MUMBAI: Schneider Electric, a leader in energy management and automation, has announced the launch of its next-generation Industrial Copilot, developed in collaboration with Microsoft. This Generative AI-powered assistant is purpose-built to enhance open automation ecosystems, driving greater efficiency, flexibility, and intelligence across industrial operations. Eliminating repetitive tasks, this Generative AI-powered assistant allows industries to collaborate, supports simplification of application development, delivers efficiency gains, and brings quality solutions to market faster.

The Copilot is deeply integrated into the EcoStruxure Automation Expert Platform, Schneider Electric’s flagship open automation environment. By embedding AI directly into this open, interoperable framework, the Copilot enhances the flexibility, scalability, and intelligence of automation systems—delivering benefits that closed, proprietary systems simply cannot match.

Industrial copilots are increasingly adopted to improve efficiency with real-time recommendations, leading to smoother operations and quicker decisions. They also minimize machine downtime with immediate troubleshooting and predictive maintenance, integrate data for better decision-making, and reduce manual work, saving costs.

“India’s manufacturing sector is rapidly evolving, demanding greater flexibility and efficiency, and Open Automation plays a pivotal role in achieving this goal,” said Arvind Kakru, VP- Industrial Automation, Schneider Electric India. “Our AI Copilot, developed with Microsoft and building on our deep domain expertise, doesn’t just operate within an open ecosystem- it strengthens it. It simplifies engineering, accelerates deployment, and empowers teams to do more with less, all while reinforcing the core values of openness, modularity, and collaboration.”

Building on Schneider Electric’s leadership in open, software-defined automation and leveraging the flexibility of EcoStruxure Automation Expert, the world’s first open software-defined automation solution, the Copilot will be available within Schneider’s newly launched unified automation environment, EcoStruxure Automation Expert Platform. The EcoStruxure Automation Expert Platform integrates seamlessly across various hardware and software platforms, enhancing collaboration between copilots, operators, and engineers by incorporating real-time data access, which is crucial for providing accurate recommendations, predictive maintenance, and immediate troubleshooting.

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“Targeted cyber-physical attacks are more than zero-day exploits that take advantage of an unknown or unaddressed vulnerability. Instead, they are now also about silent residency – using LotL attacks to wait until there is an opportune moment to turn a system against itself,” said Micheal Ruiz, vice president of OT cybersecurity for Honeywell.

Now in its sixth year, the report underscores the severe risk USB-borne malware poses to industrial and critical infrastructure facilities. Key findings in the report indicate that adversaries now have a strong understanding of industrial environments and how they operate. According to the report, most of the malware detected on USB devices by Honeywell’s Secure Media Exchange could cause loss of view or loss of control of an industrial process, a potentially catastrophic scenario for operators.

“As digital transformation and automation accelerate, so does the exposure to sophisticated and malicious cyberattacks that can have devastating consequences in terms of reputation, safety, and continuity,” said Ruiz. “There are numerous ways a bad actor can infiltrate an OT environment, including through USBs. With Honeywell’s advanced end-to-end technology and deep experience, we partner with our customers to improve their ability to protect their assets and data from these threats.”

The 2024 report is based on the Honeywell Global Analysis, Research, and Defense (GARD) team’s tracking and analysis of aggregated cybersecurity threat data from hundreds of industrial facilities globally during 12 months. 

Several of the report’s additional key findings included:

• USB devices continue to be used as an initial attack vector in industrial environments, as 51% of malware is designed to spread via USB, a nearly six-fold increase from 9% in 2019.
• Content-based malware, which uses existing documents and scripting functions maliciously, is on the rise, accounting for 20% of malware.
• Over 13% of all malware blocked specifically leveraged the inherent capabilities of common documents, such as Word, Excel and PDF documents.
• 82% of malware is capable of disrupting industrial operations, resulting in loss of view, loss of control, or system outages in OT environments.

To download the full report, visit: https://hcenews.honeywell.com/CYB-2024-Threat-Report-LP.html

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INDIA: Tata Technologies, a global engineering and product development digital services company, announced that it has signed a 10-year Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the government of Chhattisgarh to modernize 36 government-owned ITIs in the state with a total project cost of INR 1188.36 Crores. This collaboration is an extension of Tata Technologies’ efforts to support projects of high social impact and complement the nation-building efforts of the Government. The upgraded ITIs will serve as skill incubation centers, strengthening the technical proficiency of students and potential employers. We believe that by training a workforce that is not only highly skilled in Industry 4.0 tools & technologies but also primed for faster industry deployment, these centers will stimulate the economic progression and holistic development of the state.

The Chhattisgarh government has launched various skill development initiatives to empower its diverse workforce and enable the state manufacturing and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) industry. This includes schemes like Kaushal Vikas Yojana for training youth on healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and services and Skill-on-Wheels for remote area training. The state government’s initiatives of Suraji Gaon Yojana, aiming to establish Gauthans, are becoming centers of employment in agriculture and animal husbandry. We believe that this collaboration between Tata Technologies and the Chhattisgarh government will strengthen the government’s effort towards upskilling youth on some of the latest technologies as well as attract investments from businesses desirous of adopting Industry 4.0 manufacturing practices.

Tata Technologies is collaborating with 20 global industry partners to upgrade the ITIs, offering six new trades and 23 new short-term courses catering to Industry 4.0 demands. The upgraded ITIs will train over 10,000 students annually at full capacity. It will facilitate upskilling in sectors related to Industry 4.0, Product Design & Development, Product Verification, and Virtual analysis, Design for Artisans and Handicrafts, Additive manufacturing (3D printing), Modern Automotive Maintenance Repair and Overhaul, Battery Electric Vehicle Training, IoT and Digital Instrumentation, Process Control and Automation with HMI, PLC SCADA, Advanced Manufacturing and Prototyping, Industrial Robotics with arc welding, AI-based Virtual Welding & Painting, Advanced Plumbing, Digital Meters, Agriculture and Horticulture, and much more.

The MOA signing ceremony was graced by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Shri Bhupesh Baghel along with other dignitaries from the Chhattisgarh Government and the Leadership team of Tata Technologies.

Sharing his thoughts on the collaboration, the Honourable Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Shri Bhupesh Baghel, said, “We are determined to nurture the potential of Chhattisgarh’s youth, to accelerate the state’s industrial growth and economic advancement. Our strategic collaboration with Tata Technologies will empower the youth, arming them with a comprehensive understanding of Industry 4.0 technologies and enhancing their employability while also bolstering the state’s industrial landscape through the provision of adept, ready-to-serve human capital.“

Commenting on the collaboration, Mr. Warren Harris, CEO & Managing Director, of Tata Technologies, said, “We are delighted to extend our collaborative efforts in upskilling the youth by collaborating with the Government of Chhattisgarh. The significant step towards upskilling the young engineers with Industry 4.0 technology, aligns with our vision of engineering a better world, which includes a better future for the youth at Chhattisgarh.”

Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Alok Shukla, Principal Secretary, Technical Education, Chhattisgarh, said, “Our collaboration with Tata Technologies to upgrade ITIs focuses on aligning the education, knowledge, and skills of young individuals with demands of Industry at Chhattisgarh. Equipping them with the latest technologies will bridge the gap between demand and supply of skilled workforce thereby creating more job opportunities and encouraging the youth to build their careers in the state. This will also establish the state as a coveted investment destination for industries looking to embrace Industry 4.0 and smart technologies for their manufacturing processes.”

Commenting on the collaboration, Mr. Pawan Bhageria – President, Global HR, IT Admin and Education, Tata Technologies, said, “We are excited to join hands with the Government of Chhattisgarh in this collaboration towards empowering the youth with skills for Industry 4.0. We are leveraging our product engineering expertise and manufacturing domain knowledge to deliver an industry-ready courseware and training platform that we believe will create a new era of digital skill development, offering a brighter future for the youth of Chhattisgarh.”

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Food Preservation 

Have you ever wondered how food remains fresh after months on a shelf? It’s because they’ve been treated with nitrogen gas which is used in food processing to preserve the texture and flavor of various products. How? 

To illustrate, let’s say you have a bag of chips that’s been open for a while. If you take a close look, you’ll notice that the chips at the bottom of the bag are usually darker in color than those at the top. This is because oxygen has had time to oxidize the chips at the bottom of the bag, causing them to lose their original color.

Now, if you were to seal that same bag of chips using nitrogen gas, the chips would stay nice and crisp for a much longer period of time. This is because nitrogen gas is an inert gas, meaning it doesn’t interact with other elements. So, by displacing the oxygen in the packaging, you’re effectively preventing the chips from oxidizing and going bad.

Fire Prevention

Fire can be a devastating event for any business, causing extensive damage and often resulting in loss of life. That’s why many industries take measures to prevent fires from happening in the first place.

One way this is done is by using nitrogen gas to create a fire-safe environment. As mentioned earlier, when nitrogen is introduced into an area, it displaces the oxygen, reducing the amount of oxygen available to support combustion. 

In fact, nitrogen gas generators are often used in storage facilities that house flammable materials. By reducing the amount of oxygen in the air, these generators create an environment that is less likely to support a fire, helping to keep stored materials safe.

Pharmaceutics

Pharmaceutics encompasses the development, production, and regulation of drugs and nitrogen gas is used in this industry for a variety of purposes.

For example, one-way nitrogen gas is used in pharmaceutics is through freeze-drying. This process is often used to preserve delicate drugs, like vaccines, that are sensitive to heat and moisture. To freeze dry a drug, it is first frozen and then placed in a vacuum chamber. As the drug warms up, the water vapor is drawn out of the product, leaving behind a dried form that can be stored for long periods of time.

Nitrogen gas is also used to package drugs by displacing the oxygen in the packaging and preventing oxidation, much like food preservation.

Nitrogen gas has a variety of uses that make it an important part of many industries. From preserving food to preventing fire, nitrogen gas plays an important role in keeping all kinds of businesses running smoothly.

Photo by iSawRed on Unsplash

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