The need
Electrical installations in both industrial and consumer buildings need to meet the new challenges of our growing power needs. To increase the energy efficiency of buildings, while at the same time integrating consumers into the load compensation, will mean that controlling the switching of electrical devices on or off according to external signals, such as time and consumption, will be vital.
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The Bosch Smart Home range includes both Single System products and System Solution products. Test the range of smart solutions to understand how these products are able to assist you in your daily lives; offering additional comfort, security for peace of mind and
ASSA ABLoY is the global leader in door opening solutions, dedicated to satisfying end-user needs for security, safety and convenience. Since its formation in 1994, ASSA ABLoY has grown from a regional company into an international group with about 46,000 employees, operations in more than 70 countries and sales close to SEK 68 billion. The Group has a leading position in areas such as access control, identification technology, entrance automation and hotel security. www.assaabloy.co.uk/en/local/uk/
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There has never been a more pressing need to husband the world’s resources and reduce global energy consumption. Developments in building automation are a promising way forward; in particular, using self-powered devices that harvest energy from the environment and manual operation.
The need is pressing. Most of the world’s offices are underused, thereby overusing power and materials just when these resources
are becoming scarcer and more costly. In the past year, energy prices have doubled or tripled in parts of the world, for example, Europe. Couple that with similar increases of interest rates and mortgages, eye-watering inflation, and global consequences of famine and strife. ` The coronavirus pandemic may be over, but the trend to hybrid working casts its shadow. Post COVID-19, office spaces remain 50% to 70% occupied - leaving 30% to 50% energy wasted and a legacy of unnecessary
CO2 output. Meanwhile, cabling and batteries are draining resources such as copper and lithium. This is taking place in the context of pressure from world leaders to reduce carbon emissions and reverse the impact of global climate change.
Emissions from buildings are a significant issue. Globally, buildings account for almost 40% of the world’s energy usage and are responsible for 36% of global CO2 emissions. To meet the United Nations and other climate goals, it is imperative
to make buildings more energy efficient. Retrofitting old buildings is quicker than building new ones and is the only option that can meet the increasingly urgent climate and sustainability goals.
On a governmental level, Europe’s “Green Deal” initiative starts from the premise that the production and use of energy accounts for more than 75% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions.¹ Main pillars are to promote innovative technologies and modern infrastructure, whilst boosting energy efficiency and promoting eco-design in products. Forward thinking businesses are responding. Deutsche Telekom has pledged to become climate neutral by 2025 and similarly the EU by 2050. Whilst Microsoft wants to be CO2 negative by 2030.
Break free from proprietary standards and hard-wired tech
Responding to these challenges highlights significant differences between hard-wired, proprietary solutions and wireless, standardised,
extensible solutions. Such challenges can be addressed by open wireless systems. These benefit from an open data interface and even the option to extend the existing system with sensor types (such as CO2, desk utilisation or temperature sensors).
Wired sensors are not costeffective. With wiring costs of over 100 euros per sensor, the typical acquisition costs are tripled. A wired solution is also inflexible; each time a change is made, time is lost, and new wiring costs are incurred. Wire-free communication eliminates the need for installing new cabling and for physical access to the existing building automation system. Selfpowered sensors further optimise the installation - with an open system configuration alongside broad support for additional sensor types.
With new buildings, smart features can be designed in the early planning stage. They can then be implemented
while eliminating cables and removing reliance on batteries.
Maintenance-free wireless devices with energy-harvesting technology use environmental energy as their source of power. Innovations over the past ten years have demonstrated the success of greener self-powered devices, where kinetic energy, light, magnetic fields and temperature differences can all be used to generate sufficient electricity. Thanks to these sensors, the smart building can monitor the status of its environment and use this data to make any necessary adjustment or for analytical purposes. The data is gathered and processed by a cloud-based IT platform, as a digital twin if required. The physical space is combined with digital services and analytical tools. A dashboard can then present the data in a user-friendly way for managers and decision makers to view and act on. These advances are highlighted in the example of “The Squaire” – a smart building in Frankfurt, Germany.
Here the installation of more than 20,000 wireless and battery-free sensors and switches saved over 95km of cabling and many personyears of installation time.
Reaping the energy harvest
Let us review four effective ways to harvest energy that’s freely available in the typical building environment and using it to power sensors that collect data and even actuators to control outputs.
Smart-building devices can generate electricity from kinetic energy. One press of a button can generate enough power to send a radio signal to dim the lights. The PTM switch module has created an international industry standard that makes it particularly easy for manufacturers to integrate the module into all common switch design variants. The basis for this is the electromechanical energy converter which – like a bicycle dynamo – generates energy when the switch is being pressed. This energy harvesting technology, kinetic switches are a resource-saving alternative to battery-powered or wired switches. An identifying code embedded in each radio transmission matches a particular switch to an individual light, allowing thousands of switches to be used in the same building without any interference.
Each signal can be received up to 300m away (free field. Inside a building typically 15 to 30m)
Another option is to harvest the ambient light, by generating and storing electricity from solar cells. A solar-powered sensor can measure for example temperature, humidity, occupancy, air quality or door/window status with low power consumption and high reliability. The modules’ tiny internal storage enables transmission of measured values even in total darkness for many days.
Thermoelectric effects offer further energy resources that can be harvested: this time using tiny temperature differences to create electricity through long-known physics principle the Seebeck Effect using Peltier elements. Temperature differences offer the ability to harvest a great deal of energy. For example, the warming of a drop of water by one degree Celsius (°C) requires the same amount of energy needed to send about 10,000 EnOcean wireless telegrams. That is enough to operate not just a wireless sensor, but even wireless actuators such as heating valve actuators. Using a DC/DC converter combined with a Peltier element, manufacturers can also utilize thermo-electric powered applications. As EnOcean wireless modules are optimized
for a wide input voltage range, the converter is a complete match for energy harvesting applications that take advantage of temperature differentials.
Rounding out the quartet of possibilities there is magnetics. Electrons flowing in cables can deliver energy through magnetism ready to harvest. This goes beyond simply measuring energy consumption through the electrical buses. Harvesting some of the energy from the bus is utilized to send data to the building system.
Conclusion
The combination of intelligent wireless buildings with energyharvesting controls and operation is the key that unlocks the potential of smart buildings and makes the technology economic and practical in new construction and retrofit situations. The elimination of cabling minimises installation costs, the elimination of batteries eliminates operating costs, and together they create a solution that is maintenancefree and can be quickly and easily adapted to changing operational requirements whilst optimising energy use and costs at any time.
For further information please visit www.enocean-alliance.org
• ABB’s globally recognized VD4 circuit breaker evolves to be safer, smarter and more sustainable with advanced digital features
• New intelligence reduces the risk of power outages by 30 percent and increases operation and maintenance efficiencies by as much as 60 percent
• Compact and configurable, the VD4 evo’s ‘plug and play’ design enables easy installation and is simple to upgrade
As power systems around the world transform, ABB is continuing to lead their seamless digital transformation with the evolution of its respected VD4 medium voltage (MV) circuit breaker.
Transforming the operational excellence and costefficiency of modern electrical distribution applications, the new VD4 evo takes the popular existing range – which is already established in over 2 million installations across 100 countries –and fast-tracks it into the digital future.
VD4 evo’s design incorporates Industry 4.0 level sensor enhancements for all thermal, mechanical and electrical parameters along with an advanced Central Monitoring Unit for 24/7, real-time analytics. With key information delivered via a simple, intuitive dashboard, this approach enables unparalleled visibility of equipment data, status and condition from anywhere in the world. This is completed with diagnostics reports and alarm notifications based on ABB’s expert knowledge.
The result is a series of significant operational and financial benefits for users, such as panel builders and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), thanks to the ability to detect and address issues ahead of time, which reduces the risk of power outages by 30 percent¹ and increases operation and maintenance efficiency
by as much as 60 percent². Alongside this, through technological enhancements it becomes easier to predict wear and tear and increase overall lifespan and output, helping to save thousands of dollars per solution when compared to traditional MV switchgear.
Sustainability is also achieved thanks to the VD4 evo’s ultra-compact design and energy efficient operation, which is fully Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certified. It is 15 percent smaller compared to traditional MV breakers and, as an essential component of digital switchgear, it also plays its part in helping to save up to 150 tons of CO2 emissions over a 30 year lifetime of a 14-panel unit³ - the equivalent to 1million km in long haul economy flights. Equally, the ability to make better decisions in all aspects of installation and repair work ensures advanced safety and protection for personnel and maintenance staff.
ABB group vice president for Control and Protection products, Sami Raitakoski, said: “We’re thrilled to bring the next evolution of our flagship VD4 range to market. Following years of extensive research and development, VD4 evo represents an important next step in our effort towards the digitalization of power distribution. With digital embedded sensors specifically designed to provide optimized detection of thermal, electrical and mechanical parameters, VD4 evo provides the intelligent insight needed to optimize efficiency. It also improves process and quality parameters and avoids downtime. Add to that the ability to contribute to sustainability efforts and advance safety, along with asset optimization gains equating to several thousands of dollars, and the VD4 evo is a solid investment for all operators seeking to prepare today for tomorrow’s grid of the future.”
To discover more about VD4 evo visit HERE
• Updated Desigo CC V6 connects to Building X, Siemens' cloud-based open platform and AI-enabled suite of applications
• Enhanced cybersecurity with extended support to IEC 62443-3-3 SL2
• New Flex Client features improve user experience
• Fulfils BACnet B-XAWS profile for cross-domain advanced workstation and BACnet Secure Connect
Siemens Smart Infrastructure has unveiled the latest version of Desigo CC, its integrated building management platform for the digitalization of buildings of any size. With the software update, Desigo CC V6 offers native cloud connectivity, an improved user experience and is among the first building management platforms worldwide to fulfill the BACnet B-XAWS profile for cross-domain advanced workstation and BACnet Secure Connect.
Native cloud connectivity to Building X Desigo CC now connects to the recently launched Building X, Siemens’ cloud-based open platform and AI-enabled suite of applications. Building operators can now monitor and manage multiple Desigo CC sites with the Building X Operations Manager cloud application. With 24/7 access to cloud-connected buildings from anywhere, unnecessary physical site visits are reduced and response times are improved. Using the Operations Manager, operators now have the ability to securely connect to Flex Client, the HTML5 client application, without a complex VPN setup. This functionality can be enabled in countries in which Building X is currently available.
Enhanced cybersecurity
Developed, operated and maintained with cybersecurity in mind, Desigo CC meets the highest protection requirements, adding support for additional IEC 62443-3-3 SL2 scenarios. It also allows for adaptation to customers’ advanced IT infrastructure, offering
improved user management and increased password security.
Along with a state-of-the-art user interface, the Desigo CC Flex Client receives additional software features to enhance the user experience with a focus on building automation operators. Highlights include Log Viewer for easy and efficient log data analysis; Flex Client Report Viewer to generate, view and download reports, and the ability to manage recipients and groups with the new application for notifications. These enhancements make end-users' daily operations more intuitive and efficient, and enables seamless site operation whether on-premise or in hybrid deployments.
For the integration of different subsystems, Desigo CC supports the manufacturer-independent BACnet standard, to monitor and control all subsystems with one common BMS. Desigo CC is among the first building management platforms certified with a cross-domain profile B-XAWS 1.16. Desigo CC supports the profiles B-AWS, B-ALWS, B-ACCWS, and profile B-XAWS, as well as the BACnet/SC protocol. It enables the encryption of data traffic based on certificates, ensuring a secure connection between all BACnet devices. With a modular design, Desigo CC has the flexibility across different disciplines to adapt to buildings and projects of any size. Engineer-friendly functions, workflows and migration tools also allow for the optimization of engineering costs, and simplification of migration projects.
Desigo CC V6 will be shown for the first time at Light + Building 2022, in Frankfurt, Germany, October 2-6. Visit us in Hall 11.0, B56, and read more about the Siemens presence at the show, here.
For further information please see www.siemens.com/smart-infrastructure
Solution boosts efficiency and reduces building management operation costs by 10% Semtech Corporation (Nasdaq: SMTC), a leading global supplier of high performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and advanced algorithms, announced that Intent Technologies, a leading service platform for smart properties, and Nexity Group, a leading French real estate services provider, has integrated Semtech’s LoRa® devices and the LoRaWAN® standard into its IntentPlatform to optimize performance, improve quality of service and reduce the carbon footprint in residential and commercial properties.
The IntentPlatform smart building solution has already achieved 10% savings in overall building operational costs for Nexity Group. Successfully deployed throughout the French territory, the system’s footprint spans over 1.2 million residential units as well as over 6 million square meters of office space. Providing 360-degree facility views, this LoRa-enabled smart properties solution enables real estate professionals to improve the operating performance of a building by exchanging data with more than 180 service suppliers and digital software vendors through a comprehensive dashboard with alerts on a single, Cloud platform.
“Ease of deployment and data collection quality made LoRa devices the clear choice to develop the use of data from sensors and equipment by real estate property managers on our platform,” said Benjamin Ulrich, CEO and founder of Intent Technologies. “With LoRa devices and LoRaWAN connectivity, the technology simplifies the way to deploy, maintain and utilize
sensors on existing building infrastructures. Not only does it reduce time spent on installations, but with its low level of power consumption, the technology significantly decreases the cost and labor required for battery replacements during the life cycle of the sensors.
The smart buildings market is forecasted to reach $141.71B USD in 2028 due to the rise in adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) technology. LoRa is the wireless platform of choice for the Internet of Things (IoT), with more than 5 million gateways and 270 million end nodes with LoRa devices deployed worldwide and growing. The IntentPlatform is positioned to easily connect sensors to monitor air quality, temperature, energy and water usage, and automatically provide alerts to property management and service providers when anomalies are detected, such as possible water or gas leaks, for quick response and resolution.
“Intent and Nexity’s product development and deployments showcase the value of IoT and the digital transformation in building management that is delivering efficiency, operational cost savings and occupant safety,” said Marc Pégulu, vice president and general manager for Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Products Group. “Smart buildings give added control for how consumers and communities utilize energy in a responsible manner. Semtech and the LoRaWAN ecosystem are committed to protecting our earth’s resources and enhancing the quality of human life.”
Learn more about Intent Technologies’ solutions here More information on Semtech’s LoRa devices can be found here
A challenge for Landlords and Holiday Rental services is how to get away from traditional mechanic keys and move into the digital world we live in today. Smart door locks provide a competitive
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• Acquisition will support growth ambitions in sectors including renewables and steel
• Approximately thirty employees including senior management will transition to BGEN
• Radway’s headquarters in Stoke will become part of BGEN’s network of UK regional offices
BGEN, a specialist, multi-discipline engineering solutions business, has acquired Radway Control Systems to strengthen its industrial automation offering. The purchase of the business, which includes the trading and certain assets of the company, will support BGEN’s growth ambitions in sectors including renewables and steel, and increase its presence in the automation aftermarket/service arena.
“When we rebranded to BGEN we stated we wanted to be recognised as an independent market leader in the provision of world class multi-disciplinary engineering solutions for UK and international customers,” says Robin Whitehead, chief executive at BGEN. “Strategic acquisitions were part of that realising that vision, and the addition of Radway Control Systems provides excellent synergies with our existing technology team and exciting growth opportunities.”
Radway Control Systems specialises in the design and implementation of automation, control and
information systems for a wide range of industries including automotive, chemicals, metals, renewables and water. It has a high degree of expertise in computer, PLC and drive application software, with a 24/7 breakdown cover and after sales service offering. Radway Control System is an ABB Drives Value Provider and Siemens Solution Partner.
As part of the acquisition, approximately thirty employees, including the senior management team, will join BGEN Technology, and Radway Control Systems’ headquarters in Stoke will become part of BGEN’s network of UK regional offices. The transition of the company into BGEN’s operations will be overseen by Ian Oliver, managing director – technology at BGEN, and it expected to be completed by Q2 2023.
“The acquisition of the business supports our growth ambitions and it’s great that the senior management team (Jon Taylor and Andrew Stainsby) have joined BGEN Technology,” said Ian Oliver, managing director - technology. “Radway Control Systems has some great experience in the industrial automation and digitalisation space, and we’re looking forward to integrating the team into our operations.”
For further information about BGEN Technology, visit Industrial Systems Integration Company
Open sesame: Strand Technologies is now the official UK distributor for Ditec – a worldwide market leader and manufacturer of swing and sliding gate operating equipment, and traffic barrier systems.
The partnership is an “ideal fit” for Strand Tech which manufactures its own technology solutions for the safety, security and control of electro-mechanical operating systems, including automatic doors and entrances.
Ditec marks the company’s first brand introduction outside its own manufacture. Ditec products combine functionality and customisation options for gates and traffic barriers. They boast a stylish aesthetic with advanced technology for reliability and ease of use. Its entrance systems are energy efficient – enabling users to make energy savings while reducing environmental impact.
The Ditec sliding gate range provides automated systems for gates up to 3000 kg in weight. Weather resistant, they combine strength with a modern elegant design. The swing gate range moves wings up to five metres wide. An underground system is also available –concealing moving parts from view.
Ditec automatic barriers are perfect for shopping centres, hotels, residential blocks and public areas which need safe, efficient and reliable access control. They are ideal for sites with medium to high traffic
volume. A wide range of accessories is available for various control needs.
Ditec, which is based near Milan, Italy, has been operating for more than 40 years and is now part of the AssaAbloy Group.
Strand Technologies will hold extensive stock for the UK gate installer market supported by expert technical support. Details of the product range can be found here: www.strandtech.co.uk/ditec-range
Said Steve Marshall, Managing Director of Strand Technologies: “Ditec ideally complements Strand Technologies existing range of control and diagnostic systems and reinforces our position within the door and entrances market. The introduction of Ditec to the UK brings something fresh and exciting; combining superb technology with exquisite design and durability.”
Alessandro Gozzi, Ditec’s Sales Manager for Western Europe said: “It was clear from the start that our two companies share the same values and work commitments. The team at Strand Technologies has extensive knowledge and skills and we are delighted that they have become our distribution partner in UK.”
For more information on Strand Technologies contact: visit: www.strandtech.co.uk
• Up to 99% of commercial buildings in UK are heating empty rooms
• Proven to reduce energy use in commercial buildings by up to 50%
• New technology can save up to 18TWhs of energy and prevent 9.8 million tonnes of CO2e entering the atmosphere every year
• The innovation will help fill support gap left by UK government
Energy management technology start-up, EcoSync, has announced the launch of its room-by-room, dynamic energy management platform across all commercial property sectors in a bid to reduce energy waste and costs for commercial buildings across the UK. The launch comes after successful installations within the education sector generating energy savings between 30% and 50%.
While the government has introduced a scheme to protect businesses, charities, and public sector organisations from escalating energy costs by fixing gas and electricity prices, this cap only applies to wholesale costs, which make up approximately 41% of a gas bill, and is only in place for six months. This means businesses remain exposed to escalating energy costs, and long-term forecasting and budgeting is highly problematic.
As a result, businesses need additional solutions, and the Confederation of British Industry has called for an acceleration of ‘energy efficiency programmes’ to drive conservation and reduce usage.
Dynamic energy management systems are gaining
traction in domestic settings, but the same technology has not been scalable for commercial buildings. Current solutions are hardware heavy, expensive, and timeintensive to install and maintain.
99% of UK commercial buildings do not have dynamic heating control and are operating an on-or-off heating regime connected to a central boiler. This means rooms are being heated regardless of occupancy levels, wasting energy, driving up costs and increasing CO2 emissions.
Using data from overall building schedules and room booking software, EcoSync enables room-byroom energy management - immediately ceasing the practise of heating empty rooms and creating energy savings of up to 50%. This equates to 18TWhs across all commercial buildings in the UK every year. Looking at average gas prices (September 2022), this level of energy saving could reduce the annual energy bill for the UK’s commercial buildings by up to £1.8 billion.
EcoSync's technology intelligently adapts temperature controls according to changing occupancy levels, driven by real-time data collection and machine learning digital twins of every radiator, room, and building. Its unique QR code feature, which allows occupants to adjust heating settings within pre-assigned parameters without downloading an app, ensures end user satisfaction as well as providing room-level energy use data to educate, motivate and engage occupants in energy conservation goals.
For more information visit https://ecosync.energy
— SMART HOME
ABB-free@home®
ABB-free@home®
ABB-free@home®
Making home automation easier than ever.
Making home automation easier than ever.
Making home automation easier than ever.
The Planon Innovation Campus in the Netherlands achieves WELL Certification at the Platinum level Planon is pleased to announce that it has been awarded WELL Certification at the Platinum level for its Planon Innovation Campus by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). The prestigious distinction was awarded through IWBI’s WELL v2, the latest version of the WELL Building Standard. WELL is the premier building standard to focus on enhancing people’s health and wellbeing through the buildings where we live, work, learn and play. Planon is the first company in the Netherlands that has achieved certification through WELL v2.
Created through seven years of rigorous research and development working with leading physicians, scientists, and industry professionals, the WELL Building Standard is a performance-based certification system that marries best practices in design and construction with evidence-based scientific research. The Planon Innovation Campus earned the distinction based on ten categories of building performance — Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind and Community — and achieved WELL Certification at the Platinum level. IWBI is the leading authority for transforming health and wellbeing with its people-first approach to buildings, organisations and communities.
Pierre Guelen, Planon CEO and founder commented, ‘In our company, we give high priority to the health of our colleagues. We believe that a space has the power to positively impact every employee’s health, safety and wellbeing. That notion was paramount when we set out to create our state-of-the-art Planon Innovation Campus
- a spacious, smart and sustainable office building, showcasing the office of the 21st centuryBeing awarded WELL Certification at the Platinum level evidences our vision, expertise and capabilities, and we are very proud of it!’
In addition to an office building, the Innovation Campus hosts a large ‘biophilic’ greenhouse - built of glass and steel - providing an aesthetically-pleasing and inviting green meeting area: the Planon Jungle. Project features that helped the Planon Innovation Campus achieve its WELL Certification at the Platinum level include ergonomic office chairs, desk bikes, high-quality drinking water, the gym, the communal garden and the offering of healthy food in the food court. The air quality, the light intensity in the offices and communal spaces, the relax space, the indoor access to nature, the smokefree area and many other features also contributed to the achievement.
‘We’re excited to see Planon Innovation Campus’ achievement—the first in the Netherlands to be awarded WELL Certification at the Platinum level under WELL v2,’ said Ann Marie Aguilar, Senior Vice President, EMEA, IWBI. ‘Their dedication to healthier places, and the communities that benefit from them, is an inspiration to the region.’
WELL is grounded in evidence-based research that explores the connection between the buildings where we spend the majority of our time, and the health and wellbeing impacts on the people inside these buildings. To be awarded WELL Certification by IWBI, the Planon Innovation Campus underwent rigorous testing and a final evaluation carried out by third parties to ensure it met all performance requirements.
The first commercial prototype of SolarBotanic’s innovative solar ‘tree’ capable of powering homes and charging electric vehicles is being developed by experts at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).
SolarBotanic Trees Ltd, is working with the AMRC to develop a field prototype for the integrated, scalable and sustainable power generation system. The project aims to build the prototype as the company moves towards full scale commercial production. Since its launch in the summer of 2022, SolarBotanic trees has already secured its founding client with a multi-million pound deal with Raw Charging Group.
The trees are designed for aesthetically sensitive locations and has a dome made up of nano photovoltaic (PV) ‘leaves’, can harness enough solar energy to power individual homes, and charge electric vehicles; while its sleek aesthetic means it is not only easy on the eye but on the environment too - providing a clean and green energy solution to accelerate the UK’s Net Zero journey.
The AMRC, part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult network of research centres, is providing the product development and design support to help build a functional prototype for testing.
John Spencer, senior project manager at the AMRC said: “We are delighted to be working with the fantastic team at SolarBotanic Trees on the development of its energy-generating solar tree. The business has a great product which will play an important role in developing the infrastructure necessary to support the shift to zero-emission electric vehicles (EVs), a core part of the
UK government’s net zero strategy.
“The AMRC will provide design and prototyping support to advance the product through a rapid development cycle, enabling the company to launch the first solar tree, fulfil its pre-orders, and gain traction in the EV charging market. SolarBotanic Trees’ vision to create carbon-reducing technologies aligns with the AMRC’s drive to support the high-value manufacturing sector on the journey to net zero.''
Chris Shelley, CEO of SolarBotanic Trees, said “With the AMRC bringing its design and prototyping expertise to the table it will help us accelerate commercialisation. The team at the AMRC is a great partner for SolarBotanic Trees to deliver the prototype at speed using its world-class facilities and talent which will enable us to rapidly move to commercial production in the near future, starting with our launch order for 200 trees for RAW Charging Group, a high growth UK and EU focussed EV charging service provider.”
Other project partners include the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry (MTC) and the Advanced Forming Research Centre in Scotland, both part of the HVM Catapult, along with Brunel University in London and multinational logistics company, Unipart.
The latest project is rooted in a five-day design assist previously undertaken for SolarBotanic Trees, which saw the AMRC deliver a range of design concepts for the trunk, branch and petal structure of the solar tree, as well as investigating a range of monitoring and sensing methods to test, assess and select various PV cell options.
Food security is a major issue affecting Africa, where over 346 million people struggle to access food every year 1. To build resilience in the supply chain and ensure food gets to where it’s needed, Egypt’s largest potato processing factory has installed ABB MNS Low Voltage (LV) switchgear to guarantee reliable, high-quality power to its two production lines, which process 10 tons of fried potatoes and two tons of mashed potato per hour for export into neighboring African markets.
The new USD 250 million potato factory, spanning an area of 15,000m 2 (roughly the size of two professional football fields) in a remote region in Southwest Egypt, is an important gateway into the rest of Africa for the country’s processed food exports. The food industry contributes almost 25 percent of Egypt’s GDP, 14 percent of its total exports and employs over 23 per cent of the country’s workforce 2. Building reliability and resilience in the supply chain is therefore essential to both the country’s economy as well as the export markets relying on it.
Sherif Ismail, Commercial Director for ABB Egypt and Central Africa said: “The food & beverage industry in Egypt is under constant pressure to adapt and evolve to meet consumer demand. This means increased production, lower prices, and improved quality and variety, all while maintaining a commitment to sustainability. As a gateway to the African F&B market, Egypt needs to secure a reliable power supply to guarantee and sustain the future of this vital sector.
Collaborating with clients like Orascom Construction will help to create blueprints for other facilities to follow.”
To provide a resilient and reliable power supply to keep production lines operating at maximum capacity, ABB installed low voltage power distribution solutions at the site as well as digitally enabled MNS Fixed Main Distribution Boards, which are ready for any future increases in production. UNIKIT panels and Automatic Transfer Switches were also specified to reduce operating costs through low maintenance design and integrated power solutions.
Fady Magdy, Business Unit Director, Industrial Unit from Orascom Construction added: “Egypt is making huge strides in agricultural exports, moving away from bulk crops to focus on processed food products. By delivering high-value agricultural processed food exports to Africa, Egypt is not only promoting access to food, but is also putting the country on the map as an export gateway to the African market. We need a resilient, reliable and safe power supply to keep the potato processing plant operational 24/7. This was made more challenging as the factory is built in a remote part of the country with an unreliable power supply. Any downtime could disrupt productivity and the supply chain and that can’t happen.”
To find out more about ABB’s solutions for the Food & Beverage sector visit ABB portfolio for F&B
German software provider predicts that digitalization will be the key enabler for a sustainable growth across the AEC/O industry
The Nemetschek Group, one of the leading software providers for the construction and media industries, has urged the construction sector to further its drive to digitalization in order to navigate the many challenges currently facing the sector.
Although 2022 was again a strong year for the Munich-based company, which has been a forerunner of digital transformation for the AEC/O industry, challenges in this industry still remain. According to Yves Padrines, CEO of the Nemetschek Group, the industry as a whole must quickly accelerate its embracing of digital tools to drive vital improvements in efficiency and sustainability within the sector.
“The construction sector is currently facing many issues,” said Padrines. “90% of all large projects overrun in either budget or deadlines or both, while almost 40% of all carbon emissions are caused by the construction industry. 30% of all work is rework due to errors, and 20% of all materials are wasted. This is clearly unsustainable. Covid and the subsequent recovery has helped to accelerate progress in harnessing new digital tools, but there is still much work to be done.”
“The construction industry faces existential threats, with a perfect storm of labour shortages, material shortages, supply chain issues, and wider economic challenges, including the energy crisis,” continued Padrines.
Despite these challenges, Padrines is upbeat. “Through increased digitalization, buildings and infrastructure projects can be planned, built and managed more efficiently, while building resilience against tough market conditions.”
Innovations such as digital twins are demonstrating the potential of digital technologies and their application
within the sector, with Nemetschek for example helping to successfully deliver a new 50,000 m2 children’s hospital in Bergen, Norway. The project, which is underway and due to be finalized in 2023, relied entirely on a digital open cloud-based planning and data management solution, devised, and implemented by Nemetschek Group.
Project teams were, as a result, able to use a completely digital working method to maximize collaboration and efficiency, providing significant cost savings, better project control, and substantially better outcomes for all project stakeholders by centralizing the enormous amount of data for the building in one place. By using a digital twin, the documentation was delivered and controlled before work began on-site, unlike a traditional approach where documentation is delivered after the building is completed. This meant that correct and up to date information was accessible throughout the project.
According to Yves Padrines, while the construction industry is making some encouraging progress in digitalization, he would still like to see greater urgency: “The Nemetschek Group is an enabler for more digitalization, and with our tools, our clients can shape the built world.
Digital is the future, and those who fail to move fast enough to embrace it could very quickly find themselves struggling to survive. Our solutions, and the intelligent application of them in projects across the world, are showing that a different future is possible for the AEC/O industry. I am highly confident that we have the skills, expertise, and innovations to be able to deliver such a future for our customers in 2023.”
To find out more, visit the Nemetschek website www.nemetschek.com
The perfect storm of environmental and economic issues is turning intelligent, networked workspaces into a new business imperative. EnOcean’s CEO Raoul Wijgergangs examines what’s involved.
As global warming accelerates, governments and enterprises are seeking ways to reduce harmful emissions as quickly as possible to avert the possibility of the climate falling into an irrecoverable feedback loop of rapidly escalating disasters.
Given the built environment is currently responsible for around 40% of carbon emissions globally, it is not an exaggeration to say that some substantial and rapid changes here could help prevent serious environmental harm.
At the same time, the increase in homeworking and financial pressures catalysed by Covid 19, combined with spiraling energy prices, are also driving many organisations to reevaluate how they use their buildings. Expensive, half-empty workspaces represent a cost that few
businesses can now afford or justify.
Slashing costs and emissions
Retrofitting intelligent IoT systems for demand-driven space and energy use is one quick and easy way to make substantial impacts, both economically and environmentally. In automated and smart buildings, networked sensors are used to collect real-time data about variables such as light, temperature, occupancy and CO2 levels. This is then transformed via cloud-based analytics into insights that can be
applied to make physical workspaces much more efficient, as well as healthier and more comfortable for workers. Heating, lighting and ventilation can be automatically adjusted according to environmental conditions and turned off when rooms are empty, while issues such as inefficient use of space can be identified and addressed.
By optimising resources in this way, companies can immediately reduce the energy consumption and CO2 emissions of their buildings by around 30%. With energy costs tripling for many businesses in the past year alone, that’s a highly compelling proposition, offering a return on investment of just a few weeks. It’s also very good news for the environment.
The savings can be increased yet further by using self-powered, wireless switches and sensors from EnOcean. Because there is no wiring involved, they are fast and easy to install with minimal disruption in the process; it’s just a question of sticking them to walls
or furniture. This means the cost of retrofitting is about 70% lower than wired solutions, or 30% lower for new builds. They are also far more sustainable because they don’t require large quantities of copper and PVC for cables. As they are self-powered, there is no need to use batteries, and therefore no toxic waste. Once fitted, they can be forgotten about, requiring almost no maintenance. They are also exceptionally easy to integrate to existing IT infrastructure, without the need for a dedicated IoT data network.
Unlike batteries, which require 500 times more energy to produce than they later supply, and contain many harmful substances such as cadmium, lead and mercury, the energy source for EnOcean’s self-powered wireless sensors, is 100% clean, renewable and free. They ‘harvest’ energy from light, movement, or temperature differences in their immediate
surroundings and use it to power their operation and radio communication via the open standards EnOcean (ISO/IEC 145433-1X), Bluetooth or Zigbee.
Interior light can be used for electrical voltage from as little as 50 lux via small solar cells. The combination of a thermal converter and a voltage amplifier can convert temperature differences of as little as two degrees Celsius into usable electricity. This means EnOcean sensors and switches work anywhere, in all types of buildings.
For these reasons, EnOcean is the world’s most widely used solution for networking smart buildings. It boasts an ecosystem of more than 5,000 interoperable products based around the international EnOcean radio standard. To date, more than 1,000,000 buildings globally have been installed with smart systems from EnOcean using self-powered, wireless sensors.When you consider that every 100,000m2 of real estate fitted with EnOcean systems saves approximately 206,000 kHw of energy
per year, as well as 300km of cabling including 42 tons of copper with a carbon footprint of 170 tonnes, that adds up to a substantial reduction in carbon emissions.
Yet, reducing costs and emissions are not the only benefits of digitalisation. Smart buildings are also better places to work. Small adjustments to environmental conditions such as temperature, airflow and lighting can make a big difference to employee satisfaction, health and effectiveness. For example, if ten adults spend an hour in a poorly ventilated room, not only will they feel uncomfortable, but they will find it as difficult to concentrate as if they had drunk two glasses of wine. However, intelligently controlled ventilation
can be used to prevent CO2 building up in crowded spaces. It can greatly reduce exposure to airborne contaminants such as viruses, too. Data collected from sensors can also be analysed to identify any areas of a building that are being used inefficiently, determining the best use of space. This enables companies to reduce their physical footprint, cutting waste and saving on the costs of, energy, furniture and rent. Similarly, smart technology can facilitate hotdesking. Vibration sensors reliably monitor which workstations are free, sharing this information with employees via an app. People can then pick a desk that exactly fits their requirements on any given day, for example in a quiet area or close to team colleagues or technical equipment. This helps to create a more productive, flexible
and dynamic working environment that is adaptable to changing needs, while making best use of the space available.
Who would think that so much could be achieved by simply sticking devices no bigger than a light switch around a building? It’s not hard to see why smart building technology is surging in popularity as pressures on businesses intensify. It offers the perfect mix of sustainability, cost savings and tangible business benefits – all with an exceptionally rapid ROI. As a result, we anticipate smart buildings will become the norm in commercial and industrial premises within the next five years.
For further information please visit www.enocean.com
Building managers are integrating smart technology into the properties they’re responsible for faster than ever before. According to Juniper Research, the number of smart buildings worldwide will grow by 150% by 2026, from 45 million buildings this year to more than 115 million. There’s a solid reason for the steep rise in deployment. Cutting-edge automation software and systems provide the opportunity for building owners to continuously
monitor operational parameters like occupancy numbers, indoor air quality (IAQ) and utility use to help achieve unprecedented safety and efficiencies.
However, integrating smart technology into a facility can make some building managers feel uneasy. The decisions that must be made when adopting automation systems are complex and may include elements unfamiliar to them. But just like they mastered HVAC, lighting controls and chillers, building
managers can come to know internet of things (IoT), networking and artificial intelligence (AI).
An AI-enabled IoT (AIoT) system can be especially intimidating, but it can be one of the most powerful ways to maximize building efficiency, safety and sustainability. AI can be applied either at the edge (Edge AI) or in the cloud (cloud AI). Both have their advantages depending on the application’s goals and needs, and building managers who understand when to use which one – or a
combination of both – are at an advantage.
The AI now being deployed started life as a cloud computing technology. The machine learning algorithms under the hood of these systems require significant computing power, both to train the algorithms and to call on them to deliver insights – a process called inferencing. Until recently, on-premises infrastructure rarely had the resources to effectively do those things and, as such, building operators had to run their AI applications out of data centers.
Yet, running smart building applications out of remote data centers has its own limitations. Connectivity, bandwidth costs, security and latency – the time it takes to send data to the cloud and back – can impact a system’s efficacy. If a machine, or an entire building automation system, is going to fail, the alarm and automated response need to be as immediate as possible.
That issue has largely been mitigated by a new generation of edge computing technology:
infrastructure installed in facilities with the processing power demanded by these computeintensive workloads.
Companies like FogHorn, founded seven years ago, have developed an Edge AI technology that creates new possibilities to digitally transform building operations. This includes advanced technology (known as Edgification) to optimize AI models to run efficiently on low-cost edge compute devices. Johnson Controls acquired FogHorn at the start of 2022 and has now integrated the edge technology into its OpenBlue platform.
By closing the on-premises capability gap, edge devices provide an architectural component important for achieving the goal of running a building as efficiently and effectively as possible.
With the availability of Edge AI, building managers thinking about implementing smart automation technology now almost inevitably confront the question of whether to deploy AI on-premises or in the cloud. For those facing this question, there are some simple rules of thumb to consider.
Edge AI is best when: Actions need to be executed in realtime, or close to it. Smart automation systems that detect operational problems and automatically alert or respond to them tend to work best when latency is minimized as much as possible.
Local control of a system is required. Turning off a machine or adjusting a control system from the cloud often runs into security and latency challenges.
There are limitations to data transit and storage costs. Take for example a video monitoring system in which high-fidelity images from multiple cameras are analyzed by a computer vision AI model, a popular AI application. Sending to and storing all that data in the cloud can quickly become cost prohibitive.
The cloud may be better when: Completing rigorous data analysis. Often building managers want a deeper understanding of how they’re operating based on AI analytics, or to run simulation exercises on a ‘digital twin’ version of their facilities. That kind of data analysis typically doesn’t need to happen in real time, so it’s best executed in the cloud, where the managers can harness at any scale
the most powerful hardware and software tools for the job.
A combination of both may be best when:
Running multiple buildings and corelating information between them. The cloud allows for a centralized data clearinghouse and command center. As a practical matter, a hybrid approach is typically employed where some initial processing in the individual buildings happens through Edge AI and then cloud AI is run on the aggregated data from multiple buildings, possibly combining other data sources.
Taking the first steps to adopt AI
It’s important to remember these are decisions that building managers don’t need to make alone – there are expert technology vendors who can ensure AI is deployed where it will serve your unique needs best. Building managers don’t need to be data scientists and fully understand all aspects of the AI and its underlying machine learning algorithms, but rather can partner with expert technology vendors and allow the AI to do its magic behind the scenes.
Oracle, like many organizations now initiating return-to-work policies at a large scale, sees the
aftermath of the pandemic as a unique moment in which to introduce smart building systems. After a couple years of pandemic-induced closures, employees insist on a physical workplace where amenities are at their fingertips, collaboration tools are ubiquitous, air quality is monitored, crowding is limited, and their companies are meeting sustainability goals in their use of energy and water and reduction in waste. And with buildings still at historically low occupation rates, powering off systems that don’t need to be running helps deliver considerable gains in efficiency.
These shifting workplace dynamics and expectations can be an opportunity to assess new investments in IoT technologies, the advanced networks that connect them, and the AI systems that control them. It’s also an opportunity to evolve workplaces to make better decisions based on occupancy, employee experience needs, ownership of the sites and their use case criticality (e.g., a research lab compared to office space).
When deciding whether to invest in automated control systems, building managers have historically prioritized schedules. Not anymore. The new key consideration is utilization metrics. They can’t take
for granted that everybody will come back, and many companies are adopting hybrid work policies.
For the first time, the office needs to compete against the home as an attractive and productive work environment. People want to feel confident knowing that the indoor air quality (IAQ) in their office is being monitored, resources like water and energy are being used efficiently and the rooms they occupy are comfortable. AIoT systems can help make buildings more energy efficient, healthy, autonomous, secure and responsive to occupant needs.
In response, new and seasoned building managers are seeking the support of smart technology providers to help them acquire the new skills required to implement AIoT automation systems and optimize their operations. One valuable lesson is when to deploy AI on premises or in the cloud. Once they’ve determined whether the edge or cloud AI is aligned with their building goals and application needs, informed building managers can be confident that AI will help them ensure healthy air, comfortable spaces and efficient operations that can help refill their buildings.
Switch and dim lights, call up lighting moods, save energy
Play music, control multiroom systems
Time-dependent control of blinds and shutters, monitor windows and doors
Analyse data and consumption
See who is calling, display camera images, secure building
Display energy consumption, turn power outlets on and off, save electricity
Control and monitor building technology from outside
Regulate heaters and air conditioning units automatically, heat in an energy-conscious manner
Synchronise calendars and time clocks, play occupancy simulations
Save energy, manage energy consumption, heat in an energy-conscious manner, protect the climate
Call up weather forecasts, use weather services
Monitor and automatically open and close windows and doors, secure building
Control innovative building technology via radio
Use door communication and keyless access control, secure building
Simulate occupancy, use timers, secure building
Intelligent building technology from Gira
Predictive maintenance (PdM) is transforming manufacturing operations and growth with technology that includes the Internet of Things (IoT), the Cloud, mobile applications, AI/ML to analyze and predict insights using data, and web applications to share entire operations data in one place. The tools and technology of Industry 4.0 have
turned PdM from an abstract concept into a practical solution.
What is Predictive Maintenance and why does it matter to manufacturers?
PdM is maintenance that monitors the performance and condition of equipment during normal operation to reduce the likelihood of failures. It’s like preventive maintenance or
work that’s done on an asset before a failure occurs not after the failure has shut it down.
The difference between preventive and predictive maintenance lies in the methods used, the amount of lead-time you have for a task, and the precision of scheduling. PdM uses conditionmonitoring tools and techniques and asset information to track equipment
performance and next, to anticipate failure before it happens. Ideally, PdM keeps maintenance frequency low while reducing time spent on unplanned maintenance and preventive maintenance.
An example is smart sensors. These machine sensors can detect a change in the way assets are operating, such as the vibration of a part at higher-than-normal-speeds. The sensors that connect with maintenance software like a CMMS relay this message to the software so it schedules maintenance. The software then notifies technicians of the newly scheduled task on their mobile devices.
Because predictive maintenance offers an ideal window for proactive maintenance tasks, it can help minimize the time involved in equipment maintenance, the production hours lost to maintenance, and the cost of spare parts and supplies.
According to Allied Market Research, the manufacturing predictive analytics market size valued at $535 million in 2018, is projected to reach $2.5 billion by 2026. That shows the value placed on this type of maintenance that relies on technology and five critical organizational factors: people, data, processes, tools and parts, and equipment. These factors combined with technology are known as the six pillars of a strong predictive maintenance program.
Here’s how you can develop
each area and use them to build a predictive maintenance program that will last.
People: The journey to predictive maintenance starts here.
“It doesn’t matter if your predictive maintenance plan looks good on paper if you don’t have buy-in from the people who are doing the work,” says Jason Afara, Fiix® solutions engineer.
Each predictive maintenance pillar in your program needs people to build and maintain it. Data needs interpreting. Technology needs designing and managing. That’s why everyone in your organization must understand how PdM works, why it’s important and what they can do to make it successful.
Getting people at your facility onboard with the changes that come with predictive maintenance is essential, but not always easy. It’s important to get buy-in from your maintenance team and create a culture of success at your facility.
Data: The link between past, present and future
A predictive maintenance program needs information to be successful.
“Without the data, you can’t predict anything. If you don’t have a baseline about what’s normal for a pump or a conveyor, for example, you can’t identify or predict anomalies,” says Bryan Sapot, CEO of SensrTrx.
But with quantity also comes the need for quality.
The key is the right information coming from the plant floor.
Data is the link between current asset performance and the future state of the asset. That’s why everything, from throughput to failure modes, must be constantly updated. These numbers must also be accurate. If they’re different from system to system, it will derail your program.
Processes: People and equipment driven
People processes involve the way your maintenance team goes about their work. They outline how staff interact with machines, data, each other and everything else.
“You need to understand who is responsible for what, how frequently data and tasks are reviewed, how you communicate, and how you plan, escalate and complete tasks,” Jason says.
When it comes to equipment processes, it’s crucial to know what processes your equipment completes, how to capture asset data, and how the data maps to future performance.
Simply put, your processes are the way you work—how your maintenance team plans and does the things it needs to do every day to be successful. An effective predictive maintenance program helps make your entire operation predictable, maximizing everything from working hours to asset performance.
Tools and Parts: Keys to a successful predictive maintenance program
“Predictive maintenance isn’t new,” Jason says. “The difference between
20 or 30 years ago and now is that we have the tools and understanding of parts to do it better with fewer costs.”
Tools are the instruments used to measure the condition of assets, like infrared cameras, and the tools used to inspect or repair equipment. Parts are the different components of the equipment.
Equipment: Not all machines were made for predictive maintenance
It’s important to know which of your equipment allows you to anticipate failure when designing a predictive maintenance program
“The assets that fit into a predictive maintenance program are
the ones that provide good condition data with enough lead-time to catch problems before total failure,” says Jason.
Jason also recommends applying predictive maintenance to your most critical assets with the most observable failure modes because of the time and money involved in building a PdM program.
Technology: The connection holding all elements together Technology helps you manage, facilitate and optimize the other pillars of predictive maintenance.
Critical to success is knowing what products are run and when, the cost of all your activities, and when
maintenance was last performed among other factors.
There are lots of different technologies that can be used to manage a predictive maintenance program, from ERPs to MES systems and CMMS software.
A predictive maintenance program won’t solve everything. But there are many benefits to having one, like a more reliable operation that allows everyone at your organization to grow and become more efficient.
Taking advantage of those benefits involves building on key maintenance fundamentals. When those fundamentals are strong, you’ll have a winning strategy.
Your ticket to shaping a smarter, more agile and sustainable future of the workplace starts here
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Retrofitting to Achieve Net Zero
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Energy Management
As the world takes steps to safeguard the planet from a climate calamity, new hazards demand tighter regulations in applications such as industrial and consumer refrigeration, vending machines, and heating systems such as heat pumps and hydrogen boilers. In consequence, associated measurement and control devices and the components within them also face new applications and regulations.
Domestic and industrial refrigerators, vending machines, and heat pumps like air conditioning units
rely on refrigerants. It is well-known that older refrigerants compromise the atmosphere. CFCs are notorious as destroyers of the ozone layer, and subsequent alternatives still have the potential to accelerate global warming – not to mention the further damaging effects on humans and the broader ecosphere.
Being more specific, a refrigerant is a working fluid used in the refrigeration cycle of air conditioning systems and heat pumps, where in most cases they undergo a repeated phase transition from a liquid to a gas and back again. Refrigerants are heavily regulated due to their toxicity,
flammability, and the contribution of CFC and HCFC refrigerants to ozone depletion and that of HFC refrigerants to climate change.
Low-carbon systems are an obvious solution, giving way to new, environmentally friendly, refrigerants. The issue is that refrigerants with low ozone depletion potential (ODP) and the lowest Global Warming Potential (GWP) brings hazards of their own. In fact, low GWP refrigerants are highly flammable and consequently Gas
Explosion proof design is mandatory. ATEX approved components could be a good solution to simplify the design
and meet safety regulations for refrigeration, vending machines and heat pumps.
The world is beginning to phase out its use of fossil gas boilers in favor of heat pumps and alternative fuels. This brings-in new challenges with the need to identify solutions that mitigate the impact of global warming. whilst ensuring safety of heating and cooling plant. Further, our need to reduce reliance of fossil fuels is highlighted by recent volatility of global gas prices.
In Europe, the REPowerEU Plan has the further aim of phasing-out our dependency on fossil fuels. Reducing the carbon footprint will protect consumers as well as the atmosphere. These goals are underpinned by three pledges: to accelerate the transition to clean energy, diversify energy resources and reduce consumption overall.
To achieve these goals, gas boilers are going to be limited by EU Community policy Repower Plan, with further investments expected on solar and renewable energies. In particular, the European Union should aim at doubling the current deployment rate of individual heat pumps, resulting in a cumulative ten million units over the next five years. Extending these ambitions, REPowerEU ramps-up the schedule to a target of twenty million heat pumps installed by 2026 and close to sixty million by 2030.
Following that, the German government has declared a new heating strategy focusing on district solutions with a mandate to make heat pumps mandatory as of January 2025. The Netherlands wants hybrid heat pumps to become standard when existing boilers are replaced and is making heat
pumps will become mandatory from 2026. Britain has declared to target 600,000 heat pumps annually by 2028 and will be banning the installation of gas boilers in new-build properties from 2025. France has pledged to end government subsidies for the installation of new residential gas heaters and boost support for renewable energy heating, whilst Italy’s government has also declared their intention to prohibit residential gas heaters from 2029.
If these targets are achieved, fossil fuel use will be greatly reduced but the use of potentially damaging refrigerants will expand greatly as new heat pumps add to the existing demand for them from air conditioning and refrigeration. Clearly, it is essential to transition to low GWP refrigerants, which will entail moving to flammable gas explosion-proof design for all forms of heat pumps and refrigeration.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineering standard (ASHRAE) classifies refrigerants by hazard based on toxicity and flammability. Common non-polluting refrigerants such as R290 (propane), R1270 (propene) and R600a (isobutane) present zero ODP and low GWP ratings. However, they are rated to A3 standard, i.e., highly flammable. This means that fresh solutions are required for the components used in the design of heat pumps, air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
These considerations are even more applicable in the case of extremely flammable hydrogen boilers.
A potentially explosive atmosphere exists when a mixture of air gases, vapours, mists, or dusts
combine in a way that can ignite under certain operating conditions. Across Europe the equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX) cover a range of products, including those used on fixed offshore platforms, petrochemical plants, mines, and flour mills, amongst others.
Explosion-proof relays, switches and similar devices come under the regulations of IEC60335-2-40 “Particular requirements for electrical heat pumps”. With air conditioners and dehumidifiers, the IEC 60730 / UL508 regulations expand applications for flammable refrigerants such as R290.
When it comes to real life usage, specific regulations apply to varying types of applications, from transport refrigerators, through chillers and air conditioning, to heat pumps and hydrogen boilers. This in turn, makes it necessary to develop fresh solutions that deliver protection whilst addressing market needs.
Sealed standard relays go explosionproof
Amongst the early gains are the certifications of sealed and unsealed relays that have already gained approval to VDE IEC60079-15.
Here is one example. Omron’s G5NB is a miniature relay with 1-pole 5A/7A switching capability and 10kV impulse withstand voltage. Its highly efficient magnetic circuit provides high sensitivity of 200mW. This standard model conforms to UL/ CSA/VDE standards and satisfies EN61010 reinforced insulation requirements.
The G5Q miniature power relay is a single-pole component with 10A switching capacity and excellent switching performance for a variety of loads. It is small yet provides 8kV
impulse withstand voltage (between coil and contacts). Low coil power consumption.
G2RL is a low-profile PCB power relay with 15.7 mm height, ideal for incorporation in miniature types of equipment. A wide variety of singlepole, double-pole, high-capacity (16 A) type, and high-sensitivity type (250mW) relays are available. G2RL satisfies ambient operating temperature requirements of 85°C and 105°C (-CV Model). Clearance and creepage distance: 8 mm / 8 mm min.
Low power consumption of the G5NB and G5Q’s ensures less heat is generated and this makes them ideal for high-efficiency operations. The G5NB and G5Q relays can be used in a wide range of consumer, commercial and industrial applications with explosion-proof, glow wire, high witching and high inrush type relays.
G5NB, G5Q and G2RL relays are approved for use with the increasingly hazardous situations involving hazardous fuels and refrigerants. VDE Explosion protection proofing to IEC/EN6007915 is provided for both sealed and unsealed devices. with further approvals ongoing on motor loads. Additional approvals include VDE Glow Wire EN60335-1 and IEC/EN 60335-1 conformed. (-HA Model).
Miniature relays enter the fold Alongside sealed standard relays,
the miniature power relays like G6RN provide 8A switching 250VAC with a low-profile height of 15 mm. It also features high sensitivity with 220mW power consumption, high insulation with an insulation distance of 8 mm and impulse withstand voltage of 10kV between coil and contacts. G6RN satisfies the ambient operating temperature requirement of 85°C and the standard model conforms to VDE standards. Under development, the G6RN relay family will introduce an unsealed model –EL1, and its sealed counterpart –EL2. Both will carry approval to VDE Explosion protection proof IEC/EN6007915 and VDE Glow Wire EN60335-1 standards.
Sealed Microswitches
New versions of ultra-subminiature basic switches sealed to IP67 will also prove ideal for safe operation in proximity with highly flammable fluids. Models with sliding contact construction feature a long stroke and provide high reliability along with high insulation performance. Omron sealed microswitches are available for signal current up to 5A depending on the size, while all models can be provided with molded lead wires.
Monitoring air flow and air pressure ensures the correct and optimal operation of heat pumps, refrigeration plant and air conditioning systems, enhancing
combustion efficiency in boilers, and supplying feedback control of air conditioning by measuring the amount of air and amount of ventilation.
High accuracy D6F-PH pressure sensors and 2SMPP gauge pressure sensor support the diverse needs of air flow measurements. They could also be used for clogged filter detection and support predictive maintenance solutions. Velocity-type D6F-V and D6F-W sensors save energy with airflow sensing, whilst optimizing air conditioning control without sacrificing quality.
Conclusion
The threat of global warming, together with the imperative of eradication fossil fuel use brings in new challenges. The world needs to find solutions that mitigate the impact of global warming, whilst ensuring safety of heating and cooling plant. Measurement and control devices are addressing the challenge of new applications and regulations.
At OMRON, we are committed to developing and promoting technologies that conserve resources and the environment. These will include ATEX-compliant relays, sealed switches, and new types of sensors.
Further information can be found HERE
TAKE COMFORT IN YOUR HONEYWELL CONNECTED HOME.
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Businesses looking to invest in an intelligent lighting system for their work facilities will find a wealth of products at their fingertips. Climate change has accelerated the speed at which lighting management
is innovating, as has the recent RoHS ban on T5 and T8 fluorescent tubes. The results are not only exciting, but game-changing from an energysaving perspective. A comprehensive, networked amalgamation of all the lighting controls within a building
leads to an impressive reduction in energy consumption that cannot be replicated by alternative methods, such as switching to LEDs alone.
In July 2022, LEDVANCE conducted its own research into lighting and the impact it has on
the environment, and subsequently global warming. The results showed that while energy-efficient luminaires certainly help reduce lighting’s impact, there reaches a point where the energy savings plateau and increasing lumens per watt is simply not enough. An intelligent sensorassisted light management system which can switch on and off or dim the light increases efficiency past this point by saving consumption. It is therefore not just useful, but essential, for businesses to reap the benefits of energy saving from intelligent light systems.
Facilities managers will be reassured to know that within the wide selection of systems available is an exceptional choice of
customization options that tailors the lighting to what a facility and the workers within it need.
The scope of sensor programming on offer in the lighting management sphere means that there’s settings to fully customize a building’s lighting according to how the facility is used and its hours of operation. Presence detection avoids unnecessary illumination in empty corridors or meeting rooms, and daylight sensing reduces the lighting from luminaires during the brightest parts of the day.
When considering the benefits of automated lighting systems to their
spaces, facilities managers will generally note convenience and cost benefits. However, these systems can have an additional positive impact on wellbeing and productivity, as automated systems provide the valuable opportunity to adapt lighting to the circadian rhythms of staff.
The circadian rhythm is our 24-hour body clock that governs natural cycles of activity and rest by managing hormone levels. Humans are known to be heavily influenced by variations in natural light throughout the course of the day. A human oriented lighting concept uses smart controllable LED lighting systems to simulate the characteristics of natural daylight, combining the visual and non-visual biological effects
of light through changing colour temperatures and illuminance levels. Artificial light that synchronises with our circadian rhythms is proven to make us happier, healthier and more productive. It has been scientifically proven that spaces which use human centric lighting systems increase staff wellbeing, concentration and performance during the day, improve the quality of sleep at night, and helps reduce sickness. Therefore, an automated lighting system with HCL programming will not only illuminate an office facility but support the wellbeing of everyone within it.
Adapting to a building Intelligent lighting systems can be adapted not only for building usage, but for the building itself. Whether the system is being applied to an existing facility as a retro fit installation, or to a new build,
management systems provide options. For example, VIVARES, the IoT light management system from LEDVANCE, works either with DALI or Zigbee technology for maximum compatibility with any intelligent installation.
LEDVANCE VIVARES Zigbee works with a controller that communicates with up to 200 compatible devices using the highly reliable Zigbee 3.0 wireless standard. This makes the system a first choice when no additional control lines should or can be laid, such as when modernizing existing buildings or refurbishing listed buildings. VIVARES Zigbee is also ideal for changing room situations because the system is flexible and easy to adapt.
VIVARES DALI is suitable whenever additional control lines can be laid without any problems, such as in suspended ceilings, when retrofitting existing DALI installations
or when equipping new buildings. The VIVARES DALI system can also be integrated into a higher-ranking KNX system for building control using a KNX interface. This means that automated tests, including reporting, can be carried out on any emergency lighting system.
Conclusion
The above offers just a glimpse into what light management systems have to offer for businesses assessing their energy saving opportunities in this field. There’s even more choice out there on the market and, given the rapid developments within this product sector, there’s bound to be even more innovation on the way. Watch this space.
For further information please visit www.ledvance.co.uk
Connect face-to-face with the entire security supply chain and network with global security companies across access control, video surveillance, perimeter protection, cyber security and more.
The best exhibition for networking with professionals in the field, due to its privileged location. Add the chance to observe the trends and novelties in the security field, and then a prospective visit becomes worthwhile.
Advancis Software and Services
Over the past decade, the global sales volume of industrial robots has tripled, according to Statista. Not only are robots becoming more popular, but their functionality has also increased, allowing more complex tasks to be automated. Here Richard Mount, Director of Sales at ASIC design and supply company Swindon Silicon Systems, explains how custom integrated circuits (ICs) can enable smarter, sensor-driven robots.
Robots have long been used in factories, but for many years they were confined in safety cages performing one task perfectly, over and over again. With the advent of collaborative robots, or cobots, this traditional view of industrial robots is no longer true. By the end of 2025,
cobots are expected to represent 34 per cent of overall robot sales, representing a new era of industrial robotics.
To move safely around the factory with precision, cobots must collect and analyse vast amounts of data about their environment. That includes positional data related to the location of the cobot and its human colleagues, and key operational parameters to help ensure efficient, productive and safe operation of the robot. As robotic technology and automation continue to advance, sensors will be the basis for the critical data needed for these systems.
The first industrial robots were primarily used to simply move
objects from one location to another. Today, there is almost no limit to the capabilities of robots, from welding and drilling to assembly and inspection. To complete each of these processes, it is vital that robots have accurate control over their movements.
Industrial robots use a large number of sensors to choose paths, perceive changes in the environment and make correct judgements in complex situations. For example, torque sensors give robots a sense of ‘touch’, enabling them to interact safely with their environment. Most torque sensors employ strain gauges, which convert applied pressure into an electrical signal that can be measured. By combining multiple gauges, the torque sensor is able to determine the intensity and
direction of the force. This allows industrial robots to delicately handle and assemble fragile items without causing damage.
Even the most highly automated factory will still have many human employees, so industrial robots must be able to work safely alongside their human co-workers. A factory floor environment can be busy and unforgiving, so robots can have difficulties distinguishing between human workers and other factory equipment.
Tactile sensors used in cobots include piezoelectric, piezoresistive, capacitive and elastoresistivity types. Piezoelectric technologies can gather data from the cobot’s joints and transmit that information to the
controller. Capacitive sensors can act as proximity sensors, allowing the cobot to slow down when it detects the presence of an object in its path. Most detection sensors, like area sensors, to help it slow down or stop when human workers are close by avoiding collisions.
Keeping moving
Sensor technology can also aid robot maintenace. Connected sensor technology enables manufacturers to understand when robotic equipment needs repairs and proactiviely address performance issues before any drastic damage occurs.
Temperature sensing is an important part of a robot’s selfdiagnosis, as overheating parts are a good indication of a fault. In addition, machine axis patterns — determined
by smart sensors in linear encoders — can be used to predict how much wear different parts experience, and therefore when they will need replacing.
As smart as possible
Robots that work precisely and safely on complex tasks rely on sensors that perform reliably and exactly as intended. A smart sensor combines a sensing element, signal conditioning, signal processing and a communications link, either wired or wireless. The variable monitored by these sensors is typically analogue, but must be converted to a digital signal in order for the data to be analysed and used. This can be done with several off-the-shelf integrated circuits (ICs), but in order to optimise and
differentiate performance, system engineers should consider an application specific intergrated circuit (ASIC). ASICs are designed with a specific function in mind and allow for investment in performance where it matters most, helping to meet the manufacturer’s exact requirements and separating them from the competition.
When designing an ASIC for a robotic application, the ASIC design company will integrate as many components as possible into a single package. This may include the sensor where practical, or the project may demand that the sensor is situated outside of the ASIC, or co-packaged in a System in Package (SiP) configuration. This is also true for the microcontroller and the communications element, where an optimised approach can be adopted as to whether to integrate into the silicon or to co-package with other bare die. Both approaches significantly reduce the system component count, which as a result,
increases systems robustness and reliability.
ASICs also provide major benefits when considering obsolescence. Before the ASIC design stage is commenced, a silicon process is identified that not only provides the required performance attributes but also delivers the required longevity for the expected product lifetime. However, in rare occurrences, an ASIC supplier will work closely with the customer to produce a non-obsolescence plan, using techniques such as storing wafers in dry nitrogen cupboards for up to 30 years, which will provide a die bank for future requirements, as an example. This results in the customer eradicating the need for costly system redesign and requalification. Swindon has a non-obsolescence policy, meaning its ASICs are manufactured with non-obsolescence in mind, so they can be supplied for the lifetime of the product.
Intellectual Property (IP) protection is a key ASIC strength and
Swindon provides its customers full ownership of the completed system design, to ensure their system IP benefits them, and them alone. Choosing an ASIC partner that does not sell standard parts, such as Swindon, will also alleviate the risk of your IP potentially being used at a future date in an in-house product.
Looking to the future, we can expect the popularity of industrial robots to continue its upward trend. It seems likely that the robots of the future will be able to perform more complex tasks with ever increasing accuracy and control. Smart sensors will be fundamental in this advancement, and manufacturers who choose the ASIC route can be sure that their sensor will be unique, reliable, robust, and perform to their exact requirements for the lifetime of their product.
To learn more about Swindon Silicon and its custom IC solutions, visit www.swindonsilicon.com/news
Electrical installations in both industrial and consumer buildings need to meet the new challenges of our growing power needs. To increase the energy efficiency of buildings, while at the same time integrating consumers into the load compensation, will mean that controlling the switching of electrical devices on or off according to external signals, such as time and consumption, will be vital.
www.new.abb.com/smartgrids/ smart-grid-technologies/smarthome-and-intelligent-buildings
The Bosch Smart Home range includes both Single System products and System Solution products. Test the range of smart solutions to understand how these products are able to assist you in your daily lives; offering additional comfort, security for peace of mind and energy efficiency, saving you money within your home. Connectivity is more than just technology, it is now part of our every-day lives making life easier and allowing more time for the things that really matter!
www.bosch-smarthome.com
Connected products is a growing area for Dyson building world-class cross functional Agile teams and adopting the latest technology and techniques delivering our ambitious vision in the connected space.
In 2016 we launched our first two connected products now having a connected user base of hundreds of thousands in twenty countries. Culture of design and engineering excellence with an innovative start up mentality winning the 2016 T3 Connected product of the year.
https://careers.dyson.com/
Energenie is part of Sandal Plc a public listed uK technology company, Sandal Plc is the brand and IP owner of the Mi|Home smart home system. The Mi|Home ecosystem can control heating, lighting and electrical appliances via both plug and play and retro fit actuators, including radiators valves, retrofit wall sockets and retro-fit light switches. The system also includes a range of sensors that are able to control the Mi|Home actuators allowing for a smarter experience.
https://energenie4u.co.uk/
ASSA ABLoY is the global leader in door opening solutions, dedicated to satisfying end-user needs for security, safety and convenience. Since its formation in 1994, ASSA ABLoY has grown from a regional company into an international group with about 46,000 employees, operations in more than 70 countries and sales close to SEK 68 billion. The Group has a leading position in areas such as access control, identification technology, entrance automation and hotel security.
www.assaabloy.co.uk/en/local/uk/
Designed to be offered as a service from the ground up. Enabling our channel partners – insurers, telcos and builders - to add value to their core business creating a more intimate relationship with their consumer and B2B customers. The Cozify platform offers complete flexibility in data gathering and utilization. If so chosen, none of the data leaves the Cozify Hub. Alternatively, with consent from end users, the data can be extracted and analysed to support business decision making.
www.en.cozify.fi/pages/for-partners
Enado has over 15 years of experience in the installation and provision of home automation systems. our multiple award winning platform allows multiple, disparate manufacturer systems and devices in the home, integrated into one solution. Industry standard offering of lighting and energy to facilitate control of multiple consumer electronics devices including satellite receivers, smart tv’s, sky and other satellite boxes.
www.enado.com
eQ-3 Group is one of the leading innovation and technology companies for home control and consumer electronics. eQ-3 provides the largest product portfolio in the industry and has placed more than 21 million wireless home control devices in almost one million households in the market. eQ-3 is the European market leader in smart home with regard to the installed base of whole home solutions and electronic radiator thermostats.
www.HomeMatic.com
With subsidiaries and representative offices in 11 countries, FERMAX is placed among the most important brands in the world. At Fermax, we have been cultivating our passion for design, technology and innovation for the past 65 years.
www.fermax.com
Paxton10 delivers out of the box access control, IP video management and building automation. It interfaces with existing building infrastructure to control lighting, heating, air conditioning, intruder and fire alarms. The system comprises a web-based user interface for easy building management and a selection of discreet hardware.
www.paxton10.com
EcoStruxure™ With Innovation At Every Level, we are redefining power and automation for a new world of energy. We operate in over 100 countries with around 144,000 employees worldwide.
www.schneider-electric.com
Trend is one of the world’s leading Building Energy Management Systems manufacturers, with a worldwide distribution and support network covering over 50 countries. Its fully integrated control solutions are able to meet the most complex requirements of modern buildings.
www.trendcontrols.com
A Fortune 100 company, Honeywell invents and manufactures technologies that address some of the world’s most critical challenges around energy, safety, security, productivity and global urbanization. Our connected portfolio of products, services and software spans multiple industries and is able to deliver end-to-end solutions that improve quality of life for people around the globe.
www.honeywell.com
NorthQ is a Danish IoT manufacturer which specializes in developing home automation and energy management solutions. Company’s products serve as an innovative tool to track, control and optimize energy consumption. Our vision, A New Way of Living, entails responsibility for the environment and conscious decision-making regarding the energy we use on a daily basis. Our newest product, the Q-Reader is a universal meter reader providing real-time data from various electricity, gas, heat, and water meters.
www.northq.com
Building technology with its integrated disciplines such as building automation, fire safety, security, lighting, and lowvoltage power distribution is often indispensable and forms the heart of a Total Building Solution from Siemens.
www.buildingtechnologies. siemens.com
Artificial Intelligence for Smarter Homes. The Viva Smart Home Platform is a turn-key white label platform that uses artificial intelligence to learn family behaviour and automatically programme smart home services. Service Providers can launch plugand-play products and services, like home security, heating, lighting and home protection, which improve family life for everyday living rather than being a throwaway gadget.
www.meetviva.com
