See Archive Page for earlier news.

31/10/01

• Low cost probe-style DMM - Meterman has introduccd a low cast probe-style digital multimeter. It is aimed at the electrical test, hobbyist and industrial markets. The handheld DMM offers up to 3400 counts, an analogue bar-graph and data-hold facility. It measures AC and DC voltages up to 600V, with a catagory III safety approval up to 300V and Category II up to 600V. Featuring an audible continuity tester, it also measures resistances to 34ohm, and include diode test and automatic power-off after a limited period of non-use.
• Radiation detection - The GannnaTRACER, from Berkley Nucleonics is a unique concept for unmanned continuous surveillance of gamma radiation. It is a combination of a GM based survey instrument and a microprocessor controlled data logger in a compact environmentally sealed package. This unit is capable of recording up to 12,800 measurements based on time periods you select ranging from 1 minute to 2 hours. In order to fully implement the potential of EEEunmanned monitoring the GammaTRACER is totally self contained with an extremely long life lithium battery and has a broad dynamic range letting you measure dose rates from 0.OlmSv/h to 10,OOOmSvIh.

• First out of the blocks - The first company to send us information on a new Windows XP support strategy is National Instruments. This enhanced MS programme was launced throughout the world 25th October. There may be more who, like NI are organising training sessions to support those customers who are making the transition to this platform but until they tell us we can't tell. To find out more visit ni.com/info and type in WinXP.
• New multi-function calibrator - The Calys 10 calibrator is designed to verify and calibrate equipment in the laboratory or in industrial locations and meet the growing requirements of maintenance and calibration departments. It is fifed with a protective housing and a quick charge battery. Developed by the French company AOIP, it enables measurements and simulations of all types of temperature sensors to made with remarkable accuracy (+1Ñ 0.2% at process scale) and measures pressure from 1 to 1,000 bars. Equipped with a nine-language user interface, the Calys 10 also enables calibration staff to transmit and print reports in several languages.
• Changing places - Matthew Peach, former deputy editor of Control Engineering Europe, is now working for Pennwell Publishing on the launch of a new publication for the fibre-optic and communications market, Lightwave Europe.
• Metal connector offers enhanced EMC protection - Harting has introduced a metal version of its Han Q810¨ connector, designed to provide enhanced interference protection for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) in decentralised industrial drive installations.

• Another merger! - Brooks Automation and PRI Automation have announced a definitive agreement under which Brooks acquires PRI, creating the leading supplier of semiconductor automation systems, software and services, with pro forma annual sales for fiscal year 2001 (ended September 30, 2001) of approximately $700 million. With complementary technologies, products, distribution channels and customer relationships, the combined enterprise will be uniquely positioned to offer customers fully integrated, end-to-end solutions through a single provider, enhancing their ability to bring advanced semiconductor products to market more quickly and cost-effectively.

• Temperature sensor design guide for engineers - Peak Sensors, a leading temperature measurement and control solutions provider, have launched their latest CD ROM design guide and product catalogue. The CD ROM, which is available free of charge, combines valuable sources of knowledge and expertise in this specialist field, which helps you to research and select the best sensor / sheath combination for your requirements. The design guide is aimed as a simple to use and time saving way to choose the most suited product to your needs by providing in depth and accurate information on sensors, sheaths, components, instrumentation and the services provided.

• New stall detection added for intelligent, sensorless feedback - Whedco, a subsidiary of GE Fanuc Automation, has added a new stall detection feature to the Stepping Motor CubeTM with DeviceNetTM. The new sensorless stall detection capability provides accurate, user-configured motor stall feedback to the control system and allows users to avoid costly encoders, additional cables, and more complex programming.
  GE fanuc supports the Signpost with an advert on the News Page.
• 24 hours round the clock" - Burster's new website is designed for all visitors who long to get an immediate access to burster's products, the company's structures and activities. All product data sheets with all necessary technical data are available for download. By a link the sensor CAD data can be downloaded for direct integration and further processing in construction designs. Along with important information about burster's participation in current trade fairs, the company's profile and its products the home page also offers a convenient e-mail form by which the user can easily order print catalogs, brochures and other technical information.

• PC market deteriorates - Here is a analysis of the PC market in Europe from IDC.

• Industrial Ethernet Adapter - Westermo Data Communications has introduced the ED-ic Industrial Ethernet Adapter, providing Industrial Ethernet to RS-232 or RS-422/485 connections. The ED- 10 can operate up to 1152 kbit/s on the serial port and has a lOBaseT Ethernet connection. It uses the standard TCP/IP protocol for network communication. Two ED-iC units can be used to create a serial point-to-point connection through a TCP/IP network. Each ED-ic transparently passes data from the serial interface to the other point's serial interface. This enables long distance serial connections to be made.
  The company has also announced the launch of a fibreoptic converter, specifically developed for Profibus applications.
• First to pass Fieldbus Foundation interoperability tests for host systems - Yokogawa's CENTUM CS3000 and CS1 000 distributed process control systems have been officially recognised by the Fieldbus Foundation as the first host systems to support their technologies in an interoperable manner. It became the first vendor to successfully test comply with interoperability procedures under the supervision of FF officials, the tests being carried out at the company's American headquarters in Houston.

• Fit a splashproof digital meter in under a minute - Lascar Electronics has upgraded its popular series of round-hole meters, the EM Series, by making every product in the range splashproof. Users now have the option to fit the rubber seal supplied to the EM Series meter of their choice. With this enhancement, the 31,4 digit voltmeter, 2-wire voltmeter, thermometer, hour meter and analogue-style gauge are suitable for use in more demanding environments. Lascats new rubber seal is now supplied at no additional charge with all EM Series modules.

• Food industry welcomes second addition of acclaimed work - The second edition of "Instrumentation and sensors for the food industry," consolidates its position described in Food Industry News "..Éthis weighty tome is an expertly assembled series of presentations ('papers' don't do them justice) written by a virtual Who's Who of this essential industrial sector Each tackles his or her subject in a readable and engaging manner, without skimping on the technical detail, in such a way that this book should appeal to a wide audienceÉThoroughly recommended!" This important 872 page hardback may be ordered from Woodhead Publishing Limited.
• Name change - RIFOCS and/or Opto-Electronics, Inc., are changing their name to Tempo, a Textron Company. Tempo is a well-established name in the communications industry, known for the design, manufacturing and marketing of test and measurement equipment. "By combining forces with other well-known brands under the Tempo umbrella, we will continue to offer you the superior fiber optic products and expert services that you've come to expect, as well as an expanded product line," according to a spokesperson.
• Surface mount pressure sensor - The Sensing and Control business of Honeywell has introduced the 26PC SMT (Surface Mount Technology) Series sensor, the first product offering in its 20PC SMT Pressure Sensor family. The 20PC SMT is the first and only true surface mount pressure sensor. The 20PC SMT is a low-cost, high value sensing solution for use on printed circuit assemblies.

• Automation Controller for Complex Applications Mitsubishi claims to have advanced the state of the art in automation controllers with the new Q Series PLC system. Q Series allows development time to be dramatically cut with its innovative multiple program/multiple user operating system. This allows multiple developers to work on a project simultaneously thus reducing lead-time via concurrent development.

• Heavy weight - New research from industry analysts Frost & Sullivan shows a drive for efficiency and product development is continuing to keep the industrial weighing machinery market moving forward in otherwise difficult times for the industry. The European market is close to maturity, and overall developments on an annual basis indicate slow rather than rapid growth. In such a mature industry sector, it is imperative for manufacturers to respond to the challenges by developing innovative solutions. Overall, growth has been fairly static in recent years with Frost & Sullivan valuing the market at 1.3 billion euro in 2000, an increase of 2.9 per cent on the previous year.

• Perfect timing! - Red Lion's new 1/8 DIN, PAX Clock/Timer (PAXOK) offers many performance capabilities to suit a wide range of industrial applications. With a six digit LED display, it can function as an elapsed timer, preset timer and/or a real-time clock with date capability. The PAXCK has been specifically designed for harsh industrial environments, with a NEMA 4X/1P65 sealed bezel and extensive testing to meet CE requirements.

• Instrumentation panel helps ensure that Channel Tunnel walls set solid - Two instrumentation panels built by Jumo Instruments are helping to ensure the integrity of the tunnel lining in the North Downs Tunnel on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link - the largest transport tunnel in the Britain. Jumo has supplied the panels to the Eurolink Joint Venture, which specialises in building and lining large tunnels such as those that carry roads, railways, waterways and sewers.The Channel Tunnel is the land link between France with England.
• Back to normal - In spite of the present uncertain conditions since the appalling events of September 11th and their aftermath, ISA will still present the Joint Technical Conference at INTERMAC 2001 in Tokyo on 7-9 November.
• User group endorses program for plant floor software - The Microsoft Manufacturing User Group (MS-MUG), part of Open Modular Architecture Controls User Group (OMAC), recommends that Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and manufacturing end users adopt Microsoft's Designed for Windows XP logo program as a minimum certification level for plant floor desktop applications. This self-certifying program overcomes obstacles that preclude Windows 2000 certification for virtually all plant floor software and retains some of the key certification attributes originally recommended to Microsoft by the MS-MUG. Dave Bauman of Procter & Gamble and chair of MS-MUG says: "While the Designed for Windows XP logo program does not address all of the issues raised in MS-MUG's original input to Microsoft, it does contain enough substance to give manufacturers and ISVs a common platform to ensure stability of desktop applications on the plant floor."

• A new sensor technology for measuring Ammonia gas - Vaisala is launching a range of products for measuring Ammonia gas concentrations up to 1000 ppm. A new Ammonicap sensor based on thin film polymer technology has been developed that is highly selective to Ammonia and has a long lifetime. These features reduce false alarms and maintenance costs. The sensor operates over a wide temperature range, from Ñ40 to +60 deg.C and humidity up to 100% rh. It provides a simple and reliable method of detecting ammonia gas leaks in isolated areas such as roof voids or other areas where Ammonia is used as a cooling agent.
• Marketing manager appointed - Michell Instruments, the leading manufacturer of hygrometry and process instrumentation, has announced the appointment of a new marketing manager. Liz Wilson joined Michell Instruments in August and is responsible for developing business opportunities in new and existing markets.
• Avoid End of Life Status for DCS Operator Consoles - Wonderware, part of Invensys plc, has introduced a "life support" solution that allows distributed control system (DCS) users, whose proprietary operator interface consoles are being discontinued, to replace those operator panels with their (HMI) software, InTouch. This console replacement package allows DCS users to continue using their existing operator console hardware, but to extend its life and upgrade its performance by using an InTouch HMI conversion package to port existing graphics and data links with minimal effort.
• High temp infrared sensors with digital output - Calex Electronics is offering RS-232 and RS-485 serial digital output connections for its MX-HT (high temperature) Series of infrared sensors. "Plant maintenance and manufacturing departments are realising the need for digital communication in automating process control", said Dr Fred Ritchie, Applications Manager. "By offering serial digital output in our infrared sensors, we provide the means of computerising process-control applications". The MX-HT Series measures the temperature of moving, inaccessible, fragile and unsafe targets without product contamination. Distance to target ratios are 50:1 or 75:1, depending on the application. The infrared sensors operate at a temperature range of 800ÓC to 1 500ÓC and are suitable for use in glass, aluminium and steel manufacturing plants.

• Plan for October 2002! - Papers are requested for the ISA 2002 Show. We have started a page which will record progreess in the planning for this event and we welcome details of exhibits (and advertisers!) who plan to make the trip to the windy city in 12 months time. The show will also host the 8th International Temperature Symposium which has met every ten years since 1918. Details of this are on the ISA website.

• Outsourcing - another word for closedown? - Jim Pinto's latest epistle comments, one senses, more in sadness than in anger, "I am genuinely upset! Action Instruments - the company acquired by Eurotherm (my choice), which in turn was sold to Invensys (not my choice)- has been informed that all manufacturing will be outsourced. So, some 60-80 manufacturing people (some there for over 20 years) will be out of a job. Under these conditions, how many others do you think will stay? How can I comment on this stupidity? I shall - in an article I have brewing: "Stupidity is more destructive than Malevolence!"
  We will, of course, give the link to this when it sees the air!
• Jaguar Cars is using a sophisticated environmental chamber from West Sussex(GB)-based Temperature Applied Sciences Limited (TAS) to ensure that vehicle airbags operate reliably across a variety of temperatures, humidity, and solar radiation conditions. Accurate feedback control of the three environmental parameters is achieved using a standard Eurotherm type 2704 triple loop PID controller complete with high visibility graphical user interface.
• Young investigator - SPIE - the international society for optical engineering is now accepting submissions for the Young Investigator Award, which is presented annually at Photonics West. The award, given in memory of Heather Williamson Messenger, former Executive Editor of Laser Focus World, is for the best paper by a young researcher who has graduated within five years of the conference. The award consists of a cash prize and publication of the winning paper in the magazine. So if you know of any young engineers at your company that are planning to submit, or have already submitted an abstract, ask if they have applied for the Young Investigator Award. It's worth investigating!
• British pharmaceutical plant orders system - Expansion at the Ponders End manufacturing plant of Merck Sharp and Dohme Ltd has led to a major £1 Million- order for DeltaV process automation systems from Emerson Process Management. With 1500 I/O, this new system will be interfaced with the previous Provox control systems used on the site, enabling data transfer into the current reporting systems. These orders continue a long-standing working relationship between the two companies and illustrate the compatibility and migration paths available, developing the control systems into the latest technology. Emerson Process Management will also supply associated plant instrumentation and control equipment.
  Emerson Process Management support the Signpost with advertising. See our Fieldbus Page. Your company can too. Look at Price Details.

• New programmable safety system - Developed to meet the needs of the market the PSS 3046, from Pilz, offers an optimum 110 configuration and completes the compact series in the PSS-range. With a small footprint in a single housing the PSS 3046 offers all of the technical functionality of the rest of the PSS family at a low cost. At present, the product range 110 count extends from 32 to approximately 300 safety-oriented 110's. The safety-oriented 3046 controller with 46 110's complements the existing PSS 3032 and the PSS 3056 systems. For distributed solutions with the safe and open SafetyBUS p this value can be expanded "without" safety loss to over 1000 110's. A system architecture taken from the P55 3000 system family enables a safety standard up to and including risk category 4 to EN 954-1 respectively AK6 to DIN V 19 250, and a smooth entry into the next higher controller class.
• Energy Monitoring System Shows Consumption in Real-Time - Biodata's new Microlink 826 logs data from utility meters - sending the consumption readings to a central PC running Windows. It lets you monitor demand in real-time and identify patterns of use of electricity, gas, water and so on. Each unit can monitor 8 utility meters, and up to 30 Microlinks can be incorporated in one system. The Microlink can be up to 1 km away from the PC. It can also communicate over a modem so you can retrieve reading remotely. Data is stored both locally by the battery-backed Microlink and on the PC, ensuring no loss of information.
• Are you Irish and living in Germany? - - If you are living in Germany, or presumably have lived there in the past, there is a questionnaire for you to complete at http://Irish-in-Germany.de. Rudi Hartmann is conducting some academic research on the experience of Irish people in Germany and would appreciate your help. If you are not in a position to complete the questionnaire on the web, contact RudiHartmann@t-online.de and he will send you a copy.

• European SCADA market - Demand for new products and systems from end-users wanting to upgrade existing systems with modern technology is keeping the European SCADA systems market in dynamic shape. Latest research by Frost & Sullivan, released today, shows the European SCADA market generated $766.5 million in revenues in 2000. An increase of 8.1 percent on the previous year. Positive growth rates are forecast for this market as development continues within all geographical regions and most product segments. Revenues are expected to reach $1.16 billion in 2007.

  Interkama Report The 15th INTERKAMA ended on Friday, 28 September 2001, after highlighting the major transformation in the automation industry and current market developments. Some 42,000 visitors, one-third of whom were from outside Germany, came to DUsseldorf over the five-day run to view the latest products and solutions for process automation. In all, 66 nations were represented on the visitor side. "In the wake of INTERKAMA's restructuring and the change to a two-year cycle, we are pleased with the visitor numbers," notes Wilhelm Giese, Managing Director of Messe DUsseldorf The majority of trade visitors came from Europe, with Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Italy significantly leading the field. With regard to non-European guests, the percentage of visitors from Africa grew to 6%; the share of Asian guests remains high at 14% In contrast, there was a drop in the number of guests from USA where the terrorist attacks of two weeks ago constituted the main reason for many Americans deciding not to travel, though this did not seem to effect the number of US companies exhibiting. See our Interkama Review.

Here we go again - MycroSENSOR Technologies has purchased the Moore Products line of field instruments from Siemens Energy & Automation. MycroSENSOR plans to continue delivering the same high-caliber products and services on which users of Moore Products' family of XTC transmitters and Fluidic Flowmeter products have come to rely. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed. Siemens Energy & Automation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens AG, purchased Moore Products Co. last year. Products acquired by MycroSENSOR include the XTC line of pressure and differential pressure transmitters, flowmeters, and temperature transmitters.

• Scottish university in partnership programme - National Instruments and the University of Glasgow announced a Partnership Programme to develop a good working relationship that benefits both parties through a teaching laboratory, which National Instruments is sponsoring. The new Teaching Laboratory will enhance the use of Lab VIEW and Data Acquisition hardware in the Electrical Engineering Department for Teaching and Non-Commercial Research as part of the sponsorship agreement. The working relationship brings together the University of Glasgow's strength in engineering education with the leadership of NI in measurement and automation. The terms of this Partnership state that NI will supply the Lab VIEW Departmental Licence and Software Support Program for teaching and non-commercial research.
• New 250W power module brings added flexibility to low-cost stepper drives - Parker Hannifin's Electromechanical Division has launched a power module with the capacity to supply up to six of the company's latest XL series low-cost stepper drives. Rated at 250W continuous, 600W peak, the new XLPSU module is a high-efficiency switch-mode unit that auto-adapts to supply voltages in the range 95 to 264VAC. This wide input range enables OEMs to build complete multi-axis motion control systems that can be powered from standard single-phase AC mains supplies virtually anywhere in the world. The XLPSU module provides both the main 8OVDC supply bus for the drives, and their 24VDC logic supply.

• Light news! - The current issue of Laser Focus World, highlights products that were show- cased at this week's Fiberoptic Automation Expo in Chicago.

• New power analyser - The new fully portable state-of-the-an Power Quality Analyser from Hioki, will monitor, record and analyse power supply abnormalities. Also included are RS-232C and Ethernet LAN interfaces enabling connection to PC, Printer, Modem, LAN etc. and the instrument is also equipped with a HTTP server to allow a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator to control the 3196 from a remote site for set-up, control and data retrieval.
• Parent eats its young!! - At the cornerstone of Honeywell's initial eBusiness strategy was their Web initiative offered to the industrial equipment and facility management communities (MyPlant.com) designed to provide industry specific collaboration and a portal through which remote services, diagnostics and consulting were delivered. While MyPlant.com was the most visible of Honeywell's customer-facing eBusiness initiatives, steady progress has been made to digitize many internal processes of Honeywell and traditional customer interactions. Part of these digitization initiatives includes the consolidation of Web sites, and the redeployment of content. Thus the entire content will in future be transferred to the Honeywell's Industry Solutions on the Web Site.
• Product launch creates excitement - Cyco resellers are raving about the AutoManager TeamWork, the next generation of EDM workgroup software. AutoManager TeamWork is a simple, affordable, and complete engineering document management (EDM) system for engineering workgroups of 5 to fifteen users. With AutoManager TeamWork, resellers have the opportunity to diversify their product offerings, build and maintain customer relationships and take advantage of the enormous market demand for affordable, departmental EDM solutions.
• Photonics breakthrough - Eblana Photonics, a newly established provider of laser products to the telecommunications industry, has announced a new generation of transmitter source and high power pump lasers for optical communications. The products, which Eblana says will enable communication system manufacturers to meet the ongoing demand for greater communications bandwidth faster and more cost effectively, will be unveiled this week in Amsterdam, at the European Conference on Optical Communications. Eblana will be exhibiting in Hall 2, Stand No. 2207. The company was born out of a Photonics Advanced Research Programme at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, in conjunction with the Irish National Microelectronic Research Centre.
• Windows CE support for serial PCMCIA cards - Quatech Inc., a leading manufacturer of data communication and data acquisition products for PC-based systems, today introduced Windows CE support for its entire line of RS-232 and RS-422/485 asynchronous serial PCMCIA cards. With this announcement Quatech not only significantly enhances one of the most complete serial PCMCIA lines in the industry, but the company also becomes one of only a few suppliers to offer Windows CE support for multi-port RS-422/485 serial cards, and for four-port RS-232 cards.

• Printing money - The Spanish Royal Mint, Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre (FNMT) has selected PlantWeb field-based architecture and engineering services from Emerson Process Management to automate Paper Machine 1 at their security-paper plant in Burgos, Spain. This automation project forms part of the FNMT modernisation campaign to expand the production of high-quality paper for the Euro banknotes.
  Visit our Euro page to get more details on the biggest currency change in the history of the world.
  Emerson Process Management supports the Signpost with an advert on our Fieldbus Page.

• More about train-tracks - Railtrack (The British rail authority) has awarded specialist integrated control system supplier, Transmitton, a stgP7m contract to provide an integrated traction power control centre for the East Coast Main Line (ECML), to be located at York. A cromos 2000 networked management master station system at York will monitor and control the ECML traction power via some 84 of their fastflex remote terminal units located at strategic points from North London to the Scottish border. As well as centralising real-time control of the traction power, the system will also provide key network management facilities such as issuing permits to work, isolation and document management. Transmitton teams will work closely with Railtrack engineers and operators to develop a system that both reflects and ensures compliance with Raiftrack operational requirements.
• New web page launched - Monicon Technology are specialists in the design, development and manufacture of advanced, high quality gas monitoring instruments. Many innovative design concepts in conjunction with stringent quality control systems are used to produce instrumentation which is recognised worldwide as being of the highest quality by many of today's leading international chemical, pharmaceutical and semiconductor companies.
• Sound intensity calibrator - Sound and vibration specialist, Brueel & Kjaer has launched a new calibrator that enables accurate on-site calibration of sound intensity measuring instruments without having to dismantle the sound intensity probe. he new calibrator Type 4297 is designed to eliminate the need for dismantling the sound intensity probe and is optimised for use with their 2260E Investigator sound intensity system for phase enhancement. As there is no longer any need to dismantle the probe, the risk of misplacing the spacer is now eliminated.

• Multimeter aids vital rail safety - Fluke, has won an order from Railtrack (the British consortium that manages and controls the railtracks) for custom built high-specification Multimeters. Based on the successful Fluke 187 DMM and adapted by Fluke for the application, the 187/TPWS will be used to provide vital regular testing of the latest red-signal Train Protection and Warning Systems (TPWS). One thousand of the specially modified Digital Multimeters have initially been ordered by Railtrack for engineers testing installations of the latest TPWS. The accuracy of measurement is vital when checking the strength of signal from the static transmitter, placed between the rails, as detected by the on-board receiving aerial.