- Lonworks driver for SCADA/HMI - Adroit Technologies have released a LonWorks( driver for their Adroit SCADA/HMI package. Supporting both standard network variable type (SNVTs) and user definable network variable type (UNVTs) the driver offers for the first time a high performance SCADA/HMI solution for LonWorks(r) network installations.
- Addition of OPC client can be downloaded from web - Furthering its efforts to make Cimplicity HMI one of the technologyy leaders for Windows 95 and NT-based SCADA products, GE Fanuc now includes OPC Client support as part of its Cimplicity HMI software package. This advanced capability provides users with access to process data from OPC servers and is available from their web site http://www.cimplicityhmi.com.
- Automated hipot testers - Associated Research have annnounced the newest members of its popular HipotULTRA II family of dielectric stremgth testers. Model 7510DT is a 10KV ac tester and Model 7512DT is a 12 KV DC tester.
- Battery charging breakthrough in Europe - A new company - Act Europe - has been formed by two of the best known names in the European powers supply industry to supply a new technology, Dynamic Electrochemical Waveform, which overcomes virtually all the limitations of rechargeable batteries.
- Open control technology report - A new study by ARC titled "NT & CE-based Open Control Software Worldwide Outlook - Five Year Market Analysis and Technology Forecast through 2003" shows the market impact of open control technology today and in the future. PC-based Open Control Software (OCS) continues to garner interest from industrial automation users and suppliers as Windows NT, in both a native form and with real-time extensions, becomes the de facto standard platform.
- GE go racing! - Steeplechase Software, Inc. today announced that General Electric Co. has selected Steeplechase PC-based control software with flow chart programming to run its 4,000 linear feet conveyor system in the GE Appliance Parts Distribution Center in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The GE conveyor system, designed and built by hardware and software systems integrators ASAP Automation, Inc. and Bastian Material Handling (BMH) Corp., can ship up to sixty (60) cartons per minute and handle approximately 9,000 cartons per day.
- Good news from Carefree! - Instead of shutting down after the February 1999 issue as planned, Industrial Controls Intelligence & The PLC Insider's Newsletter plans to continue for another year. The Newsletter is still actively for sale and Jack Grenard welcomes approaches at jgrenard@aol.com. Our industry can only benefit from this decision of Jack and we must hope that someone will be able to take over from (though never replace) him when the time comes. Thank you Jack.
- Low cost expansion bus boards - Arcom Control Systems has released three new low-cost PCIbus I/O expansion boards, designed for use in industrial PCs which may be used in c&i applications. They offer a choice of 8 isolated inputs plus 8 relay outputs, 40 programmable digital I/O lines or 4 serial communications channels and all boards are CE complient, conforming to latest PCI 2.1 specification.
- New man at the helm - Rockwell International has appointed Keith Nosbusch, former Senior VP in charge of the Rockwell Automation Control & Information Group, as President of Rockwell Automation Control Systems
- Space life-boat support - Engineers at NASA are applying National Instruments' LabVIEW graphical instrumentation software in their ongoing research, testinmg and manufacturing of the Crew Return Vehicle (CRV), a small shuttle they intend to attach to the proposed Internationa Space Station. This unit wiol serve as a "Life-boat" for the space station crew to return to earth in case of emergencies etc.
- Free instrumentation software - Windmill Software have announced the launch of their on-line data acquisition shop. To coincide with this launch they are offering the standard Windmill 4.3 software suite and the LabIML instrument driver, absolytly free! The URL in case you missed it is http://www.windmillsoft.com/ and be sure to mention us when you get there.
- Seamless integration - Cybosoft, a division of General Cybernation, has announced that its Model-Free Adaptive (MFA) controllers can now be seamlessly integrated with Moore Process Automation Solutions'; APACS+ process automation system.
- Revolutionary leak detector in Florida - Whessoe Varec and Fiberchem's subsidiary FCI Environmental (FCIE) have completed installations of petroleum leak detection systems at two aboveground storage tank facilities in Florida run by Jacksonville Electric Authority, and Equilon Enterprises. Based on an innovative new type of early-warning sensor, the systems allow these tank operators to meet Florida's stringent new environmental regulations for above-ground storage of hydrocarbons.
- Improved functionality - Adroit Technologies have improved the functionality of their Adroit SCADA package to include full redundancy. Offering full shadowing of operator actions including alarm acknowledgement and set point changes the enhancements extend further Adroit's advanced server capabilities.
- ARC on automation market in light of ISA'98 - The mergers and acquisitions that define the competitive environment in the automation market continue with no end in sight. Nowhere was this more apparent than at the recent ISA Expo process automation show in Houston. Amid some of the heaviest booth traffic in years, suppliers remained cautiously optimistic about the overall automation business despite recent downward trends in several major industries, the threat of a US recession, and continued woes in the once-booming Asian market.
- World -F.I.M.A. - "The globalisation of world economies and markets requires that organisers of leading trade fairs also think and act globally!" This has lead to the formation of a new body World Fairs for Instrumentation, Measurement & Automation or World-F.I.M.A. Founding members include BIAS (Italy), InterKama (Germany), MICONIX (China) and SAW (Switzerland). Exhibitions in the USA, Finland, Turkey, The Phillipines, South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, Austria and Swedan have expressed an interest in participating. The Secretariat is based at Messe Duesseldorf, organiseers of InterKama among other shows.
- SST ploughs forward - In an almost bewildering array of press releases at ISA Houston, SST anounced a strategic partnership with Intellution, product integration with Wonderware's products, agreement with VenturCom to develope hard Real-time drivers for ProfiBus and DeviceNet, enabling partnership with Ziatech for Interface cards, teaming with Dynapro to provide the first Windows CE OPC Link to ProfiBus. Their recent acquisition by Woodhead Industries is positioning them for growth throughout the world. And as you can see they have a lot to offer!
- Update for the analyst! - The most recent issue of Hach's News & Notes features their new DR/800 Series Colorimeters, Ultra-low StablCal Formazin Standards, a new Chlorine DPD Test'N Tube method and their ISO 7027 Models for 2100N Turbidimeters.
- Improving Maleic Anhydride production - Applied Analytics has introduced a new application for its UV/VIS/SWNIR diode array process spectrophotometer. Maleic anhydride is used in the production of polyester resins, alkyd resins and pesticides.
- Leader in logic control - Automation Research Corporation (ARC), a top analyst firm, has identified Steeplechase Software Inc. as the worldwide market leader in PC-based logic control software. The number one ranking was awarded in ARC's recently published report, The Open Control Software Global Outlook, Analysis and Technology Forecast Through 2003.
- Revamped site - SoftPLC) have redone their entire site and, among other changes, added a Resource Library area for user documentation, conversion and other utility programs, add-on instructions & drivers, and more. It might be worth a look!
- A new publication - What we think is the world's first fieldbus periodical has landed on our desk in the last few days. It is called Industrial Networking and Open Control and is addressed to reflect the growing convergence of the process industries and computerised manufacturing developements.
See also our Fieldbus Page - First Microsoft awards - Microsoft has announced the two Intellution customers - Bridgestone/Firestone and ElPaso Field Services - have received the first Microsoft Technology and Business Awards.
- Fibre-optic converter for ProFiBus FMS/DP applications - The new MCP12 from Harting is a fibre-optic converter which can transfer data at up to 12Mbit/s in ProfiBus FMS/DP installations, making it ideal for replacing RS-485 electrical cable connections in electrically harsh industrial networking applications. Contact Howard Forryan on +44 1604 766686.
- OPC module - Wonderware Corporation has introduced its new OPCLink software module that provides standard OLE for Process Control connectivity for linking human-machine interface applications to plant floor control and instrumentation devices.
- High speed Ethernet prototypes on order - The Fieldbus Foundation has announced thet it has ordered prototype devices from four leading suppliers (MTL, National Insttruments, Smar, and Softing) for its high-speed laboratory test programme.
- New C programming option - Rather than have to learn a new proprietry programming language, users of GE Fanuc's Series 90 - 30 PLCs can now be programmed in the powerful and popular C programming language helping users achieve significant productivity gains. Jean-Luc Montamat has more information.
- Who uses the internet - SENN (Science & Engineering Network News) recently surveyed a cross-section of large and small measurement and control companies about their Internet and e-commerce use. The results showed that while Web sites have become a fairly common marketing tool for the industrial market segment, e-commerce still has a way to go. Of the companies surveyed, 100% have Internet connections to the external world (that was a mandatory criteria as we were looking for specifics on e-commerce usage), 55% have internal corporate intranets, and 45% make use of extranets to connect to the distribution channel and select customers. Only 36% of the companies responding currently use the Internet for e-commerce, and barely so, but an additional 36% plan to get on the bandwagon within the next year. Find out more about e-commerce in the manufacturing marketplace on the ICS Site
- Show report - ICS also have a report on the ISA Tech/Expo'98 written by Dan Miklovic with some interesting comments and predictions.
- Humidity generator - A compact portable system, designed to calibrate and verify the operation of relative humidity sensors and transmitters has been issued by Rense of the Netherlands. Contact Frank J Struijk foir more information.
- High performance temp transmitters - The INOR PLUS transmitter Series has been developed to meet long demanded requirements from industry for fast temperature transmitters with high accuracy.
- Mass flow measurement...the Smart way - This is the name of a video presentation now available from Sierra Instruments.
- New President - Evyatar Meiron, founder and leader of PC Soft International has announced the appointment of Dale Calder to the position of world-wide president with responsibility for the overall and day-to-day operational management of PC Soft. Evyator himself will focus more on building strategic business relationships and working as corporate visionary in the position of Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. (PC Soft are the developers of Wizcon).
The Internet Directory of Instrumentation is the world wide Directory of Instrumentation and Control launched by BDI in May 1995.
The Instrumentation Signpost has interesting pointers for the I&C Professional.