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By Emma Ryde – Rittal UK’s Product Manager for Enclosure Systems

2021 was a triple milestone for Rittal, the company celebrated the 60th anniversary of its founding, the 75th birthday of owner Prof. Friedhelm Loh and now also the one millionth VX25 been produced! 
 
On the 16th August 2021, the one millionth VX25 enclosure rolled off the assembly line, production of which would not have been possible, without the hard work and dedication of the 1240 employees, at the Rittershausen site. To honour this incredible achievement Prof. Friedhelm Loh and representatives from the company’s management team, honoured this achievement with a commemorative ceremony, on the same production floor where the VX25 is manufactured day after day.
 
How can we make the best even better? That was the question which Rittal asked itself as a starting point, for the development of the VX25 enclosure system. Three years after its initial market launch, Rittal is proud to advise that the VX25 is used by industrial and IT customers all over the world. In settings such as all automobile manufacturers, as well as in data centres for IT giants such as Facebook and Amazon, along with on cruise liners, in wind turbines and in several remote locations as well. The one millionth VX25 rolled off the production line, to mark this momentous occasion, it was celebrated with music and confetti, by the management and employees at the Rittershausen site. It was a memorable celebration, that celebrated the extraordinary achievements of so many Rittal employees, including the VX25 design engineers, product managers and production technicians. 

By: Dave Mayer, LifecycleIQ Services Portfolio Lead, Rockwell Automation

 If you don’t know every last industrial asset that’s installed in your production facilities and stocked in your storerooms, you’re not alone. Over a period of decades, it’s easy to lose sight of what assets you have as those assets are replaced, parts are restocked and employees change roles.

But maintaining a complete understanding of your assets – from industrial control devices and parts, to machines and equipment – is a prerequisite to optimizing how you manage them. Whether you want to mitigate cybersecurity risks by using the latest firmware or avoid unplanned downtime by keeping spares stocked, you need an accurate and up-to-date record of your entire asset base.

Of course, creating this record can be a tall order. The sheer number of assets across your organization can make the process of identifying them a challenge all its own. Staff may also be constrained. And your asset base may be undergoing dramatic change as a result of digital transformation.

The most efficient and effective way to document your asset base is with network asset discovery tools that can query your networks and identify assets on them.

But this isn’t simply a matter of buying the first available tool. You need to consider different asset-discovery tools and methodologies, and determine which are most appropriate for what you’re trying to accomplish as an organization.

A fast-growing global engineering consultancy has made a senior leadership appointment in a key strategic move for the business.

Black and White (B&W) Engineering, with offices in the UK, Middle East and Asia, has appointed a global HR director to further develop its people and culture strategy.

Based at the Newcastle office, Rachel Ovington has over 15 years of experience in HR and talent development and joins B&W from KP Snacks, part of the Intersnack Group - a global savoury snacks business where she has spent the last four years leading the corporate and commercial HR team for the UK as Head of HR and business partner to the KP executive team.

Rachel’s immediate priority is focused on how HR supports and drives business growth through a people-centred strategy. Her key responsibilities include enhancing employee engagement, developing great talent and establishing a strong employer brand.

Steven Horn, director at B&W Engineering, said: “Rachel joining us at the start of a new year is a milestone moment in our growth journey.

“In the last 18 months, our workforce has grown by over 100% in the UK alone. We have a diverse, skilled team who have not only shown great resilience during the pandemic but also delivered some of the most innovative and progressive MEP design projects on a global scale.

“Bringing Rachel on board will enable us to progress and enhance our holistic HR function ensuring we are supporting and developing our people to be at their best, in a way that’s tailored to both personal and business needs.

“Although we’re a global company, we’re very much one team who share the same mindset and the same values.

“We celebrate difference and recognise the value diversity brings to how we make great decisions, develop our skills for the future and deliver projects for our clients around the world.

“Rachel will focus on strengthening our global people strategy which is integral to our overall growth plans. HR plays a fundamental role and we’re delighted to have her on board.”

B&W is a leader in MEP engineering design services with clients across the UK and Europe as well as the Middle East and Asia. Nearly 30% of employees are based in the UK with over 200 employees working out of the firm’s international offices.

Training, mentorship and development play a big role at B&W. The company is actively involved in apprenticeships, and works with partners such as Gateshead College on its flagship PlanBEE programme in the North of England, which helps students with career progression and prioritises continuous talent development.

Rachel said: “For me to be at my best, my heart and my head must connect to the organisation I am part of and that’s exactly what I’ve got within B&W.

“They’re brilliantly talented, work on some of the world’s most groundbreaking MEP design projects and are great at what they do - and it’s because they are an incredible team.

“Our shared values, the passionate, considered vision and genuine connection across the team are what makes the company stand out from the rest.

“I’m really looking forward to being part of B&W’s future and I’m relishing the challenges and experiences ahead.”

The ultra-compact, fanless top-hat rail computer POC-400, now introduced by the German distributor Acceed, provides increased functional security. Its core element is the new 10 nm “Elkhart Lake” Atom x6425E processor from Intel. Despite its highly compact construction, the embedded controller has three 2.5G base-T Ethernet ports, of which two have PoE, four USB interfaces, two display ports and a configurable serial interface. The MezIO slot with high-speed interfaces, for which an array of special modules are available for the integration of application-orientated I/O functions, is a highlight. With these, it becomes easy to realise made-to-measure embedded applications affordably, which is ideal for space-critical applications in building automation or image processing within industrial surroundings.

Industrial systems normally work with continuous operation, which requires a particularly high degree of reliability and availability. Thanks to the functions for functional security integrated in the chip, the Atom processors from Intel for industrial solutions meet the functional security requirements according to IEC 61508 and ISO 13849.

Doncaster, UK-based Certex UK has won a major three-year contract for inspection and maintenance of over 150 turbine generators across two wind farms.

Certex was awarded the contract by Equinor, operator of the Dudgeon and Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farms off the Norfolk coast.

The full scope of work covers the statutory inspection and maintenance of all Transmission and Generation Assets across both Wind Farms Works and will include all turbine mounted safety equipment (TMSE) and personal service lifts, in addition to a fleet of loader and davit cranes. Certex will supply all lifting equipment, accessories, and consumables to Equinor, while looking after the balance of plant (BOP) base and service operation vessel (SOV) equipment.

The company will provide permanent site rotations, 365-days-a-year, under the supervision of Terry Hoenes, divisional manager—renewables, at Certex.

“Each rotation will be servicing each windfarm,” said Hoenes. “We have had the contract for similar works on the Dudgeon farm for the last five years, but this new contract combines the sites, in line with Equinor’s strategy to operate both farms from their base in Great Yarmouth. Offshore teams from both sites will utilise the Vessel resources to maximise time in the field and reduce emissions from the overall operation.”

Certex UK is part of the Lifting Solutions Group, one of six divisions within the Axel Johnson International business. Certex provides products and services to various stakeholders within the wind energy sector, including companies that manage either the installation of new wind farms, or the service and maintenance of existing sites.

Lifting Solutions has 22 companies with over 100+ locations worldwide, with the renewable energy sector largely being served to date from the UK and Denmark. However, the newly-launched Global Certex Renewables Division incorporates additional companies in Germany, Spain, France, Russia, China, and the United States, which has recently pivoted towards wind energy.

www.certex.co.uk

Ultimo has incorporated additional features and functionality into its Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software suite, helping users reduce the time spent on managing and reporting maintenance tasks. Available now, the improved job planner significantly shortens the scheduling process, with fewer clicks required to carry out daily recurring actions such as confirming and closing jobs. The updated Ultimo GO+ mobile working solution brings the same ease of working to the field. 

The job planner has also been enhanced in terms of readability. The system is now even simpler to navigate, allowing managers to easily see an overview of the status of all current jobs. This means less resources need to be allocated for administrative work, freeing up time for other activities.

For Ultimo GO+, the improved user experience includes simplified navigation, a more accessible search function, and an expanded QR code scanning functionality. Working offline has also been made easier: users can now save entire lists of records and view the full status of all offline activities and assets at a glance. Enhanced notifications help managers stay on top of activities, and the automatic synchronisation ensures all actions are processed once the system is online again, facilitating a smooth transition between online and offline working. 

UK Power Networks and the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) have released a guide to the connections process for installers interested in moving into the growing electric vehicle market. 

The network operator estimates that only a small proportion of electricians in its patch are currently trained to install chargers for customers. Latest figures show around 4,500 registered installers operate in the area¹, with as many as 2.7 million EVs forecasted by 2028. The guide aims to demystify the process for potential new installers so they can begin connecting chargers. The document features quick access to a range of useful information, including installation processes, technical considerations, earthing arrangements, and inspection requirements. 

The guide takes installers through the nine different type of electricity supplies that can be used for EV charge points on UK Power Networks’ network, including help on how to install ‘vehicle to grid’ (V2G) chargers which release car battery energy into the local grid. It also features details on regulations, permissions, and safety rules helping installers stay safe and compliant at work.  

It includes extra resources for ECA’s 2,700 Members, which range from SME electrical firms to nationwide engineering contractors and building services firms that employ thousands of professionals on major UK projects. 

There are already over half a million EVs registered in the UK, with the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans set to end by 2030.² UK Power Networks’ distribution area is currently at the forefront of the switch, with an estimated 29% of all electric vehicles charging from its grid.

Despite the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, 2021 saw a record growth of new battery and hybrid sales while petrol sales declined by 15%.^[1]

Ian Cameron, head of customer services and innovation at UK Power Networks, said: “Millions of electric cars will be connecting to our networks in the next decade. To reach Net Zero emissions by 2050, we’re going to keep working with industry bodies like the ECA and the thousands of installers in our areas to keep making Net Zero a reality.”

Luke Osbourne, ECA’s energy & emerging technologies solutions advisor added: “With the rapidly rising demand for EV charging points, it is vital we don’t take short cuts to ensure safe installation. This guide will help professional electricians pivot their business to new opportunities and play their part in the drive to Net Zero.”

View the guide here:   

Siemens, working in conjunction with Brammer Buck & Hickman, the UK’s leading supplier of industrial maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) products and services, has donated protective facemasks to two overseas charities.

The facemasks were ordered by Siemens through Brammer Buck & Hickman – Siemens’ preferred supplier – at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, as one of a number of measures to keep their staff safe.  The masks were welcomed and used by Siemens’ factory staff and those deemed critical workers – including hospital maintenance and those working within power stations.  However, with government rules and advice in 2020 regularly changing to reflect the shifting nature of the pandemic, the demand for disposal facemasks was considerably reduced.  Rather than retain these facemasks, Siemens has donated them to two excellent charities for use overseas: Collective Aid and Medaid UK.

Enterprise Asset Management software vendor Ultimo has announced a new partnership with Logitek for Spain and Portugal which it says is ‘potentially transformational for both the business and its customers alike’. The announcement is a further international expansion for the software vendor as it establishes itself as a leading cloud-based EAM solution provider in the mid-size enterprise market.

The partnership is of enormous significance for both Ultimo and Logitek, says Jordi Rey, CEO of Logitek. “Superficially, this might seem like a strange partnership as Logitek already promotes AVEVA’s Asset Performance Management solution in Iberia, but, in my opinion, there is no overlap and the two products are highly complementary for our customers undertaking their digital transformation journey. With Ultimo, we now cover the maintenance part of that digital transformation and offer a complete solution, covering all of their needs.”

Highly significant for Ultimo is the technology partnership with AVEVA, owned by global tech giant Schneider Electric, that led to the agreement with Logitek. “The technology partnership with AVEVA is the first step,” says Marcel Leeflang, Head of Channel Sales at Ultimo. “This enables us to connect Ultimo with AVEVA’s APM platforms. We can offer our customers an integrated solution that covers the best of the APM and EAM worlds. Next to that, AVEVA’s installed customer base is enormous globally, and we now have a great integrated solution for that market.”

Logitek has a wide customer base in its home markets of Spain and Portugal across a range of sectors – from food and beverage to chemicals and pharmaceuticals as well as airports, infrastructure projects and automotive. The main benefit to its customers of the partnership with Ultimo is that it can now deliver an integrated APM and EAM offer that doesn’t just deliver data but also defines actions.

“The important thing for us is that the Ultimo solution will empower our customers in EAM,” says Jordi Rey. “Initially with Industry 4.0 our customers created little islands of automation but now the focus is on the integration of all of these systems and that is what this partnership allows. The APM sends data to the maintenance system and the maintenance system turns that data into concrete actions, improving asset performance. Our customers are moving along the asset maturity chain from condition-based maintenance to predictive maintenance, and this is a major differentiation.”

While the Logitek and Ultimo partnership is obviously great news for customers in Iberia, the technology partnership with AVEVA also opens the integrated solution up to a global market. As Marcel Leeflang says, “AVEVA has an enormous partner network, and the work we have done with Logitek can be used as a template for other partners around the world. It’s a gold standard allowing customers to solve their digital transformation challenges.”

As important as the synergy between the technologies undoubtedly is, Jordi Rey also highlights how strong the newly formed bonds are between the two partners. “In Spain we have a saying ‘It’s nothing personal – it’s only business’. I think that is nonsense as you have to be able to trust your partner, and this partnership with Ultimo is the easiest business agreement I have made in the last ten years. They are highly professional, and they move fast. As a result of this partnership, we expect Logitek to grow an extra 10% in 2022.”

For more information visit www.ultimo.com

Winn & Coales International Ltd has recently acquired the FX-70® Structural Piling Repair and Protection System from Simpson Strong-Tie. In 2022 our long-established SeaShield™ Systems will have provided 50 years of pile protection and rehabilitation systems for timber, steel, concrete piles, and marine structures. By adding the FX-70 system to the SeaShield range we are now able to offer clients a one-stop pile protection provider.

Since its debut in 1970, the FX-70 system was the first to use a custom-made tongue-and-groove seamed fiberglass jacket with a high-strength, water-resistant repair grout. The system has extensive case histories for timber, steel, and concrete pile applications and is an excellent addition to our range of products.

To learn more about the SeaShield FX-70™ System and for all your pile protection and rehabilitation needs, you can contact your local representative directly by calling +44 (0)20 8670 7511 or by e-mailing us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more than 90 years, the Winn & Coales International Group of companies has been creating bespoke and off-the-shelf solutions that provide enduring protection against corrosion. Through their seven subsidiary companies in the UK, USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia & New Zealand, together with their global network of distributors, they are able to provide their solutions to challenging corrosion problems all over the world.