Automation is the name of the game for today’s manufacturers and operators of critical infrastructure. The global market for industrial control and factory automation is expected to grow steadily at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4 percent until 2023, from its current value of USD 145 billion.[1] Powered by the rise of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and smart automation, companies are increasingly implementing industrial control systems (ICS) that connect disparate assets through wired and wireless networks. This level of connectivity helps companies:
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Safety is the name of the game in this ever evolving world of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), which allows operators to connect a multitude of individual devices and control systems through wireless networks. The integration of automated safety systems is rapidly expanding around the world and across diverse industries – including process, household and commercial products, medical, nuclear, automotive, railway, and avionics – making manufacturing operations “smarter”. But cyber-attacks are on the rise as more industries continue to invest in smart technologies, and it has become abundantly clear that in this increasingly connected industrial world, safety needs security. While functional safety evaluations provide the hazard and risk analysis necessary for proper functioning of machines and systems, cybersecurity evaluations help identify data breaches that can impact industrial controls. A proactive business decision – one that helps drive optimal safety, reliability, and operational efficiency – includes ensuring both evaluations are executed.
Despite recent economic challenges, the demand for equipment used in hazardous locations (HazLoc) is surging. Free trade pacts, adoption of IEC standards, the creation of regional and international certification schemes, and partnerships among certification agencies have contributed to this growth. But the mass digitization and automation sweeping through the global industrial marketplace is one of the biggest drivers of change and growth in HazLoc industries.
In the personnel protective equipment (PPE) manufacturing industry, technical expertise matters. Understanding how safety and quality are built into design and production, and ensuring that the appropriate tests and certifications are conducted can save time and money – leading to a more secure place in a highly competitive market. When a team of experienced executives in the industry started a new design and manufacturing company for PPE in 2009, they required some technical guidance. Though they had over 35 years in the industry, they turned to CSA Group to provide the technical expertise that could help further establish them as a reliable source for quality products.
By: John Rimac
Business Manager, Field Evaluations and Verifications, CSA Group
Unique circumstances sometimes make it challenging, impractical, or even impossible for manufacturers to undergo the regular certification process. However, demonstrating their commitment to product safety and compliance to safety requirements is still a top priority. Field evaluation services offer a solution. These one-time evaluation programs help manufacturers get products into the market when certification is not a viable option. It is important to note that field evaluation of electrical products or gas-fired appliances and equipment is not meant to be an alternative to regular certification.
SIL3 Certification for the EHPC210 Diagnostic Controller
Bifold is pleased to announce that the Partial Stroke Function of the EHPC210 Diagnostic Controller is now SIL3 Certified according to IEC 61508 : 2010 Parts 1-7 and meets requirements providing a level of integrity to: Systematic Integrity: SIL3 Capable. (Read More)
Box Hill Accident Highlights Gap In Crane Safety
Thanks to the internet, we’re able to hear about stories that would never have otherwise crossed our periphery.
One such piece of news in the construction industry this week was an accident in Melbourne, Australia this past week on a run-of-the-mill construction site. A kibble full of fresh concrete fell from a crane, submerging three workers and leaving one dead, with another fighting for his life.
The cause of the incident is still being explored, although initial reports point to a mechanical failure of the wedge socket, with the hook on the crane coming loose on only its first operation. In response, Aussie authorities have ordered more than 60 other Raimondi cranes supplied by the same company to cease work until the investigation is completed. (Read More)
Robust Well-Specified Hoists For General Industry
In an era when the industrial world is becoming ever-larger, there is a growing responsibility on equipment suppliers to make sure the market has everything it requires to function safely, reliably, efficiently and cost effectively.
With this notion in mind, J D Neuhaus (JDN) has always had a policy of continuous investment in its class-leading range of hoists and cranes for the general industrial marketplace. (Read More)
The cost of Arc Flash protection
Comments by Mark Lant, technical expert at ProGARM, a specialist in Arc Flash protection.
With the current economic climate, most budget holders are under extreme pressure to keep spending to a minimum but how is it possible to determine what seems like an expensive purchase now but one that will save money in the long term? (Read More)
New DuPont™ Tychem® Garments Offer Improved Hazard Protection and Comfort
DuPont has added more innovations to its protective garment range with enhanced design features that offer improved personal protection while ensuring comfort and ease of movement for the wearer.
Made from proven Tychem® fabric, the new garments provide a reliable barrier against many of the organic and highly concentrated inorganic chemicals and biohazards encountered in industrial, (Read More)