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Cutting-edge engineering coming to Farnborough

Advanced technology from across the mechanical engineering and electronic spectrum in approximately equal measure awaits visitors at the next Southern Manufacturing & Electronics trade fair, taking place from 4th to 6th February 2025 at the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre. The event is widely regarded as the largest and most comprehensive annual industrial exposition in the UK, and a major global showcase for engineering and manufacturing.

This longstanding annual gathering features more than 500 global exhibitors. Focused on ground-breaking engineering, sustainability and technology of the future, it offers the opportunity to network with pioneering problem solvers from all fields of manufacturing. The new owner of the show, Easyfairs, says that a particularly high level of interest in the run-up to the event from companies not just in Britain and Ireland but also from overseas indicates that the exhibition will be a sell-out.

Southern Manufacturing and Electronics seamlessly hosts large and small companies alike thanks to the organiser's policy of open access. Famous for its vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere, it promises to foster collaboration, networking and discovery. There will be educative seminars delivered by the best thought leaders and experts from industry, adding thoughtful debate and learning alongside time on the show floor.

On display will be workshop equipment, dust and fume extraction, humidity control, workplace storage, bespoke case and foam manufacture, plastic packaging, labelling equipment, hand tools, adhesives, industrial flooring, waste removal and recycling, freight forwarding services, and financial and business consultancy. Workflow planning systems, engineering and business software, and materials and consumables will be in evidence alongside suppliers of plastic injection and rubber mouldings, controls, displays, HMIs, data acquisition systems, sensors, drives, encoders, fasteners, pressings, wire forms, springs and gaskets.

Visitors will build meaningful connections with industry leaders, innovators and peers, engage in exclusive networking sessions designed to nurture collaboration, exchange ideas, create long-term partnerships and share best practice across three days.

Some useful functional changes will be added to the show experience. Visitors will receive a new smart badge with which they can simply touch an EasyGo badge reader on each stand they call on and the relevant information will be emailed to them the following morning. It saves having to carry heavy brochures around all day. Likewise, without any effort, the exhibitor will have a record of who has shown interest. New also will be a dedicated app, Southern Connect, for matchmaking with other relevant visitors.

Visitors will be able to take advantage of an extensive programme of free-to-attend technical seminars covering a wide range of topics to give people valuable learning opportunities, with a particular focus on the technical, managerial and environmental issues facing manufacturers today. All sessions will be CPD-approved to ensure they meet specific quality standards.

Southern Manufacturing & Electronics co-locates with AutoAero, a specialist thread that runs through the main programme concentrating on matters important to automotive and aerospace engineering. Both sectors directly contribute billions of pounds to the UK's GDP, while supporting numerous industries and businesses in the supply chains and providing much needed employment for highly skilled engineers.

There is free car parking at the Farnborough site, which is well served by road and public transport links. A regular, complimentary bus service runs between the two local railway stations and the showground. Admission to the exhibition is also free. Register today at: https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/00mf6xsmh61zw?actioncode=1033

Why vibration analysis is so important in Condition Based Maintenance

It is now generally accepted that to avoid costly breakdowns, Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) is a far superior approach to Planned Periodic Maintenance (PPM). Not only is PPM needlessly costly, due to the time wasted stripping down perfectly functioning machinery, it can sometimes make matters worse by introducing faults during the process of stripping down and rebuilding a perfectly healthy machine. Even more of a problem is deciding the correct PPM time intervals. Too short, means more wasted time and cost (and more potential for introducing faults) but too long means more unexpected breakdowns.

CBM, using tools such as vibration analysis, thermal imaging and oil analysis, is nowadays clearly recognised as the way to run an efficient and effective maintenance program. But why is vibration analysis so important and what does it tell us about machine condition? Put simply, it all boils down to two measurements. One is the average (RMS) value of the low frequency vibration that tells us how well the machine is running. The other is the average value of the high frequency vibration that tells us something about the condition of the bearings.

The low frequency vibration is the typical “hum” you hear from a rotating machine due to the centrifugal force resulting from any out-of-balance in the machine. Since it is virtually impossible to exactly align a machine’s centre of gravity with its centre of rotation, even a well-balanced machine will still vibrate. But what is an acceptable level? This is where the International Standards Organisation (ISO) comes to our aid. ISO produces a set of guidelines that define acceptable levels of machine vibration in the frequency range 2Hz to 1kHz (120 RPM to 60,000 RPM), the frequency range covering the vast majority of machine running speeds normally encountered.

The high frequency vibration is the typical “whine” you hear from a badly worn bearing. In practice, it is there all the time but is inaudible until the bearing becomes so bad it is probably about to fail. Fortunately, a vibration analyser can detect the inaudible bearing noise well before it gets to that point. This means bearing wear can then be displayed, for example, in Bearing Damage Units (BDU) that very roughly can be thought of as a “percentage” of bearing wear.

Modern, easily affordable vibration analysers can capture vibration from a machine and automatically generate the ISO reading and the bearing condition. It is largely this ability that distinguishes them from simple vibration meters.

Test Products International manufactures a complete range of low-cost, high-performance vibration analysers from the £575, one-button-to-press TPI 9070, to devices that include advanced diagnostics and machine balancing. The TPI 9070 features colour coded alarm levels and zoomable on-screen vibration frequency plots together with on-meter detection of machine faults such as unbalance, misalignment, looseness and bearing wear.

The TPI 9085 from £1,995 simultaneously captures vibration data and bearing temperatures and comes complete with license-free PC based trending software that includes automatic report generation and email notification of alarms, implementing a full CBM solution. The TPI 9085 can store lists (routes) of machines (up to 1000), each with up to 10 measurement points, all with full vibration waveform and frequency spectrum (FFT) capture.

Routes and readings can be transferred to and from the TPI 9085 via the included USB docking cradle, wirelessly via Bluetooth or remotely via a Bluetooth link with a smart phone or tablet PC running the free TPI Bridge App. This allows service personnel to receive and return routes and readings, no matter where they are in the world.  

For more information please contact TPI Europe’s head office on +44 1293 530196 or take a look on the website at www.tpieurope.com or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Hot Isostatic Pressing, Heat Treatments and Hard Coatings – Stand E290, Southern Manufacturing

At Southern Manufacturing 2025, Wallwork Group, is highlighting the rapid growth of their hot isostatic pressing facility. With an initial investment of over £10 million, the 2500 square metres facility opened at the end of 2023 and became fully operational just in time for last year’s Southern Manufacturing.

To keep pace with demand, the equipment for an additional Quintus Technologies HIP is now arriving at the Wallwork HIP Centre. Following, installation, testing, commissioning and certification processes, this new HIP capacity will be available in the second half of 2025. “While we knew there was great demand for more HIP capacity in the UK, companies across Europe and beyond are also finding our service competitive and compelling,” explained Wallwork HIP Business Manager, David Loughlin.

Suitable for metal additively manufactured, power-metallurgy and cast parts, the EN9100 approved HIP service is provided stand-alone or can be combined with the Wallwork Group’s vast array of heat treatment services. All easily accessible from facilities in Cambridge, Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle, via the their own secure and dedicated commercial transport fleet.

The stand team will also be keen to discuss with visitors other services including PVD and PVECD coatings, plasma nitriding, vacuum carburising, and vacuum brazing. Wallwork maintains in-house, well-equipped, UKAS certified, mechanical testing labs. Their research and development teams work closely with manufacturers creating unique surface treatments in aerospace, automotive, motorsport, medical, oil and gas and other precision industries.

With Nadcap accreditations (the company recently achieved Gold for their Manchester site) and multiple aerospace prime accreditations, customers really appreciate the full end-to-end experience that Wallwork delivers. This is only possible with so many services accessible from one supplier. As a one hundred percent UK owned company, ITAR compliance is also an important consideration for some manufacturers.

Visit Wallwork stand E290 at Southern Manufacturing. Register: https://www.southern-manufacturing-electronics.com/en/ 

www.wallworkht.co.uk

 

Fluke Survey Reveals How Data is Powering the Future for Solar Energy Innovation and Growth

OEMs, technicians, and installers are optimistic about solar's future, many believe the industry is hindered by gaps in data and understanding smart technology

 

Summary:

  • 63% predict that solar will lead their country’s energy transition.
  • 91% are concerned about solar panel efficiency, and 39% cite inverter failures as a common issue.
  • Nearly a third use reactive maintenance, while over half prioritize adopting predictive maintenance.
  • 59% stressed the need to train technicians in advanced diagnostic tools to address evolving challenges.
  • 45% view AI integration in solar panel design, optimization, and maintenance as a key opportunity.

Fluke Corporation, a leading provider of safe, rugged, and reliable industrial tools and integrated software, has released new survey findings highlighting key challenges for the solar industry on its path to a net-zero future. The survey identifies improving panel efficiency, transitioning from reactive to predictive maintenance, and adopting smart technologies as top priorities. Crucially, data emerges as the driving force behind innovation and operational efficiency, offering solutions to these pressing challenges.

The survey, conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Fluke, engaged over 400 solar OEMs, technicians, and installers across the UK, Germany, Spain, and the USA to gain insights into their perspectives on the pressing challenges facing the solar industry. The survey results also highlighted their attitudes toward emerging trends and their expectations for how the future of solar energy is likely to evolve in the coming years.

The research revealed that nearly two-thirds of respondents (63%) believe solar will become the dominant energy source in their country. However, it also highlighted significant challenges that must be addressed to turn this optimistic vision into reality and pave the way for a solar-powered future.

“The adoption of smart technologies is going to be critical for companies to gain a strategic edge,” says Vineet Thuvara, Chief Product Officer, Fluke. “Businesses are increasingly keen to automate their maintenance operations, with approaches like condition monitoring and predictive maintenance, and those that don’t utilize new AI enabled technologies - and their capabilities for collecting more data and gaining more knowledge - will be left behind.”

One of the challenges that emerged in the survey’s findings is the need to rapidly shift from reactive maintenance to a more proactive approach. With 91% of those surveyed reporting concerns about the efficiency of the current generation of solar modules and 39% of respondents identifying inverter failures as a common issue, it’s clear an effective maintenance strategy is a necessity. Nearly a third of all respondents described their current maintenance strategy as reactive, while more than half indicated that implementing predictive maintenance was a key priority.

Thuvara continued, “The next step, and the real opportunity to overcome the challenges facing the future of the solar industry, lies in the use of smart tools to analyze this data, and benchmark new data against historical data to detect issues before they risk causing failures. This is where using advanced diagnostic tools, and training technicians on how to use them will help maximize solar panel and maintenance efficiency.”

The skills shortage emerged as a significant concern, especially as data tracking through smart technologies becomes more integral to the solar industry's future. A notable 59% of respondents emphasized the importance of training technicians to effectively use advanced diagnostic tools to meet evolving challenges. Additionally, 53% highlighted the need for more focused training in electrical troubleshooting and diagnostics, underscoring the urgent need to equip the workforce with the skills to navigate the industry's technological shift.

In a positive sign, nearly all respondents are taking proactive steps to improve system efficiency through diverse strategies, including investments in module optimization software and collaborations with research institutions. Notably, 45% of respondents see the integration of AI in solar panel design, optimization, and maintenance as a promising opportunity for advancement. Additionally, 36% are eager to adopt AI-powered diagnostics to enhance maintenance efficiency. However, challenges remain: 28.7% are still relying on a reactive maintenance approach, with over 52% depending on external services rather than in-house maintenance teams.

More than half of those surveyed also identified supply chain resilience as a major concern for installers, with macro-economic and geo-political trends continuing to create uncertainty. Fluke’s Will White, Solar Application Specialist, explains: “Organisations are continuing to search for solutions to tackle persistent supply chain issues, aiming to find the sweet spot between adaptability, transparency, affordability, and accessibility. It’s positive to see that the industry remains confident in finding this sweet spot to enable solar to be the dominant renewable energy source in the future.”

www.fluke.com

 

Visualising the pathway to better papermaking efficiency and control

Industrial Video Solutions Inc (IVS), a US-based specialist in automation for the papermaking industry, is leveraging FLIR infrared (IR) thermal cameras to obtain valuable data from paper machines as part of a patented system that boosts machine control and efficiency. Recent developments in thermal signature analytics have expanded the applications of thermal cameras beyond routine troubleshooting; they now contribute to paper machine control, energy usage benchmarking, wet streak detection, and the identification and prediction of certain classes of sheet breaks.

Moisture and temperature directly affect both paper properties and machine runnability - making the measurement of these parameters essential to the papermaking process. However, despite the presence of visual spectrum cameras in several machine locations, some aspects of the papermaking process remain invisible to operators. This problem is attributable to factors such as steamy operating environments, visual camera limitations, and a lack of tools that convert camera images into actionable data.

The solution arrives in the shape of ThermoVision, an IVS-patented system featuring FLIR IR cameras at its core. With its FLIR cameras, ThermoVision sees real-time moisture profiles in any paper machine location, mapping them to a multi-functional thermal profiler. The system can provide real-time, full-width, cross-direction (CD) moisture and temperature profiles, as well as real-time machine direction (MD) profile variations. Moreover, profile analytics provide insights into dewatering and drying efficiency - critical for energy benchmarking.

ThermoVision facilitates the real-time detection and classification of wet streaks and spots, as well as the real-time detection of embedded foreign materials, such as metals in fluff pulp. A key capability of the system is its ability to provide visibility in steamy machine locations. Using a FLIR IR camera to capture an image of a pulper vortex, for example, allows users to see through steam and visualise the vortex in full detail, including the position of the chain and vortex edges. This ability is indispensable for monitoring locations within the machine like trim squirts and dryers.

While it only requires a single FLIR IR camera to execute all ThermoVision analyses, multi-camera systems are more effective for complete process troubleshooting, optimisation, and improvement. It is even possible to feed data from a combination of IR and visual spectrum cameras to an artificial intelligence (AI) module. This neural network learns the relationship between the forces exerted on the paper, paper vulnerabilities, and process upsets - such as sheet breaks - with the goal of predicting runnability issues.

Seven-figure savings

“Armed with new data for maximising paper machine performance, we estimate substantial savings for ThermoVision users,” says Slawek Frackowiak, President and CEO of IVS. “For example, reductions in energy consumption and paper breaks, alongside increases in productivity, can lead to annual savings in the region of $1.3 million on a 300,000-ton liner-board machine.”

He continues: “We came across the potential for this technology by chance. We had already patented our ProcessVision technology, which extracts pixels from an image to effectively turn an area-scan camera into a linear camera, when a potential application provided us with a new idea.”

On papermaking machines, excessive moisture often leads to sheet breaks - a major runnability issue. IVS was invited to quote for a project in Poland that sought to use IR cameras instead of a traditional sheet break system.

“I had no idea why, so I started investigating,” says Mr Frackowiak. “I discovered that while a few competitors had started using IR cameras for displaying video, they were not doing anything with that output. In a papermaking machine, temperature is inversely proportional to moisture, so we set about developing a new system – ThermoVision - which combines the concept of our existing ProcessVision with FLIR thermal cameras.”

This idea has led to the award of multiple patents pertaining to thermal vision - in particular, temperature being inversely proportional to moisture in the papermaking process.

“Of course, anyone can mentally make that conversion, but a system based on that concept is our patent. I was surprised no one else had thought of it. We’ve also patented specific outputs from the technology, such as predicting sheet breaks and runnability issues.”

The FLIR solution

Depending on the application, IVS uses either FLIR A50/A500 or A70/A700 FLIR IR thermal cameras.

“With their higher resolution, we tend use FLIR A70/A700 models for papermaking machinery applications,” reveals Mr Frackowiak. “However, ThermoVision can also benefit machines that produce corrugated paper for packaging. We use FLIR A50/A500 series cameras for corrugators as these applications do not require the same level of resolution, helping to minimise costs for customers.”

Rugged, IP66-rated FLIR A50/A500 and A70/A700 series cameras offer multiple field-of-view options, image streaming, and simple integration with the specific needs of customers. By providing quick access to thermal characteristics, users of these cost-effective cameras can maximise asset uptime and minimise maintenance costs.

“In my opinion, FLIR IR cameras are competitively priced considering the capabilities they offer. During my initial research, I came across other thermal cameras of similar specification, but they cost more. We’re incredibly happy with FLIR IR cameras and now standardise on these models.”

Seeing is believing

There are essentially two ways of adopting ThermoVision on a papermaking machine. First, as an add-on to existing sheet break systems. FLIR IR cameras see ‘invisible’ defects that visual spectrum cameras cannot. The system also detects wet streaks in real time, helping to prevent costly sheet breaks that can lead to hours of downtime.

Second, the system can involve sending the sheet-wide thermal profile to a quality control system (QCS) scanner. A QCS scanner moves back and forth across the sheet, a process that takes anything from seconds to minutes. However, using data captured by FLIR IR cameras, it is possible to feed the QCS in real time. While the control system will not likely work in real time, capturing images with FLIR IR cameras at 30 frames per second, for example, means the system can provide an average profile every second, supporting ultra-fast control system decisions.

“A big issue with a QCS scanner is its location at the end of a papermaking machine,” explains Mr Frackowiak. “From placing pulp on the wire, ready for manufacturing into paper, to running through the entire machine and reaching the QCS scanner, no quality measurement checks take place. However, by positioning a FLIR IR camera at the beginning of the process, perhaps in the press section, we can immediately detect defects like wet streaks or incorrect moisture profiles. This is important because some start-up processes can take hours, with papermaking plants unable to thread the web due to problematic sheet breaks. We now have a way of letting them know why, saving significant time.”

Several papermaking facilities are already taking advantage of the technology. Following the award of its patents, IVS now has two papermaking systems running with ThermoVision in the USA, as well as a corrugator. Multiple quotations have been sent to further potential customers, with some planning to include ThermoVision in their next capital expenditure budget.

With the right innovation and technology,  even a mature process like papermaking can see step changes in key metrics - such as quality, efficiency, uptime, and control. Thanks to the ingenuity of proprietary IVS systems and the capabilities of FLIR IR thermal vision cameras, papermaking is set to reach a whole new level.

Thermal by FLIR Collaborator Gremsy Provides Vio Drone Payload for Public Safety and Industrial Applications

Vio Lightweight Drone Payload Features NDAA-Compliant Boson Radiometric Thermal Camera Module.

Gremsy Thermal by FLIR Article Header

GOLETA, Calif.,— Teledyne FLIR, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, today announced Gremsy, a leading provider of advanced gimbals and payloads, as the latest collaborator in the Thermal by FLIR® program. Gremsy integrates the Boson® radiometric thermal camera module as part of its gimbaled National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) compliant Vio F1 drone payload. Assembled in the USA, the Vio F1 is an advanced, lightweight electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) payload for asset and infrastructure inspection, disaster relief, firefighting, search and rescue (SAR), and public safety missions.

FLIR Boson Product Family

The Vio F1 features a Sony 4K Block Zoom EO sensor with up to 240x zoom and a 640 x 512 radiometric NDAA-compliant and ITAR-free Boson thermal camera with up to 8x zoom. The payload also integrates a 2,400-meter laser range finder, making it an ideal option for industrial inspections and applications.

With its integrated sensors, users can seamlessly engage the advanced functionalities of the payload through its diverse and intuitive viewing modes, allowing for individual and combined visible-thermal views. “Working with the global leader in thermal imaging through the Thermal by FLIR program empowered Gremsy to drive innovation and get Vio swiftly to market,” said Vinh Tran, CEO at Gremsy. “Our goal was to create a payload that is compatible with multiple platforms, including Pixhawk, CubePilot, and Skynode, and to offer an easy-to-integrate solution for any drone maker, including BLUE UAS providers.” 1/2 Vio’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) features provide advanced detection and auto zoom capabilities that are critical for public safety and SAR operations.

Gremsy Vio F1 Landing Pad

AI detection offers accurate and automated identification of key objects, including humans, vehicles, and boats. Layered with AI Auto Zoom, the system can automatically zoom in on the selected object for the best and most useful view. The zoom level in tracking mode automatically adjusts as the object moves closer or farther away, eliminating the need for teams to adjust the zoom during flight. “Gremsy is a known innovator in advancing aerial imaging technology, making it an ideal candidate for the Thermal by FLIR program,” said Dan Walker, vice president, product development, Teledyne FLIR. “The Vio offers precision and accuracy, plus the upcoming implementation of our radiometric JPG file format will soon enable pilots to leverage the FLIR Thermal Studio Suite analysis and reporting software.” Teledyne FLIR’s Thermal by FLIR program is a cooperative product development and marketing program created to support original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The program enables streamlined integration of Teledyne FLIR thermal camera modules into products and provides go-to-market support for resulting innovations. Click here for details about Boson and visit the Thermal by FLIR page for additional information about the program. Click here for more information about the Gremsy Vio F1.

Vio Front

Click here for more information about the Gremsy Vio F1.

National Grid Electricity Transmission joins EEMUA

EMMUA

National Grid Electricity Transmission is the latest company to join EEMUA as a corporate member.

National Grid Electricity Transmission is a business unit within the wider National Grid Group. It develops, owns and maintains the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales. The system consists of approximately 4,500 miles of overhead line, over 900 miles of underground cable and over 300 substations.

EEMUA and National Grid Electricity Transmission have well aligned objectives in terms of safety, the environment and operating performance. The sharing of good practice across different industries and global regions afforded by engagement in EEMUA will help support National Grid Electricity Transmission in the safe operation of its physical assets as it looks to connect more and more low carbon electricity to the network – crucial in helping the UK achieve its net zero ambitions.

The Engineering Equipment and Materials Users Association

Good practice for all aspects of industrial alarm systems – new edition of EEMUA 191 released

EEMUA has released Edition 4 of EEMUA 191, Alarm systems – A guide to design, management and procurement.

Since it was first published in 1999, EEMUA 191 has become the globally accepted and leading guide to good practice for all aspects of alarm systems.

The new edition has been comprehensively updated and restructured to improve ease of use. The terminology has been aligned to that used in the latest editions of the standards and the opportunity has been taken to include new material on alarm management for remote sites.

Alarm systems form an essential part of the operator interfaces to large modern industrial facilities. They provide vital support to the operators by warning them of situations that need their attention and have an important role in preventing, controlling and mitigating the effects of abnormal situations.

EEMUA 191, developed by the users of alarm systems in industry, gives comprehensive guidance on designing, managing and procuring an effective alarm system. It is intended to help in improving existing systems and in developing new facilities during plant construction or during alarm system refurbishments. Both of the international standards for the management of alarm systems for the process industries, ISA 18.2 and IEC 62682: 2023, are aligned with EEMUA 191.

EEMUA 191 is primarily concerned with alarm systems provided for people operating industrial processes. These include alarm systems in industries such as chemical manufacture, power generation, oil and gas extraction and refining and others. However, much of the guidance is generic and with appropriate interpretation can be applied in other sectors. The guide has been used successfully as a basis for training in the rail and transport sectors, in the nuclear industry, and elsewhere.

www.eemua.org

 

Quickly detect unstable Li-ion batteries

Brady Corporation offers a new, more cost-efficient solution to quickly detect unstable Li-ion batteries in storage. Able to automatically measure 0,5°C temperature differences per second, the solution provides the accuracy and speed needed to isolate unstable batteries before they become a safety risk.
 

 



Fast and accurate
Brady’s new battery temperature monitoring solution involves 3 components: self-adhesive battery-free UHF RFID labels with embedded temperature sensors, RFID readers with up to 16 antennas, and a customisable RFID software platform.

The self-adhesive UHF RFID-embedded labels can be applied inside battery cell boxes for fast temperature change detection. Alternatively, every battery cell can be labelled with Brady’s on-metal, printable UHF RFID labels to enable more elaborate advantages in Li-ion battery supply chains.

Every second, the RFID antennas and readers automatically power all labels and sensors in range to collect temperature readings with 0,5°C accuracy. Every temperature reading, and matching battery storage location, is collected by the RFID software platform. When customisable temperature thresholds are reached, the software platform triggers 3rd party devices via standard API.

With almost continuous, automated and accurate temperature monitoring, warehouse stakeholders can receive early warnings via sms, email or even racking warning lights. They can be guided in time to specific warehouse locations for unstable Li-ion battery isolation. Alternatively, Brady’s software platform API can also trigger an autonomous vehicle to automatically remove an unstable battery.


Cost-effective
Battery-free UHF RFID labels with embedded sensors are a more cost-effective battery temperature monitoring solution than powered RFID tags or IR cameras.

UHF RFID labels and their temperature sensors receive power wirelessly from RFID antennas and readers in range. They are available at significantly lower costs - up to 5 times less than battery-powered RFID tags - and do not require maintenance.

The number of RFID readers needed to completely cover storage locations in a warehouse heavily depends on warehouse setup, racking height and storage volume per racking compartment. Brady can connect up to 16 antennas to a single RFID reader that provides high accuracy, high speed temperature monitoring for all storage locations in 12 metre wide and 4 metre high racking.

The automated, and almost continuous, nature of the temperature monitoring solution enables Li-ion battery manufacturers and logistics companies to significantly increase safety and reduce risk at advantageous costs.

Automated inventories
By adding an RFID reader gate at designated warehouse exits, Brady’s solution can also enable automated, real-time warehouse inventories.

RFID labelled items are read by Brady’s RFID readers the moment their label enters reader range. When they pass through a designated RFID reader gate, these items can easily be subtracted from the inventory by the RFID software platform.

When used in this way, the solution can provide cost-effective battery track & trace inside the warehouse from entry to exit, complete with battery cell box or battery cell temperature fluctuation in between.

For more information, contact Brady Corporation via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. www.brady.co.uk

Climate Change and the high-speed door

The symptoms of Climate Change are now very apparent with increases in global temperatures, more frequent storms and flooding where they are not expected and overall changing weather patterns being some of the noticeable warning signs.

Can industry help asks Doug Hart, chairman, Hart Door Systems.  Clearly industry, from manufacturing to storage across the globe, can assess the efficiency of the premises they occupy with the ever open door being the most obvious area of wastefulness. In busy and intense warehouse or production facilities, leaving doors open is generally seen as acceptable.

The result is costly heated air escapes, the temperature within the building drops and heating struggles to get back to an acceptable level. More often than not when the door is opened again it is possibly left open because operatives find it much more convenient.

For temperature control and energy management, the automatic door such as Hart’s Speedor is the solution. Speedor’s fast-action is  the perfect answer. With quality engineering and durability, Speedor high-speed doors will maintain temperatures within a building while keeping energy costs at an acceptable level.

No matter the industrial classification, Hart can manufacture industrial door systems customised to meet specific needs. As an example the Speedor Storm variant is ready for anything the weather can throw at it. Be it a factory, warehouse, storage facility or any kind of plant operation, where doors must be open frequently for people and traffic the Speedor Storm can withstand wind up to ‘wind class 5’ as defined by DIN EN 12424.

Whether it’s access for deliveries, forklifts or people, there are far too many businesses that leave major entrances open for an unnecessary amount of time. The knock-on effect is wasted heating, higher costs and a less than optimal working environment.

Speedor Storm is designed specifically to take care of this. It can help with productivity because entering and leaving can be done more rapidly than non-automatic doors. Further it enhances the working environment because the high-speed operation, even on large doors, means there are no unnecessary open stages.

In turn this lowers energy consumption, important at a time when the cost of energy shows little sign of improving and of course reduced energy use has a positive impact on Climate Change.

In conclusion Hart Door Systems’ Speedor range can make a very significant contribution to energy conservation and a carbon footprint. The combination of automation and high speed operation prevents the passage of heated or cooled air escaping from a building only to heat the car park for instance.

www.hartdoors.com

 

The ESI-USB© software is now available in seven languages: German, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, and Portuguese, plus the standard English version,

Making it more accessible than ever to a global audience. This multilingual support ensures that users can interact with the software in their preferred language, improving usability and reducing the likelihood of errors caused by language barriers. The enhanced accessibility fosters seamless communication and integration across international teams, streamlining workflows and boosting productivity. By catering to diverse linguistic needs, ESI-USB© empowers users worldwide, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity and a more personalized user experience.

A laptop on a dark background with a glowing 3D button outside the screen that reads 'Book a Promo Space.

ESI-USB© software by ESI Technology Ltd is a powerful tool for managing and analysing data from our digital pressure transmitters like the GD4200-USB and GD4200HUSB (for use in Hydrogen applications). With an intuitive interface, it supports real-time data acquisition, monitoring, and logging, enabling seamless communication and accurate data transfer. Users can visualise pressure trends with graphical tools, export data for analysis in formats like CSV, and monitor system performance efficiently.

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Designed for applications such as industrial monitoring, laboratory research, calibration, and field testing, ESI-USB© is compatible with advanced communication protocols like RS-485 and Modbus. Optimized for Windows 8.1, 10, and 11, it ensures reliability and versatility for professionals needing dependable digital pressure measurement solutions.

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