Readout 98.02 February/March1998

Basic details of most of these companies may be found in the Internet Directory of Instrumentation and Control, as well as in the Directory of Instrumentation in Ireland available from Readout.

Where Numbers (to be entered on the card) are given please e-mail me with this information together with your name, address and contact details (Phone & Fax) remembering that most of these companies will not have the benefit of e-mail as yet. We are set up to relay this type of request for information.

Remember to quote the particular number.

This issue included a survey of companies involved in Service and Maintenance.

News Increased Networking Capabilities Fuel Global Control Valve Growth Valve performance has often been overlooked or even ignored in the past as a critical element in effective process control. Until recently, the empha-sis has been placed almost exclusively on digital control systems, and their ability to perform complex advanced process control and economic optimisation. Much of this emphasis has switched, however, as users realise that without consistent performance from control valves, none of the higher levels of control can be achieved. Consequently, users are installing smart actuators and positioners that enhance valve performance and networking capa-bilities, allowing them to become fully integrated into digital control systems. As users continue to focus on optimising valve performance, smart positioners will be the fastest growing segment of the control valve market, experiencing an annual growth rate exceeding 50 percent. Users are increasingly connecting their valves to plant-wide digital control networks in order to max-imise the benefits of intelligent valve actuators and positioners. By integrating valves into digital control systems, users are able to collect more data from the valve and are therefore able to maximise their efficiency. Intelligent valve actua-tors and positioners control the valveÕs operation as well as communicate information concern-ing the valveÕs status back to the control system. As control valves are increasingly connected to plant-wide digital control networks, valves will become an integral part of the control system. Overall control valve growth will be fuelled over the forecast period by the release of more smart actuators and positioners utilising digital control networks. As control valves continue to become more intelligent and their perceived benefits increase, end users will adopt them for a host of applications, from simple installations for wastewater treatment, to sophisticated functions in the chemical industry. Control valves connected to plant-wide digital networks directly improve process control efficiency through greater accuracy and reliability as well as dramatically reducing maintenance costs through self-diagnostics. Latin America is projected to experience the most dramatic annual growth curve in the worldwide control valve market over the next five years. The recent economic downturn in Southeast Asia has decreased AsiaÕs short-term growth projections but the five year forecast for the entire region remains strong. North America will experience steady growth because of the Clean Air Act Amendments and the GATT and NAFTA agreements. Europe, Middle East & Africa will also experience steady growth as its economy breaks free from its recession. Japan's control valve market will experience the slowest growth rate of the worldÕs major economies as its economic difficulties continue. This information is gleaned from the newly released Worldwide Control Valve Outlook, which is now available from ARC. The study provides market shares of the leading control valve suppliers segment-ed by component, industry and geographic region. Five-year forecasts segmented by region, industry, network protocol and component are also included in the study. Leading control valve sup-pliers throughout the world are profiled, and strategies are presented for excelling in the control valve business. Suppliers and users alike should benefit from the discussions of control valve industry trends, including the impact of smart actuators and positioners and emerging trends in the control valve business. Automation Research Corporation is a leading international market research and management consulting firm focusing exclusively on the industrial automation market-place. ARC provides strategic planning and technology assessment services to major industrial systems integrators, users, and suppliers. Further information can be obtained from ARC, Three Allied Drive, Dedham, MA 02026, USA Tel: (781) 461-9100, Fax (781) 461-9101, email info@arcweb.com Company News High level standard Saab Tank Control is the first manufacturer of tank gauges to achieve ISO 14001 certifica-tion, the industryÕs most rigorous standard for environ-mental management. The cert was awarded at the end of December 1997. Focusing on global environmental thinking, from design to production, from installation to de-commis-sioning, will help minimise the effects on our environment. ÒThis ISO 14001 registration demonstrates our companyÕs continued commitment to the environment,Ó says Kurt Isaksson, company president. ÒEnvironment and safety management is an integral part of our business.Ó Since 1975, Saab has delivered products which protect the environment by preventing overfill and pollution on board tankers and from plants within the oil and chemical industry. The pioneering spirit and technical success in radar-based and non-contact level gauging have made the com-pany a world leader in its field. Saab products are marketed here through Douglas Electronics Systems. Write 7165 on card Hardware for Tallaght Data General has been chosen to supply a complete vUNIX, NT Server and data storage infrastructure for the new Tallaght Hospital (Which will incorporate the Adelaide and the Meath, St Lomans and National ChildrenÕs Hospitals in Dublin). This is the largest hospital ever built here. Their solution was chosen because of the exceptionally high level of resilience offered by its AViiON systems and CLARiiON disk arrays in both UNIX and NT clustering envi-ronments. It will allow the hospital to deploy a consistent server and storage infrastruc-ture in support of all its critical server-based applications with a single point of contact for support and maintenance. Write 7166 on card Analyser Manufacturing simplified By standardising on Parker Hannifin (Hanley Controls) valves and tube fittings, and establishing a corporate supply partnership, ABB Kent-Taylor has substantially reduced material costs for its analyser systems manufacturing operation. The partnership agreement with ABB Kent-Taylor has enabled Parker to stock to meet the company's production needs, greatly improving the efficiency of the supply chain. By eliminating the need to hold stock on site, and cutting the administrative overhead through vendor reduction, ABB has trimmed its purchasing costs for these types of components by as much as 40% while maintain-ing the responsiveness of its manufacturing process. ABB now orders the parts it needs only as it starts to manufacture systems. These are delivered typically within one or two working days, increasingly straight to the point of use on the production line - simplifying the manufacturing cycle of these complex products. A further important spin off from this relationship is increased technical exchange between the companies' specialists. As new designs are begun, ABB and Parker engineers discuss the selection and application of valves, to ensure the best and most cost effective solutions. This approach has already resulted in several modifications which are helping ABB to reduce costs and improve reliability for its customers, notably the customisation of a valve orifice which has minimised problems of scale build-up at a sample isolation point. ABB Kent-Taylor's analytical group manufactures instrumen-tation which provides automa-tic fluid analysis, primarily for applications in the power generation and water/waste-water industries. Instruments are supplied separately as stand-alone units, or may be pre-assembled into custom-designed systems. One of the company's latest analyser systems, built at its Stonehouse plant for a European power station, provides automatic monitoring to ensure that water being treated for the boiler and steam generation is maintained at the required purity levels. Scaling and corrosion are minimised, and contaminants in the steam - likely to affect the balance of the turbine blades - are eliminated. For this project, Parker supplied hundreds of tube fittings and around 100 valves, including needle, ball, check and rotary plug types. At any one time, Parker's distribution centre in Bristol, Dixon Instrumentation, typically stocks some 1000 valve and tube fitting components to meet ABB Kent-Taylor's production requirements. "Our business relationship with Parker has been key to reducing our own instrumenta-tion product costs. Parker's vendor performance has been exceptional, enabling ABB Kent-Taylor to eliminate inventory holdings, and reduce total acquisition costs for these kind of components by around 40%" notes Mark Niblett, Materials Manager, ABB Kent-Taylor. "This partnership started as a way of reducing costs, but has blossomed into a non-adver-sarial relationship which is extremely useful for problem solvingÓ continues Andy Jones, ABB Kent-Taylor's Contracts Manager. ÒIt is helping us to improve and rationalise our valves and fittings designs". Following its initial experience with valves and fittings from Parker Hannifin's Instrumenta-tion Products Division, ABB Kent-Taylor is now widening the relationship to include parts from Parker's other industrial components divisions. Write 7168 on card Action at Eurotherm! Action Instruments, Inc. has announced agreement to be acquired by Eurotherm. The transaction is subject to FTC and shareholder approval. Action Instruments has annual sales of approximately $ 20m and employs about 150 people at its headquarters in San Diego, California. The company was founded 25 years ago by Jim Pinto and has grown into a leading manufac-turer of industrial measurement and control instrumentation products for factory automation and process controls. All Action products are manufactured in San Diego, and sold worldwide through a network of Sales Representatives and Distributors. With 75% of sales in domestic United States, the company has been seeking growth through international expansion - which has led to the link with Eurotherm. Eurotherm - the world's largest manufacturer of industrial temperature controllers - is a publicly held company, headquartered in Britain. Some of the largest existing sales representatives for Action products also sell Eurotherm Chessell recorders. With strong sales in Europe, Eurotherm sales channels provide a significant platform for Action growth in Europe. Together, Action and Eurotherm intend to pursue aggressive growth and expansion in the Far East and Latin American Markets. While the technology, manufacturing, sales channels and customer-base for Action and Eurotherm are very similar, the two companies are indeed very complementary, with only minimal and positive overlap. And the two companies also have a remarkably similar people-culture. Jim Pinto, President and Founder of Action Instruments will assume the role of Chairman of Action, reporting directly to Dr. Peter Wade, the Chief Operating Office of Eurotherm in the UK. During the next year, it is expected that Jim will utilize his technical expertise and industry knowledge and stature to assist Eurotherm with its acquisition strategy and corporate technology developments. In some circles Jim Pinto is regarded as the Poet Lauriat of the I&C industry. Some of his poetry may be viewed from the Readout Poetry page. Smart move at BP leads towards better asset management Early commitment to single instrumentation supplier cuts costs, heralds major long term dividends A forward-looking and radical decision made in 1994 by instrumentation engineers involved in the design and build of a new joint venture plant at BPÕs Hull site is proving to be a key factor in reducing commissioning, equipment costs and long term operating costs, particularly by improving the management of equipment on the plant using latest Asset Management techniques and digital HART communications. The new plant, alongside a distillate fractionate plant making acids that has been on-line for 30 years, comprises an offgas processing unit due to come on line during 1998 and an associated water treatment plant that is already operational. The project is a joint venture between BP, Lurgi and Kvaerner John Brown, and the offgas plant - which incorporates what is believed to be the largest combustion chamber in Europe - contributes massively to a reduction in emissions, enabling BP to meet latest environmental regulations whilst simultaneously generating about 15MW of electricity. In 1994, three I&C engineers, one from each of the joint venture companies, were given the responsibility for developing suitable purchasing and operating strategies for the control and instrumentation on the plant. BPÕs Alastair Anderson is one of those team members and he recalls the opportunities, challenges and risks that situation presented. "We were basically given a clean slate, something that none of us had really experienced before," he says. "We wanted to meter every I/O point. We were aware of HART and what it could offer, but our starting point was really cost reductions in the supply, operation and maintenance of our instrumenta-tion. We needed a single supplier that could meet all - or at least most - of our needs, with the aim of providing significant whole-life savings through inventory reductions, less training, easier maintenance and so on." Overall, some 1000 measurement loops were involved, including 65 smart control valves and 450 analogue measurement points. The need was principally for a single supplier for control valves, analytical instruments, and pressure, temperature, level and flow transmitters, so a list was drawn up and the subsequent trawling process threw up a number of interesting observations, one being that existing preferred suppliers were not in the best position to offer the Ôtotal solutionÕ that was being sought. However, Fisher-Rosemount could offer virtually the whole range of equipment needed, particularly if HART communications became the prime selection factor. "We knew at the outset that digital communications should figure highly in our deliberations. There are other options, but HART is clearly the worldÕs de facto plant standard for smart instruments and we knew this had to be the way to go, although at the time we were unsure of how much benefit it would bring." said Alastair. At this point fate took a hand. Attending a presentation at Fisher-RosemountÕs Leicester facility, Anderson and his colleagues were introduced to what was then known as FMS, a concept that envisaged using HART data from the field in new ways, in particular for 'managing the plant better'. "At that time - even now - HART was mainly used to remotely configure an instrument," says Anderson. "After that it tended to be forgotten until someone wanted to check a field device with a hand-held. F-R were offering a new vision: that the continuous data available from HART-based instruments could be used for real-time on-line diagnostics and therefore for fully proactive maintenance. This was a vision that made sense to us ... even though no one had done it yet! To be honest we were not sure what we could do with it, but we knew this had to be the right way forward. We started negotiations in earnest!" This companies range of HART solutions covered virtually all of BPÕs requirements, including a HART vortex device for air, steam, gas and water monitoring. F-R could also offer a HART-based control valve using the FieldVue intelligent positioner which had recently been tested at BPÕs Sunbury site along with competing devices and found to be suitable for use. The team recognised that valve maintenance was a key issue. Anderson again: "We knew that valves are routinely taken from lines for maintenance just because someone thinks itÕs necessary, based on a knowledge of the process and some vague historical evidence, even though statistics show thereÕs nothing wrong with 30% of them. We reckoned that if we could make more intelligent decisions then we would be onto a winner. So we listed all our valves and got our estimating department to work out the likely whole-life costs. By assuming that just 20% savings might result from using HART positioners we found we could cost-justify the purchase on the basis of a single shut-down! The savings are probably even greater but thereÕs no hard evidence yet." A clearer idea of how HART data could be used appeared during 1996 with the official launch of Asset Management Solutions (AMS), the commercial incarnation of the earlier concept. AMS is a modular software package that is part of the manufacturerÕs PERFORMANCE range of shrink wrapped software for a standard PC workstation. It can be purchased in modules, but its core module maintains a single database of all plant instrumentation and it uses the familiar Windows interface. Configuration of HART instruments can be done directly from the AMS window on the PC workstation or DCS console and the functionality includes device alert monitoring, documentation and auditing facilities, some introduced via SNAP-ON modules bought as required. AMS became a key focus for the team as negotiations took place to ensure that the BP plant would see one of the first AMS implementations in the world. "Again there was some risk to us," says Anderson, "because the software was not complete, but we had time to spare. So, we agreed to act as an assessment site if F-R agreed to ensure our AMS needs were fully met by the time the plant had to be on-line. This resulted in some interesting experiences, but now weÕve got the most up to date package possible. Some facilities are still to come, such as the control valve SNAP-ON, so until that arrives (shortly) we have been using the earlier Valve-Link package on a separate PC, which provides the same functionality though obviously not fully integrated." The AMS work station is a 166Mhz Pentium with 2GB of disk storage and a 17" monitor although Anderson now wishes he had a larger screen due to the amount of information to be displayed. HART signals are brought into this PC from the marshalling cabinets using modular I/O hardware that does not interfere with the analogue 4-20mA control loops. AMS configuration screens are based on a tree directory structure similar to Windows Explorer, with top level ÔfoldersÕ for the plant itself, lower level folders for each of the main process areas and subsequent levels for the field instruments, complete with icons and tag numbers. Various other facilities can be called up from this ÔtreeÕ for example, clicking on an instrument icon brings up a more detailed configuration screen which can be used according to the access facilities granted. On-line changes are possible, and configuration is extremely easy because values are simply entered into boxes and downloaded to the device over the HART loop. Configuration is further simplified by the Ôdrag and dropÕ facility that enables immediate cloning of instruments. "Using these screens is simplicity itself,Ó says Anderson, Òand the functionality you have at your fingertips is quite extraordinary." During the project, things have not always run as expected: for example, it was found that valve commissioning costs were higher than predicted because of the extra work involved in obtaining a valve ÔsignatureÕ - the operating data taken from a new unit that is used as a reference for future measurements so that changes can be monitored. However, valves could be electronically trimmed from the AMS console. Another bonus was that it was discovered that the smart instruments delivered by Fisher-Rosemount actually needed no site testing before use, so now they are simply installed by the contractors then handed over for configuration via the AMS console. Anderson says that as many as 20 analogue loops can be commissioned per day as a result. And, yes, he does still believe that the 20% saving in whole-life valve costs is more than achievable. He recalls that at the start no-one really knew how the project would end up and admits that the C&I team stuck their necks out quite a bit. "At times, things have been on the edge but thereÕs no-one here who thinks we made a mistake. Quite the contrary in fact, as three other major site investments at Hull are all looking seriously at HART and AMS now before our plant is fully operational, which really sums up what this all has been about." Inside Front InTrack on track! Tom Reaney of Pantek was recently interviewed by Eoin î Riain discussing this WonderWare Product. News from the Net I&C News from the InterNet.

The Instrument People Cable & Wireless (Ireland) has appointed Ciar‡n Kelly as sales and marketing director. He rejoins the company from International Digital Communications Inc., the Cable & Wireless associate company in Japan. Furness Controls, a world leader in supplying low pressure measurement instruments has announced the appointment of Keith Phillips as Sales Manager. ISA 1997 Honours and Awards Ceremony At a special ceremony on the 29th January 1998 the Minister at the Department of the Environment, Mr Dan Wallace T.D., presented these annual awards. Recipients came from all parts of the country. The Ceremony was held in the august surroundings of the Common Room in University College Cork. The five categories of awards and the names of the recipients are as follows: Craft Apprentice Award: Michael Wolf, (Flomeaco Company, Clane), Clane, Co. Kildare. Technician Award: Bridget Kane, (Diploma student at GCIT Galway), Renvyle, Conamara, Co Galway. Technologist : Kevin McCafferey, (Honours Bsc student at University of Kingston, London), Loughrea, Co Galway. Instrument Pioneer Award: John Looney, (ex Irish Refining, Cork), Rostellan, Co. Cork. Ger Dullea Award and Bursary: Noel Lenehan, (Project Management Ltd., Cork), Cork City. Sponsors of the event were: ABB, Jacobs Engineering, Pat Murphy Industrial, Pegler & Louden Ireland, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Project Management, The O'Shea Group, Unifi Textured Yarns, Valve Services. Exhibition & Conference News Don't miss the shows ISA Ireland'98 28th April 1998 I&C Ireland'98 RDS, Dublin 11-12 Nov 1998 Be there! SDL & Readout Tel: 01 4900600 Fax: 01 4908943 More Shows. Maintenance Show Ireland's first National Maintenance Management Exhibition & Conference will be held in DublinÕs RDS on May 27th to 29th, 1998. The exhibition will feature companies supplying pro-ducts and services to the Engineering and Maintenance industry. Exhibitors from Ireland and Britain will converge on the RDS to make it easy for Engineers to see the latest and best in this important area. The Conference is entitled ÒIncreasing Efficiency in a demanding Climate,Ó and will be addressed by engineers from all walks of industry giving papers and case studies of real developments made within companies and organisations in Europe. Among the speakers scheduled are Kevin McConnell of Smurfit Ireland talking about the success of multi-skilling, Des Fox of Bourns Electronics on TPM the way forward and Jim Short of Weston Vinyl on asset management elimi-nating losses in maintenance. This Conference will give delegates insights to the methods that have worked for others and highlight the pitfalls faced by managers and engineers throughout the maintenance industry. More details on 01 874 4180 or fax 01 874 4979. Birmingham Show Control & Instrumentation is reverting to its UK format after a very successful European show last year. This popular show with Irish visitors is happening again on 28th to 30th April. A series of British Department of Trade & Industry advisory guides are to be launched. These Guides are aimed at all those involved with the determination of mass and weight, users of pressure and vacuum measuring instruments and users of force instrumentation. More details on ourC&I UK Page Training opportunities Training in Ireland. Pantek has obtained FçS approval for training courses and will be offering scheduled training courses at locations throughout Ireland starting in April 1998. The initial course will be an InTouch FastTrack to be held in April in Galway. If you want details - Call Tom Reaney (see page 2) Wonderware User Group & SI meeting, April 7&8, Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone. Water. A link will be added to the Pantek web site www.pantek.co.uk/water which will contain information related to the water industry in Ireland - presentations, whitepaper, sample InTouch screens etc. Pneumatics Ltd have several courses available and have published a Seminar Plan. The first courses start in late March. Phone 01 4568111 for details. Product News Free Guide DAQ Designerª, from National Instruments (IMEX), is a free systems configuration tool that reduces the complexity and time it takes to configure a PC-based data acquisition system and assures that system developers have the right plug-in boards, signal conditioning products, cable assemblies, and software packages for their application. Write 7160 on card. Smart data capture New from Eurotherm Irl is their Paperless Chessell 4100G Graphics Data Recorder featuring a TFT colour touch-screen - with the highest resolution of any comparable product - designed to give exceptional viewing angle and clarity of process data. This unit is designed for ÒPlug and PlayÓ installation and requires no specialist operator training. Its low price and low cost of ownership makes the recorder the ideal economic solution for production and test environments. For flexible data handling there is a unique choice of integrated floppy disk or PC Card type 3 with removable hard disk capability of over 300Mb. A ModBus comms link allows integration to plant auto-mation systems. At the Touch of a Screen, with up to 12 universal inputs capability, the high definition displays allow selection of trend, bar graph, numerical or alarm summary view of the process - and rapid analysis of past history - all at the touch of the screen. Comprehensive built-in calculation software - including maths, timers, totalisers and counters - complete the high functiona-lity of the product. It is built for harsh industrial environments with IP65 protection and full CE com-plience and a shallow DIN 144 size for convenient fast upgrades. Write 7169 on card High-density intrinsic safety modules A new range of intrinsic safety galvanic isolators from Elcon Instruments (Insteco Ltd) provides control system builders with the means to cut the number of cabinets needed for interfacing to hazardous areas, and make substantial savings in assembly and maintenance. Packing as many as four channels into an 18mm-wide plug-in module, compared with the one or two channels common today, the range makes it possible to construct Exi interfaces with exception-ally small footprints. Further space savings are gained by the range of termination boards for mounting modules which incorporate loop-disconnect terminals on one side and a cross-wiring area on the other. These features eliminate the need for separate marshalling cabinets to house physical-to-logical I/O channel wiring, and 'knife-edge' terminals for isolation and test. Dubbed the Series HiD 2000, the new digital and analog interface range builds on the success of Elcon's Series 1000, the world's first plug-together galvanic isolation system - with hundreds of thousands of channels installed since 1989. This experience has led Elcon to design a successor offering detail improvements to virtually every aspect of hazardous area interfacing. Among the enhancements to the modular system is a 'no tools' assembly method. Integral plastic lugs allow modules to be clipped on the termination board without screws - speeding assembly and maintenance. Another improvement is provision for a plug-on fault detection module on each termination board. This simple logic device continually monitors the fault output signals available from the galvanic isolators, and relays any alarm to the PC, PLC or DCS (distributed control system) host, boosting plant integrity and simplifying maintenance. Careful attention has also been paid to the isolator case moulding, which features a clear plastic tag holder on the top that hinges open to accept an identification label. Beside this are the module's array of signal and fault status LEDs, and simple switch configura-tion settings. These features provide commissioning and maintenance staff with instant visibility of module function and operational condition. Connection to the I/O channels of particular control systems is simplified by termination boards incorporating interface adapters for popular DCSs and PLCs. This approach gives 'fast track' flexibility to projects, allowing Exi field interface cabinet(s) to be installed and wired up on site without the control system. Once the control system arrives, final connections can be made in minutes using standard cable sets. The technique also greatly simplifies the pre-installation phases of a control project, simplifying documentation and allowing modifications to the I/O configuration to be made up to the last minute. A choice of HiD modules, covering all standard digital and analog I/O signal types, is available from Elcon. Digital versions offer up to four channels per module; analog modules up to two. Single channel versions of both interface types are available for critical I/O functions demanding individual loop integrity, such as ESD (emergency shut-down) and F&G (fire and gas) systems. Write 7170 on card Waveform Generator Wavetek's new Model 39 Universal Waveform Generator creates virtually any waveform imaginable at sample rates as high as thirty samples/s. Its 65,536 point waveform memory, twelve bit amplitude resolution and waveform link-ing, looping and triggering capabilities allow it to generate synthesised waveforms for applications as diverse as automotive testing, biomedical research and telecommunica-tions. Yet it is simple enough to be used as a general purpose tool in labs and repair departments. "The Model 39 is the first arbitrary waveform generator to combine low cost, extreme flexibility and exceptional ease-of-use in a single unit," said product manager, Jim Wookey. ÒWe've made it even easier to use by supporting it with Wavetek's advanced DSP2 PC-based waveform capture and generation software,Ó he added. In addition to complex arbitrary waveforms and pulse trains containing up to ten independently programmable pulses, the Model 39 produces a wide range of standard waveforms including sine, cosine, haversine, havercosine, triangle, ramp and sinx/x outputs. Sequences of up to four waveforms can be defined with each waveform being repeated between one and 32,768 times before the next waveform starts. As many as fifty user-defined waveforms can be stored in non-volatile memory and recalled by name. Any of four trigger inputs (external, internal, manual or bus controlled) can initiate single-shot, burst-mode or frequency sweep outputs, or be used to gate the output signal. In addition to stand alone operation, the Model 39 has unprecedented phase locking and waveform summing capabilities for an instrument that costs less than £1,200. Multiple units can be phased locked to a single clock signal in order to generate multi-phase outputs, while the summing and modulation inputs allow the generation of multi-tone and amplitude modulated signals. IEEE-488 and RS232 interfaces are standard on the Model 39, with the DSP2 waveform software being an optional extra. The Model 39 is available through Euro Electronics. Write 7173 on card EMC test system A versatile new system for testing immunity to conducted interference is being launched by Schaffner. System 2050 combines a mainframe unit with a series of plug-in networks and extension units, to create a user-configured set-up to meet standard or custom test specifications. The versatility and cost-effective-ness of the system lies in its modular, open architecture design which allows it to be upgraded, expanded or modified at any time. System 2050 is designed for a wide range of immunity testing applications including design and manufacture of industrial electronics, office automation, telecom equip-ment, domestic appliances, medical equipment and components. It will be used by in-house design and test laboratories, as well as specialist EMC test houses all over the world, for charac-terisation of new designs, pre-compliance and full compli-ance testing for product certification. Its wide capabil-ity covers compliance testing to the European generic standards EN 50082-1 and -2 and related product standards, as well as basic standards such as IEC 1000-4-x and ANSI-IEEE. Telecom options allow testing to CCITT, FCC, ETSI and Bellcore specifications and special modules are available for component testing. The system can be configured for testing immunity to inter-ference on single-phase and three-phase power-lines, data lines and telecom lines. The extensive range of plug-in modules and extension units available for System 2050 includes surge and burst pulse generators, networks and sources for simulation of variations in the power supply, single-phase and three-phase coupling units, data-line and telecom line couplers. The System 2050 mainframe control unit automatically recognises which plug-ins and extensions are in place, offering appropriate menu options and providing integrated control for the entire system via front-panel screen and key-pad, or optional remote PC. Intuitive Windows-based control software supplied as part of the PC control option for System 2050 gives the user access to a wide range of test management functions includ-ing customisation, test sequencing for automatic execution, storage of test programmes and results. Test reporting facilities allow test reports - for compliance with regulations, engineering records or quality procedures - to be produced automatically. System 2050 configurations can start with single-crate installations, which can be expanded at any time by adding further modules and extension units, or by integrating other specialist Schaffner immunity test instrumentation, radiated interference test equipment and/or third party instrumen-tation, in a fully automated system. Write 7174 on card New Pressure Transmitters New design and optimum technology protect the pressure transmitter against damage and inaccurate measuring results. The more automation, the more important becomes the reliabil-ity of the components that measure, regulate and monitor processes. A new component costs money; downtown because of replacement costs even more. All this also applies to pressure transmitters which, when installed in connection with a valve or pump, are often subjected to violent pressure surges or Òliquid hammerÓ. In worst case these phenomena can damage the transmitter or make its measurements unreliable. To prevent such consequences, Danfoss (J.J. Sampson and Son) has now developed a new range of heavy-duty pressure transmitters which - irrespec-tive of the pressure effects they are exposed to - give accurate and reliable pressure measurements year after year without recalibration or adjustment. Write 7176 on card Universal temperature converter The new MCR-T program-mable temperature converter by Phoenix Contact (PCAS) now converts temperature signals from all commercially available resistance thermo-meters and thermoelements within a temperature range from -200¡C to 850¡C and -200¡C to 2300¡C respectively into analogue standard signals . In addition to the analogue output, the converter possesses a switching output with two independent switching points and different switching behaviour for monitoring limits. The desired transfer behaviour can be set-up with a laptop and the MCR-Conf-Win Windows interface. Tempera-ture signals can be displayed for fault diagnosis during the commissioning procedure. A linearisation precision moving within ranges of less than 0.05K and a temperature drift of less than 0.005% K provide for signal processing. The programming interface on the front simplifies commis-sioning and service work as does the plug-in connector technology used in their 17.5 mm wide housing. Write 7177 on card Small DCS applications A new Moore Products miniDCS in the APACSª FieldNetª family that combines the functionality of a small DCS and a PLC with powerful communications and a graphical operator work station in one compact, panel mounting unit. Available from DWN it is designed to handle unit control applications such as filter monitoring and backwash control, compressor surge control and interlocks, combustion control and burner management for packaged plant, APACS 354 Universal Control Station provides up to 25 process control loops and extensive sequence control configured by a highly intuitive integrated suite of function block and ladder logic programming tools. Write 7178 on card Integrated Solution Rockwell Automation is launching a highly integrated control and man-machine interface solution for process control applications. This new system combines technologies developed in its Allen-Bradley and Rockwell Software prod-ucts together with technologies from Honewell Industrial Control to expand the suite of Rockwell ProcessLogixª offerings for process control. ÒThe resulting solution will significantly extend the breadth of control capabilities we offer to process industries,Ó said Jodie Glore, Rockwell Chief. ÒWithin the markets we currently serve, we will expand the process solutions we provide our customers, and also answer the needs of customers in new markets.Ó Honewell boss, Markos Tambakeras adds, ÒRockwell world-class sales and distribution network is an excellent channel for bringing our joint hybrid process control technologies to market, and Honeywell is excited about this new opportunity for co-operation.Ó The system extends both the existing ControlLogix control architecture and the 32 Bit Rockwell Software system. ControlLogix is the state-of-the-art Allen-Bradley control platform for sequential, motion, process and drive system applications. Their 32 Bit software system offers a comprehensive environment for control and information integration. The Honeywell components will initially comprise, but are not limited to, elements of their recently announced hybrid process control system. They offer a series of solutions that combine tightly coupled process controllers and process technologies from Honeywell with ControlLogix components and RSView MMI, allowing customers to more successfully solve integrated control applications. The system is targeted at pro-cess applications in the small to medium range such as fine chemical, food, beverage and pharmaceutical. The system will have significant appeal to those customers wishing to simplify their control architec-tures where currently multiple control technologies (sequen-tial, process, motion and drive) co-exist. The system uses open technologies such as Windows NT and ControlNet. Write 7179 on card I/O Migrates to the field! Tony Mahon of Pegler and Louden told us of an interesting development recently. The advent of microprocessor based control systems the process industry has consis-tently increased its dependence on automation. major DCS and PLC manufacturers have now addressed the need to provide accessible gateways for communication to their control systems. Westlock Controls as a sub-system supplier is now able to interface with DCS or PLC and via the Intellis System offer a different approach to address-sing the field valve issue. The Intellis System allows for each loop of up to 100 on/off valves to be serially connected over distances of up to 1000 metres. Communications on a high speed baseband RS485 bus network, with baud rate of 9600, between the valve monitors (Quantum IQÕs) is controlled by the Network Interface Manager. The benefits to the customer of Westlock Intellis installation start with dramatic savings in the field wiring, installation and engineering, of the on/off valve requirement. Networking of the valves notifies of loop breaks without going off line, whilst also providing simple collection of real time data for the valves, thus providing an invaluable maintenance diagnostic tool. Write 7180 on card.

The Internet Directory of Instrumentation is the world wide Directory of Instrumentation and Control launched by BDI in May 1995.

The Instrumentation Signpost has interesting pointers for the I&C Professional.