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.
As digital transformation increases demand for data from automation systems – driven by new digital innovations such as advanced analytics, AI and expanded connectivity – maintaining system integrity has become a challenge. ABB’s Luis Duran explores how the concept of “separation of concerns” protect the core of the automation system in a cyber-secure way, while enabling new digital value without compromising operational performance.
200 ms response time for maximised process performance and reliability
Direct driven blowers for economical and energy-efficient process air generation
Compact relay for demanding environments, with screw or push-in connection
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.
In high-pressure fluid systems, inaccuracy is more than a measurement problem - it’s a performance, safety, and cost risk. From hydraulic power units to oilfield chemical injection skids, reliable flow data under extreme pressure is essential to keeping critical systems running efficiently and safely.
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
Ultra-thin barrier layers on packaging effectively protect food and medicine from oxygen, moisture, and contaminants. The Film-Inspect sensor, developed at Fraunhofer IPM, measures the quality of these barriers during the coating process, enabling process control for the first time.
For use in rugged applicactions from -40 to 75 °C
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.
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.
BASF already produces metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) on an industrial scale that can store large quantities of CO₂ and water vapour in a limited space.
The modern production facility in Stäfa, featuring highly classified cleanrooms for the semiconductor industry, will be built over the next two and a half years and accompanied by the acquisition of land for an additional office building.
Zoom lenses, available in motorised and manual versions
Enhanced pump design for higher performance
Titan Enterprises, a leading UK manufacturer of liquid flow measurement solutions, has had a long-standing supplier relationship with John Guest, part of the RWC family of brands, since designing their first beverage flowmeter in the early 1990s. Following discussions with a customer, the two companies teamed up to develop a streamlined, state-of-the-art single unit for beer dispensing systems, fully integrating Titan’s turbine flow technology within RWC’s pioneering PolarClean connector.
Optimized performance with more torque for the same size
From fertilizer to energy source of the future
Variable speed motor platform to upgrade inefficient direct online induction motors
Innovations in the JUMO variTRON controller family
Yokogawa Collaborates with Shell on Robotics and AI Technology for Plant Maintenance
Environmental condition monitoring with rapid response
Safe and Reliable Signal Processing
Additional 4,000 square meters of production and warehouse facilites for efficient manufacturing processes
All over the world, farmed salmon suffer from salmon lice, a small crab that infests the fish and feeds on their mucus, skin and blood, causing disease. However, an innovative solution from the Norwegian company Harbor AS offers effective protection against this parasite. The customised connection solutions required for this are provided by LAPP.
Compact series for cost effective fan and pump applications
The need for accurate flow measurement in extreme operating conditions and harsh industrial environments, such as those found in hydraulic system applications and the oil and gas industry, is met by Titan Enterprises' high pressure oval gear fluid flow meters.
Non browning lens for small sensor cameras
Measuring Light Viscosity Fluids in a range from 0.3 to +5000 GPM
Multilingual and Open Source: OpenGPT-X research project releases large language model
Designed to maintain focus over a wide temperature range
Series with colour displays offer high-performance sensors to measure pressure, temperature and conductivity
Cloud solution for portable gas detector logging and analysis
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.
Use of different remote measuring probes and decentralized system integration allow flexible monitoring solutions
Mitsubishi Electric technologies have enabled the development of innovative composting machines that can turn food waste into high-quality fertiliser in just 24 hours. This solution responds to the global problem of waste, in particular food waste, which constitutes about 30% of landfill waste. For Radisson Blu Scandinavia, this technology enables the daily processing of food waste from restaurants, room service, and other food-related operations.
Instrumentation manufacturer VEGA participates in chip start-up
Modules with broad range of functions and certifications for worldwide use in all areas of the process industry
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