Connection and direction

Improved connectivity and conformance to EU directives are the two themes predicted by Peter Curtis of Phoenix Contact UK. Responsible for seminars to be given on both subjects, Mr Curtis particularly expects to see advances in Ethernet connectivity. "This arises from an interest from management in linking down to device level in order to better understand what is happening on the shop floor. At the same time, the shop floor wants better diagnostics and fault location to reduce and hopefully eliminate expensive downtime that nobody can afford. Equipment on the shop floor is being given more and more intelligence, and companies want to bridge the gap to that intelligence as seamlessly as possible." The other subject he considered to be of urgent interest for UK engineers is ensuring conformance to the latest European Union directives. "Previous directives have done much to focus the mind." He mentioned the Machinery Directive and safety legislation generally, which he considered had had, "A massive effect on thinking." On the EMC Directive, despite the fact that almost nobody has been prosecuted for its non-observance, he praised it because it had in his opinion led to better design. He cited the addition of external filters to drives to reduce harmonics, followed by incorporation of internal filters and improved designs to achieve similar effects without filters. The two challenges now, however, are to meet the requirements of the ATEX Directive about products to be used in potentially explosive atmospheres and the 'proposed' WEEE Directive. The power of the ATEX Directive, which comes into force on July 1st this year is that non-conformance leaves manufacturers and suppliers open to litigation in the event of an accident. In the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, producers will be responsible for taking back and recycling electrical and electronic equipment. This is intended to provide incentives to design electrical and electronic equipment in an environmentally more efficient way, which takes waste management aspects fully into account. Consumers will be able to return their equipment free of charge. In order to prevent the generation of hazardous waste, the Directive requires the replacement of various heavy metals and brominated flame retardants in new electrical and electronic equipment from January 1st 2008 onwards. Electrical and electronic equipment has been identified as one of the fastest growing waste streams in the EU comprising 4% of all municipal waste today, increasing by 16 to 28% every five years - three times as fast as the growth of average municipal waste. Furthermore, it is one of the largest known sources of heavy metals and organic pollutants in municipal waste. Mr Curtis said there is currently a "Big gap in knowledge" about both ATEX and WEEE and "People need to be much more aware". Aware companies, on the other hand, have already adopted the changed standards and testing procedures required by ATEX, and are sourcing PCBs made with lead free solder and other WEEE friendly components suitable for easier and less expensive recycling. Pointers Enhanced Ethernet connectivity is expected to improve management and shop floor diagnostics of problems, reducing downtime Attention needs to be paid to latest European Union Directives, both to help protect against possible litigation and in the interests of better design Phoenix Contact UK