Industrial Internet News

ABS and Singapore-based shipyard Seatrium Limited have achieved the assignment of a structural health monitoring notation for a self-elevating drilling unit (SEDU).ADMARINE 686 is the world’s first SEDU to receive the ABS SMART (SHM) Notation, recognizing its ability to monitor and analyze the condition of a range of key structural elements, supporting physics-based analysis and simulation for a holistic structural health assessment and prediction of drilling and maritime assets.Seatrium…

Valmet reports that it has tested a first-of-a-kind scrubber and wet electrostatic precipitator combination and cut exhaust gas emissions in a marine diesel engine by up to 99%. The solution potentially could allow shipping companies to lower their particle matter and black carbon emission levels, while benefitting the environment and helping to meet tightening emission regulations.The pilot testing and configuration project was carried out together with VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd (VTT).Up to date…

As the demand for goods continues to rise, the need to move a higher number of containers quicker and more efficiently is also increasing with this. As a result, port operators are proactively seeking new ways to boost productivity, all while reducing costs to meet this demand.The emergence of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is a significant factor in convincing ports to adopt new technologies to help them overcome the day-to-day complexities they face and not miss a beat in a fast-paced industry.

There has been a growing interest among oil and gas companies in adopting the Industrial Internet to improve sustainability and market competitiveness, said a study.According to data and analytics company GlobalData the upstream sector is witnessing comparatively more implementations of the Industrial Internet compared to other oil and gas sectors. This is driven by the need to reduce operational risks and maximizing returns from their assets through digitization.The adoption of the Industrial Internet would enable companies in digitalizing oilfield operations and creating digital twins to reduce risks and optimize performance, said…

The terminal automation and energy-efficient cargo handling services provider Kalmar and Finnish operator Ukkoverkot have signed a two-year co-operation agreement with Nokia for the design, construction and operation of a private LTE network for Kalmar.Nokia brings the digital automation platform that is well suited for mobile machinery and industrial Internet of Things.A test network reflecting an actual terminal environment will be built for research and development purposes. Machine-to-machine communication will be tested in the new private 4G/LTE (Long Term Evolution) environment and compared against previous wireless technologies with the focus on developing innovative business applications.

German engineering firm Voith has rolled out online platform 'MyVoith' for digital applications and services."MyVoith is a global platform that brings together the company’s digital services and business-related information in one location. The platform offers users personalized access to their applications, services and data from the Voith world," it said in a release.These include industry-specific webshops, asset management solutions and further self-service applications, as well as the Voith IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) applications and services. Applications from different industries will be available for the global launch…

Flicq Inc. an innovator in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions has announced that it has cooperated with Damen Shipyards in remote monitoring. The project has involved mapping smart sensor data from many sources to have a uniform view of a vessel’s health. Additionally, Flicq sensors have been deployed on Damen connected vessels.In September 2018, Damen posed their sensor mapping challenge at the Vodafone Ziggo/TNW IoT Challenge. Flicq was the winner of the challenge and successfully delivered a sensor mapping solution for Damen.

Global oil and gas executives are preparing to accelerate their investment in digital technologies, primarily as they seek to double down on their cost-saving ambitions.An EY survey of 100 global oil and gas executives found that 89 percent expect to step up their investment in digital over the next two years.Despite oil prices reaching more attractive levels during the third quarter of 2018, operational efficiency remains a top priority owing to a legacy of falling prices in recent years.Forty-two percent of survey respondents say their primary motivation for investment in digital is to improve efficiency, while 55 percent say that their priority for technology investment will be focused around operational improvement.

Nokia, ABB and Kalmar, part of Cargotec,  have successfully conducted industrial trials that leverage the low latency capabilities of 5G to support time-critical applications and enhance protection and efficiency in a smart electricity grid and in harbor automation.In a joint press release the companies said that the trials, conducted as part of the Wireless for Verticals (WIVE) research project, represent one of the first real-world applications of time-critical 5G applications on electricity grid and harbor automation.URLLC (ultra-reliable low latency communications) has been identified as one of the three main usage scenarios for 5G due to its ability to transmit data, within a few milliseconds or less, with high reliability.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is set to make a sizeable contribution to the global economy by 2023. This is according to a new global study launched today by Inmarsat , the world’s leading mobile satellite communications company, which found that organisations, across the global supply chain, expect IIoT to be increasing their annual revenues by 10 per cent within 5 years.The Industrial Internet of Things is set to revolutionise how businesses function in the next few years. There will be significantly increased automation and operational efficiency through the use of real time data and machine-to-machine communication right across the planet.Access to reliable and resilient connectivity…

With its most recent acquisition, ABB has further expanded its ABB Ability portfolio of digital products and services with the addition of a new propulsion performance monitoring solution. ABB Turbo Systems Ltd. has signed an agreement to acquire Swiss headquartered Tekomar Group Ltd. ABB said it will further develop Tekomar’s digital solution for engine analytics and advisory systems enabling better performance for marine customers. The transaction is expected to be closed during Q4 2017.

Rolls-Royce and VTT Technical Research Center of Finland Ltd have announced a strategic partnership to design, test and validate the first generation of remote and autonomous ships. The new partnership will combine and integrate the two company’s unique expertise to make such vessels a commercial reality. Rolls-Royce is pioneering the development of remote controlled and autonomous ships and believes a remote controlled ship will be in commercial use by the end of the decade. The company is applying technology, skills and experience from across its businesses to this development.

Being an island nation, Japan is inevitably dependent on seaborne trade. Over time, this has led to it becoming a strong player in the global maritime market. Japan’s shipbuilding pedigree has gained the country a foothold in LNG carriers, dry bulk cargo barge and pure car truck carriers (PCTC). While Japan is still a significant player, large-scale investments made by the Chinese and South Korean governments in the 1980s pushed them ahead. Japan’s energy market is also going through a period of change.

Secure, robust, flexible, scalable and future-proof, the new ESAB WeldCloud online data management platform works with ESAB’s Aristo Mig semi-automatic, Aristo Mig 5000iR robotic and LAF/TAF sub arc welding systems. Users can purchase these systems WeldCloud-ready, and ESAB can retrofit most existing systems with a communication module. Much more than data recording systems, Weld Cloud integrates with other customer systems (ERP, MDM, MRP, QA, etc.) and enables a wealth of analytics. Using any device with a web browser, users access applications and dashboards with functionality tailored for the job needs of different personnel: operations managers, quality managers, engineers, welders, maintenance staff, training supervisors and others.

Finland-based Cinia Group began laying the new submarine Sea Lion data cable in Helsinki, Finland. The new fibre optic sea cable will provide a direct, low latency and cyber secure internet backbone connection between Finland and Germany. Linking Cinia's existing countrywide data network in Finland with network nodes in Central Europe, the new sea cable is expected to increase interest of data center operators and data intensive organizations to set up operations in Finland. "The sea cable initiative builds the future of Finland based on our existing strengths," said Eero Heliövaara, Director General at the Prime Minister's Office. "A direct data connection between Finland and Central Europe is an important enabler of both domestic economic growth and international investments.

GE unveiled today its new GE Marine organization which cumulates several GE businesses and will be led by Tim Schweikert, vice president, GE Marine. The new organization brings together GE’s commercial and technological expertise in the marine sector from gas turbines and diesel engines to motors and generators, variable speed drives and drilling systems to automation and control systems and all the electrical equipment in between. GE Marine combines this with system integration capabilities and a global infrastructure—including training and service facilities.

Konecranes’ Agilon material management solution has won the Quality Innovation award in the Large companies series in The Quality Innovation Award of the Year competition, arranged by Laatukeskus Excellence Finland. Agilon brings industrial internet to material logistics and enables a new flexible way to manage material and information flow. Introduced in 2013, Agilon is an innovative materials inventory and management system that rapidly and automatically stores, picks, and replenishes items weighing up to 25 kg, using a robot to handle component transfers. Inventories stay up to date and the right components find their ways to the right places at the right time, thereby improving productivity and work satisfaction.

Inmarsat Maritime President Frank Coles said the efficiency gains of the “Maritime Industrial Internet” are at hand, if only shipowners can grasp the potential for competitive advantage. The first satellite in the Global Xpress fleet will complete all of its testing by July of this year, with the second and third satellites on schedule to be launched by the close of 2014. The Global Xpress Maritime service is expected to become globally available from the end of the first quarter of 2015.

A recent white paper by marine data analytics software provider ESRG outlines the way forward for operators who embrace the latest in technology. Today, only a minority of vessels are positioned to capture industrial internet benefits. That said; almost every new-build ship will have technology built in to capture these benefits. Substantial fuel savings, reduction in maintenance and repair costs, and greater assurance of environmental compliance are the largest drivers. The industrial internet has already created significant value elsewhere and it will do the same for the marine industry.

Inmarsat, a provider of global mobile satellite communications services, has staged the inaugural Smart Operations conference, the first in a series of events seeking an open debate in the maritime industry over the operational benefits of integrated thinking on shore and ship communications. With the first of the three new Global Xpress satellites already in orbit – a prelude to the global launch of the world’s first high-speed mobile broadband satellite service to the maritime industry…

ESRG introduced the industrial internet to the marine sector with cloud-based total vessel monitoring and analytics. ESRG’s OstiaEdge platform as a service (PaaS), combined with cloud-based data-centers, enable ship managers and owners to have visibility into the performance and health of shipboard equipment from anywhere, including mobile devices. Data is automatically collected, validated and analyzed onboard the vessel and then automatically synched with remote data centers which provide the data, along with automated analytics, in the cloud. Owners, managers and operators can log in via any internet connected device, anywhere, and use the online automated analytics to understand how the vessel is operating and use that information to make better operations and maintenance decisions.

ESRG introduces the industrial internet to the marine sector with cloud-based total vessel monitoring and analytics. ESRG’s OstiaEdge platform as a service (PaaS), combined with cloud-based data-centers, enable ship managers and owners to have visibility into the performance and health of shipboard equipment from anywhere, including mobile devices. Data is automatically collected, validated and analyzed onboard the vessel and then automatically synched with remote data centers which provide the data, along with automated analytics, in the cloud.

The Port of Pittsburgh Commission (PPC) is building an innovative wireless broadband network along the rivers in Pittsburgh and is seeking partners to explore new applications for transportation, safety, security and environmental monitoring, according to James R. McCarville, Executive Director of the Port of Pittsburgh Commission. The project, called Wireless Waterways, consists of both the Network System Infrastructure (NSI), which will be scalable and expandable, and an Interoperability Test Bed (ITB). The project has been under construction for nearly a year by the PPC’s contractor, CONXX, Inc., from Johnstown, PA. The PPC will begin to conduct experiments within the Test Bed in June.