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Smart waste management is one of the core tasks within smart cities, i.e. those urban areas in which innovative technologies and data-driven solutions are used. They aim to improve the quality of life of residents, minimise environmental impact and use resources more efficiently. Conserving resources is not just about recycling, but also about innovative approaches to collecting waste and then disposing of or processing it in the best possible way. One of the most important components of smart cities is therefore the introduction of efficient waste collection systems. In addition, from 1st May 2025 at the latest, waste from organic waste bins delivered for composting or fermentation in Germany may only contain a maximum of 3.0 percent by weight of foreign matter when delivered.

The German company c-trace meets this challenge with its AI solution c-detect. The industry specialist for IT solutions for all aspects of waste disposal logistics specialises in telematics solutions for the trouble-free collection of organic waste from households. The purer the biowaste is delivered, the lower the effort and costs for the removal of foreign matter. In addition, the quantity and quality of compostable biowaste is increasing and with it the marketable end product, which has developed into an important raw material over time. The company has developed the first artificial intelligence (AI)-based system for detecting impurities during organic waste collection in order to ensure the highest possible purity of organic waste for further processing.

IDS cameras as the reliable eyes of refuse collection vehicles

“Contaminants in biowaste, especially plastics, cause high costs and make recycling time-consuming or even impossible,” explains c-trace sales engineer Jan Birkhold. The c-detect computer vision system combines the system house’s intelligent software with extremely robust and powerful uEye FA industrial cameras from IDS to view the contents of the organic waste bin using either “TopView” or “InsideView”.

With the help of two cameras per system variant, c-trace can use object detection to identify all relevant types of materials and objects that have no place in biowaste. It detects trained contaminants such as plastic bags or metals and will also be able to distinguish between normal and biodegradable plastic bags in the future. Both static image recordings (TopView) and dynamic image recordings in the pouring process (InsideView) are recognised, processed and documented via image verification. The content is immediately evaluated in the vehicle using trained artificial intelligence. The analysis of the detection can be tracked in real time directly in the vehicle via a powerful AI on-board computer and the associated c-ident touch board. In the event of detection, an evidence photo is saved and automatically forwarded for analysis.

The TopView variant utilises the view from above into each organic waste bin. For this purpose, two cameras are installed at the rear of the collection vehicle, above the bulk material. As soon as the system recognises impurities on the surface of the open organic waste container, the waste collection vehicle’s dumping process is automatically stopped. “Thanks to the configurability of the system, it is possible to set the impurities for which the system should respond, depending on the degree of contamination,” explains Jan Birkhold. “As soon as impurities are detected in the container, it is left unemptied so that the impurities do not enter the collection process.”

The InsideView variant, on the other hand, uses two cameras in the pouring chamber. They are directed at the side of the bins and record images of the waste with high resolution and frame rate during the emptying process. If there are any foreign substances under the surface, these are also detected and documented when the container is emptied. The system also triggers an optical signal on the InsideView directly on the waste collection vehicle so that the refuse collector can provide the citizen with a sorting notice for the contaminated container. In addition, the recorded image evidence offers the possibility of repeatedly contaminated and emptied containers being billed to the citizen as more expensive residual waste emptying in order to involve him directly in the higher disposal costs. A combination of both variants is also possible. In this case, up to four IDS cameras on the collection vehicle take over the automatic control.

The vehicle data record is transferred with the corresponding image, GPS coordinates and transponder number in real time to the waste disposal company and the client (district or city) in the c-ware AIR software for evaluation or direct complaint processing. “Fast image processing is particularly important here. We were looking for a network-compatible, high-resolution camera that can be programmed independently,” says Jan Birkhold, explaining the choice of camera model. Other decisive criteria included size, automatic exposure setting, protection class, robustness and stability in camera operation.

The GigE Vision® IDS camera, which c-trace utilises, is equipped with the compact 2/3″ global shutter CMOS sensor IMX264 from Sony and ensures outstanding image quality, light sensitivity and an exceptionally high dynamic range. It has an internal 120 MB image memory and delivers virtually noise-free, high-contrast 5 MP images in 5:4 format at 22 fps, making it ideal for applications such as these with fluctuating lighting conditions. The IP65/67 protection class protects against dirt, dust and splash water – a must for use on refuse collection vehicles.

Another advantage of the integrated IDS cameras is their easy integration thanks to IDS peak. “Our developers benefit from the network compatibility, support for the C++ programming language and a large number of features within the programming environment,” says Jan Birkhold. The data collected enables the biowaste to be reliably allocated to the respective bin or waste producer. Corresponding heat maps can be generated using the GPS coordinates. “Our customers use RFID transponders, which guarantee extremely high read rates and make the bins unmistakable, enabling direct allocation of the emptied bins to the citizen,” explains Jan Birkhold.

All data can be viewed in real time and subsequently analysed. The inspection and evaluation of organic waste not only serves to sensitise the population to the need to dispose of unmixed organic waste, but also as a basis for decisions on material flow management. The separate processing of heavily soiled batches is controlled in a targeted manner, which reduces the processing technology and operating costs of disposal.

“The uEye FA cameras become the unwavering eyes of refuse collection vehicles and support c-trace customers in improving the quality of biowaste,” says IDS Managing Director Jan Hartmann, delighted with the resource-saving use of the IDS cameras. The AI-based software from c-trace learns continuously and thus constantly improves sorting purity and recycling rates. Together, the two components ensure the minimisation of residual waste, targeted material flow management, fewer microplastics in compost and, last but not least, greater recycling awareness among the population.

“The use of c-detect enables local authorities to document and analyse contaminants in biowaste sustainably, cost-effectively and effectively and to take appropriate measures to meet the increasing requirements of the biowaste ordinance,” emphasises Jan Birkhold. “For cities and municipalities, it is increasingly about improving material cycles and flows at regional and local level,” adds Jan Hartmann. “This optimisation of regional material cycles can lead to considerable resource conservation, and image processing technology can make an important contribution to this.”

Outlook

For greater efficiency and sustainability, a camera system is to be used in future that will take event-related, data protection-compliant video recordings of unprovided waste containers in a defined radius of the expected container location on the collection vehicle. The c-gap vehicle system only records video footage if a transponder on a collection day’s order route is not read by the identification system, as it is then assumed that a container has not been provided. This allows specific proof to be provided as to whether or not a complaint or subsequent journey for a container that has not been emptied is justified. The c-gap solution can save many kilometres and costs for waste disposal companies.

This shows promising approaches that AI already offers smart cities for the development of waste management and how it can support the necessary change. Districts, cities, municipalities and waste management companies must increasingly address this issue in order to meet the challenges of the future and work even more efficiently and in a way that conserves resources.

RS, a global provider of product and service solutions for industrial customers, has released its 2024 Indirect Procurement Report ‘Maintaining Focus’ today.

The report, produced in association with The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), shines a light on the current state of the sector for those responsible for supplies supporting maintenance, repair and operations (MRO). It is the seventh annual survey of its kind and those surveyed were global participants from the procurement profession from sectors including manufacturing, public sector, energy, logistics & retail, transport and defence and technology. Job roles ranged from operational to senior and director level.

This year’s survey drew a record number of responses from UK and Ireland respondents, at 323, and from a larger number of younger individuals than would normally contribute. There was also a significant number of first-time participants and a higher-than-usual percentage of smaller and medium-sized companies took part. 

Some of the main themes emerging from this year’s survey included the impact of ongoing challenges like attracting talent, difficult macro conditions, environmental, social and governance (ESG) and technology. The top three challenges were cited as the need to ensure sustainable and ethical procurement (32 per cent), improve asset performance (32 per cent) and cope with reduced operational budgets (30 per cent). Pressure to reduce inventory costs (28 per cent) and the increased cost of indirect materials such as MRO (27 per cent) are also significant.

Other 2024 Indirect Procurement Report highlights include:  

• 57 per cent of respondents stated the procurement of MRO products for their business was either important or very important
• One of the biggest challenges for procurement over the next 12 months was cited as attracting and retaining talent, reported by 29 per cent of respondents
• Getting individuals who can understand best practice procurement is a day-to-day operational challenge highlighted by a third of respondents
• Of other key challenges over the next 12 months, over a third (37 per cent) of procurement professionals reference inflation and higher costs, and 20 per cent highlight global political uncertainty
• Downtime is a key issue and procurement is recognised as having a key role in helping to minimise. Challenges over the coming year were listed as lead time for required MRO parts, according to 19 per cent of respondents, with supply chain issues and shrinking maintenance teams being highlighted by 16 per cent
• ESG is high on the agenda: just over half (52 per cent) of procurement professionals believe it is important to the delivery of their company strategy. And nearly three-quarters of respondents (71 per cent) say they consider ESG criteria as either ‘important’ or ‘very important’ when it comes to selecting suppliers, products and services
• Almost a third (32 per cent) of procurement professionals identify sustainable and ethical procurement as an impactful business pressure, affecting how they procure indirect materials, while 27 per cent cite place monitoring suppliers’ sustainability practices as a key issue for procurement over the next 12 months
• Waste recycling is the most common measure in the carbon footprint reduction strategy, demonstrated by two-thirds (67 per cent) of respondents. Cutting energy consumption was cited by more than half
• Automation is making its way into procurement as more than a quarter of respondents say they are automating transactional tasks through eProcurement, while just under a quarter are using suppliers for some elements of stock management and predictive maintenance
• Organisations could be missing out on efficiency gains by not embracing eProcurement software: only 38 per cent of respondents work within businesses that  are using them.

Emma Botfield, managing director for the UK&I at RS, said: “With a record number of UK&I responses, with more representation from younger age groups and small and medium-sized businesses, we’re heartened by this evidence that procurement professionals are more engaged and active than ever in key business issues. This offers reassurance that the future of procurement is in safe hands.

“We were not surprised about the range of challenges facing procurement professionals in the current climate. However, it was great to see that even in times of financial pressures, the ESG agenda is still firmly rooted and a high priority for many firms. Procurement teams recognise their hugely important role in this and we are certainly poised to ensure their intentions are translated into effective actions,” she added. 

Encouragingly, 82 per cent of respondents to the survey stated they would be happy to pay a premium for more sustainable products. Helen Alder, head of knowledge and learning development at CIPS, said: “This is an indicator of a greater willingness to think about things differently and take a longer-term view. However, the pressure to deliver cost savings is still great, and with inflation and other challenges such as security of supply and geopolitical tensions, that’s causing a slight dichotomy. The drive to become more ethical and sustainable should be part of a long-term plan, but there’s been a bit of short-term upheaval.”

Botfield concluded: “Those in procurement must do their bit to keep everything running smoothly and in the indirect space, this means tackling ageing assets while contending with risks presented from issues like counterfeit products. Building strong relationships with the rest of the business will be vital, both in liaising with engineering teams to identify what needs updating, when, and making the case for investment.

“It is also clear that effective supplier management is essential if procurement is to meet its dual aims of securing supply and reducing risk. For some organisations, this will require a close look at the number of suppliers and improving communication with key providers. None of these are easy issues, and having a trusted partner to help in the navigation of them can be invaluable.”

The full 2024 Indirect Procurement report can be found here.

Congratulations to Jaspal Dhaliwal as he reaches his fifth work anniversary with PowTechnology!

Jas joined us as an Electronics, Electrical & Instrumentation Engineer. PowTechnology supported him through his studies in Electrical, Electronic and Control Engineering, which, together with his practical experience and desire to develop, resulted in his promotion to Engineering Operations Manager in 2022.

It’s been a dynamic five years, with the former ‘Powelectrics’ benefitting from major investment, which has led to major growth and diversification and our new name … PowTechnology.

Jas told us: “I was first attracted by my prospects in a forward-thinking technology business, where I could build on my existing skills. My instinct was absolutely right and, even though the time has passed amazingly quickly, I can’t believe how much I have learned.

“I still get to site and see our digital transformation solutions in their application setting and I really love meeting customers. Now, I’m also involved in management activity, like recruitment, training, production management, quality accreditation, forecasting and overall business strategy.

“It’s a high energy, fast-paced environment and I love new challenges! I’ve particularly enjoyed close involvement with bespoke projects like the Ardent Fuel-It, Henkel’s Smart Packaging Control and our rapidly growing SMART metering business. There are more of those custom IIoT solutions in the pipeline, so I know I’m going to be busy!

 “I’m also really excited about PowTechnology becoming a Siemens Solution Partner. Its an amazing endorsement of our capabilities by a global brand! I think the synergy of PowTechnology’s integration capabilities and Siemens measurement instrumentation will be fantastic for PowTechnology, expanding our range of industries and application areas even further.

“PowTechnology is a progressive place to be. The people are great and I’m really looking forward to the next five years!”

 Dave Oakes, PowTechnology CEO added: “Jas demonstrated a ‘can do’ attitude and a desire to learn from Day One.

“He really embraces opportunities and management challenges. His strong work ethic, positivity and hands-on experience has helped develop a reliable, efficient Production function and he is a valuable member of PowTechnology’s management team. I look forward to his contribution going forward!”

PowTechnology have been intelligent automation specialists for over 30 years. We harness data from sensors and machines to the cloud, using edge processing, AI and anomaly detection technologies to optimise asset reliability, performance and sustainability.

We design, manufacture, install and maintain innovative ‘ready-to-go’ and bespoke digital transformation solutions, integrating our own proven IIoT hardware & software with high performance third-party technologies.

We welcome your application enquiries and will do our very best to offer a reliable, fit-to-purpose IIoT solutions together with user-friendly installation and outstanding technical support.

What can PowTechnology do for you?

Please browse PowTechnology’s web site and get in touch with any queries you have or applications you would like to discuss. +44 1827 310 666 sales@PowTechnology.com or use this contact form.

ABB today announced that it has acquired Swiss start-up Sevensense, a leading provider of AI-enabled 3D vision navigation technology for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Sevensense was founded in 2018 as a spin-off from Swiss technical University, ETH Zurich.

“This marks a significant step towards our vision of a workplace where AI-enabled robots assist people, addressing our customers’ needs for greater flexibility and intelligence amidst critical skilled labor shortages,” said Sami Atiya, President of ABB Robotics and Discrete Automation. “Each mobile robot, equipped with vision and AI, scans a unique part of the building; collectively these robots complement each other’s view to form a complete map, enabling them to work autonomously in a rapidly changing environment.”

The acquisition follows ABB’s minority investment in Sevensense after it joined the company’s innovation ecosystem in 2021, the same year ABB acquired ASTI Mobile Robotics. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Following pilot customer projects in the automotive and logistics industries, ABB will integrate Sevensense’s technology into the company’s AMR portfolio, offering an unprecedented combination of speed, accuracy, and payload.

The market for mobile robots is expected to grow at 20 percent CAGR through 2026, from $5.5bn to $9.5bn and ABB’s AI-powered 3D vision technology is at the forefront of this growth.

Sevensense’s pioneering navigation technology combines AI and 3D vision, enabling AMRs to make intelligent decisions, differentiating between fixed and mobile objects in dynamic environments. Once manually guided, mobile robots with Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (Visual SLAM) technology create a map that is used to operate independently, reducing commissioning time from weeks to days and enabling the AMRs to navigate in highly complex, dynamic environments alongside people. Maps are constantly updated and shared across the fleet, offering instant scalability without interrupting operations and greater flexibility compared to other navigation technologies.

Today, this AI-enabled navigation technology is already transforming the automotive manufacturing and logistics sectors, delivering value through faster and more efficient operations. For automotive manufacturer Ford, Visual SLAM enabled ABB AMR’s will create efficiency gains in production sites in the US, while Michelin will use the technology in intralogistics at its factory in Spain. Other automotive manufacturers will roll out the technology in the UK, Finland and Germany.

“Offering more autonomy and cognitive intelligence, ABB’s unique market-proven technology paves the way for a shift from linear production lines to dynamic networks. Intelligent AMRs autonomously navigate to production cells, tracking stock inventory as they go and sharing this information with other robots, while collaborating safely side-by-side with humans,” said Marc Segura, President of ABB’s Robotics Division. “With the acquisition of Sevensense, ABB becomes the leader in next-generation AMRs, offering Visual SLAM in Autonomous Mobile Robots, together with an integrated portfolio covering robots and machine automation solutions, all managed by our value-creating software.”

Gregory Hitz, CEO of Sevensense, said: “This is a significant moment in our shared journey, as we introduce our home-grown technology to a wider range of markets and sectors. ABB is the ideal home for us to continue scaling our versatile platform for 3D visual autonomy, serving OEMs across the automated material handling and service robotics industries. Together, we will redefine the limits of AI-enabled robotics.”

This revolutionary technology has the potential to impact robotics far beyond AMRs, leading to greater efficiency, flexibility and accuracy throughout production and intralogistics. The technology will also continue to be sold across segments including material handling, cleaning and other service robotics fields under the product name Sevensense.

The Sevensense partnership highlights the success of ABB’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of innovations. Through its partner ecosystem and collaboration with start-ups and universities, ABB develops leading technology for the benefit of global businesses. Sevensense’s approximately 35 employees will continue to be based at its Swiss office in Zurich.

Farnell has reached a major milestone in fundraising after the latest edition of its annual Golf Day saw more than £200,000 donated to a UK charity across a 20-year period.

The Leeds-based distributor of products and technology for electronic and industrial system design, maintenance and repair, first established its relationship with Epilepsy Research UK in 2003 upon the tragic death of the son of John Hirst, Farnell CEO at the time.

This Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) laid the foundation of a long-term relationship and, after the 19th annual Farnell Golf Day held at Moor Allerton Golf Club in Leeds raised more than more than £15,000, the overall total donated by Farnell to the charity surpassed £200,000.

Sponsors of the Farnell Golf Day included Hammond, EMS Cargo, EDAC, Panduit, Molex, KIVO Freight, Grand Bridges, Harting, Kyocera AVX, Richardson Electrical, Omega, Avnet Abacus, Tektronix, BS Handling and Napier amongst others, with all funds raised going to Epilepsy Research UK.

The annual event also marked the retirement of Rob Rospedzhowski, Farnell President Sales EMEA, who played a key role in the success of the partnership with Epilepsy Research UK after joining Farnell in 2001. Rob said: “I am immensely proud of Farnell’s long-term commitment to support Epilepsy Research UK and the incredible work that they do. I would like to say a big thank you to our customers and suppliers who supported our fundraisers, which I have been privileged to be involved with for 20 years. To raise over £200,000 is something that we can all feel very proud of, and this is a wonderful occasion on which to commence my retirement.”

Maxine Smeaton, Epilepsy Research UK Chief Executive, said, “We know that research holds the key to better diagnosis, treatments and drugs that will reduce the risk of sudden death in young people. But we also know that without the support of incredible people like Rob and the team at Farnell, we won’t make the breakthroughs so urgently needed. We wish Rob all the very best in his retirement and look forward to staying in touch!”

The 2024 Farnell Golf Day will take place on 27th June at Moor Allerton Golf Club, Leeds.

Instrumentation Live, sponsored by IndySoft, is coming to the National Conference Centre in Birmingham on 17 January 2024. This brand new table top event is the ideal platform for showcasing your latest technology in the fields of test, measurement and control. Taking place alongside Electronics Live, the NCC will be the place to be come 17 January 2024.

Taking place during the event are the seminars. Throughout the day, visitors to the exhibition will be able to find out more about electronics and instrumentation in the seminar theatre:

• 11:00 am: Extending the life of semiconductor components
• 11:40 am: The Sense In Sensing: What Can The Industrial Internet Of Things (IIoT) Do For Me?
• 1.00 pm: What’s happened and now likely to happen in the UK and wider electronic components markets
• 1:40 pm: New Developments in Torque Measurement and Display
• 2:20 pm: Attack of the Clones: Five ways to spot – and avoid – counterfeit electronic parts
• 3:00 pm: UK Sensing Innovation Ecosystem

Instrumentation Live is a free-to-attend event that aims to attract key decision makers that are looking to source the latest products and solutions and stay up-to-date with the latest developments. Visitors benefit from the unique opportunity to see all of the instrumentation market leaders under one roof while exhibitors enjoy an incredible ROI from the highly-targeted and relevant crowd that the exhibition will attract. Exhibitors already signed up to be at the event include Michell Instruments, Micro-Epsilon, ION Science, POWTechnology, Calex Electronics, Trafag, Dewesoft, Asset Instruments Engineering, Luso Electronics, Rheintacho, D.A.T.S., Status Instruments, Winters Instruments; Sensing Innovation Leadership Council;Alphasense; Magnaflux; Mettler Toledo; Display Technology; Indysoft; GI Systems; Acoustic Camera; Strainsense and European Springs and Pressings.

To register for free to attend Instrumentation Live, please visit instrumentationlive.co.uk.

Airly’s particulate sensor has been announced as winner of the AIRPARIF AIRLAB Microsensors Challenge 2023 for the measurement of fine particulates (PM2.5) outdoors. “I am incredibly proud that our team has been recognised as a global leader in outdoor PM2.5 measurements,” comments Airly CEO Wiktor Warchalowski. “The challenge included major instrumentation companies from around the world, and Airly was proclaimed winner because our sensor was able to deliver the most accurate PM2.5 measurements.

“This victory is more than just another trophy on our shelf – it’s a testament to the dedication and hard work of our R&D team, combined with a deep commitment to our mission – for which a key component is the provision of accurate, reliable, understandable air quality data.

“I would also like to pay special tribute to my co-founder, Michał Misiek for leading our R&D program from day one. His tenacity, vision and leadership have been pivotal in our journey to this remarkable achievement.”

Airly’s Microsensors Challenge success follows the recent award of MCERTS certification, which provides further third-party verification of Airly’s performance in the measurement of both PM2.5 and PM10.

Launched in 2016 by Airparif and its partners, AIRLAB brings together a community that is committed to the improvement of air quality. In 2023 the AIRLAB Microsensors Challenge involved an evaluation of the performance of microsensors for measuring air pollution simultaneously in both France and Thailand, from March to June.

Summarising, Warchalowski says: “34 sensors were evaluated for measuring outdoor air in two very different environments. Leading global manufacturers competed, and the results were evaluated by a jury of independent international experts, so we are deeply honoured to win, and we are hugely grateful to Airparif for allowing us to participate.”

Analog Devices, Inc., global semiconductor leader, and SambaNova Systems, makers of the only purpose-built, full-stack AI platform, announced that ADI is deploying SambaNova Suite to spearhead its global AI transformation, making AI pervasive enterprise-wide.

“ADI is synonymous with innovation, and we have a legacy of technology leadership in bridging our physical and digital worlds for the benefit of our planet and its people,” said Alan Lee, Chief Technology Officer at ADI. “We achieve this by collaborating with our customers, providing them with technical expertise, support, and resources to help them overcome their toughest challenges. We are working with SambaNova Systems, pioneers of cutting-edge AI solutions, to rapidly deploy their enterprise-scale generative AI platform toward enabling our customers’ success.”

As part of the initial deployment, ADI will leverage the SambaNova Suite to accelerate field sales and customer enablement across its business. For example, ADI plans to leverage the technology to streamline access to its extensive data sheets, helping inform recommendations in the field, and deepen its customer connections.

“Our efforts with ADI reinforce our vision that a complete software and hardware AI stack is the right answer for today’s enterprise. This is true market validation of our product direction,” said Rodrigo Liang, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SambaNova Systems. “The SambaNova Suite solution offers a quicker way for ADI to deploy generative AI enterprise-wide with global impact. We’re delighted to be working together.”

SambaNova Suite is the first full stack, generative AI platform, from chip to models, for the enterprise. Delivered on-premises or in the cloud, the SambaNova Suite is a fully integrated platform offering state-of-the-art open-source models, which can be fine-tuned using customer data for greater accuracy. Customers retain model ownership in perpetuity, so they can turn generative AI into one of their most valuable assets.

“Generative AI adoption in the enterprise will be accelerated by more complete offerings that avoid costly and lengthy integration while also providing data privacy and model ownership to enable investment protection and high ROI,” said R “Ray” Wang, Founder and Principal Analyst at Constellation Research. “Seeing generative AI moving beyond experimentation to enterprise use cases signals the next wave of market maturity has begun.”

“The global deal being announced today is a significant technological advancement for the industry,” said Marshall Choy, Senior Vice President of Product at SambaNova Systems. “The work we are doing with ADI showcases SambaNova’s integrated software and hardware capabilities within enterprise-scale environments. ADI is a power user of innovation among the Fortune 500, truly underscoring our technology’s potential.”

For more information on SambaNova Suite, please visit www.sambanova.ai/products/sambanova-suite.

AMETEK Land, a world-leading manufacturer of highly accurate infrared pyrometers, scanners, and thermal imagers, is providing a service solution to ensure customers benefit from peak product performance and maximum return on investment over the life of their equipment.

All thermometers, regardless of manufacturer, are subject to damage and deterioration over time. However, this can be limited proactively through AMETEK Land’s service and calibration support, providing ongoing confidence in the measurement accuracy of the instruments.

Service support, delivered through LAND’s worldwide network of regional accredited service centres, helps to maintain peak operating performance over time, while on-site calibration conformance testing maintains the accuracy of the temperature measurement being made.

Victoria Jones, Team Leader – Aftermarket at AMETEK Land, said: “Many instruments are operated continually with little or zero maintenance which can affect their performance. Our service and calibration adjustments restore instruments to ‘as new’, thus limiting their deterioration. This not only provides customers with the assurance that their instrument is working as it should but also protects the investment they have made in that equipment. It’s a proactive solution that maximises the availability and uptime of your AMETEK Land products.”

In addition to its service centres, AMETEK Land also operates three accredited ISO 17025 laboratories which provide certification to endorse the accuracy of temperature measurements being made.

ISO 17025 certification provides additional confidence through traceable independent testing and allows the thermometer operator to distinguish shifts in calibration and correct for calibration errors over and above the specification, providing a useful audit trail.

These ISO 17025 certification laboratories can also certify non-AMETEK Land thermometers/pyrometers within the scope of their approval, subject to the provision of necessary power supplies and cables.

To find out more, go to https://www.ametek-land.com/services.

Hamamatsu Photonics UK, the UK leader in optoelectronics, announced it is celebrating over 20% growth in the team in the past year, alongside two birthdays – the 35^th of the UK company and the 70th of the global parent.

Hamamatsu Photonics UK is continuously growing. From humble beginnings with just 6 people, it appointed its 61st member of staff in December.

One of the company’s key capabilities is in LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), using light to measure distance. This has many applications within industry, though most commonly in Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), factories or industrial robotics in warehouses. It can also be used for mapping or scanning to produce an accurate 3D representation of large areas.

Providing real time feedback with high positional accuracy, LiDAR is also a key component of many health and safety systems, for example in construction sites to measure distances between workers and large machines or in remote operation of heavy machinery (anti-collision).

The company produces a wide range of detectors, from photodiodes with a high dynamic range, to Single Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPADs) and SPAD arrays, with high signal to noise ratio due to inherent gain of the order of up to 10⁶. Hamamatsu Photonics also produces Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) which are muti-pixel APD devices operating in Geiger mode to achieve this high level of gain.

These devices are known as Multi Pixel Photon Counters, or MPPCs and they are currently used worldwide for a variety of low light level applications such as automotive, wind LiDAR, factory automation and fundamental research. Hamamatsu’s MPPC technology also has very low crosstalk, low after-pulses and high speed which ensures high measurement accuracy.

The global company has been exploring the possibilities of light since the mid-1950s, when, under the name of Hamamatsu TV Co, it manufactured phototubes that converted light into electrical signals. In 1983, it adopted the name Hamamatsu Photonics and broadened its aim to further develop opto-electronic technology.

Hamamatsu invests over 9% of its annual revenue into R&D. It is a world-leader in the manufacture of optoelectronic components and systems. The company’s corporate philosophy stresses the advancement of photonics through extensive research. Our products provide solutions for a wide variety of applications including analytical, consumer, industrial and medical instrumentation.

Tim Stokes, Managing Director of Hamamatsu Photonics UK, said: “This is a fantastic year as we celebrate our 35^th birthday with 20% growth in our team and the appointment of our 61^st  staff member. We are expanding our capabilities by attracting more highly skilled engineers, enabling us to pursue the possibilities of light in a number of industries.

“The photon is our business, and we are harnessing it for our customers in optical information and processing, health care and medicine, biophotonics and energy. We will continue to forge a path in light research and its varied applications.”

You can find out more about Hamamatsu UK by visiting www.hamamatsu.co.uk.