News

Peli Products (UK) recently teamed up with ESS to put Peli lighting products to the test in their confined space training facility in Southampton. Thanks to Nick Cole, Trainer, for his assistance.

ESS is one of the leading specialist hire companies in the UK offering a range of safety equipment for operating in confined spaces. They are also a leading training provider of confined space training, training thousands of delegates per year via their network of training venues. ESS qualified trainers educate on the procedures and equipment needed to remain safe when working in a confined space.

Peli Products (UK) offer a wide range of tough safety torches including head torches, right angled models, compact versions and heavy-duty hand lights; all designed for use in hazardous areas.

Peli ATEX torches and lights are ideal for such hazardous areas as silos, tanks and chambers where an individual may be exposed to a range of potential hazards.

In the tunnels, Peli Safety torches were used in a scenario to evacuate a casualty. The Peli 3415 Z0 features a strong magnet which was used to position the light perfectly and freed up the trainer’s hands to attend to the “casualty”.  This model also has a 90° articulating head to angle the light exactly where required.  An integrated clip easily attaches to clothing for body worn, hands-free light.

The Peli 9415 Zone 0 is a rugged hand lamp with a powerful beam which cuts through smoke and fog.   The ATEX Zone 0 rating ensures the light can be used in hazardous areas.  This model was used to illuminate the tunnels, allowing the rescuer to attend to the “casualty”.  It features a sure grip handle for a comfortable and non- slip grip with an extra-large space to accommodate gloved hands.

The 9455 Zone 0 from the Peli range of Area lights was also used for a wider illumination.  This maintenance-free rechargeable LED light is easily portable, weighing 7.3kg and can be set up in seconds.

The unit is compact, easy to transport and has a retractable mast; the head can be rotated 360° and it also pivots to angle the light directly where required.

The 9455Z0 is popular across many industries where previously they may have been encumbered by bulky lights, trailing cables and the use of external power supplies.

Professionals have chosen the Peli brand for many years; trusting in the reliability, performance and durability of the products in the most testing conditions.  Established for over 30 years, Peli Products (UK) is ISO registered; ensuring quality systems and excellence in service.  The company has grown considerably during this time and has developed an outstanding reputation for both the quality of products and excellence in customer service.

For more details telephone 01457 869999 or go to www.peliproducts.co.uk.

This artilce can also be found in the issue below.

Sentric Safety Group, a company that manufactures and distributes leading safety solutions, announces today it has acquired Zonegreen.

Headquartered in Sheffield, Zonegreen develops technologies, software and services that make working in rail depots safer and more efficient. Controlled remotely, these technologies protect lives by ensuring vehicles don’t move unless it is safe to do so. Zonegreen’s products are used by rail customers across the UK, Ireland and Australia.

"Sentric has a proven track record in the rail safety space in France. The acquisition of Zonegreen will enable us to offer a complete range of connected solutions to keep rail maintenance workers safe," said Aurelie Paul, General Manager, Sentric. “Our companies’ technologies are solving real problems every day as new ways of travelling continue to evolve. Sentric’s investment not only accelerates its ambition for international growth, it also gives the company long-term support to create the safest environment for employees when working in rail depots.”

As a highly sustainable mode of transport, rail makes a notable contribution to reducing carbon emissions and achieving climate objectives. With its growth, there is a growing demand for innovative technologies which support the safety, reliability and efficiency of rail networks and their workers.

• Depot Personnel Protection System (DPPS^TM):  Allows the safe and efficient movement of vehicles in and around rail maintenance depots. The innovative technology safeguards workers by using approved powered derailers, linked to road end panels. Staff create safe zones in which to work in using RFID tags and access permission for trains will then only be given if the road is clear.
• Depot Manager: SCADA software provides a real time graphical overview of the status of the DPPS^TM, and records all safety operations, providing full traceability.

• Points Converter: allows the automation and remote operation of any traditional manual points/switches and rail road crossings.

“Joining Sentric will give us new opportunities to develop our technology offerings and expand our international reach, to protect even more rail workers, and to further increase safety, productivity and reliability for rail network operators,” Gemma Houghton, Head of Sales, Zonegreen.

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Visitors to Sensor + Test 2023 in Nürnberg, Germany (9 - 11^th May) can see the world’s leading sensors for the measurement of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Particulate Matter (PM) at the ION Science booth 512 in Hall 1.

“The designers of gas detection instrumentation, systems and process control equipment will already know ION Science as a manufacturer of the market’s best PID sensors,” explains Peter Morris, Head of Sensors at ION Science Ltd. “However, they will be delighted to learn that the Next-PM high-performance Particulate Matter sensor, is now also available, and will feature prominently on our stand.”

“When customers integrate our sensors into their equipment, they know that having ‘ION inside’ enhances both their performance capability and reliability, which builds trust in their brands. We therefore look forward to welcoming all visitors, including developers, designers, engineers, technicians and product managers to speak with us at the show, so that we can explain the benefits of the unique patented technology behind the performance superiorities that ION sensors deliver.”

With global organisations looking to lower safety risks and improve their environmental performance, the demand for VOC monitoring technologies is growing. Typically, ION Science customers are developing portable, wearable and fixed measurement instrumentation solutions for applications such as environmental monitoring, industrial health and safety, air quality, facility/site monitoring and fugitive emissions. Photoionisation Detection (PID) is the recommended technology for VOC detection in these applications.

One of the unique features of ION’s MiniPIDs is a patent-protected design with a third electrode that overcomes humidity interference (that plagues competitors’ sensors), delivering a stable signal from 0 – 99% RH.

The sensitivity of PID sensors is extremely important in many applications; particularly where the sensors are deployed in the measurement of trace VOCs. Again, ION leads the field, offering MiniPIDs with ten times the sensitivity of other PID manufacturers.

“We encourage anyone with an interest in developing a monitoring solution for VOCs, to view our ” explains Peter Morris. “This document includes the response factors for over 900+ VOCs, as well as a small number of inorganic gases such as hydrogen sulphide, so it’s really helpful in deciding which PID variant is most appropriate to the OEM application or need.”

The NextPM sensor was recently added to the ION Science portfolio following hugely successful field trials at South Coast AQMD in the USA. The NextPM sensors showed strong to very strong correlations for both PM_1.0 and PM_2.5 with reference instruments costing several hundred times the cost of the sensors. “These results were incredibly good for such a low-cost sensor,” explains Peter Morris, “the NextPM, therefore, fits well with our philosophy of offering the best sensors to the market.”

Thanks to its patented airflow control technology, Next-PM ensures years of maintenance-free measurements, even in polluted and humid atmospheres. These sensors are therefore ideal for inclusion in instruments and systems that monitor industrial processes or air quality; both indoors and outdoors.

Fine particulates are a particular health concern, and the requirement for monitoring equipment is growing rapidly alongside tightening regulations. In 2021, the WHO halved its yearly average guideline limit for PM_2.5 from 10 to 5 µg/m³. In the UK, under the Environment Act 2021, a maximum annual mean concentration of 10 µg/m³ by 2040 has been set as the PM_2.5 target.  The EU Commission has proposed a reduction in the PM_2.5 target to 10 µg/m³ by 2030, and the US Environmental Protection Agency is currently considering recommendations from its independent particulate matter review panel to lower its target from 12 to between 8 and 10 µg/m³.

Sensor + Test visitors can see ION’s latest sensing technology and discuss their applications with the technical experts on the stand. They may also wish to take advantage of ION’s sensor development kit which helps reduce development time and cost.

The Iris Explorer™ Spot® Payload enables industrial clients to perform advanced vibration analysis on assets, even in remote or hazardous locations, by blending the agility of Boston Dynamics‘ Spot® with the outstanding visibility of RDI Technologies‘ Motion Amplification®.

• High-volume, repetitive route-based solution for vibration analysis
• Dynamic mobility and teleoperation capabilities
• Autonomously measures deflection, displacement, movement and vibration
• Reduces risk and ensures compliance
• Enhances asset ROI for better asset reliability and performance

Meet up with the RMS Team on Stand 32 at CHEMUK or learn more online.

Signal Group is probably best known for leading innovation in industrial gas analysis using reference methods such as FID, CLD and NDIR. However, since its inception in 1979, the company has developed a fleet of ancillary equipment to ensure that the gas analysers operate as accurately and reliably as possible. This has included cooler/dryers that help to condition sample gas prior to analysis, and remarkably, the designs for these devices have changed very little in the last 30 years.

“Simplicity and reliability have always been our guiding mantra in product design,” explains Signal’s MD James Clements. “So, once we had developed models that met our needs precisely, further development was unnecessary, and we now have hundreds of cooler/dryers operating all over the world.”

Globally, regulations dictate that stack, flue or exhaust emission samples should usually be conditioned in some way before analysis, and it is important that this conditioning should be compatible with the analysis method. Cooler/dryers remove moisture from the sample gas so that it does not enter the gas analyser where it may affect the readings or even harm the analyser. However, cooler/dryers are not normally employed with acid gas samples because acidic gases may dissolve in the condensed water and therefore not form part of the measurement.

Signal Group offers two types of cooler/dryer; both with a thermoelectric cooling system and a special gas labyrinth design to eliminate the possibility of losing non-soluble sample gas with the removed water. Signal’s portable (Model 250) Cooler/dryer weighs 15kg and runs on mains power, and a 19” rack version (Model 200SM) is available as a 1, 2 or 3 channel unit. Summarising, James says: “It is incredible that there has never really been any need to update or re-design our cooler/dryers, but they do say: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.signal-group.com

Reuters Events has officially launched their latest webinar on digital strategy in oil & gas taking place on March 8^th, 10am CST: Leverage Data to Scale Digital Transformation. Lead by changemaking senior executives from Shell, ExxonMobil, Bain, Northeast Natural Energy and Dataiku the webinar will accelerate the discussion around upstream digital transformation, uncovering key learnings around data management and data-driven enterprise projects.

Sign up for free to access full details and speaker line-up here

Reuters Events: Leverage Data to Scale Digital Transformation will feature industry-disrupting insights by digital leaders from across the upstream landscape. Participants will gain access to strategic learnings from Shell’s Vice President Subsurface Data & Digital, Paul Zeppenfeldt, ExxonMobil’s Manager of Upstream Digital & Data, Patrick Dunn, Bain & Company’s Expert Partner - Digital Transformation, Jim Claunch, Northeast Natural Energy LLC’s VP Geoscience & Innovation, BJ Carney and Dataiku’s Principal Solutions Engineer, Catalina Herrera.

“The U.S. oil & gas industry generated record profits in 2022 so all eyes are on operators and their strategies for 2023. How will they maximize this opportunity to ensure short term supply while progressing within the energy transition in the long term? Investing in the right data-driven solutions and strategies is a vital part of that journey” said Lee Cibis, Global Project Director at Reuters Events.

“Reuters Events’ webinar Leverage Data to Scale Digital Transformation will address this industry challenge by providing participants with the opportunity to learn, ask pressing questions and contribute to the conversation shaping the future of their business and the industry”.

The webinar will explore:

• Why data management is the key to successful digital transformation and how to leverage it to improve your bottom line
• How to create and refine a data-driven digital strategy to lower OPEX and deliver long-term results
• Real-life examples from industry leaders to overcome common data challenges and get ahead of the digitalization curve

Reuters Events: Leverage Data to Scale Digital Transformation (March 8^th at 10am CST) is produced in conjunction with the in-person conference Data Driven Oil & Gas USA 2023 which will take place on June 20-21^st in Houston, Texas, uniting 400+ visionary upstream changemakers and cutting-edge digital experts sharing business-critical strategies to maximize production, unlock innovation and overcome key industry challenges. For more information visit: https://events.reutersevents.com/oilandgas/data-driven-usa

What’s in store for research and development around the world? From super-apps, through psychedelic medicines, to metaverse and sustainable technology, 2023 has something for everyone. Here, tax incentive and innovation management advisers, ABGi take a look…

Super-apps

Super-app is a mobile or web application that allows for integration of multiple online services within one digital ecosystem. The term super-app was first used to describe WeChat, the hugely popular Chinese all-encompassing mobile application. Think of it as a Swiss knife with a range of built in smaller tools (mini-apps) that you can use and customise for different tasks.

2023 will see an increased interest in super-app solutions among developers and end users. This is expected in particular in the ‘west’, where there’s still no equivalent to the Chinese pioneering app. Walmart is reportedly developing a super-app for its workforce in order to create a single, streamlined experience for its employees and managers by replacing multiple vendor-supplier applications. For better or worse, Elon Musk has recently announced plans for his own super-app. It is likely that “‘X’, the everything app”, will have something to do with his acquisition of Twitter.

Psychedelic Medicines

Mental health issues are increasingly prevalent in contemporary societies and conventional medicine appear to have reached its limits in addressing them. The coming year could see a revolution in pharmaceutical industry through engagement with drugs long associated with hippy and party cultures. MDMA, Ketamine and Magic Mushrooms are currently in final stages of testing trials to treat various mental health conditions.

It is hoped that MDMA could be used in treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Ketamine is being tested to treat addiction related illnesses such as alcoholism. Finally, an active component of Magic Mushrooms – psilocybin – could be used for treatment-resistant cases of depression. Many researchers are hoping that 2023 will see first psychedelic-assisted therapies approved by regulatory bodies in the USA and the UK. It is likely that in the near future currently illegal substances might be prescribed to you by a doctor.

Metaverse

While it might have been recently popularised by Mark Zuckerberg, metaverse is much more than Facebook’s attempt to remain relevant. In a nutshell, metaverse allows people to replicate or even enhance their physical activities in a virtual reality world facilitated by headsets and smart glasses. The technology has been simmering under the global tech surface for a while but many industry specialists predict this year will be pivotal for both the users and developers. As the technology is increasingly becoming part of the public consciousness, we will be seeing more people joining in the fun with big brands hoping to start capitalising on their initial investments in various metaverses. 2023 will also see many smaller and mid-size businesses flocking to the virtual world to start new ventures and services.

Sustainable Technology

Driven by climate emergency and the war in Ukraine, the shift towards green and renewable solutions will only accelerate in 2023. Sustainable technology is a framework for digital solutions that can enable environmental, social and governance outcomes for businesses and customers. The framework adheres to circular economy principles by considering the environmental impacts throughout the entire life span of each product. It is expected that sustainable technology will not only incorporate well-established products but also create new avenues for tech development. In doing so the framework will also provide products and services that enable customers to meet their own sustainability goals.

6-inch smartphone with extensive feature set was developed for mission critical communications and industrial environments

Lauda-Koenigshofen, March 1, 2023 - RugGear, one of the leading developers and manufacturers of rugged mobile devices for professional use, is expanding its product portfolio with a 5G smartphone: equipped with the powerful 8-core Qualcomm® QCM6490 processor from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., the Android 12 device offers users the ideal basis for smooth mission-critical push-to-talk and -video communication. A clear 6-inch FHD display, 48 MP main camera, 103 dB amplified speaker, 4400 mAh removable battery, WIFI 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC and 16-pin interface for secure peripheral connection complete the feature set. The RG540 supports the new CBRS frequency spectrum for private LTE networks. Especially in the field of public safety and crisis management, process/manufacturing industry and in the logistics sector, the smartphone with 5G technology enables the highest transmission speeds for the most demanding applications.

5G technology and advanced hardware components guarantee secure and fast communication

RugGear's German R&D team designed the RG540 with the most important components for the target customer group in mind: Usability, security, compatibility, and extreme performance. A rugged and modern mobile device, the RG540 is designed to meet the most demanding requirements in the rescue, fire, police and military, public safety, industrial, maintenance and transport sectors. The RG540 fully complies with the 5G standard, which supports high-speed (near real-time) data transmission for networking and communication in industrial environments such as M2M, M2P and P2P, maintenance, remote monitoring and process optimisation. The 5G smartphone can also be used in company-internal campus networks (stand-alone networks) and constitutes the basis for highly digitalised applications in automation such as remote maintenance, IIOT and augmented reality, i.e., everywhere where voice or video communication and data exchange with minimal latency is required. Other application scenarios include control/monitoring of mobile robots, tracking of autonomous campus drives and platooning (automated convoy transport on factory sites), location and asset tracking.

The RG540 meets the highest demands for security and network coverage. Thanks to the powerful chipset and Android 12, data can be transmitted and processed quickly. WLAN network use is optimised by DUAL APN capability (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz) and seamless Wi-Fi roaming. The RG540 is compatible with 3GPP Release 15 and supports MCPTX. MCPTX stands for Mission Critical Push-to-Talk (MCPTT) and Mission Critical Push-to-Video (MCPTV), which provides secure, low-latency and uninterrupted team communications. Professional PTT accessories such as a PTT headset and RSM can be securely connected to the device via the 16-pin interface. A programmable red SOS button can be used for emergency call or lone worker protection through supported applications from RugGear partners. The powerful 103 dB front speaker is designed for loud scenarios. The RG540 is equipped with a replaceable 4000 mAh lithium battery, measures 180 x 84.5 x 19.5 mm, and weighs 420 g. A desktop charger and belt clip are available as additional accessories.

The RG540 will be available from the end of April 2023. 

For more information and technical details, click here.

Press images for download are available here.

TECHNICAL HIGHLIGHTS

• Qualcomm QCM6490 8-core processor, 2.7 GHz, 3GPP Release 15, QCI: 1-9, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70
• 6-inch Full HD 1080 x 2160 pixel display with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3
• 48 MP rear camera PDAF, 5 MP front camera FF
• Android 12
• Dual-band WIFI 6 (2.4 / 5 GHz)
• Amplified speaker with 103 dB
• Wide frequency bands
• 4400 mAh battery (replaceable)
• 16-pin interface for PTT headset / RSM and other accessories
• Large, programmable side button (e.g. for PoC / PTT)
• Programmable red button (e.g. for lone worker protection / SOS via third-party app)

About RugGear®

RugGear® is a leading international developer and manufacturer of rugged mobile phones, smartphones and tablets designed for professional use in extreme safety and working conditions, especially in the Mission Critical area. The mobile devices are developed and designed by specialists in Germany (Lauda-Koenigshofen), where RugGear GmbH is also based. RugGear's high-end devices support all types of mobile voice and data communication, LTE/private LTE, Google Chrome Enterprise, eMBMS (evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service) and especially the Mission Critical application Push-to-Talk-over-Cellular (POC or PTToC), which is increasingly replacing traditional PTT solutions such as TETRA in Europe or iDEN in the USA and other regions of the world. RugGear's mobile devices are suitable for a wide range of industrial and outdoor applications and meet the most important standards (IP67/68/69, MIL-STD-810G/H, waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, etc.). RugGear was founded in 2006 by the president of the company Maverick Chen and is present in Europe, USA, Middle East, Australia and Asia. Since early 2020, Maverick Chen has further intensified the existing partnership with Martin Haaf, CEO of the German company i.safe MOBILE from Lauda-Koenigshofen. Together, the two manufacturers thus cover the three most important areas of application for the professional use of mobile devices in a leading global position: 

• Mobile device providers for PTT (push-to-talk)/POC (push-to-talk-over-cellular) and mission critical applications
• Provider of complete solutions, for example for MDM (Mobile Device Management), PTT, MCPTT and POC (in cooperation with software partners)
• Mobile device supplier for hazardous areas of zones 1/21 and 2/22 (intrinsically safe devices).

RugGear cooperates globally with leading mobile equipment suppliers and operators as well as solution and integration providers to provide industrial customers with tailor-made solutions from a single source.

For more information on RugGear®, please click here:

RugGear® on the net: www.ruggear.com
RugGear® on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ruggearglobal/

RugGear® on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RugGear

RugGear® on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/youtube-ruggear

SICK has launched an industry-first safety light curtain system for Smart Box Detection, designed to enable the continuous safe material flow of cartons or cuboid goods at the entry or exit points of protected areas, while safeguarding people from dangerous materials-handling, conveying or packaging machinery.

The SICK Smart Box Detection system is a plug-and-play automation solution for the SICK deTec4 Safety Light Curtain. It uses intelligent pattern recognition to detect cuboid objects, and even some cylindrical goods that produce a cuboid-shaped silhouette, and differentiate them from people. Unnecessary stoppages are therefore avoided, for example at the in- and outfeeds of packaging machinery, or close to loading and unloading machinery in intralogistics facilities. The protected area above the material remains safeguarded by the light curtain at all times.

No Muting Sensors or Tunnels

The SICK deTec4 Smart Box Detection is the first safety system of its kind to facilitate safe material flow without having to receive signals from an external machine controller. It removes the need to use muting sensors, which take up space, require maintenance and can be easily knocked or damaged.

The SICK deTEC4 Smart Box Detection system can also replace the tunnel guards that are frequently used to provide protection at the openings of machines. As a result, the maximum distance to the hazard can be reduced by more than half.

The SICK Smart Box Detection system is quick and easy to configure using dip switches integrated into the SP2 system plug, so there is no requirement to use a laptop or software. There’s also no need for any additional teach-in, programming, mounting or wiring. Each system can be configured to meet the needs of the application, and if objects of different heights and lengths are being detected, for example on a conveyor, there is no need to teach them in or to adjust the configuration of the safety solution.

Productivity Gains

Martin Kidman, SICK UK’s Market Product Manager for Safety Solutions, commented: “Installing a SICK Smart Box Detection system can improve productivity significantly. This will be welcomed both by machine builders and end users in a wide range of industrial and logistics facilities e.g. in goods inward areas where top- and sideloaders are in operation; or in secondary packaging lines, or on the outfeed of rejected boxes.

“There are also both cost- and space-saving benefits from installing Smart Box Detection. Machine designers can build new machinery in a smaller footprint, while production teams can remove tunnels, or eliminate the need to keep an inventory of muting sensors, for example.”

“Using SICK’s innovative deTec4 safety light curtain means boxes can also be measured, if needed, without additional sensors by transmitting beam data over IO-Link. The user could then combine with speed data to calculate volume. Diagnostic information accessed via either Near Field Communications or IO-Link makes it easier for operators to investigate machine stoppages in real time, as well as making informed service decisions for predictive machine maintenance.”

The SICK deTec4 Prime offers protective field heights in increments from 300mm to 2100mm and a choice of finger (14mm) or hand (30mm) resolution providing protection against operator intervention in accordance with ISO 13855 in applications covering up to 21 metres. It is a Type 4 device (IEC 61496), enabling compliance in applications with requirements up to PLe (ISO 13849) and SIL 3 (IEC 62061).

www.sick.co.uk

This article can alos be found in the issue below.