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TOWARDS A CONNECTED FUTURE:

Market Outlook 2015 | Remote Processing | Environmental Monitoring | Oil & Gas

MARKET OUTLOOK 2015

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Broader Horizons For Data Services PG 30

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Tools For Improved Software PG 36

Water Testing Methods PG 44

The Smart Oil Field PG 50

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ENQUIRY NO. 770

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ADVERTORIAL

INDUSTRIAL MICROSCOPY:

The Precision that Puts you Ahead of the Competition Can you share with us regarding your operations in Singapore? Fahmi Kahouach (FK): We have a factory, sales office and R&D facility here in Singapore. Having all our operations under the same roof enhances the synergy of the company. Customers are regularly invited to our demo centre where they can get a full demonstration from our in-house specialists and also see and feel the microscopes for themselves. In fact, we encourage them to bring their own samples, so they can try out our systems before they make the final purchase. Eddie Lim (EL): Also, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re able to arrange special factory tours for our customers or would-be customers, so they can see how our equipment are put together, starting from the raw optics, to the crating of the microscopes. The feedback weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve received from visitors has been consistently positive.

Fahmi Kahouach, MD

Eddie Lim, Division Manager

While Leica is primarily known for cameras, did you know that Leica Microsystems is your single source for all Research & Development (R&D), Quality Control (QC), and Failure Analysis (FA) imaging applications at affordable prices? Along with expert local support, they offer the broadest range of optics, microscopes, imaging systems, software, and ergonomic accessories to make your work more accurate and efficient. Fahmi Kahouach, MD, Leica Microsystems (SEA) and Eddie Lim, Division Manager, Industry and Nanotechnology, Leica Microsystems (SEA), share their thoughts on their company presence in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, and insights into the world of microscopy.

What about the rest of Southeast Asia and Taiwan? FK: We see a huge potential in Southeast Asia and Taiwan for our products, as we can help companies and employees improve their productivity and quality of work, without compromising on their health and wellness. In order to provide the best experience for the customers, we have appointed local agents in most of the Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan. These are people who know the local market well, and are also in a good position to understand the needs of the customers, and recommend the best equipment for their respective needs.

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Leica is most known for its work in Life Science. How do you then appeal to customers in the industrial sector? FK: It is correct to say we are better known for life science than for industrial. After all, microscopes and the Life Sciences have a long history. However, you can’t argue with the fact that magnification, resolution and image fidelity are intrinsically tied to a lot of workflow processes in the industrial sector. And that’s where we come in. While you need to compromise between working distance and resolution, meaning the higher the resolution, the lower the working distance, our microscopes utilizes FusionOptics™ technology to overcome this. So every day when you go in to work, you can have it all at once – high resolution, richness of detail and a large working distance. EL: This becomes a win-win situation for both the company and the employees. The company enjoys higher productivity and quality of work, while the employees are healthier and happier, free from aches and pains from hunching over the work desk or eye strain from staring at blurry images. So why do you think people would choose you over your competitors? EL: I believe we have the widest spectrum of microscopes to address an array of industrial markets. These range from entry level microscopes that cover basic manufacturing, to high end microscopes for QA and QC. And because we are able to offer the full range of products, our microscopes can be integrated seamlessly into the existing workflow of any production process. But it doesn’t end there. We also provide one of the most comprehensive range of software, which automates the process of precise inspections, consistent documentation and quality reports. FK: We also focus a lot on our customer support, before, during and after the purchase. That’s why we have a dedicated team of sales and support personnel to service customer needs. EL: I would also like to add that because of these dedicated teams we can keep a close eye on industry standards. This allows us to plan ahead and ensure our products, our software and our

systems adhere to the highest standards. The Leica M205 was a result of knowing the ground, then using innovation to exceed expectations. To date, nothing quite outperforms our patented FusionOptics™. What is FusionOptics™ and how does that make the Leica M205 microscope different? EL: FusionOptics™ relies on the unsurpassed adaptability of the brain, by taking advantage of its flexibility to generate three-dimensional images at lightning speed. This technology was first implemented in the High End Stereo M205 series of microscopes. The microscope assigns a different task to each of the two beam paths. The left channel provides very high depth of field, while the right channel contains an image with a very high resolution. Your brain automatically gathers the best information from both sources and combines this into one image with very high richness of detail and depth of field. FK: After we noticed the popularity of the M205, and received a lot of positive feedback from the users, we incorporated the FusionOptics™ technology into other microscopes, not just for industrial, but also for the medical field. EL: This product can be used in many industries, but especially in an industry such as microelectronics, where there is an increasing need for clarity at ever smaller dimensions. In this day and age, products are rapidly shrinking in size, which means the parts that go into them are also shrinking at a swift pace. With the M205, there is no worry that employees will end up huddled at their work stations, straining their eyes over a tiny piece of equipment. Do your microscopes have a lifetime? FK: The lifetime of a microscope can be 10, 20, or even 30 years. It really depends on how you maintain it. We have a service structure in place to support our equipment. Furthermore, most of our microscopes are modular in nature. So you can still upgrade your microscope, several years down the road, to add more features to it. That said, most of our customers prefer to buy new equipment from us, the end result of exciting new innovations.

SCAN HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE M205 PRODUCT BROCHURE

ENQUIRY NO. 793

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ISSUES & INSIGHTS

Market Outlook 2015

There are clear trends emerging in the automation and manufacturing sectors that are set to radically change the way we do work. In this report, IAA speaks with four companies on this emerging reality and how they intend on capitalising on these trends in the year ahead. By Mark Johnston

PROCESS CONTROL

Broader Horizons For Data Services

Companies are needing to adapt to the changing nature of data usage and storage, with security being a top priority. By Katrin Nikolaus, for Siemens

SOFTWARE & NETWORKS

Power Monitoring For Sustainable Data Operations

Tools For The Development And Debugging Of ARM-Based Devices

Supervisory, connectivity and protection options that add an umbrella of protection over the entire IT infrastructure will be explored. By Khoo Teng Seen, Eaton

Software development and debugging tools will be examined that are designed to help improve the quality and debugging capabilities of software being produced. By Magnus Unemyr, Atollic (Sweden); and Stephen Martin, Atollic (USA)

Industrial Software: A Walk Through

The effective use of software to improve efficiency and operations management is important for any organisation. A description of a recent update to industry relevant software, by Microsoft, will be given. By Darby Shin, MDS Technology

INSTRUMENTATION & MEASUREMENT

Water And Wastewater Test Methods For Operators

When testing and measuring, it is important to choose the correct method for the application. There are several factors to consider when making this decision. Contributed by Omega Engineering

ENERGY

The Infrastructure And Models For Cleaner Energy

Dr Arun Majumdar, a professor at Stanford University and former VP for energy at Google, gave his thoughts on the changing energy landscape and the infrastructure needed to realise energy targets. By Mark Johnston

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SECTOR SPOTLIGHT

Embracing Field Intelligence In Smart Oil Fields

The utilisation of modern equipment and IT ensure efficiency and cost effective intelligent operation of Oil Fields. By Sean Huang, Moxa

FEATURES

The development of non-contact inductive universal encoders has offered high resolution and wear-free operation, and at the same time immunity to magnetic fields. By Michael Troska, Turck

Weight Reduction In Factory Automation

With the concern surrounding global warming and the depletion of underground resources such as oil, it is urgent to tackle energy savings and CO2 reduction. Contributed by K. Tokunaga, Misumi South East Asia.

Encoder 2.0

Cover: Rockwell Automation

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Higher Connectivity: Enabling Mobility & Productivity

IAA interviewed Ryan Goh, VP of Sales, Zebra Technologies (Asia Pacific) on their participation in Cards & Payments Asia, Logistics & Supply Chain, and their recent acquisition of Motorola Solutions’ Enterprise Business. By Mark Johnston

EVENTS

NIDay: Singapore Edition

Singapore International Energy Week 2014

REGULARS 10

Industry News

18 Profibus

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The Trusted Leader

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ENQUIRY NO. 783

2/10/14 12:48 pm

EDITOR’S PAGE

Building The Knowledge Economy

Published By:

EASTERN TRADE MEDIA PTE LTD (A fully owned subsidiary of Eastern Holdings Ltd)

SENIOR EDITOR

Joson Ng josonng@epl.com.sg

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Mark Johnston markjohnston@epl.com.sg

As we approach the end of 2014 we have a chance to reflect on the year gone by. Trends that may have been seen in 2013, were crystallised in 2014, and will inevitably be built upon in 2015. Some of these trends include the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, Mobility, Security, 3D Printing, the Connected Enterprise, and many more. If we take these trends and look ahead we can see a future of collaboration and connection, one were remedial tasks are increasingly automated, and human beings occupy more ‘knowledge workers’ jobs where the currency is innovation. We are expected to be creative in this knowledge economy. The industry is moving beyond what defined the last century, the industrial revolution. We are moving to, as Germany like to call it, Industry 4.0, were greater connection and collaboration is what is required. Looking ahead, according to the research company IDC, technology investments in 2015 will focus on the the third Platform — Cloud, Big Data/Analytics, Mobile and Social technologies with a compounded annual growth rate of 14 percent, whereas yearon-year investments in traditional technologies will remain flat. Innovation accelerators for the third Platform include robotics, 3D printing, cognitive systems and the Internet of Things (IoT). We can see that in 2015 more organisations will be moving towards more complex workloads to the cloud. The desire to capitalise on IoT will also be there in 2015. We can see this in Germany where the government is working with partners, such as Bosch, to create cyber-physical systems and modernise their manufacturing sector according to 21st century standards. With increasing experience, more organisations will migrate towards more complex workloads to the cloud, but a desire to capitalise on IoT will make hybrid cloud-based delivery and management essential for the enterprise. With all these connections, security is a concern, which governments and companies are inevitably taking seriously with many approaches being tried to ensure networks and systems remain safe and secure. In this issue we take a look ahead to 2015 and look more closely at the key trends and market dynamics. Also in this issue we look at topics on remote processing, control centres, environmental monitoring, energy infrastructure management, and oil and gas. As always, we welcome your feedback and have a Happy New Year, and a prosperous 2015.

Mark Johnston Assistant Editor

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Katrin Nikolaus, Khoo Teng Seen, Magnus Unemyr, Stephen Martin, Darby Shin, Sean Huang, Michael Troska, K Tokunaga, Augustine Quek EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS

Jim Pinto Industry Analyst

Alastair Ross Director, Codexx Associates Ltd

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ENQUIRY NO. 794 794 Exxon.indd 1

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INDUSTRY NEWS Singapore Government To Collaborate With IBM To Provide More Insightful And Personalised Advice To Citizens Singapore: The Singapore government has announched a collaboration with IBM that envisions to improve accessibility to government information by tapping on IBM Watson to a deliver better and more personalised service on government policies and services. As the world’s first Watson adoption in the government sector, this initiative supports the Singapore government’s mission of enhancing government-citizen interactions and community engagement. By providing government agencies with insights about the concerns and priorities of their constituents, Watson will enable better decision-making and more responsive operations. This leads to improved government services, as well as better citizens’ engagement in community programmes and compliance with civil obligations. In the first phase of the governmentw i d e i n i t i a t i v e , t h e S i n g a p o re government will team-up with IBM to train the Watson-enabled natural language solution in the areas of

The signatories posing for a group photo with Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information.

personal income tax, employment and work pass, and workplace health and safety. When the pilot project goes live next year, users can access the government websites using the self-service applications and gain more specific answers to their queries more quickly from the Watson cloud-based solution. Watson has the ability to recognise

the intent of users’ requests, and this enables the government representatives — or the users themselves in self-serve use cases — to better navigate the government services, uncover the specific need, and provide personalised advice. As the Watson learns, it allows the government agencies to better understand the needs and priorities of their constituents.

Universal Robots Automates Singaporean Precision Engineering Firm Singapore: Universal Robots (UR) has announced PLC Industries’ successful commissioning and running of its UR10s in Singapore. The UR10 models are 6-axis robot arms that are capable of a 10kg payload and has a footprint of 190mm. The shortage of skilled labour coupled with rising material and real estate costs have become

issues for companies in Singapore. Given today’s high mix, low volume manufacturing environment and being eager to stay ahead of the game, local precision engineering firm, PLC, began automating their production lines in February 2014. The company is realising rewards of increased efficiency, reliability and cost savings.

This increase in output is attributed to each robot being able to take over two shifts daily over the course of a six-day workweek. Since only one worker is required to supervise both robots, the unfavourable impact of manpower shortage is reduced.

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Stroke of genius

12 cameras monitoring 8 lanes capture and analyze every stroke of the FINA World Swimming Championship. An ingenuity made possible thanks to the digital camera expertise of Allied Vision.

Read the full story: AlliedVision.com/Pool ENQUIRY NO. 788

Allied Vision Technologies Asia Pte Ltd 82 Playfair Road #07-02 D’Lithium Singapore 368001 Tel : +65 6634 9027 Email : info-asia@alliedvisiontec.com

Allied Vision Technologies Asia Pte Ltd•• 2 • •Playfair Road #07-02 D'Lithium Singapore 368001•• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Tel ••••••• :••+65 ••••••••• 6634 ••••••••• 9027 Email : info-asia@alliedvisiontec.com

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Industry News

Grundfos Awarded S$1.4 Million Government Grant For Wastewater Treatment R&D Singapore: Grundfos has been awarded a S$1.4 million (US$1.12 million) grant by the Singapore Environment and Water Industry Programme Office (EWI) to develop a novel wastewater filtration technology that can reduce capital investment and operational costs for wastewater treatment. The grant comes under the National Research Foundation’s Incentive for Research and Innovation Scheme (IRIS). Administered by EWI, which is led by PUB, Singapore’s national water agency, and various partner agencies, the scheme provides funding support on a competitive basis for research. Besides funding the R&D, the grant will include a pilot demonstration of the technology upon successful proof of concept.

Grundfos has been awarded a S$1.4 million (US$1.12 million) grant by the Singapore Environment and Water Industry Programme Office (EWI) to develop a novel wastewater filtration technology that can reduce capital investment and operational costs for wastewater treatment.

Using unconventional technologies to accelerate results the company’s R&D project will focus on the industrial treatment of wastewater using a unique cake filter made from activated sludge. Activated sludge is the ‘active ingredient’ of a biological wastewater treatment plant, which

contains a suspension of bacteria that feed on wastewater impurities, thereby cleaning it. The company’s cake filtration technology utilises the physicochemical properties of this material to construct superior filters on simple supports.

Singapore And Belgium Reaffirm Close Ties With Focus On High Technology Sectors Singapore: A high-level Belgian Economic Mission, led by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid, Representative of His Majesty the King, was in Singapore to promote bilateral trade and strengthen cooperation between Singapore and Belgium. The 304-member delegation, comprising business leaders and government officials, focussed in particular on the food, biomedical, healthcare, ICT, transport and logistics and clean technology sectors. HRH Princess Astrid and the official ministerial delegation called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana, with both affirming their countries’ close relations and agreeing to explore new areas of cooperation. The delegation also met with Lim Hng Kiang, minister for trade and

industry, Gan Kim Yong, minister of health, and Grace Fu, second minister for the environment and water resources, to discuss areas of mutual cooperation. During the three-day visit, several activities were held to boost economic collaboration and joint initiatives between Singapore and Belgian companies: • S e v e r a l B e l g i a n c o m p a n i e s presented some of the projects and technologies they are working on or have developed during the seminar on ‘Innovative Patient Specific Healthcare.’ • At the Cleantech seminar, challenges to both countries such as limited resources, a densely populated area, and growing urbanisation were addressed, as well as cooperation opportunities.

• The role of universities and research in life sciences to treat neurogenerative diseases among ageing populations was emphasised at the seminar on ‘The Challenges of Ageing populations in Europe and Asia.’ In conjunction with the visit, several Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) were inked between Singapore and Belgian companies and institutions notably between the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Belgium’s Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM). Under the agreement, both parties pledged to cooperate on environmental protection, and waste and resource management. NEA and OVAM will jointly organise the Clean Environment Regulators Roundtable in Belgium next year.

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Industry News

gimsm, Yugoslavia

Eaton Pushes Forward With Environmental Sustainability In Asia Pacific

Singapore: Three of Eaton’s Asian facilities were honoured in its zero waste-to-landfill program. The three Asian sites recognised for their contribution to environmental sustainability are located in China. Since 2010, the company’s facilities worldwide have eliminated a combined total of 2,750 metric tonnes of waste sent to landfills, through recycling, re-use, new work processes and other means. In 2013 alone, its global zero waste-to-landfill program reduced its landfilled waste by about 18 percent — an amount equivalent to 4,900 metric tonnes. The zero waste-to-landfill program recognises facilities for consistently achieving a landfill waste diversion rate of 98 percent through either reuse, composting, recycling on incineration — but only if the heat generated by incineration is collected and used in order to create more energy than what was required for the process. All three of the sites in China undergo an audit process that includes verifying that at least 98 percent of a site's waste is diverted consistently for three months. The company currently has 39 sites achieving zero waste-tolandfill across electrical, hydraulics, aerospace and vehicle operations. These sites are located in Europe, Asia Pacific and North America.

A*STAR’s SIMTech Wins International Award For Breaking New Ground In Actuators Singapore: A Flexure-Based Electromagnetic Linear Actuator (FELA) developed by the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), a research institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), is the only locallydeveloped innovation featured in the 2014 R&D 100 Awards, an international competition that recognises the 100 most technologically-significant products introduced into the marketplace over the past year. FELA was accorded the award as it successfully broke through a crucial barrier encountered by the nanopositioning actuators. Actuators with nano-positioning capability play a crucial role in realising high-precision performance in many industrial equipment and instruments. FELA is a new class of nano-positioning actuator that has successfully broken through the millimetres travel range, a limit encountered by other nano-positioning actuators. What makes FELA unique and applicable to an array of precision instruments and equipment is its ability

Dr Daniel Teo Tat Joo, research scientist and FELA inventor (left) with Dr Lim Ser Yong, executive director, SIMTech, A*STAR (right).

to deliver superior nano-positioning capability with the flexibility to configure the output resolution at an affordable price, all contained within a single package. The development of this technology is critical for the next generation of high-precision systems such as the nano-imprint lithography systems, micro-/nano-scale positioning systems, micro-/nano-metrology systems, micro-/ nano-machining systems, micro-/nanomanipulation systems, and bio-medical instruments.

New Finance Models Bring New Opportunity For Solar Energy In Singapore Singapore: DNV GL has released a new whitepaper titled ‘Bright Ideas: Global Trends in Solar Finance’. The whitepaper presents an in-depth analysis of major trends in solar financing, including an assessment of the technical risks and insight into the future of solar energy finance. With Singapore committed to install 350 MW solar power by 2020 through the launch of the SolarNova programme, new financing models and trends are emerging to broaden sources of capital. The four key trends identified by the Bright Ideas whitepaper as having major

impact on the future of solar finance are securitisation, new sources of debt and equity, new routes to market and crowdfunding. The use of solar energy continues to grow with Singapore seeing robust investment in the Asian solar markets. In 2013, Japan, China and Thailand doubled their end market demand levels over the previous year. But adoption is not at its peak due to challenges in financing the sector. According to the Bright Ideas report, that may all change with new finance models gaining momentum. Dec 2014/Jan 2015 | industrial automation asia 13

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Industry News

Diamond Energy Opens Demand Response Centre Singapore: Diamond Energy has opened a demand response centre at Cleantech One. The opening of the company’s Demand Response Centre is seen as an important milestone to help consumers realise the benefits of demand-side management in Singapore. Worldwide, there are more than 10 million sites providing demand response. According to Navigant Research's ‘Market Data: Demand Response’ report, the market potential of demand response is estimated to be up to 155 TW by 2020. EMA is working with the industry stakeholders to develop a Demand Response Programme for Singapore. The programme is being implemented and is expected to be ready by end 2015.

Diamond Energy opened a demand response centre at Cleantech One. According to Navigant Research, the market potential for demand response is estimated to reach 155TW by 2020.

The company is targeting to sign up 50 MW of demand response capacity next year, to coincide with the celebration of Singapore’s 50th anniversary of independence.

Biocomposites Selects Epicor ERP To Drive Growth Texas, US and London, UK: Epicor Software Corporation announced that Biocomposites, has chosen the Epicor ERP version 10 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution. The solution will be used to enhance visibility across Biocomposites’ business processes from sales to shipping, quality control and support its continued growth. For over 25 years, Biocomposites has been designing and manufacturing medical devices to transform outcomes in musculoskeletal infections, trauma, spine and sports injuries. In recent years

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the company has been achieving year on year growth, across international markets and is now looking to scale its infrastructure to support the next phase of their development. Biocomposites could also see opportunities to improve the efficiency and visibility of its internal processes by bringing together a number of disparate systems in a single integrated company wide ERP solution; supporting sales order administration, inventory, purchasing, production, operations management, finance and dispatch.

Sentient Technologies Raises US$103.5 Million In Series C Funding San Francisco, US: Sentient Technologies has raised US$103.5 million in Series C funding for massively distributed artificial intelligence. That brings the total investment in the company to more than US$143 million. Access Industries led the round with Tata Communications (Hong Kong) Limited (a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Tata Communications Limited), existing investors Horizons Ventures, and a group of private investors in the fields of finance, consumer, food and beverage, and real estate, all participating. The company will use the funds to further expand its distributed artificial intelligence products and services. Vinod Kumar, MD and CEO, Tata Communications said: "As an investor, we share a common vision on the transformative force that massively distributed computing and artificial intelligence can play in helping businesses get insights and solve their most complex big data problems. We see Sentient at the forefront of these technologies and bringing a disruptive approach to cloud based computing services.”

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Industry News

ABB Control Solution For 1,320 MW Clean Coal Power Plant In Southern China China: An ABB Symphony Plus distributed control system is providing a total plant automation solution for Phase II of an ultra-supercritical thermal power plant in Guangxi, on China`s far southern coast. The China Light and Power (CLP) Company‘s Guangxi Fangchenggang power plant is the largest power project built with external investment in Guangxi Province. Phase I was completed at a greenfield coastal site in Fangchenggang City, 180 km south of Nanning, and is supplying power to support the region's rapid development, as well as the West-to-East transmission initiative, via China Southern Grid. Phase I has an ABB Symphony system controlling two 630 MW thermal generating units, which have been running smoothly since commencing commercial operation in 2008. The units operate at ultra-supercritical levels to improve efficiency, and employ flue gas desulphurisation to minimise the environmental impact of using coal.

The China Light and Power (CLP) Company‘s Guangxi Fangchenggang power plant is the largest power project built with external investment in Guangxi Province.

The company was selected because the solution relies on a Symphony Plus platform that provides central control of the four generating units from a single control room, making plant operation easier and more convenient. The solution is supported by the configuration and operation software of Symphony Plus system, which has the same look and feel, making it easier to use even without retraining of plant engineers.

The Phase II hardware is compatible with Phase I, protecting the customer’s investment, and also enhancing spare parts management. Phase II of its development will add two 660 MW generating units to the units already in place. The company offered the customer, CLP, a solution featuring a highly integrated automation platform to control all four power generation units.

Acquisition Of Singaporean Low-Voltage Switchboard Manufacturer For Strengthening Asian Business Tokyo, Japan: Fuji Electric (‘The Company’) has announced that it has concluded an agreement with Osaki Electric and its wholly owned subsidiary Osaki United International (‘OUI’). This agreement is on the transfer of all shares of SMB Electric (‘SMBE’) wholly owned by OUI. The company is scheduled to acquire all of the issued shares of SMBE as of December 29, 2014. Under the management policies of the ‘expansion of energy-related business’ and ‘globalisation,’ the company is working on strengthening overseas business with the focus

on the industrial infrastructure and power electronics business. SMBE is a manufacturer of lowvoltage electrical switchgear and control gear solutions conducting business in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia. It has taken advantage of its strong relationships with design consulting and plant engineering firms to deliver many installations for datacentres, commercial facilities and industrial plant and factory equipment. Fuji Tusco was established in Thailand last October for the purpose of strengthening the

power transformation business and, in December, launched Fuji Electric Manufacturing (Thailand), a new factory mainly engaged in the production of power electronics devices as the core base of manufacturing in Asia. In such ways, we are steadily moving ahead with strengthening the overseas business foundation. The present acquisition is expected to allow the company to make use of SMBE's resources to further expand its business in Asia.

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Industry News

ODVA Forms Special Interest Group For EtherNet/IP In The Process Industries Michigan, US: The Open DeviceNet Vendors Association (ODVA) is to form a Special Interest Group (SIG) for EtherNet/IP in the process industries. The SIG will leverage the inherent strengths of EtherNet/IP to develop enhancements to The EtherNet/IP Specification to address three key use cases for automation applications in the process industries: (1) field device-to-Industrial Control System (ICS) integration; (2) field deviceto-Plant Asset Management (PAM) integration; and (3) a holistic field-to-enterprise communication architecture. The formation of this SIG is one outgrowth of the organisation’s process initiative, which is aimed at the Optimisation of Process Integration (OPI). The SIG’s scope of work is founded on the overarching vision to proliferate adoption of EtherNet/IP in the process industries, and will focus initially on the integration of field devices with industrial control systems and related diagnostic services. The work of the SIG will result in a unified communication approach t o p ro c e s s a p p l i c a t i o n s , enhancing the ability of users to exchange information to and from the field.

Industry News

Frank Stührenberg To Become Chairman Of Phoenix Contact Executive Board Germany: As of January 1, 2015, Frank Stührenberg, executive VP global sales, will become chairman of the Executive board of Phoenix Contact. Hence he will take over the office as well as the tasks that so far have been held by Klaus Eisert as managing partner. Mr Stührenberg will remain in charge of global sales. The joint responsibility and tasks of the other four executive VPs will also remain unchanged.

Frank Stührenberg

Hitachi Consulting Acquires Singapore Based Consulting Firm

Hitachi Consulting has acquired Stone Apple, a specialist in Enterprise Applications, Embedded Systems, Business Intelligence & Analytics, Enterprise Content & Integration and Managed Services.

Texas, US: Hitachi Consulting, the global management consulting and IT services business of Hitachi, has announced that it has acquired Stone Apple, a specialist in Enterprise Applications, Embedded Systems, Business Intelligence & Analytics, Enterprise Content & Integration and Managed Services. The acquisition will help to advance Hitachi Consulting's capability to deliver measurable, sustainable business results for clients in each of these areas and will expand the company’s presence in Southeast Asia including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, as well as provide a strong foundation in Brazil. Stone Apple is one of Singapore's fastest-growing technology consulting

companies, helping clients drive business transformation and achieve business goals through effective implementation of technology solutions. With over 1,500 employees in nine countries, Stone Apple works with clients to deliver complex global projects in the Financial Services, Utilities, Manufacturing, Education, Healthcare and Public sectors. To support this level of growth over its short five year existence, Stone Apple has partnered with blue chip investors such as SBI Islamic Fund (Brunei), OSK Ventures International, Philip Asia Pacific Opportunity Fund and Continuum Capital (Malaysia), a fund managed by First Floor Capital.

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Industry News

Contrinex Opens Distribution Centre In Dallas, Joins Paris And Singapore US: With the opening of Contrinex’s new distribution centre in Dallas, Texas, customers in the US, Canada and Mexico can count on product availability and prompt delivery for their sensor needs. The Dallas distribution centre joins Paris and Singapore to become the third Contrinex logistics hub. This global spread has been designed to ensure the ready availability of the companies products wherever customers are in the world. With a surface area of nearly 500 sqm, the Dallas hub has been designed to hold ample, permanent stock of all products. As a result, customers across the US, Canada and Mexico can count on delivery times of between 24 and 48 hours, while delivery times of three to four days apply for South America.

Keysight Technologies Selected By Bosch To Equip AE InnoLab With Electronic Test And Measurement Equipment California, US: Keysight Technologies has been selected by Robert Bosch to equip the new AE InnoLab in Reutlingen, Germany. The Bosch AE InnoLab grand opening was hosted by Klaus Meder, president, Automotive Electronics (AE), Robert Bosch, and Sigi Gross, VP and GM, Keysight's Electronic Test Division. Together they underlined the importance of collaboration for real innovation to address new technology research fields such as IoT (Internet of Things), building and energy systems, car networking and

component solutions. Each work environment at AE CreationCenter is equipped with the following Keysight instruments: 1) TrueForm waveform generator, 2) a TrueVolt digital multimeter, 3) an Infiniium S-Series mixed signal oscilloscope, 4) a DC power analyser and 5) a handheld digital multimeter. The company’s BenchVue software platform is also used to integrate the entire environment with one graphical user interface, as such supporting the collaborative and agile innovation work in the lab.

(l-r): At the Bosch AE InnoLab grand opening.ceremony were Oliver Kessling (Arburg), Sigi Gross (Keysight), Klaus Meder (Bosch), Andreas Lock (Bosch).

Connected Enterprise: Rockwell Automation And Cisco Collaborate On Design And Implementation Guide For Wireless Infrastructure Deployment California, US: Rockwell Automation and Cisco have announced the release of a white paper and design and implementation guide titled, ‘Deploying 802.11 Wireless LAN Technology within a Converged Plantwide Ethernet Architecture.’ The detailed design guidance will help control system engineers, IT network engineers, and system integrators implement standard, IP-

based wireless networks in a more robust, secure and scalable way. The guide provides information on 802.11 wireless LAN (WLAN) solutions within a Converged Plantwide Ethernet (CPwE) architecture, including design considerations for fixed position, nomadic and mobile equipment use cases. It also includes explanations for how to configure, maintain and

troubleshoot WLAN for each use case, and detailed documentation on how the architectures were tested and validated by both companies. With this new resource, network designers can create a small network within a plant using a single autonomous access point, and scale up to create a larger, unified WLAN architecture.

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INDUSTRY UPDATES

Profinet Is A Chinese National Standard ANOTHER important milestone for the worldwide use of Profinet was reached on September 16, 2014 in Beijing, China. In an official ceremony in the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Profinet was declared a Chinese national standard by Dr Sun Wei, director of the Standardisation Administration of The Republic of China (SAC). This paves the way for Chinese manufacturers and users to rely on a dependable, stable, and future-proof standard. This was acknowledged in an official ceremony in the presence of more than 150 highlevel representatives. A special expression of thanks was also given to the experts of PI and ITEI (the PI test lab in China) as well as the Chinese national standardisation committee SAC/TC124 Industry Process Measurement and Control, whose close cooperation made this standardisation undertaking possible.

Growing Use In China Dr Sun emphasised that Profinet has been in widespread use in China for a while and that Chinese device manufacturers have already started to integrate Profinet into their devices and some have even been certified in the Profinet test lab in Beijing. This was also highlighted by Karsten Schneider, Chairman of PI (Profibus & Profinet International). “The fact alone that three new PI Competence Centres were established in China this year shows how firmly rooted our technology is in Asia. PI China has in recent years developed into the third largest Regional PI Association.” The main benefit for users and manufactures is the local support for their projects. It makes a difference whether the support is provided in English or in the native language of the engineers. PI can offer this in almost 30 countries around the world.

PI Chairman Karsten Schneider at the official ceremony on September 16, 2014, when Profinet was declared a national standard in China.

With the issuance of the Chinese national standard, Profinet is spreading even faster in China and additional manufacturers are supporting this communication standard. With that Profinet is underscoring its leading role in industrial automation. ENQUIRY NO. 8101

Profisafe – In Tune With The Times PI (Profibus & Profinet International) has responded in short order to new demands in the field of functional safety with development of a new version of Profisafe. The high value placed on functional safety stems from the fact that it not only represents a technical solution for efficient and disturbance-free production, but also carries important social significance for humans, machines, and the environment alike. As in all technical fields, a continuous innovation process is taking place in functional safety systems, as well. New requirements for functional safety communication have recently come to light that aim to determine and reduce the rate of all types of errors (residual error rate) for functional safety systems. PI has taken up the issue and addressed it

in the new version of Profisafe V2.6.1. Compatibility with the previous version has been guaranteed in the process. The new version has already been evaluated by two testing bodies — IFA and TÜV — and the positive results of these evaluations have been documented in test reports. The main change from the previous version (V2.4) concerns the implicit data integrity, which is now also established using probabilistic methods. The result is an improvement in the process of analysing the residual error rate. The implicit data integrity refers to information that is included in the calculation for the frame integrity but is not transported in the frames themselves. ENQUIRY NO. 8102

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Newsdesk

20th Anniversary: CANopen In The Hands Of CiA CANopen is the internationally standardised (EN 50325-4) CAN-based higher-layer protocol for the embedded control system. The set of CANopen specifications comprises the application layer and communication profile as well as application, device, and interface profiles. CANopen provides flexible configuration capabilities. These specifications are developed and maintained by CiA members. CANopen networks are used in a very broad range of application fields such as machine control, medical devices, off-road and rail vehicles, maritime electronics, building automation as well as power generation. In the beginning, the CANopen specification was named CAL-based communication profile for industrial systems. It was developed under the umbrella of European Strategic Program on Research in Information Technology (ESPRIT), a research program of the European Community. The title of the project 7302 was ASPIC, short for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Automation and Control Systems for Production Units using an Installation Bus Conceptâ&#x20AC;?. T h e o b j e c t i v e w a s t o d e v e l o p c o n t ro l architectures and devices to enable flexible and modular combination of existing manufacturing cell units. The researchers led by Dr Mohammad Farsi (University of Newcastle) and Stefan Reitmeier (Bosch) decided to use the CAN Application Layer (CAL) protocol, developed by CiA. CAL was a pure application layer approach according to the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model. However, it was in some respect an academic approach and had various fathers: Main contributions came from Tom Suters (Philips Medical Systems), as well as Professor Dr Konrad Etschberger and Professor Dr Wolfhard Lawrenz both working at German universities for applied science. Of course, other CiA members had also contributed ideas.

The first edition of the CiA 301 specification contained only 60 pages, but it was not as complete as it is nowadays.

The Specification The CANopen specification published as CiA 301 was one of the most successful ESPRIT research projects. One of the reasons was that the specification was handed over to CiA for further developments and maintenance. From the beginning, several companies implemented the higher-layer protocol in real applications. Of course, several reviews and updates were necessary before CANopen became a stable specification. Version 3.0 was the first release used in products and systems. This version was valid from 1996 to 1999. Some applications still use this version today. CANopen can be regarded as the application layer of small and medium-sized suppliers. It is the only independent industrial communication systems not promoted by one market-leading company. It can also be regarded as the solution of system designers, because some machine builders had chosen this approach to be independent from the suppliers. Among these machine builders are Heidelberger and Siemens Healthcare. In 1995, CiA presented the very first CANopen multi-vendor demonstrator equipped with products from Moog, Selectron and others at its Hanover fair booth. ENQUIRY NO. 8103 Dec 2014/Jan 2015 | industrial automation asia

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User Demand Drives Pace For Increased Product Registration Numbers Talon Petty, marketing specialist, from the Fieldbus Foundation discusses the continued growth of Fieldbus and creating community awareness of their technology and activities. IT seems digital process fieldbus cannot get away from people saying ‘it is too hard’ or ‘growth is flat’, yet every day in other areas of people’s lives they continue to adopt more and more digital technology. While unsettling as it is to hear that, the most unsettling part is that there seems to lack any evidence to support this conclusion. Why does someone believe it is too hard? Where can they point to prove there is a stall in digital fieldbus growth? Somehow a message gets disseminated that fieldbus has reached some peak despite data from ARC stating fieldbus is still growing at double digit rates. Are there regions where fieldbus is not as widely adopted as alternatives? Certainly. But are there also areas where fieldbus is overwhelmingly the de facto standard? You bet. It is hard to argue there have not been projects that should have gone fieldbus, and instead went 4-20mA. It is also hard to argue there have been projects that seemed certain to go 4-20mA but ultimately stepped into fieldbus. There are fieldbus ‘physics’ to be considered. For a given negative story, there is an equal and opposite positive success story to counter. So what then are we to believe? The Fieldbus Foundation sees it this way: user demand is responsible for driving registrations of fieldbus devices, and as of August 2014, user demand has pushed manufacturers to register record setting numbers of Foundation capable process instruments. Understanding The Impact Of User Demand On Registrations When digital fieldbus was first introduced, there were only a handful of available device types. Today, thanks to user demand, there is a wide array of available devices to fit nearly every possible application each with their own unique set of capabilities and advantages. This same user demand has led to the Fieldbus Foundation registering more devices with more companies every single year as it outpaces itself in frequency and rate of registration every year over

Registered Foundation Fieldbus Product Types.

the last three years. The Fieldbus Foundation also averaged roughly 15 new member companies per year during that same period. As one can see, not only has Foundation fieldbus been growing, it has just had the highest product registration month in all of 2014, registering nearly 30 devices. In fact, digging back through data to 1998, growth of product registrations with Foundation fieldbus has never declined or became flat even once. Looking closer at the sharp increase experienced in August the Fieldbus Foundation actually had the highest number of product re-registrations since 2001. Additionally, the Fieldbus Foundation just registered the 3rd highest number of new product registrations since its founding. At current trends, the organisation is projected to see the largest number of device re-registrations and new registrations in the 20 year history of the foundation. So what do the spikes in registrations mean? Well for starters, it means there is a clear and present economic business model for Foundation fieldbus

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Three year comparison of Foundation fieldbus product registrations.

that manufacturers are capitalising on. As the world has long since entered the digital age in nearly every facet of its life, it is only natural the process industries do the same. Digital provides obvious advantages over traditional analogue systems, and Fieldbus Foundation feels that user demand comes from stronger standardisation in the areas that the users require it and more flexibility where the users need it. As the usability and simplicity of Foundation fieldbus continues to improve and meet the needs of the user community, growth will continue as users demand more information and better awareness from their devices to run efficient operations that make reliable high quality products.

The Fieldbus Foundation also utilises a YouTube channel that has proven effective for spreading educational videos on Foundation technology. It allows the organisation to share great ‘how-to’ videos and direct viewers to appropriate content they find useful when visual illustration is needed. For example, one of the most watched videos on the channel is a simple ‘how to’ on wiring H1 fieldbus cable. This video alone has amassed over 16,000 minutes of viewing time. Growth in user demand for fieldbus has generated 50 percent more engagement in 2014 than in 2013. These numbers will continue to grow and expand as awareness of the channel increases.

Social Interaction Beyond the growth comparisons to the registration program, the Fieldbus Foundation has seen continued rise and involvement in social media across the globe. The official Fieldbus Foundation LinkedIn Group now has nearly 1,900 members and increases an average of 60 members per month. LinkedIn has shown itself to be a valuable way to communicate about Foundation fieldbus installations with other industries experts. The level of interaction on each discussion post is impressive. The @FoundationField twitter account has 1,885 followers as of this post with similar growth rates as the LinkedIn group. Twitter provides an immediate way for people to interact with the organisation and to read about current news and events natively on their mobile platform. Again, its the continued growth trend that illustrates user demand for Foundation fieldbus.

Conclusions The Fieldbus Foundation continues to see double digit growth across the globe and it shows in both the registration program and social conversations. Users demand smarter instruments, more efficient systems and real-time closed loop control. Foundation Fieldbus helps achieve these demands, and in so doing, allows the user to make a salable product safely and reliably on-time and with minimal interruptions. If it was not for this strong user demand, manufacturers would not have a feasible economic business model to continue delivering fieldbus products at unprecedented rates. It should be said that the Fieldbus Foundation shares its users enthusiasm in looks forward to closing out another successful year of growth and a record breaking year of device registrations. This is a great thing for the process industry. ENQUIRY NO. 8104 Dec 2014/Jan 2015 | industrial automation asia 21

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China Adopts EtherCAT As A National Technology Standard EtherCAT has seen strong global use for more than 10 years, and accordingly, the EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) has indeed grown into a global organisation. A new milestone — not only for the ETG, but for the technology itself — was achieved recently: EtherCAT is now a national technology standard in China. On October 21, 2014, Dr Wei Sun, representative of the Standardisation Administration of China (SAC), made the announcement at a ceremony in Beijing. Hosted by ITEI president, Professor Jinsong Ouyang, the event brought together numerous experts from a wide range of industries, in the official guest house of the Chinese government. There, SAC Director, Dr Wei Sun announced EtherCAT as National Standard GB/T 31230 in China. The Benefits As a special highlight, Chinese company representatives shared experiences with their numerous EtherCAT systems and applications with the audience and explained the benefits realised through implementation. When Yunying Huang, VP of Shenyang Machine Tool R&D Institute Shanghai, introduced the company’s new, intelligent i5 CNC machine tool entirely based on EtherCAT, he emphasised that performance, openness, and the large product selection available from many of the world’s largest vendors were the main decisive factors for selecting EtherCAT. Dr Frank de Schepper, CEO of Wenzhouheadquartered SIBONAC Laser Technologies, which is also heavily involved in CNC applications, reported 22

the benefits of EtherCAT for his company: “The EtherCAT protocol is open, easier to use, and faster than alternative protocols,” he remarked. In addition, Professor Ji Huan from Beihang University explained from a research point of view how CNC machines benefit from EtherCAT. Professor Huan stated: “Besides the performance, I see the main advantage of EtherCAT for Chinese users and implementers alike being the excellent support that the technology enjoys in China. Training classes and workshops, sample code, documentation, and implementation support, as well as test and certification services, are readily available.” In close cooperation with ITEI, several ETG member companies from China, as well as the local EtherCAT Competence Centre at Beihang University in Beijing, contributed significantly to the completion of the standard. The Growth The worldwide adoption of EtherCAT, especially in China today, was demonstrated in the presentations of Martin Rostan, executive director of the ETG, as well as Beryl Fan, manager of the ETG China office in Beijing. “With over 400 local members, the ETG has grown tremendously in China, particularly over the past few years. Acceptance as a Chinese National Standard is a significant milestone for our organisation. With this development it will now be even easier for end users, manufacturers, and vendors to understand, implement, and use EtherCAT in the future,” explained Ms Fan. ENQUIRY NO. 8105

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ENQUIRY NO. 787

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ISSUES & INSIGHTS

2015 Market Outlook

IBM

Rockwell Automation

Yaskawa Electric

Berry Medendorp, Senior Manager, Outbound Marketing, from Belden gave his thoughts on the defining trends of 2015 and his companies strategy in the year ahead.

Timothy Young, Big Data & Analytics Marketing Lead, IBM Asia Pacific discusses cloud computing and big data, as well as Watson, which processes information more like a human than a computer.

Robert Buttermore, Regional Director, Southeast Asia, from Rockwell Automation gave his thoughts on the year ahead, and sees the Internet of Things (IoT) as a key trend moving into 2015.

Hideki Kohara, CEO, Yaskawa Electric (Singapore) sees energy savings and improving efficiency as key objectives of 2015 given the rising costs associated with energy.

IAA: What will be the defining trend(s) of 2015 in your industry?

Belden Berry Medendorp (BM): A key trend is the continued growth of Industrial Ethernet for wireless signal transmission in key industries such as automotive, petrochemical plants, power generation and substation facilities, alternative energy and transportation. As processors and manufacturers establish real-time connections this will allow machines as well as employees to act and react faster — and more intelligently. However, to ensure maximum reliability in harsh industrial environments, signal transmission solutions will need to be rugged and resistant to pressure, liquids, chemicals and vibration. Moreover, they need to be secured against accidental and/or malicious attacks. In response to this trend there needs to be a continued development of ruggedised or

industrial switches, cables and connectors — as well as extensive network security systems. The establishment of Wireless networks (WLANs) gives rise to new and advanced trends: Advanced Metering and Demand Response — requiring integration of devices at the edge of the grid; and Discrete Manufacturing, in which manufacturers are moving to a unified WLAN network model. Key challenges here are that Wi-Fi coverage becomes dense with multiple wireless applications, including automation, data, voice, location and common services.

IBM Timothy Young (TY): According to research company IDC, technology investments in 2015 will focus on the third Platform — Cloud, Big Data/Analytics, Mobile and Social technologies with a compounded annual growth rate of 14 percent, whereas year-on-year investments in traditional technologies will remain flat. Innovation accelerators for the third Platform

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include robotics, 3D printing, cognitive systems and the Internet of Things (IoT). With increasing experience, more organisations will migrate towards more complex workloads to the cloud, but a desire to capitalise on IoT will make hybrid cloud-based delivery and management essential for the enterprise. Organisations are also increasingly turning to predictive analytics techniques to adopt data-driven approaches to run their businesses. For capital-intensive industries, significant growth areas in 2015 will be the use of predictive analytics techniques around maintenance quality and asset management.

motors in usage are increasing, it is necessary to have a single master controller that can control many motors. Therefore, it is essential to have a fast field-network to improve machine productivity and performance. At the same time, we are able to simplify the machines electrical cabinet by using fewer cables. Energy costs are on the rise, energy efficiency has moved from contention to consensus. Strategically managing energy cost can bring about long-term savings, green branding and an efficient production culture. The Singapore government has also recently announced the investment of S$100 million (US$80 million) on improving industrial energy efficiency and solar energy technology.

Rockwell Automation Rober t Butter mor e (RB): Automated manufacturing will change more radically in the next five years than it has in the last 20. With the rapid evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT), almost every device can now use embedded technology to gather and transmit information. The future of industrial automation and manufacturing is inextricably tied to the rise of standards-based Industrial EtherNet/IP technology. This serves as a common network infrastructure that can speed communications between the plant floor Ethernet, smart devices, powerful local-computing solutions, and merged network technologies. The accelerated connection of Operations Technology (OT) to Information Technology (IT) is facilitating the convergence of multidiscipline applications, enabling unprecedented collaboration across the enterprise, whilst linking processes and facilities to suppliers and customers in new ways. The result is better real-time decision making, improved efficiencies, greater collaboration and maximised profitability. Seamlessly and securely enabling this actionable information sharing within and across the ecosystem creates a ‘Connected Enterprise’.

Yaskawa Electric Hideki Kohara (HK): The defining trend in the Motion control and Automation sectors in 2015 would be energy savings and open field-networks. The complexity of equipment and the number of

IAA: How do you hope to capitalise on these trends and what do you believe will be the key challenges and opportunities for 2015?

Belden BM: Excellent warranties are important and a dedicated customer support minimises downtime, protects critical infrastructure and provides peace of mind. In this approach flexibility is key; and our solutions and services will continue to evolve and drive future technical and business advances. In addition, the use of a common industrial standard reduces the risks related to proprietary protocols, exclusively connected to a single company. Flexibility is also key when addressing the issue of industrial monitoring and control. By taking part in relevant industry platforms, the company is contributing to the development of global standards. Key challenges for which the company has developed a range of solutions include: • Cyber security threats impacting Oil & Gas applications • Accelerated Modal Shift to Rail in the transportation market • Implementing IEC61850 for Substation Automation and Future Trends • Network security

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ISSUES & INSIGHTS

IBM TY: In regards to the Cloud, we develop our strategy based on the feedback we receive from our clients, the leading companies in major industries around the world. They tell us that they want a Hybrid Cloud approach that integrates cloud operations with on-premise systems and ties in systems of record with systems of engagement. We believe that our clients are guided by three fundamentals namely, Big Data, Cloud and innovation. By this, IBM is hence focused on helping our clients innovate in this era of cloud and big data. We see that cloud is really about how clients source their IT services. Just as we innovate and transform our client’s business with a traditional IT delivery environment, we are doing the same with a cloud-based environment. We see cloud computing as creating the next wave of services transformation. Our traditional outsourcing models blend seamlessly with our newer cloud delivery models. The company has developed an infrastructure-as-a-service cloud built on decades of hosting experience. Cloud is the natural evolution of our virtualisation and software expertise. The company is leveraging our middleware business, as well as our understanding of how software platforms work to deliver software in the cloud. The company is focused on helping clients innovate in this era of cloud and big data. The company is committed to opening standards for cloud, and has long been a champion of open standards (eg: Linux, Apache, Eclipse) in the enterprise. It is a platinum sponsor of OpenStack, an open-source cloud platform backed by industry heavyweights that support open standards.

Rockwell Automation RB: Rockwell Automation has been helping customers harness the value of its Connected Enterprise vision. It requires understanding the idiosyncrasies of manufacturing’s complexities, taking advantage of emerging disruptive

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technologies, and assisting people in their various roles to convert data into working information capital. Based on its own evolution, the organisation understands both the complexities and the rewards of this journey. With manufacturing facilities around the world, customers in 80 countries, and over 22,000 employees, the company needs to ensure all products — each with a myriad of parts — are built, stocked and shipped seamlessly. It has managed complexity, eliminated inefficiencies, improved supply-chain coordination and enabled better collaboration amongst engineers to strategically share information across its entire ecosystem.

Yaskawa Electric HK: 2015 will be a great year for Yaskawa Electric with the launch of two key products; U1000 Regenerative Inverter and Sigma 7 servo to strengthen our growth in the area of Energy Saving and Open Field Network. We will continue to promote the intelligence of widely connected Factory Automation equipment with high-speed digital networks and at the same time provides a solution for Energy Savings and harmonics level reduction. The launch of the Sigma 7 Servo series together with Mechatrolink, which is used in Asia enables us to propose a total system solution for customers that required Open Field Network and also adhere with IEC international standards. In terms of the trend in energy-savings, Sigma 7 Servo Series that utilises the regenerative energy of multiple axes enable energy inside the system to be used more effectively. The company also launched a low harmonics regenerative matrix converter series, the U1000, which is different from a conventional inverter drive. It has a simple efficient design, does not use diodes and capacitors found in an inverter DC Bus. The Matrix converter has got nine bidirectional switches which make it possible to create variable voltage and variable frequency directly from a 3 phase AC power supply, which solves the problem caused by capacitors as they charge and discharge.

www.iaasiaonline.com

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IAA: What are your company’s key objectives for 2015, and what will be your strategy for achieving them?

Belden BM: Rapid growth in technology is dramatically changing the way manufacturers do business. Innovative technologies, like the iPad and other mobile devices, are providing greater mobility on the factory floor — helping IT and operations departments get their jobs done. Asset optimisation and increased collaboration between IT and operations are also driving organisational efficiency, bringing down costs and improving workflow dramatically. Welldesigned infrastructures offer greater agility — allowing manufacturers to accommodate change at a moment’s notice, responding to market and

customer demands. New security technologies that mitigate the risk of physical and cyber threats are paving the way for better work environments and the ability to keep proprietary information secure. Industrial Ethernet is the critical thread tying all of these innovations together. To maintain a sustainable competitive edge, a communications infrastructure is needed that is built to accommodate the next wave of industrial optimisation. Plan for growth — build an infrastructure that is easy to implement and expand upon. Install a networking solution that can withstand extreme conditions for long-term performance and reliability. Invest in a quality support staff who can find the fix in an instant when things go wrong.

IBM TY: IBM is committed to the third Platform and like IDC, we anticipate significant growth to stem

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ISSUES & INSIGHTS

from Cloud, Big Data & Analytics, Mobile and Social sectors. The company’s definition of the third Platform also includes security because of the challenges organisations are facing today with data security, privacy and compliance. The company continues to invest in high growth areas and cloud is one of the key growth plays for the company where we see market demand shifting. This is a continuous journey. Last year, the company made a big investment with the US$2 billion acquisition of SoftLayer to its existing high value cloud portfolio. In January this year, it announced an expansion of SoftLayer datacentres with US$1.2 billion investment, aiming to bring cloud to every corner of the globe and doubling SoftLayer’s footprint. Within Big Data & Analytics, a key goal for the company is cognitive computing called Watson. Watson processes information more like a human than a computer — by understanding natural language, generating hypotheses based on evidence, and learning as it goes. In terms of learning, Watson ‘gets smarter’ in three ways: by being taught by its users, by learning from prior interactions, and by being presented with new information. This means organisations can more fully understand and use the data that surrounds them, and use that data to make better decisions.

Rockwell Automation RB: Rockwell Automation will continue to work towards being the most valued global provider of innovative industrial automation, power, safety, and information solutions that make its customers more productive and the world more sustainable. In Southeast Asia, the company will stay focused on Oil and Gas, Food and Beverage, Auto and Tire, as well as focused heavy industries like Mining. Its competitive advantages comes from automation technology, solutions, life-cycle services, and global capabilities with process control, safety, power control, and information systems. Its solutions are designed to enable plantwide optimisation, so customers can reap more productivity from their manufacturing investments throughout all stages of the plant lifecycle. It will continue to deploy Connected Enterprise solutions converging maintenance, engineering, operations, IT, and the enterprise into one seamless organisation through the IoT. At the same time, the company’s PartnerNetwork programme will continue to provide support

through technology, resources, inventory, and other complementary products to help customers solve their enterprise challenges.

Yaskawa Electric HK: For the years leading up to the 100th anniversary of the company in 2015, Yaskawa Electric Group has established the vision of using the group’s core technologies to solve emerging global problems such as an aging society in advanced countries as well as the environmental and energy issues. We have been working to create a market for robots that are closer to humans and coexist with them in the ‘Robotics Human Assist’ business domain, while keeping industrial robots at the core. In Singapore, we are currently in our preparation phase with hospitals and rehabilitation centres to launch our Therapeutic Exercise Machine (LR2) to the market. In the ‘Environmental & Energy’ business domain, we focus both on energy conservation using our drive technology and on power conversion equipment for effective use of natural energy. Renewable energy is the priority development for ASEAN countries for alternative energy source that the company, through the acquisition of Solecteria Renewables, will focus on the Solar Market in the ASEAN region. The solar energy sector throughout the ASEAN region is growing fast and with political support is becoming more consistently positive, expansion looks set to continue for major solar farms as well as miniand off-grid projects. In the ‘Mechatronics Solution’ business domain, we are speeding up expansion of global operations and target activities that add more value. As ASEAN is the pioneer of a variety of manufacturing machinery makers with an increase in sales of servo motor and inverters. We are focusing on the energy conservation market, solar inverters market, elevators, HVAC, factory crane and conveyor application for the inverters market. Targeting on PSA harbour, we hope to receive large orders for electrical equipment use for crane application. We will also be focusing in entering new markets with electrical goods for ships. In the automotive industry, we are focusing on expanding sales of industrial robots. ENQUIRY NO. 8201

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ENQUIRY NO. 785

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Broader Horizons For Data Services Companies are needing to adapt to the changing nature of data usage and storage, with security being a top priority. By Katrin Nikolaus, for Siemens

nalysts at market intelligence firm IDC estimate that about 40 zettabytes (a number with 21 zeros) of data will be created, copied, or consumed in 2020. This development is being driven by the digital networking of humans and machines — the former in professional and private social networks, the latter in automation systems. In addition, people and machines are also increasingly networking with one another — for example, when service technicians tap into condition monitoring systems in medical scanners or gas turbines. The resulting flood of data is creating a major challenge for companies, which have to continuously expand their Information Technology (IT) infrastructures so that they can store and process their data. An alternative to this is cloud computing, which enables companies to cut costs and improve the quality of data processing. “Cloud computing is basically the virtualisation and automation of IT. It can also provide high storage and processing capacity on short notice,” explained Dr Birgit Schiemann, who heads a cloud project group at Siemens Corporate Technology (CT). Because her project group is of great strategic significance for Siemens, it has the status of a core technology initiative. Dr Schiemann uses office PCs to illustrate where IT development is going. Whereas every employee currently has his or her own hard disk, on which an operating system, programs, and data are stored, in the future, all they will need will be a keyboard and a display device. Everything else will be stored in a digital cloud at a major provider’s server farm. Many workers will access their data only via mobile computing, meaning that a tablet computer will be all they will need. Cloud computing is therefore the outsourcing of storage and computing

roy andre tollefsen, sandnes, rogaland, Norway

PROCESS CONTROL

capacity. By far the biggest provider of this service is Amazon, which already years ago created huge server capacities to handle the online shopping rush in the run-up to Christmas. But because much of this capacity was not needed during the rest of the year, the company began renting it to other companies, and the first cloud computing infrastructure was born.

Security Is Central Cloud computing has triggered a process that ultimately raises the question of whether companies will even need to maintain their own IT infrastructures in the future. Companies must adopt new approaches to dealing with the growing amounts of data that need to be stored and the ever-increasing requirement for computing power. Although cloud computing has the advantage that users do not have to invest in the systems themselves, major technology companies, in particular, were for a long time skeptical about this service because of security concerns. “Security continues to be one of the biggest challenges in our project,” explained Dr Schiemann. She and her team have to determine what kind of cloud is best suited for each application and solution at Siemens’ four sectors. For example, the company has a public cloud, where data is encrypted when it is transmitted between rented servers and users, but the cloud’s servers process data from many different clients. However, this is frequently not a suitable solution, largely due to legal constraints. This is particularly true when the data includes personal details, company secrets, or information that is transmitted from one country to another. In many cases, these challenges can be solved with the help of the virtual private cloud, in which the provider

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ensures that a server is used only by one client. Cloud service providers can also guarantee that data will not leave a particular country if this is not permitted due to legal reasons or security concerns. “Every business unit has to resolve a wide range of issues before applications can be used in a cloud,” explained Dr Schiemann. Her team supports such processes not only by providing strategic advice, but also by creating software modules for recurring applications such as model architectures that have proved their technological worth for cloud computing applications, user authentication systems for accessing the cloud from a terminal, and systems for distributing data between different storage locations on the basis of predefined categories. However, the cloud core technology initiative’s main aim is to help Siemens’ Sectors analyse how cloud computing can provide benefits to products and services. “Cloud computing is changing value chains,” explained Dr Schiemann, who predicts that “it will therefore change companies as well.”

completely new products that would not be imaginable without cloud computing. Experts in Siemens’ Sectors are developing strategies for determining which applications will be migrated into the cloud so that they can be more easily accessed there with a view to offering increased functionality. Just how wide-ranging the application possibilities are is demonstrated by the Siemens Power Academy, which trains tens of thousands of people each year for new applications in the fields of energy generation, transmission, and distribution. Previously, course participants had to take a package of training materials that weighed several kilograms home with them. This was especially inconvenient for people who traveled by plane. Since 2013, however, all of the training materials for the Instrumentation, Controls & Electrical unit have been made available in a cloud. To make this possible, Timo Wolf from CT developed an app that was installed on iPads owned by Siemens. “During the course, participants use iPads that allow them to access the cloud,” explained Detlef Rautmann, founder of the Siemens Power Academy. The app is integrated into the Web server of the Learning Management System, which manages the content of all of Siemens’ training courses. During the courses, participants can also enter comments or sketches into the iPads and store them in the associated cloud.

More Than Apps

Examples of Business Models Based on Cloud Computing

Billing By Use On the one hand, this means that product design technology will have to be configured in such a way that it can meet new cloud-based requirements. For example, Siemens’ PLM Teamcenter software is available as a cloud-based solution in addition to its standard version. Whereas software has mostly been licensed to date, it will increasingly also be made available through long-term subscriptions or as a pay-per-use application. “This means that software will have to be redesigned,” remarked Dr Schiemann. When companies no longer have their own storage and processing infrastructures, programs will have to run on devices on which they are not installed. Consequently, they will have to be conceived in such a way that multiple users can access them at the same time. On the other hand, it will be possible to develop

Experts at the company are convinced that such digital applications will develop into genuine cyber business models over the next few years. “Siemens will not just develop apps,” remarked Raj Varadarajan, who is helping to shape Siemens’ digital transformation from Corporate Technolog’s Princeton, New Jersey location. Instead, the aim is to find out where mobile computing — the use of mobile devices to access a central infrastructure that can be supported by a cloud — will be headed in the future. According to Varadarajan, features from social networks will have a big impact on new products. For example, if patients from all over the world discuss the symptoms of an illness, this information can be incorporated into an automated diagnostic tool. Patient consent is, of course, a prerequisite for such applications. Users could, for example, contribute to the data collected in a diagnostic tool through the information they enter into corresponding patient blogs or other websites with medical content. At the moment, we can only guess which new applications will arise as a result of the technological possibilities of cloud computing and mobile computing. ENQUIRY NO. 8301

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SOFTWARE & NETWORKS

Supervisory, connectivity and protection options that add an umbrella of protection over the entire IT infrastructure will be explored. By Khoo Teng Seen, VP of sales, electrical business in East Asia, Eaton

Power Monitoring For Sustainable Data Operations

rom spiraling power demands and utility rates, to power sags, surges and outages, data centre managers have a lot to keep them awake at night. Servers that could once be powered for US$4,800 a year are now consuming up to six times or more the energy in a year â&#x20AC;&#x201D; making power the single largest component of operating cost. However, rarely is energy as closely managed as it should be, until now. With rising costs, data centre managers are now seeking to run more efficient and effective operations. To meet changing business objectives, there are a number of readily available options which can be adopted to substantially reduce costs and become â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;greenerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the process. The introduction of virtualisation now changes the way customers can consume technology. Server virtualisation empowers businesses to lower hardware spending, simplify administration and boost availability, yet, for IT and facility managers, server virtualisation introduces both challenges and opportunities. With the right power monitoring system, 32

organisations with virtualised data centres can protect data and applications while optimising the power delivery infrastructure for efficiency and lower cost. New supervisory, connectivity and protection capabilities can provide an envelope of protection for an entire power infrastructure. Monitoring options are also available for organisations of any size. It is possible to remotely monitor and manage a single Uninterruptible Power System (UPS), an enterprise-wide network of many UPSs and power distribution devices, or a complete IT support infrastructure, including generators, environmental systems and detection devices, and other components from multiple vendors. At the same time, it is imperative to keep in mind that even the most rigorous redundancy in servers, storage and networking means nothing if the power to run is lost, even briefly. If power fluctuates for even a few seconds, data can become corrupted or lost. A brief power disturbance can trigger events that require hours of data recovery time. Invisible power anomalies can damage sensitive components and cause malfunctions in crucial servers and processes.

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Energy costs are also bound to rise with growing demand in the Asia Pacific region. According to Eaton’s recent power and data centre report, the Asian Development Bank’s projections show Asia Pacific’s energy demand increasing at 2.1 percent a year through 2035, exceeding the world’s average growth rate of 1.5 percent. In time, the region will account for more than half the planet’s consumption, with electricity consumption more than doubling as economic growth and rising affluence drive demand, inadvertently bringing up costs. And it does not stop there. In seeking to prevent the costs and disruption of power-related downtime — and optimise for energy efficiency — facilities managers and IT managers face some serious challenges including the presence of higher density, vulnerable assets, hidden risks and shrinking workforce — all of which threaten the potential optimum growth of the firm.

The Imperative For Power Monitoring The power distribution system is more easily stressed by even the simplest changes in a data centre. How much current are servers drawing right now? Are electrical circuits approaching capacity, ready to trip a breaker if transaction processing rises or a new component is added? Would managers be able to see trouble coming? Managers would therefore need to be able to monitor and communicate with components of the power protection and distribution system from anywhere, any time. Power monitoring systems support these missions by providing for:

• Energy efficiency — Understanding the overall Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of the facility or data centre, and using that knowledge to better manage server utilisation, peak utilisation, power factor, UPS efficiency, heat management and more. • Energy cost allocations — Tracking the power consumption of the facility to confirm the accuracy of utility billing, and tracking the power consumption of departments, business entities or colocation customers so they can be billed for the energy they use. • Proactive planning — Being able to identify trends, perform capacity planning, plan a logical power evolution path and head off trouble or a capacity bottleneck before it occurs.

Identifying Areas To Monitor Power Conditions Organisations vary in the degree to which they must have visibility and control over the power infrastructure. As such, Small to Mid-sized Businesses (SMB) might decree that as long as consistent power is coming into the premises through a monitored UPS, everything is okay. Most organisations will view the data centre as important enough to also monitor its support systems. And any data centre that runs essential applications will want highly granular visibility and control over power conditions, probably to the server level. The power monitoring architecture can be as simple or as complex, as high-level or granular as an organisation needs, simply by choosing where in the power infrastructure to deploy monitoring systems. Managers would therefore need to decide on the optimum location to deploy their monitoring systems, based on their needs, as shown in Figure 1.

How Does Power Monitoring Information Get Communicated? Generally speaking, power monitoring information gets communicated by two different ways — local communications and remote communications:

• Power assurance — The ability to see the health and status of power distribution, power quality and backup power systems from anywhere. • Visibility into power conditions — Delivering the detailed and aggregated information needed to prevent tripped circuits, understand where new systems can be deployed, balance loads and diagnose power problems.

• Local communications — Branch circuit monitoring systems, power distribution units and UPSs generally offer one or more ways to communicate with a local user. • Remote communications — In the past, communications with power metering and monitoring equipment required complicated connectivity accessories and proprietar y protocols. Not anymore. Today these devices tend to be very connectivity-ready.

Supervisory Software For Power Systems As every organisation has its own unique needs for Dec 2014/Jan 2015 | industrial automation asia 33

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SOFTWARE & NETWORKS

Perform remote UPS diagnostics, set up scheduled shutdowns of UPSs and associated ser vers, and shutdown or reboot a remote UPS. The ability to manage UPSs without a site visit dramatically reduces field service expense and response time. 4. Automatically notify key personnel of utility failures, device status, environmental problems or other conditions via alphanumeric paging, email, user messages and SNMP outputs. System managers can stay informed Power monitoring can take place at multiple points in the power infrastructure, from the service entrance to the level of individual outlets to servers. even when away from their desks, through time-stamped displays designed to be viewed on mobile phones power monitoring and management, it is important or PDAs.Rapid notification means rapid resolution, to carefully select from the diverse choices in which saves time and money and can potentially management systems that are available for choice. forestall serious conditions. From very basic (often free) to high-end custom5. Dynamically reprovision loads. A converged programmed systems, managers would have to select the best suitable system for their firms — taking into IT/Facilities monitoring solution enables you consideration available resources and needs. to balance IT and power resources, especially Power users can also download data from a critical in virtualised environments. For example, the branch circuit monitoring system could sense supervisory system into Excel or a similar tool and conduct their own unique analysis, such as for a usage spike that threatens to overload a circuit, trending and capacity planning, depending on their send an alert notification to IT and Facilities, and requirements. trigger the dynamic re-provisioning of workloads to run on other systems. Strategic planning can be What Can You Do With A Power Monitoring based on the actual power consumed by business services, as well as the assessment of risk as a System? There are several ways a power monitoring system result of power system issues. can help you better manage and understand your 6. Conduct orderly, unattended shutdown of facility. With the many power monitoring options connected equipment during power outages. available on the market today, you can: This capability can be provided by the UPS, the supervisory system or power distribution 1. Seamless integration with various virtualisation equipment. Hundreds of devices in remote platforms. The most sophisticated power or unmanned sites can be protected without management solutions will mitigate its risks requiring an on-site visit from a technician. Userby enabling data centre managers to migrate defined sequencing of outlets and time delays virtual machines onto unaffected host devices permits controlled, remote boot-up of servers. automatically during utility service interruptions. Virtual grouping of outlets permits single-click 2. View real-time or near-real-time power conditions reboot of multi-corded servers, entire racks or non-critical loads. throughout the facility. From a Web browser or network/building management system, which 7. Selectively shut down non-critical systems to may be hundreds or thousands of miles away, a conserve battery power during idle times or system administrator can see power conditions, prolonged power outages. By controlling power events and alarms up until a few seconds ago, usage at a granular ‘load segments’ level, you for hundreds of power protection or power increase the time that more important equipment distribution devices at a time from a single screen. can be up and productive during extended power 3. Monitor and manage UPS status from anywhere. outages, extend overall battery life and, in turn, 34 industrial automation asia | Dec 2014/Jan 2015

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remote UPSs by pushing a button. The system auto-installs the updated software on every UPS of that type connected to the network. There is no need to download firmware individually or have a technician travel to the UPS site. Some power meters can be updated remotely as well.

Closing Thoughts Power monitoring and management capabilities deliver confidence â&#x20AC;&#x201D; confidence that power systems are doing what they should, that personnel will be immediately notified of alert conditions in time to resolve, not just react, and the confidence of being able to predict and prevent problems before they occur. Regardless of where they are or what they are doing, administrators will have at their fingertips the early indicators and tools they need to prevent power-related system crashes, avoid data loss and corruption, protect hardware or firmware from damage, and ensure trouble-free operations. ENQUIRY NO. 8401

ENQUIRY NO. 754

delay the costs of battery replacement. 8. Analyse, graph and predict trends. With intelligence distilled from performance data, you can predict what is going to happen next, how to prevent a recurrence of a past problem, or head off a more serious problem. For example, graphic representations of battery, load and temperature data enable you to gauge battery health, perform accurate capacity planning, and prevent overload and over-temperature conditions. If a battery is still working but approaching the end of its service life, you would like some advance warning to budget for a replacement. 9. Manage power assets. The latest supervisory systems for power monitoring/management can auto discover power elements on the network. The system searches for IP addresses in a range defined as power devices and auto-populates the asset inventory. Administrators can update the list with descriptive identifiers and organise devices by group to make tracking easier. 10. Quickly upgrade UPS firmware. Automatically upgrade the operating system for hundreds of

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SOFTWARE & NETWORKS

Tools For The Development And Debugging Of ARM-Based Devices

Gabor Heja, Budapest, Hungary

Software development and debugging tools will be examined that are designed to help improve the quality and debugging capabilities of software being produced. By Magnus Unemyr, VP of Sales and Marketing, Atollic (Sweden); and Stephen Martin, US manager, Atollic (USA)

s any builder, handyman, or software developer knows, the right tools make all the difference in meeting deadlines, working efficiently and delivering a quality product. In embedded development the quality of your tools often determines the length and difficulty of the project schedule, particularly when it comes to debugging, test, and software optimisation. Most developers will acknowledge that writing code is the easy part. But a nasty bug â&#x20AC;&#x201D; whether it is a race condition, a seemingly random artifact or an unpredictable crash condition can leave a developer ready to tear his hair out. This is due in large part to ever-increasing system complexity as competitive pressure and market opportunity introduces new features within already tight delivery schedules. Your challenge as the developer is to find development tools you can trust: tools that are easy and intuitive to use with powerful features that can assist you in writing better code and in resolving difficult problems or isolating hard-to-find bugs; and a knowledgeable and responsive tech support team to assist when you cannot figure out how to use the tool in your situation.

One way to reduce the number of bugs you need to track down is to improve the quality of the code you write in the first place. Since there are numerous books and articles on the topic of writing quality code we will not go into great detail on this topic. What we will say is that the right tools and development process can assist you in avoiding problematic code.

Integrated Code Analysis Tools One way to assist you in improving code quality is to use static source code analysis tools. Such tools can examine the code you have written and give you a report back to help you make improvements. If such tools are integrated into the IDE it is even easier to apply these benefits rather than jumping in and out of your development environment. Checking your code against a best-practice coding standard such as MISRA-C can help you ensure that you are not using unsafe, unreliable or non-portable constructs in your software. Even if you are well trained in the Motor Industry Software Reliability Association (MISRA) standard it is impossible to ensure coding standards compliance without support from a tool. A development

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environment that comes with a standards-compliant integrated MISRA-C code checker helps. When enabled, the development suite automatically checks your code for compliance and identifies any code lines that break MISRA-C rules. It is the only embedded IDE that explains the MISRA rule for offending lines, and gives examples of good and bad code for each rule. Many developers use it as a teaching-aid because it highlights what code construct triggered the MISRA violation and shows you how to rewrite the code to remove the violation. Our MISRA checker additionally provides compliance statistics in textual and graphical format, for a quick at-a-glance overview of the current state.

Code Complexity Analysis And Code Metrics

Mikhail Popov, Russia

The complexity of your code is often an indicator of future problems because code that is too complex can be difficult to understand, test and maintain. The more iterations and conditional code a function has, the higher its complexity level and the more likely it is to include more errors. Fortunately, the development suite includes a helpful tool that uses an industry-standard algorithm to measure the complexity of your code. Code complexity can easily be viewed for each C function in the project, along with information on the amount of code lines used to implement every function. Not only that, but the development suite can provide other types of code metrics and even measure the number of lines in files and functions as well as the commenting level in the complete project or specific files. This can be used as part of your daily workflow, checking your code at defined intervals to measure the quality of your source code. Measuring and managing the code complexity of the C functions in your project is one of the cheapest and best ways of reducing the number of bugs and maintenance cost in your project.

Source Code Reviews Similar to other code checking methodologies, peer review can also help you reduce bugs and defects early in the development. The principle is to have a formal process where other developers study the code and you study theirs at various times during development, such as before an alpha or beta release, or after implementing or rewriting a key feature of your software. The development suite integrates features for source code reviews and runs code review meetings as a standard feature. The tool allows you to select the code or review and then gives each reviewer tools to comment on the code, indicating the type of problem and the severity. The suite then supports review meeting activities and tracks the resolution of each comment. Many different categories of problems can be detected including, logic errors, portability problems, coding standard violations, optimisation problems, and so on. Each identified problem can then be assigned a proposed level of severity. A source code review is typically performed in three stages: 1

The individual review phase where the reviewers study the source code written by colleagues and make comments. Potential problems detected can for example be logic errors, portability problems, coding standard violations, optimisation problems, and so on. Each identified problem can then be assigned a proposed level of severity.

The team review phase where reviewers discuss what to do with each identified problem area in a code review meeting, and possibly assign specific team members to rework the code. The code review meeting may, for example, decide a particular review comment is invalid, is valid but shall not be fixed, or is valid and must be corrected.

3 The

rework/problem fixing phase where select team members resolve the problems that have been assigned to them. As each item is corrected and ticked off, the project manager and other team members can monitor which items have been corrected and which still need attention.

Integrated Version Control System Client

Software development is a valuable skill in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s knowledge economy.

As complexity and code size grow for each year, so does the problem of managing software and development efforts. As the development progresses over time, it is typical for thousands of code changes to be made. If version control methodology is not Dec 2014/Jan 2015 | industrial automation asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x192; 37

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Gustavo Molina, SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil

SOFTWARE & NETWORKS

Software development is not just about developing features for a product, it is also about keeping data secure from online threats.

used, it very quickly becomes unclear who made what changes, when and why. As time goes on valuable information about what the original code base looked like can be lost forever, making it impossible to revert to a previous code state of known working code. Whether you are a single developer or you have a large, geographically dispersed team, version control offers significant benefits. The development suite integrates code management features right into the C/C++ development environment and provides a deeply integrated GUI client for version control tools like Subversion and Git. Because you never have to leave the IDE you can benefit from productivity increases over a separate, external version control system client. You can also track changes over time, revert back to older code implementations, compare different versions or branch- and merge code bases developed in parallel.

Integrated Bug Tracking And Issue Management Client The development suite is the first embedded IDE to integrate GUI clients that connect to popular bug database-, feature request- and issue management systems like Trac, Bugzilla or Mantis. Using one of the integrated issue database clients, you can add new bug reports or feature requests, change the status of them or query the database for issues or feature requests with various filters, such as all resolved bugs in a specific software release, all work tasks planned for an upcoming release or all feature requests assigned for implementation. It is even possible to add screenshots (that can be cropped and annotated with arrows and text) as a file attachment filed with bug reports. A colleague can then for example see what your debugger state looked like when you found the bug.

The development suite also brings context awareness to the bug report or feature request. If you work on say three files when solving a bug, those three files will be automatically opened and the cursor placed on the same places like last time, if the same bug report is opened weeks or months later. The issue management tracking system is a perfect vehicle for planning and organising the work in software development teams, and many development teams browse the issue management system in their weekly team meetings to discuss new bug reports, and prioritise to-do items like bug reports or feature requests in their weekly work planning.

Advanced Debugging Tools Any developer with sufficient experience knows that some bugs can be incredibly difficult to find. This can cripple a project release schedule or add costly field upgrades. A modern debugger needs to include sophisticated capabilities for powerful system analysis and advanced debugging to help you avoid these scenarios. Gone are the days when simple single-step/runto-breakpoint/printf-style debugging was sufficient for reasonably sized projects. Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s debugger needs to include features for event-, data- and instruction tracing to capture execution history for later analysis, crash analysers to help you work out why your software brought the CPU into a fault state, Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)-specific kernel aware debugger features, and so on. Multiple processors or multiple cores adds even more to the list of debugger capabilities.

Crash Analyser For Cortex-M Cores What do you do after a system crash? Diagnosing the reasons behind a system crash without good tool support can be a time-intensive and an incredibly frustrating effort. The system may occasionally crash for no apparent reason, often very rarely and perhaps only after hours of execution, for example due to a sensor sometimes sending out-of-range data. These types of problems are very difficult to find. CPU faults occur due to the software bringing the CPU into an invalid state, for example due to memory management problems, executing illegal instructions or program errors like division by zero or pointer errors, or various types of bus faults such as accessing a word on an unaligned address. The development suite is the first embedded IDE to include a crash analyser, automatically what brought the system into a fault state. In addition to visualising where the system crashed, the development suite crash analyser also tells you why it happened and under what circumstances it crashed.

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Advanced System Analysis It is now possible to have greater visibility into the dynamics of complex real-time embedded applications than ever before. This visibility is extremely useful not only in the increasingly complex applications typically found in today’s products, but in applications that cannot be halted for the debugging process. The development suite can provide advanced features for powerful debugging using event/data/ software-tracing with the Serial Wire Viewer (SWV), Serial Wire Output (SWO) and Instrumentation Trace Macrocell (ITM) technologies. These technologies combined allow various types of data from the running system to be output in real-time during full execution speed, through the JTAG cable.

RTOS-Aware Debugging Because commercial development tools are not usually developed for use with a specific RTOS, the debugger views are generic and are unable to display kernel-specific data structures in any meaningful way. With kernel-aware debugging capability when the

debugger hits a breakpoint you can view the state of RTOS objects such as tasks, semaphores, mutexes and timers in much greater detail. When you combine Kernel-aware debugging and Serial Wire Viewer event- and data- tracing, you can get even more insights because you do not have to stop the system to gather meaningful data.

Summary Many factors conspire together to make embedded development challenging. More complex application demands, more peripherals, geographically dispersed teams or reduced team size, shorter development schedules, and demanding bosses are just some of the variables that can add to the stress of your job and jeopardise the success of your project. We all know that good tools can make a dramatic difference in developing code, especially in debug and test. Affordable professional tools can help you write and maintain higher quality code and dramatically reduce the time and frustration of debugging. ENQUIRY NO. 8402

Smart Monitoring, Diagnostic & Predictive Maintenance Solutions *SECS (SEMI Equipment Communications Standard) protocol ready Scan to learn more

Wireless Remote I/O

HMI Panel

Redundant Programmable Automation Controller (PAC)

Browser-based HMI/SCADA Software

© 2014 Advantech Co. Singapore Pte Ltd www.advantech.com Singapore (South Asia Pacific Headquarters) Tel: +65-64421000 Email: promotion.mkt@advantechsg.com.sg South Asia Pacific Offices Malaysia (Penang & Kuala Lumpur)

Thailand (Bangkok)

Indonesia (Jakarta)

ENQUIRY NO. 795

Fanless Embedded PC

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SOFTWARE & NETWORKS

Industrial Software:

A Walk Through The effective use of software to improve efficiency and operations management is important for any organisation. A description of a recent update to industry relevant software, by Microsoft, will be given. By Darby Shin, technology manager, MDS Technology

indows 8.1 Update and Windows Embedded 8.1 Update have been officially released to end users. Some might have welcomed the new update, but some might have been worried since it was such a short period of time between releases. The aim here is to relieve those who have been worried, by carefully examining the improvements. We will start with any newly changed or added features of the Windows 8.1 Update and then zoom in to the features that are only available on Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Update. Let us find out what are the new features and changes compared to the previous version.

Supporting Low-End Hardware The minimum system requirements for Windows 8 and 8.1 were 2GB of RAM and 32GB of hard disk space, but this release supports lower end machines down to 1GB RAM and 16GB HDD. This optimisation made it possible to deploy embedded systems at a much lower cost. Also, at Microsoft Build Developer Conference 2014, Microsoft announced that it will make Windows OS license free of charge for low-cost systems with screens smaller than nine inches and IoT devices. In this

environment, now you can cut down costs even more for both hardware and software.

Changes In Start screen Windows 8 was aimed for tablets and convertible devices, but this approach was not welcomed by desktop or laptop users due to unfamiliar interfaces. However, this update improved its user experience for those who rely on more common interfaces as keyboard and mouse. Shutdown and Search buttons are now located in the Start menu as well, so you do not have to access Charms Bar every time when you want to shutdown and search. It was even a bit difficult to launch the Charms Bar because the Bar was basically hidden so it required keyboard and mouse

controls, but it became much easier to access directly with the update. When there are newly installed or updated apps, now you can be notified about it as a message at the bottom. Also, now you can see the full title of apps or programs, not shortened. The app names are sorted in alphabetical order so that you can navigate apps and programs much easier. With the previous version, you were able to apply app and program to start screen and resize the tile only with the App Bar at the bottom, but with the Update you can do so by opening up the pop-up menu with a right click on an app and program. Touch screen users still can operate them through the App Bar, yet this little change seemed like a

The apps view and pop-up menu has changed.

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little extra care for keyboard and mouse users.

Taskbar And Windows Store App The launched apps are now shown on the taskbar and apps also can be pinned on it, the same as desktop programs. With this change, now you are able to control apps on the desktop screen so that you do not have to go back and forth to the Start screen. Thumbnail images of running apps are also viewable from the taskbar now, which gives you more control on apps. You can bring up the taskbar from the Start screen as well as by moving the mouse cursor down to the very bottom, which makes you switch various screens much easier not only between programs and apps, but also the Start and desktop screen.

Closing Apps In order to close running apps, previously you had to hold and drag the screen down from the top to bottom for both touchscreen and mouse users. With the update, there are new buttons to minimise and close on the title bar, which is easier for mouse users. Also, now ‘Boot to Desktop’ mode is as default, which lets users go to the desktop screen after booting instead of the Start screen, Even when you close an app, you can go back to the desktop screen, not Start screen. Not only these, there are also a number of improvements such as using the same background on the Start screen with the desktop, more optimised power management for longer battery life, improved security measures such as UEFI + Trusted Boot, more detailed and clarified task manager and file explorer, automatic backup for file history and the version management tool, smaller image sizes, slide

Title bar of Windows Store App.

User Interface and data processing of Windows Store Apps.

show function on lock screen, accessing camera and answering Skype phone calls without logging in, improved search that shows related results, adding the Control Panel on the Settings menu of Start screen, and Enterprise Mode in Internet Explorer 11. For new aspects only available on Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Update, there are also a number of special and important improvements such as the new way of communicating between Windows Store Apps and desktop programs, the enhanced Lockdown Manager tool, and the new WIMBoot function. The new communications method between desktop programs and Windows Store Apps is a benefit regarding application development. Basically you can still use your old Win32 codes while enjoying benefits of Windows Store Apps that is based on Windows Runtime.

Even if you used previously desktop application code for the logic of internal data processing, you still can apply the new intuitive user interfaces of Windows Store Apps to visible UX part. Now if you add a few lines to your existing codes, the old codes are able to communicate with the Windows Store Apps as well. In order to do so, there are two methods that you could use and one is Network Loopback, which is using the internal network communication, and the other is utilising Brokered Components.

Side-Loading For Windows 8 and 8.1, manufacturers were not allowed to release their own line-of-business apps to end users through the Windows Store, they had to preinstall it before releasing the products and it means end users are only able to use pre-installed apps provided by manufacturers. Dec 2014/Jan 2015 | industrial automation asia 41

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SOFTWARE & NETWORKS

Communication methods between desktop programs and Windows Store Apps.

Side-Loading App policy.

If end users want to install and use their own apps without restriction, end users have to contract Volume Licensing so that they can enable Side-Loading, which allows the installation of apps without any restrictions. Side-Loading is to download and install programs and contents that the users want on their tablets and mobile devices. Under the terms of the OS licensing policies, the new communication methods that were mentioned before, Network Loopback and Brokered Component, can be used only with the apps that are ‘Side-Loaded’. While it requires a separate Volume Licensing contract to

use Side-Loading, the big news here for embedded system developers and users is that this Side-Loading is included to the Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Update.

Windows Image File Boot Wi n d o w s I m a g e F i l e B o o t (WIMBoot), is a new feature for Windows Embedded 8.1 Update. It lets you set up and run a system directly from a compressed Windows image file (WIM file) that contains as image. Several hardware requirements should be sufficed although various CPU types such as AMD64, x86 and ARM processors are supported. WIMBoot is available only

for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) based-systems running in UEFI mode, with its storages that are Windows HCK (Hardware Certification Kit) compliant SSDs (Solid-State Drive) and eMMC (embedded Multi Media Card) drives. It does not work on the traditional drives that contain rotational components. Some of backup, antivirus, and encryption tools are not compatible with WIMBoot images as well. Since the compressed WIM image can be used on SSDs that have a small space, you can utilise the remaining space much more efficiently. This means that there is one more way to lower the costs of production and development for the manufacturers. When you look at the usual disk usage pattern of Windows 8.1 that is not WIMBoot, the uncompressed Windows files and the recovery files are normally stored separately on different partitions, which is quite an inefficient way of using the disk space. On the contrary, WIMBoot stores the Windows files and the recovery files on a same partition, this way actually minimises the space taken by the OS and maximises the remaining disk space. When a system starts, it reads the pointer files of the compressed WIMBoot image that is saved to its disk partition so that it can load the OS and run the system.

Embedded Lockdown Manager r(ELM) Tool This is a newly introduced feature of Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry; Embedded Lockdown Manager, ELM enable to easily configure the lockdown features. With this update, not only has it been improved, there were also a few more features added such as Unified Write Filter, Keyboard Filter, Dialog Filter and Shell Launcher. All of these lockdown

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commands and it was normally hard work and time consuming, and it was necessary to define from device to device and give detailed information for each USB port. A slight mistake could disable a whole system by blocking all the USB ports, not only for the keyboard or mouse but also the memory and touch screen. The USB Filter feature drew a lot of attention when Windows Embedded 8.1 Industr y was released and now it became a part of ELM with this update. As such, ELM made it easy for everyone to control lockdown features for embedded systems. It is a good thing that operating systems are getting easier to use, but I would like to emphasise that it is also really important for you to actually find out how these

features work and are processed internally. Learning and knowing the detailed configuration methods as well as its shell commands would be a huge plus for developing and deploying embedded systems.

In Conclusion In summary, there are many added features to this update, such as changes for keyboard and mouse users, and its support for lowend devices. There is also a new way of communicating between desktop programs and Windows Store Apps. ELM also made it easy to manage lockdown features, too. All of these improvements opened up a lot of possibilities to develop better and cheaper embedded systems. ENQUIRY NO. 8403

ENQUIRY NO. 796

features can be managed much more effectively by using the ELM. From Programs and Features of the Control Panel, you can directly turn on and off the lockdown features as well as ELM itself. It became much easier to do so since it became more like installing programs, not like various builds of Windows as before. Unlike the old version that you had to configure each lockdown features with PowerShell and CMD commands, now you can manage a lot easier with the ELM. The Gesture Filter shows you all of the gestures that can be used on touch-based systems. You can allow or block the certain gestures that you want to control. In order to apply a USB filter on the previous OS, it was necessary to put in a lot of PowerShell

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INSTRUMENTATION & MEASUREMENT

When testing and measuring, it is important to choose the correct method for the application. There are several factors to consider when making this decision. Contributed by Omega Engineering

variety of test procedures and methods are available for use by water and wastewater operators. They run the gamut from colorimetric, titrimetric, electrometric (meter & probe), turbimetric, nephlometric, and demonstrative methods. Often, more than one of these methods can be utilised to measure a single unknown (parameter). For example, chlorine residual can be measured colorimetrically, titrimetrically, or electrometrically. What is the best method for your application? First, let us define these methods, give examples of each, learn the limitations of each method, and then decide what method (test kit) (procedure) is best suited for your needs. The key issue here is to decide upon the test procedure that best meets your requirements for: A. accuracy B. cost (initial & cost per test) C. skill level D. repeatability E. portability F. decision-making information obtained G. safety and reagent disposal H. are the results reportable?

Robert Linder, Springfield, MO, US

Water And Wastewater Test Methods For Operators Remember, the most complete, reliable, and accurate information obtained from your testing will provide you with the decision-making tools to monitor your water or wastewater systems, make operational changes and meet permit requirements and state mandates.

Colorimetric Methods Colorimetric methods are defined as the measurement of a parameter where its concentration is directly proportional to colour development and intensity after the addition of a known volume of reagent(s) (chemicals). In cases like chlorine residual, the reaction is almost immediate and results can be determined right away. Other tests like nitrates and phosphates may require a 5 to 10 minute waiting period before full colour development is obtained due to the chemistry involved. Some unique colorimetric tests react in reverse. That is â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the greater the colour development, the lower the concentration of a particular parameter. Examples here are Fluoride, and some Ozone test methods. To determine concentration, the colour developed in the sample is either compared visually with manufacturer supplied standards (colour comparator) or inserted

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Visual Comparator Limitations Visual comparator limitations are defined as individual differences in one’s ability to discern colour intensity background lighting. Most Projekt1 25.11.14 m a n u f a c t u re r s f o r m u l a t e their colour standards using natural daylight. Incandescent, fluorescent and direct sunlight are unacceptable and may produce errors. Colour blindness is a definite problem with visual colour comparison methods. Certain colours are extremely difficult to discern variations. Example: yellows, and some hues of blue. Even with the limitations described above, visual colour comparison methods are inexpensive, generally easy to use, conveniently packaged and designed for simplicity. Some visual test results are reportable for permit purpose. Check with your local inspector. Calorimetric methods using a photometer, colorimeter, or spectro-photometer offer a unique advantage. Many meters are battery powered and conveniently packaged for portability. To briefly describe their operation, a light beam is passed through the sample. Depending upon the amount of colour present, light is transmitted through the sample and detected by a photodiode. With aid of electronics, the results are displayed on a meter, either directly in concentration or as a percentage of light transmitted. Advantages of instrumentation are: • eliminates need for visual interpretation by operator • eliminates concern for background lighting • ultimately greater accuracy

Of course, using a meter to ‘read’ colour development can be more expensive initially. Colorimetric test methods offer an opportunity to provide on-the-spot results and have the capability to test for a variety of common parameters. Tests for Chlorine, Iron, Manganese, Copper, Zinc, Aluminum, Fluoride, Ozone, Nitrates, Phosphates, Sulfides, and many more are available. Weigh the advantages, disadvantages and overall requirements before you make your decision. 10:14 Seite 1

ENQUIRY NO. 791

into a photometer, colorimeter, or spectrophotometer to give results directly on a meter scale, or digitally via a discreet readout. Results obtained are expressed as parts per million (ppm), milligrams per litre (mg/L), grains per gallon (gpg), and so on.

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INSTRUMENTATION & MEASUREMENT

Titrimetric Methods A sample is taken, and reagent(s) is added to produce a colour. In this case the reagent is known as an indicator reagent. A titrant or a reacting reagent is added drop by drop until a colour change occurs. The point at which the colour changes is called the endpoint. Titrimetric methods offer a number of titrant dispensing apparatuses: Drop count, where a calibrated dropper dispenses drops of equal size. Once the endpoint is reached, the number of drops required to reach the endpoint is counted and multiplied by a conversion factor. Example, one drop equals 5 ppm. Laboratory burets, Automatic burets — which are generally not portable. This dispensing apparatus has a calibrated scale on the barrel. Titrant is dispensed until the endpoint is reached. The volume used is then read from the calibrated scale. In many cases the number of milliliters used equals the test result in ppm. Direct Reading Microburet, a syringe size calibrated microburet which dispenses the titrant until the endpoint is reached. Results are usually read directly off the calibrated scale in ppm. This procedure is totally portable like drop count methods. Digital Titrators, where titrant from a cartridge is inserted into a micro dispensing device. The amount dispensed is read on a digital venier, usually in ppm. Titration methods are generally quite inexpensive, and are the preferred method in many procedures. Typical tests for Acidity, Alkalinity, Carbon Dioxide, Hardness, Dissolved Oxygen, and Chlorine are among the most common. Here too, convenient packaging and simplicity are the key to their portability and accuracy. This method is preferred in determining corrosion in water supplies, and offers the operator an easy, inexpensive approach in meeting lead/ copper requirements.

Turbidimetric Methods Some unique test procedures do not use colour as a way to detaining results. A sample is taken and a reagent is added which produces turbidity or cloudiness in the sample. The greater the turbidity, the greater the concentration. Turbidimetric like colorimetric methods can be ‘read’ using a visual comparator, or by the use of a colorimeter (meter). Results here too are expressed in ppms or mg/L. Typical tests using this method are Potassium and Sulfates. Again, this method can be totally portable and conveniently packaged as a kit.

Electrometric Methods One of the most commonly used, an electrode is

Testing water is an important process, with accurate samples required. Ecology is one reason for the testing, as well, and by extension, for the health and wellbeing of people who make use of this water for their nourishment.

inserted into a sample. A small current or voltage is produced and electronically amplified and read on a meter scale. Typical tests here are pH and conductivity, but a variety of parameters using Ion Specific Electrodes (ISE) can be measured including Calcium. Nitrates, Chlorine, and so on. Nearly every electrometric procedure requires meter calibration and/or sample pretreatment. Examples here are the 4, 7 & 10 pH buffers used to calibrate pH meters. Generally, electrometric methods are more costly initially and require a higher degree of care and maintenance due to the electrode systems. Today, inexpensive pocket pH, conductivity, and ORP meters are on the market. Even though designed to be disposable after a period of time, great care must be exercised in their use and maintenance. Yes, these pocket meters rival the costs of colorimetric or titrimetric methods. They generally are not acceptable for reporting purposes, but are suited for quick system checks.

Nephlometric Methods This method is specific to water turbidity. Suspended matter within the sample is measured via a specially designed meter which sends a focused light beam through the water sample. Suspended solids, dirt, and silt scatter the light. The scatter is measured by a photodiode at a 90 deg angle incident to the light source. Results here are expressed as Nephlometric Turbidity Units (NTU’s), and are more qualitative than quantitative. Portable battery powered units are

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• Choose the proper point in the water system for your sample. Let the spigot run a short period of time to obtain a representative sample. (Note if this is a first draw sample. For lead or copper disregard this step.) Pour the correct volume of sample into the test tube or jar. Accurate results require accurate sample volumes. • Once test is complete dispose of waste reagent/ sample properly, and clean all test tubes thoroughly. • Follow the test kit manufacturers’ directions specifically. Do not alter the procedure to suit your needs or to take shortcuts risking skewed results. • Do not intermix different manufacturers’ reagents, particularity colorimetric ones, unless they are the exact concentration.

Safety & Environmental Factors In digital imaging, colorimeters are tristimulus devices used for colour calibration. Accurate colour profiles ensure consistency throughout the imaging workflow, from acquisition to output.

available for field use. Private and municipal water treatment systems using surface water supplies such as lakes, streams, and so on, are required to measure turbidity routinely as a guide to monitoring various water treatment systems like settling basins, and sand filter performance. Continuous monitoring turbidity meters and recorders are becoming the rule rather than the exception.

Gravimetric Test Methods These are essentially physical test procedures. They include settleable solids, settle ability tests primarily used as operational guideposts in both water and waste facilities. A sample is taken (usually one litre) and mixed and allowed to settle. Imhoff cones, and settlometers are common containers here. The samples are timed at various intervals to determine ratio of solids and volume of solids serried. Results can be transferable to plant operations to determine proper floccuiant dose, expected sludge volumes, adjust waste and return sludge in wastewater facilities. These are relatively simple test methods that require no chemical or reagent to perform (except when determining flocculant dosage), and provide valuable current data to a water or wastewater operator.

Sampling Technique All test methods described above require a proper sample. Accurate sample volumes required by the test are important. Some important points to remember.

Many test kits and instruments contain hazardous reagents. Read all safety related instructions. Thoroughly review test procedures before running the test. Use manufacturer supplied Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to learn about specific hazards and waste reagent disposal. Know shelf-life of specific reagents and replace when required. Some heavy metal test kit reagents have been banned for water testing in the home. Tests for Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, and so on, may contain extremely hazardous materials like Carbon Tetrachloride and Sodium Cyanide. Leave those tests for the outside certified laboratory to perform. Nearly all test methods defined and described here are common inorganic tests. Tests for pesticides, aromatic hydrocarbons (gasolene’s), PCB’s and the like should also be left to a qualified certified laboratory with the proper equipment.

Summary Briefly, we have looked at six water test methods for use by the water and wastewater operator. So what is right for you? • A careful review of tests are needed. • Choose the test method that suits your testing skill level. • What accuracy do you need? Know the test’s limitations. • Review test kit (method) cost versus expected results — Look to the marketplace for manufacturers of test equipment and kits. Review their products. • Safety and reagent disposal requirements — Are the results reportable, does the procedure follow standard methods or EPA manual? State approved? ENQUIRY NO. 8501

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ENERGY

The Infrastructure And Models For Cleaner Energy Dr Arun Majumdar, a professor at Stanford University and former VP for energy at Google, gave his thoughts on the changing energy landscape and the infrastructure needed to realise energy targets. By Mark Johnston

he transition from fossil fuels to cleaner forms of energy has many challenges, and as professor Arun Majumdar pointed out: “With energy, it is not just one thing, there are many things happening at the same time.” In regards to the US, he remarked: “The US is in a transition from fossil fuels towards natural gas. Natural Gas is cheaper and the engines that use it are much more efficient and as such the cost of electricity production is much lower.” As well as the use of natural gas, wind and solar are increasing in usage and the cost associated with electricity production is decreasing here too. Storage cost are also decreasing. “We are seeing more renewables coming into the energy mix, but the question we are all trying to answer is what about the infrastructure and how do they all connect and work together? This is where smart grids come in,” professor Majumdar remarked.

“The question is: what is a smart grid, and what should the design and implementation of the grid look like? This takes some thinking about the architecture and about how you connect and disconnect when you need to. Considerations on what new hardware and software are needed all needs to be thought out,” he added.

Battery Technology There is an impression by some that batter y technology has seen many advancements over the years, but there has been a lack of commercialisation in this regard. Professor Majumdar disagreed, “The last 5 to 10 years has probably been one of the most exciting times in battery technology. Batteries have been around for a long time, more than 100 years in fact. The lithium ion battery started in the early 90s when Sony commercialised the technology.” Professor Majumdar drew

“We are seeing more renewables coming into the energy mix, but the question we are all trying to answer is what about the infrastructure and how do they all connect and work together? This is where smart grids come in.” – Professor Majumdar. attention to the recent drop in price surrounding battery technology, “In the last five years in particular the price of battery technology has been reduced by a factor of three, which is

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unheard of in its history. If we consider the entire history of the battery we can see great advancements in the last 5 to 10 years, especially the last 5 years with the cost being reduced by a factor of three, primarily because of the innovation and materials now being used in batteries. This is another reason why electric cars are getting more affordable.”

Transitioning To Cleaner Energy In regards to energy usage in Asia, professor Majumdar drew particular attention to China, commending them for trying hard and recognised the challenge they face in reducing fossil fuel usage. “They (China) have the infrastructure to build, they also need to grow and the economy depends on having enough energy. The demand for electricity is growing and this puts a strain on the government to make sure there is adequate supply. In this regard, they are trying very hard, but to generate enough supply for the demand they have to use coal,” he remarked. However, professor

leaving a legacy for our children and grandchildren.”

Singapore’s Role Singapore is a small country but Professor Majumdar was impressed with its approach, “Singapore does not just think about itself, but thinks globally, because it sees itself as a hub for many things. It is looking at LNG, because it is a commodity that is seeing growth over the coming decades as a clean fuel. It is also looking at solar in a very strategic way, as well as smart grids and energy efficiency.” He also stated that Singapore is not just developing these technologies for its own use but it is also creating the financial models that can be used elsewhere. ENQUIRY NO. 8601

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The adoption of renewable sources of energy reduces a countries reliance on dirty forms of energy, such as fossil fuels.

Majumdar also remarked that China was sitting on the largest supply of Shale in the world, but they have not been able to extract it, but is sure they are trying to figure that out. In terms of global warming, professor Majumdar believes we are not doing enough to slow global warming and believes we could do a much better job. But also suggested that to achieve this needs the acceptance of technology. “We can innovate and create new technology but for it to be successful, society will need to accept and adopt it. This is very important. For this you need not just money but well thought out policies. All of this has to come together, and in this regard, I am not sure we are doing enough. Ultimately, we are

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SECTOR SPOTLIGHT

Dora Pete, Nagytarcsa, Pest, Hungary

Embracing Field Intelligence In Smart Oil Fields The utilisation of modern equipment and IT ensure efficiency and cost effective intelligent operation of Oil Fields. By Sean Huang, manager, Mission-Critical Panel Computing Division, Moxa

rill rig operators utilise robust IP66 Class 1, Division 2 panel computers for general operations control, bringing intelligent automation and monitoring to the frozen oil fields of the Alberta tundra. Two-hundred wellhead applications under the Arabian sun link edge processes on offshore platforms directly back to a central server on the mainland, pushing realtime surveillance, diagnostics, and field control to distant offices many miles away. Remote oil wells high in the Colorado Rockies utilise IT and cellular communications to automatically inform managers and operators of changes in process states and emergency situations, allowing remote control via smart phones, tablets, and notebooks. In all three instances, data from pump flow, tank level, and pipeline sensors, pressure and temperature meters, and machinery I/O is pushed upstream, to a miles-distant central server and control room. Beginning with local devices and continuing at every step of the way, the data is collated and analysed to provide a comprehensive and real-time vision of what is happening at the remote site. Access to each individual device is available via cellular communications. Remote data and control may also be collected and acted upon in mobile control vehicles that may travel freely around an entire region, or to central offices that can be as far as a continent away. Live, event-triggered video feeds deliver immediate visual assessment of tagged events, while complete historical reports on all sensor data are maintained and analysed. Field technicians and site managers

are both notified of critical events by SMS or email, and each may access remote video feeds and sensor readings via any Internet connection, using a web enabled smartphone, laptop, or tablet. The Smart Oil Field is here, and it is using the power of field intelligence to bring tangible advances to oil and gas producers across the globe.

What Is Field Intelligence? Constant delivery of massive amounts of data from tens of thousands of data points is the primary work of a smart oil field, so maintaining reliable wireless communications, data integrity, and data security are the primary technological exigencies that it must guarantee. The means of meeting these challenges are recent advances in highly distributed, high performance, highly redundant data acquisition and process control. By distributing computational power throughout a network, data is more rapidly and reliably collated and processed, and can be done so over a much wider area than is possible in a centralised, monolithic architecture. Distributed field intelligence as such streamlines communications, increases network speed and sensitivity, and improves reliability by providing multiple fallbacks for individual station failures. Redundancy is increased. Reliability is increased. Network throughput is increased. Even scalability and mobility are increased: the benefits are, literally, immeasurable.

The Future Of The Smart Oil Field The driving force behind the digital oil field â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or Smart

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Oil Field — is the producer’s desire for integrated control over a widely variant mixture of proprietary, typically incompatible DCS solutions from separate vendors. These automation networks are comprised of edge sensors and drives connected to backbone switches and Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI) distributed both at the edge and core. By integrating these systems over Ethernet, it is possible to drive the core remote control system even farther afield while increasing overall system granularity and speed. For example, the countless meters deployed in an expansive onshore wellhead network are responsible for providing the network with the data it needs to make intelligent control decisions. With the proliferation of advanced High-Speed Ethernet (HSE) in oil field networks, the typical oil and gas DCS grows a yet deeper layer of automation and intelligence — but what if we could take that intelligence even further? What if field sensors could predict equipment failure, and identify macro-trends that improve or predict oil quality and composition? What if every last sensor, drive, meter, and actuator were individually accessible to a central server, providing constant, real-time metadata across an entire region of related sites, refining operational decisions at every level, from production to asset management? With readily available sensor information that is automatically pre-processed in the field, we are able to make more accurate assertions about oil reserves, production expectations, and capital equipment lifelines. The ability to identify process-layer inefficiencies increase greatly. Asset management and utilisation are maximised, and the DCS interoperability that oil and gas companies have so long sought can now be realised. All this enhancement improves our ability to avoid catastrophic system failures.

Case Study 1: Oil Drilling Console For RealTime Field Site Monitoring In a smart oilfield all networked systems must be set up in overlapping layers to guarantee redundancy and reliability, not only from the edge layers back to the core, but also device (or station) redundancy within the layers, as well. Edge I/O arrays, as the outermost layer, should not be susceptible to any single RTU failure. Because the drilling console is always at the outermost edge, it serves as a good example of how systems must overlap and mutually reinforce one another. System Introduction A drilling rig must inform operators with all the data necessary for accurate, efficient, and sustainable drilling. The drilling console’s central HMI is where all subsystems converge, displaying how the rig’s power generators, motor control centre, mud pump, borehole, and tower are holding up. Failure in any of these systems would bring operations to a halt. Deterioration in any one may also cause failure in others, or introduce serious inefficiencies. The actuators and sensors within the subsystems may be permanent, mobile, or temporary, may monitor either the field site environment or the machinery, and are typically integrated via SCADA. Subsequently, the data returned is collated, stored, directly reported to the HMI, or converted for downstream delivery. As the data moves on its way downstream towards the enterprise control centre, further analysis and process will take place as it crosses the layers of the regional network. Meanwhile, all locally processed data must be displayed on the HMI, which allows the driller to grasp the overall situation at a quick glance.

In a smart oilfield all networked systems must be set up in overlapping layers to guarantee redundancy and reliability, not only from the edge layers back to the core, but also device (or station) redundancy within the layers, as well.

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SECTOR SPOTLIGHT

Key Elements Drilling control systems require closely integrated, redundant networking and computing devices with exceptional performance and interoperability. As the main interface through which the local operator interacts with the rig, HMIs must be proven and reliable, and support a variety of integrated industrial communications interfaces. This interface variety is needed because the HMI must integrate sundry legacy devices and protocols. There will likely be sensors and RTUs that communicate over serial RS-422/482/485 and Modbus (perhaps requiring Ethernet gateways); wireless stations for cellular or Wi-Fi; IP cameras, for visuals on the borehole and machinery; and PACs, for integrating actuators and sensors. Most will send information to the HMI over switched links, to at least two hubs: the core computer and its backup, which will support a database as the primary server for long-term historical data. Easy integration with the SCADA system is a priority, with native ports for RS-232/482/485, digital I/O, and Ethernet to make devices suitable for either IT or IA protocols like Modbus, Profibus, SNMP, ONVIF, and more. Gateways and PACs will need to be configured over OPC, and for Ethernet translation. Additionally, an up-to-date OPC system should push communications from the edge, eliminating network overhead and latency that polled communications introduce. All devices on the rig need to be C1D2 / ATEX Zone 2 certified, and if they are to be used in marine applications (such as on a submersible, or offshore) they will also need to be DNV and ABS certified, as well. Wide temperature tolerance during operations is a further requirement, and the wider the better: -40 to 75 deg C has become the industry-established range, and is one that will serve reliably in all but the most extreme environmental climates. At the rig’s edge

Interconnected PACs support alarms, push communications, automated data processing, and other routines to give early analysis, smart warnings, and rapid responses to changes in the physical integrity of machinery and the environment.

At data gateways

Information is converted for communications to a SCADA system, the local computing hub, the HMI, or across Ethernet to a remote control center.

At the central database

Data from edge I/Os and the HMI are stored here for analysis and evaluation.

At the HMI

Operator instructions are communicated to the drill machinery, and subroutines are monitored and evaluated.

Case Study 2: Offshore Wellhead Monitoring — Distributed Data Processing, From Edge To Core For traditional networks, data was mostly discarded, because so much of it was localised in discrete DCS networks. In contrast, smart oil fields are built to guarantee data mobility and retention. In the drill rig example presented in Case Study 1 above, we drew out the key elements of a fairly localised, selfcontained oil field subsystem. Field intelligence achieves greater overall reliability and control by processing all acquired data in real time. The speed and efficiency of communication, and distributed analysis and processing of data throughout the entire WAN, are two of the most important considerations. To illustrate this, let us take a look at an offshore wellhead monitoring network in Arabia. System Introduction This smart oil field consists of many platforms scattered across a wide area, creating a very wide network. The challenge, of course, is handling the large load of data generated at each platform site. Optical fibre, used for long-distance transmission, forms the backbone channel from the sea to the onshore control centre. Wireless is used only for local data collection on and around the offshore platforms; after edge I/O has been collected, it is shunted downstream over fibre. The fibre links run from the wellhead through offshore tie-in platforms, where satellite uplinks are available for backup communications. These medial platforms aid in collating, processing, and concentrating heavy data loads from several platforms that include multiple video feeds from each station. Key Elements The tie-in stations support emergency alarms and other signals, and can initialise Fire Control Systems (FAS), fallback systems, and Emergency and Process Shutdown systems (ESD and PSD) for an entire section of the field. These tie-in platforms further collate and process the raw data they receive from multiple wellhead platforms, while forwarding the data further upstream, perhaps to a compression station, or to the company’s central offices. To make all of this work, edge I/O is handled by PACs managing large sensor arrays of many hundreds of data points. Modbus gateways forward RTU data to both local and tie-in platform HMIs. CCTV cameras provide real time, event-triggered surveillance of the wellhead and tie-in stations 24/7. All of these devices must be ATEX Zone 2 certified and highly secured behind a strong firewall.

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This smart oil field consists of many platforms scattered across a wide area, creating a very wide network.

In the event of critical emergencies, edge PACs are responsible for triggering a string of events that may result in emergency or process shutdowns, making them a key front-line defense against catastrophic failures. Additionally, data analysis and storage are both dependent on these edge devices, taking the concept of RTUs and PACs well beyond their traditional roles. ESD and PSD systems are reduplicated at the tiein stations, which serve a triple function: managing data collection from multiple wellhead platforms, coordinating platform controls, and supplying backup long-distance satellite communications. Millisecondlevel emergency shutdown decisions will be made on real-time data, and these systems will be operating 24/7, 365 days a year — so data integrity is paramount, as well as rapid processing and communications. As such, the tie-in platforms are all fully redundant, with overlapping security and communication layers that provide multiple routes for data to travel.

Case Study 3: Remote Wellhead Surveillance And Data Acquisition System Introduction Terra Ferma is a system integrator tasked with pushing remote video surveillance and data acquisition out to wellheads scattered across Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Each wellhead supports a full array of automated data logging, monitoring, and control devices that are linked via cellular airwaves to a milesdistant central server and control room. Station sensors and IP cameras monitor solar and wind generators, wellhead conditions, machinery and environmental temperatures. Data logs, live event-triggered video feeds, and complete data reports need to be accessible using both wired and wireless Ethernet, and should be easily accessed using smart phones, tablets, or

In this implementation, each wellhead supports a full array of automated data logging, monitoring, and control devices that are linked via cellular airwaves to a miles-distant central server and control room.

laptops, allowing operators to carry the control room in their pocket, wherever they go. Key Elements At the wellhead, PACs serve as strongly intelligent RTUs, logging and storing real-time data on pressure, flow-rate, and temperature, then forwarding it to the remote control room for action, or analysis. These PACs are capable of pushing emergency alerts to system operators over SMS or email via cellular links whenever production anomalies occur. The control centre receives feeds from networks of rugged UL Class 1, Division 2 IP cameras over a cellular modem, automatically storing images and video feeds to the network server and pushing video feeds to the control centre’s main HMI whenever certain event triggers are logged. Finally, by using equipment from a single manufacturer to integrate the legacy SCADA system with the remote monitoring and control system, the customer gained significant savings on both infrastructure outlay and system downtime.

The Value Of Vertical Integration Integrated technology developed for specific vertical markets is a powerful aid to system integrators and end-users alike. When developing a Smart Oil Field, integrated hardware purchased from a single vendor delivers considerable benefits in development efficiency. By focusing on the design of a comprehensive range of devices for use in oil and gas fields, manufacturers may better guarantee physical safety and reliability, while supplying valuable add-on features and network management software optimisations for system development. ENQUIRY NO. 8701

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The development of non-contact inductive universal encoders has offered high resolution and wear-free operation, and at the same time immunity to magnetic fields. By Michael Troska, product specialist for linear position sensors and encoders, Turck

Encoder 2.0 T

he world of rotary encoders is divided. On the one side are the advocates of optical and potentiometric encoders, and on the other, the proponents of magnetic systems. Optical encoders are used as absolute or incremental encoders. They measure angles or rotations by transferring the rotational movement of a shaft onto an opticallycoded pulse disk which is typically made from glass or plastic. An optical system inside the sensor scans this disk. The strengths of optical encoders include their ability to measure high resolutions and speeds, as well as their resistance to magnetic fields. On the other hand, in order to measure high resolutions, a large housing is needed due to the necessary size of the disk. The greatest disadvantage, however, is that direct mechanical connection is required by their design. Any blows to the shaft may destroy the pulse disk which is connected directly to the shaft. Vibrating shafts alone can have an effect on the sensitive design over time. Although the electrical system operates wear-free, this is little use if the mechanical system wears out prematurely. 54

Manufacturers recognise the Achilles heel of optical encoders and try to minimise vibrations. Mounting accessories such as couplings or spring elements have been designed to dampen the mechanical load. Other manufacturers are fitting their encoders with paired ball bearings or are relying on gearless variants.

Wear On Conventional Encoders All these measures, however, can only mitigate the basic design weakness of these devices. Sooner or later, the mechanical connection between the machine shaft and the encoder will produce wear â&#x20AC;&#x201D; either at the spring elements, seals or at the encoder itself. The same issues apply to potentiometric encoders: they achieve high resolutions at the expense of a robust design. Potentiometer manufacturers make no secret that a potentiometer is a wear part. The seal of the encoder housing is often the central weakness. Eventually it becomes brittle, cracked and then leaks and can crack due to the permanent load caused by the rotating shafts. Penetrating water or dirt damage to the sensitive sensor circuit can cause failure. Optical and potentiometric encoders

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The mounting concept and the contactless measuring process offer several possibilities of installing the encoder with optimum protection.

only comply with high degrees of protection under optimal conditions. With magnetic systems, the issues are quite the opposite as their strengths lie in a relatively high mechanical load capacity. The measuring principle involves the use of a rotating magnet which forms and discharges a magnetic field. This produces a sine-cosine curve and is evaluated as a rotation signal. Magnetic encoders are contactless measuring devices. Their electronics can be completely enclosed and encapsulated. The weakness of the magnetic encoders available in the market, however, is their susceptibility to electrical or magnetic interference and their intolerance to the offset of the positioning element, which means they have to be operated in a housing which precisely positions the encoder. The resolution of the magnetic devices depends on the speed of the shaft to which they are connected. For users who cannot ignore the weaknesses of either the optical or magnetic systems in their installations, encoders are available that operate on the inductive resonant circuit measuring principle.

The first customers, including a solar panel tower in Spain, are already waiting for this device. Previously they used encoders in these heliostat power stations for aligning the mirrors to the central tower, but they had reached the limits of their capabilities. As the mirrors are positioned up to a kilometre away from the tower, changes of inclination have to be made in the millirad range (1 millirad = approximately 0.06 deg) in order to project the light precisely onto the tower. Magnetic encoders do not have high enough resolution and optical encoders cannot withstand the extreme temperature swings of a desert climate. Hot days and cold nights cause a build-up of condensation which cannot be prevented in an unencapsulated system. Water affects the electronic circuit and optical components, as such causing the sensor to fail. As the solar tower power stations are often located in remote areas stretched out over several square kilometres, replacing failed encoders incurs a major expense. Around 20,000 optical encoders are installed in the power station. The operators had to replace around a third each year due to faults or impending failures. At a unit price of 100 euros (US$129), this meant replacement costs of around 700,000 euros SG-1001-triflex TRCF 83x110_SG-1001-triflex TRCF 83x110 22.09.14 1

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The resonant circuit measuring principle makes it possible to design a fully encapsulated sensor housing without seals, separate from the positioning element, eliminating the possibility of dust or water penetrating into the electronics. The contactless measuring principle of the device enables it to compensate for vibration as well as an offset up to 4 mm. Magnetic fields cannot disturb the measuring process since the positioning element is not based on a magnet but on an inductive coil system.

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FEATURES

a year. Added to this are the costs for service technicians and the loss of power generation. The overall cost for this project alone was around one million euros a year.

Universal Encoder Replaces Several Hundred Types This encoder means that the user no longer has to choose between resolution and robust design. All the measures required to protect encoders from mechanical stress using springs or double bearings are no longer necessary. In addition to the interference immunity and wear-free design of the system, the user also benefits from the parameter and installation concept that allows a single encoder model to become a universal encoder for a countless number of applications. This single model can replace several different encoder types. The mounting concept also keeps this universal approach: adapter rings make it possible for the user to fit the positioning element to shafts of different diameters. The user only has to keep a single encoder in stock which they can use for all applications on shafts up to 20 mm in diameter. The first available model on the market is a parameterisable SSI version. The user can adjust the characteristics of the encoder and all its parameters individually to the application. The device can be parameterised as a multiturn, single turn or incremental encoder. The encoder can be set to resolutions up to 18 bits, even for the highest speeds. The customer can also parameterise the output signals to individual requirements: as an SSI, gray code or binary signal in 24, 25 or 26 bit resolutions. The mounting concept of the sensor is just as flexible as its parameter concept. Shaft adapters enable the encoder to be used on all standard solid

(a)

Permanently sealed: The sensor element (a) and the positioning element (b) are fully encapsulated so that water cannot penetrate.

Visit us on our website at

All-round protection: The aluminium ring surrounds the positioning element that is fixed between the gear wall and the sensor on the shaft.

and hollow shaft thicknesses up to 20 mm. The sensor is designed in the shape of a donut and can be placed over the shaft via its centre hole, with the positioning element fitted either behind or in front of it â&#x20AC;&#x201D; depending on the permissible mounting conditions in the field. The requirements of a customer from the machine tool sector is totally different from the one in the solar power station: while the measuring on solar panels is in the single-turn range, is very slow, and requires a high level of accuracy, the application on the CNC machine is in the multi-turn range, and requires measuring at up to 25,000 rpm. The speed is not a problem for the non-contact inductive universal encoder since, unlike all other devices on the market, the encoder is not limited to a maximum speed.

Potential Applications The applications for the non-contact inductive universal encoder class are as varied as its possible configurations. There is enormous potential in several areas, including mobile machines, renewable energies, packaging machines, machine tools, as well as logistics systems and plants. However, the concept of this encoder class makes it a good solution for all sales markets and virtually all application fields, from which customers can benefit in the long-term.

(b)

ENQUIRY NO. 8801

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Weight Reduction In Factory Automation

witching from gas-powered to hybrid and electric vehicles is gaining popularity in the automotive industry. Many countries are also competing for the practical application of renewable energy such as solar and wind power. In this competition for technological innovation, weight reduction is one of the most important concepts. Since its importance is also increasing in the factory automation industry, it and the designing methods used to achieve it will be discussed.

dknudsen, Australia

With the concern surrounding global warming and the depletion of underground resources such as oil, it is urgent to tackle energy savings and CO2 reduction. Contributed by K Tokunaga, Misumi South East Asia Now let us take a more detailed look at weight reduction technology. There are two different approaches: (1) replacing materials (2) redesigning mechanical structural parts.

Purpose Of Weight Reduction Technology What is the purpose of reducing weight? It is to reduce the amount of energy used by moving objects. Examples of weight reduction include: • Use aluminium alloy instead of steel for a car body. • Use aluminium alloy for the a bullet train body. • Increase the ratio of the Carbon-Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) composite for an aircraft body.

The importance of weight reduction has been increasing in automated machinery and the mechanical equipment industries for the same purpose. Examples of weight reduction in factory automation include: • Use plastic instead of metal for the material of a moving part of a device. • Use resin composite, concrete composite and ceramics instead of steel for the column of a device. • Use low-profile and hollow mechanical components or change materials for rails of linear guides.

Weight Reduction By Material Replacement To reduce weight by replacing materials, both of the following technical requirements, ie: weight reduction and strength assurance, need to be satisfied at the same time.

A typical example of weight reduction by replacing materials is a material change from metal to plastic. Engineering plastics are commonly used in this regard. Engineering plastic is the generic term for plastic that is used for a structural material due Dec 2014/Jan 2015 | industrial automation asia 57

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FEATURES

to their high resistance to heat, dust, chemicals, flame and weather, and the ability to retain dimensional stability and mechanical properties at high temperature. Polycarbonate (PC) and ABS resin (copolymer made by polymerising styrene, acrylonitrile and polybutadiene) are major examples. In factory automation, engineering plastics are used for parts such as a retainer that reverses the direction at a circulating part of a bearing in a ball screw. (a) Linear guide

(b) Metal

[Fig. 1] Linear guide and end cover.

Use Of Engineering Plastics Examples include: • Equipments where chemicals are used (etching process, washing, and so on). • Parts which need to retain precision under temperature change. • Outer cases and interchangeable lenses of digital and SLR cameras. • Glass and body of cars to increase fuel efficiency.

require precision and HFSC5-2020 s t re n g t h s i n c e i t s Young’s modulus is only 1/3 of that of steel and therefore easily deformable. Aluminium alloy is adopted for aluminium frames for covers [Fig. 2] Cross-section shape of aluminium extrusion. or sashes since c o m p l i c a t e d c ro s s section shapes can be produced successively by extrusion. In this case, a frame cross section shape with large second coefficient of inertia needs to be applied to make structural materials lightweight and strong [Fig. 2]. Aluminium extrusions are used as structural materials for low-volume production jigs for test production and research, and for production work tables. [Fig. 3] To obtain large-sized structural materials, aluminium alloy needs to be welded to joint. One of the advanced welding technologies is friction stir welding (UK patent); the body of bullet trains and high-speed vessels are manufactured with this method. [Fig. 4] At production facilities for automated machineries, aluminium is used for precision surface plates of lightweight and high precision tables. For this use, hard anodising is applied to increase the surface hardness and abrasion resistance.

For machine tools, the body structure columns are usually made of cast iron, which reduces the weight of the movable parts. These structural materials need to have the ability to maintain their shape and their precision for more than 10 years. Therefore, the following properties, such as homogeneous stability of the material without residual stress, are necessary. [Fig. 3] Example of aluminium extrusion structure.

Properties Required For Structural Materials • No deformation with age. • Small deformation with heat. • Excellent vibration damping.

Also being observed is the replacement of steel by aluminium materials. Since the specific gravity of the aluminium is 35 percent that of iron (7.9), 65 percent of weight reduction is possible.

Weight Reduction By Using Aluminium Alloy Aluminium alloy is more lightweight than steel but not suited for structural materials, which

Source:The Friction Joint Technology:The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun

[Fig. 4] Example of the welded structure by using friction stir welding.

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Redesign Of Mechanical Structural Parts Strength Of Bamboos The external appearance of bamboos is cylindrical with a slightly tapered linear structure, and nodes exist inside of culms at certain intervals. Except branches, it is a cantilever anchored at the root. Theory aside, the bamboo structure can be explained as follows:

Cross-section shape

Crosssectional area (A)

Second moment of inertia (I)

Calculation comparison with an identical area

bh3 12

When b=31.4 and h=10, A=314. In this case, I=2,617. <Bending strength is 1/3 of the column below.>

r4 4

When r=10, A=314. In this case, I=7,850.

(R2 – r 2)

(R – r ) 4

Square

Width: b Height: h Round

Radius: r

1 Cylindrical structure of bamboos is three to four times stronger than the solid cylindrical structure with the same cross-sectional area. 2 The dimensional structure of tapered bamboo culms enables it to obtain the maximum rigidity of structures with the same weight. These allow bamboos not to break even with heavy snowfall. Material composition of bamboos is also effective. Closer to the outer layer the denser the bamboo tissues are, which is the effect of the reinforcing fibre similar to carbon fibre reinforced plastics. [Fig. 5]

Cylinder

Radius of the outer circumference: R Radius of the inner circumference: r

When R=15 and r=11.2, A=314. In this case, I=27,388. <Cross-sectional area is the same as that of the cylinder above, however bending strength is approx. 3.5 times larger.>

Comparison between cross-section shape and second moment of inertia

Designing The Optimal Shape We have so far explained the weight reduction technology by material weight reduction and the shape change of the mechanical structural parts. While reviewing both of them, we can explain the approach to achieve weight reduction and strength by designing for optimal shape. The structure of automated machineries can be separated into two elements as shown in Figure 6 and narrowed down further to understand the overall design issues.

Issues about material selection

[Fig. 5] Bamboo section (Tissues are denser lengthwise in areas closer to the surface.)

Like the example of bamboos, mechanical structural parts with the same cross-sectional area can be made stronger and more lightweight by adopting the hollow structure and redesigning. There are several terms to express strength, which are as below:

Structure components of automated machineries

Issues about selecting single material (metal, nonmetal: plastic, etc.) Issues about selecting composite materials (laminated products, CFRP products, etc.) Other issues about selecting materials (formed products, etc.) Layout design (user-friendliness, etc.) Issues about shape design

Position design of the center of gravity (driving performance, etc.) Shape design (price, versatility, etc.) Others

Issues about shape design Issues about dimensions

Design with strength assurance (service life, reliability, etc.) Optimal design (optimization, etc.) Others

Strength of mechanical structural parts

Strength... Resistance to the point of fracture against loads (ex. tensile strength) Stiffness (rigidity)... A mount of deformation in the load direction against loads Toughness... Resistance to impact loads

The technical term to show the resistance of beams to bending and deflection is the Second Moment of Inertia (shown as ‘I’). The Second Moment of Inertia can be changed by the crosssectional shape of mechanical structural parts, which enables lightweight and strong constructions by designing for the optimal cross sectional shape.

[Fig. 6] Issues to be considered to achieve weight reduction and strength with optimal shape design.

The least risky approach is to provide the lightweight structure with strength while checking the pros and cons of similar structures in the past, and considering all issues shown in figure 6. Located on the right-hand side of the figure are the issues to be considered. They indicate that the designers of the automated machineries need to confirm a large number of items. Therefore, it would be best to improve the same equipment consistently and apply the accumulated knowledge to the designing of similar automated machineries. ENQUIRY NO. 8802

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Higher Connectivity:

Enabling Mobility & Productivity IAA interviewed Ryan Goh, VP of Sales, Zebra Technologies (Asia Pacific) on their participation in Cards & Payments Asia, Logistics & Supply Chain, and their recent acquisition of Motorola Solutionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Enterprise Business. By Mark Johnston IAA: How many years have you been exhibiting at Cards & Payments Asia, and what trends have you observed over the years? Ryan Goh (RG): Zebra Technologies has been participating in Cards & Payments Asia since 2010, and over the years we have witnessed the way technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) have shaped the reality of how businesses function today. The story behind IoT technologies started with barcodes, telling you what something is. Then, with technologies like GPS and real-time locating solutions, we knew where it is. For example, on the floor of an aerospace manufacturing plant, such technologies can, in real-time, pinpoint the precise location of an expensive and critical tool. And finally, with sensors, we can know how it is. With the rise of Big Data, the company saw a need to help enterprises to bring together data collected through interconnected devices and translating them into meaningful insights for better-informed business decisions. And whilst resources get costlier and competitors step up their game, we are starting to see an increasing need for technologies that enable a mobile workforce, like cloud-based applications and WiFi. This trend becomes apparent in enterprises today through a recently concluded IoT study conducted by Forrester, who found that 83 percent of the firms surveyed globally identify Wi-Fi infrastructure and real-time location tracking technologies as important or very important building blocks of IoT solutions.

IAA: What did you showcase in 2014 for Cards & Payments Asia and what do you plan on showcasing in 2015? RG: The company has always been dedicated to helping business drive greater enterprise asset

intelligence and stay ahead of the curve through our suite of end-to-end solutions. This year, we collaborated with our partners to showcase our suite of retail solutions and demonstrate how businesses and retailers can use IoT technologies to derive better value and drive deeper insights in their processes and resources. This included live demonstrations of our solutions for inventory management, membership and loyalty programs, and queue busting and mobile payments in a retail environment. Next year, we want to focus on demonstrating how the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suite of solutions can enable companies to realise greater enterprise asset intelligence, and drive business value with better decision-making. A 2014 global study by Forrester Consulting revealed that senior IT decision makers inside key industries believe that the IoT is transformational, with over 98 percent agreeing that IoT is the technological initiative of the decade (versus 97 percent globally), and over 85 percent of companies surveyed in APAC are ready to make the necessary changes for IoT. The company aims to empower these enterprises with the needed intelligence about their internal operations so they can improve business processes and better serve customers.

IAA: In the Logistics and Supply Chain business, what technologies do you foresee having the greatest impact in the next 5 to 10 years? RG: Rising costs and changing end consumer behaviour will see an increasing need for higher flexibility, greater end-to-end visibility, and the ability to support multi-channel sourcing to cope with increasingly complex and dynamic logistical arrangements. Because of these demands, logistics and supply chain businesses will gain a deeper appreciation for the premise behind IoT technologies,

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elementa1, Slovakia

or smart interconnected devices: to gain real-time visibility into assets, people and transactions, and drive more effective and timely business decisions or to improve customer interactions According to Forrester’s recent global IoT study, over 85 percent of enterprises surveyed in APAC stating that IoT will be the most strategic technology initiative in the coming decade. Nearly 65 percent of these firms have deployed or are in the process of implementing IoT solutions, and we can expect the intelligent enterprise to make IoT accessible and scalable for operations of various sizes, and seek to provide integrated visibility and connectivity solutions for their industries. Mobile technology and smartphone apps will also continue to have a positive impact on our professional and personal lives. As an increasing number of workers become less confined to a physical workspace, enterprises will adopt tools to allow them to use cloud-based applications fed with real-time information about assets in their environment. From the same Forrester study, we found that 83 percent of the firms surveyed globally identify Wi-Fi infrastructure and real-time location tracking technologies as important or very important building blocks of IoT solutions. As the adoption of everyday objects connected to the Internet becomes ubiquitous, and workers’ demand for real time intelligence about all of their critical assets increases, enterprises will turn to cloudbased platform software that provides integrated visibility and connectivity solutions to make their processes more efficient, and work more effective.

A Forrester study reveals that 83 percent of firms surveyed globally identify Wi-Fi infrastructure and real-time location tracking technologies as important or very important building blocks of IoT solutions.

IAA: Zebra Technologies recently acquired Motorola Solutions’ Enterprise Business, what was the motivation behind this acquisition and what does this acquisition say about the future direction of your company? RG: This acquisition is the result of three key trends: the technological empowerment of the mobile workforce, IoT and cloud technology. Workers in

every organisation are on the move, and these mobile workers need tools that will allow them to use cloud-based applications and feed those applications with real-time information about assets in their environment. The company has historically offered the building blocks required to give a digital voice to virtually everything in the workplace through our tracking and sensing technologies — otherwise known as the Enterprise IoT. With the acquisition of Motorola’s Enterprise business, The company’s expanded IoT building blocks will have the end-to-end solutions that include: • Expansion in barcode and RFID sensing-enabled handheld and wearable devices for the mobile workforce. • The addition of wireless LAN solutions. • Integration with the company’s existing Zatar IoT management cloud platform. • Comprehensive professional services. • Capabilities to expand the critical data stream necessary to enable actionable business analytics. The combined organisations will offer integrated visibility and connectivity solutions for the retail, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation and logistics industries and many others.

IAA: What is your company’s strategy for Southeast Asia, and how does this region differ compared to other regions you operate in? RG: Asia continues to be a big contributor to our global growth. APAC represents about 15 percent of our total sales, and it is one of our fastest-growing regions. Our customers in the region include leading manufacturers, as well as a growing number of customers in retail, healthcare and transportation & logistics. According to the Forrester study, over 85 percent of enterprises in APAC believe that IoT solutions will be the most strategic technology initiative for themselves in a decade, higher than the global average by five percentage points. In short, APAC enterprises believe that IoT will change the way their businesses around the globe are managed, while empowering their enterprises with the needed intelligence about their internal operations so they can improve business processes and better serve customers. We are therefore confident about the adoption of our cloud-based technologies and connected devices in this region, as the company is now even better positioned to take advantage of important technology trends in mobility, cloud and IoT. ENQUIRY NO. 8803

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EVENT REVIEW

NIDays 2014: Singapore Edition

NATIONAL Instruments held its NIDays event at the Parkroyal Hotel (Beach Road), Singapore on October 2, 2014. This was the first leg of the Southeast Asian series of events, before heading to Manila, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok. Over 350 people were in attendance, comprising engineers, educators, and scientists, with an estimated 1,300 attendees expected to attend the four events in total, from across Southeast Asia. “We chose these Southeast Asian countries primarily because Singapore is our headquarters for Southeast Asia, Kuala Lumpur is also an important centre for us. Penang is too, but we have a plant in Penang, as such we have many events around that, so people are able to know what

we do. We chose Bangkok as we have had our operations for the last 10 years in Bangkok, and it is a very fast growing region for us, so we decided to do that, and the same for Manila,” commented Chandran Nair, MD, NI (Southeast Asia).

The Agenda Previously known as the Graphical System Design (GSD) Summit, NIDays is designed to be a technology conference based out of the company’s NI Week conference held in Austin, Texas every year, in which 3,000 to 4,000 people usually attend. However, as Mr Nair points out: “We cannot have such a big event in every city around the world. As such, what we do is we chose some key cities,

and in my region in Southeast Asia, we have chosen four cities to do this conference.” Key sessions included content on the company’s graphical system design platform as well as its latest software-defined systems in design, test, measurement, and control. A major theme of the conference was the Internet of Things (IoT) with discussions on wearables and the changing industrial landscape. “In this conference we are really focusing on things like IoT, and what that means is sensors everywhere. What happens to that data, especially scientific data?” “Other key topics of discussion were smart factories and large scale machine condition monitoring. Large scale machine condition

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In addition to the conference there were technology demonstrations from the company that received much interest from attendees.

monitoring is designed to make your life easier in maintaining large systems, for example, large turbines in many different remote locations, how do you monitor them, how do you decide when to send somebody there. Those kind of things we are addressing,” remarked Mr Nair. Mr Nair and Mike Santori, VP, product marketing, NI, led a panel of speakers with a keynote presentation about Big Analogue Data and the industrial side of IoT. The main message was that by using a platform-based approach, engineers and scientists can push the boundaries of the IoT in areas that include automated testing of consumer devices; designing, prototyping, deploying and monitoring industrial

systems; and the development of next-generation wireless communications.

Key Highlights The company also released its first end-to-end software solution that is designed to gain insight into the health of capital equipment for machine maintenance and operations, called InsightCM Enterprise. Developed primarily to address Big Analogue Data challenges and build on industrial IoT. The analyst firm International Data Corporation (IDC) released a report, Worldwide and Regional Internet of Things 2014-2020, in which it predicted that the global IoT market will hit US$7.1 trillion by 2020. The firm also estimates

the global IoT market at around US1.9 trillion in 2013, with some 90 percent of all IoT devices installed in developed regions. On the company’s role in the IoT market, Mr Nair remarked: “We describe IoT in two major areas, one being industrial IoT and the other consumer IoT. Consumer IoT we consider to be wearables, phones and all that other fun stuff we use on a day to day basis. Our job here is to test those wearables, as we have a strong test and measurement capability. In the IoT for industrial use, we provide the electronics, the software applications that really power the industrial IoT.” Other highlights included the launch of the company’s Semiconductor Test System (STS) series, designed to reduce test costs for RF and mixed-signal devices by opening access to NIand industry-offered PXI modules in semiconductor production test environments. In addition, Labview 2014 was showcased with additional features and functionality, particularly in acquiring, analysing, visualising data sets designed to make informed decisions fast. Additionally, the company highlighted achievements in regional engineering and scientific endeavour with its 2014 Engineering Impact Awards.

Conclusion The event was well attended and with an alternative look and feel compared to previous years. IoT was a major theme at this years show, with many new products and solution announcements incorporated throughout the event. October 2, 2014 Parkroyal Hotel (Beach Road) Singapore ENQUIRY NO. 8901 Dec 2014/Jan 2015 | industrial automation asia 63

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EVENT REVIEW

Singapore International Energy Week 2014 Augustine Quek attended the 2014 edition of Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore. He reports on the latest trends and key announcements in the Asian energy landscape.

THE 7th annual Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) was attended by more than 10,000 leaders from the energy industry, representing businesses, governments and international organisations, from over 60 countries. Held from October 27 - 31, 2014, at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, the over 20 partner conferences and exhibitions, roundtable discussions, and associated events offered opportunities for networking and discussions, in line with this year’s theme of ‘Building Energy Connections.’ The week opened with S Iswaran, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry, addressing the more than 1,000 energy industry executives and government officials with several announcements. Among the announcements he made were the establishment of a S$25 million (US$20 million) Energy Storage Programme to enhance the stability of Singapore’s power system; a S$20 million Energy Training Fund to support the training of Singaporean power sector workers; a lowering of the contestability threshold for commercial and industrial electricity consumers; as well as a simplification of energyrelated rules and regulatory requirements. To allow more commercial and industrial consumers to buy power from their electricity retailer of choice and the wholesale market at competitive prices, the contestability threshold — the eligibility based on average monthly power consumption — will be lowered further from four megawatt hours to two megawatt hours from July 1, 2015, he said.

The S$25 million Energy Storage Programme will support the development of exportable solutions and capabilities, and integration of large-scale, costeffective systems for Singapore’s power system. Renewables have also taken centre-stage this year, with the launch of the SolarNova programme, which aggregates solar demand across government buildings and spaces to yield cost savings from economies of scale. SolarNova is expecting to launch the first aggregated tender in early 2015. In addition, a taskforce comprising EMA and SP PowerGrid has shortened the grid connection process for solar PV installations from 27 to 7 working days, eased administrative requirements imposed on solar PV owners, and developed a one-stop information portal to share know-how on solar licensing and technical requirements. Later in the day, Maria van der Hoeven, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) pointed that energy challenges range from dwindling fossil fuels to infrastructure issues, and no nation can solve its energy problems on its own. Indeed, rising demand, climate change and the management of emerging generation technologies are pressing challenges as countries navigate big changes in the global energy landscape, concurred Leonhard Birnbaum, a senior executive at global energy supplier E.ON.

The Rewards Of Cooperation The necessity for cooperation on energy issues was evident at the ASEAN Power Grid, where panelists

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In addition to DSA and SCADA, RTUs can perform metering applications, data acquisitions and regulation for utilities network and integrate SCADA and automation systems in one device. It is now possible to monitor power plants using the cloud, with companies developing their own industrial gateways, data loggers and other hardware devices. Energy management software has improved to be able to operate on a city-wide level, monitoring assets issuing alerts and even controls. For example, France-based E v o l u t i o n E n e rg i e e n e rg y portfolio management system Panellists discussed the latest trends in the energy sector at this year’s is used to monitor and optimise Singapore International Energy Week. energy usage from heating in a swimming pools to street lights in a city. The company claims that it is being used at the Singapore Energy Summit said that regional to monitor the equivalent of five percent of the energy interconnectivity is hampered by varying European Union’s energy consumption, in America, levels of technology across different Southeast Asian Asia, Europe and the Middle-East. countries and the alignment of legal and regulatory energy policies between the different governments. At the Clean Energy Summit, an interesting The Importance Of Interconnectivity conclusion that came out of panelists’ discussions Greater interconnectivity was also a strong theme was that the energy networks will be modeled at the events, with social involvement the next on current telecommunications networks. This is step in energy management. It is now possible for because smart grids, the future of energy networks, management solutions to provide communications essentially consist of information exchange devices platforms that deliver information to the public in and power transmission lines, in addition to power the form of news, real-time data, analytics, historics generation and conversion. This meant a greater and prognosis. These platforms can be further degree of automation and control in the energy linked to social media, discussion panels and online sector, to harmonise demand and supply. involvement tools, allowing the general public to The greater automation of energy provision, participate in energy management. The increased transmission, consumption and monitoring were transparency not only heightens ordinary citizens’ evident at the other events in the week. Several awareness, it improves governance and reduces power automation technologies were on display energy consumption at the grassroots level. at the EU Business Avenues to South East Asia and The region of Baden-Wurttemberg is an example of RE@Expo. interconnectivity in practice, showcased at the Expo At these events, a range of automation solutions during the week. The LivingLab BWe mobil in Badenfor renewable energy were offered. Web-based energy Wurttemberg in Germany is an e-mobility showcase monitoring, ultracapacitors, energy distribution region of large-scale, application-oriented research and grid automation technologies were but a few projects. The region has close to 2,000 electric of the products on display. For example, Adrem vehicles and 1,000 charging stations. Invest’s AI100 Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) has The estimated 40 projects focus on vehicle, fleet multiple communication facilities (RS 232, RS485, and charging infrastructure, residential and electric mobility transport business models. One such Ethernet, and so on) via its interface. It can be project by Daimler is Car2go. With about 500 electric integrated in SCADA systems, protocol convertor, drive vehicles in Stuttgart and a similar number of provide metering applications, data acquisition and charging stations, the project allows all registered regulation for utilities network. Dec 2014/Jan 2015 | industrial automation asia 65

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EVENT REVIEW

Shaving via Gamification and Energy Management Apps and Demand Side Management (DSM). The former seeks to change demand side power consumption behaviour using gamification methods, the latter seeks to monitor and reduce energy usage through the use of a mobile application that allows users to track their energy usage and control smart appliances.

Investments In Innovation

As part of the Youth Energy Showcase, eight academic institutions participated with 15 innovative energy projects.

card holders of the project to drive the vehicles anywhere in Stuttgart in a car-sharing program. On their smartphones or the Internet, customers can see where the nearest unoccupied Car2go vehicle is located. Using their membership cards, drivers can open the vehicle without any prior booking and lock the door again once their trip is over.

Renewed Focus On Youth At this year’s Youth Energy Showcase, eight academic institutions participated with 15 innovative energy projects. Automation was a strong theme among some projects. The Seat Vacancy Detector System from National University of Singapore, for example, can selectively power electrical devices by monitoring the distribution of the occupancy of seats in a room. It then provides information for available seats in the room via a centralised display. This system provides automation, information and potential energy savings using sensors made from low-cost materials, incorporating another element in smart building management. ITE College East’s Integrated Air Handling Unit (AHU) control system aids energy conservation through the programming of room usage time in the system. Equipped with programmable DDC controller, card access reader and presence sensors, its interactive touch screen allows users to set temperature, control and monitor damper positions, airflow, and perform other controls. The system can be programmed to turn on the air-conditioner when the sensors detect occupants in the rooms, or by authorised users with their cards. Singapore Polytechnic’s fall detection system enhances the safety of elderly at home and optimising energy consumption by monitoring movement and audio patterns via a Passive Infra-Red sensor (PIR) and an Ultra-Sonic sensor (US). Other projects of interests include The Peak Load

Innovation and advances in technology will help to resolve the trilemma of energy security, economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability, said Chee Hong Tat, chief executive of Singapore’s Energy Market Authority on the fourth day of the week, at the opening of Shell Innovation Open House Asia, one of the week’s events. “For innovation and technology to yield the best results, we need closer collaboration between government, private sector and academia,” he said, citing the example of Singapore’s Pulau Ubin Micro-grid Test-bed that offers a platform for research organisations and companies to develop technology in areas such as energy analytics, storage and grid asset management. One such area of innovation was Sembcorp’s new Technology and Innovation Centre. One of the innovative technologies under development at the centre is an advanced global asset management system. The developed system will allow Sembcorp to manage its energy and water plants around the world. It will comprise three key modules: a process optimisation module, a troubleshooting module using predictive analytics, and a predictive maintenance module. The optimisation module will benchmark plant performance data and provide automatic alerts for any abnormalities; troubleshooting module help Sembcorp’s technical experts address operational issues the minute they occur, while maintenance module identifies potential equipment problems even before operational disruptions happen. From power generation to efficiency to automation controls, SIEW will return in 2015 with more exciting and interesting offerings at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore from October 26 – 30. October 27 - 31, 2014 Sands Expo and Convention Centre Singapore ENQUIRY NO. 8902

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ENQUIRY NO. 792

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PRODUCTS & SERVICES ABB: Three-Phase Drives ABB has extended its motion control offering with a range of three-phase AC motor drives providing system building flexibility for high-power and continuous machinery and motion control applications. The integrated features of the MotiFlex e180 range means that the drive platform can be used — without additional hardware — in almost any type of application: with a host of different control system architectures and communications and motor feedback schemes. At the heart of this universal system integration capability is flexible real-time Ethernet compatibility and feedback interfacing, built-in functional safety, and the ability to be used in many different types of control system architectures — from centralised control to intelligent stand-alone motion solutions. ENQUIRY NO. 8903

Belden: Traceable Patch Cord

Traceable Bonded-Pair Patch Cords, from Belden, allow today’s IT manager to ensure fast and easy maintenance, and quick resolution of mistakes and erroneous network connections to save time and money. These patch cords feature an integrated bright LED for easy identification. By the press of a button on the low-profile plug, the LED flashes on both ends of the patch cord for easy port identification. Offered in Category 6A and Category 6+, these Patch Cords are suited for tracing server and switch connections in the data centre and high-bandwidth connections in mission critical applications like financial and medical-grade networks. ENQUIRY NO. 8904

Brother: Wireless Industrial Handheld Labeller

Brother International Singapore has launched the latest member of the company’s industrial handheld labelling family, the P-touch PT-E550WVP wireless industrial handheld labeller. This full-featured labelling tool is the company’s first industrial handheld product to feature Wi-Fi connectivity to Windows, iOS, Mac and Android devices — an enhancement designed to expand the contractor’s jobsite capabilities. With this product, users can download and store custom label files and databases from tablets, smartphones or PCs to print full project labels or individual labels wirelessly on-site. ENQUIRY NO. 8905

Cummins Power Generation: Generator Sets

The QSK95 Series generator sets, from Cummins Power Generation, is a line of high-horsepower diesel generator sets. They offer up to 3.5 MW 60 Hz and 3.75 MVA 50 Hz. They are engineered with the highest kilowatt per square foot ratio in their class, resulting in a smaller footprint that achieves a 20 percent improvement in power density. While these generator sets boast more power, they are also economic on fuel — over the course of 8,000 hours of operation, these generator sets can achieve fuel savings of more than US$400,000. ENQUIRY NO. 8906

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PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Mobil Industrial Lubricants: Industrial Product Selector

Fuji Electric: Uninterrupted Power Supply

Looble is an online industrial product selector. It is designed to be an easy way to find the right Mobil branded lubricant for your application. It is also designed to quickly give you product recommendations, with performance-based star ratings, specific to the performance requirements and operating conditions of your application. You can also get a wealth of expert information on the recommended products and bestpractice guidance. All with just a few clicks. The online product selector is available at Looble.com.

The 7000HX-T4 large capacity UPS, from Fuji Electric, was created to support Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic and industrial growth. Featuring the proprietary 3-level conversion circuitry, switching and filtering losses are reduced to bring about a conversion efficiency of 96.5 percent. This product is suited for data centres and industry applications. Suitable for businesses facing space constraints and power stability in the region, as it occupies 35 percent less space than other conventional models due to the transformerless design.

ENQUIRY NO. 8907

ENQUIRY NO. 8909

FCI: Wire-To-Board Connectors

Misumi: Single Axis Robot

The Minitek Pwr Hybrid 3.0 & Minitek Pwr Hybrid 4.2 connectors, from FCI, has been launched. The Hybrid series has an improved and flexible modular design over traditional power connectors. Both the 3.0 and 4.2 configurations are available for dual row and 2 to 24 power circuits, and 2 to 12 signals for Wire-to-Board applications. Crimping and removal tools are available for wire harness assemblies. Vertical Wave soldering headers are available in through-hole configurations. The 3.0mm and 4.2mm models allows the flexibility of selecting the number of pins, and the placement of power and signal contacts, making it highly configurable for varying power needs.

The RS Series, from Misumi, is a motor-driven, multi-point, programmable robotic system. This product series consists of a range of products, from small/economical robot type to high rigidity/precision type for varying needs. Well suited for use in many industries including semiconductor front and back end, hard disk, medical, pharmaceutical and small electrical components industries. Key features include: slider, rod, motor, integrated actuator, easy operation controller, cables all in 1 set; no need for complex robot language programming; easy positioning operations by point data entry and I/O signals from a controller; and serial communication functions are newly added to write and read point data.

ENQUIRY NO. 8908

ENQUIRY NO. 8910

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PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Moxa: Redundancy Boxes

Prosoft: Industrial Cellular Gateway

Moxa has launched the PT-G503-PHR-PTP series of redundancy boxes (RedBoxes). This series of RedBoxes are compliant with the latest IEC 62439-3 standard, making them suited for electrical substation automation and process automation systems that require zero recovery time to ensure the highest system availability and data integrity. This product is a Parallel Redundancy Protocol/Highavailability Seamless Redundancy (PRP/HSR) all-in-one device that supports Gigabit, coupling, and QuadBox for versatile and scalable zero switch-over time networks that are easy to manage and deploy. These benefits enable efficient network management and fast error detection.

The ICX30-HWC Industrial Cellular Gateway, from Prosoft, allows remote site access and communication to PLCs, RTUs, and other Ethernet and serial devices. The industrial cellular gateway provides secure wireless Ethernet and serial connectivity to remote devices and equipment over 3G cellular service. These include PLCs, RTUs, DCS systems, instruments, electronic billboards and communication towers. The industrial cellular gateway is suited for programming and maintenance, remote data collection, location-based monitoring and SCADA applications. Remote devices are accessed using secure VPN tunnels over Internet connections.

ENQUIRY NO. 8911

ENQUIRY NO. 8913

Omega Engineering: Positive Displacement Flow Meter

Rockwell Automation: Integrated Condition Monitoring

The FPD3000 Series positive displacement flowmeters, from Omega Engineering, are designed to be affordable and accurate. One primary feature is the ability to maintain consistent accuracy despite changing viscosity conditions. The meter’s solid construction and dynamic response are well suited to the measurement of fuels and oils as well as other non-abrasive lubricating fluids. Since there is no need for straight run piping upstream or downstream of the flowmeter, these flowmeters are simple to use and to install. The meter has good resolution and high accuracy at low flow rates.

Rockwell Automation has announced that manufacturers can monitor and protect machinery at a lower total cost of ownership with the Allen-Bradley Dynamix 1444 Series monitors. The integrated condition-monitoring system allows manufacturers to leverage the company’s Integrated Architecture system, rather than an isolated conditionmonitoring device, to assess current equipment health, predict potential issues, and help avoid damage to critical machinery. Integration of machinery health into control architectures using a standard Ethernet TCP/IP EtherNet/IP network brings flexibility to machine-instrumentation design and operational efficiency on the manufacturing floor.

ENQUIRY NO. 8912

ENQUIRY NO. 8914

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Calendar Of Events 2015 feb 4 – 6 Semicon Korea Coex Seoul, South Korea SEMI Email: jcho@semi.org Web: http://www.semiconkorea.org/

26 – 28 India Automation Technology Fair 2015 Bombay Exhibition Centre Mumbai, India MMI India Email: tarun.marwah@mmi-india.in Web: http://www.iatf.in/

mar 9 – 11 SIAF Guangzhou 2015 China Import and Export Fair Complex Guangzhou, China Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt Email: sps@china.messefrankfurt.com Web: http://www.siaf-china.com/

18 – 20 Korea Machine Vision Show 2015 Coex Seoul, South Korea Korea Machine Vision Industrial Association Email: gemma0707@coex.co.kr Web: http://automationworld.biz/

31 – Apr 2 Propak Vietnam Saigon Exhibition & Convention Centre (SECC) Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Singapore Exhibition Services Email: events@sesallworld.com Web: http://propakvietnam.com/

apr

jun

8 – 9 IoT Asia 2015

2 – 5 CommunicAsia 2015

Max Atria & Singapore Expo Singapore Singex Email: yeeling.chua@singex.com Web: http://www.internetofthingsasia.com/

Marina Bay Sands Singapore Singapore Exhibition Services Email: pinpin.tan@sesallworld.com Web: http://www.communicasia.com/

13 – 17 Hannover Messe 2015

17 – 20 Propak Asia 2015

Hannover Exhibition Grounds Hannover, Germany Deutsche Messe Email: info@messe.de Web: http://www.hannovermesse.de/

BITEC Bangkok, Thailand Bankok Exhibition Services Email: piyaporn@besallworld.com Web: http://www.propakasia.com/

21 – 23 Nepcon China 2015

23 – 25 SCM Logistics & Manufacturing World 2015

Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Centre Shanghai, China Reed Exhibitions Email: tim.wang@reedexpo.com.cn Web: http://www.nepconchina.com/

22 – 23 RFID World Asia 2015 Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre Singapore Terrapinn Email: Christine.lee@terrapinn.com Web: http://www.terrapinn.com/2015/ rfid-world-asia/

may

Suntec International Convention & Exhibition Centre Singapore Terrapinn Email: chanelis.lee@terrapinn.com Web: http://www.terrapinn.com/

jul 7 – 10 MTA Vietnam Saigon Exhibition & Convention Centre (SECC) Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Singapore Exhibition Services Email: event@sesallworld.com Web: http://mtavietnam.com/

13 – 16 Intermach 2015 BITEC Bangkok, Thailand UBM Asia (Thailand) Email: Sukanya.A@ubm.com Web: http://www.intermachshow.com/

20 – 23 Metaltech 2015 Putra World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Trade Link ITE Email: info@tradelink.com.my Web: http://www.tradelink.com.my/

aug 5 – 8 MTT Expo Indonesia JI Expo Kemayoran Jakarta, Indonesia ECMI Email: info@mtt-indonesia.com Web: http://mtt-indonesia.com/

27 – 29 Indo Renergy Expo & Forum 2015 Jakarta Convention Centre Jakarta, Indonesia PT Napindo Media Ashatama Email: info@indorenergy.com Web: http://www.indorenergy.com/ To be considered for inclusion in the Calendar of Events, send details of event (name, date, venue, organiser contact) to: The Editor IAA Eastern Trade Media Pte Ltd. 1100 Lower Delta Road, EPL Building, #02-05, Singapore 169206 Tel: (65) 6379 2888 Fax: (65) 6379 2805 Email: iaa@epl.com.sg

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