News

Farnell has introduced a new addition to their ongoing Save the Bees campaign with the launch of the online game, Bee Hero. With a mission to promote environmental awareness and conservation, Farnell aims to educate players about the critical role of bees in our ecosystem through this innovative gaming experience.

The Competition will run until 25th August 2023. The interested players can enter the competition through this link. 

In Bee Hero, players take on the role of a beekeeper and must protect the bees from the harmful effects of smog and climate change. Each week, a new setting will be presented in the form of a platform game, consisting of three levels that must be completed. The goal of the game is to earn as many points as possible. Points can be earned through various means, such as registering for the game, completing levels quickly, collecting flowers, defeating bee enemies, inviting others to play, and answering weekly quizzes. As players progress through the game, they have the opportunity to win prizes, including a Garmin GPS watch, Go Pro Hero, Kindle signature edition, and gift cards.

Players participating in the game contribute to BeeMan’s mission to safeguard the bees and their vital role in ecosystems around the world. This educational adventure not only offers players a chance to win exciting prizes but also empowers them to make a positive impact on the environment.

Aditya Moorthy, Vice President of Global Marketing at Farnell, “Our new Bee Hero game aims to raise awareness about bees’ importance and their impact on our ecosystem. It’s a fun and engaging way to inspire people to take action and do their part in saving these essential pollinators. I can’t wait to jump in and become a Bee Hero. “

Available to anyone visiting the dedicated Farnell websites, Bee Hero offers an immersive platform to learn about bees’ significance and actively participate in their protection.

To learn more about this impactful campaign, visit https://uk.farnell.com/save-the-bees

ABB has signed a framework agreement with Samsung Engineering in Saudi Arabia to collaborate in engineering and procurement activities in the Kingdom. With this agreement, ABB becomes a single-source vendor for gas analyzer system integration for Samsung in Saudi Arabia.

Together, the two companies plan to explore business opportunities and provide complete analytical solutions to the Saudi oil & gas market. Effective measurement of gas quality is key to safety and reliability, decreasing the environmental footprint and increasing profitability of the production process. ABB’s solutions support the most demanding applications.

“ABB is committed to helping customers in the energy transition. Between ABB and Samsung Engineering, we have an impressive portfolio that demonstrates technology expertise and technical capability. With this agreement, we are capable and ready to serve customers in Saudi Arabia,” said Javier Suárez Díez, Global System Integration Manager at ABB.

ABB’s analytical systems portfolio includes direct-read continuous gas analyzers, online gas analyzers using laser analytical techniques, rapid response process gas chromatographs and more. In addition to analytical systems, ABB provides gas analyzer system integration with fully customized analytical systems and solutions – from initial engineering through fabrication, testing, field start-up, and support.

ABB’s 10,000 square meter world-class integration facility for analytical systems, which the company is building in Dammam, will support the collaboration. The factory is expected to become a leader in the production of analytical systems in the region.

ABB and Samsung Engineering have worked together on several occasions, including on the Aramco Jafurah phase 1 project. With this agreement, they are ready to serve customers in Saudi Arabia.

element14, an Avnet Community, along with NI recently launched an educational program, “A Beginner’s Course in LabVIEW and Test Automation.” This comprehensive course aims to equip element14 Community members with valuable skills in LabVIEW programming and automated testing, enabling them to build cutting-edge projects and compete for exciting prizes.

As a leading electronics community, element14 is dedicated to empowering its members with the latest knowledge and tools. The journey of an engineer extends beyond the realm of innovation and design, with the process of validating, verifying, debugging, and testing new products equally crucial. Therefore, this program seeks to introduce community members to the world of automated testing, an essential skill for engineers involved in new product development.

LabVIEW is a widely used graphical programming environment that facilitates the development of automated research, validation, and production test systems. By enrolling in the program participants will gain a deep understanding of LabVIEW and have the opportunity to create their own LabVIEW automated test projects.

“We are thrilled to team up with NI and introduce this valuable educational initiative to our community members,” said Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community and Social Media for element14. “LabVIEW and test automation are indispensable skills for modern engineers, and we believe this course will significantly benefit our members in their professional pursuits.”

Open to all element14 Community members, the program provides a user-friendly learning experience. To qualify for the prizes, participants need to engage in the course material, which includes reading lessons, completing quizzes, and successfully executing the final test automation project using the LabVIEW Community Edition.

Applications for the program are now open and will be accepted until September 8. On September 15, the chosen participants will be announced, marking the commencement of the challenge. Quizzes must be completed by October 5, and project blogs are due by October 21. Winners of the program will be unveiled in November 2023.

The grand prize winner will receive the LabVIEW Base Edition Software and the Multicomp Pro MP720011 US Digital Oscilloscope. Additionally, the runner-up will be awarded the LabVIEW Base Edition Software and the Multicomp Pro MP730424 EU-UK Digital Multimeter Bench. All challengers will receive a finisher prize, the Multicomp Pro’s MP700393 4PCE ESD Electronics Cutter Kit.

To learn more about the program, A Beginner’s Course in LabVIEW and Test Automation, and sign up before September 8, please visit the element14 Community.

Pickering Interfaces, the leading provider of modular signal switching & simulation products for electronic test & verification, will showcase its new 40/42-890 family of modular, flexible microwave switches, bringing highly configurable switching solutions up to 110GHz to the PXI platform, on booth #204 at IEEE AUTOTESTCON 2023, at The Gaylord National Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, USA from August 28-31, 2023.

AUTOTESTCON is the world’s premier meeting place for government & defense procurers and users and the military & aerospace automated test sector to come together to share new technologies and discuss innovative applications in conference sessions, as well as exhibit products and services. Sponsored annually by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers), AUTOTESTCON is dedicated to increasing system availability through advanced test technology.

Ideal for test environments requiring high frequency microwave switching, from radar and communications to consumer electronics and 5G infrastructure, the new 40/42-890 microwave switch family provides highly configurable switching solutions up to 110GHz via the PXI platform, delivering flexibility, versatility, and test system optimization. “This new family available in both PXI & PXIe allows RF test engineers to select from and combine a wide range of high performance microwave relay types to suit their exact application requirements while minimizing chassis slot usage by combining multiple relay and connector types on a single module,” said Steve Edwards, Switching Product Manager at Pickering.

In addition to the new PXI flexible microwave switching family, Pickering will also highlight the following signal switching and sensor simulation technologies for electronic test & verification on booth #204 at AUTOTESTCON 2023, in Maryland, USA, from August 28-31:

• The first modules in a new MEMS-based RF PXI & PXIe multiplexer family
• Flexible LXI microwave switch platform and turnkey services for signal routing subsystems – including a custom 12×12 LXI microwave switching matrix demo
• New Microwave Switch Design Tool – a free online tool for configuring flexible PXI or LXI microwave switch products
• Also on show will be a selection from Pickering’s broad portfolio of signal switching and simulation, including thermocouple, LVDT/RVDT/resolver and analog output simulators. along with their PXI, PXIe & LXI/USB modular chassis, and cables & connectors

Pickering Interfaces stands behind its manufactured products with a standard three-year warranty* and guaranteed long-term product support. Pricing and availability information is supplied on its website at: www.pickeringtest.com

Farnell has been honoured with the prestigious ‘2022 European e-Catalogue Distributor of the Year’ award by Molex. The award recognises Farnell’s exceptional efforts and commitment in expanding the Molex product line and their outstanding marketing and supplier relationships within the industry.

The annual Molex European Distributor of the Year Awards pay tribute to the regional successes of the company’s valued distribution partners. The awards programme recognises distributors whose efforts have contributed to advancing Molex’s business across Europe. 

This year’s award ceremony was held in the United Kingdom on June 27, 2023. Representatives from Farnell, including Simon Meadmore, Vice President Product and Supplier Management at Farnell Global, Andy Waller, Product Segment Lead at Farnell Global, Andreea Teodorescu, Director Global Supplier Marketing at Farnell Global, and Rob Rospedzihowski, President Sales EMEA at Farnell Global, were in attendance.           

“We are delighted to receive this prestigious award from Molex in recognition of our growth supported by our product investment strategy and digital marketing efforts,” said Simon Meadmore, Vice President, Product and Supplier Management at Farnell. “This is a great team effort across the Molex and Farnell EMEA organisations.”

Paul Keenan, Sales Director for Europe Distribution at Molex said: “Molex values the collaborations it has established with its distributors, which also serve as the foundation for these awards. Farnell and Molex share a strong relationship, based on our joint dedication to excellence and innovation, collaborating closely to ensure that our mutual customers receive outstanding service and products. We are delighted to recognise Farnell with this award.”

The award ceremony provided an opportunity for Farnell and Molex to communicate their future vision and foster collaboration toward achieving profitable growth.

Farnell provides design engineers with access to over 33,000 Molex products in stock and ready for shipment. To learn more, visit https://uk.farnell.com/b/molex

At the end of May 2023, the students of the ThaiGerRacing team drove away from all the others: During the ShellEco-marathon in Nogaro/France, they won the European champion title in the hydrogen racing league – for the fifth time in a row.

A success the team can be particularly proud of, as Andreas Sklarow, the team’s scientific supervisor, points out: “After we invested many hours in improving the car once again, this title is a special reward for the students. After the summer break, we will be motivated again for the next season.”

The Shell Eco-marathon is an engineering competition for students focusing on energy optimisation. Since the first edition, launched 35 years ago, teams of students worldwide have been competing with self-developed in various disciplines such as hydrogen or electric cars.

Panasonic Industry is pleased to support the racing team with, among other things, a pressure sensor for the hydrogen pressure reducer. The DP100 sensor ensures that the hydrogen is always available at the right pressure in this important component.

In addition to success on the racetrack, the ThaiGer team is also concerned with making hydrogen technology suitable for everyday use. To this end, the students also presented a prototype for a hydrogen city car in France, which was rated very positively by the jury present.

“We are thrilled to be able to support such an innovative team in an important mobility topic,” comments Christian Oblinger, Sales Manager Automation Products Germany, on the European Championship title. “Hopefully next year we can celebrate the 6th title to which one of our sensors has contributed.”

Benefiting from a uniquely stable production environment – Optical Surfaces Ltd is recognised as one of the world’s finest manufacturers of solid and air spaced etalons.

Etalons are widely used in telecommunications, lasers, and spectroscopy to control and measure the wavelengths of light. Recent advances in fabrication techniques, developed by Optical Surfaces Ltd, has enabled the creation of a new generation of very precise tuneable Fabry–Pérot interferometers.

Dr Aris Kouris, sales director said “Working deep inside a chalk cliff, where temperature variation is negligible all year around, our skilled optical craftsmen can routinely create etalon pairs with ultra-low microroughness and surface accuracies that are better than lambda/300 peak to valley. As a result, we are the preferred supplier of matched etalon pairs to a growing group of discerning customers including a leading manufacturer of ultra-high resolution tuneable Fabry Perot interferometers”.

He added “Available in a range of shapes our etalons are designed for use at customer-defined wavelengths within the range 190 nanometres to about 2 microns. They are supplied with wedge angles of 5 minutes of arc for smaller diameters, rising in steps to a wedge angle of 40 minutes of arc for diameters from 70 – 170mm. Optical Surfaces etalons are available as standard in materials including UV grade Silica, Silicon and Germanium.For further information on ultra-high precision etalons for use in applications in interferometry, lasers and high-resolution spectroscopy please visit www.optisurf.com/index.php/products/etalons/ or contact Optical Surfaces Ltd. on +44-208-668-6126 / sales@optisurf.com.

Wireless remote monitoring technology provides the most convenient and cost-effective method for plant and asset managers to monitor and manage all important system data across their sites, particularly over large areas. However, wireless system performance is often limited by the power availability and many site managers are unsure how to select a system that runs efficiently with limited power supply and still transmits all key data. Here Ian Loudon, international sales manager at wireless telemetry specialist Omniflex, explores the key power supply considerations for wireless systems and how to select the right system for the job.

Wireless telemetry systems are essential for monitoring and control applications in various key industrial sectors, including mining, utilities, petrochemical, nuclear and oil and gas. In many of these applications, laying cables for a traditional wired network is not feasible because of strict regulations and planning permissions required. Furthermore, the cost of cabling can often be prohibitive.

Therefore, in many cases, wireless telemetry systems represent the only way to retrieve and manage critical data from the field safely and efficiently.

Power considerations

Generally, the further you want to send your data, the more power you need to do it. For license-free radio, which operates at 868 MHz in the UK and South Africa and 900 MHz in Australia, installations generally need to be under 500 mW. However, license band radio systems, which are more expensive to operate due to ongoing licensing costs, operate effectively at up to 25 W. Therefore, high power installations are better suited to using license band radio.

Power can impact system availability and, therefore, is normally a high priority in terms of systems specification. Often, wireless systems are deployed in remote areas without access to mains power, so alternative supplies must be explored. This adds another layer of complexity for site managers unsure of what they need to get systems up and running.

In the age of Industry 4.0 and the widespread deployment of remote installations, it is often assumed that battery-powered systems will more than suffice as many modern battery systems can stay up and running for five years or more. However, this can get costly in terms of battery replacements if implemented on a site with 100 units or more. In fact, many applications often use in excess of 1,000 wireless units across a large area.

Replacing 1,000 industrial batteries in one go would represent a significant outlay, so it is important that site managers relying on battery-powered systems plan ahead and devise a maintenance plan to replace them on time, before the system degrades.

Using solar-powered units generally allows site managers to side step the issue of costly battery replacements, improving cost efficiency and lessening maintenance requirements. However, these units are only effective in areas with sufficient sunlight to keep the unit powered up and operational.

This is why it is important to engage a reliable wireless partner who can assess the system requirements and operational restrictions, recommending the most suitable and cost-effective system for the job.

A knowledgeable wireless partner

Omniflex’s wireless telemetry modules allow users to configure inputs as either  analogue or digital inputs and outputs depending on the application requirements. Engineers can integrate them with SCADA systems to achieve secure wireless links on different license-free bands. The modules also offer various power options, such as mains or DC powered, with battery backup or solar powered, so no matter where in the plant needs monitoring wirelessly, the modules can be deployed to perform the job.

Omniflex’s Teleterm M3 module is a mains-powered RTU, featuring an on-board 100Mb Ethernet and RS232/485 ports, enabling communications with a variety of devices using most network options, including GSM, radio, ethernet, Modbus, 3G, satellite and Conet. Furthermore, it comes equipped with twelve digital or analogue configurable I/O, which enables full environmental monitoring covering parameters like temperature, pressure, humidity and water levels etc. It is also fitted with an onboard SD card for data logging, which is ideal for data auditing purposes, especially for post-event analysis.

The Teleterm D3 comes with built-in lithium batteries, so provides battery back-up in the event of mains power failure. It has eight digital or analogue configurable I/O and can communicate using Ethernet, Modbus, radio, satellite and 3G options. It also has a built-in LCD display, allowing you to view data locally.

The Teleterm S3 is solar powered, making it well-suited for remote area applications where power is an issue and you want to collect data and send it back to a central control station. The S3 comes equipped with five digital or analogue configurable I/O and can communicate using Modbus RS232/485, radio, satellite and 3G options. While it has less available I/O than the M3 or D3, this is normally more than enough as these units will often be connected to a single sensor, meaning only one I/O is actually required. Having less I/O available makes the unit more power efficient, which is important for a solar-powered installation.

All three of the Teleterm units feature full IEC61131 programming as an option allowing local control functions or remote control via any of the communications ports.

To find out more about Omniflex’s wireless telemetry offering, visit the company’s website and download its wireless industry overview for free.

Emerson has announced a definitive agreement to acquire FLEXIM Flexible Industriemeßtechnik GmbH (“Flexim”), a global leader in clamp-on ultrasonic flow measurement for liquids, gases and steam.

Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, Flexim brings highly differentiated, complementary technology and strong customer relationships to Emerson, with an installed base of more than 100,000 flowmeters, as well as approximately 450 employees. Flexim provides highly accurate, low-maintenance clamp-on ultrasonic flow measurement technology for a broad range of attractive end markets, including chemical, water and wastewater, life sciences, food and beverage, and power generation. The transaction will expand Emerson’s automation portfolio and measurement capabilities, complementing its existing flow measurement positions in Coriolis, differential pressure, magmeter and vortex flow measurement. Underpinned by favourable end market growth and technology leadership, the global ultrasonic clamp-on flowmeter market is expected to grow in the high single digits annually longer-term. Upon the close of the transaction, Flexim’s Berlin headquarters is planned to become Emerson’s Ultrasonic Flow Measurement Centre of Excellence.

“We are excited to further enhance Emerson’s capabilities with the addition of Flexim’s leading clamp-on ultrasonic measurement technology, which is a strong complement to our intelligent devices portfolio,” said Ram Krishnan, chief operating officer of Emerson. “Flexim brings an exciting new technology that will enable us to accelerate growth. The combination of Emerson’s comprehensive measurement suite and Flexim’s innovative technology will enhance the value we bring to customers across a variety of industries. We look forward to welcoming Flexim’s skilled and dedicated employees to Emerson, where they will continue to play a critical role in driving the success of the business.”

“We are thrilled to be joining Emerson, which shares our culture of innovation and focus on technology and R&D,” said Jens Helpert, chief executive officer and co-founder of Flexim. “This transaction will enable us to provide more comprehensive solutions to a broader set of customers, leveraging Emerson’s global intelligent devices leadership and commercial excellence. As we join forces with Emerson, we will continue to serve our customers and utilise our combined capabilities to solve essential measurement needs.”

The transaction is expected to close by the end of Emerson’s fiscal 2023, subject to customary closing conditions. Flexim is expected to be accretive to Emerson’s sales growth, gross margins and adjusted EBITA margins. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Flexim will be reported in Emerson’s Measurement and Analytical segment.

For the transaction, Evercore is serving as financial advisor and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is serving as legal advisor.