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Designed for industrial use

For process automation specialist Endress+Hauser, the Field Xpert SMT70 plant asset management tablet has become an indispensable mobile workstation for customer applications. The hardware basis for this intelligent mobile device is provided by the Pad-Ex® 01 from Pepperl+Fuchs brand ECOM Instruments, an intrinsically safe Windows tablet for industrial use. Thanks to the combination of this hardware and the cloud-based IIoT ecosystem Netilion, Endress+Hauser was able to master a tricky diagnostic task at a customer company and resolve previously inexplicable plant downtimes.

Certain industries such as the chemical industry are more challenging in terms of smart plant asset management than others. Sprawling manufacturing sites suggest mobile solutions instead of permanently installed terminals to extend the range of movement for employees. At the same time, the special conditions in the chemical industry, especially hazardous areas, place specific demands on the mobile devices used. These must not only be robust and intrinsically safe, but must also be able to display complex diagnostic applications in a comprehensible and intuitive manner. Last but not least, the appropriate communication protocols must ensure digital communication in the industry 4.0 and IoT context.

In a milestone moment, tugboat uses computer vision and autonomous tech to circumnavigate Denmark and gather essential data on waterways

 – Sea Machines Robotics​​​​, the leading developer of autonomous command and control systems for the maritime industry, announced today that it has completed the world’s first 1,000+ nautical miles autonomous and remotely commanded journey of a commercial vessel at sea. Under the project name The Machine Odyssey, the autonomous tug Nellie Bly completed its journey in just 129 operational hours over 13 days. The program was commanded by U.S. Coast Guard-licensed mariners remotely stationed 3,000 miles away in Boston, many of whom are also members of the American Maritime Officers union. 

Brunnthal/Munich, Germany, October 21, 2021 - SFC Energy AG a leading supplier of hydrogen and methanol fuel cells for stationary and mobile hybrid power solutions, significantly expands its distribution network. With PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG), SFC Energy gains an essential producer of ultra-high purity methanol for its customers in the Asian region.

From now on, customers of EFOY fuel cells in the region can be supplied much more efficiently with methanol in commercially available fuel cartridges. The hub is the production site on the island of Labuan (Malaysia) with an annual volume of 2.4 million tons. Its proximity to customers not only simplifies logistics and consulting, it also reduces costs by skipping conventional trade routes and reduces the carbon footprint. Thus, SFC Energy customers and above all the environment benefit.

REMBE Inc., the American Branch of REMBE GmbH Safety + Control, headquartered in Brilon, Germany has just moved into its new premises in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

The brand name REMBE is worldwide renowned for superior quality and performance in industrial safety solutions such as Turn-Key Dust and Gas Explosion Protection Systems and Pressure Relief Devices like rupture discs or breather valves.

REMBE has successfully protected numerous sites across the U.S. and Canada ranging from wood manufacturing factories to critical processes in chemical, food and pharmaceutical industry.

„When we started our operations in 2006 we faced tough times to convince American Prospects to rely on a non-American product“ reflects Stefan Penno, CEO of the parent company in Germany.

„However, the REMBE Quality convinced not only multi-nationals but local producers as they quickly recognized how much money they save with a tailor-made solution that keeps their process running without unwanted interruptions“ adds Stefan Penno.

REMBEs approach is not just selling commodity items but develop bespoken solutions and engineer total safety concepts including full service from Start-up to regular maintenance.

The company had a first breakthrough end of the 80s when introducing the technology of flameless venting. Most famous product those days was the Q-Rohr, a quench pipe with incorporated vent panel that retards not only explosion flames but reduces heat emission. Allowing operators to vent an explosion wherever they want allowed OEMs to position their equipment according to efficiency criteria rather than placing filters, hoppers or bins close to a wall to vent the explosion to outsides but compromising with unnecessary pipe length.

„Guaranteeing both, a safe process and maximum business continuity is worth a few bucks more than just installing something and hoping for the best“ underlines Dr. Gerd Mayer, President of REMBE Inc.

Today REMBE also offers a complete range of rupture discs. Applications such as FPSOs or infrastructure critical Power Supply Stations like Transformers are protected by the German engineered products named STAR or SFD, so-called forward acting rupture discs that are produced from noble alloys and with the REMBE typical passion and precision.

With office, Assembly, Warehouse and Manufacturing Space of more than 1000 sqm and a total 23,000 sqm Ground, REMBE Inc. has enough room for expansion over the next years.

Currently employing 17 Engineers and Workers the company is constantly exploring new fields of Business in North America whilst serving its existing Customer Base.

Located only 20 Minutes away from Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, NC and with mobile Senior Consultants all over the continent, REMBE Inc. is ready to support their clients with on-site Consultancy and Engineering within hours. Spare parts are stocked in Fort Mill and same-day delivery now is just another Pro to protect equipment with REMBE Technology.

www.rembe.us

With immediate effect, the operations of the biogas plant manufacturer AD AGRO have continued under the umbrella of the WELTEC Group in Germany. "Through the merger of the business fields of AD AGRO and WELTEC, we establish promising synergies in the entire value chain of biogas and biomethane", explains Jens Albartus, Director of the biogas specialist WELTEC BIOPOWER.

"AD AGRO was faced with the decision of implementing a suitable succession strategy. The goal was to perpetuate the successful use of the expertise and experience gained in almost 200 biogas projects. The profile of AD AGRO fitted snugly in WELTEC BIOPOWER's spectrum of products and services", explains Uwe Heider, Managing Partner of AD AGRO.

ASAP Innovations will feature its X-TRA Thick Black glove at the world’s biggest Health and Safety Event 

 ASAP Innovations, a leading global PPE manufacturer, has today announced that its X-TRA Thick Black glove has been approved for use throughout the EU and in the UK; the glove offers the highest protection against exposure to many commonly – used chemotherapy drugs. 

 The X-TRA Thick Black glove has been tested in accordance with ISO 16604:2004 (resistance to penetration by blood – borne pathogens) and has passed to meet the requirements of EN ISO 374-5:2016. 

Valmet has developed an Industrial Internet solution for collecting critical measurement data related to gas transportation containers. Accurate data collection with no traditional physical measurements improves the safety of explosive containers transporting, for example, methane or hydrogen. Additionally, it saves costs and provides information about container contents for logistics.

The new container management solution complements the Valmet DNA Integrated Operations data collection application. The patent-pending solution has been developed in cooperation with Yepzon, a technology company that provides location devices and services.

By Rob Messenger

With falls from height still one of the leading causes of fatal accidents at work, the industry welcomes two new guidance documents on working safely on portable ladders, released by the Ladder Association and Health & Safety Executive (HSE).  Rob Messenger, Work and Rescue at Height Instructor, at Arco Professional Safety Services, looks at the issues of fixed, safety cage ladders and how to mitigate the risks associated with using this type of equipment.

With falls from height the leading cause of fatalities at work – the updated guidance from the HSE and the Ladder Association will be welcomed by safety professionals, site managers, company directors and ladder users alike.

Joblogic and Refcom have collaborated to launch a software module in the UK that ensures F-Gas compliance.  It also makes it simpler and faster for HVAC engineers to comply since they can now input the data directly into a compliant logbook via a mobile app.

Legislation demands that an engineer must track and record any movement of refrigerant gas in an official logbook.  There also needs to be a back-office system that shows all the work completed on equipment.

Says Greg Hill, Principal Consultant at Joblogic: “While it is possible to record work completed on paper-based systems this can be time consuming and lead to errors when a second person inputs the data into the back-office system. With each piece of equipment and all the cylinders having their own logbooks, it can take time to find all the necessary paperwork, discover what needs completing on an asset, do the work and then fill in each of the logbooks with all the correct information.

Enerpac introduces the Safe T Torque Checker, the company’s first mobile torque wrench testing unit. The new portable tool offers a simple and accurate measurement of torque output wherever and whenever operators need it.

A correctly calibrated torque system will deliver the right output to fasten bolts accurately first time. But with continued use, even the best products can go out of calibration. Operators who ignore this risk damaging the application, or even worse—potentially compromising a joint’s integrity through either under tightening or over tightening.