Cologne, January 27, 2022. – Ulrich Eff (DIEHL Metering) and Jens Hørdum (Kamstrup) were newly elected to the board of OMS-Group e. V. in December 2021. With the new additions, the nine-member OMS leadership team paves the way for interoperable metering throughout Europe and worldwide. The substantial voter turnout for the election is indicative of the organization’s members’ dedication. 

Andreas Bolder (METRONA Union), Volker Eck (Qundis), Wolfgang Esch (WEPTECH), Jürgen Frech (Landis + Gyr), Heinz Lux (KNX), Volker Meyer (figawa) and Prof. Dr. Axel Sikora (Offenburg University of Applied Sciences) were confirmed to the board. Carsten Lorenz (Pietro Fiorentini) and Hermann Trottler (DIEHL Metering) resigned from the board. Andreas Bolder is looking forward to his third term in office, the second of which was served as Spokesman of the Board.

With its specification for open meter communication, the OMS-Group has become an international focal point in the field of smart metering. Many of its 69 members from 18 countries participated in the virtual General Meeting. The new board will lead the OMS-Group until the next board election in the fall of 2024.

www.oms-group.org provides detailed information about the association and the OMS standards.

While real progress was made at the COP26 Summit, the main conclusion drawn by the Glasgow Climate Pact was that further emissions cuts are required and need to be provided by the end of 2022. This is to ensure that countries are on track to meet the UN Paris Agreement’s target of net-zero by 2050.

Lifting, pushing, pulling, bending, spreading, cutting, lowering, pressing, and punching: The new Enerpac E330 Industrial Tools catalogue is now available. At 420 pages, it is 1.5 times larger than previous editions and designed to better serve customers and provide professionals with all the hydraulic tools they need to work safely and productively.

The catalogue features the full Enerpac portfolio of over 2,000 tools including the latest new products as well as other lines like Mirage machining, Equalizer flange tools, Sweeney aerospace tools and more. Each product series contains all the specifications, diagrams, selection charts and accessories needed to choose the right tool model and/or hydraulic system for the application. Customers and professionals can browse the catalogue by product category or go directly to a preferred model number using the index. And as in all the previous catalogs, the yellow pages section contains helpful information on the basics of hydraulics and safety instructions, along with tips for tool operation. 

A legacy for the Enerpac brand, the original catalogue evolved from an “Idea Book” introduced in 1951. It illustrated hundreds of applications for what was then a budding division of new hydraulic tools for the company. The book was filled with photos of actual product applications in factories, shipyards, power plants, paper mills, forge shops, and construction projects around the country. It quickly became—and remains—the industry standard.

The Enerpac E330 Industrial Tools catalogue can be downloaded from www.enerpac.com.

Modulift, the renowned manufacturer for modular spreader beams are pleased to announce they now have stock on a next day delivery service to the European market via their new warehouse facility based in Czech Republic.

As the European market grows, the demand for Modulift’s modular range of popular DNV Type Approved spreader beams readily available off the shelf has risen sharply. The warehouse facility holds stock from MOD 6 up to MOD 400/600 and CMOD corner units across the range. The CMOD corner units are compatiable with the struts from the modular spreader beam system, making this a versatile solution for customers looking to achieve multi-point lifts.

Due to Brexit and the unprecedented upheaval this has caused, customers who purchase from Modulift’s Czech warehouse facility can look to receive their order next working day, without the worry of customs paperwork.

John Baker, Commercial Director for Modulift said, “With a lot of delays at ports not just in Europe but around the globe, this is the perfect time for Modulift to expand by having a warehouse facility that will be able to provide off the shelf products ready and waiting to customers who urgently need them next working day.”

Modulift Czech Republic s.r.o. warehouse facility address is located at Smetanovo nábřeží 934, 517 54 Vamberk, Czech Republic.

For more information on Modulift and their products, please visit www.modulift.com

Ultimo announces the availability of Ultimo Essentials on Microsoft AppSource, an online cloud marketplace providing tailored line-of-business solutions. Ultimo is the supplier of the enterprise asset management (EAM) cloud platform Ultimo. The solution has different product editions, suited for different types of organisations. The Ultimo Essentials edition is ideal for all companies that want to take a successful first step towards digitising maintenance management, streamlining work processes and implementing improvements in their organisation.

Ultimo Essentials is available in 12 different languages on mobile and desktop, offering asset registration, work order management, preventive maintenance, article registration, contract management and other functionalities. The solution delivers a high ROI because of its competitive pricing and guided implementation process. Once customers are ready for the next step, they can seamlessly grow into Ultimo's Professional or Premium edition.

“Our software helps businesses manage their physical assets,” said Ewout Noordermeer, CMO at Ultimo. “With Ultimo, maintenance departments can improve the use and performance of assets, stay on top of the maintenance costs and extend the life span of installations. Due to the combination of functionality and usability, we create confident asset owners and happy maintenance professionals. We chose the Microsoft Azure cloud platform as the solution where Ultimo is deployed on. Ultimo in the Azure cloud offers extensive authentication and authorisation features to create a secure environment, high availability and guaranteed backups and automatic updates. Our availability in Microsoft AppSource increases our online visibility and enables us to serve new customers in an efficient way.”

“Through Microsoft AppSource, customers around the world can easily find tailored line-of-business partner solutions that work with the products they already use,” said Toby Bowers, General Manager, Business Applications Group, Microsoft Corp. “We’re happy to welcome Ultimo’s solution to the growing AppSource ecosystem.”

www.ultimo.com

Ultimo and XMReality launch a partnership to help customers improve efficiency and increase safety in field maintenance jobs. Swedish-based XMReality is a remote support platform that allows people to connect with colleagues or external experts to guide, inspect, verify or troubleshoot. The Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software provider Ultimo helps technical services and maintenance professionals gain better control over their assets. The partnership will enhance and simplify how on-site tasks are executed in Ultimo.

XMReality is dedicated to improving and simplifying the way knowledge is transferred globally. Its remote support solution allows instructors and operators to see what a colleague sees on the site, enabling them to provide personal guidance as if they were by their side. Ultimo is a leading EAM software provider from the Netherlands. Its cloud platform helps technical services maximise asset availability and increase labour productivity. By working together, the companies further accelerate how maintenance jobs are executed.

Patrick Beekman, Partner Solution Manager at Ultimo, commented: “XMReality makes remote field support easy, with no need to have experts physically visit the site. This saves time for asset-intensive companies with a large mobile workforce. By connecting Ultimo with XMReality, executing a work order from Ultimo becomes even easier, helping customers optimise communication and improve the efficiency of their maintenance processes.”

Jörgen Remmelg, CEO of XMReality, added: “Our respective software solutions fit well together and our business models are very similar. I strongly believe the combined product will be well received by the market. XMReality also gain a new sales channel from this partnership.”

About Ultimo Software Solutions
Ultimo Software Solutions supplies the #1 Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) Cloud platform 'Ultimo.' The software is used by more than 2,000 customers globally in Manufacturing, Healthcare, Logistics, Infrastructure, and Utilities. It offers customers in these sectors many advantages such as increased uptime, the management of costs, increased equipment lifespan, ease of adherence to laws and regulations, and the ensurance of a safe working environment. Ultimo provides all this with an unparalleled Return On Investment due to fast implementation processes, seamless integrations, and Self-Service application management. The company was formed in 1988 and has offices in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
www.ultimo.com

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.