Metso Outotec and Hispano Japonesa de Maquinaria S.L. (HJM) have agreed on an expansion of their distribution contract in Spain. In addition to mobile equipment, with the new scope the cooperation also covers Metso Outotec’s stationary crushing and vibrating equipment, crusher wear parts and spare parts, as well as service contracts, commissioning, and technical support. The contract comes into effect in July 2021.

“We have been very pleased with the cooperation with HJM so far,” comments Olli-Pekka Oksanen, who is heading the Distribution Management Office in Metso Outotec. “HJM is well-known and recognized in the Spanish construction business. Thanks to their solid expertise and local presence, we are able to strengthen the service levels for all our crushing and screening customers both in equipment and aftermarket support.”

To ensure continuity for the customers, part of the Metso Outotec personnel will transfer to HJM with the transaction. Olli-Pekka Oksanen continues: “Our foremost objective is to ensure a smooth transition to the existing customers.”

“The past two years which we have represented Metso Outotec’s mobile equipment has proven that our visions are very well aligned,” says Juan Rodríguez, Managing Director at HJM. “Customers know what Metso Outotec solutions are and what they can do. They also know what kind of committed support is needed to keep the highest performance as standard, and that we at HJM put all in for the highest excellence. Together we want to be the preferred choice for all crushing and screening customers in Spain.

”HJM currently has 13 locations and over 100 employees. It has 40 years of experience in the wholesale of machinery for mining, construction and civil engineering and is located in the provinces of León, La Coruña, Guadalajara, Asturias and Málaga and has workshops in Basque Country, Almeria, Valencia, Mallorca, Zaragoza, Barcelona and Extremadura.

Metso Outotec is a frontrunner in sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions and services for the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries globally. By improving our customers’ energy and water efficiency, increasing their productivity, and reducing environmental risks with our product and process expertise, we are the partner for positive change.  

Metso Outotec is committed to limiting global warming to 1.5°C with Science Based Targets. We ranked 8th on the 2021 Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable companies.

Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Metso Outotec employs over 15,000 people in more than 50 countries and its sales for 2020 were about EUR 3.9 billion. The company is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki. mogroup.com

Soaring appetite for livestock-based products are creating prolonged and persistent environmental and social issues. As a result, changing consumer behavior towards alternative protein options—due to health awareness as well as animal welfare, disruptive R&D technologies, new product launches, and subsequently venture capital (VC) investments are driving the growth of the global alternative protein industry. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift towards alternative protein. Against this backdrop, food and beverage startups must understand the evolving market dynamics to meet the growing demand, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s latest report, ‘Is Alternative Protein The Next Big Thing For Your Sector?’, highlights the growing discussions around alternative protein on social media platforms and mentions for the same in companies annual filings. It also reveals that while start-ups have been creating a new wave of change, big players are also showing interest in the alternative protein space.

Shagun Sachdeva, Innovation Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “As veganism continues to become mainstream, companies are making efforts to replicate certain animal proteins ranging from the development of egg white cell cultures to lab grown cultured meat.

“With VC investments rising exponentially in the alternative protein space, the total deal value witnessed growth from US$111.5m in 2017 to US$1,586.3m in 2020. The average deal value indicates that there are several new start-ups raising early-stage funding. There appears to be two waves in the alternative protein VC investments space – the first wave reached its peak in around 2015-16, when companies such as Beyond Meat raised late-stage funding to expand operations. Another wave was witnessed in the recent years, when a number of start-ups started exploring parallel options in producing alternative protein related products.”

Companies are coming up with innovative product launches that resonate with the millennials, diversify away from the core traditional protein categories and increase touchpoints with the younger generation. Flavor innovation, channel expansion, anti-allergic variants, private label growth, hybrid products and edible packaging are some of the notable product innovations in the alternative protein space.

Ms Sachdeva adds: “As consumers are embarking on the growing trend of plant-based protein, companies intend to engage with the new set of consumers by retooling their product portfolios and reformulating their strategies. Companies are patenting their product manufacturing techniques and investing in novel technologies right from AI, 3D printing to cell-culture and fermentation. Subsequently, investors are eager to grab a spoonful of alternative protein start-ups that believe in the potential of technology to radically recreate the protein ecosystem.”

GlobalData’s Technology Leaderboard matrix reveals that Nestle SA remains clearly the disruptive innovator with total patent filings of more than 1,600 as of 31 December 2020. While corporates seem to be patenting heavily in the alternative protein area, Impossible Foods Inc is the only startup in the top 20 patentees list and is ranked 15th among top 20 patentees.

Ms Sachdeva concludes: “Firms looking to enter the alternative protein space will need to continuously evolve and remain relevant for consumers by using insightful innovation and capitalize on current trends. Furthermore, innovative food companies need to focus on customer experience, new distribution channels and strong social media push to garner attention for their products.”

• Quotes provided by Shagun Sachdeva, Innovation Analyst at GlobalData
• Information based on GlobalData’s report: Is Alternative Protein The Next Big Thing For Your Sector?
• GlobalData’s Technology Leaderboard matrix provides unique insights on companies’ growth and innovation category that these companies belong to which indicates the nature of their innovation in terms of patent filings. While, Patent Strength Indicators (based on number of parameters) are needed to evaluate technological innovation competitiveness between companies and identifying the quality of the patent.

About GlobalData

4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis, and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.

At this month’s FuturePrint Tech Fest, Xaar will explore the growing role of inkjet in novel industrial applications with a presentation that looks at the use of robotics in direct to shape printing, and also take part in the panel discussion titled “problem solving and applications”.

Renzo Trip, Principal Engineer at Xaar, and Graham Tweedale, General Manager of Xaar's printhead business, are among the key contributors to the Tech Fest event held on 29^th – 30^th June, which aims to focus on the successful development and integration of industrial inkjet.

Graham Tweedale, General Manager of Xaar's printhead business

During his seminar on 30^th June at 10.00 BST / 11.00 CET Renzo will explore the capabilities and challenges of using robotics in inkjet printing. He will present the findings of a series of exacting tests undertaken using Xaar printheads in a variety of challenging scenarios, from inversion to operation in motion, reaffirming Xaar’s assertion that in the world of inkjet, “almost anything is possible”. 

On 29^th June at 16.00 BST / 17.00 CET Graham Tweedale will be discussing the elements needing consideration when looking at inkjet as a potential commercial production solution. In particular, he will highlight the importance of fluid testing at the very start of a project and its role in helping to understand whether inkjet is a viable technology for the application under review. This, alongside the early production of samples helps to identify and resolve any issues early on, saving time and money. Graham will also highlight how collaboration is fundamental to this process and only by developing deep, open relationships with partners –rather than a traditional customer/supplier relationship – will the broader skills and knowledge contribute to the success of each programme.

Xaar printheads in action

The right ink chemistry, the best integration and engineering partner, software, drive electronics, inkjet printhead and curing technology must all be aligned for success to be achieved, and the FuturePrint Tech Fest seeks to address each of these areas in detail over its two days.

Both sessions are open to all and can be attended by registering at: https://techfest.futureprint.tech

KROHNE, Inc. announces the TIDALFLUX 2300 F, a unique electromagnetic flow meter that provides reliable flow measurement in pipes between 10 and 100 percent full. It features a non-contact sensor that is unaffected by oils and fats floating on the surface. Available in diameters to fit pipes up to 64 inches, TIDALFLUX 2300 F has high chemical and abrasion resistance to provide exceptional durability. The electromagnetic flowmeter features an integrated, non-contact capacitive level measurement and an approval for ATEX zone 1 for use in hazardous environments. TIDALFLUX 2300 F is an excellent choice for municipal or industrial wastewater transport application, and can also be used for measurement of effluent brine from dredging, mining or sea/well water injection applications.

Wet-calibrated at the factory using a direct volume comparison, TIDALFLUX 2300 F does not require on-site calibration. The meter’s accuracy in partially filled pipes is <1 percent of full scale, and the accuracy in full pipes is <1 percent of the measured value.

A good choice for use in the presence of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in wastewater applications, the TIDALFLUX 2300 F replaces open channel measurements with an in-line closed measurement solution that provides a safe and clean working environment. The electrodes are mounted at a height of 10 percent from the pipe bottom, ensuring that they are always wetted to avoid corrosion, which increases electrode life span. The capacitive level sensors are integrated in the liner, and are unaffected by H₂S and any residues that may be floating on the water surface or particles in the water.

Ranging from diameters DN200…1600 / 8…64 inches, the TIDALFLUX 2300 F features a measuring tube with an abrasion-resistant polyurethane liner and high chemical resistance. Its smooth surface prevents buildup of fat and other deposits, minimizing the need for regular cleaning.

TIDALFLUX 2300 F is available with IFC 300 F (PF) remote converter in field housing. This means that the IFC 300’s extended diagnostic functions, including application and device diagnostic as well as out-of-spec tests, are now available for TIDALFLUX. For subsoil installation or applications in areas that can be partially flooded, TIDALFLUX 2300 F can be ordered as a protection rating IP68 version with special coating.

About KROHNE

KROHNE is a worldwide technological leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of accurate, reliable and cost-effective measuring instruments for the process industries. KROHNE focuses on forming partnerships with its customers to provide them with the most reliable and innovative solutions available in the marketplace. For more information about KROHNE’s complete line of measuring instrumentation for the process industries, contact KROHNE at 1-800-FLOWING (978-535-6060 in MA); fax: (978) 535-1720, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Noise insulation and heat recovery in plant components and machines lead to increased ambient and media temperatures during operation. Bürkert plunger valves Type 7011 and Type 7012 come with various approvals and master this challenge at media temperatures of up to 140°C and ambient temperatures of up to 70°C.

In many applications, valves also have to work reliably at higher temperatures due to increased sound insulation and heat recovery in plant components and machines. Such applications can be found in compressors, gas compressors, HVAC systems, sterilisers in machine and apparatus engineering as well as in testing and analysis technology. The compact, direct-acting plunger valves Type 7011 (2/2-way) and Type 7012 (3/2-way) from Bürkert Fluid Control Systems (see company text box) are specially designed for this purpose. They enable safe switching at media temperatures of up to 140°C and ambient temperatures of up to 70°C as well as a 100% duty cycle. This makes them suitable for dosing gas, steam and both cold and hot water.

Reliable and temperature resistant: The new compact 2/2-way and 3/2-way valves offer a large number of individual selection options (source: Bürkert)

Due to the high vertical range of manufacture at Bürkert, tailored solutions are also possible, e.g. individual voltage values or special fluidic designs. The valves are always supplied as complete, ready-to-use units, including coil and fluidics. This simplifies the ordering process and facilitates goods receipt for customers.

Reliable worldwide use
The plunger valves Type 7011 and Type 7012 are offered with approvals for worldwide use. For instance, each valve already comes with a coil system for the North American market. From spring 2021, variants will be available for fuel gases according to regulation DVGW EN 161 of the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water. Further, the product range will be expanded from summer 2021 to include encapsulated variants for use in potentially explosive areas.

About Bürkert Fluid Control Systems
Bürkert Fluid Control Systems is one of the world's leading manufacturers of measuring, control and regulating systems for liquids and gases. Bürkert solutions are used in a wide range of industries and applications – ranging from breweries and labs to medical, bio-engineering and aerospace technology. With a portfolio of more than 30,000 products, Bürkert is the only supplier to offer all fluid control system components, from solenoid valves to process and analytical valves, from pneumatic actuators to sensors.

With its headquarters in Ingelfingen in southern Germany, the company has a wide-ranging sales network in 36 countries and more than 3,000 employees worldwide. Bürkert continuously develops customized solutions and innovative products at its five Systemhaus locations in Germany, China, and the USA, and in four research centers.

Further information is available from the links below:
www.burkert.com 

The personal stories behind the people that power Sulzer

Sulzer has launched a new 20-part video series showcasing some of the people whose commitment and dedication helps power the business. This series features monthly uploads to the Sulzer YouTube channel, with each episode exploring the story of an employee and how their personal journey has enriched the company.

In the series opener, Something Different, we meet Antonio, an outstanding member of the Sulzer family who was a resident at Today’s Harbor for Children. The non-profit provides a nurturing environment, resources, and guidance to young people in crisis. Sulzer has supported the organization for over three decades and Antonio joined the company when he was 19. Having made a career for himself, he is now committed to giving back to Today’s Harbor for Children.

Over the past twenty years, Sulzer has worked with customers, suppliers, and the community to raise over $2 million in support of Today’s Harbor for Children.

The next episode, Thingamajig, stars Sulzer employees who provide often humorous answers to a quiz of ambiguous engineering jargon. A subsequent episode highlights Marcelo, a Maintenance Technician at Sulzer Turbo Services Houston, Inc., exploring his story and work managing over a thousand pieces of equipment for turbine and compressor maintenance. Marcelo has worked at Sulzer for 25 years, a long career which started thanks to a passion for machines and a fateful vacation in Houston.

Darayus Pardivala, President of Sulzer Rotating Equipment Services, Americas, said: “These new videos focus on the amazing people who power our company. There are many stories woven into the fabric of Sulzer that we want to share. We are excited to show the teamwork, successes, and community support taking place across the business.”

You can view the first episode of Powered by People here.

About Sulzer

Sulzer is a global leader in fluid engineering. We specialize in pumping, agitation, mixing, separation and application technologies for fluids of all types. Our customers benefit from our commitment to innovation, performance and quality and from our responsive network of 180 world-class production facilities and service centers across the globe. Sulzer has been headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, since 1834. In 2020, our 15’000 employees delivered revenues of CHF 3.3 billion. Our shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: SUN). www.sulzer.com. The Pumps Equipment division specializes in pumping solutions specifically engineered for the processes of our customers. We provide pumps, agitators, compressors, grinders and screens developed through intensive research and development in fluid dynamics and advanced materials. We are a market leader in pumping solutions for water, oil and gas, power, chemicals and most industrial segments.

Throughout the Americas, Sulzer provides cutting-edge parts as well as maintenance and repair solutions for pumps, turbines, compressors, motors and generators. We service our own original equipment as well as third-party rotating equipment operated by our customers. Our technology-based solutions maximize reliability and lifecycle cost effectiveness.

For more information on Sulzer, visit www.sulzer.com

Specialist decommissioning engineering consultancy RVA Group has launched a new service as the number of industrial and process site closures globally, continues to rise.

Having successfully delivered more than 850 decommissioning, decontamination, demolition and dismantling (DDDD) projects all over the world, the London-headquartered firm has identified a gap in the market when it comes to one of the earliest phases of preparing a site to be mothballed or removed.

Asset owners commonly use internal resources to handle initial decommissioning works – often due to the fact they don’t consider alternative approaches. However, global industry standards such as the CDM Regulations, state that it is best practice – and the law in the UK – for decommissioning to fall within this remit. A principal designer should therefore be involved from the earliest phase, to ensure the works are rigorously planned from the outset.

So, while the asset owner can assume the role of principal contractor, an experienced team with a decommissioning mindset should be charged with supporting or writing the decommissioning plan itself, as well as documenting the detailed processes to follow, and auditing works throughout. This is the most secure way of ensuring the project unfolds with the highest possible safety and environmental standards, believes RVA Group’s managing director Richard Vann.

“Nobody knows an asset or site better than the operator who has run it for several years,” he explains. “So, when the owner calls time on its operational life it would be unwise to overlook the depth and value of process and plant-specific knowledge that such individuals could bring to the table, during a decommissioning project.

“However, despite decommissioning often being considered an extension of site maintenance, it represents a specific engineering discipline which requires a distinct mindset. There’s a difference between measures for maintenance or routine turnaround purposes for instance and decommissioning the asset entirely because it has reached its end of life and will never be restarted. Ironically, DDDD presents a number of opportunities that will not only make the process cost effective but also, in many instances, remove hazards and enable increased EHS standards to be implemented.

“Professionals in our industry are often engaged when decommissioning work is already underway, but by that point, avoidable risks may already have been taken and additional measures may be required to rectify decommissioning issues that should have been undertaken by the right people, armed with the right information, at the right time.”

There’s also a financial argument for earlier involvement from decommissioning specialists, adds Richard.

“Sometimes operators go to such extremes that they undertake processes they don’t actually need to, as they could be handled more efficiently, and ultimately safely, during the dismantling phase,” he highlights. “Such an approach therefore results in abortive effort and cost. Costs will also rise if extra resource is required to get a project back on track – and the monetary consequences of an event, such as loss of containment doesn’t even bear thinking about.”

Having supported clients within the global chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, power, energy, oil, gas and heavy manufacturing industries, RVA’s client roster includes names such as INEOS, SABIC, BASF, Total and GSK – to name just a few.

Established in 1992 and now a part of EPH following a strategic acquisition in 2017, the team brings more than 200 years combined decommissioning experience to the market.

Payments in the Nordic region are set to undergo a significant digital transformation following the announcement of a three-way partnership between TietoEVRY, MYPINPAD and Surfboard Payments. In a matter of minutes, any merchant can now accept card payments and begin capturing customer data for loyalty and marketing purposes  via a simple app download on a mobile phone or tablet. Replacing traditional card terminals, the new solution simplifies payments for merchants and consumers.

The TietoEVRY, MYPINPAD and Surfboard partnership brings a newly developed payment solution to the Nordic market that enables merchants to securely accept payments via any Android or iOS device without the need for single purpose card terminals. The solution supports the consumer’s choice of payment methods, such as card, Swish, mobile payments, or invoices.

Where traditional payment terminals offer very limited opportunity for merchants to add value within the customer experience and do not provide data back to the merchant for marketing purposes, the white-label solution offered by Surfboard Payments opens up a world of possibilities to redefine the check-out process in store. Data can be captured and made available to the merchant in real time for greater customer targeting and marketing activities. Furthermore, the attention-grabbing customer screen facilitates loyalty points, rewards systems and offers, and multiple payment methods are offered to enhance the check-out experience.

As TietoEVRY is one of the largest payment processors in the Nordic region with links to all the main acquirers, the solution will be supported by a robust processing platform that ensures full availability and offers the most cost-effective and easily integrated services on the market.

“The payment industry is growing and changing extremely fast, driven by customer demands and innovative technologies. We are extremely proud to present the next step in the payment software evolution, enabling faster implementations and easier payments. This will benefit both small business owners and large retail chains, and not least their customers, who get a better and more alluring payment experience. We are happy to offer the new payment infrastructure to all our payment partners in the Nordics, in collaboration with Surfboard and MYPINPAD,” says Kevin Grönvall, Head of Card Acquiring at TietoEVRY.

“We started Surfboard Payments because we believe the paradigm shift for in-store payments is long overdue and will take place in the near future. We are very excited about the partnership and look forward to enabling Nordic merchants to offer better customer experiences for card-present payments in completely new ways,” says Christopher Lindfeldt, CEO and Founder of Surfboard Payments AB.

“Software is the future of payments, and the future is here - now. MYPINPAD’s software provides ground-breaking opportunities for merchants to innovate, and they can do so with confidence that it is also some of the most secure software in the world. Together with our partners, we’re thrilled to change the shape of payments for Nordic merchants,” says Justin Pike, Founder and Chairman of MYPINPAD.

The software is based on MYPINPAD’s “Tap on phone”, a contactless payment solution. MYPINPAD is the first company in the world to have both its CPoC and SPoC solutions certified under Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards Council (SSC), which ensures the offering is highly secure and globally accepted. The solution is available for acquirers, banks and partners to offer Nordic and international merchants and retailers.

TietoEVRY 

creates digital advantage for businesses and society. We are a leading digital services and software company with local presence and global capabilities. Our Nordic values and heritage steer our success.

Headquartered in Finland, TietoEVRY employs around 24 000 experts globally. The company serves thousands of enterprise and public sector customers in more than 90 countries. TietoEVRY’s annual turnover is approximately EUR 3 billion and its shares are listed on the NASDAQ in Helsinki and Stockholm as well as on the Oslo Børs. www.tietoevry.com

MYPINPAD is a global leader in secure personal authentication solutions residing on commercially available smartphones and tablets. Our proprietary and globally patented technology secures and protects the input of sensitive information on touchscreens creating a trusted environment. MYPINPAD’s innovative solution set removes the reliance on specialised hardware for personal authentication; reduces cost and complexity, promotes rapid adoption and leverages the connected capabilities of smart devices. www.mypinpad.com

Surfboard Payments is a Swedish-based software developer employing around 45 people in Stockholm, Sweden and Chennai, India. Surfboard Payments is developing   payment   software   and   creating   new   checkout   touch points which consumers face when completing their purchases. All development is done with the customer journey in primary focus, ensuring an easy checkout experience identical across devices. The dynamic and interactive screens enable marketing to the right person at the right time, in the right place. www.surfboardpayments.com/

The winners of BillerudKorsnäs’ design competition PIDA Germany – Packaging Impact Design Award – have been selected. The most prestigious prize of the competition, PIDA Gold Award, went to the design student Hagen Neugebauer from Hochschule der Medien in Stuttgart who also won the prize “Highest level of Innovation”. The winning packaging project “Krystal Kream” is designed for a vegan Italian ice cream that impressed the jury with its innovative idea and construction. “It’s amazing. I’m stunned. I didn’t believe that this could happen. There was so much good work done by every group” says Hagen Neugebauer.

The winning packaging project “Krystal Kream” responds perfectly to this year’s brief – to create a package that speaks to our senses. The motivation of the jury reads:

“The overall idea was felt to be future-proof and ground-breaking, as many consumers would like alternative solutions for the packaging materials used today ­– also in this market segment. Use of materials, shaping, handling and differentiation from existing packaging solutions should enable the start towards a better future with this idea.”

Hagen Neugebauer who won the PIDA Gold Award at the German PIDA event automatically qualifies for the Grand Finale. At the final – which takes place at the Luxe Pack trade show in Monaco on September 27 – an international winner will be appointed. This means that the German winner will be up against the winners of the three other semi-finals; students from USA/UK, France, and Sweden. 

The packaging concept “Krystal Kream” won both the competition's top prize – PIDA Gold Award – and the “Highest Level of Innovation Award”.

More students awarded

At the event, another three prizes were presented. The winner of the PIDA Gold Award “Krystal Kream” was awarded once again and received the “Highest Level of Innovation Award” with the motivation:

”A packaging concept, which is still completely unknown for the relevant market segment, convinced the jury with the materials used, innovative design and functionality of individual components, which were consistently made from the same material through skilful construction”

The “Highest Level of User Friendliness Award” went to the entry “hey Ocean!” created by Nadine Voll and Judith Kellermann from Hochschule der Medien, Stuttgart. A packaging solution made for bath bombs, and the jury said: 

“For this project, from the jury's point of view, an overall concept was developed that takes the consumer with them from the beginning to the end of the story told by the product and accompanies them with various features. A packaging solution that, together with the product, surprises and delights the buyer in all phases of use.”

The “Highest Level of Sustainability Award” was presented to Vanessa Hoffer from Hochschule der Medien, Stuttgart for the entry “Miss Fortune”, a packaging solution for reusable razors. The jury’s motivation read:

“With the aim of replacing plastic blisters with a pure cardboard solution, a new packaging was created for reusable razors that not only fulfilled this goal, but also triggered all steps of optical and haptic perception and was also designed down to the last detail.  The tamper-evident closure, child safety and product fixation were also considered, as was the overall aesthetic effect of the pack through graphics, embossed areas and varnish effects.”

The winners were selected by a jury of prominent industry professionals, who were very impressed by this year’s contestants.

“The jurors were so impressed with the thoughtful and exciting concepts presented by the teams in this competition. We discussed and debated the entries at length before determining the winning team in each category. Each participant should be so very proud of the work accomplished under extraordinary circumstances,” says Helmut Sieber of Edelmann, chairman of the jury for PIDA Germany.

The “Highest Level of User Friendliness Award” went to “hey Ocean!”.

A creative arena for the packaging community
BillerudKorsnäs, the company behind PIDA, arranges the competition in cooperation with leading universities and design colleges in the USA, the UK, France, Germany, and Sweden. The competition gives the students an opportunity to work on a real packaging design project under the same conditions as an authentic assignment. What’s more, it is also a chance for the students to showcase their ideas and creativity to established professionals who attend the events every year to be inspired and meet the packaging designers of tomorrow.

“With PIDA, we want to drive the development of packaging design forward while also establishing a meeting place for the industry and the schools. This year marks the 16^th anniversary of the competition and interest for PIDA grows steadily for every year – at the schools as well as in the packaging business,” says Anders Gathu, Marketing Manager BillerudKorsnäs.  

About BillerudKorsnäs
BillerudKorsnäs provides packaging materials and solutions that challenge conventional packaging for a sustainable future. We are a world leading provider of primary fiber-based packaging materials and have customers in over 100 countries. The company has 8 production sites in Sweden, Finland and the UK and about 4 500 employees in over 13 countries. BillerudKorsnäs has an annual turnover of about SEK 24 billion and is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. http://www.billerudkorsnas.com/

About PIDA

For the 16^th consecutive year the international packaging design competition PIDA (Packaging Impact Design Award) is arranged by BillerudKorsnäs. Around 200 design students from France, Germany, Sweden, the UK, and the USA participate. At each national event winners are selected in the following categories: Highest Level of Sustainability, Highest Level of Innovation, Highest Level of User Friendliness, and PIDA Gold Award. The competition aims to demonstrate the importance of packaging to products, brands and the environment.

Moxa, a leading provider of network infrastructure solutions, has released the MXview Wireless add-on module for our MXview industrial network management software. MXview streamlines network management by visualizing networks, helping non-IT staff simplify operations and improve network uptime.

This software has successfully helped many customers from around the world in different industries, such as in power, intelligent transportation, and manufacturing. Today, with the rise of smart manufacturing, intelligent and reliable industrial network communication has become the cornerstone for nearly every smart application. In response to the transformation of the industrial environment and increasing number of Wi-Fi applications, the new MXview Wireless add-on module fulfills the different requirements of both static and dynamic wireless applications in smart manufacturing. With reliable network communications as a foundation and real-time network management from a single pane of glass, business owners can focus on improving operational efficiency and achieving maximum system uptime.

Visualize Wi-Fi Networks for Optimal Operational Efficiency

Intelligent process control is a typical static wireless application in smart manufacturing where customers use Wi-Fi to establish the communication between the clients installed at production lines and the control center. However, an unstable wireless connection might lead to wrong decision-making due to incomplete on-site information or dropped connections, affecting optimal production processes. It’s often difficult to know the exact status of the Wi-Fi connection and fix issues immediately the moment they occur. The MXview Wireless add-on module simplifies network management by allowing users to get detailed device information and performance indicator charts for individual AP and client devices from the device dashboard. “A major benefit of this module is that users can now view the wireless and wired network status from a single main control dashboard. This feature not only lets you quickly understand the network conditions of the factory, but also makes network management much easier.” says Lyra Li, product manager at Moxa. Furthermore, users can monitor connectivity patterns and customize alert settings to immediately notify you of any problems. In turn, this allows engineers to perform on-site troubleshooting quickly and efficiently, ensuring maximum network availability.

Easy Troubleshooting for Maximum System Uptime
In automated material handling (AMH) systems, the Wi-Fi connections must be able to dynamically adapt to the constantly moving vehicles. An unstable wireless signal could easily disrupt the operation of these systems. However, wireless connections are invisible and affected by a lot of different factors. The MXview Wireless add-on features a dynamic topology view to let users see the status of wireless links and connection changes at a glance. Moreover, since automated vehicles constantly roam between different APs around the facility, users can overlay the network topology on top of a floor map of the facility to easily locate the vehicle by just checking the client’s wireless connection. This helps save a great deal of time when trying to identify a malfunctioning client device. “The roaming playback function lets users review a client’s roaming history of the past 30 days to repeat an incident. Users can leverage this function to find and address the root cause more efficiently, instead of having to consolidate and examine individual device logs.” says Lyra. Exclusively developed by Moxa, these two functions are specially designed to fulfill the growing requirements of automated factories, smart logistics, and other intelligent applications. To learn more about our wireless AMH solutions.

Leveraging our experience in wired network management with MXview, the newly released MXview Wireless add-on module was created to get the most out of your Wi-Fi applications. To encourage everyone to experience the power of this industrial network management software, Moxa is also launching a special promotion program. From now until December 31, 2021, users can fully enjoy the MXview Wireless add-on for free for one year by simply activating the MXview Wireless add-on module for MXview. For more information about the product and details regarding this ongoing promotion, please visit the product page or the microsite at www.moxa.com/MXview.

MXview and MXview Wireless Add-on Module Highlights
√ Automatically discovers and visualizes network devices and physical connections
√ Instant alerts with customizable trigger thresholds
√ Easily embedded into OT/IT systems
√ Single, integrated dashboard for wired and wireless network status overview
√ Detailed device information and performance indicator charts
√ Dynamic topology view shows the status of wireless links and connection changes at a glance
√ Visual, interactive roaming playback function to review the roaming history of clients

Learn how MXview was endorsed by our ITS customer by reading our City of Lancaster, USA case study.