See Archive Page for earlier news.

28/2/02

• Have free holsters will test! - Meterman is offering free holsters with three ranges of handheld meters, the XL and XT Series of Digital Multimeters (DMMs) and two Component Testers, all of which feature over-sized read at-a-glance displays. The holsters add further protection to the rugged tools which are suitable for electronic and electrical technicians and engineers, service technicians and the home handyman, when installing, building, troubleshooting, servicing or maintaining electrical power and lighting, environmental controls, automotive, small appliances or home electronics.
• Networking event - ASi-tech 2002 is a two day event dedicated to AS-Interface systems, solutions and technologies in the industrial networking environment. The event including the seminars is entirely free to visitors. ASi-tech 2002 is structured specifically to inform and educate, with the emphasis on applications and user benefits. It offers a range of learning options to suit your needs. See ASi in action, listen to ASis experts and the locate ASi products and sources. Don't miss it! (5-6th March 2002)

• Data acquisition from your web browser - The WebDAQ/100, from Audon, is a high performance 32-channel data acquisition unit with a built-in web server, so no programming is required. Just connect it, open your web browser, choose your acquisition options, data formats, etc. and collect data. Data is downloaded to your PC directly from the browser. You can even open your data directly in Excel or other programs. The WebDAQ features 32 single-ended 12-bit analogue input channels converting at 500kHz, 8 analogue outputs for sensor excitation or waveform generation and 8 digital I/O. The analogue inputs can be configured for most common sensors such as thermocouples and RTD's signal averaging can be applied to eliminate noise. Multiple scan rates and extensive triggering options come as standard.
• IP67 Rated Industrial Ethernet Switch - The EB-GT-8ES-1 EtherbusIndustrial Ethernet Switch, from SixNetis fully IEC IP67 rated meaning that it is completely water, oil, and dust-tight. It's potted design also makes it corrosion and vibration proof. Like all SIXNET switches it is designed for tough industrial environments and will operate from -40 to +85 degrees C. A line of IP67 rated field-installable Ethernet connectors is also offered to make all your connections easy.
• Automated reporting in Excel extends to relational databases - SyTech Inc. www.TheReportCompany.com, provider of automated report generation and data analysis software, has issued a new release of its XLReporter product suite. Version 3.0 which includes a revolutionary approach to creating reports in Excel from relational databases. The new functionality uniquely positions XLReporter as the most cost effective tool for generating any production report, including efficiency reports, batch reports, equipment performance monitoring and process reports.
• Top U.S. awards for panel meters - Red Lion's range of PAX Panel Meters has been voted the best panel meter on the American market by readers of Control Design magazine. The PAX range received 39% of the votes from the magazine's readers with the nearest competitor only receiving 8%. Further praise was given to Red Lion for its overall product support which was given an average 4.2 rating out of a possible 5.
• Key Industry Executives Discuss Future of Automation Business - At ARC Advisory Group's 2002 February Forum held earlier this month, key executives from the world's largest automation suppliers spoke about their strategies for future success and bringing value to the customer. In his opening remarks, Andy Chatha, President and Founder of ARC Advisory Group said, "Manufacturers continue to consolidate, reduce spending, squeeze out excess capacity, and focus more on their core competencies." Chatha continued, "More than ever, manufacturers must leverage existing physical and intellectual assets to stay competitive. These factors are keeping suppliers on their toes to provide value-added solutions to their customers during the next several years." Much of the discussion revolved around common themes. Including, providing total solutions to customers, increased services capabilities, and the importance of a value proposition versus the inherent value of technology alone.
• Automation solutions for the fiberoptics industry - Aerotech has produced a new catalogue featuring components and systems suitable for the fiberoptics industry. The catalogue includes direct drive system solutions, precision mechanics and controllers. The catalogue also details Aerotech's comprehensive technical support services, including its advanced design and analysis ability, worldwide start-up service and fully equipped fibre optic lab.

• Differential probe with 500 MHz bandwidth - The new 701920 differential probe from Yokogawa Martron is capable of transforming a single-ended oscilloscope input into a balanced differential input with a bandwidth of 500 MHz and very high common-mode rejection (typical CMPR is 60 dB). The probe is designed to overcome the limitations of traditional single-ended inputs in accurately capturing high-speed signals at low power-supply voltages, particularly when isolated probing is required to capture noise-resistant differential signals in leading-edge designs.
• Control concept for natural gas storage tank sets new standards - Chris Milbum, Sales Manager GE Fanuc Automation's European arm tells us the Uwjasowskoje natural gas storage tank, located approximately 350km from Moscow, uses GE Fanuc's Cimplicity Plant Edition visualisation software and highend Series 90-70 PLCs.

• Low-cost stepper drive provides 8A outputs for high power applications - Parker Hannifin's Electromechanical Division has launched a new high power stepper drive for cost-sensitive OEM applications. Known as the XL8O, the new drive uses a specially-developed power output stage, based on latest-generation MOSFET technology, capable of delivering a peak current of 8A per phase from an BOVDC motor supply. The drive is suitable for use with any standard 2-phase stepper motor, but for maximum performance is best teamed with one of Parker's SY series motors; when driven by the XL8O, the largest motor produces 8Nm of torque at low speeds and over 300W of shaft power.
• Simple In-Line Conductivity Sensor is Obstructionless - New from Rosemount Analytical (part of Emerson Process management is the Model 242, a novel design "Flow-through" inductive sensor for the measurement of process liquid conductivity. Totally obstructionless, the Model 242 is supplied as a pipe-section sensor, particularly useful for monitoring viscous, fibrous or corrosive liquids or slurries. The sensor measures conductivity using toroidal coils wrapped externally around the flow tube, which induce and monitor the eddy currents circulating in the flowing liquid, but are completely isolated from it. Standard conductivity measurement electronics, such as the Rosemount 54eC or 1055 dual channel process analyser, or the 4081T or similar transmitter units with Foundation fieldbus, can be used to provide the external interface to this new sensor.
• New EMC amplifiers provide high-quality signals - World-leading EMC test system specialist, Schaffner, has expanded its EMC amplifier range with three new Class-A units, to complete its range for the EMC test signal requirements of IEC 6100-4-3 and other common standards, covering 10kHz to 3GHz.
• Micro-ohmmeter can resolve down to one micro-ohm - The BS407, new from Thuriby Thandar Instruments, is a precision ohmmeter with resistance ranges from 2 mOhm up to 20 kOhm and an accuracy of 0.1%. The resolution on the lowest range is 1 microOhm. Most digital multimeters offer a best resolution which is at least 1000 times poorer than this. A very high-resolution muitimeter may attempt to resolve fairly low resistances, but it does so by resoiving extremely iow voltages (typicaily I nV per micro-ohm), making it subject to severe errors from thermai EMF effects and noise.

• Micro-ohmmeter can resolve down to one micro-ohm - The BS407, new from TTi (Thurlby Thandar Instruments), is a precision ohmmeter with resistance ranges from 2 milliohms up to 20 kilohms and an accuracy of 0.1%. The resolution on the lowest range is one micro-ohm. A very high-resolution multimeter may attempt to resolve fairly low resistances, but it does so by resolving extremely low voltages (typically 1 nV per micro-ohm), making it subject to severe errors from thermal EMF effects and noise. In contrast, this instrument generates sufficient test voltage across the unknown resistance to combat noise and reduce thermal EMF effects to manageable levels. Current reversal can then be used to eliminate any remaining thermal offset.

• Major re-organisation plan announced - The anxiously awaited Invensys restructuring plan was unveiled on yesterday. CEO Rick Haythornthwaite, appointed last July to revive the company, is asking investors to wait until 2006 before they see results. His target is to turn Invensys annual growth rate from negative to 7% and improving profits from 8% now to 15% - with a 5 year wait

• Filling a void in the MCAD market - Cyco Software, the leading provider of engineering document management solutions for the departmental and divisional CAD and facilities management market, exhibits its AutoManager Meridian and AutoManager TeamWork document management software at the SolidWorks World 2002 Conference.

• New batch management software - Version 3.1 is the latest version of Eurotherm's innovative Visual Supervisor multi-function control and display product. It offers a number of significant additions and improvements over previous versions, including powerful new batch management and logging facilities. These will Help Meet FDA Validation standards, including the 2lGFRl1 requirement for electronic storage of process records.
• 2002 Test Tools Catalogue is out now! - Fluke's current offering of electronic, electrical and industrial handheld test tools are contained in a new, comprehensive, 48-page, frill-colour catalogue, available free from Fluke. While highlighting the latest products introduced since last year's edition, the catalogue includes ScopeMeters, Process Calibrators, Digital Multimeters (DMMs), Electrical Testers and Clamp Meters, Thermometers, Power Quality Meters and a wide range of accessories.

• New publication breaking news in networking and control - While visiting the mtec Show 13/14th Feb, we came across a new publication The Networking Newsletter - "breaking news in networking and control", the first issue of which was available. It is published by INOC which is Europe's leading publication on industrial networking and is distributed either by snail mail or email. Andie Pye, Geoff Lock of INOC and Andrew Bond of Industrial Automation Insider are listed as Editors which means that subscribers are assured of a lively publication.
• New PXI controller speeds real-time performance - Engineers now can create high-speed real-time systems capable of executing control loops up to 40 kHz with National Instruments' fastest RT Series PXI embedded controllers to date - the NJ 8176 RT and the NJ 8175 RT.

• New European HQ opened - Red Lion Controls, the global manufacturer and distributor of industrial control solutions has opened a new European Headquarters in The Netherlands. Red Lion Controls B.V. is located in Amersfoort, Holland, just southeast of Amsterdam and 40km from the Schipol International Airport.
• New Partnership - ESSI, LLC in concert with CEA Systems Inc. announced that the two firms have agreed to develop an integration of CEA's Plant-4D product with ESSI's eWarehouse The completion of the integration tool, including the finalization of the commercial offering, is scheduled to be finished by June 2002.
• Redesign lowers costs for 'workhorse' solution for movement automation - Baldor has launched a powerful fieldbus-compatible motion controller. Designated NextMove BX II, it provides a ready-to-use solution for up to four servo/vector motor axes, that is able to run standalone or under the control of a host such as a PC. Supporting the latest multi-tasking version of the Mint motion language, MintMT, with its high level commands for tasks such as positioning, it may be configured in minutes for many commonly required automation movements.
• Baseline the Plant for Better Performance - ExperTune's new PlantTriage baselines the performance of the plant for future comparison. Compare the plant against the baseline to see how changes improve the performance. PlantTriage continually monitors and assesses the performance of each area in the plant giving complete control of how one baselines or compares performance. For the assessment of each loop in the plant a baseline of performance and a highest threshold may be set.
• Flat-panel monitors with rotating screens for landscape or portrait viewing! - Planar Systems has launched an innovative range of 15-inch and 17.4-inch flat-panel monitors that feature the ability to rotate the display from landscape to portrait viewing, providing users with a choice to fit their specific desktop application.

• High-current test probes with 50 A rating - Peak Test Services has introduced a new range of high-current test probes for applications such as burn-in tests and power-supply testing. Unlike conventional probes, which are typically rated at between 3 A and 5 A, the new Series HSP50 probes have a maximum current rating of up to 50 A. The probes have a working travel of 4.4 mm, an operating force of 3.0 N, and a terminal resistance of two milliohms.

• Universal power cell for drives - The New "Universal" Power Cell manufactured by Load Controls Inc (and marketed by Vydas International),has been designed specifically for precision process monitoring & control. The product is designed to cope with the most difficult of motor load sensing tasks when other power sensors and motor load controls are unable to function reliably. The control of many process machines such as grinders, mills, mixers, rollers, pumps, compressors, conveyers etc may be improved dramatically by sensing true power instead of current. The Universal Power Cell is a unique product that now makes this possible under all operating conditions. In practice, it doesn't matter however sophisticated the control computer system, its overall performance is very much dependant on the sensors at the front end!!
• Drives market awards announced - By tracking all major market participants in detail over the course of the past year, Frost & Sullivan evaluated all the key manufacturers in the European market. Those companies that were considered to have provided a distinct contribution to the market were chosen as the award recipients. In total there were eight award categories ranging from Market Engineering Leadership to Product Line Strategy.
  The winners are:
  Market Engineering Leadership: Siemens
  Internet E-Commerce Innovation: ABB
  Product Line Strategy: Control Techniques
  Growth Strategy (Market Engineering): Vacon
  Merger & Acquisition Strategy: Lenze
  Strategic Alliance Leadership: Schneider (STIE)
  Manufacturing Strategy: SEW-Eurodrive
  Product Recognition: Invertek
• E-Help to Lab Suppliers - The BLWA Laboratory Group of GAMBICA has secured substantial funding, under the British Government's "a href="http://www.ukonlineforbusiness.gov.uk" target="blank">UK online for business" programme, to assist companies involved in all aspects of laboratory supplies, analytical instruments, clinical diagnostics and laboratory bioresearch products. The funding will enable the BLWA Laboratory Group to run a scheme to increase the sector's awareness of e-business and particularly e-procurement issues. The scheme, which is one of only three nationwide, will run in three stages.
• Making landfills safer - Biffa UK has installed a Carlo Gavazzi Dupline monitoring system at its Brookhurst Wood Landfill in Horsham, West Sussex. The system automatically monitors levels and flow of leachate, returned water and methane gas via flow meters, level sensors, control pumps and valves. Furthermore, it can even monitor itself! Brookhurst Wood is a former clay quarry, one of the deepest in England, and whilst it only has five years of filling left, the monitoring system will be required to operate for a further 20 years. The British Environment Protection Act, 1990, makes the monitoring of leachate and methane mandatory. If landfill plants do not abide by the act, they do not receive a license and thus may not operate.

• A magnetostrictive non-contact position sensor - Position Sensor manufacturer ASM (Automation Sensors Measurement) has introduced an IP67 magnetostrictive non-contact position sensor featuring absolute position output. The new Posichron sensor consists of an easily mounted profile containing a magnetostrictive wire, and a non-contacting magnet which is suspended above the profile and moves along the length of the profile. In normal operation the magnet is attached to a machine tool or hydraulic cylinder etc and the profile containing the magnetostrictive wire is attached to a fixed point.

• The penny drops! - Ireland has finally dropped her old currency, the pound Ir£, in favour of the Euro (€). Having adopted the new currency on the first of January both are been legal tender until midnight tonight. Ireland is the second European country to adopt the Euro alone after the Netherlands two weeks ago. The other ten countries will follow suit within the next few months.

• New British site - The UK subsidiary of Harting has created and launched its own website. This may be found at www.harting.co.uk.

• Integrated machine-based HMI,motion and control technology for real-time collaborative manufacturing - Further enhancing its line of manufacturing enterprise-wide software, GE Fanuc Automation has just introduced CIMPLICITY Machine Edition-an open, integrated development environment for machine-level programming, monitoring and data acquisition, and troubleshooting.

• New humidity and temperature transmitter - The futurist housing shape of the new humidity and temperature transmitter EE10, from E&E Electronik, matches both existing and new interior design. The actual measured values can be read on the optional integrated display. The outstanding price / performance ratio and the modern outlook make EE10 the first choice for a large number of applications. Typical application areas are humidity and temperature control in switching cabinets, museums, exhibition halls and hotels as well as building automation for residential and public spaces.
• New graphics library software, expands support for VMEbus graphics family - Peritek Corporation, provider of mezzanine graphics boards for embedded systems, has announced the availability of a new graphics library software package, the Standard Drawing Library (SDL), for its RG family of 3U and 6U VMEbus graphics display boards and modules. SDL speeds the development of VME graphics applications by providing a full set of pre-built device independent graphics functions for board level and embedded systems applications.
• New production plant in Poland - Despite electronics going from strength to strength, the market for analog on/off controls is still huge. That is why Danfoss recently boosted its efforts in this field by moving the complete production of pressure controls and temperature controls, types KP and RT, from a headquarters manufacturing plant in Denmark to a brand-new factory in the Polish town Grodzisk Maz, which is located 40km south of Warszaw.

• New Intrinsically Safe Humidity Transmitter - Rotronichave introduced a new series of intrinsically safe humidity and temperature measurement probes, the HygroClip Ex. HygroClip Ex is available in three configurations for duct, cable and wall mounting, and features the very latest digital signal processing and data transmission technology. Suitable for connection to the HygroFlex range of industrial transmitters, or for use as a stand alone 4-20mA - 2 wire transmitter, the HygroClip Ex probes offer wide measurement ranges (0-100%rh, -50-200DegC) and flexible installation options.

• Maintenance & operation management - DVS from Wizard Information Systems is an intuitive and simple-to-use software system aimed at simplifying maintenance and operational management The latest DVS SQL version supports the MS Sequel Sewer database. It has a more powerful database engine, and is able to support large maintenance departments with dozens of users and 10K- lOOK records in the main files. Learning DVS SQL is simplicity itself, if you can use a word processor you can operate DVS SQL. However, an introductory course is included, enabling it to be used in a variety of different manufacturing environments.

• Production Control in the agile Enterprise of the Internet Era - The Internet and information technology boom impact all activities, including the industrial production area. This joint conference (ISA France, Instrumentation Systems and Automation Society / SEE, Sté de l'Electricité, Electronique et des Technologies de l'Information) is a unique opportunity to learn from international professionals about the latest technologies and methods related to automated production systems and their integration in the Supply Chain. It is scheduled for Negresco Hotel, Nice, (F) - March 18th-19th 2002. Details from ISA France.
• New high-stability RF-emission source has wide potential - Latest from world-leading EMC specialist, Schaffner, is a high-stability RF-emission source for the evaluation of parameters of open area test sites, anechoic chambers and other test sites in the frequency range 1GHz to 18GHz.

• Low-cost handheId thermometer - Meterman has introduced a new low-cost infrared thermometer. Offering a clear backlit LCD display, the lightweight, handheld meter is an ideal asset to the tool kits of heating and industrial maintenance. The Meterman IR6IO Infrared takes readings of temperatures from -20 deg C up to 260 deg C with a 1 deg C resolution. A 'Data Hold' push button captures the reading, while a selection button enables measurements in deg C or F. They are available from a wide range of distributors and major electrical wholesalers. It is supplied with batteries, carrying case and a year's warranty.