A statement from Daniel Büchle, CEO of AfB social and green IT, on the 'right to repair'
The EU has made its decision: The 'right to repair' becomes a reality. As part of the IT refurbishment community, I am delighted about the positive changes that this regulation could bring for us: Easier repairability, longer useful life and therefore less electronic waste.

LIGRE, a brand launched by Gronbach, is conquering the consumer goods industry with a fresh feature for household coffee grinders: grinding coffee to the exact gram. Previously reserved for coffee machines that were designed for the food service industry, Gronbach's development engineers relied on the support of the LBR iisy cobot from KUKA. To test for quality control, they put the new grinder's durability and compliance with the preset coffee weight through thorough examination.

The Linux-based operating system ctrlX OS from Bosch Rexroth continues to establish itself in the automation market and is now also available for embedded computer applications from congatec.

HY-LINE at Embedded World 2024

The value-added distributor and solution provider HY-LINE will be presenting the latest technologies at Embedded World 2024 from 9 April to 11 April 2024 in the "Electronic Displays Area" at booth 578 in hall 1. HY-LINE experts will be available for individual specialist advice on a variety of different topics such as display and touch technologies, embedded computing, connectivity, power electronics, power supply technology, wireless and IoT system solutions.

Siemens is releasing a new generative artificial intelligence (AI) functionality into its predictive maintenance solution – Senseye Predictive Maintenance. This advance makes predictive maintenance more conversational and intuitive.

GMR and TMR technology and other current measurement components provide data on the state of the system.

The HG-F uses TOF technology to reliably detect at distances of up to 3 m. This means that the sensor can also be installed at some distance from the object to be measured so as not to disturb employees. The movement radius of cobots or robot arms can also be kept clear in this way.

KUKA robots in the production of safety valves for batteries

The boom in e-mobility is causing a significant demand for batteries and the parts they contain. This is being felt by automotive supplier Hugo Benzing from Korntal-Münchingen near Stuttgart, which produces battery bursting discs, among other things. The valves reduce the pressure in the battery in the case of thermal overheating and thus make a significant contribution to the safety of electric cars. The production of the valves is challenging and highly synchronized – and therefore ideal for automation solutions.

High-Temperature Resistant Flexible Printed Circuit Board YFLEX

The YFLEX flexible printed circuit board from Yamaichi Electronics is now also available as a high-heat resistant version for extreme environments. This innovative FPC was developed to meet the requirements in areas such as automotive, semiconductor manufacturing and test and measurement technology.

No electrical automation is possible without a power supply. HY-LINE Technology therefore offers a comprehensive range of solutions for power supply. The range covers the entire spectrum of possibilities from components for discrete development to modules for integration into the customer's system and ready-to-use power supplies.

E-paper has been around for decades, but it is only recently that the technology has grown in everyday use. However, they are also increasingly being used in production and logistics. E-paper displays are suitable for warehouse management systems, labelling, inventory signs, order picking and much more. E-paper displays offer a wide range of unique benefits compared to conventional displays. DMB...

Efficient production, effective energy management and transparent supply chains. Digital automation solutions guarantee profitability and sustainability at the same time!

Robust interfaces are required to meet the increasing demands of battery management and cell contacting systems in e-mobility. Yamaichi Electronics is now expanding its Y-Lock connector system to include version 4 with Connector Position Assurance (CPA) and integrated contact protection.

Turck is shifting the condition monitoring of the cabling directly to the plug connector

Defective cabling and contact problems can lead to expensive plant downtimes and unscheduled maintenance work – and are one of the most frequent causes of faults. Turck's smart M12Plus connectors now provide a solution and enable the condition monitoring of cables and contacts by measuring current and voltage. Error sources can be identified and localized as each plug connector is assigned a unique address.

No electrical automation is possible without a power supply. HY-LINE Technology therefore offers a comprehensive range of solutions for power supply. The range covers the entire spectrum of possibilities from components for discrete development to modules for integration into the customer's system and ready-to-use power supplies.

Companies in the key technologies of optics, photonics, electronics and mechanics now also have an interdisciplinary presentation and networking platform in Thuringia.

Digital automation concepts for battery cell production with RFID, IO-Link, OPC UA and Ethernet guarantee flexibility, reliability and fast ROI. The availability of high-performance batteries at moderate prices is one of the most important factors for the success of electromobility. Short innovation cycles and increasing competition are major challenges for battery manufacturers and carmakers, which above all require flexible, digitized production lines – and automation companies that support...

From component to system - HY-LINE has been serving many customers in automation technology for 35 years. As of 1 September 2023, the company has bundled its application know-how in HY-LINE Technology GmbH. According to the motto "Everything from a single source", customers benefit from the strategic reorganisation of the company.

PERI 3D Construction’s project showcases 3D construction printing's potential beyond low-rise residential housing, utilizing COBOD's BOD2 printer.

Mastering tomorrow's challenges today. From a shortage of skilled workers to high energy prices and supply bottlenecks: Small and medium-sized enterprises are currently facing major challenges. In the future, the situation might even become worse. Automation is not the answer to all challenges faced by SMEs, but it is the answer to many. With cobots, industrial robots and software that fits the industry, companies increase their efficiency, add value to jobs, and remain competitive.

Making product data for plant components available digitally and at all times – that is the basic idea of the Digital Data Chain (DDC). Siemens is a pioneer in mapping the entire digital data chain as the company has now supplied Bayer’s Crop Science Division with several SITRANS P320 pressure transmitters with standardized ID links for unique object identification.

TDK Corporation presents the introduction of the 20 W TDK-Lambda brand PYD20 series of DC-DC converters. Featuring an 18:1 ultra-wide input range of 8.5 to 160 Vdc, these board mount products are packaged in the industry-standard 2 x 1 inch format measuring 50.8 x 25.4 x 10.2 mm (L x W x H).

Maintenance events in industrial production sites can only be anticipated, evaluated and properly handled with the right strategies. The main task is to decide which strategy is to be used in a given situation. Using structured methods for this task results in sustainable increase in availability, reduction of waste and thereby a significant business advantage. Synostik describes the appropriate approach in the following article.

With the KRT 3C contrast sensor, Leuze is presenting the smallest contrast sensor it has ever made for the packaging industry. Plant operators benefit from a compact device that can be used in many different ways.