• Readout 98.05 - The August September Issue of Readout has bben issued and features many interesting articles including an interesting exchange between Foundation Fieldbus and Profibus.
  The survey in this issue is of Systems and Software suppliers in Ireland.
  The text of this exchange is entitled Fieldbus: Fact or Fiction?. This periodical, Ireland's premier publication in Instrumentation and Control, is published every two months.

• Simple to set-up - Developed to combine low unit cost with installation, new Digital Panel Meters from London Electronics are said to be so intuitive in operation that users can easily calibrate and configure them without even needing to read the instructions. More details from Graham Larning at London Electronics Ltd.
• Paddle flow-switch with connections! - Hailed as the only hygienic paddle type flow switch, the Earl Type 173 Switch now available from Laaser is available with any form of pipeline connection as standarrd. It is effective for measuring liquid flow in partially as well as completly full lines. Colin Wheeler on +44 1372 278986 has all the details.
• Flame detector - The Det-Tronics X3300 multi-spectrum IR flame detector has been developed to more reliably sense smaller fires in many process and factory applications as well as offshore and oil refinery installations. Talk to Garth Watkins fon +44 1753 683059 for the full story.

• Controversy in Readout - The current issue of Readout August/September contains a perhaps controversial article on Fieldbus-Fact or Fiction based on a document issued by Fieldbus Foundation.
• Oil and Gas Specialist at Moore - Steve Day has joined Moore Process Automation Solutions as Oil & Gas Industry Manager with responsibility for automation solution sales to the industry in Britain and Europe.
• Free valve sizing software - Whessoe Varec has released a free Windows-based valve sizing program which automates the calculation and selection process of valves for aboveground storage tank venting applications.

• Most advanced video programmer recorder - Honeywell has introdusced the multi-purpose VPR100 Video Programmer Recorder - the "most advanced integrated solution available in a panel mounted instrument today." It combines control and data acquisition functions in a single integrated "control System in a Box." Its combination of setpoint programmer, controller, profiles, logic, timing and recording eliminates the need for multiple devices and reduces installation costs.

• Magnetic flow - Badger Meter Inc. has announced that it has acquired the Magnetoflow line of electromagnetic flowmeters previously manufactured by Remag AG of Switzerland. Badger Meter, the manufacturer of flow measurement and control products, has been a Magnetoflow distributor in Europe for the past two years.
• Internet services expand - The rapid deploym3ent of PCs across a wide segment of the population and industry, the enhancements made to modems which are moving towards becoming more user-friendly, and the rapid decrease in the cost of communications and hardware across Europe are the driving force behind growth in the European Internet Market according to a report from Frost & Sullivan.
• New PC intrerface module for P-NET - Proces-Data has commenced production of the new PC to P-NET interface module PD3930, which directly plugs into the parallel port of a standard PC. Yhis unit enables laptop, as well as desktop PCs, to be utilised as one of a number of programmable master controllers within a process automation system based on the European Standard EN 50170 Vol. 1 compatible P-NET fieldbus architecture. Videotape training - The ISA - the international society for measurement and control have puplished a new guide to the current videotapes available for training. Besides Industrial Measurement there are courses on Calibration, Automatic and Continuous Process Control, Batch and Boiler Control and applications.
• Integrate PLC and operator interface - Combining both a PLC and a graphic operator interface in one unit, the new Total Control GLC Graphic Logic Controller from Taylor Industrial Software is claimed to put users on-line and in control faster and more economically than previously possible with any other system.
• Avoid pump innefficiency or failure - The Peek Measurement Alarm Monitor Model 4400 continuously monitors pumps, thereby giving a real-time, early warning of pump deterioration or imminent failure. Thus preventive action can be taken before it's too late.
• Small project group launched - Fisher-Rosemount has launched the Small Project Group, an initiative which will provide appropriate sales, engineering and support services to the smaller projects market place.

• Free monthly newsletter - Windmill Software are launching a free monthly newsletter. It offers technical tips on instrumentation, and keeps readers abreast of the latest data acquisition and control software for PCs. Each month a list of internet resources for scientists and engineers is also featured. To subscribe visit http://www.windmill.co.uk/newsletter.html
• Mass storage module - Concurrent Technologies has announced a mass storage module for VME - the DSS MSS/IFP. This single-slot board supports the latest low profile hard disk drives, floppy disk drives and solid-state memory. (CCT's British Website)
• Global sales agreement - Measurement Technology Ltd and Dynapro Systems Inc have announced a new sales agreement. Under this agreement MTL becomes a key reseller of Dynapro's hazerdous-area PCs, under the MTL banner.

• Next generation process gas chromatograph - Appliued Automation, a unit of the Elsag Bailey analytical division has announced the full release of Advance Maxum, the first "plug-and-play" process gas chromatograph system.
• New multinational alliance - A multinational group of 36 industrial, test, and measurement companies announced today the formation of the PXI Systems Alliance, an organisation whose charter is to promote and maintain the award winning PXI Specification (announced by National Instruments in 1997), that adds instrumentation capabilities to CompactPCI.
• $67.8m for National Instruments - Revenues for National Instruments for the second quarter were $67.8m, up 13 percent (16% in constant local currencies) from $60.1m in the sec ond quarter of 1997. North America 10% growth, Europe 25% and although in doller terms the Asia/Pacific area remained static in local currency terms an increase of 14% was recorded. Net income for the quarter increased by 7% to $9.2m compared with $8.6m for the comparible period last year.
• Power station control systems - Moore Process Automation Solutions, in partnership with Syseca and in association with Ambrio, has been awarded a major contract by eastern Merchant Generation for a new control system for two 500MW units at Rugeley (Britain) Power Station.

• Mass Storage Module for VME/VME-64 Users - Concurrent Technologies Plc has announced a Mass Storage Module for VME - the DS MSS/IFP. This single-slot board supports the latest low profile hard disk drives, floppy disk drives and solid-state memory.

The American Export Register is now available not only in Print but also CD-ROM and available and completely searchable on the Internet in six languages.
It is interesting that the Consultant on the project is Scottish and the development house is Nua from Ireland.

• Training Program Reached 5,000 Applicant Mark - Dale Grier, ISA Training Institute Director, announced that the ISA Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST) Program reached the 5,000 applicant mark since its October 1995 debut.
• Three New Software Market Outlooks - ARC has announced the release of three new Software Market Studies. Covering HMI, Simulation & Model-Based Control, and EAM/CMMS, these reports contain the most current, accurate, and detailed information on these markets available. Please follow the links below for Automation News articles and Overviews of these Outlooks.

• Henk van der Biezen to direct Foundation in Europe - Henk van der Biezen, well known in the Netherlands and throughout Europe from his work with ISA European Region and as Chairman of the International Instrument Users Association (WIB), has been appointed as Director of European Operations for Fieldbus Foundation. He is also vice-chairman of the Interkama-ISATech'99 Conference Organisational Committee.
  See our Fieldbus Page for more news on developments in the "Fieldbus Wars".
• Innovative tank gauges for Korea - Whessoe Varec has won the contract (using its Model 1146LTD gauges) to provide monitoring systems for four liquified natural gas storage tanks being built for Korea Gas Corporation (Kogas) at its terminal in Inchon.
• Operator interfaces - Two new text display operator interfaces have been introduced which are compact in design and give operators the ability to fully control a machine at very economical cost. Details from Matsushita.
  Also from the same source is the new cost-effective PM5S timer range in two ranges offering high functionality in an industry standard DIN package.

• Want to be a winner? - The ISA Ireland Section are running a Conference which promises this. The title is "Managing future projects using innovative delivery techniques" and is happening on the 24th September 1998 in Cork. More details from info@isa.ie.
• EMC information - Schaffner has redesigned and upgraded its website, putting the company's EMC expertise at the fingertips of engineers and decision makers all over the world.
• Measurements on live subjects - Solartron has launched a powerful new impedance interface which enables researchers to develope advanced biological and bio-medical investigation techniques with complete patient safety.
• Fibre Channel PMC module is industryâs first to deliver 100MB/s effective data rate - VMETRO has announced the VMFC-2100 family of second-generation Fibre Channel PMC modules. Capable of transferring payload data in excess of 100Mbytes/sec, the new modules represent a breakthrough compared to current products on the market, doubling the speed for disk storage, real-time networks and sensor I/O for embedded applications.

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