Industry Spotlightsort by issue
From IEC Young Professional to President of the IEC National Committee of Sweden
An interview with Stina WallströmLast April, Stina Wallström was elected President of Svensk Elstandard (SEK), the IEC National Committee of Sweden. In this position, Wallström is responsible for guiding the...
A belt and braces approach to cyber security
A holistic strategy, combining best practices with testing and certification, is the best way to build cyber resilience.We use the expression “belt and braces” to mean that we are being extra careful about something. The idea is that if our belt breaks unexpectedly, our braces will ensure...
Staying one step ahead
Cyber security and the role of International StandardsInnovation brings new challenges – or, put another way, every silver lining has a cloud. While the Internet has given us connected, smart and interactive technologies, it has also...
From driver to driven – and how to get there
Autonomous driving will become the norm, but when, how and in what form?The internet of things (IoT) – consisting of millions of “sensorized” connected devices and systems – and artificial intelligence (AI) – combining analytics,...
Baby tech boom
The supply of smart devices engulfs the baby tech marketBaby-related technology is increasingly about monitoring newborns from afar using the latest facial recognition tools and artificial intelligence software.
Home smart home
Smart homes drive StandardsThe market for smart home devices and systems is booming. The IEC is helping the various industries involved by publishing a number of Standards in the relevant sectors.
Here comes the sun
Solar PV on the cusp of becoming widespreadSolar photovoltaic (PV) electricity is rapidly increasing its share of global power generation. Technology and production breakthroughs are making it cheaper to manufacture. The IEC is...
Air transport required to clean its acts
Air transport gets more energy efficient as it comes under scrutiny for its environmental impactTransportation is a major source of emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG); air transport is a contributor and efforts have been under way to cut emissions from the sector for many years....
The shape of prints to come
3D printing will turn manufacturing on its headSince the mid-18th century, manufacturing has been affected by technical innovations that have led to the gradual replacement of many craft-based activities by mechanized and automated...
Brave new car world
Our means of transport are changing in drastic waysWhat is the future for cars, buses and trucks? Manufacturers are competing to stay relevant in the years ahead. The IEC is also paving the way with a number of forward-looking...
Texting cows and talking fields
The Internet of agriculture is flourishingImagine getting a text from a cow which is about to calve or from a field to say it needs watering, while drones, smart machinery and mini ‘agribots’ tend to your crops. This...
Relying on AAL for a better life
Systems provide assistance to ageing population aspiring to stay longer independent in their own homesKeeping individuals in need of certain levels of assistance active and living at home as independently and as long as possible is emerging as a major issue in many countries. This...
Energy efficiency trickles down into large applications
Essential in energy-hungry domains such as industry and buildingsAchieving better Electrical Energy Efficiency (EEE) is a very broad task that extends well beyond the more efficient transformation of primary energy, chiefly fossil fuels, into...
Tackling energy efficiency from the start
Better energy efficiency is central to our future energy supply and to sustain growthEnergy efficiency represents the biggest source of untapped energy in the world and, by helping slowing down final energy consumption, one of the main contributors in the reduction of...
Improving access to multimedia content for those with disabilities
Access to multimedia and ICT services for people suffering from impairment is improvingMultimedia content, particularly on TV, and information technology and communication (ICT) services have become central to our lives. Access to these for people suffering from visual or...
Playing and enjoying sport in safe environments
IEC International Standards play a central role in enhancing security at sports venuesMajor international sports events attract huge crowds and universal media coverage, as well as ill-intentioned individuals bent on wreaking havoc. As such they represent a major...
Blending the real and virtual worlds
Industry is increasingly using VR/AR applications creativelyVirtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology is all around us. Whether playing a mind-blowing game, training for surgery, enhancing classroom learning, or stepping inside...
What does the future of urban transport look like?
Policy, regulations and International Standards key to safety, efficiency and durabilityGlobal authorities and industry agree that policy, regulations and International Standards must be established urgently so as to allow fully driverless vehicles and instil consumer...
Safeguarding fast expanding healthcare data
Growing reliance on electronic data in the healthcare environment has security implications for patients and healthcare providersRecent years have witnessed a rapidly growing volume of healthcare-related data being collected from a variety of sources that include patients’ records, and information provided...
Is 4D printing the next step?
3D printing, entering a new dimension3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is the computer-controlled sequential layering of materials to create three‑dimensional shapes. Originally developed more than 30...
International Standards help keep food safe for all
From farms to the plate International Standards ensure consumers enjoy safer foodThe safety of food products is a primary concern for the food industry, the authorities and consumers. Over the years it has improved to such an extent that food poisoning outbreaks...
Finding the right Standards for Smart Grids
The IEC developed tools to help find the right International Standard for Smart Grid with minimal troubleSmart Grids are seen as a necessary solution to overcome issues such as aging grid infrastructures, constantly expanding energy demand and the integration of a growing share of...
Keeping the body shipshape
Healthcare has been relying on electrical systems for decades, recent advances will amplify this trendTreatment of patients has been greatly improving for decades, thanks to a great extent to the introduction of new medical electrical equipment and systems, and improvement on existing...
Non-stop energy harvesting
Energy harvesting is developing fast, supporting innumerable applications and devicesThere is a rapidly increasing range of applications using energy harvesting (EH), the process of collecting low-grade energy from sources such as ambient or waste heat, solar, thermal...
Connecting machines, IoT and the Cloud
ICT is increasingly transforming manufacturing into highly-automated and IT-driven processesManufacturing accounts for around one-sixth of gross world product, which represents a significant contribution to the global economy. Now it is entering a new era in which formerly...
Four wheels good, 2 or 3 wheels better!
The future looks bright for two- and three-wheeled electric vehiclesThe electric power two-wheel vehicle global market is expected to grow significantly, moving beyond e-bikes as a number of large manufacturers will start launching new models of...
Tools for professionals and hobbyists
Electric tools and garden appliances in the home and professional environmentsElectric tools and appliances have invaded the home environment, making light weight of often tedious and difficult chores and making it possible for amateurs to undertake difficult...
Keeping us working and entertained
IEC standardization underpins the IT and multimedia sectorsThe IT, audiovisual and multimedia industries are some of the world's most dynamic. They are worth hundreds of billions of dollars and provide employment to millions across the globe....
AAL helps extend HALE
IEC work is central to global efforts to help the elderly and people with disabilities live a healthier, more active and independent lifeMaking life easier for an ageing population and for people with disabilities is becoming a priority in most countries. ICT (information and communication technology), audio, video and...
Sensing with optical fibres
Fibre optic sensors make industry safer and offer advanced sensing possibilitiesStarting from the first patent of a fibre optic sensor in 1967, fibre optic sensing has become a success story throughout the world. Today, fibre optic point sensors and continuous...
Made in the World redefines trade
Out with "Made in X" or "Made in Y", the future is "Made in the World"Today, unlike a few decades ago, industrial goods are less and less "Made in X" or Made in Y", but they are "Made in the World", even if not labelled as such....
Keeping mature technology in top shape
Proper repair, maintenance and overhaul are essential to keep hydro installations runningWith the share of RE (renewable energy) sources in the global energy generation mix predicted to grow considerably in coming decades, hydropower will continue to make a major...
(E)merging technologies
A handful of new technologies moving from the R&D and lab stages into production and mass markets are set to revolutionize manufacturing.A number of new disruptive technologies, also known as KETs (key enabling technologies), have been the object of extensive R&D for years and even decades in some cases. This holds...
Storage solutions central to renewables
The future of renewable energies will rest on the right mix of storageAs many countries try to increase the share of REs (renewable energies) in their portfolio for producing electricity, a major issue facing utilities is that of EES (electrical energy...
Renewables' impact powers on
Renewable energies have a positive effect in many areas beside electricity generationSteadily growing demand for electricity and efforts to reduce the share of fossil fuels in power generation, so cutting both noxious emissions and dependence on imports, have led to a...
Health-watch on the move
Wearable technologies spread their remitSome wearable electronic devices such as hearing aids, performance monitors (for measuring activity, heart rate, etc.) and headsets have been around for a while. Other electronic...
Personal systems herald "smart mobility"
New systems will introduce personalized modes of transport in urban areasAutomated or "self-driving" personal transport systems are no longer the preserve of science fiction. They are now up and running at several locations around the world. IEC...
Connecting homes, connecting things
Internet of Things to bring major changes in connected homesCommercial and residential buildings are widely expected to become increasingly automated and better connected, allowing them to meet the need to cut energy use as well as to provide...
A lighter greener touch
Lighting the way forwardThe world’s lighting industry is constantly expanding, driven by new lighting technologies, global population growth, increasing urbanization, rising incomes and a desire to check...
Invisible link
Submarine power cables and connecting equipment are central to marine energyGathering marine energy is a complex operation, yet it is only one part of the overall equation. The other less visible yet equally crucial part consists in transferring power from...
Small is beautiful
Small electrical and electronic components and devices are found everywhereThe trend to reduce the size of many systems and devices is gathering pace, driven by cost, energy efficiency and environmental considerations. It is most noticeable in the electrical...
TC work supports medical devices market
Better and safer treatment with medical electrical equipment and systemsThe medical devices industry encompasses a wide range of items and technologies, from the simplest wound dressing to highly sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic equipment. Globally,...
The electric car is already with us!
All car types depend on electrotechnologyPublic attention is turning increasingly to the introduction of electric vehicles of all kinds. Where motor vehicles were originally almost entirely mechanical, they are now complex...
Coping with nature's whims
IEC work helps mitigate consequences of natural phenomenaElectrical installations and supply can be directly and adversely affected by natural phenomena and disasters such as solar storms, hurricanes, extreme cold or heat, bad weather...
Toys in smart clothing
Smart moves boost sales of electronic toysElectric and electronic toys form a small but growing part of the toys and games industry. They are defined as products designed specifically for children for the purpose of...
Placing the barcodes higher
Late inventor's enduring invention started in the sandJoseph Woodland, the inventor of the barcode, passed away aged 91 last December. Although Woodland and his associate Bernard Silver received a US patent for "Classifying Apparatus...
Helping keep power on
IEC standardization work is central to the global expansion of industry and economyIn many countries, everyday services and amenities such as water supply, heating, transport and communications are taken for granted. That is, until a major natural disaster cuts...
Omnipresent interrupters
Interrupters, small and large, can be found everywhere from homes to all industriesInterrupters are used for a wide range of applications and in switching devices from circuit breakers to switches and reclosers. They are essential to the protection of equipment such...
Electroheating: clean and energy-efficient
Find it in everything from metals to foodElectroheating, the high-power heating of material using electrical energy, is widespread in many industrial sectors. It is used for processing elements ranging from metals to glass,...
Game changer for amusement machines
Gaming goes for the personal touchWhile the irresistible global rise of online entertainment is bringing rapid change to the market for commercial amusement machines, businesses are also readjusting to the combined...
Storage for portable devices
Keeping power on the moveThe number of portable consumer electronic devices used for entertainment, communication or computing has grown dramatically in recent decades. This growth has been made possible thanks...
Electric cycles gaining ground worldwide
Fewer wheels, lower costSales of electric cycles are soaring in Asia and several European markets, with consumers attracted by the cheaper purchase and maintenance costs, absence of exhaust emissions and the...
Cutting risks in human-robot interaction
Sensing risks to prevent accidentsIndustrial activity requires tools or equipment that is capable of causing serious injuries or even fatalities if not used with due care. The introduction of automation and robots in...
Integrating home networked devices
Paving the way for the smart gridIntegrating a myriad of networked devices in homes will make daily life more enjoyable and convenient and open up opportunities for managing energy supply and demand sensibly. Work by...
Battle of the bulbs
Cutting domestic bills with energy-efficient lightingMore affordable prices and an increasing range of energy-saving light bulbs are driving consumer take-up of energy-efficient lighting for the home, particularly in Western Europe, North...
Twenty thousand cables under the sea
Power and telecommunication cables expand their scopeElectrical power generation and the primary sources used to produce electricity and their environmental impact, attract a lot of attention. Yet, one key element of power distribution to...
Energy-efficient and cleaner aluminium
Aluminium production is extremely energy-intensive; improving its energy efficiency and cleaning up the process is essentialPrimary aluminium production relies entirely on electrical power, from the processing of ore (mainly bauxite) into the alumina (aluminium oxide) needed to make aluminium by...
Globalized standards
Here to stayReprinted with permission from The Journal from Rockwell Automation and Our Partners, copyright 2011 by Rockwell Automation, Inc. and Putman Media, Inc.Compliance with international...
The 3D printing manufacturing revolution
From mass production to mass customization with additive manufacturing3D printing, also known as AM (additive manufacturing) or RM (rapid manufacturing), was introduced more than two decades ago in the form of RP (rapid prototyping). As it enters...
From bomb disposal to waste disposal…
From bomb disposal to waste disposal…Recent events throughout the world have shown that robots are proving extremely valuable, even irreplaceable, in dealing with the consequences of industrial or natural disasters and...
Doctor Robot, I presume?
Robots are set to revolutionize healthcareThe introduction of robots to the health sector is relatively recent, dating back to the late 1980s. Robots open up many possibilities for patient care: from operations to...
Vanishing chores
Domestic robots challenge remaining household chore strongholdsThe demands of modern life mean that households rely more and more on appliances to carry out a variety of tasks. Furthermore, a rapidly ageing population in all developed countries...
Energy-efficient commercial buildings
The commercial sector uses some 40 % of the energy consumed in the worldThe commercial sector is one of the main consumers of energy – of electric power in particular – in industrialized economies today. As energy efficiency emerges as key to our use of...
From chores to hobbies
Electric tools and garden appliances in the home environmentA variety of electric tools and appliances has changed the home environment. For many, they have transformed often unpleasant chores into rewarding and enjoyable activities. From home...
EVs key to sustainable individual transportation
Electrification is central to the future of transportationWorldwide concerns about diminishing oil supplies and rising oil prices, and the adverse environmental consequences of burning fossil fuels, are leading the quest for more sustainable...
Curbing driver distraction
Over three quarters of road traffic accidents result from some kind of distraction. This can be cut.Driver distraction is not new; it is as old as driving. Driving is a complex task that requires constant attention and complex coordination between mind and body. International...
Electric vehicles: The first 50 years
Early trials and triumphsAs early as 1899, Nikolaus August Ott, inventor of the four-stroke liquid gas engine, was convinced that electric propulsion would eventually have its hour of glory. His forecast was...
Get out the garlic
Holding energy vampires at bayAlmost every household in the developed world has a host of products that constantly suck away at energy, even when they do not appear to be switched on. These so-called energy vampires...
Power supplies and chargers
A new role in energy efficiencySmall economies in energy can be obtained through improved standby control. One area where small is starting to play a new role in energy efficiency is that of power supplies.