News

SignalFire Wireless Telemetry, a leading manufacturer of industrial wireless telemetry products, is proud to announce that their RANGER transmitter is the world’s first field device to be certified by the Eclipse Foundation, Inc. as officially “Sparkplug Compatible.” This designation is important to companies around the globe who use MQTT and Sparkplug to build their Industrial Automation Systems as they can now seamlessly integrate their IIoT devices without extensive testing.

“When designing wireless solutions, we focus on long battery life, robust connectivity, and simplicity in data integration. SparkPlug was a no brainer when creating the RANGER platform as it compresses the data and standardises the payload of the data moved back and forth with MQTT protocol,” says Sandro Esposito, SignalFire VP Sales & Marketing.

SignalFire joined the Eclipse Sparkplug Working Group in 2021, recognising early that MQTT was quickly becoming the ‘de facto’ standard for messaging transport in the industrial sector, and Sparkplug would be an easy-to-use, open-source protocol for MQTT with plug-and-play simplicity. To be included in the Sparkplug Compatibility Program, products must pass an open-source series of tests that validate conformance to the specification. These tests are based on the Sparkplug Technology Compatibility Kit (TCK).

“Having the RANGER be the first hardware device to pass the Sparkplug Compatibility Program is important as this new program will ensure the interoperability of the RANGER with all other Sparkplug- compliant platforms.  It will allow for seamless integration, reduced data usage, and longer battery life,” says Josh Schadel, SignalFire General Manager. “Using an open communication standard is important to SignalFire to allow flexibility for the RANGER to connect to a wide range of IIoT systems.”

For more information about SignalFire, visit the website: signal-fire.com or contact info@signal-fire.com Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

Another nine students will join TE Connectivity, a world leader in connectors and sensors, this summer as part of its African Heritage Scholarship Program.

The $3.5 million program, now in its second of five years, 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.

“It is imperative that we build an inclusive and diverse workforce that allows people from different backgrounds to work together to advance innovation,” said CEO Terrence Curtin. “Thanks to the leadership of our African Heritage Employee Resource Group, the scholarship program allows TE to attract a talented group of young people to help us create a safer, sustainable, productive and connected future.”

The students will complete 10- to 12-week 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 junior 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 their senior year.

This year’s cohort of students join TE from universities across the country: Alabama A&M University, Lawrence Technological University, Louisiana Tech University, North Carolina A&T University, Old Dominion University, Stevenson University, University of Central Florida and University of North Dakota. The interns will work in engineering, product management, marketing, sales and operations.

They will join ten students from the first year of the program returning to TE this summer to complete their second summer internship.

For more information, visit te.com/scholarships.

Anritsu and KYOCERA have completed a successful PCI Express 5.0 (PCIe 5.0) optical transmission test using Anritsu’s Signal Quality Analyzer-R MP1900A and KYOCERA’s on-board optics module. This world’s first test converted a PCIe 5.0 (32 Gbps transmission speed) electrical signal into an optical signal using an end-point Add-in Card (AIC).

Anritsu and KYOCERA will publicly repeat the test live at OFC2023 in San Diego from Tuesday 7 March to Thursday 9 March 2023.

Test Background

Advanced value-added services such as 5G, IoT and Cloud applications are spreading rapidly, creating unprecedented demand for faster data speeds and larger data capacities. However, today’s power-intensive data centres face cost and sustainability issues as they increase transmission speeds and capacity. This Anritsu/KYOCERA test converted an electrical signal into an optical signal at an early stage by mounting an on-board optics module — greatly miniaturised through KYOCERA’s multilayer ceramic technology — close to the host (a MP1900A simulating a CPU output signal for test purposes). The test verified that the E/O-converted signal was transmitted at the PCIe 5.0 standard 32-Gbps speed to the endpoint located 25 meters from the host. In addition, the successful optical signal transmission test proved the potential for this technology to reduce datacenter power consumption through lower signal loss. In the future, signal transmission between servers will not use Ethernet due power consumptions issues and latency. Instead, servers will use direct PCIe connections.

Operators of next-generation data centres using PCIe optical signal transmission will enjoy the business benefits of lower power consumption and reduced latency.
With this successful test, Anritsu and KYOCERA are helping to solve the evolving challenges of tomorrow’s digital society.

Demonstration Outline

The OFC2023 demonstration will introduce Anritsu’s MP1900A simulating the CPU host side and KYOCERA’s on-board optics module at an equipment connection with an endpoint AIC. Items “a” through “d” in the below figure are explained as follows:

a. The PCIe 5.0 electrical signal output from the MP1900A is converted into an optical signal by the on-board optics module before transmission. After optical transmission and reconversion back to an electrical signal by the on-board optics module at the 25m distant endpoint side, the electrical signal is connected to the AIC.

b. The AIC switches to Loopback Mode using the signal transmitted through the on-board optics modules by the MP1900A Link Training function.

c. The MP1900A receives the Loopback data from the AIC and confirms the data are error-free.

d. The optical signal transmitted from the on-board optics module is split and input to Anritsu’s Sampling Oscilloscope MP2110A for monitoring to verify that the PCIe 5.0 optical signal is transmitted correctly.

Outline of Anritsu Signal Quality Analyzer-R MP1900A

The MP1900A is a high-performance BERT for Rx tests of high-speed computing and data communications interfaces, including PCIe, USB, Thunderbolt, and 400/800GbE. Link Training Status State Machine (LTSSM) functions are supported by an industry-best level PAM4/NRZ PPG for high-quality waveforms, high-sensitivity input ED, high-accuracy jitter generation source (SJ, RJ, SSC, BUJ), and vertical noise generation source (CM-I/DM-I and white noise), facilitating various applications, including compliance and margin tests, as well as troubleshooting.

Outline of Anritsu BERTWave MP2110A

With a built-in CRU, the MP2110A 4-ch sampling oscilloscope is the ideal all-in-one solution for analysing NRZ and PAM4 Eye patterns of 10G-800G optical transceivers and devices. Combining a sampling oscilloscope and CRU in one tester facilitates easy and space-saving operation.

Outline of KYOCERA On-Board Optics Module

Due to its miniaturised form factor, KYOCERA’s on-board optics module facilitates easy processor-adjacent mounting to both convert electrical signals from the processor at the earliest possible stage and cut wiring losses when sending/receiving electrical signals. Moreover, this KYOCERA product achieves a world’s first 512-Gbps transmission band to help data centres and supercomputers cut power consumption and implement faster speed and larger capacities.

■ Video Introduction to On-Board Optics Module: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxofLof8Rmc%20

This year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) follows the theme of “embracing equity” — focusing on giving fair opportunities for everyone to succeed. As a business invested in its people, leader in metal cutting, Sandvik Coromant, highlights the experience of Sandvik Coromant President, Helen Blomqvist.

One of IWD’s key missions is to forge inclusive work cultures where women’s careers thrive and their achievements are celebrated. This year, the campaign centres around equity and how providing equal opportunities is no longer enough. So how do we achieve equity?

At Sandvik Coromant, the number of females in functional management roles currently sits at 43%. This is above the estimated industry average, which is considered to be 38%, according to the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). However, if we’re to look across the manufacturing industry, it’s clear there’s still a lot to be done to truly achieve equity. A recent report by the Manufacturing Institute found that females make up just 29% of the manufacturing workforce.

Staggeringly, it also finds that 63% of women struggling to get into the field face challenges due to the sector’s lack of flexibility and almost half are deterred due to childcare issues, compared to just 8% of males.

It seems, therefore, that females wanting to succeed in the manufacturing industry still face challenges that rarely affect their male counterparts. If the industry is to truly reach equity, it must be aware of the unconscious bias certain groups face and find ways of managing that bias. But first, businesses must realise that hiring diversly does not just help fulfil a quota. In fact, it can bring real, measured business benefits.

Time to act

According to a Wall Street Journal report examining diversity and inclusion among S&P 500 companies, “diverse and inclusive cultures are providing companies with a competitive edge over either peers”. What’s more, a pre-pandemic McKinsey report Delivering Through Diversity showed companies in the top quartile of their rankings for successful gender diversity on their executive teams were 21% more likely to have above-average profitability. For ethnic and cultural diversity, that figure was 33%. 

Despite efforts to increase diversity, many businesses still aren’t doing enough. In January 2023, Gartner published a survey detailing the top five challenges facing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) leaders. The survey finds that over half of DEI leaders fail to take responsibility for driving diverse outcomes, while a third feel they don’t have the power to make real change.

It’s clear that businesses have to take strides to truly reap the benefits of diverse teams. One way of inspiring a more balanced working environment is to promote the voices of those already in the industry. Sandvik Coromant spoke to its president, Helen Blomqvist.

Meet the president

After starting as a research engineer at Sandvik Coromant 20 years ago, it’s safe to say Helen Blomqvist has risen through the ranks successfully after becoming the company’s president in 2020. Many experiences have shaped Helen’s experience as an engineer — and everything she’s achieved has been a learning opportunity. “I like to see feedback as a gift, rather than a criticism. I never stop learning, and everyone at Sandvik Coromant can teach me something,” she explained.

“To provide fair and equal opportunities for all members of the organisation, it’s important we’re continuously learning how we can do better. At Sandvik Coromant, we have a regular feedback system where employees can anonymously voice how they’re feeling in their role. From our most recent survey, we’ve found that 82% of respondents feel they can be themselves at work, while 83% say they feel proud to work at Sandvik Coromant. Those are good figures, but there’s always room to do better.”

A believer that a learning culture feeds curiosity and sparks innovation, providing the opportunity to develop one’s skills and nurture personal development is important to Helen. “A big part of delivering equity is providing opportunity for development and making sure everyone feels confident, successful and happy at work,” she adds.

“There was an initiative at Google called 20% time, which I’ve always admired. “The scheme meant that, for a portion of a workers’ week, they could dedicate their time to exploratory work, focusing on creativity and learning that was outside of their normal responsibilities. It’s where Google Mail was born, among many other landmark creations.

“While I don’t invest quite so much time into other activities, I try to lead by example and dedicate 90 minutes of my time each week to my own learning. Whether it’s attending a training session or speaking to one of our product experts, there’s always something new for me to learn. Of course, fostering this learning culture isn’t the only way to achieve equity in a workplace — and actions will always speak louder than words. However, being able to create that space for development, at a rate that’s flexible to each individual and that plays to their own strengths plays a huge role in creating a more diverse workforce.”

The facts speak for themselves — industry must do more to encourage women to enter the manufacturing field. Celebrations such as IWD play a key part in showcasing the options available for women, who must not be held back by stereotypes. But, perhaps more importantly, sharing the stories of women in the industry who have overcome hurdles and developed true industry innovations is key to forming the next generation of manufacturing heroes.

Schaffner, global leader in electromagnetic compatibility and power quality, has introduced a new and easier to use Human-Machine Interface (HMI) to its Active Harmonic Filter (AHF) solution, the Ecosine Active Sync.

The Ecosine Active Sync is a modular product that has been on the market for around five years and actively mitigates the harmonics sent back to an electrical network, reducing or suppressing disturbances by taking the harmonic current generated by non-linear loads and converting it. In Europe, the current level for effective harmonic mitigation is 50Hz and the AHF solution is ideal for applications where harmonics levels are continually changing, such as when producing high quality products like semiconductor wafers.

Ecosine delivers a solution for three- or four-wire system, mitigating harmonics between the phases and neutral wire. It needs to be programmed to fine-tune it to a specific application but, up until now, the traditional way of doing this has been by connecting a computer or laptop with a special cable plus associated software. At the same time, direct machine-face interaction was only possible through a 2-inch (5cm) monochrome display that required the user to press physical buttons to switch through the various parameters and enter values.

As an alternative to the monochrome Display module and the AHF Viewer PC software, Schaffner step up the user experience with the new HMI unit that uses a large 7 inch (18cm) capacitive colour touch-screen. Using simple screen swipe functions familiar to any smartphone user, this modern user interface makes it more straightforward to access and view all the necessary parameters – while reading and entering values where required.

The new HMI makes it possible to change and monitor all filter parameters and measured values of the three-phase network. It can plot up to six traces in an oscilloscope style view, and ensures all measurements are saved automatically to the built-in memory (for subsequent downloading to a USB drive if needed).

With the Ecosine Active Sync used widely in such challenging and demanding sectors as the automotive and robotics industries – as well as in large data centers and semiconductor manufacturing – simplifying the AHF’s operation and modernising how users interact with it were key factors behind Schaffner developing the new HMI.

Says Luc Mosca, Product Manager at Schaffner: “This new HMI is a substantial advance on the previous user interface and enables us to upgrade the user experience to a level where interaction with the Ecosine is a much easier process. With just a simple check, the operator can see instantly whether everything is working okay or if there are any alerts, with errors or warnings displayed clearly on the large colour screen.”

Luc adds: “We have worked closely with customers, consulting with users about what they require from a true human-machine interface and we have come up with a solution that meets their needs. We have already received some highly positive feedback on the new HMI and we expect this to continue as more Ecosine come on-stream. When you place an order for a new Ecosine Active Sync you now have the option of having one featuring this advanced interface and we expect most new buyers will choose to work with this more user-friendly HMI. Of course, they can continue to interact with the AHF via hardwired computer or laptop and dedicated software if they prefer.”

Development of the Ecosine Active Sync Cabinet is based on the extensive knowledge and experience the Schaffner Group has garnered over decades of creating solutions for power quality applications. The most common application for the Ecosine Active sync is in heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) installations and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). They are also used across logistics, parcel sorting and luggage handling at airports as well as wind turbines, the steel industry, paper mills, tunnel ventilation and more.

Whether used as a stand-alone unit or combined with others to meet the customer’s requirements, is the Ecosine Active Sync is designed to meet the most demanding harmonic mitigation challenges, whatever the non-linear load involved. In the era of Industry 4.0 and smart energy management, the optional sync module monitors the filter’s usage and allows redundancy to deliver a truly smart power quality solution.

For more information, visit the Schaffner website at schaffner.com

An interview with Ramanpreet Chopra, software and support engineer at Novotek UK & Ireland 

At school, Ramanpreet Chopra’s favourite subject was always maths and, as she got older and started her A-levels, a module in programming ignited her love for IT and computer science. Now, on International Women’s Day, Chopra shares her experience as a woman working in IT and gives advice to others wishing to pursue a similar career.

Even today, Chopra recalls that, while engineering was always a popular subject during her studies, there was a lack of programmes and initiatives encouraging young people, particularly women, into the sector. While the gender split in engineering is moving in the right direction – 16.5 per cent of all engineers are female today, compared to just 10.5 per cent in 2010 – we still have a long way to go in making this equal.

“The programming work that I completed in college, coupled with my BSc in IT, cemented the fact that I wanted to pursue a career in computer science. I went on to study for an MSc in computer science and, for my thesis, I used object role modelling software for an orthopaedic department at a hospital. After finishing my studies, I began working as a software engineer – a career that I’m lucky enough to still be enjoying 15 years later.

“There’s a misconception that males are better suited to careers in engineering – I believe this couldn’t be further from the truth. I’d say that the top three soft skills required to be successful in engineering are a fresh mindset, the ability to motivate yourself and the ability to believe in yourself. No one is born with the skills required to work in engineering – we learn while we grow. But, if you believe in yourself and are confident, then nothing will stop you from achieving your goals. This, in particular, highlights the need for females with an interest in engineering to have role models from a young age.”

Since beginning her career as a software engineer, Chopra has had the opportunity to work on several interesting projects. However, she recalls a project that involved migrating a downtime system to the latest Windows server version as one of the most exciting, but also challenging.

“The project was for a British multinational pharmaceutical and bio-technology company. Tasks included moving critical applications to the new server stack, installing the applications and licences, setting up a SCADA client, resolving application compatibility issues and rewriting application code. I used a test server first and, once all of the results came back as successful, we were able to make the new downtime system server live. We faced so many challenges while completing the project, such as the issues with compatibility, which gave us even more satisfaction when it was completed successfully.”

Today, sustainability is at the forefront of everybody’s minds, and Chopra is no exception. “As a software engineer, I get to see first-hand how important it is for manufacturers to be operating as efficiently as possible. When downtime occurs, it doesn’t just have cost implications for the business suffering. There’s also a cost to the environment when things go wrong in manufacturing, from having to rely on additional run-time or having to scrap affected products. One of the most rewarding elements of my role at Novotek UK & Ireland is the part that I can play in helping keep our customers operations running smoothly, and knowing the positive impact that this has on the environment.”

Despite being 15 years into her career, Chopra sees every day as a new opportunity to learn, especially in a technological landscape that is always changing. “As a software engineer, I’m always working with new technologies. The Internet of Things is becoming the hot environment at the moment, with all industries moving to the cloud. Because of this, I recently chose to focus my personal development on Azure and have already passed a few exams, such as Azure fundamentals, data fundamentals and SQL developer. Staying up to date with the latest technologies is so important, especially when they can have such a huge impact on our lives, both personally and professionally.

“Technology offers a way of staying connected. Take social media as an example. We now have apps for Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, all of which enable us to keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues. Even at work, shared digital environments, such as Microsoft Teams, allow us to work so much more effectively. I can’t remember the last time that I visited a travel agent to book a holiday, or visited a bank to make a transfer. While I completely understand that, for some it can seem like huge changes, for me personally the impact that technology has really excites me. “

When she isn’t working as a software and support engineer for Novotek UK & Ireland, you can find Chopra at home with her eleven year-old daughter, teaching her to see no barriers when pursuing her dream career. “If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be to have patience and a long-term plan. For my daughter, I’d love her to see how exciting and engaging a career in engineering can be. For someone that loves a challenge, and loves to learn, there really is no better option.”

NI has announced the acquisition of SET, long-standing experts in aerospace and defence test system development and recent innovators in power semiconductor reliability test. Together, the companies will reduce time to market for critical, highly differentiated solutions and accelerate semiconductor-to-transportation supply-chain convergence with power electronic materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitrite (GaN).

NI first announced a strategic minority investment in SET in 2020 to help aerospace and defence companies solve soaring development costs and integration challenges. The collaboration enhanced a system-on-demand and model-based test approach delivered to shorten time-to-market schedules, reduce program risk, integrate labs, and optimise data and assets. This offered mutual customers more time spent ensuring the quality and safety of future products and less on building test systems. These collaborative efforts will continue with a focus on sustainable commercial aviation, space launch vehicles, and urban air mobility applications.

Going forward, the acquisition will expand NI’s opportunity in power semiconductor reliability systems for automotive, a high growth area of investment. SET has been innovating on new capabilities in the emerging automotive supply chain area of power semiconductors since before NI’s initial partnership in 2020. SET’s participation in cross-industry and academic forums on reliability test techniques has made significant contributions to the understanding of electric vehicle applications for power semiconductors.

The automotive supply chain is going through a transformation where both OEMs and semiconductor players are rapidly innovating on new technologies. The ability to adequately specify and predict how these new technologies behave inside new Electric Vehicles is critical for performance and safety,” said Ritu Favre, EVP and GM of NI Business Units. “SET is a clear innovator in this area as well as an established provider in Avionics testing. NI is a global leader in automated test and measurement systems. By combining capabilities, NI and SET can offer more differentiated solutions to customers and grow together by leveraging NI’s global scale.”

“We leverage extensive expertise to develop ground breaking solutions for power semiconductor testing,” said Frank Heidemann, the founder of SET. “By offering new and dynamic test procedures, SET ensures the qualification of cutting-edge Silicon-Carbide (SiC) power semiconductors for the automotive industry with high precision and reliability. With our innovative approach, SET is leading the charge in solving the industry’s most pressing qualification challenges.” NI funded this transaction through cash on hand. SET is headquartered in Wangen, Germany with approximately 100 employees joining NI.

TÜV SÜD UK has launched a Carbon Footprint Management service to help organisations reduce carbon emissions and ultimately become carbon neutral.

The new service will calculate an organisation’s current carbon footprint, to understand the scale of the challenge and quantify the carbon impact. This can be conducted at an organisation or product level, and include a full product life cycle carbon footprint assessment. TÜV SÜD will then support the development of a carbon reduction plan that focuses on activities with the highest carbon emission reduction potential.

TÜV SÜD’s specialists will also regularly audit the organisation’s carbon reduction activities to ensure the plan is delivering against anticipated results. Anything that is not working practically or financially can then be reviewed at an early stage. Once carbon neutrality is achieved, TÜV SÜD’s Carbon Neutrality Certification will prove an organisation’s status to stakeholders, such as customers, the wider supply chain, staff, and potential investors. 

Leon Youngs, Head of Sustainability Services at TÜV SÜD, said: “Climate change affects businesses from multiple angles, putting pressure on them to reduce their carbon footprint. The public expects companies to reduce their environmental impact and develop plans to achieve carbon neutrality. Carbon management is therefore essential for any company that wishes to stay competitive in today’s economy.

“The push towards decarbonisation will be achieved by implementing effective carbon management practices. Our sustainability services are aimed at helping organisations meet decarbonation and sustainability goals by supporting their plans and validating their activities against globally recognised standards,” concluded Youngs.

Signal Group is probably best known for leading innovation in industrial gas analysis using reference methods such as FID, CLD and NDIR. However, since its inception in 1979, the company has developed a fleet of ancillary equipment to ensure that the gas analysers operate as accurately and reliably as possible. This has included cooler/dryers that help to condition sample gas prior to analysis, and remarkably, the designs for these devices have changed very little in the last 30 years.

“Simplicity and reliability have always been our guiding mantra in product design,” explains Signal’s MD James Clements. “So, once we had developed models that met our needs precisely, further development was unnecessary, and we now have hundreds of cooler/dryers operating all over the world.”

Globally, regulations dictate that stack, flue or exhaust emission samples should usually be conditioned in some way before analysis, and it is important that this conditioning should be compatible with the analysis method. Cooler/dryers remove moisture from the sample gas so that it does not enter the gas analyser where it may affect the readings or even harm the analyser. However, cooler/dryers are not normally employed with acid gas samples because acidic gases may dissolve in the condensed water and therefore not form part of the measurement.

Signal Group offers two types of cooler/dryer; both with a thermoelectric cooling system and a special gas labyrinth design to eliminate the possibility of losing non-soluble sample gas with the removed water. Signal’s portable (Model 250) Cooler/dryer weighs 15kg and runs on mains power, and a 19” rack version (Model 200SM) is available as a 1, 2 or 3 channel unit. Summarising, James says: “It is incredible that there has never really been any need to update or re-design our cooler/dryers, but they do say: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

Impulse Embedded, a leading provider of industrial computing systems and solutions, will celebrate 30 years in the fast-moving world of embedded computing in 2023. This anniversary will mark their notable success in integrating industrial motherboards, box computers, panel PCs and embedded SBCs into a large number of projects particularly in the rail, artificial intelligence and building management sectors.

In recognition of the part their key partners have played in their success Advantech Europe were invited to the Impulse Embedded Innovation Hub for a joint celebration. In addition to Impulse’s 30 years, Advantech are celebrating 40 years of innovation in embedded computing and IIoT and Impulse Embedded have played a key part of that success for half of that time.

Robert Plant, Chief Commercial Officer at Impulse Embedded, says, “Our success would  not be possible without the support of our key partners. We are committed to providing our customers with the best possible technology solutions and know our partnerships are critical to achieving this goal. We are honoured to have worked closely with Advantech for half of their forty years in business and thrilled to celebrate this achievement with them. We are very much looking forward to welcoming more of our key partners to our facility soon and look forward to continuing to build on our existing relationships.”

Impulse Embedded capabilities can create reliable, repeatable, and revision-controlled systems aimed at reducing customers overall project costs and development time. An in-house team of engineers and specialists, all with decades of experience, can provide fully deployable embedded computing solutions straight out of the box.

For more details regarding Impulse’s Industrial computing and IoT capabilities please click here or call the Impulse Specialists at +44(0)1782 337. For more information visit www.impulse-embedded.co.uk