Technology
RS and Schneider Electric facilitate smart manufacturing
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2 years agoon
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Schneider Electric’s Lexium product portfolio, available at RS, makes it easy and economical for small- and medium-sized industrial organizations to deploy cobots as part of fully integrated smart manufacturing solutions designed to improve process quality, productivity, efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
FORT WORTH, Texas, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — RS, a global product and service solutions provider for industrial customers, offers Schneider Electric’s Lexium product portfolio, which combines innovative, tested and proven mechanical, electrical, and PLC logic devices — including cobots — with powerful, intuitive software to provide end-to-end integrated smart manufacturing solutions ideal for use in automotive, electronics, consumer packaged goods, metal, machinery, life science, logistics, and warehouse applications.
Smart manufacturing is an umbrella term for Industry 4.0 processes that utilize automation and digitization to improve things like quality, productivity, efficiency, safety, and sustainability, and these processes are fueled by interconnected, data-driven networks of industrial machines, including a steadily increasing number of robots.
While robotics certainly aren’t a new concept, today’s industrial robots are more accessible than ever due to greater market availability combined with a lower total cost of ownership driven by increased competition, technological advancements, economies of scale, improved energy efficiency, and labor cost savings. This has made industrial robots a more attractive and attainable solution for overcoming common market challenges, including skilled labor shortages, and meeting quality and sustainability goals than they were in years past.
Industrial robotics installations grew 31% between 2020 and 2021 and have continued to climb steadily since — with the 541,302 industrial robots deployed in 2023 falling just 2% shy of the record 552,946 units installed in 2022. Collaborative robots, or cobots, which are designed to safely share workspace with humans, are one of the fastest-growing segments of this market, accounting for 10.5% of industrial robots deployed in 2023 and reaching a global market value of $2.14 billion in 2024 with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31.6% from 2025–2030.
When coupled with advanced digitization and automation technologies, cobots can leverage the constant, real-time data-sharing capabilities of all the connected devices in their network to automate and optimize manufacturing processes, reduce or replace operator workloads, and improve process performance, quality, agility, consistency, efficiency, and safety. The Lexium product portfolio from Schneider Electric is especially designed to enable these types of fully integrated smart manufacturing systems.
Schneider Electric’s Lexium cobots, for instance, are designed to work alongside humans as part of fully integrated robotics systems that improve productivity and efficiency and reduce unplanned downtime. To that end, Lexium cobots offer a number of impactful advantages, including:
High performance. Lexium cobots exhibit high position accuracy and accurate joint servo control and reliably perform monotonous, tedious, repetitive, and physically challenging tasks.
Compact and lightweight aluminum form factors. Ranging from just 3–18kg (~6.5–40lbs), Lexium cobots require 30–40% less space than traditional robotic cells.
Ruggedness. Lexium cobots robustly withstand the hazards of challenging industrial environments with standard IP54 and optional IP68 sealing.
Safety. Lexium cobots are equipped with a series of sensors to avoid collisions with human workers and programmed to stop immediately in the event of unexpected contact, which enables harmless collaboration with humans and negates the need for safety barriers. They also have rounded edges, force limits, light weights, and optional visual protection and precise form control. Electrical safety certifications include UL1740. Functional safety certifications include ISO 13849-1, ANSI/RIA R15.06, CAN/CSA Z434, NFPA79, and CAN/CSA C22.2 No.14.
Easy setup. Lexium cobots support plug-and-play functionality and teach-in, free-drive, and graphical programming, which — unlike traditional industrial robots — makes setup accessible to operators with virtually any skill level rather than just those with advanced computer programming skills.
Easy integration. Lexium cobots utilize open software and hardware platforms, support External Short Messaging Entity (ESME) function blocks, vision systems, and digital twin capabilities to reduce commissioning time and ease implementation.
Dynamic connectivity. Lexium cobots support wireless connections with tablets, a wide range of fieldbuses, and iOS, Android, and Windows platforms.
Flexibility. Unlike traditional industrial robots, Lexium cobots are designed to support the needs of multiple projects. They can engage in both cooperative and collaborative work and are easy to move, reinstall, and reprogram.
Cost effectiveness. The inherent flexibility of Lexium cobots delivers a better return on investment (ROI) than traditional robots, which also require secondary products like safety barriers that add to the total cost of ownership.
Broad Application Suitability: Lexium cobots are especially well-suited for use in small- and medium-sized businesses within the automotive, electronics, and food and beverage manufacturing, metals, machining, life science, logistics, and warehouse industries. Ideal applications include pick-and-place, assembly, loading and unloading, dispensing, inspection, quality testing, machine tending, bin picking, packaging, palletizing, material handling, gluing, welding, painting, polishing, screw-driving, soldering.
Other Schneider Electric products that enable fully integrated Lexium robotics systems include high-performance multi-axis machines and dynamic servo drive technology designed to enable high-speed motion and precise positioning and software designed to unite system components into a suite of connected products. Examples include:
Modicon motion controllers, which integrate PLC, motion, and robotics control functionalities on a single hardware platform and are built using open automation standards and protocols that enable flexibility, scalability, and ease of integration with third-party equipment.
Lexium servo motors and drives, which are designed to satisfy a wide variety of high-performance, power, and ease of use demands in independent and synchronized motion control applications. This portfolio offers models rated for up to 24kW in addition to integrated servo drive models designed to be used as decentralized drives in machine building applications. When combined with a Modicon controller or PLC, Lexium Integrated servo drives make it easy to create complex and economical control architectures. They can also be equipped with an AC synchronous servo motor, a DC brushless motor, or a stepper motor.
EcoStruxure Machine Expert software, an open, IoT-enabled, and interoperable platform that allows users to develop, configure, and commission the various components of Lexium robotic systems in a single software environment; enables the flow of collaborative data between smart products, robots, controls, software, and services; and is designed for intuitive operation to reduce engineering time.
EcoStruxure Machine Expert Twin, a scalable digital twin software suite that allows users to create digital models of real machines and use those models to optimize their virtual design, virtual commissioning, and agile development and enable the parallel engineering of mechanical, electrical, and control work assignments, which can reduce time-to-market by up to 50% and decrease commissioning time by up to 60%.
To learn more about the RS selection of Schneider Electric products designed to enable end-to-end integrated smart manufacturing solutions — including Lexium cobots, servo motors, and drives, Modicon motion controllers, EcoStruxure Machine Expert software, and EcoStruxure Machine Expert Twin software — visit the links embedded here and check out Schneider Electric’s most recent RS Expert Advice article, “Industrial collaborative robots: The pillars of smart manufacturing.”
For assistance navigating Schneider Electric’s Lexium product portfolio and identifying, implementing, and maintaining the best solutions for your fully integrated smart manufacturing solutions, please contact your local RS representative at 1.866.433.5722 or reach out to the RS technical support team.
About RS
RS is a global product and service solutions provider for industrial customers, enabling them to operate efficiently and sustainably.
We operate in 36 markets, stock over 800,000 industrial and specialist products, and list an additional five million relevant for our industrial customers, sourced from over 2,500 suppliers. This extensive range supports our customers across the industrial lifecycle of designing, building, and maintaining equipment and operations. We enhance their experience through a tailored service model, leveraging our efficient physical, digital, and process infrastructure sustainably. We combine a technically led and digitally enabled approach with an exceptional team of experts; ultimately, it’s our people that make the difference.
Our purpose, making amazing happen for a better world, reflects our focus on delivering results for people, planet, and profit.
RS Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with stock ticker RS1 and in the year ended 31 March 2024 reported revenue of £2,942 million.
For more information, please visit https://www.rsgroup.com/ or connect with us on LinkedIn or X (Twitter).
About RS in the Americas
In the Americas region, RS stocks more than 250,000 industrial and electronic products from more than 700 trusted suppliers. These solutions cover categories extending from automation and control equipment to interconnect, passive, active, and electromechanical components and include more than 80,000 high-quality, competitively priced RS PRO products. For more information, please visit https://us.rs-online.com or connect with us via social media on Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and YouTube.
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Schneider Industrial Robotics PR.jpg
Editorial Contact & Media Inquiries:
Erica Goode, RS Director of Marketing – U.S. and Canada
Erica.Goode@rsgroup.com
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Advanced Process Solutions Elevates Clint Johnson to Vice President of Services and Operations
Published
12 minutes agoon
October 27, 2026By
Veteran Semiconductor Leader Brings More Than 20 Years of Operational Excellence, Strategic Growth, and Industry Leadership
DALLAS, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Advanced Process Solutions (APS), an industry leader in high precision and high purity manufacturing and process technology solutions, serving the semiconductor, aerospace, electronics, and industrial markets, today announced the promotion of Clint Johnson to Vice President of Services and Operations. As APS continues to expand its presence and capabilities within the semiconductor industry, Johnson’s leadership will play a critical role in advancing the company’s mission, strengthening customer partnerships, and delivering best-in-class service solutions.
“Clint has been an invaluable asset to APS since joining us as Director of Field Services earlier this year,” said Suhas Uppalapati, Chairman of APS. “He has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a relentless focus on operational performance. His dedication to customer success, workforce development, and continuous improvement quickly established him as a key contributor, and we are excited to see him continue to push APS forward in this expanded role.”
Johnson oversees APS’s service and operational functions, ensuring the organization maintains the highest standards of safety, regulatory compliance, quality, and customer satisfaction. His leadership approach is rooted in accountability, collaboration, and operational discipline, creating an environment where teams are empowered to excel while supporting the company’s broader strategic objectives.
“I am honored to step into the role of Vice President of Services and Operations and to work alongside such a talented team,” said Johnson. “The semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors are moving at an unprecedented pace. Together, we will continue focusing on safety, quality, and operational execution to ensure APS is uniquely positioned to help our global customers scale, optimize workflows, and meet today’s complex production demands.”
Prior to APS, Johnson spent more than 20 years in operational management at Air Liquide, a world leader in chemical manufacturing. He earned a degree in organizational leadership from East Texas A&M University.
About Advanced Process Solutions (APS)
Advanced Process Solutions (APS) is a leading provider of precision manufacturing, engineered process systems, and ultra-high-purity solutions serving the semiconductor, aerospace, electronics, and advanced industrial markets. With over 25 years of industry experience, APS specializes in chemical delivery and dispensing systems, specialty gas distribution, filtration and purification, precision fabrication, automation and controls, and turnkey process system integration.
Strategically located in the Dallas Metroplex, APS supports the rapidly expanding U.S. semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem, including Texas’s emerging “Silicon Prairie.” To support its continued growth and innovation, APS is expanding into a purpose-built, 100,000-square-foot, high-tech manufacturing facility in Van Alstyne, Texas, featuring a Center of Excellence, state-of-the-art research and development capabilities, and advanced cleanroom facilities. This investment will significantly enhance APS’s manufacturing capacity, engineering capabilities, and ability to deliver next-generation process solutions.
Combining engineering expertise, manufacturing excellence, and an unwavering commitment to quality and safety, APS partners with leading global manufacturers to deliver innovative, reliable, and scalable solutions that enhance operational efficiency and support mission-critical production environments.
For more information, visit www.APSNextGen.com.
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SOURCE Advanced Process Solutions
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From Grid Constraint to AI Growth: Hitachi Vantara and Duraflow Transform Data Center Energy Management for Greater AI and Compute Capacity
Published
12 minutes agoon
October 27, 2026By
Hitachi Vantara pilots one of the world’s largest Phase Change Material installations in its Netherlands data center, demonstrating how organizations can use up to 90% less electricity for thermal managementImplementation requires zero water for cooling, reducing the resources needed to support data center operationsThis generates more computing capacity from existing power infrastructure, rather than diverting power to cooling
ZALTBOMMEL, The Netherlands and SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates demand for computing power, data centers face a growing challenge: how to increase AI and compute capacity when access to additional electricity is increasingly constrained.
Hitachi Vantara, the data storage, infrastructure and hybrid cloud management subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd. (TSE: 6501), is demonstrating a new approach to address this challenge by showing how data centers can effectively use their power for AI and compute capacity rather than power and cooling. At its data center in the Netherlands, Hitachi Vantara has deployed one of the world’s largest operational Phase Change Material (PCM) installations, using technology developed by Dutch thermal energy company Duraflow.
For more information about Hitachi Vantara’s approach to AI, please visit: https://www.hitachivantara.com/solutions/ai-analytics
Depending on the application, PCM technology can help reduce electricity consumption related to thermal management by up to 90%, while requiring no water for cooling. By reducing the energy needed to manage power and cooling, a greater share of available electrical capacity can be used for computing – an increasingly important consideration as organizations deploy more energy-intensive AI workloads.
Tackling the energy challenge behind AI
Every watt consumed by AI ultimately becomes heat and managing that heat requires as much as 40% of a data center’s total energy needs. At the same time, as AI workloads continue to grow, the ability to convert available electricity into useful computing capacity will increasingly determine how quickly digital infrastructure can expand. This creates a growing challenge for data center operators seeking to increase computing capacity within constrained power infrastructure. In regions where grid congestion or limited access to additional electricity can constrain data center expansion, improving infrastructure efficiency can help organizations make more computing capacity available within their existing power connection.
Hitachi Vantara faced this challenge as demand for high-density computing and AI infrastructure increased. Rather than assuming that more computing required a greater amount of power, the company explored ways to make its existing electrical capacity work harder. The resulting deployment of Duraflow’s PCM technology provides a real-world proof point for this approach at an operational scale.
Real-world performance: 240 kW of cooling with low electrical consumption
The installed system provides a total cooling capacity of 240 kW across two 120 kW PCM units. According to operational monitoring data, the two units collectively consume just 5–8 kW of electricity, depending on operating conditions. For comparison, a conventional DX cooling system delivering the same 240 kW cooling capacity would require an estimated 60–80 kW of compressor power. These operational figures illustrate how PCM-based thermal management can significantly reduce the electricity required for cooling, freeing up more of the data center’s available power capacity for computing.
“This project started with a very practical challenge: how do we grow our computing capacity when access to additional electricity is limited,” said Simon Ninan, Senior Vice President of Business Strategy, Hitachi Vantara. “We realized that if we could dramatically reduce the amount of power required for thermal management, we could make more of our existing electrical capacity available for computing. By partnering with Duraflow, we are demonstrating how smarter energy management can become an important enabler of AI growth.”
The approach also supports Hitachi Vantara’s broader commitment to operating more efficiently and sustainably, including its goal of becoming carbon neutral in Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by FY2030.
Building efficiency across the infrastructure stack
The deployment is part of Hitachi Vantara’s broader focus on helping organizations get more value from their infrastructure while managing the growing energy demands of digital workloads.
That approach extends across the infrastructure stack. Hitachi Vantara’s Virtual Storage Platform One (VSP One) Block includes a 4:1 Data Reduction Guarantee and features Dynamic Carbon Reduction technology, which reduces energy consumption by switching CPUs into eco-mode during periods of low activity. Its always-on compression capability allows the system to switch from inline data reduction to post processing, which further reduces energy consumption and helps reduce a CO2 footprint by as much as 40%.
“Addressing the energy demands of AI isn’t about optimizing one part of the business in isolation,” said Courtney Hadden, Sustainability Director, Hitachi Digital. “It’s about working in concert across the organization and with innovative ecosystem partners to find efficiencies at every stage – from the products we build, how we bring them to market, and everything in between. The answer cannot simply be to consume more power. We need to become smarter about how we use the power we already have.”
Dutch innovation, demonstrated at operational scale
Developed in the Netherlands, Duraflow’s PCM technology absorbs thermal energy during periods of peak demand before releasing it in a controlled manner when demand decreases. Unlike conventional cooling approaches that rely continuously on electrically driven refrigeration to remove heat, PCM technology provides a way to manage and store thermal energy more efficiently. The system requires no water for cooling, helping data centers reduce their reliance on water resources while significantly lowering the electricity needed for thermal management.
“Developing technology is one thing; proving that it can operate at this scale in a live, mission-critical environment is another,” said Simon Loerakker, CEO, Duraflow. “Our collaboration with Hitachi Vantara has allowed us to demonstrate the potential of innovation at an unprecedented scale. Together, we are showing that sustainable innovation and the growth of AI infrastructure can go hand in hand.”
For more information on Hitachi Vantara’s AI-enabled infrastructure, please visit: https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/products/storage-platforms.
Additional Resources:
Blog: Raising the Stakes for Sustainable, AI-ready InfrastructureBlog: Five Habits That Cut IT Energy Waste, Without Spending MorePress Release: Hitachi Vantara Releases FY2025 Sustainability Report, Highlighting Leadership in Energy-Efficient Infrastructure for AI-Driven WorkloadsWebinar: Green Data: Sustainable Innovations in Data CentersPress Release: Hitachi Vantara Unveils New Virtual Storage Platform One Capabilities to Enable Stronger Cyber Resilience, Performance and Sustainability
About Duraflow
Duraflow develops advanced thermal energy management technology based on Phase Change Materials (PCM). Its independently developed technology enables organizations to significantly reduce energy consumption for thermal management, maximize the use of existing electrical infrastructure and support the sustainable growth of mission-critical digital environments.
About Hitachi Vantara
Hitachi Vantara is transforming the way data fuels innovation. A wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., Hitachi Vantara provides the data foundation the world’s leading innovators rely on. Through data storage, infrastructure systems, cloud management, and digital expertise, the company helps customers build the foundation for sustainable business growth. To learn more, visit www.hitachivantara.com.
About Hitachi, Ltd.
Through its Social Innovation Business (SIB) that brings together IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, Hitachi aims to be a global leader in continuously transforming social infrastructure through digital, contributing to a harmonized society where the environment, wellbeing, and economic growth are in balance. Hitachi operates worldwide across four sectors – Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility, and Connective Industries – as well as a Strategic SIB Business Unit focused on new growth areas. With Lumada at its core, Hitachi creates value by combining data, technology, and domain knowledge to solve customer and social challenges. Revenues for FY2025 (ended March 31, 2026) totaled 10,586.7 billion yen, with 606 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 290,000 employees worldwide. Visit us at www.hitachi.com.
HITACHI is a trademark or registered trademark of Hitachi, Ltd. All other trademarks, service marks, and company names are properties of their respective owners.
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SOURCE Hitachi Vantara
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Parks Associates: HDR Is Shaping the Future of Premium Video Entertainment
Published
12 minutes agoon
October 27, 2026By
New Parks Associates white paper, developed in partnership with InterDigital, examines how HDR is advancing viewing experiences across streaming, live sports, gaming, and mobile devices
PLANO, Texas, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — New research from Parks Associates shows high dynamic range (HDR) is becoming a foundational component of premium video entertainment, creating opportunities for television manufacturers, streaming services, and content creators to differentiate through picture quality. The research, High Dynamic Range and the Future of Video, developed in partnership with InterDigital, examines HDR’s expanding role across the entertainment ecosystem.
HDR enhances brightness and contrast and produces richer colors and more lifelike images for the video-viewing experience. The white paper explores how broader device support, growing content availability, and advances in production and distribution are moving HDR from a premium feature toward an expected part of high-quality viewing.
“HDR gives the entertainment industry a powerful way to make improvements in picture quality,” said Michael Goodman, Director, Entertainment Research, Parks Associates. “For manufacturers, it helps demonstrate the value of advanced displays. For streaming services and content owners, it provides an opportunity to deliver a more compelling experience and preserve the creative intent of their programming.”
“Consumers may not always know HDR by name, but they recognize the experience it enables: richer color, deeper contrast and a more lifelike picture,” said Lionel Oisel, Head of Video Labs, InterDigital. “As HDR expands across streaming, live sports, gaming and mobile, the opportunity is to make that premium experience consistent and efficient on every screen. Innovation in HDR, video compression and delivery will be fundamental to making that possible.”
The white paper identifies several developments shaping HDR’s next phase:
Smart TVs are the foundation. Smart TVs are the primary streaming video device in 62% of US internet households with a connected TV device.
Live sports and gaming expand HDR’s relevance. These experiences showcase HDR’s ability to reproduce bright highlights, detailed shadows, and realistic imagery, while pushing improvements in production and real-time processing.
Mobile viewing extends HDR beyond the television. Mobile phones account for 24% of weekly video consumption, with tablets contributing another 11%.
Technology advances improve delivery economics. AI-assisted image processing, cloud-based production, and next-generation codecs such as Versatile Video Coding (VVC) will simplify workflows and deliver HDR more efficiently.
The research also identifies challenges that require continued collaboration to ensure the successful expansion of HDR. Differences in HDR formats, device capabilities, and service implementations can produce inconsistent viewing experiences. Content providers must manage the cost and complexity of supporting multiple formats as audiences move from standard to HDR in their video viewing.
Parks Associates and InterDigital will highlight this research at Future of Video: Business of Streaming, an executive conference for the streaming and video industries on November 17-18 in Marina del Rey, California. Register here.
For more information, contact Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein.
About Parks Associates
Parks Associates helps companies identify new opportunities, refine strategy, and accelerate growth in connected technology markets through data-driven insights and industry expertise. With more than 40 years of experience, the firm delivers proprietary consumer and industry research, market forecasts, and strategic analysis that guide business decisions across personal, connected home, small business, and commercial technology ecosystems. Parks Associates supports clients in navigating evolving markets including AI, security, smart home, broadband, entertainment, energy, multifamily, smart buildings, and connected health.
The firm also fosters industry growth and collaboration by convening thousands of leaders each year through its flagship executive conferences, including CONNECTIONS™, Connected Health Summit, Smart Energy Summit, Smart Spaces, and Future of Video. Learn more at https://www.parksassociates.com.
Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein
Parks Associates
972.490.1113
425707@email4pr.com
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