Endress+Hauser applied for 230 patents last year. More than 240 innovators from across the Group gathered at the 2013 Innovators’ Meeting held in Switzerland, to introduce their developments and share their experiences with their colleagues. Four highly-successful patented solutions received awards, while three teams were also recognised for significantly improving business processes.
“Our capacity to innovate continues to grow. Since 2000, the number of patent applications has increased fourfold,” says Michael Ziesemer, the Group’s COO and deputy CEO. “The 230 filed patents in 2012 send a strong signal to our customers that we are growing with and for them.”
Global utility
With his innovation, Markus Wöhrle from Endress+Hauser Wetzer has made sure that Endress+Hauser devices can be used globally, regardless of the system and type of electrical power. Wöhrle developed a power supply that makes it possible to operate Endress+Hauser devices with 24 volt systems, as well as 100 volt systems, or with 230 volt networks. The power supply is built into the electronics of numerous Endress+Hauser devices that require electrical power, making them highly flexible.
Cleverly compact
Mass flow measurements based on the Coriolis principle determine how a liquid or gas affects the vibrations in the measurement tube. After Endress+Hauser designed its compact devices for larger nominal diameters, engineers uncovered a previously unknown measurement error. The R&D team of Gerhard Eckert and Christian Matt at Endress+Hauser Flowtec pinpointed the culprit: “At a specific tube diameter-to-length ratio, the Reynolds number has an impact,” explains Matt. This number specifies the flow state in the measurement tubes. Determining this dependency was the team’s first major accomplishment. The second effort involved determining the Reynolds number in the transmitter electronics without external input, and then compensating for the effect. All of the values needed to determine the Reynolds number were known, except for the viscosity of the material being measured. This value is now derived by measuring the force required to sustain the oscillation of the measurement tube. That makes it possible to design space-saving Coriolis flowmeters even for large diameters.
Plug-and-play
Capacitive level measurement is a robust technology that has been well-established for more than 50 years. Thanks to an innovation developed by Prof. Igor Getman, Armin Wernet and Kaj Uppenkamp from Endress+Hauser Maulburg, the time-consuming commissioning of the measuring probe has been eliminated. In the past, the capacitive sensor first required calibration in the tank or silo, which had to be emptied and then re-filled. The probe is now pre-calibrated at the factory so that it can deliver valid measurement results right out of the box. One of the prerequisites was the development of algorithms that calculate the calibration values among others. This development also broadened the utility of the device to make it suitable for a variety of conductive media. Another benefit is that build-up of media on the sensor, which can cause clogging, has considerably less impact on the measurement results.
A secure way to stay connected
Nearly a decade ago, Endress+Hauser Conducta brought about a paradigm shift in liquid analysis with the development of inductive signal and power transmission between sensor and transmitter. The team of Lothar Auerswald, Dr Torsten Pechstein and Ingrid Wunderlich, has now developed a user-friendly bayonet lock for sensor-to-transmitter plug connectors. The dual-purpose lock acts a sheath to protect the sensor electronics while firmly interlocking the plug connector and transmitter cable. Although technically sophisticated, the solution is cost-effective because it consists of only three plastic components.
Improved business processes
In addition to the innovators’ teams, Endress+Hauser recognised teams for outstanding improvements to the Group’s business processes. One of the recognised teams automated the manufacture of glass components used in pH sensors, leading to more efficient production and consistently high quality. Another group was active for several years in developing a cloud-based system – an online computer network – that provides access to device information. Using an Internet browser or a smartphone application, customers can access this data from anywhere at any time. The third team was recognised for optimising the order processing and design of technical special products by means of a Group-wide database that offers more transparency.
CEO Klaus Endress and COO Michael Ziesemer presented the award certificates and trophies.
For more information contact Hennie Blignaut, Endress+Hauser, +27 (0)11 262 8000, [email protected], www.za.endress.com
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