August 2021

60 July/August 2021 www.drivesncontrols.com n DESIGN DATA AND MULTIMEDIA Free guide lists ‘top 20’ secure PLC coding practices The ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance (ISAGCA) has joined forces with the German industrial IT security specialist Admeritia to produce a document that lists coding practices for PLC programmers to adopt to improve the IT security of PLCs and the plants they control. The aim of the free 44-page document, called Top 20 Secure PLC Coding Practice , is to provide guidelines to programming industrial controls using languages such as ladder logic and function charts, to help improve the security of systems. The publicly-sourced practices make use of functions built into PLCs and DCSs. Little or no extra software tools or hardware are needed to implement them. www.plc-security.com White papers look at new EU Reg and implications of Brexit for OEMs HoldTech Files has published two white papers, one looking at the implications of Brexit for machine- builders, the other examining what non-EU industrial manufacturers need to do to comply with EU Regulation 2019/1020, which came into force last month. The first paper is aimed at manufacturers that create assemblies of machines requiring CE or UKCAmarking. It highlights differences between the marking systems, and discusses rules of origin and how“designated”standards have replaced‘harmonised’standards for UKCAmarking. The second paper defines the organisations that can be classed as“economic operators”. It explains how to appoint an“authorised representative”(AR). https://www.holdtechfiles.eu/links-and-resources Enclosure hardware catalogue is ready to download The components supplier Emka has released its 2020/2021 catalogue, which can be downloaded from its Web site. The new edition covers“everything but the enclosure”, including locks, handles, hinges, gaskets, and accessories for cabinets and enclosures. There are products targeted at specific industries and applications, including mechanical engineering, telecommunications, railways, commercial vehicles, HVACR, clean/hygienic operations, and the building industry. https://www.emka.com/uk_en/services/download/industry Web site shows how motion specialist has reinvented itself Aerotech has launched a newWeb site and brand strategy that show how the specialist in precision motion control and nanometre-scale positioning systems has reinvented repeatedly itself over its 50- year history. A new design with intuitive guidance, allows visitors to reach topics with a few clicks. A new homepage makes it easier to access catalogues, application areas, manuals and references. The site also offers case studies from various sectors. Aerotech now has nearly 500 employees worldwide and has recently expanded is US headquarters by adding a new production facility. https://uk.aerotech.com Guide offers help on dealing with harmonics WEG has released a free downloadable guide to harmonics, offering advice on how to tackle the problem. The guide, Solutions for Harmonic Mitigation in Inverter Applications , offers suggestions on to mitigate harmonics in inverter applications, including using inverters with DC inductors or using network reactance in inverters with no DC link. The guide has been developed in accordance with I EEE 519-2014: IEEE Recommended Practice and Requirements for Harmonic Control in Electric Power Systems – the international standard that establishes goals for the design of electrical systems with both linear and non-linear loads. www.weg-automation.com Online catalogue makes it easier to create digital twins Festo has developed an online catalogue that offers a time-saving tool kit for designers and makes it easier to create asset administration shells, or digital twins, for their machines. The online catalogue integrates a product configurator, automatic 2D dimensioning for CAD components, and product data. These functions are checked by the Cadenas quality assurance department. The configurator simplifies product selection as well as providing intelligent 3D CAD models for more than 33,000 products in more than 150 common native and neutral CAD formats. The data is provided in a standard semantic format, laying the basis for creating digital twins. www.festo.com/gb Aluminium profile specialist opens online shop MiniTec UK has launched an easy-to-use online shop for its range of modular aluminium profile building systems, tools and accessories. The shop offers a library of products. Clicking on a product image leads to a dedicated page with technical data, including dimensions, application guidance, requirements for assembly, and prices. There are also images and line drawings. There is no need to set up an account. Customers can still contact MiniTec’s sales team for support. MiniTec’s Powerlock fastening method simplifies design for rapid assembly. https://shop.minitec.co.uk Global distributor announces site and manual for start-ups Digi-Key Electronics has launched a microsite and manual aimed at making start-ups’dreams become realities. The site offers resources, tools and knowledge that Digi-Key has acquired by working with thousands of start-ups every year. The manual, called the Start- ups Survival Guide , is the second edition leveraging Digi-Key's partnership with Start-ups Magazine. Both resources follow a 10-step journey, from ideas and prototyping through to production and support, and help to navigate towards success. An interactive tool called the Roadmap Dashboard, provides an tracking system to help start-ups complete the necessary steps. https://www.digikey.com/en/resources/startup-resources