NEWS COMMENT UK DIGITAL TWIN CENTRE WILL DRIVE INNOVATION T
adding innovative features to their offerings, helping visitors maximise the value of a trip to a show.
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One such example is Smart Tank, based on a popular TV format, which is coming to Smart Manufacturing Week this June. This live business and concept pitching feature will showcase inventive companies and the inspiring technologies that are poised to revolutionise the manufacturing industry. Exhibitors in Innovation Alley will pitch their ideas to a live audience and a panel of expert judges. On the 4th of June, start- ups and university spin-offs will step onto the stage to introduce their products, services and next big ideas. But with a strict time limit of five minutes for their presentation, and a five minute Q+A with the judging panel, the sessions will be fast-paced and engaging.
Smart Manufacturing Week will be held at the NEC, on June 4th-5th 2025. See page 38. Michelle Lea - Editor
ith exhibition season now in full swing, many event organisers are
he UK Digital Twin Centre has officially opened in Belfast, marking a major milestone in the UK’s digital innovation landscape. Delivered by Digital Catapult and funded by the Belfast Region City Deal and Innovate UK, the project is set to drive the next wave of industrial transformation by accelerating the adoption of digital twin technology across the UK’s critical sectors, projected to reach £62million in GVA for the economy over the next decade.
A Digital Twin is a dynamic virtual representation (‘twin’) of a physical asset, process, or system, bridging the physical and digital worlds. They turn data into real-time insights that can optimise performance, reduce costs, and predict outcomes before they happen. Since funding for the project was announced, Digital Catapult has brought together industry and innovators to identify adoption barriers and strategic interventions.
At the Centre’s opening, the project’s co- investing industry partners – Artemis Technologies, Spirit AeroSystems, and Thales UK – utilised the facilities, including the 360-degree immersive space and advanced technology lab, to demonstrate how digital twins are helping to solve complex operational challenges. These early-stage use cases emphasise the power of cross-sector collaboration to create scalable, practical solutions, ultimately improving product design, building supply chain resilience, and decarbonising operations.
With expert support, test environments and tools to experiment and validate, combined with shared learnings from industry use cases, the Centre offers a practical route to adoption. The first six-month Accelerator Programme is now open for pre- application expressions of interest.
digicat.org.uk/UK-Digital-Twin-Centre
PATENT APPROVAL AWARDED FOR MIST AND ODOUR SCRUBBER
n engineering company that is designing industrial equipment for food manufacturing plants is set to embark on an ambitious UK and European growth drive after being awarded full patent approval for one of its products. FEG Global’s ‘LGC Scrubber’ is changing the way food manufacturing and processing companies operate by removing odour and oil emissions from frying, cooking, coating or seasoning processes - an issue which may otherwise cost firms millions of pounds in legal claims if environmental health standards are not met and complaints are upheld. Unwanted odours and mist particles are a huge consideration for food manufacturers, especially those located close to residential communities and/or producing high volumes of products 24/7. Furthermore, residues left in filtration equipment and ductwork from food manufacturing processes can also increase the risk of fire within any factory setting, meaning that higher insurance premiums can also become a significant cost factor.
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The LGC Scrubber’s patented design includes a combined particulate wet scrubber and gas scrubber that removes both oil mist and odour compounds.
With advanced filtration, mist elimination, recirculation and hygiene features, it can also help firms contribute to the circular economy and open up potential new revenue streams if reusing or selling on the waste material as biofuel once processed.
Chris Williams, Managing Director of FEG Global, explained, “Being awarded the design patent is a huge step forward for FEG Global, especially in relation to supporting food manufacturers, both here in the UK and in Europe by delivering a fit-for- purpose, market-focused solution. We can help solve a significant problem for the industry, regardless of what end-product they are making, as well as help reduce any health and safety risk, with one modular install.”
www.feg-global.com
URGENT NEED TO STRENGTHEN CYBERSECURITY IN CRITICAL WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
pain experienced the largest blackout in its history this past April. Although officially denied, many pointed to a cyberattack as the likely cause of the event, which left millions without electricity for hours. The mere suggestion of this possibility raised an alarming question: What if the water supply were the target of a cyberattack? In fact, cyberattacks designed using artificial intelligence, targeting the cloud and extending into real life, are becoming more frequent globally, according to Fortinet Lab’s 2025 Threat Predictions report. Among the most affected sectors are those that rely on Operational Technology (OT) and critical infrastructure like water systems, where continuous data flow is essential. In response, monitoring and industrial control systems—such as those used in treatment plants and distribution networks— require constant updates to prevent unauthorised access and the manipulation or
S 4 MAY 2025 | PROCESS & CONTROL
deletion of sensitive data, according to Xylem Vue. "Robust incident response strategies, reliable backup systems, and the implementation of proactive security measures—such as network segmentation and multi-factor authentication—are essential to protect critical infrastructure," says Begoña González, Head of Quality and Information Security at Idrica. Xylem Vue has identified four key technology strategies to strengthen water sector cybersecurity in 2025, as detailed in its recently published report Water Technology Trends 2025: Revolutionizing Water Management:
1. Technology upgrades and physical security: To enhance cybersecurity, water sector systems such as SCADA require regular updates to meet modern security standards, including tools like network segmentation and strong authentication protocols. Additionally, remote control stations must be protected
with physical security measures such as surveillance and anti-intrusion systems. 2. Continuous monitoring and real-time risk assessments: Ongoing threat monitoring and real-time risk evaluations are vital to detect and mitigate threats before they escalate. These assessments help identify critical vulnerabilities and allow for more effective preventive actions. When integrated with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems, they are vital to the effectiveness of Security Operations Centers. 3. Strengthening cybersecurity-focused organisational culture: This includes employee training programs and the implementation of strict policies to prevent unauthorised access. 4. Developing resilience and recovery plans: Building redundancy into systems and designing effective recovery plans ensures operational continuity in the face of serious cyberattacks or technical failures.
www.xylem.com/en-us/brand/vue/
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