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This next-generation seal builds on John Crane’s extensive expertise in industrial sealing. (Image source: John Crane)

John Crane, a global leader in rotating equipment solutions and part of Smiths Group plc, has unveiled the Type 93AX Coaxial Separation Seal, a cutting-edge dry gas sealing solution designed to help customers reduce emissions, enhance equipment reliability, and lower operational costs.

This next-generation seal builds on John Crane’s extensive expertise in industrial sealing, offering a robust, fail-safe design that remains operational even under multiple failure scenarios.

Engineered with direct customer input, test data indicates the seal reduces nitrogen consumption by up to 80% compared to conventional radial separation seals, delivering significant efficiency and sustainability benefits.

3 ways the seal helps customers

Contamination is a major cause of dry gas seal failures, contributing significantly to unscheduled maintenance and equipment downtime.

The Type 93AX addresses this challenge by preventing oil ingress from the compressor bearing chamber, thereby minimising risks and supporting continuous, reliable operation.

According to Deloitte, unplanned downtime costs the global process industries an estimated US$50bn annually, with equipment failure accounting for 42% of such disruptions.

In energy and process applications, this translates to average losses of up to US$42mn per facility per year.

The Type 93AX mitigates these performance and financial risks by enhancing the reliability of the dry gas seal system and reducing demand on supporting infrastructure, such as nitrogen generators and air compressors.

The seal is also designed to operate effectively in three distinct scenarios, automatically adapting to failure situations to minimise disruption and contain gas or oil migration.

In standard operation, it provides non-contacting operation for positive oil ingress mitigation. If separation gas is lost, the seal maintains non-contacting operation and oil control.

In the event of a dry gas seal failure, it restricts process gas leakage during compressor shutdown at pressures up to 35 bar, while maintaining seal integrity up to 70 bar.

The Type 93AX also supports sustainability goals by reducing emissions and energy consumption. By cutting nitrogen use by up to 80%, according to test data, it lowers the demand on energy-intensive nitrogen generation systems, reducing both costs and environmental impact.

The International Energy Agency highlights that improving industrial efficiency could reduce global energy use by 12% by 2040, underscoring the significance of solutions like the Type 93AX in advancing operational and environmental objectives.

The company said that its innovations align with regional sustainability initiatives in the Middle East, such as the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy, the Make in the Emirates Initiative, and Saudi Vision 2030’s Saudi Green Initiative, which aim to reduce industrial carbon emissions by over 90% in some cases through public and private sector partnerships.

Mike Eason, Chief Technology Officer at John Crane, said, “Our customers told us they wanted a separation seal that increases safety, efficiency, and reliability. The Type 93AX delivers on these priorities.  It’s designed to keep working in real-world failure conditions to protect their most critical assets, and reduce environmental impact, while driving down OPEX and CAPEX.

“The new seal is compatible with John Crane’s dry gas seal portfolio and is supported by a global network of over 200 facilities, including manufacturing, sales, and services, and 13 global turbo service centers in more than 50 countries.  It can be sold as part of a bundled first-fit order or compressor upgrade or supplied as a stand-alone product to meet customer-specific requirements.”

 

Brady has launched a dedicated online hub focused on Electrical Identification. (Image source: Brady)

Looking for durable, compliant, and time-saving electrical labelling solutions? Brady's new Electrical Identification webpage is the go-to hub for electricians and installers needing expert guidance, professional-grade label printing tools, and compliant cable identification systems.

In the world of electrical installation, accurate labelling and identification are not just helpful—they're essential. Whether you're working on complex wiring systems, commercial fit-outs, or routine maintenance, having the right electrical identification tools can dramatically improve safety, efficiency, and compliance.

To support electricians, contractors, and electrical engineers, Brady has launched a dedicated online hub focused on electrical identification. This new webpage offers expert advice, robust labelling solutions, and practical tools designed to help you get the job done right—first time, every time.

Visit the Electrical Identification hub now!

Why electrical identification is essential

From wire and cable labelling to panel and component identification, professional-grade labelling helps ensure:

• Compliance with regulations

• Clear system layouts for future maintenance and troubleshooting

• Faster fault diagnosis and reduced downtime

• Safer working environments for everyone on site

Brady’s new hub simplifies the selection of electrical label printers, materials, and application techniques, ensuring you find the right solution for any project or environment.

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What’s inside the Electrical Identification Hub?

The Brady EMEA Electrical Identification webpage is a one-stop resource for everything related to electrical labelling and industrial label printing. Here’s what you can expect:

• Electrical label printing solutions – browse professional printers and software built for electrical environments
• Wire, cable & terminal labels – select from heat-shrink, self-laminating, wrap-around, and other specialised label types
• Label selection tools – easily identify the best materials for indoor, outdoor, and industrial conditions
• Tutorials & videos – learn application best practices and get hands-on with printer setup and use
• Durability insights – see which labels resist abrasion, oils, moisture, UV, and extreme temperatures

Why choose Brady for electrical labelling?

With a strong reputation in industrial identification, Brady provides solutions that stand up to the real-world challenges electricians face. Brady products are known for:

• Durability – long-lasting adhesion and print legibility, even in tough conditions

• Smart technology – portable, user-friendly label printers with mobile and desktop connectivity

• Customisation – print on-demand, on-site labels for wires, breakers, junction boxes, and more

• Compliance support – stay aligned with labelling requirements

Brady's tools are trusted by professionals across the industry for their reliability, efficiency, and precision.

Get started with better labelling today

Whether you're preparing a new installation or upgrading an existing system, Brady’s Electrical Identification hub is a powerful resource to help you label faster, smarter, and more confidently.

BRADY EMEA
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www.brady.eu

More than two million Muslims flock to Mecca for the hajj.

With more than two million Muslims set to descend on Mecca for the annual hajj pilgrimage, Aramco Digital, in collaboration with the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) has carried out a successful trial in crowd management using AI and specialised communications services in the Holy Sites

The trial was carried out in partnership with the Supreme Authority for Industrial Security, the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), and Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR).

The initial operational deployment of the 450 MHz mission-critical network combines AI-powered crowd management, secure communications and integrated digital infrastructure to enhance field operations and ensure a safer and more connected pilgrimage experience.

It will enable seamless, real-time voice and video communications, ensuring the quality and continuity of services provided to pilgrims while offering secure, high-efficiency connectivity with instant response, unaffected by network congestion.

The initiative reflects the network’s readiness to operate in complex, high-density environments – enabling in-depth performance analysis, real-time insight generation and faster decision-making across operations.
The system will provide real-time crowd and vehicle analytics, with instant detection of crowd density, vehicle types and movement patterns. Edge AI enables immediate recognition of safety incidents and traffic anomalies, enhancing control, reducing latency and eliminating dependence on the crowd.

By leveraging AI-powered crowd management, secure communications and integrated digital infrastructure in a complex, high density environment, the system sets a new standard in safety and efficiency and is set to enhance co-ordination for future Hajj operations.

The trials were conducted using specialised wireless communication network operating in the 450 MHz band, which was licensed to Aramco Digital in October 2024.

Eid AlHarbi, president of connectivity at Aramco Digital, commented, “The initial operational development of the mission-critical network during this year’s Hajj represented a pivotal milestone in demonstrating the network’s performance and resilience within one of the most operationally intensive and high-density environments. This step supports the broader national rollout, positioning the network as a key enabler for industrial sectors to accelerate their digital transformation in full alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.”

Mark Moffat, CEO of IFS.

IFS, a leading provider of enterprise cloud and Industrial AI software, has launched IFS Nexus Black, a strategic innovation programme to drive ahead AI adoption for industrial organisations

Built on the foundation of IFS.ai, Nexus Black combines advanced AI technologies, deep industrial context and a dedicated delivery team, partnering with customers to tackle bespoke, complex challenges in asset-intensive industries. It enables rapid development and deployment of AI capabilities in a matter of weeks.

Initial use cases include predictive maintenance, manufacturing scheduling optimisation, AI copilots for service and sales, and intelligent automation for finance and supply chain.

Nexus Black benefits include:

• Agile, sprint-based co-creation and prototyping. A proven co-development model that is safe, scalable and fast
• Structured four phase model: Problem Definition; Proof of Value; Accelerated Development; Digital Continuity
• Access to dedicated AI engineers, domain experts, and solution architects, with deep expertise in industrial contexts and enterprise architecture
• Collaboration on agentic AI and contextual intelligence with industrial scalability

IFS’s deep industry footprint and proximity to rich industrial asset data enables the combination of context and AI, resulting in trusted contextual AI into live operations, quickly and securely.

“Too many businesses are stuck choosing between inflexible enterprise tools or niche AI vendors with no roadmap to scale. Nexus Black changes that,” said Mark Moffat, CEO of IFS. “Nexus Black is IFS’s commitment to rapid, high-impact AI innovation for leading industrial organisations. It combines the agility of a start-up with the industrial context, security and delivery strength IFS is known for. It’s how we help our customers leap ahead - not just catch up.”

“AI capabilities like co-pilots and embedded agents are no longer a differentiator, they’re expected,” said Matt Kempson, SVP, Commercial at IFS. “What sets IFS apart is how we apply AI – rapidly, with deep industrial context, and in direct collaboration with our customers. Nexus Black gives us a razor-sharp edge, engaging deeply with complex industrial challenges, rapidly building proof points, and translating innovation into scalable impact across our AI portfolio.”

At its IFS Unleashed event last October, the company highlighted the transformative power of industrial AI and underlined its ambition to become the undisputed category leader in industrial software, for the benefit of all its customers.

 

IFS will also contribute to two major panel discussions. (Image source: WUC2025)

IFS, a provider of enterprise cloud and Industrial AI software, is showcasing its solutions at the World Utilities Congress 2025, taking place in Abu Dhabi from 27-29 May.

At the event, IFS will demonstrate how it is supporting utilities in modernising ageing infrastructure, strengthening operational resilience, and advancing sustainability objectives through a fully integrated Asset Lifecycle Management (ALM) approach.

A central focus will be the use of Industrial AI to transform asset management.

By moving away from reactive maintenance to predictive and prescriptive strategies, IFS’s solutions help utility companies manage assets proactively, cut downtime, optimise investments, and enhance long-term performance.

Earlier this year, IFS launched IFS Cloud 25R1, its latest release that delivers advanced AI capabilities directly to utility professionals, whether on-site or in control rooms.

Designed to address the modern challenges of energy, water, and infrastructure sectors, the platform enables efficient management of assets, personnel, and performance.

In contrast to traditional, fragmented point solutions, IFS integrates key functions such as Enterprise Asset Management (EAM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Field Service Management (FSM), Artificial Intelligence Platforms (AIP), and Industrial AI into one composable platform.

This unified approach eliminates silos and enables smarter, data-driven decisions.

As Middle East utilities push for renewable energy adoption, smart grid deployment, and digital transformation, the demand for operational modernisation and reliability is growing.

IFS will also contribute to two major panel discussions at the World Utilities Congress.

Vijay Jaswal, CTO, APJMEA at IFS, said, "With IFS Cloud 25R1, we are putting industrial AI to work in the places it matters most: on the grid, in the pipeline, and out in the field. This release empowers utilities to predict, prevent, and perform at a level never before possible. Additionally, utility organisations across the Middle East are facing immense pressure to balance rapid infrastructure expansion, energy transition goals, and service reliability. IFS is committed to supporting these organisations with an integrated platform that ensures they remain competitive, compliant, and aligned with both national visions and global energy targets."

Vijay Jaswal will speak at the ‘The Next Frontier: Revolutionizing Water Infrastructure with Smart Innovation and Collaboration’ panel on 28 May, while Andrew Sutherland, Senior Vice President at IFS, will participate in the ‘Driving Scale and Responsible Growth in Carbon Markets’ panel on 29 May.

Senior IFS executives will be available to engage with visitors and showcase the company’s solutions at Booth 6140.

 

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