Worldwide Engineering Magazine - July Issue

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The first smart camera powered by deep learning technology Page 10

Augmented reality at the heart of the ‘New Working Normal’

Page 34

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Contents

Worldwide Engineering Magazine Providing timely industry news, exclusive features on advancing technology, equipment, materials, show previews, content marketing services for our valued clients and much more!

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16 Autonomous Mobile Robots saving costs by applying Artificial Swarm Intelligence

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Winners Announced

Our New World

13th International Pneumobile Competition

Demands New Construction Collaboration

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33

A new range of connected motors

Commercial drone deliveries

With very high efficiency levels

UK to lead the rest of Europe

10 Deep Learning Technology

Deep learning technology powers the first smart camera

34 Augmented Reality

At the heart of the ‘new working normal’

Worldwide Engineering Magazine | 3

Emerson Announces Winners of 13th International Pneumobile Competition

Emerson announced the winners of the 13th annual International AVENTICSTM Pneumobile Competition. The vehicle designs, which are based on Emerson’s pneumatic components, programmable logic controllers and edge gateways, were evaluated by a panel of eight Emerson judges following a modified, virtual design format using technical documentation and CAD drawings submitted by the student teams.

Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary • Technics 5 Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia

The competition began in October 2019 and participants had until the end of last year to submit their design and project documentation. A total of 48 teams entered this year’s competition from 26 different learning institutions and nine countries, with almost every Hungarian university represented.

Most Beautiful Bodywork • Technics 5 Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia

“We see the impact that these kinds of STEM programs have in developing the abilities of new engineers,” said Istvan Gödri, managing director of Emerson’s AVENTICS Hungary Kft. “In fact, three of the eight Emerson judges, including the head of the jury, participated in the competition themselves when they were college students.”

The competition recognizes the best technical documentation, the most innovative vehicle, the most beautiful bodywork and the best controller solution presented by the teams.

Winning teams were awarded a variety of prizes.

Following are this year’s competition winners: Best Technical Documentation (Tie) • BME Műszakik AiR-115 Team

Most Innovative Vehicle • BME Műszakik AiR-115 Team Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary

Best Controller Solution • BME Löködönc Green Thunder Team Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary More than 1,600 engineers have participated in the event during the 12 years it has run. This competition has given students hands-on experience in pneumatics engineering concepts, teamwork and project management. “The task of designing a vehicle for the pneumobile competition is a great way for the next generation of engineers to apply the skills they’ve learned to real-world challenges,” Gödri said.

The International AVENTICS Pneumobile Competition further demonstrates Emerson’s long-standing commitment to the future workforce, including supporting over 350 academic institutions globally in a variety of programs.

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Never miss an issue - Subscribe for FREE NSK saves nearly €3 million at steel mill

A steelmaker based in Poland is saving nearly €3 million per year after switching to NSK’s sealed-clean KVS bearings in its roll mill. Such has been the superior performance of these four-row tapered roller bearings that the company has adopted this solution for all of its tandem cold mills.

The steel mill in Poland started production in the 1970s. After many years of operation, the management team decided that a refurbishment was necessary. To help reduce costs, the mill consulted with a local technical university on the potential for changing the roll mill bearings from oil mist to oil bath lubrication. Oil mist lubrication was seen as

problematic, but switching to oil bath lubricated bearings did not result in the expected improvements and the mill was left with a significant issue.

Determined to resolve the issue, the team at the steelmaker turned to the expertise of NSK and its Added Value Programme AIP. Specialist NSK engineers reviewed the mill design and proposed the adoption of sealed-clean KVS bearings with grease lubrication. Heeding the advice, the four- row, tapered roller bearings were duly installed and, after one year of operation, were still providing excellent performance and productivity. As a result, the customer adopted these bearings for all of its tandem cold mills, where they are now delivering superior operating life and reduced maintenance costs compared with the previous solution.

of negative pressure that can cause the entry of water through the main seals. Other design attributes include a special helical groove that prevents creeping on the roll neck shaft, while innovative internal bearing geometry and a special seal help provide higher load capacity.

Pre-lubricated with the recently developed AQGRD waterresistant grease, KVS bearings are available in different material specifications, and in open or sealed design.

At the Polish steel mill, thanks to the reduction in the number of bearings required, less downtime, fewer service hour requirements and the elimination of lubricating oil (NSK KRV bearings are preinstalled with grease), the mill is saving €2,997,568 per annum.

NSK KVS bearings offer 2-4 times longer life than standard bearings. There are many reasons behind this elevated level of performance.

For instance, a special type of bore seal averts the build-up

Worldwide Engineering Magazine | 5

Powerful CAN-FD multi-channel Ixxat PC-interface for automotive test systems and industrial applications

Modern automotive systems and complex industrial applications often include several parallel CAN and CAN-FD networks which must be connected to test, monitoring, and/or control systems at the same time. With the multi-channel IxxatÂŽ CANIB 640/PCIe interface, HMS makes network connectivity and integration straight-forward and cost-efficient for users.

Featuring four channels for CANFD/CAN and LIN connectivity respectively, the CAN-IB 640/ PCIe covers the needs of most applications with only one card.

And, if even more connectivity is required, several CAN-IB640/ PCIe cards can be operated in parallel – a feature supported by all Ixxat CAN interfaces, enabling smart and scalable networking for users.

Performance and intelligence in focus The CAN-IB 640/ PCIe is an active PC-interface with a powerful onboard microcontroller system, which is able to read, timestamp and filter large amounts of data in real-time. The network

connection is done via two D-Sub 9 connectors, which are galvanically isolated to protect the interface card and the connected PC system.

Flexible and versatile connection to the customer PC-application All Ixxat CAN interfaces come with extensive driver packages for Windows and Linux, including SocketCAN. The drivers allow easy and fast development of customerspecific applications, most notably since all Ixxat PCI-cards can be interfaced from the application in the same way.

This enables very flexible and versatile switching between different types of Ixxat PCinterfaces, e.g. USB, PCIe, PCIe Mini, and Ethernet, without needing to adapt the customer application software each time.

A simple monitoring tool for Windows is included in the scope of delivery, but HMS also offers numerous additional analysis and configuration tools for different purposes and use cases. In addition to the proprietary driver packages,

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standardized APIs such as the J2534-Passthru or D-PDU API, are available as options, simplifying connectivity to 3rd party tools which use these standardized APIs. Learn more about the new CANIB 640/PCIe and the offered tools at www.ixxat.com/can-interfaces

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Worldwide Engineering Magazine | 7

Dyneo+, the new range of connected motors with very high efficiency levels

Nidec Leroy-Somer announces Dyneo+, its new range of super premium efficiency permanent magnet- assisted synchronous reluctance motors. Combining the performance of synchronous permanent magnet technology with the easy set-up of induction motors, the Dyneo+ motors have been designed to meet the most stringent requirements of industrial applications while offering them even more options using digitalization.

With 15 years of experience and over 3 gigawatts of installed base, Nidec Leroy-Somer is recognized as a leader in offering high energy efficiency synchronous motor and variable speed drive solutions. Drawing on its strong expertise, Nidec Leroy-Somer have developed Dyneo+, a new range of super premium efficiency permanent magnet-assisted synchronous reluctance motors which incorporate alone all the benefits of induction and synchronous permanent magnet technologies, and offer in addition significant advances in terms of smart drive solutions.

Class leading energy efficiency With an energy efficiency level

above IE5 reaching the highest efficiency levels of IEC 60034-302 and NEMA Super Premium / Ultra-Premium, Dyneo+ makes it possible to achieve substantial energy savings in real use on cycle at variable speed and load.

As a consequence, the range achieves the lowest Total Cost of Ownership on the market.

The Dyneo+ synchronous motor range has been developed alongside the Nidec LeroySomer variable speed drives, Powerdrive F300 and the new Powerdrive MD Smart. Perfectly adapted to optimize the Dyneo+ motor performance, this last generation of high power speed drives is fitted with a new HMI and a secured Bluetooth connection to enrich the user experience and fully benefit from the features of the new Systemiz application.

Fast and easy operation thanks to digitalization Dedicated to its Dyneo+ motors, Nidec LeroySomer has designed Systemiz, a unique interactive application which provides a wide variety of digitalized services, to facilitate the exchange of information between the systems and trigger the subsequent actions.

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In addition to instantaneous access to all the product literature, Systemiz enables direct access to motor parameters for easy and intuitive drive setting by simply scanning the QR code on the nameplate. Thanks to the new fully configurable Powerdrive MD Smart Interface module, it is now possible to set up predictive maintenance with the help of customized alarm generation and innovative diagnostic tools.

Interactive configuration and quick setup offer a considerable cost-saving, constituting a major advantage.

Torque and speed performance Designed for variable speed, this new range delivers optimized overall operating performance for operation with or without position feedback.

Offering accurate speed and torque control, the Dyneo+ drive and motor assembly guarantees constant torque over extended speed ranges, with no derating or forced ventilation. This is also an easy-to-implement solution, highly-effective for applications requiring high torque at high speed. High starting performance in sensorless mode avoid the need for an encoder.

Reliability and simplicity Nidec Leroy-Somer has developed the Dyneo+ range based on the mechanical platform of its IMfinityÂŽ induction motors, known for their robustness and reliability. The use of proven components provides these new motors a great strength of design and an extended service life. Among others, these choices of construction include

bearings adapted to variable speed applications and sized to withstand heavy loads on the shaft, winding with reinforced insulation, rare earth free rotor with low overheating and excellent thermal protection thanks to CTP and PT100 sensors fitted as standard.

Dyneo+ was designed to ensure fast installation, simple parameter setting and easy maintenance.

Equipped with a large terminal box for easier wiring, the motor can be assembled or dismantled as simply as an induction motor. Through the technology using rotor low losses, Dyneo+ reduces maintenance costs particularly in increasing greasing intervals.

High degree of adaptability Ranging from 11 to 430 kW for speeds up to 6000 rpm, Dyneo+ comprises two variants suitable for all kinds of configurations: - A version 100 % interchangeable with a standard IEC motor that can be easily integrated in machines, applications or systems without any modification of the existing design.

- An extremely compact version with one of the highest power-to-weight ratio on the market, to address any of space constraints and optimize energy consumption.

In addition to the IP55 version with aluminium housing (LSHRM range) and the IP23 steel version (PLSHRM range), Dyneo+ now proposes a cast iron range (FLSHRM) ideally suited for aggressive environments or applications exposed to severe mechanical stresses.

These advantages make Dyneo+ an extremely versatile range in full compliance with the requirements of markets in the industrial refrigeration, compression, pumping, ventilation, extrusion, grinding, etc.

Dyneo+ adapts to process applications, combining energy imperatives and productivity needs. www.leroy-somer.com

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The first smart camera powered by deep learning technology. A vision system enabling new inline factory inspections

to quality control issues or the chances for recalls.

A vision system with integrated artificial intelligence, for example, is able to combine the judgement of a human inspector with the robustness and consistency of an automated solution for inspection or quality control.

This is exactly the main advantage of the new In-Sight D900 vision system from Cognex.

As a first-of-its kind solution, it embeds Cognex’s deep learning software, known as In-Sight ViDi, inside an industrial-grade smart camera. This combination expands the possibilities of inline factory automation inspections.

Cognex introduces the world’s first industrial smart camera powered by Deep Learning software. This combination expands the possibilities of what can be successfully and precisely inspected in factory automation.

Deep Learning and Artifical Intelligence (AI) are among the buzzwords not only in the manufacturing industry but also in many other fields.

Deep Learning, a type of AI that leverages neural networks can be easily explained: Similar to how humans learn what a house is from a large number of examples, so too can a deep learning system come to understand the nature of an object from labeled images.

Whether a car’s bumper, a package’s envelope, or something else, deep learning is an examples-based approach to solving inspection challenges.

Furthermore, each inspection can be continually improved by

feeding the existing algorithm with more example image data.

This new data enhances the system leading to more accurate results.

Expanding the limits of automated inspection Whether this is real intelligence or not, might be discussed by experts.

From a practical point of view, the benefits for manufacturers are obvious and multiple.

Manufacturers still rely on human inspectors throughout the production process because traditional machine vision systems cannot handle the complexity or variability within certain tasks. But humans can be prone to inconsistent results from one human to the next, or they can tire over the course of an eight hour shift. Additionally, there are many aspects throughout production that still go uninspected from one reason or another. Both of these realities open manufacturers up

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Hardware: State-of-the art flexibility The In-Sight D900 hardware is a compact, industrygrade smart camera that can easily be installed and deployed on the line without the need for a PC. The highly-modular, IP67rated vision system includes field- changeable lighting, lenses, filters and covers that can be customized to match the individual application requirements.

The High Dynamic Range (HDR+) imaging creates evenly exposed images, an LED indicator allows pass/fail monitoring at a distance, and the inspection results can be stored locally on an SD card. The embedded inference engine was added to specifically run deep learning applications.

While the hardware is amongst the most advanced for Cognex, it’s this ability of the In-Sight D900 to run a new class of deep learning-based applications that makes it noteworthy.

Software makes the difference: Deep learning included with easy application development The In-Sight D900 works with the familiar and easy-to-use spreadsheet user interface which simplifies application development and factory integration. Application

engineers have access to the full suite of traditional machine vision tools, like PatMax, edge finders, and measurement tools. But, with the InSight ViDiTM, the D900 consists of three deep learning tools which all aim at specific and widespread applications: ViDi Read, ViDi Check and ViDi Detect.

These new deep learning-based inspection tools help factory automation customers easily solve applications that are too time-consuming or complex to deploy with traditional, rule-based machine vision tools.

For all three application tools, users can take advantage of the intuitive InSight spreadsheet interface allowing for a fast setup of Deep Learning applications without programming.

The In-Sight spreadsheet simplifies application development and streamlines factory integration with a full I/O and communications function set. It also enables the ability to combine traditional Cognex rules-based vision tools (like PatMax RedlineTM) and Deep Learning tools in the same job, leading to quicker deployments. Since In-Sight ViDi requires vastly smaller image sets and shorter training and validation periods than other deep learning solutions, applications are quick and easy to set up, teach, and deploy.

ViDi Read: Complex OCR With the In-Sight ViDi Read tool, the user is able to solve challenging OCR applications in minutes. This module deciphers badly deformed, skewed, and poorly etched codes using optical character recognition. This tool works right out of the box, dramatically reducing development time, thanks to the deep learning pretrained font library. The user simply defines the region of interest and sets the character size. In situations where new characters are introduced, this robust tool can be retrained to read application-specific characters that traditional OCR tools are not able to decode.

In comparison to conventional vision systems without Deep Learning, this feature offers obvious advantages.

ViDi Check: Verifying assemblies and part location The ViDi Check tool on the In-Sight D900 allows manufacturers to perform fast and accurate assembly verification. The system is able to detect complex features and objects. It verifies whether parts and kits are assembled correctly based on their location within a user-defined layout. The tool can be trained to create an extensive library of components, which can be located in the image even if they appear at different angles or vary in size.

ViDi Detect: Find defects and other unwanted variations A third tool called ViDi Detect was designed for analyzing complex defect detection tasks. It is able to learn from images of good parts in order to identify defective parts. In-Sight ViDi Detect is ideal for finding anomalies on complex parts and surfaces, even in situations where defects can be unpredictable in their appearance.

Summary: A new paradigm for high-quality vision inspections The integration of the In-Sight ViDi deep learning based vision software on a smart camera helps factory automation customers easily solve challenging OCR, assembly verification, and defect detection applications that are often too difficult to deploy with traditional, rule-based machine vision tools and require reliable, fast and consistent results not possible with human inspection. With the introduction of this system, Cognex addresses three application fields: optical character recognition (OCR), assembly verification and defect detection.

Others might (and will) follow, but these three alone open up a wide range of possible tasks that the new system can tackle successfully and with more precision than a conventional vision system. With respect to the markets, the In-Sight D900 can be used across a range of industries including automotive, consumer electronics, consumer products, packaging, food and beverage, medical devices, and logistics.

Worldwide Engineering Magazine | 11

LinkSwitch-TN2 High-Voltage Switcher ICs from Power Integrations Now Certified for Automotive Use

Power Integrations (Nasdaq: POWI), the leader in highvoltage integrated circuits for energy-efficient power conversion, today announced an AEC-Q100-qualified version of its LinkSwitch™-TN2 switcher IC for buck or non-isolated flyback applications. Featuring an integrated 750 V MOSFET, the new automotive-qualified LinkSwitch-TN2 IC provides simple and reliable power for EV sub-systems connected to the high-voltage bus, including HVAC, climate control, battery management, battery heater, DC-DC converter and on-board charger systems. The surfacemount device requires no heatsink, needs few external components and occupies a very small PCB footprint.

The 7 W (flyback) / 360 mA (buck) LinkSwitch-TN2 has a wide input voltage range of 60 VDC to 550 VDC, efficiently

supporting the 400 VDC bus commonly seen in electric vehicle applications. The new power supply IC provides accurate regulation of better than +/-5% across line voltage, load, temperature and component tolerances.

Comments Power Integrations’ product marketing manager Edward Ong: “Our automotive switcher ICs reduce size while increasing the reliability and robustness of automotive sub-systems. By supplying auxiliary systems directly from the high-voltage bus with a LinkSwitch-TN2 power supply, automotive engineers can reduce the requirement for the conventional 12 V distributed rail, saving assembly and material cost.”

Samples of the LNK3206GQ automotive-qualified LinkSwitch-TN2 IC are available

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now with prices starting at $0.84 in 10,000-piece quantities.

Datasheet and reference design documentation is available from the Power Integrations website at: ac-dc.power.com/products/ linkswitch-family/linkswitchtn2q/

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Worldwide Engineering Magazine | 13

Emerson’s New Air Dryers Quadruple Maintenance Intervals in Rail Applications costs. The RDD dryer is used for main air supplies on trains, whereas the RDDmini is used for auxiliary air supply, to driver seats for example. The efficient design means that the overall envelope size for both dryers is half that of other dryers currently available on the market, allowing for smaller envelope sizes and lower unit weight. The moisture uptake allows for a much higher efficiency air consumption rate of less than 15%, which reduces energy costs. Purge loss typically ranges above 20% for conventional products.

For more information, go to emerson.com/aventics

Emerson introduced two new compressed air dryers designed to significantly extend maintenance intervals, minimize downtime and reduce energy costs in rail applications, including brakes and door control. Typically, air dryers have an average service interval of less than two years.

The AVENTICSTM RDD (RollUp Dessicant Drying) and RDDmin air dryers, have a service interval of eight years or 25,000 operating hours.

The new products feature a proprietary adsorption medium that removes humidity from compressed air systems more efficiently, reducing energy usage with a smaller envelope size and weight. The dryers’ shock- and vibration-resistant design further enhances their reliability in tough rail applications.

Humidity in compressed air can cause corrosion and ice blockages at low temperatures, often disabling door systems or freezing valves in the brake control circuit. Until now,

conventional dryer systems relied on a granular adsorption medium. The shocks and vibrations that occur during rail operations cause channeling, air bypass and dust generation, which leads to a significant loss in drying performance.

Consequently, the dew point increases. High water loading can cause a breakdown of the granulate bed resulting in frequent material changes and a reduced service life.

To solve these problems, Emerson’s AVENTICS RDD technology uses adsorbent crystals immobilized in a durable polymer support structure, which is produced in a continuously embossed sheet and rolled up to tightly fit into a barrel-type housing for high shock and vibration resistance. Unlike competing products using desiccant beats, the AVENTICS dryers resist excessive water loading and fully recover afterwards. This ensures constant performance throughout the lifetime of the product and reduced life-cycle

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Lattice Radiant Software Tool Accelerates System Development for New Certus-NX FPGA-based Designs

Lattice Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: LSCC), the low power programmable leader, announced availability of the latest version of its popular software design tool for FPGAs, Lattice Radiant™ 2.1. The version includes support for the company’s new general-purpose Lattice Certus™-NX FPGAs, the second family introduced within six months using Lattice Nexus™ FPGA development platform, plus native support for the SystemVerilog hardware description and verification language to increase functionality and design flexibility. Lattice Radiant design software accelerates development of Lattice FPGAbased applications for a range of markets, including industrial/ automotive, communications/ compute, and consumer.

The new version of Radiant supports SystemVerilog throughout the entire design flow, from the native synthesis tool through the schematic viewer, hierarchical viewer, configuration wizards, and debugging tool. This highly productive coding method simplifies on-chip debugging and other tasks to streamline the design process and get Lattice FPGA-based products to market faster. Lattice has made

Radiant even easier to use as the tool’s drag-and-drop GUI has been redesigned with support correct pin placement for each I/O signal or bus.

In comparison to design software offered by other FPGA vendors, Lattice Radiant provides best-in-class file size and download times. Radiant software is 20x smaller in file size and 10x faster to install than the competition, so customers can quickly download the tool and start designing their Lattice FPGA-based applications.

“Many FPGA designers are moving to design solutions that leverage SystemVerilog as it gives them more coding efficiency and granular control over their application at every step in the design flow,” said Roger Do, Senior Product Line Manager, Lattice Semiconductor. “When used to develop embedded systems based on our latest low power, small form factor FPGA architecture, the Lattice Radiant design tool enables developers to quickly add low power processing and connectivity to applications that operate within the network.”

supports the CrossLink™-NX FPGAs for embedded and smart visions applications, as well as the ultra-low power, small form factor Lattice iCE40 UltraPlus™ FPGAs. For more information about the Lattice Certus-NX FPGA family, please visit http://www. latticesemi.com/CertusNX For more information about Lattice Radiant design software, please visit www.latticesemi. com/LatticeRadiant About Lattice Semiconductor Lattice Semiconductor (NASDAQ: LSCC) is the low power programmable leader.

We solve customer problems across the network, from the Edge to the Cloud, in the growing communications, computing, industrial, automotive and consumer markets. Our technology, longstanding relationships, and commitment to world-class support lets our customers quickly and easily unleash their innovation to create a smart, secure and connected world.

In addition to the Certus-NX family, Lattice Radiant also

Worldwide Engineering Magazine | 15

AGILOX Autonomous Mobile Robots are substantially saving costs by applying Artificial Swarm Intelligence

Swarm Intelligence (SI) and bio-inspired computing have attracted great interest in almost every area of science and engineering, including robotics, over the last two decades.

Being an innovative manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), AGILOX directs most of its effort into developing one of the most unique robotic material handling features on the market - completely decentralized autonomy. AGILOX Intelligent Guided Vehicles (IGVs) are completely independent, selfcontrolled, and intelligently designed to handle failover, recovery, and deadlock prevention perfectly. Our SI system can provide real-time solutions to impossibly complex optimization problems in the most efficient way possible, often in ways that a human designer could never anticipate.

The swarm can also handle unexpected changes in dynamic environments without any human intervention.

AGILOX vehicles automatically exchange information about the environment and the current work order situation with each

other via WiFi several times per second. Based on virtual transport costs, which each participant constantly recalculates for all pending orders, it is automatically decided which vehicle fulfills an order and which path that vehicle can take to fulfill this order in the shortest amount of time.

All of this is possible with almost no overhead cost to the end-customer. There are no expensive server systems, no wires added under the floor, no reflector or beacon installations - no hardware of any kind, other than your regular 2.4 or 5 GHz WiFi network and the charger.

There is no software to install or maintain, no version numbers to keep up with, and no licenses with ongoing subscription fees.

The nature of our Swarm Intelligence also provides another massive advantage in terms of setup cost. Once the first AGILOX unit learns its environment and workflow details, the system becomes immediately infinitely scalable.

Adding additional vehicles to the swarm to increase throughput is as simple as

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turning on the power and assigning an IP address. Within minutes, the new vehicle will automatically download all of its configuration information from the swarm and begin working, no additional commissioning or programming required.

AGILOX represents a total departure from the traditional approach to material handling processes. We apply the principles of our decentralized IGV system to our entire business model from top to bottom as well, by providing our customers with the training and tools to perform their own maintenance and expand or modify the system as they see fit.

With open interfaces, infinite flexibility, and unrivaled collective intelligence, the possibilities for your AGILOX implementation are limited only by your imagination.

Welcome to the future of logistics automation. For further information, please visit us at www.agilox.net

Worldwide Engineering Magazine | 17

FLIR Systems Releases New Blackfly S Machine Vision USB3 Camera with Sony’s Pregius S Sensor FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) today announced the availability of the new FLIR Blackfly S visible spectrum camera module, the first to integrate the Sony Pregius S IMX540 sensor with 24.5 MP at 12 FPS in a USB3 camera.

The combination of the Blackfly S feature set with IMX540’s high megapixel (MP) count and fast imaging enables engineers and researchers from biomedical to semiconductor industries to inspect more in less time and with fewer cameras required.

“OEM machine designers, engineers and researchers rely on FLIR for high quality, fullfeature machine vision cameras,” said Paul Clayton, General Manager, Components Business at FLIR Systems. “With this latest Blackfly S model, we continue the tradition of combining the best technology with world-class support to empower our customers to achieve their objectives faster and at lower costs.”

Pairing FLIR’s Machine Vision Expertise with Advanced Sony Sensors With a new backside illuminated (BSI) 2.74 μm pixel, the Pregius S sensors nearly doubles the pixel density of earlier Pregius sensors while taking advantage of lower cost and more compact lenses.

Delivering 24 MP, 12 FPS Sony Pregius distortionfree imaging of fast-moving targets, the Blackfly S enables faster production lines even for very detailed inspection. The Blackfly S also delivers high quantum efficiency and low read noise allowing shorter exposure times, and therefore less powerful lights are required resulting in lower lighting costs.

The FLIR Blackfly S BFS-U3-244S8M/C-C is available for purchase globally today in color and monochrome versions through FLIR and authorized FLIR distributors. FLIR will also release additional Pregius S sensors on GigE and 10GigE interfaces later this year. To learn more about the Sony Pregius S, visit: www.flir.com/discover/iis/ machine-vision/pregius-s/.

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Protect your assets with new thermal imaging camera!

COVID-19. Although our cameras do not detect any specific virus or condition, they can be used to detect elevated body temperatures in humans, which may indicate a possible fever.”

Viral epidemics such as the current coronavirus (COVID-19) have created a global demand for infrared cameras that are able to screen for a fever condition in humans. Many businesses wish to protect their most important assets, their people, by installing appropriate fever screening systems. MicroEpsilon has responded to this demand by introducing an infrared camera specifically for this application.

The new thermoIMAGER TIM QVGA-HD-T100 infrared camera is supplied with a certificate of calibration that validates temperature measurements made against a traceable 35°C temperature reference source (black body). The camera is accurate to ± 0.5°C when used with the TM-BR20AR-TIM black body source, which means it can provide reliable skin temperature measurements for fever detection systems.

It is ideal for integration into an automated monitoring system which can be used in real time at point-of-entry into establishments such as factories, offices, public buildings, warehouses, airports and schools, to prevent people with elevated body temperatures entering. Glenn Wedgbrow, Business Development Manager at Micro-Epsilon UK comments: “The basis for the effectiveness of thermal cameras as a fever screening tool lies in the correlation of outside skin surface temperature with that of the internal or core body temperature. As a supplier of thermal imaging cameras, we are fielding many questions from existing and prospective customers with regards to their use as a screening tool for

Crowd-based screening In crowd-based screening, an infrared camera monitors a crowd of people simultaneously or sequentially. Assuming that the majority of the measured maximum head temperature values are coming from healthy individuals, the exceptions with an elevated body temperature can be detected by the camera.

Individual screening This method is primarily used at controlled entrances and security gates. The Medial Canthus (tear duct) provides the strongest correlation between outside skin temperature and core body temperature and is measured more precisely from a close distance. This method isalso best for detecting low grade fevers. For this application, Micro-Epsilon recommends the thermoIMAGER TIM QVGAHD-T100 infrared camera with 29° optics placed at a distance of 1m from the target, or the same camera but with 13° optics at a distance of 1.5 to 2m from the target. To achieve an accuracy better than ± 0.5°C the imager must be combined with the TM-BR20AR-TIM Black Body Reference Source.

Absolute temperature measurement accuracy Most infrared cameras with 8-14µm spectral response are specified with an accuracy of ± 2°C or 2% of the reading, whichever is greater based on deployments in industrial environments in a wide variety of ambient conditions from 0°C to +50°C. This means that many thermal imagers are unable to achieve the accuracy required to detect a fever and so give false positive readings. Many infrared cameras are being promoted today that claim to offer accuracies of ± 0.5°C or better.

However, these accuracies cannot be achieved without the use of a black body reference source. This source needs to be stable, have high emissivity and should be positioned in close proximity to the person to be scanned. It is vital to select a black body source with a very high stability, as not all black body sources are stable enough to provide a ± 0.5°C system accuracy.

The TM-BR20AR-TIM ambient black body reference source from Micro-Epsilon can be combined with the thermoIMAGER TIM QVGAHD-T100 camera. The black body is equipped with a 16-bit digital temperature sensor with ± 0.1°C accuracy. By integrating this highly accurate reference signal to the TIM Connect software (freely provided with the camera), MicroEpsilon can reduce camera uncertainties resulting from device adjustment, ambient temperature drift and short term stability down to a system accuracy of ± 0.5°C with a confidence interval of 95%.

As Glenn Wedgbrow adds: “Our thermoIMAGER TIM QVGA-HD-T100 infrared camera combined with our TM-BR20AR-TIM black body reference source provides a highly accurate, reliable noncontact body temperature measurement system that meets the accuracy requirement of EC 80601-2-59:2017 for human fever detection using infrared temperature measurement.”

For more information on the thermoIMAGER TIM QVGAHD-T100, please call the MicroEpsilon sales department on 0151 355 6070 or email info@micro-epsilon.co.uk

Worldwide Engineering Magazine | 19

Intelligent vision sensor simplifies image-guided robotics

tool centre point, it is enough to take at least ten images in different positions of a calibration plate placed in the robot’s field of view or fitted on the robotic arm. A “result offset” is also possible, if necessary, i.e. a calculated shift of the vision sensor’s result points to the desired robot operating points.

In this way, it is possible, for example, to teach the sensor the contour of a cup, when the robot’s gripper point is at the handle.

From 2D to 3D: identify height and tilt

SensoPart’s latest software update for its VISOR® Robotic vision sensor makes the setup of robotics applications even simpler and more flexible.

Thanks to a considerably expanded scope of functions, all common 2D applications can be solved in the robotic control system with minimal effort. Furthermore, use of an additional 3D detector determines the position of objects in 3D coordinates. All the new functions are independent of the robotics system used – this makes VISOR® Robotic unique on the market.

Two years ago, SensoPart launched VISOR® Robotic, the first special vision sensor for robotics, which considerably simplifies the setup of applications with robots. Now the next evolutionary phase is underway: The current software release 2.2 for VISOR® Robotic offers an enhanced scope of functions, transferring key configuration steps from the robot control system to the sensor. New calibration methods give the user greater freedom when setting up their application. Assisted by smart, user-friendly functions, they cansychronise the position of the object detected by the sensor with the robot’s gripper point in just a few steps.

Hand-eye calibration: calibrate here, work there Hand-eye calibration is used

when the sensor is mounted on a robotic arm – for example when picking up objects from a tray or during automatic screw tightening. Advantage: In contrast to standard calibration methods, the sensor’s field of view during calibration does not have to be identical to the robot’s subsequent operating range – which means you can “calibrate here and work there”.

The user can send the robot’s current position to the VISOR® Robotic via a trigger – this can be used for any position within the cell. This has additional advantages when spatial restrictions do not allow the insertion of a calibration plate.

The second new calibration method “Base eye” is suited to applications in which the vision sensor is mounted on a stationary element – for example for the precise positioning of components in the gripper.

Here, each element collected from the tray by the gripper is held briefly in front of the sensor and its exact position is determined; the gripper position can then be corrected if necessary during the next work step, for example when depositing the part.

With these two new calibration methods, it is no longer necessary to manually direct the gripper arm to real points or to have it seize components; to map the complete coordinate system in relation to the robot’s

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Thanks to the function update, all common 2D robotics applications can be easily and elegantly executed with the VISOR® Robotic – for example during material feed or the machining of parts. And even more is possible if necessary: With the new “3D contour” detector, SensoPart transforms a 2D camera into a 3D version and supplies additional 3D information in the robotics sensor, allowing it to identify, for example, a height difference or localise tilted components.

Together with the function “Result offset”, it is also possible to teach gripper points that are pivoted in relation to the object.

In addition, the 3D detector also aids the high precision docking of a mobile robot with a workstation. In this case, differing imaging positions or gripper points are emitted directly in robot coordinates by the VISOR® Robotic so that no further variables or calculations are necessary in the robot control system – the simple standard command “Move to point” is sufficient to control the robot. As the task is solved directly in the vision sensor, all settings are independent of the respective robot system in use and are easily transferable.

This has proved its worth when a change in camera or gripper is necessary: The application is ready to go again after just a few minutes, without the need for a new teaching procedure or the intervention of robot programmers.

Sectigo and Infineon Partner to Protect IoT Devices with Automated Factory Provisioning of Certificates Sectigo, a leading provider of automated digital identity management and web security solutions, today announced a partnership with Infineon Technologies AG to provide automated certificate provisioning for Infineon’s OPTIGA™ Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 using Sectigo IoT Identity Manager.

The integration provides manufacturers with a complete certificate management solution, including issuance and renewal, starting right on the factory floor, with secure certificate creation and insertion using the OPTIGA™ TPM for private key storage.

“Including a TPM chip in an IoT device design is the first step in enabling strong authentication and secure communication for IoT devices,” explained Alan Grau, VP of IoT/Embedded Solutions at Sectigo. “Together, Sectigo and Infineon are enabling device manufactures to leverage strong authentication and secure communication for IoT devices during the manufacturing of the device itself. This integration not only automates the process of provisioning certificates for IoT devices, but also delivers a complete PKI solution leveraging Sectigo’s highly secure cloud infrastructure.”

Device manufacturers across industries increasingly recognize the need to strengthen the security of their devices. The Sectigo-Infineon joint solution enables manufacturers to provide the enhanced levels of security required to protect their devices and to ensure compliance with ever-emerging and evolving IoT security standards and regulations across the globe. For example, manufacturers are able to provision certificates into devices before they leave the factory, so that their connected IoT and IIoT products comply

with the authentication requirements of the California IoT Security Law, along with other similar legislation.

Device identity certificates enable strong authentication and the TPM—a specialized chip on an endpoint device— provides secure key storage to ensure keys are protected against attacks. The joint solution enables the insertion of certificates into the device during the manufacturing of the device, when the device is first provisioned into a network, or into the TPM chip itself before the chip is shipped to the manufacturer. By installing certificates into the TPM chip prior to manufacturing, manufacturers are able to track the component throughout the supply chain to protect against device counterfeiting, ensuring that only authentic devices are manufactured.

“Infineon’s audited and certified TPMs enable manufacturers of connected devices to achieve higher levels of security.

Together with our partner Sectigo, we are now also able to offer automated factory provisioning. This gives our customers a proven path combining ease of integration with the benefits of higher security performance,” said Lars Wemme, Head of IoT Security at Infineon Technologies. The Sectigo IoT Identity Platform

removes the complexity associated with securing and authenticating connected devices so that businesses can protect their infrastructure in an easy, scalable, cost-effective, way. The platform enables enterprises and OEMs to ensure the integrity and identity of their devices and maintain that security by managing certificates throughout the lifecycle of the device. Infineon’s OPTIGA™ security solutions, including the OPTIGA™ TPM, offer a broad portfolio of security controllers to protect the integrity and authenticity of embedded devices and systems. With a secure key store and support for a variety of encryption algorithms, the security chips provide robust protection for critical data and processes through their rich functionality—and are essential for strong device identity solutions because the crypto co-processor can securely store the private key of the device. Infineon’s proven key storage, coupled with Sectigo’s automated certificate issuance and management, delivers a robust, automated and easyto-use PKI solution for device manufacturers.

Organizations interested in a demo of the fully integrated, automated certificate provisioning solution, please visit sectigo.com/about/contact.

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System-on-Module from Direct Insight packs STMicro ST32M1 ARM Cortex-A7 performance in tiny QFN-style package Direct Insight, the UK-based, technical systems integrator and reseller of system-on-module (SoM) and other embedded systems, has announced the tiny QSMP Solder-down module with STMicro ST32M1 single/dual core ARM Cortex-A7, manufactured by the company’s long-standing partner, Aachen-based Ka-Ro Electronics.

The module’s ST32M1 family processor provides a single or dual 650MHz ARM Cortex-A7 core as well as a separate ARM Cortex-M4 running at 200MHz. Also featured is up to 512MB of DDR3L RAM, up to 4GB eMMC Flash, and a range of interfaces. As well as very low-power operation, the ST32M157C can offer a powerful 3D GPU, secure boot and an AES/TDES/SHA crypto-engine.

The new QSMP SoM measures 27mm square and just 2.3mm high. It features a solder-down package with a QFN-type pin-out based on a 1mm pitch with 100 edge-located pads. This design aids inspection and simplifies routing, even permitting a two-layer baseboard and a base plane. An innovative ground plane design ensures that the modules effectively ‘float’ into position during reflow, unlike a BGA which require X-Ray inspection to ensure full connectivity. Also, these QS solder-down modules are so small that warping does not occur. The design of the package also improves thermal efficiency and EMI performance as the base functions as both a ground pad and a thermal conductor. Modules operate across an industrial temperature range of -40 or -25 to +85degC. Comments David Pashley, Direct Insight’s MD: “Solder-down SoMs offer simplicity and reduced cost but can be tricky to handle during production. Ka-Ro’s QS modules address these challenges, simplifying inspection and PCB layout, while delivering huge processing power - all in a miniature package.”

The module features a wide range of connectivity options including CANbus (ST32M153A and ST32M157C), UART (x3), SPI (x2), I2C (x2), Audio, Gb Ethernet, SD, USB Host and Client and a parallel or MIPI-DSI (ST32M157C) display. It requires a single 3.3V supply. The ST32M1 ARM Cortex-A7-powered QSMP solder-down SoM comes with a dedicated development system, equipped with Linux BSP.

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Our New World Demands New Construction Collaboration

By David Wagner current information. No need to wonder on which server or cloud-based collaboration tool the project data is stored; it’s always in the single source of truth and always the most current iteration.

To the say the world has changed over the last few months would be one of the great understatements of our time. One of the most significant changes we’ve seen — almost overnight — is the shift to remote work. A large portion of the workforce has transitioned to being stay-athome workers. Undoubtably, working from home affords many significant advantages, including improved employee satisfaction, increased productivity, and decreased turnover and cost savings to both the company and the employee. But does this apply to the construction industry?

The Times They Are a-Changin’ (a little) It goes without saying that until robots take over the world, construction sites will still need professionals and skilled labor on-site managing the work. Front-line supervisors such as project managers, superintendents and foremen are still very much required to manage the day-to-day site operations. But how about the back office support team? The estimators, planners, business managers, procurement managers, document controllers, and other managers and executives? They are rarely on-site. In this new world order, do they really need to be in the office? We are already seeing and hearing from the industry, and the answer is no. More and more construction firms are investigating making the workfrom-home model the norm rather than the exception.

That said, working from home is

not a panacea. It comes with its own challenges, and one of the biggest is around maintaining communication and collaboration with the rest of the project team and your colleagues. Sitting in the comfort of your home, it becomes all too easy to get tunnel vision and not expose yourself to the valued inputs of your team. Without the office-enabled water cooler conversations, it’s easy to miss key pieces of the overall puzzle and lose sight of the overall mission. How does the expression go? You don’t know what you don’t know.

Navigate the New Norm So, what can be done about it? Phone calls and online meetings are pretty obvious, but it doesn’t need to end there.

I’d recommend investigating solutions geared towards providing a collaborative environment and proactively providing key project information at your fingertips.

For example:

- Ensure managers and executives can leverage realtime reports and dashboards to know exactly what’s happening on their project. All too often, managers are forced to hunt for the right person with the latest project updates. Put the most up-to-date and best information at their fingertips.

- Capture an audit trail of actions and events across the entire extended project team. Ensure there is never any reason to ask who did what and when they did it. You’ll already know.

- Enable your project controls professionals to have access to real-time budget, cost and actuals data without having to make multiple calls.

- You can even minimize your foreman’s and superintendents’ time on-site by allowing them to plan out the days’ events ahead of time, and deliver this information directly to their craftsman via a mobile device.

Embrace Change

- If you are estimating and planning in Excel today, try a more collaborative-based solution allowing professionals to collectively work on project plans and estimates together.

One estimator should be able to see other estimators’ input in real time. Planners should be able to seamlessly request input from other experienced planners to make the best decisions.

The world is changing. More and more construction professionals will be working at home even after COVID-19 is behind us, but this doesn’t mean they have to be disconnected. By following the suggestions above, you’ll go a long way toward ensuring your teams can work from home but still maintain the level of collaboration and communication needed to build great projects.

- Institute a single source of document truth, ensuring everyone on the projectcaptures, reviews and distributes the most

For more information on today’s most advanced project management solutions, visit InEight.com.

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Increased range of Handles for Enclosures and Panels available from Foremost Electronics Foremost Electronics, the engineering-led Essex based importer and specialist distributor of electromechanical components is a major supplier of standard and custom cabinets and enclosures and continues to add to its range of panel building accessories.

A wide range of high-quality handles from MENTOR, the world’s premier manufacturer, are now available from Foremost. The very diverse range of industrial, enclosure and equipment handles offer designers elegant and functional solutions to suit any application. It includes hundreds of plastic (including twocomponent and heat-resistant versions), anodised aluminium, chrome, steel and stainless-steel variants, all with multiple size options. MENTOR handles offer high quality, elegant, ergonomic and comfortable styles which and can be configured to meet any dimensional requirement.

MENTOR’s plastic handles are cost-effective, versatile and easy to install. The range offers many bow section designs using single-plastic or two-plastic construction including handles for various load capacities and temperature requirements.

Versions made with highly durable heat resistant black Duroplastic type FS 31 offer a maximum operating temperature of 100°C. Aluminium is an ideal material for many handle applications offering lightness, strength and a high-quality surface finish. MENTOR’s wide range of standard aluminium handles includes equipment handles, bow-type handles, fingertip handles, handle systems and folding handles. Colouranodised versions are available with gloss or brushed finishes.

MENTOR’s chrome handles are made from steel and are

ideal for high load bearing and suitable for pulling, pushing and lifting actions in equipment and machinery applications while still being elegantly designed.

Many types of chrome handles are available, including both straight and angled bow-types, as well as collapsible handles.

Several styles are also available with plastic coating on the grip bar. The thin-coating, UL224 Polyolefine flame retardant, hand grips meeting E196690 approvals are available in black, red, white, blue, yellow, green, grey, orange and brown and have an operational temperature range of -55°C to +125°C. Stainless steel handles are the ideal solution for medical and catering applications and other product designs requiring elegance combined with strength. The standard range offers handles made of round or flat oval stainless steel, folding/ collapsible handles and an easy to assemble modular handle system. The handles can be finished in matt, polished or uncoated stainless steel with several similar designs made in robust chrome-plated steel.

Foremost serve a wide number of diverse markets from industrial, instrumentation, audio/broadcast, rail, medical to education. Established in 1989, Foremost Electronics Ltd. are long established agents and distributors of electromechanical components including switches, connectors, cabinets, enclosures and handles, control knobs, thermal fuses and optoelectronics.

Foremost are also a supplier of joysticks and controllers for both OEM and stand-alone applications and have specialist online stores for IP Joysticks and Electric Vehicle Connectors and Accessories www.enclosures4u.com

Alan Vincent, Sales Director of Foremost, comments, “Our enclosure and cabinet business is growing very rapidly, and our customers need high quality accessories to enhance the appearance and performance of their systems. MENTOR offer one of the most extensive ranges of handles available, making them an ideal partner for us to be able to offer a one stop shop for all of our customer’s panel and enclosure requirements.”

To see the MENTOR range of high-quality handles available from Foremost, please visit www.4most.co.uk call +44 (0)1371 811171 or email sales@4most.co.uk

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Schaeffler gives cobots greater range with plug-and-play linear actuators Industrial robots have long been established as the technology of choice when it comes to efficient automation solutions for a wide range of handling and processing tasks. Now, thanks to a new innovation, owners and users can significantly extend the working range of their robots and cobots (collaborative robots) by installing Schaeffler driven linear units as horizontal axes.

Plug-and-play linear axes made-to-order Schaeffler offers its customers linear actuators as customised turnkey solutions. The compact, ready-to-install linear axis solution developed by Schaeffler consists of a MDKUVE tandem actuator, a corresponding adapter plate for the cobot, an appropriate motor/gearbox unit, prefabricated motor cables, a drag chain for all of the cobot’s supply lines/cables, and a motor controller. The solution comes complete with Profibus, Profinet, and EtherCAT interfaces for connection to the customer’s control system. The linear axis solutions have various options for connecting to the motor/gearbox units. Customers also have the option of using their drive technology instead of the Schaeffler drive solution if they so wish.

Depending on customer requirements, the linear axis can be supplied in various lengths and can be driven by a MDKUVE-KGT ball screw drive, a MDKUVE-3ZR toothed belt drive, or a linear motor.

In the tandem actuator, which forms the basis of the linear axis, the guide carriage runs along two parallel KUVE-type monorail guidance systems (four-row linear recirculating ball bearing and guideway assemblies). Due to its compact design envelope, the tandem actuator is ideally suited for use in applications involving high carrying and

moment loads – such as collaborative robots. Tandem actuators offer maximum reliability in these applications when used in conjunction with triple toothed belt drives.

For applications that require extremely high carrying and moment-load capacities, customers have the option of running the guide carriage on a KUSE-XL six-row linear recirculating ball bearing and guideway assembly in premium X-life quality.

Increasing cobot range The linear axes are available in a range of lengths, depending on the drive being used. They can even be implemented as multipart axes for added range in applications that involve longer travel paths. This flexibility means the compact linear axes be can easily integrated into new and existing automation solutions. As a further option, Schaeffler also offers an assembly and installation service.

Tandem actuators driven by ball screw drives are available in a range of lengths up to a maximum of 5.9 metres and offer repeat accuracy of 0.025mm and a maximum linear speed of 1.7 m/s. Tandem

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actuators driven by toothed belt drives, on the other hand, can be implemented as multipart axes with lengths of up to 18 metres for applications where especially long travel paths are required. These longer implementations support very high linear speeds of up to 5 m/s and offer a repeat accuracy of +/0.1 mm. Due to their compact, high-performance design, these plug-and-play linear axes also have applications in areas other than collaborative robots, most notably in the periphery of handling and assembly equipment and in factory automation. The compact, ready-to-install linear axis solution developed

by Schaeffler consists of a MDKUVE tandem actuator, a corresponding motor/gearbox unit, prefabricated motor cables, a drag chain for all of the cobot’s supply lines/cables, and a motor controller. Longer linear axes can be implemented as multipart linear actuators to enable cobot travel paths of up to 18 metres.

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Lattice Reinvents the Low Power, General-Purpose FPGA with New Certus-NX

Lattice Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: LSCC), the low power programmable leader, today launched the new Lattice Certus™-NX family of FPGAs. The devices lead the general-purpose FPGA market in I/O density, delivering up to twice the I/O density per mm2 in comparison to similar competing FPGAs, and provide best-in-class power savings, small size, reliability, instanton performance, and support fast PCI Express (PCIe) and Gigabit Ethernet interfaces to enable data co-processing, signal bridging, and system control. Certus-NX FPGAs target a range of applications, from data processing in automated industrial equipment to system management in communications infrastructure.

The Certus-NX devices are the second family of FPGAs developed on the Lattice Nexus™ platform, the industry’s first low power FPGA platform using 28 nm FD-SOI process technology. With the launch of Certus-NX, Lattice marks the release of the second device family developed under Lattice’s new product development strategy in just six months.

“Certus-NX delivers unique and innovative capabilities that set

it apart,” said Linley Gwennap, Principal Analyst at The Linley Group. “Compared to competing FPGAs of similar gate counts, Lattice offers a much smaller package, greater I/O density, and lower power.”

“Thanks to innovations at the system, architecture, and circuit level in our Lattice Nexus development platform, we are releasing new products at a faster pace and giving our customers more options to choose from as they evaluate the performance and power needs of their applications,” said Gordon Hands, Director of Product Marketing, Lattice Semiconductor. “Certus-NX has clearly reset expectations for what developers should look for in general-purpose FPGAs by providing a compelling blend of parallel processing performance and flexible I/O support that enables creative new device designs.”

Technology trends like industrial automation and 5G have developers across markets looking to add processing and connectivity to applications that operate at the network Edge.

To successfully support these trends, devices require low power processing hardware with

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support for popular interfaces like PCIe and Gigabit Ethernet.

Device developers also need easy-to-use development platforms from a single source that provide the hardware, software, and IP they need to get products to market quickly.

“As an FPGA-centric design house, we’re seeing increasing adoption of serial protocols like PCIe and Gigabit Ethernet for chip-to-chip connectivity in many end applications, including 5G and IoT systems,” said Sanjeev Kumar, CEO, Logic Fruit Technologies. “The latest generation of FPGAs by Lattice, Certus-NX, supports these standards and provides a high density of I/Os while keeping power consumption and overall device footprint in check. These FPGAs will allow us to rapidly adapt to the challenging and evolving connectivity and performance needs of our customers.”

Key features of the Lattice Certus-NX FPGA family include: - Up to 3x smaller form factor – Certus-NX FPGAs easily fit into compact designs with minimal impact on overall design footprint. For example, Certus-NX FPGAs can enable a complete PCIe solution with a size of only 36 mm2. Even when using the smallest package available in the family, Certus-NX FPGAs deliver up to twice the I/O density per mm2 in comparison to similar competing FPGAs to enable greater design flexibility and robust support for bridging applications.

- Robust I/O interfacing capability – Certus-NX developers will have access to Lattice’s extensive IP library.

Notable IP blocks available on Certus-NX include: -- 1.5 Gbps differential I/O with performance that is up to 70 percent higher than competing FPGAs. -- 5 Gbps PCIe, 1.5 Gbps SGMII, and 1066 Mbps DDR3.

Developers can test these IP blocks on Certus-NX development boards for the fast implementation of interfaces commonly used in Certus-NX FPGAs’ target applications.

- Strong authentication and encryption – To secure the devices’ bitstream against unauthorized access/alteration/copying, Certus-NX FPGAs support AES-256 encryption with best-in-class ECDSA authentication to protect devices throughout their lifecycles.

- Up to 4x lower power consumption – Certus-NX FPGAs use a programmable back bias to enable user-selectable high performance or low power operating modes, depending on the needs of their application. The devices can provide power consumption up to 4x lower than similar FPGAs. - Instant-on performance – The devices also offer ultra-fast device configuration from SPI memory that is up to 12x faster than similar competing FPGAs, with individual I/Os able to configure in just 3 ms, and full-device startup in only 8-14 ms depending on device capacity.

- High reliability – Reliable performance is key for safety-critical industrial and automotive applications where devices must perform as expected to avoid damage/injury. Certus-NX FPGAs offer up to 100 times better soft-error rate (SER) performance than similar FPGAs. Certus-NX FPGAs are temperature-rated for use in industrial applications. They also support ECC and SEC in hardware.

- Ease of use/design – Certus-NX FPGAs support Lattice Radiant® software, an easy-to-use, unified FPGA design environment that integrates best-in-class tools and features to help users develop their applications quickly and efficiently.

- Lattice has already shipped sample devices to select customers. For more information, please visit http://www.latticesemi.com/Certus-NX. - About Lattice Semiconductor Lattice Semiconductor (NASDAQ: LSCC) is the low power programmable leader. We solve customer problems across the network, from the Edge to the Cloud, in the growing communications, computing, industrial, automotive, and consumer markets. Our technology, long-standing relationships, and commitment to world-class support lets our customers quickly and easily unleash their innovation to create a smart, secure and connected world.

Never miss an issue - Subscribe for FREE Worldwide Engineering Magazine | 29

The industry’s highest capacity PXI matrix switch module with up to 9216 crosspoints

Pickering Interfaces, the leading supplier of modular signal switching and simulation solutions for use in electronic test and verification, has announced 12-slot BRIC configurations for two of its popular PXI matrix switch models. The 1Amp 40-562B BRIC12 modules can hold up to 18 matrix daughtercards with up to 3168 crosspoints. The 0.5Amp 40-558 BRIC12 modules can also hold up to 18 matrix daughtercards, offering up to 9216 crosspoints, making it the industry’s highest capacity PXI matrix switch module.

Like previously available 2, 4 and 8-slot versions, the new 12-slot 40-562B and 40-558 modules feature an internal screened analog bus that maximizes signal integrity. Some other competing solutions require the interconnection of multiple matrix modules, which adds complexity because of the added cabling and it also can reduce signal quality. The internal bus also minimizes the cost and complexity of cable assemblies to the device under test (DUT) and instrumentation.

Internal isolation relays on the internal bus can reduce stub length issues, which provides improved signal quality.

Pickering has a standard range of cables for the BRIC family

and can construct custom cable assemblies for all its PXI modules.

Depending on the configuration, the BRIC12 40558 models can support 1-pole matrix sizes up to 1512x6, 1152x8, 756x12 and 576x16 and the 40-562B models can support 1- and 2-pole matrix sizes up to 792x4, 396x8, 198x16 or 90x32. All models are constructed using the world’s smallest and highest reliability ruthenium reed relays from Pickering Electronics, offering >109 operations to give maximum switching confidence with long life and very stable contact resistance. Extensive accessory support is available, including Pickering’s diagnostic tools—Built-in Relay Self-Test (BIRST) and eBIRST Switching System Test tools, which provide a quick and simple way of finding relay failures within the modules. Spare relays are fitted to the modules to facilitate easy maintenance with minimum downtime.

Comments Steve Edwards, Switching Product Manager, Pickering Interfaces: “These 12slot PXI BRIC models extend the switching capacity offered by our existing BRIC2, BRIC4 and BRIC8 units and simplify the task of creating large matrices in PXI. Typical applications include

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automotive and aerospace ECU and semiconductor package testing.”Pickering Interfaces designs and manufactures modular signal switching and simulation for use in electronic test and verification. We offer the largest range of switching and simulation products in the industry for PXI, LXI, and PCI applications. To support these products, we also provide cable and connector solutions, diagnostic test tools, along with our application software and software drivers created by our in-house software team.

Pickering’s products are specified in test systems installed throughout the world and have a reputation for providing excellent reliability and value. Pickering Interfaces operates globally with direct operations in the US, UK, Germany, Sweden, France, Czech Republic and China, together with additional representation in countries throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. We currently serve all electronics industries including, automotive, aerospace & defense, energy, industrial, communications, medical and semiconductor.

For more information on signal switching and simulation products or sales contacts please visit www.pickeringtest.com.

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SFH - FPT Industrial’s joint venture in China sets engine production record!

help the plant not only achieve record monthly output levels, but provide an important contribution to the recovery of global consumption.

Further contributors are FPT’s lean innovation and technical strength, helping SFH meet market demand for high quality, low-emission engines.

FPT and SFH have co-operated comprehensively in areas that extend from research and development, through system integration, to actual road tests, in order to achieve the optimized match between engine and vehicles.

FPT Industrial’s joint venture in China, SFH (SAIC Fiat Hongyan Powertrain Co Ltd), is celebrating a new record for the number of engines produced during a single month at its manufacturing facility in Chongqing. In May, the plant recorded an increase in engine output of 6% on the previous record, which was set the month before.

Despite being faced with the impact of COVID-19, SFH has established a leading market position based on FPT’s lean innovation and technical strength, and has won end-user recognition around the world thanks to its excellent product quality. The overall increase in production and sales in April and May not only reflects the plant’s strategic deployment and response to the pandemic, but the globally-recognized performance of SFH engines.

The rise in production output at the Chongqing factory is in direct response to sales growth.

Sales in the heavy truck market over the first four months of 2020 demonstrated a V-shaped trend curve, with record sales in January. However, as the effects of COVID-19 began to subside in April, the market returned to an upward trend, developing momentum in both production and sales.

As a major powertrain supplier, SFH has measures in place regarding its control plans to

help cope during exceptional circumstances, such as the current pandemics. “Upon the resumption of manufacturing, it was therefore possible to implement specially-devised production strategies in response to rising orders within the framework of the plant’s WCM (World Class Manufacturing) management system,” said Federico Gaiazzi, SFH General Manager. “The work of the full team was fundamental to achieving this result”.

Grasping the ethos of prevention and control in one hand, and focusing on the resumption of work in the other, all employees at the SFH plant are fully motivated, with many currently working overtime.

The power of the whole factory has been ignited to ensure production meets the order demands of dealers and users in the shortest possible timeframe.

Moreover, extending the WCM management system to all processes, and even suppliers, is helping to achieve the ‘5 zero objectives’ in production: zero accidents, zero failures, zero waste, zero defects and zero inventory.

At Chongqing, SFH has four cylinder head production lines and two assembly production lines. The cylinder head lines are equipped with 40 large-format machining centers that produce components 24-hours a day to

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In terms of technological innovation, the latest SFH lowemission engines use a highly efficient Hi-eSCR exhaust aftertreatment system without EGR (engine gas recirculation). Based on more than 26 years’ research into SCR (selective catalyst reduction) technology by FPT Industrial, the system can achieve ultra-high (>95%) conversion efficiency of nitrogen oxides.

Importantly, Hi-eSCR does not need additional technology to make up for lost power, and does not require a larger engine size and cooling system to reduce the additional heat dissipation it brings, greatly reducing running costs.

Compared with competitive products, Hi-eSCR can reduce fuel consumption by 3%, while the maintenance interval of the DPF (diesel particulate filter) is 20% longer, contributing to lower maintenance costs.

Behind the breakthroughs in production and sales are the hard work and co-operation of SFH employees. As a major diesel engine manufacturing company, SFH has always adhered to the principles of being user-centered and market-oriented, while continuously looking to improve capabilities. Moving forward, SFH will strive for faster and better development, and deliver more value for customers.

UK to lead the rest of Europe in commercial drone deliveries, as Covid-19 accelerates disruptive tech in aerospace prototypes and low-volume production parts.

Report shows more than half of people believe commercial drone deliveries will be commonplace by 2023, as Governments and firms find new ways to guarantee services.

Challenges posed by Covid-19 are accelerating the willingness to embrace drone technology and the UK is leading the way, according to a new European aerospace study released today.

The first findings of Protolabs’ Horizon Shift report, which involved 325 aerospace business leaders from across Europe, highlights an increased appetite for ‘low space’ innovation and more investment into the fast-track testing of robots and drones. More than half of companies questioned (53%) believe commercial drone deliveries will be commonplace by 2023, as both the public and private sector seek safe ways to guarantee services whilst containing the spread of any viruses. 78% of companies questioned from the UK felt convinced that disruption in the form of drones represents the sector’s best opportunitiy for growth in the future. This figure from the UK outperformed itspeers in Italy (75%), France (64%) and Germany (57%).

“Covid-19 has brought huge disruption to the global economy, with the aerospacesector being among the hardest hit,” explained Bjoern Klaas, Vice President and Managing Director of Protolabs Europe, the world’s fastest digital manufacturer of custom

“However, a crisis can act as a catalyst for further innovation, forcing organisations to seek alternative ways to survive in rapidly changing times. Our report shows that right now within aerospace, the ‘low space’ sector is demonstrating agility in its approach to innovation and there is a real appetite to see it work in the UK. “In fact the UKSA, the Government agency responsible for the UK’s civil space programme, just announced a new drive to fund spaceenabled technology to strengthenthe NHS response to Coronavirus. Drone technology can help meet challenges, such as delivering test kits, masks, gowns and goggles, in the management of infectious disease outbreaks.”

He continued: “Commercial drone deliveries are the most likely disruptor and this was reinforced across the duration of our study, which was carried out as the Covid-19 pandemic started to take grip. In just a few weeks, the appetite for this technology increased by 11% to 53%.

“Depending on legislation and advances in technology, it’s feasible that last mile delivery of products, through drones, could reach up to 30% of citizens across Europe. Furthermore, nearly a third of people feel that urban mobility will be a viable mode of transport in the next three years.”

Despite the positive outlook, there are a number of obstacles standing in the way of companies operating in low space.Cost of initial investment over return on investment (ROI) is seen as the biggest challenge by a third of respondents and

this is closely followed by technology integrations and issues caused by inflexible supply chains. Detailed testing programmes and product development cycles are the main barrier to innovation, whilst risk management and an inability to learn from failures could also stifle progress. More than a third of companies want investment in STEM education, improved international regulation/collaboration and increased Government support.

Disruptive Times The Protolabs “Horizon Shift’ report was completed during March and April and involved 325 leading aerospace professionals from France, Germany, Italy and the UK. Respondents work across senior management, R&D, engineering design, technology and supply chain management, providing one of the most comprehensive overviews of the sector recently completed. Disruption was a core theme throughout the survey, with 62% saying that disruptive technologies are making their companies more competitive. Advances in technology will also unlock the value migration to new business models, including faster charging of lithium-ion batteries (59%), Artificial Intelligence (59%) and battery storage (58%).

Bjoern concluded: “We are operating at a time when the unimaginable is fast becoming reality and the aerospace sector and supply chain has to keep pace with this change in attitude.

“There are real opportunities for suppliers to look at ways they can deliver parts that can be used in this transition, whilst exploring material applications that deliver the lightweight savings and optimum performance required.”

For further information and to download the initial findings, please visit www.protolabs.co.uk

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Covid-19 places Augmented Reality at the heart of the ‘new working normal’

Covid-19 will accelerate the business world’s move to Augmented Reality (AR) and other IoT solutions, as companies across the UK look to adapt to a ‘new working normal’.

Jim Heppelmann, CEO of industrial innovation technology specialist PTC, believes the way frontline workers have seamlessly adapted to the benefits of AR to continue to perform their roles during the pandemic has paved the way for greater adoption and a desire to tap into huge cost savings and greater productivity.

Whilst Zoom and Microsoft Teams have become a norm for office workers, physical specialists have embraced digital transformation to build ventilators, deliver crucial training to apprentices and solve production bottlenecks on automotive lines.

This has been achieved by allowing remote experts to see the physical world in video and annotate physical objects during the call, using a smart phone, tablet or wearable tech, such as Microsoft HoloLens glasses.

It enables them to capture every step of the process/ build/assembly and create an interactive step-by-step guide for other people to follow, whether that is in a factory thousands of miles away or in a sister company in a neighbouring city.

“Traditionally, this would involve engineers travelling to the factory, but suddenly Covid-19 meant that was not possible.

So, how do you facilitate collaboration between two frontline workers where one is a veteran technician who needs to explain a laboratory process to a new technician?

This used to involve mentoring or ‘job shadowing’, but social distancing makes that difficult,” explained Jim. “This is where the use of AR technology for collaboration and remote support of frontline workers has soared, enabling experts to be much more productive in helping to debug problems and resolve production issues remotely.”

He continued: “Covid-19 has meant industry has been

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forced to adapt quicker than it probably would have done under normal economic circumstances, but now they’ve had a taste of the operational and financial benefits it can deliver, I can see a major rise in adoption.

“This will be through knowledge exchange and it can also be through knowledge retention when AR can leverage and store the experience and expertise of an ageing workforce so it can be passed down to the next generation. I genuinely believe Augmented Reality will become the Zoom of the physical world.”

A good example of the power of Augmented Reality in work capture and exchange has been seen recently in the urgent production of ventilators for the NHS. Smiths Medical, a medical device manufacturer participating in the Ventilator Challenge UK, needed to ramp up production and tapped into the capabilities of PTC’s Vuforia Expert Capture and Microsoft HoloLens to capture the crucial assembly steps and processes

involved in building one of its Rapidly Manufactured Ventilator Systems (RMVS).

This was uploaded and edited to create a virtual assembly guide and relayed, through wearable equipment or smart devices, to the factories of consortium partners that haven’t made ventilators previously.

Protecting all the workers involved in the project was of paramount importance to the consortium and this is where AR proved ideal for removing a lot of the dangers, by virtually placing a ventilator expert into a partner factory – thus reducing the risk of the virus spreading.

Jim went on to add: “Whilst Augmented Reality has a lot to offer it has to be implemented carefully and companies need to consider three main things.

“Prioritisation in how AR can be used across your business and where will you gain the most operational and financial benefits…could it be sales and marketing, could it be on the

shopfloor or in the field.

“Secondly, make sure the solution is designed with a device type in mind to ensure a good user experience and this covers whether it is headmounted or hand-held. Don’t be swayed into going with the latest technology, make sure you choose the right application.”

He concluded: “And finally, AR is only as good as the quality of the content and the data that companies use.”

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PTC employs 163 people across its UK and Ireland operations and provides a host of technology solutions to help industrial companies create value for themselves and the rest of the world.

This is achieved through a combination of Augmented Reality, Industrial IoT, Process Lifecycle Management and CAD solutions.

For further information, please visit www.ptc.com or follow @ptc on twitter.

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Accumold to Take Part in the 2020 Virtual Medtech Summit

Typically a physical event held in Nurnberg in Germany, due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the event organisers this year have taken the important networking opportunity that the event represents, and placed it online.During the three days, exhibitors are able to inform about their innovations through presentations, with Aaron Johnson, VP of marketing and customer strategy at Accumold presenting a session entitled “The Enabling Benefits of Micro Molding on July 1st at 12.30 CET. A matchmaking tool that the event organisers have introduced will allow participants to connect with one another based on their mutual interests. Registration and participation for visitors to the virtual MedtecLIVE & MedTech Summit Congress is free of charge.

For over 30 years, Accumold has been pioneering the industrial application of micro molding across various industry sectors that require affordable, timely, and miniaturized parts and components, while at the same time catering for the inexorable demand for more complex geometries, the use of an array

of complex to process thermoplastics, and tighter and tighter tolerances.

interact at events, and we welcome the opportunity to exhibit.”

Accumold has partnered with countless medical OEMs across the world, and with each the company operates strategically to ensure that the product development process is as efficient as possible. With an over 30-year association with micro molding and micro manufacturing, Accumold is not only the most experienced micro molder in the world, but also the largest, which affords its customers the reassurance of working with a secure company that can provide efficiencies that lead to affordable pricing, and also one that has the capacity and infrastructure to ramp up to full mass volume manufacture.

ACCUMOLD believes that beyond the expertise and technology that the company has, its ability to be able to manufacture the most precise and complex micro molded parts and components is driven by its passion to succeed, its passion to innovate, and its passion to push the envelope when it comes to what is perceived attainable in micro molding.

Johnson comments, “We are delighted to be taking part in the MedtecLIVE event, and we congratulate the organisers on coming up with a virtual platform that allows us to reach out and talk to our customers.

While we have been innovativein the ways that we are interacting with our customers during lockdown, there is nothing like the ability to network and

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Much of the company’s success is due to the fact that it is truly vertically integrated, and this allows control over each step in the product development process from design to volume manufacturing and automated assembly. Especially important is the fact that Accumold is expert in design for micro molding (DfMM), which means that parts are produced “right first time”. This stimulates the timely and costeffective manufacture of often geometrically complex parts and components which in the medical sector are often used for safety critical applications.

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CKF Systems automate temperature controlled manual handling process at the Rick Bestwick Chesterfield facility

CKF Systems were recently commissioned to automate a process within the Rick Bestwick Chesterfield facility to reduce the manual handling requirements of their blast freezing process, increasing safety and also streamlining their processes.

Rick Bestwick, a leader in the temperature-controlled storage industry, receives palletised cases from customers in a chilled condition which require blast freezing for storage. To allow efficient blast freezing there has to be a suitable airflow through the entirety of the pallet, but on receipt the cases are palletised one on top of the other allowing no airflow between the layers. Operators were previously required to manually remove cases from the inbound pallets and place them onto a new pallet, inserting freezer spacers between each layer. This was an extremely time consuming, manual task, with cases frequently reaching weights of up to 25kg and the layer cards being large and unwieldy.Using an ABB IRB 660 robot and a series of vision systems, CKF developed a cutting-edge system that automatically detects the position of cases on the pallet in both the vertical and horizontal planes. A system was also developed to identify the position of the layer cards on

a pallet or within the storage to accurately and repeatedly position the robot suitably.

Using a single tool, the robot picks and places full and part layers of cases, slip sheets, egg shell freezer spacers, UK STD pallets and Euro pallets. Robbie Dawson, Sales and Marketing Manager at CKF said “This is the first time that a project of this nature has ever been installed in the UK, highlighting the extensive technical expertise we have at CKF and why we are the first choice for our customers looking for innovative solutions.”

The system initially receives a pallet, stripped of all pallet wrapping into the system. It then automatically detects the height of the pallet, position of cases and whether it is a full layer on the top of the pallet or part layer. The robot places an empty pallet in the palletising position, followed by a slip sheet directly onto the pallet. The robot then picks the complete layer from the pallet and places it onto the pallet, ensuring position and skew of the layer is corrected (in the case of a part layer, the robot will place these cases to one side temporarily).

Once the cases are placed onto the pallet, a freezer spacer is placed onto the cases and the operation repeated until the donor pallet has been fully moved across with freezer spacers between each layer.

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Any part layers will then be placed onto the top of the new pallet.

After the pallet has be through the blast freezer, the pallet is then de-palletised and repalletised so that the freezer cards are removed from pallet and the product is then placed on a wooden pallet and a slip sheet for storage and shipment.

This process is completed by the system in the same way as the freezer cards being added to the pallet. The system has been successfully in operation for over six months, Ryan Astle at Rick Bestwick commented “We were delighted with the palletising system that CKF Systems installed for us. Automating this part of our plant has simplified our processes and also increased safety for our workforce. This is the first step on our automation journey and we were really impressed with the training and support our team received from CKF which ensured that the whole implementation process ran really smoothly”. Not only does the new system streamline Rick Bestwick’s operations but the speed of the system saves their customers money by increasing the shelf life of their products. By minimising human intervention the system also reduces the risk of damaged goods whilst at the same time drastically reducing the likelihood of contamination.

FLIR Systems Launches FLIR Screen-EST Software to Improve Skin Temperature Screening for COVID-19

FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) today announced the FLIR Screen-ESTTM software for FLIR T-Series, Exx-Series, and A-Series thermal imaging cameras. The software provides automatic measurement tools that perform elevated skin temperature screenings of individuals in two seconds or less at entries, checkpoints, and other hightraffic areas while maintaining recommended social distancing guidelines.“Governments and businesses across the globe are hard at work developing new processes to ensure public health and safety from COVID-19, including the use of radiometric thermal imaging cameras as part of a comprehensive frontline screening program,” said Jim Cannon, President and CEO at FLIR. “Now with FLIR Screen-EST software, those organizations can increase the speed and accuracy of frontline screening when using FLIR’s thermal cameras.”

The FLIR Screen-EST Method FLIR Screen-EST software is designed to automatically take a

skin temperature measurement near the tear duct of each person, the surface area most closely correlated to core body temperature. When used with T-Series, Exx-Series, or A-Series cameras, the software enables screening of individuals to occur 50 percent faster than FLIR Systems’ existing on-camera screening mode, accelerating throughput. If the software detects a skin temperature that exceeds a threshold set above the baseline average, ScreenEST will notify the operator and display or sound an audible alarm on the subject’s viewing monitor. The individual then should be directed to a secondary medical screening*.

Honed through nearly two decades of experience designing and manufacturing thermal measurement solutions for skin temperature screening, Screen-EST automatically takes skin temperature samples at the screening location to determine an average skin temperature baseline. It then adds additional samples throughout the day.

This relative temperature

screening method helps account for regular body temperature fluctuations caused by natural biological and external environmental factors, thus reducing the amount of inaccurate readings that can impact absolute temperature alarm systems.

FLIR Screen-EST software is for Windows-based laptops and desktops. It offers a plugand-play connection for FLIR thermal imaging cameras and can be installed or removed within minutes. This provides additional flexibility for operators to easily move locations or to quickly detach the camera for other purposes, including facilities maintenance or machine inspection.

FLIR Screen-EST software for T-Series cameras is available for purchase globally today for £499.00 (excl. VAT) in English only on FLIR.com and through FLIR authorized distributors.

Screen-EST software for ExxSeries and A-Series will be available later this month. To learn more, please visit www.flir.com/screen-est.

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Airpes Spreader Beam for Wind Turbine Manufacturer

Airpes, a manufacturer of lifting, weighing and below-the-hook equipment, has shipped the first in a series of 75 metric ton (tonne) capacity custom, adjustable spreader beams to one of the largest companies that assembles wind turbines.

power is lost. The bale that rigs the beam to the hook can be shifted forward and aft, when unloaded, to adjust for new types of loads with different weight distributions. It was manufactured at Airpes’s main factory near Barcelona, Spain.

The beams are a new development of an old type that the customer bought from various suppliers. Airpes and the customer came together to address some safety and flexibility issues in order to arrive at the new design. Airpes has active sales with three of the top four wind turbine producers in the world.The beam weighs approx. 5 metric tons (tonnes) and measure approx. 33 ft.

(10m); it was designed with flexibility in mind and will be utilized beneath the hooks of various overhead cranes and mobile cranes, which range in capacity from 100 ton to 400 ton. The beam will primarily be used to lift almost-finished product in the final stages of a manufacturing and assembly process that spans the U.S., India, and Germany. It will also be capable of lifting repower turbines in the field.

Tad Dunville, general manager at Airpes Americas, said: “The beam is designed for safety and flexibility. It can work under most reasonably similar cranes of that capacity and has features that allow it to quickly be moved from crane to crane and also refocus on somewhat different loads. They are one of our best customers for safe working procedures; the factory is very clean and efficient, and they have an impressive safety crew. I love working with them because they realize that not just the load is important, but so are the people and the time.” Airpes delivered a complete turnkey solution that included rigging gear.

The device has a three-way adjustable balance mechanism that allows flexibility for different operating environments andalso to provide a safe back-up in case

Dunville continued: “Our customers expect us to deliver a whole package. That means the ancillary featuresare no longer ancillary. If they have to hunt around for five days to find a shackle that we regularly buy, it doesn’t add value. Same with logistics and product support; we are quickly signing up partners in a support network,

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because our customers want a solid base to operate from.”

Airpes has three principle lines of business, namely preengineered weighing and monitoring kits for overhead cranes, including load cells, overload protection, readouts, and data loggers; engineered lifting devices for wind turbine erection; and engineered below-the-hook devices, such as coil grabs, rotating blocks, and magnets (and lifting and spreader beams). As is the case with the majority of case studies, the latest order included product design, build and documentation.

Dunville said: “There are very few manufacturers out there that have built any diesel-hydraulic spreaders; we rarely do not have one under production. Beyond that, we offered the best price, a very robust design, flexibility to work with automation, and a vibrant support network. We were also willing to train a few local providers as dealers and repair centers and that made a big difference. Nobody wants to know how smart we are, they want to know how quickly we can support them.”

He added: “There always is [an alternative, less technological solution], but we don’t want to be the bottom feeder—ever. We all know who those guys are, and they’re constantly creating problems for owners with inexpensive components that have no support network.

That said, we always like to think through some value engineering solutions with our crane builder partners. In this instance we were once again able to save some serious money by re-thinking noncritical pieces.”

Reading Crane, Shaw Box, Buckner Heavylift Cranes and Barnhart Crane are among other companies that will interface with the adjustable beams. Buckner and Barnhart, both mobile crane and rigging firms, could utilize the product in the field, Airpes stated.

Training and Manufacturing Group launches technical courses for furloughed apprentices and employees “This got us thinking and, after detailed conversations with our technical partners and our member companies, we have developed a number of upskilling options they can use for apprentices and employees who are currently furloughed.”

Furloughed apprentices and employees are being given the opportunity to learn new skills thanks to a new package of support from the Training and Manufacturing Group (TMG).

The not-for-profit organisation is working with its technical partners to deliver a suite of world class technology courses to its members, which will help bridge the skills gap, increase R&D and help support the post Covid-19 recovery.

Industry experts Bauromat, Guhring, ETG, Hexagon MI and Ceratizit WNT and business specialists BDO, FBC Manby Bowdler and InComm Training have agreed to host the interactive sessions completely free of charge and will cover crucial topics ranging from automation, robot/CNC programming and cutting tools to arc/resistance welding, PLC programming and pneumatics.

They will initially be delivered through short webinars or oneto-one sessions at partner sites, adhering to social distancing rules at all times.

“As lockdown eases and businesses reopen, the TMG are keen to support the UK manufacturing sector through the recovery period ahead,” explained Cassie Grillo, Business Development Executive at the Training & Manufacturing Group.

She continued: “Getting the most out of automation, robotics and CNC machining can help to boost productivity and this will be crucial as firms look to recover and lay foundations for getting back on track.”

John D’Angelillo, Managing Director of Bauromat, is one of the driving forces behind the initiative: “A lot of companies, who have had to furlough staff, are looking at ways where they can boost their own business during a time when demand for services and products are not at their highest.

“The job retention scheme allows employees to train and upskill whilst being furloughed, so the TMG technical partners decided that it would be a good idea to give members a flavour of what you can do and how you can increase efficiencies by being more flexible with skills.

“The idea is to give a taste of other skill bases that could benefit their manufacturing processes, upskill their knowhow, or even allow them to consider the benefits of apprenticeships.

“It’s not to provide in-depth training as this can be done

through our training centres, but instead provoke conversation about training and guidance that can then be developed further.”

The Training and Manufacturing Group is a consortium of likeminded businesses bound together by a common vision to improve skills and productivity in the UK. It has varying levels of membership ensuring that the group is open to all, from small businesses just starting out, through to multi-national companies with multiple facilities across the world.

Our 150 members cover a wide range of engineering and manufacturing sectors from automotive and aerospace to oil and gas and nuclear, with the most recent additions, including Central Fabrications, Gleeson Recruitment, Met Recruitment, MyWorkwear and Select Hardware.

The free training is part of a range of benefits available through the TMG Membership.

For just £150 per year, companies can access benefits including grants and funding opportunities, a full free legal review, regular newsletters and support with apprenticeship recruitment.

To find out more about the Training and Manufacturing Group please visit www.in-comm-tmg.co.uk or follow @InCommTMG on twitter.

“With a reduction in productivity during the lockdown period and the subsequent financial impact many have experienced, there is a real opportunity to look at updating your processes or broadening the skills of your workforce.

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