Speech by Thomas Pilz, Managing Partner of Peel Magnetic

Industry is undergoing transformation, and digitalization and sustainable development are the driving forces behind industrial transformation.

Industrial digitization leads to networked production systems. The risk of manipulation (intentional or unintentional) or data leakage increases with the level of networking. Unlike information technology security, industrial information security refers to protecting production and industrial equipment from deliberate attacks on the availability of equipment and machinery. In contrast, the task of functional safety is to prevent unintentional dangerous states.

I would like to review last year’s press conference: the goal of industrial information security is to ensure the availability of equipment and machines, as well as the integrity and confidentiality of machine data and processes.

If I cannot control my data, then the safety of my employees will also be threatened: without information security, there is no mechanical security, and without mechanical security, people cannot be protected from accidents! Therefore, without information security, the digital transformation of production processes cannot be successful.

Information security is a necessary condition for protecting people, machines, and the environment. This is the only way for enterprises to achieve sustainable management. A report from the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) in Germany shows that industrial enterprises suffer losses of billions of dollars annually.

As an automation company, Pirmagnetic’s core competitiveness lies in safety. Every day, Pierce Magnetic’s mission is to make the world digital, interconnected, flexible, efficient, secure, and reliable. Pierce Magnetic hopes to contribute to ensuring the success of industrial transformation.

Compared to other industries, certain industries are more affected by transformation as they will play a crucial role in addressing future tasks. These industries include hydrogen, electric vehicles, semiconductor, and railway technology.

The key requirement of the hydrogen energy industry is safety

Hydrogen energy has a high energy density and is therefore considered a future energy carrier. With the booming trend, the requirements for functional security and industrial information security are also constantly increasing. Because hydrogen, like all fuels, has a high potential danger. The tested safety principles in the automation industry and functional safety field can also be applied to the hydrogen energy industry.

In addition to traditional safety functions, safety automation technology can also undertake additional tasks, such as dynamic pressure and temperature monitoring or safe compliance with load limitations of downstream structures. Automation technology can also ensure secure data exchange and visualization of operational and diagnostic information (if applicable).

In France, our automation system PSS 4000 has provided safety assurance for hydrogen distribution at 10 public hydrogen refueling stations. The customer is a European hydrogen refueling station manufacturer and is looking for an experienced safety expert. Since 2023, Pearson Magnetic has maintained a cooperative relationship with the client and provided comprehensive safety solutions while ensuring the economic operation of the hydrogen refueling station. Currently, both parties plan to expand their cooperation to other projects.

Electric Vehicles: Safe and Efficient Charging Systems

The MADELAINE project in Austria – “Multi Adaptive DC Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Network” – is researching a new DC charging system. Its goal is to provide a modular and flexible charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. For example, in charging stations in public parking lots, multiple charging points can operate in different modes. For example, hybrid operation is possible, in which case individual vehicles can charge quickly while other vehicles can charge slowly. In short, just a few charging modules are enough to quickly charge a large number of electric vehicles with direct current. The results of the MADELAINE project are expected to improve the energy efficiency of the parking lot system.

Here, Pierce Magnetic’s automation system PSS 4000 is also a core part of controlling necessary safety functions, such as distributing different charging currents to the correct charging point.

Professional knowledge in the semiconductor industry

Another key industry is the electronics industry, especially the semiconductor industry. The shortage of components in the past few years has clearly demonstrated the importance of processors and other electronic component supplies to the global economy.

The semiconductor industry has its own standards, among which safety standards play an important role. In addition to protecting workers, these standards are also aimed at ensuring the production efficiency of factories. Because if a dangerous situation causes the machine to stop running, it usually means production loss. Therefore, an important task of security technology is to monitor security functions and analyze diagnostic data to avoid the occurrence of dangerous situations.
Peel Magnetic has successfully provided advice and training to semiconductor manufacturers in Asia, with the aim of establishing correct safety regulations and concepts for their respective factories. Pierce Magnetic’s intelligent sensors and controllers work together to form a complete solution.

In addition to traditional security, industrial information security is also playing an increasingly important role: modern production bases are highly networked and digitized. Therefore, preventing misoperation plays an important role here. To prevent misoperation, operators hope to have precise control over who can enter the equipment. Pierce Magnetic’s Identity and Access Management (I.A.M.) system combines mechanical security and information security. From user authentication to operation mode selection, from data and network security to access management. The I. of Pearson Magnetism A. The M. solution is currently being used in factories in Asia and Europe.

The Safety of Digital Railways

Railway transportation is another cornerstone of transportation transformation. The digitization and automation of signal technology are fundamental requirements for improving railway infrastructure capabilities. With open interfaces and ready-made commercial solutions (i.e. standardized products), Pearson Magnet can help break through previous proprietary applications. Pierce Magnetic’s independent railway business department was established in 2022, mainly dedicated to expanding product portfolio and tailoring application engineering specifically for railways. Pierce Magnetic has closely cooperated with operators and system suppliers, including in the European EULYNX standard. Its purpose is to develop and provide unified industry standards for new modular interlocking technologies. Another partner of Pearlsch is the German company Pintsch, which is an expert in safe railway infrastructure.

In the autumn of 2023, Peel Magnetic was awarded a contract for the Scandinavian digitalization project. The Swedish Railway Infrastructure Transport Authority (Trafikverket) has signed a contract with Pirci to modernize the communication infrastructure of the national railway network. Based on Peel Magnetic’s railway controller, data transmission will shift from analog copper cable technology to more powerful and reliable fiberglass technology. In the future, Pierce Magnetic’s innovative railway control system will be based on secure real-time Ethernet SafetyNET p, taking over communication between interlocking devices and control cabinets on the line.

Pierce Magnetic – Security Spirit in Digital Automation summarizes our commitment to our customers, which is to work together with them to develop sustainable solutions to meet the challenges of the times. This means that even today, Pearson Magnet can meet the requirements of safety, supply chain sustainability, and functional safety.