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Mihails Kusnezoff, Stefan Megel and Sindy Mosch from the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS in Dresden have developed a high-temperature electrolysis stack that is setting new standards worldwide: It generates hydrogen with unprecedented efficiency, can also operate as a fuel cell and is designed for industrial-scale serial production. The technology has earned the three researchers the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize for 2026.
It wasn’t too long ago that hazardous zones and production zones were reasonably well separated. The areas where explosive gases, vapors, or combustible dusts were present tended to stay in their own very specific environments, and the equipment operating in those areas was specified accordingly. Today, however, that distinction is less clear.
The fertilizer sector is caught in a global paradox between growing food to feed billions and the urgent need to decarbonise. Compressors present a largely overlooked opportunity to reduce lifecycle costs and carbon emissions, while enabling more sustainable production of ammonia. Author: Greg Gedney, Business Development Manager, Industrial Operations, Greene Tweed
A new wave of more efficient, adaptable and intelligent plant operations is emerging as conventional control systems evolve into modern, open and modular automation ecosystems. Stefan Basenach, Senior Vice President ABB Automation Technology, explains how ABB’s Automation Extended allows industrial organizations to fully embrace the opportunities of digitalization while futureproofing their operations.
In response to the recent global shortage of Germanium, an essential material for optical components in long-wavelength infrared cameras, Optris has engineered and launched a new optical design that completely removes the need for Germanium. Germanium has long been the main material for lenses and windows in thermal imaging systems. However, issues like supply shortages, export restrictions,...
Hanna Lundin, product engineer at Emerson, explains in this article how simplified tank monitoring system architectures make it more feasible for companies to implement an automated solution to improve their inventory management, increase safety and efficiency.
Diaphragm pump manufacturer KNF begins a new chapter in its leadership as Martin Becker focuses on his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Alexander Heizler takes over as CEO.
ELGi Compressors Europe, a subsidiary of ELGi Equipments Limited announced the transformative operational results achieved by its customer, Guttsta Källa AB, a century-old Swedish natural mineral water producer. By implementing a high-performance ELGi compressed air solution, Guttsta Källa has dramatically increased its production throughput while delivering substantial annual energy savings of 120,000 kWh, positioning the company for continued growth in the premium Swedish bottled water market.
APC enables capacity increases without new hardware, energy savings and cost reduction through continuous optimization, and more stable product quality under fluctuating conditions.
Inline Ultrasonic Concentration Measurement and Bubble Detection System
As the world urgently seeks ways to decarbonise, James Clements from Signal Group explains how gas analysis will perform a vital role – particularly in carbon capture, and not just for CO2 but for all of the important greenhouse gases.
Upgrading pneumatic control valves with digital capabilities can enhance process quality and efficiency. Though a full digital control system redesign might be prohibitive, integrating digital positioners and process controllers can offer many of the same benefits without requiring a complete overhaul. Author: Kieran Bennett, Industry Manager, Food & Beverage at Bürkert.
Maintaining wind turbines and identifying potential vulnerabilities is expensive and time-consuming, especially when they are located offshore. As a result, rotor blades are often simply replaced, a costly process, when damage is merely suspected. The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS, working in concert with the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES, has developed a solution that can be used to identify cracks and breakages inside the blades remotely at an early stage.
From fertilizer to energy source of the future
Yokogawa Collaborates with Shell on Robotics and AI Technology for Plant Maintenance
Accurate energy consumption data is essential for companies aiming to achieve climate-neutral production. To support this goal, a consortium of organizations has recently published a groundbreaking specification for interoperable and efficient energy management in industrial and process automation.
After three decades of continuity at the top of the company, Pepperl+Fuchs is now repositioning itself: Dr.-Ing. Gunther Kegel, CEO for many years, and Werner Guthier, CFO, are stepping down from the Executive Board as planned.
SICK and Endress+Hauser are bringing their strategic partnership in process automation to life: SICK’s advanced gas analysis and flow measurement technology is now an integral part of Endress+Hauser’s comprehensive instrumentation portfolio.
Conductivity Sensor is Key to Energy-Saving Dairy CIP System
Building Up an Intelligent Indoor Environmental Measurement Structure Easily
Dr. Jan Cord Becker joins the management of C. Otto Gehrckens
A hydrogen-fuelled kiln test rig is helping brick and ceramics manufacturers to support the energy transition. In a first for the UK, a kiln and furnace manufacturer has partnered with flow control specialist Bürkert to manage the precise and reliable control of hydrogen. The result for end users is increased production quality and confidence in the transition to hydrogen, enabling a more sustainable process.
Plasma-coated paper as a plastic alternative for the packaging industry
Siemens named one of the global preferred suppliers for Merck's next-level automation, boosting global smart manufacturing with Siemens Xcelerator platform
Crowdhelix’s Circular Industry Helix platform seeks to bring experts from materials science, process engineering, mineral waste recycling and industrial innovation to collaboratively develop solutions that can quickly scale industrial symbiosis.
The German sensor company and the Swiss measurement and automation technology specialist have agreed on a strategic partnership. Endress+Hauser will take over worldwide sales and service of SICK’s process analyzers and gas flowmeters, with a joint venture to be established for their production and further development.
Dr Thomas Buer will become the new managing director of Endress+Hauser Liquid Analysis on 1 October 2024. He succeeds Dr Manfred Jagiella, who is retiring at the end of September after 17 years at the helm of the competence center for liquid analysis.
Ethernet-APL extends connectivity all the way to process automation field devices. This is achieved with 2-wire cabling via Ethernet-APL switches at data transfer rates of 10 MB/s. Transmissions are intrinsically safe and therefore possible into Ex zones as well. This paves the way for the straightforward collection of large volumes of field data, which facilitates plant optimization as well as the development of new business models in process engineering. Yet physical transmission is only part of the story.
Product packaging has always polarized: while it is indispensable for maintaining product and consumer safety, some materials are constantly under scrutiny regarding their environmental impact. The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) introduces binding regulations across the EU to mitigate these effects by reducing and replacing certain types of packaging. Packaging manufacturers and brand owners alike can meet those challenges and become PPWR-compliant without sacrificing efficiency and packing quality.
The measurement of low flow is becoming widely used in many industries. However, the smaller the flow, the trickier it is to control and measure, and finding a suitable flow measuring technology at reasonable cost can prove challenging for both users and flow sensor manufacturers.
AERZEN and HH2E agree on cooperation for large-scale production with an initial capacity of 100 MW in 2026
Margo is a new open standard initiative for interoperability that will address key roadblocks to digital transformation. The initiative is hosted by the Linux Foundation and driven by a founding group of industrial automation solution providers, including ABB Process Automation and ABB Machine Automation (B&R)
More than 130,000 visitors from 150 countries, 4,000 exhibiting companies, 300 startups and over 300 economic and political delegations from all over the world. These are the figures that emphasise the fair's position again after five successful days.
Growth in incoming orders, sales, profit and employment reported for 2023 by Matthias Altendorf and Luc Schultheiss
thyssenkrupp Uhde and Genesis Fertilizers announce Pre-FEED for integrated ammonia/urea/UAS/UAN plant
With the headline “pioneering the green industrial transition”, Norway will showcase products and solutions from cutting-edge industries including CCS, hydrogen, batteries and AI and machine learning from April 22 to 26, 2024.
The hydrogen industry needs to scale up quickly and needs a transport infrastructure for that. Wouldn’t it be great if the existing grid could be used?
PCN Europe spoke to Hubertus von Monschaw, Global Director Trade Fair and Product Management HANNOVER MESSE at Deutsche Messe AG, about the current challenges facing the industry and HANNOVER MESSE 2024.
Linde starts up supply of clean hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide to Celanese
Supporting sustainability goals with zero ozone depleting potential
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