IEN Europe November 2025

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Automation & Software: From Code to Context: How Spatial AI is Powering the Next Leap in Manufacturing

Electronics & Electricity: Custom Beats Standard. Design of effective thermal management solutions.

Special sps: Fighting the Weeds With Ease. Lubrication-free linear technology for an agricultural robot.

Motion

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POSTMASTER

Send address changes to: Industrial Engineering News Europe

Marco Prinari - m.prinari@tim-europe.com

The automation community is looking forward to the last highlight of the year with SPS 'Smart Production Solutions'. From 25 to 27 November, over 1,100 exhibitors will be showcasing their latest innovations across 15 halls in Nuremberg, Germany. Once again, artificial intelligence will be a key topic. This is evident not only from advance announcements sent out by exhibitors ahead of the fair, but also when you look at presentations scheduled on various stages by trade and industry associations. As always, we will be at the fair to check out the latest trends and developments, and we will report on the news and trends from Nuremberg in the December WebMag issue. And, of course, we also take a look at what the exhibitors will bring to the fair in our special starting on page 20.

Software and artificial intelligence also play a role in this issue. On the one hand, we present a new platform solution for the simplest possible, standards-compliant protection of OT networks, and on page 10, we have an article on the topic of spatial AI. The approach is intended to simplify industrial practice and at the same time bring another trending topic back into focus, one that has become quieter again recently: the industrial use of augmented/virtual reality and the corresponding hardware.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue.

KayPetermann

New Products

Motors & Drives: What to Look for in Your Motion Control Feedback Device

Automation & Software: From Code to Context: How Spatial AI is Powering the Next Leap in Manufacturing Beyond the data-driven efficiencies of Industry 4.0, a new paradigm is emerging for manufacturers across every industry: Industry 5.0. This next evolution emphasizes a human-centric, resilient, and sustainable approach, calling for a more symbiotic relationship between human workers and intelligent machines.

Automation & Software: Zero Trust Security Platform for Industrial Networks

Processing & Control News Europe Supplement:

Safety Without Blind Spots.

To meet challenges of growing complexity in plants, demographic shifts in the workforce, and increasingly stringent regulatory requirements TÜV SÜD has developed iaHAZOP, that builds on established risk assessment methods and extends them into the digital domain. New Products Electronics & Electricity: Custom Beats

Vaisala Launches New Probe Service

Vaisala has launched a new, innovative instrumentation service called 'Vaisala Circular'. Developed for applications where measurement accuracy and uptime are critically important, Vaisala Circular is a comprehensive service platform designed to ensure that measurements are as accurate, uninterrupted and reliable as possible, in the long-term. Under Vaisala Circular, customers have a dedicated pool of measurement probes, securely stored and maintained at Vaisala’s service centers. When calibration is necessary, customers simply order replacement probes from Vaisala online and swap them in - thereby minimizing measurement downtime. Batches of used probes then circle back to Vaisala for recalibration, storage and re-use. These refurbished probes retain warranty for the full term of the Circular agreement. By assuming responsibility for probe management, Vaisala Circular delivers long-term peace of mind to customers, providing reliable, accurate measurements and enabling process optimization and waste reduction to improve sustainability. The range of measurement parameters included in the Circular service is the widest currently offered in its market and includes humidity, dew point, temperature, carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide.

Bosch Rexroth and Advantech Partnership on ctrlX OS OEM

AMA Innovation Award 2026: Submit Your Application

The aim of the collaboration is to significantly simplify the development and adaptation of edge solutions. A software base will gradually be established on Advantech’s growing hardware portfolio, allowing the flexible implementation of a wide variety of industrial requirements. Initially, the UNO-series edge IPCs will be shipped from the factory with the Linuxbased ctrlX OS and pre-installed apps from the ctrlX OS Store. The app modules and hardware modules allow customers to configure IoT gateways quickly and easily. While Advantech hardware offers needs-based scaling of key resources such as memory and storage, the open software approach of ctrlX OS opens up an equally modular world of functions. Organizations can use standardized hardware and tailor it to their specific use case using software – from simple IoT gateways to sophisticated edge AI or edge control applications. "Our partnership with Advantech is a prime example of co-creation in industrial digitalization," explains Steffen Winkler, Senior Vice President Sales, Business Unit Automation & Electrification Solutions at Bosch Rexroth. "ctrlX OS brings software innovations directly into the product world of the global IPC manufacturer. Together, we create new opportunities for partners and customers."

The AMA Association for Sensor and Measurement Technology (AMA) is calling on scientists and developers from industry and research to apply for the prestigious AMA Innovation Award 2026. The association is looking for groundbreaking research and development results in sensor and measurement technology with clear market relevance. The deadline for submissions is January 22, 2026. Individuals and development teams whose solutions demonstrate innovation and economic relevance are eligible to apply. The award is endowed with 10,000 euros. In addition, young companies that have been on the market for no longer than five years, employ fewer than 50 people, and have an annual turnover of no more than 10 million euros can win the special “Young Company” award. The winner will receive a free exhibition stand at SENSOR+TEST 2026. “We invite you to submit your forward-looking ideas in the field of sensor and measurement technology and present them to an international audience of experts at SENSOR+TEST 2026,” says Klaus Drese from Coburg University, chairman of the jury. "Whether you represent an established company or a startup, we look forward to your innovations and contributions that reflect the dynamism of our industry."

The CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA) will mark its 25th anniversary at SPS 2025 in Nuremberg from November 25 - 27.

Founded in 2000 with the goal of promoting open networking technologies for industrial automation, the CLPA has grown into a global force for innovation in the field. Over the past 25 years, the organisation has played a key role in shaping the way machines, systems, and people connect on the shop floor. From launching the first gigabit-capable industrial Ethernet in 2007 to pioneering Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) integration with CC-Link IE TSN in 2018, the CLPA has consistently led the way in helping manufacturers adopt more connected, efficient, and future-ready operations. Today, the CLPA counts over 400 of the world’s key industrial automation device vendors as partners, leading to a product ecosystem spanning over 3,300 certified devices. This has led to a global installed base of more than 43 million devices. Its technologies are trusted by OEMs, system integrators, and end-users across sectors such as automotive, electronics, packaging, and food & beverage. To celebrate this milestone, the CLPA’s stand at SPS 2025 will feature real-world demonstrations that showcase the tangible benefits of CC-Link IE TSN.

Picture: AMA/Bischof& Broel

IO-LINKSAFETYMASTER

FordecentralisedcommunicationintheIO-LinkSafety

TheIO-LinkSafetyMasterfromPPilz extendsthefunctionsofaconventionalIO-LinkMasterbyaddingthe optionforsafecommunicationfor functionalsafety.FourIO-LinkSafety Ports(ClassA)areavailable,plusan additionalfourports,eachwithtwo configurablesafedigitalin-oroutputs.Sensorsandactuators"share" thesameconnection,asneeded.Asa result,userscanmaketheirdesignmoreflexible,andalsoexpand it.Asadecentralisedinterfacetothehigher-levelsafetycontroller, theIO-LinkSafetyMasterPDP67canprocessIO-LinkSafetyand failsafesignals,aswellasIO-Linkandstandardsignals.Also,classicsafetysensors-withOSSDoutputsforexample-orevenactuatorscanbeconnectedatfieldlevel.Thecablingworkisreduced thankstoplug-and-playviastandardisedM12plug-inconnections. Theapplicationcanbeeasilyconfiguredandcommissionedviathe integratedwebserver,throughwhicherrorscanalsobediagnosed morequickly.ThankstoitsrobustprotectiontypeIP67orIP69,the IOLinkSafetyMasterPDP67canbeuseddirectlyonthemachine and/orinparticularlyruggedenvironments-upto5000metres abovesealevelandattemperaturesfrom-30°Cto+70°C.This meansitprovidesreliablesafetyinindustrialoroutdoorenvironments,indirt,fogorsimilarconditions.

HYDRAULICAXIALPISTONPUMPS

Forquitoperationandenhancedhigh-speedperformance Moog announcedthelaunchof theAXPAxialPistonPump Series.Theseriesintroducesa patentedslipper-less,15-pistonfloatingconfigurationthat combinesthestrengthsof internalgearandpistonpump technologies.Theresultisa compact,high-speedpump thatoperateswithlownoise andexceptionalresistancetocavitationandcontamination, makingitidealfordemandingenvironmentssuchasinjection molding,metalforming,andendurancetesting. Theserieshasa versatileoperatingrangethatsupportspressureholdingatzero speedanddynamicperformanceathighspeedandsoenable energysavingsandmotordownsizing.The15-pistonfloating designandsound-optimizedcasereducepulsationandnoise, enhancingworkplacecomfortandmotionprecision.Withthe compactdesignandhighpowerdensitythepumpsallowfor smallersystemfootprintsandeasyflowscalabilityandthedesign deliverslong-termvaluebyoptimizingequipmentperformance whilesupportingcost-conscioussystemdesign.TheAXPpumpis well-suitedforawiderangeofapplications,includingconstruction machinery,materialhandling,injectionmolding,diecasting,metal formingandgeneralindustrialmachinery.  66199atwww.ien.eu

OPTICALPRECISIONMICROMETER

Fordimensionalinspectionevenwithstrongvibrations Vibratingtargetsposeaparticular challengeinopticalmeasurement technology:Duetotheconstant movement,thepositionofthe targetchangesduringdetection, whichcancauseunclearorincorrectresults.Thelasercanbe blurredbythemovementordeflectedfromthetarget,causingthe returnsignaltobelesspreciseortofail.Theopticalprecision micrometersoftheoptoCONTROL2700seriesfrom Micro-Epsilon arespeciallydesignedforsuchdynamicmeasurementtasks.With asamplingrateof15kHzandanextremelyshortexposuretimeof just8.5µs,theydetectevenvibratingorfast-movingobjectsreliablyandwithhighaccuracy. Thereceiver'simagematrixcaptures theexactalignmentandthereforetheangleoftheobjectinthe lightbeamviatheprimarylineandsecondaryline.Theinternal controllerautomaticallyadjuststhemeasuredvaluetotheinclinationofthetarget.Asaresult,theexactmeasuredvalueis outputandnomeasurementerrorsoccur.Theinclinationcorrection appliesovertheentiremeasuringrateandcanbeusedinthe measuringprogramsforouterdiameter,webedgeandcontour measurement.Thesystemisavailableinmeasuringrangesof10 mmand40mm.Aparticularhighlightisthecontrollerintegrated inthereceiver,whichreducesthecablingandinstallationeffortas noexternalcontrolunitisrequired.

66185atwww.ien.eu

SLEEVENUTSCONFIGURATOR

Asmartsolutionfortailoredlinkingtechnology

Standardlinkingelements oftenreachtheirlimitsinmodernengineering,forexample whenspecialgeometries,exact distancesorspecificmaterials arerequired.Thisisprecisely where m mbo Osswald'snew sleevenutsconfiguratorcomes in.Designerscannowconfiguresleevenutsonlineincustomdimensionsandvariations quickly,easilyandwithmillimeterprecision-allwithoutlengthy inquiriesorcomplexcoordination. Theuserguidanceintheconfiguratorisintuitiveandefficient:geometry,threads,headand materialvariants,surfaces-allparametersarecheckedliveinthe toolandvalidatedformanufacturability.Youimmediatelyreceive informationonpriceanddeliverytime.Particularlypractical:while enteringdatathesystemvisualizesyourcomponentselectionasa technicaldrawingandaninteractive3Dmodel-soyoucanseeat aglancehowyoursleevenutwilllooklaterandcandownload detailsdirectly. FormboOsswald,trueindividualityalsomeans: yourorderisproducedasapriorityfromaquantityofone-and,on request,alsoforlargeseries.Thissavestime,minimizessourcesof error,andmakesiteasiertointegratecustomlinkingelements evenintosmallbatchsizes.

66184atwww.ien.eu

MAINTENANCE-FREEDCUPSSERIES

Fullyencapsulatedsupercapacitorunitsforindustrialuse FEAS GmbH isexpandingits SSE30DCUPSserieswiththe additionofthe60VSSE6030 model,offeringacomprehensivesupercapacitorsolutionfor industrial24V,48Vand60V systemsforthefirsttime.The newmoduleenablesuninterruptiblepowersupplyindemandingapplications, fromautomationtotelecommunicationsinfrastructures.Thecoreinnovationisthecompleteeliminationofbatteries.Thesupercapacitortechnologyensuresabsolute maintenance-freeoperationinextremeenvironmentalconditions (-30°Cto+55°C)andhighpowerdensityinacompactdesign.The SSE6030stores24.1Wh(86.2kJ)andtypicallyoffers158seconds ofbuffertimeat4Acurrentdraw,whichissufficientforcontrolled shutdownsoremergencypowerswitching.Thankstoitsaluminium housingandfullencapsulation,theSSEseriesoffersahighdegree ofprotectionagainstenvironmentalinfluencessuchasmoisture, vibrations,etc.,makingitidealforharshindustrialenvironments. Theparallelswitchabilityofmultiplemodulesalsoallowsforscalablesolutions.Thesystemiseconomicallyattractivethanksto reducedlifecyclecosts-withoutbatteryreplacementormaintenanceintervals.

66126atwww.ien.eu

IPCSFORAI-ENABLEDAUTOMATION

Processorswithoptimizedcooling&pre-loadedsoftware

Emerson announcedthePACSystems™IPC 6010,IPC7010,andIPC8010industrialcomputingplatforms.Thisnewlineexpandsthe familyofhigh-performanceindustrialpersonal computer(IPC)modelsfordemandingapplications,includingartificialintelligence,machine learningandadvancedanalytics.PACSystems IPCsfeaturethefirstCPUinthelatestgenerationofprocessorsdesignedspecificallytosupportAI-enabledcapabilitiessuchaspredictive maintenance,processoptimization,qualityinspection,decisionsupport,supplychainmanagementandmore. ThenewlineofIPCsusethelatestgenerationofsolderedindustrial-rated13thGenerationIntel®Core™Processorswithupto64 GBsolderedECCmemory,formaximumresistanceagainstshock andvibration.Theircompactformfactoremploysfan-lesscooling foranextendedoperatingtemperaturerangeupto70°C,with thermalmonitoringandanoptionalfanavailableforhigh-temperatureenvironments.Availablepre-installed,pre-licensedoperating systemswithedgeandvisualizationsoftwarehelptosimplifydeploymentofcommonconfigurationswhilealsoallowingusersto fullycustomizetheirsystems.Operatingsystemoptionsinclude WindowsIoTEnterpriseLTSC2021,PACEdge,andLinux.Software optionsincludePACEdge,MoviconConnext™,andMoviconWebHMI.Alternatively,userscanloadtheirownOSorsoftware.

SWITCHINGLASERSCANNER

Forpreciseobjectdetectionandcollisionprotection Leuze presentthenewROD100 series,roundingofftheirlaser scannerportfoliowithLiDARtechnology.Theswitchingsensorsreliablydetectoneormoreobjects. TheROD100serieslaserscanners standoutfortheirscanningfrequencyof80Hzatanangularresolutionof0.2°.Thisallowshigh traverseandtransportspeeds,forexampleinfast-movingAGVs. Thehighswitchingfrequencyalsoensurespreciseandreliable objectdetectiononconveyorlines.Withtheirthreeindependent outputs,thelaserscannersenablemultiplepresencechecksatthe sametime.UserscanadjusttheROD100series'detectionranges via16switchableconfigurationsandthusadaptthemtodifferent objectsizes,forexample.Alldirectionsoftravelcanbemapped andmonitoredonautomatedguidedvehicles(AGVs)withtheROD 100series'devices.Thisallowsthesystemtobeusedincomplex anddynamicenvironments.TheROD100series'laserscanners continuouslymonitortheirviewingwindowtodetectsoilingearly. Ifadefinedthresholdvalueisexceeded,amaintenancemessageis automaticallysent.Thistypeofpredictivemaintenancecontributes tohighsystemavailability. AlldevicesintheRODseriesaredesignedtoberobustthankstotheirprotectionclassIP67,resistant housingandwidetemperaturetolerance.Theyalwaysworkreliably evenindemandingenvironmentsfrom-30°Cto+60°C.

66196atwww.ien.eu

HIGHVOLTAGETRANSDUCER

Functionallysafemeasurementinindustrialapplications Whether it's electromobility or energy storage, the ability to measure high direct current voltages safely and connect to safety-oriented controllers is in demand. K Knick has developed the P45000 high-voltage transducer for this purpose. It can be usedinavarietyofindustrialapplications,includingtestbench setupsforbatteryandelectricvehiclestoragesystems,andhydrogenproductionprocesses.Thetransducerprovidesa4...20mA outputforconnectiontoindustrialcontrolsystems. Thecompact androbustP45000canwithstandhighapplicationtemperatures andvibrations,makingitidealforuseinharshoperatingenvironments.Asafunctionallysafehigh-voltagetransducer,itiscertified foruseinSIL2systemsand,redundantly,inSIL3systems.This enablesittodetectdangerouslyhighvoltagesandensurethesafe shutdownofsystemsintheeventofafault.Designedformeasuringhighdirectcurrentvoltagesofupto3,900VDCandACvoltagesofupto4,500VACpeak,thetransducerhasatypetest voltageofupto20kVAC.Itoffersprotectionuptoaratedinsulationvoltageof4,800VAC/DC. Thankstoitsinnovativedesign, theP45000seriescanbeinstalledhorizontally,verticallyorina stackedconfiguration,andcanalsobearrangedon35mmDIN railstosavespace.

8 motors & drives

What to Look for in Your Motion Control Feedback Device

When it comes to the world of motion control, it’s easy to take your feedback device for granted. After all, it’s a small part of the system and is typically tucked inside the motor housing, out of sight and out of mind. However, the impact this seemingly minor component has on a system’s accuracy, performance, reliability, and ease of integration is hard to overstate.

Today’s servo systems depend on accurate, consistent feedback to maintain position, control speed, and execute complex motion profiles. But not all feedback devices you can specify are created equal. Traditional encoders or resolvers still do the job in many applications, but application requirements increasingly need devices that go beyond the basics. Design engineers also want faster integration and less testing time. Modernizing your feedback device can mean reducing wiring, simplifying setup, or eliminating longstanding compromises on resolution, accuracy, and smoothness of motion.

Whether you’re specifying a new servo system or looking to simplify an existing design, it’s worth asking: what do you need your feedback device to do, and what’s now possible?

What are you really looking for?

At the most basic level, your feedback device needs to deliver the resolution and accuracy required to drive the motion loop effectively. Too little, and you’ll see ripples in motion, jitter in position holds, vibration in the machine, or just plain inaccurate positioning. Too much, and you might be paying for more capability than needed. Mechanics connecting to a motor shaft can only so accurately connect to the part of the machine doing the work which is where the motion really matters.

But modern feedback devices also bring in another category of features that extend beyond the basic specs and simplify the machine as a whole. This is where many of today’s biggest gains are being made.

Whether you approach feedback at the component level or the system level, the key is to pick devices that reduce the number of compromises your machine has to make.

They include:

Simple cabling: Servo systems used to rely on dedicated feedback cables, sometimes requiring 13 or more wires just for feedback. That meant bigger cabinets, more connectors, tighter bends through cable trays, and more hands-on work during installation.

Modern single-cable feedback systems simplify all of that. By taking the motor power cable and just adding two wires for feedback data to fit everything into a single cable, they reduce effort and cut install time. Single-cable can make a major difference on compact machines where space is tight and reduce machine build time

Built-in motor ID: Many modern feedback devices now include onboard memory that stores the motor’s ID, specs, and even tuning parameters. When connected to a compatible drive, the system can automatically recognize what it’s working with.

That means setup becomes faster, more consistent, and less prone to human error. In systems where motors are easy to mix up – say, a highspeed and low-speed variant sharing identical housing – this auto-recognition helps prevent costly mismatches. It also supports smoother global deployment, especially when machines are shipped across regions with different voltage standards.

Thermal monitoring: Temperature sensors are vital for protecting motors, but traditionally they’ve required their own wiring back to the drive. With smarter feedback systems, temperature data can now be sent over the same digital link used for position data.

This combination streamlines wiring even further and makes it easier to monitor winding temperatures in real time. The result is better protection against overheating, more consistent

performance, and fewer points of failure. Functional safety support: In applications where people work close to moving machinery, safety is vital. Some modern feedback devices now support functional safety features directly through the encoder.

These certified encoders allow safety systems to reliably monitor motor position and intervene if motion goes outside expected bounds. Integrating safety at the feedback level reduces the need for extra sensors or relays, simplifies system design, and helps meet compliance requirements without overcomplicating the machine.

The new standard

One feature that’s quickly becoming an expectation rather than a simple nice-to-have is multiturn absolute feedback. This allows a system to know not just the shaft angle within a single revolution, but how many full turns have occurred, even when the system is powered off. Without multiturn tracking, the system has no idea where it is on that axis after a power cycle. The common workaround is a homing routine: the machine slowly moves to a reference point and resets itself. While this works, it’s inefficient and vulnerable to mechanical faults. Multiturn absolute feedback lets machines skip the homing process entirely. Power up, and they’re ready to go. That means shorter startup times, fewer moving parts (no home

switches), and fewer chances for something to go wrong.

There are several ways to achieve this. Some devices use small internal gearboxes to track turns, but this adds cost, complexity, and physical length to the encoder. These gears also limit usable multiturn range, usually to 12 bits. Other feedback devices use battery backups, which are compact and straightforward, but can potentially create maintenance issues down the line and reliability issues with unscheduled battery failures.

Energy-harvesting feedback devices offer a modern alternative to both. These generate just enough power from shaft rotation to store turn counts in non-volatile memory. The result is a compact, battery-free, maintenancefree solution that fits into the same footprint as a basic encoder.

Choosing the right feedback device for the job

So, how do you decide what to specify?

For most applications, a modern digital feedback device with multiturn absolute capability via energy harvesting, single-cable support, provides motor thermal data, and has motor catalog data is a safe and future-ready choice. Devices like Kollmorgen’s SFD-M are designed to meet the demands of general-purpose motion systems, delivering high performance, low cost, and reduced system complexity.

And if you’re building systems at scale, it’s worth thinking in terms of pre-matched components, such as those supplied by Kollmorgen. Drives, motors, and feedback devices that are designed to work together out of the box reduce integration complexity and speed up development.

Whether you approach feedback at the component level or the system level, the key is to pick devices that reduce the number of compromises your machine has to make.

It’s time to expect more

Feedback devices used to be simple. You picked a motor and got the feedback device it came with. You wired it up and tested whether the included feedback had the resolution and performance you needed. But today’s systems demand more – and deliver more in return. Features like single-cable installation, energy-harvesting multi-turn feedback, plugand-play configuration, and built-in safety and diagnostics are fast becoming standard in well-designed motion platforms.

You’re not just choosing a sensor, you’re choosing a system that needs to work, reliably and efficiently, every day. That’s why it makes sense to look beyond the component spec sheet and consider how the feedback device supports the system as a whole.

66180 at www.ien.eu

65749 at www.ien.eu

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10 automation & software

From Code to Context: How Spatial AI is Powering the Next Leap in Manufacturing

Beyond the data-driven efficiencies of Industry 4.0, a new paradigm is emerging for manufacturers across every industry: Industry 5.0. This next evolution emphasizes a human-centric, resilient, and sustainable approach, calling for a more symbiotic relationship between human workers and intelligent machines.

The goal is to leverage the precision and tireless nature of automation while keeping human ingenuity, judgment, and creativity at the core of the operation. This vision promises greater flexibility, higher quality, and improved safety, yet a massive, persistent hurdle stands in the way, particularly for small to mid-sized manufacturers: the high cost and debilitating complexity of industrial robotics.

For decades, deploying and reprogramming industrial robots has been a task reserved for highly specialized, six-figure engineers. Setting up a new task – be it an inspection route or a part manipulation sequence – can take hours, days, or even weeks of meticulous, line-by-line coding and calibration. This lengthy, expensive process makes automation uneconomical for short-run production cycles or high-mix, low-volume scenarios, effectively creating a technological moat that keeps advanced automation out of reach for a vast segment of the industrial market.

However, a confluence of technologies – namely Spatial AI and Mixed Reality (XR) – is poised to shatter this status quo, fundamentally changing the economics and accessibility of industrial automation and shrinking a multi-hour robotics setup to mere minutes.

The shift to "spatial intelligence"

The core limitation of traditional industrial robotics is a lack of realworld context. A robot knows where its own joints are, but it doesn't intuitively "know" the factory floor. It operates in a rigid, pre-programmed void. This is where the powerful combination of Artificial Intelligence and Mixed Reality steps in to create a new layer of capability known as Spatial AI.

Spatial AI goes far beyond a static digital twin. It involves creating a persistent, dynamic, and real-time map of the physical factory environment – a living digital blueprint. Mixed Reality devices, such as industrial-grade headsets or powerful tablets, use an array of cameras and sensors to rapidly ingest and process three-dimensional data from the real world. AI algorithms then process this data to understand the semantic meaning of the physical space.

This process gives the robot its crucial missing piece: intelligence about its spatial reality. It means the robot knows where the incoming workpiece is, where the fixtures are, where the safety zone ends, and,

By simplifying complexity and driving setup time down to minutes, Spatial AI is the essential accelerator that makes advanced industrial automation truly accessible to all.

crucially, where the human operator is standing. This real-time, persistent map allows robots to transition from operating in a structured, caged-off box to functioning intelligently and safely in the dynamic, often unpredictable environment of a real-world industrial floor. This new intelligence is the necessary foundation for truly flexible and collaborative automation.

A new mechanism for democratization

The real breakthrough lies in how Spatial AI translates this spatial understanding into actionable robotics path planning. The industry is moving away from the paradigm of the specialist coder and toward a model of intuitive, visual guidance. This is the democratization mechanism that promises to unleash automation.

Imagine an operator – who is an expert in their craft, but not in robotics programming – donning a simple hands-free mixed reality device or using a tablet. With the Spatial AI engine running, the operator can instantaneously map a new workspace simply by walking through it. The system then automatically identifies and understands

complex, variable-geometry objects that would stump a traditional system – an aircraft wing, a large dome-shaped pressure vessel, or an oddly shaped casting.

To program an inspection task, the operator no longer needs to write code. Instead, they can simply visually point to the exact area on the physical object where the robot needs to perform an X-ray scan, a thermal inspection, or a measurement. The operator effectively "teaches" the robot by demonstrating the intent in the real world.

The Spatial AI engine instantaneously translates this visual, humancentric intent into a complete, collision-free robot path and motion plan. What once took hours of specialized coding is now accomplished in under five minutes through an intuitive visual interface. This radically simplifies the process, making advanced automation a tool for the skilled technician, not just the PhD engineer.

The Industry 5.0 impact

The practical impact of this "5-minute setup" is immense and directly fuels the goals of Industry 5.0. By shifting the automation barrier from highly specialized code to intuitive visual guidance, manufacturers realize immediate and significant benefits.

First, it dramatically lowers the technological barrier to entry. Small and mid-sized enterprises can now justify the cost of automation because the time and expertise required for setup and changeover are negligible. This accelerates the adoption of automation across the supply chain, strengthening the resilience that Industry 5.0 demands.

Second, it profoundly improves operator safety and quality. Collaborative robots equipped with Spatial AI can safely work alongside humans because they are constantly aware of the shared workspace, dynamically adjusting their speed and path to prevent collisions. For inspection tasks, the precision of a visually guided robot exceeds human variability, leading to a consistently higher quality output and reduced rework.

Finally, and most importantly, it fosters a human-machine collaboration that elevates the role of the worker. Liberated from the monotonous, dangerous, or highly repetitive tasks, the human operator can focus on judgment, troubleshooting, and continuous process improvement, the unique skills that drive innovation and sustainability.

Spatial AI is not merely a theoretical leap in digital twin technology; it is a concrete, actionable technology that is delivering immediate, impactful change on the factory floor. By simplifying complexity and driving setup time down to minutes, this technology is the essential accelerator that makes advanced industrial automation truly accessible to all, marking the definitive arrival of the human-centric, highefficiency world of Industry 5.0.

66179 at www.ien.eu

• Ultra flat kit-encoder with axial or radial connector output • Through hollow shaft, direct integration into the motor • For high performance applications

Zero Trust Security Platform for Industrial Networks

Siemens launches a one-stop security platform for managing communication connections in OT networks. With virtualized network structures it protects shop floor devices from targeted attacks and unauthorized access.

Siemens launched SINEC Secure Connect, the first zero trust security platform designed specifically for operational technology (OT) networks. The software solution virtualizes network structures using overlay networks. It enables Machine-to-Machine, Machine-toCloud, and Machine-to-Datacenter connections, plus secure remote access to industrial systems – all without traditional VPNs. Shop floor devices using SINEC Secure Connect remain protected from unauthorized external access while maintaining the necessary operational connectivity.

Addressing critical OT security challenges

The launch comes just as the global OT security market is projected to exceed $50 billion by 2030, according to industry reports, driven by the increasing digitalization of manu-

facturing and rising cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure and production environments. Industrial operators are facing mounting pressure not just from security threats but also from the administrative complexity of current solutions. “Traditional network security approaches struggle with the convergence of IT and OT systems, creating vulnerabilities when industrial systems connect to cloud services, remote access points, and external partner networks,” says Michael Metzler, Vice President of Horizontal Management Cybersecurity for Digital Industries at Siemens. SINEC Secure Connect addresses these interconnection challenges with an innovative zero trust architecture that creates a secure virtual overlay network above existing the OT infrastructure. The platform establishes end-to-end encrypted, identity-verified con-

nections between authorized devices while protecting industrial systems from unauthorized external access. Unlike traditional VPN approaches that create broad network access, SINEC Secure Connect implements granular, policy-based controls that prevent lateral movement, while reducing the administrative complexity of IP-based machine management and enabling cost-efficient compliance with IEC 62443 cybersecurity standards.

Deployments supported in any network environment

The platform's architecture enables flexible deployment options, including onpremises, cloud, and hybrid configurations. Its built-in redundancy makes it suitable for high-availability industrial environments, regardless of existing infrastructure constraints. Unlike complex firewall-based approaches, its deployment flexibility is enhanced by simplified network administration that requires only outbound connections, eliminating the error-prone configuration management associated with traditional OT security solutions.

SINEC Secure Connect is specifically designed for process and discrete manufacturing industries, solution partners, IT service providers, and operators of critical infrastructure who require the highest levels of security and operational reliability.

17 Next-Generation Twin Screw Pump

MEASUREMENT: Flexible Gas- and Water Analyser

17

16 ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Plug-and-Play Motor Platform

14 digitalization&safety

Safety Without Blind Spots

With the growing complexity of technical plants, demographic shifts in the workforce, and increasingly stringent regulatory requirements, traditional methods of risk assessment are reaching their limits. To meet these challenges, TÜV SÜD has developed a digital approach, called iaHAZOP, that builds on established risk assessment methods and extends them into the digital domain. The process industry now has a tool that redefines the state-of-the-art in technical risk management.

Authors: Michael Pfeifer, Senior Expert Adaptive Safety and Alexander Kurdas, Expert for Machinery and Electrical Safety. TÜV Süd

Industrial companies are currently being confronted with dynamic transformations. Production processes are becoming more modular and flexible, markets demand shorter response times, while requirements for efficiency and sustainability are increasing. At the same time, valuable knowledge is being lost as many experienced professionals retire. This makes comprehensive and reliable risk assessment increasingly difficult, in particular when it is still based on static paper reports or isolated files.

Traditional HAZOP technique captures hazards and their potential impacts, but they are usually static and tied to a specific point in time, often established during construction of the plant. This creates dangerous gaps between

documented and actual plant conditions, especially when processes are changed at short notice. In this context, approaches that not only preserve past analyses but also actively interact with live process data are gaining importance. The described method is in its application not limited to modular process plants – it also supports regular plants.

An adaptive approach

The essence of interactive HAZOP (iaHAZOP) lies in merging proven HAZOP principles with modern digital technologies. Rather than relying purely on manual assessments, the system integrates data streams from sensors, digital plant models, and predefined safety rules into a

single framework. This transforms static risk assessment into a continuous, adaptive process. Unlike conventional spreadsheets or document collections, iaHAZOP provides a platform that mirrors the real-time status of a facility. It makes it possible to both access stored safety information quickly and identify hazards instantly. The software is designed to support, not replace, human expertise: automated evaluations provide guidance, but critical decisions remain with qualified staff.

Core components

The functionality of iaHAZOP is built on several technological and methodological pillars, including:

• Digital twins that simulate the behaviour of machines and systems virtually to test scenarios that would pose risks in real operations. These models can be hosted locally or in the cloud.

• Knowledge graphs combine available information such as HAZOP studies, expert knowledge, and incident records into networks, making hidden interrelations visible.

• Real-time sensors continuously provide data on parameters such as pressure, temperature, and flow. Deviations from safe ranges can be detected immediately.

• Hazard rules inform operators on the fundamental physical and chemical properties which need to be observed to prevent potentially hazardous situations.

• Regulatory requirements are integrated into the system so that evaluations are always checked against applicable standards.

These elements combined provide a dynamic and comprehensive perspective on safe plant operation.

A concrete impact

How can run-time risk assessment impact a process facility in the real world? The following examples illustrate incidents where iaHAZOP could have supported in early anticipation or prevention:

• Faulty valve leading to explosion: A valve appeared closed in the control system but was leaking internally due to wear and tear. Because this information was not shared between departments, the hazard went unnoticed, resulting in an explosion due to unwanted backflow. iaHAZOP could have indicated the risk with the help of information sourced from its various core components, such as sensor readings or digital twin simulations.

• Residual pressure in boiler: During maintenance, it was assumed that a vessel was depressurised. Undetected residual pressure caused steam to escape, injuring staff. Cross-checking live sensor data with digital twins would have provided an early warning.

• Outdated risk assessment after process changes: Following operational modifications, risk documentation was not updated. This led to an acid leak, costly cleanup, and weeks of downtime. iaHAZOP would have

adjusted the risk status in real time and highlighted the inconsistency.

Benefits for modular and large plants

The process industry increasingly operates in two directions: flexible modular plants and large, complex facilities. In modular plants, each change requires a complete reassessment of risks. iaHAZOP accelerates and standardises these evaluations by applying safety rules automatically to the new configurations. In large, static plants, the system connects data from otherwise isolated departments. This creates a unified view of the actual safety status, making dependencies more transparent and enabling faster intervention in emergencies. But safety is not the only benefit — by mapping hazards and their triggering events (failure modes) semantically, departments beyond just safety gain advantages. Added value is also generated for operations and maintenance teams.

Compliance and documentation

Beyond hazard prevention, iaHAZOP supports companies in meeting legal and organisational requirements. Documentation, which is often time-intensive, can be partially automated. Risk reports can be generated directly from the system, improving transparency and traceability. This reduces administrative burdens and increases legal certainty.

Flexible implementation and outlook

Not all companies have the same digital maturity. iaHAZOP is therefore designed for phased implementation. For operators with more advanced infrastructures, it can be incorporated into the system more promptly, whereas others might need to start small and build up to a modern risk management system progressively. The long-term vision is to embed safety as an integral part of daily operations rather than treating it as a periodic obligation. By incorporating intelligent analytics into routine workflows, companies foster a culture of foresight that minimises both accidents and downtime.

Conclusion

The demands on risk management in the process industry continue to grow. Traditional methods based on periodic reviews are no longer sufficient. iaHAZOP bridges the gap by combining the strengths of established HAZOP studies with digital capabilities. It provides a real-time view of plant conditions, connects knowledge and data, and empowers experts to make well-founded decisions. In doing so, it shows how safety, productivity, and regulatory compliance can be aligned. Companies adopting such dynamic solutions position themselves to thrive in an increasingly complex environment.

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APPLICATIONOPTIMISEDUVLENSES

Fixed-focus&zoomlensesinthe200-400nmrange Workingwithcamera,instrumentandsensormanufacturers, R Resolve Optics hasdeveloped customUVlensesforapplicationsincludingforensics,law enforcement,andnuclearinspection.Toprovideinspectors withaneffectivetoolforremoteverificationofspent nuclearfuel,agloballeaderinnuclearsafeguardingtechnology taskedResolveOpticstodesignawavelengthcorrectedUVzoom lenstoenableitsDigitalCerenkovViewingDevicetoviewa nuclearfuelassemblythrough10metresofwater.Spentnuclear fuelemitsafaintUV(Cerenkov)lightwhengammaraysfromfuel assembliesinteractwithelectronsinthecoolingpondwater.To meetthechallengesofthisdifficultapplication,theUVzoomlens wasdesignedtooptimallyoperatefrom10°Cto55°C.Miniature motorswereincorporatedinthedesigntoenableaccurateremote settingofboththezoomandfocusfunctions. Becauseitmakes manysubstancesfluoresce,UVlighthaspropertiesthatmakeita verypowerfulforensicinvestigativetool.Lesswellknownisthe powerofreflected-UVimagingtorevealhiddenevidence.Resolve OpticsisaleadingsupplierofReflectedUV-visible(RUVIS)lenses forforensicandlawenforcementapplicationsbasedupontheir proprietaryModel228UVlens.

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WORM GEAR UNITS

Optimised performance for better torque/size ratio

NORD has increased the maximum torques of its UNICASE worm gear units. The NORD development team thus achieved increased performance of 10 to 15 percent, without changing the gear units' outer (connection)dimensions,ortheirgeneralouterappearance.Thereliable andeconomicdrivesolutionoffershigherperformancewithoutthe needofadjustingexistingcustomerconfigurations.Asthehousing sizesremainunchanged,thewormgearunitswillstillbeavailable asadrop-insolutionformaintenanceworksorrepairs.Tosave costsandinstallationspace,smallersizescanbeselectedaccordingtotheapplication,resultinginmoreconstructivefreedomin machineandsystemdesign.Inordertoimplementhigherpower ranges,NORDincorporatednewwormshaftswithlargerbearing seats,aswellasanadditionalreinforcementofthewormwheel itself.ThecurrentUNICASEwormgearunitseriesoffersapower rangefrom0.12kWto15kW,andtorquesbetween90Nmand 3,000Nm.Otherproductadvantagesincludesmoothandquiet running,highoverloadcapacityandrobustdesign.Highaxialand radialloadsensurehigh reliabilityandlongservicelife. The UNICASEwormgearunitsincastironhousingsfromNORDare availableinapplication-specificversions:ashollowandsolidshaft gearunits,andforshaft,flangeorfootmounting.

FLEXIBLEGAS-ANDWATERANALYSER

IECExapproveddeviceforusereliableprocesscontrol Servomex hasupgradedits SERVOTOUGHSpectraExact 2500Fflexiblegasandliquid wateranalyserforhazardous areas.Theinnovativeanalyseris IECExapprovedandmeets compliancerequirementsacross Europe,theUSAandCanada.It provideshighlyaccuratedatawhilereducingmaintenanceneeds andcosts.Itsdigitalcommunicationsystemsensureseamless integration.TheSpectraExact2500Fisdesignedtoofferaflexible analyticalsolutionadaptabletoarangeofapplicationsandhazardousareas.Theruggedbuildallowsanalysisoftoxic,flammable orcorrosivesampleswithoutdamagetoequipmentortheenvironment.Wall-mountingoptionsenableflexibleplacement,evenin theharshestofconditions. Theanalyserenhancesprocesscontrol bydeliveringhigh-precisionmeasurements,fromppmlevelsto percentages.Thisenablesoptimizationofprocessesimproving operationalefficiencyandthesafetyofpeopleandenvironments. Userscanexpectincreaseduptimeandreducedongoingcosts thankstonon-depleting,NDIRsensingtechnologiesthatextend calibrationintervals.Servicingissimple,witharemovablesample cellthatisseparatefromtheelectronics,makingscheduledmaintenancequickandeasy.Digitalcommunicationsystemsensure smoothintegrationwithexistingsetups.

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RADARLEVELSENSORFORHARDCONDITIONS Reliablemeasurementsofstronglyfluctuatinglevels

OndoSense presentsanewradar sensorforhigh-performancelevel control,theapexLevelLine enableshigh-precisionandfast levelmeasurementsinharsh industrialenvironmentswith extremetemperatures,smoke, anddust-e.g.formoltenmetal levelmonitoringorforthroughputmeasurementsonconveyor belts.Theradarlevelsensorconsistentlydeliversreliablemeasurementresultswithanaccuracyofupto0.1millimeters,evenwith stronglyfluctuatinglevels.Thisisduetoauniquecombinationofa highmeasuringrate(500Hz)andsmartfilteralgorithms.Asa result,theOndoSenseapexLevelLineensureserror-free,precise measurementsatalltimes,eveninthepresenceofwavemotion, bubbleformationorotherabruptlevelfluctuations. Theradar sensorhasadust-tight,jet-proofprotectionrating(IP67)andis idealforharshenvironmentswithitsdurablePTFElens.For extremeoperatingconditions,OndoSenseoffersanoptional air-cooledheatshieldformaximumprotectionagainstveryhigh temperaturesorheavydirt. TheOndoSenseapexLevelLineis equippedwitheitheranadvancedProfinetinterfaceoraproven analogcurrentinterface(4-20mA).Threedigitalswitchingoutputs (PNP/NPN)arealsoavailable.Thelevelsensor'smeasuringrange startsatjust0.1metersandextendsto40meters.

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PLUG-AND-PLAYMOTOR&DRIVEPLATFORM

Replacementforinefficientonlineinductionmotors

ABB'snewLVTitaniumVariableSpeedMotorplatform deliversthebenefitsofa high-efficiencymotorand variablespeeddrive(VSD) technologyinasingle,compact,customizable,plugand-playsolutionthatenablesindustrialcustomerstominimize theirenergyconsumption,savemoneyandreducecarbonemissions. Theinnovativeplatformismorethanadrivesimplybolted ontoamotor.Instead,itisengineeredasafullyintegratedconcept,withanadvanceddrivemodulepurpose-designedfromthe outsetforoptimalperformancewithahighefficiencypermanent magnet(PM)motor.Thissleek,streamlineddesign,withtheaxial drivemountedontheendofthemotor,savesspaceandmakesthe LVTitaniumidealforapplicationslikeverticalpumps.Itisalso remarkablyquietinoperation. Afurtheradvantageisthatitcan operateoverawiderangeofspeedandtorquerequirements,with thecapabilitytodeliverhightorqueatlowspeeds. TheLVTitanium VariableSpeedMotoriscurrentlyavailableinsmallersizesfrom 1.5kWwhiletheplatformwillexpandtocoverapplicationsupto 30kWforawiderangeofindustrialsectors-fromwatertreatment andchemicalprocessingtofoodandbeverage.Inadditiontobeing availableofftheshelf,themotorcanbecustomizedtosuitspecific customerrequirements.

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DENSEPHASEPNEUMATICCONVEYING

Gentle,energy-efficienthandlingofbulkmaterials

Dense phase conveying systems are designed for applications where product quality is paramount. Whether handling powders, granules, flakes, or pellets, Gericke's dense phase conveying technology ensures minimal changes in bulk density and particle size distribution, while alsoreducingtheriskofdemixing.Thismakesthemidealfor industriesrequiringgentlehandlingoffragileorblendedmaterials. Akeyadvantageofthesystemliesinitsuseofpressurevessels withoutrotatingparts.Thissignificantlyreducesmaintenance requirementsandeliminatestheriskofmetalcontamination.The systemsarecompletelydust-tight,offeringacleanandsafe solutionwithnoleakage—unlikerotaryvalvesystemsusedin dilutephaseconveying.Operatingatpressuresofupto6barg, theyenablehighsolidsloadingandlowgasconsumption.This translatesintoenergyefficiencyandreducedoperationalcosts. Gericke'sdensephasesystemsarecapableofconveyingmaterials overdistancesofupto500metresandatcapacitiesreaching150 m³/h.Theyareavailableincarbonsteelorstainlesssteel,with vesselvolumesrangingfrom20to5,200litres,andcomplywith PED2014/68/EC,ASME,andGB150standards.Thisflexibility makesthemsuitableforawiderangeofindustries.

NEXT-GENERATIONTWINSCREWPUMP

Enhancedpumpdesignforhigherperformance Wangen Pumps hasenhanced thedesignofitstrustedTWIN NGpump,significantlyimprovingitsperformanceandreducingmaintenancerequirements. Theresultisaprovenhygienic pumpingsolutionthatperforms betterforlonger,boostinguptimeandreducinglifecyclecostsforcustomersinfood,pharmaceuticalsandcosmeticsmanufacturingsectors.TwinNGscrew pumpsaredesignedtoreliablyhandlelowtohighlyviscous,volatile,orgaseousproductsinapplicationsthatdemandmaximum hygieneandefficiency.Availableinseveralsizes,theTWINpumps offeramaximumflowrateof200m³/handamaximumdifferential pressureof25bar. Thefirstdesignenhancementinvolvesreplacing theTwinNG'smotorcouplingwithalanterncoupling.Thisinnovativefeaturepreventspumpshaftmisalignment,whichreduces stressandvibration,therebyenhancingthelifespanofthepump andmotor.Withlesswearonpumpshaftsandbearings,maintenancerequirementsareminimised,andserviceintervalsareextended.Whenmaintenanceisnecessary,itiseasiertoperformsinceno shaftalignmentisrequired.Thislanterndesignthuslowersthe totalcostofownership(TCO)andoptimisesuptime. Anotherbenefitissmootheroperationindemandingconditions,particularlywith viscousandabrasivefluidspumpedunderhighpressure.

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HIGH-PERFORMANCEPFAS-FREECOATING Forusewithmulti-wayvalvesealingpads

Hutchinson istakinganew stepforwardbyimplementingPFAS-freeLUBRITAPE-E coatingformulti-wayvalve sealingpads.Thissolution meetsmarketrequirements andenvironmentalstandardswhileensuringperformanceandreliability. To answernewenvironmental regulationsandtheneedto reducethechemicalfootprintofmaterials,PrecisionSealingSystems(PSS)fromHutchinsonGroupisinnovatingwithLUBRITAPE-E, atransparentfilmappliedtorubberparts,whileidealforlow frictionsealingpadsformulti-wayrotaryvalves.Designedasa directreplacementforPTFEsolution,thiscoatingdeliversthe samehigh-performanceproperties. Thesealingpadsoffera low-frictioncoefficient(DynamicCoFDry:0.1|Wet:0.05),high resistancetoabrasionandawater-repellentsurface.Theyare compatiblewithEPDMandhaveatemperatureresistancefrom -50°Cto+115°C.Thesealingsolutionsareparticularlysuitablefor thermalmanagementmodulesandmulti-wayvalves.Theyensure leak-freeoperationwhileallowingsmoothmovementofinternal parts,Sealingpadsformultiwayvalveevenunderhightemperatureandpressureconditions.

18 electronics & electricity

Custom Beats Standard

Never change a running system – a wise saying in the IT world that is also followed by other disciplines. Nevertheless, it is often worthwhile to challenge existing concepts, as shown by the example of power electronics. Suitably dimensioned thermal management solutions can significantly improve the performance and life of electronic components, together with increased cost-effectiveness.

Four factors are crucial for a cooling solution. The first is heat dissipation. Secondly, the heat sink should have a lightweight design to reduce the load on the component. Thirdly, it must be as small as possible. The last factor to consider is the price-performance ratio. Based on these factors, as well as the material, design, and manufacturing method, heat sink manufacturers like CTX create high-quality heat sinks with added value.

Now is the time to change a running system

For example: The temperature of a sample system needs to be ten degrees lower. This is possible without changing the size of the component. Thermal management in this sample component is based on the classic extruded profile heat sink used in the cooling of power electronics. Its design consists of a base plate that is connected to several closely arranged fins. This creates a large overall surface for heat transfer. Now we have to determine: How much heat is dissipated by the base plate? At which point do the fins take over the transfer of heat? A design that makes full use of the base thickness is beneficial in reducing the temperature. In our example, changing the base thickness from 11 to 14 millimeters improves cooling by about 1.7 °C. The second point to consider is the number of fins. CTX uses extrusion for the economical production of aluminum cooling fins in large quantities. They can be designed for the exact cooling requirement by means of a forming tool. This reduces material by 20 percent compared to standard components. In our example, the result is thinner fins. This increases the number of fins by ten without changing the size of the base plate. The overall temperature reduction is now 3 °C.

generation of the component. What are hot spots? Where are surfaces with lower heat generation? The cooling concept of a heat pipe can be used to precisely control the heat flow. A heat pipe consists of a closed copper tube system with an internal capillary structure. In this system, a coolant absorbs large amounts of heat at the hot spot, then conveys it to the heat sink, where it is discharged in the form of condensation. Copper, with up to 400 W/mK, has higher thermal conductivity than aluminum at 210 W/mK. Since it is much heavier and more expensive, however, it is mostly used as a coating, plate, or core. In our example, the combination of aluminum extruded profile heat sink and heat pipe achieves the target value: The cooling capacity of the thermal concept is now 9.9 °C below the starting temperature.

As miniaturization progresses, custom solutions will continue to gain in importance.

How to make efficient use of installation space

Further potential for optimization is possible by looking at the heat

PRE-CERTIFIEDNARROWBANDTRANSCEIVER

Compactunitforindustrialtelemetryandremotecontrol

Circuit Design hasannouncedthereleaseofthepre-certifiedtransceiverSTD-602429429MHz,amodulefor telemetryandindustrial applicationsinJapan.As wellasbeingsuitablefor operationintheJapanese market,CircuitDesignhas takentheextrastepofhavingthemodulepre-certifiedwiththe TypeCertificationofConstructionDesign(Gitekimark).Thiswillbe ahugebenefittothosewhowouldliketoimplementthemodule wheretheproductionquantityisfairlysmall.Themodulesare equippedwithtwoportswhichincludesaportfordatacommunication.Forincreasedflexibility,theportistransparentgivingthe userthefreedomtoapplytheirownprotocolduringcommunication.Additionally,thesecondportforCircuitDesign'sproprietary commandsalloweasyconfigurationofthemodulethatincludes settingvariousRFpowerlevelsuptoamaximumof10mWalong withchannelandvariousdataratesettings. Themoduleoccupiesa minimalareawitharelativelysmallheight(6mm)ofthecasing allowinggoodportability.AsrequiredbytheJapaneseregulations, thecarriersensingisautomaticallyexecutedwheneverthemodule enterstransmissionwithusersabletocheckthestatusviatheCSE terminal.

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MAGNET-FREEPOSITIONSENSORICS

CustomCoilDesignsforIndustrialandRoboticsSystems

Renesas Electronics introduceda newfamilyofmagnet-freeinductivepositionsensor(IPS)ICsthat canbefullycustomizedforvarious coildesignscompatiblewithawide rangeofindustrialapplicationssuch asrobotics,medicalandhealthcare andmotorcommutation.Builtfor highresolution,precision,androbustperformance,thenewRAA2P3226,RAA2P3200,andRAA2P4200sensorICsofferacost-effectivealternativetotraditionalmagneticandopticalencoders,which canbebulky,expensive,andrequirefrequentmaintenance.Renesasalsolaunchedaweb-baseddesigntoolthatallowscustomers toeasilycreatecustomsensingelementstomeettheirspecific systemneeds. Operatingonnon-contactcoilsensortechnology, RenesasIPSproductsuseasimplemetallictargetanddual-coilor single-coilconfigurationstodetectabsoluterotary,linear,orarc positions.ThesesensorICsaredesignedtomaintainstableoperationeveninenvironmentswithelevatedtemperatures(-40to125 °C),particulatematter,moisture,mechanicalvibrationandelectromagneticinterference.Theirdurabilityandlowupkeepmakethem areliableandcost-effectivesensingsolutionformotordrives,actuators,valves,servicerobotsandinfrastructureapplications, wherereliabilityandlong-termperformancearecritical.

FANLESS230VACDC-ACPOWERINVERTER CompactRedundancyModelforsimpleparalleloperation

DENRYO ispleasedtoannouncethereleaseofanew 230Vacoutputmodelinthe DIASINE®GRSeries,alineup offanlesspuresinewave powerinverterssupporting redundantoperation.Thenew modelfeaturesselectable outputvoltagesettingsof230(default)/200/220/240Vac, offeringflexibilityforawiderangeofapplicationsininfrastructure andindustrialequipment.Withsupportforparalleloperationofup tosixunits,userscanscaletheoutputupto1.8kVAwhilemaintainingafanlessdesign.DENRYO'spatentedsynchronizationcontroltechnologyenablesparalleloperationusingonlyACoutput wiring,eliminatingtheneedfordedicatedcontrolboardsorsynchronizationsignals.Thissignificantlysimplifiesbothinstallation andsystemconfiguration. ThenewmodelalsosupportsN+1 redundancy,allowingforeasycapacityexpansionafterinstallation andenablingsystemcontinuityevenifoneunitfails,enhancing bothsystemstabilityandreliability.Inadditiontothesenew features,themodelretainskeycharacteristicsoftheDIASINE®all series,suchasreversepolarityprotection,awideinputvoltage range,anda1Uheightlow-profiledesign. Dependingonthe model,thetemperaturerangeforoperationstartsat-20°Cand goesupto60°C,maximumwithderatedoutput.

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How to Expedite Product Development With Modules and Solutions Pre-Certified for Cybersecurity

With design engineers across the globe constantly innovating to meet growing demand for solutions that support an increasingly digitalised environment, expediting product/ solution development times is imperative for business success at both OEMs and system integrators. Increasing numbers are turning to solutions pre-certified for cybersecurity to save time and provide confidence in robust levels of protection against online threats.

Cybersecurity is a cornerstone of the digital transformation, underpinning a secure-by-design mindset. However, achieving cybersecurity is a specialism that can prove challenging for many to develop or impart in-house. Cybersecurity practices must align with global standards like IEC 62443 and ISO/IEC 27001 to reduce risk, accelerate compliance and stay ahead of evolving threats. These threats drive the need for stringent regulations and proactive security measures that provide globally recognised frameworks for protecting information systems and managing risk. Regulations highlight the world’s shift toward tighter cybersecurity control, prompting organisations to adopt resolute security frameworks and comply with industry standards.

Fortifying from within Security is integrated into all phases of Advantech’s product development to identify and address potential vulnerabilities. With IEC 62443-4-1 certification, the company’s Secure Software Development Life Cycle (SSDLC) meets top-level industrial cybersecurity standards. IEC 62443-4-1 defines secure development lifecycle demands related to cybersecurity for products used in the IACS (industrial automation and control systems) environment. SSDLC, based on the IEC 62443-4-1 V-model, integrates security and automation into every stage. Featuring needs-based testing and complete validation, it ensures early risk mitigation, faster compliance and secure, reliable solutions for industrial applications.

Overcoming the challenge

IEC 62443-4-2 focuses on security specifications for systems, components and more, concentrating particularly on protection at the lower embedded level. Advantech joined forces with Bureau Veritas - a global leader in testing, inspection and certification - to help customers overcome security challenges in rapidly evolving technology segments like AIoT and edge computing.

Advantech also offers Verification of Conformity (VoC) or formal certification (CB), with customers able to choose depending on the need for IEC 62443-4-2 compliance. With its existing functional security testing methods, the company can help customers significantly reduce both the time and costs associated with certification. This proactive approach integrates security-relevant best practice into the traditional Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) in the functional

safety domain. It shows how the use of automated and integrated tools can help to achieve compliance. Verification and validation play an important role in the process, with several testing techniques applicable to the standard’s recommended requirements-based testing strategy.

Multiple benefits

As a result of these measures, design and development engineers at OEMs and system integrators reduce deployment time by integrating Advantech’s pre-certified, security-hardened IIoT solutions. They can also simplify security assessments and regulatory compliance, and enhance system resilience against cyberattacks.

A case in point is Advantech’s TPC-B520 and TPC-B300 human-machine interface (HMI) solutions, which have officially received IEC 62443-4-2 VoC certification from Bureau Veritas. Implementing IEC 62443-4-2 compliant HMI solutions enables system designers to build secure and reliable IACS architectures that safeguard system integrity, data confidentiality and availability - even during cybersecurity incidents.

Of course, cybersecurity isn’t limited to HMI. It’s a critical priority across all computing systems. An example is the ECU-479, a rugged industrial computer specifically designed for power substations, designed as a VoC system, certified to IEC 62443-4-2 Security Level 2. Also certified to IEC 62443-4-2 are Advantech’s EKI-7400 combo-managed and EKI-7700 port-managed ethernet switches. Both support VLAN-based network segmentation and enforce security with access control lists and DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) snooping to prevent

malicious access. Moreover, the switches support authentication and identity verification through the 802.1X IEEE standard for port-based network access control, the RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) network protocol and the MAB (MAC Authentication Bypass) network access control.

For IEC 62443-4-2 functional security, Advantech’s x86-based products will gradually incorporate basic protection measures, including firmware, operating systems, IoT connections and more. These products will utilise tools such as the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and a whitelist control to enhance overall system security.

For all products, Advantech follows a structured, security-focused design and implementation process that includes threat modelling and security design reviews, security-by-design principles, secure coding guidelines, peer reviews, and audits.

Proactive measures

Design engineers should seek out IIoT module suppliers that maintain a comprehensive vulnerability management process. The Advantech Cybersecurity Incident Response Team (ACIRT) rigorously assesses potential threats to products and provides timely and transparent advice to customers. Ultimately, developing a secure product requires a comprehensive approach to embedded cybersecurity. Core principles like AAA (Authentication, Authorisation, Accounting) and CIA (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability) form the foundation of secure system behaviour and data protection. Lastly, thorough security testing validates that implemented controls are effective, ensuring the product can withstand real-world cyberthreats. Together, these practices support the development of robust and trustworthy products, helping OEMs and system integrators shorten project timelines.

Supply chain

As a final note, given that supply chain cyberattacks have become a potential cybersecurity risk for businesses, Advantech has also in-

corporated information security risks into its supplier evaluation and management mechanisms. Suppliers identified as having significant cybersecurity risks are required to complete a self-assessment, which will then be evaluated by Advantech to reduce the likelihood of introducing cybersecurity risks through third parties.

Of particular note, Advantech has implemented a software bill of materials (SBOM) management mechanism to track the supply chain in software development and update third-party components with security patches. It keeps track of every supplier library, script, CI/CD application, artefact, licence and version integrated into applications. For small businesses with just one application, it might seem like tracking the supply chain is simple, but it can soon become overwhelming as the software development lifecycle adds moving parts. By proactively managing dependencies, organisations can mitigate risks and maintain a resilient, secure development lifecycle.

SPS Smart Production Solutions

Slip Rings for Industrial Ethernet

For reliable transmission in rotating systems

The Kübler Industrial Line offers a flexible modular system for transmitting power, signals, and data. In addition to slip ring modules for load currents up to 150 A at 1000 V, solutions are available for protocol-independent, secure data transmission up to 1 Gbit/s. The familiar ring slip ring modules are supplemented by two alternative Ethernet modules. The spacesaving, PCB-based Ethernet module significantly increases flexibility in layout design without compromising on reliable and high-performance data transmission. This is a clear advantage in the notoriously confined installation spaces of modern installations. There is also a new product for applications with particularly high rotational speeds or very high demands on service life: a contactless Ethernet module enables completely wear-free data transmission.

Industrial Line slip rings offer a wide range of connection technology options. Thanks to the seamless integration of sensor technology, the slip ring is evolving from a transmission component into an intelligent interface.

This enables precise positioning feedback, the determination of rotational speed and a counting function. It can also be used to record environmental data, such as temperature. The options for conducting liquids and gases have also been expanded with an innovative solution: the new version of the air duct is implemented outside the hollow shaft. This means it can be used freely or, for example, for the new contactless Ethernet module.

Up to 70 percent less installation space

Of the innovations described, the space-saving PCB-based Ethernet module is the highlight. The compact solution is based on PCB technology with radially arranged transmission paths and enables a reduction in installation space of up to 70 percent compared to conventional slip ring solutions. The modules are flexible in size and

layout and are available as an element within the Industrial Line or as a standalone variant. A standalone version is the ideal solution for very space-sensitive applications that only require Ethernet transmission, for example. In the example presented, transmission of two 100 Mbit/s or one 1 Gbit/s Ethernet connections is possible, as well as two additional load transmission channels with 10 A / 60 V for control electronics.

Expansion kits for retrofitting

The space-saving modules are not only suitable for new systems. Existing systems are also being gradually modernized. In particular, sensors and actuators are being retrofitted, and point-topoint communication is giving way to Ethernet architecture. The additional demand for data and transmission paths is a hurdle for transmission solutions in the machines. At the latest, the transmission of Ethernet to the rotating ends of the machines becomes a challenge. Replacing existing slip ring solutions is a very complex task with significant investment costs due to the limited installation space on existing machines. The standalone version of the Ethernet module is therefore also the ideal solution for retrofitting existing systems due to its low space requirements.

The compact standalone module eliminates the high costs associated with replacing existing slip rings.

This opens new opportunities for cost-effective modernization, for example when introducing new network technologies. Industrial Line technology not only offers flexibility in the design of new slip rings for new systems but is also the ideal solution for every phase of a system's service life.

NEWPLCSOFTWAREENVIRONMENT

Fasterengineeringandruntimewithadvancedchatbot Beckhoff istakingautomationtechnologytothenextlevelwithTwinCAT PLC++.Bothengineeringandruntime arenoticeablyfaster,withoutcompromisingonTwinCAT's strengthsofseamlessintegration,compatibility,and openness.TheadvancedchatbotfunctionTwinCATCoAgentisnowfully embeddedasanefficientprogramming assistant. InTwinCATPLC++runtime, thesamecontrolcoderunsupto1.5timesfastercomparedtothe previousTwinCATPLCversion.AmajorhighlightisthenewTwinCATPLC++compiler,whichfurtheroptimizescontrolcode executiontime,deliveringanoverallperformanceboostofupto3 times.ThenewTwinCATPLC++architecturealsosupportseven deeperintegrationofTwinCATfunctionsandtobeefficiently integratedasaprogrammingassistantthatsupportsbothtextual andgraphicalcodegeneration. TwinCATCoAgenttakescontrol engineeringtothenextlevelbyseamlesslyintegratingcuttingedgetechnologydirectlyintoTwinCATprojects.Theagentprovides effectivesupportforawiderangeoftasks,fromprecisecode suggestionsandsmartcodeoptimizationtoautomaticcreationof comprehensivedocumenta-tion.Thecontentgeneratedby TwinCATCoAgentcanbeeasilyincorporatedintoestablished engineeringprojectsonceithasbeencheckedbyauser.

66186atwww.ien.eu

MOTIONCONTROLLERSERIESEXPANSION

Upgradesforenhancedcontrolandflexibility

Delta Electronics deliversupgradesofitsAX-5Serieswith newmotioncontrollersCPUs, input/outputmodules,and couplers.Designedformachine builders,systemintegrators, anddistributorsacrosssectors suchaspackaging,assembly,woodworking,andmetalworking, theseenhancementsdelivergreaterflexibility,performance,and scalability,empoweringcustomerstostaycompetitive. Delta's AdvancedIIoTMotionControllerCPUsoftheAX-5Seriesareideal forproductionlineequipmentandcansimultaneouslycontrol servodrives,ACmotors,remoteI/Omodules,andothermotion devices.ItsupportsPLCopenmotioncontrolinstructionsand includesDelta'sexclusivemotioncommandsforseamlessservo andACmotorintegration.Acompact,12mmultra-thinI/O modulesdesignminimizescabinetspace,whileanindependent I/Opowersupplysimplifieswiringforstableoperationandeasy expansion.ThecontrolleralsoincludesIIoTfeaturessuchasMQTT, FTPandOPCUA,helpingcustomerscutdownonhardwareand developmenttime. TheenhancedMotionControllerssetanew benchmarkinautomationcontrol,offeringhigh-speedperformance andbuilt-inhardwareinterfaces -includingdualEthernetports, USB,andanSDcardslot.Withnativesupportformultipleindustrialprotocolsnoadditionalmodulesorlicensesarerequired.

66132atwww.ien.eu

FLEXIBLEDECENTRALIZEDSERVOINVERTER

Dynamicdrivesolutionsformachineryandsystems AMKmotion'sihDservoinverter, designedfordecentralisedinstallation,standsoutthankstoitsminimalspacerequirementsandwelldesignedcabling.Power,STO(Safe TorqueOff),24Vandfieldbuscommunicationarealltransmittedviaa singlecable.Multipleservoinverters canbeeasilyconnectedinseries,reducingcablingcostsbyupto 70%comparedtocentraliseddrivesystems. Anotheradvantageof theihD-DT5versionisthattheinverterismounteddirectlyonthe motorserieswithintegratedcontrolelectronics.Thiseliminates theneedforexternalcablingandsimplifiesinstallation. TheihD deliverspowerful,dynamicperformanceevenunderdemanding conditionsandisIP65protected. Witharatedcurrentofeight amps,itcanprovidetripleoverloadforonesecond- idealfor applicationsinvolvingdynamicloadpeaks.Dependingonthe installationsetup,thehybridinputconnectorcanfaceeither backwardsorupwards.Thestand-aloneversionoftheihDalso featuresaplugthatcanrotatethrough300degreesformotorand encoderconnections.WithihD'sintelligentenergymanagement excessenergyisdistributedtoallconnectedservoinvertersviaa sharedDCbus,reducinglossesandincreasingoverallsystem efficiency.Atjust165×100×60millimeters,theihDisextremely compactforitspowerclass.

66178atwww.ien.eu

Hall 4, 210
Hall 7, 406
Hall 7, 360

Fighting the Weeds With Ease

The AX-1 robot from Norwegian start-up Kilter applies herbicides to weeds with such precision that the use of chemicals is reduced by up to 95%thanks to AI and sensor technology. To ensure that the autonomous helper is also gentle on the soil, the developers rely on lightweight and lubricationfree linear technology from the igus drylin series.

Developing sustainable machines for agriculture is a challenge as alternative components are often required. Kilter provides an example of this: the Norwegian company has developed the AX-1. This fully automated agricultural robot drives autonomously across fields using GPS. It recognises weeds with a vision system and artificial intelligence. Instead of spraying herbicides over large areas, the robot applies tiny drops to the weeds in a targeted manner with the help of a nozzle system - similar to the precision of an inkjet printer. "Thanks to this targeted application, we can increase yields by up to 35% as the crops thrive without weeds and their metabolism is no longer affected by herbicides," says Anders Brevik, CEO of Kilter. At the same time, chemical use is reduced by 95%.

The challenge: protecting the soil with lightweight and lubrication-free components

The solution from Norway also conserves the soil, both through the reduced use of chemicals and the design of the robot itself. "It was important to us that the AX1 also works in the most environmentally friendly way possible," says Trygve Weum, Design Engineer at Kilter. At the same time, the components had to be as light as possible so that the robot only minimally condenses the ground during operation. This was particularly challenging with the adjustment mechanism of the spray module. Most of the linear systems available work with lubricants and are relatively heavy. "We were therefore very relieved when we found a lubrication-free and lightweight solution from igus."

Adapting the spraying system to plant heights

To adjust the height of the spray nozzle module to the current plant height,

Kilter's design engineers use a linear module from the drylin SLW25120 series from igus. The system is based on a robust drylin W linear guide made of hard-coated aluminum and a trapezoidal threaded spindle with an electric motor. The rotation of the spindle causes the threaded nut to move along an axis and with it a linear slide connected to the spray nozzle module. The base weight of the SLW25120 is around 5.9kg, plus around 0.9kg per 100mm stroke length. Another special feature: no grease is required for these movements of the nut and the carriage. The carriage's nut and plain bearing are made of a high-performance plastic in which microscopically small solid lubricants are integrated. They allow for low-friction dry operation. "It is equally important that grease can no longer combine with the dust from the field and form a paste that increases friction," adds Weum. "This makes the mechanism far more fail-safe." Farmers also save time as no relubrication work is required.

The lightweight and maintenance-free drylin SLW linear system makes it easy to adjust the spray nozzle module to the current plant height. Picture:igus GmbH

"The module makes a significant contribution to the robot's reliability"

The Norwegian engineers at Kilter were also impressed by the robustness of the linear module. This is essential as things can get rough on the field in terms of forces. "The torsion-resistant double-

PROTOCOLCONVERTERSERIES

ConnectingproprietaryprotocolstoEthernetstandards

Deutschmann Automation presents theUNIGATEFALCONECOprotocol converterseries.Theflexiblecommunicationsolutionconnectsautomationdevicestostandardprotocols likeModbusRTUandproprietary, customizedprotocolstothedesired IndustrialEthernetstandardorFieldbusinterfaceviatheserialinterface. TheseriesstartswithvariantsforPROFINETandEtherCAT.Byusing theready-to-runDINrailmodules,designtimeandtime-to-market oftheindividualautomationsolutioncanbesignificantlyoptimized.TheconverterseriesintegratestheserialRS232/RS422/RS485 interfacesbydefault.Transferratesofupto6MBaudarepossible. Sendingaswellasreceivingofdataattheactiveserialinterfaceis visualizedbyanActivityLEDtooptimizetheinitialoperationoras displaysystem.SerialprotocolssuchasModbusASCII,Modbus RTU(masterorslave),andaprotocolforASCII-communicationare pre-installedasstandard. Theserialstandardprotocolscanbeconfigureduser-friendlyviathewebinterface. Flexibleprogrammingof ascriptfromDeutschmannenablestheimplementationoffurther standardandproprietaryprotocols.ThecompactDINrailmodule serieswithIP20ratinghasdimensionsof25x95x86.5mmandcan beintegrateddirectlyinexistingendproducts.Allmodulesfor differentbusvariantshaveanidenticalmechanicaldesign.

The automated and targeted application of herbicides reduces the use of active ingredients and protects harvests and the environment.

shaft design ensures a high level of stability. The system features a maximum axial load capacity of 2,500N and a permissible radial force of up to 10,000N. This means that it offers a safety reserve that is more than sufficient to reliably move the spray module weighing around 60kg for years," says Michael Hornung, Product Manager drylin Linear and Drive Technology. This leaves enough room for additional loads, for example through impacts on the field. "We really appreciate the robustness of the linear module," says Weum. "The module contributes significantly to the reliability of the robot and thus the satisfaction of the farmers."

66123 at www.ien.eu

Hall
Hall 5, 328

Motion Control Doubles Speed of Pick-and-Place Machines

Automated packaging, which increases machine speed, helps to address labour shortages in packaging lines.

UK packaging machinery OEM Spiraltech has doubled the speed of its pick-and-place machines from 70 to 140 pieces-per-minute using servo drives, motors, and PLCs from global industrial automation company Inovance. With over 40 years of experience Spiraltech offers paper converting and cardboard tube cutting machinery for the production of paper tubes, paper profiles and composite cans. The solution was delivered by CAPSS, a UK-based distributor of industrial automation products. CAPSS’s high level of technical support and product availability meant the solution was up and running very quickly. Additionally, the solution has solved the labour shortage problem faced by many of Spiraltech’s customers because the need for manual packing has been eliminated.

Faster change-over for smaller batches

The machines pick up tubes and put them in formation with a strap around them so they can be easily loaded onto pallets. Standard pneumatics couldn’t deliver the required speeds, which is why Spiraltech opted for a servo motion solution. The Inovance products used in the machines are: SV660N servo drives, MS1 servo motors, AM600 motion controllers, and GL10 and GL20 I/O modules. Spiraltech differentiates itself through innovative machine design, and its focus is machines that can be changed over two to three times per day to enable small batch work. To achieve this, the machines have double the number of servos compared to leading competitors. Component size and performance, as well as value and the ability to work on IEC software standards, were key considerations when selecting the Inovance solution. The new machine speed of 140 tubesper-minute (depending on tube size) means that the machines are operating at double the speed of most leading competitor machines. Meanwhile, previously two to three people would be required to pack at a rate of 140 pieces per minute, but the new machines from Spiraltech eliminate the need for manual packing entirely.

Belwood,

“The Inovance kit is very high-spec and is suitable for food grade applications. Coupled with good value, rapid availability, and a compact size, going with Inovance was an obvious choice for us. The laboursaving element of our machines is a critical consideration for our customers as well, and it’s not about eliminating jobs: the problem is that our European and US customers find it very difficult to find people willing to do packing work. Finally, I loved that CAPSS had the product available immediately and were always on hand with quality technical support.”

Paul Seale, Director of CAPSS, adds: “It’s been really exciting to be involved with a project that has delivered such obvious efficiency benefits. Taking pick-and-place machines from 70 to 140 pieces-perminute is not something you see often. We’re really keen to keep working with Spiraltech in the future.”

Steven
Managing Director of Spiraltech, says:

WRONG-WAYSENSORFORLOGISTICS

Sensorforsafeguidancethroughhigh-baywarehouses

Thelogisticsindustryisincreasingly focusingonsafetytopreventwrong-way trafficandoptimizepickingtimes.The newmmicrosonic Wrong-WaySensor(wws) guidesindustrialtruckssafelythrough high-baywarehouses.Theultrasonic sensorhasamaximumrangeof3.5m. Withinthismeasuringrange,thewws detectsindustrialtrucksenteringaislesin logisticshalls.Thesensordistinguishes betweenincomingandoutgoingindustrial trucks. Inaone-waysysteminahigh-baywarehouse,industrial truckstravelinginthecorrectdirectiondonotneedtobewarned. However,ifanindustrialtrucktravelsinthewrongdirection,the drivermustbewarnedacousticallyandvisually.Forthispurpose, theWrongWaySensorisequippedwithaflashinglightandahorn. Thispreventsunnecessarywrongturnsandcollisionswithoncomingindustrialtrucks. Thewwsischaracterizedbylowpowerconsumption.Theultrasonicsensorcanbepoweredbyapowerbank. Thankstothemagneticmount,installationonsteelpolesisquick anddoesnotrequiredrilling.Optionalmountingwithscrewson thelongslotispossibleatanytime.Thewwsispre-setandready forimmediateuse.TheWrongWaySensorisidealforhigh-bay warehouses,distributioncenters,andproductionfacilitieswhere clearguidanceofindustrialtrucksisessential.

66189atwww.ien.eu

SCALABLESOFTWARE-BASEDCONTROLLER

ForflexiblefunctionsinvirtualizedITenvironments

ThePPhoenix Control Virtual PLCnextControlsolutionisfully integratedintothePLCnextTechnologyecosystemandopensup newpossibilitiesforstate-of-theart,scalable,andresource-saving automationconceptswithoutany physicalcontrollerhardware. It's

HIGH-PERFORMANCEINCREMENTALENCODER

OpticalencoderforDC-Micromotors

FAULHABER isexpandingits productrangewiththeultrapreciseincrementalencoder IERF3L.Thankstotheoptical measuringprincipleandstateof-the-artchiptechnology,the deviceoffersthehighestresolution,excellentrepeatability, andoutstandingsignalquality. Intypicalapplications,thepositioningaccuracyis0.1°andthe repeatability0.007°.Thismakestheencodertheperfectsolution forhigh-precisionpositioningapplicationsinconfinedspaces. The IERF3Lisavailableinthreesizesandisoptimallymatchedtothe brushlessflatDC-MicromotorsoftheBXTfamily.Thedeviceis availableindiametersof22mm,32mm,and42mmandcanalso becombinedwithabrakeifrequired.Theencoderisequippedwith aLineDriverasstandard,whichensurescomplementaryoutput signalsandreliabledatatransmission(especiallywithlongconnectioncables). Withitsveryhighpositioningaccuracyandrepeatability,theencoderisperfectlysuitedfordemandingpositioning applications,suchasinmetrologyorinopticalsystemsincluding lasers,microscopes,andtelescopes.Theencoder canalsobeused inautomationtechnology,e.g.,insemiconductorproductionorin robotics.Asanopticalencoder,itisalsoresistanttomagnetic interferencefields.

66187atwww.ien.eu

(OCI).Thismeansthatthecontrollersoftwarecanberunasa containerapplicationinstate-of-the-artITinfrastructuressuchas DockerandHyper-V-onWindowsandLinuxsystems,locallyand inthecloud.Thisarchitectureenablesrapiddeployment,simple scaling,andahighdegreeofflexibilitywhenintegratinginto existingautomationandITlandscapes.Thenewsolutionwillbe presentedforthefirsttimeatSPS2025. Customersbenefitfrom high-levelscalability,rapiddeployment,andtheabilitytoimplementautomationprojectsflexibly,whilesavingresourcesatthe sametime.Thenewsolutionsupportsallofthefamiliarfunctions fromPLCnextsuchasprogramminginIEC61131-3,high-level languageintegration,OPCUA,MQTT,andtheuseofappsfromthe PLCnextStore.Thismeansthatthefamiliardevelopmentenvironmentisretained-itisjustthatthereisnophysicalcontroller hardware.

66194atwww.ien.eu

Hall 4, 346
Hall 7A, 400

exclusive interview

Customers Need Answers on Customization and Integration in all Industries

IEN Europe interviewed Marco Calabrese, the Managing Director of Lika Electronic, about customization and trends in encoder development.

IEN Europe: Lika Electronic is a well-known name. Could you provide a brief overview of the company's history and product range?

Marco Calabrese: Lika Electronic was founded in 1982 in Italy and has since grown into a leading manufacturer of encoders, actuators, and displays for industrial automation. Over the last four decades, the company has built a strong reputation for delivering reliable and innovative motion control solutions, with a focus on supporting a wide range of automation and robotics applications. Today, Lika combines long-standing expertise with continuous innovation to meet the evolving needs of global industries.

In addition to its strong standard product range, Lika is also recognized for its ability to engineer customized solutions for demanding applications, making it a trusted partner worldwide.

IEN Europe: Bogen Magnetics has been part of the Lika Electronic group for a number of years. How did that process start, and what benefits does it bring to you as a company, as well as to Lika and Bogen customers?

Marco Calabrese: Bogen Magnetics, founded in 1951 in Germany, became part of the Lika Electronic group in 2020. The integration brought together two complementary portfolios: Lika’s expertise in encoders, measurement systems, and motion control, and Bogen’s specialization in high-precision magnetic measurement technologies. By combining our R&D teams, we accelerate innovation and share technical knowhow across both companies. For customers, this means a broader range of solutions, seamless integration of technologies, and faster time-tomarket with tailor-made products. It also brings together complementary measurement technologies, en-

Lika offers a wide range of compact, bearingless kit encoders for direct integration.

hancing our ability to provide high-precision solutions across many applications.

IEN Europe:Please describe the main industry areas your product range covers and the main trends it has to address.

Marco Calabrese: Our solutions are widely used in factory automation, robotics, handling systems, medical technology, aerospace, and renewable energy. Right now, robotics is a key growth area where precision, reliability, and compact form factors are essential. Across all industries, the biggest trends we see are customization and integration. Customers expect solutions that fit perfectly into their systems, both in terms of size and performance, and this is where our combined portfolio delivers clear advantages.

Lika’s digital-ready encoders, together with Bogen’s highprecision sensors, support Industry 4.0 applications, enabling smarter, networked automation solutions.

IEN Europe: Off-the-shelf products cannot cover all industrial needs. What can you offer potential customers with more specific requirements?

Marco Calabrese: We understand that standard products

Miniaturized Bogen Magnetics sensors designed to integrate seamlessly into space-constrained systems for rotative or linear measurements.

often don’t cover the specific needs of complex applications. That’s why Lika and Bogen offer customized encoders, magnetic tapes, and rings. From OEM projects to special form factors or unique tolerances, we provide tailor-made solutions that help customers achieve higher performance and lower integration effort. This approach ensures that we are not only a supplier of products, but a true engineering partner, working side by side with our customers to create the best solution for their application.

IEN Europe: There have been significant developments in the field of automation and robotics in recent years. Which of your products are involved in these innovations, and what do they offer to support the trends?

Marco Calabrese: In robotics and automation, precision and compactness are key. As Lika Electronic, we offer a wide range of bearingless kit encoders, such as the AMM20, AMM33, AMM36, and SMAR1. These encoders are designed for direct integration into robotic joints and other compact systems, where they provide high resolution and reliability while keeping the overall design lightweight and space-saving. Their versatility makes them particularly suitable for collaborative and humanoid robots.

From the Bogen side, our customized magnetic rings and tapes are widely used in robotic joints and motion control systems, where they ensure highly accurate positioning. Our miniaturized sensors, such as the AKP18 and IKP11, are designed to integrate seamlessly into spaceconstrained systems, enabling lightweight and flexible robotic designs. Together with Lika’s encoder technologies, we provide a complete toolkit to support the new generation of collaborative and hu manoid robots.

IEN Europe: Are the demands on your products changing due to the trend of robots leaving industrial shop floors to be deployed in agricul

EHCT 59 absolute multiturn encoder with energy harvesting technology.

tural applications, or in various areas of service robotics in more or less humanoid shapes?

Marco Calabrese: Yes, absolutely. When robots move beyond controlled shop-floor environments, the requirements become tougher. At Bogen Magnetics, for example, we engineer magnetic rings and sensors that are designed to thrive under challenging conditions — from exposure to dust and moisture in agricultural robotics, to high speeds and precision demands in service robots and humanoids. Robustness, compact design, and high reliability are the qualities that make our products suitable for these diverse and demanding environments.

On the Lika side, our encoders are increasingly adapted to withstand harsh conditions as well, ensuring long-lasting performance even outside traditional industrial settings.

Our solutions are also proven in harsh industrial and demanding environments such as offshore platforms, steel mills, and aerospace applications, where extreme temperatures, vibrations, and space constraints require uncompromising performance.

IEN Europe: You are a long-standing SPS exhibitor. What highlights and news should visitors not miss at your stand in 2025?

Marco Calabrese:: At SPS 2025, we will highlight our capabilities in customization, showing how we adapt our encoders, sensors, and magnetic systems to the specific needs of different industries. Visitors will be able to see how Lika and Bogen technologies complement each other to create complete solutions for robotics, automation, and beyond. We are also preparing product news and demos that will showcase our most recent developments in miniaturized and application-specific designs.

In addition to these highlights, we will present a selection of special, custom-designed products that we have developed for individual customer applications. At the same time, our complete product range will be exhibited on our product wall, giving visitors the chance to explore both our standard solutions and our unique custom offerings in one place.

IEN Europe: Thank you for these insights, Mr. Calabrese.

66190 at www.ien.eu

Hall 4A, 325

15 - 17 FEB 2026

ACCELERATING SAUDI ARABIA’S

RISE AS THE GLOBAL

IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING & LOGISTICS

20,000+

150+ 45+ 150+ TRADE PROFESSIONALS

100+ INVESTORS

8,000+

C-LEVEL EXECUTIVES SPEAKERS COUNTRIES STARTUPS

UNLOCK GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS

KEY INDUSTRY SECTORS

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