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 For Sale
www.fieldbus.com
Currently this domain is hosting 'Fieldbus World' site which could be included. The current owners are willing to negotiate privately and in total confidence if requested. The nature of the project envisioned might influence the result. Some continuing involvement - like a partnership - could be of interest.
Apply: fieldbus.com@gghcomms.demon.co.uk
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The Readout Instrumentation Signpost
Measurement, Control and Automation Resources throughout the World
Instrumentation and Control News
Press releases from your company may be sent to any of the addresses shown on our Contacts Page.
See Archive Page for earlier news.
Bealtaine - 2000 - May
31/5/00
- Embedded Pentium III Single Slot VME Board - Concurrent Technologies has announced a 500MHz Pentium III based
single-slot PC compatible VME board - the VP EMB/P3x. Designed for the
embedded market, Concurrent Technologies believes that no other single board
computer has such a varied and useful range of inputs and outputs -
specifically for use in industrial, scientific, communications, telemetry
and medical applications where high-performance, high-reliability and
extended product life is essential.
- Invensys set to buy Baan (Reuters) - Invensys Plc is set to
announce soon a full cash takeover of Dutch business software company Baan. Industry sources said on Yesterday. Sources told Reuters that both parties were in advanced negotiations and would announce the transaction shortly, even as early as today (Wednesday).
30/5/00
- Expanding positioning capabilities - The new SpotOn CCD from Duma Optronicsexpands positioning capabilties, offering a high-resolution position measurement combined with a wide sensitivity range, from UV and up to 1600 nm.
- Portable spectrum analyser - While we're discussing optical instruments, the very latest portable optical spectrum analyser from ANDO, the AQ633 1 has benchtop specifications in a portable instrument. This instrument is marketed by AG Electro-Optics
29/5/00
- PCI-X analyzer & exerciser - VMETRO announced a new member of its popular Bus Analyzer family at the Applied Computing Conference and Expo in Santa Clara, CA. Thi is the PBT-615 PCI-X Bus Analyzer & Exerciser.
27/5/00
- Fast Ethernet modules - The new modules are for the Schneider's Modicon TSX Premium PLC platform, further extending the functionality of its Transparent Factory system. The new modules provide full-duplex, auto-sensing connection to Ethernet. They deliver real-time TCP/IP messaging capability between controllers, automatic scanning of Modicon Momentum I/O modules and any other Modbus-based devices, HTML communication with an embedded web server, and SNMP for standard network management. Additional functionality allows users to create and download up to 8MB of web pages into the PLC module.
- US in energy surveys of compressed air systems - State-of-the-art ultrasonic instruments are playing a key role in the energy surveys of plant compressed
air systems says this article in Manufacturing.net.
26/5/00
- First Application of lnControl CE to run on Contec Box PC Platform - Wonderware announces the release of its new lnControl CE runtime engine, along with the release of a specific InControl 7.1 platform upgrade designed for Contec Windows CE industrial computers. InControl CE is a new version of Wonderware's popular Windows NT -based InControl software. It provides an integrated control solution that replaces proprietary control systems with open architecture control for Windows CE embedded platforms.
25/5/00
- CANopen product guide - Right before the Hanover Fair Industry CAN in Automation (CIA) Ltd. publishes the "CANopen Product Guide" on behalf of the users and manufacturers group with the same name. The half yearly actualized product guide is available free of charge. The over 160 pages catalogue comprises hardware (controllers, sensors and actuators), software (protocol-stacks etc.), tools (configuration tools etc.) and services (trainings etc.) assorted in product groups. CANopen is a CAN-based user layer, which is especially good for machine controlling. But CANopen is also used in medical devices, in railways and public transportation, in maritime applications and in building automation as well as in off-highway vehicles.
- New patent issued - Steeplechase Software, Inc., the PC-based control company, has announced the grant of its most recent patent No 6,058,333 - issued by the US Patent and Trademark Office for 'animation of execution history.' This patent enables users of Steeplechase's hallmark product, the Visual Logic Controller(VLC) for logic and
motion control, to program in flow charts then graphically view the execution of the
control programs.
- Finacing arranged - eMation, Inc., the leading provider of Internet infrastructure for the pervasive computing wave, today announced that it has closed a $25 million round of financing. The Boston-based
Company raised the total from an investor group led by Patricof & Co. Ventures, Inc. Other investors included Apax Partners Ventures (Israel) Ltd., Nomura, CSK Japan, Gemini Israel Fund, and Mofet Israel Technology Fund, Ltd.
24/5/00
- "The Fieldbus Book" a useful guide - Smar is a supplier of instrumentation and completely integrated system solutions of award winning hardware and software with more than 25 years in the market and over 10 years of experience in systems engineering and design. The main offering being SYSTEM3O2 which is based on Foundation Fieldbus and other leading technologies. The product portfolio and system offering includes field instruments, host system, power-subsystem and software. This book shows products, a range of engineering services and training to get a Fieldbus system started in the shortest possible time. Experience from more than two hundred Fieldbus system installations world wide, in virtually every industry, has given their engineers an almost unparalleled know-how enabling them to give unequalled support for Fieldbus networking which is an important factor for anybody that is about to buy a first Fieldbus system.
- Certification is the latest milestone in on going quality program -
Flow Technology, Inc, has received certification to ISO 9001, the most comprehensive of the ISO 9000 quality standards. The ISO 9001 audit, conducted by QMI, a third-party auditor headquartered in Ontario, Canada, verifies that Flow Technology's quality procedures meet rigorous international standards for design, development, production, manufacturing, installation and service.
- New date and venue - The OSPMA-Fieldcomms show sheduled for October in Telford, England has been moved to the capital and will now be the first exhibition in the new ExCel centre in London's Docklands from Dec 5th to 6th. This will probably be more accessible than Telford especially for visitors from abroad.
23/5/00
- Design engineers now have 100 more CPC coupling products to choose from! - Colder Products Company has published a new catalog, in which 100 new products have joined its existing coupling products to offer more than 1,000 choices. Five new product lines add more couplers with special features like non-metallic flow paths, bag-in-box connections, stainless steel construction and high flow capacity.
- Another interesting Standards Thermometer for precision temperature measurement - So you need multiple channels, battery power, outstanding accuracy, and the ability to read PRTs, thermistors, and thermocouples. Well, here's your answer. Hart's new Model 1529 Chub-E4 Thermometer gives you four channels, three major sensor types, lab-quality accuracy, and a ton of great features, all at a price you'll love!
22/5/00
- Novel new fieldbus interface board - HM Computing has developed a novel interface module which allows OEMs to migrate proprietary embedded systems to the high-integrity CAN fieldbus - without making fundamental changes to their software. The low-cost module is available in two variants, for interfacing either ISA-based PCs or VMEbus systems to CAN networks.
- Acquisition makes World's largest switch manufacturer - ITT Industries, Inc. has announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire C&K Components, Inc., a privately held worldwide leader in the design and manulacture of switches for the telecommunications, computer and electronic equipment markets. The acquisition is valued at approximately $117 million, after accounting for cash and debt in the company to be acquired. With the acquisition of C&K, ITT Industries will become the largest switch manufacturer in the world.
- Digital clamp-on tester - The new Model 2345 from Yokogawa is a portable digital clamp-on tester designed for measurement applications involving highfrequency components. The new instrument is particularly suited to power electronics measurements in industrial applications, which often involve harmonics with high-frequency characteristics.
- Data aquisition with infrared measuring heads and other sensors - The ALMEMO-data aquisition allows a nearly unlimited use of all sensors. The photo shows a data aquisition system and a panel mounted instrument in connection with infrared measuring instruments for a touchless temperature measurement. Both instruments can be linked via a simple cable connection.
21/5/00
19/5/00
- New ProfiBUS module improves communication for greater data exchange - A valuable addition to the Matsushita Electric Works' PLC range is the new FPO Profibus DP Slave module. Designated the FPO-DP-S, the unit meets the requirements of the PROFIBUS DP communication standard as detailed in European Standard EN 50 170.
- Keynote speaker selected - ISA has selected spread spectrum technology leader H. Britton Sanderford, Jr., founder and president of Axonn Corporation to deliver the keynote address at ISA EXPO/2000. The keynote address is scheduled for 21 August at 9:00 a.m. at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA., USA.
- Cases offer sealed, hand-held versatility - From 0KW Enclosures comes the neatly styled and innovative Datec-Control range of sealed hand-held cases. Datec has been primarily designed for instrumentation, mobile data collection and control applications where full protection for the contained electronics is a pre-requisite.
- 500 MHz Pentium III Power in a single slot for VME Users - The VP PSEIM3X from Concurrent Technologies is a high performance, very versatile CPU board, with a variety of additional features. It is an ideal choice as the central processing unit for applications in the telecommunications, industrial, defense, medical and aerospace markets. Based on the latest low-power Intel Pentium Ill Mobile Module, the board addresses the rapidly growing demand for high performance Intel¨ CPU architectures in the VME market while satisfying the market's need for low power consumption, high-performance, high reliability, low physical profile and extended product life.
- Quad high-speed serial controller for CompactPCI - PEP Modular Computers has launched a four-channel high-speed serial controller for CompactPCl in single-height format that has been designed specifically for demanding industrial automation applications where there are high data rates and a number of serial channels being served in one system.
- Partnership deal offers next-day availability on leading EMC components - Schaffner's well known range of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) components is now available to customers world-wide from distributor Farnell Under a partnership agreement between the two companies, Famell is to stock more than 120 Schafffier EMC product lines for the April catalogue
18/5/00
- Boeing Company selects control systems for space launch program -
 ICS Triplex is to supply two Trusted Triple Modular Redundant (TMR) control systems for Boeing's DeltaV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Program. The program will allow Boeing to launch commercial and military satellites into space. The launch sites are to be located at the Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex in Florida and at Vandenburg Air Force Base Space Launch Complex in California. The Trusted systems will provide critical launch support functions for the multistage Delta IV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle including Launch Pad power up, emergency engine de-tanking and Safing operations. Facilities include fibre-optic cable linked TMR input'output modules located over 5km from the host chassis and IRIG-B satellite-based time synchronization.
- New acquisition by Fairey - Fairey Group PLC is acquiring Spectris AG. Spectris manufactures instruments, systems and controls, with HQ in Langen, Germany and includes B&K (test & measurement), HBM (load-cells) and BTG (paper & pulp sensors. The acquisition price is about Euro220. (Fairey is a UK-based mini-conglomerate that has been buying US and other businesses regularly - mostly small companies like Ircon, RedLion, Luxtron, NDS, etc. Process Instrumentation is about two-thirds of the group. This is their biggest acquisition to date.)
- Find test & measurement info - TestMart at http://www.testmart.com/index.cfm?2 is a free Web-based marketplace devoted to the test and measurement industry. It provides access to product specs, reference directories, equipment prices, and secure e-commerce and allows users to buy, sell, lease or rent new, preowned and refurbished test and measurement equipment.
- High-efficiency, single-output DC/DC converters set new standard for high efficiency - Artesyn Technologies has introduced the EXB3O series of high-efficiency, single-output, open-frame, isolated DC/DC converters. As next-generation communications and networking systems move to low-voltage silicon, the need for high-efficiency power conversion is becoming imperative.
- Company name change - Lynx Real-Time Systems, Inc. today announced it has changed its name to Lynuxworks, Inc. to reflect its new focus on bringing the benefits of Linux to the embedded market. LynuxWorks is leveraging proven technology, 12 years of experience and well-established relationships in embedded systems to address the diverse operating systems needs in telecommunications, networking, office automation, aerospace/defense and process control, as well as emerging Post-PC era applications in the consumer network appliance and related areas.
- Dramatically simplifies pipeline management in multi-stream, mixed product applications - Solartron Mobrey has launched a powerful, application-specific flow computer that simplifies the set-up and management of multi-stream hydrocarbon and petrochemical pipelines. Designated the 2540 Quad Stream Flow Computer, the unit is capable of detecting up to 20 different fluids flowing in four separate streams, enabling pipeline operators to accurately monitor, route and report mass, volume and flow rates by time and by product. Built-in MODBUS and HART interfacing facilitate integration into plantwide DCS systems, making the 2540 a highly cost-effective solution to multi-product/ multi-stream flow monitoring.
17/5/00
- World wides sales executive appointed - Greg D. Bauer has been appointed Senior VP, World Wide Sales with eMation, the supplier of software and internet solutions to industry.
- New touch-screen option for monitoring close to the process - A new touch-screen monitor has been added to MTL's innovative range of slim-line, ergonomic and lightweight process PCs. The MTL678M alloWS monitoring and control close to the process - even in the harshest environments - by combining ruggedness, flexibility, space-saving and low installation and maintenance costs.
16/5/00
- Is Ethernet Ready for the Plant Floor? - The ISA Training Institute will premiere its first live Web training seminar, "Is Ethernet Ready for the Plant Floor?" on Wednesday 31 May from 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT. This seminar is the first in a series of distance learning programs enabling customers to attend interactive presentations at a reduced cost conducted via the Internet and telephone.
- Heinz means biz - Heinz is investing $9m in the expansion of its frozen and chilled foods business in Ireland. The investment will make Ireland the hub of Heinz's frozen and chilled foods operations in Europe. The company is to expand its facility in Louth, set up a European frozen and chilled foods strategic headquarters in Dublin, and an ecommerce shared services facility in Dundalk.
- New ferries - Harland & Wolff in Belfast has just signed a Stg300m deal to build four passenger ferries for Seamasters International of the Bahamas. The shipyard will design and build the vessels and there is an option for two more.
News of Irish interest from The IE Professional issued every week.
- Change of ownership - Cabletron Systems and Flextronics International announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement in which Cabletron will divest manufacturing and repair services operations located in Rochester, New Hampshire and Limerick, Ireland to Flextronics. Under terms of the agreement, Flextronics will acquire manufacturing-related assets and inventories for approximately $100 million, and will hire Cabletron's worldwide manufacturing workforce of approximately 1,000.
- Better vision for less! - Fast, powerful processors and easy-to-use software help machine vision do more, yet cost less.
from Manufacturing.net.
- Microsoft Manufacturing User Group Tackles DLL Hell and Legacy Suppport
Issues - The Microsoft Manufacturing User Group (MS-MUG), recently issued its first feedback report detailing key issues
faced by manufacturers when applying Microsoft technology in industrial automation applications. MS-MUG, currently operating as a working group within the Open Architecture Controller User Group, or OMAC, is devoted to addressing issues faced by manufacturers when applying commercial software technology to manufacturing automation applications. The groups first feedback report to Microsoft highlighted problems with DLL Hell, version management, and other issues that spawned the initial formation of this working group.
9/5/00
- Unique new temperature devices - Eurolec Instrumentation have launched two new products.
Their new portable, bench style thermometer uses a platinum film sensor and sophisticated linearising techniques to obtain high accuracy and 0.01 dec C resolution.
 They have also launched a new exciting versitile temperature source. This unit is designed to incorporate a "black body" and six probe holes of varying sizes in a dry heating block. The design concept permits the checking of both non-contact infrared thermometers as well as the more conventional types of probe. This is the first calibration device, to our knowledge, which permits checking of both devices in one instrument.
- ARC Europe grows again - In response to the high demand across Europe for ARC's Advisory and Consultancy services on E-Business for Manufacturing and Logistics, ARC Advisory Services UK announces the appointment of Trevor Bennett to strengthen its senior management team.
8/5/00
- Diaphragm seals designed for improved performance and reliability - Many suppliers of DP Systems for liquid level measurement offer standard, bought-in diaphragm seals as just another accessory. Fisher-Rosemount have invested in the design and development of a complete range of Diaphragm Seal Solutions, specifically to match the high specification 3051 transmitter. This has a very small diaphragm movement and displacement volume, so the 1199 seal system has a significantly reduced fill volume compared to other designs. giving much improved performance. The diaphragm pattern is repeated on the backing plate, further reducing the fill volume and providing protection from the harmful effects of overpressure and impact from entrained solids or jets of process fluids. The diaphragm face is recessed below the gasket plane - this prevents errors produced by poorly positioned gaskets, and minimises handling damage prior to installation. But these are only the standard features.
- Control your PID loopiness! - The new Dual Loop Controller (DLC) from Red Lion Controls is a full featured, dual input PID controller which is designed to easily integrate PID into any application. As a modular building block for multi-zone process control applications, each DLC has two independent, 'A' and 'B', PID control loops, with both inputs able to be configured to accept a wide range of thermocouple, RTD, 0-10 V, 0/420mA, or resistive signals.
- Variations upon a DIP switch theme - Available now from switch specialist EAO Limited is an extremely versatile range of machine insertable DIP switches. These, the Grayhill Series 76 and 78, can be obtained in a wide variety of types that allow them to cover a very broad range of applications.
6/5/00
- Free Training CD - Five Steps to Optimize Control Loops -
Badly performing process control loops reduce plant profitability. This free CD from ExperTune teaches how to diagnose and fix the problems on your badly performing loops.Roughly 75% of process control loops cause more variability running in automatic mode than in manual. A third of them oscillate because of non-linearities: hysteresis, stiction, dead band, non-linear process gain. Another third oscillate because of poor controller tuning, and the remaining loops due too poor design. When a control loop is running optimally, variability is minimized. The plant can operate closer to specifications, maximizing production and profitability.
5/5/00
- The END of the Liquid-filled Pressure Gauge?! - Dresser Instruments Division has introduced new, patent-pending technology intended to replace liquid filling of pressure gauges as a solution to the problems of vibration and pulsation in difficult applications. Known as the Liquidless( gauge the unit features a special cartridge containing an engineered damping agent which dynamically damps the pointer and movement. It will match liquid- filled gauge performance in most applications while offering significant weight and cost advantages. The unit also has superior temperature performance(-40(C to +121(C).
- Internet alliance! - VenturCom, Inc., the leading provider of products and expertise for real-time and embedded Windows-based
applications, has announced a partnership with eMation, Inc. for the development of DCX-based embedded Internet technology. Through this partnership, eMation will port its Unity product for operation on VenturCom's DCX middleware. DCX users will be able to "Web enable" their products with a standard offering as opposed to developing this functionality from scratch.
- Pressure sensors growth in Europe - The rise in demand for high-end applications and the trend towards electronic pressure measurement are stimulating growth for the European pressure sensors and instruments markets. An industry that has recently endured turbulent times on the back of sustained negative pricing pressures, however, a predicted upturn in the overall market fortunes will be well received by market participants. Increasing demand for both high performance products and bus networking systems is set to be a key factor in terms of future market revival.
From recent report from Frost & Sullivan entitled: " European Pressure Sensors and Instruments Market".
4/5/00
- Server can run as NT service wfth dynamic addtion of devices, groups and tags from OPC cilents - Automated Solutions, Inc. has announced the introduction of the ASABTCP-OPC Server, a low-cost, high performance OPC interface solution for Allen Bradley connectivity. Designed to run as an NT service or st nd-alone executable server, the ASABTCP-OPC Server provides connectivity to Allen Bradley SLC5OO, PLC5 and Log ix5550 Ethernet-capable PLC processors, and provides OPC 2.0 Data Access support. The sever functions as a data interface for most major HMI and SCADA packages, ActiveX Controls with OPC client capability, and custom Visual Basic and C++ -developed applications. The severs support local or network data access using DCOM.
3/5/00
2/5/00
- High temp application piezoelectric transducers - New from noise and vibration specialist Endevco, now part of Bruel & Kjaer, are two piezoelectric (PE) pressure transducers for use in very high temperature applications. Both models 522M17 and 522M19 are designed to withstand extreme temperatures up to 538 deg C continuous and 649 deg C intermittent. These pressure transducers do not require external power because they are based on a self-generating PE design
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