FREE guide to thermal imaging - Fluke is offering a FREE Thermal Imaging Pack which includes applications guidance through a series of articles, a DVD which demonstrates practical applications for thermal imaging cameras, a 4-page leaflet covering training courses at the Operator-level and for Level-1 Certification, and also details of their wide range of thermal imaging cameras. The Fluke Thermal Imaging Pack can be requested via the Fluke UK web site.
The series of Fluke Application Notes cover in detail how to detect loose or corroded electrical connections, detecting electrical unbalance and overload, inspecting electrical motors and inspecting steam systems.

First gamma transmitter developed in compliance with SIL2 according to IEC 61508 - The Gammapilot M with SIL2 from Endress & Hauser, offers a suitable solution for overfill protection or maximum level limit monitoring of all types of liquids and bulk solids in vessels, to satisfy the particular requirements of safety-related systems in accordance with IEC 61508. The Gammapilot M is based on the radiometric measurement technology which is used when other methods failed because of extreme process conditions. This conditions demand highest availability, reliability and safety.

Acquisition expands scope of real-time manufacturing solutions for regulated process industries, including life sciences, speciality chemical, and food and beverage - Emerson has acquired Decision Management International (DMI) (FL USA). DMI becomes part of Emerson Process Management, adding leading software and expertise, including electronic management of workflow, materials, equipment, personnel, and documentation, to expand Emerson's real-time manufacturing solutions. The acquisition includes all DMI technologies, applications, services, and employees.

Wireless conference attracts end users, suppliers from 10 countries - ISA recently hosted a two day conference entitled "Wireless Solutions for Manufacturing Automation: Insights for Technology and Business Success," in Vancouver (BC, CDN). The event attracted 150 attendees from 10 countries, with approximately 50% of attendees representing end user companies. Based on the success of this year's event, ISA plans to hold another wireless summit in 2008.
There will be a Wireless Track at the fortcoming PHARMATEX 2007 Conference in Cork (IRL) 12th September.

Benefits of Packaging Line Integration - The OMAC Packaging Workgroup (OPW) will be showcasing the "Benefits of Packaging Line Integration" at Pack Expo 2007. This will include demonstrations from nine different companies highlighting the ease of integrating the various packaging line functions (control, HMI, MES) when utilizing the Connect-and-Pack™ guidelines of PackML and PackTags over Ethernet using OPC.

Sales support specialist appointed - As a result of recent sustained growth, Quantitech has announced the appointment of Dr Andrew Hobson as Technical Sales Support Specialist. Dr Hobsons work will focus primarily on Gasmet FTIR multiparameter gas monitors.

Partnership expands applications and market for pioneering vision software - Adept Technology and LMI Technolgies have signed an agreement to extend machine vision technology. Under the terms of the agreement, Adept will provide LMI with a license to their HexSight software and trademark. LMI will market and support HexSight products on a world-wide basis in addition to development of new products.

Test, Monitor and Control - Transmission & Distribution Focuses on overhead, underground, operations, automation developments, safety, and training for professionals in transmission and distribution segments of the electric utility industry. As part of this service they publish a series of newsletters among which is Test, Monitor & Control which will be of interest to many of our visitors.
See our list of Periodicals of interest to automation and instrument professionals.

New appointment to grow distribution sales - Schaffner has appointed Michael Watson as their UK Distribution Manager. Michael brings nearly 30 years of Sales and Marketing experience in the electronics industry to his new role at Schaffner. From his most recent role, at Omron Electronic Components as a European Marketing Manager, Michael brings a wealth of knowledge about international distribution and a commercial understanding of the electronics industry.

New industrial computers - Lamerholm has been appointed as an authorised distributor for the Glacier range of rugged, industrial computers. This latest addition to the Lamerholm portfolio ideally complements its existing ShockWatch range of products for vehicle and equipment control and monitoring.

Wireless taking over? - Over the past months, industry has pioneered a range of wireless technologies, targeted at low power, low data rate networking. These technologies will change the way we handle wireless sensor networking, monitoring, and control. As with many new technologies, the definitions, nomenclature, and technical background of wireless are often a mystery for end users. ISA have now consolodated information on Wireless and Networking Resources in the past few days.
See also our Wireless Page

Offering for IF/baseband streaming, RF recording and playback completed! - More from NI week! Engineers can use the newest National Instruments PXI products to sustain higher data streaming rates than ever before possible with an industry-standard test and measurement platform. The combination of these new PXI products, based on the PXI Express specification, include modular instruments, an embedded controller and RAID hard drive arrays, offers sustained hard drive recording and playback at 600 MBytes/s. With these new data streaming capabilities, engineers can achieve higher sustained acquisition and generation rates, reduce test times and meet new application challenges. Previous data streaming applications required dedicated, proprietary systems typically costing tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Over there, here, and now down under! - ISA has announced that they are joining forces with the Institute of Instrumentation Control and Automation (IICA) in Australia. This is a vibrant organization that promotes excellence and leadership to the Instrumentation, Control, and Automation community and as a special benefit to ISA Members they have a 20% reciprocal discount on an IIC A Membership.
If ISA members wish to join IICA and receive the 20% discount membership benefit they should click this link (pdf form)

Intelligent pressure sensors offer the best in design, functionality and flexibility - A new range of high precision pressure sensors has been launched by Impress Sensors & Systems, which not only offers extremely high operating temperatures of up to 300°C, but also provides a unique, easy-to- clean 'globe' shaped LCD display housing, that is ideal for hygienic applications, such as food and beverage processing, chemicals and pharmaceuticals manufacturing.

Free upgrades! - Yokogawa Europe is currently offering a free upgrade on all new orders for its SignalXplorer DL9000 Series of oscilloscopes received by the 14th September 2007. Customers placing new orders for standard DL9000 models before that date will receive either a free /F8 option (for I2C, CAN/LIN and SPI serial bus analysis) or a free /G4 option (power supply analysis and user defined maths). The offer covers the 500 MHz DL9040 and DL9040L, the 1 GHz DL9140 and DL9140L, and the 1.5 GHz DL9240 and DL9240L.

Graphical software introduces statechart design module, improves FPGA development and industrial measurements - National Instruments has just announced LabVIEW 8.5, the latest version of the graphical system design platform for test, control and embedded system development. Building on nearly 10 years of investment in multithreading technology, this famous standard bearer for National Instruments, simplifies multicore as well as FPGA-based application development with its intuitive parallel dataflow language.
This launch coincides with the opening of NI Week 2007 in Texas (US) on Tuesday.

High volume peri-pump - Blue-White's New FLEX-PRO™ A3 Peristaltic Metering Pump offers Outstanding Benefits, including: Outputs to 33.3 GPH/126 LPH. Output Pressures to 125 psi/8.6 Bar; Automated PPM Dosing; Self priming even against maximum line pressure, Bypass valves are NOT required; It won't vapour lock or lose prime; One button Prime Mode for easy priming and servicing; No maintenance Brushless Variable Speed Motor; Operator friendly digital touch pad with menu driven software; VGA Graphic backlit LCD displays motor speed, input signal values, service and alarm status; Inputs include: 4-20mA, 0-10Vdc, and Pulse Signal inputs for external speed control, and 30 VDC contact closure for remote start/stop; Patented Tube Failure Detection System; NEMA 4X for Wash Down.

Rail mounted linear power supply - The Convel 42024B DIN rail mounted linear power supply from Calex Electronics offers an outstanding 96W of power in a robust DIN-rail mounted enclosure. The enclosure is a two-part metal design, where the base consists of a robust but light weight aluminium extrusion. This combines rigidity and strength with good thermal conductivity and forms the DIN-rail mounting channel. The cover is made of folded sheet steel and is ventilated to assist thermal convection. All input and output connections are made via heavy duty screw clamp connectors which are capable of accepting cables up to 10mm².

New CD covers wealth of Ethernet information - Aimed at busy engineers, this NEW CD by Contemporary Controls contains all the information you require to get your Industrial Ethernet installation done properly. Sales Manager Joe Stasiek says the CD offers an insight into Ethernet technology and it's easy to use. "It's packed with valuable information and has all the right tools for troubleshooting your network."

Online pre-registration now open for British show! Online pre-registration is now open for the highly regarded Instrumentation South and Displays Technology South Exhibitions from Trident Exhibitions, taking place again at the Royal Berkshire Conference Centre, Madejski Stadium, Reading on October 3rd & 4th 2007. Visitors who wish to pre-register for this years events can visit the site and register online for advance visitor registration.
Details of this and other events notified to us are listed on our Events Page

Middle East agents appointed - Curvaceous Software has appointed Kuwait based Gulf Lead Consultants as Agents.

New drop testing product for packaging & design engineers - The Multi-G Clip from Lamerholm is a unique, cost-effective shock diagnostic tool for packaging engineers, distribution analysts, product designers and manufacturing engineers. Designed for determining package sensitivity during drop testing, the Multi-G Clip is based on the renowned ShockWatch labels that provide a cost-effective damage deterrent solution when shipping goods.

DC:DC converter stacks UP for high power vehicle applications - The D1000 modular power solution from Powerstax offers up to 1000W of DC power from vehicle or other mobile or static DC power sources. They developed the D1000 to meet growing market demands for industrial and commercial communications and control systems powered from vehicle batteries or telecom supplies.

Top-of-the-range MID analyser offers comprehensive utility monitoring & control - Carlo Gavazzi has extended its family of industrial / domestic energy meters with a high performing model: the EM26-96. This new 1-2-3 Phase energy analyser features a built-in configuration joystick and LCD data display: it is particularly suitable for import and export energy metering, and for cost allocation applications, as well as many more. The meter is compliant to the newly introduced Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) and is designated Class 1 to European standards EN62053-21, Class B to EN50470-3 and Class 2 according to EN62053-23.

Rotary mains switch handles 10amps - Lorlin Electronics has introduced the RMS Rotary Mains Switch. This RoHS compliant miniature switch has many applications in industrial, domestic and portable equipment such as control panels, lighting and test equipment.

Pressure transducers and transmitters for general purpose and hazardous industrial environments - Series 1500 Transducers and Transmitters from PCB Piezotronics (PCB®) offer a complete selection for pressure monitoring in general purpose and hazardous industrial environments. General purpose units feature a rugged, all-welded stainless steel construction. The design includes elimination of mechanical fasteners, washers, o-rings, and fluid fills, greatly enhancing reliability and long-term repeatability of the units, and making them suitable for a variety of laboratory, factory, field, or submersible environments. Full scale ranges are available, from full vacuum to 6000 psi (400 bar), with accuracies of 0.5%, 0.25%, and 0.1%. Units are supplied with 0-5 VDC; 0-10 VDC; or loop-powered 4-20 mA output signals, with choice of pressure port and electrical connectors.
They have also debuted Model 130D22, a combined ICP® free field response pre-polarized array microphone and preamplifier. The microphone is designed for measuring sound pressure levels and frequencies in the audible range, and can be used simultaneously with ICP® accelerometers to simplify test setups.

Recovers higher levels of pathogens than traditional methods - Microbial-Vac Systems® has released the latest technology in pathogen collection. The Microbial-Vac (M-Vac™) wet-vacuum collection system utilizes LAMDAC™ principles (Liquid and Air-assisted Microbial Detachment and Capture) to collect laboratory or field samples-typically from one-to-two square feet of surface area per sample in 100-150 ml liquid. The M-Vac is designed to sample this larger area while recovering higher levels of pathogens in each sample than traditional methods.

Furnace thermometer makeover tunes in to Bluetooth - Land Instruments International has updated its dedicated Cyclops FurnacePro portable infrared thermometer for measuring temperatures in gas and oil fired furnaces. All aspects of the 'fourth-generation' Cyclops 390B utilise the best of current technology, but the key feature that has made the FurnacePro a best-seller for almost 20 years is unchanged - the carefully chosen operating waveband, which minimises the reflection errors that can produce inaccurate temperature readings in less sophisticated instruments.

Marketing committee for CIS and Baltics - The Fieldbus Foundation has announced the establishment of a marketing committee for the Commonwealth of Independent States and Baltics (CIS&B) region. The organisation, established in response to the accelerating demand for new automation technology within the CIS&B region, is made up of representatives of leading process automation companies and will promote the adoption of FOUNDATION™ fieldbus technology throughout the CIS&B market.
See also our Fieldbus News Section

James Webb space telescope passes critical test in preparation for 2013 launch - The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), NASA's next-generation successor to the Hubble, has passed a crucial milestone toward its 2013 launch with the help of National Instruments' LabVIEW FPGA. An important element of the JWST is the Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec), which is equipped with more than 250,000 microshutters designed to observe thousands of distant galaxies to better understand the origins of the universe. These microshutters are actually microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices that physically open and close for light exposure, similar to shutters on a camera. Engineers at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center have successfully tested the microshutters using LabVIEW FPGA to control the shutters in a test chamber.

PLC challenges in performance stakes! - Hitachi has completely refined data processing speeds with the launch of its new EHV series programmable logic controller (PLC). The CPUs at the heart of the controller scan at 20 nanoseconds per instruction, 80 percent faster than the current fastest units and many many times faster than PLCs just a few years old.

Vending machine makes DVDs easily accessible - A customised three axis robot from Hoerbiger Origa is handling DVD-films in a vending machine invented by the Swedish company Instant DVD Sweden AB. Instant DVD - a small but expansive company in Boras (S) has invented a unique internet based concept for automatic renting of DVD films. When you are shopping in your everyday shop or on your way home from work stop by at the DVD kiosk, select your film, swipe your credit card and take the film. Returning of the film is done by putting it in the same slot in the kiosk where you picked it the first time or in any other kiosk belonging to the same rental company. 2/8/2007

Danger of static electricity and how problems can be resolved in plastics industry - In a seminar entitled "Electrical Safety in the Workplace" run by the British Plastics Federation (BPF), Meech International will give a detailed assessment of the causes and dangers of static electricity and provide detailed case studies as to how the problems associated with static can be overcome. The seminar takes place on Wednesday 26th September at the BPF Offices in London. Registration forms are available for download on the BPF website

Outstanding performance as turbo machinery control supplier recognised - Invensys Process Systems Japan was recently recognised by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Hiroshima Machinery Works as one of the company's top seven suppliers for 2006. The award recognises Invensys for "...consistent and outstanding performance in the area of quality service and reliability." Significantly, Invensys is the first and only non-Japanese vendor ever to be honored in this manner by the MHI Hiroshima Machinery Works.

Materials characterization instrument wins R&D 100 award - Thermo Fisher Scientific's K-Alpha has been named by R&D Magazine as one of the top 100 most technologically significant products introduced into the marketplace over the past year. Utilizing the fast growing technique of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), the K-Alpha enables rapid, accurate and cost-effective quantitative monitoring of the surface chemical composition, providing chemical characterization of the top few nanometers of inorganic, organic, biological, metallurgical, semi-conducting and magnetic solids. Designed for high-throughput sample analysis, the revolutionary system incorporates data processing algorithms offering full automation for data acquisition through to interpretation and reporting.

Coriolis flowmeters meet new standards for cross-Europe use in custody transfer - Emerson Process Management has announced that Micro Motion Coriolis flowmeters have been certified by the Nederlands Meetinstituut (NMi) as complying with the new European Measuring Instruments Directive (MID; nr. 2004/22/E). The directive harmonises the requirements applied to all measuring devices used for custody transfer applications across twenty seven EU countries. The intent is to create a single market for measuring instruments across Europe. The MID is a CE marking directive.

Worldwide DCS market experiences growth resurgence, but how long will it last? - The Distributed Control Systems (DCS) market experienced unprecedented growth in 2006, increasing by over 14% compared to 2005 and it is expected to continue growing at a healthy rate through 2011, according to a new ARC Advisory Group study. Does 2006 represent the peak year for growth in the market? It is too early to tell halfway through 2007, but indications are that growth could approach the levels of 2005-2006, but will probably not exceed it.
"In the long-term, our view of the market is still positive due to continued high energy prices, the growing demand for energy globally, and the continued need on the part of manufacturers to improve plant operations, meet regulatory requirements, and modernize an ageing installed base," according to Research Director Larry O'Brien, the principal author of ARC's "Distributed Control Systems Worldwide Outlook'.

US sensor in stainless steel housing is resistant to aggressive media - Thanks to their chemically resistant parylene coating, Baumer's UNAR ultrasonic sensors are ideally suitable for level monitoring in environments of aggressive substances, therefore improving the process security considerably.
Ultrasonic sensors have the unique ability to detect media and objects securely and reliably, regardless of their surface characteristics and color. Due to this, ultrasonic sensors are being employed for level monitoring of granulates, pastes or liquids increasingly. However, many of these media involve liquids or generate vapours that can have a damaging effect on material in the long term and consequently risk the functional reliability of standard sensors.

Emergency stop! - Fortress Interlocks has introduced an Emergency Stop (E-stop) into its eGard range of safety interlocks that can be configured to connect to a programmable logic controller (PLC) or AS-i network. The E-stop AS-i enabled has only one flexible cable that clips the E-stop and base connector together for easy installation. Easy connection to an AS-i monitor means that programming complex functions can be completed through a single monitor and, once verified, the system cannot be modified without access passwords as an added security measure.