Features

Following a successful launch of the T15 sensor range, Third Dimension, manufacturers of the GapGun and Vectro non-contact measurement tool, will demonstrate the new T15-V Sensor at Control 2024 in Stuttgart, Germany this April.

The T15-V sensor is compatible with both the hand-held GapGun and the automated Vectro devices. It measures a range of features including edge profiles, gaps, flush, welds and more, with exceptional precision and accessibility. With its optimised field of view and high flexibility of use, the T15-V sensor has unlocked even more applications for the GapGun and Vectro to support.

Francois Froment, CEO at Third Dimension explained, “Last year, the T15-M sensor was a huge success opening even more opportunities for GapGun and Vectro within the Aerospace, Automotive and Energy sectors. To meet industry demands, we decided to enlarge our T15 range further, with a new T15-V sensor.

Our growth momentum in 2024 is set to increase, alongside our in-house technical expertise and we are looking forward to taking a stronger-than-before presence at this years’ Control 2024 in Stuttgart, Germany. I will host a company introduction on Tuesday 23 April and Wednesday 24 April at 10:00 on our stand – Hall 10, stand 1706, all those with an interest in metrology are very welcome to attend.”

The company, whose products are manufactured in the UK but sold globally, has a long and reputable track record of supplying non-contact optical measurement equipment and services to the largest names in aerospace, automotive and energy sectors worldwide. Their products enable OEMs, Tier 1s and Tier 2s to manufacture toward tighter tolerances, carry out quality checks quickly and keep an audit trail on all measurements, providing the assurance companies need to advance manufacturing.

Peter Bonnington, Chief Engineer at Third Dimension said, “We are looking forward to presenting the new applications GapGun can now support with the T15-V sensor head at Control 2024 this April.

Representatives from our network of distributors will also be available at our stand to speak with visitors about applications GapGun has supported and provide insight to global industry trends.”

Third Dimension will exhibit at Control 2024, the leading industrial quality assurance event in Stuttgart from 23-26 April, in hall 10, stand number 1706. To book a meeting with the Third Dimension team at Control 2024, email marcom@third.com.

Nozomi Networks Inc., the leader in OT and IoT security, today announced it has extended its partnership with Yokogawa Electric Corporation, to address global demand for managed security services and solutions designed to holistically satisfy the unique OT and IoT cybersecurity requirements of process manufacturers. Yokogawa will offer Nozomi Networks’ advanced solutions for OT and IoT visibility, network monitoring, and threat detection to customers worldwide as part of Yokogawa’s OpreX Managed Services.  Yokogawa will also resell standalone solutions from Nozomi Networks to customers who manage their security programs in house.

“With Nozomi Networks, our customers have access to the industry’s best OT and IoT network monitoring and threat detection fully supported by Yokogawa’s Managed Services,” said Katsunori Iijima, General Manager of Cybersecurity Management at Yokogawa Electric. “We’re pleased to extend a very successful relationship we started several years ago in Europe. Partnered with Nozomi, we are able to rapidly deliver deep OT and IoT cybersecurity expertise, using battle-tested solutions that our customers are demanding.”

“We are excited to strengthen our relationship with Yokogawa to help more organizations meet their growing need for critical OT and IoT cybersecurity solutions,” said Chet Namboodri, Nozomi Networks Senior Vice President of Global Partner Sales and Development. “With an established track record of collaboration in the process industries sector, we firmly believe this partnership accelerates our joint mission to help protect process automation assets and networks around the world from compromise.”

Recognized as the market leader in OT and IoT security, Nozomi Networks is valued for superior operational visibility, advanced OT and IoT threat detection and strength across deployments. Nozomi Networks solutions support more than 102 million devices in thousands of installations across energy, manufacturing, mining, transportation, utilities, building automation, smart cities and critical infrastructure. Launched in August 2021, Nozomi Networks’ MSSP Partner Program is the industry’s first complete program for OT and IoT managed security services. The program fully equips MSSPs with Nozomi Networks’ award-winning OT and IoT cybersecurity solutions, expertise and selling resources. Customers gain the flexibility and maximum value they need when it comes to strengthening their OT and IoT security postures while balancing resource requirements.

As industrial organizations embrace an increasingly connected world, they must also prepare to defend against a growing number of digital threats and vulnerabilities. Manufacturers must be vigilant and able to quickly detect and respond to cyber security threats. Yokogawa is continuously investing in secure products, solutions, programs, organization, services and managed services as part of its commitment to quality, safety, security, reliability and sustainability, with highly competent and experienced resources worldwide. Such expertise not only ensures high-level protection during project design and implementation but is also inherent within Yokogawa’s highly adaptable lifecycle service and support business, ensuring ongoing safe and secure operations.

Sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT UK announces the successful completion of Type Approval for its latest Manta NEO X band radar system, designed specifically for the commercial shipping market.

Issued by TÜV SÜD BABT, the Type Approval certificate confirms that the Manta NEO X band radar system complies with the Marine Equipment Directive for Shipborne Radar Equipment CAT 1 and CAT 2 with Chart Option. This approval encompasses the entire radar system, including the Kelvin Hughes radar display and software, Manta NEO X band radar sensor, and antenna. 

The Manta NEO X band radar delivers superior target separation and long-range resolution using CHIRP pulse compression and beam sharpening technology. Equipped with the latest technology, the Manta NEO solid-state X band radar ensures exceptional reliability and lower through-life costs eliminating the need for magnetron replacements. Its versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of vessels, from workboats to large tankers and cruise ships. 

In extreme weather conditions, the Manta NEO X band radar system guarantees simplicity, visibility, and safety. Its solid-state technology enhances efficiency and enables rapid start-up. Additionally, compatibility with the renowned Kelvin Hughes Multifunction Displays ensures seamless integration and ease of use.

“Building on the heritage of the Kelvin Hughes Manta series, this Manta NEO radar system offers a combination of superior detection performance, versatility, high reliability, and cost-effectiveness,” said Adrian Pilbeam, Head of Radar and Naval Solutions at HENSOLDT UK. “Customers can expect significant benefits, making it the ideal solution for commercial vessels of all kinds.”

TE Connectivity, a world leader in connectors and sensors, will welcome another 10 students this year into its African Heritage Scholarship Program.

The $3.5 million program, now in its third year, is an investment in the company’s efforts to further diversify its workforce and bring new opportunities in the technology industry to top-performing Black and African American students in the United States.

“Inclusion is one of TE’s core values and the African Heritage Scholarship Program is a great example of how we are working to further diversify our teams,” said CEO Terrence Curtin. “I am excited to see the contributions of this new class of scholars, as well as the people who have completed the program and have chosen to begin their careers at TE.”

The students will complete three-month internships at TE sites throughout the U.S. Upon successful completion of the internship, the students will receive a scholarship of up to $22,500 for their next academic year, based on financial need, and will be invited back for a second internship at TE the following summer. The scholarship would then be eligible for renewal for a second year.

This year’s cohort of students join TE from nine top universities across the country: Howard University, Lawrence Technological University, North Carolina A&T University, North Carolina State University, Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, Towson University, University of Memphis, University of San Francisco and Virginia Commonwealth University.

For more information, visit te.com/scholarships.

Monitoring and protection systems are playing an increasingly important role in the performance of turbines and other critical rotating machinery and the FREE downloadable guides published by SENSONICS are proving to be invaluable. As a condition monitoring and protection systems specialist with over 40 years of experience, Sensonics are in an ideal position to offer the best advice on monitoring systems.

Following the publication of ‘Specifying Seismic Monitoring & Protection Systems’ and ‘The Turbine Supervisory’ guides they have just published their latest guide ‘Specifying Overspeed Protection Systems’. Overspeed protection is a key requirement in the power generation industry where failure of the machine speed control loop can lead to damaging consequences. Applicable to steam turbines, gas turbines and boiler feed pumps, the implementation of independent monitoring and shutdown protection is essential to minimise this risk.

This essential resource is a must-read for professionals involved in power generation system design as there are a multitude of equipment configurations and methodologies that can be applied, depending on the application. The guide describes the various components that make up an overspeed protection system, along with the recommended best practice.

For your FREE copy, simply log on to: https://www.sensonics.co.uk/specifying-overspeed-protection-guide 

Is there a flow, level or control product that you think is worthy of an award at this year’s Instrumentation Excellence Awards? If the answer is yes, then now is the time to nominate that product.

The 2024 awards ceremony, organised by Instrumentation Monthly publisher Datateam Business Media, will take place on 24 October at the Grand Connaught Rooms and will once again take place alongside the Electronics Industry Awards, making it the night of the year for networking.

Entering the Awards is quick, easy and completely free of charge – so there’s no need to delay! To make your entry really stand out from the crowd, it is recommended that you try to include a comprehensive overview of the product or company that you have nominated. There is even the option to include supplementary documents like data sheets and images alongside your nomination.  

Nominations close soon so visit www.instrumentationawards.co.uk to make your nomination and to find out more about the Instrumentation Excellence Awards.

ABB’s service center in Danbury, Connecticut has unveiled new capabilities that allow its service team to assess force measurement sensors such as the Pressductor® rolling mill force sensor under extremely demanding conditions. By integrating a roll force load cell hydraulic press in the center, ABB can support North American customers with load cell testing in a more time- and cost-efficient manner.

The roll force load cell press weighs 70 tons and is more than 17 feet high. The powerful machine can exert a force of 4,000,000 pounds on the tested sensors.

“Such machines are not common in the United States, and until recently we had to perform these tests overseas,” said Steve Reichert, Operations Manager, Danbury, ABB Measurement & Analytics. “With the new addition, we can keep these projects local, helping our customers save both time and money.”

The fully automated capabilities of the press enable the delivery of comprehensive condition reports to customers with significantly reduced turnaround times. The reports give quick access to in-depth evaluation results, expediting decision-making and allowing for prompt repairs or replacements when necessary.

Acknowledging the significance of precise force measurement, in conjunction with the new press, ABB has also initiated a “Strip and Advise” evaluation program. The program is designed to rigorously assess the performance of mill force sensors and, when needed, swiftly execute necessary repairs to ensure optimal operations and reliability.

The ABB Pressductor® force sensors are pivotal components in guaranteeing the precision and dependability of rolling mills. Positioned at the top, middle and bottom of the mill stack, these sensors assume the critical role of measuring the degree of reduction in steel or aluminium slabs as they undergo the transformation into thin sheets, a vital process in industries such as automotive manufacturing.

The Danbury service center offers the highest quality in testing, inspection and repair services for North American customers, including of roll force STR systems, Millmate Thickness Gauges, and strip scanners. The service center has a strong track record of using advanced technologies and follows well-established repair and fault-detection protocols, starting with visual examination, thorough cleaning, detailed electrical and thermal inspections, and now with full diagnostic load measurements.

Since 1970, ABB has maintained its leadership position in the field of rolling mill force sensor products, with more than 1,000 mill installations throughout the Americas.

Several M12 connector series from binder are available in versions for surface mount technology (SMT). On the one hand, they are advantageous for integration into space-critical designs, on the other hand, the good automation capability in further processing offers enormous savings potential.

binder, a leading supplier of industrial circular connectors, offers products from several M12 series as surface mount devices (SMDs). They are suitable for further processing in fully automated processes, such as for the particularly dense, double-sided assembly of PCBs. These are used in automation technology devices, sensors and actuators as well as in robotics.

SMDs: Space-saving and economical to process

In the course of miniaturizing electronic assemblies, surface mounting has proven itself in component assembly with high component density. In contrast to the classic through-hole technology (THT) or through-hole reflow (THR) process, the SMD contact pins are placed directly on the surface in the SMT process and connected using solder paste instead of being inserted through the PCB and then soldered. This allows significant space savings to be made: for example, many connectors can be mounted with very small distances in one plane, as is required for passive/active sensor distributors in automation technology.

SMDs are usually supplied on so-called blister tapes (tape & reel) – a type of packaging that is suitable for automated further processing by the customer. In addition to space-saving PCB assembly, this ability to automate production is a significant advantage of surface mounting. It is characterized by its cost-effectiveness, especially for large quantities or when several connectors are to be processed on one PCB. Furthermore, advantages can be achieved in terms of heat dissipation and signal integrity as well as a reduced susceptibility to errors during assembly.

SMT product variety from binder

The binder SMT products are available in versions with 4, 6 and 8 contacts and with different codings. They are available in both shielded and unshielded versions. The M12 connectors are also available in different versions – for example as a set with different flange housings, as a built-in part in blister packaging or tape & reel packaging for automated processing.

In detail, these are A-coded M12 connectors from the 713/763 series, B-coded components from the 715/766 series and connectors from the 825/876 series with D-coding and the 876 series with X-coding.

Depending on the coding, the M12-SMT variants are suitable for different applications: A-coded for sensors and DC power, B-coded for Profibus and D- and X-coded for 100 Mbit and 10 Gbit Ethernet respectively.

All M12 products from binder provide industry-relevant protection acc. to IP67 against the ingress of dust and water. The binder variants are based on the current market standards with regard to the PCB drilling pattern, which means that switching to binder products requires little effort.

About binder

binder is a family business characterized by traditional values and is one of the leading specialists for circular connectors with headquarters in Neckarsulm. Since 1960, binder has stood for the highest quality. The binder Group includes the binder headquarters, nine sales offices, seven production facilities, two system service providers and an innovation and technology center.

The company works with other distribution partners on six continents and employs around 2,000 people worldwide. In addition to Germany, binder has sites in China, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, Hungary and the USA.

An upgrade project for a platform lift used in a materials handling installation had its old mechanical limit switches swapped-out for 2-Wire inductive sensors to verify that loads are properly positioned before allowing the lift to move.

CUSTOMER APPLICATION

Cartons or pallets stacked on a lift platform in the down position may become unstable when the lift position changes. Also, if a load has any protruding parts, they may snag the edge of a floor as the lift rises or descends. This causes tipping, which can result in damage to both the load and the installation, with a risk of injury to persons nearby.

A metal bar is fitted on the lift to ensure the correct load position. Unless this bar has been pivoted into its cradle, the lift will not start. Also, any subsequent movement of the safety bar caused by an unstable load will stop the platform. Generally, this is a very simple electrical scheme with only AC power available on site.

Mechanical limit switches were proving to be unreliable because the frequent switching was wearing out the mechanical contacts, whilst dust and moisture also adversely affected reliability. The customer therefore wanted an equally simple, non-contact solution.

CUSTOMER SOLUTION

A Contrinex inductive sensor from it’s 600 Series family fulfils the customer’s requirements. To verify that the bar has cleared the load and lodged in the cradle, a 2-wire AC/DC sensor with a 4 mm operating distance is embedded in the cradle itself. The sub-flush mounting position protects the sensing face from any mechanical contact.

With a wide voltage range and short-circuit protection, these sensors also meet the customer’s on-site electrical requirements. Since the safety bar can become deformed with prolonged use, a sensor is chosen with an increased operating distance. This allows compensation for gradual target drift by simple range adjustment, rather than by repositioning the sensor itself.

The sensor closes an enabling circuit for the start button, which in turn latches a relay controlling the lift motor. Any movement of the safety bar caused by an unstable load will open the circuit and unlatch the relay, stopping unsafe movement of the platform.