UPDATE - The Phoenix innovation magazine

UPDATE - The Phoenix innovation magazine | Phoenix Contact

FACTS AND FIGURES Employment in figures Gender and roles People employed worldwide 3,400,000,000 Annual working hours worldwide 1,354 h in Germany (rank 66, 26 h/week) 2,456 h in Cambodia (rank 1, 47 h/week) 2.5 million 1.4 million 1.3 million The biggest employers (private and state-owned companies) 0.7 million 0.6 million 0.4 million Companies worldwide Walmart Amazon German companies Indian Railways Volkswagen Robert Bosch Schwarz- Gruppe/ Deutsche Post Unusual professions Sheet-music page turner Shout coach for expert shouting Sun cream butler with sun creaming service Dangerous professions Window cleaner on high-rise buildings Ice truck driver Bodyguard 2 UPDATE 2/24 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine Gender distribution – employees worldwide Men 68 % Women 44 % Women in management positions 29 % of management positions are held by women EU countries: top 3 percentages of women in management positions 49% Latvia 43% Poland and Sweden 41% Estonia These countries have the world’s ... ... most women workers ... fewest women workers 52.8% in Zimbabwe 13.4% in Qatar Sector-specific gender distribution in Germany Women Men Social and domestic professions Building construction and civil engineering 84 % 98 % Professions in the healthcare sector (Interior) construction 72 % Cleaning professions 72 % 96 % Building and supply engineering 96 %

Patricia Marrero, Vice President of Organizational Development and Talent Acquisition EDITORIAL It’s all in the mix Dear readers, Phoenix Contact is known for our innovative products, but those innovations would not be possible without our culture based on friendliness, creativity, and trusting partnerships. In this issue of UPDATE, you’ll get to know some of our employees on a more personal level. A few of our apprentices share how they are learning the skills to help customers solve complex, technical problems (page 8). You’ll get deep dives into the lives of an electrical engineer and a firmware engineer, along with a quicker look at some other jobs (page 18). We also highlight the new energy monitoring system in our manufacturing area, which was the result of employee collaboration (page 28). And congratulations to Alex Rose, a Phoenix Contact Electronic Sales Engineer, who represented Samoa in the discus throw at the 2024 Olympics! (page 14). Our workforce is partnering with you, our customers, to empower a smart and sustainable world for future generations. This issue gives you some insight into how we do that. I hope you enjoy reading it! The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 2/24 3

The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine Careers DC engineer | Inventor | Teacher of buildings | Abseiler | HR manager | Platformer A culture based on friendliness, creativity, and trusting partnerships drives Phoenix Contact innovation and success. Competing on the world’s biggest stage 14 4 Apprenticeship offers an alternative career path 08 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT From classroom to career Phoenix Contact’s apprenticeship programs forge paths to success. | 08 ATHLETICS Turning dreams into reality Alex Rose balances career and family on the way to his third Olympic Games. | 14

SIGNPOST The intricacies of firmware 22 Solving PCB puzzles 18 Working together to reduce energy usage 26 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING A DAY IN THE LIFE Putting the pieces into place Electrical engineer Mark Brown solves PCB puzzles. | 18 FIRMWARE ENGINEERING The intersection of hardware and software Lindy Rabinovitz enjoys the full circle of engineering - from conception to implementation. | 22 Phoenix Contact employee perspectives Ever wonder what it’s like to work at Phoenix Contact? | 26 ENERGY Collaboration leads to success Energy monitoring system will save money and improve sustainability. | 28 Editorial | 03 From the industry | 06 Behind the scenes | 33 Legal notice | 35 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 2/24 5

FROM THE INDUSTRY You can admire the vertical sails in action between Rostock, Germany, and Gedser, Denmark Afloat with Flettner’s rotor sails Maritime drive technology He was a teacher, engineer, and inventor. One of his developments is enjoying a renaissance. In the 1920s, Anton Flettner developed a very special way of using the wind as a propulsive force. His Flettner rotors are vertical rotating cylinders that are designed to help reduce diesel consumption by up to 20 percent when installed on the upper deck of ships. Just an exotic idea from an eccentric? Two of the Scandlines ferries that commute between Rostock and Gedser are now fitted with the eye-catching, 30-meter- high metal elements on deck. offshore wind turbines using the E-Ship 1, a cargo ship equipped with four Flettner rotors, since 2010. Two other ships flying the German flag sail the world’s oceans using Flettner rotors. The Swedish ferry company Against the backdrop of the has been successfully using the rotor sails since 2020, reducing carbon emissions by around five percent. Enercon has been supplying its energy revolution, the federal government launched the Flettner Fleet project at the beginning of 2023. The aim is to gain experience with the drive and promote it so that more ships are equipped with vertical rotors. In addition, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is calling for the global merchant fleet to reduce its carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2050. flettnerfleet.com Things are getting tight The dirty top ten thousand Population growth Use of resources According to a recent study by the development organization Oxfam, the richest one percent of the world’s population caused more climate- damaging emissions in 2019 than the world’s entire road traffic. The emissions of the richest people in the world were analyzed. The picture that emerges is clear: The presumed ruling class of the global community, around 63 million people, releases more greenhouse gases through the unchecked use of private jets, luxury travel, yachts, and luxury villas than the entire “bottom” two-thirds of the world’s poorer population, made up of a total of five billion people. At the same time, the wealth gap between rich and poor people is widening. The five richest people in the world alone earn an average of 14 million dollars – per hour. policy-practice.oxfam.org There were 8,073,859,407 people living on this planet at the end of 2023. This was determined by the German Foundation for World Population. The world population increased by around 66 million people. However, growth is gradually slowing down, with one continental exception – Africa. The number of people living there is expected to rise to more than 2.5 billion by 2080. That is, assuming that the climatic conditions allow this, because the large deserts are continuing to expand with climate change. This is reducing the possibilities of food production and causing distribution struggles and migration movements. dsw.org 6 UPDATE 2/24 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

FROM THE INDUSTRY Expensive crypto coins Words have power Digital energy guzzlers Sensors A United Nations University study is drawing attention to a completely undesirable form of the Internet of Things. From the beginning of 2020 to the end of 2021, Bitcoins consumed as much water as would be needed to fill 660,000 Olympic swimming pools. Due to the enormous demand for server power, the energy requirements of this digital currency are enormous. A team of researchers at the United Nations University calculated that Bitcoins alone are responsible for more electricity consumption than Pakistan: They literally account for 173 terawatt-hours. If Bitcoins were a state, they would be the 27th most consuming nation in the world. A total of 45 percent of the energy comes from coal-fired power generation and 21 percent is produced by gas-fired power plants. unu.edu If sensors are to record data, they need a battery for the power supply. Researchers at the ETH Zürich technical university in Switzerland have now developed a purely mechanical sensor. It receives its energy from sound waves, whose vibrations are captured and transferred into electrical micro- pulses. Certain words or sounds generate more energy than others. This means that the sensor can be “calibrated” precisely to the environment. The prototype, for example, can extract more energy from the word “four” than from “three”. “Four” switches a device on, while “three” does nothing. The sensor is made of silicone, which is arranged in microplates. These plates are connected by bars that act like springs. Possible applications range from earthquake monitoring and leak detection to medical devices. ethz.ch Sensor without energy problems Heat makes walls shake Deep geothermal energy We on Earth are actually sitting on an almost inexhaustible source of energy. After all, our mother planet is made of relatively thin crust and a liquid-hot filling, reinforced by a metallic core. What could be more obvious than drilling holes as deep as possible and using the earth’s energy as geothermal energy? However, since it is not possible to use this energy directly, liquid solutions are used that are forced through deep boreholes under high pressure into deep rock layers where they absorb the heat and are forced back up as a hot solution. This artificial energy exchange is not without consequences, though, because human activity changes the underground structures. Germany has also repeatedly experienced earthquakes associated with geothermal energy. The ground-breaking “Siegfried” project in the Lower Rhine Bay area in Germany aims to get to the bottom of this invisible danger – in the truest sense of the word. The aim is to enable more municipalities to use deep geothermal energy as part of the energy revolution. Scientists from the project partners Fraunhofer IEG, Ruhr University Bochum, RWE Power AG, and RWTH Aachen University are working together to link a wide range of data to ultimately make future geothermal projects safer and more sustainable. geothermie.de The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 2/24 7

S tarting a career fresh out of school can be challenging. Employers are looking for experience, but how do you get the experience without the job? An apprenticeship can be the answer. In 2006, Phoenix Contact USA created the Technical Sales Apprenticeship. These apprentices spend 12 to 18 months in a hands-on rotational training program that introduces them to nearly all facets of Phoenix Contact’s business. They spend time in numerous departments, including marketing, industry management, technical service, sales, customer service, Olubukola (Olu) Famuyiwa Olubukola (Olu) Famuyiwa, another recent graduate, described his journey as “zig-zaggy. Originally, I wanted to be a mechanical engineer, because I wanted to deal with cars. I went to community college first, then took a gap year, before I went back to Temple to study industrial and systems engineering.” Olu said finding the Phoenix Contact Technical Sales Apprenticeship offered “the best of both worlds: sales and engineering. The faculty advisor for the industrial engineering program first told me I might want to consider sales engineering, because she thought it would be perfect for me.” and more. Since the program was created, 140 people have Kelli Jo Harrison became a Technical Sales Apprentice in completed the Technical Sales Apprenticeship, and 107 of January 2024. Kelli Jo’s background was in exercise science, them are still with the company. But what is an apprenticeship really like? We asked some past and current Technical Sales Apprentices to find out. Choosing a career path and she originally planned to go to physical therapy school. “I was interested in this field because it was my life as a basketball player, where I tore my ACL in high school. I loved the idea of helping other athletes like me recover from injuries like mine. However, after playing four years of college basketball and then Becca Tu, a recent Technical Sales Apprentice graduate, coaching at the collegiate level for two years after that, I tore studied industrial and systems engineering with a business minor at Virginia Tech. “I was always decent at math and science, so engineering felt like the natural pipeline,” she said. “But in college, I wasn’t sure what industry I wanted to go into.” Becca first heard about the apprenticeship from her dad, who works for Sager Electronics, my second ACL. That is where I saw the reality of what being a PT was and quickly changed my mind.” Kelli Jo first heard about the apprenticeship program from her best friend, Brandy Parker. Brandy started the program in June 2022 and is currently an ISE in Virginia. “I listened to Brandy talk about how much fun she was a Phoenix Contact distributor. “He said this company is pretty having in the program, and also listened to her stress about solid, and they have a good culture, so I checked it out.” the mock sales calls and projects she had coming up,” she 10 UPDATE 2/24 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT “If you don’t know something, don’t let that intimidate you. That should inspire you to be a better listener and lean on people more. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and don’t be afraid to offer a hand to help.” Olu)Famuyiwa said. “Brandy told me that she thought I would do well in this understand everyone has a different background. The The environment, since she and I worked together for four years in Phoenix Contact work culture is laid back. It’s formal, but the service industry. After conducting my own research on the there’s a personal touch to it, and that was culture shock for company, I was intrigued and interested to learn more, to push me.” myself, and use my people skills along the way.” “The rotations cover a wide breadth, so it’s not just Challenges and lessons about the products,” Becca explained. “We went through electronics training where we learned things like how to Apprentices are hit with a lot of information, and absorbing it all wire, the voltage and amperage, and Ohm’s law. Those can be a challenge. details will be helpful when we go out and meet with Becca stated, “Phoenix Contact has 70,000 products. I’m not customers. going to become an expert on every single one of them, especially in a year’s time. The best part of the apprenticeship is that you form these relationships, so if you’re in the field and come across a particular problem, you know who to ask for help.” According to Olu, “Shadowing people in the field solidified everything we learned. That’s where you have these lightbulb moments that click – This is what they were talking about in training.” “Ira Sharp told me if you’re not failing, you’re not learning,” For Kelli Jo, “The most important thing I’ve learned is Olu said. “You learn how to respond to both failure and success. just how important networking is in any situation.” Don’t get too excited when you’re successful, but when you fail, it’s not the end of the world.” Mentors provide advice → “I’m enjoying “the Phoenix Contact culture and just how nice everyone is,” Kelli Jo said. “I have also enjoyed learning from each of the product rotations that I’ve gone through thus Each apprentice works closely with two mentors, one in Harrisburg and another in the field. The mentors support the apprentices as they learn about Phoenix Contact and far and look forward to learning even more over the next six the automation industry. months. Also, I have found my new favorite saying, ‘It’s like drinking from a firehose.’” Olu said he enjoys learning about other people’s stories and sharing his own story. “We’d exchange stories in the café, so you “Our group was close-knit, and we all leaned on each other. If I didn’t understand something, we’d work together to figure it out.” Becca Tu

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Phoenix Contact Apprenticeships: By the numbers Technical Sales Apprenticeship Mechatronics Apprenticeship since 2006 140 Total apprentices 107 15 Former apprentices still with Phoenix Contact Current sales apprentices 13 10 4 Graduates of the mechatronics program Former apprentices still with Phoenix Contact Current mechatronics apprentices Becca praised her mentors, Traci Ramsey and Joni Janovec. “Traci was great at finding opportunities and giving me a clear path and then helping me make it happen,” she said. “Joni is so Factory Now campaign. “We’re trying to become a company known not just for selling terminal blocks and hardware, but a company that can provide services on different levels, whether smart and good at what she does. She gave me advice on how that’s software or solution engineering,” he stated. “I’m to handle myself as a woman in the industry.” excited to be part of that expansion of how Phoenix Contact is “Alex Johnson and Eric Silvestri both helped me through the perceived.” analysis paralysis,” said Olu. “I mentioned failure earlier, and Becca recently moved to Detroit to become an Associate they both helped me through that. They encouraged me that Industrial Sales Engineer for the Great Lakes Region. She said, failure means you’re challenging yourself and growing.” “I’m a pretty competitive person, so I’m ready to go out there Kelli Jo said her mentors, Traci Ramsey and Craig Zavadil, and hit the ground running. I’ll be working closely with Tom “have both been a phenomenal support system in and outside Cooper and Leah Lindsey. I have a lot to learn, and I’m excited of the program. Traci is always there to take me to work when to put their advice into practice.” my car breaks down or just need to talk, whether it be about Kelli Jo still has several more months as an apprentice, the material or just life in general. While Craig is not local but is interested in becoming an ISE, BDAE, or possibly a PSE to Harrisburg, he still pushes me to work as hard as I can. somewhere down the line. She concluded, “I look forward to Shadowing him in his region was also a very good experience learning and using the guidance of my mentors over the next and taught me a lot.” Next steps into the real world Olu has now joined the Factory Automation team, where he is an Associate Business Development Application Engineer in half of the program to help lead me where I am meant to be in this company. I’m thankful to the Phoenix Contact family for being so welcoming and allowing me the opportunity to be part of something worth working hard for.” Chicago. He’s excited about introducing customers to the Digital phoenixcontact.com “If you are willing to learn and have a passion for people, then I think you can thrive.” Kelli Jo Harrison 12 UPDATE 2/24 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

Mechatronics Apprenticeship The Technical Sales Apprenticeship is just one of Phoenix Contact’s apprentice programs. The Mechatronics Apprenticeship began in 2011. This program is a four-year, 8,000-hour program. Phoenix Contact has partnered with Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) to provide an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Mechatronics free of charge to apprentices. The Phoenix Contact Mechatronics Apprenticeship was the first of its kind approved by both the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Department of Labor. Katherine Austad became a Mechatronics Apprentice in 2023. She shares a little bit about her experience in that program: I have always had an aptitude for a more hands-on career. But after Covid, I realized my struggle with sitting down and looking at a screen all day. Not to mention I just enjoy working with my hands. The Mechatronics program interested me because I would be able to get hands-on experience, while also going to college and continuing my education. I really enjoy being able to come in and talk to people of all different ages and all different cultures. I love being able to learn about everything on the floor. When I’m on the floor and something breaks down, I’m very curious about what’s wrong with it or how can you ﬁx it. So far it’s been very educational. A big part of this career is that you will learn to become comfortable with not knowing what is wrong or broken. This encourages you to troubleshoot machines or projects with an open mind, which is a big part of how to ﬁx and adapt to those situations. Coming straight out of high school, it’s been a welcoming experience into adulthood because I get to talk to a lot of people who have had years of experience, and it’s helped me in my personal life, it’s helped me in my work ethic. I really enjoy being able to come in and talk to people of all different ages and all different cultures. That’s something I really enjoy about Phoenix Contact. There are many options when it comes to trade. You just need to explore your options and don’t be afraid of lacking knowledge or disliking other trades. It’s good to be open minded and always ask questions in a technical ﬁeld as well since it is going to help you in the learning process. The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 2/24 1313

Alex’s strong support system includes his wife and parents, along with his in-laws, close friends, and extended family. This article was written before the 2024 Olympic Games. We are excited to update that Alex qualified for the finals and finished 12th with a throw of 61.89 meters. Congratulations on an outstanding performance, Alex! When Alex Rose, electronic sales engineer for Phoenix watched the Olympics on TV. Like many people, Contact USA, was a kid, he and his sister always Alex imagined what it would be like to compete on the world’s biggest athletic stage. “It definitely was in the back of my mind thinking, ‘Oh man, it would be cool to be in the Olympics. This Apolo Anton Ohno is awesome to watch,’” he said. “But it wasn’t truly a goal that that I had the talent to one day compete in the Olympics, so I grinded away. Now, I’m headed to my third Olympic Games.” “In 2021, I was actually the flag bearer for Team Samoa, so I’ve had quite the history of competing for them and representing them, and it’s been incredible,” he stated. Ross Ross, Alex’s father, moved to the United States from the Pacific Island of Samoa when he was 19 years old. He wound up in northern Michigan, where he met Alex’s mother Laurie, and they started a family. Alex has dual citizenship with Samoa, and made a decision early in his career to represent the small Pacific Island since they have never won a medal at the Olympics. you think could happen.” Be present But after years of setting and achieving small goals, one “But I think where my day might differ is that at the end of at a time, the Olympics are no longer a dream for Alex. He the day, I have to start my second job, which is training for the represented Team Samoa in the discus throw in 2016 and Olympics.” In a typical week, Alex tries to throw four days and 2021, and he competed again in August 2024 in the Paris lift three or four days. He stated, “If I can do something to train Summer Olympics. and get a little bit better, I think this day was a success.” “Ten years ago, I graduated college, and I was an All- As an outside sales rep, Alex travels a lot and has to plan American for Central Michigan University, a Division 1 school,” his training carefully. “I have to carefully consider my route he said. “I’d never won an NCAA Championship, but I thought throughout the day or the week. If I know there’s a stretch 16 UPDATE 2/24 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

ATHLETICS where I might be on the road for three and a half hours straight, Goals: Small leads to big I’ll make a note to get out of the car halfway through and stretch to stay mobile. If I’m ending my day in Dearborn, I might use the public track for practice. If it’s a place I’ve never been, Google Maps satellite view is my best friend for finding a place to throw. While very few people will ever compete in the Olympics, Alex believes everyone can benefit from the process of setting health, work, and personal goals. “Don’t be afraid to set both extravagant goals and very small, very achievable goals, because you need both to make And on top of all that, last year, Alex also became a father. progress,” he said. After he sets his large, overarching goal, He says that makes it even more important to manage his time he steps back and looks at what he needs to do on a daily, wisely: “I have to pick and choose when I’m going to really weekly, and monthly basis. “If I know there’s a week where I focus on discus. It’s important for me to be home and have dinner with my wife and be there when we put our son to bed. “When you have a dozen different things you need to check have to travel for a lot of sales calls and I also have a family commitment, I still need to find the time where I can get to the weight room and throw. If you’re checking things off, off the list in a day, you need to be present and focus on just one you’re making progress, and that’s how you reach those big, thing at a time. It helps to ‘home-in’ on the task at hand. My wife intimidating goals at the end of the road.” made me a bracelet that says ‘Be present.’ I wear it everywhere He concluded, “There are challenging moments – absolutely – especially when you have these long days and you have to sacrifice one thing for another. But it’s my passion. It’s a dream come true, that I’ve somehow found it possible to make it all work. I still don’t know how it happenned, but it’s incredibly fun for me.” “Don’t be afraid to set both extravagant goals and very small, very achievable goals.” – in the last two world championships, in the Olympics, if I’m driving, if I’m on a sales call. It’s a lot of juggling, but if you’re present, you can get a lot done.” Handling the pressure Balancing a full-time job, a family, and training can take its toll. “I don’t think there’s a single elite athlete out there who doesn’t feel some type of pressure or have those moments where they think, ‘What am I doing? This hurts more than it feels good.’” Alex stated. “It’s okay to admit that I’m feeling stress or anxiety. That’s the first step to becoming the best version of yourself.” He said he experienced a low point after the 2021 Olympics. He had hoped to make the finals, but got sick and did not. Since then, he took a step back and examined himself. “After 2021, I saw I was putting unhealthy pressure on myself. I leaned into breathing exercises and meditation. Going into 2022, I created a specific “pre-throw” routine that was exactly the same every time: when I take a breath in, when I breathe out, standing at the front of the circle, and I’m closing my eyes. No matter if I’m at the Olympic Games or the World Championships or throwing at some high school after a sales call, it’s exactly the same. And it’s fun – that’s why I’m doing it. Confronting and dealing with the pressure was the first step toward going into my third Olympics now. I’ve made the last two World Championships finals in Eugene and Budapest, placing 8th and 12th, and I credit my development mentally to these achievements.” Alex says his success wouldn’t be possible without a strong support system. This includes not just his wife and immediate family, but his in-laws, closest friends, and extended family. “Without a team around you supporting and truly believing in you, it would be impossible to do what I do. As an athlete, I don’t take vacations like everybody else, because I’m using my vacation time to travel and compete.” The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 2/24 17

For Mark Brown, an electrical engineer at Phoenix Contact, designing circuit board layouts is like solving a puzzle every day. He describes his job: “I basically get to draw, which is nice. Then I also get the opportunity to solve a puzzle. I have all these pieces. I have to make sure that they fit into a confined space, which isn’t always favorable.” not just what’s functionally best for our product. So I have to balance the mechanical restrictions and meet the electrical requirements of the schematic developers.” “Our product and testing quality process involves creating prototypes and then going to our lab to run us through all the paces. We’re not just making sure that it works, Mark works closely with other electrical engineers. He but more importantly that it works under duress – under takes their schematics and uses 3D software to create an actual printed circuit board (PCB) layout. “That requires me to study their schematics and understand the design well enough to be able to put that into the physical space required by our mechanical engineers,” he explained. “The mechanical constraints are usually given by some sort of market research, high temperatures and under unfavorable environmental conditions,” he continued. “Then again, there’s the safety requirement. If the product fails, does it fail in a safe way so it doesn’t create additional hazardous conditions in its environment?” → The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 2/24 19

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING The oil and gas industry is the main focus of Mark’s our documentation system and making sure things were department, so safety is a serious concern. “Oil and gas is a naturally hazardous environment, so that means we can’t just function. We need to function safely, so completing a design has a completely separate set of requirements,” he said. “Our products don’t just connect equipment together, but need to do so in a safe way. these safety appropriately documented, especially certifications that we had already applied for. So we need to be able to present documentation to show that we’re complying for with any safety standards we stamp on our products.” After that project was complete, he helped on several different projects, including the custom junction box During his years at Phoenix Contact, Mark has enjoyed the projects. He explained, “We would take a metal enclosure variety in his work. “With every design, even within the PCB layout process, we’re constantly tackling new, more complex designs,” he stated. “Just because we did something a year ago, we’re now trying to do something twice as well and in half the space. No two projects are alike. Everything has its own unique parameters. There’s a real challenge in balancing mechanical and electrical requirements.” Internship leads to full-time job and put a Phoenix Contact product inside based on whatever configuration the customer wanted. I did that for about a year or two, and then got into doing circuit board layout.” Opportunities for growth Since moving to PCB design, Mark has seen some changes. “Initially, when we designed circuit boards, we would have to go outside the building to get those boards designed and fabricated. We wanted to pull that in-house to match Germany’s Mark began his Phoenix Contact journey as a marketing intern competency. So that meant I had the most free time. Most of in 2011. He said, “I wanted to be an engineering intern, but our established engineers were already well involved in other that position wasn’t open. They said that the marketing position was still engineering-adjacent, so I figured that would be good exposure to get started.” projects, so it was a great opportunity for me because I got to use software that I really didn’t use when I was in college. “But again, I really enjoy doing the circuit board layout,” he At that time, the marketing department was situated near emphasized. “It’s like solving a puzzle every day. I’ve really the engineering group. “When I had free time, I would poke my head in and ask the engineers if they needed any help,” he said. That led to his transition to traditional engineering. After had a chance to grow with it. The designs that we tackled when I first started doing circuit board layout were very simple compared to what we’re dealing with now, and they weren’t his internship, Mark was hired full-time by the engineering necessarily all safety-rated.” department. At that time, the department was in the process of Mark enjoys the diversity of his colleagues at Phoenix standardizing the documentation of products. Contact. “The people come from different backgrounds with Mark recalled, “My first major project was going through different points of view,” he said. “You have some that are coming straight out of college, some who have been in the industry for a long time. That gives you a good mix of wanting to innovate and create something new, while still having a good amount of experience and knowledge about what’s already been done, so that you can find a good solution for whatever problem you’re trying to deal with.” 20 UPDATE 2/24 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

FIRMWARE ENGINEERING The intersection of hardware and software When she was growing up, Lindy Rabinovitz enjoyed watching her father disassemble and repair different items – cars, VCRs, motorcycles, and more. “Despite having no formal engineering training, he had a natural aptitude for it and is one of the smartest people I know,” she recalled. “When I started college, I was unsure of the specific degree I wanted to pursue, but I knew it would be within the STEM field. My path became clear when I joined the Electric Race Car team and became the Battery Manager. The race car team The answer: “A firmware engineer is a specialist who develops and installs software programs for specific hardware systems. They work at the intersection of hardware and software, creating custom solutions to address specialized problems within a company. Think of them as the unsung heroes behind the scenes, powering countless electronic devices with their expertise. In simpler terms, firmware is like software that lives inside hardware, providing instructions for devices to function properly. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to interact was fortunate to have a donation from General Motors of the with our computers, phones, or other modern appliances.” GM EV1 electric motor and charging system. This allowed me Lindy said, “I wish my colleagues at Phoenix Contact to understand the workings of the electric vehicle systems. This experience solidified my decision to pursue the Electrical Engineering path.” Today, Lindy is a firmware engineer at Phoenix Contact. But what does a firmware engineer do? Lindy – who’s Deputy Manager of the Phoenix Contact USA Artificial Intelligence Committee – asked Microsoft Copilot, “How would you describe your job to a non-technical person?” could fully knew the intricacy and depth of the work we do as Firmware Engineers. Our role is not just about writing code; it’s about understanding and integrating complex systems to create efficient and reliable products. Take, for instance, our Axioline and APL products. At first glance, an Axioline I/O might seem like a simple plastic box. However, it’s a sophisticated piece of technology that requires two microcontrollers to function. This complexity extends to every product we develop, → 22

FIRMWARE ENGINEERING Lindy and Nathan Raupach showed Phoenix Contact employees some of the capabilities of AI at a recent wellness fair. each presenting its unique challenges and requiring a deep understanding of both hardware and software. Our work is like I often noticed this large, impressive building on my drives toward the city. I was intrigued by what Phoenix Contact did and solving a complex puzzle where each piece is a line of code or a piece of hardware, and the final picture is the product.” felt a strong pull towards it. Even though the name suggested they might create connectors, I had a deep-seated feeling that this place would become my professional home. When my Career path: From industry to stay-at-home mom and back youngest child was ready to start full-time school, I took it as a After college, Lindy held engineering positions for several large sign to explore opportunities at Phoenix Contact. I searched for companies in the industrial and automotive sectors, developing available positions and, to my delight, found a job that perfectly and integrating software systems. matched my skills and interests.” “After having three children, I chose to take a 12-year break from my career to be a stay-at-home mom,” she stated. Lindy has three daughters: Jocelyn (13), Lexia (11), and Isabelle (9). Lindy’s previous experience proved valuable at Phoenix Contact: “In my first job out of college, I served as a controls and hardware engineer, where I utilized AutoCAD to layout “As my children grew older and more independent, I was ready to return to work and rekindled my love for STEM by joining Phoenix Contact as a firmware software engineer.” systems and programmed PLCs using ladder logic. This experience gave me a unique perspective when transitioning to my current role at Phoenix Contact. Now, I am involved in Lindy joined Phoenix Contact in January 2023, but she says, “My connection with the company started much earlier. We moved to the Harrisburg area in the summer of 2014, and creating new products that are integrated into the PLC systems, such as I/O. It’s fascinating to witness the evolution of an idea into a tangible product and see its application in the field. This → 24 UPDATE 2/24 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

process has enhanced my understanding of the vision and purpose of our products. I find it incredibly rewarding to see the full circle of engineering - from conception to implementation.” Bringing ideas to life In addition to serving on the AI committee, Lindy also volunteers on Phoenix Contact’s Digital Us and Think BIG committees. Her volunteerism has a positive impact on the Phoenix Contact culture, and she enjoys sharing her love of STEM with the fourth-graders at Foose Elementary School. “My favorite projects I have been assigned are technology projects (R&D). I enjoy the opportunities to think outside the box, research, and develop new ideas,” she said. Lindy says the most rewarding part of her job is “the collaborative process of bringing an idea to life. Our team works together to build the products of tomorrow. It’s a fulfilling experience to contribute to the development of a product and subsequently witness its release to the market. Observing how our products are utilized in real-world applications and the impact they make is truly rewarding.” phoenixcontact.com “I find it incredibly rewarding to see the full circle of engineering – from conception to implementation.” Lindy Rabinovitz Firmware engineer at Phoenix Contact As a member of the Think BIG committee, Lindy shares her love of STEM with local fourth-graders. In 2023, Phoenix Contact donated $565,000 to expand the program in Central Pennsylvania. The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 2/24 25

EMPLOYEE PERSPECTIVES A Day in the Life Ever wonder what it’s like to work at Phoenix Contact? A few of our employees from across the organization give us a peek into their work lives. → Carla Parsons, Production Assembler I work on the crimp machine. I do a little bit of everything – from final assembly, electrical testing, solder machines, CS 400 machine, and I’ve also been a team leader. That might be testing cable assemblies or assembling cordsets – wherever I’m needed. All of the people I work with here are wonderful, and we’re close. We do things on the job outside of the job – we go bowling and skating. I had my own business for a while, so I took a break from Phoenix Contact. This is my third time around here. I took my breaks, but I missed working with people. I’m a people person. 26 UPDATE 2/24 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine → Dawson Burnham, Injection Mold Operator I love working at Phoenix Contact because each day is an adventure. I’m excited to work on different orders and part numbers. My job is active and keeps me on my toes. I’m a production operator for the brand-new mold center. I perform quality checks of the product and keep the material system and machines running. I take the finished product down to the pallet loading area so they can be exported to the warehouse. We ship all these products nationally and internationally, and that gives me a feeling that I’m contributing to something greater. The culture here at Phoenix Contact is different from other places where I have worked; People are more outgoing and sociable. The people here are diverse, and they are genuinely kind. The workspace is also wonderfully clean.

→ Denise Gonzalez, Customer Accounts Specialist I take care of customer orders, which makes me a jack of all trades. That can range from processing orders to onboarding new accounts. But at the end of the day, it’s truly about the customer and ensuring they are happy and taken care of. When a customer calls into Phoenix Contact, they get to talk to a person. They’re not dealing with a computer that can’t answer their questions. Management has been great, and I love the work/life balance of working from home. It gives me the flexibility to manage my personal life and career. → Stephan Parker, Endpoint Security Analyst As an endpoint security analyst in our global cybersecurity department, I help to keep all of my colleagues safe online. We help to maintain Phoenix Contact’s cybersecurity posture, so I deal with our antivirus and some privileged access management. My favorite part is the international relationships I’m building. I talk with coworkers in Germany, India, and China, and everyone is extremely friendly. If I have a small question, within seconds, we’re having a Teams call to figure it out together. Cybersecurity is a new field for me, so learning that has been awesome. The people at Phoenix Contact are very welcoming. Everyone is willing to help with each other’s success. My son and I are learning German together. We’re still in the very early stages, but it’s opening my world. → Michele Angelo, Distribution Center Team Leader When we were going through COVID, we helped an automobile plant transfer over to make respirators for the hospitals. Having on-time delivery and the ability to get the product out as fast as we could made a difference for the customer. You can’t beat the on-site perks at Phoenix Contact. The paid holidays and vacation are great, but one of the best perks is the friendliness. To have somebody say, “Hey, how was your day?” And really mean it – I’d never experienced that before. You’re not going to find a better group of people to work with than here. The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 2/24 27

ENERGY Y ou can’t manage what you don’t measure, and that applies to a machine’s energy usage. A machine’s energy usage can impact operations throughout the facility – from the plant technician and supervisor to Collaboration leads to success A project of this size involves many people, but Barry and Russell were key to getting the new system up and running. Each brings different but complementary experience. As facility maintenance staff and up to a C-level decision- a building automation engineer, Russell has many years of maker. With this in mind, Phoenix Contact USA has installed energy- monitoring equipment on several of the machines in its plant. “The goal of our energy monitoring project is to collect the data experience with the hardware and understanding the overall impact that energy usage has on a facility. Barry is a graduate of the Mechatronics Apprenticeship program, so he comes from the manufacturing side of the company. In his new role, we’re getting off the shop floor and use that information to he uses software to analyze data and make informed decisions. make intelligent decisions for our manufacturing processes,” Russell says that he and Barry are like “Two halves of explained Russell Kolacek, Building Automation Engineer at the same process. I handle the hardware side – getting the Phoenix Contact USA. “The main reason we collect data is to make data-driven decisions,” said Barry Carter, Operations Analyst, Production Intelligence. “It takes a lot of the personal opinion out of it, so that everyone’s starting from a baseline and that we’re making sense of the data within the overall context, so everyone can make objective decisions.” metering, wiring, and power monitoring installed, and then hand it off to him to take it the rest of the way to the finish line.” “Russell’s more hardware-oriented, and I’m more software- oriented, but sometimes, we meet in the middle,” Barry stated. “For example, if we have a firmware issue, I generally know how to handle that. But in the old school way, you have to upgrade firmware incrementally, from the old version to the next version, until you get to the newest version. That’s an example of where we met in the middle to find a solution to the problem.” Like many manufacturers, Phoenix Contact is looking for ways to improve energy efficiency in its manufacturing process. 30 UPDATE 2/24 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

Collecting the data At the beginning of its energy monitoring plan, Phoenix Contact identified several machines in its U.S. production facility that consume higher amounts of energy: the wave solder machine, the VARIOFACE Professional (VIP) slice machine, and the collective machines of the Surface-Mount Technology (SMT) assembly line. Basic energy meters can measure and collect system conditions like voltage, current, and power. The wave solder and VIP slice machines only require measuring a single point of power. Here, Phoenix Contact uses the EMpro energy meter. The energy EMpro directly measures the voltage and uses a current transformer to measure how much current is flowing through the machine. Based on these measurements, it calculates how much power is being consumed. The SMT assembly line is more complicated than the other two machines. Phoenix Contact needs to measure and merge multiple circuits and voltage lines. A PLCnext Technology controller and Axioline power monitoring modules collect data for this machine. The PLCnext Control is an open-source, Linux- based controller for edge computing. The PLCnext Control acts as the “brain” of the system. Rather than just gathering the data, it can preprocess the data with scalers, multipliers, and more. It can then send the data to an internal server or external cloud service, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure for further use. As Phoenix Contact continues to refine its own energy monitoring, employees across the entire organization will soon be able to make data-driven decisions. Basic energy meters, like the Phoenix Contact EMpro, can measure and collect system conditions like voltage, current, and power. Analyzing the data Monitoring and collection efforts are only valuable if someone studies that data to identify insights into operations or faults. The information must be easily available to different people across the organization so that they can take the necessary actions to meet their department’s objectives. Getting a clear picture of a machine’s energy usage requires processing that data, via human or automated means. Looking at the machine’s historical consumption, utilization, and throughput/yield will establish a baseline. From here, you can define performance metrics or identify anomalies. To this end, Phoenix Contact has set up databases and an internal microarchitecture (a series of servers running on its own network). The server could potentially hold years of data. To help analyze the data, Phoenix Contact uses its own Emalytics software, an open-source building automation software based on the Niagara Framework. The software helps create a “digital twin,” a digital representation of what’s happening on-premises. A graphical interface makes it easier for the human brain to process the data. → The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 2/24 31

Russell said, “It’s been a pleasure working with Barry on the project. He’s perfect for the position he’s been brought into. His connection with some of the modern software is scripting some of the languages that are used in data collection and data transmission, back and forth.” More complex machines will require a PLC to collect and process data. Rather than just gathering the data, the PLC can preprocess the data with scalers, multipliers, and more. An open control system like PLCnext Technology can then send the data to an internal server or external cloud service, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure for further use. While Phoenix Contact USA is still in the early stages of its energy monitoring journey, the company has already implemented a digital factory in Bad Pyrmont, Germany. The American team is working closely with the German team to implement the best practices already learned. By understanding its energy usage, Phoenix Contact will Within Emalytics, the team can create different user profiles to enable different levels of access. People in different roles can look at the visualizations most relevant to their jobs. They can calculate important information be able to make informed choices to reduce overall energy consumption and better allocate resources. Not only will this pay off with financial benefits, but it will help Phoenix Contact reduce emissions and reach its goal of becoming carbon- like power, electrical characteristics, power factor, and neutral by 2030. reactance values. Phoenix Contact uses an MQTT broker for important notifications. Any software on the network can subscribe to the energy monitoring system. An internal application can Russell concluded, “If you’re able to get together on the same project and cooperate with your teammates, you’re going to have better results.” pull data from the machines to notify team members about phoenixcontact.com anomalies so that they can take action. Taking action: Making data-driven decisions Now that the Phoenix Contact has collected and analyzed the data, team members can use that data to make decisions that impact their daily workload or the company’s bottom line. For example, when looking at the data points for a machine, one of Phoenix Contact’s manufacturing supervisors noticed that the energy monitoring clearly shows when a new shift starts. The power consumption shoots up and stays consistent throughout the shift. The team discovered the baseline power usage, or standby current power, was high. Even when the machine is not producing anything, it consumes about 5 kilowatts of power. The team evaluated whether it was more energy- and cost-efficient to put the machine into sleep mode or to shut the machine down entirely between shifts. Russell and Barry have enjoyed their teamwork. Barry stated, “Russell has been a mentor to me, giving me a lot of advice. He’s helped me see where our worlds mesh in the projects we’ve worked on together.” 32 UPDATE 2/24 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine The energy monitoring data can be made available to anyone who can use the data, from machine operators on the floor to C-level executives. Emalytics software gives employees the visualizations relevant to their jobs.

BEHIND THE SCENES Fostering smart manufacturing in southwestern PA Phoenix Contact is partnering with Penn State’s Digital Foundry at New Kensington to help workers in Westmoreland County, Pa., develop skills for today’s smart manufacturing environment. The Digital Foundry is a regional hub that fosters the growth and economic vitality of Southwestern Pennsylvania through education, training, and the accelerated adoption of digital and smart manufacturing technologies. Students can use real-world automation equipment in a learning space that mimics an actual manufacturing floor. As a Technology Partner at the “Game-Changer” level, Phoenix Contact is providing in-kind donations, such as PLCnext control, Ethernet switches, cables, and other products. In addition, Phoenix Contact employees are providing technical support and education. CESMII, the Smart Manufacturing Institute, has designated the Digital Foundry as one of its Smart Manufacturing Innovation Centers (SMICs). These centers of excellence throughout the U.S. focus on building industry-specific smart manufacturing ecosystems. “At Phoenix Contact, we believe in the promise of smart manufacturing empowered by open technology,” said Louis Grice, vice president of digitalization and government relations at Phoenix Contact USA. “To live up to this promise, we’re proud to support partners like those at the Digital Foundry. They make learning accessible to their community. By doing so, they help grow the knowledge and know-how needed to put leading technologies to work. Together, we’re stronger as we contribute to a bright and sustainable future for U.S. manufacturing and its stakeholders.” Photo Credit: Rebecca Dietrich, Penn State New Kensington PLCnext Technology: Festo and Phoenix Contact enter into strategic technology partnership Festo, manufacturer of pneumatic and electrical automation technology, will use PLCnext Technology, the open ecosystem for modern automation from Phoenix Contact, in future intelligent devices. This will combine the innovative strength of both companies with the aim of taking industrial automation to a new level. The new product generation is expected to be launched at the end of the year. The integration of PLCnext Technology opens up a wide range of opportunities for Festo and its customers. The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 2/24 3333

BEHIND THE SCENES EV solar carport Phoenix Contact USA employees and visitors can now charge electric vehicles (EVs) at charging stations powered by the sun. The company held a “First Plug- In” ceremony today to unveil its new EV solar carport. Up to 10 vehicles can charge at the station at a time. There are four Flo charging stations, each with two charging points. The carport also includes two Jule fast-charging stations, which can charge a vehicle in as little as 30 minutes, depending on conditions. Numerous Phoenix Contact products, including PLCnext Control, power supplies, terminal blocks, relays, and DC charging cables, were used in the installation. 34 UPDATE 2/24 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

Legal notice Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG Corporate Communications Lutz Odewald (Editor-in-Chief) Telephone: +49 5235 3-42153 Email: lodewald@phoenixcontact.com Paula Meier-Galbete (pmg) Senta Pietschmann (sp) Molly McGowan, Editor - USA Design and implementation: Corporate Communications, Graphic Design Jennifer Levering, Graphic Design - USA Image credits: Cover image: © Shutterstock, debra hughes © Shutterstock: 2, 6, 7 14: BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images 15, 16: Courtesy of Alex Rose 18-22: Adobe Stock 18-32, 34: Matt Austad and Brandon Sheaffer, Phoenix Contact USA 33: Rebecca Dietrich, Penn State New Kensington From the industry: Scandlines, ETH Zürich Copyright © 2024 by Phoenix Contact All rights reserved. 35