• S.C.A.D.A. Tools help optimise efficiency of liquids handling - Whessoe Varec has released powerful new archiving and trending tools for its FuelsManager WindowsNT SCADA package, boosting the efficiency of this specialist software for the management of liquids processing, storage and distribution. The functions allow open access to historical and real-time data, providing a foundation to optimise operations and troubleshoot problems.
• At FieldComms UK - Contemprary Controls will be displaying their new range of ARCNET networking products and also hope to have an example of their new CAN-BRIDGE product.
  More information on Fieldbus Shows on our Fieldbus Page.

• ICS News - ICSNews is a periodic electronic newsletter of the Industrial Computing Society giving details of happenings on ICSWeb. To subscribe or unsubscribe to ICSNews, see http://www.ics.org/subscribeICSnews.html. The latest news includes a new mini-web server from Concur Systems, an article on IEC1131 and new product information.
• Safe partnership! - Phoenix Contact and MTL Instruments have formed a partnership to bring the number one worldwide supplier I/O bus system (according to a recent ARC study), and arguably the number one in intrinsically safe I/O to provide a high performance networked solution to safe I/O applications. This joint solution announced at ISATech'97, is to provide tyhe process I/O and communication required to meet the wide spectrum of process control applications today.
• Communications for OEMs - Another Anaheim launch was the Universal Communications System (UCS) by SS-Technologies of Ontario, Canada. UCS is a low cost interface for connecting OEM products to industrial networks. It represents a departure from the conventional approach to network interfaces for this type of product. Rather than integrate hardware and software directly into the product's control system, UCS places the network protocol support on a bolt-on module, relieving the OEM of the neccessity to create and mantain infrastructure for a communications program.
  see our Fieldbus page for more fieldbus news.
• New President-Elect - Ronald H. Dieck was elected President-elect Secretary of ISA - the international society for meaurement and control at ISATech'97 in Anaheim, California (USA) earlier this month. After one year he is to succeed Hugh Roser as President of the Society and his three year stint on the Board will end after one more year as Immediate Past President. He is manager of the Instrumentation laboratory and the Instrumentation Design and Data Validity Groups at Pratt & Whitney, Florida.
• Multiple announcements from OA - A packed prss conference at ISATech'97 heard a breathtaking review of advancements being made by ObjectAutomation which are all detailed on their web site. Included was details of the worldwide release of their OAenterprise family of software products planned for full release in the first quarter of 1998. They have purchased ICT Software GmbH of Munich (D), and under the name ObjectAutomation GmbH these offices will house delelopmental, marketing and sales teams for the rapidly expanding European market. they also announced strategic partnerships with six important industry leaders and the consolodation of their position in the United States by opening up sales offices in strategic locations.
• Java Control and Automation framework - The JAVA Control and Automation Framework (JCAF) is described as an industry driven initiative to bring innovative implementations of Java technology to the process control and automation industry. JCAF, from Sun Microsystems , is a marketing and engineering initiative focussed on technology adoption, pilot projects, and market education, to expand the scope of the Java Automation API initiative launched in 1996.
• Best Control Web Sites - The Control Platforms supplement to Intech and Industrial Computing, distributed at the ISATech'97 in Anaheim includes the Editors' Best Control Sites. Although this is a print medium the list is available on the web at http://www.isa.org/techtalk.html. It is well worth checking this site out. as I know (and not just because i have been told) that each of the links is checked by ISA Publications staff and thus should be very accurate.

• New precision temperature and voltage measurement instruments - A new line of precision plug-in boards designed specifically for temperature measurements when using T/Cs, RTDs, and thermistors has been introduced by National Instruments. Known as the DAQMeter 4350 Family they combine the functionality of stand alone temperature meters with the flexibility and benefits of PCs to create highly capable virtual instrument solutions that can leverage off the Internet and Pentium processing power.
• Traditional test times cut by hours - The new self-contained NSG 2070 high frequency generator from Schaffner offers all the functions required for comprehensive testing of electrical and electronic goods for susceptibility to induced RF signals, according to IEC 1000-4-6 and standards based on it.
• Servo fundamentals trainer - An engineering training system now available from Feedback Instruments enables universities, colleges and training schools to teach the fundamentals of analogue and digital servo systems.

• Mangement by Projects - The changing and chaotic environment within which we work and live throws up ever-demanding problems that need more innovative and creative solutions in increasingly shorter response times. This new book by Professor Andrew Hamilton states that business is beginning to recognise that what most people in organisations have to deal with can be classified as projects, and individuals are beginning to see their working life as a project consisting of a series of problems, that to be solved need discipline. Management by Projects: Achieving Success in a Changing World - is published by Oak Tree Press.
• New Temperature Transmitters - The ThermoTrans 200 high stability temperature transmitters with RTDs for measuring -200 to +850 degC and thermoelements measuring from -270 to + 1820 deg C are now available from Wren Technologies.
• PlantWatch added - Solartron has added Plantwatch to its portfolio of third party SCADA systems for IMPs (isolated measurement pods).
• Embedded Software - The world's first comprehensive embedded systems development directory is now available from The Embedded Software Association (ESOFTA Europe)(formerly ESSE). It is avaiblable at the price of StgP 17.00.
• First installation in Britain - The first Whessoe Varec gas purifier has been installed at the Camelshead WWT Works in Plymouth. This is a maintenance free H2S removal system.

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