools, including Emerson’s Plantweb Insight applications for Industrial IoT, which help industrial facilities improve operations and maintenance by simplifying asset monitoring.
With more than 31,000 WirelessHART installations worldwide and over 9.1 billion operating hours, Emerson claims to lead the automation industry in wireless networking.
The company’s wireless portfolio helps customers extend their automation ecosystem for improved operating reliability with sensing, monitoring and control technologies such as temperature, pressure, level, corrosion, flow, acoustic, gas and vibration, plus wireless adapters for valve positioners and digital valve controllers.
To learn more, visit www.Emerson.com/Wireless and www.Emerson.com/Plantweb
Worry-Free Focusing with New Thermal Imager
Fluke’s new Ti450 thermal imager with MultiSharp focus delivers focus near and far in one image. ‘Stop’, says Fluke, ‘worrying about focus; simply point and shoot’.
The Ti450 thermal imager captures a clear, accurate image focused throughout the field of view with MultiSharp Focus. Simply point and shoot – the camera automatically processes a stack of images focused near and far.
In this way, users can obtain an instant in-focus image of their designated target. LaserSharp Auto Focus, exclusive to Fluke, uses a built-in laser distance meter that calculates and displays the distance from the designated target with ‘pinpoint accuracy’, says the company.
Users can also obtain 4× the pixel data with SuperResolution, which captures multiple images and combines them to create a 640 × 480 image. Moreover, time can be saved by wirelessly syncing images directly from the camera to the Fluke Connect system and attach to an asset record or work order.
Another advantage is that the visual and infrared details can be obtained all in one precisely blended or picture-in-picture image with IR-Fusion technology.
Furthermore, users can monitor processes with video recording, video streaming, and remote control – and even see the details they need with interchangeable smart lenses – 2× and 4× telephoto and wide angle – no calibration is required.
To find out more, visit www.fluke.com
Fluke’s Ti450 thermal imager – with MultiSharp – provides focus both near and far in a single image.
Trescal’s Stevenage Open-Day Success
In June, Trescal – the international specialist in calibration providing a broad range of services for the test and measuring equipment market – held an open day at its largest UK calibration facility in Stevenage.
Welcoming over 40 guests, visitors were given a tour of the site and were offered the opportunity to speak with experienced engineers and staff from across the company’s network.
Trescal (www.trescal.com) also took the opportunity to debut its latest offering – pipette calibration for the pharmaceutical sector – as pictured.
At its open day, Trescal showed its new pipette calibration for the pharmaceutical sector.
Modular Compressed Air Connector Delivers Thousands of Mating Cycles
Harting (www.harting.co.uk) has developed a new compressed air module to meet the increased demands on pneumatic interfaces in flexible production processes.
The new Han Pneumatic Module Metal uses robust, durable high-mating-cycle metal contacts that can be plugged and unplugged at least 10,000 times. It means that users can exploit the benefits of compressed air technology in frequently converted production facilities – in order to supply drive units, control units, brakes, holding and unloading units, for example.
This interface operates at a high maximum pressure: instead of the previous upper limit of eight bars (for the Han Pneumatic module with plastic contacts), contacts can now withstand permanent pressures of up to 10 bars. This means that the Han Pneumatic Module Metal now covers the entire low-pressure range, extending the possible applications for pluggable compressed air systems.
The company has used flow simulations to minimise contact pressure loss. Pressure loss in the socket contacts with internal valves is now half that of conventional pneumatic interfaces.
Harting’s new interface operates at a high maximum pressure, and its contacts can now withstand permanent pressures of up to ten bars.
Powerful Box and Panel PCs are ‘State-of-the Art’
From Phoenix Contact (https://www.phoenixcontact.com) comes a new generation of box and panel PCs in the Valueline range. These are said to deliver ‘state-of-the-art’ operating concepts, and important new features include improved performance, comprehensive functions and attractive design of the industrial PCs.
Key advantages of these new products are easy implementation of the latest operating concepts and multi-touch support.
Strongly made, and with display glass suitable for industrial use, the new units are easy to maintain, with easy access to all components, and by offering RAID 1 support for high data security.
They also offer a number of display sizes, 10-finger multi-touch, Intel Celeron and Intel Core i5 processors, up to two × SATA HDD/SSD (RAID 0,1), up to two × DisplayPort, PCI/PCIe slot (optional) and fanless design.
Integrated Measurement to be Renishaw’s Focus at EMO Hannover 2017
Renishaw (www.renishaw.com), a world leader in precision engineering technologies, will be exhibiting its extensive range of metrology and additive manufacturing systems on two stands at EMO Hannover 2017, which takes place in Germany from 18 to 23 September 2017.
Intelligent machining processes are critical to companies that want to exploit the full benefits of Industry 4.0, and throughout its main stand (Hall 6, B46), Renishaw will demonstrate the power of integrating its latest measurement technologies within a manufacturing process.
In Hall 27, the firm will also exhibit in the new Additive Manufacturing Zone, where it will demonstrate software and systems for metal part manufacture at stand A72. This will include the latest version of the company’s build file preparation software, QuantAM 2017, which has been designed specifically for Renishaw metal additive manufacturing systems: RenAM 500M and AM 400.
Products highlighted in Hall 6 will include a new contact scanning system for CNC machine tools, new software for the Equator flexible gauge which allows users to fully integrate the system with CNC machine tools, new on-machine and mobile apps that simplify the use of machine tool probing, an enhanced non-contact tool setter for machining centres, a new multi-probe optical interface system, a new surface finish probe for co-ordinate measuring machines (CMMs), and new software that enhances the functionality of the XM-60 multi-axis calibration system.
Visitors to EMO Hannover 2017 will also see Renishaw’s new machining cell concept, which demonstrates how the ability to monitor key process inputs, analyse data and continuously improve manufacturing processes facilitates increased productivity and higher accuracy.
Simply measuring the output of a manufacturing process using ‘tailgate’ inspection is not enough and, more often, too late to control all the variability in a manufacturing process. It is critical that checks and measurements are also made before, during and immediately after machining to control both common-cause and special-cause variation.
‘Intelligent process control is a key part of Industry 4.0’, says Paul Maxted, Renishaw’s Director of Industrial Metrology Applications: We not only provide technologies and applications that deliver some of the benefits of Industry 4.0, data generated by Renishaw devices can also be used in conjunction with other process information from machines, cutting tools and other sensors within high level predictive systems for intelligent process optimisation and control.
The UK’s Smallest High-Voltage 5-kV Tester?
The KEW3125A is capable of producing resistance measurements up to 1 TΩ. Test voltages from 250 V direct current (DC) to 5 kV DC suit a wide range of test applications, while timed tests and polarization index (PI)/dielectric absorption ratio (DAR) tests can also be performed, making this instrument suitable for cable and motor diagnostics.
There is also an electrical noise filter, allowing for stable measurements within high-voltage (HV) substations, where electrical interference could cause inconsistent test results.
And how small is it? Just 177(L) × 226(W) × 100(D) mm and it weighs a mere 1.9 kg including the battery.
To find out more, visit www.kewtechcorp.com/products/insulation-continuity/kew3125a for more information.
Lenze Teams up with ei3 for Secure Cloud Data Handling
Machine and systems engineers using automation technology from Lenze (www.lenze.com) can now create online data services very easily, the company says. This is because Lenze has joined forces with the industrial Internet of Things (IoT) specialist ei3 Corporation (www.ei3.com) to offer a combination of remote analysis of machine performance and also remote predictive maintenance.
As part of their service contract with Lenze, machine builders can collect all the data that are available inside the company’s automation controllers and drives. They can then evaluate this data and make it available to their own customers, either as an up-to-the-minute dashboard or in the form of reports providing performance figures.
It works this way – the data from a machine are first transferred via OPC Unified Architecture (UA) to secure devices in the production network. From then on, all the communication takes place in encrypted form at a high level of security. The data are stored in ei3’s own regional data centres, of which there are three – one in the United States, one in Europe and one in Asia. An additional one will soon be available in Germany. These data centres meet all European data-protection requirements and adherence to the data handling regulations will be certified by DEKRA, Germany’s biggest technical inspection agency.
The ei3 data centres collect the data to a private cloud where it is processed and analysed. Output reporting to authorised users is in easy-to-handle web pages, dashboards and reports.
The data obtained can be used as the basis for advice on how to optimise systems and processes. In addition, the solution is suitable for services such as remote diagnosis and maintenance, and it can also be used to provide predictive maintenance.
‘We want to enable our OEM customers to set up their own digital business quickly and easily, because it will strengthen their relationship with their own customers. It will add value and improve margins’, explains David Krampe, Senior Marketing Manager at Lenze.
Based in New York, ei3 has been working with manufacturing companies since 1999. Its solution is currently running in over 20,000 machine systems in more than 90 countries.
Machine and systems engineers using Lenze automation technology can now create online data services very easily, because of the firm’s collaboration with ei3 Corporation.
KNX Touch Display for Smart Home Control
The new 1024 × 600 pixel Busch-SmartTouch 7 in programmable KNX touch display is aimed as a room-integrated controlling, signalling and regulating unit – to be used as an indoor video station for the ABB-Welcome door communication system.
For domestic smart homes, this touch unit – with its page display having a maximum of 16 touch surfaces on one page – will control the following KNX standard functions: switching, dimming, slider, blind, RGBW control element, step switch, scene switch, display element and audio control – together with scene and logic functions, the presence of simulation and time programs.
It will also provide the display of fault and alarm messages and is equipped with a hearing loop for coupling the audio signal into hearing aids. This IP20 protected device features a 20–32 V DC Safety Extra Low Voltage (SELV) external power supply or via the ABB-Welcome system controller.
To find out more, visit https://www.busch-jaeger.de/en/ and www.abb.com
Seamless Video Streaming Over Cold Storage Warehouses Wireless Networks
Moxa (www.moxa.com) reports that a manufacturer in Italy, which has many years experience providing innovative storage and retrieval systems to help customers enhance logistics efficiency, has recently upgraded the surveillance systems on its forklifts to provide real-time on-site monitoring capabilities.
In this project, Moxa’s AWK-3131A 802.11n wireless AP/client products were deployed to transmit video images from IP cameras. The AWK-3131A supports client-router mode, which saves additional space on the forklifts by eliminating the need for an extra switch.
The benefits include simple installation, interoperability with existing APs and a high-bandwidth wireless network to transmit live video recording from cameras deployed on forklifts to a control centre.
Moxa was selected for this project because the client-router mode in devices simplify network deployment, the 300 Mbps data rate is ideal for video-streaming applications, there are 150 ms client handoffs using Turbo Roaming technology and interoperability is supported with third-party APs.
Registration is Open for LIVE! Europe 2017
LIVE! Europe 2017 (Barcelona – 29–31 October) is described as ‘the exclusive forum for SVPs and VPs of supply chain looking to deliver breakthrough visibility to demand, supply and profit in a digital world’.
At this event, visitors and delegates will be able to hear – among many other important topics – leading companies across Europe discuss new applications for RFID.
This one-day conference (with a day of training prior to the event on 15 November) is designed to help companies considering using radio-frequency identification (RFID) technologies to address real business challenges determine the best RFID technology for their needs, learn best practices from early adopters, find the right technology partners and move forward with deployment.
The conference will open with three general sessions and then divide into two tracks. The Retail Track will include case studies presented by retailers benefiting from the use of RFID today. The Main Track will cover a wide variety of applications relevant to companies in manufacturing, logistics and other industries.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to take part in Fast-Track RFID Institute–Certified Associate Training, presented by RFID4U.
For more information, go to www.scmworld.com/live-europe
New RTLS-EZ Solution Deploys within Hours
RFID News reports that a new system, by Bluvision (an IoT technology company and a part of HID Global), uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) gateways that plug into outlets, as well as beacons and cloud-based software. This enables a fast and low-cost solution for RTLS tracking with granularity down to 1 m.
Bluvision has launched an updated version of its BLE real-time location system (RTLS) that makes deployment of a typical RTLS solution possible within hours. Users can simply plug BluFi gateways into outlets, input them into the cloud-based software and then begin using them.
That makes RTLS deployments to track assets in real time faster than was possible with the previous version of its BLE solution, the company claims. The technology can also be used for workplace optimisation when beacon tags are worn by individuals.
Like its predecessor, the RTLS-EZ system consists of Bluvision’s BLE beacons, Bluetooth- and Wi-Fi-enabled plug-in gateways and the company’s Bluzone cloud-based software. With RTLS-EZ, however, improvements in the software enable an easier configuration of gateways so that the gateways can quickly determine their own location and those of the beacons that move around them, without the need for calibration.
Indeed, this system is said to be so simple to install that by later this year, the company plans to ship the solution in a box for users to install themselves. This technology is already in use at about 50 locations, either as pilots or in permanent deployments.
Learn more about Bluvision at http://bluvision.com
Tantalum Recognised at Inaugural TechXLR8 Awards
At the recent TechXLR8 Awards – part of TechXLR8 and London Tech Week, which celebrate innovation and excellence in the tech industry – Tantalum was recognised with an award achieved through a combination of the excellence of its product offering (notably the innovative Air.Car and Pay.Car platforms).
Tantalum is a fast-growing technology innovator having the aim of connecting consumers and businesses with vehicle-related services providing convenience, safety and security while saving time, money and the environment.
With around one million vehicles connected to its systems, Tantalum supports a wide variety of companies including Samsung, TomTom, TNT and Atos.
Commented the company’s CEO, Ozgur Tohumcu, CEO, ‘We are delighted to have been recognised by the TechXLR8 awards in what is a very exciting time for the “connected car” space and vehicle technology market as a whole’.
‘As a company, we feel our extensive product offering – with Air.Car and Pay.Car at the forefront – positions us well for continued growth. These are new additions to our already strong portfolio of vehicle-related services. Tantalum’s open platform provides services to consumers and businesses such as vehicle diagnostics, parking, automated insurance, roadside recovery and accident management: Our approach to services co-creation allows us to grow with our partners. Air.Car and Pay.Car are just two new additions to our wide services portfolio as we continue to build the most innovative open marketplace for the aggregation and monetization of vehicle-related services.
Ozgur Tohumcu concluded.
Call +44 (0)7912 508 322 or learn more about the TechXLR8 Awards at https://tmt.knect365.com/techxlr8/awards. To learn more about Tantalum, go to https://www.tantalumcorporation.com
Ball Joints Bring Flexibility to Broad Spectrum of Systems
WDS now offers a range of zinc-plated steel ball joints. Axial ball or ball and socket joints rotate smoothly in all directions, so can absorb considerable amounts of misalignment of shafts and structural elements. So, they are invaluable in a wide variety of machines and engineered systems, including control systems.
Ball joints, typically made of steel, can also be produced in virtually any metal, plastic or a combination of engineering materials. They come in a huge range of sizes and in many variations, and their spherical shape gives them free movement or rotation in all directions – up to the physical limit set by the edge of the casting.
A variation is the quick release option. This finds many uses, including in applications where structures and mechanisms are frequently dismantled and reassembled.
The WDS axial joints are available in sizes from 8 mm ball diameter (having an extraction force of 3.1 kg and weighing 15 g) to 16 mm ball diameter joints (with an 8.2 kg extraction force and weight of 104 g). Similarly, the quick release ball joints are offered in a range of sizes, from ball diameters of 6.4–10.7 mm, weighing from 17 to 78 g, with spring release mechanism.
Rubber boot type covers are available too, and the firm’s ball joints are available via a 24-h ordering service or can be ordered online via its web site, where two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) models are available as free downloads. To find out more, visit
An axial quick release ball and socket from WDS.
A number of axial quick release ball and socket units - available from WDS.
Compact, Portable Combination Measuring Instrument is ‘Most Comprehensive’
The DL350 ScopeCorder from Yokogawa (http://www.yokogawa.com) is said to be the most comprehensive fully portable measuring instrument available for capturing, displaying, recording and analysing a wide variety of electrical and physical parameters in industry sectors including automotive, electronics, energy, transport and mechatronics.
As with other models in the company’s ScopeCorder family, the DL350 combines features of a general-purpose oscilloscope and those of a high-performance data acquisition recorder in a single, portable instrument.
Unlike alternative portable measuring solutions such as oscilloscopes and combined oscilloscope/multimeters, it adds – it is claimed – ‘exceptionally high levels of precision and accuracy’ to field measurements, isolated inputs for measurements at high voltages and long-memory capabilities that allow long-term recording for hours or days.
One key feature of the DL350 ScopeCorder not offered by other portable instruments is plug-in modularity. This allows the instrument to be configured to suit a variety of user applications. Whether carrying out straightforward high-precision voltage measurements or handling a blend of signals coming from things such as current probes, temperature sensors, strain gauges, accelerometers and serial buses, the DL350 can deliver without extra boxes or cables.
Four isolated 16-bit voltage inputs can be measured at speeds of one megasample per second (MS/s) alongside 16 temperatures or two separate controller area network (CAN) or local interconnect network (LIN) buses each containing 60 signals. Changing a single module enables measurement at 100 MS/s with 12 bits and 1 kV of isolation. Meanwhile there are 16 logic inputs always available, with even more available by swapping a further module.
Among other modules are alternating current (AC) measurements using an root mean square (RMS) module in real time and a mathematics channel for signal processing and analysis after the recording is finished.
Finally, this innovative instrument offers compatibility with many existing ScopeCorder input modules, so providing a potential cost saving to existing users.
For further information visit http://tmi.yokogawa.com/ea/products/oscilloscopes/scopecorders/dl350-scopecorder/
The DL350 ScopeCorder from Yokogawa is very versatile – here, it’s being used for testing in a car.
Here, the DL350 ScopeCorder is being applied to control panel testing.
Yokogawa’s DL350 ScopeCorder is said to be the most comprehensive fully portable measuring instrument available for capturing, displaying, recording and analysing a wide variety of electrical and physical parameters.
