Choosing the architecture that fits for your company. By Dante Augello, Inductive Automation, adapted by the IEN Europe editorial team
SEW-EURODRIVE products power applications from airport baggage handling and e-commerce parcel sorting to connected production systems. In late 2024, the company opened a smart factory for shafts and gear parts in Graben-Neudorf, near its Bruchsal headquarters. A key element is the fully automated buffer warehouse in the North Hall, developed with SIVAplan’s intralogistics expertise and Leuze’s sensor technology.
For the process industry the CRA presents a particular challenge. In hardly any other industrial sector are plants as long-lived. Field devices, measuring points, Ex components, and bus infrastructures often remain in operation for 10, 20, or more years. Many of these systems are still based on proven and robust fieldbus technologies such as PROFIBUS PA and PROFIBUS DP, which were not developed according to modern security-by-design principles.
The complexity of the technical and regulatory requirements for Safety and Security is increasing. One example is the Machinery Regulation, which comes into force in 2027. In order to meet the increased demands in matters of safety, security and compliance, production managers and safety officers are turning their focus to full digital documentation. Author: Marcus Fritzmann, Product Manager, Software & Digital Services, Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
Automatic object identification is essential in production and logistics. As 2D codes increasingly replace barcodes, capturing additional data has become more important. Pepperl+Fuchs’ CleverReader stationary code reader ensures reliable code reading with outstanding depth of field, even at high conveyor speeds and varying distances. Features such as automatic error image storage and extensive functionality enable a wide range of advanced applications.
Dirt, moisture, and vibrations were once considered the natural enemies of fiber optics. Despite their undeniable added value, many applications in the manufacturing industries were reserved for copper cabling. However, equipped with robust connectors, this fast, lightweight technology can now demonstrate its advantages in extreme environments without compromising the safety or reliability of the connections.
When engines roar on the legendary Le Mans race track, milliseconds decide between victory and defeat. In the immediate vicinity, the French company Prosimu develops motion simulators for demanding applications in motorsport, aviation and industry. However, the high dynamics of the systems and the closely integrated electronics place high demands on electromagnetic compatibility and signal quality. With LAPP, Prosimu chose a partner whose tailor-made connection solutions and pre-assembled cable sets fully meet these high demands.
Three compact, high-performance motors from FAULHABER ensure the correct position in a 3D printer for miniature components. They help align the substrate with the utmost precision for the production of the finest details.
Flir thermal imaging technology is helping researchers in Italy unlock hidden text from the Herculaneum papyri, a unique collection of ancient manuscripts carbonized during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Using pulsed thermography that leverages the 2.775 MHz fast analogue lock-in input port offered by advanced Flir thermal imaging cameras, scientists are recovering writing previously invisible to the naked eye while also gaining new insight into the fragile internal structure of the documents.
Goods-in operations in the electronics industry are under increasing pressure. Countless components from a wide range of manufacturers arrive with constantly changing label layouts, multilingual markings and ever shorter throughput times. What could once be managed manually has now become a bottleneck. Damaged barcodes or reflective packaging further increase effort and make processes more error-prone.
These days, everyone is talking about digitalisation. In practice, however, retrofits often fail due to overburdened IT or OT departments lacking the necessary networking and IT expertise. Plug-and-play modular solutions that allow plant digitalisation and energy management to be retrofitted without significant effort or specialist knowledge could be a gamechanger.
Many vacuum systems still rely on analog gauges because they are simple and reliable. But digital gauges offer advantages in communication, diagnostics, and system integration. Find out when switching to digital vacuum measurement makes sense.
A report analysing a decade of data for over 1,000 large motors and generators delivered globally by ABB’s Västerås facility in Sweden shows that not aiming for the highest efficiency could be costing global operators up to $12 billion over a 25-year asset life. To mark the release of the report, we spoke with Gunnar Porsby, R&D Manager, High-Speed Synchronous Machines, ABB and David Bjerhag, Global Business Line Manager, High Speed Synchronous Motors, Generators and Condensers within ABB Motion’s High Power division.
AVENTICS™ XV Valve Series
Conventional condition-monitoring systems detect bearing damage only after wear such as pitting or material loss has already occurred. HCP Sense takes a decisive step further: instead of monitoring the consequences of damage, the technology identifies its root causes at a very early stage. By directly detecting critical lubrication conditions before physical damage occurs, premature bearing failures can be actively prevented.
Smart automation is reshaping industrial production. Machines, control systems and service processes are becoming more connected, data-driven and flexible. To fully leverage these capabilities, manufacturers need secure and reliable access to OT across sites – for maintenance, troubleshooting and optimization. Yet in many factories, legacy systems, segmented networks and stringent security requirements still stand in the way of what has been a commodity in IT environments for many years.
PAUL RAUSCHERT STEINBACH GMBH has implemented Mitsubishi Electric's GENESIS energy management platform, transforming monthly compilation of 20-page spreadsheets into real-time energy insights and reducing peak consumption analysis from hours to minutes.
Improved safety, faster changeovers with a new machine cutting machinen for cardboard cores with up to 1,250 mm diameter
Combining 3D Digital Imaging with Thermography for Stress Analysis
Every maintenance manager eventually faces the critical decision of whether to repair an existing air compressor or to invest in a new unit. This choice impacts not only immediate operational capabilities but also long-term financial performance. Making the right decision requires careful analysis of multiple factors, from immediate costs to future operational needs. Author: Rodrigo Varela, Senior Director – Aftermarket, ElGi
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