Online magazine for design and development

Here you will find everything that the designer needs for his design and the development engineer for his new development, from the draft to quality assurance in production, such as new products, their applications, new technologies or research results. Company reports as well as topics on technological and megatrends in all industrial sectors complete our range of industry news. Let's start with the news.

Company News

Ebm-Papst wants to sell industrial drive technology to Siemens
The Ebm-Papst Group has announced that it will sell its Industrial Drive Technology (IDT) division to Siemens AG. Both sides have signed a corresponding agreement.
Jumo's new Sensilo plant construction is progressing
Jumo is building a factory in the technology park for the production of temperature and pressure sensors with a production area of ​​around 13 m². At around 000 million euros, the new building is the largest investment in the company's history.
3DExperience Word 2024 in Dallas
At 3DExperience World 2024 in February in Dallas, Texas, Dassault Systèmes celebrated the event's 25th anniversary. The annual user meeting supports the global community in the development of future-proof products and processes.
Michael Koch GmbH moves into a new workshop
There is now more space available in Michael Koch's “Factory” for the assembly of customer- and machine-specific safe braking resistors. The new, modern hall was recently “taken by storm” by the employees.
Elon Musk is suing OpenAI for profit-making
Elon Musk files a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, accusing them of breach of contract because the company, which was originally designed as a nonprofit, is now operating for profit.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Industry news for your design and development from the specialist areas

communication technology

communication technology

World's first Omlox testing laboratory put into operation

The first Omlox testing laboratory in the world has been launched. The PI granted the Fraunhofer Institute Lemgo approval as a PI test laboratory for Omlox.

To the post

switch cabinet

switch cabinet

On to the intelligent drive train for predictive maintenance

The Roba-brake-checker module or the torque-measuring shaft coupling from Mayr ensure intelligent safety in smart production.

To the post

plastics

plastics

The first 100 Igus bikes hit the streets

The first 100 Igus Urban Bikes hit the streets and an in-house production facility with a capacity of 10.000 bicycles is set up in Cologne.

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Couplings

Couplings

Torque measuring shaft coupling

The smart steel multi-plate coupling Roba-drive-checker from Mayr can do more than just transmit torque and compensate for shaft misalignment.

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INDUSTRY SPECIALS

Industry news for your design and development from the branches

food technology

food technology

Lubrication and sealing-optimized linear guide

Schaeffler presents linear guides for food technology with optimized seals, wipers and long-term lubrication units.

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Mobile Machinery

Mobile Machinery

Flexible, customizable gateway for agricultural technology

IFM Electronic is presenting the Isobus Gateway at the Hannover Messe, which is designed for agricultural equipment and can be specifically adapted.

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Energy Technology

Energy Technology

All Electric Society – vision of the future of connectivity

At the Hannover Messe Preview, Harting gives an outlook on the Hannover Messe and draws the future picture of an “All Electric Society”.

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Inverter

Inverter

Certified servo controller with Profisafe interface

At Logimat, Wittenstein is presenting a safety-certified servo controller with a Profisafe interface and integrated safety card for AGVs.

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EXHIBITION SPECIALS

Industry fair news

Hannover Messe promotes energy for sustainable industry
As a networked industrial ecosystem, the exhibitors demonstrate how climate neutrality can be achieved through the use of electrification, digitalization and automation under the guiding theme of Energizing a sustainable Industry.
Control Fair 2024 | The industry is already looking forward to Stuttgart
Control 2024, the important international trade fair for quality assurance, will take place from April 23rd to 26th in Stuttgart. The trade fair places a particular focus on automation and digitalization.
SPS Nuremberg: Now in 16 halls!
The SPS – Smart Production Solutions from November 14th to 16.11th. 2023 will see significant growth in the trade fair compared to the previous year and is on the way to pre-Corona levels.

The Pepperl + Fuchs Brand Ecom Instruments offers a range of Ex mobile phones and smartphones for use in Atex Zone 1 and Atex Zone 2. These also have all the relevant international Ex protection certificates such as IECEx, NEC, among others. In addition to explosion protection, such a Ex-protected cell phone or Manufacturing Smartphone also for Lone Worker Protection (LWP) and Push-To-Talk application. Below we present the novelties like the new one intrinsically safe Ex smartphone for 5G.

Ecom mobile phone smartphone

 

Contents 

German Design Award for ex-smartphone

Pepperl Fuchs German Design Award13.12.2023/XNUMX/XNUMX | The explosion-proof 5G-Smartphone Smart Ex 03 from Pepperl + Fuchs with subsidiaries Ecom Instruments and Aava Mobile, was awarded the German Design Award – Special Mention 2024 by the German Design Council.

To the post

Intrinsically safe Ex smartphone for 5G


06.11.2023/XNUMX/XNUMX | With the intrinsically safe Smart Ex 03 Pepperl+Fuchs presents at the PLC 2023 a 5G and Wi-Fi 6 ready industrial smartphone before. The global, customer-oriented support is combined with the know-how of Ecom Instruments in the 6-inch Android smartphone. Ecom is considered a pioneer in intrinsically safe mobile devices and Aava Mobile in Ex areas and an expert in industrial tablets and wireless technologies. The smartphone is developed entirely in-house in Europe and manufactured outside of China. With this, Ecom Instruments wants to ensure 100 percent control of hardware and software security and ensure higher availability in the supply chains.

Thanks 5G, WiFi 6 and eSIM the new industrial smartphone sets new standards for flexible use in private and public networks of mobile phone providers or corporate areas. Users have access to state-of-the-art communication and collaboration functions around the globe, with which they can transfer large amounts of data quickly and securely. Remote support, video conferencing, digital radio traffic are available with minimal latency via Push-to-Talk (PTT) or a combination with Ecom Smart Glasses Visor Ex available.

Designed for the needs of industry

The smartphone is tailored to the diverse areas of use such as digital workflows, communication, operational safety, work order management, scanning, asset management, predictive maintenance, augmented reality applications or IIoT integration. One designed specifically for the industry Camera for scanning, documenting or video conferencing delivers precise and optimal data even in direct sunlight or in harsh environments.

mobile workers in the oil and gas, chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical industry or in the energy sector as well as in mining receive a future-proof smartphone with the Smart-Ex 03, which follows the "Enterprise Mobility" concept from Pepperl+Fuchs and in the spirit of digitization creates efficiency.

Smart Ex 3 with device health monitoring

The advanced security architecture in the new industrial smartphone offers even more safety in potentially explosive atmospheres. Device Health Monitoring offers, among other things, hardware and software self-monitoring. Sophisticated diagnostic tools, detailed log files and remote control by corporate IT allow for quick problem solving and permanent device monitoring. The IT managers of the user or the manufacturer themselves thus guarantee optimal support, which ensures the availability of the devices.

The connectivity is outstanding thanks to the 5G radio standard: The technology enables fail-safe transmission of high data rates of up to 10 Gbit per second with a latency of less than 5 ms.

Smartphone for Atex Zone 1/21 and Div. 1

16.10.2019 | Ecom presents the new generation of its intrinsically safe 4G / LTE Android smartphone series Smart-Ex. The intrinsically safe smartphone Smart Ex 02 combines explosion protection, modern functions and a user-friendly design. With powerful features such as 4G / LTE connectivity, the ergonomic smartphone is the most advanced explosion-proof smartphone for Atex Zone 1/21 and Div. 1. 

 

The 12,7 cm or 5 inch display has shock and scratch-resistant gorilla glass and is therefore particularly robust. In addition, it can be easily operated with gloves. The extended temperature range is -20 ° to +60 ° C. Extreme environmental conditions are therefore no problem for the Smart-Ex 02. The exchangeable battery with 4400 mAh capacity guarantees 12 hours of running time. A magnetic USB connection protects against wear and tear and damage to the PINs and unsafe USB connections.

The  Accessories concept includes belt clip, wrist strap, charger and docking station and enables the Ex-protected smartphones to be easily carried, attached and charged. In addition, the Smart-Ex 02 can be supplemented with numerous other, coordinated peripheral devices such as a headset, microphone, scanner or Bluetooth beacon from your own company.

Such an ex-protected smartphone fulfills this Android Enterprise Recommended (AER) standard. Ecom can therefore always provide its users with the latest operating system, including guaranteed updates and IT security.

Independent update to Android 11 

27.07.2021/02/11 | From now on, users of the Smart-Ex XNUMX can quickly and easily update their intrinsically safe smartphones to Android XNUMX update. This gives you brand new functions of the cutting-edge operating system.

These include a improved voice control (Voice Access), the optimized management of access rights to the camera, microphone and the location for apps and the function of being able to call up all connected end devices at the touch of a button and control them from a common location.

The security and data protection updates are carried out like app updates via the Google Play Store. Users can now flexibly control their updates.

Wireless Bluetooth speaker microphone with high robustness

08.12.2020 | Clear communication at all times is especially important for the Lone Worker Protection in hazardous areas. To ensure safety and the provision of optimal working conditions, Ecom now offers the wired RSM-Ex 01 radio speaker microphone and the RSM-Ex 01 BT Z0 wireless Bluetooth speaker microphone with IP65 / IP67 protection and integrated noise suppression.

The remote controllable, robust speaker microphone produces a clear, loud sound with a volume of up to 103 dB. It is particularly flat. The ergonomic microphone is intuitive and easy to use, even when wearing gloves.

The built-in Bluetooth interface enables connection to industrial BT devices such as tablets, industrial smartphones, Tetra and DMR radios and, above all, to explosion-proof products from Ecom. With a Bluetooth connection of up to 10 m, communication can even be maintained in a Zone 0 area.

Additional buttons such as Chanel Up / Down allow easy channel switching. A red SOS button is perfect for lone workers. The included Lithium-ion battery with 2200 mAh ensures a long operating time of up to 78 hours. The magnetic charging cable and the optional charging cradle make charging easier even under dust and thus extend the life of the device.


Most compact Atex Zone pressure switch in its class for hydraulics


The device also offers several options for customization Key customization. In combination with the Ex-protected industrial smartphone series 10 from Ecom, the RSM-Ex 01 BT Z0 z. B. individual button settings for sending customer-specific commands to servers and other IoT switches. This makes tasks like opening a gate easier.

SOS lone worker solution with Ecom smartphone certified

13.05.2020/XNUMX/XNUMX | the Lone worker solution SOS from Swissphone wireless was used in combination with the smartphones of the Pepperl + Fuchs Brand Ecom with the components SOS Portal and SOS Mobile App certified again according to DIN VDE V 0825. The Certification was officially communicated by the DGUV testing and certification body on April 21, 2020.

The solution with the components mentioned enables solo work with monitoring in accordance with DGUV regulation 112-139. In addition, the requirements of the SUVA / BG with regard to lone work can also be implemented.      

“We are proud of the DIN VDE V 0825 certification of our emergency call solution in combination with the smartphones of Pepperl + Fuchs Brand Ecom. Ecom is an outstanding manufacturer of specially designed and highly durable mobile devices such as the latest smartphone Smart-Ex 02 with approval for use in potentially explosive areas according to Atex Zone 1/21 and Atex Zone 2/22. In combination with our SOS mobile app and the SOS portal, they provide the greatest possible security for lone workers,” comments Thomas garlic, Product Manager Swissphone Wireless AG.

Employees working alone are increasing

With the certification, Swissphone and Ecom are underscoring their ambitions in the area of ​​lone work. Studies show that the number of employees working alone will continue to grow. “We have seen a trend towards working alone for a number of years. It is important to us to support companies and employees, especially in large-scale industrial facilities that Safety and to make the work as effective and comfortable as possible. In the entirety of the solution together with Swissphone, our end devices not only serve as a digital hub and communication tool, but also as a mobile security concept, ”says Dietmar Deppisch, Business Development Manager Applications Ecom Instruments GmbH.


Location technology standard Omlox with UWB, RFID, 5G, GPS


Employers are obliged to protect employees who work alone so that they receive help as quickly as possible in the event of an emergency. The web-based SOS emergency call system for lone workers from Swissphone on: It monitors people working alone and can make a will-dependent or will-independent emergency call. This is done using the programmable alarm button (red button) or the sensors built into the smartphone, which detect accidents.

The position data of the accident victim is transmitted. The alarm is triggered indoors via BLE and outdoors via GPS. The alarm scenarios and emergency plans stored in the SOS emergency call system are automatically activated. The web-based SOS portal controls and manages the reporting, localization, escalation and complete documentation of incidents as well as the data of the participants.

Protective functions of the emergency call solution

The emergency call solution offers regardless of the trigger device selected the following protective functions:

  • Fast and safe alarms in an emergency using manual and automatic emergency call triggering functions. Automatic forwarding of the emergency call via several channels with information about the person concerned and their position.
  • Decentralized receipt of the alarms received and their processing according to an individual alarm plan. If the emergency call is not answered, it can be escalated until appropriate action is taken.

Ex-protected cell phone with optimal network coverage

25.04.2019/10/XNUMX | Ecom represents the XNUMXth generation of world's first ex-protected cell phone Series before. The simple, robust and practice-oriented 4G / LTE industrial smartphone for Zone 1 and Div. 1 is suitable for a wide range of uses. 

 

The Ex protected cell phones 10 enable the use of Push-to-Talk over 4G, private LTE and Wi-Fi networks. This ensures optimal network coverage in all areas and situations, with low network latency and very good data transfer rates. PTT and lone worker protection functions can be called up quickly via one-touch access using dedicated, easy-to-use side buttons. This ensures more security, flexibility and a simplified Communication in potentially explosive areas.

For best Voice and sound quality Robust loudspeakers on the front of the cell phone ensure even in noisy surroundings. A fixed, usable in the ATEX area cabling enables the use of radio speaker microphones (RSM) or headsets. The high-resolution, brilliant display of the mobile device is extremely robust. It is protected by an extremely tough and scratch-resistant gorilla glass. With protection class IP68 and permissible ambient temperatures of -20 ° to +55 ° C, the device defies even the harshest industrial environments. The highly developed rechargeable battery paired with advanced energy management allows above-average operating times.

Equipped with Android 8.1 operating system patches and security updates are automatically guaranteed. A dedicated development team for the Ex mobile phone 10 can also react quickly to customer needs and make adjustments - independently of external partners. Thanks to long availability and long-term support (5-year life cycle) as well as global approvals (explosion protection, electrical operating permit, large number of radio bands), the new feature phone offers maximum planning and investment security.


Ethernet APL | Current status, applications and implementation


Optionally, an explosion-proof mobile phone 10 can also be connected to the new product division Digital Products and Services from Ecom.

Global featurephone and tablet series for the Ex area

16.01.2019 | Ecom presents the next generation of its pioneering feature phones and tablets for the Ex area. As a world premiere, including the self-developed Ex-Handy 10 Featurephone and the Atex/IECEX Zone 1/21; div. 1 version of the Industrial tablets Tab-Ex 02. 

The in-house developed Atex Zone 1/21 certified 4G/LTE feature phone Ex-Handy 10 with Android 8 operating system is suitable for Industry 4.0 applications in hazardous areas. The newest member of the ultra-robust Ex-Handy family, developed since 1994, enables the use of Push-to-Talk (PTT) applications over 4G, Private LTE and Wi-Fi networks. This ensures optimal network coverage in all areas and situations - with low network latency and excellent data transfer rates.

Speakers on the front of the mobile device provide the best voice and sound quality even in noisy environments. Dedicated, easy-to-use side buttons - large PTT button and red emergency button - allow quick access to PTT and alarm services via one-touch access. In addition, the will-independent, single-employee protection function can be set up on an application-specific basis and (depending on the server) integrated into the company's own IT.

The high-resolution, brilliant display of the ex-cell phone 10 is protected by an extremely resistant and scratch-resistant Gorilla glass. It is designed in protection class IP68 and can withstand ambient temperatures of -20 ° to + 60 ° C in harsh industrial environments. The Featurephone offers maximum planning and investment security through very long availability and support (5 years lifecycle) as well as global approvals (Ex-protection zones, country-specific product conformity and a wide range of radio bands).

With Android 8 operating system, ongoing security updates over Fota (firmware Over the Air) and its own software development team, the ex-cell phone 10 is future-proof. In addition, the sophisticated and powerful battery paired with advanced energy management allows above-average operating times. A consistent, compatible product ecosystem with its own 3,5 mm jack plug fixation concept and new Radio Speaker Microphone (RSM) as PTT sets, scan applications and BLE beacons complete the offer.

Industrial Tablet Tab Ex 02 now available for Zone 1 / 21

The new industrial tablet "Tab-Ex 02" is now available in a version for IECEX/Atex Zone 1/21 as the successor to the world's first explosion-proof Android tablet Tab-Ex 01. The Tab-Ex 02 is powerful and for innovative applications designed like augmented reality. Equipped with the Android 8 operating system, the Tab-Ex 2, which is based on the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active02, has a powerful octa-core processor with 1,6 GHz and 3 gigabytes of RAM.


Ctrlx automation platform


It is suitable for Industry 4.0-capable applications and simplifies data exchange with Scada / DCS systems, merchandise management systems (SAP, IBM Maximo), project management systems and computer-aided system planning. The compact Tab-Ex 02 is the perfect and globally proven companion for a variety of tasks such as inventories, material tracking, maintenance, supply chain and asset management up to a professional lone worker protection solution.


Pepperl + Fuchs and Ecom provide a consistent, future-proof solution and global service portfolio for the hazardous area, which in the interest of the industry 4.0 offers completely new opportunities along the entire supply chain. The combination of the latest sensor technology, smart HMI solutions and explosion-proof mobile devices helps companies reduce costs, increase security and ensure more effective processes and improved asset management.

Employees, experts, teams or project groups can also leverage professional industrial applications, make data available in real time online, and work more agile, flexible, and anywhere. Push-to-talk or videoconferencing applications offer many advantages for documentation, remote diagnostics, maintenance and repair. Experts can provide remote diagnostics and instructions for repairing and repairing the damage without having to be in the facility or on the premises.

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