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.
Certification to ATEX and IECEx requirements enables IE6 technology to be deployed in hazardous areas
Wireless scanner in different variants for multiple operating scenarios
Making aluminium drives resistant to cleaning chemicals
At a specialist aerospace equipment manufacturer in Portsmouth, an initiative to reduce energy costs identified steam energy usage that could be optimised. Dart Aerospace involved Bürkert’s engineering team to develop a system that could automatically close steam flow during non-operational periods. This custom-developed flow control system was set live in January 2025 and achieved return on investment in a matter of months.
Low weight, high power density and innovative sealing concept for easier maintenance
Intelligent pump features for flow, pressure , vacuum control and dosing
Polyurethanes (PUR) are found in many products, such as upholstered furniture, foam or insulation materials, flooring, paints and even medical catheter tubes. The production of these high-demand plastics, however, relies on toxic isocyanate. Fraunhofer researchers have now developed an alternative production process using harmless dicarbamate.
Reliable switches for mission-critical operations in harsh environments
In September 2025, a ransomware attack on Collins Aerospace interrupted check-in and boarding systems at major European airports, heavily impacting Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin. The attackers never breached the airport’s core IT – they didn’t need to. One compromised supplier was enough to paralyze a critical service. Here, Stephan Nobis, business development manager at automation supplier COPA-DATA, discusses why Europe’s critical infrastructure must move from compliance to continuous cybersecurity – or face severe risks.
For more resistant and durable aluminium drives in harsh environments
When it comes to beverage dispensing and flow measurement, Titan Enterprises offers two distinct solutions that each has unique strengths and trade-offs, making the choice application-dependent.
Optimised fixed-focus and zoom lenses, designed to operate in the ultraviolet spectral region (200-400 nanometres)
Smarter Motion. Stronger Performance
Looks matter, but they aren’t everything: long before croissants, biscuits or waffles are placed in protective packaging, manufacturers need to ensure that their contents are exactly as they should be. In upstream steps, producers pave the way for the highest quality, safety and shelf life of ready-to-eat products. Ingenious technologies that work towards this goal are always part of the packaging process.
Niederrhein-Gold Tersteegen GmbH & Co. KG in Moers, Germany has been relying on automated guided vehicles (AGV) from ek robotics. After the system was expanded in 2019 to include vehicles for transporting industrial pallets, new transport robots were added in 2024, opening further functional areas and ensuring even higher throughputs and efficient material flows with their continuous operation.
Hutchinson has customized Nonius magnet rings to achieve absolute angular measurement of ±0.02° in compact actuator-sensor systems.
For reliable detection of pressurized gas leaks, mechanical faults, and partial discharge in explosive vapor and dust environments
For proactive maintenance of air systems and detection of energy saving potentials
Maintaining Compliance with the European Union Methane Emissions Reduction 2024/1787 Ruling Requires Quantitative Optical Gas Imaging
Reliable agitating and mixing under difficult conditions in heavy-duty applications
Additional 4,000 square meters of production and warehouse facilites for efficient manufacturing processes
International Federation of Robotics reports on trends in the industry
Versatile and robust design to meet the needs of field workers
Pepperl+Fuchs has joined the new IGEL Ready program. Established in July 2020, IGEL Ready is a growing ecosystem of more than 100 technology partners providing hardware, software, and peripheral solutions that have been verified for use with IGEL OS to deliver a powerful, productive, and secure user experience for digital workspaces within modern workplace environments.
Siemens named one of the global preferred suppliers for Merck's next-level automation, boosting global smart manufacturing with Siemens Xcelerator platform
Suitable for discharge applications in bulk handling
Wireless sensors for condition monitoring prevent unplanned downtime of critical centrifugal pump
For use in applications with temperatures as low as -80°C
Digital integration of measurement technology based on resistance thermometers or thermocouples
Versatile options for a wide range of fluid handling applications
Integration of Ethernet connection allows increased measurement efficiency
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 VisuNet GXP and VisuNet FLX series HMIs from Pepperl+Fuchs set new standards for safety and efficiency in hazardous industrial environments, meeting rigorous explosion protection requirements while offering sleek designs and flexible adaptability. Featuring modular designs and advanced technologies, these HMIs ensure operational excellence and compliance with industry standards, making them a smart investment for industries prioritizing safety and productivity.
For fluid control applications in sectors such as pharmaceuticals as well as food & beverage production, manufacturers can increase productivity and reduce costs while helping to meet their sustainability objectives by integrating improved control valves. Hydroformed valve bodies for diaphragm valves achieve high strength and light weight. This makes hydroformed valve bodies far more energy efficient compared to forged or cast designs, and the manufacturing process is inherently more sustainable too.
Modular system for continuous or batch processes in battery production
Easy discharge and cleaning without bomb doors or manual intervention
New family members in versatile rugged tablet series
Custom Optical Module for Cutting-Edge Imaging Systems
Today, the majority of consumer goods and everyday items are made from petroleum-based plastics. In Germany alone, around six million tonnes of plastic waste is generated every year. About half of this is mechanically recycled into new materials; the rest is used for energy recovery. The incineration of this waste results in the release of CO2, a greenhouse gas. It is therefore important to keep more plastics in the material cycle for climate and environmental reasons. Eight Fraunhofer Institutes are developing new ideas and processes to significantly improve the mechanical recycling rate of plastics as part of the Waste4Future flagship project.
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