Tag: Digital

Plain Concepts and Ardanis Unite to Expand Global Delivery Capabilities

Plain Concepts, a leading technology services company specialising in solving complex problems for businesses worldwide, has completed its second acquisition with the integration of Ardanis into its portfolio. Ardanis is an Ireland and UK based firm renowned for its expertise in AI, bespoke software development and digital solutions.

With this move, Plain Concepts strengthens its focus on cutting‑edge innovation and artificial intelligence as key drivers of business growth. The acquisition also brings Ardanis’ deep expertise in the regulated services sector, particularly in fintech and insurtech, propelling Plain Concepts to consolidate and expand its vertical capabilities in this space.

With its strategic plan to double in size year-on-year, Plain Concepts continues to pursue inorganic growth. By integrating an innovative business such as Ardanis, who share their values and technological DNA, Plain Concepts reinforces its market positioning and broadens its capacity to deliver innovative, high-value solutions on a global scale.

Quique Martínez, CEO of Plain Concepts, said:  

“The acquisition of Ardanis represents a key strategic step for Plain Concepts. We share their technological vision and their commitment to bespoke digital solutions. Beyond this, there is a strong cultural alignment between our companies – a shared passion for customer success, rigour in delivery, and caring for people as the foundation of our business. This cultural fit is, ultimately, the true engine behind this integration.”

The addition adds over 50 talented professionals to the Plain Concepts team and strengthens its footprint in the Irish, UK, Portugese, and other European markets. Supported by new offices and local teams in Dublin, London and Porto complementing its established presence in Spain, the company consolidates its multinational profile and strengthens its delivery capabilities across Southern Europe.

While Spain remains the company’s main market, Europe and the United States continue to grow as strategic regions for expansion.

Ivan Goor CEO at Ardanis, commented:

“I am thrilled that Ardanis has joined forces with Plain Concepts. This represents a significant milestone for Ardanis and for our growth ambitions.

With Plain Concepts, we are expanding and leveraging our combined technical expertise and strength in AI and technology delivery, amplifying our ability to meet the needs of our ever‑growing customer base across Ireland, the UK, and Europe.

Importantly, this partnership is a positive step forward not only for our clients, who will now benefit from an even broader range of skills, solutions, and expertise, but also for our people. It opens up exciting new opportunities for professional growth, collaboration, and innovation within our teams.

We have always succeeded – and will continue to succeed – where others have failed and by uniting with Plain Concepts we are building a technology leader positioned to deliver superlative AI and digital solutions across Europe and beyond.”  

From a technical perspective, this integration broadens Plain Concepts’ expertise in programming languages such as .Net, Angular, React, TypeScript, Python and Node JS, amongst others, significantly strengthening Plain Concepts’ ability to tackle increasingly complex international projects with a deep technical focus and marks an important milestone in Plain Concepts’ journey towards becoming a fully European organisation.

How Startups Can Manage Utility Expenses with Digital Bill Tools?

Any startup needs to figure out ways to lower expenses, and that can be very difficult. But if you know how to manage all of that correctly, results can be excellent in the long run. The most important thing is to harness ways of handling expenses appropriately, and using digital bill tools can be a very good idea here. Tools like a utility bill generator can make a major difference, along with a plethora of other similar solutions. Here’s how startups can manage utility expenses.

The reasons why utility expense management is very important

As a business, you want to make sure that you have a good cash flow. Avoiding major expenses and knowing how to cut costs where possible, that will make the difference between a surviving startup and one that doesn’t survive. Generally, there are various reasons why you want to rely on utility expense management.

For example, it allows you to focus more on cash flow control, and it will bring in more cost efficiency towards your business. Not only that, but it also brings investor confidence, since you show that you’re delivering customers an exceptional return on investment. And on top of that, you can embrace green practices and provide better sustainability goals, overall. Doing that is always exciting, and it will surely deliver a more consistent outcome, without any hassle.

Challenges that startup face when it comes to bill management

Let’s face it, bill management is a difficult topic for most startups. It’s not easy to handle, and it can definitely bring in a lot of potential issues. But, if it’s done correctly, utility bill management can indeed make a huge difference. 

  • A common challenge is that you have multiple service providers, so having a digital billing tool will make it easier to handle all the providers effectively.
  • There are also manual tracking errors, which can be problematic. If you use paper records and spreadsheets, it’s rather easy to miss payment or have duplicate entries. Startups will find it much easier to handle this stuff with digital billing tools.
  • Late payments are a problem and if you have lean teams, you can end up with missing due dates. That brings penalties and wasted money, so it’s certainly a thing you want to avoid as much as possible.
  • Scaling complexity becomes an issue. If a startup grows, then you have to manage remote teams, multiple locations and other things, which could end up becoming a major issue in the long run. 
  • Also, tariffs and a lack of clarity will end up making changes hard to understand. Tools like a utility bill generator or digital tools like that can help make the process much easier to manage.

The main reasons why startups need digital bill tools

Every good startup knows that digitalization can help enhance growth. It can start with using a utility bill generator to create digital copies of utility bills. That makes it easier to track utility expenses, and it will also prevent situations where you are losing any of the bills. Then, you can go with digitalization for pretty much any other type of utility solution that you are looking for. 

Additionally, digital bill tools can help with centralized bill management, not to mention they can automate payment scheduling. Having more control over how you manage and handle bills is crucial, and it’s always going to make the process better and more consistent in the long term. 

Then, there are other things like having multi-location support when you start scaling your business. Having an integration with accounting systems is just as important, and it will help better streamline your business in the long term. All of these things matter quite a lot, and you will find them to convey better results every single time.

Special features you can get in digital bill tools

What’s very important to keep in mind with digital bill tools is the fact that you get plenty of customizability. For example, you have automated invoice capture, along with customizable dashboards. You also have usage analytics, multi-channel bill delivery, secure cloud storage, budget alerts or team collaboration. 

Of course, it always depends on the digital tools that you use for billing. Features might vary, but having so many different options does help, and it proves you have an excellent result, along with a really good ROI, which does enhance things more than you might expect.

We should also keep in mind the fact that normally, these digital bill tools need pricing adjustments for startups. Many of them are freemium, where you have access to basic features for free, and then you have to pay for them. After that, you have subscription-based systems, where you have an annual or monthly fee that you need to pay.

Of course, there’s also the option to pay per invoice, depending on the tool. It’s not a bad idea, but having a subscription is usually better, especially in the long term. Or, in some cases, you will find tiered packages. Those also tend to be a good idea, mainly because they bring you more consistency, ease of use and better value, overall. You just pay for the tier that you are the most comfortable with, and that’s extremely useful!

 When should you start using digital billing tools as a startup?

Digitalization should happen in the beginning, for a lot of reasons. One of them is that it allows you to save money, and as a startup, that’s crucial. You also want to have scalability and transparency, which this type of system will always provide. Additionally, you have access to a more eco-friendly billing approach, which does help more than expected.

And then, there’s also the fact that you can have improvements in regards to financial planning. Of course, there is a learning curve, you rely on the internet and costs will vary based on the type of tools you want to use. However, for the most part, you get consistency, and you’re empowered by the client’s trust. That alone is a game changing approach for your business.

Tips to help you adopt digital billing tools

  • Perform an audit for the current process and then identify any type of efficiency problems that you have with bill management
  • Always make sure that you set goals like cost reduction, better transparency, time savings and so on
  • Additionally, you want to select the right digital billing platform that fits your requirements
  • Training your teams about how they can use the new platform will help a lot, since it prevents any errors that might arise
  • On top of that, you want to automate payments, so it’s easier for clients to perform any payments without a hassle
  • Track the analytics and review everything, if there are issues it will be easier to solve those problems

All in all, it’s clear that startups should always go the digital route, whenever they can. It’s not a walk in the park, but once you start implementing those solutions, things will be much easier to tackle. That’s because digitalization streamlines processes, it speeds things up, and it will bring you a more consistent result. That being said, you still need to experiment with processes, track analytics, and then use those learnings to improve!

ITU report details USD 2.6-2.8 trillion cost to connect everyone meaningfully by 2030

Achieving universal, meaningful Internet connectivity by 2030 could require an investment of USD 2.6 trillion to USD 2.8 trillion at current prices, according to the Connecting Humanity Action Blueprint released today by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – the UN agency for digital technologies – and the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The report outlines the challenges, projected costs, and collaborative strategies needed to make sure everyone, everywhere, can use the Internet, including the estimated one-third of humanity currently offline.

The largest investment component — USD 1.5 trillion to USD 1.7 trillion — is required for hard infrastructure, alongside substantial funding for human and institutional capacity, mainly in developing countries.

“Digital connectivity means creating opportunities for education, jobs, and access to essential services that can transform lives and communities,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “While significant resources are needed to meaningfully connect everyone, these are investments that will contribute to a prosperous digital future for all.”

The challenge of connecting billions

ITU estimates that 2.6 billion people are still excluded from the digital world, with connectivity closely linked to levels of socio-economic development. In 2024, an estimated 93 per cent of the population in high-income countries was using the Internet, compared to just 27 per cent in low-income countries.

The new report on achieving universal meaningful connectivity builds on ITU’s original 2020 Connecting Humanity study, published under the direction of the G20 during the presidency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, by identifying critical gaps with the anticipated costs for addressing them.

“The world needs between USD 2.6 trillion and USD 2.8 trillion to connect humanity by 2030. This figure is nearly five times higher than the last assessment conducted in 2020 in partnership with ITU during the Saudi chairmanship of the G20,” said H.E. Eng. Haytham AlOhali, Acting Governor of CST. “Such a dramatic increase underscores the urgency for international cooperation, collective investment, and the sharing of expertise if we are to achieve the vision of universal, meaningful connectivity for all.”

Key costs highlighted in the report include:

  1. Digital infrastructure – USD 1.5 trillion to USD 1.7 trillion: Expanding broadband networks to underserved populations represents the single largest cost. The report estimates the costs of deploying fibre networks in and around urban areas, 4G fixed wireless in rural regions, and satellites in the most remote locations.
  2. Affordability – USD 983 billion: Reducing the cost of smartphones and broadband services — both fixed and mobile — is vital so that individuals and households worldwide, particularly in lower-income regions, can afford to connect and stay online.
  3. Digital skills – USD 152 billion: Connectivity alone is not enough — people must have the skills to use the Internet effectively. Investments to fund large-scale digital literacy initiatives can empower individuals to access online education, secure better jobs, and actively participate in a digitally-driven society.
  4. Policy and regulation – USD 600 million: Modernizing regulations and creating predictable policy environments worldwide are essential to unlock efficiencies and promote innovation. While this represents the smallest cost component, it holds back digital transformation and sustains the other gaps. The impact of closing it would be massive.

Public-private collaboration needed

As the Connecting Humanity Action Blueprint highlights, global progress on connectivity has been uneven, with the world’s 46 least-developed countries lagging significantly due to financing barriers, limited technical expertise, and unreliable infrastructure.

To address these challenges, ITU calls for innovative business approaches and renewed collaboration between governments, the tech industry, development finance institutions, and civil society, to close current divides and prevent future ones, particularly in fields like artificial intelligence (AI).

The report concludes with recommendations to accelerate digital inclusion worldwide, including using schools as gateways to Internet access, investing in energy infrastructure in Africa, and enhancing data collection at the sub-national level.

 

  • Read the full report here.
  • Learn more about the report project here and access the Executive Summary here.

 

Nokia 5G solution for next-gen digital railway operations supporting FRMCS

Nokia today announced its new 5G radio solution, designed to deliver high-capacity, high-performance and resilient real-time communications to rail operators worldwide, setting the foundation for the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS). As a cornerstone for smarter, safer and more efficient rail networks, the solution supports greater digitalization and automation, driving benefits for passengers, businesses and the environment. The launch features the industry’s first commercial 5G radio for the 1900 MHz (n101) band, along with Nokia’s Core Enterprise Solution for Railways, purpose-built to accelerate the sector’s digital transformation.

In the coming decade, FRMCS will upgrade the current 2G Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway (GSM-R) and become the next-generation global standard designed for all railways. Its 5G-based successor, with built-in security and high reliability, enables enhanced automation, new digital applications, improved passenger services, and secure cross-border communication.

Nokia is a global leader in railway communications with decades of experience in GSM-R deployments across more than 20 countries. The company has been at the forefront of FRMCS development, collaborating with rail operators, governments, industry, and standardization bodies to help shape the standard and enable its global deployment.

“The drive toward digitalization demands the kind of high-speed connectivity and data capabilities that legacy systems simply can’t provide, creating an urgent need for rail operators worldwide to modernize,” said Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia. “Our commercial 5G solution, backed by decades of proven rail industry expertise, reflects our commitment to laying the foundation for the next generation of railway operations. We offer a future-proof, flexible technology platform that supports a smooth transition to FRMCS while improving operational efficiency, safety and the overall passenger experience.”

Nokia’s new 5G radio is built for mission-critical communications and supports strategic coexistence, enabling railways to migrate to 5G alongside legacy systems like GSM-R with no disruption. In addition, its fully optimized, cloud-native 5G SA core supports the full suite of FRMCS functionalities for the transport stratum. Modular, flexible and scalable, the solution enables both regional and nationwide deployments. It will also be tested under the EU-funded FP2-MORANE-2 project, which builds on earlier FRMCS initiatives to advance the digitalization of rail operations across Europe.

The shift to a 5G solution introduces powerful capabilities that align perfectly with the operational needs of modern railways, particularly in border crossing scenarios. Here are some of the main benefits for rail operators and passengers:

  • Automated train operations: Enabling real-time control and monitoring of trains to improve safety and efficiency and decreasing energy consumption and emissions.
  • Passenger information systems: Providing real-time updates and information to passengers for a better travel experience.
  • Mission-critical voice communication: Integrating voice, video and data services in a single, standardized platform to enhance operations and infrastructure management.
  • Smart rail maintenance: Utilizing predictive maintenance and real-time monitoring to reduce downtime and maintenance costs.

Nokia is committed to driving the digital transformation of the railway sector through advanced, future-ready technologies. The new solution includes a commercial 5G radio for the 1900 MHz band from its industry-leading AirScale portfolio, paired with its railway-optimized Core Enterprise Solution. It is complemented by the company’s extensive portfolio of mission-critical IP, optical and data center networking products. Nokia’s solutions are also compliant with the highest standards and feature a best-in-class cybersecurity framework.

Multimedia, technical information and related news

Web Page: FRMCS

Web Page: FRMCS 5G RAN

Product Page: AirScale Radio Access

Product Page: Core Enterprise Solution for Railways

Product Page: Rail OT cloud

Product Page: Mission-critical railway backbone network

How digital twin technology integrated with (BIM) can transform building lifecycle management

Relocatable modular buildings (RMBs) represent a sustainable construction method where buildings are assembled and transported easily using prefabricated modules. However, challenges in management and logistics hinder their wider adoption. In a new study, researchers developed an innovative digital twin facility management system tailored specifically for RMBs.

This advanced framework integrates cutting-edge technologies to enhance management efficiency throughout the building lifecycle, establishing a foundation for wider digital twin integration in construction.

Relocatable modular buildings (RMBs) represent an innovative and growing solution for flexible and sustainable construction. These buildings can be quickly assembled from prefabricated “modules” and easily transported, minimizing costs and environmental impact while providing safer and cleaner construction environments. However, the management of assets and modular units for reuse and relocation across multiple lifecycles remains a major challenge in RMB projects.

To address this, a research team led by Associate Professor Yonghan Ahn from the School of Architecture & Architectural Engineering at Hanyang University ERICA in South Korea, developed a new digital twin (DT)-based framework for facility management of RMB projects. “Digital twin technology is a groundbreaking tool that offers a digital replica of physical assets, integrating real-time data, predictive analysis, and decision-making abilities,” explains Prof. Ahn. “Although digital twins are gaining popularity in other fields, their use in modular construction remains limited. We introduce a novel digital twin-enabled facility management system (DT-FMS) tailored specifically for RMBs.” The team also included contributions from Dr. Dennis Nguyen from Hanyang University. Their study was made available online on May 05, 2025, and published in Volume 176 of the journal Automation in Construction in August 01, 2025.

The new DT-FMS integrates building information modeling (BIM), internet of things (IoT), and geographic information systems (GIS) to create a detailed virtual model of RMBs. This model supports real-time monitoring, performance analysis, and logistics simulations across the building’s lifecycle. BIM offers robust 3D modelling and comprehensive building information. IoT provides real-time sensor data. GIS contributes critical geographic data, supporting effective logistics of modular units and location-based decision making.

This framework is structured across three interconnected layers: physical, digital, and service. The physical layer forms the foundation for real-time tracking and communication among different physical components such as resources, modular units, and people, including stakeholders, engineers, and workers. The digital layer includes modeling tools, data integration, and analytics. Finally, the service layer allows users to monitor, control, and interact with the DT framework, supporting effective decision making throughout the building lifecycle. 

To demonstrate the practical application of the framework, the researchers conducted a case study on a relocatable modular school system in South Korea. DT-FMS enhanced the decision making for module distribution and reuse, resulting in improved management efficiency. 

“Our research highlights the important role of digital twins in promoting a circular economy by enabling the reuse, reconfiguration, and optimal relocation of modular units, thereby minimizing waste and maximizing value throughout repeating project cycles,” remarks Dr. Nguyen.

Reference

Title of original paper: Digital twin framework to enhance facility management for relocatable modular buildings

Journal: Automation in Construction

DOI:  10.1016/j.autcon.2025.106249

myFirst Camera 3 16MP Full HD Kids Digital Camera Review

The MyFirst Camera 3 16MP Full HD Kids Digital Camera is a fun simple to use kids camera to get them started in photography in their early years.

Presented again in a nice package this has all you need inside which is a lanyard strap a cover for the camera itself and includes a micro sd card which is a rare thing these days.

The cover is perfect to protect the camera at home or if on the go out with your child and will protect it if dropped also it does not interfere with the use of the camera.

The camera itself is small and robust with a nice texture to it with a flash, navigation buttons a shooter button and button to toggle between selfies and normal photos. The buttons are all tactile and work well and allow you to navigate through the controls which we go through in the full video review below.

There is a dual lens macro lens and selfie lens on board this camera and you can also take videos with this camera making it a fun gadget for younger kids, the pictures and videos are decent and can be transferred to your laptop via micro sd card and there you can see them in full format and print or share them.

Overall this is an excellent camera for kids to get started and learn photography, see the video for more below.

Features that Your Kids Will Love

  • Dual Lens
  • Macro Lens
  • Selfie Lens
  • Video Recording
  • HD Photos & Video
  • 16MP Camera
  • Photo Templates
  • Memory Up to 32GB

New Macro Lens

Your child can now take close up pics with the new macro lens in our camera! Perfect for those close-ups of lettuce and ladybugs.

Use the lens selector button to switch to a macro lens and see the little things in life. We’ve removed the bars to your child’s photographic creativity!

Quality Photos

With our 16MP camera, you’re assured of quality, high pixel images from your child’s perspective. Your child will take some fantastic HD photos and videos! Share the memories and see the beauty in your child’s eyes.

Selfie Lens

We know how difficult it is to take selfies without dropping your camera. So we’ve added a selfie lens above the screen. With a push of our lens selector button, take selfies with ease. Selfies made easy with myFirst Camera 3.

Durable and Powerful

We’re also throwing in a shockproof pouch. The pouch is made of high tensile strength polymers which resist drops, knocks, and bumps. With 1000mAh battery and supporting up to 32GB microSD card, you can be sure you and your child take plenty of photos and videos, anytime, anywhere! Sweet!

Preloaded Frames

Like its predecessors, our Camera 3 comes with preloaded frames to give your child insta-like photos! Your kid will be spoilt for choice when it comes to myFirst!

Box Contains:

  • MyFirst Camera 3
  • Adjustable Neck Lanyard
  • Designated Pouch (Detachable)
  • Decorative Stickers – 2 Stickers
  • Micro USB Charging Cable
  • Memory Card (Included)
  • User Manual

BUY

Other kids tech reviews 

Video Review

IFA 2025 goes digital with new App #IFA2025

IFA Berlin, the world’s largest event for home and consumer tech, presents the new IFA App 2025 – the digital assistant for your IFA visit. The app bundles all information about the event and offers practical functions to help visitors plan their stay, find their way around and network.

Everything in one app – as individual as a visit to IFA

With the new IFA App, visitors have an overview of the entire exhibition halls at all times – from exhibitors and stages to programme highlights. With its flexible features, the app can be customised to suit personal interests and needs. This makes every visit as unique as the IFA itself.

‘Our goal is to offer all visitors an optimal experience at the IFA. The IFA App is the key to this – for trade visitors, industry experts and technology enthusiasts alike,’ says Leif Lindner, CEO, IFA Management GmbH.

Individual planning & live updates

With the personal agenda, appointments, presentations and events can easily be saved and reminders set up. The favourites function allows users to mark interesting programme items at any time, and live updates ensure that everyone arrives at their destination on time, even in the event of last-minute changes.

Blue dot navigation: Never get lost again

Navigating through the exhibition halls is easy with the integrated blue dot navigation. The app guides through the exhibition grounds with pinpoint accuracy, showing your location and the fastest route to the next product presentation, show area or scheduled meeting.

Smart networking tools for trade visitors

Exclusively for registered trade visitors, the app offers intelligent networking functions: find contacts, send messages, arrange and manage meetings – all directly in the app. This allows business relationships to be established and expanded in a targeted manner.

Quickly set up – immediately ready to go

The IFA App is now available in the Apple App Store, on Google Play Store and as a WebApp. All that is needed to register is a registered email address and personal badge ID.

Download the IFA App 2025 now: 

Apple App Store: Link
Google Play Store: Link
WebApp: Link

Esri Ireland and Murphy Geospatial to accelerate rollout of vital infrastructure projects

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has announced a new partnership with surveying and data acquisition specialist, Murphy Geospatial (a Woolpert Company).

This strategic collaboration will combine advanced location intelligence and geospatial data capabilities to accelerate the delivery of large-scale infrastructure, urban planning, and environmental projects across the island of Ireland.

The announcement comes as the Government recently pledged an overall investment of more than €100 billion in Ireland’s infrastructure over the next five years as part of the National Development Plan (NDP).

As vital infrastructure projects grow ever more complex, organisations increasingly require data that is highly accurate and detailed. The demand for real-time mapping capabilities, spatial analytics, 3D modelling, building information modelling (BIM) integration and digital twin representation is rising across sectors such as architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, utilities, and energy.

This new partnership will combine Esri’s cutting-edge ArcGIS System with real-time data acquisition and integration services from Murphy Geospatial, driving actionable insights across the entire lifecycle of critical infrastructure projects. Both public and private sector organisations will benefit from powerful digital mapping and precise data capture, enabling faster, more informed decision-making. Streamlined processes and increased automation will transform raw data into interactive maps and valuable analytics, supporting project implementation and enhancing the delivery of essential services.

Esri Ireland and Murphy Geospatial customers will benefit from enhanced data acquisition and analysis capabilities, particularly in field-collected data and on large-scale data projects. Murphy Geospatial deploys aerial, vehicle-mounted, and terrestrial scanners to gather data, ensuring access to even hard-to-reach locations. All data is subjected to rigorous quality control and assurance, reducing the risk of data loss or misinterpretation.

More efficient workflows will drive productivity and collaboration for organisations, while easing the burden on internal teams. Additionally, customers will gain access to increased resources from both Murphy Geospatial and Esri Ireland, supporting project success at every stage.

Paul Synnott, Managing Director of Esri Ireland, commented:
“The Government’s recent funding boost for the NDP marks the largest infrastructure investment in Irish history. Now, more than ever, our customers will rely on high-quality, accurate, and precise data to help them better understand the influence of location, place, and geography on their decisions. Our partnership with the team at Murphy Geospatial enables us to bring their market-leading data acquisition expertise directly to our customers. It’s a partnership that simply makes sense, combining the power of Esri’s ArcGIS system with Murphy Geospatial’s advanced data acquisition solutions to deliver value far greater than the sum of its parts.”

Niall Murphy, CEO of Murphy Geospatial, added:
“Data accuracy demands are rising, and customers need confidence in their data in order to drive today’s increasingly complex projects. Data and GIS systems often live in silos, but this partnership will combine these advanced capabilities to deliver solutions to key industry challenges. From building bridges and developing transport lines to implementing flood relief measures, the potential of geospatial data is huge, and we look forward to leveraging location intelligence to drive further actionable insights. This partnership will accelerate project successes, add increased value, and fuel growth for both customer bases.”

Proven HBK Force Measurement Technology goes digital with IO-Link

Global leader in precision measurement solutions, Hottinger Brüel & Kjær (HBK) is proud to introduce digital connectivity to its trusted U2B and C2 force transducers, now available with an IO-Link interface.

This enhancement makes it easier than ever to integrate tensile and compressive force measurements directly into control systems.

For years, the U2B (tensile and compressive) and C2 (compressive) series have been essential tools in production, monitoring, and testing environments worldwide. With a nominal force range from 500 N to 200 kN, these sensors are known for their reliability and precision.

Now, in addition to analogue outputs (4 – 20 mA and 0 – 10 V), users can opt for a digital output via IO-Link – which ensures smarter data handling and improved system integration.

The IO-Link Integration provides engineers with many benefits:

  • Sensor Health Monitoring: Real-time diagnostics compare applied forces and temperature conditions against sensor limits. If thresholds are exceeded, warnings are issued to help prevent damage.
  • Enhanced Accuracy: Improved measurement precision and integrated temperature sensing.
  • Universal Compatibility: IO-Link is standardised and works seamlessly with all major fieldbus systems.
  • Simplified Integration: HBK provides function blocks to streamline sensor setup within control systems.

HBK also offers IO-Link-enabled sensors for torque and weight, expanding the possibilities for smart, connected measurement solutions.

More information is available on the company’s website: https://www.hbkworld.com/en/products/transducers/force/c2
and https://www.hbkworld.com/en/products/transducers/force/u2b