Developments

5 Mpixel CMOS image sensor ideal for high-speed scanning and embedded vision solutions

Teledyne e2v, a Teledyne Technologies company and global innovator of imaging solutions, announces the expansion of its Snappy family of image sensors with a new 5 Megapixel device. The SnappyTM 5M is designed for barcode reading, 2D scanning and other demanding applications. Available in both monochrome and color, the Snappy 5M has a small 1/1.8 inch optical format, containing a 2.8 μm, low-noise, global shutter pixel, and arranged in a 2,560 x 1,936 array. The device can stream video at ~50 fps at 10 bits over a 4 wire, MIPI CSI-2 interface, and is housed in a small compact fan-out organic package. Snappy 5M is designed to enable fast, extended range scanning and includes powerful unique patented features and region of interest modes: • A Fast Self Exposure (FSE) mode automatically calculates the optimum integration time that is applied to the first image from the device. The mode is user programmable and provides continuous fast decoding, tolerating any kind of lighting or dynamic lighting environment. This is advantageous compared with conventional auto exposure methods, improving convergence speed and robustness. • A Smart ROI feature searches for barcodes in the image frame, and reports their locations as metadata in the image footer. The regions of the image containing barcodes are discerned from the background image to considerably reduce downstream image processing (FPGA/CPU/DSP) power, time and cost. Up to 16 different regions can be detected simultaneously. Other forms of repetitive signatures such as printed character strings can also be detected for document scanning and OCR applications. The Snappy family of sensors enable a number of applications including embedded industrial imaging systems, drones/UAVs, IoT edge devices, intelligent surveillance cameras and augmented reality/virtual reality. This latest 5 Megapixel device is a member of the expanding Snappy family of sensors. The sensors have identical software […]

Predicting the future of maintenance

In 1927, Thomas Parnell set up the pitch drop experiment, which examines the viscosity of a tar-like substance by the speed at which it flows from a funnel into a jar. The test has seen just eight drops fall in as many decades and, despite the experiment being displayed in the University of Queensland’s physics department, no one has ever seen a drop fall. Just like this test, the need for factory maintenance often goes unnoticed. Here Gernut van Laak, group automation solutions leader of ABB’s Food and Beverage Program, explains how plant managers can budget for maintenance and ensure optimum efficiency for all processes. Paper to glass In terms of research and development, food and beverage is a leading industry because of its use of new, innovative technology. However, when it comes to maintenance, many companies find themselves keeping paper records. While regulation and compliance requirements historically drove these companies to work with paper, advancements in digital tools mean this is no longer the case. Unfortunately, once paper-based systems are in place, they can be difficult to eradicate. Companies become stuck in their ways, which leads them to ignore the significant cost savings, efficiencies and competitive advantages electronic systems can provide. The most important driving force for a company’s success is its employees. Today’s maintenance engineers have the computing knowledge to make the switch to digital. Providing them with a familiar interface that quickly connects employees across the organization allows staff to work faster and smarter, increasing productivity. Electronic records also eliminate time-consuming and error-prone data entries that are necessary with paper-based systems. While staff are the most important factor of any company’s success, the biggest cost of manual maintenance comes from people. Human errors that occur during manual record-keeping can result in redundant actions, rework and audits. Electronic […]

World-first Konecranes automated RTG system takes Indonesian container terminal Pelindo 111 into the future

Konecranes Automated Rubber Tyre Gantry cranes as installed at Semarang with next-generation automation platform offering major customer efficiency and safety benefits. An innovative container handling terminal in Indonesia has extended the world’s first commercially operated fleet of Konecranes Automated Rubber Tyre Gantry (ARTG) cranes with nine new ARTGs, as it boosts the safety and efficiency of its steadily expanding operations. Terminal Peti Kemas Semarang (TPKS) in Semarang, Central Java, is the second-largest container terminal in the Pelindo III Group, and approximately 70% of its container traffic consists of international cargo. Pelindo III is an Indonesian State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) that manages 43 ports throughout 7 provinces in Indonesia in order to ensure a smooth flow of goods throughout the archipelago. “TPKS is constantly striving to improve our facilities to meet customer needs and boost our competitiveness. Konecranes is constantly innovating its products to meet container terminal needs, and by choosing them to provide new ARTG cranes, we have taken our operations to the next level of safety and efficiency,” says Mr Recky Julius Uruilal, General Manager, TPKS. “The new ARTG cranes minimize the risk of workplace accidents, which not only improves our workplace, but gives our customers greater confidence in us,” says Mr Recky. A fleet of 20 new ARTG cranes is now fully operational at TPKS – the first ARTG installation in the world to be operated on such a wide commercial scale. The ARTG cranes utilize a next-generation automation platform, including fully automated stacking in the yard, Remote Operating Stations (ROSs) for truck handling and the related container yard infrastructure. “As Pelindo III updates to the latest and most modern equipment in line with the needs of its customers, we know there will be lots of new knowledge to acquire. Konecranes’ neat and detailed documentation, plus their experienced and […]

Johnson Matthey and Lithium Werks sign long-term agreement

Johnson Matthey (JM), a global leader in science that makes the world cleaner and healthier, has entered into a long-term battery materials supply agreement with energy storage and battery company Lithium Werks. Under the agreement, which will start 1 April 2019 and run for five years, JM will supply its lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cathode material manufactured at its facility in Changzhou, China. The cathode material is a key component in battery cells produced by Lithium Werks, for a range of applications, including material handling, large motive, maritime and energy storage. Through incorporating JM’s advanced LFP technology into Lithium Werks’ batteries, both companies are excited to work together to support the growing demand from industry and consumers for higher performing energy storage technologies. Commenting on the agreement, Alan Nelson, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Executive of JM’s Battery Materials business said: “We are pleased to enter into this agreement with Lithium Werks to supply our LFP. We look forward to developing our relationship further as JM continues to execute its strategy of break out growth in battery materials.” Commenting on the agreement, T. Joseph Fisher III, Chief Executive Officer, Lithium Werks said: “Having a secure long-term supply of cathode material from a solid supplier such as Johnson Matthey will provide additional certainty to our customers, and enable the transition to clean and sustainable renewable energy.” About Johnson Matthey Johnson Matthey is a global leader in science that enables a cleaner and healthier world. With over 200 years of sustained commitment to innovation and technological breakthroughs, we improve the performance, function and safety of our customers’ products. Our science has a global impact in areas such as low emission transport, pharmaceuticals, chemical processing and making the most efficient use of the planet’s natural resources. Today more than 14,000 Johnson Matthey […]

Nikkiso Cryogenic Industries Group announces its consolidation

Cryogenic Industries, Inc. and Nikkiso Cryo, Inc., subsidiaries of Nikkiso Co., Ltd (Japan), announce their functional consolidation as “Nikkiso Cryogenic Industries Group” (the Group). Consisting of Nikkiso Cryo, Inc. (Las Vegas, NV) and Cryogenic Industries, Inc. (Temecula, CA) and its subsidiaries, ACD, LLC, Cosmodyne, LLC, and Cryoquip, LLC, the group will provide innovative equipment and solutions in liquid gases and beyond. The Group’s creation involves the strengthening and development of five functional units of the companies. The Cryogenic Pumps unit aligns ACD’s and Nikkiso Cryo’s lines of pumps. The Cryogenic Process Systems unit incorporates turbo expanders along with LNG and Air Separation plants. The Heat Exchanger Systems unit focuses on cryogenic vaporizers, LNG and industrial gas equipment. The Cryogenic Services unit provides service and support through a broad network of global facilities. A newly created Integrated Cryogenic Solutions unit will allow for centralised management of product and project development across channels and in multiple market segments. Through joint research and innovation, the Group will provide increased engineering and systems solutions for market development. “One key benefit of our new business approach is the capacity to expand our offerings and provide a comprehensive product line for clean energy such as LNG and hydrogen, in addition to our existing line of products for industrial gases. We’re calling this segment our ‘One Clean Energy Group,’” said Peter Wagner, President and CEO of Cryogenic Industries. “We are looking forward to working together with Nikkiso Cryo as Nikkiso Cryogenic Industries Group, with our shared experience, resources and commitment to quality. This will allow us to focus more closely on our customers’ needs, providing individual support, service and solutions.” The functional consolidation will provide the opportunity for a more expansive look at the customer’s product experience and extend the Group’s global reach across increased markets. The […]

tna appoints Matthew Walters to lead African operations

Food processing and packaging solutions provider tna has appointed Matthew Walters as branch manager to head up its African operations. Based in tna’s Johannesburg (South Africa) office, Matthew will be responsible to support food manufacturers across the African continent with tna’s portfolio of cutting-edge equipment, such as fryers, conveyors, seasoning equipment, VFFS packaging systems and end of line solutions. At the same time, Matthew will be tasked with driving the sales of tna’s confectionery processing solutions, including its range of kitchens, starch moulding and finishing equipment, while helping to further develop tna’s local service and support team. With a degree in mechanical engineering, Matthew started his career at one of South Africa’s leading FMCG companies, where he was responsible for the successful implementation of a number of high profile projects. His experience in managing projects from start to finish, from strategy development and stakeholder engagement all the way through to installation and commissioning, will be instrumental in supporting tna’s customers with the advanced food processing and packaging technology they need to make the most out of South Africa’s flourishing snacks and confectionery sectors.

CP Kelco announces investment in pectin capacity increase

CP Kelco, a leading global producer of specialty hydrocolloid solutions, announced today it will invest to increase its pectin production capacity at its Limeira, Brazil facility by 10%. This investment will enhance market supply by the end of 2019. “All around the world our customers are creating innovative beverages that require nature-based ingredients. In Asia, for example, we see robust growth in drinking yogurts and low pH protein drinks, in which pectin is an essential ingredient for creating high-quality products,” said Jérôme Béra, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing. “As these markets expand, we are committed to continuing our investments and already have other projects planned to add capacity as needed and in a timely manner to support our customers’ growth aspirations.” As the pectin market grows, industry leader CP Kelco continues to make strides in meeting the demand for nature-based functional ingredients. GENU® Pectin is a specialty ingredient made from citrus peel and used in a wide range of foods, beverages, personal care products and other consumer goods. CP Kelco’s GENU Pectin portfolio includes non-GMO, vegan, and organic compliant products. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, CP Kelco is a leading producer of specialty hydrocolloids with offices and facilities across the globe. Featuring an extensive range of hydrocolloid solutions and serving over 100 countries, CP Kelco leverages its capabilities to bring concepts and ideas to real-world products in a broad range of applications. The company’s specialty ingredients touch a wide variety of consumer and household products and industrial applications, tailored to meet the needs of regional consumers. Key product lines are Gellan Gum, Pectin, Xanthan Gum, Carrageenan, Diutan Gum, Carboxymethyl Cellulose, and Microparticulated Whey Protein Concentrate, as well as other unique biopolymers. Visit www.cpkelco.com for more information.

Lucidworks Hires Robert Lau as COO for Global Emerging Markets and APAC

Robert Lau is building Lucidworks’ presence and go-to-market strategy in Global Emerging Markets, including the Asia-Pacific region Lucidworks, leader in AI-powered search applications, has hired Robert Lau as Chief Operating Officer for Global Emerging Markets and APAC. Lau has over two decades of experience in engineering, marketing, sales, and operations in the software industry, most recently leading APAC operations at Splunk and Elastic. As Lucidworks begins to expand to the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, Lau and his team will be building new strategic partnerships, increasing brand awareness, and championing Lucidworks in these emerging markets. Lucidworks views the Asia-Pacific region as an important part of business expansion and development, with a growing need for digital commerce and digital workplace solutions to help organizations better understand and serve their customers and employees. In addition to Lau’s hire, the team has almost doubled in the past year in anticipation of this global growth. Operations have been established in Australia, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, Japan, Korea and Singapore, and the team is focused on building an effective partner ecosystem to best serve customers in these markets. In the second half of the year, Lucidworks will be expanding its presence in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region as well. “The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing a shift from web 2.0 to 3.0 with the proliferation of 5G networks led by regional operators creating a fresh need for intelligent enterprise solutions,” says Lau. “A majority of consumers are now choosing to shop online for their daily wants and needs, and they expect a highly personalised user experience. Lucidworks’ Fusion will provide great value to organizations that are capitalizing on this digital market. I’m honored to be a part of the Lucidworks executive team as we continue to share our commitment to innovation with our future partners […]

Reaping the benefits of smart manufacturing

Manufacturers can have many hundreds or even thousands of endpoints in their network, from laptops, PCs, and mobile devices to networked production-line machines spread throughout the facility. These connected systems deliver operational efficiencies and even competitive advantage to manufacturers. Smart manufacturing has helped manufacturers achieve productivity gains of 17 to 20 per cent and quality gains of 15 to 20 per cent. However, smart manufacturing also introduces cyber risks, which must be addressed in the most time-efficient, reliable way, according to ForeScout. Steve Hunter, senior director, Asia Pacific and Japan, ForeScout, said, “In the past, production-line machines were air-gapped; they didn’t have a network connection, so they were safe from cyberthreats. Now, with every machine and device connected to the corporate network and the internet to facilitate smart manufacturing, that safety buffer is removed. Therefore, it’s essential for manufacturers to know what devices are in their network, how vulnerable they are, and their compliance status. All endpoints, including Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, need to be secured.” In many industries, endpoint management is conducted using agents, with IT departments choosing a combination of agents to address their specific requirements. However, the use of agents can create performance issues in manufacturing operations, meaning an agent-based approach is not well-suited to manufacturers. When networked operational or production-line devices are scanned, it can impair performance, reboot the device, or even crash it entirely. This causes expensive downtime. These devices are often vulnerable because they’re older, rarely patched, and less protected against threats. Even new IoT devices can become exploited, because they’re generally not designed with security top of mind. These new IoT devices are often deployed without configuring the few security settings available to them, such as leaving default credentials in place. This lets malicious actors use the unsecured IoT device to access […]

A year to bring about positive change

There are two crucial areas business needs to address this year. You know what these are: Climate Change and Productivity. Sceptics say that Climate Change doesn’t exist. They either don’t know any better or they may be right. But for the good of us all we still need to look at current business practices and determine what changes can be made to address the situation. What are we emitting into the atmosphere? What source of energy do we use that may be causing an environmental problem and what can be done to rectify the situation? What is our individual role in climate change? When we hear that ice are melting, water levels rising and temperatures increasing then we do indeed have a problem. Productivity is harder to measure because there are a lot of people in society who contribute a lot without the financial reward. Their efforts are not on payrolls or widely known about. There are reasons for this of course: homemakers don’t have the same esteem as a bank manager, nor the salary that goes with just as much (if not more) hard work. Productivity and a living wage or a fair wage, not just a scrapping by wage is a difficult subject. Companies don’t want to raise wages and salaries unless they really need to. They want to make a profit for shareholders and no more was this apparent than at the recent Davos gathering. Someone owns the oil and someone else owns the property and the workers gather around for a share of the crumbs. Productivity keeps the wheels turning, to making the goods for market and positioning our country as an export earner on the world stage. The highest percentage of what we manufacturer comes from the land. Not that what we make in […]

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Developments