Design

As UK industry seeks to bolster productivity and efficiency in the wake of 2020’s lockdown, Novotek UK and Ireland is urging businesses to strengthen their data strategy with advanced industrial analytics software. To this end, the company has partnered with GE Digital to offer six hours of free data analytics consultancy with purchase of GE Digital’s Proficy CSense software through summer 2021.

The time to market for automation system design and development has decreased by up to 80% for a control technology specialist following the introduction of a comprehensive electrical system design package. WSCAD’s E-CAD software platform Suite X has delivered the result for automation system builder Bruckmann Steuerungstechnik GmbH (BSG), based in Uedem north of Düsseldorf, Germany.

Novotek UK and Ireland, in partnership with GE Digital, is calling for food, beverage and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) manufacturers to bolster their operational efficiency with modern automation software. Novotek is offering UK companies a free trial of the latest version of GE Digital’s iFIX HMI/SCADA software, which gives operators real time visibility into equipment and processes on the plant floor with a streamlined interface. Engineers can register for the trial on the GE Digital website.

Jacobs Vehicle Systems recently teamed with ClearFlame Engine Technologies, a growing start-up pioneering a new engine technology that enables low-carbon and carbon-negative fuels to be easily integrated into existing heavy-duty diesel engine platforms.

Cambridgeshire-based contract manufacturer, Prima Electronic Services has underlined its ability to address customers’ needs within an ultra-short period. Together with product development firm TTP, the company was recently assigned to work on a major project for Pitney Bowes, the global technology company whose sending technology is used by industries all over the world - including the postal sector.

The manufacturing sector has faced huge logistical and operational challenges caused by the pandemic and the associated restrictions of operating in lockdowns. One thing, perhaps above all others, has become apparent: those companies further along in their digital transformation journey have been much better placed to meet the challenge. By Greg Hookings, Head of Business Development - Digitalisation, Stratus Technologies

According to the Purchasing Manager’s Index, the UK economy fell rapidly during the first lockdown in 2020, falling further than it has in decades. So, what can manufacturers, engineers and plant managers do to safeguard their operations to withstand an economy in flux? Here, Sean Robison, Service Leader at Novotek UK and Ireland, explains what modern technologies to implement that can improve overall equipment effectiveness and operational resiliency.

With gaming on the rise in Europe, games aren’t just keeping players occupied in lockdown - they’re keeping engineers and developers busy creating these worlds right from their homes. However, productivity is at stake when the pandemic has forced them to work remotely. Because of the limitations of the computer hardware used in homes, teams are often left with less time to create and test new features. 

In the last decade, advances in performance monitoring capabilities have improved industry’s ability to analyse large volumes of data in real-time. However, what approach should businesses take when maintaining physical data records and backups becomes too costly or time consuming? Here Stephen Hosgood, Sales Manager at Mantracourt, discusses how site managers can use cloud-based platforms to optimise their data monitoring systems, reduce operating costs and save time.

Design reviews vary based on each engineering discipline. They offer a great chance to spot omissions and errors early in the development process, reducing delays and design costs later. However there are many ways to optimise your reviews to avoid missed opportunities.