See Archive Page for earlier news.

31/7/01

• T&M Newsletter published - The European Union is fameed for its bureacracy and the titles of some of its programmes does little to dispel that impression. The Bullitin of Information of the Measurements and Testing Generic Activity in the Competitive and Sustainable Growth Programme, mercifully called the "Measurements & Testing Newsletter" has mailed its midsummer issue. In this issue there are reports on some succesful projects and a look forward at EU proposals which will impact on T&M in Europe up to 2006.
• Exhibition expands! - Due to the tremendous interest in the sensors industry and related topics, the upcoming Sensors Expo and Conference in Philadelphia (USA) October 1 - 4, has expanded from three to four days and restructured its format according to an article in Manufacturing.Net.

• Fieldbus compatible recorders - The Yokogawa DAQSTATION DX1 OOIDX200 family of paperless recorders are the first instruments of their type to support the Foundation Fieldbus bidirectional digital communication standard. Each unit can accept up to eight Foundation Fieldbus devices, making it ideal as a Ôstarter packÕ for Fieldbus applications. Fieldbus connectivity allows the recorders to receive measured values from connected Fieldbus field devices, display the data in a wide variety of formats, and store this information to a network or other storage media.

• Has the whole Automation Industry gone mad? - Jim Pinto's prognostigations as usual are pithy and to the point. Here's what he says about ABB "ABB is a good company, the second-largest in industrial automation (after Siemens) struggling with decline of the worldwide automation business. As well, they are digesting Elsag Bailey and other relatively unhealthy previous acquisitions, made unwisely without a balanced market perspective.
  They are now paying the piper for outdated business planning methods and marketing vision with a rear-view mirror." For a retired - though not retiring - seer he certainly seems to have his finger on the pulse. The informed I&C professional will be on his mail list to receive his newsletter.
• "The leading international event for the Environment Industry!" - Some 1,500 exhibitors (from about 30 countries) and 40,000 trade visitors are expected at Pans Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center from December 4 through 7 for the 17th POLLUTEC, the International Exhibition for Environmental Technology, Equipment, and Services for Industry. Many international exhibitors will be there.
• Open Graphics Software - Saving time and costs are important factors in the process engineering and automation sectors. Accordingly, the demand for universal, standardised concepts has become much more of a selection criterion for graphics systems. With PMI-PRO open, the new PiIz Machine Interface for generating graphics functions for operator terminals and PC systems, this universality has now been achieved.
• Cable tester for boat builders - A cable and harness tester specifically designed to meet the requirements of recreational boat builders has been developed by Cabletest Systems, Inc., and is now available exclusively in Britain from the Peak Group. The new unit addresses key marine industry testing requirements by allowing recreational boat manufacturers to carry out in-process and final testing of electrical wiring harnesses as part of their manufacturing process.

• World's largest church uses infra-red thermography to clean up - Infrared thermography was used to control the physical characteristics and to determine the state of preservation of the facade of the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. This Basilica is widely recognised as the centrepiece of Christianity and the Vatican City. In November 1997, Mr. Giunta of EniTecnologie used a Flir ThermaCAM SC 1000 on site. After seeing the enormous potential for use of infrared cameras for building restoration, he convinced EniTecnologie, his company, to purchase a camera. This company assisted the "Fabbrica di San Pietro" in the impressive restoration which was completed to provide the stunning backdrop for most of the principal papal events for the Great Jubilee. Here are Details of the complete restoration project.
• Two new specs issued - Profibus International has announced the availability of two new specifications for Profibus users, integrators and OEMS.
  See more information in the mews section of the Fieldbus Page

• New Portable IR Calibrator Certifies to 500 C - Calibrate all types of IR thermometers to 500 C with Hart's new 9132 Portable IR Calibrator. Featuring a large temperature controlled blackbody target with a diameter of 2.25" (57mm) and an emmissivity of 0.95, the isothermal target can be controlled in set-point increments of 0.1degrees from 50 C to 500 C.

• High Accuracy Frequency-to-DC Transmitter for Flow and Speed Measurement - The new FDY PC-Programmable Frequency-to-DC Transmitter, from Moore Industries with Display monitors frequency, period, high or low pulse width, and contact closure signals in flow and speed measurement applications. The 2-wire (loop-powered) transmitter features exceptional measurement accuracy of ±0.025% of span typical, with an allowance of up to five years between scheduled calibrations. Versatile inputs options include frequency ranges between 0.005Hz up to 25KHz; periods from 40µsec to 200sec; and pulse widths from 0.2msec to 200 seconds. This unit configures with application-specific operating parameters in minutes using the company's single-window intelligent PC configuration software.

• New President appointed - GE Fanuc Automation has named Jeff Christensen as the new president and CEO of the GE Fanuc Motion Business. He will provide strategic direction and leadership to the combined PLC and Whedco motion business.
• New IOOOV voltage and continuity tester for UK market - Fluke has introduced a new model Category III voltage and continuity tester with probes designed specially for the British market. A fully automated instrument, the user simply probes the circuit to obtain readings of AC or DC volts, or he receives an audible indication of an open circuit. Available from Fluke registered distributors throughout the country, the new compact Fluke T3 Voltage and Continuity Tester features seven different LED AC and DC nominal voltage level indicators, plus a DC polarity indicator. The AC range steps from 12V to 690V, while the DC range goes from 6V to 220V. There are no switches. A bleeper indicates an open circuit. This version has removable, heavy-duty probes with less than 4mm of exposed metal at the tips.

• Energy fair for 2002 - The Zaragoza Trade Fair centre and InfoPower magazine the third International Exhibition and Conference PowerEXPO will be from September 18 to 20, 2002.Basing predictions on the highly positive results of PowerEXPO 2000 and the favourable prospects of the energy markets in Spain and various of the Spanish-speaking countries in America, PowerEXPO 2002 is expected to be still bigger and better.
• New non-contact position sensor - Position Sensor manufacturers ASM have introduced a magnetoresistive non-contact position sensor. The new recently developed sensor designated_Posim~gjises a compact non-contact sensor head which moves above a magnetic strip. It is robust and fast, and has high resistance to dust, moisture and many fluids.
• Analyser makes light of difficulties - Up to seven gas species can be monitored by the Pentex II extractixÕe flue-gas analyser developed by Codel International. Designed to provide accurate measurements under dificult conditions, for example where the flue gases are very hot or wet or where the process duct is very small or inaccessible, the analyser uses infrared absorption spectroscopy to monitor gases such as CO, CO2 , NOR, SO2 , HCl, CH4 and H20.

• Field programmable analog array (FPAA) products and technology alliance in Japan - From mid July 2001, Omron is offering Anadigm FPAA products under its own brand, through the Semiconductor Division of its Electronic Components Company. The company will initially market FPAA technology in Japan, where it expects to establish a multi-million dollar market within two years. Omron additionally intends to help drive the development of FPAA technology for target applications including, but not limited to, industrial automation and medical equipment - markets where it has extensive know-how.

• Servomotor drives range expanded - Baldor has expanded its innovative Flex range of digital servo motor drives - which provide economical solutions for industrial positioning applications - with new higher-power versions that operate direct from 400/460V three-phase supplies.

• Free Technical Briefs - IDC Technologies have included for the first time a technical brief on the Information Technology field in the latest edition of their "Free Technical Briefs". They have articles on Control Valve Selection, The Design of Ethernet and Fieldbus Systems in a Process Control System as the basis of an E-Commerce Solution, Using EMC Principles to Ensure Overvoltage Protection, Consultants: Who They Are and How They Work, Controlled Passive Ship Stabiliser System, Keeping your E-Business Current. They are constantly looking for new subjects to explore and new information to share.

• CD Catalogue - DEIF is one of the biggest suppliers of switcboard instrumentation in northern Europ. This CD-catalogue includes company profile, gen-set controls, marine bridge instrumentation and switchboard instrumentation.
• Generator cuts gas cost - A compact nitrogen generator designed by a British company for the mass spectrometry market offers gas on tap at flows of up to 60 litres/mm with low maintenance and energy costs. The NG-LCMS system, from Products of Technology (PTL), keeps costs low by producing nitrogen only when gas is required. It achieves better than 99.9% purity and works well at a pressure of 6.8bar (1OOlbf/in2), says the company. Applications also cover food packaging, semiconductors, phannaceuticals, biotechnology and laser optics. A dedicated compressor is available, or customers may use an existing air supply.

• "Thank you inventors!" - At an "Inventors' Meeting" in Switzerland, the Endress+Hauser Group said "thank you" to 95 inventors who had submitted a total of 91 patent applications for the Group during the previous year. With this event, the share-holders and the management of the company highlighted the fact that inventions and innovations permanently constituted the most important preconditions for success and thus the security and creation of jobs. In 2000, a total of 95 innovators submitted 91 patent applications for the company, many of them being interdisciplinary or the result of team work. The figure represents a 65% increase on the previous year. They will make measurement methods and instruments more exact, dependable and cost-effective or create completely new applications for customers. "We only submit applications of real novelties which represent a true benefit for our customers, but then we do this world-wide and with a high degree of intensity," Dieter Schaudel, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) said. This, in turn, was the main reason for their implementation and for the sustained benefit of these E+H products, he explained.
  The photographs of the 95 innovators are to be found on the cover of "CHANGES 2001", the current group annual magazine.
• New mini accelerometer - Endevco's latest miniature triaxial piezoresistive accelerometer, now available from BrUel & Kjaer, is ideal for use in biomechanical research applications such as the study of head injuries. Small and lightweight (0.4 grams), the Endevco model 7269 measures three orthogonal axes simultaneously and can be used for making measurements on light structures with a minimum of mass loading. Applications include testixig of ejection seats, headÑup displays and sports helmets where the extremely small size allows for installation in hard to access areas or on small electronics assemblies.

• Is it right? - When taking in-line measurements, whether for pH, DO2, or Conductivity how can the user answer the question, ÒIs it right?Ó Mettler-Toledo process transmitters offer full sensor diagnostics (time and date-stamped) to provide full confidence in the measurement. They also provide a time and date-stamped multi-entry log of key sensor parameters. The transmitter analyses the stored data, compares it to operator defined parameters and uses this to provide pro-warning alanns to alert the user to a possible problem. Failure to take corrective action eventually leads to a failure alarm at another user selected level.
• Two new packages announced - SyTech Inc. , leading provider of automated report generation and data analysis software, has just announced the release of their new products, XLViewer version 1.0, Òthe secure way to view Microsoft Excel workbooks in the automation marketplaceÓ, and XLReporter version 2.0, featuring advanced historian data sources and tools for the power user.

• Industrial ethernet symposium part of European debut exposition- ISA - The Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society announces that an Industrial Ethernet for Control Symposium will be held in conjunction with the first Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation European Conference and Exhibition scheduled for 10-11 October 2001. With support from GAMBICA - the Association for Instrumentation, Control, Automation, The Industrial Ethernet Book and the Institute of Measurement and Control, this two-day symposium will feature the latest developments in Industrial Ethernet technology and how manufacturing professionals can utilise these advances. Industry experts from Schneider Electric, Hirschmann Electronics, Siemens and Rockwell Automation will discuss topics such as "Is Ethernet Ready for the Plant Floors", "Sorting out the Application Layer: HSE", and "Distributed and Open Automation Ð The Future."
• News now available in German and Japanese - Manufacturing plants are located around the globe and people everywhere are interested in news regarding manufacturing applications. ARC Advisory Group has been providing its ARCwire news service - the voice for the Manufacturing Industry - in English. Now, it is available in German and Japanese.

• Providing Core Infrastructure for Automation Application Development - Wonderware, now part of Invensys, has announced its new ArchestrA framework, providing new levels of ease of use, scaleability, project productivity, and extensibility, for products and solutions built on it. They will roll out the first new and enhanced components to its FactorySuite to leverage the power of this framework, launching another significant phase in FactorySuite's evolution in the industrial automation market space in 2002. ArchestrA was unveiled at the formal opening of the Wonderware Showcase, a global user group meeting, technology conference and product exposition held last month in Las Vegas.
• Handheld installation, testing, and troubleshooting at a low price - Horner Advanced Products Group (APG) introduces Cscape PDA and CsHMI software for Palm OS handhelds. Providing handheld program loading, controller monitoring, and diagnostic and status information, the Cscape PDA is an innovative, easy-to-use software that makes installing, troubleshooting, and maintaining HomerÕs control systems more manageable for a lower price.

• Free CD on industrial data communications - Westermo Data Communications has published a CD version of its popular industrial Data Communications Handbook The CD contains detailed information on terminology; system design; typical applications; tutorials; and troubleshooting. The CD includes 270 pages of information in total, providing essential reading for engineers and network designers. It is available free of charge - contact WestermoÕs UK sales office for a copy. The first 60-page section gets down to communications basics, and covers all areas of data communications in a step-by-step fashion: handshaking; interfaces; ASCII; interference; designing networks; datacomms using telecomms; analogue leased lines; ISDN; radio communications; antennae; Lon Works; distance and design; symbols; and so on.
• Machine vision software enables programmers to work more efficiently - The latest release of vision software, IMAQ Vision 6.0 for Measurement Studio, extends National InstrumentÕs easy-to-use machine vision and image processing tools to the most popular programming languages. Using this software, engineers can easily create integrated visual inspection applications for faster and more reliable measurements with Measurement Studio, a complete software package that delivers measurement tools including data acquisition, data analysis, and data visualisation to complement Microsoft Visual Basic, Visual C++, and ANSI C programming languages.

Comment on GE & Honeywell merger flop - Although written before the final decision in Europe on this merger there are several pertinent comments in the July issue of the inestimable Industrial Automation Insider. "While most...commentators have presented the saga as a streight fight between US business and the EU, and US financial analysts have expressed outrage at the temerity of the EU in daring to have any opinion at all on the merger of two American companies better informed opinion...incline to the view...is more about how GE could extricate itself from the deal than how it could secure it." Jim Pinto's e-News prognosticates also "...most observers expect United Technologies, whose previous successful bid for Honeywell was interrupted by GE's surprise move...will return with a renewed but substantially lower offer..." Like we said, "Watch this space!".

• High speed Ethernet link module - Softing has launched a module for linking FOUNDATION Fieldbus Hi (IEC 611 58-2) low speed field networks to the FF High Speed Ethernet (HSE) network specification. This makes it possible to set up supervisory and control systems or PCs as high speed Ethernet clients and gain transparent access to the field devices of the FE-Hi level. Called FE Linking Device, the module is a compact 'gateway', which is aimed at System Integrators, OEMs and end users in the process industries. It can connect up to four FE-Hi segments to an HSE network running at 10 or 100 Mbits/s. The FE Linking Device is suitable for top-hat rail assembly and is powered from an external 24 V supply. A separate COM port is provided and the front panel has LED indicators showing system activity.
• New model added to blast & acoustic pressure transducer range - The new 165 series of high performance piezoelectric pressure transducers from POB Piezotronics and available from Techni Measure, has been specifically designed to retrofit popular existing mounting ports for high dynamic pressure measurement in the fields of ballistics, acoustics, hydraulics, compressors, engine test, cavitation, blast, explosion, turbulence and shock waves.
• For tracking & control - Wizard Information Systems has announced the availability of USDATAÕS FactoryLink++, a collection of integrated modules developed to help end-users, integrators, QEMs, and consultants to get the maximum value out of the FactoryL ink software system. FactoryLink+ + has been built on the Microsoft Windows DNA (Distributed interNet applications Architecture) standard, with distinct advantages readily obtainable. Specifically designed for Windows 2000, it is the first SCADA system to make full use of all the benefits that the DNA standard has to offer.
• Multi-channel filter card with gain for VME and VXI systems - Kemo Ltd has developed a multi-channel filter card with gain which is physically compatible with data-acquisition and instrumentation systems based on the 6U VME and B-size VXI industry standards.
• Communications software - Klinkmann develops communication software for automation for over 10 years. Today Klinkmann's communication servers library is one of the widest in the world. All this software is available on the web as 1-hour free to use versions.

• Learn safety - You can attend a new series of Web-based seminars on Safety Instrumented Systems this summer, without ever leaving your workplace. Project engineers, managers, engineering contractors, and system integrators will benefit from these seminars. Offered by the ISA Training Institute, these live, interactive seminars led by industry expert Paul Gruhn, help you implement the current standards and guidelines on designing safety instrumented systems for your facility. All you and your co-workers need to participate is a computer and a telephone. Click here for more information.

• Acquisition enhances capabilities in embedded computer and storage area network technologies - GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc. today announced it has signed definitive agreements to acquire VMIC, the manufacturer of embedded single board computers, high-performance communications and data acquisition and control products, for open-architecture buses used in industrial automation, fibre channel storage area networks (SAN), defense, medical, and test and measurement segments.

• New engineering director - Calex Electronics Limited, specialists in non-contact infrared temperature measurement and power conversion, are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Michael Devine as Engineering Director. Dr Devine joined Calex in 1998 as Chief Engineer and since that time has designed several new sophisticated non-contact temperature measurement devices. These include the pocket-sized Pyropen infrared thermometer as well as a range of on-line temperature sensors that are user configurable via software.
• Ultrasonic sensor introduced - The M-5000/95 programmable ultrasonic sensor for precision non contact distance measurement - manufactured by Massa Products Corp and available from sensing specialists Vydas International Marketing has been introduced. The MassaSonic M5000/95 is a user programmable smart ultrasonic sensor and control system that marries the state of the art in electroacoustics with microprocessor based digital signal processing for precision distance measurement.

• IP rated programmable linear actuators ideal for use in washdown, external and contaminated environments - Parker HannifinÕs Electromechanical Division has launched a range of 1P65 rated programmable linear actuators for use in environmentally-challenging applications. The actuators provide extremely accurate and repeatable positioning capabilities, and are excellent alternatives to hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders in applications that demand full programmable control. Forming the latest additions to ParkerÕs renowned FT series of electric cylinders, the new 1P65 rated models are available in frame sizes of 32, 50, 80 and 100mm Ñ the largest model can provide thrust forces in excess of 20,000N. The actuators are particularly suitable for applications in the food processing industry, where hydrogen peroxide solution is frequently used for washdown purposes, as well as for reliable, long-term use in external or contaminated environments.

  Europe stymies merger - The European Fair-Competition Commissioner, Mario Monti has not approved the proposed merger between Honeywell and General Electric on the grounds that it would adversly effect prices in the marketplace. This despite the fact that the equivalent department in the US had already waved the merger through. It is uncertain what the consequencenses will be though Honeywell's Michael Bonsignore had already resigned late this evening. Here is a Statement from General Electric. Honeywell's press statement gives more details on the decision. As the saying goes "Watch this space!"

• New compact controller models ideal for applications requiring low power - GE Fanuc Automation has introduced the newest additions to its VersaMax family of Micro and Nano PLCs, 1 2V DC models designed specifically for applications requiring low-power control. Affordable and practical for solar- and battery-powered applications, the GE Fanuc 12V DC VersaMax Micro and Nano PLCs feature rugged construction with electrical and vibration standards that make them ideal for challenging applications such as disposal vehicles, buses and other transportation systems. In addition, the compact size of the Micro and Nano PLCs reduces the amount of panel space needed for installation.
• Three-phase inlet filter reduces both harmonics and EMI - Latest from filter specialist Schaffner is a new three-phase input unit containing a line-reactor and conventional RFI filter. FN 3400 offers efficient and highly cost-effective reduction of harmonics and conducted electromagnetic interference.