IAA June July 2012

Mitsubishi Electric Asia Pte Ltd

MICA (P) 010/07/2012 | ISSN 0219/5615 | PPS 1561/06/2013 (022960)

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Robotics: Face Of Future Embedded Systems: Asia FocusDCS: Sphere Of Collaboration

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Cyber Security In AutomationWith the increased use of remote computing and wireless networks,

new emphasis must be placed on building robust systems to securely transport and use critical data. By Augustine Quek

Danish Robots Take On AsiaIAA spoke with Enrico Krog Iversen, CEO, Universal Robotics on his

company and his plans for Asia. By Mark Johnston

Case Study: Testing To The LimitsRobotics from Kuka provide the accuracy and reliability needed by

Zwick, for material testing. By Stefanie Senft, Kuka Roboter

Case Study: The Face Of The FutureMicrodrives give humanoid service robots human traits. Contributed

by Vester Tan, Faulhaber (Singapore)

contentsjune/july 2012

ISSUES & INSIGHTS

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ProcESS coNTroL

SoFTWArE & NETWorKS

Distributed Control System: The ABB WayIAA interviewed senior executives from ABB (Singapore), and as they

explain, collaboration is a key approach to their DCS strategy.

DISTrIBUTED coNTroL SYSTEMS

36

Case Study: A Sense For CleanUsing sensors for the monitoring of systems reduce energy

wastage and cost while racing the likelihood of success. By Sabrina-Ulica Schuster, ifm electronic

INSTrUMENTATIoN & MEASUrEMENT

46

Embedded In AsiaIAA interviewed Chandran Nair, MD, National Instruments (Southeast

Asia) on the company's involvement in embedded systems. By Mark Johnston

Tips & Tricks For Reducing Industrial Computer NoiseIn an industrial plant, accuracy is paramount as accurate monitoring

has an impact on safety. Reducing unwanted noise plays a big part in this, here, we give tips and tricks for reducing such noise in an industrial computer. By Angus Yu, Advantech Networking and Communications Group

Agilent On Embedded SystemsIAA interviewed Jun Chie, senior marketing manager of Digital

Validation Test Division, Agilent Electronic Measurement Group, on his company involvement in embedded systems. By Mark Johnston

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Durotect® B Coated

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Bringing It A Level UpThe oil and gas industry has

been employing contact and non-contact level sensors to automate and streamline the production process, which has led to enhanced accuracy and efficiency. By Sherlyne Yong

8 Industry News

18 Profibus

20 CAN in Automation

22 Fieldbus Foundation

24 EtherCAT Technology

68 Products & Services

73 Calendar of Events

74A Product Enquiry Card

IMPORTANT NOTICEThe circulation of this magazine is audited by bpa world wide. The advertisers’ association recommend that advertisers should place their advertisements only in audited publications.

INdUsTRIAL AUTOMATION AsIA (IAA) is published 8 issues per year by Eastern Trade Media Pte Ltd 1100 Lower Delta Road #02-05 EPL Building Singapore 169206 Tel: (65) 6379 2888 • Fax: (65) 6379 2805Website: www.iaasiaonline.com Email: [email protected]

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EVENTS

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65

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Tracking AsiaIAA interviewed Andrew Tay,

MD, Zebra Technologies (Asia Pacific) on his company’s Asia focus and their involvement in material handling. By Mark Johnston

The Efficient Monitoring Of Transport Belts

Sensors are used everyday for the efficient monitoring and transport of materials benefiting corporations by reducing cost and improving workflows. By Christoph Müller, Sick

SECTOR SPOTLIGHT

54

Getting More For LessReducing energy consumption

can be an expensive process, but payback can be quick and savings accumulate over time. By Eric Lai Choong Siong, Grundfos (Asia Pacific)

ENERGY

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Medical Manufacturing Asia 2012

semicon singapore 2012

Cards & Payments Asia 2012

sIAF 2012

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FEATURES

58 New Vision For siemens

IAA spoke with Jizheng Zhao, manager, Teamcenter Marketing, Siemens PLM Software (Asia Pacific) on the launch of the Teamcenter 9 and what we can expect from this edition. By Mark Johnston

Focusing On AsiaIAA spoke with Robin Chao,

regional sales director, Epicor Software (Southeast Asia) on his new role and Epicor’s business prospects in Asia. By Mark Johnston

Making Asia LocalIAA spoke with Jan Lont,

VP, Weidmuller, on his company and its activities and outlook in Asia. By Mark Johnston

Established in 1935, HIOKI E.E. Corporation has grown to become a leading manufacturer of electrical measuring instruments listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Power quality analysers, memory recorders, data loggers, power meters, battery testers, DMMs, current clamps, and safety testers are just some our products serving the global industry. From high-speed flying probe testers to rugged field clamp meters, we have won multiple prestigious design awards. Visit www.hioki.com to see what we can do for you.

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Augustine Quek, Stefanie Senft, Vester Tan, Aaron Lum,

Angus Yu, Sabrina-Ulica Schuster, Sherlyne Yong,

Eric Lai Choong Siong, Andrew Tay, Christoph Müller

editoriaL conSuLtantS

Jim Pinto Industry Analyst

Alastair Ross Director, Codexx Associates Ltd


Mark JohnstonAssistant Editor

The robotics industry is a growing market, as the materials and technology required for their manufacture becomes more affordable. There is also a push by many in the industry to reduce labour costs and improve efficiency. Many analysts believe China is on a trajectory to become the world’s biggest market for robotics. This is partly because of the country shifting away from manual labour, which has been the driving force behind its economic boom.

It is estimated that China currently has 60,000 robots in operation, but is growing fast. Japan still outranks its competitors in terms of number of operational robots, estimated to currently stand at 300,000. Though analysts believe China’s use of robots will rise steeply over the coming years, surpassing Japan by 2014 to become the industries biggest market. Some of the main reasons being attributed to the rise of the robotics market in China is an increased desire for higher wages and for better quality products, with companies now taking greater care and concern in accusations of exploitation of workers. Taken together, this is all leading to an increase in the purchase of industrial robots.

One company seizing on this boom is Kuka, a German based maker of industrial robots. The company will be creating a regional hub in China for the purpose of tapping regional growth in the robotics sector. It intends to increase assembly capacity in China to 5,000 units in 2012, from less than 1,000 two years ago.

Robotics is just one topic we cover in this issue of IAA, we also cover embedded systems, cyber security, level sensors, energy saving equipment, and chemical & material handling. Also, we have an event preview for Medical Manufacturing Asia 2012, together with reviews for Semicon Singapore 2012, Payments & Cards Asia 2012, and SIAF 2012. Also, with a special feature on the launch of Teamcenter 9 by Siemens PLM.

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Industry newsKulicke & Soffa Strengthens Asian PresenceSingapore: Kulicke & Soffa, a designer and manufacturer of semiconductor assembly equipment, has announced the further strengthening of its presence in Asia with the planned expansion of its Singapore global headquarters. The company broke ground on the site of its planned facility, which will add R&D and manufacturing capabilities.

Construction of the new headquarters is scheduled to be completed in the second half of 2013. The 30,000 sq m

facility will be centrally located in Serangoon, Singapore, within close proximity to the company’s existing leased headquarters. This existing lease is planned to terminate in conjunction with the completed move.

Bruno Guilmart, president and CEO, said: “Our business has expanded exponential ly since we started manufacturing operations in Singapore over 12 years ago. We are excited to break ground on our new headquarters, which will give us the infrastructure

and scale needed to accommodate our existing operations and on-going growth. We are firmly committed to Singapore as the ideal platform to

efficiently reach our customers and supply chain and also to provide the ideal work environment for our employees and partners.”

Singapore: NXP Semiconductors has announced the opening of an R&D Centre in Singapore. The facility will initially focus on select research areas including advanced applications, mixed-signal design and process technology, with a long-term plan to explore opportunities of extending the scope to become an NXP-wide R&D centre.

Some projects include collaborating with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) to develop Car-to-X detection in order to increase safe driving, and collaborating with research institutes and universities to develop smart environment sensors for buildings to improve comfort control and enhance energy and cost savings.

“As Singapore is an important regional hub, and the headquarters for our APAC operations, it was a strategic decision for us to extend our geographical R&D base

NXP Opens R&D Centre In Singapore

here,” said Hans Rijns, senior VP and manager, NXP Research. “We plan to recruit the finest R&D talent in Singapore and are excited to closely collaborate with the leading local research and tertiary institutions to significantly accelerate specific research topics that will benefit the local and regional markets in the future,” he added.

NXP plans to invest more than S$20 million (US$15.7 million) in the R&D facility and aims to have a headcount of up to 50 employees.

“We are pleased that NXP, one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies, will establish in Singapore another corporate research centre outside Europe. This significant addition to our semiconductor ecosystem will create good job opportunities for those looking to push the frontiers of technology,” said Yeoh Keat Chuan, assistant MD, Singapore Economic Development Board.

L-R: Heah Soon Poh, ACEO, JTC Corporation, Bruno Guilmart, president & CEO K&S & Tan Choon Shian, deputy MD, Singapore Economic Development Board, MacDonell Roehm, chairman of board K&S, Tham Kuo Wei, CEO, Mapletree Industrial Trust Management.

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Industry News


Visit us on our website at www.iaasiaonline.com

Beijing, China: Trunkbow International, a provider of Mobile Payment Solutions (‘MPS’) and Mobile Value Added Solutions (‘MVAS’) in China, has announced that it has extended its cooperation with China Unicom through the deployment of a new terminal-based MPS platform in Heilongjiang Province. Installation is expected to begin in the second quarter, with services scheduled to launch in the second half of 2012.

"We are pleased to extend our MPS footprint into Heilongjiang Province and bring this technology to China Unicom's 5.7 million subscribers in the region. This represents a sizeable opportunity, as we will simultaneously roll out user authentication and payment processing services, making the solution more attractive to end-users and increasing the value proposition for retailers, enterprise

Trunkbow Expands China Unicom Partnership With MPS Installation In Heilongjiang Province

and institutional users," said Qiang Li, CEO, Trunkbow.

He continued: "Similar to our efforts in Sichuan Province, we are working closely with our partners at China Unicom to build awareness of the significant benefits of MPS technology among merchants and corporate IT executives, with a goal of evangelising the technology and supporting broad adoption of MPS for multiple applications. Handset technology and wireless network infrastructure are improving rapidly, and we are confident that this ongoing mobile revolution will help drive mass-market usage of MPS as we enhance the solution through the addition of new features and functionalities."

Under the agreement, the company will receive recurring revenue payments

based on a percentage of monthly function fees and transactions processed using the MPS platform. The company and China Unicom plan to jointly market this MPS technology to retailers for phone-based payments at the point-of-sale, and to corporations, academic institutions and other organisations as a SAAS and enterprise automation tool for user authentication and internal payment capabilities.

This platform will allow China Unicom's 5.7 million subscribers in Heilongjiang province to make purchases at retail locations using their mobile phones at the point-of-sale, and will function as a convenient, secure electronic identification card for students and employees at schools and other locations that adopt the technology.

Baoding, China and Tokyo, Japan: Yingli Green Energy, a solar energy company and one of the world's largest vertically integrated Photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers, which markets its products under the brand ‘Yingli Solar’, has announced the establishment of its regional headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.

In order to strengthen business practices and further business development in Japan, the company has set up a wholly-owned subsidiary, Yingli Green Energy Japan Corporation (‘Yingli Japan’).

"We are pleased to announce the opening of our regional headquarters in Japan," commented Liansheng Miao, chairman and CEO, Yingli Green Energy. "Japan is an important PV market for us. With the establishment of the Japanese subsidiary, we expect to be closer to our customers and penetrate deeper into this market," he added.

"Being closer to the customers is extremely important

Yingli Green Energy Establishes Regional Headquarters In Japan

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for Yingli, hence the establishment of a local presence in Japan," commented Masaki Mizuta, MD of Yingli Japan. "We also believe that this is a key success factor in Japan and look forward to building better and longer relationships with our customers in Japan," he added.

Industry News

June/July 2012 | industrial automation asia 11

Honeywell Turbo Technologies Wins 2012 Automotive News Pace Award For Fuel-Efficient Technology

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Shanghai, China: Honeywell Turbo Technologies, a developer of automotive turbochargers, received the 2012 Automotive News Pace Award for its High Temperature, Ball Bearing (HTBB) VNT Turbo.

As the launch customer for this technology, Daimler worked closely with Honeywell to apply the HTBB Turbo after deciding in 2006 to re-engineer its 3.0L V6 diesel engine to meet future emissions standards in the US and Europe. Debuting on the Mercedes-Benz E350 and R350 models, the new engine improved power and

torque by 18 percent and 22 percent, respectively, while fuel economy improved by up to 21 percent with

the HTBB technology from the previous engine.

The engine/turbo was subsequently introduced in its S-Class sedan and will eventually roll out across its full product line.

“We are honoured to be recognised for our continued excellence in innovation with this prestigious award,” said Alex Ismail, president and CEO of Honeywell Transportation Systems. “Turbocharging continues to be the leading technology of choice for automakers developing environmentally-friendly vehicles by downsizing engines and still meeting consumers’ needs and preferences. Typically, a turbocharged engine can improve fuel economy from 20 percent to 40 percent in gasoline and diesel engines respectively from the larger naturally-aspirated engines they replace,” he added.

Turbocharging penetration continues to grow rapidly around the world. As the global automotive industry is expected to grow 20 percent from 2012 to 2016, global turbo penetration is expected to grow from 30 percent to 36 percent by 2016, driving volume by more than 50 percent. In the US, this reflects growth from about 10 percent penetration today to roughly 25 percent by 2016.

This HTBB turbocharger combines two passenger-car firsts: a high-temperature variable geometry turbo and a state-of-the-art ball bearing system. The ball bearing technology makes engine start spontaneous irrespective of weather conditions or geographical location, improves vehicle acceleration for passing maneuvers and reduces fuel consumption by up to two percent in the relevant emission cycles.

Beijing, China: Hollysys Automation Technologies, a provider of automation and control technologies and applications in China, has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Concord Corporation signed a retrofit contract with Shaw Brothers Limited to supply and provide installation of mechanical and electrical equipment, fire protection system, civil & structural works, relocation of the existing electrical equipment and replacement of cables and others for Shaw Centre in Singapore, valued at approximately US$14.02 million. The project is expected to be completed

by October of 2012.Shaw Centre is one of the oldest

and most recognised buildings in Singapore and this project will embark the BCA Green Mark Incentive Scheme which was introduced by Building Construction Authority (Singapore) (BCA) in 2005, to provide a meaningful differentiation of buildings which incorporates internationally recognised best practices in environmental design and performance.

Dr Changli Wang, CEO and chairman, Hollysys, commented: "We are pleased to announce this sizable contract win by

Concord and glad to see that Concord is continuously winning contracts despite the current global economic situation. This contract winning also demonstrates the company's smooth and successful integration into Hollysys and its business development is well on track. Meanwhile, Concord is actively working on winning new international businesses in rail and industrial automation sectors in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. We are confident that it will continue to pave our way to a broader market space and to create value for our shareholders."

Hollysys Automation Technologies Announces A US$14.02 Million Contract

Industry News


Beijing, China: Tri-Tech Holding, which provides turn-key water resources management, water and wastewater treatment, industrial safety and pollution control solutions, has announced that it has secured contracts to develop core software systems for flash flood early warning and forecast projects in Beijing. The contracts totaled approximately US$1.59 million.

According to the contracts signed by Tri-Tech's affiliate, Beijing Yanyu Water Tech, the company will provide software systems for flash flood monitoring and forecasting systems for the city of Beijing and eight districts and counties around Beijing. In addition to the development of a series of databases and utility software, the company will be involved in procurement of equipment, system integration and installation, debugging and technical trainings to customers.

Warren Zhao, Joint CEO of Tri-Tech Holding commented: "In July 2011, the company won the flash flood monitoring and forecasting contracts for Changping, Yanqing and Pinggu counties in the Beijing area, and was involved in the implementation of numbers telemetry stations for

Tri-Tech Holding Awarded US$1.59 Million Software Systems Contracts For Flash Flood Early Warning And Forecast In Beijing

flash flood early warning systems. These projects have been completed and were well received by the customers. Our new projects will mainly focus on software systems of flash flood monitoring and forecasting systems for eight districts and counties around Beijing as well as in the city of Beijing itself. As a part of a comprehensive forecast system, our projects will provide early warnings of rain storms, flash floods and debris flow to a majority of the areas around Beijing."

In terms of water conservancy dynamics, Mr Zhao added: "We believe the government's investment in water resource management will continue to grow despite moderate overall economic growth. In 2012, the Chinese government is giving top priority to public health- and safety-related water conservancy infrastructure development. As such, the implementation of flood control and disaster alleviation infrastructures, which ensure the safety of people's lives and properties, has been one of our core business areas. We expect spending will continue to be allocated in these developments in the next several years, and we will maintain stable sales from this key market."

Wuxi, China: Cleantech Solutions International (‘Cleantech Solutions’ or ‘the company’), a manufacturer of metal components and assemblies, primarily used in the wind power, solar and other clean technology industries, has announced that the company has received purchase orders to supply flanges to a wind power customer and an industrial customer for an aggregate amount of US$1.9 million.

The purchase orders provide that the company will deliver 12 units of flanges, amounting to total revenue of US$1.2 million to an international customer and 30 units of flanges amounting to total revenue of RMB4.2 million (approximately US$0.7 million) to a domestic customer. The company has received advance payments of US$0.8 million.

Cleantech Solutions Receives US$1.9 Million Purchase Orders For Flanges

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"While the market environment remains challenging, particularly for wind power companies and suppliers, we have received follow-on purchase orders from our Chinese customer. In addition, we have received a purchase order from a US customer, which we

believe speaks to the quality of our products and reputation as a strong supplier of wind power and other components in both the domestic and international markets," said Jianhua Wu, chairman and CEO, Cleantech Solutions.

Industry News


Beijing, China and Dallas, US: NQ Mobile (formerly known as NetQin Mobile), a provider of mobile Internet services focusing on security, privacy and productivity, has announced its intent to acquire 55 percent of Beijing NationSky Network Technology (‘NationSky’), a provider of mobile services to enterprises in China. This transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2012.

NQ Mobile, having over 60 percent market share in China's consumer mobile security market, is now expanding its footprint into the enterprise market through its majority acquisition of NationSky. NQ Mobile is acquiring 55 percent of NationSky in a cash and share transaction.

"We are proud to be part of NQ Mobile," said Charles Shuli Hou, founder and CEO of NationSky, "Mobile malware and viruses attacks have been steadily increasing, and businesses in China know that they cannot leave their mobile workforce's devices and data at risk. NQ Mobile and NationSky will be able to jointly resolve enterprise mobility security issues," he added.

Mobile devices used in enterprise, such as smartphones and tablets, are at risk from the same threats that target

NQ Mobile Announces Majority Stake Acquisition Of NationSky To Gain Presence In China Enterprise Market

consumer devices- threats such as malware, malicious sites, SMS-related viral attacks, and privacy intrusion. Given the amount of sensitive information that resides on enterprise devices, businesses are proactively seeking protection solutions.

"By becoming the majority owner in NationSky, we are forging a new path into the enterprise market. An investment in NationSky opens up a direct channel for providing mobile security solutions to Chinese enterprises," said Dr Henry Lin, founder, chairman and co-CEO of NQ Mobile.

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Tokyo, Japan: Yokogawa Electric Corporation has announced that its subsidiary Yokogawa Australia has been advised that it will receive orders to supply the control systems for the Ichthys LNG project, which is being developed in Australia.

The Ichthys LNG Project is a joint venture between INPEX (76 percent, the operator) and Total (24 percent). Gas from the Ichthys Field, in the Browse Basin approximately 200 km offshore of Western Australia, will undergo preliminary processing offshore to remove water and extract condensate. The gas will then be exported to onshore processing facilities in Darwin via an 889 km subsea pipeline. The Ichthys LNG Project is expected to produce 8.4

Yokogawa To Receive Control Systems Orders For Ichthys LNG Project In Australia

million tonnes of LNG and 1.6 million tonnes of LPG per annum, along with approximately 100,000 barrels of condensate per day at peak.

In 2009, the company was selected by the Ichthys joint venture to be the main automation contractor for this project. In this role, the company commenced the master planning stage to carry out the control system front-end engineering and design work. With the conclusion of this phase, the Ichthys joint venture has now given the company the go-ahead to supply the control systems for the Ichthys LNG Project. The company expects to receive formal orders from the engineering procurement construction contractors that are building the LNG plant, Central Processing Facility (CPF),

and Floating Production Storage and Offtake (FPSO) vessel. It is estimated that the total order will be the largest the company has ever received for a single project.

The products to be supplied by the company include Centum series integrated production control systems, safety instrumented systems for detecting abnormal conditions and safely initiating emergency shutdowns, Exaquantum plant information management systems, PRM integrated device management packages for monitoring and diagnosis of plant equipment, and OmegaLand operator training systems. The company will also handle the engineering, installation, and commissioning of these products and the training of operators.

Smartphones and tablets are at risk from threats like malware and malicious sites.

Industry News


London, UK: Annual global spending on smart grid technologies, including smart meter implementations, as well as upgrades to transmission and distribution infrastructure, is expected to reach US$65 billion by 2017.

Much of the electricity infrastructure in operation today is antiquated, highly inefficient, and cannot reliably manage the loads of today and tomorrow without significant upgrades taking place. With climate change high on the

Annual Smart Grid Spending To Reach US$65 Billion By 2017

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Kyoto, Japan: Omron Corporation has announced that the company has received the 2012 Integrity Award Grand Prize from Japan's Integrity Award Council. The award honours companies with exemplary initiatives in the areas of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), ethical and regulatory compliance, and internal control.

The company was selected as the winner of the grand prize in recognition of its adherence to its core value of ‘working for the benefit of society.’

Omron Wins Grand Prize At 2012 Integrity AwardsThe company was also recognised for the efforts of senior executives to instill the company’s corporate principles throughout Omron Group globally and encourage their implementation, aiming to share the underlying philosophy with all staff members and deepen their understanding of the company’s principles. Its participation in international CSR initiatives and its assumption of a central role among Japanese companies was also commended.

Hisao Sakuta, chairman of Omron Corporation, attended the ceremony held on March 22, 2012 at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, to receive the award and a trophy. Chairman Sakuta delivered a speech about the efforts of executives in sharing the company’s principles across the group by visiting their offices and factories worldwide, and how it is determined to continue fulfilling its social responsibility around the world by maintaining a high level of corporate integrity.

political agenda and utilities keen to increase operational efficiencies, there is an obvious and pressing need for a complete overhaul of all aspects of the grid in order to make it smarter. To this end, work has begun on ensuring that the smart grid will soon become a reality with large-scale smart metering deployments, which are the most visible example of these efforts.

However, the installation of smart meters is just the tip of the iceberg as far as the smart grid is concerned. “A number of major utilities throughout the world are either actively engaged in or planning the enormous task of connecting grid assets such as substations, capacitor banks, and transformers to their head-end systems for improved monitoring, control, and automation,” says Craig Foster, senior analyst, home automation and M2M, ABI Research.

He continued: “This involves the installation of a plethora of sensors, controls, and other grid optimisation solutions such as synchrophasors and advanced reclosers.”

As such, Transmission and Distribution (T&D) investments are expected to account for the lion’s share of smart grid investments up until 2017. On a cumulative basis, a total of almost US$278 billion will have been invested globally in T&D infrastructure by this time, compared to US$48 billion for the purchase of smart meters, as such illustrating a smart grid opportunity that goes way beyond advanced metering infrastructure.

Ingersoll-Rand South East Asia (Pte) Ltd42 Benoi Road Singapore 629903 Tel: 6861 1555 Fax: 6862 2086Sales Hotline: +65 6860 6734 | Service Hotline: +65 6860 6857Air: [email protected] | Tools, Fluid & Material Handling: [email protected]

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ENQUIRY NO. 426

Industry News


California, US: Volt Service Corporation (‘Volt’), a staffing business unit of Volt Information Sciences, has announced an expanded presence in Asia with the opening of a new location in Singapore. Based in Centennial Tower in Singapore’s central business district, the new office prov ides permanent h i re , contingent staffing, managed services programs, and Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) services for Global 1,000 clients. the company’s Singapore business is led by Ben Batten, director and country general manager.

“Volt’s new office will focus on providing highly skil led professionals in accountancy & finance, engineering, IT, human resources, procurement & supply chain and sales & marketing to meet growing demand across an array of industries,” said Batten. “Through expansion into Singapore, Volt is committed to assist leading clients in Asia in achieving their long-term hiring strategies, while offering highly-sought career opportunities to our local candidates. We are eager to showcase the significant breadth of our consulting staff, servicing resources and candidate attraction strategies,” he added.

Volt Staffing Unit Expands Market Presence In Singapore

California, US: Agilent Technologies has announced that it is offering an enhanced ‘certificate of calibration’ in Singapore. The new certificate includes additional measurement information and provides a tighter linkage to international standards, such as ISO/IEC 17025:2005, for quality and metrology. This will give customers added confidence in the accuracy of their electronic equipment and improve audit readiness.

The enhanced certificate of calibration includes:• Measurementuncertaintyvaluesateverydatapointtoimproveriskanalysis,

vendor comparison and confidence that products meet their design goals. • Aneasy-to-readtraceabilitytablethatgivestrainedspecialiststheabilityto

focus on core activities, instead of collating audit reports and creating required traceability maps to the International System of Units.

• Asinglereportthatincludesacalibrationcertificate,traceabilitytableandmeasurement data. (The consistent layout improves collaborative engineering across regions, teams and products.)

The new certificate is available through Agilent Advantage Services, which provides calibration, repair and instrument management services to maximise the value of instruments over their lifetime.

Agilent Technologies Announces Availability Of Enhanced Calibration Certificate In Singapore

Relocation Notice

Effective from May 7, 2012, Faulhaber’s Singapore office change of address: Faulhaber Singapore Pte Ltd25 International Business Park#04-102 German CentreSingapore 609916Tel: 6562 8276Fax: 6562 8249

California, US: Hanwha Solar, a global solar company and manufacturer of silicon ingots, wafers and Photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, has announced its participation in the Vision House in Innoventions at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort. The company is providing solar PV panels for the experiential exhibit in Innoventions at Epcot, which will give visitors a practical look at green building technologies.

The Vision House is a large home with realistic living space and interior decor. Innoventions cast members will lead Vision House guests through a guided tour, featuring building science fundamentals, integrated design elements, green products, and intelligent systems that aim to enhance the home's sustainability. Throughout the exhibit, visitors are encouraged to consider how they can reduce their personal impact on the planet, as well as changes they can implement in their own homes to make them more sustainable and durable.

Hanwha Solar Panels Selected For Vision House

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Industry updates


The ‘Certified Profibus Engineer’ course is a worldwide recognised training program. It was founded to create a platform for Profibus engineers who are acknowledged by an official exam.

Dennis van Booma from Procentec Netherlands, conducted a successful certified Profibus engineer training session in Singapore.

Ten engineers from a variety of industries all over ASEAN attended the training to learn the true essence of Profibus DP and PA. They all passed the exam and are now ready to serve their region.

The following companies now have new certified engineers:

Masstron Thai land, Siemens S ingapore, S iemens Malays ia , Rovisys Asia Company Singapore, Pepperl + Fuchs Singapore, MSD International Singapore Branch, Pteris

Global Limited Singapore, Wilhelmsen Ship Management Norway, Micron Semiconductor Asia Singapore.

The Certified Profibus Engineer course is an intensive hands-on and theoretical 3.5 day training program. On the last day there will be an exam. After passing the exam, the participant gets the title ‘Certified Engineer’ and

will be officially registered.The Certified PA module takes

1.5 days and is fully concentrated on Profibus PA. It is only accessible for people who have passed the standard Certified Profibus Engineer course. The next certified training class is planned for November 2012.

Certified Training In Singapore

Korea Profibus Association (KPA) and PI (Profibus & Profinet International) have succeeded in standardising their technologies in South Korea. On December 30, 2011, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) announced both Profinet and Profibus as Korean standards (Korean Standards Numbers KS C 61784-1, KS C 61158-3-3, KS C 61158-4-3, KS C 61158-5-3, and KS C 61158-6-3 were assigned for Profibus DP and PA, and KS C 61784-1, KS C 61784-2, KS C 61158- 5-10, and KS C 61158-6-10 were assigned for Profinet).

“We are pleased that the Profibus and Profinet communication technologies, which have already been successfully

introduced in Korea, have now been adopted as national standards,” stated Young-Sik Cha, chairman of the Korea Profibus Association. He continued: “The standards apply to Profibus, Profibus PA, and Profinet, as well as to applications for process automation.”

The communication technologies of Profibus and Profinet International are the only ones that can meet the specific requirements of industrial applications, regardless of the industry sector, ranging from process and production automation to real-time applications with Profinet.

KPA has been present in the South Korean market since 1999 and together with its 44 member companies is

one of the most active groups in the Asian market. The result being that Profibus and Profinet have been among the leading fieldbuses in the South Korean automation market for years, as evidenced by the government-owned company K-Water. These technologies are also constantly growing in the fields of steel, automobiles, shipbuilding, semiconductors, chemicals, and heavy industries.

Cont inued strong growth of Profibus and Profinet in South Korea can be expected as a result of their successful adoption as standards and the expansion of the regional support centre.

ENQUIRY NO. 4101

Successful Standardisation In South Korea

ENQUIRY NO. 4102

The ‘Certified Profibus Engineer’ course participants.

©2012 Schneider Electric. All Rights Reserved. All trademarks are owned by Schneider Electric Industries SAS or its affiliated companies. 10 Ang Mo Kio Street 65 #02-17/20 TechPoint Singapore 569059 Tel: +65 6480 2001 • 998-2577_SG-GB

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How much energy and money could you save with open, scalable water treat-ment solutions from Schneider ElectricTM? The price of water is a sensitive issue — one which necessitates full management and control of your operating expens-es. And so, it’s important to realise that the choices you make during the design and build phase will have consequences throughout the life cycle of your facility.

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Our tested architectures integrate our best automation, motor control, electrical distribution equipment and software solutions, all complying with both international standards and local certifications. And, what’s more, essential features, including both security and remote monitoring, are fully integrated into the Schneider Electric offer, meaning that you need look no further for an all-in-one treatment solution.

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ENQUIRY NO. 443

Newsdesk

20 industrial automation asia | May 2009

Newsdesk


In industrial appl icat ions, the majority of the electronics are safely protected in control cabinets. In vehicles or outdoor machinery, however, automation equipment has to deal with much harsher environmental conditions, including extreme mechanical stress due to shock and vibration as well as heat, cold and moisture.

S t r i n g e n t d e m a n d s o n availability and short startup times in addition to frequently fluctuating supply voltage for onboard electrical systems represent a significant challenge for system developers. As a result, solutions depend greatly on the interaction between system electronics and mechanics.

Developing The Right ProductIn 2010, B&R acquired Mondial, which has been developing and manufacturing HMI and control units since 1992, of which some provide CAN or CANopen connectivity. The company will combine its controller design skills with the outdoor experiences of Mondial. Products based on these synergies have already

based interface (CANopen; ISO 11783/Isobus, or J1939) allows the integration of dedicated equipment for commercial vehicles.

Mobile Automation SolutionsAutomated tasks in mobile machines have the same functional requirements as those in industrial automation. For this reason, the software for mobile automation systems is also written, tested and configured for use on specific hardware in the same development environment as all other products, ie: the Automation Studio.

This allows HMI, operation, control and logging programs to be developed as part of a c o m p l e t e p ro j e c t w i t h o u t having to use multiple project d e v e l o p m e n t t o o l s . T h e company’s operating system, which has already proven its value over many years, runs directly on the devices themselves.

After more than 15 years of service, the Automation Studio deve lopment and runt ime system is a product comprising accumulated experience and customer feedback from many areas of industrial automation. These same advantages are now also available to developers of mobile automation solutions, whether it be the set of function libraries or the simulation, analysis and diagnostic tools.

ENQUIRY NO. 4103

been developed that range from operating and monitoring devices using remote CPU and I/O units for cabs and outdoor machines to powerful control system computers with PC architecture.

The product line also includes all of the components required to implement complete solutions for mobile automation. The MA120

controllers for use in vehicle cabs and the MA170 for use in outdoor applications as well as engine compartments are first members of the modular vehicle automation system.

These devices come equipped as distributed control nodes with an X20-compatible CPU and up to 16 I/O modules. They are available as analogue, digital or supply modules in a number of different variations and are ideal for optimising individually designed systems.

The experience gained in developing similar modules for industrial applications was put to good use to give the d e c e n t r a l i s e d M A 1 2 0 a n d MA170 control nodes maximum functionality and a compact design. The integration of CAN-

Shaken, Not stirred!Mobile Automation:

Stringent demands on availability and short startup times in addition to frequently fluctuating supply voltage for onboard electrical systems represent a significant challenge for system developers.

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The Fieldbus Foundation has announced its support for a new International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) report that provides guidance to end users for selecting an industry-standard device integration technology encompassing all host systems, field instruments and device protocols.

The new technical report, IEC 61804-6 Ed 1: Function Blocks (FB) for process control - Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL) - Part 6: Meeting the requirements for integrating fieldbus devices in engineering tools for field devices, explains the requirements for field device integration and how they are met using the EDDL standard (IEC 61804-3).

A Universal Method EDDL is a universal method for accessing diagnostic, real-time and asset management information contained in more than 20 million field devices from the world’s instrumentation manufacturers. EDDL has the power to integrate field devices for optimal control strategies and consistent Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) across

different platforms. The technology extends interoperability to the HMI and diagnostic data levels with improved visualisation and graphical capabilities.

The IEC report is based on the recommendations of NAMUR, an international end user association o f automat ion technology

in the process industries. The NAMUR NE105 specification was published in 2004 to clearly define requirements for device integration technologies enabling a mixture of sophisticated device types, based on different protocols from multiple manufacturers, and keeping control systems up to date with new versions of these devices. Device integration technology impacts both the ease of use for devices and system administration.

The Fieldbus Foundation’s global marketing manager, Larry O’Brien, said: “This report is good news for automation end users because it illustrates how EDDL can satisfy key requirements for integrating the large amount of data provided by today’s fieldbus devices with the applications that

must turn that data into useful information, not just Foundation fieldbus devices, but all devices that rely on EDDL technology.”

Independent Standard As a standard that is totally independent o f computer operating systems, EDDL protects investments in control systems and devices by ensuring obsolescence cycles are not shortened by new Microsoft Windows versions.

Future devices with EDDL files can be commissioned without upgrading Windows. Likewise, a new version of Windows does not require updated drivers in existing devices; new device management software can be installed while still supporting the older equipment. it also avoids version conflicts with system software, since its files do not require software installation for loading and are non-executable.

Independent Testing The Fieldbus Foundation provides independent testing of Foundation f ieldbus devices, including their EDDL files, to ensure interoperability, interchangeability and compatibility. Devices that pass these tests carry the official Foundation registration mark and are listed the official Fieldbus Foundation website. Host systems are also tested to ensure support for the EDDL standard.

Fieldbus Foundation: ‘New IEC Technical Report Is Good News For Automation End Users’


ENQUIRY NO. 4104

EDDL has the power to integrate field devices for optimal control strategies and consistent Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) across different platforms.

we make it easy

Learn the truth about wireless. Go to www.thewirelessplant.com ©2011 Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved.

It’s true. Honeywell OneWireless provides the most choice in wireless solutions.Honeywell OneWireless addresses both plant-wide and application-specific needs providing greater mobility, safety, security, efficiency, and productivity for your people and processes. If you’re looking for wireless

solutions that perform better and deliver the lowest total cost of ownership, talk to the world leader in wireless technology. We make it easy for you to solve your most pressing process and business issues.

ENQUIRY NO. 449

ENQUIRY NO. 4105

24 industrial automation asia | June/July 201224 industrial automation asia | June/July 2012

Dr Guido Beckmann explains the EtherCAT demo network with 12.5µs cycle time shown at the 2012 edition of the Hannover Fair Exhibition.

The EtherCAT Technology Group displayed an EtherCAT network with a 12.5µs cycle time at the 2012 edition of Hannover Messe. The network featured a master with a purely software-based solution loaded on a standard industrial PC and 15 standard slave devices.

“EtherCAT’s unique design allows it to utilise Ethernet bandwidth better than any other solution. This inherently makes it the fastest Industrial Ethernet network,” says Dr Guido Beckmann, chairman of the EtherCAT Technology Group Technical Committee. He continued: “Even for the fastest cycle times, we need neither specialised hardware for the master nor a new generation of slave chips. Furthermore and regardless of cycle time, EtherCAT can also transmit any other Ethernet traffic such as TCP/IP. We are doing all this and more with EtherCAT Version 1, because that is the only version that exists.”

EtherCAT was initially introduced in 2003 and has been stable since its publication by IEC in mid-2005. “Of course there have been enhancements by the ETG’s technical working groups, for instance at the device profile level” explains Dr Beckmann. “The EtherCAT protocol itself has not been

changed for a long time, and it is used by all EtherCAT devices in the same way. In addition to outstanding performance, we consider stability and reliability to be the most important distinguishing characteristics

EtherCAT Demonstrates 12.5µs Cycle Time

of our technology: these are the very reasons that we also have the widest vendor and device selection in the entire market by far,” he added.

The ETG booth at Hannover Messe 2012 showed over 270 EtherCAT products from 67 ETG member companies.

June/July 2012 | industrial automation asia 25June/July 2012 | industrial automation asia 25

The recent EtherCAT Plugfest could not accommodate all interested participants, four weeks before the event registration had to be closed due to space constraints. Finally, 47 developers representing 29 EtherCAT product vendors participated at the event, which was hosted this time by ETG member company TR-Electronic in Trossingen, Germany. At the Plugfest,

For the first time the global ETG staff gathered for a strategy meeting. ETG team members from all five regional offices — China, Japan, South Korea, US, and Germany — presented the situation in their part of the world, highlighting both the success stories and the special challenges. The reports confirmed the ETG principle not to impose the same approach in every region, but to implement an individual strategy that is carefully adapted to the local conditions. So even though there is only one EtherCAT Technology Group, the local offices have the freedom to match the needs of the local members and to promote the technology in an adequate way.

ETG staff from all five ETG offices met for the first global ETG strategy meeting.ENQUIRY NO. 4106

ENQUIRY NO. 4107

EtherCAT Plugfest Overbooked

the interoperability of EtherCAT devices was tested and improved by connecting master and slave devices of various vendors, both one by one and in groups. Furthermore, the EtherCAT Conformance Test Tool is applied. ETG holds Plugfests twice a year in Europe, and once a year in Asia and North America. The next plugfest in Asia will be held end of October, 2012 in Yokohama, Japan.

Impression from the EtherCAT Interoperability meeting called ‘Plugfest’.

Global ETG Strategy Meeting Held In Germany

Representatives from 29 companies attended the recent ETG Plugfest.


issues & insights

Cyber security involves the safeguarding of information on computers, which includes protection of information and property from

theft, corruption, or natural disasters, while allowing the information and property to remain accessible and productive for its intended users.

Cyber security risks were inherited by adopting open IT standards. The current generation of automation systems utilises open standards such as IEC 60870-5-104, DNP 3.0 and IEC 61850 and commercial technologies, in particular Ethernet and TCP/IP based communication protocols. They also enable connectivity to external networks, such as office intranet and internet. These changes in technology have brought huge benefits from an operational perspective, but they have also introduced cyber security concerns previously known only from office or enterprise IT systems.

Fortunately, cyber security mechanisms have been developed in a large number of enterprise environments to address these risks. These mechanisms allow for the design and development of cyber security solutions specifically for control systems utilising current technology. One of the most widely used security standards today is ISO/IEC 27002 which started in 1995. This standard consists of two basic parts. BS 7799 part 1 and BS 7799 part 2 both of which were created by the British Standards Institute

(BSI). This standard later became the ISO 27001.

Network Automation SystemsCyber security features on networked automation systems can range from a simple password access to intrusion prevention software. Multi-level password requirements are the most common and easy to implement, where different passwords are needed to access different levels of confidentiality.

Virtual Private Networking (VPN) is a technology that is used to provide secure communication links over networks. Information confidentiality, sender authentication, message integrity, and uses IPSec (IP Security) for encryption and authentication of IP packets are usually part of the VPN.

Firewalls are another common feature in a network, which control traffic between different zones of trust within a network. Part of this function includes Network Address Translation (NAT), to prevent unauthorised or malicious activity, initiated by outside hosts, from reaching the internal LAN.

For securing information flows, various encryption algorithms (DES, 3DES, AES) can be utilised to obscure information and make it unreadable without special knowledge.

Lastly, an intrusion detection system can be installed to detect various types of malicious or abnormal network traffic and computer usage that

In Automation

With the increased use of remote computing and wireless networks, new emphasis must be placed on building robust systems to securely transport and use critical data. By Augustine Quek

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procedures; and the execution and implementation of security upgrades and procedures.

In addition to the power industry, the water and wastewater industry is also demanding cyber security services and products. Documented security breaches at water and wastewater facilities worldwide are among the factors spurring calls by a number of organisations, including the American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation, for increased cyber-security vigilance. According to Emerson Process Management, municipalities are facing mounting pressure to step up their cyber-security initiatives as part of their overall efforts to safeguard public health and the environment.

In ConclusionCyber security has become an urgent issue in many industries where advanced automation and communications networks play a crucial role in mission critical applications and where high reliability is of paramount importance.

The electric utility, process, water and wastewater markets have special needs not found in a typical commercial or office environment. These systems typically require a higher level of performance and predictability, which cyber security measures are now beginning to provide.

cannot be detected by a conventional firewall. This is used specifically to detect various types of network ‘attacks’ (eg: worms, viruses) and unauthorised activities (eg: unauthorised logins, files access).

Cyber Security MeasuresA common use of cyber security measures in automation systems are in power grids and power supply automation. A modern substation contains vast amounts of data, subsets of which are of interest to control centres or enterprise applications and users. The electric power grid has evolved significantly over the past decade thanks to many technological advancements and breakthroughs. As a result, the emerging ‘Smart Grid’ is quickly becoming a reality. At the heart of these intelligent advancements are specialised IT systems — various control and automation solutions such as substation automation systems. To provide end users with comprehensive real-time information and allow for higher reliability and greater level of control, these systems have become more and more interconnected.

Invensys Operations Management has unveiled a range of technology and services designed to help clients protect power plant assets from cyber attacks. Part of the company’s I/A Series 8.5 suite of offerings, the cyber-security solution includes control system enhancements and consulting services that support compliance requirements of new cyber-security standards, such as those put forth by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). Through a combination of system-centric and consulting solutions, the company claims that it delivers a number of benefits, the first of which is a reduction in risk associated with cyber-security threats.

Among the I/A Series technology features that support cyber-security protection and compliance are: the ability to create stronger passwords, such as by mixing types of characters, controlling length and managing failed-password attempts and password ageing; the ability to reduce lock-down security vulnerability; and strengthening workstation hardware to remove unused programs, services and ports. Primary control processors used in I/A Series systems also have Level 1 Achilles Certification from Wurldtech, a provider of cyber-security testing and certification for critical infrastructure industries.

Depending on the client’s situation, a typical Invensys cyber-security consulting offering includes: gap analysis assessment against standards; the development of a plan to address shortcomings; the development of an overall security architecture; integration with IT and other systems and procedures; the validation of cyber-security policies and

ENQUIRY NO. 4201

process control


Universal Robotics was founded in 2005, in Denmark, by research students with the aim

of developing safe, flexible, and user friendly robots. Enrico Krog Iversen is the current CEO of the company with plans to take on Asia.

IAA: Tell me about your range of robotic solutions and their functionality?Enrico Krog Iversen (EKI): The robots that we have can do exactly the same as all the other robots. The main difference being that we have designed our robots to be easy for the operator to program and control. We have designed a graphical user interface that makes programming the robot very easy. This means you can learn how to program our robots in a few hours, rather than weeks or months with existing traditional robots.

Another big difference of our robots is that they are in accordance with ISO standards for collaborative robots, meaning our robots can directly collaborate with humans in different applications. Also, our mechanical design is very light and flexible so our robots are easily moved and installed where needed.

IAA: What are the company’s top industries?

EKI: Our robots are used in a very wide range of industries, with applications in the automotive, food, plastic, and pharmaceutical industr ies . We have smal l companies using our robots but we also have very large companies using our robots too.

We are not really focused on a specific industry but we are more focused on applications and deciding if our robots are suitable or not.

IAA: What partnerships do you have in Asia?EKI: We have a partner in Singapore, called Zacobria, which acts as our distributor mainly for Singapore and Malaysia. Universal Robots itself focuses 100 percent on the actual robots so our partners job is to take our robots and to use them to solve problems for customers.

We also have other partnerships in Asia. We have two in Thailand, one in Japan, and we have partnerships in South Korea also. In China we have partners there too and a sale representative who is based in Shanghai, China.

IAA: What countries are you located in and what is your market share in those countries? ENQUIRY NO. 4301

Danish Robots

IAA spoke with Enrico Krog Iversen, CEO, Universal Robotics on his company and his plans for Asia. By Mark Johnston

EKI: Asia is new to us so we are in the process of developing our business here. In terms of market share we do not have any significant number to share for Asia as we are still new.

In Denmark, which is our home market, we have quite good market share, hovering around 20 percent. In Germany we are also doing well. It also depends on how you define the market. If you define the market as robots with 5-10 kg payloads then I think we have a good market share. If you define the market as including all industrial robots, for example, robots used for handling and welding in the automotive industry then our market share is relatively small because we do not operate products in this category.

IAA: Do you see greater opportunity for growth in Asia, than you do in Europe and if so, why?EKI: I see a lot of potential in Asia. There are very strong economies in Asia compared to Europe. China is the fastest growing market for robots in the world, and South Korea is very strong. I think this trend will continue.

IAA: What is your growth strategy going forward?EKI: The last couple of years we have been growing at around 250 percent a year, which I am not sure we can maintain, but I would at least say we will be able to double our business every year. We would do this by expanding into different markets, releasing new products, and adding new features to existing products.

IAA: What are the company’s unique selling points?EKI: It is safety, flexibility, and easy programming. Those are our three unique selling points.

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©2012 Schneider Electric. All Rights Reserved. All trademarks are owned by Schneider Electric Industries SAS or its affiliated companies. 10 Ang Mo Kio Street 65 #02-17/20 TechPoint Singapore 569059 Tel: +65 6480 2001 email: [email protected] • 998-4981_SG-GB

Industrial_Automation_Asia_0601_44847y_SG.indd 1 2012-5-24 16:45:33

ENQUIRY NO. 446

process control


Zwick, based in Ulm-Einsingen, Germany, began manufacturing testing machines back in 1938. The company is steeped in tradition and its

product range covers materials testing machines for compression, tensile and bending tests on material specimens, workpieces and components. In order to enable the testing systems to work around the clock and with consistent accuracy, the company has automated the handling of specimens using robots from Kuka.

The fact that remote control units and cell phones are pleasing and comfortable to hold is the result of extensive processes in the field of materials research. Plastic and steel manufacturers define the properties that the materials they use in production must have. In many cases, large numbers of trials are required before the desired material properties are achieved.

Safe Handling Of Specimens By RobotKuka robots are used at Zwick for handling specimens; the robot moves the test objects from

Testing To The Limits

Robotics from Kuka provide the accuracy and reliability needed by Zwick, for material testing. By Stefanie Senft, product manager, Kuka Roboter

Case Study:

A to B. Specimens can be anything from pieces or strips of metal to insulin pens or parts for medical components. Large steel bars are also tested, measuring up to 700 mm in length and weighing up to 15 kg. “A specimen is destroyed in 80 to 90 percent of the cases,” explains Robert Kaifler, automation product manager, Zwick.

He continued: “The resulting control parameters are subsequently fed into the production system to optimise it. The principle is the same whether the system is a steel rolling mill, an injection moulding machine or a machine for manufacturing insulin pens.”

Precision For Accurate MeasurementsMaterials testing requires the highest possible accuracy. The slightest deviation in the motion changes the material characteristics. For this reason, Zwick has been automating its materials testing machines with Kuka robots for over 10 years. The objective of the robotic testing system is


to reduce deviations to a minimum. The main task of the robot is the exact loading and positioning of the material to be tested. It is only with a robotic system that materials testing really has a reproducible process without loss of value — the cycles are fixed.

The testing volume has risen significantly in recent years. The number of employees in the laboratory, on the other hand, is constantly decreasing. The available employees can only be used for value-adding work. Monotonous tasks and repetitive procedures that nonetheless require maximum accuracy are reliably performed by the robot — round the clock if necessary.

The Specimen Makes It Safely From A To BWhen materials are tested in the plastics industry, the temperature plays a decisive role: if a specimen is touched by hand, the material characteristics change due to body temperature. Manual testing methods are as such always problematical. One way of attempting to filter out this negative effect is to use a robotic hand at room temperature.

A normal test takes between one and three minutes. “In the past, materials testing was carried out by hand,” explains Mr Kaifler. “Obviously, the results were not always exact.” The main focus is therefore on the precision and accuracy of the robot.

“The test is standardised and the speed predefined,” says Wolfgang Mörsch, inside sales and marketing manager, Zwick. He continued: “The most important thing for us is that the specimen is moved reliably and precisely from A to B.”

Automated Testing SystemsZwick customers mostly conduct standard tests. “The primary objective is, of course, cost reduction,” explains Mr Kaifler. Eighty percent of applications for the company’s robots with the Zwick testing systems involve destructive testing, while 20 percent are accounted for by non-destructive materials testing. The most commonly used robot types are the KR 6, KR 30 and KR 60. The company has meanwhile installed around a hundred automated systems which are in operation worldwide.

Plannable And Traceable Sequences In Medical TechnologyThe reproducibil ity of the test results is indispensable when testing medical products. In order to live up to these requirements, Zwick has developed a fully-automatic system for testing insulin pens. A zwicki-Line materials testing

machine with integrated torsion drive, combined with a KR 5 sixx from Kuka, ensures exact and cost-effective testing. For some years, the company has been more actively involved in the field of medical technology. The testing machine measures the dosage setting and triggering force and calculates the administered dose in one continuous process. Test methods on the two test axes can be modified and combined as required.

Automated specimen feed is carried out using the robotic handling system. Falsification of the test results caused by operator influence is eliminated. The test process is made significantly more efficient by the increased specimen throughput, while testing can also be performed manually at any time if required.

The automated Zwick testing systems can also be used to test the force required to unroll gauze bandages, the material properties of dental syringes or the child-proof caps of medicine containers. “A production process for medical products must be seamlessly documented in accordance with the FDA directive. Here, once again, automation with Kuka robots ensures precisely plannable and traceable sequences,” emphasises Mr Kaifler.

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ENQUIRY NO. 4302

Universal module for allmotions on the robot

Triflex RS

igus® Singapore Pte Ltd15 Shaw Road, #03-02 Singapore 367953

TEL: +65 6487 1411 FAX: +65 6487 1511 Email: [email protected]

process control


S ince t ime immemor ia l , people have dreamed of creating artificial human

beings. Nowadays, modern technology is capable of realising this dream in the form of the humanoid robot. Even if there is still a considerable amount of development work necessary, every project has to take those first steps.

As an initial stage in this process, a humanoid service robot that works autonomously already offers a wide range of benefits. Apart from the interact ion of the many

components used, the main challenge is the power supply and the space required for the various par ts . Microdrives represent an ideal solution for resolving these two key issues. The i r cons iderab le power density, combined with high

Microdrives give humanoid service robots

human traits. Contributed by Vester Tan, area manager,

Faulhaber (Singapore)

FaceCase Study:

The

Of The

Future


efficiency and minimal space requirement, improves the power -to -weight rat io and allows the robot to operate for long periods without having to recharge batteries.

The more human- l ike a robot should be, the more sophisticated the mechatronic engineering input necessary. Particularly in sectors requiring ‘human social behaviours’, eg: for service functions or providing information in places such as museums, airports or hospitals, sophisticated technology for robot construction is a must.

F o r m a n y y e a r s , t h e Barcelona-based company Pal Robotics has been working on the construction of humanoid robots for special applications. Non-verbal communication, eg: body language, also plays an important role in increasing the acceptance of humanoid robots. In order to accommodate as many functions as possible in the predefined robot body, the robotics experts have been working with Schönaich-based microdrive specialist Faulhaber. The outcome has been a robot model that exhibits human traits and is capable of emphasising certain statements by means of ‘body language’.

Service Robots For Practical ApplicationsHumanoid robots intended to perform everyday functions have to satisfy certain conditions. The developers wanted to integrate capabilities such as information output, minor transport tasks and service functions into the company’s ‘Reem’ robots. This resulted in a robot height of 1.65 m, so that it can communicate with humans at eye level. It was also important that the robot should not be excessively heavy, although there EN

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. 4

38ifm electronic – close to you!ifm electronic Pte LtdSingaporeTel: +65 [email protected]

MalaysiaTel: +603 [email protected]

Three products we have developed for you with passion: your specialists for drinking water treatment.Inline flow sensor efector mid: conforms tothe drinking water approval KTW/W270, compact and low cost. Exact measurement of the water quantity, e.g. for effective control of legionella.Level sensor efector gwr: shorten the stain-less steel probe to any length for individual adaptation to the tank.Contact manometer: electronic, wear-free,high precision, with analogue and digital display.

Measurements that hold water

Projekt2 11.05.2012 13:57 Uhr Seite 1

was a need for a low centre of gravity and space to house the necessary batteries.

The current robot model weighs around 90 kg, sufficient for one set of batteries allowing eight hours of autonomous operation. In addition to its unladen weight, this service

robot can also carry up to 30 kg effective load on its lower loading platform. Each arm can move up to 3 kg independently. In this case, wheels located in the base of the robot ensure effective locomotion. On the one hand, this ensures minimal power consumption and quiet running,

process control


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while on the other the design provides sufficient mobility for the planned application of up to 4 km/h.

As well as a touch screen for the various programmable a p p l i c a t i o n s , t h e r o b o t i s a l s o e q u i p p e d w i t h a microphone, stereo camera, laser and ultrasound sensors, accelerometers and gyroscopes. These devices enable the robot to identify its current position in the room, move around autonomously in its area of work and avoid sudden obstacles or people walking across its path.

Two DC microdrives in the robot’s neck and waist provide the necessary expressiveness. T h a n k s t o t h e i r c o m p a c t dimensions, the drives can be used even in these two ‘constricted’ areas. The small actuators can move head and torso independently of one another and allow them to assume

different postures. This enables the robot to imitate human traits using body language suited to the respective situation.

Microdrives Offer FlexibilityMicrodrives do not just replicate larger motors, they often offer better dynamics, higher output or greater efficiency than you would expect as a result of a mere reduction in size. In practice, this means that very high short-term overload capabilities are possible without affecting service life. This proves particularly advantageous when it comes to executing the less frequent but temporary actions necessary to mimic specific gestures.

As well as these features typical of al l micromotors, the various models come with further benefits depending on the application in hand. Stepper motors offer accurate positioning without additional

encoders thanks to a defined step width per control pulse. Brushless drives run even at minimal supply voltages and are as such ideal for autonomous, battery-backed systems that are designed not to fail immediately in the event of a voltage drop. Electronically commutated DC motors represent the best option for long service life and maximum dynamics. Intelligent motion controllers can control the drive in four-quadrant operation and reduce the load on the robot controller.

B y m e a n s o f d i f f e re n t gear motor combinations, all miniature devices can be set to an application-specific speed or the required output torque. The fact that micromotors have for a long time already been in use in ‘robotised’ aids, such as motor-powered hand and leg prostheses, shows that they meet the most stringent requirements not just for human robotics.

The range of applications for modern microdrives is very varied, with a wide range of designs available depending on application. In itself, however, this does not yet guarantee universal use under all circumstances. This is where the system concept comes into play. I t is the extensive range of accessories, from control modules such as motion controllers, encoders, bus connections, various gear heads and ultimately the adapted, flexible control electronics that make microdrives the ideal mechanical ‘muscle’ in robot manufacture.

ENQUIRY NO. 4303

Microdrives do not just replicate larger motors, they often offer better dynamics, higher output or greater efficiency than you would expect as a result of a mere reduction in size.

Sensors and a touch screen allow the robot to get its bearings and communicate.

ENQUIRY NO. 445

Multiple workcells

Setup with ease.The RC620 with built-in PC lets you achieve maximum productivity on one simple system. Reduce programming overheads with our easy-to-use Epson RC+ programming software that runs in Microsoft® Windows® for all Epson robot controllers.

Control multiple robots. Control a maximum of 8 axes from a single RC620 controllerwith additional drive unit expansion capabilities to control a greater number of axes.

Backup your controller with one-touch.For peace of mind, all Epson robot controllers come with a USB interface for easy one-button backup of control programs and error logs.

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RC180 Simple compact controller

RC90 LS series dedicated controller

IAA interviewed senior executives from ABB (Singapore), and as they explain, collaboration is a key approach to their DCS strategy.

DistributeD Control systems


Over the last few decades, the process industry has been the arena of technological

innovation, driven by the increasing demands on product quality and efficiency, as well as increased globalisation and stringent environmental regulations.

Within the process industry space, ABB’s automation solution, System 800xA, is currently utilised in more than 7,500 installations worldwide. ARC Advisory Group’s annual report on DCS suppliers named ABB as the number one global DCS supplier in 2010, a position held since 2000.

IAA spoke with ABB executives, namely Hakan Nytorp, Group VP for Control Technologies (South Asia and India); Alfred Lee, VP for Strategic Marketing; Madhav Kalia, VP for Regional Marketing Unit; and Lee Kok Yeong, VP for Product and Partner Sales, about how ABB’s control technology systems and solutions address the demands of process industries.

IAA: Where and how does Control Technologies fit into ABB’s portfolio of offerings?Hakan Nytorp (HN): Control Technologies is one of the ABB business units under the Process Automation division. Our unit is in charge of leveraging the company’s automation systems and control solutions for various process-centered industries such as pulp and paper, metals, minerals, oil and gas, chemicals, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical. We serve our customers either directly or via our network of channel partners and system integrators.

IAA: DCS is at the heart of almost every complex, energy-intensive, high-tech process. How is ABB navigating this space?HN: Tradi t ional ly, control products and solutions have been based on a technically integrated solution with safety functions. About 25 years ago, it started with

TheABBWay

integrating PLC functions into the DCS. Since then, we have seen consistent developments, with the biggest development happening in the last five years. We have enhanced our DCS functionality, safety solution and collaborations capability as a core part of Extended Automation.

Now, the company has moved towards Collaborative Process Automation, an ARC terminology that fits into our mission. That is: to get the individual operator, the process and all systems to collaborate perfectly, so that it is not only a technical collaboration or integration; rather, it is an entire sphere of collaboration that extends beyond the control room walls to encompass the entire operations centre.

IAA: What is the focus of ABB’s control solution?HN: With our control systems and solutions, the key point that we are stressing is ‘Operator Effectiveness.’ We place great importance on how the plant operator interacts with the control room — and we do not mean just the relationship of the operator and the screen. We look at the design of the control room, and ensure the alertness of the operator, for instance. The System 800xA is built based on a spectrum of functionalities: everything from traditional DCS functionalities to electrical integration and, of course, process control and Manufacturing Enterprise System. It also integrates very nicely with third-party applications.

IAA: Tell us more about the differentiators of ABB’s DCS system.Alfred Lee (AL): Indeed, ‘Operator Effectiveness’ is one of our four pillars of differentiators. In designing our solution, we have the operator in mind. Imagine a plant operation that encounters an

Distributed Control System:

From left: Alfred Lee, Hakan Nytorp, Madhav Kalia, Lee Kok Yeong


‘abnormal event.’ Now, picture the operator bombarded with all sorts of alarms and data, and spending time trying to access the relevant device, and ultimately making the decision to shut down altogether the whole process. This unplanned shutdown may cost upwards to a quarter million dollars per hour.

With ‘Operator Effectiveness’, the company goes beyond operator graphics and alarm management strategies. The company’s solution is designed to empower the operator not just relevant and actionable information, but also detailed access to all types of devices, and in a workplace environment that is conducive to alertness and productivity.

With ‘Automation and Power Integration,’ we address industries that are sensitive to power consumption, downtime and productivity. By having electrical equipment (eg: motors, drives and switchgears) and substations equipment (eg: transformers and relays) integrated into the plant process control system, operations can continue to run despite power interruptions, consume energy commensurate only to process needs, and reduce costs and risks across the whole plant.

‘Integrated Safety’ is a feature of almost every DCS supplier. The company differentiates itself from the rest by having a solution that achieves SIL 3 by using embedded diversity rather than redundant component. Another feature is using a common hardware and engineering tool for both safety and process.

Wi t h ‘ E n t e r p r i s e A s s e t Management,’ the company differentiates itself from others by providing asset management solutions for the whole enterprise. For a complex operation, this means it can monitor, maintain and optimise all of its assets plant-wide, including process controls and electrical equipment.

IAA: Would you say that the DCS is applicable to all industries?HN: We have three systems that we are currently managing and marketing. System 800xA is our flagship product and the other two are Freelance and Compact 800.

AL: Freelance is a fit-for-purpose, robust and easy-to-configure DCS system designed for general industries. This solution is something you can ‘install and forget,’ as such allowing the end customers to have peace of mind. The Compact 800 is basically the System 800xA in a PLC configuration which means the databases for the Human-Machine Interface and the controllers are separate. This primarily targets the OEM market.

IAA: How does ABB go to market with these control solutions?Lee Kok Yeong (LKY): Apart from servicing end customers directly, we reach out to the market via a network of partners spread across the globe all the way to local levels. These partners and system integrators are trained and certified to carry ABB products and services. We provide them with training, certification, resources and marketing plans.

As an authorised value provider, partners get access to a wealth of applications and knowledge from the company, as well as technical and support expertise from within the organisation. We also support our partners by providing them avenues to expand business on a global scale.

IAA: Beyond traditional process control, where can one apply control technologies?HN: We will continue to enhance our solutions to all existing

markets, and these existing markets are far from reaching saturation point. However, an interesting new vertical has come into the picture.

Madhav Kalia (MK): We are aggressively moving into the data centre space. In February 2012, ABB selected Singapore to be the regional hub for data centre solution development and support. This is our first regional hub for data centre technology in the Asia Pacific market, focusing on Decathlon, a suite of software, hardware, and services specifically for data centre management. It leverages the extended automation system plus software for large scale data centre operations.

IAA: What more can we expect from ABB and innovations around the DCS?HN: The company’s R&D direction involves electrical integration. We have always recognised electrical integration as an integral part of its DCS. In the last five years, the standard IEC 61850 has become a huge differentiator for us. This will continue to drive and run throughout our integration concept.

MK: China is in our radar. We aim to meet the challenges posed by emerging Chinese suppliers. We have formed a company, Winmation, whose structure is customised for local Chinese markets. It is a demonstration of our corporate value: We think globally, act locally.

LKY: We are investing heavily on our channel partners, as we foresee a future driven by partners with deep vertical experience at both the local and global levels.

ENQUIRY NO. 4401

Case Study: Mining To Success

Mining operations incorporate incredibly complex processes, from logistics, extraction to refining. It is impossible to keep track of it all without some level of automation. By Aaron Lum, operations manager (East Coast), ABB (Australia)

DistributeD Control systems


Mining explorations that began in 1969

culminated in 2005 when Vale, a Brazilian

group, acquired the mining rights to the

laterite deposit at Goro, known to have

the highest nickel deposits in the world.

In the same year, Vale Nouvelle Calédonie

awarded ABB the electrif ication and

automation of this new nickel refinery.

Vale Nouvelle Calédonie, located in

the French-territory South Pacific island

of New Caledonia, ranks as one of the

richest undeveloped laterite ore bodies

in the world, with an estimated 55 million

tonnes of measured and indicated mineral

reserves. Vale holds a 74 percent interest in

the Vale Nouvelle Calédonie project.

ChallengesBeyond the breadth and scope of the

mining site and plant, as well as the client

expectation of continuous installation

and commissioning support, there was a

unique challenge posed: for the first time,

ABB needed to abide by French standards.

All drawings and documents produced

had to be submitted in both French

and English.

SolutionsThe System 800xA for the open pit mine’s

refinery is comprised of the following:

• Forty-eight operator workplaces

• Fifteen Quad screen and 20 Dual

screen rich clients

• Ten engineering workstations and 10

temporary engineering workstations

• Integration of approximately 8,000

HART-capable instruments

• Approximately 1,100 DOL and 450 VSD

Profibus devices

• Two OPC clients (connecting to OSI

PI)

• Two IM servers

• Thirty-three thousand History logs

• Twenty-three thousand (redundant)

800xA tags

• Fifty-six thousand (non-HI) CLPs

• Fifteen thousand (HI) CLPs

• One PC network monitoring system

• Sixty-two redundant controllers

The 800xA order includes a Burner

Management System utilising three AC

800M HI controllers for three new coal-fired


ENQUIRY NO. 4402

boilers producing electricity and steam for

the plant.

The company also delivered an ABB

Safety Instrumented System, using

ABB TUV-certified Functional Safety

Management System documentation

and procedures, utilising five AC 800M

HI controllers for the processing of LPG

in the ship unloading and port handling

facility, LPG Storage and LPG firing of the

three fluid bed reactors.

Engineering tools included code

generation from PET (GCT Process

Engineering Tool). The company also

created ‘purpose-defined libraries’ based

on its minerals library which provided

a f ramework fo r a la rm and event

standardisation, workplace definition and

— one of the most important components

of the ABB agreement — the groundwork

for translation of English to French. The

company was able to provide the end

customer’s Operator Interface Terminals

ENQU

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NO.

436© 2012 Advantech Co. Singapore Pte Ltd www.advantech.com

Singapore (South Asia Pacific Headquarters) Tel: 65-6442 1000 Email: [email protected] Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur Tel: 60-3-7725 4188 Email: [email protected] Penang Tel: 60-4-537 9188 Email: [email protected] Thailand: Bangkok Tel: 66-2-248 3140 Email: [email protected]: Tel: 62-21-769 0525 Email: [email protected]

Construct Automation Solutionswith Trusted Domain-Focused

Platforms

Expanding Computing Powerwithin the Control Cabinet

UNO-2174A / 2178A UNO-2184G

UNO-1170A / AEIntel Atom N270 DIN-rail PCs with 2 x LAN,3 x COM, 4 x USB and PC/104+

UNO-1172A / AEIntel Atom D510 DIN-rail PCs with 3 x GbE,4 x USB and SystemDiagnostic

Intel Atom N450/D510Automation Computerswith 8 x COM, 6 x USBand 2 x Mini PCIe

Intel Core i7Automation Computerwith 4 x LAN, 6 x USBand 2 x Mini PCIe

New

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with a translated system based on

user logon.

Upgrade Without DowntimeFor an upgrade exercise, the company

installed the most current service pack to

the control system of the online production

environment, with no downtime.

Several months of preparation went into

this upgrade to ensure that all conceivable

risks were covered including:

• Creat ing s i te speci f ic sof tware

upgrade installation procedures and

schedules

• Creating server, client and controller

check sheets

• Creating SP2c specific test documents

and upgrade procedures

• Creating Firmware test documents and

upgrade procedures

• Creating SP2c specific backup and

recovery procedures

• Va l ida t ion tes t ing o f so f t wa re

installations and upgrade tests

The system consisted of:

• Twenty-four servers

• Fifty-five engineering workstation and

OIT clients

• Twenty control builder projects

Each p rocedure and tes t was

conducted on a ‘off-line’ system to ensure

the safety and operation of the Vale Goro

plant. Validating the software installation

procedures and SP2c upgrade tests

required several tests, with every test

rolling back to the previous version to fine-

tune the upgrade steps and recovery plan.

This allowed the Infrastructure team to gain

the experience as well as confidence to

identify potential issues of performing the

upgrade on a live production system.


software & Networks

“Do for embedded what the PC did for the desktop,” says James Truchard, CEO and cofounder, National Instruments, when

asked to sum-up his company’s vision in the embedded market.

The embedded market is a fast growing industry, and managing this pace is an ever critical task. Companies are developing tools that are designed to aid engineers in working more efficiently to hide complexity, making operating such tools and working with embedded systems easier and more straightforward.

Chandran Nair, MD for National Instruments (Southeast Asia) explains his company’s involvement in the embedded systems space and its major challenges and opportunities going forward.

IAA: How does NI define an embedded system and what is your involvement?Chandran Nair (CN): Embedded systems have a very wide range of applications and technologies. National Instruments focuses a lot of energy on systems that could typically be headless, ie: systems that may not necessarily need human interaction from the customer.

A headless system involves a wide variety of technologies, and different kinds of processing units, which could be CPUs, FPGAs, microprocessors, and DSPs. It also involves a large number of IOs that are able to connect for the purpose of taking physical measurements, eg: temperature, pressure, and RF signals.

Our focus on embedded systems is not just the hardware or not just the software, our focus on embedded systems is the ability to use different kinds of hardware with a common software platform so that domain experts are able to use a common framework to implement their systems.

IAA: What are the major challenges facing the embedded systems sector, and what are the current trends in this area?CN: One of the biggest challenges in the embedded systems sector is the fragmentation of tools, so today when people put embedded systems together there are a large number of tools.

Today, there exist different sets of tools based on what operating system is being used, or what deployment platform is being used. Because the tool sets are fragmented the conventional way of doing things makes it very expensive because they need domain experts in different areas. This is one of the biggest challenges that embedded designers face and our goal is to be able to provide a framework whereby they can be more or less agnostic in regards to their

IAA interview Chandran Nair, MD, National Instruments (Southeast Asia) on the company’s involvement in embedded systems. By Mark Johnston

EmbeddedAsiaIn

deployment target. The goal is to be able to work with a common set of software tools.

As for the trends, we are seeing an increasing amount of application areas using embedded technology. What we are also seeing is the ability to use reconfigurable tools, which typically is the use of FPGAs, sometimes also the use of things like ARM processors, which are now packaged along with an FPGA. Another trend that we see a lot of are mobile devices, especially mobile devices in the cloud.


ENQUIRY NO. 4501

IAA: What technologies has National Instruments pioneered in embedded systems and what gives the company a competitive edge?CN: One of the biggest areas of innovation that has shown very wide adoption is labview for the FPGA. The main reason being that FPGA technology that allows you to reconfigure your hardware based on software input, until now, has been the domain of a very specialised field of embedded programmers, typically people using VHDL.

Other innovations would include the ability to use commercially available off the shelf chips and commercially off the shelf software to make them usable for people who are not necessarily embedded experts.

IAA: When designing an embedded system, what are the top three considerations for National Instruments?CN: The first is that when an embedded system is being designed we need to have the ability to have a system level view of the application, we have that

ability using our graphical system design. The second consideration would be to have

a high level software programming environment, which we do, via labview, and to be able to use it on different deployment platforms. The challenge comes because in today’s world there are often cases where you have a system with multiple deployments, for example, you may have an FPGA in conjunction with a DSP or an ARM processor in conjunction with a CPU. In order to address that challenge one must really have an abstraction layer, to have a full system level view.

Finally, from a hardware point of view it is very important for us to have the ability to add IO as required, so modularity. Today the system does x, y, and z, and then you need to add two or three functions to take care of a future need. You do not want to start from scratch, so the ability to be flexible in your hardware and your software is something that one has to take into account when designing embedded systems.

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ad5_may2012v6.indd 1 17/05/2012 14:08:32


software & Networks

I f o n e m a k e s l o n g - t e r m obser vations of end-user demands across a number of

products, one can see a common evolution. At first, consumers seek only to possess a product, then they demand performance; once the technology has matured to a certain level, they begin to pay attention to the details.

The IT industry is a perfect example. When the PC first came out, promotion was the primary goal; after the PC became popular, its specifications and performance quickly began to improve. Now that PC technology has matured, vendors focus on low power consumption, noise reduction, and so on. In particular, noise reduction has become the recent design focus for IT products. Industrial computers are following the same trend.

Industrial Computer Applications Become More DiverseIn the past, industrial computers

were placed in manufacturing sites or outdoors, in environments fairly tolerant of noise. However, as the applications of industrial computers have become more and more diverse, these computers are also being used in indoor placements, in environments more sensitive to noise.

Human perception is subjective, and the effect sound has on each individual is also subjective. Each person’s sensitivity and tolerance to noise is different. In general, the primary method of measuring acoustic level in the past was based on the sound pressure level, and test requirements were defined in ISO 7779.

In the past ten to twenty years, computer manufacturers have been using sound power level, based on ISO 3744, to assess acoustic level.

Sound power level measurement is based on the overall power as the standard; this parameter is less susceptible to changes in the environment. For this same reason,

sound power level is gradually replacing sound pressure level in measurement methods.

The recent emphasis on ergonomics has increasingly stressed the distinction between sound and noise. Often times, even though sound pressure level or sound power level measurements are normal, the sounds are still harsh and unpleasant. This is mainly due to the aforementioned subjective factors of the human senses . These factors are downplayed in both measurement methods. Because of these subjective demands, the sound quality standard was developed. Sound quality regulates the noise level for different frequencies to reduce the pure tone impact, and better meet users’ needs.

Using the ISO 7779 StandardSince industrial computer products are mostly placed in server rooms and outside, people are less directly affected, and noise can be neglected to a certain extent. Also,

Reducing Industrial

In an industrial plant, accuracy is paramount as accurate monitoring has an impact on safety. Reducing unwanted noise plays a big part in this, here, we give tips and tricks for reducing such noise in an industrial computer. By Angus Yu, thermal manager, Advantech Networking and Communications Group

Tips & Tricks For

Computer Noise


the ISO 7779 standard is simple, making it easily understood and accepted by clients.

The ISO 7779 standard can be measured for two user conditions: either operator or bystander. The former refers to the sound level felt by the operator during equipment operation; the latter refers to the sound level a bystander (such as a pedestrian viewing digital signage) would hear.

Acceptable acoustic levels can change according to time and location. In general, an acceptable sound level is 30 to 35 dBA at night in the bedroom, approximately 40 dBA during the day at the office (noisier offices are measured at 45 to 55 dBA), and 60 dBA and above outdoors. As such, when a system is placed outside, emitting noise at 35 dBA is more than acceptable and can be ignored.

The sound emitted from a fan in a normal low-wattage CPU embedded system is around 40 to 45 dBA. The fans found in high performance CPU desktops or servers run at about 55 dBA and above. And the overall system sound level can be as high as 70 to 80 dBA. Whether it is an embedded system or a desktop computer, fans produce the majority of a system’s noise. As such, to reduce noise, we must start by managing the fan.

Smart FanIn IT systems, the fan’s main function is to provide sufficient airflow for heat dissipation. The operational mode of general systems is quite simple: once the system is powered on, the fan runs at a fixed speed until the power is shut off. This approach not only generates noise, but also shortens the fan’s overall lifespan.

Because of these issues, the company, Advantech, proposed a quiet industrial computer using the ‘Smart Fan’, which adjusts its operating speed to control noise.

This approach can reduce noise, but it must also be able to meet the system’s cooling requirements.

ISO 7779 describes the ambient and operational conditions. General ambient conditions are between 15 deg C and 30 deg C. However, this range is too large. So, ISO 7779 also defined a lab

temperature value of 23 deg C, ± 2 deg C. Under these ambient temperature conditions, designers can use two approaches to achieve the balance between cooling and noise. One approach is to set the target noise level to 35 dBA, then adjust the fan speed to meet the target value. The other approach

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software & Networks

ENQUIRY NO. 4502

is to find the relation between key components and system temperature.

For example, what is the CPU temperature when the ambient temperature is 23 deg C? You must first determine the CPU’s maximum allowable operating temperature, then adjust the fan speed and noise value. The temperature specification for current, mainstream, Intel, mobile, non-Atom CPUs is around 100 deg C while operating at heavy load. Under these conditions, the fan should run at full speed to prevent the CPU temperature from exceeding 100 deg C; system operation will remain stable, and the idle noise level can be maintained at 35 dBA.

There are two ways to control CPU temperature with a fan. One way is to set different fan speeds that correspond to different temperature ranges between 0 to 100 deg C. For example, when the CPU is at 60 deg C, the fan should rotate at 3,000 rpm; when the temperature increases to 70 deg C, the fan should speed up to 5,000 rpm; when the CPU temperature rises to 80 deg C the fan should run at full speed.

The other way is to maintain the CPU temperature at a fixed value, such as 70 deg C. The fan speed should adjust according to the actual CPU temperature. If the CPU temperature is within the standard range (such as 67 to 73 deg C), the fan speed should not change. However, when the temperature is lower than the standard range (such as 67 deg C), the fan speed should decrease. On the other hand, if the temperature is higher than the standard range

(such as 73 deg C), the fan speed should increase.

The fan speed is controlled by the equivalent voltage. The Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) duty cycle is adjusted to control the equivalent voltage. The average fan voltage input is 12 volts. ‘Smart Fans’ will measure the temperature and adjust the duty cycle accordingly to control the equivalent voltage, thereby adjusting the fan’s operating speed.

Both of the above methods have their advantages and disadvantages. The first approach defines specific rotating speeds that will take effect once a certain temperature is reached. The advantage is that the system’s response to heat is fast, but the dBA value will fluctuate more. The second approach adjusts the fan speed based on CPU temperature; the fan will speed up slowly or slow down slowly. The dBA value will fluctuate less with this approach, but the thermal response is slower compared to the first approach.

Thermal issues have gradually improved in recent years as the power and cooling technologies of CPU manufacturers have advanced, leaving more room for these manufacturers to focus on noise reduction.

The Implementation Of Noise Reduction TechnologyU s i n g t h e f a n t o c o n t ro l temperature and no ise i s mainstream technology in the industr y. However, careful observation led to the discovery that many industrial computers have not implemented the technology, mainly because

of factors related to product application and system design.

Why do more industrial computers not incorporate noise reduction technology? Because the design focus of industrial computers and consumer IT products is different. In general, consumer IT products demand performance and stability, but the demands are not as high as those for industrial computers. Industrial computers are the backbone of business operations, and as long as system performance is acceptable, other demands might not be very important. But stability is essential for businesses, because if a system fails, it may be impossible to calculate the losses.

For the system to be stable, we must first solve heat dissipation problems. Cooling fans are the primary solution. From experience, mechanical fans are usually the first to fail, causing systems to heat up quickly and eventually overheat. Avoiding fan failure is one of the main reasons for fanless industrial computer designs.

Yet, in certain applications, system requirements are so demanding that fanless designs cannot meet the system’s cooling requirements. Fans solve heating issues, but the noise remains.

Noise is mainly airborne or structure borne. If the main source of system noise is from the fan, then it is airborne. If the components are assembled loosely so that they rattle when operating, then it is structure borne. The issues associated with each type of noise are different, and so are their solutions. To address noise problems, we must find the noise source, and path of delivery. If users hear any unusual sounds, they can notify the system administrator to solve the problem immediately.

The issues associated with each type of noise are different, and so are their solutions.

Embedded Systems

ENQUIRY NO. 4503

Agilent On

IAA interviewed Jun Chie, senior marketing manager of Digital Validation Test Division, Agilent Electronic Measurement Group, on his company involvement in embedded systems. By Mark Johnston

IAA: How would you define an embedded system and what is Agilent’s involvement in Embedded Systems?Jun Chie (JC): Unlike a personal computer that is designed to meet a wide range of needs, an embedded system is a computer system designed for specific control functions within a large system. It contains processing cores that are typically micro controllers, micro processors, or digital signal processors with an embedded operating system. Engineers can typically reduce the size, power consumption, or cost, while improving reliability and performance with embedded systems as they are often dedicated to specific tasks.

Embedded devices dominate nearly every aspect of our lives. It is estimated that we interact with over 50 embedded devices each day but often, we are unaware of the underlying technology.

The bulk of Agilent’s test and measurement business is also focused on embedded systems, and most of our products are embedded systems themselves.

IAA: What are the major challenges facing the embedded systems sector today and what are the current trends you are seeing in this sector?JC: With ever increasing market needs for higher performance, lower power consumption and

integrated features at the right form factor, embedded systems face multiple challenges.

To name a few, embedded systems need to embrace faster processing cores, high speed serial I/O buses and memory controller technologies. This means the systems now have to deal with multiple high speed signals and complex buses that the developers face in new signal integrity issues during the design phase.

To make it even more challenging, higher integration of multiple functions in a smaller form factor particularly in consumer electronics is a challenge for engineers to access and probe the signals they want to see. Multiple high speed signals are now interacting within a small device or a system. These alone can pose some challenges, not to mention the tight development schedule or ever required cost reduction.

In serving these embedded systems engineers, Agilent helps customers t o f a c e t h e s e new challenges

by providing highly integrated multi-functional test equipment for the mainstream embedded systems engineers.

IAA: What are the top considerations when designing an embedded system?J C : D e p e n d i n g o n w h a t embedded systems to design for what application, there are multiple considerations we need to keep in mind. For example, the top considerations can be time-to-market, the level of integration, design flexibility, power management level, cost management, SW management, and so on.


instrumentation & measurement

The company ‘Boos Hochdruck-R e i n i g u n g s a n l a g e n b a u ’ (‘Boos’ or the ‘company’)

from Flörsheim-Dalsheim in the Rheinhessen region of Gemarny has made cleaning systems for over 20 years. As one of the few plant builders they cover all industrial areas and have the know-how to clean different types and degrees of soiling.

Individual industries have different requirements on a cleaning system and on integrated sensors, such as chemical resistance. In the automotive industry transport packagings must be cleaned from oils and fats. The food and pharmaceutical industries require not only visual but also biological cleanliness. Therefore it is desirable for the company to adapt the base structure of a cleaning cabin or continuous cleaning system as well as the standard components to be installed, eg: inductive sensors, pressure or level sensors, to a wide range of applications. The advantage being storage, but also any related cost can be reduced to a minimum.

Packaging Cleaning System From BoosThe different cleaning systems

designed as a cleaning cabin w i t h s u c c e s s i v e c l e a n i n g processes or as a customer-specific continuous cleaning system with different treatment zones and spray baths consist of identically designed components depending on the industrial area. The project-specific cleaning systems are made as a complete solution in straight, right-angled or U-shaped version for all performance requirements.

Whereas for dishwashers the parts to be cleaned are placed in trays, controlled transport systems move the packagings through the individual treatment zones of the respective cleaning system.

The process starts with precleaning followed by the main cleaning cycle, then comes the first and second rinse cycle. Using different media, eg: alcaline bath additives. The individual packagings are sprayed several times, rinsed and then blow-dried. The design of cleaning system issues such as energy reduction and water recycling play a major role.

Concerning water recycling, the company works with cascades and multi-stage filtration. The individual circulation baths are

A Sense For Clean

Using sensors for the monitoring of systems reduce energy wastage and

cost while racing the likelihood of success. By Sabrina-Ulica Schuster,

technical editor, ifm electronic

Ten_

a, J

apan

Case Study:

filled with fresh water, heated and continuously monitored for level, temperature and concentration of chemicals.

The sprayed water is filtered and fed back to the respective circulation bath. Fresh water rinsing compensates for water losses in the individual baths and is supplied to the precleaning bath via the cascades.

“The water circuit is controlled against the transport direction of the products to be cleaned,” explains Franz Boos, MD, Boos. He continues: “Our washers clean everything from the smallest bottle to the largest container. However, as a result of this our customers’ requirements for the degree of cleaning are very different. This means that depending on the type and degree of soiling the circulation baths are polluted at a varying rapidity and extent. Therefore, we need measurement and control technology withstanding this environment.”

In particular when used in industrial cleaning systems in different industrial areas, sensors are exposed to extreme conditions such as hot water with degreasing or cleaning tensides. This makes high demands on the allowed


temperature range and reliability of the sensors.

The SensorRecently, the company has used the level sensor efector GWR (Guided Wave Radar) of ifm electronic in the collection bath and in the di f ferent circulation baths as well as in the fluid tanks.

E f e c t o r G W R o p e r a t e s a c c o rd i n g t o t h e g u i d e d microwave principle. It measures the level using electromagnetic pulses in the nanosecond range. The pulses are transmitted by the sensor head and guided along the probe. If the microwave pulse hits the medium to be detected, it is reflected and evaluated by the sensor.

The sensor, designed for continuous level monitoring in hydrous media such as cleaning liquids and coolants, is subject to no mechanical wear and is therefore virtually independent of process influences. Deposits and foam formation which occurs during cleaning of oil residues can be more or less suppressed, which additionally leads to higher plant uptime.

The sensor can be directly installed in the container using the process connection or flange. If needed, the probes can be easily shortened by the user and adapted to the different bath heights of the cleaning systems. The length of the probe can vary between 150 mm and 1,600 mm. This is practical because the bath geometry more or less depends on the type of soiling. Despite all that, only one sensor type, including the probe, must be kept in stock.

Setting of all parameters as well as programming of the two switch points and indication of the current level are carried out via two programming buttons and a 4-digit alphanumeric display.

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The set-up is possible without presence of the medium.

Bottom LineThe efector GWR microwave sensor is a cost-optimised technical alternative to the current systems on the market such as mechanical float switches

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or vibrating forks. Instead of several units just one sensor is needed to monitor the individual fill and point levels. This means considerable savings with regard to installation, procurement and maintenance.


instrumentation & measurement

In today’s processing plants, control loops have been incorporated into production processes to enhance productivity while saving time. Each loop

is responsible for one part of the process, such as controlling temperature levels or flows, and a typical plant can have a combination of up to hundreds and thousands of such loops. The entire production process is streamlined with the addition of these automated enhancements, with one example being level sensors.

Level sensors can be used across a variety of industries, which includes the aerospace, automotive, mining, construction, medical, food and beverage as well as the oil and gas industry. It is part of a metrology system that facilitates automation by measuring substance levels and transmitting the data to a controller, which then sparks off a set of actions.

Suitable for measuring levels of liquids, solids and slurries, level sensors can be categorised into two types, by either measuring point or continuous values. The former is mostly used for detecting excessively high or low levels, by measuring whether levels are above or below a particular point. Continuous level sensors, on the other hand, measure the exact amount of substance as long as it is within the specified range.

A Well Oiled ProcessLevel sensors are markedly utilised in the petrochemical and oil and gas industries. It is employed during

the oil refinery process, in addition to storage and transportation. Most of these level sensors are used for safety purposes. For instance, it can be used to check the amount of rain or groundwater that has seeped into a basin, by measuring the proportion of oil and water. This helps to determine whether the facility is a danger to the environment.

Other functions include inventory control, mud logging, leakage monitoring, overfilling protection and automatic tank gauging. It is also used to detect and pump out water during the oil distillation process so that the distillate does not get polluted. The ability to measure substance levels within various parts of the process has resulted in a greater accuracy and accessibility to real-time information.

Ultrasonic and radar level sensors are just some types of instrumentation used for these applications. Both can be used for measuring point or continuous values.

The Sonic BoomUltrasonic sensors are widely used in measuring the levels of liquids, particularly so as it is a non-contact medium that senses liquids with high viscosity, as well as slurries. It is also favoured for the combination of high functionality and low cost. It is suitable for the oil and gas industry as the instrument does not have any direct contact with the compounds, which are mostly volatile, and are therefore less prone to failure as well.

The basis of ultrasonic sensors are making use of high frequency sound waves to determine the level of substance, through the time taken for the echo to bounce back to the sensor. The distance of the sensor from the fluid can then be calculated using the speed of sound.

However, a disadvantage of using ultrasonic sensors is that measurements might not be truly accurate. As the reflection of sound waves are affected by variables such as moisture, temperature and pressure, allowances and corrections have to be applied to the level measurement for increased accuracy.

Microwave SensorsInstead of using sound waves for level detection, an alternative sensor exists that uses electromagnetic

A LevelBringing It

The oil and gas industry has been employing contact and non-contact level sensors to automate and streamline the production process, which has led to enhanced accuracy and efficiency. By Sherlyne Yong

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pulses. Known as the microwave or radar sensor, this form of instrumentation retains the benefits of ultrasonic sensors without its pitfalls.

For instance, it is impervious to temperature and vapour, and is therefore suitable for use in environments that are moist or warm. The use of electromagnetic energy has also enabled the use of these sensors in vacuums, as air molecules are not required.

There are basically two types of microwave level sensors, the first of which is non-invasive and measures distance based on the frequency of reflected signals, while the other is invasive and uses a probe to direct the microwave to the bottom of the vessel.

The non-invasive method can be separated into the Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) type or the pulsed time-of-flight method. The former sends a linear sweep at a fixed bandwidth and time, and the frequencies of the reflected and transmitted signals are combined to form an accurate measure of liquid level. Pulsed time-of-flight works on a similar principle to ultrasonic sensors by measuring distance based on the time the pulse is reflected.

Alternatively, the invasive method, otherwise known as guided-wave radar, is based on time-domain reflectometry. Hundreds of thousands of pulses are generated down the rod, or equivalent, which causes a change in impedance in the dielectric qualities of the measured fluid. This results in a wave reflection, and the transit time of the pulses are used to measure liquid levels. This method is more efficient as the signal is less degraded by external circumstances, such as the presence of obstructions. However, due to it being contact-based, there is a risk that the probe might be damaged or corroded.

Within the oil and gas industry itself, level sensors have many different uses, from pure tank gauging to the separation of immiscible liquids. As such, the type of level sensor that should be employed depends very much on the specific application it is used for.

ENQUIRY NO. 4602

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To support the proliferation of these mission-critical applications, Belden offers a high quality, high availability line of Industrial Ethernet network devices and systems from our globally known brands - Belden, GarrettCom,

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energy

The humble electric motor is a very big part of our modern lives. We seldom see it at work,

though we can sometimes hear it whirring in the background. It powers our lifts and elevators, circulates cool or warm air through our indoor environments, compresses air, pumps liquids from one place to another and keeps our assembly lines running. The electric motor has been a vital piece that enables us to do more work with less effort.

In 2011, an International Energy Agency working paper on energy consumption of Electric Motor-Driven Systems (EMDS) found that motors accounted for 46.2 percent, or nearly half, of the world’s electricity demand. This is more than the consumption for

lighting (18.6 percent) and heating (18.7 percent) combined.

In the industrial sector, the split is even more stark. Industry accounts for approximately 41 percent of electricity demand, and of that, EMDS drinks up 68 percent. Industrial use of motors makes up more than a quarter of total global consumption.

While startling, these figures also point to a tremendous opportunity. By using these ubiquitous motors more effectively, we can significantly reduce our overall energy consumption.

Save On CostDeploying efficient motors is not without benefit. Deploying the right-sized solution could deliver a substantial savings in energy

costs. The German Mercedes-Benz plant in Untertürkheim is a great example. The plant used a standard 18.5 kW pump, running constantly at full speed, to deliver water pressure to a parts washer. The washer needed only 3 bar at 10 m3/h; the pump supplied a steady 10 bar. This required an additional two ball valves, a throttle valve and a bypass line to adjust for system pressure between the cleaning media storage tank and the parts washer.

The plant eventually replaced the 18.5 kW pump with a Grundfos 1.5 kW CR pump with integrated frequency converter, removing the bypass line and valves, making the whole system much simpler and easier to maintain. The frequency converter added

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LessMoreGetting

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Reducing energy consumption can be an expensive process, at least where initial investment is concerned, but as we see, payback can be quick and cost savings accumulate over time. By Eric Lai Choong Siong, industry segment manager, Grundfos (Asia Pacific)

siemens.com.sg/industry

A Systematic Approach to the highest Energy EfficiencyEnergy Management System

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Energy management is the predictive and systematiccoordination of energy procurement, conversion,distribution and use – with the objective to cover thedemands taking into account ecological and economicdirectives. Put another way: Take planned action withthe purpose of efficiently handling and using energy.

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Functioning energy management is a process, which – analog to quality management – is used to continually increase the productivity of the energy used. As your partner, we can offer you an extensive portfolio, which supports you in this process.

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ENQUIRY NO. 374


energy

mode of operation wastes energy and also has undesirable side effects in the deep-hole drilling process.

To address this problem, Mayfran approached Grundfos to jointly develop the Vari-Flow process control. Combining the Mayfran HPC controller with Grundfos E-Solutions technology, the Vari-Flow process control system can adapt to different process conditions, adjusting automatically to the pressure and volume flow requirements of different drills.

This allows the drill operator to benefit from lower energy costs, while improving the process security and quality. In addit ion, the machining process data is logged, allowing

a layer of ‘intelligence’ to the pump system, monitoring system pressure, starting and stopping the pump as needed to maintain the required capacity of cleaning media in the parts washer.

This simple replacement reduced energy consumption from 57,000 KWh to 5,590 KWh during the trial period, saving the plant over 90 percent in energy costs and reduced CO2 emissions by approximately 33 tonnes each year.

The investment into a new pump and installation was less than the projected annual savings in electricity — the payback time on the investment was just over seven months, and continues to deliver energy savings every year.

Reduce Energy ConsumptionOversized motors are not uncommon. Advancements in technology have enabled more energy efficient systems.

At the same time advancements in smart electric motors, such as Variable Speed Drives (VSDs), can reduce energy consumption when compared to standard motors. This is because a motor’s energy consumption does not scale exponentially.

A pump operating at half-speed uses considerably less than half the energy. By switching over to energy efficient motors, the world’s industrial users can reduce their energy consumption by billions of KWh.

Mayfran, a company involved in the handling of swarf and cooling lubricants during machine operations, is another example. In deep hole drilling, a high-pressure pump is used to supply cooling lubricant to the tool. This pump is generally driven by a motor with a fixed speed and as such constant volume flow. This volume of lubricant is delivered regardless of the quantity the tool actually needs for the task, which will vary. This constant ENQUIRY NO. 4701

the operator to further optimise the usage and reduce costs. The use of Vari-Flow technology can reduce operating costs by up to 75 percent through energy savings and the optimisation of the machining process.

Industrial use of motors is one area that can be quickly optimised to deliver greater savings, reducing energy usage and carbon emissions while maintaining, or even improving, the quality of the end product.

Bigger is not always better. It is definitely possible to do more with less, if industrial users and plant operators make the smart investments in energy efficient solutions.

Industrial use of motors is one area that can be quickly optimised to deliver greater savings, reducing energy usage and carbon emissions while maintaining, or even improving, the quality of the end product.

Reducing energy consumption is an additive process, not just relying on fuel consumption, but also the processes involved in manufacturing a large jet engine.

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sector spotlight

ENQUIRY NO. 4801

Z ebra Technolog ies was founded in 1969 and has a focus on manufacturing with

50-55 percent of revenue coming from Asia Pacific.

Apart from manufacturing which account for the majority of the business, other sectors include health care, retail, mobility and transport logistics.

In regards to chemical or material handling, the vision of the company is to identify, or track all assets and manage transactions.

IAA: How many offices do you have in Asia?Andrew Tay (AT): In 2006 we had about seven offices, today we have 23 offices across Asia. We have shifted our worldwide supply chain and manufacturing into GuangZhou, China. We used to

manufacture in the US (California and Chicago). We also have our first R&D centre, outside of America, in Asia. Since our founding we have never made products specifically for our Asian customers. We have customised and delineated three products especially for our Asian customers.

We now have a supply chain, an R&D centre, and customised products for Asia, all for the first time.

IAA: Why is there an increased focus on Asia recently?AT: I would say that we have been focusing on Asia for quite some time, but six years ago we identified Asia as the fastest growing region worldwide, compared to our other regions, North America, EMEA,

Tracking Asia

Latin America, so Asia Pacific has the biggest growth. So, we decided to put more investments into Asia Pacific.

IAA: In terms of material handling, what are Zebra’s objectives and the company’s involvement in this area?AT: I would say that Zebra’s technology is no longer a niche technology, which has been always associated with supply chain manufacturing. From the clothes you are wearing to the products you buy at the supermarket, they are all tagged, they are all tracked. Your toothbrush that you use every night, your shoes, your car, the parts from your car, anything that you feel and touch, and you see today, everything needs to use barcode.

When raw materials come in, they need to transport it, and then process it, during that stage everything will be barcoded, and tracked, from the processing plant to the distribution centre and then forward to the end users. So, every stage of the way, everything is tracked. The machinery that they are using, they are all barcoded.

IAA: What solutions are built around material handling?AT: Our products are all IP42, IP56, which means to say that they are ruggedised. Under harsh conditions you can use them from -30 deg C to almost +50 deg C and it is dust proof, it is water resistant.

We also use thermal and thermal transfer technology to prints. Not using laser, not using

Ink Jet printer, but using thermal and thermal transfer printer. The equipment can withstand operating under condensation and stay in place for a long time.

IAA: What trends are you seeing in your industry over the next five years?AT: The next five years is very crucial for technology companies. There are two trends in the technology sector that if they do not factor into their strategy and global plans they are going to get into trouble. Firstly, cloud computing, and the second trend would be mobility. These are the two key trends that I see must be incorporated into whatever strategy a company is implementing.

IAA interviewed Andrew Tay, MD, Zebra Technologies (Asia Pacific) on his company’s Asia focus and their involvement in material handling. By Mark Johnston


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ENQUIRY NO. 4802

Developing a flexible lean enterprise is a common goal for any company, and having the right partners is an important factor in achieving this goal. Contributed by Andrew Tay, MD, Zebra Technologies (Asia Pacific)

Whirlpool Corporation, a manufacturer and marketer of

home appliances, knows first-hand the benefits of real-

time visibility on its plant floor. The company implemented

Zebra Enterprise Solutions real-time location-based

Material Flow Replenishment solution to manage hundreds

of parts inside its manufacturing plant in Fort Smith,

Arkansas, US.

The company selected Zebra Enterprise Solutions

Material Flow Replenishment because, among best-

in-class evaluated competitors, it was a proven system

that met its needs. Through implementing Material Flow,

the company wanted to achieve several goals, including

improved material replenishment response times,

improved visibility to the plant floor, secure enhanced

historical data and add data and tools to improve problem

solving. In addition, the company set out to improve

its material movement process and overall operational

efficiencies by keeping costs in-line, reducing delivery

downtime, reducing replenishment time and improving

equipment utilisation.

The company deployed Material Flow within 45 days

at the Fort Smith plant. Implementing it improved plant

floor and network visibility and automated the material

replenishment process. As a result, the company saw

numerous benefits and met the company’s goals.

Materials Flow Replenishment is an enterprise

execution management solution that streamlines

the replenishment process, providing manufacturing

operations with the ability to centrally manage and

control supplier collaboration, internal supply and

facility-wide communication across multiple facilities or

within a single location.

The solution enables customers to quickly respond

to changes in inventory, production status and their

customer requests by eliminating disjointed, labour

intensive processes and providing members of the

supply chain access to actionable, real-time data

from the factory floor to the internal and external

supply. In addition, Material Flow integrates with

enterprise resource planning systems to further enhance

operational efficiency.

Case Study: Material Flow

Efficient MonitoringTheOf Transport Belts

Sensors are used everyday for the efficient monitoring and transport of materials benefiting corporations by reducing cost and improving workflows. By Christoph Müller, business unit manager Industrial Instrumentation, Sick


sector spotlight

The preventive monitoring of conveyor belts and the uninterrupted measurement of volume flows on transport belts are very important

tasks in numerous industries: as a result of the raw materials boom, particularly in Asian economies, deposits are being opened up in more remote areas worldwide — requiring the commissioning of ever-longer conveyor systems for the efficient loading of ores, coal and other primary materials. In order to permit the optimisation of logistical chains, the loading and unloading of ships (in both seaports and inland ports), as well as of train wagons and trucks, must be achieved quickly, without interruption, and with complete filling volumes.

Just as for the extraction of raw materials, or for the supply or discharge of power station fuels and their

combustion residues, it is also necessary for modern factories processing wood pellets, granulates or food to continuously monitor the supply of raw materials in order to be able to efficiently control production processes, as well as maintain hygiene and shelf-life requirements, of for example vegetables. Continuous filling processes into bags and sacks at the end of such processing steps also necessitate the control of volume flows.

Operating ConditionsAll these process steps are highly relevant for the output of the particular industry and must therefore be conducted with availability that is as high as possible. At the same time, however, they are also highly susceptible to mechanical damage


ENQUIRY NO. 4803

— and as such to unforeseen interruptions of operation — due to the bulk materials involved. The extreme operating conditions and mechanical loads during the transport and loading or unloading of bulk materials also make operation of the measurement technology and sensors more difficult for determining both transported volumes and masses, as well as for the preventive monitoring of conveyor belts.

The use of sensor technologies and measurement equipment that require contact, such as mechanical belt weighers or electromechanical filling level switches, which are in constant contact with conveyor belts or the bulk materials themselves, cannot get around this problem and they are constantly subject to mechanical friction, which will ultimately be responsible for costly downtimes and repairs. In the past, alternative non-contact technologies offered limited opportunities for use, however, both because of their high prices and, above all, due to the harsh operating conditions and the attendant dust formation or precipitation.

Moving To New HeightsNew developments in the area of laser time-of-flight of light measurement now offer efficient non-contact, and therefore friction-free, solutions for measuring the volume flows or mass flows of conveyor belts by means of a more robust continuous detection of height profiles. The same technology can also detect any uneven distribution of bulk materials in parallel, and as such any belt imbalances or tilting and the resultant imminent friction. This has become possible thanks to the improved signal evaluation of laser scanners.

A laser scanner is mounted above the conveyor belt where it uses laser pulses to continuously detect the height profile of the bulk materials passing beneath it by calculating the time of flight. Whereby the laser beam itself is eye-safe and corresponds to Laser Class 1. The two-dimensional height profile as such obtained is combined with supplementary information, for example, the third dimension of belt speed obtained by using an encoder, or density information, allowing the sensor to autonomously determine the transported volume or mass per time unit. At the same time, the height distribution can be used to reliably detect the above-mentioned tilting or any one-sided loading so that a warning signal can be transmitted.

What is so special about this design structure is the robust detection of the height profile even in the case of interfering factors such as bulk material mists, dust or rain. This has been made possible by means of new signal evaluation technologies that

can reliably filter out the correct height profile signal from amongst the numerous echoes.

Market SolutionsMarket solutions for such problems exist, for example, laser scanners with so-called multi-echo technology, whereby the software algorithm can reliably determine the correct signal from among the various reflected laser pulses and dependably suppress the measurement of interfering echoes caused by mist or rain. A product such as Sick’s Bulkscan system offers six switching outputs that can be individually occupied, for example, as warning or pulse outputs, as well as continuous outputs such as, for example, transmission of measurement values via TCP/IP (Ethernet). Whereby the processing and preparation of measurement values takes place directly in the sensor which, therefore, also has two inputs. No supplementary measurement value computer is required.

The advantages of such as a system compared to mechanical solutions are self-evident — greater availability of transport and filling plants, no need for maintenance, and the longer service life of the sensor system due to the lack of mechanical friction.

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features

IAA spoke with Jizheng Zhao, manager, Teamcenter Marketing, Siemens PLM Software (Asia Pacific) on the launch of the Teamcenter 9 and what we can expect from this edition. By Mark Johnston

IAA: The final features that have been implemented in Teamcenter 9, why did you decide on them, and what one feature, in your opinion, will have the biggest impact for your customers, and why?Jizheng Zhao: Teamcenter 9 delivers new solutions and enhancements across the portfolio in support of Siemens PLM Software’s High Definition PLM (HD-PLM) vision, which was established to help companies make better informed decisions more efficiently and with a higher level of confidence.

HD-PLM is based on three key investment areas:• An Intelligently Integrated

Information environment that links all of the data in the PLM system, across all of the technical domains

• Building that environment on a future-proof architecture that ensures our customers’ IT investment will continue to evolve in concert with ours

• And delivering that information

deliver configuration-driven documentation that reuses common components of text, graphics, and meta-data.

• Teamcenter 9 continues expansion of our ‘Service Lifecycle Management’ solution suite with an integrated solution for service scheduling and execution that leverages the software’s schedule manager for defining and scheduling work packages and service tasks from within the software’s environment where everything can be related to managed objects. It tracks and captures the execution of these service tasks to maintain accurate history of assets and service records. Product performance and reliability is improved through closed loop service feedback to engineering.

One of the most significant innovations is the integrated ‘Systems Engineering’ module for the product’s ‘Unified Architecture’. This solution elevates the practice of systems engineering to become a core enabler of intelligently

SiemensNew Vision

For

through, what we call, a high-definition user experience that proactively delivers the right information to our customers rather than having them always having to go searching for it.

The new edition of Teamcenter will focus on delivering key enhancements in each of the three investment areas mentioned above, namely:• The new ‘Systems Engineering’

module provides a framework for ‘systems-driven product development’ that enables design teams to leverage a higher level of system intelligence required for development of today’s complex products.

• New enhancements to our Content Management solution enable product documentation t o b e d e v e l o p e d m o re concurrently with design because changes to the product can ripple through the documentation. Moreover, because today’s products often have multiple options and variants, Teamcenter leverages configuration management to


integrated information. In the past, systems engineers worked in isolation with disconnected system diagrams representing the logical and functional descriptions of sub-systems. They would then communicate functional requirements and interface control information through documents and spreadsheets. These disconnected documents were difficult to maintain when inevitable changes occurred.

With this new edition, all of these data, from functional and logical diagrams (developed with Visio or MATLab), requirements, physical parts, interfaces, and so on, all reside in a managed environment, able to be used by anyone who needs them, to support better decision making and integrated change management.

Systems engineering is a common methodology for product development in all industries and also a best practice in some industries:• Vir tual ly ever y product

developer ‘engineers their systems’ but not all think of it as a separate methodology. In many cases they have limited documentation that describes their ‘system’, such as in a specification document that may include interconnected diagrams or tables of values that need to be communicated.

• In mature industries such as automotive, aerospace, machinery, electronics, and others where complexity is growing exponentially, systems engineering is a fundamental component to product design. The ‘system of systems’ nature of products like cars, planes, robots, or even computers, demands a rigorous, systematic approach to designing, managing, and validating the various

inter-relationships between mechanical, electrical, software, and even manufacturing engineering.

IAA: Name three key themes that run through Teamcenter 9?JZ: It supports the HD-PLM vision to help companies make smarter decisions that result in better products, it adds a new, integrated systems engineering solution, a new service lifecycle and execution solution, and tightens the integration across the unified architecture, and enhancements across the entire Teamcenter portfolio improve productivity and quality for lower total cost of ownership.

IAA: What impact do you see ‘Active Workspace’ having on

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customers product life cycle?JZ: ‘Active Workspace’ is a new product in the Teamcenter software portfolio. It is targeted at any user in the product development environment who needs to find information fast from the vast and growing collection of PLM data. It is a personalised environment for accessing the entire PLM ecosystem, which provides all PLM users with the right information at the right time to make the right decisions. It delivers search and visualisation capabilities, collaboration tools, and an intuitive user interface.

IAA: What were the main challenges you faced when developing Teamcenter 9?JZ: We face the same challenges as our customers, ie: increasing


features

ENQUIRY NO. 4903

ENQUIRY NO. 4901

complexity. We must deliver a solution to help our customer handle such complexity — both data complexity and process complexity. The following trends are reflected in every industry which a l l f ace increas ing complexity:

• Big Data• Increasing Product Complexity• Integrated Systems• Computational Expansion

When you consider all of the enhancements that went into the platform and modules as well as new solutions like ‘Systems Eng ineer ing ’ and ‘Ser v ice Scheduling and Execution’, you can imagine the complexity of

Foton Lovol Explains Why Siemens

Foton Lovol is a large-sized industrial equipment

manufacturer that specialises in construction machinery,

agricultural equipment and vehicles.

IAA spoke with Wang Yanmei, R&D project system

section chief, R&D platform manager, IT department, Foton

Lovol, and asked her why her company choose Siemens

over its competitors, Ms Wang explains: “We started using

Siemens PLM in 2003. Before that, we conducted enormous

amounts of market research. We selected Siemens PLM

solutions for several reasons. Firstly, Siemens has been the

sector’s leading PLM service provider. At that time, many

companies which were better than us, were already using

Siemens’ products and services.

She continued: Secondly, after the evaluation,

we made the decision to use Siemens products, we

thought Siemens’ Teamcenter solution was suitable for

our business. It meets our requirements, especially our

requirements for globalisation. The third reason is that

Siemens has a very good team for implementation in

place. In collaboration with them, they have provided us

with many suggestions and how to improve so that our

continuous business innovation can be ensured.”

She added: “The integration of software is necessary

for our design. For example, Siemens allows the integration

of Pro-E and Catia (3D) and AutoCAD. In the manufacturing

or production system, Siemens also provides very good

integration with our ERP, SAP and MES (After Sales

Service) systems.”

ensuring and testing all of the code for robustness and performance.

IAA: What trends are you following in PLM and the industries you serve, and what does the future hold for Teamcenter?JZ: Again, the biggest trend that we see across most industries is increasing complexity. This complexity is the result of increased innovative content for software and electronics but also increased complexity of the processes to d e v e l o p p ro d u c t s . W h i l e complexity can be difficult to manage, we are investing in ways to minimise the impact to the users and their organisations.

The push is to make Teamcenter

manage the complexity and deliver a user experience that insulates the user. Then, you can take advantage of your innovations to be more competitive without sacrificing on the people side of the equation.

As for the future, we are keen to continue to deliver tools that inherently manages complexity from start to finish as well as increased focus on making the product easier to use. Whether it is enabling the mobile professional to get their work done while on the go or the power user who needs to search through multiple enterprise databases and make sense of the complex interrelationships between the various pieces of data.

ENQUIRY NO. 4902

Zoomlion is a Chinese manufacturer of construction

machinery and sanitation equipment, it is listed on the

Shenzhen Stock Exchange and is headquartered in the

Zoomlion Science Park in Changsha, Hunan, China.

IAA spoke with Zhang Feiqing, IT director, Zoomlion,

and asked him why did his company choose Siemens

for their PLM solution. Mr Feiqing explains: “So the first

reason for choosing Siemens, for Zoomlion, we want to be

a worldwide international company, and also we want to

be the leader in this industry. That is why when we choose

our IT partners, they should be the number one or number

two in the world.”

He continued: “Also we want to set up a long term

strategic, long-term cooperation. So with the four years of

cooperation, our practice has really improved and Siemens

PLM is our ideal partner. From our 2011 figures, of all

our revenue, about 40 percent is from our new product

contribution.”

Zoomlion Explains Their Choice

Zhang Feiqing, IT director, Zoomlion

ENQUIRY NO. 428


features

ENQUIRY NO. 4904

Epicor Software is a business software solutions company for manufacturing, distribution,

retail and services organisations. In December 2011, the company announced the appointment of a new regional sales director, Robin Chao.

Mr Chao originally joined the company in 2008, with 13 years of experience in the IT industry in sales, marketing and channel management roles. His core role is to drive sales operations in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

IAA: What is the most challenging part of your job?Robin Chao (RC): The most challenging part is that you do not control your own destiny. You have a pool of people that control your destiny, so managing and ensuring that they produce, just like any other sales person. Basically, getting them to go where you want them to go. New business development and country development also have their challenges. It is a lot more than just being a sales or country manager.

The region itself is not new to me. Prior to my current role, I already managed Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines. Now I also manage Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

So, the real challenge is really about people management for me, in terms of having to juggle between people management and

supporting partners in terms of new business growth, and also at the same time getting on some of the large deals is something that I am juggling as well.

IAA: What are your expansion plans?RC: One of the countries that I am focused on moving forward is Indonesia. Indonesia has always been on the map, it has not always been great but recently it has been picking up pretty fast.

IAA: Epicor acquired Activant in 2011, what does Activant bring to Epicor?RC: Activant has functionality that Epicor does not, in certain areas. They have about 46 percent of market share in the US and there is also a certain aspect of Activant in terms of discipline that will be introduced in Epicor.

IAA: In your business, what are the trends and how do you plan to exploit them?RC: There is a lot of talk about the cloud and Software as a Service (SaaS). If you pull a person from hardware he will give you his own definition, and if you pull a person from software, he will give you a different definition.

What I generally see and what Epicor sees is, yes, cloud and SaaS is the way to go, but the question is when. We have an SaaS offering today, not in Asia but in the US.

Generally Epicor is a bit more

conservative, we have to make sure we tested it right, the mechanics are right and the sentiments are right. It is not just about hype, we have to believe the market needs it. Our pricing and product strategy must also be right, then we will offer it.

IAA: What is your growth plan for Asia?RC: We are looking at a year-on-year growth of 20 percent. That has always been the case and it is the benchmark we have set ourselves. Last year we had an interesting growth percent of over 20 percent.

The reason for this I believe is the plan we have laid out is working, in terms of focusing on what we are good at and not focusing on the things we are not good at. A lot of vendors try and get into almost every aspect of the industry, this results in spreading your resources over many different industries and the end result is usually a weak performance.

Epicor believes in focus and applying our skills to what we are traditionally good at, which are four key industries, namely: discrete manufacturing, distribution, services, and video hospitality. Across 40 years of our history we have always focused on these four areas. In the past year we have increased our focus even more and we also have a fantastic product as well. This all contributes to our better than expected results.

IAA spoke with Robin Chao, regional sales director, Epicor Software (Southeast Asia) on his new role and Epicor’s business prospects in Asia. By Mark Johnston

Focusing AsiaOn


ENQUIRY NO. 4905

M r L o n t s t a r te d w i t h Weidmuller in 2006. He is responsible for business

in Asia Pacific, excluding China, which is a separate entity under the company. He also has responsibility for sales in South America and Africa. Asia Pacific for the company, is more than just east Asia, it also includes Australia, India, and the Middle East.

sales organisation there and we have our own R&D there, as well as our own production, so it fits very well.

IAA: You won best employer in China in 2011. What is Weidmuller’s key to success in China?JL: I think the right combination of activities at the right time. As I mentioned we have an R&D production facility there, and a sales organisation there that are close to the customer and are able to translate customer and market trends into products for the local market very quickly.

IAA: Where do you hope Weidmuller will be in five years time in Asia?JL: We will have a local presence in all the important markets in Asia, which we have made a start with already. We will strongly develop the hub function that we are setting up in Singapore for customer specific products. We intend to make a very significant contribution to infrastructure projects in the region, not just Southeast Asia, but Asia in general.

IAA: What trends are you following for your industry?JL: First of all , in terms of markets, the process industry dominates , par t icular ly in Southeast Asia. We also see the share of electronics increasing over passive products so this is a reason why we are investing in electronics.

Minimisation is also an issue for us, we are working on the minimisation of products. It is a big issue for customers, as they will refuse products when the dimensions are not correct, this would not have been an issue 10 years ago.

Making Asia LocalIAA spoke with Jan Lont, VP, Weidmuller (Asia Pacific), on his company and its activities and outlook in Asia. By Mark Johnston

IAA: What countries are you moving into, will you be opening new offices in the Asia Pacific region?Jan Lont (JL): We plan to expand locally. Singapore will remain at the centre of our Southeast Asia strategy, and our market is very strong in Malaysia and Thailand. Indonesia is strong too, together with Vietnam. These are the countries that will be our focus going forward.

IAA: Do you have a manufacturing plant in Asia, or are you products manufactured in Germany?JL: We have a couple of big factories in Germany, but we also have a manufacturing presence in other countries. We have a mid- to long-term strategy of local for local, so about 10 years ago we set up a factory in Suzhou, China, which is now quite big and we manufacture terminals there.

We also have a factory in Romania, and also a couple of small units where we manufacture, for example, interface boards. Another good example is our hub in Sydney, Australia where we do a lot of customer specific work. In Singapore we do customer specific assembly work where we are looking to extend our activity in this area.

IAA: You opened a training academy near Shanghai, China?JL: This is another example of local for local. For many years we had an academy in Germany where we trained our own people, trading partners, and customers. From this academy people went overseas and trained people and organisations. We have now reached a level in our development in Asia that there is now a strong demand for such an academy locally.

Shanghai seemed like the right location for us, as we have a big


EVENT PREVIEW

The Inaugural exhibition on manufacturing processes for medical technology, Medical Manufacturing Asia 2012, will take place from September 12 to 14, 2012, at Suntec Singapore.

The show will bring together 150 companies from 20 countries and 5,000 trade visitors from across Asia and beyond. It aims to showcase the latest solutions from the medical manufacturing industry.

Strong Industry SupportThe show will provide a platform for the medical technology segment, in collaboration with Singapore government agencies, IE Singapore and Spring Singapore. The exhibition will be jointly organised by Messe Düsseldorf Asia and the Singapore Precision Engineering & Tooling Association (SPETA), organiser of Medtech Manufacturing 2010.

The exhibition will also be

supported by Messe Düsseldorf ( G e r m a n y ) , o rg a n i s e r o f Compamed, an international trade fair for suppliers of the medical manufacturing industry.

Buoyant Medical Technology MarketSingapore is a leading site in Asia for global medical technology companies, with biomedical science companies including established medical device makers, such as, Baxter, Becton Dickinson, and Siemens locating their regional and global headquarters and manufacturing bases here.

“These pos i t ive market developments, coupled with Singapore’s strategic location, close proximity to key growth markets, access to a skilled workforce and strong government partnerships, have translated into an increasing demand for a specialised trade exhibition to serve the needs of Singapore’s industry and beyond,” ENQUIRY NO. 4906

says Gernot Ringling, MD, Messe Düsseldorf Asia.

Relevance Of MMA 2012“Through Medical Manufacturing Asia, we hope to facilitate industry growth and procurement needs, create business opportunities, and promote knowledge exchange for all involved in the medical technology manufacturing industry in Singapore and the region,” adds Mr Ringling.

Elaborating on the relevance of this first ever exhibition, SC Koh, executive director from joint organiser SPETA says: “Medical Manufacturing Asia 2012 is timely as the Asia Pacific medical device market is experiencing unprecedented growth and is estimated to account for 25 percent of global market share and reach US$62.3 billion in revenue by 2012.”

Value-Add Concurrent ActivitiesThe show is a key meeting place for procurers, practitioners and professionals in the medical technology industry to source new products, meet and network with trade professionals, and learn emerging trends and developments. Exhibitors and visitors can look forward and benefit from these activities:

• Global Asia Trade exchange (GATe) 12 - Medical Technology

• Medical Manufacturing Asia Conference 2012

• Medical Fair Asia 2012 (9th edition)

September 12-14, 2012Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition CentreSingapore

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EVENT REVIEW


This year’s edition of Semicon Singapore took place from April 24 to 26, 2012, at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore. The exhibition featured 114 exhibitors demonstrating the latest technologies in the semiconductor industry, with 6,439 visitors in attendance.

In a press con ference , execut ives f rom IM F lash Technologies, Siltronic Samsung Wafer, Applied Materials, and Institute of Microelectronics (IME) gathered to share their views on the competitiveness of Southeast Asia semiconductor industry in this ever changing market.

According to Semi, 2013 is likely to reach a record high in semiconductor equipment investment. Terry Tsao, president, Semi Southeast Asia said: “Singapore is a regional hub in Southeast Asia and the second largest semiconductor city in the world. Semi is pleased to take the lead in helping facilitate the growth of the Southeast Asia semiconductor community.”

He continued: “This year, we are excited to see more than 110 exhibitors and 80 speakers from the industry and academia showcase the most advanced solutions

and share their experiences and viewpoint about the future outlook of the semiconductor industry.“

Nurturing TalentIn order to ensure an enriched talented ecosystem for the semiconductor industr y in Singapore, nurturing of talent has become another hot topic in Singapore for various industries. Semi has joined force with EDB and SSIA to host the very first Singapore Young Talent Video Competition Program at this year’s Semicon Singapore.

Russell Tham, president, Applied Materials Southeast Asia said: “Sustaining a rich talent pool and retaining top performers are definitely key priorities. To achieve this, we must continue to create diverse and high-value added jobs in Singapore with global responsibilities”.

The Importance Of InnovationThe importance of innovation as a growth enabler underscores the significance of IME’s role in Singapore.

Prof Dim-Lee Kwong, executive director, IME, commented: “IME has been driving 3D IC and MEMS research in Singapore to

enable our industry partners to develop viable and innovative technologies to stay competitive. Some demonstrations of our results include the 6-stacked 3D IC chip developed via the IME-led 3D IC TSV Consortium, the establishment of a first-of-its-kind 300mm TSV lab and the development of impactful technology platforms to drive standardisation for developing cost-effective product-oriented MEMS devices”.

Mr Tsao , added: “To help the Southeast Asia semiconductor i n d u s t r y t o c o n t i n u e i t s competitiveness, this year, Semicon Singapore will feature a 3D IC gallery and forum with the collaboration with IME. Through technology demonstrations at 3D-IC Gallery and the 2.5D/3D-IC forum, Semi wants to introduce the latest technology developments into Singapore’s semiconductor industry.”

Semicon Singapore will be back in 2013 from May 7 to 9.

April 24-26, 2012Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention CentreSingapore

SemiconSingapore2012

ENQUIRY NO. 4907

EVENT REVIEW


The 17th annual Cards & Payments Asia is the longest-standing smart technologies exhibition in Asia. The event was held from April 25 to 27, 2012, at Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre. It included seven other co-located events namely Prepaid Cards Asia, Near Field Communication World Asia, Digital ID World Asia, RFID World Asia, Retail World Asia, Online Retail World Asia and Digital Signage World Asia.

More than 7,500 executives from industries such as banking & finance, healthcare, transport, retail and government across 57 countries were present at the event. It also saw an increase in visitors of 17 percent from countries such as Japan, Indonesia,

Thailand and China. A total of 198 exhibitors

showcased many innovations and products such as card readers, mobile payment platforms, card printers and scanners, NFC & RFID card terminals, authentication and identification systems, signage products and many more.

Many exhibitors also premiered their new products and worldwide launches at the event. Over 100 product launches were showcased at the show and some of the highlights included Sony’s FeliCa Lite, ASAP Transaction Processing’s Novapay, Hybris’s Multichannel Accelerator and many more.

Success For BusinessComplementing the showcase were eight conferences and four ENQUIRY NO. 4908

Cards & Payments Asia 2012

workshops held alongside the exhibition to provide attendees with knowledge and insights into the smar t cards and payments industry.

Over 100 industry experts were invited to share their best practices and strategies and more than 120 topics were discussed over the course of the event.

“The event was very good. I saw a wide range of applications from different countries which were very interesting,” said Pichit Lertudomtana, MD, Eurotyre Corp.

“Since many of our important customers and partners in the Asia region participate in this event, Cards & Payments Asia adds much value to our entire sales promotion campaign. In addition, the event here in Singapore provides Sony with good exposure to the whole Asian market,” said Masayuki Takezawa, Deputy-GM, Consumer, Professional & Devices Group, Sony Corp.

Smart Card Awards AsiaThe inaugura l Smar t Card Awards Asia was held at Marina Mandarin Hotel on April 25, 2012. The Awards acknowledged and honoured companies who have demonstrated an ability to succeed and have continually set standards of excellence in the industry.

Cards & Payments Asia 2013The 18th Annual Cards & Payments Asia will be held from April 24 to 25, 2013 in Singapore. The 18th edition strives to provide even more insights and knowledge, the latest technology and innovations and congregate the best of the industry in 2013.

April 25-27, 2012Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition CentreSingapore


The 2012 edition of SPS – Industrial Automation Fair Guangzhou took place at the China Import and Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou, China from March 7 to 9, 2012. There were 22,189 visitors in attendance from 60 countries and regions, an increase of 14 percent compared to 2011. Chinese visitors numbered 21,312 and 877 were international visitors.

Exhibitors represented 438 companies from 15 countries and regions, up 24 percent compared to 2011. Exhibitors included Siemens, Lenze, Phoenix Contact, Harting, Weidmueller, Beckhoff, Pilz, ifm electronic, Pepperl+Fuchs, Wieland, Leuze, Sick, Vipa, Baumer, Autonics, Weinview, Proface, Sanyodenki, Banner Engineering, Contr inex, Kinco, Mecano, Schmersal, LS Mecapion, Toshiba, Hiwin and Saia-Burgess. Their products and technologies were showcased in three halls totalling 32,000 sqm.

Commenting on the success of the 2012 show, Louis Leung, deputy general manager of Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt, one of

the organisers of the fair said: “The visitor and exhibitor turnout at this year’s event reflects demand for industrial automation technology that responds to the challenges of output, quality assurance and labour costs, which could be found at the show.”

On-Site SeminarsThe 2012 edition featured 10 seminars which attracted an audience of 1,100 visitors. Daniel Zeng, from the sales engineering department of Shenzhen Secom Telecom found the sensors measurement and automation seminar useful. He said: “By attending this seminar I now have a better understanding of the needs of my customers and the technologies available to improve their operations. The presentations given by the German companies were especially interesting.”

Deng Yi Qiang, process and technology vice manager at Eternal Electronic Material (Guangzhou) found the energy savings through ventilation seminar helpful. He remarked: “I now know more ENQUIRY NO. 4909

about choosing a production model and designing a production line that will improve our factory environment. The introduction of a 3D sensor is fascinating to me.”

Looking ForwardThe next edition of SPS – Industrial Automation Fair Guangzhou will take place from March 4 to 6, 2013 again at the China Import and Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou, China.

The show is sponsored by the China Foreign Trade Centre and Messe Frankfurt Exhibition. It is organised by the China Foreign Trade Guangzhou Exhibition General Corporation, Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfur t , Guangzhou Overseas Trade Fairs and Mesago Messe Frankfurt. The honourary sponsors are the Guangdong Automation Association and Guangzhou Automation Association.

March 7-9, 2012China Import and Export Fair ComplexGuangzhou, China

SIAF 2012


products & services

Enquiry no. 4913

Enquiry no. 4912

Enquiry no. 4911

Enquiry no. 4910

products & services

Beckhoff Automation: Drive System

Adlink Technology has announced the aTCA-6200, a next-generation AdvancedTCA (ATCA) processor blade. The aTCA-6200 is suited for carrier-grade applications such as media servers in IPTV, IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) broadband networks, and wireless infrastructures, providing Telecom Equipment Manufacturers (TEMs) and Network Equipment Providers (NEPs) with a flexible, cost-effective solution for mission critical applications and a reliable, smooth path for scalability and expansion.

Adlink Technology: Processor Blade

The eXtended Transport System (XTS) drive system from Beckhoff Automation combines the previously separate advantages of two drive principles: rotary and linear systems. XTS is mechatronic system containing a modular, fully integrated linear motor with power electronics and displacement measurement in one device, one or more wireless movers as the moving parts, a mechanical guide rail, and an Industrial PC with TwinCAT control software.

Beijer Electronics has launched the iX 2.0 HMI software and a new generation of operator panels. The iX HMI solution both speeds up project development and makes the application faster and more efficient to navigate.

The iX 2.0 development software minimises the distance between the HMI idea and the fully deployable, intuitive, application. Smarter engineering tools and an improved ribbon menu set in a familiar Windows based environment ensure time gains for project developers.

Beijer Electronics: Human Machine Interface (HMI)

B&R has launched the X20AP energy measurement module that can measure voltages, currents, frequencies and reactive components on all phases. Current and voltage measurements up to the 31st harmonic. The products sensitivity and fourth channel make it suited for measuring leakage currents on the neutral line.

Measurement value curves recorded by the module can help in many ways, such as providing the basis for optimising traverse paths within a machine, in turn contributing to further energy efficiency. There are three variants of the module for connecting 20 mA, 1 A and 5 A transformers.

B&R: Energy Measurement Module


products & servicesproducts & services

Enquiry no. 4917

Enquiry no. 4916

Enquiry no. 4915

Enquiry no. 4914

products & services

Silicon Intellectual Property (IP) provider Evatronix SA has announced the release of the first member of its Panta high performance display controller core family. Developed using ARM technology the Panta DP20 is targeted specifically at high-end mobile/portable products, like smartphones and tablet PCs, with ultra-low power consumption that does not sacrifice processing performance.

The Panta DP20 is the world’s only licensable display controller IP to currently support ARM TrustZone technology.

Evatronix: Display Processor

Cognex has announced the release of the ‘Cognex Explorer’ control centre, which displays a graphical view of all Cognex vision systems, ID readers and visualisation systems connected to the network. It also incorporates maintenance tools for backing up, restoring or cloning systems, and carrying out firmware upgrades.

The new control centre offers the ability to display the identity, type and status of all Ethernet-connected In-Sight vision systems, DataMan ID readers and VisionView display devices on the network.

Cognex: Control Centre

Ocean Thin Films: Analysis Software

Ocean Thin Films has released the SpectroCam Multispectral Imaging (MS I ) Camera w i t h analysis software that allows the user to perform dozens of image processing functions and view the results on a live action image output. Applications include water quality measurements, product screening, machine vision, medical imaging, surveillance and authentication.

The wideband imaging sensor of the MSI camera is responsive from the visible through near infrared spectrum.

GE Intelligent Platforms has announced the SPR507B 4-Channel serial FPDP interface PMC/XMC module. Designed for high speed remote data transfer — in applications, for example, where the input from multiple sensors, such as in radar or sonar, is to be gathered for back-end processing — it can allow valuable chassis slots to be saved, resulting in smaller and lighter solutions.

Available as either a PMC module for legacy systems or as an XMC module for more recent systems, the SPR507B uses a Xilinx Virtex-6 FPGA to help it deliver up to 4.25 Gbaud per link, or a total bandwidth across its four ports of around 1.4 Gigabytes/second.

GE: High Speed Data Transfer Module


products & services

Enquiry no. 4921

Enquiry no. 4920

Enquiry no. 4919

Enquiry no. 4918

Turck has introduced a new family of power supplies to expand the company’s existing family of power supplies. Designed to efficiently convert AC to DC, these 24VDC power supplies provide Safety Extra-Low Voltage (SELV), according to EN 60950, and are suitable for the 24V supply of equipment and interface modules of the company’s series IM, IMS and IMC.

Offering wide-range input — between 90 and 260 VAC — the 24VDC power supply can be used in diverse supply networks worldwide. Through the use of an onboard potentiometer, the output voltage can be adjusted from 22.5 up to 28.5 VDC, and styles are available with an output current strength of 2.5, 5, 10 or 20 A.

Turck: Power Supplies

Red Lion Controls has announced a new N-Tron series of compact high-voltage industrial Ethernet switches designed for use in extreme environments.

The company’s N-Tron series of compact high-voltage switches provides a variety of fibre connectivity options that enables customers to cost-effectively customise solutions to meet specific network requirements.

The series is certified by KEMA Labs, a certification testing laboratory specialising in the energy market for compliance with the IEC 61850-3 and IEEE 1613 standards for electric utility applications such as power substations.

Red Lion Controls: High-Voltage Ethernet Switches

Vishay Precision Group has announced the release of a new series of high-resistance miniature foil strain gages through its ‘Micro-Measurements’ brand. Available in a wide array of configurations including linear, half-bridge, full-bridge, and shear patterns, these miniature strain gages are particularly advantageous in applications that can benefit from their small size and higher resistance. The new strain gages feature a modified-Karma alloy with gold-coated or copper-coated solder tabs, and an epoxy overcoat for grid encapsulation.

Vishay Precision Group: High-Resistance Strain Gages

Rockwell Automation has expanded its Integrated Architecture portfolio for smaller applications with a series of scalable, Allen-Bradley CompactLogix programmable automation controllers (PACs), servo drives, I/O, visualisation and simplification tools. With features such as integrated motion, safety, EtherNet/IP connectivity and re-usable development tools, the company gives users the ability to standardise on a single control platform for small to large-scale applications.

The Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture features the Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix controller families.

The ControlLogix PAC is suited for applications that have up to 10,000 I/O and 100 axes of motion. The CompactLogix family, meanwhile, is ideal for applications with fewer than 200 I/O and up to 16 axes of motion.

Rockwell Automation: Integrated Architecture


products & servicesproducts & servicesproducts & services

HIOKI E E Corporation has developed a light and energy efficient ‘Clamp On Earth Tester’, the FT6380 and FT6381. These products were developed in response to the demand of customers’ need in measuring multi-grounded systems.

A 50 percent reduction in power consumption allows continuous measurement of up to 20 hours. The basic model FT6380 comes with standard measurement functions, and the FT6381 with Bluetooth data transfer capabilities, which also allows connectivity to GPS maps.

Hioki: Clamp On Earth Tester

A new monitoring system, from Land Instruments International, a unit of AMETEK, for critical vessels, uses thermal imaging cameras to provide higher measurement density than traditional systems based on thermocouples. The system measures surface temperature once every 16 cm2, as compared with one measurement every 250 cm2 in typical thermocouple systems.

By measuring temperatures in more locations, the system allows for earlier detection of refractory wear or breakdown. Benefits include greater protection against catastrophic vessel failure and extension of refractory lifetime based on actual data.

Enquiry no. 4923 Enquiry no. 4922

Land Instruments: Vessel Monitoring System

ENQU

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SmartReflect™– the first light barrier without a reflector.This sensor innovation reduces operational costs and guarantees maximum security.

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Calendar Of EventsCalendar Of Events 2012november

6 – 10 China International Industry Fair 2012Shanghai New International Expo CentreChinaShanghai World Expo (Group) Co., Ltd.Email: [email protected]: www.ciif-expo.com/

6 – 10 Industrial Automation Show 2012Shanghai New International Expo CentreChinaHannover Milano Fairs Shanghai Ltd.Email: [email protected]: www.industrial-automation-show.com

21 - 24 All Industrial Expo 2012Jakarta International ExpoJakarta, IndonesiaKrista ExhibitionsEmail: [email protected]: www.allindustrialexpo.com

27 – 30 OSEA 2012Marina Bay SandsSingaporeSingapore Exhibition Services Pte LtdEmail: [email protected]: www.osea-asia.com/

december

4 – 7 ConBuild Mining Vietnam 2012Vietnam Exhibition Fair Centre (VEFAC)VietnamMMI Asia Pte LtdEmail: [email protected]: www.conbuild-vietnam.com

5 – 7 Semicon Japan 2012Makuhari MesseJapanSemi North AmericaEmail: [email protected]: www.semiconjapan.org/en

5 – 8 Manufacturing Indonesia 2012Jakarta International Expo KemayoranIndonesiaPT. Pamerindo Buana AbadiEmail: [email protected]: www.pamerindo.com

September

5 – 7 Semicon Taiwan 2012Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition HallTaiwanTaiwan External Trade Development Council,TAITRAEmail: [email protected]: www.semicontaiwan.org/en/

26 – 28 Thailand Lab 2012BITECBangkok, ThailandN.C.C. Exhibition Organizer Co., LtdEmail: [email protected]: www.thailandlab.com

october

3 – 5 Power Gen Asia 2012Impact Exhibition and Convention CentreBangkok, ThailandPennWell Conferences & ExhibitionsEmail: [email protected]: www.powergenasia.com

4 - 6 Metalex Vietnam 2012Saigon Exhibiton and Convention CenterHo Chi Minh City, VietnamReed TradexEmail: [email protected]: www.metalexvietnam.com/

10 – 13 IGEM 2012Kuala Lumpur Convention CentreMalaysiaExpomal International Sdn BhdEmail: [email protected]: www.igem.com.my/2012/index.html

22 – 25 Singapore International Energy WeekMarina Bay SandsSingaporeEnergy Market AuthorityEmail: [email protected]: www.siew.sg/

July

1 – 5 Singapore International Water WeekMarina Bay SandsSingaporeSingapore International Water Week Pte LtdEmail: [email protected]: www.siww.com.sg

3 – 6 MTA VietnamSaigon Exhibition & Convention CentreHo Chi Minh CitySingapore Exhibiton Services Pte LtdEmail: [email protected]: www.mtavietnam.com

11 – 13 Indo Renergy 2012Grand City Convex SurabayaSurabaya, IndonesiaPT. Napindo Media AshatamaEmail: [email protected]: www.indorenergy.merebo.com/English/

18 – 20 Propak China 2012Shanghai New International Expo CentreShanghai, ChinaChina International Exhibitions Email: [email protected]: www.propakchina.com/en/index.asp

auguSt

9 – 11 Industrial Expo Penang 2012Penang International Sports Arena (PISA)Penang, MalaysiaIntrenasionaleEmail: [email protected]: www.intrenasionale.com

29 – 1 Sep Taipei International Industrial Automation Exhibition 2012

Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition HallTaiwanChan Chao International CO., LTD.Email: [email protected]: www.autotaiwan.com.tw/en/index.asp

2012

To be considered for inclusion in the Calendar of Events, send details of event (name, date, venue, organiser contact) to:

The Editor IAAEastern Trade Media Pte Ltd.1100 Lower Delta Road, EPL Building, #02-05, Singapore 169206Tel: (65) 6379 2888 • Fax: (65) 6379 2805 • Email: [email protected]

64 Advertising Index | IndustrialAutomationAsia

ADVERTISINGI N D E X

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ABB Pte Ltd IFC 440

Adder teChnoLogy (AsIA PACIFIC) Pte Ltd 41 444

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sChneIder eLeCtrIC It sIngAPore Pte Ltd 29 446

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sIngAPore exhIBItIon servICes Pte Ltd 61 428

BAumer (sIngAPore) Pte Ltd 71 e01This index is provided as an additional service. The publisher does not assume any liability for errors or omissions.

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Robust and compact: The Embedded PC with Intel® Atom™ for PC-based control.The fl exible CX5000 series from Beckhoff.

www.beckhoff.com.sg/CX5000 The CX5000 Embedded PC series from Beckhoff for DIN rail mounting:

for fl exible application as a compact Industrial PC or as a PC-based controller for PLC, Motion Control and visualisation:

Intel® Atom™ Z530 CPU, 1.1 GHz (CX5010) or 1.6 GHz (CX5020) Durable and compact magnesium housing High operating temperature range between -25 and 60 °C (-13 and 140 °F) Fanless, without rotating components (Compact Flash as storage medium) I/O interface for EtherCAT Terminals and Bus Terminals Optional space for serial or fi eldbus interface Integrated 1-second UPS

Motion

Automation

I/O

IPC

| EC1

1-09

E |

CX1020/CX1030Embedded PC with Intel® Pentium® M CPU, 1.8 GHz or Intel® Celeron® M ULV CPU, 1 GHz

CX1010Embedded PC with Pentium® MMX-compatible CPU, 500 MHz

CX9000/CX9010Ethernet controller with Intel® IXP420 XScale® technology, 266 MHz or 533 MHz

CX8000Fieldbus controller with ARM9 CPU, 400 MHz, e.g. for PROFIBUS, PROFINET, EtherCAT and Ethernet

Beckhoff Automation Pte. Ltd.Phone: + 65 6635 [email protected]

Beckhoff Automation Sdn. Bhd. (889044-H).Phone: + 60 (3) 7731 [email protected]

ENQUIRY NO. 434

ENQU

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415

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IAA June July 2012