Electricity + Control December 2018

CONTROL SYSTEMS, AUTOMATION + SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

track and trace inspections. Vision solutions are ideal for applications where there is a need for repetitive and precise quality checking at high speed and on the fly, all of which is difficult for humans to do consistently. There are systems that use facial recognition-type software to monitor and record product completeness and accuracy at high speed, along with systems that can check the accuracy of labelling. The quick response of the systems quickly alerts operators to problems, so the cause can be rectified before large numbers of rejects are produced. Omron’s i-Automation portfolio of control, sens- ing and thinking technologies can already be used to create the smart connected factory that is so widely talked about, without the necessity for expensive gateways. IIoT data and other KPIs can be generat- ed and used to create key performance data, which can then be visualised and analysed. And once an issue has been identified, implementing a solution for improved OEE is often very simple, concludes Coetzer.

Omron’s FQ range of smart vision systems embeds Ethernet and EtherCAT for ease of integration into any environment and they include an incremental encoder for easy track- ing and calibration.

Peter Middle- ton is the editor of MechChem Africa.

AlgaEnergy andYokogawa sign strategic partnership and equity agreement AlgaEnergy, a Spanish biotechnology company specialising in the production and commercial applications of microalgae, and Yokogawa Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6841), a leading provider of industrial automation, control and measurement technology, have signed a partnership and equity participation agreement. The strategic agreement involves an approximately 10 million euro in- vestment by Yokogawa to acquire newly issued shares of AlgaEn- ergy, and making the Japanese company a reference shareholder. Microalgae are a diverse group of unicellular photosynthetic micro-organisms that can thrive in a variety of aquatic habitats, such as oceans, lakes and rivers. Their rapid rate of reproduction means they can be used effectively as a biological resource. They are recognised as having great potential to contribute to a more sustainable society through applications in diverse sectors ranging from agriculture, food, and animal feed through to phar- maceuticals, cosmetics, biomaterials and, in the future, sustain- able biofuels. However, the scope of the agreement extends beyond finan- cial investment. The two companies, which share strong syn- ergies and a common vision, seek to build an industry-leading partnership in the microalgae biotechnology sector worldwide by collaborating in the areas of R&D, manufacturing, marketing, and sales. AlgaEnergy will leverage its broad knowledge and experience in the microalgae biological processes, accumulated through- out more than four decades of R&D by its scientific leader, the world-renowned microbiologist Professor Miguel Garcia Guerrero of the University of Seville. Yokogawa will provide the advanced technologies and knowhow related to automation of industrial processes that will be key for maximising quality and efficiency as production volumes increase. organisation, entry into new sectors such as food and cosmetics, and development of its promising product pipeline.

AlgaEnergy has been a pioneer in the field of microalgae bio- technology since 2007. It is currently operating a commercial pro- duction facility in the south of Spain, and, in late 2015, launched the world’s first line-up of microalgae-based bio-stimulant* prod- ucts to promote efficient crop cultivation. The entry of Yokogawa as a shareholder will enable AlgaEn- ergy to reinforce its position of international leadership, with the equity investment being used to fund a set of ambitious projects, including international expansion of its bio-stimulant product sales

United by a commitment to sustainability Augusto Rodríguez-Villa, AlgaEnergy’s president, said, “This agreement is the best possible partnership in the journey to achieve our mission to leverage the potential of microalgae world- wide. We share the same vision for the future, the belief that more sustainable development is possible and that microalgae can be a key contributor towards that objective.” Enquiries: Visit www.yokogawa.com/za

6 Electricity + Control

DECEMBER 2018