New website provides fast access for sensor and transducer information - Leading sensor and transducer specialist Variohm EuroSensor has launched a new website that that makes finding the right sensor even easier and quicker than before.

WirelessHART convergence subcommittee formed - The ISA100 standards committee on wireless systems for automation has created a new subcommittee to address options for convergence of the ISA100.11a and WirelessHART standards. This initiative is a key step in the mission of the ISA100 committee to develop a family of universal industrial wireless standards designed to satisfy the needs of end users across a variety of applications.

A safety regulatory compliance resource - Product Safety International, an electrical product safety compliance consultancy, publishes the Safety Link, "the web's most comprehensive collection of electrical product safety and standards resources." Online since 1995 and recently revamped, the Safety Link provides ready access to the World's electrical product safety approval test labs including BSI, CSA International, FM Approvals, Intertek, the NRTLs, the TUVs, UL, VDE and 100's more; standards bodies such as ANSI, CENELEC, IEC, EIA, and ETSI; government links such as BERR, CPSC, FCC, OSHA, NIST and the EU. CE marking information can also be found here along with links to many EU Directives and associated resources regarding electrical product safety.

Software solutions for critical manufacturingh operations - Wonderware has announced new software solutions that are designed to enable customers to better address critical issues in manufacturing operations. These enhanced software solutions include Wonderware Operations Software 3.4 and Wonderware Performance Software 3.4 and are evolutions of the Factelligence offerings from the acquisition of Cimnet, an MES software company integrated into Wonderware in 2007.

Meeting a multiplicity of computing tasks in the sub 15" embedded panel sector - Nematron's EP1000 Series of fan-less processing platforms running under embedded operating systems such as Microsoft Windows CE or XP Embedded (XPe) is designed to meet a multiplicity of computing tasks in the sub 15" Embedded Panel sector. Designed for challenging environments the EP1000 Series is an ideal platform for running Industrial Automation software under Windows CE or XPe or for Factory Floor IT Thin Client applications running in conjunction with Windows Server 2003 Terminal Services.

Portable pressure gauge with integrated memory - With their Barflex IrDA, Baumer's product segment Process Instrumentation offers a portable electronic pressure gauge with integrated memory for data acquisition on site. The collected data can be transferred to any PC via an infrared interface. The device is very easy to handle and most suitable for the measurement of liquids and gases. It is designed in an epoxy-coated aluminium case making it ideal for measurements in the field. The pressure transmitter is based on the Transbar technology and therefore suitable for measuring most of the media.

Continuous data monitoring for temperature and humidity - The Testo Saveris data logging system continuously monitors temperature and humidity accurately and reliably. The easy-to-use system automatically measures, documents and issues alarms whenever limit values are exceeded. It is ideal for recording quality data in production and storage environments, continuous monitoring of climate in industrial plants and facility maintenance, quality assurance in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry , ensuring ambient conditions are maintained in buildings such as hospitals and museums, R & D laboratories

Certification passed with ease - Kepware Technologies, the leader in Communications for Automation, announced today that its KEPServerEX communications solution has passed the latest OPC certifications tests administered by the OPC Foundation independent test laboratory.
KEPServerEX, Kepware's primary offering for communications in automation has been OPC compliant based on self certification guidelines. In February of 2008, the OPC Foundation introduced a new level of compliance testing administered through an authorized and independent test lab in Germany. Kepware submitted its current product for testing and won certification without alteration. Modbus and Siemens protocols were evaluated as part of KEPServerEX compliance testing. All other KEPServerEX protocols will behave similarly, and as such, KEPServerEX certification will apply regardless of protocol in use.

New toroidal high-temperature inductor - Vishay Intertechnology has announced a new toroidal, high-current, high-temperature inductor that offers the industry's highest rated and saturation current, and the industry's lowest inductance and DCR.

Visual Enhancement Engine (VEE) evaluation module provides an easy way to "seeing is believing" - QuickLogic has released an evaluation module for its Visual Enhancement Engine (VEE) technology. It allows OEMs and ODMs to see first-hand the benefits that VEE technology can bring to their mobile devices, both in terms of revolutionary image enhancement and battery life savings. The module comes with both pre-configured mobile processor and LCD interfaces that enable easy insertion into an existing handheld device, so that developers can evaluate the technology in a real-world setting without making any significant engineering investment.

Flow transfer standard enables on-site flow meter calibrations - Flow Technology, has introduced the "Gecko" Flow Transfer Standard - the next step in on-site flow meter calibration. The compact Gecko system utilizes the EZ-LINK™ portable interface box and EZ-CAL™ menu-driven software for inline comparison calibrations with the unit under test (UUT).

US DOE grant for intelligent actuation control - CyboSoft has announced that it has been awarded a US Department of Energy (DOE) grant entitled, "Intelligent Actuation Control Using Model-Free Adaptive Control Technology". The R&D work can result in an intelligent actuation control solution critical for controlling future energy plants capable of delivering maximum-energy-efficiency, near-zero-emissions, fuel-flexibility, and multi-products. This solution can help the U.S. strengthen its energy independence and security, and movement towards a cleaner environment.

Advanced manufacturing industry cluster - The Piedmont Triad Partnership (PTP) of North Carolina has selected the Automation Federation to manage the Advanced Manufacturing Industry Cluster.
Under contract from PTP, theFederation will manage a roundtable of manufacturing executives and business leaders to give advanced manufacturing a voice in workforce development efforts in the region. The Advanced Manufacturing Industry Cluster will explore workforce development issues within sector, including education, training and retraining, skill gaps, and workforce development opportunities.

An Integrated Approach to Safety: Defense in Depth a paper published by Controlglobal.com sponsored by Honeywell.
See also our Safety Page

Rotary potentiometer suits heavy duty/harsh environment precision angle measurement applications - Variohm Eurosensor has launched a new range of heavy-duty rotary potentiometers from the German sensor manufacturer Novotechnik for precision angle measurement in extreme environmental conditions. With a choice of IP67 or IP69K protection ratings, the durable IPX series is available in single or true redundancy output versions with a choice of 120°, 200° or 350° electrical ranges and with independent linearity to <±:1%.

Cooler than ever - ICEnews availaable up to now in a pdf version is now published in a web based format. However it may also be downloaded as a pdf document as before.

Optical transport analyser for 40 Gbit/s SONET/SDH and 43/44 Gbit/s OTN transmission testing - The new Yokogawa NX4000 is a transport analyser for the testing of 40 Gbit/s SONET/SDH and 43/44 Gbit/s OTN optical communication systems. With optical line rates now being deployed at 40 Gbit/s and faster, many manufacturers are starting to ramp up their own 40G+ designs for Next Generation Networks (NGNs), and growth in this segment of optical communications is quickly rising.

Force sensor signal conditioner for process monitoring, quality assurance & product testing - PCB Piezotronics (PCB®) has announced the debut of Model 410B01 ICP® force sensor signal conditioner, designed for monitoring forces experienced during manufacturing, assembly, on-line processes, quality assurance, and end-of-the-line product testing.
Retrofitting older machines for effective in-process force measurements can present many challenges, including difficulties with proper force sensor integration and high production cycle rates. Sometimes existing sensing systems or PLC's are simply unable to respond quickly enough for reliable, repeatable performance. Model 410B01 allows older PLC systems to stay in synch with high-speed production cycles, by actually capturing and holding the peak force reading until a PLC is able to scan for the value. In addition, an optically isolated relay resets the value, which ensures high reliability force measurement and faster machinery production cycles.

US flow explained - The latest edition of David Spitzer's e-zine features the first of a four part study on Ultrasonic Flowmeters. This e-publication is a very useful one especially on flow matters as it comes from a person who is possibly the most authoritive author on flow in industry. He is the author of Industrial Flow Measurement, which is now in its third edition.

Searching and identifying radiation at or below background radiation levels - Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation has recently updated the SAM 940 to effectively detect and identify radiation 10 -20 times less than background radiation. Since the QCC allows subtraction of the background in real time (1 second down to 100 ms) the SAM 940 systems are more appropriately specified for short acquisitions down to 1 second or less. For the RIIDs a 2x2 inch NaI detector will allow the user to ID the presence of Cs137 at < 1 urem/hr/sec. The 3x3 inch NaI detector is capable of identifying Cs137 at 500nrem/hr/sec. This does not imply that an acquisition of 30 seconds or more is not necessary.

Economic solution for torque measurement - The Model 1700 series of Lebow rotary torque transducers available from RDP Electronics offer an economical device for angle or speed measurement in research or industrial applications. They are compact with body lengths from 62mm to 84mm, easy to install thanks to a variety of mounting options and include integrated instrumentation amplification electronics for +/-10V DC output. The five models in the series cover ranges from 0.02Nm to 1500Nm and are offered with a choice of encoder options for measurement of angle, or the RPM option for speed monitoring.

Free, updated static causes and cures booklet available for download - A free, 24-page page colour booklet entitled "Static Electricity: Causes and Cures" is now available in the Downloads section of the Meech International website. The booklet has been written by specialists at Meech who have pioneered many new and innovative static control solutions for a wide range of industrial applications.
Written to answer the most commonly asked questions about static electricity, the booklet includes information on what static is, how it occurs and the methods available for its control. It is illustrated with easy-to-understand diagrams and a Glossary explains technical terms used in the publication. Static Electricity: Causes and Cures is a perfect introduction for those new to static electricity in the workplace and a timely reminder for those more familiar with the problems static can cause.

Membership of institute grows - The Industrial Interoperability Compliance Institute (IICI) continues to build membership for the development of a compliance testing and assurance organization. The Institute will initially use WBF B2MML Data Exchange Schemas based on ISA95 Standards. Membership is being added from the food and beverage industry, and from global owner-operators in Europe, demonstrating the broad appeal and importance of the mission of the IICI. Support already comes from Oil and Gas, Automotive and Pharmaceutical manufacturers and processors. The Institute has also gained the backing and support of suppliers and integrators of mission critical manufacturing systems.

Endorsement letter from big 4 - ABB, Emerson, Endress + Hauser and Siemens, have all joined in a letter to their "Customers, Suppliers, Media and Organizations in the Automation Industry," in which they hope "share with you our enthusiastic belief that WirelessHART is the solution that will help customers enjoy the benefits of wireless today and for years to follow." We reported this on 3oth April but only received the actual letter yesterday from Emerson who issued a pdf format copy. We await copies from the others in due course!

Particle size and shape analyser measures exactly what you see - HORIBA Jobin Yvon have a new PSA300 Particle Size and Shape Analyser. It includes sophisticated software for the automatic location and characterisation of particles as small as 0.5um. A comprehensive report is generated after the characterisation, and provides interactive access for further investigation of individual particles referenced in the report. The PSA300 is 21 CFR compliant, and all measurements are traceable.

New Analog Multiplexers and Switches - Vishay Intertechnology has released eight new high-frequency, low-charge-injection analog multiplexers and switches for precision instrumentation applications. They are also the first devices of their kind to be offered in the leadless 1.8-mm by 2.6-mm miniQFN package, in addition to the standard TSSOP and SOIC packages.

Photoelectric sensor ensures style and reliability for doors - Carlo Gavazzi has introduced a new through-beam sensor designed to provide industrial levels of performance with the style and competitive pricing of devices destined for the consumer markets. The new PD98 sensor meets all the latest standards for industrial doors and incorporates specific functions for European door safety standards EN12978, EN12445 and EN12453.

Forest products bio-refiner will use simulation software in ongoing process optimization of distillation column and other key components - Invensys Process Systems (IPS) has announced that the Swedish bio-refinery SunPine AB, will use Invensys SimSci-Esscor's PRO/II simulation software for modeling a new biodiesel refining operation in Piteå, Sweden. The new plant, which is a member of the Solander Science park biofuels collaboration, converts crude biooil byproducts of pine pulping into second-generation biodiesel for shipment to diesel refining facilities.

KVM switch - CS-1754 or 1758 is a KVM Switch with 4 / 8 ports and supports computers with PS/2 or USB interfaces via cables and audio signal function from Interface Products. Moreover, it supports 3-tier connection via cascade. With 21 sets of CS-1754, users can control 64 computers. CS-1758 provides growing enterprises a reliable investment on comprehensive connection and long-term safe use.

New fibre optics production facility - AAI (Applied Analytics, Inc) the process analyzer manufacturer, has a newly opened fiber optics facility, which utilizes state-of-the-art testing programs to ensure production of the best quality fibers.
Each individual fiber is measured for light transmittance at specific application ranges and tested for stability over time (performance is traced and documented prior to shipment). The incorporation of high-end, in-house fiber optics production allows greater flexibility in addressing the needs of our clients; our fibers vary in length, core type, and wavelength transmittance response in order to fulfill any customer specifications.

A World first! First FF fieldbus Device DTM - Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces that its DPharp EJA V2.5 Device Type Manager (DTM) has been certified for FOUNDATION™ fieldbus by the FDT Group, a world first. This certification marks another step forward for their VigilantPlant® Asset Excellence initiative, allowing users of Yokogawa's intelligent FF devices to tap user-friendly field device tool (FDT)/DTM technology with the guarantee of interoperability and trouble-free installation.

Industrial Networking: The Next 20 Years Despite All the Advances in Digital Field Networks Over the Years, Most Plants Still Rely on Technology That Matured Some 40 Years Ago. Controlglobal.com

Fastest bus-powered multifunction DAQ devices for USB - National Instruments has announced the release of two new bus-powered M Series data acquisition (DAQ) devices for USB that deliver faster sampling rates and more digital I/O features than previously released bus-powered M Series devices for USB. The NI USB-6212 and USB-6216 are available with 68-pin SCSI mass termination, screw terminals or 50-pin IDC connectivity to provide multiple connectivity options.

Strategic acquisitions, technology partnerships enhance process portfolio - Rockwell Automation has an established platform to deliver robust Process Solutions through its Integrated Architecture, FactoryTalk Suite and Plant-Wide Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) interface,Now their process capability has been further enhanced by specialist capabilities arising from three acquisitions and a technology partnership.
A recent event in London highlighted the advances enhanced by the acquisitions of ICSTriplex - safety capability and critical control, ProsCon - process technology and Pavilion - advanced process control, as well as their key partnership with Endress+Hauser (instrumentation).
See the Industrial Automation Insider's Report on this event!

Still working after all these years...! - Seeks Oldest Products Still in Service Moore Industries is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year, and is trying to find the oldest of its products that are still in service.
The company was founded in 1968 by Leonard W. Moore, who is still the president. Moore Industries started out as a three-person operation in a garage in California, and now has offices worldwide in Australia, Belgium, China, The Netherlands and Britain and is one of the last independent, privately owned instrument companies left in North America.
It stands to reason that many older products are probably still in service--maybe even going back to the 1968 Model SCT signal conditioner, one of the first products--and Moore Industries wants to find them. Accordingly, Moore Industries is offering $500 in merchandise to the top three companies who can prove they are still using the oldest Moore Industries products. To submit an entry for the Oldest Moore Industries Product, send an email to oldestmiiproduct@miinet.com by August 1, 2008.

Introducing first end to end, OPC-UA-integrated solution - ICONICS has announced an agreement with Kepware Technologies. They have signed a range of torque sensors, the Type 4503A, can measure both peak and average operating torques with a high degree of accuracy. Extreme ratios of high peak to moderate operating torque occur, for example, during starting and abrupt deceleration or braking of presses and elevators. Torsional vibration encountered in combustion engines, pumps and compressors can also create potentially damaging peak loads.

Turkish plant to start early with increased production - Emerson Process Management has announced start-up and operational gains following completion of the second year of operation of its PlantWeb^® digital automation architecture at a new bioethanol production plant operated by TARKİM in Mustafakemalpaşa-Bursa, Turkey.
Bioethanol is the world's largest source of renewable energy, and its use has the added advantage that crops used for feedstock help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by absorbing CO₂ emissions during crop growth. The new plant processes grain, usually corn and wheat, to produce ethanol to be used as a fuel additive. Rapid startup of the plant was critical and the contribution made by Emerson during the startup phase meant that TARKİM was able to start up one month earlier than scheduled. This provided cost savings of €220,000 and helped book early revenues.

20,000 PSI ball and needle instrumentation valves satisfy the control needs of emerging high pressure hydraulics and fluid applications - Parker Instrumentation has launched ball and needle instrumentation valves optimized for high pressure fluid control applications operating at up to 20,000 PSI/1379 bar. Available configured with Parker's innovative high-pressure Phastite® tube connector ends -- which offer outstanding performance in vibration environments - the valves offer exceptional integrity to meet the higher pressure hydraulic control and other demanding instrumentation applications that are increasingly being faced in the offshore oil and gas sector.

CD of Semiconductor Device Test Applications - Keithley Instruments has a new Semiconductor Device Test Applications Guide. In addition to the Applications Guide, this CD also includes a large variety of semiconductor test application information such as applications notes, white papers, and presentations that enables users to reduce their cost of test while simplifying the most challenging applications.

New cables for Gigabit Ethernet applications - Harting has introduced a new generation of 8-wire cables and cords suitable for Gigabit Ethernet applications.

High-frequency differential probe for vehicle serial buses - The new Yokogawa PBDH1000 is a high-frequency differential probe designed to meet the challenges involved in the development and testing of in-vehicle buses such as CAN and FlexRay.

Digital temperature switches with clamp-on sensor - With the digital temperature switches of the ETTN-YTTN range, Baumer's Process Instrumentation division offers robust measuring instruments for temperature control for industrial process management. The devices are made completely of stainless steel and are particularly suitable for the use in severe industrial environments. A special design with a clamp-on sensor enables easy mounting at a pipe with two standard clips. It can measure the temperature of a process without direct contact to the medium.

Integrated PXI monitor and keyboard accessory for portable applications - National Instruments has announced the NI PMA-1115 portable touch screen monitor with integrated keyboard that attaches to any NI eight-slot PXI or PXI Express chassis. When used with a new or existing PXI chassis, this accessory is ideal for a variety of portable PXI applications, such as in-vehicle test, mobile diagnostics and personal ATE in the automotive, ATE and aerospace and defence industries.

High-grade steel connector housing offers added protection - The new Han® 3 A INOX from Harting is an industrial connector housing made of high-grade steel to provide protection against corrosion for use in food manufacture and related process industries.

Latest Hall-effect sensor developments - At Sensor & Test 2008 this week (Nüremberg, D), Allegro MicroSystems Europe is featuring its latest families of Hall-effect sensors, including a number of precision current sensors designed for automotive and industrial applications.

To join cybersecurity drafting team - Wurldtech Security Technologies, a leading provider of cyber-security solutions to vendors and operators of SCADA, process control and mission-critical systems worldwide, today announced that the company's VP of Security Services, Bryan Singer, has been selected to join the North American Electric Reliability Corporation's (NERC) cyber-security Standards Action Request (SAR) drafting team. Singer was one of eleven appointments made by the NERC Standards Committee.
See our Cyber Secuirity Page

Automation standards update - ISA, the instrument, systems, and, automaation society publish a a periodic report on the latest developments in the world of automation standards. The latest issue was distributed this week.
They have also just updated their comprehensive Books and Standards Catalogue! This provides access to the latest technical publications written and reviewed by industry experts along with updated editions of several existing titles in the latest digital format.

1U High 1200 W configurable medical power supply for low noise environments - Excelsys Technologies, the world leading specialists in high efficiency configurable power supplies introduces the new Xzite 1200W modular power supply approved for use in medical applications. The Xzite family of low noise power supplies has measured background noise of just 59dBA while providing up to 1200 watts output in an extremely compact 1U x 260 x 127mm package.

Busy show for fieldbus organisation! - Fieldbus Foundation were very busy during last month's Interkama, which is now part of the Hannover Fair. Among the highlights were:
ExxonMobil Instrumentation Executive (Timm Madden) Named To Fieldbus Foundation's Board Of Directors
Fieldbus Foundation Announces EMEA Executive Advisory Council (EAC) Posts

T/C data logger with LCD display - MadgeTech has announced the TCTemp2000, a thermocouple temperature data logger with LCD display. This N.I.S.T. traceable device has user-selectable measurement units, programmable start and stop time, and displays the current ambient and thermocouple temperature readings. The large screen provides convenient access to the minimum, maximum and average statistics, as well as displaying battery level, external power status, sampling and recording status. An easy to use front panel key pad offers a quick and efficient way to change settings.

4Precision flow measurement company acquired - American Industrial Partners (AIP) has acquired Brooks® Instrument, from Emerson Process Management. Brooks is the world-leading supplier of precision low flow measurement and control instrumentation with headquarters in Hatfield, (PA USA) and manufacturing locations in Hungary, France, The Netherlands, and Japan.
Brooks products are aimed mainly at laboratory, pilot plant applications and process applications. They include mass flow meters and controllers based on Coriolis or Thermal technology, high pressure and glass and metal tube rotameters.

Wafer level reliability testing up to 5 times faster - Keithley Instruments has enhanced its Automated Characterization Suite (ACS) software to include optional wafer level reliability (WLR) test tools for semiconductor reliability and lifetime prediction testing applications. Version 4.0 builds on the ACS software's existing single- and multi-site parallel test capabilities, adding a database capability, as well as software tools and optional licenses for the new Reliability Test Module (RTM) and ACS Data Analysis capabilities. Together, the new Reliability Test and Data Analysis tools allow ACS-based test systems to produce lifetime predictions as much as five times faster than traditional WLR test solutions.

New high reliability DC:DC converters - Powerstax has announced the introduction of a new range of high reliability and MIL specification DC:DC converters with up to 50W of output power.

Supporting latest LTE standard - Tektronix and LitePoint Corporation, have announced their collaborative solution to LTE product development.