If you are designing high-reliability, life-critical products that require vigorous and costly testing before production and are intended to stay in use for years or even decades, the issues of obsolescence and procurement risk management are inevitable. Technology will evolve throughout the life of the program, so you need to understand and plan for the complex and unpredictable process of sourcing obsolete components. 

When you can’t procure a component from an authorized distributor, here are some of the things that are crucial to know.

Lessons for the Electronic Components Aftermarket

The Volatility of the Aftermarket Makes it Difficult to Navigate 

Sourcing electronic components through authorized distributors is pretty straightforward. You have to manage your production and understand the fail rate of your products in order to make sure you’ve ordered the necessary percentage of replacements for repairs. You have to plan for your production rate and sustainment schedule. If you do that, you’re generally fine.

But when fast-paced changes in technology start chipping away at the component needs of your legacy programs, things become less clear and predictable. How do you plan in a volatile market with distributors that create confusion around market availability by posting the same stock under multiple subsidiary company names? How do you handle lead times that aren’t always accurate? The vagaries of the Aftermarket can leave Engineers vulnerable to shortages and line down situations. 

Navigating the Aftermarket takes knowledge and experience that most engineers simply don’t have. That’s why it’s advisable to partner with a Certified Independent Distributor who specializes in sourcing components from non-authorized sources. Certified Independent Distributors specialize in tracking market trends. They understand the risks of aftermarket sources and know the proper procedure for vetting the company’s history and certifications. Certified Independent Distributors represent a low-risk, low-liability approach to procuring components.

Procurement specialists who understand the market and know what they’re looking for can help you stay ahead of procurement risk, long lead times, and component shortages.

Online stock listings for a component may not accurately reflect its real-time availability 

You might think you can gauge the availability of a component through a quick check of what’s available for online purchase. If companies list a component in stock, you’re probably good for a while, right? 

Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that even reliable component suppliers’ sites are completely up-to-date in their listings. You need to confirm that inventory. And you need to know the lead time – don’t assume the availability of a part means it can be quickly delivered. And if you’re not closely following the component market, you may not be aware of increasing demand that may deplete those sources sooner than you’d expect.

Specialists in procuring securely and safely from the global market have the tools to track what real-time stock actually exists vs. what is listed on the Internet. But you can’t accurately gauge the availability of a component by spending an hour or two online. 

Certified independent distributors remove counterfeits from the supply chain

Counterfeits are a constant danger in the open electronic components market. It’s something you need to watch out for, so you need to know how to vet vendors and what testing is required to assure the authenticity of components. Certified independent distributors have counterfeit avoidance plans to make sure they never pass a counterfeit on to their customers. 

Not only does working with such a distributor protect you from liability – it also helps to protect everyone else. If a certified distributor with a counterfeit avoidance plan discovers a counterfeit, they don’t just send it back to the source – they report it and destroy it. This makes them an important part of the fight against counterfeit components.

Independent distributors work best if given life-critical information on your program

Components procured through the open market need to be tested if there’s not a proper chain of custody. But since tests add cost, there can be a tradeoff on how much testing is necessary. If your component is going into a transport plane’s coffeemaker, well, some risk of failure may be acceptable to keep costs down – all that’s going to happen is that someone won’t get their coffee.

But if that component is going into something life-critical, like a transport plane’s flight control system, you need complete assurance that it won’t fail. For those components, you need a distributor with the AS9120 and AS6081 certification indicating they have a quality management system to securely source your components and have them tested at a government-approved AS6171 test facility. 

That’s why you should inform independent distributors whether the component will be used in a life-critical application and what your quality requirements are for the program. If it’s not life-critical they won’t need to do as many costly tests. But if they don’t have that information they would rather err on the side of more testing for everyone’s safety. 

FAQ

Can I design out all risk of obsolescence?

This depends in part on how long the application you’re designing will be in use. For something that will only be in service for a year or two, careful design choices can save you from the concerns of obsolescence management. If this is for a program meant to continue for a decade or two, on the other hand, there is very little likelihood that you can design out all the obsolescence risks.

What components are most likely to become difficult to procure?

The more companies there are that manufacture a component, the less likely it is that you will have difficulty procuring it when needed. The real danger comes with those components that only have a single qualified manufacturer. Once they decide to obsolete a component, it is only a matter of time before there are no authorized distributors to sell it.

How reliable are online listings for aftermarket components?

Not very. Some companies will list components not because they have them but because they believe they can source them. And sometimes reputable sites will have listings from disreputable companies, including some blacklisted by the government, simply because they are not equipped to vet their sources. So it’s a bit of a crapshoot. 

How do I lower the risks in procuring components through non-authorized distributors?

Plan ahead for future obsolescence and procurement issues by partnering with Independent Distributors that are certified reliable sources for open market components. Vetting certified independent distributors now will smooth the process later on.

Can I learn to navigate the perils of the open market for electronics components?

Educated engineers can certainly learn the basics of the open market. They can research the best sources for components, learn how to track market trends, and either bring testing in-house or utilize a DOD-approved AS6171 testing facility. But this takes a considerable investment of time and energy that takes away from your other duties. 

Conclusion

If you design for programs that will run for many years or decades, obsolescence and procurement management are unavoidable.

You should always have the backup plan of a vetted electronic parts supplier in case of future shortages or obsolescence. Planning now is better than panicking later.

Sourcing open-market components through certified independent distributors lowers risk and liability.

Cursory online research cannot give you an accurate sense of future component availability.

Life-critical applications require a greater degree of caution when procuring open-market components.

The Final Lesson: Partnering with Secure Components Means Getting the Components You Need

We can’t teach you everything we know about obsolescence management and hard to find components in one blog post, but that’s okay. Because all you really need to know is that:

• Secure Components is a trusted partner for procuring reliable components. 
• Secure Components can help you proactively plan for obsolescence by monitoring your BOM in real time.
• Secure Components is AS9120B certified and AS6081 certified, so you are assured that we have stringent systems in place suitable for life-critical applications.

Don’t put off protecting your programs. Contact Secure Components today!

The Power of Versatility

One of the key factors propelling steel dominance in commercial sectors is its unparalleled versatility. This metal can be moulded and shaped into various architectural forms, allowing designers to dream big and bring their visions to life. From sleek corporate offices to expansive retail centres, steel’s adaptability ensures that every design concept can be realized precisely, facilitating the creation of dynamic and innovative commercial spaces.

Speed to Market

In the competitive world of commerce, time is a precious commodity. Steel structures offer a significant advantage due to their rapid construction capabilities. Prefabrication and modular assembly techniques reduce construction timelines significantly, enabling commercial projects to come to fruition faster. This speed to market is a game-changer, allowing businesses to start operations sooner and capitalize on emerging opportunities without delay.

Durability and Longevity

Commercial ventures demand structures that can stand the test of time, and these structures excel in this aspect. Steel’s inherent strength and durability make it a natural choice for buildings that must withstand heavy use, adverse weather conditions, and the rigours of daily operations. The longevity of such structures translates to reduced maintenance costs and a solid investment for businesses seeking lasting value.

Architectural Freedom

The canvas that steel offers to architects is virtually limitless. The ability to create expansive open spaces, incorporate vast windows, and experiment with innovative designs has elevated the aesthetic appeal of commercial structures. Steel’s strength allows for creating large column-free interiors, offering flexibility in layout and utilization. This architectural freedom results in visually striking structures that resonate with modern design sensibilities.

Sustainability and Efficiency

Such metal structures align seamlessly with environmental consciousness in an era of paramount sustainability. Steel is highly recyclable, reducing the demand for new raw materials. Additionally, steel’s reflective properties contribute to energy efficiency by reducing the need for excessive cooling systems. The embrace of sustainable construction practices resonates with businesses’ corporate social responsibility and contributes to operational cost savings.

Accommodating Technological Advancements

The digital age has ushered in a new era of technological advancements, and these structures are perfectly poised to accommodate these changes. Steel’s adaptability allows for seamless technology integration from smart building systems to integrated communication networks. Commercial spaces can be equipped with cutting-edge amenities that enhance user experience and enable businesses to harness the complete potential of the digital landscape.

Conclusion

The dominance of steel structures in commercial sectors is a testament to the material’s transformative capabilities. Steel’s versatility, speed to market, durability, architectural freedom, sustainability, and adaptability to technology have converged to redefine how humans envision commercial spaces. From the towering skyscrapers that define urban skylines to the sprawling warehouses that house supply chains, this metal has established itself as the driving force behind commercial evolution.

As the commercial landscape continues to evolve, the role of steel buildings becomes even more pivotal. They are not just constructs of concrete and metal; they are the foundations of economic growth, the catalysts of innovation, and the canvases on which businesses paint their success stories. The steel dominance in commercial sectors is not merely a trend—it’s a blueprint for progress, a testament to human ingenuity, and a reflection of humans’ collective commitment to shaping a dynamic and prosperous future.

Understanding Terpenes: Nature’s Aromatherapy

Terpenes are organic compounds found in a multitude of plants, and they play a significant role in the plant kingdom. In the cannabis plant, terpenes are secreted in the same resin glands as cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD. However, they offer more than just a sensory experience. Terpenes are believed to contribute to the “entourage effect,” where the combination of cannabinoids and terpenes creates a more holistic and potent therapeutic effect.

Terpenes in Butane Extraction: The Dance of Chemistry

Butane extraction, also known as butane hash oil (BHO) extraction, involves using butane as a solvent to dissolve cannabinoids and other compounds from the cannabis plant. While the primary focus of extraction might be on cannabinoids, terpenes are co-extracted in the process due to their close proximity within the plant’s resin glands.

Importance of Terpenes in Flavor and Aroma Profiles

The allure of different cannabis strains lies in their distinct flavors and aromas. This is where terpenes come to the forefront. Terpenes are responsible for the fruity, citrusy, piney, or even spicy notes that you might associate with specific strains. Think of terpenes as the essential oils of the cannabis plant, enriching the sensory experience and adding layers of complexity to the final product.

Impact of Extraction Conditions on Terpene Retention

The extraction process itself is a delicate dance between preserving terpenes and obtaining high cannabinoid yields. The conditions under which butane extraction takes place can influence the fate of these fragile compounds. Factors such as temperature, pressure, and duration can impact terpene retention.

Temperature: A Delicate Balance

Temperature plays a critical role in butane extraction. Low temperatures are favored to preserve terpenes, as higher temperatures can lead to their degradation. The challenge lies in finding the balance between extracting cannabinoids efficiently and avoiding excessive heat that could compromise terpene integrity.

Pressure: Striking the Right Balance

Pressure is another variable that affects terpene extraction by using the new technology cannabis extraction equipment. Too much pressure can lead to the extraction of undesired compounds, while too little pressure might result in incomplete extraction. Achieving the right balance is essential to obtaining a product that captures the full spectrum of terpene profiles.

Duration: Time’s Influence

The duration of the extraction process can impact terpene retention as well. Longer extraction times might lead to more comprehensive cannabinoid extraction but could also result in greater terpene loss. Striking the optimal extraction duration to ensure both cannabinoid and terpene preservation is a critical consideration.

Post-Processing: Polishing the Aroma

After the initial extraction, post-processing steps can further enhance the terpene profile. Techniques like winterization and distillation can help refine the concentrate, concentrating the terpenes and ensuring that the final product delivers a potent sensory experience.

Harnessing Terpenes for Health and Wellness

Beyond their contribution to aroma and flavor, terpenes also offer potential health benefits. Terpenes like myrcene, limonene, and linalool are believed to have various therapeutic properties, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, and analgesic effects. The interaction between cannabinoids and terpenes is a subject of ongoing research, with the aim of unlocking their combined potential for wellness.

The Future of Terpene-Centric Products

The significance of terpenes in butane extraction is leading to a growing trend of terpene-centric products. These products isolate and concentrate specific terpenes to create aromatic profiles that cater to different preferences. Terpene-infused products, from concentrates to edibles, aim to offer consumers a tailored experience that goes beyond the traditional cannabinoid-focused approach.

Cannabis Strain Personalization and Brand Identity

Terpenes also play a significant role in personalizing cannabis strains and establishing a brand identity for producers. Different strains are known for their unique terpene profiles, which contribute to their distinct aromas and flavors.

By highlighting specific terpene compositions, producers can create signature strains that stand out in a competitive market. This personalization not only attracts loyal customers but also allows producers to craft a brand narrative around the sensory experiences their products offer, enhancing consumer loyalty and recognition.

Conclusion

The role of terpenes in butane extraction is a symphony of chemistry, art, and sensory delight. As the cannabis industry continues to evolve, the importance of preserving terpene profiles becomes more apparent. Balancing the pursuit of cannabinoids with the retention of terpenes is a delicate process that requires expertise, precision, and an appreciation for the intricate dance of chemistry within the cannabis plant. Through the understanding and mastery of terpenes, the world of cannabis extraction enters a realm where aroma, flavor, and therapeutic potential intertwine to create a truly holistic experience for enthusiasts and consumers alike.

Understanding Bearings

To begin with, it is important to understand what bearings are. Simply put, they are machine elements that enable parts to move relative to each other, while reducing friction between these moving parts. They help in carrying loads efficiently, and their application spans across many sectors including automotive, aerospace, and industrial machinery.

Ball Bearings

Ball bearings, possibly the most well-known type of bearing, consist of hardened spherical balls situated between two rings, also known as races. The inner race is mounted on a rotating shaft, while the outer race remains stationary. The spherical balls carry the load, allowing for smooth rotation of the shaft.

These bearings are widely used due to their ability to handle both radial and axial loads, making them suitable for applications where high speed and low friction are critical. However, ball bearings might not perform as efficiently in scenarios where high precision and rigidity are required, primarily because the contact point for each ball is minimal, potentially leading to deformation under heavy loads.

Crossed Roller Bearings

Crossed roller bearings, on the other hand, are configured with cylindrical rollers arranged perpendicularly in an alternating fashion. This perpendicular orientation allows them to handle loads in multiple directions – both radially and axially. Because of the greater surface contact between the rollers and the raceway, crossed roller bearings offer higher precision and rigidity compared to ball bearings.

These bearings are specifically designed for applications that require high rotational accuracy, such as robotics, machine tools, and medical imaging devices. The drawback here is that crossed roller bearings may not be suitable for high-speed applications due to potential heat generation from friction, as well as their generally higher cost compared to ball bearings.

Similarities between Ball Bearings and Crossed Roller Bearings

Despite their differences, ball bearings and crossed roller bearings share a few common traits. Firstly, they both facilitate movement between parts and minimise friction, improving the efficiency of machinery. Secondly, both types are capable of handling radial and axial loads, albeit with varying degrees of precision and rigidity.

Differences between Ball Bearings and Crossed Roller Bearings

As for their differences, ball bearings and crossed roller bearings vary significantly in terms of their structure, load-handling capabilities, and suitable applications. The spherical balls in ball bearings offer a minimal contact point, making them suitable for high-speed applications but less precise and rigid. Conversely, crossed roller bearings, with their larger contact area, offer high precision and rigidity, but may not be ideal for high-speed applications due to potential heat generation.

Moreover, crossed roller bearings tend to be more expensive than ball bearings, which is a crucial consideration for cost-sensitive applications. The choice between the two ultimately depends on the specific requirements of the application, taking into consideration factors like speed, load, precision, rigidity, and cost.

FAQs

We’ve put together some of the most frequently asked questions in regard to differences and similarities between crossed roller bearings and ball bearings, which will hopefully answer any queries you may have…

Are crossed roller bearings more durable than ball bearings?

The durability of a bearing depends on many factors, such as the application, load, speed, lubrication, and maintenance. However, due to their increased contact area, crossed roller bearings often provide higher rigidity and can handle higher loads, which can lead to a longer service life under certain conditions.

What are the advantages of crossed roller bearings over ball bearings?

Crossed roller bearings have several advantages. Due to their design, they have higher load capacities, both radially and axially, and are more rigid. This means they can handle forces coming from all directions simultaneously and can provide more precise rotational movement, making them ideal for use in high-precision or high-speed applications.

Can ball bearings and crossed roller bearings be used interchangeably?

While both bearings are designed to facilitate movement and reduce friction, their interchangeability depends on the specific requirements of the application. Factors like speed, precision, rigidity, load handling, and cost should be taken into consideration.

What are some applications of ball bearings?

Ball bearings are commonly found in automobiles, electric motors, fans, hard drives, and many appliances. They are ideal for applications that require high-speed and low friction.

What are some applications of crossed roller bearings?

Crossed roller bearings are used in high-precision applications such as robotics, machine tools, turntables, satellite antenna, and medical imaging devices.

(Learn more on crossed roller bearings here: https://taperedrollerbearings.co.uk/products/Crossed-Roller-Bearings-c118665511).

How can I decide which type of bearing is right for my application?

To choose the right bearing, consider the application’s requirements, including load type (radial, axial, or both), required precision, desired rigidity, permissible speed, and budget constraints. Consulting with a mechanical engineer or a bearing manufacturer can also be beneficial.

How does the friction compare between crossed roller bearings and ball bearings?

Ball bearings generally have lower friction than crossed roller bearings because they have point contact with the races, whereas crossed roller bearings have line contact. Lower friction can result in higher speeds and less heat generation.

How can the lifespan of these bearings be extended?

Proper maintenance is key to extending the lifespan of any bearing. This includes regular cleaning, lubrication, and inspection for wear and tear. Using bearings within their specified load and speed ratings also helps increase their lifespan.

Understanding the fundamental differences and similarities between ball bearings and crossed roller bearings is crucial in the design and operation of a wide range of machinery. It empowers engineers to make informed decisions that can improve efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, the longevity of the equipment. Thus, whether it’s a ball bearing or a crossed roller bearing, choosing the right one can make a significant difference in the performance and lifespan of your machinery.

source: 2023 Bluetooth market update

So, What is Exactly the Ambient IoT?

Ambient IoT is firstly leveraged by an IoT SaaS company called Wiliot, a company strongly focusing on supply chain visibility. Its IoT solution is based on battery-free BLE sensors that are small and in a form factor of a sticker. Wiliot uses these BLE stickers to be attached to crates of goods from some big retailers, in order to track them (location, temperature, etc.) across the entire supply chain.

Ambient IoT is realized by using 3GPP IoT devices, which are preferred by supply chain asset tracking solution implemented via GSM/ LTE 4G/GPS to optimize supply chain routes. The benefit of Ambient IoT devices lies in that they are much cheaper and smaller than previous-generation 3GPP hardware. Why?

Ambient IoT Leverages RF Energy Harvesting Technology

Ambient IoT device employs radio wave as its energy source for tiny computers and devices. This works very similarly to how solar panels collect visible sunlight. This capacity to gather radio wave energy relieves the Internet of Things (IoT) from the financial and replacement burden of batteries or direct power connectivity.

Ambient IoT offer the Capability of Being Battery-free

Ambient IoT devices allows compact design of simply having a small computer included and the technology needed to harvest energy from radio waves. Because of this simplicity, Ambient IoT devices can emit data packets without the need for a battery or other external power source. On the other hand, they are far less expensive than traditional Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) beacons or tags. 

A number of standards organizations is going to be involved in the developing field of Ambient IoT. In addition to the 3GPP, IEEE and the Bluetooth SIG are also thinking about future standards that will help this technology become a widely used and affordable standard for use in both consumer and business environments.

Is There Any Other RF Energy Harvesting Technologies?

Yes, of course. 

The first device to use RF power scavenging in free space was a microwave-powered helicopter in the late 1950s. Later on, the idea of “power harvesting” or “energy scavenging” was defined as a strategy for obtaining energy from the environment utilizing a variety of techniques, such as solar energy conversion and thermoelectric conversion. This method triggers enormous potential for replacing small batteries in low power electrical systems and gadgets.

EnOcean Energy Harvesting

EnOcean is a wireless energy-harvesting technology that is largely utilized in building automation systems. It was designed with the global radio standard (ISO/IEC 14543-3-1x) for battery-free switches and sensors in mind and optimized for use with extremely power-efficient sensors.

The 30m indoor range of EnOcean technology makes it ideal for smart home automation use as an EnOcean gateway to ensure that all home sensors can perform their functions without significantly depleting their energy supply.

Atmosic Energy Harvesting

If you are look for a chip processor with RF energy harvesting technology, Atmosic is definitely a quite good option. In 2022, Atmosic has developed energy harvesting solutions that are directly integrated energy harvesting capabilities. 

A typical use of this newly dubbed ATM33 SoC is LT ECG (Long-lead Electrocardiogram) sticker. ECG recording is a crucial technique for identifying heart rhythm abnormalities. Arrhythmias that have not been picked up by a standard 12-lead ECG or 24-48 hour ECG Holter can be found by long-term ECG monitoring. From this perspective, long-term continuous ECG monitors need to be compact, light, and long-lasting while yet transmitting the heart’s electrical signals for the duration that the patient is wearing the device. 

As the image shown above, Atmosic BLE energy harvesting SoCs is capable of serving as PMU power management unit of ECG monitors. As of real-life use cases, Atmosic based ECG monitors can work with a BLE LTE/WiFi gateway with Li battery to provide uninterrupted data transfer to the healthcare platform.

Final Words

Whether you want to believe it or not, energy harvesting technologies are a very real part of the world today and are now considered essential to the development of the internet of things. Energy harvesting enables us to think of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions that are not constrained by the many issues associated with using batteries, including maintenance issues, charging/replacing issues, battery size and weight issues, and most importantly, the significant environmental costs associated with battery use. 

Ambient IoT, EnOcean Protocol, and Atmosic Energy Harvesting Solution possesses a number of commonly essential characteristics that make it especially well suited for usage in wearables, ultra-low-power electronics, IoT edge devices, microcontrollers, and wireless sensor networks. They presents a workable substitute that avoids all of the environmental drawbacks that batteries have, and are ideal power solution for IoT devices.

Sumitomo (SHI) Demag China has hosted a groundbreaking ceremony in the presence of local political figures at its Ningbo site, welcoming the start of construction for its new 4,000 square metre production hall. Attended by the mayor and city councillors from the Beilun district, CEO Pietro Scattarreggia marked the occasion announcing that the bigger facility sets the path for future growth, creating 50 new jobs and doubling production capacity.

Granted permission to commence construction towards the end of 2022, Scattarreggia reports that the new facility is set to open in autumn 2023 to coincide with the Group’s 25th production anniversary in China. Putting into context the enormous market potential, the CEO affirmed that the Asian market in general, particularly automotive and electromobility in China, is booming. “Having experienced the strongest performance in the company’s history in 2021 and subsequent economic slowdown last year as a result of coronavirus policy restrictions, the future outlook remains very positive,” Scattarreggia confirms.

The expansion of the Ningbo production hall not only gives the team more space to manufacture more machines, but also expand production to include the larger tonnage Systec Servo machines. “Until now, our production has been limited to machines with clamp forces up to 1,000 tons. Given the demand for larger precision components, being able to extend our product portfolio up to 1,500 tons means we can drastically reduce delivery times for customers in China and Asia,” reports Scattarreggia. He cites this above all else as the strategic rationale for the expansion.

With its hybrid drive concept, the Systec Servo series, characterised by its absolute precision, excellent stability and durability, offers manufacturers of automotive, white goods and consumer components a powerful and energy efficient system. With full process integration for flexible and versatile production of larger components.

The Systec series is ideally suited to these processing requirements, reports Scattarreggia. To support the manufacturing of these larger and heavier machines, the Ningbo production hall is installing stronger cranes. 

Additionally, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag China remains committed to reducing its production carbon footprint. An installation of a new solar system measuring 7,000 square metres last September means that the facility can operate virtually independent of the local energy supply, claims the CEO. 

In recent years, many production sites in China have felt the impact of power rationing. With a solar source, the Ningbo facility will no longer be affected by future rations. “This is of great significance for production stability,” ends Scattarreggia.

Peter Newman, director at Brillopak, explains that automation should not be feared and that proven industry technology combined with proper planning can prevent myriad issues, while delivering significant performance increases.

Investment in automation in food packing is no longer a medium-term aspiration, it is now a short-term business imperative. And with an optimum combination of class-leading technology and a partner that understands every facet of the evolutionary process, you can quickly reap the throughput rewards and avoid all the planning, architectural and logistical pitfalls.

This push to automate is being driven by end users; the proliferation of digital supply chains, which thrive on end-to-end operational data; labour market shortages, evolution and migration; and efficiency, agility & speed of response becoming ever-more essential metrics for your customers.

But Brillopak knows that deploying automation is a big step, as it can be very different to manual operations. There is also an element of perceived risk. Indeed, the company has heard from many food processors and packers who are not fully utilising their new automation equipment, often for simple reasons that were overlooked at the planning stage.

These can include simply not asking “why are we automating?”, a failure to create forward-looking requirements plans, engineers and operators being reluctant to use more complex technology, failure to consider future business when planning and failure to involve all stakeholders.

“A good analogy is to compare your automation investment to designing a house. When you design a house, you need complete architectural plans, which will include boundaries, utility availability & routing, floorspace, the impact on your neighbours, the pathways to and from the entry points, the fence line, etc. All of these are analogous to factory and machine design. You must think beyond the machine and look at the whole project holistically.”

To address these issues, Brillopak highly recommends that you partner with a manufacturer that can act as an expert guide, as you prepare and transition into automation – from planning through design, deployment, evaluation, and enhancement, and onto carefully phased and fully scaled operations. There’s a lot to consider.

By taking this holistic view of your requirements, your facilities, your business plan, your customers’ needs and your plant capabilities, Brillopak can help you create an automation action plan that delivers your desired improvements in operations efficiency and a quick payback.

Brillopak has created a multi-stage agenda that captures all plant, project and business requirements and addresses many of the issues before they can even appear. These steps help users to much better understand our process.

Step one is a full plant audit and requirements capture, where we ask the questions ‘why are you automating?’ and ‘what are your business goals, drivers and needs?’ In step 2 we look at the plant architecture to assess space, utilities, flow and potential. We then look at your packaging, in terms of the product, the package types, the primary materials and the desired throughput. We need to look at this to define the robotic systems.

End-of-line packaging machine design is next, where we examine any unique product/plant/customer factors that could influence design/operation? At this and every stage the devil is always in the detail. We mustn’t forget your people. Here we will look at workforce preparation, especially at skill and staffing levels. Following this we look a little to the future and discuss what you will need in terms of maintenance and service.

Once this has all been finalised, we can examine the installation, test and commissioning of your new automation solutions, where we will minimise downtime and ensure your engineering team is part of the process as early as possible.

The final step is to study your future requirements and how a phased approach can take you onto the next evolutionary steps. We can look at how we can help you to enhance and grow your initial installation. Maybe add a second packer and additional conveyors and then copy this three-machine format and co-locate. At each phase we will examine the lessons learnt to define best practice for the next stage. You can grow and expand at your own pace and set operational and financial stage gates to suit your precise needs.

Brillopak’s award-winning robotic case-loading systems include single-system solutions and everything for end-to-end packing lines, including pack-management conveyor systems, robotic product loaders, crate de-stackers, bale arm closers and palletisers.

Its team has installed over 200 systems, helping transform manual packing halls into semi or fully automated operations.

Ultimately you don’t know what you don’t know. Brillopak’s systems are designed with the flexibility to handle multiple product types now and into the future, to ensure that your investment today is still generating payback in 10 years’ time.

If you’d like to discuss a project, please contact us at technicalsales@brillopak.co.uk or phone us on 01622 872 907 for a free consultation.

Sabby is an outstanding, proven CEO, bringing over 34 years of experience in the technology sector, including work in the Accounting and Bookkeeping industry, across sales, service, support, operations and customer success. Sabby is currently the CEO of Thomas International and, before that, led Sage as their UK & Ireland General Manager. Sabby has held additional senior roles at Epicor Software, IGT (a gaming technology company), HP, CA Technologies, Oracle, PeopleSoft, and Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC).

Steve Rowley, Dext Chair & Acting CEO, announced, “At Dext, we have gone from strength to strength in the past 12 months and have just delivered a strong H1. We continue to provide our customers – Accountants & Bookkeepers, and SMBs, across the globe – with market-leading solutions that make their lives easier. We now have plans to expand our offerings, including an MTD ITSA solution for the UK. With Sabby joining us, Dext has a bright future and will continue to grow strongly as an independent business, serving our customers with innovative, accounting automation solutions.”

Sabby responded, “It is a privilege to take on the leadership of a successful SaaS FinTech business. My passion has always been unlocking the potential of companies with technology, and Dext does just that. I’ve been impressed with the level of product innovation coming from Dext. The recent “Practice Insights” launch is a perfect example of how we bring value and actionable insights to Accountants and Bookkeepers, and I’m looking forward to unlocking even more offerings.

“I am obsessed with customer and employee engagement, and I’m excited to meet many of the partners and businesses Dext supports. I’m also looking forward to working with the wider team at Dext. We are entering a bold new chapter in the Dext story, and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to lead the business.”

About Dext
Dext Software Ltd delivers solutions that improve the financial data workflow processes of accountants, bookkeepers, and businesses worldwide. We are passionate about advancing and improving the accounting process for all.
We are the number one provider of automated accounting data extraction time, with an unrivalled breadth of integrations. Our current suite of products consists of Dext Prepare, Dext Precision and Dext Commerce, with multiple innovative, game-changing products in development.

For more information, visit www.dext.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Data shows that the global pandemic has bonded pets and their owners even closer together. And with it, feeding patterns have evolved again. As a key global player in the pet food and treat market, food safety inspection specialist Fortress Technology examines the rising humanisation and premiumisation trends driving consumer demands and production line technology that is supporting responsible pet ownership.

The days of opening a tin of chum for our four-legged friends are long gone. During the international lockdown in 2020, the European Pet Food Federation (FEDIAF) recorded a 2.8% growth in animal ownership, with 88 million households in Europe owning a pet that year. A number of these were first time pet owners.

With more canine and feline mouths to feed than ever before (and a market worth over 21 billion Euros in Europe alone), sufficient pet food safety and detail-oriented inspection has never been more paramount.

As more homes acquired a new family member, the annual sales of pet food in 2020 increased to 8.5 million tonnes. The pandemic saw millions more pets sat indoors with their owners, promising them a life of companionship. The market responded accordingly by supplying 21.2 billion pet food related products and services in 2020.

Petfluencers and animal content

Industry trends, such as the rise in social media pet influencers (petfluencers), has a huge role to play. Humanisation and premiumisation are also big buzzwords in this new world of emotive storytelling.

As a consequence, the sale of natural versions of pet slurries, kibble and raw diets has boomed in the last two years. Due to increasing environmental and animal welfare concerns, owners are also favouring premium pet food.

“Industry trends prove that pet owners are demanding more from manufacturers when it comes to pet food meeting similar standards to human food, ensuring that it is safe, nutritious and follows rigorous processes with quality machinery,” explains Fortress Europe’s Commercial Manager Jodie Curry.

Human food is beginning to dictate the way pet food is processed, as owners want their animal’s diets to mirror their own. In other words, good enough for human consumption. Reports also show that the pet food industry is influenced by human trends such as cleaner labelling, veganism, alternative protein and healthier options. In fact, during 2020 Europe held the largest share of the global vegan pet food market, and it is expected to grow to over 15 million US dollars by 2028. It is clear that tearing open a packet of overly processed and poorly produced pet food is no longer good enough.

A craze for customisable kits

A seniorisation trend is also emerging. With pets living longer than ever before, this is influencing the need for functional foods that are age or illness specific. As a consequence, more owners are buying premium food that can be tailored to their pet’s breed, age, weight and even taste preferences.

Combined with the rise in e-commerce subscriptions, dog owners can purchase tailor-made subscription boxes that contain premium pet kit meals – a global market estimated to reach USD 5.20 billion by 2028.

Ready-made for a variety of breeds and completely customisable, these conveniently pre-packed goods come perfectly portioned, making it all the more necessary for processing lines to meet filling regulations and eliminate contaminants efficiently. Quality x-ray systems will check pre-made pouches for fill levels, product voids and also ensure applications are properly sealed.

“Effective inline inspection is of the utmost important in ready-to-go packaging. A system like our new Raptor X-Ray is ideal for inspecting pet foods in metal foil sachets and can look for a range of hazardous contaminants, including bone and glass. The ability to accommodate a range of different flexible packaging formats that prolong shelf life is one of the critical advantages of X-ray,” Jodie states.

An appetite for quality snacks and trendy treats

The sparking interest in the quality and nutritional value of pet food means premium and super-premium areas of the market, including pet treats and snacks, have dominated e-commerce sites and retailers.

Superfoods are creeping their way into pet diets and replacing the bog-standard wheat treats; blueberries, cranberries, sweet potatoes, peas, spinach and even chia seeds are not uncommon in pet treats produced by craft-style or retail suppliers. This humanised appetite for pet food requires a demand for tighter regulations and better-quality machinery.

New technology is beginning to accommodate these treat trends, as processing lines now use machinery that can generate live OOE data for reporting, making detecting contaminants early in all-natural and organic products much more productive.

Clawing for a better pet food promise

For years, detecting contaminants in pet food and pet treats has had widespread effects, whilst also impacting cost of production line; as detection and x-ray systems are often implemented at the tail-end of lines to inspect finished and packaged product where it is more expensive to pinpoint foreign body contaminants.

“If you catch a metal contaminant in its largest form at the start of the processing line, for example in a pipeline or gravity system, you are eliminating it at the cheapest part of the process,” Jodie elaborates. “Pushing the inspection solely to the end of the line, any contamination will be caught at the most expensive part of the production process. At this point the entire batch of product will be packed and ready

for despatch and could potentially be contaminated with unidentifiable and hazardous contaminant fragments, prompting a costly and potentially brand-damaging recall.”

To combat ineffective production lines, the industry can use machines with upstream detection to reject quantities of metal and other contaminants before it reaches the meticulous end-of-line systems and is ready to be packaged.

Hygienic pump pipelines for wet pet slurries and pate-style foods are utilised to prevent contaminations reaching the packaging stage. They are available in metal detection and x-ray formats. Similarly, Fortress gravity metal detectors are a common sight on dry kibble lines, often located between product chutes and hoppers and integrated with automated packing systems and checkweighers.

Additionally, highly sensitive bulk metal detectors and checkweighers can be added at the end of production lines to verify the weight and perform a final quality check on the largest of pet food bags and boxed wet food trays.

By adopting an efficient and systematic approach to manufacturing pet food, owners can rest assured knowing that their pet’s dinner has undergone thorough contamination detection. No matter the ingredients or application format, it is essential pet food production lines reflect the authentic safety, wellbeing and care associated with owner’s animals.

It’s no surprise to see that manufacturing is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions in the UK due to the sector’s energy-intensive processes. While it’s not possible for the sector to completely eliminate those emissions, there are ways it can reduce them and balance them out to reach a point of carbon neutrality.

In this article, we’ll explore how using the right machinery and components is key to helping your manufacturing organisation not only reduce its greenhouse gas emissions but also save money in the long run.

Invest in quality machine parts

Many manufacturers will often opt for cheaper machinery and parts to minimise a hefty upfront cost, but this can end up more expensive in the long run. In many cases, cheaper machinery and parts are made with cheaper materials. This means that they’ll have a shorter shelf-life than higher-quality items, so you’ll be required to replace these parts more frequently. This also creates more waste, which has a serious impact on the environment.

Consider the equipment’s energy requirements

Some machines and their component parts run on fossil fuels, which are some of the biggest contributors to climate change. Switching to equipment that runs on renewable energy will save you money in the long run and allow you to dramatically reduce your carbon emissions.

The manufacture of certain materials is also especially energy-intensive, such as the production of liquid silicone rubber, which requires temperatures of 179–198^oC. Other materials, like most plastics, are well-known for their reliance on fossil fuels. By reviewing the raw materials you work with and the products you create, you can further cut down your energy requirements and move to renewable sources.

Use multi-tasking equipment

A key way you can cut down on your energy costs and therefore your carbon emissions is to make use of multi-tasking equipment. These machines combine several processes – for example, cutting processes – which would have traditionally been carried out by multiple machines in one solution. This helps you reduce setup and manufacturing time dramatically by getting more processes done in one go.

Having fewer machines on the go for one project will reduce the amount of energy you require to produce materials or items, which has the double benefit of reducing your business’ energy costs and carbon emissions. It also means you’ll require fewer component parts for multiple machines. Fewer machines mean you can also make better use of your factory space and increase your business’ output efficiency.

Maintain your equipment effectively

We know that one of the best ways to extend the life of our manufacturing equipment is to maintain it effectively. Equipment maintenance will vary based on the machinery itself, but generally speaking, maintenance is straightforward. Setting up processes for qualified technicians to regularly review your machinery is essential, but there are steps you can take yourself.

Keeping your equipment and its component parts clean and free from debris is an essential step, because this can heavily impact its efficiency. In the shipping industry, energy-efficiency regulations have come into place that include keeping the propellors and other underwater parts of the ships clean, reducing waste heat production and the need for frequent new replacement parts.

Prevent energy-wasting leaks

One of the most common energy-wasting problems with manufacturing equipment is leakages. While checking your equipment is essential for general maintenance, including leak checks is recommended. This will allow you to spot and fix any leaks before they become a bigger problem. Using the right type of seal on your cylinder parts will help prevent leakages in the long run.

Embed sustainability into your supply chain

You’ve begun to address the sustainability of your business practices, and you’ve taken measures to reduce your carbon emissions. But can the same be said about your suppliers? If the businesses you’re sourcing your machinery and raw materials from aren’t sustainable, you may still be indirectly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

Many businesses are now including sustainability as a key requirement in their tender process, with others reviewing their suppliers based on their green credentials. A brand’s sustainability credentials are more important than ever, with research showing customers are seeking companies that are environmentally friendly. But large businesses including Nike and Adidas have come under scrutiny for poor practices in their supply chains. The fashion giants were found to use suppliers that discarded toxic waste in rivers in China, but the backlash was primarily aimed at those brands.

Sustainability and reducing carbon emissions is essential for all businesses in order for the UK to meet its net-zero target by 2050. As one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases in the UK, the manufacturing sector has a large role to play. By addressing the machinery and component parts your business uses, including how and where you source them, how you use them, and how you maintain them, you can reduce your emissions to support important environmental causes.

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