Endress+Hauser Expands Instrumentation Possibilities Through Technical Innovation
Endress+Hauser announced a $305 million R&D spend in 2025, representing 7% of its revenue, and unveiled 41 new products, including the self‑calibrating iTHERM TrustSense temperature sensor. The company is pushing sustainability with EcoDesign goals to cut unit‑level CO₂ emissions by 50% by 2034 and expanding digital connectivity through Ethernet‑APL and its FieldXpert platform. Its Freiburg Innovation Center is accelerating biosensor and optical technologies for industrial, biotech and medical applications. These moves position the firm as a leader in next‑generation instrumentation and digital transformation.
ABB Agrees to Modernize Billerud’s Paper Machine
Swedish pulp and paper producer Billerod has signed an agreement with ABB to modernize Paper Machine 5 at its Gävle mill. The upgrade will install ABB Ability System 800xA, AC800M controllers, refreshed drives and enhanced quality‑control tools, aiming to boost efficiency, cut...
AI Pilot Era Crosses a Threshold
The 2026 State of Smart Manufacturing Report from Rockwell Automation shows AI has moved beyond pilot projects into full‑scale execution across the sector. Ninety percent of surveyed decision‑makers now view digital transformation as a mandatory business requirement, and 59% are...
Down and Dirty Digitalization
Emerson introduced the Rosemount 396A anti‑coating pH/ORP sensor, featuring a built‑in digital Modbus output and self‑calibration to tackle fouling in abrasive, high‑solids liquids. The device replaces legacy 396P models with a drop‑in design, offering IP67/IP68 sealing that allows submersion up to...
In the Digitalization Race, China Leads, U.S. Accelerates, and Europe Lags
Industry 4.0 Barometer 2026 shows the United States and China have accelerated industrial digitalization, reaching 69% and 72% respectively, while Europe’s DACH region stalls at 57%. Adoption of AI, digital twins, and software‑defined manufacturing is markedly higher in the U.S. and China,...
Ciner Glass Backs Sustainability Certification
On March 23, Ciner Glass announced its support for ResponsibleGlass, the first global sustainability certification for the glass value chain, at its new container‑glass plant in Lommel, Belgium. The facility will prioritize recycled cullet, optimized furnace design and advanced emission‑reduction technologies...
Schneider, Microsoft Show How AI Can Enable Green Hydrogen Production
Schneider Electric and Microsoft announced a partnership to bring AI‑powered, open‑software automation to industrial processes, highlighted by a green‑hydrogen project in India. Together they deployed the country’s first fully autonomous solid‑oxide electrolyzer for h2e Power, achieving over 6,000 hours of stable operation...
Advancing Process Safety in an Automated Press Brake Work Cell
Bright IA partnered with Valin to retrofit a legacy press brake with a robotic loading and unloading system, eliminating direct operator interaction. Custom aluminum extrusion frames and timing‑belt conveyors were engineered to overcome uneven floors and limited space, ensuring precise...
Cognesense Buys Pyroban, Pyropress, Ex-Tech, Petrel and Ex Solutions
Cognesense announced the acquisition of five UK‑based firms—Pyroban, Pyropress, Ex‑tech, Petrel and Ex Solutions—adding ATEX and IECEx‑certified explosion‑protection capabilities to its portfolio. The purchases integrate with existing divisions such as Varec and L&J Technologies, preserving all customer contacts, products and...
Vertical, Hollow-Shaft Motors Meet Needs of Mexico’s Water Industry
ABB has secured NOM and ANCE certifications for its Vertical Hollow Shaft (VHS) motors, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for deployment across Mexico’s water‑related sectors. The VHS line, engineered for vertical pumping in agriculture, mining, municipal water and wastewater treatment,...
Opentrons Debuts Simulation and Visualization for AI-Generated Lab Workflows
Opentrons Labworks introduced Protocol Visualization for Flex, a new simulation and visualization layer built into Opentrons App version 9.0 and slated for release in April 2026. The tool lets scientists preview AI‑generated, Python‑API, or Protocol Designer workflows in a dynamic virtual deck,...
How to Diagnose PID Tuning Problems
Vivek Dabholkar, an experienced APC consultant, outlines practical methods for diagnosing and correcting PID tuning problems that plague many industrial plants. He illustrates how aggressive gain adjustments can shrink steam‑header pressure swings from 40 psig to under 1 psig, and stresses the...
John Crane Saves 99.8% on Water for LNG Exporter
John Crane’s Type SB2 USP dual‑cartridge seal reduced water consumption at a Louisiana LNG export facility from roughly 2,000 gallons per day to just 3‑4 gallons, achieving a 99.8 % cut. The seal operates reliably at 180‑200 °C, eliminating the need for a continuous...
Kuka Launches Automation Management Platform
Kuka Group introduced its Automation Management Platform (AMP) at Nvidia’s GTC conference, positioning it as the core of the company’s AI‑first robotics strategy. The platform creates a unified layer between AI agents and physical hardware, translating high‑level intent into safe,...
Ins and Outs of AI for Process Control
Control’s monthly resources guide curates a suite of AI‑focused videos, podcasts and reports for process‑control engineers. It spans introductory AI concepts, real‑time process optimization, generative AI applications, AI‑driven advanced process control, and hands‑on tutorials using Matlab, Simulink and no‑code platforms....