Wireless technologies demonstrated in China - The ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute, with the support of General Electric, Honeywell, and Nivis, demonstrated prototype ISA100.11a wireless standard-based products in the ISA100 booth at the 2008 International Industrial Wireless Conference. The conference is being held in Chongqing, (CN), and represents a worldwide collaboration of leading organizations with the Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications serving as host.

Ethernet XMC adaptor - Concurrent Technologies announces a family of networking XMC mezzanine cards - the XM 510/x24, a quad port Gigabit Ethernet adaptor supporting 1000Base-T, 100Base-Tx and 10Base-T. Where performance, functionality and space are key elements, the XM 510/x24 provides four network ports in a single-width XMC site on a suitable host board, e.g. CompactPCI®, VXS, VPX or VME. Commercial and extended temperature versions are available and ruggedized, conduction-cooled or air-cooled, versions will be available shortly.

New software makes drive configuration quick and simple - Parker Hannifin has released a new drive configuration software package that can be downloaded for free from the companyıs web site. Called Drive System Explorer (DSE) Lite 2.02, the new software can be used with Parkerıs range of AC and DC drives, plus legacy drives, and has been developed to help design and production engineers minimise set up times and improve productivity.

Pinto the Guru! - You've read his notes for growth and success, his poetry, his insights into the automation world. Now you can see him in virtual flesh!

29/3/2008

Ethernet switch offers high availability through ring redundancy - The new Harting sCon family of industrial Ethernet switches is the industry's first to offer ring redundancy on the basis of unmanaged Ethernet switches connected in a ring configuration.

An Advanced X-ray fluorescence spectrometry solution - Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the introduction of the Thermo Scientific UniQuant XRF analysis package now available on the high-performance EDXRF system - Thermo Scientific ARL QUANT'X. Featuring the spectrometer, standard-less software and accessories, the complete benchtop EDXRF (Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence) system meets the elemental analysis needs of central and contract laboratories, as well as environmental monitoring, chemicals, mining, forensics, food, electronics, cement and metals industries. In addition, a camera is integrated with the instrument for sample imaging.
This unique solution will be showcased at Analytica 2008 (Munich (D 1-4/4/2008).

Low-noise power supply offers dual and single output modes - TTi (Thurlby Thandar Instruments) has launched a dual-output version of its New PL Series of linear regulated power supplies. The PL303QMD is the latest model in the New PL series of ultra low-noise and ultra-compact PSUs, which have replaced the original PL series.

Total flexibility for multi-axis motion control - Trio's new Euro209 is a cost-effective and flexible high performance motion and machine control solution for OEMs, machine builders and automation system integrators that combines up to nine selectable axes of precision stepper or servo control with digital and analogue I/O, communications interfacing and axis expansion in a compact single Eurocard rack-mount format.

The Best just got Better! - The sales of Recom's R-78 series switching regulators have skyrocketed since their introduction in 2005 as customer after customer has replaced their unreliable, inefficient and problematic linear regulators with the Recom equivalent. Efficiencies of up to 97%, no need for a heatsink and pin compatibility have revolutionized many existing circuit designs, eliminating overheating, power brown-outs and regulator failures that plagued the old linear solutions without the need for a new board layout.

Next generation AC Inverter range - Gefran has launched its new SieiDrive ADV200 AC inverter family with FOC (field oriented control). The next generation 32-bit microcontroller based range covers power ratings from 0.75 kW to 1.5 MW in four modular frame sizes with up to +/- 0.01% speed regulation accuracy. Aimed at system builders and OEMs, application flexibility includes configuration for open loop or closed loop speed feedback as well as flux vector or V/f control whilst the space saving design allows up to three encoder interfaces, fieldbus interfaces or I/O expansion cards to be mixed in any combination.

Control system for LDPE plant in Thailand - Invensys Process Systems has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract by Simon Carves Limited to provide an InFusion Enterprise Control System through an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for PTT Polyethylene Company Limited (PTT PE). Invensys will provide a complete enterprise control solution for the grass-roots, 300,000 t/y LDPE plant that will be built at the Padaeng industrial estate in Thailand.

Partnership with chinese IMC research lab aids in future RF test development - Keithley Instruments has announced a partnership with the Institute of Mobile Communications (IMC) of Southwest Jiaotong University in Chengdu, China. The partnership calls for the IMC and Keithley to work together on joint research projects to expand existing applications as well as research emerging wireless applications and technologies.

Half a million software licences in 100,000 locations! - Wonderware has announced that it has achieved a significant milestone by having its customers actively deploying more than 500,000 software licenses around the globe. Approximately one-third of the world's plants run Wonderware software solutions. Software licenses have been sold to more than 100,000 plants/facilities worldwide, which accounts for 33 percent of the world's 305,544 plants with 20 or more employees.
Wonderware Ireland support the Signpost with an advert on our Home Page

Innovation in engineering using (mainly) the KISS principle - Nowadays there is a wealth of wisdom to be found in some blogs. That of Steve Mackey from IDC Technologies is a case in point. His latest starts off, "I simply delight in the KISS principle (Keep it Simple Stupid). Probably because I end up doing everything in a rather convoluted way (just ask one of my colleagues how I put up a hi-tech tent one night with the rain pouring down; much to the accelerating chagrin of my dearly beloved shivering in the howling elements) and am always pleasurably surprised when there is a simpler, quicker approach."

27/3/2008

European calibration service for high-frequency AC power measurements - A new calibration service for high-frequency AC power measurements is now being offered by Yokogawa Europe through its Calibration Centre in Amersfoort (NL). Based on the development of Yokogawa's WT3000 precision power analyser the Yokogawa Europe calibration service offers power calibration at DC and AC from 0.1 Hz to 100 kHz. This calibration is traceable to international standards by the accredited NMi (Nederlands Meetinstituut) in Delft and the JEMIC Institute in Japan.

Best Seller! - Flow Measurement, 2nd Edition, captures the hard-earned experience of measurement and control engineers and, using a comfortable reading style and frequent illustrations, makes that experience relevant to other engineers, technicians, sales engineers, managers, and students. FLOW MEASUREMENT, 2ND Ed D.W. Spitzer ISA; 978-1-55617-736-1

5th Anniversary of revolutionary product built on open standards - Five years ago, GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms unveiled the first programmable automation controller, PACSystems, at "An Evening of Imagination" in Chicago (US).
PACSystems is built on open standards with a portable control engine, a single development tool and a universal engineering development environment. "Back then, PACSystems was considered revolutionary," said Bill Estep, Vice President of GE Fanuc's Control Systems Business. "It represented a revolutionary change in the control industry, one that enabled control convergence rather than mere integration of disparate parts and pieces. With one engine, coupled with a single development tool, users could take advantage of a powerful engineering environment for multiple applications."

Brochure for biodiesel analysis - Aspectrics has unveiled a new brochure for biodiesel analysis. This free of charge brochure is designed to accompany the newly introduced Aspectrics Biodiesel Quality Analyzer (BQA 1000). The PDF brochure, entitled "Aspectrics Biodiesel Analysers", is available free-of-charge via the website.

New LXI switching solutions - Pickering Interfacesis expanding its range of LXI compliant products with the introduction of two new matrix solutions. The 60-600 is a high current capacity 256 relay crosspoint matrix with a 10 A rating capable of switching voltages up to 30 VDC or 250 VAC. The 60-600 can be supplied in a variety of matrix configurations from 64x4 to 16x16, one pole. The 60-600 is packaged in a compact full rack width 1U enclosure using 8 way high power D Type connectors for both the X and Y axis connections.

Thermal cameras & image processing systems for security applications - Firstsight Vision will be showing the comprehensive range of infrared cameras from Opgal Optronic Industries at IFSEC 2008, as well as advanced image processing capabilities such as image fusion technology, gender recognition software and vehicle recognition systems.

Ethernet Infrastructure + BAS router = your ideal solution - "Contemporary Controls' BAS Router is designed specially for the next generation of building automation networks," says Sales Manager Joe Stasiek. "Built with excellent hardware, the BASRT-B can help you increase operational efficiency and service flexibility." If you have BACnet MS/TP devices to install, but no MS/TP home run is available, use the BAS Router to make the BACnet/IP to BACnet MS/TP connection. With the BAS Router you can use the Ethernet infrastructure and locate the MS/TP devices where you need them.

Precise air discharge testing - TESEQ now offers a complete solution for fully automated robotic testing of electrostatic discharge (ESD) testing. Teseq,s new ESD generator, the NSG 439, comes with a robotic air discharge adapter accessory, and is used for the ESD testing of operating controls, peripheral devices and multi-way connectors affected by increasingly challenging product standards.

Cabeling solutions at major fair - Lapp is again exhibiting at the Hanover Fair (D 21-25/4/2008) and will use this year's event to demonstrate its wide-ranging cable solutions capability. The theme the company has chosen across its two booths is "Service meets Quality".

Security Compliance Institute elects governing board - The ISA Security Compliance Institute cleared another milestone this week by completing elections for officer positions on its Governing Board. The results are:
Chairman - Johan Nye, ExxonMobil
Vice-Chairman - Ivan Susanto, Chevron
Technical Chairman - Kevin Staggs, Honeywell
Marketing Chairman - Ernie Rakaczky - Invensys

Global distribution agreement for ZigBee modules! - Digi-Key Corporation and MeshNetics announced today that the companies have entered into an agreement for the worldwide distribution of MeshNetics' ZigBee modules, development boards and development kits.

New Drive for oil cooling - A novel approach to refurbishment has brought 25 year old variable speed drives up to state of the art specification, yet kept them outwardly identical to the original oil-cooled units.

25/3/2008

Call for membership - The Industrial Interoperability Compliance Institute (IICI), an institute established as the official compliance testing organization for standards such as WBF's B2MML and BatchML schemas, has issued a call for membership. The Technical Advisory Board (TAB) recently completed its precursory work and will announce at the WBF North American Conference in Philadelphia (PA US) that IICI membership enrollment may begin immediately.

New standard for 300mm wafer probing - Cascade Microtech has introduced the next step in 300mm wafer probe stations designed to meet the worldwide need for advanced on-wafer measurements for semiconductor devices. Based on Cascade Microtech's industry-leading wafer probing products, the Elite 300 sets a new standard for extremely accurate and reliable 300mm wafer probing for devices with process nodes at 45nm and below. The Elite 300 solves the critical measurement challenges at each advancing technology node by incorporating state-of-the-art electrical and mechanical technology, advanced materials and leading-edge measurement techniques.

Bearings catalogue - Baldor has published a major new technical catalogue detailing its broad range of Dodge-brand metric mounted bearings. The 380-page guide provides introductory material on one of the most comprehensive ranges of mounted bearings available worldwide, together with detailed technical specifications.

High-performance data logging - National Instruments has announced four new C Series modules for data-logging applications including vibration/acoustical data logging and in-vehicle, structural, temperature and pressure testing. The NI USB-9219, USB-9229 and USB-9239 provide USB, bus-powered connectivity to the C Series while the NI 9234 AC/DC-coupled dynamic signal acquisition module offers selectable IEPE signal conditioning for engineers measuring high-accuracy audio frequency.

High temperature pressure sensor - The new Type 6045A piezoelectric M8 pressure sensor from Kistler is designed specifically for both thermodynamic investigations and knock measurements in engine development applications. Suitable for use at high operating temperatures up to 400oC, the 6045A does not require cooling and is directly interchangeable with the water-cooled Type 6041A sensor.

Load sharing module for DC/DC converters - Calex Electronics has a Load Share Series of modules which provide a unique "plug and play" solution for paralleling multiple DC/DC converters. For those who have attempted to parallel DC/DC converters, it is not a simple task. Simply running the output traces in parallel on your PCB generally will result in one DC/DC converter attempting to supply the majority of the output current thus resulting in an overload condition. Due to component tolerances and production variances, the start-up profiles for the same model DC/DC converter may vary.

20/3/2008

New board member appointed - Dipl.-Kfm. Philip F.W. Harting has taken up his appointment as board member Connectivity & Networks at Harting. His activities will be focused mainly on the continuing worldwide strategic development of the HARTING Technology Group and the development of new markets.

New temperature/humidity monitoring tools for control engineers - Control engineers tracking temperature or humidity conditions can now have the convenience of both real-time data and the ability to download data for further analysis with the redesigned Dickson Graph-at-a-Glance Flat Panel Temperature and Humidity Data Loggers. The Graph-at-a-Glance data loggers are paperless chart recorders that provide a digital graph enabling control engineers to immediately visualize environmental trends.

Digitising work processes to optimise production - GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms has announced a breakthrough new software solution, Proficy Workflow, powered by the new Proficy SOA (Service Oriented Architecture). Proficy Workflow provides an industrial Business Process Management (BPM) solution that digitizes and streamlines production processes - from work instructions and SOPs to corrective action and HACCP monitoring.

New partnership set to boost robotics in Irish manufacturing - A new technology collaboration between KS Automation and the robotics specialists RTS Flexible Systems is set to introduce vision-guided pick and place robotic technology to more Irish manufacturers.
The partnership has also been promoted in Germany through the opening of a new office near Regensburg, which will help to raise awareness of the two companies' vision for the use of automation in end-of-line product handling and packaging applications. In particular the two firms believe that Irish food, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers have potential to boost capacity and efficiency through greater use of automation and robotics.

Highest-accuracy multifunction data acquisition devices with USB connectivity - National Instruments has announced a new line of M Series USB data acquisition (DAQ) devices with 18-bit analogue input accuracy at sampling rates up to 625 kS/s. The NI USB-6281 and USB-6289 feature an 18-bit ADC, which provides a 4X increase in resolution over traditional 16-bit devices, equivalent to more than 51/2 digits of resolution for DC measurements. These devices also offer enhanced analogue output channels that feature programmable range and offset settings.

Industrial Data Comms Industrial Data Communications, 4th Edition keeps pace with the rapid changes in industrial communications and will provide you with the necessary knowledge needed to understand the principles and applications. Industrial Data Communications, 4th Edition Lawrence (Larry) M. Thompson ISA ISBN/ID: 978-1-934394-24-3

New compact vision system with GigE Vision interface - Firstsight Vision has announced the availability of the new IPD VA61 compact machine vision solution. The VA61 contains all the processing power in a rugged enclosure, instead of the camera head. This approach allows small cameras to be used, while the unit itself can be readily integrated into factory environments alongside other automation controllers.

New advanced multi-purpose calibrator - The new JOFRA AMC910 multi-purpose calibrator from AMETEK Calibration Instruments provides high precision signal, temperature and pressure calibrations. With the performance of a laboratory calibrator, an additional isolated measurement channel and optional external pressure modules, the system is ideally suited for multiple calibration requirements.

First fully compatible static-analysis tool for MITRE's common weakness enumeration security standard - GrammaTech tells us that their CodeSonar Enterprise is the first static-analysis tool that is compatible with all aspects of MITRE's Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) standard. CodeSonar has now entered CWE's Evaluation Phase, after which CWE compatibility will become official.
Targeted to developers and security practitioners, the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) is a formal list of software weakness.

New static locator launched - Meech Internationa lhas launched the new 983v2 Static Locator, a lightweight pocket-sized device that provides an accurate measurement of static electrical charges over a wide range of voltages. This new locator has been developed for use by production, maintenance, inspection and quality engineers and its innovative design means that it is suitable for use on any material where static is an issue.

Breakthrough in Ethernet technology - fault-Ttolerant industrial Ethernet I/O - SIXNET has announced EtherTRAK-2 a reliable, redundant Ethernet-based I/O system providing the flexibility, functionality and performance which will more than satisfy the automation industry. Extraordinary features such as Web-based I/O configuration and monitoring, self-calibrating analog I/O, the ability to store project documentation in a quick-access web server, OEM customizable components and labeling will make your job easier. They have bundled 30 years of I/O technology innovation into this upscale, highly capable product.

New hours for major show! - With 45.962 visitors who came to Nuremberg for SPS/IPC/DRIVES 2007 the number of trade visitors of the event increased once more (2006: 43.891). To give the exhibitors the chance to meet the rising number of trade visitors and to answer all of their questions, the opening hours of SPS/IPC/DRIVES 2008 will be prolonged: On Wednesday, 26 November 2008, the exhibition will be open until 19.00hrs at the request of the Exhibitors' Advisory Board which represents all companies taking part in the show.
SPS/IPC/DRIVES will be held from 25 - 27 November 2008 in Nuremberg (D).
Perennial topics such as "Ethernet in Automation", ,Safety and Security in Automation" and "Motion Control" have been named main topics of SPS/IPC/DRIVES 2008. This year they are being joined by "Web in Automation" - the use of web-based technologies in electric automation; "Wireless in Automation" and "RFID in Automation".

18/3/2008

Tackling humidity - Moore Industries has just released a new HTZ Smart® HART Humidity and Temperature Transmitter. This is not just a run-of-the-mill HVAC sensor - instead, it is a precision transmitter designed for use in critical areas such as clean rooms, semiconductor fabrication areas, pharmaceutical labs, tobacco production, and similar locations where extremely close control of humidity and dewpoint is essential during production. What's more, it was developed at the request of a major semiconductor manufacturer who could not find anything comparable from the usual suppliers of humidity instruments. "They came to us, in other words, and the HTZ is the result. No other humidity instrument offers the same accuracy and features (like HART) of the HTZ." said a spokesmnan.

A first in wireless - Emerson Process Management is the first process automation supplier to begin taking orders for WirelessHART™ enabled products, based on the recently approved open standard for in-plant wireless communications. These measurement and communications products are available as a core part of Emerson's Smart Wireless plant automation solutions portfolio.
The WirelessHART standard specifies use of open wireless communications for process measurement and control applications. Emerson estimates the demand for wireless technology will exceed 1.5 billion Euros by 2012.
See our Wireless Page

Cold chain temperature data logger - MadgeTech has announced the TransiTempII, a low cost, splash proof data logger, ideal for monitoring and recording the temperature of product or produce in storage and transit. The device features a precise semiconductor temperature sensor (±0.5°C) and LED alarms for instant out of range indication. It is ideal for monitoring and recording the temperature of perishable and non-perishable products, including food items and medical/pharmaceutical goods.

Wireless sense! - Oceana Sensor Module (OSM) has expanded its' Internet presence as acceptance of the Wireless Sensor Module (WSeM™) grows. Market reaction to the product announcement in October has been overwhelmingly positive and the company is prepared to reach its' growth curve. The company also owns the domain names wifi-sensors.com and wifisensormodule.com. Informational needs of our prospects and customer should be met by the new website.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Introduces Innovative spectrometer for fast and reliable analysis in metals, mining, minerals and cement - Thermo Fisher Scientific has further strengthened its WDXRF product portfolio, with the launch of the enhanced Thermo Scientific ARL OPTIM'X with SMS-Omega automation. This compact, innovative solution includes a unique combination of Thermo Scientific XRF and automation technology in a footprint of less than 1m2. Featuring fully automated sample preparation and analysis, this cost effective system responds to the needs of users for fast and precise analysis in metals, mining, minerals and cement applications.

Rational and Cost-Effective Board-to-Cable Solution - ERNI Electronics has made an even more compact version of its proven and tested board-on-IDC connector available as part of its 1.27 mm SMC series. The total height was reduced down to 5.0 mm from its previous height of 7.3 mm, and so subsequently, cable connectors can now be designed in an even more space-saving manner. In addition, the costs were significantly reduced in comparison to a conventional solution using female and male multipoint connectors.

New laser triangulation position sensor has high-speed CANbus and many options for complete application flexibility - Ixthus Limited has launched a new laser triangulation sensor with a CANbus interface capable of fast 1 Mbits/s position feedback over a measurement range from 2 mm to 1000 mm. With linearity to +/- 0.1% of range and resolution to 0.01% of range, the RF603 from Riftek is well suited for high precision position feedback.

Free Power Quality training seminars - Fluke is offering free "hands-on" Power Quality Training Seminars during 2008 at locations around the UK and Ireland. They are designed for electricians and electrical engineers involved in troubleshooting the causes of poor power quality, often the root cause of potentially costly problems in industrial electrical installations and equipment. No previous experience is necessary.

Engineers choice award - Wonderware has announced that its InTouch 10.0 software has been selected by the Control Engineering US readers for the magazine's "Engineers' Choice Award" for the HMI software category. Winners were selected based on product service to the industry, technological advancement and market impact. Since 2000, Wonderware has received six magazine awards for a variety of industry-leading products and technology innovations.
Wonderware supports the Signpost with a banner advert on our Home Page

Industrial grade servers - Responding to the growing requirement from industrial companies for high performance, rugged server solutions with substantially improved Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms has announced the IS-100 and IS-200 industrial grade servers. Both products benefit from the company's industry-leading Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) programs, which ensure IS-100 and IS-200 hardware continuity over five years - thus eliminating the time and cost incurred by customers in regularly recertifying hardware caused by component and subsystem obsolescence. PLM also provides customers with influence over revision control and configuration management.

Wireless draft standard being prepared - The ISA100 committee is getting ready to issue the ISA100.11a draft standard for initial work group balloting, which is the first step in the consensus based approval process for the standard.
The editor team met last week at ISA headquarters in at ISA HQ. They studied the comments received from the review of the preliminary draft ISA100.11a standard that was conducted by members of the working group over the past few weeks.
See also our Wireless Page

Sponsor for dinner - Yokogawa is to sponsor the 2008 Process Automation Hall of Fame Dinner on Monday, March 24 during the WBF 2008 North American Conference at the Dolce Valley Hotel and Conference Center, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

13/3/2008

Calibration practice Watch this video and find out what CONTROL learned after surveying its readership about their calibration practices.

High temperature preamplifier - The Automotive Sensors division of PCB Piezotronics (PCB®) has announced release of a new high-temperature preamplifier, designed to overcome high temperature testing challenges associated with NVH powertrain and vehicle underhood testing applications, and to broaden options for NVH test engineers collecting acoustic data in high temperature areas.

Seminars highlight new responsibilities for industrial dischargers under this year's new MCERTS legislation - Confusion among industrial dischargers regarding their responsibilities under the new MCERTS monitoring certification scheme regulations introduced by the British Environment Agency (EA) in February 2008 has prompted Emerson's Mobrey Measurement Division to run a series of seminars, 'MCERTS Self Monitoring of Effluent Discharges,' on the subject.
The date of the first seminar in this series, to be held in Leicester (GB), has just been announced as May 15th. Other dates for seminars in London and Bristol are to be announced shortly.

The 1st industrial cyber-security vulnerability database for industrial control systems - Wurldtech™ Security Technologies has announced the launch of Delphi™, the industry's first cyber-security vulnerability database for industrial control systems. It is designed to provide vendors, operators, system integrators, and service providers unparalleled visibility into the reliability, safety and security of the systems and networks essential to the operation of the world's critical infrastructure.

M12 crimp connector is ideal for rail applications - Harting's M12 connector in crimp format is ideally suited to the requirements of the rail industry, combining, as it does, compact footprint and ease of assembly.

Radar level market to reach US$421million - The worldwide market for radar level devices is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9% over the next five years. The market was US$316 million in 2007 and is forecasted to be US$421 million in 2012, according to a new ARC Advisory Group study "Radar Level Devices Worldwide Outlook"

The smart Raman microscope - HORIBA Jobin Yvon present a new concept in Raman imaging with the introduction of the new XploRA microscope. Completing the LabRAM family of Raman systems the XploRA is based on a research grade optical microscope offering all the standard imaging options such as polarisation, DIC and phase contrast. The XploRA brings easy-to-use Smart Microscopy and cost effective Raman spectroscopy to your desktop.

New high performance JTAG debug probes - Ashling Microsystems has launched a new high performance JTAG Debug Probes, Opella-XD for ARC and Opella-XD for ARM. Opella-XD-ARC is a powerful JTAG debug probe for embedded development with ARC International's ARC™ configurable RISC cores, while Opella-XD-ARM is the fastest available debug probe for embedded development on ARM™ RISC cores.

Scottish enterprise - Mitsubishi Electric has opened a branch of its Automation Systems division in Scotland in order to better serve existing customers and support developing industries in the region. The new sales office, based in Livingstone, provides the complete range of automation solutions, including industrial controllers, variable speed drives, human machine interfaces, servos, and software solutions

New thin film pressure transducer - Gems Sensors & Controls will be launching a new silicon thin film pressure transducer at the Sensor and Test in Nüremberg (D) in next May. Based on the highly successful and popular 3100 series, the new transducer offers a host of benefits for a wide range of applications. Key features of the new product are the low pressure measuring range and the facility for absolute or gauge reference.

Tilt and roll monitoring expands capability - Lamerholm has launched the new RD404 tilt and roll accelerometer, designed to add additional monitoring capabilities to the ShockLog range of event data recorders. ShockLog is used throughout industry to help companies reduce the cost of damage to goods, whether in production, transit or storage. Now, with the introduction of the RD404, companies are not just able to monitor impact and vibration but also tilt and sway, so giving a complete picture of the physical environment that the product has endured through transit or in storage.

Egyptian joint venture - Invensys Process Systems have joined ENPPI and GASCO in a joint venture to create Invensys Process System Egypt the first, 'Industrial Automation Engineering Centre of Excellence' in the country. This new company will play a significant role in the modernisation of the Egyptian petroleum industry will help increase refinery utilization, maximise productivity and minimise maintenance costs.

Communication capabilities - Magnetrol's newest PACTwareTM DTM is designed for use with the Eclipse Model 705 with Foundation fieldbusTM communication. Through Magnetrol's introduction of the free PACTware in 2007, many Eclipse 705 users have discovered its advantages. The actual HART® DTM's are all certified and tested for full compatibility through dtmINSPECTOR, which is the official test protocol that verifies the compatibility of DTM's with all FDT related technology.

Product of the year - GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms has announced that its robust HMI/SCADA solution, Proficy® HMI/SCADA CIMPLICITY 7.0, and its industry-leading Production Management discrete manufacturing execution solution, Proficy Tracker, have been awarded the prestigious Product of the Year award for 2007 from Plant Engineering magazine. These awards are voted on by readers of the magazine.

Mass flow sensor range customised - Omron Electronic Components Business - Europe (OCB-E) is now offering to customise its D6F MEMS mass flow sensor products to suit individual customer requirements in terms of flow rate and non-corrosive gas type. The new customised sensor service is being presented at Sensor and Test in Nüremberg (D) in next May.

New AC inverter on display - Gefran will showcase its new SieiDrive ADV200 AC inverter family with FOC (field oriented control) at Drives & Control (Stand D50 22/24 April 08 Birmingham GB). Aimed at system builders and OEMs, the next generation range covers power ratings from 0.75 kW to 1.5 MW and can be configured for open loop or closed loop speed feedback as well as flux vector or V/f control. The modular design allows up to three option cards for complete application flexibility - users can choose and combine any variety of encoder interfaces, various fieldbus interfaces and I/O expansion cards and mix drives together in any combination. Fieldbus options include CANopen, DeviceNet, Profibus-DP as well as Gefran's own GD-Net real time fast Ethernet.

Communicating in data centre cooling - Kepware Technologies has announced that its product, KEPServerEX, has been added to HP Dynamic Smart Cooling, a data center cooling offering from HP. In addition, Kepware has joined the HP Data Center Solution Builder Program.

11/3/2008

Positive Marketing Achievements In EMEA Region - The Fieldbus Foundation, conducting its 2008 General Assembly in Antwerp, (B), recently, reflected on its marketing achievements throughout the Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) region during 2007. Key elements of the 2007 strategy included the continued establishment of regional marketing committees, an extensive program of end user training seminars and participation in international and regional trade exhibitions and conferences. More on this and other fieldbus news on our Fieldbus Pages.

Free thermal imaging webinars - Fluke is again offering free participation in thermal imaging seminars via the Web from a PC on the participant's desk. Each hour-long Webinar spells out the great benefits that a purpose-designed thermal imager can bring as part of a preventative maintenance strategy - to fix problems before they fail. Participants can ask questions at the end of their session. The planned dates are the following Tuesdays - 18th March, 8th and 29th April, 6th and 27th May, and 10th June - all from 11am to 12 noon.
Information about how to apply

5-Blade Kramer shear cell for texture analysis - Lloyd instruments has introduced a new 5- blade version of the Kramer Type Shear Cell for use with the their TAPlus texture analyzer. The new accessory is an alternative to the conventional 10-blade configuration and is designed for measuring the bulk shear and extrusion forces of meat, fruit, and cereals, especially where the samples have irregular shapes and sizes and forces expected are too high for the traditional 10-blade version.

New products blogged! - Splat's David Gibson writes "just a gentle reminder to go and take a look at my blog." The main news this time is: An upgrade to their popular CC16 adds analog inputs and a new tool for managing large programming projects.

New logger brings higher speeds and greater accuracy to testing and validation of sterilisers and disinfectors - With a strong research and development background in data logging and temperature measurement, Anville Instruments has launched the Series 825 thermal validation interface with EaziVal SE software. Differing from the majority of data loggers through the use of parallel processing on all sensor inputs, this unit offers synchronised data acquisition at a one second interval for all inputs.

7/3/2008

Where's the DAQ? - This the USB-AD USB based multifunction I/O unit from Auden, is so small it could be mistaken for a connector. The USB-AD has 16 analogue inputs, 1 analogue output, 4 digital inputs and 4 digital outputs all enclosed in a standard 37-way D-type connector housing. Supplied with a copy of NextView4-Live software for data acquisition and control and a wide selection of Windows, MAC and Linux programming examples.

New platinum SMD flat chip temperature sensors in 3 standard chip sizes - Vishay Intertechnology has released new platinum SMD flat chip temperature sensors that offer advanced thin film technology in three standard chip sizes - 0603, 0805, and 1206. The devices feature short reaction times of <=5s (in air) and a temperature range from -55°C up to +155°C.

Don't miss! Jim Pinto's March eNews

Compact connector uses new termination technique - The new Han® Q 5/0 connector insert from Harting is a compact 5-pole unit which uses Harting's innovative Han-Quick Lock® termination technology for ease of installation combined with space saving. The new connector is ideally suited to applications where power, signal and control connections need to be integrated in a compact installation, and is rated at 230/400 V and 16 A. The insert can be assembled into all the standard metal hoods and housings of their 3 A range.

Safe engineers! - Hima-Sella is pleased to announce that two of its most senior engineering staff, Ian Parry and Nigel Banner, have recently passed the TÜV Functional Safety Certification Course, a qualification designed to enhance and consolidate an engineer's skill with safety instrumentation systems.

Innovation and technology transfer in Ireland - NovaUCD is the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre at University College Dublin (UCD). Its vision is to become an international leader in the commercialisation of research and other knowledge-intensive activity for the benefit of the economy and society. They have just started issuing an eletter which details the work of the entity.

ISO 9001 Acreditation Thai distributor - Intro Enterprise Co. Ltd., distributor of Lloyd Instruments materials testing equipment, Davenport plastic and polymer test equipment and Chatillon force measurement instruments in Thailand, has recently acquired ISO 9001 : 2000 accreditation. This reflects the growing importance of these standards for doing business in Thailand. In addition, the engineering, calibration and service arm of the business, Dynistec Co. Ltd is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 : 2005.

New benchmark for large drives - Silverteam will be using the Drives & Controls show (Birmingham, GB, 22/24 April 2008) to launch the high power versions, 160kW to 400kW, of the Hitachi SJ700 variable speed drive - small and medium sized version having been introduced in 2007. The SJ700 is a radical development of drives technology, it being the first off-the-shelf unit with integral easy sequence programmable functionality (EzSQ) as standard.

New controller offers high-bandwidth, low-latency remote control across a thin flexible, cable - National Instruments has announced the industry's first VXI-MXI-Express controller using cabled PCI Express technology to deliver a high-bandwidth, low-latency VXI interface. Cabled PCI Express greatly reduces the size of the VXI-MXI-Express cable compared to the larger VXI-MXI-2 cables while maintaining similar or improved performance. With the NI VXI-8360T MXI-Express remote controller, test engineers can use general-purpose desktop and laptop computers to control VXI chassis across a thin, flexible cable that extends up to 7 m. Using NI VXI remote controllers, engineers can upgrade their computers or laptops at any time to take advantage of the latest computer processing technology while using the same high-speed VXIbus interface.

5/3/2008

Plant of the year award - Nominations for the 7th annual HART® Plant of the Year Award are now being accepted by the HART Communication Foundation (HCF). The global award is presented annually to recognize innovative use of HART Communication in real-time industrial process plant applications. Nominations are encouraged from all world areas and will be accepted through June 30. Nomination forms are available on the Website.
StatoilHydro Ormen Lange production facility was selected as 2007 HART Plant of the Year

Process Control for the Newcomer and Non-specialist Are you a newcomer to process control? Process Control: A Primer for the Non-specialist and the Newcomer, 2nd Edition, will give you a basic understanding of process control, instrumentation principles, and applications. PROCESS CONTROL: A PRIMER FOR THE NON-SPECIALIST AND THE NEWCOMER, 2nd Edition: G. Platt: ISA ISBN:978-1-55617-633-3

Intelligent plug-in minidrive with CANopen - PIM2401, the new Technosoft intelligent plug-in minidrive, is specially designed for motion control applications where space is dramatically limited. Its miniature size (39 x 44 x 16 mm) and weight (15 g) allow it to be mounted horizontally or vertically, inside the machine or near the motor. The drive is manufactured with simple pins; this architecture reduces the time needed to assemble it. It controls DC, brushless, linear and step motors up to 25 W (24 V, 1 A).

Groundbreaking portables spectrometer for surface analysis applications - A2 Technologies has further extended its range of novel portable FTIR spectrometers announced the launch of the smallest, most compact FTIR spectrometer available on the market, Exoscan, at PITTCON in New Orleans (LA US) this week. Designed to move spectroscopy out of the laboratory and into the field, the innovative analyser is designed for non-destructive on-site surface and bulk analysis applications. Weighing less than seven pounds, the A2 Technologies Exoscan features superior ease of use, coupled with analytical performance that rivals far larger and more expensive traditional analytical FTIR spectrometers.

Miniature, back-thinned FFT-CCD detector spectrometers an economical choice for high sensitivity applications - For applications requiring high sensitivity, good UV response and wide dynamic range, Ocean Optics has introduced the Maya2000-series high-sensitivity back-thinned 2D FFT-CCD spectrometers. Two new spectrometers, the Maya2000 and Maya2000 Pro, were designed to offer good value and performance for applications not requiring long integration times.

Machine control and safety functions combine for complete access control system - Safety specialist Fortress Interlocks is introducing a new approach in controlling access with the introduction of Safety Key lock modules to its AS-interface compatible eGard product range. This enables the combination of any machine controls with safety controls on hazardous machinery and equipment, providing a complete access control system.
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Smart controller supervises temperature zones and closes local loops for PLCs - The compact DIN rail RFS single-loop controller from Eurotherm is a cost effective solution that is ideal for use as a slave PID loop to a programmable logic controller (PLC). Many users prefer to use a single-loop controller to manage each zone of a process. It gives them the ability to link the temperature controllers and zones to a supervisory controller for coordination and remote single-point monitoring.

Savings in energy costs and environment-friendly profile motivate demand for energy-efficient UPS - "Spiralling energy costs and increasing attention to reducing carbon emissions are driving the growth of energy-efficient UPS systems," says Frost & Sullivan Programme Manager Malavika Tohani. Energy efficiency implies reducing power losses and ensuring highest power availability to consumers. In addition to cost savings, energy-efficient UPS systems promote the green aspect by reducing carbon emissions. However, these benefits come at a high initial price. Moreover, the inability to quantify the energy savings resulting from the use of such systems also hinders their sales.

Video-based training for developers - Enable Training and Consulting has announced the launch of LabVIEW™ Mastery, the first online, video-based training curriculum for LabVIEW programmers and system integrators. LabVIEW Mastery provides all the technical knowledge available through on-site training without the inconvenience and expense. Designed for both commercial and academic users, LabVIEW Mastery is available as a series of three (3) courses: Beginner, Applications, and Professional.

Exceptional product line leadership - The 2007 Frost & Sullivan Product Line Leadership Award in the European HMI market is presented to Elutions in recognition of the company's successful introduction of new, advanced products into its already extensive product line.

preferred status for the supply of tube fittings - Parker Instrumentation has signed a five-year preferred supplier agreement for tube fittings with international oil and gas company Maersk Oil (DK). The agreement, which runs until 2012, marks the start of a new phase in the relationship between the two companies, and is expected to provide a logistical model for the companies' partnership worldwide.

OAGIS Release 9.2 on general release! - OAGi, the Open Applications Group has just announced the general availability of OAGIS Release 9.2. This release of OAGIS is backwardly compatible to OAGIS 9.0 and 9.1, and features the ISA95 Business Object Documents related to production performance and production schedule.

High speed industrial Ethernet line extender with four port switch - Westermo Data Communications has announced the launch of an innovative new Ethernet line extender that is capable of establishing a reliable high speed remote connection between Ethernet networks using any existing twisted pair copper cables. The DDW-220, part of Westermo's Wolverine series of ruggedised data communications products, combines the functions of two Ethernet line extenders and a four port managed switch, enabling the user to build complete Ethernet networks.

Thermometers provide total temperature measurement solution - Fluke has introduced the 566 and 568 Thermometers, which feature advanced infrared (IR) temperature measurement functionality, a menu-based user interface and a graphical display to enable users to take even complex measurements quickly and easily and from greater distances. Both rugged, handheld thermometers combine contact and non-contact temperature measurement capability in one single, easy-to-use tool, providing a total temperature measurement solution for industrial, electrical and maintenance professionals.

Precision IR calibrator heats up for fast and easy high-quality thermometer calibration - Fluke - Hart Scientific, has introduced the 4180 Series Precision Infrared Calibrators. The two new models, 4180 and 4181, utilise the same size targets used and recommended by thermometer manufacturers, and features special design technology that assists non-experts in productively performing high-quality infrared thermometer calibrations.

Car parking stress is relieved with a new environmentally friendly solution - Carlo Gavazzi has introduced an innovative new system to reduce the stress and time taken to find a vacant space in covered car parks at supermarkets, shopping centres, town centres and office buildings. This intelligent system is a cost-effective solution for providing an easy and environmentally friendly car parking experience.

Data acquisition system baked for three years during long-life endurance test - Moore Industries has been continuously running its NET Concentrator System® (NCS) data acquisition system at temperatures hovering around the boiling point of water for more than three years in an environmental chamber. "The only problem we've found so far is the labels are turning brown from the continuous, intense heat," reports Fred Adt, Director of Quality Assurance at Moore Industries. "We've taken care of that problem by using more heat-resistant labels in new products."

Spectrum analyser offers free software upgrade - TTi (Thurlby Thandar Instruments) has extended the feature set of its successful PSA1301T handheld RF spectrum analyser by upgrading the PSanalyser software application. Owners of earlier PSA1301T instruments with version 1 software can download version 2 of PSanalyser free of charge from the TTi website.

Pre-terminated copper cabling system - The new MRJ21 pre-terminated copper cabling system from the AMP NETCONNECT is designed to offer simple plug-and-play installation, high-density interconnection with more ports in less space, and the reliability to handle substantial data streams in applications such as data centres.

3/3/2008

New Calibration facilities set worldwide standards - "No manufacturer can calibrate flowmeters more accurately than Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG in Reinach (CH)". The company's new calibration facility sets standards worldwide. "It puts us in a position to satisfy even the highest customer requirements without any compromise whatsoever", according to CEO Dr.Gerhard Jost at the ceremony marking the opening of the new facility on last month.