An electric vehicle without dependence on charging stations - the first steps toward this have been taken: the prototype of a light commercial vehicle is equipped with vehicle-integrated photovoltaics. The energy converted from sunlight can be fed into the high-voltage vehicle electrical system.

At public vending machines, the input screens are usually not cleaned after use - critical from a hygiene point of view. The Fraunhofer Institute FEP and its development partners are now tackling this problem. Their solution: automated, continuous cleaning of touch displays.

The digital transformation of German industry is very evident at the Hannover Messe, which is now almost a Cebit substitute in some areas. We show a selection of I40 and IIoT providers which are worth a virtual visit in 2021 in the digital version starting next week.

At the digital Hanover Fair, Weidmüller is presenting the multifunctional gateway »IoT-Gateway 30«, which on the one hand creates the frequently required connection from the sensor to the cloud and on the other hand lowers operating costs through the acquisition and preprocessing of machine data.

Beckhoff Automation has created an add-on for its TwinCAT 3 automation software - an add-on which the company's PC-based Control uses to communicate with S7 controllers from Siemens. More information is available at the digital Hanover Fair.

In Germany, around twelve million tons of food end up in the trash every year. More than 30 percent of this is already destroyed during the production process. Fraunhofer IGCV wants to change that with the help of artificial intelligence.

Rohm Semiconductor Europe has appointed Wolfram Harnack as its new President, effective April 1, 2021. The previous President, Toshimitsu Suzuki, returns to the headquarters in Japan as General Manager of the European Sales Division.