Finding Gems @ NTU Career Fair 2017

From melisasundari | February 28, 2017

Our First Career Fair

This is the first time ever that Phoenix Contact has participated in a career fair as part of Human Resource’s (HR) recruitment campaign. We were pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming crowd and would like to share this exciting and fruitful experience with you.

The NTU Career Fair 2017 was a large scale event catering to the almost 8,000 graduating students. The fair spanned 3 days (9^th, 14^th and 17^th of February), with each day catering to different faculties. Phoenix Contact participated in the Manufacturing & Engineering Industry category, together with organisations from various industries, such as Public Service, healthcare, banking, etc. Throughout the fair, hundreds, if not thousands, of current and graduating students massed the booths, hoping for a chance for both full time employment and internship opportunity.

The enthusiasm of the visitors amazed us; undergraduate and graduate students alike. Even the first year undergraduates joined in the throng passionately looking for internship opportunity for their summer break this year. In our chats with some of these students, they shared that they were eager to learn new things so that they will be equipped and ready for their future employment.

Our Mission

One of our missions here at Phoenix Contact is “To create progress with innovative and inspiring solutions”. Therefore, we need to start training the young and energetic talent. Those who are willing to take up the challenge to drive the success of the company to another level.

Phoenix Contact Staff engaging graduates

Engaging the graduates

Despite being overwhelmed, we enjoyed the time spent connecting with these young gems and understanding their different perspectives of employment. Till next time!

If you are interested to find out more about a career with us, check this link out.

Career@PhoenixContact

HR Team

Eliminate Extra Terminal Blocks Using Phoenix Contact’s PLC Relay

From William Tan | February 20, 2017

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Pluggable Compact PLC Relay

Is space and cost a concern for you when designing-in relays for automation?

Phoenix Contact’s PLC Relay eliminates the need for extra terminal blocks, helping you reduce both space and cost. Let us see how.

PLC Relay Actuator Series

Relay-Actuator Setup

In applications where only one normally-open(N/O) contact function is required, you can use Phoenix Contact’s PLC to Actuator output relays to interface with actuators, such as motors, contactors or solenoid valves.

You can connect all actuator connections, including the load return line, directly to the relay. Hence, eliminating the need for additional output terminal blocks to transfer power.

The benefit is daisy-chaining or looping the wiring for the power will not be necessary. This is illustrated in the wiring layout below.

Relay-Actuator Interface

Relay-Actuator Schematic

PLC Relay Sensor Series

Relay-Sensor Setup

Likewise, Phoenix Contact’s PLC to Sensor input relays can be used to interface with sensors, such as proximity switches, limit switches or auxiliary contacts, where only one normally-open(N/O) contact function is required.

Relay-Sensor Interface

Relay-Sensor Schematic

Similar to the Actuator Series, you can also connect all sensor connections, including the supply voltage for the sensors/switches.

As you can see, available with screw, spring or push-in field terminals, Phoenix Contact’s relays will:

Open up Space on the DIN rail
Reduce Labor and components costs
Eliminate an extra point of failure

Ultimately, you can save approximately 80 Pecent on your DIN rail and approximately 60 percent less time on installation.
To find out more, click here

Marine-Certified TPM3000 – Built for the High Seas

From Jiang | February 8, 2017

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Marine-certified HMI

Marine-certified

Salt and water are the natural enemies of most man-made product and in any marine environment, you will find these in abundance. Saltwater will corrode all manners of metal over time. Therefore, to qualify for marine certification, any product has to pass stringent test.

Consequently, for any insurance to be arranged or licenses to be issued, it is necessary for ships and off-shore platforms to be surveyed and certified to international and/or national regulations by one of the marine classification boards.

To fulfill such exacting requirements, Phoenix Contact offers the TPM 3000 series Touch Panels. Designed for maritime applications, these Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) were specially tested and approved for shipbuilding.

Available in a range of sizes (4.3″, 5.7″, 7″, 10.4″, 12.1″ and 15″), each model features two buttons for dimming the display brightness, an external horn, and on the rear, a floating output for connecting external signal generators.

TPM 3000 Series Touch Panel

Summary of Benefits

Tested quality: certified according to GL, LR, BV, DNV, ABS, and EN 60945
Dimmable backlight
Acoustic warning from integrated buzzer
Flexible communication, even with third-party systems
Floating output for connecting external signal generators.
Readable in direct sunlight, thanks to GFG touch technology with anti-reflection coating

With wide choices of display sizes and range of functions, the TPM 3000 series will provide you with user-friendly and reliable operation, monitoring and alerting while at sea. The robust TPM 3000 series are designed for demanding applications on board ships.
>> Read more about the TPM 3000

Signal Conditioning – Why we need to isolate, convert, filter and amplify control signal

From Gary Lim | January 26, 2017

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When dealing with Measurement and Control signals, Signal Conditioners are crucial for the healthy operation of the whole system. Let’s find out why:

Electrical Isolation – The most important task of a signal conditioner is the electrical isolation of signals. A reliable Signal Conditioner offers consistent isolation of input, output, and supply. As such, ground current loops can be prevented in the event of potential differences, which would otherwise lead to a distortion of the measured process values.
MINI Analog Pro Isolating Signals

Convert – An advantage of signal conversion is the conversion of sensor signals into a signal that can be read by the controller, such as PT100 in 4…20 mA. In addition, failure-prone signals such as 0 – 10 V, for example, can be converted into non-prone current signals.
MINI Analog Pro converting signals

Amplify – Signals always need to be amplified in the event that cables are long or if high loads are to be driven. It is here where the signal conditioners must provide a high output power at a low input power.
MINI Analog Pro amplifying signals
Filter – In industrial environments, interference often occurs as a result of high-frequency signals. The input filters of the signal conditioners therefore reliably filter out such interference signals.

Getting cold feet? No fear, Phoenix Contact has the all in 1 solution to save the day. To find out more, click here:

Ethernet HART Multiplexer – Transmit Process Data Via Ethernet

From | January 25, 2017

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Process plant with engineers Did you know that in the Process Industry, there are more than 40 million devices that are running on the HART Protocol and more than 75% of them are HART-enabled. However, up to 90% of these HART-enabled device are being under-utilized, used only to read the 4…20mA signal.

In the current trend of IIOT, there is a growing need for diagnostic data to be analyzed in order to reduce operating cost and increase system availability. The time from obtaining the diagnostic data to analyzing and determining the next course of action has to be almost instant.

In the past, if access to the HART data was needed, users typically installed an RS485 HART multiplexer connected to a PC. Whenever data from a particular field device is needed to be read, it can take a long time depending on the number of field devices connected to the RS485 HART multiplexer. This is because RS485 HART multiplexer works on a “master and slaves” principle.

Ethernet HART Multiplexer

HART Multiplexer

Instead of using the RS485 HART multiplexer, Phoenix Contact introduced the Ethernet-based HART multiplexer. Our Ethernet HART multiplexer allows the user to easily parameterize and monitor field devices on the Ethernet network. The modular Ethernet HART multiplexer accesses other HART-enabled field devices using Ethernet-based fieldbuses such as PROFINET, Modbus/TCP, and HART IP.

Each device is an individual HART master which can be connected to higher-level, fast Ethernet network infrastructures. Up to 40 HART devices can be connected to existing configuration tools such as PACTware, Simatic PDM, Honeywell FDM, HART OPC server or HART server. End users therefore save time and costs since configuration and calibration, e.g. partial stroke test, process monitoring or current loop tests, are controlled via Ethernet and everything can be performed during active operation.

To find out more about Phoenix Contact’s HART Multiplexer, click here.

Reduce the Cost of Manufacturing A Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) with THR technology

From Ivan Ang | January 19, 2017

‘Pick and Place’ Machine with THR components.

Do not judge a connector’s cost-effectiveness just by its price. Its ability to improve the overall efficiency of the manufacturing process counts as well. This is where THR technology shines.

The most common method of manufacturing a PCBA (Printed circuit board assembly) typically requires 2 process flows. Reflow soldering is used to mount the Integrated chip (IC) and passive components in the first process flow. This is then followed by a second flow utilizing wave soldering to mount the terminal blocks and connectors.

The process can be optimized but that usually comes at a cost, e.g. installing a new machine. Hence, that eventually translates into a higher manufacturing cost in the short term. Is there a way to achieve higher efficiency in PCBA manufacturing without the accompanying costs?

Higher efficiency at Lower Or No Cost?

Yes. It can be done.

This is achieved by introducing connectors that are suited for the existing process line yet reduce the process flows to just one.

This is made possible by the integration of Through Hole Reflow (THR) components in Surface-mount technology (SMT) installations, which dominate today’s assembly manufacturing process.

Through Hole Reflow (THR) – Assembly In Just One Process

The benefit of THR is to use the existing Surface-mount device (SMD) machines and remove the 2nd process, the wave soldering, thus reducing the manufacturing a complete PCBA into a single process.

While it is the ideal situation to switch to an all-THR component solution, some components will still require wave soldering. Even so, there can still be a significant cost savings to make the switch.

Through Hole Reflow Connector (THR)

While there will not be a need to make changes to the existing equipment, some modifications will be required. For example it may require a change in the PCB design, an adjustment in the reflow profile, etc.

These changes, however, will reduce the amount of man-hours required for wave soldering. Based on a typical PCBA consisting of 80% of ICs and 20% of terminal blocks & connectors, the switch could achieve up to 20% of cost savings as THR components fully supports ‘pick and place’ machines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY8jEz2AiWo

If you would like to know more about Phoenix Contact’s THR connectors, get in touch with us at marketing@phoenixcontact.com.sg.

The Revolutionary Test Plug Redux – FAME , FAME 2 and now FAME 3!

From Amelia Yeh | January 13, 2017

Phoenix Contact's FAME 3

It was 2 years ago when I have first blogged about our revolutionary panel testing system – FAME systems that helped many of our customers worldwide in simplifying their protection relay panel testing procedure and at the same time ensuring the safety of the person who is conducting the test.

Do check out my previous blog “FAME 2- Enter, Push, Twist and Remove”, I did explain why Phoenix Contact FAME system is such a revolutionary testing system. If you are dealing issues with your protection relay testing or any needs of installing a panel testing component, make sure you stay with us in this blog as I will review some updates and features that might be beneficial to you. No worries if you have missed out the previous blog, you can still read it here. Continue reading →

Fast, Safe and Error-free System Cabling for Control Systems

From Gary Lim | January 6, 2017

How do we connect the Controller to the various Digital or Analogue signals? Answers: Either with cables or with a wireless transmission medium.

In a control plant, we can easily have a few hundreds to tens of thousands of cables for control signals depending on the size of the plant.

Bad planning / discipline of the cabling routing could look something just like a plate of messy ‘fried noodles’.

Fried Noodles

Same, same but different.

A proper planned cable routing would look nicely as follow:

Cable Routing

But still, a considerable amount of effort is required during installation, maintenance and fault finding – should something go wrong with the application eg. Fault tracing, wrong labeling, wrong termination…

Realizing the connection between field level and control level by means of system cables from Phoenix Contact would mean fast, safe and error-free system cabling for your control systems and no more messy ‘fried noodles’ to manage:

Phoenix Contact’s System Cabling Solutions

Forget the messy cables, for there is Phoenix Contact’s System Cabling Solutions.

Marking @ Phoenix Contact

From Jarrett Yeo | January 4, 2017

Phoenix Contact Printers

Some call it marking, others call it printing. At the end of the day, we require objects in our lives to be labelled, just like how every of us have a name or identification number. Before I joined Phoenix Contact 2 years ago, never did I know that Phoenix Contact offers such a wide range of marking possibilities!

At Phoenix Contact, we have 3 different technologies involved in our marking systems:

Thermal Transfer
LED-UV
Laser

Thermal Transfer Printers

Our range of Thermal Transfer printers include Thermomark Roll, Thermomark Card, Thermomark Prime, and Thermofox.

Phoenix Contact’s Thermomark Roll, Thermomark Card, Thermomark Prime, and Thermofox utilise thermal transfer technology

This printing technology allows affording cost of printing, but yet allows text, graphics, batch numbers, and bar codes to be printed. Being economical and flexible, our Thermal Transfer printers allow users to do either batch printings, as well as continuous printings without wastage of materials!

LED-UV Printers

BLUEMARK CLED UV Printer

LED-UV: A revolutionary technology which is used in our Bluemark CLED printers. Not only does this marking system prints on plastic, it prints to aluminium too! The UV light will cure the ink and bond it to the material to ensure high resistance levels in various environments. The current markers allow marking of conductors, cables, and systems, covering the entire field of device and system marking!

Laser Printers

TOPMARK Laser Printer

Laser: Another groundbreaking marking system which uses a top class ytterbium fibre laser to mark on more than 400 different markers, ranging from stainless steel to aluminium to plastic. No ink or toner will be required due to the fact that the laser marks directly onto the marker material. Therefore, the resistance level of the markings are able to withstand the harshest environments and conditions, as long as the base material lasts!

CLIP PROJECT Software

CLIPPROECT Software

Just a single, free, software is required to design and send print jobs to Phoenix Contact’s range of printers. CLIP PROJECT has more functions that you can imagine, it even allows data to be automatically imported from Databases straight to prints. CLIP PROJECT and Eplan have been partners for quite some time, and this means that users can seamlessly allow direct printing in CLIP PROJECT straight from Eplan schematic. The CLIP PROJECT planning and marking software is all you need, and you may find more information of this software here.

Yes, it is free to download and free to use: No need to worry about having dongles for every computer, or annually paid subscriptions!

Maximize Your Year End Performance Review

From kristindameria | December 30, 2016

Happy Staff at meeting As the year of 2016 is ending very soon, it is also the time to review the year’s performance, there is a growing trend that many companies are abandoning the traditional performance reviews. However recent researchers found that formal performance reviews still hold an important aspect for both supervisor and subordinates to make sure that they are on the same page about each other expectation. Instead of ditching the performance appraisal process, more importantly, how do we make the process more purposeful? The guidelines as follows:

A self-evaluation

Employee must be honest with themselves about how they have performed in the role. Take for example, an employee must be able to take note of the accomplishments when they exceeded expectations or have gone below and beyond the job description, and also to look at areas where they need to improve in term of performance.

Review of job description

Job description can be changed over the time, especially if there are changes in the organization structure. It is a great time to discuss the addition of responsibilities that may help employees to grow and achieve more fulfillment in their work.

Focus on outcomes

Supervisors must be able to evaluate objectively by focusing on the subordinate’s performance result, in this case, KPI scores can be a good base to measure an employee’s achievement; it is more like a black and white result, whether he/she met the given objective or scores.

Do not get defensive

The reason of having a review in the first place is to give and receive the feedback that will help to improve job quality and productivity. Avoid going on the defensive mode or blaming others for the performance failures. In fact, do not discuss about other teammates at all and focus solely on individual performance.

Plan ahead

Performance review is a good opportunity to discuss the goals for next year and beyond. Before the review, employees should be encourage to write down their goals, or if he/she has any skills gaps where supervisor may be able to provide additional training, resources, or guidance to help him/her achieving the goals.

Keep in mind that your performance review, whether overwhelmingly positive or somewhat disappointing, is always a great opportunity to learn, grow, and move forward in your career.

Till next year, Happy New Year!