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RS Group has been awarded a platinum medal by EcoVadis, the independent provider of global sustainability ratings used by many large organisations to help support sustainable purchasing decisions.

RS Group is no stranger to the award, having been a previous recipient of EcoVadis medal rankings and improving from silver to gold and now to the highest ranking, platinum, over the last couple of years.

The platinum medal puts RS Group in the top 1% of the 100,000-plus rated companies assessed by EcoVadis with each company rated on the material sustainability risks and issues for their size, location and industry. In addition, RS Group was highlighted in the assessment as a leader in the areas of environment and sustainable procurement. RS Group now also joins RS France who achieved the platinum medal earlier in the year.

“We are immensely proud to have attained the EcoVadis platinum medal and this demonstrates our strong commitment to ESG,” said Debbie Lentz, President ESG Solutions, RS Group. “However, this success does not mean we have reached the upper limit of our ambition and we are already investing in actions to further improve, and to help our customers and suppliers to reach their goals. In terms of spend, 47% of our suppliers are EcoVadis-rated companies, and we use these metrics to monitor and target ESG improvements with all our suppliers.”

The EcoVadis methodology is based on international sustainability standards (Global Reporting Initiative, United Nations Global Compact, ISO 26000). Its evidence-based assessment covers policies, actions and results across the key sustainability and ESG (environment, social and governance) dimensions of environment, labour and human rights, business ethics and sustainable procurement.

AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, driving digital transformation and sustainability, has announced the European and North American winners of its fourth annual Process Simulation Competition. This year’s contest sought to address energy storage, widely viewed as one of the biggest challenges of transitioning to sustainable energy sources around the world. The competition asked participants to explore the process design choices that must be analyzed to store energy in the form of methanol. This year’s best project was won by Italy’s Davide Perico, who received the highest scores from the judges for his innovative idea that stood out amongst all the entries.

The 2022 competition winners are:

• Best Overall – Davide Perico, Politecnico Di Milano, Italy
• Best Steady State – Aritz Fraga and Aimar Martín, Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Spain
• Best Steady State – Matthew Cochran and Jose Pena, Texas A&M, USA
• Best Economics – Maximilian Jacob, Hochshule Mannheim, Germany
• Best Dynamics – Sebastian Pichler, Stefan Lindhuber and Michael Mirkes, Friedrich Alexander Universitat, Germany

Andrew McCloskey, Executive Vice President of R&D, AVEVA, commented, “This academic competition enables us to harness the creativity and inspiration of young engineers and coders just completing their studies and getting ready for the real world of innovation. It’s great for us because we get access to truly fresh thinking and creativity and great for them as they can build their portfolio and get a taste of real-world product development thinking. AVEVA is delighted to be supporting the young coding engineers of the future!”

Mihaela Hahne, Senior Director, Industry Segment, Academia at AVEVA said, “On behalf of AVEVA, I congratulate all the participants of this year’s Process Simulation Competition. We saw a fantastic response to the challenge, as well as many insightful submissions that offer hope for a future underpinned by sustainable energy. Picking the groups of winners from all the quality submissions has been a particular challenge, however I’m pleased with the final choices, and offer them my best wishes for the future.”

The competition, first launched in 2018, is a platform for chemical engineering students to develop their process simulation skills. Students are invited to tackle the challenge by utilising AVEVA Process Simulation, an innovative integrated platform covering the complete engineering lifecycle of design, simulation and training. The easy-to-learn software was developed expressly to empower the next generation of engineers, so students with no prior experience were encouraged to participate in the competition.

Entrants were judged on different criteria including the quality, completeness, and precision of their project entry, as well as their process engineering and simulation abilities. The first place ‘Best Overall’ winner receives either $3,000 or is eligible for an internship at AVEVA’s offices in California. Second, third and fourth place go to ‘Best Steady State’, ‘Best Economics Optimization’ and ‘Best Dynamics’ respectively. All three categories receive $1,000.

“The competition is a great way for outstanding young talent to build academic credibility and experience. It enables students to demonstrate original thinking and apply their knowledge in a real-world environment. The competition also gives them hands-on experience with AVEVA’s powerful Process Simulation software, all of which better prepares them for life after graduation,” Hahne added.

The 2022 competition was split into three segments, with deadlines in February, March, and April. The modular approach enabled students to enter the competition multiple times, while supporting their academic coursework, thus allowing keen participants to tackle a different project challenge each time. The 2022 competition was announced in November 2021.

Mouser Electronics offers engineers a wealth of information on industrial automation applications, including resources and products needed to accelerate the design and development of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).

Experts delve into the industry’s emerging trends for AMRs and how these robots are transforming supply chains, factories and manufacturing. Articles include a look at how AMRs are typically constructed to meet the demand for human-like capabilities, the promise of deep learning to boost factory efficiency and AI-driven augmented reality (AR) in manufacturing.

To help customers capitalise on these trends, Mouser stocks the industry’s widest selection of semiconductors and electronic components, including the following solutions ideal for automated mobile robot applications:

• AMD Xilinx Kria K26 system-on-modules (SoMs) integrate a custom-built Zynq UltraScale+™ MPSoC that runs optimally on the K26 SoM. The SoMs feature DDR memory, nonvolatile storage devices, a security module, and an aluminium thermal heat spreader. Suitable applications include smart cities, machine vision, industrial robotics and AI/ML computing

• STMicroelectronics VL53L4Cx time-of-flight sensors are fully integrated miniature modules that record an absolute distance measurement regardless of the target colour and reflectance. The VL53L4Cx time-of-flight sensors are used in applications such as smart lighting, system activation, and presence detection.

For the latest on AMRs and many other solutions for industrial automation, visit https://resources.mouser.com/automation.

Fluke, a global technology leader in the manufacture of compact, professional electronic test and measurement equipment tools and software, has today launched the new FEV300 Electric Vehicle Charging Station Adapter for electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS). Designed to simulate an electric vehicle attached to the EVCS, the user-friendly tool allows for the output voltage of an AC charging station Mode 3 with connector types 1 and 2 to be safely and accurately tested in accordance with IEC/HD 60364-7-722 and IEC/EN 61851-1.

Growth of e-mobility

There are approximately 20 million electric vehicles on the road today globally, according to Bloomberg’s Annual Electrical Vehicle Outlook 2022. With rising fuel prices and new fuel economy regulations in many countries, the adoption of electric vehicles as alternatives to fuel-powered vehicles is expected to rise dramatically. Bloomberg suggests electric vehicle share of new vehicle sales market will grow to between 40 – 50 per cent in the UK, France and Germany by 2025.

EVCS are critical to reducing the charging time for vehicles. A typical, compact vehicle can take between 24 and 36 hours to charge from a domestic mains supply. An EVCS provides one or three phase supply with a mains voltage at 230 volts or 400 volts, charging electric vehicles much faster. For safety, communication between the charging station and the connected electric vehicle must occur before an output voltage is delivered. Adapters, such as the new-to-market FEV300 Adapter from Fluke, are critical pieces of equipment used in the installation and mandatory routine testing of Mode 3 EVCS which provide accelerated charging of 3.7 kW to 22 kW.

Simple, safe and reliable

Testing of EVCS must be performed at regular intervals. There are local safety regulations, international and European standards, including the IEC/HD 60364-6, IEC/HD 60364-7-722 and IEC/EN 61851-1, to which installation and testing must adhere too. Both the safety and communication functions of an EVCS must be accurately tested to ensure the safety and efficiency of the electric system for the safe use by owners of electric vehicles. The tests required include continuity of conductors, insulation resistance, automatic disconnection of supply (loop impedance, RCD or RDC-DD test) and functional tests. All of which can be performed using a multifunction installation tester (MFT) such as the Fluke 1663 or Fluke 1664FC.

The FEV300 Adapter is compatible with Fluke’s leading MFTs used in the installation and commissioning of EVCS as well as routine maintenance tests. The FEV300 Adapter can also be paired with Fluke’s range of multimeters or scope meters for investigative troubleshooting.

Hans-Dieter Schuessele, Application & Technology Expert at Fluke says: “The energy which is transferred from an EVCS was previously mostly used in industrial environments – and now it is provided directly to private vehicles. Testing of these high-power, live voltage electric systems is critical to ensure the safety of end users, and the electricians installing and maintaining these essential pieces of equipment.

“The new FEV300 Adapter includes significant safety features such as a touch electrode function which quickly displays if there is a high-risk earth fault and improved safety sockets which are covered by plastic lids to protect the connectors in wet weather conditions. The safety aspects of Fluke’s new FEV300 Adapter surpass other competitive products in the market.”

Training the workforce to deliver the infrastructure

Fluke is a leading provider of training programmes for the testing and installation of EVCS in Germany. The market for EVCS is booming, with extended waiting lists for charging stations to be installed. Infrastructure for EVCS across Europe doubled between 2020 and 2021 and is on track to deliver the same volume increase in 2022, according to The European Commission for Alternative Fuels Observatory.

“The e-mobility market is growing at an exponential rate. Many general electricians are now seeking to upskill through certified training programmes for the installation and testing of EVCS to meet this demand. We identified a significant market need for an easy-to-use adapter that could be used for the safe installation and commissioning of EVCS as well as regular maintenance testing and troubleshooting,” said Schuessele.

Fluke has a comprehensive range of rugged, handheld tools and software for e-mobility, allowing technicians to safely test and install charging stations for electric vehicles. Fluke’s solutions are designed for ease-of-use and include market-leading safety features that meet the stringent international and European safety standards for EVCS.

For more information, about Fluke’s new FEV300 Electric Vehicle Charging Station Adapter, go to: https://www.fluke.com/en-gb/product/electrical-testing/installation-testers/fev300-connector-kit

Will Brown joined the Powelectrics team a year ago. His mission was to understand our customers’ technical and commercial needs and to propose IIoT solutions, ultimately helping them achieve digital transformation and improve safety, efficiency and margin.

We asked Will for his thoughts on his first 12 months in the role:

“Wow, it is surely not a year already? They say time flies when you are having fun!

“I was drawn to Powelectrics because I saw a focused telemetry company, with lots of experience, in a variety of sectors.

“Since I started, our website and marketing material has been redesigned to tell our story with a strong emphasis on application case studies and user experiences. To me, that’s a really key point. Marketing shouldn’t just be a slick façade, with nothing behind it. Powelectrics is genuinely about walking the walk, getting data flowing and delivering real solutions.

“In twelve months, I’ve worked on solutions for an amazing variety of industries, many with specific requirements to their process or product, although there is often alignment in the end game, be that reducing cost or waste or improving inventory management.

“I’ve been exposed to several new sectors and been fascinated to learn about their challenges and complexities. Great example … did you know that finding a common earth on a train is extremely difficult? It plays havoc with thermocouples and RTDs. This wasn’t ever a problem I had encountered ‘on the ground’! 

“Several IIoT projects have taken Powelectrics further into the environmental and conservation space. For example, measuring salinity in a bird sanctuary was really a new challenge … but I love challenges and turning them into successful digital transformation solutions for a rapidly expanding range of end-users.

“The growth of the Powelectrics internal development team has enabled far more extensive and sophisticated solution development, using a raft of new IIoT building blocks. It’s felt like a really fun balance between product and solution development and I love being able to offer such flexibility and the agility to get to market quickly.

“I have particularly enjoyed the projects which exposed me to new technologies. One large development project, where I worked directly with our suppliers and customer, involved significant integration of web services and portals, as well as hardware and PCB engineering. It allowed me the opportunity to observe the high-level microelectronics integration skills now within Powelectrics.

“Ultimately, it feels like we are developing Powelectrics into something new and exciting! 30 years of expertise & practical experience have created the infrastructure and tools to develop new skillsets and refine existing skills. Those, in turn, reinforce my belief in Powelectrics’ strengths and capabilities to continue delivering against new challenges. 

“I’m really excited for the future!! I’m increasingly involved in direct sales planning, funnel development and how we go to market and present ourselves. It’s fabulous to bring my direct customer experience into that space and I’m really grateful for the opportunity to broaden my perspective and contribute across different areas of business strategy.”

Dave Oakes, Powelectrics MD, added: “Will has proven himself as a valuable addition to the Powelectrics Team! His energy and enthusiasm are infectious!

“These are backed up with strong and rapidly-expanding technical skills. He settled in really quickly and has contributed since Day One, getting on well with customers and colleagues alike.

“Will is a genuine team-player, who is totally on-board with our corporate objectives and working hard to ensure we achieve them. Well done and keep up the fantastic work!”

What can Powelectrics do for you?

Please browse the Powelectrics website and get in touch with any queries you have or applications you would like to discuss. Call +44 1827 310 666, email sales@powelectrics.co.uk or use this contact form.

NI will be hosting NI Connect in Munich, Germany on 9 November 2022. The one-day conference is NI’s first in-person event in Europe since the pandemic and will share with customers and attendees how its software-connected approach delivers differentiated value in test data, analytics and automation. NI Connect Munich will include customised and industry-specific technical sessions with seasoned NI engineers, executive-level keynotes and an experience lounge with hands-on demonstrations of current and future products.

“NI Connect Munich will highlight our latest systems to demonstrate how our software-connected approach ties together test data, analytics and automation to help companies boost product performance and accelerate time to market,” said Ritu Favre, EVP and GM, NI Business Units. “NI engineers along with experts from across multiple industries will be on hand to share first-hand experience and best practices for leveraging data to get the most value out of test.”

TECHNICAL SESSIONS

Technical sessions are classroom-style meetings hosted by NI engineering experts and partners offering best practices for industries ranging from Automotive, Semiconductors, Aerospace & Defence and others, and includes sessions such as:

• What’s new in LabVIEW
• Maximising your test operations with SystemLink
• Validation of Autonomous Transport Systems at ZF Group Leveraging Highly Networked HIL Real-Time Simulation Technology
• A look into 5G advanced developments and 6G research
• Data Aggregation and Information Mining (DAIM): Manage Data and Enable Data-Driven Decision Making in Complex Maintenance and Production Environments
• DataStudio: Bridging Critical Data and Analytics across Design, Test, and Production Workflows
• NI Lifecycle Analytics: Transforming Product and Process Data into Business Value
• Python or LabVIEW? Why Not Both?

The full list of topics can be found here.

KEYNOTES

Keynotes will show how test can increase product and operational performance, and the powerful ways software shapes all aspects of technology disruption and innovation. Confirmed speakers include leaders from Jaguar Land Rover, Hensoldt, and ams OSRAM.

EXPERIENCE LOUNCE

NI’s unique experience lounge will offer hands-on demonstrations of current offerings as well as future technologies and products, including solutions for Wireless, EVs, ADAS, LabVIEW, PXI and many others.

TO REGISTER FOR THE VIRTUAL KEYNOTE, PLEASE VISIT HERE.

TO REGISTER FOR NI CONNECT MUNICH, PLEASE VISIT HERE.

Unplanned maintenance work and cost-intensive plant shutdowns are history! Use the potential of connecting your field devices to increase your plant performance, enable predictive maintenance and reduce costs. #empowerthefield, the Industry 4.0 Program of Endress+Hauser, takes your digitalisation project to a new level. Find the company in hall 4A, booth 145 at the SPS 2022 and learn more about #empowerthefield, the Industry 4.0 Program of Endress+Hauser, as well as other product innovations and services.

Solution packages for digitalisation 

Smart measuring devices collect a wealth of data from the field level. However, up to 97 percent of this data remain unused. But data is the fuel that powers Industry 4.0! #empowerthefield, the Industry 4.0 Program of Endress+Hauser, enables plant operators to unlock the potential of this data. With the company’s cloud based IIoT ecosystem Netilion and Heartbeat Technology, the diagnostics and testing concept from Endress+Hauser, you can start easily your digitalisation project. In addition, Endress+Hauser’s field-proven solution packages create a digital twin of your installed base and makes it available on mobile devices. These solutions monitor device status and enable predictive maintenance.  

Connect your pressure measurement to the future. 

More Industry 4.0. More productivity. More process-safety: With the new pressure and differential pressure transmitters Cerabar and Deltabar, you can look to the future with confidence. The redesigned high-end measuring devices are perfect for Industry 4.0. Heartbeat Technology ensures documented verification and forms the basis for predictive maintenance. The Bluetooth interface makes it easy to configure and verify measuring devices using the SmartBlue app. These devices can even cope very well with extreme application conditions. Moreover, the intelligent functions and SIL ratings, which are unique on the market, ensure maximum process reliability.  

Expertise in gas flow measurement 

The Endress+Hauser product portfolio for gas flow measurement with five SIL-certified, innovative measurement technologies, such as ultrasonic or thermal mass flow measurement, enables a wide range of applications, exact measurement results and maximum process safety. From the smallest nominal diameters (DN1) tot all exhaust gas stacks (DN12000), at high process pressure (up to 400 bar) or the highest process temperatures (up to 1000°C), the robust measuring devices meet all relevant industrial requirements. The Proline device concept supports the user in various life cycle phases from planning to maintenance. 

Memosens 2.0 – simple, safe, connected 

Memosens technology for liquid analysis has already proven its worth millions of times – with the digitalisation of measured values directly in the sensor head, contactless digital signal transmission and with the diagnosis and storage of all sensor relevant data directly in the sensor. The new Memosens 2.0 sensor generation now also meets the demands of Industry 4.0. Additional process data and diagnostics information provide accurate information regarding current sensor status and future maintenance requirements. Memosens 2.0 sensors can be seamlessly integrated into existing systems using plug and play.  

The new generation of 80 GHz radar sensors 

The new level transmitters of the Micropilot for liquids and bulk solids can take on any challenge. Thanks to optimised evaluation algorithms, the 80 GHz radar sensors provide reliable measurement results with no signal loss even in hard-to-reach measuring points, dusty environments and extreme process temperatures. In addition to the proven PROFIBUS and HART interfaces, a new Ethernet-APL interface provides even easier device access with minimal installation effort. The compact device with a single-chamber enclosure also occupies minimal space.  

Visit Endress+Hauser at the SPS 2022 

If you like to find out more about the Endress+Hauser technologies at SPS smart production solutions in Nürnberg, Germany, you are cordially invited to visit the company’s booth 145 in hall 4A from November 8^th-10^th. The Endress+Hauser employees are looking forward to a personal exchange with you.  

Mouser Electronics continues to expand its line card by adding 36 new manufacturers through the end of August 2022. With more than 1,200 manufacturer brands, Mouser now offers an even wider range of product options for its global customer base of design engineers, component buyers, procurement agents, educators and students.

“Engineers look to Mouser for the latest, most innovative products for their designs, and we strive to meet their expectations by connecting them with leading component manufacturers in our ever-expanding line card,” said Jeff Newell, Mouser Electronics’ Senior Vice President of Products.

In the face of semiconductor shortages and other supply chain disruptions, Mouser’s longstanding strategy to invest in and maintain strong inventory is helping meet the component needs of manufacturers around the globe. As the New Product Introduction Leader, Mouser handles a massive inventory of more than 1 million unique SKUs at its Global Distribution Centre, offering semiconductors and electronic components across all product categories, including embedded, connectors, optoelectronics, passives and more.

Among the new manufacturer partners Mouser has added in 2022 are:

• Solidigm, a leading supplier of NAND flash and SSD technology that offers QLC storage technology based on Intel technology.
• Amphenol PCB Piezotronics focuses on the development and application of integrated circuit technology to piezoelectric sensors and rapidly expanded to include vibration and force sensors. In today’s market, their sensors support testing in aerospace and defence, transportation, automotive, civil engineering, and general R&D industries.
• The Modal Shop offers structural vibration and acoustic sensing systems for various applications in design and test laboratories as well as manufacturing plants. Their precision calibration systems and modal and vibration shakers are designed to simplify test phases and help manufacturers provide 100% quality inspection of components.
• Allegro MicroSystems, a global leader in power and sensing solutions for motion control and energy-efficient systems.
• Labforge Inc., a designer and developer of smart cameras.

To see Mouser’s newest manufacturer partners, visit https://eu.mouser.com/new-manufacturer/.

TE Connectivity has earned a GreenTech Award 2022/23 from the Swiss Institute for Quality Testing (SIQT) for the breadth of its recent innovations in sustainable technology.

The award was given to Switzerland-based companies that have distinguished themselves in one of eight sustainability segments defined by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, a global intergovernmental forum created to develop policy standards to promote sustainable economic growth. SIQT, the awarding organisation, is an independent market research institute based in Zurich that benchmarks companies against others in their industries.

TE was honoured for the number of patents it received, as well as the influence of its advancements on other innovations, in three categories: Energy, Climate-Friendly Production of Goods and Transportation. TE engineers continue to advance technology that enables renewable energy sources, safer and more efficient factories, and electric and automated vehicles.

“Sustainability is an important part of our company’s purpose, in how we manufacture our technology and what it enables,” said CEO Terrence Curtin. “The work being done by TE’s innovators globally is having a positive impact on our world and we are proud to be recognised for it.”

SIQT scored each company based on the number of patents from patent offices worldwide from 2020-21, as well as any citations of its patents. Companies with an above average score in at least one of the technology fields were honoured as winners of the GreenTech Award 2022/23.

For more information, visit www.qualitaetstest.ch/awards/green-tech-2022-23.

Exploiting the benefits of the IO-Link standard continues to be one of the most important drivers in the development of today’s automated and robotic systems across many manufacturing applications. In response to this Sensing and Instrumentation specialists BAUMER launched their BSS Sensor Suite software around a year ago to help engineers to test, implement and evaluate IO-Link devices.

Today more than 1400 users are benefitting from the significant advantages of this software for the evaluation, selection and parameterisation of their IO-Link devices. This latest software is a centre piece for application development by allowing the connection of all IO-Link devices to many IO-Link masters on the market. BSS enables users to access a wide variety of sensor functions and settings for new control models, such as Dual Channel and new parameterisation concepts.

The success of the BSS sensor software has been acknowledged with it reaching the final round of the prestigious Industrie 4.0 Innovation Awards 2022. An independent jury nominated the software from Baumer along with nine other products which all contribute significantly to SMART manufacturing.

Established seven years ago as a joint venture between VDE Verlag GmbH, ZVEI and the standardisation Council Industrie, the awards recognise products and innovations that ‘provide an advantageous or supportive contribution to Industry 4.0’. Now it’s up to users and all interested individuals to participate in the online voting to decide which product will win the Innovation Award. Here is the link for voting which is open until October 31^st 2022. https://www.smart-production.de/specials/industrie-40/industrie-40-innovation-award-voting

Anyone interested in testing BSS software prior to voting can download the software free of charge at:  https://www.baumer.com/gb/en/products/baumer-sensor-suite/a/baumer-sensor-suite    and put it to use.