See Archive Page for earlier news.

• Global distribution agreement signed - Harting, EuropeÕs leading supplier of electrical and electronics connectors, has signed a global distribution agreement with RS Components, part of the Electrocomponents Group. The agreement was signed at the recent Hanover Fair by Dietmar Harting, Chairman of HARTING, and Jerry Vaughan, Electrocomponents Group General Manager for Product Management.
• Radar Level Gauge Ð Applications Are Clearly Segmented by User Needs - The market for Radar Level Gauges is at the early stages of maturing. Their application by users has started to stratify into clearly defined areas. "Almost a decade since its introduction, users are now applying radar technology for their plants in record numbers," according to ARC Senior Analyst Paula Hollywood, the studyÕs author. "Three distinct classes of non-contact gauges have emerged. The high end is being used for custody transfer, inventory management, and marine applications. The mid range is for highly agitated process vessels, and the low end is for storage and buffer tanks." European suppliers are dominating the radar level gauge market, holding better than 84 percent of the more than $203 million dollar worldwide market.

• Association acquires publication - TAPPI (echnical Association for the Pulp and Paper Industry), the leading technical association for the worldwide pulp, paper, and converting industry, purchased the production rights to PIMA's (Paper Industry Management Association) Papermaker network publications for an undisclosed amount. From this acquisition a new publication will emerge. Solutions! For Pulp and Paper Professionals will premier in September 2001.
• Check your diary - The Canadian publication Manufacturing Automation has a nice list of events over the coming months and which gives a brief description of each event. See also our Exhibition & Conference Listings.
• Specialist measurements - The Jobin Yvon OEM Division is devoted to supplying manufacturers with high quality diffraction gratings, monochromators, spectrographs and spectrometers. Many products are available straight from a comprehensive catalogue or alternatively, customised products can be supplied.
• More about flowmeters - Flow Research has been conducting a series of worldwide flowmeter studies. They have completed both the worldwide ultrasonic study and the worldwide magnetic flowmeter study. They have already shipped a number of copies of The Market for Ultrasonic Flowmeters Worldwide, which is 572 pages long. The Market for Magnetic Flowmeters Worldwide (555 pages) is also complete, and will be shipped in the next few days. These studies are part of a series of flowmeter studies called Worldflow. This research has been going on for a full year. Worldflow is an attempt by Flow Research to completely define and catalog the worldwide flowmeter market. It consists of 12 studies in total, including one on each flowmeter technology. The ultrasonic and magnetic flowmeter studies are the first two in this series. The Vortex, Coriolis, New Technology, and End-User Survey studies are close to completion, and will be ready to ship next month.

• First optical information and communications technology event - Messe Munchen, the Munich trade-fair company, is extending its network of electronics trade fairs (global-electronics.net) by a further event: FiberCom, International Trade Fair and Conference on Optical Information and Communications Technology, will open in Munich in June 2002. The fair will be an annual event, lasting three days; an international conference is held in parallel. They take place for the first time from 2 to 6 June 2002. The exhibitor target groups include manufacturers of optical fibres and cables, optical and opto-electronics components, optical switching devices and routers, systems design, optical networks and communications systems, and measurement and testing equipment.

• Flue gas analyser - A flue gas analyser capable of continuously monitoring up to six gas species plus water vapour in stacks over 2m diameter has been developed by Codel International. Designated the G-CEM 4000, the analyser utilises gas filter correlation infra-red absorption techniques to measure GO, GO2, NOR, SO2,, HCl and CH4 , water vapour always being measured to exclude its dilutant effect from measured values. The in-situ stainless-steel probe allows automatic full zero and span verification using dry air and calibration gases.
• Economical machine tester - For the price of a personal appliance tester, LEM have designed and produced probably the most economical machine tester available today. At around half the price of similar specification competitorsÕ testers, the MT204 from LEM performs all the required electrical safety tests and measurements on the electrical systems of machines, in accordance with EN 60204. It also has another advantage in that it requires only one set of high voltage test leads connected to one set of test terminals to be able to perform all of these measurement functions.
• New DCIDC converter catalogue - Calex Electronics Ltd announces that the new Calex DC/DC Converter catalogue is now available. The new Calex catalogue provides detailed specifications and useful application notes on hundreds of single, dual and triple output DC/DC converters and encapsulated linear AC/DC power supplies. DC/DC converter solutions range from 0.25 to 75 Watts and linear power supply solutions range from 1.5 to 10 Watts. All products are backed by a five year warranty.
• Over the edge! -
  
  Emerson Process Management the company formerly known as Fisher-Rosemount is a supporter of the Read-Out Signpost. This is their latest banner which may be seen on our Fieldbus page.

• Magnetic Flowmeter Report update issued - Since the Magnetic Flowmeter Reports were released by David W Spitzer, earlier this year, approximately 10 additional magnetic flowmeter suppliers have been identified. This increases the total number of suppliers to over 50, with over 30 of these actually manufacturing equipment. This and other Spitzer Reports reports are published by Copperhill and Pointer, Inc.

• Informative website launched for instrumentation and calibration technicians in the process industry - Fluke, a world leader in compact, professional electronic test tools, has developed a new informative website for instrumentation engineers and technicians working in the process industries. The site aims to help engineers achieve best practice in calibration and troubleshooting as well as providing a guide to the choice of the right tool for the job. www.fluke-pcal.com provides access to a website dedicated to process calibration and troubleshooting tools. A series of downloadable application articles provides useful detailed information for technicians faced with the task of calibrating process control instruments. Pages on the website also give a comparative checklist and descriptions of their rugged, professional handheld calibrators, including the Fluke 744 model which offers HART support.

• Test access unit for DWDM systems - Anritsu has announced the availability of the MN9320A Optical Channel Drop Unit (OCDU) which it recently launched at Supercomm 20001 in Atlanta, Georgia. The MN9320A is a portable DWDM (dense wavelength division multiplex) test access product designed to extract individual optical channels from a DWDM signal and feed them to the input of a data analyser such as the Anritsu MP1570A SDH/Sonet/ATM analyser.
  This company is represented in Ireland by PEMA who us with an Advert

• "Universal digital panel meters that you can really see!" - Jumo Instruments' diO8 and di32, the first in a major new series of digital panel meters designed especiallY for users needing accurate, reliable monitoring of process values and a large, clear display. They can be used anywhere in the process industry Ñ for food processing, chemical, pharmaceutical or general process applications as well as in brewing. They combine ease of operation and a high level of accuracy Ñ "up to 20% better than competitive models," according to a company spokesman.
• Newsletter - The June issue of P&L's newsletter has been released. This company is a leader in training with their LearnWARE product.
• Instrument Engineers Yearbook - This annual publication by Britain's Institute of Measurement & Control is in course of preparation at the moment. The deadline is 30th June 2001.

• New VP appointed - GE Fanuc Automation has named Douglas Peterson the new vice president of its CNC Business, a $120-million division providing reliable, high-quality CNC solutions, and president of CimWorks, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of GE Fanuc specializing in hardware, software, and service products that monitor and control the performance of production equipment and products during the manufacturing process.
  GE Fanuc are valued advertisers on the Instrumentation Signpost (see top of page!).
• New benchmark valve! - FCX IMF Ñ the France-based specialist flow control design and manufacturing company Ñ has launched a new high-pressure proportional valve that was developed in conjunction with sister company FCX Thompson Valves. The valve is a three-port proportional reducing valve capable of working accurately and efficiently in pressures ranging from 0 to 500 bar with an accuracy of better than 1 % throughout that pressure range.
• New transducers - The new XD Series Current Transducers from Northern Design offer safe ac current measurement from 0 to 300Amp without using current transformers. Fully isolated, the direct measuring XDs are available with two different output signals: 4-2OmA loop powered or O-5V dc self powered. Plate mounting with a DIN Rail mount option, they have an accur&y typically better than 0.5% and provide a low cost solution to most applications requiring measurement of ac current.
• Zirconia analysers deliver high performance, reliability and ease of use for oxygen and humidity measurement - The new EXAxt ZR series of Zirconia analysers from Yokogawa are designed for measuring oxygen content or for making high-temperature humidity measurements in boilers, kiins, furnaces and process heating applications.
• Power supply ATE gains machine vision option to reduce operator intervention and boost throughput - Schaffner has launched a new option for its Intepro 9000 range of automatic test equipment designed for high-volume quality assurance for the power supply industry. The fast measuring speed of the Intepro 9000 series can now be complemented with an advanced Machine Vision system, which eliminates many of the bottlenecks of the test process, increasing throughput and thereby reducing the costs of quality control. Machine Vision uses one or more high-resolution CCD cameras mounted on the power supply test fixture of the Intepro 9000 series tester, and advanced pattern-recognition software. The software is called up from within the object linking environment of Schaffner's own PowerStar 5 test executive.
• CompactPCI market entered with Eight New Serial Communication Products - Quatech, Inc., a leading manufacturer of data communication and data acquisition products for PC-based systems, today introduced a complete line of CompactPCI serial communication boards. The new product line leverages their extensive experience with PCI communication board design, to take advantage of the convenience and industrial and embedded potential offered by CompactPCI. With this announcement, they becomes one of only a few suppliers to offer CompactPCI cards designed solely for data communication. This approach minimizes the cost and complexity of adding additional functionality to CompactPCI systems. As a result, their communication boards are ideal for OEM applications where cost and reliability are primary considerations.

• High-efficiency DC/DC converters deliver up to 60A at 1.8V - Artesyn Technologies has launched an entirely new series of DC/DC converters to meet the growing demand for high-current, low voltage sources for powering latest-generation semiconductor technology. Housed in an open frame package with an industry-standard half-brick footprint, the new EXB250 series converters feature a wide 33V-75V input and are initially available with 3.3V, 2.5V or 1.8V outputs. All three models offer exceptionally high current output capabilities for their size Ð the 2.5V and 1.8V models can deliver up to 60A. The converters are primarily targeted at networking, telecoms and wireless applications, and are particularly suitable for systems employing a 48V distributed power architecture,including any that operate from a -48V central office battery plant.

• Simple data acquisition with RS-232 or GPIB - The new DDDA data acquisition software from Stanford Research Systems, (now available exclusively in the Britain from TTi - Thurlby Thandar Instruments), simplifies the control and plotting of data from all RS232 and GPIB instruments using Windows 95/98C and NT. No programming expertise is needed.

• Sensors for CIP cleaning - The new Model 225 Toroidal Conductivity sensor from Rosemount Analytical (part of Emerson Process, is heralded as a major step forward in checking CIP cleaning procedures in pharmaceutical applications. Conductivity sensors are needed on skids and plant pipe-work to monitor Clean-In-Place (CIP) operations. The measurements taken are used to control the strength of the cleaning solution, and determine the end-point of the cleaning process, when the caustic or acid solutions have been totally rinsed away. In contrast to previous sensors offered for this duty, the "Unfilled" PEEK used for the body of the Model 225 sensor is unaffected by any of the hot caustic solutions used: in addition the material is FDA approved.
  Fisher-Rosemoumt are valued advertisers on the Fieldbus page
• Truck Loading - Details of Contrec's new load computer are to be released soon. 1010A has a new enclosure, large dot-matrix display and in-built Touch Key reader complete with and isolated barrier. The instrument is fully approved to US/Canadian and Cenelec standards for hazardous areas and offers more room for cabling.
• The Power-Delivery Industry's National Employee Excellence Competition - Each and every provider of electric service now has an ideal opportunity to honor and recognize its outstanding employees in the first-ever National Employee Excellence Competition. Investor-owned, municipals and rural electric utilities; engineering firms; and consultants and contractors are invited to submit candidates for this important honor. This competition is conducted by Transmission & Distribution World magazine.

• An all-round solution! - The new KETOP T100 teach and operating panel from KEBA, was built around Windows CE in the truest sense of the word - at the same time introducing a new operating philosophy. All tasks can now be solved graphically and in color, and operation is intuitive using a touch screen with symbol-controlled sequences. The touch screen has effectively restricted the larger number of keys which have been needed up to now. Only the most frequently used func-tions are laid out on touch-sensitive keys. At the same time, they are arranged so that they can be opera-ted easily by both right-handed and left-handed people.
• Machine-tool interface gives processing speed a one-two! - GE Fanuc Automation's new PMC-SB7 machine-tool interface, one of the industryÕs fastest, is now available for GE Fanuc Series 16i, 18i, and 21i TB/MB CNCs. Designed with a separate RISC processor, the PMC-SB7 offers a performance speed two-and-a-half times faster than previous interfaces, reducing ancillary part production time and machining time on the machine tool and providing machine-tool builders and end users increased productivity.
  GE Fanuc are valued advertisers on the Instrumentation Signpost (see top of page!).

• European elected to important post in I&C society - Declan Lordan, DVP for District 12 (Europe) of the Instrument, Systems, and Automation Society (ISA) has been elected chairman of the District VPs at the President's Summer Meeting Calgary, Canada earlier this week. A member of the Ireland Section, he will hold this position for the year 2002. As chairman of the DVPs he will become a member of the ISA'a 6 member executive committee.
  Europe will be well represented on this committee as Pino Zani, who becomes President in January is from ISA's Italy Section.
• Catalogue features 20 new products for emerging communication protocols - Quatech, Inc., a leading manufacturer of data communication and data acquisition products for PC-based systems, has released its 2001 product catalog. The new catalog puts complete product specifications at the user's fingertips, and includes more than 20 new products such as Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11b W-LAN, IEEE 1394 "Firewire," USB and CompactPCI adapters. More than just an ordering tool, the full-color 224-page catalog is also a rich reference source, offering discussions of buses, protocols, and form factors. Diverse application examples are included for each product family.
• New module for tracking equipment downtime and production efficiency launched - Wonderware has expanded its FactorySuite 2000 industrial automation software system with the introduction of a new downtime tracking and production efficiency monitoring toolset. The new DT Analystª module enables plant managers to easily determine if production equipment is functioning at optimum levels and to take corrective action where needed. DT Analyst consists of a series of modules that acquire and decode information from plant systems and equipment to determine whether or not a particular subsystem or piece of machinery is in a down condition. It can also assist with evaluation of long-term productivity of the equipment to correct production weaknesses.
• Industrial protocol converters - FieldServer Bridge (from Fieldserver Technologies), is a protocol translator gateway which enables devices using one protocol to communicate with devices using another protocol. An example is a fire alarm panel using a proprietary manufacturerÕs protocol needing to supply alarm information to a building automation system. In a single, comprehensive package the FS-Bridge provides the hardware and software necessary for this translation. The FS-B2010-01 includes serial (RS232/RS485) and Ethernet (10BaseT) connectors to interface to the devices. Configuration files can be downloaded via the serial port or Ethernet port or with the integral IR and USB ports. All the necessary software and instructions for configuration are supplied with the FS-Bridge. FieldServer Technologies also offers fee based configuration services. FS-Bridges are also available for various fieldbuses or multiple port applications.

• Powerful new multi loop I/O controller enhances system - The versatility of Eurotherm's well-known Type 2500 modular control system has been enhanced by the introduction of a high performance multi-loop PID control unit. This powerful addition has the capability of running up to eight multiple, single or compound loops, considerably broadening the number of application areas for which the 2500 is suitable.

• Major upgrade - National Instruments announced the LabVIEW Database Connectivity Toolset, a major upgrade to the LabVIEW SQL Toolkit. With the software, engineers and scientists can connect to local and remote databases from their LabVIEW measurement and automation applications without complex structured query language (SQL) programming.

• Programmable transducers - A nice range of class 0.5 programmable transducers which can be configured, calibrated and interrogated remotely using a desktop PC has been introduced by Metrix Electronics. Compact in size and compatible with both DIN rail and base board mounting, the transducers incorporate a built-in RS232 or RS485 data communications port and are ideal for providing accurate standard output signals of system parameters in electrical power and process control applications. Measurement capabilities for single, 3-wire and 4-wire systems include active and reactive power, apparent power, power factor and frequency. This enables complete monitoring of electrical power systems. Standard inputs of current in the ranges lA/SA and voltages in the ranges 100V/GOOV are fully programmable.

• Manufacturers to gain "total market analysis" from new electric drives subscription service - The electric variable speed drives market is one of the most dynamic in the mature motors and drives industry. Changing customer demands, widening applications, a large total of competitors and the need for constant product development means that regular and reliable information is critical in order for companies to remain or become key players in the market. As a means to provide a fundamental analysis of the market, industry analysts Frost & Sullivan has announced the launch of a new wide-reaching market research service, the European Electric Drives Market Service.

• Remote probe takes the heat off humidity - Instrumentation specialist Lee-Dickens has introduced the HP300, a low-cost relative humidity (RH) probe with a remote interchangeable head for raised temperature or dirty environments. The probe can be used over a temperature range of Ñ4O to +85degC. Most RH probes are mounted with the sensors and electronics in the one enclosure. For the HP300, having a remotely connected sensor head means that the electronics, which have a working range of Ñ1 O~O to +65~C, can be mounted in a cabinet or control room, with the sensor head itself in the extreme temperature environment. Another use for a remote RH probe is in dirty conditions: apart from any adverse effects on the electronics, a remote detachable head makes cleaning much easier.
• New VP appointed - Artesyn Communication Products today announced that Joe Lugo has been named vice president of engineering.Lugo brings more than 25 years of engineering experience to the position, including 18 years in engineering management roles.
• New servo motors optimised for clean environments - Baldor has launched a range of brushless servo motors optimised for use in clean environments such as bio-pharm and food packaging and processing lines, or hostile operating situations such as inside machine tools. Believed to be the first 'washdown-duty' servo motors on the market, the range introduces a valuable new performance option for OEMs, allowing them to deliver higher speeds, accelerations and positioning accuracies in machinery and automation.
• Software solutions - Projexdevelops among other production areas, software for: Industrial automation, Measurement and control, Environmental management.
• Power supply ATE gains machine vision option to reduce operator intervention and boost throughput - Schaffner has launched a new option for its Intepro 9000 range of automatic test equipment designed for high-volume quality assurance for the power supply industry. The fast measuring speed of the Intepro 9000 series can now be complemented with an advanced Machine Vision system, which eliminates many of the bottlenecks of the test process, increasing throughput and thereby reducing the costs of quality control.
• Sensorless AC Drives Fill Price/Performance Niche - Improvements in low-speed control, starting torque, and speed regulation under varying loads -- all without encoder feedback -- are making sensorless AC drives attractive.
  From Manufacturing.Net news service

• VDI plaque of honour awarded to distinguished engineer - VDI - The Association of German Engineers, the 127,000 strong National Engineers Association, along with its VDI/VDE Society for Measurement and Automatic Control, has awarded Dieter Schaudel of Endress + Hauser the VID Plaque of Honourr. The recipiant is a member of many years standing of the associationÕs executive committee and advisory council, as well as director in charge of technology, technique and informatics for the entire E+H Group. He has significantly contributed to orienting the GMA towards meeting future challenges by implementing a new management structure, according to the testimonial. His initiative has also lead to the development of the association's mission. His commitment to internationalization has lead to transatlantic cooperation with the ISA (The Instrumentation, Systems and Automation Society).