June 2019

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC is acquiring the remaining shares in Iconics Inc, the US industrial software developer that focuses on Scada, IoT, mobile, analytics and cloud software products for the manufacturing, industrial and building-automation markets. Mitsubishi has held a 19.9% stake in Iconics since 2011, and the new deal will make the US business a 100% subsidiary. The financial details of the acquisition have not been revealed. Massachusetts-based Iconics, founded in 1986, has more than 350,000 software installations in more than 100 countries, and claims to serve more than 70% of the world’s top 500 companies.  By acquiring Iconics, Mitsubishi hopes to enhance its software line-up in areas such as edge computing, by combining Iconics’ software development expertise and technologies, with its own factory automation technologies. In a separate deal, Mitsubishi is taking an undisclosed stake in Realtime Robotics, a US start-up that is developing motion-planning technologies to improve the performance and safety of industrial robots and autonomous vehicles. Mitsubishi’s injection of funds is expected to accelerate its development of industrial robot systems. Mitsubishi expects to launch new robot systems that integrate the US company’s technologies by 2020. June 2019 www.drivesncontrols.com 8 CM2019 Conference Glasgow, UK 25–27 June, 2019 The 16th International Conference on ConditionMonitoring and Asset Management is being organised by the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing in partnershipwith the International Society for Condition Monitoring and the US Society for Machinery Failure PreventionTechnology. It consists of three streams running in parallel over three days.The conference includes panel sessions, case study presentations, apprentice workshops and an exhibition. www.bindt.org/events/CM2019 Profinet, Profibus and IO-Link Seminar Manchester, UK 26 June, 2019 A free one-day training event organised by PI (Profibus and Profinet International) UK, with presentations and demonstrations by PI UK members. It will address practical issues arising from the use of digital communications in automated manufacturing, with particular attention to Industry 4.0 and the IIoT. It will focus on practical aspects from system design and safety, to fault-finding and maintenance. http://links.events/pro bus5 Smart Industry Conference: Automotive Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre, Coventry, UK 12 September, 2019 The second in a series of one-day, sector- specific conferences with the shared theme: How tomake the digitalisation transition.The aim is to provide a practical, jargon-free introduction to digital transformation, especially for SMEs, many of which need guidance in this area. Speakers with practical experience of implementing digitalisation strategies will illustrate their talks with real-life case studies.The conference is being organised by DFAMedia, the publisher of SmartMachines and Factories . www.smartmachinesandfactories.com EMO Hannover 2019 Hannover, Germany 6–21 September, 2019 Themassivemetalworking andmachine tools show is expected to drawmore than 2,000 exhibitors and around 130,000 visitors.The theme will be“smart technologies driving tomorrow’s production”and there will be an area dedicated to IoT in production, as well as a special show-within-a-show focusing on the latest developments in Industry 4.0. www.emo-hannover.de EEMODS ‘19 Tokyo, Japan 17-19 September, 2019 The biennial International Conference on Energy Efficiency in Motor Driven Systems will bring together policymakers and energy efficiency experts from industry, research labs, universities and standardisation organisations from around the world to discuss energy efficiency policies and technologies used inmotor-driven systems such as pumps, compressors and fans. It is being organised by the Japan Electrical Manufacturers’Association. https://eemods19.org n NEWS Mitsubishi acquires Iconics and takes a stake in Realtime Robotics A flagship product in Iconics’software portfolio is its Genesis64 suite of OPC, BACnet, Modbus, SNMP, andWeb- enabled HMI and Scada applications The Scottish engineering and manufacturing contractor RSE (known until April this year as Ross-shire Engineering) has acquired a majority shareholding in the Leeds-based controls and switchboard manufacturer, Saftronics. The acquisition marks a further expansion for RSE as it develops its offering as a mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, controls and automation contractor serving municipal and utility customers across the UK. The financial terms of the deal have not been revealed. Saftronics, formed in 1979, specialises in motor control centres, process control systems and low-voltage switchboards. It employs 110 people and operates from a purpose-built 2,400m² design, manufacturing and testing facility in Leeds. The deal will see RSE taking a majority equity share in Saftronics, while retaining the skills of its existing management team. “We are thrilled to become part of the RSE group,” says Saftronics’managing director, Mark Godfrey. “Having worked very closely with RSE for many years, the integration represents a truly great fit for Saftronics and will enable both RSE and ourselves to provide a much more enhanced offering to our customers than ever before.” RSE, based in Muir of Ord, is a subsidiary of Envoy & Partners which offers mechanical, electrical, controls and automation services to the UK’s oil and gas, power and utility sectors. It employs 760 people in Scotland and England. Scots contractor RSE takes a majority stake in Saftronics Saftronics builds motor control centres, LV switchboards and control panels at its facility in Leeds @ D r i v e s n C o n t r o l s Follow us on twitter