Parker Hannifin, the global leader in motion and control technologies, launches the PE06M proportional pressure reducing valve series, expanding its portfolio of advanced hydraulic control technologies for general industrial and mobile hydraulic systems. The PE06M series is engineered for applications requiring efficient performance, accurate pressure reduction and consistent operation across demanding working conditions.

The PE06M is a direct-operated proportional pressure reducing valve featuring a spool valve design that supports precise control of reduced pressure with short response times and excellent pressure stability. Its low hysteresis, small leakage rate and very low minimum pressure setting help improve controllability in systems where smooth, repeatable pressure regulation is essential.

Designed for subplate mounting according to ISO 6264, the PE06M is available in an NG06/CETOP 03 configuration with pressure-controlled Port A (function in B is available). The valve supports flow rates up to 40 l/min at a pressure drop of 10 bar, with a pressure-dependent flow rate of approximately 30 l/min. Key performance specifications include leakage below 25 cc at 200 bar, a maximum inlet pressure of 350 bar and control pressure up to approximately 170 bar.

The PE06M series is available with a range of coil and connector configurations to support integration across different machine architectures. Options include JJJ Deutsch 24 V coils with protective diode and IP69K rating, rated at 1.29A, 18.6 ± 1 Ohm and 31 W. Additional configurations include DIN 12 V and 24 V, AMP 12 V and 24 V, other 12 V options, and Deutsch versions with or without diode and corrosion protection. Optional surface protection is available to support use in challenging environments.

With the PE06M proportional pressure reducing valve series, Parker provides machine builders and hydraulic system designers with a precise, efficient and configurable solution for reduced-pressure control in industrial and mobile applications. In industrial hydraulics, the PE06 supports accurate force control and force limitation on cylinders, precise torque limitation on hydraulic motors, and the reliable supply of secondary pressure systems. Its fast response to changing flow demands helps improve system performance, efficiency, and controllability in dynamic hydraulic applications.

“The PE06 is a highly versatile solution for a wide range of hydraulic applications, from precise force and torque control in industrial machinery to demanding braking systems in forestry and mining equipment,” says Frank Henschke, responsible Product Manager. “Its linear response behavior, low hysteresis, and low leakage make it especially suitable for hydraulic brake systems where reliable pressure control, reduced energy losses, and optimized accumulator sizing are essential.”

For detailed technical data, configuration options, and local availability, please visit: https://ph.parker.com/gb/en/product-list/direct-operated-proportional-pressure-reducing-valve-series-pe06m-w

Hart Doors, the oldest British manufacturer of industrial high-speed doors and shutters, has invested in a new mobile installation facility.

Chairman Douglas Hart explains: “The focus on the British Isles has been Hart’s very rewarding market but with increasing sales from the north of Scotland to the south of England means a much sharper delivery/installation over a greater geographical area is required. The new facility is outstanding.

“Based in Newcastle UK, we are the most established British manufacturer of high-speed doors and shutters. Founded in 1946, we bring generations of engineering experience and pioneering product expertise to customers worldwide.

“Our innovative products, problem-solving approach and practical experience help companies contain noise, odour and environmental contaminants.

“This spirit of innovation is embedded into our continually evolving product range of Speedor high-speed doors, fire shutters, Terror Screen security rated shutters and specialist doors such as ATEX compliant high-speed doors and shutters,” says Mr Hart.

The installation unit is now operational much to the satisfaction of clients and the installation teams.

www.hartdoors.com

Often, when critical equipment fails on the plant or shop floor, that usually means one thing, production is halted. It becomes a sprint to fix the machine and get it back up and running before the losses begin accumulating. This is where reliability is usually built into the equipment through understanding and predicting failures, so there isn’t a loss of production. However, oil which is seen as a consumable is the easiest player to blame during these high tensions and if someone was not monitoring the health of that oil, the blame is absorbed.

Some basic field tests

While out in the field, it may be difficult to get an oil sample, wait for it to be processed by the lab and then act on the results. There are a few basic tests that can be done in the field to get quick results.

Presence of water – Water in your oil is not a good thing, it can lead to degradation of the oil, an increase in viscosity, rusting of your components and leeching of the additives in the oil. If you are in the field (and you have cleared this with your safety department), you can place some of the oil from the machine into a metal spoon, heat that spoon with the oil in it and listen carefully for the sound of popping. The pops or crackles would indicate that there is a significant amount of water present in your oil. You can also look for an emulsified (or milky looking) mixture or the water actually separating out from the oil. In all of these cases, there is water in your oil in varying degrees which should be removed.

Presence of fuel – Especially for diesel engines, it is important to know if there is fuel dilution in your oil. If the levels are high, then this can decrease the viscosity of the oil 

causing wear on the inside of your engine. Simply use coffee filter paper and drop some oil on it and allow it to dry. When observing it, look for a fuel ring towards the end of the spot as it has spread. This means that there is fuel present in your oil.

Presence of metal (wear) – While this cannot confirm which of the metals are present in your oil, it can give you an indication that there is significant wear occurring in your component (more than likely engine). Collect a sample and place a magnet near to the sample. If you see metal start to attach to the magnet, then some wear is occurring inside your oil.

While those are some basic field tests, there are also monthly lab tests which can provide more information on the oil.

Basic lab tests

While the in-field tests may be convenient, we need actual numbers to trend the progress of degradation or ingress / decrease of contamination or wear. Some of these tests include Viscosity, TAN /TBN, Presence of water (Karl Fischer), Presence of wear metals and contaminants (Spectroscopy), and the presence of fuel (fuel dilution).

In essence to determine which is failing, first examine if you are monitoring your oil and its patterns of behaviour and preventing contamination before it enters the machine. Then you can decide if the oil is no longer protecting the equipment, causing the equipment to fail. We will cover these and much more at the Mainstream conference in the UK in October, 2026. 

Sanya Mathura

CEO & Founder, Strategic Reliability Solutions Ltd    

EXAIR has unveiled a redesigned website that delivers a more streamlined experience for engineers, maintenance professionals, and manufacturers searching for compressed air solutions. Featuring a modern look that reflects EXAIR's updated brand identity, the new website makes it easier than ever to explore products, learn about applications, and find the right solution for virtually any industrial challenge. Built with performance and usability in mind, the site offers faster page loads, improved navigation, and a cleaner interface.

            The redesigned website introduces several customer-focused enhancements that simplify the buying process from research to checkout. A streamlined shopping experience reduces the number of steps required to purchase products, allowing customers to move from product selection to checkout more quickly than ever before. Visitors can also browse new industry-specific pages featuring relevant product recommendations, application examples, and educational resources, making it easier for users to discover solutions designed specifically for their manufacturing environment. The site also offers ample opportunities to connect with EXAIR through catalog requests, newsletter signups, or speaking directly with Application Engineers to get answers for case-by-case manufacturing dilemmas.

            EXAIR.com reinforces EXAIR's commitment to providing customers with the tools and resources needed to solve industrial challenges efficiently. In addition, visitors have access to the application database, videos, CAD models, blogs, an extensive Knowledge Base, and direct support from EXAIR's Application Engineers. Combined with enhanced site performance and an improved user experience, the redesigned website makes finding, selecting, and purchasing EXAIR solutions easier than ever. https://exair.co/190-newsite

Digitalisation is rapidly transforming hazardous industries. From maintenance and inspection to asset management and remote collaboration, field workers increasingly depend on mobile technology. Atexxo Manufacturing now brings Samsung’s latest rugged tablet technology into explosive atmospheres with ATEX-certified versions of the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active5 and Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro.

The compact Samsung Galaxy Tab Active5 ATEX is designed for use in gas Zone 1 and dust Zone 21 environments. Atexxo converts the original Samsung tablet using a modified aluminium enclosure and protected electrical circuitry, while retaining the functionality required by modern field workers. The device is certified as II 2G Ex db IIC T6 Gb and II 2D Ex tb IIIC T85°C Db under ATEX, with corresponding IECEx certification.

Its 8-inch, 120Hz display offers excellent visibility, while 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, Samsung Knox and physical SIM or eSIM connectivity support connected-worker applications. The tablet is available in Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi-plus-5G configurations, with 128GB or 256GB storage options.

For applications requiring a larger workspace, Atexxo offers the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro ATEX for gas Zone 2 and dust Zone 22. Its 10.1-inch display provides additional space for technical drawings, digital work instructions, inspection forms and industrial software. The Atexxo version carries the markings II 3G Ex ec ic IIC T4 Gc and II 3D Ex tc IIIB T85°C Dc.

The Tab Active5 Pro combines 5G connectivity with a powerful processor, Samsung Knox security, glove-compatible operation and reinforced tether points. The original Samsung platform also offers a 120Hz display, up to 600-nit brightness and expandable storage, making it suitable for demanding industrial workflows.

Together, the two tablets provide organisations with a choice between a highly portable Zone 1/21 solution and a larger Zone 2/22 productivity platform. Applications include petrochemical facilities, offshore installations, hazardous-goods storage, maintenance, digital inspections, connected-worker systems and safe industrial photography.

With these new products, Atexxo enables companies to introduce modern Samsung mobile technology into hazardous locations without compromising explosion safety.

For more information, visit www.atexxo.com

First industrial deployments of AI safety agent achieve a perfect recommendation capture rate across real production environments, as Ultimo expands AI offering across maintenance, safety, and operations

Ultimo today released results from the first commercial deployments of its health, safety & environment (HSE) digital worker, an AI agent built for industrial safety teams. Across a controlled trial group of manufacturing businesses, the agent did not miss a single recommended safety action - a result that matters in a sector where the International Labour Organization estimates¹ nearly three million workers die from work-related accidents and diseases every year, and a further 395 million sustain non-fatal injuries.

The HSE digital worker continuously monitors work orders and shift logs. It surfaces recommended safety actions before they become incidents, handles compliance reporting automatically, and flags conditions that warrant attention from safety teams - without replacing the professionals who act on them. Every recommendation is audit-logged. The human makes the final call. The agent can be purchased and operated independently of the Ultimo EAM platform, giving industrial organizations a direct route to benefit from AI-assisted safety management across every site in their organization.

Agristo, a major European potato processor, was among the first to deploy the digital worker in production. "Ultimo's AI suggests our HSE actions. Reliable, smart, and to date not a single measure has missed the mark," said Piet Gabriël, Group Maintenance Engineer at Agristo.

The pattern held across the trial group. AI-generated safety recommendations were acted on, compliance workflows that previously required manual review were automated, and safety teams redirected time toward analysis and prevention rather than administration.

"Industrial safety teams are being asked to track more hazards, across more assets, with the same headcount,” added Steven Elsham, CEO of Ultimo. "The regulatory environment is tightening, and the consequences of a missed action are severe. In hazardous industrial environments, that pressure falls on skilled people who should be focused on the complex, high-stakes decisions that only they can make - not on routine monitoring and compliance administration. What we have built handles that load automatically, so the humans who work in these environments can direct their expertise where it counts. These early results validate the approach, and we are moving quickly to put it in the hands of more customers."

The HSE digital worker is part of a broader suite from Ultimo covering maintenance planning, technician guidance, and natural-language reporting. Each agent can be deployed independently or alongside the Ultimo EAM platform. These agents don't stand still - the HSE digital worker learns continuously from every work order, shift log, and safety action it handles, growing sharper and more capable over time. It is the first of an expanding line-up of Ultimo digital workers, with more scheduled to join across maintenance, operations, and safety through 2026 and beyond. Details will be announced at www.ultimo.com.

Ultimo is a 2025 Gartner Customers' Choice award winner (4.7/5, 90 percent recommend) and a Verdantix Green Quadrant Leader for EAM software for two consecutive years. The company supports more than 150,000 technicians managing over 22 million assets across 2,500-plus customers in manufacturing, logistics, energy & utilities, and healthcare worldwide.

Winner of the 2026 Machinery Lubrication Industry Leader of the Year - Influential Businesswoman Awards (Issued by Acquisition International)!

Winner of the 2024 Engineer of the Year (Issued by Empowering Pumps & Equipment)!

Women and men in STEM often face challenges unrelated to their technical work but rather to the approach behind completing tasks and presenting to peers. The STEM fields have developed a reputation for being cold, focused on hard numbers and facts, while overlooking the human element—that real people with lives and feelings are behind the data and discoveries. This book addresses the human complexity in STEM environments, where practical situations are overshadowed by societal and cultural norms that particularly affect how women are perceived in these predominantly male-populated fields.

Empowering Women in STEM: Building a Culture of Resilience offers practical strategies and real-world success stories from women who have navigated the complex landscape of STEM careers. Each chapter presents common challenges—from being interrupted in meetings to having ideas attributed to male colleagues—followed by actionable techniques that have worked for others. The book includes interview excerpts from women leaders in various STEM disciplines, exercises to build resilience and communication skills, and frameworks for addressing bias in professional settings. Additionally, it provides guidance for creating supportive networks and mentorship relationships that sustain long-term career growth.

Serving as an essential resource for women at all stages of their STEM careers, this book offers practical guidance for overcoming gender-based obstacles while maintaining their passion for their work. It's equally valuable for male colleagues who want to become effective allies and advocates, helping to create more inclusive work environments. Department heads, team leaders, and HR professionals will find concrete steps to implement structural changes that support diversity and retention. Ultimately, this book is for anyone committed to building a more resilient future in STEM—one where diverse perspectives drive innovation and everyone can contribute their best work.

The new book by Sanya Mathura will be available on the 30th of September 2026