Category Archives: About REGNER®

The largest companies in Girona increase their business for the ninth consecutive year

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The largest companies in Girona increase their business for the ninth consecutive year

Regner® Editorial Team

Aiguaviva -

19/07/2019

GIRONA-100-MAIN

Greater figures in billing, the workforce and exports

With the same timing as previous years, KPMG in collaboration with the University of Girona (UdG) Faculty Chamber of Family Business reported on their study on the current situation and the emerging economic and financial trends in the top companies from Girona as concerns billing and business volume.

The information presented last Thursday, July 18 in a press conference show that the economy of the Girona region is experiencing a good moment according to the managing partner of KPMG in Girona, Manel Blanco. The tenth edition of the Girona 100 study reveals the overall good health the major companies of this particular geographical location can proudly boast.

A part of the study focused on the analysis of the 2017 annual accounts for the top companies in terms of volume, whose data was extracted using the Mercantile Registry as well as SABI (the database “System of Analysis of Iberian Balances”)

Companies in Girona grow their businesses by 6,33% alongside an increase in profitability for the ninth year in a row The margins have improved and the profit before taxes is now at 4,96%.

Strongly stand behind digitalization of businesses

To maintain the excellent augmentation of billing, growth in the workforce and exportation, companies should enthusiastically endorse the digitalization of their business since it will be critical in the development of a strategy to keep the level of competitiveness up, assured Manel Blanco

Another part of the study contemplates the qualitative side. In a survey about business perspectives with the participation of company managers, an assessment and rating of the main external and internal variables which play a part on a strong development of the company were examined.

About KPMG

KPMG is a global network of offices offering various professionalservices such as business and financial consulting, auditing and tax advising. The corporate members of KPMG are affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative, a Swiss-based company. Each corporate member is a legally separate and independent entity.

About the UdG Faculty Chamber of Family Business

This group was created on the 25th of May in 2006. Its aims are the analysis, research and education on the reality, problems and perspectives for the family business in Girona and its surroundings.

Background on the Girona 100 study

Completing the creation of the Girona 100 report involves coordinated teamwork from associated researchers from the UdG Faculty Chamber of Family Business and a team from the offices of KPMG.

This study is comprised of three parts: firstly, a macroeconomic situation based on the context of the company activity on a local, national and international level; secondly, the economic and financial analysis of the accounts and balances of the top 100 companies of that year, and thirdly, a study using survey of discussion groups dealing with the reasons for the end results achieved and the current business perspectives.

STRENGTHS

The overall perspective is rather positive which the majority of those surveyed agree on the importance of the three strength they depend on and must keep at, considering: the quality of the product and brand image, fast decision making and flexibility and taking on a new long-term strategy.

The three main strength that the companies wish to keep are:

– The quality of the product and brand image

– Fast decision making and flexibility

– Taking on a new long-term strategy

Quality of the product and brand image
31%
Swift and flexible decision making
19%
Taking on a long-term perspective
18%
Shared values and ethics
14%
Management/business centered
9%
Other minor issues
9%

Problems to tackle

In regards to the problems companies must face,uncertainty arising from a sovereign process no longer appears in the top three concernsamong Girona companies. Indeed, the change in responses is quite significant. In 2016, up to 30% of the managers feared that the political situation in Catalonia would have serious consequences on their businesses. In 2017, this percentage dropped to 16%. In 2018, legal and political instability barely showed up as a concern since only 6% of the offices consulted even mentioned it. On the other hand, among the primary concerns, the following are noteworthy:

The most common problems in the companies are:

– The quality of the product and brand image

– Fast decision making and flexibility

The growing competence and power of the clients
21%
The rise in cost of energy and raw materials
21%
“Battle for talent” headhunting and recruitment of qualified talent
21%
Reduction of profitability
13%
Regulation changes
10%
Other minor issues
7%
Legal/Political uncertainty
6%
Increase in cost of the workforce
4%

Last, but not least, to remain competitive in a global market, business owners and managers in Girona are calling for more investment incentives, lower taxation and a reduction in the bureaucracy in addition to the conversion of the current complex and strict labor agreements to a simpler and more flexible model.

Download the Girona 100's report (2019)

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Electric & Hybrid Marine 2019: Automatization and digitalization of maritime operations

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Electric & Hybrid Marine 2019: Automatization and digitalization of maritime operations

Regner® Editorial Team

Aiguaviva -

27/06/2019

HYBRID-MARINE-TRADE

ELECTRIC & HYBRID MARINE 2019:

Amsterdam has drawn the curtain on Electric & Hybrid Marine 2019 with great success attracting professionals, some of them coming from the world of hybrid and electronic propulsion system design or naval engineering while others are the owners and operators of great ships, shipbuilders and ship manufacturers.

From the 25th to the 27th of June, over 130 national and international developments were on display in addition to 40 conferences on offer focusing on the latest developments inmaritime technology. Now in its sixth year, it has rightfully turned into one of the main events for the industrial maritime sector that takes place in Europe.

Naturally, there is great potential for the increase in commercial activity as far as oceans are concerned. Since last year’s edition,the worldwide debate on the sustainability of the oceans has intensified. The stands this year clearly proved to have the issues of this debate at heart.

Climate change and nature’s well-being are not only the major issues this industry must deal with, but rather the whole planet. There is a pressing need to refurbish the standards for efficiency and operations in the maritime sector.

Across all the expert conferences, technical documents were presented which included the latest and the last generation of technology molding the ships of the future. In particular, two conferences stood out. That of Laurens van Mourik, Project Manager in the Department of Navigation in the Netherlands capital, gave insight into the general state of the projectsand trial runs which are currently taking place in the canals of Amsterdam and went on to describe how the sustainability goals for 2025 will be met. The second noteworthy conference was given by Jeremy Ward, Manager of East By West Ferries & Wellington Electric Boat BuildingCompany, in which he exposed the case of the development of the first Passenger ferry to run solely on electricity in the southern hemisphere, which is set to be launched in New Zealand in December 2019.

The Blue Economy, coined to give recognition to the sea as a source of wealth, is all the rage. In the next few years, we will bear witness to how digitalization and the use of business intelligence to integrate control throughout the manufacturing processes will all become more important thanks thanks to its greater innovative potential.

Regner® participates in the development of an HVAC System

Raúl García, Engineering Manager at REGNER®, went to the fair with objective in mind to learn more about new electronic technologies, electronic power, communication and the control systems incorporated in the new electric-hybrid ships. We talk with him about the impression the fair has made on him as well as projects that he is actively heading at the moment.

What interested you about the Electric & Hybrid Expo 2019?

The maritime application a part of a significant business sector for REGNER. As we have already thought up some electric systems of our own for boats, I wanted to know more about what’s new in the automatization and control systemsthat are being applied to the maritime industry.

What took you by surprise the most?

I came across startups that are really making a name for themselves by making systems like intelligent support in decision-makingor boats controlled from a distance. Generally speaking,I was able to verify that so much automatization and digitalization is taking place in a great number of commercial, as well as passenger, maritime processes.

What solutions has REGNER®designed for this particular industry?

We are currently developing a line of highly energy-efficient and compact actuators for an HVAC system intended for use on cruise liners. This system will allow for the proper renewal of air as well as provide air treatment, giving way to better air as regards temperature and humidity, resulting in greater comfort for the passengers.

What is it about this HVAC system that makes it unique?

What we are dealing with is a smart system for heating, ventilation and air conditioning designed to reduce energy consumption and intelligently distribute heat and cold. Furthermore, it has been designed with the intention to recover surplus heat for other uses throughout the boat.

What type of actuators does this system depend on?

This system works with very compact actuators with RC Servo. They are radio-controlled with a signal of smaller than a 1% discretization pulse, which basically means that it can move into over 100 positions in a 3-cm trajectory. This type of actuator is ideal for automated environments which not only require knowing the position of the actuator, but also allow for its precise control.

How does the navigation of cruise liners benefit from this?

The cabins will now be able to count on advanced HVAC automatization software. Joining this system through a boat managementsystem can allow for having smart control over the cabins. This way, a reduction of up to 30% of energy consumption is possible.

Lastly, what final thoughts do you take with you from your time at this fair?

I have been able to see for myself how the Nordic countries, especially Norway and Finland, continue to lead this industry which is more and more competitive and includes a great range of solutions. Personally, it was mostly useful as a meeting place for maritime companies which inspire me to go on developing and building new ideas.

"REGNER® actuators communicate with the HVAC control, providing real-time data"

Raúl García
Engineering Manager at REGNER®

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REGNER®, beneficiary of the European Regional Development Fund

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REGNER®, beneficiary of the European Regional Development Fund

Regner® Editorial Team

Aiguaviva -

10/05/2019

REGNER

Regner Engineering SLU has benefited from the European Regional Development Fund, whose objective is to achieve more competitive business networks and which has allowed it to create and develop an international digital marketing plan. The initiative was implemented in the second half of 2018. To this end, it has had the support of the Xpande Digital Programme of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce.

One way of building Europe

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We celebrate 25 years of success

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We celebrate 25 years of success

Regner® Editorial Team

Aiguaviva -

01/01/2019

KURT-01

Dear customers,

I would like to start this year by wishing you a happy and healthy 2019and by thanking you for your continued loyalty to our solutions and systems. 2018 has been a rewarding year in many ways, but we are particularly proud that more clients than ever have experienced movement thanks to our actuators. That means more independent people with greater mobility, more ergonomic support in working environments and more automated, maintenance-free, turnkey solutions.

When developing a new linear solution, our engineers consider all sorts of specifications regarding reliability, safety, durability, appearance, comfort and energy efficiency. We take even the smallest technical challenge very seriously, and every achievement is the result of careful study and teamwork. This is why our sales have been rising continuously across Europe and the US. We are naturally very pleased with this business development, especially because we celebrate 25 years of successthis year by delivering innovative solutions.

This is definitely something that we are very proud of, and we are excited about what we have achieved so far, and also about what is yet to come. We are committed to achieving greater quality for our products and to improving our infrastructures. he many measures we are already working on include getting involved in more and more research projects focused on custom-made control motion systems, delivering a new website and an online shop which will now also address German-speaking countries like Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, as well as employing more professionals—notably in electronics and computer science engineering—to join our team.

We will do all we can in 2019 to keep providing the smooth movement and reliable services that REGNER® customers are used to.

Once again, our best wishes for a great 2019, and we hope you keep experiencing movement with us!

Kurt Regner,
Executive Partner

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AUTOMATIK 2018, the smart Danish outlook

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AUTOMATIK 2018, the smart Danish outlook

Regner® Editorial Team

Aiguaviva -

20/09/2018

automatik

Smart factory systems can learn and adapt in near real time, thus making factories far more flexible than they were the past. Danfoss and LINAK, are well-aware of the importance of redefining efficiency in modern factories. They shared their advances in this area at AUTOMATIK,the international exhibition on smart automation and robotics that takes place in Brøndby (Denmark) every other year.

 

 

Relying on visibility, connectivity and autonomy

A smart factory is a highly digitized and connected production facility. It makes use of technology such as artificial intelligence, robotics, analytics, big data, and the Internet of Things (IoT), it can run mostly on its own, and it has the ability to self-correct. The defining characteristics of the smart factory are visibility, connectivity and autonomy. Factories have long relied on automation, but smart factories take this concept a step further and are able to run with little human intervention.

 

 

AUTOMATIK 2018 gathered some of the main players in the smart automation and robotics industry and offered the perfect framework for exchanging knowledge on the topic. Held from the 11th to the 13th of September, it featured more than 180 exhibitors displaying their latest technologies and services, including global suppliers of robotics, motion control, motors, vision systems, metrology, software and system integration services for both large and small enterprises. The international exhibition revealed multiple innovations for leading a connected life with an extensive use of IoT, sensors, and devices intended to connect machines and enable visibility in factory processes.

 

It is expected that by 2020 the vast majority of the new electronic products will have connectivity. In fact, the global volume of the IoT market will grow at a rate of 35 % per year. Business benefits are what drives the majority of organizations to experiment with IoT and invest in large-scale initiatives.

DANFOSS, presented its power solutions to improve energy efficiency

Extensive use of IoT sensors and devices will connect machines and enable visibility into their condition as well as into factory processes. Increasingly sophisticated analytics and applications based on artificial intelligence and machine learning will progressively handle routine work, freeing up people to focus on handling exceptions and making higher-level decisions. Thus, robots are expected to populate smart factories for routine tasks, working alongside people.

 

For Danfoss—a manufacturer of products and a provider of services for infrastructure, food supply, energy efficiency and climate-friendly solutions—the future of the smart factory is just around the corner. Their technology projects are opening the way for interconnected facilities, and they are already implementing new ways of assembling and also using collaborative robots for daily work at their plants across Denmark, Finland and the US. For them, it is not only about technology, but also about finding new ways of working.

 

At AUTOMATIK, they presented their power solutions to improve energy efficiency. As they like to say, the right technology can keep the world cool, hot and powered up with the least amount of energy. In order to make that happen, they are dealing with more and more heat to manage in increasingly reduced spaces, due to the market expectation of yearly cost reduction for control electronics.

"The future of the smart factory is just around the corner. It is not only about technology, but also new ways of working."

Linak showed its IC and bus actuators for industrial processes

LINAK, world leader in the manufacture of advanced electric linear actuator systems and solutions, was another representative of the Danish automation industry at AUTOMATIK. They are creating their own Blue Ocean with a new series of actuators that gather data thanks to their bus communications and IC solutions for modern industrial automation. An increased awareness regarding the possibilities of digitization and automation means that there is a whole new market for LINAK’s technical solutions, and building and thoroughly testing a complete solution capable of data collection for their customers has become one of the main goals of the company.

Electric linear actuators by LINAK can be found everywhere in Denmark, their home country. At AUTOMATIK 2018, the company presented their actuators with bus communications to address the demand for more complex solutions for monitoring industrial processes.

 

Building and thoroughly testing a complete solution capable of data collection for their customers has become a main goal for LINAK.

 
 

Automatik 2018, inspiration and momentum

The trade-show brought together over 3,600 attendees, with a vast majority participating in exciting and interactive conference sessions on topics such as digital management, industry 4.0, smart maintenance, machine security, and robotics in production. Participants had the chance to discover new developments from industry experts, and, to exhibitors, the trade-show was an opportunity to meet customers—coming mostly from Denmark and Sweden—face to face, share knowledge, and explore new horizons in automation.

 

To summarize, in the words of Georg Sørensen, Managing Director of MCH A/S, the company which organizes AUTOMATIK, ‘the many positive statements from the industry confirm that exhibitors and the qualified conference program have created synergy and combined professionalism, knowledge sharing and personal presence. I am pleased that the whole industry is protecting the value of the personal meeting, and there is a big thank you to exhibitors, guests and partners for contributing to creating three days of presence, time and confidence’.

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Roessingh Rehabilitation Center celebrates its 70th anniversary with an open house

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Roessingh Rehabilitation Center celebrates its 70th anniversary with an open house

Regner® Editorial Team

Aiguaviva -

15/06/2018

ENSCHEDE

ROESSINGH REHABILITATION CENTERspecializes in rehabilitation care and treatment in the Netherlands, and they just celebrated their 70th anniversary: a whole life dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities manage at school, at home, at work, and in the community. Based in Enschede, the mission of this renowned center is to put assistive technology information, devices and services within reach of people regardless of their age, family and educational background, health care and social service providers, and disability. They do so with the help of experts in assistive technology, speech pathology and occupational therapy, who provide in-depth evaluations and consultation services for children and adults to identify the most suitable assistive technology needed to foster independence.

Roessingh patients present many types of conditions. They may have suffered a stroke, been diagnosed with a muscular disease or have a neurological disorder. What they all have in common, though, is that they have to face new challenges and adapt to new circumstances.

It is undeniable that conditions of the kind treated at Roessingh change every aspect of an individual’s life, and coping with this new life takes some learning and can become a daily struggle. However, most issues can be overcome with the help of professionalsand assistive technology.

Rehabilitative and assistive technologies help people with disabilities manage more easily in their everyday lives, and they can also make it easier for their caregivers to tend to them.

With this aim in mind, the experienced staff at Roessingh helps develop public awareness of the issues of people with disabilities and provides resources for transition as well as training opportunities related to:

– communication
-positioning
– mobility
– intervention strategies in using assistive technology

Every week, about 500 adults and 350 children go to the center for consultation, treatment or monitoring of their progress.

An open day with a theme

On June 2, 2018, Roessingh Rehabilitation Center held an open house to commemorate its 70th anniversary. The staff brought attendees old and young into their world to show them, through simulation, what rehabilitation entails and which services the organization provides.

With the theme “A house full of stories”, visitors listened to the stories of former patients, therapists, doctors, and patients’ relatives. Easily the most striking were the stories told from the parents’ perspectives, and particularly by mothers—who are often the first to detect that something is wrong with their child and who become their restless advocates, fighting until they are given the right diagnosis and treatment.

Guests also followed explanations about movement analysis, wheelchair skills, therapeutic computing, and walking with a prosthesis and they participated in interactive demos of rehabilitation technology and telemedicine. For example, they experienced what it is like to be supported by a virtual coach, they completed exercises through an online portal, and they learned about the use of technology and robotics to assist in moving arms or legs better.

Visitors went home with a newfound understanding and respect not only for rehabilitants but also, undoubtedly, for the fine professionals at Roessingh Rehabilitation Center. Staying mobile, gaining independence and being active members of society are, after all, essential to improve the qualityof life of rehabilitants,

and the experts at Roessingh help them do just that.

RDG KOMPAGNE is the largest supplier in the Netherlands for communication tools, computer adaptations and environmental control for people with disabilities They use REGNER®’s RA38 linear actuators.

RA38 linear actuator main features

  • Power Supply: 24 VDC
  • Max. load: 2000 N (push/pull)
  • Max. speed: 7.3 mm/s
  • Retracted length (center to center): 156 mm + stroke
  • Aluminum housing
  • Stainless steel rod

REGNER® provides electric linear actuators for medical devices that function perfectly at all times

To ensure the reliability of our actuators, each prototype is subjected to a comprehensive battery of tests. Our goal is to maintain our customer’s confidencein our standards.

Buildings of the Roessingh Rehabilitation Center compound:(1) PHYSIOTHERAPY, (2) SPORTS HALL, (3) POLICLINIC, (4) CHILD & YOUNG CLINIC, (5) ROESSINGH RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

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Linear actuators to automate display cabinets: our innovation for HOSTELCO 2018

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Linear actuators to automate display cabinets: our innovation for HOSTELCO 2018

Regner® Editorial Team

Aiguaviva -

28/04/2018

hostelco-destacada

Opening and closing refrigerated display cabinets manually might soon be a thing of the past. Working closely withCAFF, a premier name in refrigeration for the food service industry, REGNER® has innovated by building a linear actuator system that enables safe and precise movement for glass cabinets.

At REGNER®, we often come across people curious about the engineering solutions process. The answer is that our focal point is collaboration. That is, we work closely with our clients, and a multidisciplinary team takes care of each project.

To us, ideas are important, but execution is everything, and we see eye to eye with CAFF on this. Proof of their efficiency is, of course, the fact that they are such a well-known manufacturer for industrial refrigeration, and that their products can be found in refrigerators, cold rooms, working tables and counters in restaurants, hotels and cafés in over 50 countries around the world.

the fact that they are such a well-known manufacturer for industrial refrigeration, and that theirproducts can be found in refrigerators, cold rooms, working tables and counters in restaurants, hotels and cafés in over 50 countries around the world. They wanted to automate the opening and closing of their refrigerated display cabinets instead of using lift-up hardware driven by gas springs. We took on the challenge, and our work began.

First, we analyzed the strength of the idea and we identified our main challenges:

We would have to design an optimal way to open glass cabinets to the maximum.

Two sleek actuators would have to move simultaneously and smoothly in order to avoid any vibration or torsion.

We had to materialize the solution through a robust and cost-effective electric control box with a controller that would allow for high-precision programming providing reliable synchronization.

From there, the idea was brought into built form in four stages:

We defined the brief and discussed our vision for the project, which allowed the designers to come up with multiple possibilities. From those, a schematic design was made and our team researched and developed the concept of the actuator solution for the “smart cabin”, which we presented to CAFF before moving on.

CAFF gave their go-ahead, and we entered the creative stage. We created the necessary CAD files by generating 3D models for rendering purposes, so we could rotate and analyze the engineering solution from all angles, and also share our advances with CAFF.

In the electrical and mechanical engineering phase, the assembly design was finalized to create production-ready files and a bill of materials.

We built a prototype to test the functionality and the general appearance of the solution.

Built for efficiency and easy cleaning, the linear actuator system opens glass cabinet to the maximum

Developing a project such as this is not a piece of cake. It requires passionate and meticulous engineers willing to dive into countless approaches, and to fail and try again and again until the perfect solution appears.

The CAFF project was no exception. he CAFF project was no exception. Ultimately, though, the effort proves worthy. When we put our prototype in front of the CAFF team and their eyes light up and they smile, or when they present our solution at HOSTELCO and people keep smiling, the REGNER® team can’t help but think “We got it!”. Not every company or every project gets to that point, so let’s celebrate that this one has.

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Advanced Factories 2018: How a more connected factory is transforming manufacturing

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Advanced Factories 2018: How a more connected factory is transforming manufacturing

Regner® Editorial Team

Aiguaviva -

16/03/2018

advanced-main
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The Advanced Factories annual trade-show is the place where innovation shapes Industry 4.0, the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The movement represents the linkage between the physical and the digital world, and it exists because of the ever-growing personalization demand on the markets, which is forcing companies to rethink their production, their supply chains, and their workforce.

Industry 4.0 is based on two pillars: the so-called Cyberphysical Systems, and the Internet of things. The Internet of Things is already transforming manufacturing and industrial operations through deeper visibility and greater connectivity. There is a nearly unlimited potential for improvement, and the profound transformations that such potential involves will force manufacturers and industrial operators to reconsider machinery and facility design methodologies, technology implementation and safety issues.

At Advanced Factories 2018, two major trends affecting industrial plants stand out:

  • The development of the connected factory, to improve productivity and efficiency.
  • The rethinking of facility and machinery design methodologies, to address ergonomics and safety risks.

The development of the connected factory

The connected factory is built around the idea that industrial operations can be smart, secure and connected, using sensors and machinery that communicate among them. By sharing information across global and remote operations, a connected factory improves productivity, and the innovation it requires enhances the manufacturing process.

The rethiking of the machinery design

Not only traditional hazards, but also the ergonomic and usability issues for a broad range of workers should be taken into account for the design of machinery. Therefore, some questions and considerations have to be kept in mind:

Do operators have to lift materials? How can the manufacturers design more supportive machinery to alleviate the operators?

Do maintenance technicians have to bend or twist awkwardly when providing maintenance?

How can these operations be performed more safely, more ergonomically, and more efficiently?

Safety systems integrated with machinery controls can be very effective in mitigating risks. In this field, electric linear actuators are often at the root of the solution because they can work easily with machinery controls and give the desired feedback.The main reasons for working with electric linear actuators are:

  • Their movement is reliable, safe and accurate.
  • They can be operated with batteries.
  • They do not consume any power while at rest.
  • Their installation is simple and maintenance-free.

As components of the Industry 4.0, electric linear actuators have to be able to monitor different values and have varying control options.

Electronic monitoring options:

Current monitoring:

a critical safety feature that trips the actuator if overloaded.

2.Voltage monitoring

Prevents the actuator from operating in an environment outside of the correct range.

3. Temperature compensation

Allows the actuator to push the rated load at lower temperatures without nuisance tripping.

4.Temperature monitoring

if the internal temperature of the device is out of the acceptable range, the actuator shuts down after completing the extension or retraction.

Enhanced control options:

1. Analog position feedback

a potentiometer provides a voltage signal for the user to determine position, speed and direction.

2.Digital position feedback

an encoder provides a single pulse train signal to determine position and speed.

3. End-of-stroke indicator

indicates when the actuator has reached the end of the stroke.

4.Low-level power switching:

onboard electronics limit current draw at switches or contacts to a predetermined maximum (in mA), enabling a simplified and less expensive system design. This improves safety by reducing the hazard of electrical shock and puts less stress on system batteries and charging systems. An autohibernation feature also helps improve efficiency by reducing power consumption during idle or dwell periods. An autohibernation feature also helps improve efficiency by reducing power consumption during idle or dwell periods.

5. Dynamic braking

reduces coasting, which improves repeatability and positioning capability.

5. CAN bus

secures communications in integrated systems by providing a standard messaging structure for communications among network nodes guided by an electronic control unit.

The transformation of the manufacturing and industrial operations is already underway. Companies that implement these changes and adopt new technology early will ultimately prevail in the global economy.

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The Financial Times Group recognizes Catalonia as the best Southern European region for foreign investment

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The Financial Times Group recognizes Catalonia as the best Southern European region for foreign investment

Regner® Editorial Team

Aiguaviva -

12/02/2018

barcelona-airport

The recognition takes into account economic potential,
labor environment, cost-effectiveness, infrastructure, and business friendliness.

The Financial Times—one of the most important publications on business and economy in the world and an indispensable guide for market movements and international investment—has put Catalonia at the top of their list of the best places for foreign investment  in Southern Europe for the years 2018 and 2019. The FDI Strategy award, based on a biennial study published in revista FDI,is considered to be  one of the mosts prestigious rankings worldwide.

FDI Intelligence, a division of the Financial Times, collected information on 300 cities and 150 regions in five areas:

– Economic potential

– Labor environment

– Cost-effectiveness

– Business friendliness.

– Infrastructure

Taking into account these indicators, the ranking determines that the five most attractive regions of Southern Europe in 2018 and 2019 in terms of foreign investment attraction are Catalonia, Madrid, Lombardy, Istanbul and Lisbon.

1. Catalonia
2. Madrid
3. Lombardy
4. Istanbul
5. Lisbon

Agricultural Technology Research Institute in Caldes de Montbui (Catalonia)

Attracting foreign investment

‘This recognition shows that Catalonia has the assets, potential, and determination to consolidate itself as one of the most attractive regions in Europe in terms of attracting foreign investment‘tated Joan Aregio, Secretary of Enterprise and Competitiveness. He added that ‘it is the second consecutive time that Catalonia receives this recognition, a very clear indicator of the confidence we generate abroad’.

Buildings of the biomedical research center in Barcelona (Catalonia)

An innovation hub

Catalonia ‘has a privileged geostrategic position, a solid industrial base, an economy that is open to the world and is highly innovative’, and is also ‘one of the most dynamic start-up communities’, according to the Secretary of Enterprise and Competitiveness.

In fact, the recent‘Startup Ecosystem Overview’ suggests that Barcelona’s is the main start-up hubin Spain, with 34% of its most innovative companies.. Using figures from 2017, the report shows that the Catalan start-up ecosystem attracts some 58% of all foreign investment in Spain, making Barcelona the fifth European city among innovative ecosystems, ahead of Madrid, which comes in sixth place.

Street view with modern tram in Badalona city (Catalonia)

The best foreign investment attraction strategy

Apart from recognizing Catalonia as the most attractive region in Southern Europe in terms of foreign investment in 2018 and 2019, the publication also rewards Catalonia for having the best strategy to attract foreign investment among large regions—that is, regions that exceed 4 million inhabitants Such a strategy is promoted by the Catalan Government through Catalonia Trade & Investment, a public agency created in 1985 and working from its headquarters in Barcelona along with the Government’s network of 40 Trade & Investment Offices around the world.

The main goal of this strategy is to attract new productive investments to Catalonia as well as strengthening the reinvestment and long-term establishment of foreign companies already established in Catalonia. To this end, Catalonia Trade & Investment offers customized services in the landing phase such as the search for partners, personnel, legal advice, warehouses, land, and offices, to name a few.

The agency’s strategy for attracting foreign investment considers three factors:

– Main investing countries

– Globally recognized companies and leaders in their fields

– Strategic projects that are economic motors and have a real impact on stable and quality employment.

This translates in the promotion of projects with a heavy emphasis on the industrial, R&D and logistics fields in strategic sectors such as future vehicles, health, Industry 4.0 and mobile technologies.

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A year in review: R&D developments in 2017

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A year in review: R&D developments in 2017

Regner® Editorial Team

Aiguaviva -

20/12/2017

RESEARCH-2017

At REGNER®, we work collaboratively. A plethora of engineers of various disciplines—from design, to mechanical, electric, or telecom engineering—along with workshop technicians and interns team up day after day to develop first-class projects. At REGNER®  we consider that working together means working better: more brainstorming sessions, more ideas, more cultural and generational diversity, more experience exchange, more knowledge, and more creativity.

 

Con el año llegando a su fin, reflexionamos sobre los distintos acontecimientos que han tenido lugar en 2017 en REGNER®. Here are some of our key moments:

January

REGNER® signs a collaboration agreement with INNOVA EXPERTS to strengthen our R&D management system by applying UNE 166000 standards. The set of standards UNE 166000 are dedicated to supportingthe optimization of R&D management in organizations. Particularly, standard UNE 166001 establishes the requirements related to the planning, organization, execution, and control of R&D projects, whereas standard UNE 166002 defines the requirements with which an R&D management system must comply.

This agreement will have a direct effect in 2018 as INNOVA EXPERTS will support REGNER® to achieve the compliance of the requirements of these standards withthe aim to begranted with the relevant certification.

February

As part of our goal of constant improvement, at REGNER®we consider it vital to review and measure all of our activities.External audits are the best tool for measuring the progress of the company.

SGS renews the certifications for REGNER®’s management systems:

– ISO 13485:2010 Medical Devices Management

– ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management

– ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management.

March

A new collaboration withKarlsruhe Institute Of Technology (KIT) is consolidated. The development of viable technologies and their use in industry and society are the cornerstones of KIT’s activities KIT supports innovation and entrepreneurial culture in various ways.

The aim of this collaboration is to develop a totally new safety solution compliant with safety laws as well as German environmental road standards.

May

On the 23rd, REGNER® signs a strategic partnership agreement withIngenia Motion Control. Together, the two companies will work on a high-performance motion control system focusing on power dissipation, space constraints, noise, and EMI.

Ingenia Motion Control provides state-of-the-art motion technology, which includes high-power density servo drives and power control techniques for servo motors, both with brush and brushless DC.

July

On the 18th, REGNER® is awarded with an honorable certificate for their participation in the IndustrialDoctorates Program by the Catalan Government. This certification is a recognition from the Department of Enterprise and Knowledge of our company’s expertise and skills in research and development.

REGNER®is proud to conduct research focused on the medical field in collaboration with Xavier Rosell, Professor at the Department of Electronic Engineering from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona Tech.

August

REGNER® received the Reasoned Report accreditation by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness regarding the design and development of a totally new electronic system intended to augment social inclusion and independence for people with reduced mobility. This certification represents a recognition for the nature of our R+D activities.

Implemented for the first time in 2004, this generic measure aims to support enterprises conducting research and development. The Spanish tax authority allows eligible research-based companies, who are subject to corporate tax in Spain, to benefit from significant tax break depending on the costs incurred in their projects.

November

A new joint collaboration with Tecnalia Research & Innovation, headed by Fernando Gómez, is consolidated this year. TECNALIA is the first privately funded applied research & technology organization in Spain, and one of the leading centers in Europe. Together we will carry out a research project on a motion control system.

Our goal is to develop a new solution for health care users. Both organizations will exchange and offer their knowledge in this field.

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