30/6/99

• Mass flow controller cuts gas costs in semiconductor manufacture - Unit Instruments, part of the Kinetics division of US Filter, has launched a new digital mass flow controller to regulate the flow of process gases stored at sub-atmospheric pressures in Safe Delivery Source (SDS) cylinders. The new instrument provides full-scale flow at differential pressures as low as 8 Torr, allowing for the extraction of around 60% more gas than conventional analog mass flow controllers (MFCs) operating at 50 Torr. Extracting more gas from SDS cylinders reduces change-overs, helping to provide more economical solutions for chemical vapour deposition (CVD) applications.

• NepCon in Ireland again - Some of the largest players within the electronics manufacturing industry have signed up to exhibit at Nepcon Ireland which, in its second year, takes place at The Point in Dublin from 8 - 9 September 1999. Many companies exhibiting at Nepcon Ireland will also be using the event as a platform from which to launch their latest products.
• High-pressure relief valve is precision-adjustable up to 413 bar - Parker Hannifin has launched a relief valve for high-pressure fluids instrumentation applications which can be precisely adjusted to meet specific application requirements across an exceptionally wide 3.413 bar/50-60OOO PSIG range.
• Ruggedised measurement pods improve boiler performance - Solartron's IMPs are providing vital support in maintaining steam boilers at optimum performance. Integrated into the Slag Control System developed by Boiler Management Systems, these ruggedised multi-channel measurement pods gather data from highly specialised heat flux sensors for transmission to the boiler control room. Advanced analysis algorithms use this data to initiate sootblowing and de-slagging functions inside a boiler, minimising heat stress and maximising steam output. Substantial operational savings have been achieved at US and UK power generators.

• Pulse & Arbitrary Waveform Generator - This new product offers the latest design on the market, giving unmatched capability at a very low cost. One special feature of the SmartARB is that it is free of phase shifting and free of skipped points. Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation (BNC) 625A claims to outperform competing models, and sell for less.
• Precision video monitors - Now available from TTi (Thuriby Thandar Instruments) are two new models in the Leader 5000 Series of precision video monitors. The Leader 5212 vectorscope and 5222 waveform monitor offer multi-channel inputs for both composite and component signals, with automatic selection of PAL/NTSC standard.
• Elections at FF! - John Berra, president of Fisher-Rosemount, has been re-elected chairrnan of the Fieldbus Foundation, a worldwide, not-for-profit consortium of suppliers and end users of measurement and control technology. Five new members also have been named to the foundation's hoard of directors for the coming year. He is a member of ISA (the international society for measurement and control) and has served on the ISA President's Industry Advisory Committee. He was chairman of the hoard of the Measurement, Control and Automation Association from 1988-1990. The other new board members for 1999/2OOO include Mark Fondl of Schneider Electric; Yogesh Kansal of Dupont; Norio Nakamura of Yokogawa Electric Co.; Seiji Onoki of Yamatake Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.; and Mike Zaharna of Elsag Bailey.
• Digital illuminance meter - The new Yokogawa 510 digital illuminance meter is designed to make accurate measurements of luminous intensity in response to the increasingly stringent standards being set for the control of lighting levels in offices, homes and public areas.
• PC - based vibration control system - In a move designed to shake up price-performance structures, Spectral Dynamics (SD) today announced a new PC-based vibration control system called PUMA. The innovative system breaks new ground in two ways. As an affordable PC-based platform, it incorporates the patented test algorithms and high-end analog circuitry designs used in SD's UNIX-based, workstation-class controllers. PUMA is also built around the CATS (Computer Aided Test Suite) architecture that offers unique capabilities for running tests "live" on the Internet. Talk to Ute Bummel for additional information.
• 4 product data books planned - The first in a series of four data books which, together, describe what is probably the broadest range of power conversion products in Britain has been published by Calex Electronics Ltd. The first book describes in detail their full range of open frame and DIN rail mounting AC/DC power supply units. All of these products represent outstanding value for money and most are available on short lead times. The next three books will cover AC/DC switch mode power supplies and DC/DC converters in boxed, eurocard and encapsulated housings respectively.

• Dust Monitor Offers Cost-Effective Monitoring Of Emissions - Ideal for monitoring of dust emissions and the detection of filter failures, Gorelec's range of STD Dust Monitors are easy to install, simple to operate and virtually maintenance-free.Talk to: Louise Frampton on +44 (0)1634 847276.
• Stable source - Despite it's name OZ Optics is based in Canada. 1999 marks their Fourteenth year in the industry. Their unique fibre alignment method allows them to manufacture almost any fiber optic component and test equipment at low cost with excellent quality.
• Oil and gas control systems integration agreement signed - ICS Triplex world-wide technical and sales conference at the Essex Golf and Country Club was the venue for signing an agreement with Schneider Electric to cooperate on Systems integration for the oil and gas industries. Under the terms of the agreement signed by ICS Triplex Marketing Vice President Ed. Mullings and Schneider Electric's Automation Business Unit Manager Peter Reeve, ICS Triplex will use its expertise and contacts in the oil and gas industries to form a centre of excellence for regular, non safety-critical oil and gas control applications.

• A complete analogue data acquisition solution for the PCI bus - Interactive Circuits and Systems Ltd.(ICS) is announcing the introduction of ICS-610 a high-performance 32-channel sigma-delta ADC board that offers 24-bit ADC resolution and simultaneous sampling at rates up to 100 kHz/channel. The ICS-610 is feature packed. It includes on-board antialias filtering, multiple input level selections, 32 separate ADCs, 2 Msample on-board buffer, a fast PCI interface and an optional Front Panel Data Port (FPDP) interface. Christine Wright has all the details.

• new series of low-voltage 110W AC/DC power supplies with PFC - Artesyn Technologies today introduced the NLP1 10 series of AC/DC power supplies. Comprised of four models, the series offers an open-frame design with both single and multiple outputs. The NLPl 10 is the first 110W AC/DC power supply with low voltage outputs to meet the new harmonic current content standard, EN6lOOO-3-2, which will take effect in 2001. The series is designed for networking applications, including access concentrators, mid-range routers, LAN switches and shared media hubs.
• SM characters take the heat - New, highly compact LED displays specifically designed to tolerate the high temperatures encountered in surface mount manufacturing processes have been introduced by Flint.

• New portable range for temperature and pressure - Eurolec Instrumentation Ltd is pleased to launch the exciting new robust, reliable, splashproof, high quality range of digital thermometers and probes. The instruments & probes have been designed to incorporate the 'feedback' from customers in many areas of the food industry to provide a choice of cost effective products for different applications. The pressure range is produced to a similar high standard and specification. Talk to Tom Mears for a full specification.
• The ideal component in Process Automation - The programmable fieldbus controller IX1 is now available for ProfiBus-PA and soon for Foundation Fieldbus. As a dual - function device for both major Systems in process automation the component offers the customer the highest technicaI and economical benefit. Due to its protocol independent architecture both systms ProfiBus-PA and Foundation fleldbus are realised with the same hardware. Other protocols are also available. More details from Micahel Kurps of M2C GmbH.
  For more information of fieldbus developement see our Fieldbus Page

• The Definitive PC Control Resource Book? - Steeplechase Software, Inc.,the leading PC-based control company, has announced the availability of the 2nd Edition Steeplechase Handbook: The Practical Guide to PC-Based Control & Flow Chart Programming, updated to include the rapid advancements in PC-based control over the last 2 years. This revised handbook is the educational resource for anyone considering PC control or flow chart programming for new applications or as a replacement for Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). The handbook is available immediately from Steeplechase and its authorized distributors.

• World's first FireWire data acquisition device - National Instruments has announced the world's first data acquisition device (DAQ) for the ILEE-1394 serial bus (FireWire). The DAQPad-6O7OE multifunction I/O device connects directly to Windows 98 PCs equipped with an IEEE-1394 serial port or PCI-to-1394 adapter. The device offers engineers and scientists a portable, easily installed and configured solution for their computer-based measurement applications. The DAQPad-6070E comes with the company's NI-DAQ driver software, and integrates seamlessly with the company's industry-leading measurement and automation software, including LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, ComponentWorks.
• New automotive relay - Further ehhancing its range of automotive relays, Matsushita Automation Controls has introduced the miniature, JJM2W double make automotive power-switching relay.
• "IEC Decision to assure final approval of IEC 61158 by end of year+ - The Fieldbus Foundation today said it is encouraged by an International Electrotechnical Commission (EC) Committee of Action ruling which recognizes worldwide support for IEC 61158, and assures approval of the international fieldbus standard by the end of 1999. The Committee of Action's decision clears the way for an international fieldbus standard, and signifies the "overwhelming worldwide support for IEC 61 158," according to Fieldbus Foundation President John Pittman.
  See also our Fieldbus Page

• Approved for manned space flight - SBS-or Industrial Computers announces a follow-on contract with DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (DASA) for mission critical VMEbus based computer equipment for use on the International Space Station Alpha (IS SA) and within ESA's Autonomous Transfer Vehicle (ATV). The contract is a further step within the company's activities as a supplier of various space grade components to the international space community for use on manned and unmanned programs.
• Modular data aquisition system with own CPU - The modular data aquisition system ALMEMO 5590-3 from Ahlborn, disposes of an own CPU and a memory capacivity of up to 2,4 MB for seif-sufficiant administration of active measuring circuit boards, selector switch boards and any external ALMEMO-instruments. By this the system can register up to 250 measuring points without PC and store up to 400.000 measuring values.
• To control 1200MW cogen plant - Moore Process Automation Solutions has received an order for an APACS+TM control and monitoring system for one of the largest gas turbine cogeneration plants in the world, to be located at Saltend, near Hull in England. Ordered by main contractors Raytheon, the APACS+TM system will control three Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 701F2 gas turbines each operating in combined cycle mode on a single shaft with a 100MW steam turbine and a generator. At 300MW, the gas turbines are the largest ever built. The plant, to be operated by Saltend Cogeneration Company Ltd. on the BP Saltend site, will generate 1200MW of electricity for the competitive power market in the UK and also supply up to 190 tonnes/hr of steam to the adjacent BP Chemicals plant.
• Alliance Brings Combined Benefits to Real-Time and Embedded Systems Market - Lynx Real-Time Systems, Inc. and NSIcom today announced a strategic alliance that builds on innovative Java technology to provide standards-based products for the real-time and embedded market. Applications in the telecommunications, data communications, avionics, and automotive industries will benefit from the combination of NSIcom's Software Co-Processor for Java (JSCPTM) family of products for the highly-reliable LynxOS.

• The drive for integration - is a special editorial report from Chemical Engineering sponsored by Interkama, the world's larges I&C exhibition and conference scheduled for 18th to 23rd October 1999. Readout are sponsoring a special trip with ISA Ireland (here is the Booking Form). The associated conferences details are Interkama-ISA TECH 18th to 20th October and Interkama Chemputers Europe 5 Conference 21st to 23rd October.
• Self-contained digital oscilloscope offers 'laptop' convenience - Designed to bring compact laptop computer style convenience to users standing up, sitting down or on the move, the portable Metrix 0X5100 self-contained 100MHz digital oscilloscope, from Chauvin Arnoux, has two channels with a converter per channel.
• new generation of SBCs - Cetia, Inc., has introduced the PowerEngine, a new generation of single board computers (SBCs). The PowerEngine6 currently features on-board PowerPC 750s and is available in single or dual processor configurations. Cetia's SBC will also fully support Motorola's next generation PowerPC processor, the G4 with the Altivec vector unit, scheduled for shipment later this year. The PowerEngine6 can be configured for high-end commercial applications as well as rugged military implementations.
• Advanced technology for pH, long conductivity and DO measurement - Select Systems offer a stylish and comprehensive selection of laboratory meters. All models can, if required, be powered by battery allowing a degree of portability not normally possible with bench meters. The pH meters incorporate automatic buffer calibration as standard, and they also provide a range of conductivity and DO meters.
• All you need to know about Ethernet and more - Following the overwhelming success of FieldComms'98, the 1999 event has been expanded and re-titled Open Solutions for Process and Manufacturing Automation, OSPMA-FieldComms'99. Running from 5-6 October in Telford (GB), OSPMA features a Conference with half-day seminars covering Ethernet, Data Acquisition, Scada software, Soft PLC Technology versus PC-based Systems and Smart Process Control Solutions for Intrinsically-Safe Areas.
  See also our Fieldbus Page
• Local government bible - There are 467 councils operating within the Great Britain and Northern Ireland, all of which have departments with responsibility for the environment If contacting the decision maker responsible for environmental issues in councils is important to you, then The Municipal Year Book will be an invaluable resource. It is published by Newman Books.
• Make the most of Mathematical Solutions - The brand-new edition of Mathematical Solutions, features the full range of MathSoft products from Adept Scientific. There's an outstanding array of products in this new catalogue for all technical professionals. As well as full details of the latest Mathcad 8 Professional, there's a wide range of new products, including new Extension Packs for Wavelet Analysis and Steam Properties, the new Mathcad Expert Solver, new Solutions Suites, new Electronic Books for science and engineering, and the very larest version of Axum, the Mathcad-compatible technical graphing software.
• Dual measurement plotter prevents product problems - Measuring two parameters and plotting the XIY co-ordinates with windows on graphs, the Burster 'Digiforce' 9306 dual curve plotter from CROPICO, tests and controls processes in which precisely defined relationships between two measurement variables must be demonstrated. e-mail: CROPICO for more information.

• New Power Recorder - The new "Multipoint"TM Power Recorder from Reliable Power Meters is the perfect solution for permanent monitoring applications that demand the ultimate in power measurement. The "Multipoint" Power Recorder measures power consumption, harmonics, flicker, and all power quality parameters simultaneously, in a single instrument.
• Full steam ahead in Queensland - ABB Instrumentation, Australia, is supplying Mica Creek Power Station in Queensland with ABB pressure, temperature and differentialpressure transmitters and differential-pressure devices to be used to monitor turbine steam and water for a heat recovery steam generator being built by ABB Power Generation.
• Final contract signed - ABB and Flextronics International Sweden AB, a subsidiary of Flextronics International Ltd., have announced the signing of a final contract in which Flextronics has agreed to purchase the manufacturing division of ABB SATT AB, of Malmoe, Sweden. This division focuses on industrial automation, including the manufacture of printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) and supplying advanced product development and design services. Under the agreement, Flextronics will assume the entire manufacturing division, including the existing equipment, material and facilities. Flextronics has offered employment to all approximately 160 ABB personnel.
• Industral distributor of the year Connector manufacturer Harting has presented its 1998-99 'Industrial Distributor of the Year' award to Co-Tron. Commenting on the award, David Franklin, Harting's Industrial Business Unit Manager, said: 'Co-Tron have richly earned this award by achieving outstanding sales figures in what most people agree are difficult market circumstances.
• Growth in papertess recorders favours Eurotherm in Europe - According to Datamonitor report entitled The Future of European Recorder Markets to 2003, Eurotherm is currently the European market leader in both the paper and paperless sectors. However, the company has a far larger share (31%) in the paperless sector than in the strip chart market (22%). If this can be maintained, Eurotherm should see its overall market lead increase as the sector expands.
  The principal challenge facing Eurotherm in the European paperless recorders market is its relatively small share of the largest European market, Germany, worth $6.2 million. In Germany, Eurotherm holds only third place in the paperless sector, behind the big Local manufacturers Endress & Hauser and Jumo.
  These two companies are in a similar position to Eurotherm, in that their paperless recorders market share is greater than their presence in the strip chart recorders. Thus, if they maintain their paperless share, they will see their overall share of market grow automatically.
• Data Electronics' Datataker Assists R&D Of New Dairy Products - Moorepark Technology Ltd (a supplier of pilot plant and research services to the food processing industry based in Ireland), is currently using a DT6OO to monitor the temperatures of six cold storage rooms. Many dairy companies use Moorepark's extensive facilities for R&D - as well as to test the viability of new products, before they invest in full production. Refrigeration is therefore a critical part of Moorepark's operations.

14/6/99

Alan Reeve - 1942 -1998 We have just learned of the death of Alan Reeve, who died last July. He was well known as a Instrument Engineer and earlier as a Chemical Engineer on both sides of the Atlantic. For the previous 12 years he was associate editor of the British publication Control & Instrumention (C&I). He was a key mover in the ISA, InstMC and the Institute of Petroleum. He will be sadly missed. May he rest in peace.

• New and Unique Method for Uncertainty Testing! - Camo has now launched version 7.5 of The Unscrambler. It includes a new and unique method for uncertainty assessment of model parameters in multivariate models. The method, Martens' Uncertainty Test, is based on established statistical theory. "Non-statisticians" in particular, are now able to interpret the results from multivariate data-analysis in an easier, faster and safer way.
• Record number of exhibitors expected - With a record number of bookings a year before the big event (well above the figure recorded for the previous ACHEMA), ACHEMA 2000 is already heading for a new record in terms of the number of exhibitors. For the first time ever the magical figure of 4,000 exhibitors should be reached with 92% of the available exhibition space has been reserved.
  Some statistics
  250,000 visitors from more than 100 countries
  40% of the professional audience from overseas
  4,000 exhibitors from 45 countries
  700 lectures
• Guidebook to gas hazards and detection - The fundamental principles of combustible and toxic gases, plus the different methods currently applied across industry for their detection, are detailed in "A Practical Guide to Gas Detection" from Detector Electronics. Written in an impartial and comprehensive yet easy reference style, this universal guidebook has 55 pages packed with technical and application information for anyone who deals with combustible or toxic gases. Ask Det-Tronics.
• Relocation Gets A Good Response - Following the popular decision to relocate Conveyorex 2000 to the NEC, Birmingham, a large number of high profile suppliers have already booked stands. Major players that are committed to exhibiting include Welconstruct, Pepperi + Fuchs, Flexicon, SEW Eurodrive and Nelsa - to name but a few. The show is being held 26-29th September 2000.
• Digital I/0 for CompactPCl - PEP Modular Computers has launched a range of digital I/O modules for CompactPCl-based solutions that feature a range of optoisolated 18 input, 16 output I/O channeIs The CP380 boards are particularly targeted at industrial test and measurement applications with support for Windows 95, Windows NT and VxWorks.
• SCADA for Windows and Internet - PC Soft International has announced Version 7.5 of its flagship product, Wizcon for Windows and Internet. As the new name implies, Wizcon now combines local and Internet-based SCADA into a single runtime and development studio. Wizcon 7.5 also becomes the first SCADA package to support the recently released OPC 2.0 Data Access interface. Wizcon is an advanced SCADA/HMI software package with connectivity to over 150 types of PLCs, RTUs, I/O, and other automation equipment.
• Acquisition of T&M electronics company - Thurlby Thandar Instruments (TTI), the British based electronics instrument manufacturer, has acquired the Test & Measurement Instruments business of Black Star, based at nearby at St. Ives, Cambridgeshire (England), from Prima Electronic Services.

• The European Market for Air Pollution Control Equipment - The European air pollution control (APC) equipment market has been pushed into full exploitation stage by a series of large orders from the waste-to-energy (WtE) industry. However, the number of new large facilities being ordered from other industries is not only small, but also sporadic. The market is further characterised by over-supply and is extremely competitive, reports a new study by Frost & Sullivan, the international marketing consulting company. However EU Waste Incineration Legislation and new IPPC Directive to strengthen growth in air pollution control equipment markets.
• Company's first compact PCI offering - SSTTM is pleased to introduce a Compact PCI bus format to its DeviceNet family of 'Pro' interface cards. Compact PCI, a standard supported by the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG) which now consists of over 450 member companies, is being adapted for embedded computer applications in industrial automation and telecommunication industries.
  They have also released a two channel DeviceNet ISA interface card. The card design offers two completely independent DeviceNet channels. This high-performance version of the SST DeviceNet ISA card features fast scan times and network data that is read and written at data access speeds.

• HCF opens a representation in Europe - The HART Communication Foundation (HCF), based in Austin, TX, has recently increased their presence in Europe with the creation of the HCF European office in Basel, Switzerland.
  see also our Fieldbus Page

• Dad joins board! - Dick Morley has joined the board of Praedictus. The company was known as Automated Technology Associates. The name change mirrors the company's product name. Praedictus Process Management System. The system refers to software that monitors. tracks. and handles data for quality management in 3 major Industries, aerospace, automotive. and electronics. Dick is widely known in our industry as the father of the PLC. founder of Modicon and dozens of other high-tech firms.

• American and European Instrument Societies agree - ISA, the international society for measurement and control, and VDI/VDE-GMA Gesellschaft Mess- Und Automatisierungstechnik (the Society for Measurement and Automatic Control), signed an agreement defining future cooperation and joint activities between the two societies. ISA and VDIIVDE-GMA are working together to exchange and disseminate technical information, and to promote the understanding and cooperation between the members of both organizations. The first public manifestation of this co-operation will be in the Interkama-ISA TECH and the dates are 18th to 20th October in Duesseldorf, Germany.
• New Intrinsically Safe modular solenoid valves - Crouzet has announced a new range of miniature Intrinsically Safe (IS) solenoid valves in 3/2 and 4/2 formats for use in process control in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries and other applications where explosion hazards exist such as petrochemicals. Compliant with EN50014 and 50020 to EEx ia IIC T6, the 12 or 24V DC devices consume only 700mW and are available with optional impulse or manual (latched) override. Designers will appreciate the easy assembly onto a wide range of DIN rail mounting sub bases with a common air supply, interchangeable 3/2 and 4/2 units and push fit hose connectors that speed construction and maintenance. The only tool required is a screwdriver. Fault diagnosis is simplified by both a LED indicator for coil energisation and a pop-up mechanical indication of actual valve position.
• One-Stop Source for Photonics Information - The Photonics Directory only unabridged international photonics buyers guide and reference source for the optics, lasers, imaging, fiber optics, electro-optics and optoelectronics industries. First published in 1954, the Directory has for more than four decades led engineers, designers and purchasing decision-makers to the right place in the least amount of time. The Directory continues today to be the only complete photonic resource guide faithfully used every day by industry professionals.
• New Sensorless Vector Drive - The new Micro/Mid Master Vector represents the latest evolutionary step in Siemens frequency converter range. Siemens now offers a compatible range of standard variable speed drives with sensorless capability from 1 20W to 75kW.

• New hand at the helm - ABB has appointed Mike Mason as managing director of its expanded instrumentation business in the UK following the successful merger with Elsag Bailey.
• PHB on CD - A little over a year ago Spirax-Sarco offered their comprehensive Product Handbook (PHB) on CD, for those who prefer to press buttons rather than turn pages. The 1999- 2000 edition, packed with full details of the complete Spirax Sarco range is now available in both forms.

The Instrumentation Signpost has interesting pointers for the I&C Professional.

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