- Pollutec'96 - Water has always featured prominently at Pollutec, the International Exhibition of Environmental Equipment, Technology and Services for Industry and Local Authorities. At the last two sessions (Lyon 1994 and Paris 1995) 40% of exhibitors stated that all ora portion of their business was with that sector. Thus the 1996 Pollutec scheduled again for Lyon (22-25th October) will dedicate a third of the exhibition space to this sector.
- Data recording and analysis using the MAC - ADInstruments have developed the MacLab Data recording and analysis system for use on the Apple Macintosh. It is a digital chart recorder, X-Y p[lotter storage oscilloscope for use in both life and physical sciences.
- Distributed data acquisition & control system - IMS is launching the new ADAM-5000 distributed data acquisition and control system providing intelligent signal conditioning, analogue and digital I/O over a multi-drop RS 485 network. The system is particularly suited for applications requiring distributed I/O, such as process monitoring and control, laboratory and building automation, security systems, energy management and water treatment plants. Max Toti on +44 1703 771143 has more details.
- High accuracy stable pressure measurement - Yokogawa has extended its EJA range of digital pressure measurement instruments to include a high accuracy option (HAC) for applications requiring greater integrity of measurement together with long term stability.
- First Virtual Scientific Event - We would draw browsers attention to this unique "happening" which we have featured on our Exhibition and Conferance Page for some months now.
- New Air pressure and flow meter - Furness Controls are launching a brand new pressure and flow meter at the UK's National HVAC Show this year. This new unit is not only for use in the HVAC industry but also has applications such as landfill gas measurement, draught pressure measurement and energy conservation applications. Call David Jones on +44 1424 730316.
- Enhanced I/O capability to PLC family - GE Fanuc is continuing to add high-end PLC features to its series 90-30 family of PLCs with the introduction of a new 8-channel High Density Analogue Output Module and a new Combo I/O analugue module which both provide greater I/O functionality in smaller packages.
- An innovative approach for VME, VME64 and CompactPCI applications - An advance approach to electronic packaging is being introduced as the electronics community empbraces a new standard in CompactPCI. Rittall is introducing the Ripac range of products to meet and in most cases exceed the mechanical performance of these systems.
- 65W Open Card DC/DC converters - Providing up to 65W of continuous output power, the PD65 series DC/DC converters from Amplicon Liveline are available in two standard input ranges of 10to 30 and 20 to 60Vdc.
Programmable Controller is easy to use -
Microconsultants' new universal industrial controller module claims to be easier to use than any comparable product on the market. The SP10-8 is optimised for control of small machines and for automation applications requiring timing, counting and a number of sequential steps. Its "open module" construction makes the SP10-8 cost effective as an OEM component. Its DIN rail mount simplifies installation in one- off applications. FREE PLC software and FREE SPC software is available from their website.
- JENC8 - The 8th Joint European Networking Conference, is scheduled for Edinburgh in Scotland on May 12-15, 1997, with the theme: "Diversity and Integration: The New European Networking Landscape". It will be the European forum for up-to-date information during 1997. JENC8 will focus on technical, political and economic issues raised by the final steps of European telecommunications deregulation and its effects on the European Network users. The conference will address issues of importance to researchers, Network and Service Providers and commercial users exploring topics of technical innovation, user support, training and educational matters. For further information about JENC8, talk to TERENA, the organisers.
- Rugged pen computer - Kalidor have introduced the K2000 Rugged Pen Computer which combines desktop computing performance with the ruggedness and durability needed by mobile computer users in a compact 1.5Kg case including long-life battery. Talk to John Doyle on +353 29 21212 for the full story.
- Reduced cost of recorder ownership - Honeywell Control Systems Ltd (Covering Great Britain and Ireland) is bringing down the cost of ownership across its whole range of circular and strip chart recorders with the offer of a year's average suply of charts and consumables purchased on all orders received by end-September, 1996. (More information from Royer Slater.
- Seminar at VITA Congress - Wade D. Paterson, author of The VMEbus Handbook, will be presenting a full day seminar on "Understanding VME64" at the forthcoming VITA Europe Congress. More details on our Fieldbus Page.
- High Temp accelerometer - Endevco has introduced a new differential piezoelectric accelerometer, the model 6240C-10 which is able to withstand temperatures up to 650 deg C. Designed to measure the vibration of jet engines, the transducer is well-suited for use in any testing application that requires accurate vibration measurement in intense heat. Contact Paul Marchant on +44 1763 261311 for more information.
- A Practical Approach to Process Control - This two day workshop gives you intensive hands-on training in the methods and practices of process control. Rather than lectures filled with complicated mathematics and puzzling plots, this workshop puts you in front of a computer where you face real-world control challenges. Dates are October 21 and 22, 1996 at The University of Connecticut at Storrs. For more details contact Prof. Doug Cooper .
- News of functions organised in or by the ISA's European Region are available here.
- Siemens lead us to a new class of instrument! - "Logo! - let me emphasise this point - is not Simatic, and it is not a PLC. Therefore, by virtue of being the first on the market, we call this new device class the logic module." With these words Hubert Ovenhausen, Sales and Marketing Manager of Siemens Industrial Automation Systems (AUT 1) launched LOGO! at a special press conference in Frankfurt today.
- ANSI approves two new VITA standards - The Board of Standards Review of ANSI (American National Standards Institute) approved two new VITA specifications as American National Standards. They are: ANSI/VITA 4-1995 specifying electrical, mechanical and logiical definitions for the popular IndustryPack mezzanine modules (more information on this product from Kim Rubin); ANSI/VITA 13-1995 defines the VMEbus pin assignment for Hetrogenenous InterConnect (HIC) (More information on this from Colin Whitby-Strevens).
(see also our Fieldbus Page.) - PCMCIA Communications Cards - Two PCMCIA communications cards are available from Amplicon Liveline. the models S2S and SES are platform independant, they support all PCMCIA 2.1 type II compliant PCs and supports PCMCIA card and socket services. More details from Andrew Shephard.
- Power Data Analysis Software - A major new version of FAMOS, the waveform analysis software, is now available from Biodata Ltd. Running under MS Windows it has over 100 new features and functions making it even more powerful. More data is available from Nigel Prince.
- Technology Verification Opportunity - The Consortium for Site Characterisation Technologies (CSCT) is committed to increasing the acceptance of new field analytical characterisation technologies by users and (US) Federal and State regulatory agencies. It is announcing an opportunity to participate in its 1996 verification program. Technologies of interest include in-situ monitors and sampling devices or techniques. Info on CSCT.
- The Babel Box - The Babel Box is Paradigm Controls Ltd's universal protocol converter, a product which allows any manufacturer's PLC to communicate with any other. More details from Dennis Price.
- Relays to meet stringent demands - For 30 or 60W nominal loads, Mitsushita T-Relays meet the stringent demands of control, supervision, monitoring and test applications in the telecommuniications, security, computer, medical, industrial, domestic applience and automotive industries.
- 3 versions of 1/4 DIN Temp Controller - The Series OTC-25 from Athena Controls is a microprocessor-based 1/4 DIN panel-mounted digital temperature controller that is available in either on/off, PID or Limit Controller versions. Easy to programme, the unit offers +/- 0.3% FS accuracy, and features a large LED window that is user-selectable to display either actual process temperature or set point. Contact Chris Hazelby on +44 161 4853536.
- Swiss Show - SAW'96 is the largest Swiss control and instrumentation show scheduled for Basel from 17-20 September. This is the second time that this show has taken place. There are over 460 exhibitors taking part.
- Show in Netherlands - Het Instrument'96 is scheduled for 7th to 11th October with almost 600 exhibitors and an anticipated 40,000 visitors expected.
- PLC's for China - Schneider is to install 29 of their Modicon 984 9Lcs at Daqing Oil Field in Hei Long Liang Provence in China.
- Wireing up for ISA'96 - Fieldbus Foundation plans to wire the October ISA'96 show in Chicago with FOUNDATION Fieldbus. This move is being supported by suppliers who have committed more than 70 fieldbus devices to an actual working network (see also Fieldbus Page).
- Strategic Alliance - Computer Products, Youghal, has concluded what has been described as a "multi-million dollar" deal with Alcatel Telecom to form a strategic alliance. It is expected that the partnership with the world's largest communications equipment manufacturer will bring additional business to the plant. The US multinational manufactures power conversion units for telecommunications and networking systems and currently employs 380 people in sales, marketing, product development and manufacturing at its European headquarters in Youghal. The company also reported strong profit growth in the six months to the end of June: profits rose 84% to IR5.2m while sales increased by 12% to IR64m.
- Review published - the ABB Instrumentation Review for the third quarter has been issued in the UK. This highlights additions to their pressure range, enhancements to thir magflow range and an examination of the facilities at their new calibration rig. Telephone +44 1582 31255.
- New controller class - A new small compact controller for minor switching and controlling tasks is to be launched by Siemens. Styled LOGO! its performance range is below that of the micro-PLC, with a wide range of universal applications in electrical engineering, from domestic electrical installation to mechanical engineering. It is aimed at the kind of applications that could be realised at considerable cost i terms of material, time and space, using small controllers, conventional solutions or purpopse built solutions.
- Leuna Refinery's instrumentation sub-systems - The instrumentation sub-systems in the massive Leuna refinery project (in Germany) are being supplied by Parker Hannifin. This project in Germany will probably be that last built in Europe this century.
- Control system demo-package - Moore Products has releaseda demonstration package for the APACS control system, consisting of software on two 3.5"disks with printed instructions and a 24 page booklet. Call Penny Home on +44 1935 706262 for more details.
- Watch paint dry! - Solartron, who have just launched their own web page, have just signed an agreement with Dielectric Instrumentation that will extend the reach of its electrochemiial and impedance instrumentation into dielectric applications. These include high impedance applications, epoxy resin curing, electrolytic capacitor characterisation...and monitoring how paint dries.
2/8/96
- High pressure modules for calibrator - Fluke expands its pressure calibration capabilities for the Fluke 700 Series Documenting P{rocess Calibrator (DPC) with three new hiigh pressure modules. The calibrate ranges up to 70,000kPa (10,000psig - 700bar) and are ideal for calibrating transmitters, transducers and othr instruments that require precise high pressure inputs or outputs.
- InterCorr'96 Global Internet On-line Corrosion Conference - This is a fascinating concept it should be interesting to watch its development.
- Dual Channel in 1/4 DIN - FGH Controls has announced a new family of auto-tuning, communicating teemperature controllers and dual channel batch process profilers called the Proteus 3000 Series. More details from Colin Green at +44 1462 686677.
- Optical Courses - Kidger Optics run courses in various aspects of optical design. Two courses are being organised in Muenich, Germany on Advanced Topics in Computer-Aided Optical Design and Analysis (October 21/23) followed by a workshop on Optical Design and Analysis and Design o n October 24-25th. More information directly from Kidger Optics.
- High-Res A/D Converter for R&D - These are required in applications where the dynamic range of signal being measured is high, this is common in transducer applications where a very small change in a signal of high magnitude needs measuring accurately. Such a model is now available from Amplicon Lifeline.
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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.