Measurement probe improves dry room control  

Vaisala has launched its DMP1 dew point and temperature probe to monitor environmental conditions in critical manufacturing rooms and spaces. With dew point measurement capability down to -70°C and rapid response capabilities that the company says is hundreds of times faster than competing measurement technologies, the new compact DMP1 is highly suited to dry rooms. 

The new Vaisala DMP1 probe provides precise measurements in demanding dry processing applications that include lithium-ion battery production, where humidity control is critical to manufactured battery performance. Employing advanced measurement technology, the DMP1 ensures dew point conditions stay as specified in all areas of a manufacturing dry room, helping to maintain both product quality and manufacturing safety. The DMP1 offers easy integration into centralised production, safety and quality monitoring systems.  

“The fast response of the new probe means that customers’ control systems are able to respond quickly, in a timely manner, ensuring the protection of product quality and safety,” says Juhani Lehto, product manager for precision instruments. “This means that customers can efficiently control any deviations in the dry room dew point. Quick reaction times translate into improved workplace safety in battery manufacturing, maintaining high product quality and avoiding waste in the production process.” 

The DMP1 is a part of the modular Vaisala Indigo measurement ecosystem, offering plug-and-play compatibility with connected smart devices. For example, it can be connected to an Indigo300 transmitter to display data locally and transmit measurement values to automation and control systems. The probe can also be connected to an Indigo80 handheld device for maintenance work, where interchangeable probes mean that downtime is minimised and service work is simplified. 

More information www.vaisala.com

Robot Idea Comes to Life

Winners of the WorldSkills UK’s ‘Designathon’ took their innovative concept from idea to reality during a hands-on experience at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) Training in Coventry recently. The Designathon, part of WorldSkills UK’s competition-based learning programme, challenged students to tackle real-world engineering problems with creative, practical solutions. The winning team from New College Lanarkshire in Scotland impressed judges with its robotic grabber design, a precision tool for automated picking and placing that shows strong potential for real-world application.

More information www.worldskillsuk.org/learning-lab

Automation Centre Opens

Zebra Technologies Corporation, a global specialist in digitising and automating frontline workflows, has launched the Industrial Automation Centre of Excellence in collaboration with Clearview, a Zebra industrial automation distributor. Located in Oxfordshire, the centre will offer relevant services, training advisory, and practical demonstrations for manufacturing specialists across the EMEA region. The centre will support end users, machine builders and systems integrators looking for machine vision, 3D and AI solutions to secure greater asset visibility and support intelligently automated operations.

More information www.clearview-imaging.com/coe

Enginuity Skills Awards winners take a bow

The best of British engineering and manufacturing grasped glory at the Enginuity Skills Awards 2025 in a glittering ceremony hosted at the Park Plaza London Riverbank in London. Mohammed Mahmood, from Stoke, was deemed by the judging panel of industry luminaries, to be the Best of British Engineering – the winner of winners, having picked up the Best T Level student category earlier in the evening. Arriving in England with limited English and no industry experience, Mahmood pursued a T Level in Building Services Engineering to gain technical knowledge and practical skills.

More information https://enginuity.org/

SYSPRO grows smart manufacturing prowess

SYSPRO, a global software provider for the manufacturing and distribution industries, has acquired riteSOFT, a US-based developer of mobile warehouse and time tracking and scheduling software for small to mid-sized manufacturers and distributors. The acquisition strengthens SYSPRO’s smart manufacturing capabilities and advances its strategy to offer integrated, industry-specific solutions that accelerate time-to-value and simplify operations for customers worldwide. SYSPRO users will benefit from a unified solution stack with aligned product roadmaps that improves operational efficiency and deployment speed.

More information www.syspro.com