Instrumentation and Control News

Please send items of Interest by e-mail to Readout. We will only put a limited amount of information on here however we will also put links in where appropriate.

January'96 News [] February'96 News [] March'96 News [] April'96 News

The links on these old News Pages may be changed or expired since the page first appeared. Little if any editing is done on these.

News is also accessible from back numbers of Readout see the Readout Home Page.

The ISA also mantains an M&C News Page which mostly contains news of North American developments.
We are hosting a C&I Review Page giving details of new products and services at Britain's premier I&C Show.

  • First ever triaxial accelerometers with factory replaceable transducer elements - Endevco has announced the model 2258AM2 series, ISOTRON piezoelectric accelorometers with inteegral electronics designed for measuring vibration in three orthogonal axes on small structures. Applications include aerospace and automobile industries. Talk to Paul Marchant on +44 1763 261311.
  • New Software toolset for Motorola Processor - A new and complete solution for programming of all varients of Motorola's high precision DSP56000 family of digital signal processors which is believed to outperform competitors by 40% in terms of both code denisty and speed. More information from Great Western Microsystems.
  • EMI counter measures guide for SM boards - A new free, 40 page guide dedicated to solutions for eliminating EMI/RFI from surface mount boards has been published by Flint EMC. Fax +44 1530 510275.
  • Fuel & Vehicle Emisions Study - The European Auto-Oil conference will examine the interrelationship between fuel standards, engine design and airquality in London on 12th July 1996. Details available from the Inst. of Petroleum on +44 171 4677100.
  • New Time-of-Flight Flow Meters - have been introduced by Micronics. These PortaFlow instruments are easy to program working on pipe sizes from 13mm to 215mm. The hand-held instruments are either battery or mains powered. More information from Steven Farnon on +44 1628 810456.
  • Unique UPS in Europe - Powerdirect is the first direct supplier in Europe of Uninterruptible Power Supplies. These UPS's fuly comply with TUV and IEC standards with a 5 year warrenty on parts and 2 years on batteries. Enquiries and more information from Tony Sheridan.
  • CiA approves DeviceNet - The Open DeviceNet Vendor Association newsletter announces the endorsement of DeviceNet as an approved industrial automation protocol by CiA, CAN in Automation. ODVA will begin using CiA to destribute DeviceNet in Europe which will provide significent price reductions for users. (See details of CiA conference on the Fieldbus Page -bottom of page )
  • Joint Euro/American Venture - Action Instruments and Weidmueller have announced the formation of a joint venture, Conntext Inc which will provide software tools and hardware for the implementation of distributed I/O and control networks. (31/5/96)
  • Ireland's Results - It would appear that 1995 was an excellent year for growth in exports, according to data issued last week by the Central Statistics Office. Exports rose 20% to reach a record IR27b while imports increased 17% to IR20b. Not surprisingly, Ireland's hi-tech companies contributed most to the increase in exports. All in all, this added up to a leap of 30% in the trade surplus over that reported in the previous year. (30/5/96)
  • Ursula Wiegand R.I.P. We are sad to report the death of Mrs Ursula Wiegand of the firm Alexander Wiegand(WIKA) at the age of 59. Her courage and spirit in leading her company after the tragic assasination of her husband, Dr. Konrad Wiegand was rewarded in the phenomanal growth of the company to become Europe's largest pressure gauge manufacturer. She is succeeded in the company by her son Alexander and Juerg Keller. (29/5/96)
  • CAN in Automation (CiA), the international users and manufacturers group for CAN organises the 3rd Intrnational CAN Conference (ICC) which is scheduled for 1st and 2nd October in Paris. It is organised to parallel the Industrial Control Programming Confereencee and the International Embedded Computing Conference at the same venue. (More details on the Fieldbus Page.)
  • C&I Changes gear - In a rapidly changing marketplace C&I have announced some changes in the focus for this important show in the last years of this centuary. 1997 will be called C&I Europe and will be the only Large Instrumentation Show in Europe during that year. The following two years will be C&I UK with a ceiling placed on stand sizes and dedicated to the UK market primarily and in the year 2000 the show will again be an Europe Focussed event.
  • LonWorks released freely - Echalon, the LonWorks Company, has announced that it will freely license the LonWorks protocol for implimentation on any platform. Previously available on the Neuron chip supplied by Motorola and Toshiba, the move will allow LonWorks' control networking facilities to be made available on any kindf of processor - from low-cost microcontrollers to powerful 32-bit or RISC systems - to satisfy a much broader range of applications.
  • Unlimited management view stations - Wizcon Server from PC Soft International, supports unlimited management access to live plant data in their supervisory control system by using client-server architecture to send data to management view systems on request.
  • Particle Sizing Advances - The Ultrasizer laboratory instrument was launched at C&I by Malvern Instruments and for the first time it is now possible to determine particle size distributions directly in high concentration samples. This is believed to be a major advance. More details from Jan Rawle on +44 1684 892456.
  • InterBus-S Product - Phoenix Contact have extended their InterBus-S product range with the introduction of the sensor/actuator box offering flxible field wiring and comprehensive use of plugabble connections from the control system to the sensor actuator.
  • Links "real world" and MIS computing functions - Hexatec Systems believes it is the first British based SCADA manufacturer to announce support for OLE. It is providing effectively unlimited scope for automating plant and process operations and providing managers with the information they need to run the overall business more efficiently.
  • EMC - A Consultant at your Desk - The EMC'96 Referance Handbook and Directory is more than just another directory. It is packed with useful information releevent to EMC. The amount of verbiage written in the last year about this contentious issue is possibly only exceeded by that engendered by the launch of Windows'95. This 176 page production is available from The Federation of the Electronics Industry and has also been published with the support of the British Department of Trade and Industry.
  • Demonstration Software - A demonstration of Streamer (data acquisition software for Windows) can now be downloaded from Biodata's World Wide Web site. The demo is identical to the real program, working with software generated signals rather than actual hardware signals. (28/5/96)
  • Meet Europe and COMMUNICHATE - is the rather unfortunate pun used by Munich Fairs to promote the Systems'96 trade fair in that city from 21 to 25 October. This is the 15th International Trade Fair and Congress for Information Technology and Telecommunications.
  • Serial Bus controls flying - PEP Modular Computers has introduced an advanced, serial bus module conforming to the MIL-STD-1553 standard on a VMEbus card. The V1553B provides two dual-redundancy serial channels of electrically isolated I/O at up to 1 Mbit/s transfer rate as defined in open bus specification. The 1553 serial bus was invented as a robust, fault-resistant control and communications channel on military aircraft.
  • World's smallest 40W ac/dc power supply is EMC complient - Computer Products' latest-generation power supply employs an innovative boost topology that produces 36% more output power per unit volume than any previous or competing model. Known as the NLP40 it is the smallest 40W ac/dc unit in the world.
  • ODVA Newsletter - Published this month is 'DeviceNet News' from the Open DeviceNet Vendor Association giving the latest developments of this group. Copies available from Bill Moss the Executive Director.
  • New CD for Automation Customers - Intellution has introduced its Co-operative Automation Partner (CAP) CD, which is available to the company's worldwide customer base and will also be included in all future shipments of their FIX software.
  • One Stop Shopping for automation designers - Parker-digiplan has launched a new framing system on the European market that provides a particularly cost-effective foundation for industrial automation. Known as ParFrame, the system includes an extensive range of aluminium extrusion profiles, with hundreds of different types of connecting components and accessories.
  • PC Engineering News - A comprehensive newsletter has been issued by Integrated Measurement Systems, British Distributers of Adventech. They are also now available on the internet at sales@imsuk.demon.co.uk.
  • ICE for cost-conscious developers - The new Kontron DProbe 386EX is a sophisticated tool supporting real and protected modes transparently, and supporting all speed and voltage varients of the Intel386EX from a single instrument. More details from John Legg at Great Western Micro Systems.
  • Moore Products in Europe - Mike Eyre has joined the board of Moore Products UK ltd with responsibility for sales and marketing Europe Wide.
  • British meter maintenance contract awarded - Southampton-based Kenda Electronic Systems has been awarded a major contract by National Power for maintaining its nationwide network of meters.
  • Non-Contact Temperature Sensors - Exergen's non-contact infrared temperature sensors provide cost effective temperature measurement and control for more applications than ever before. Call +1 617 923 9900.
  • Peripharal Vision to clarify network - HBM announced that it will be launching the full version of its new network management software package, 'PeripharalVision' at the Networks'96 show in Birmingham, England next June. (27/5/96)
  • ISA Appointments - ISA has announced the promotion of its Director of Marketing and International Development and the addition of a show management professional and technical editor to its staff.
    Fred Gebarowski was recently promoted from his position of Director to Associate Executive Director, Marketing and International Development. Tracey L. Berrett has joined the ISA Conferences and Exhibits Department as Manager of Convention Services. John A. Hill joined the editorial staff of InTech magazine as Technical Editor. (26/5/96)
  • Higher Accuracy Calibrator - Fluke Corporation has announced the availability of the 5720A calibrator, a higher accuracy version of the popular Fluke 5700A multifunction calibrator. This unit with its broad functionality offers the lowest uncertainties available in any calibrator in any calibrator on the market today, according to the manufacturers.
  • Analogue & Digital Oscilloscopes - The significance of the Metrix OX86 series of Oscilloscopes from Amplicon Liveline is that they provide the benifits both digital and analogue oscilloscope facilities, plus microprocessor control all at a relative low cost. (17/5/96)
  • UCA&L merges with PSC - UCA&L the US leading supplier of outsourced sales and support services, and PSC(Professional Support Centre) Europe's leader in the same area have merged. This means that the combined company, styled Softbank PSC, will provide services through centres in London, Dublin, Monteray, and Buffalo in all the Western European Languages of commerce. Typical companies whose products are supported are Microsoft, Siemens, Claris, AST on platforms like DOS, Windows, Windows NT, Netware, OS/2 and Mac.
  • Real-time Intranet Tool for Plant Floor - ARTEC Systems Inc announced last month a new tool to help make Intranets for the Manufacturing and Process Industries a reality. The problem for manufacturing based companies was taking production data (eg SCADA) and making it readily available to users within the company's Intranet. YoURLink eliminates the need to spend a few thousand for a SCADA or MES view mode as it turns any standard Web browser on any number of platforms into a view node.
  • 'Quiet' Automotive Relays - Matsushita Automation Controls has launched a new series of Quiet Relays where noise has been reduced to approximately 30dB @ 20cm, a 40% decrease, achieved by the use of high density plastics with special sound deadening characteristics.
  • American Control Conference - The American Automatic Control Council (AACC) will hold the sixteenth American Control Conference (ACC) Wednesday through Friday, June 4-6, 1997 at the Albuquerque Convention Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Held in cooperation with the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC), this conference will bring together people working in the fields of control, automation, and related areas from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Association of Iron and Steel Engineers (AISE), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), International Society for Measurement and Control (ISA), and the Society for Computer Simulation (SCS). Approximately 1000 presentations are expected. (16/5/96)
  • Major Publication Takeover - John Wiley & Sons, Inc., publishers, announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire a 90% interest in VCH Publishing Group from Pallas Investment Group and the German Chemical Society. VCH is a leading scientific, technical, and professional publisher headquartered in Weinheim, Germany. The purchase price of approximately $100 million is to be financed primarily by debt. The German Chemical Society and German Pharmaceutical Society will retain minority ownership positions in VCH.
  • Publications of Interest - Two publications from MCB University Press may be of interest. Heat and Fluid Flow acts as a disseminating information on the intrinsic complexities of the generalised equations which govewrn fluid flow and heat transfer. Engineering Computations examines developments in computer-aided engineering which are advancing at an extremely rapid rate.
  • Precision Locking Connectors - New miniature connectors from ODU provide a precision pus-pull locking mechanism, robust metal construction and sealing up to IP67 Standards in a connector with a diameter as little as 5.5mm. Talk to Stephen Stow of ODU on +44 1653 600489.
  • Fieldbus Developments - Industrial Controls Intelligence and The PLC Insider's Newsletter have voiced a strong hunch that Fieldbus Foundation and Profibus are close to accord. An important announcement is also expected by Echelon (The Lonworks Company) next week. See more details on our Fieldbus Page. (15/5/96)
  • New Mail List - the ISA's InTech Mailing List is a forum for discussions of measurement, control, and management techniques. Engineers, managers, technicians and others with an interest in instrumentation and control systems technologies are welcome.
    To subscribe, send an email to majordomo@isa.nando.net with the words "subscribe intech" in the body of the message.
  • New General Manager - Richard Watts has been appointed General Manager of PC Soft International, which has relocated from Kent to Northampton in England.
  • Sensors Update! - The nine volume handbook is to meet the needs of the sensor community, providing the user with a compact and comprehensive treatment. Additional to these volumes ensure an up-to-date assessment of advances and trends in the field. These important publications are published by VCH who may be faxed on +49 6201 606184.
  • VMEbus Users Web Page - VITA, the VMEbus International Trade Association, has announced the formal opening of the VMEbus 'Virtual' Trade Show (VVTS) on the world wide web. See also our New Focus Inc.
  • Busless - PEP Modular Computers has introduced a business version of its widely accepted VSB32, VME board. It comprises an integrated CPU and communications chip on a 3U VME bus-size card. The IUC 32 provides the functionality of a soft PLC in a VME bus-style environment at a much lower cost than normal.
  • Photonics Directory 1996 - Recognised as the Bible of the Industry this publication is available from Laurin Publishing. It is also available in CD-Rom format.
  • Batch Production Centre - Industrial Electronic Automation (IEA) working in partnership with Digital reseller Hawke Systems, has set up a new operation at its Cardiff (Wales) premises that will enable management and production personnel from batch manufacturing industries to gain hands-on experience of using and SP88-compliant manufacturing execution system. (14/5/96)
  • Easy to use HS Data Acquistion System - Biodata have introduced a new measurement system which allows PC users to be up and running in under an hour. Incorporating a Microlink high speed data acquisition card and Wavedisk ready-to-run software for DOS or Windows, the system might typically be used to monitor explosions or crash testing of vehicles.
  • The Unscrambler - CAMO (Computer Aided Modelling A/S) specialises in software for multivariate analysis. Their main product The Unscrambler, provides a user-friendly and high quality tool for modeling, prediction and classification of multivariable data sets.
  • New Page Launched - Edinburgh Instruments are now available via the World Wide Web. (10/5/96)
  • Hand-held Scope rivals bench models - New hand-held scopes from Fluke now rival bench instruments in terms of their display, their performance and their functionality, but can still run four hours froma rechargeable battery pack and be held in the hand. (9/5/96)
  • Pharmaceutical Plant Expansion - Swiss pharmaceutical company Helsinn has announced plans to increase its presence in Ireland. Its existing facility in Sandyford, Dublin, was set up in 1990 and produces a number of the company's products but is running out of capacity. Helsinn now plans to build a new state-of-the-art finished pharmaceutical plant beside its existing chemical facility in Co. Dublin, and to move the Sandyford operation there. When fully integrated, the new plant will employ 70 people and will take on the production of the company's anti-inflammatory drug, Nimesulide. Helsinn has invested IR10m in its Irish subsidiary since 1990. (IE Professional)
  • ABB Instrumentation Review - The 2nd issue this year of the quarterly magazine of the Instrumentation companies within the ABB grouop has just been issued. Get your copy from ABB at fax: +44 1582 421115.
  • Ring Shaped Accelerometers with 360 degree cable orientation - Endevco has introduced the 7251A voltage mode and 7221A charge mode accelerometers. Designed for general purpose vibration measurements, these piezoelectric accelorometers feature a unique ring-shaped design that allows 360 degree cable orientation for maximum installation and mounting flexibility. Paul Marchant on +44 1763 261311 or Fax: +44 1763 261120.
  • Interface Software for Control Valve Network - Fisher Controls (part of Fisher Rosemount), has launched three new windows-based versions of its ValveLink interface software package for use in conjunction with FieldVue intelligent valve instrumentation, for enhanced management of control valves in the process industries.
  • Richard Rimbach to be honoured by ISA - ISA - the intrnational society for measurement and control, will introduce the Richard Rimbach Lecture Series in Chicago at ISA/96, October 6-11. The Rimbach Lectures will serve to recognize Richard Rimbach (1895-1979), long considered the Father of ISA, for a lifetime of services in advancing industrial instrumentation and controls and for his role in the founding of ISA.(7/5/96)
  • Appointments in Germany - Livingston - Electronic Equipment Services (formerly Euro Electronic Rent and Carston Electronics) have appointed Volker Tegeder as Chief Executive and Siegbert Franz as Director of Operations.
  • New Telephone Numbers - Minco, the Swiss manufacturersa of temperature sensors and instruments have changed their contact numbers to Telephone +41 71 969 4390 and Fax: +41 71 969 4399.
  • Unique Complete Reference - Academic Press have published the Encyclopedia of Analytical Science claimed as the only definitive source and the first complete reference. Get details from Academic Press on +44 171 267 4466 or Fax: +44 171 482 2293.
  • New compact automotive relay - The new JJM Relay from Matsushita Automation Controls is based on the proven JSM version making it eminantly suitable for automotive applications (Electronic windows, sunroofs, doorlocks etc).
  • Portable Leak Detector - Lidbury have released a dedicated leak detector for Halons, FM200, CFC's, HCFC's and HFC's. The small hand-held Portamonitor (Halon) traces Halon leaks as low as 10 ppm. The sensor is mounted on a flexible tube and uses an ionising DC negative corona principle which is controlled by the latest microprocessor technology.(5/5/96)