Library of mechanical motion products & solutions. - Thomson Industries has launched a new, multilingual website that improves access to its extensive library of mechanical motion product and application solutions.

Security at Orlando in February. - Experts representing the Automation Federation and the ISA Security Compliance Institute have been selected to speak at the 20th Annual ARC Industry Forum, which will be held 8-11 February 2016 in Orlando, (FL USA).

The future of regulatory compliance in the pharmaceutical industry. - In this short article, Martyn Williams, managing director of Copa-Data in Great Britain, explains the steps pharmaceutical manufacturers can take on the road to compliance.

Slim & thin - DCS systems. - R. STAHL HMI Systems has optimised their Series 500 Thin Clients for flexible and safe operation of virtualised decentralised control systems. The slim terminals come with Windows Embedded Standard 7 (WES7) pre-installed and support the DeltaV Remote Desktop Connection (DRDC) by Emerson.

Miniature piezoelectric indirect force sensor. - The new measuring pin from Kistler, with its exceptionally small diameter of 8 mm and weight of only 34 g, is ideal for protecting a wide range of structures from overload damage.

Outlook for automatet test in 2016! - The Automated Test Outlook 2016 has been released by national Instruments. The annual test and measurement report delivers a comprehensive view of the key trends expected to impact automated test environments with the proliferation of connected devices, from preparing to test mmWave communication to effectively using manufacturing test data to propel business results.

MES helps life sciences manufacturers move to production more quickly. - Emerson Process Management has enhanced the Syncade Suite manufacturing execution system (MES) to help life science manufacturers simplify the transfer of recipes and manufacturing information between project phases and system environments - from design through to validation and production.

Universal DIN-Rail Mounting Kit for PSUs. - Excelsys Technologies has introduced a DIN-Rail mounting accessory for their innovative, high power density, single output and user configurable modular power supplies.

Relocation doubles space providing systems Integration services. - SCADAware have relocated to a much larger premises of 12,000 sq. ft in Normal (IL USA). Their previos premises was a crowded 5300 sq.ft!

Graduates join international trainee programme.
Three university graduates have begun a year-long internship at Westermo as part of its ambitious new international trainee programme, which aims to advance the skillset of participants and attract talented people to the company

Major Food and Pharma event in Ireland looks exciting. -

Prevent heavy equipment from falling over. - Memsic has launched a new product family, the MTLT series of Inclination and Tilt Sensors. Samples of the first three family members in MTLT series, the MTLT110S-R, MTLT105S-R and MTLT105D-R are currently available for evaluation.

Industrial cybersecurity - To improve industrial cybersecurity understanding and awareness, the International Society of Automation (ISA) has developed a new white paper, "What Executives Need to Know About Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity." The paper was written by Joseph Weiss, PM, CISM, CRISC, a widely recognized industry expert on control system cybersecurity.

Variable speed drives for low-power motors. - WEG has launched a new cost-effective, reliable and easy-to-use series of compact variable speed drives (VSDs) to enhance energy efficiency across a wide range of applications requiring low motor power.

Power Quality Seminars programme for 2016. - Fluke offers a free Power Quality Seminar as part of its programme of seminars for 2016 throughout the Ireland & Britain. Designed to help Facility Managers, Maintenance Engineers, Energy Consultants and Power Engineers to save money on energy bills and increase machinery lifetime

Ethernet line extenders. - Westermo has released two additions to its range of Wolverine advanced industrial Ethernet line extenders. These rugged, reliable and compact devices are used to establish long-distance, high-speed remote connections between simple or complex Ethernet networks using existing copper cables, thereby reducing installation time and cost.

SIL 1 safe protection for mahinery - Emerson's CSI 6500 Machinery Health Monitor now has an IEC 61508:2010, Safety Integration Level (SIL) certification, Level 1, making it suitable for use in delivering reliable protection monitoring in such environments as steam and gas turbines in power plants, critical refinery assets, nuclear industry critical assets, and other safety-critical applications.

Safety, explosion mitigation and prevention enhanced by acquisition! - Newson Gale has been acquired by the HOERBIGER Group and is now a member of its Safety Solutions business segment.

Benchtop PSU. - The GPS-TPS352 1200W output benchtop power supply has just been announced by Gresham Power Electronics. Supplied in a convenient and compact desktop case less than 50mm tall, the GPS-TPS352 provides reliable system power up to 1200W (1400W peak) with low output ripple and noise.

All-in-one instrument for engineers using benchtop test equipment. - National Instruments (NI) has a new, high-performance model of VirtualBench. The software-based VirtualBench all-in-one instrument combines a mixed-signal oscilloscope, function generator, digital multimeter, programmable DC power supply and digital I/O.

Wireless monitor receives CSA Approval. - The BM 25 Wireless (BM 25W) area gas monitor from Oldham has been certified by Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and now carries the CSA mark of approval.

Learn project management! - The International Society of Automation (ISA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) to deliver a web-based project management course customised to meet the specialised needs of system integrators.

Lou Hermans has joined the EpiGaN Board of Directors..

Preventive maintenance practices for all! Unplanned downtime due to equipment failure can cost manufacturers up to three per cent of their revenue, according to the U.S. Federal Energy Management Program.

Increased demand for XRF analyser hire. - Steve Drake, NDT Market Manager at Ashtead Technology believes that XRF is one of the most important technologies in the company's fleet of NDT and environmental testing instruments.

Weight Indicators With Large LED/LCD Displays. - Two new weight indicators featuring large six-digit LED and LCD displays have been introduced from VGP Transducers. Combining weighing and counting modes with an array of advanced features and communication interfaces, the Intuition 20i and Intuition 22i provide versatile solutions for a wide range of commercial and industrial application.

Radar level transmitter. - Krohne has introduced a new radar level transmitter, OPTIWAVE 1010, for bypass chambers and magnetic level indicators.

Long range high position sensors in hazardous areas! - The NCG-1-AL-UHV position sensors from Queensgate, based upon highly advanced proprietary capacitive technology, are the longest range devices in the company's portfolio.

Emissions monitoring to be studied! - The organisers of CEM 2016, the international emissions monitoring event, have published details of the conference that will run over three days in Lisbon from 18th to 20th May.

Major Food and Pharma event in Ireland looks exciting. - We reported last year that the 3rd International Society of Automation's Food and Pharmaceutical Symposium (#FPID16) was scheduled to be held in Ireland in March 2016. It is the first time that the event has been staged outside of North America and already a formidable line-up of speakers have agreed to present. This is the principle event of the ISA's Food & Pharmaceutical Division each year.

Integrating biometrics with operations management software. - By integrating Emerson's Syncade Smart Operations Management Suite with Xyntek's Biometrics Solution, users can simplify authentication, ensure the identity of the signer and the integrity of documents, and minimise the risk of credential theft.

How cloud computing is changing industrial automation. - Jonathan Wilkins, marketing director of industrial automation supplier European Automation examines how cloud computing is disrupting industrial automation.

Colour digital panel meter. - The Micra-M, is a programmable color digital panel meter with the update technology, which accepts input signals for: Process (mA, V), Temperature (sensor Pt100, thermocouples), or Load Cells (mV/V, mV). The MICRA-M we are supplying now is an updated and improved version of our successful digital panel meter.

Advanced quotation module for contract labs. - A new, advanced quotation module for the Matrix Gemini Laboratory Information System (LIMS) will greatly benefit contract laboratories by simplifying the process of producing customer quotations.

The hottest flow studies! - Dr Jesse Yoder tells us that Flow Research is continuing their work in this flow calibration through the industry group called Flow Recalibration Working Group they started building last year.

Certification to communication standard - The automation software zenon from COPA-DATA has been certified in accordance with the international energy systems standard IEC 61850 Edition 2. zenon thus proves its conformity with the most recent additions to the standard. The certificate was issued by TÜV SÜD Product Service GmbH.

Wireless steam trap monitor certified! - The SmartWatchWeb™Radio Frequency (SWWRF40) Steam Trap Monitor is the wireless interface designed by BiTherm which provides an ISA100 Wireless compliant solution for the monitoring of gas and steam leaks, temperature, pressure and other relevant information related to valves and the steam system.

Robotics first again... - The rules and game-playing details for its 2016 FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) have been announced by FIRST®, a not-for-profit public charity designed to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology.

Ellipsometer launched. - A revolutionary ellipsometric jet fuel thermal oxidation heater tube scanner has been launched by PAC. The new OptiReader provides pass/fail results with a full 2D and 3D thickness map defining maximum deposit thickness and volume.

Swimming pool flowmeter! - Blue-White's engineers have taken the iconic F-300 Series flowmeters, for pipe sizes 1½" and 2", and enhanced both the features and accuracy.

Multi-core power for explosion-protected HMI. - R. Stahl HMI Systems is now fitting explosion-protected touchscreen operating devices with new, fast processors. The highly efficient quad-core Atom E3845 of the Intel Bay Trail family is ideally suited for fanless systems.

Intelligent Networking Business Unit finalised. - Taiwanese industrial computing manufacturer Advantech has completed its acquisition of privately-held industrial intelligent networking specialist B+B SmartWorx for the US$99.85 million agreement announced late last year. Operating as Advantech B+B SmartWorx, and will lead Advantech's new Intelligent Networking Business Sector in developing smart networking products as part of the company's Global Industrial IoT Business Group.

Key connector is key to versatile interfacing -

Thermography Seminars programme for 2016. - Fluke is offering a series of free Thermography Seminars as part of its programme of seminars for 2016 in Britain and Ireland.

Intelligent building technologies event. - The CABA Intelligent Buildings & Digital Home Forum is scheduled for 26-28 April 2016 in San Diego, (CA USA).

Demonstrating a greater perspective. - Boulting Technology has built a new demonstration area for its extensive range of low voltage switchboards. Based at their Warrington (GB) site, the new area is an extension to its existing workshop.

Set Polarisation in Single-mode Fibres in a Targeted Manner. - Laser Components offers the deterministic polarization controller PSY-201 PolaFlex™ from General Photonics that makes it possible to adjust the polarization of light in 9/125 μm single-mode fibres in a targeted manner.

Recognising Irish automation expertise and service! - The 34th annual Honours and Awards Ceremony of the Ireland Section of the International Society of Instrumentation (ISA) was held last month (Dec 2015). This event is held to acknowledge recognise and encourage excellence for those training or working in the Instrumentation, Systems and Automation sector.

Into the cloud! - Yokogawa has acquired Industrial Evolution Inc., a provider of cloud-based plant data sharing services, to strengthen its provision of advanced solutions to the process industries.

Wire-mounted photo micro sensors. - Omron Electronic Components Europe has launched a new range of wire-mounted photo micro sensors, specifically designed for the many applications where the detector needs to be installed in the appliance away from the main circuit board.

Celebrating 50 years in Ireland! -

Automation eBooks - eBooks on Modular Procedural Automation & Agile Projection Execution pH & Boiler control downloadable from Yokogawa. They are also providing publications on Boiler Optimization Toolkit and The pH & ORP Handbook.

Beyond smoke and mirrors! - Three things you didn't know about IIoT examined by Martyn Williams, Managing Director of COPA-DATA UK.

Mark Williamson of Stemmer Imaging, has been elected as the next Chairman of the PPMA (Processing & Packaging Machinery Association). He has also been elected to serve on the Board of VDMA Machine Vision for the next three years.

Top mounted valve postioner. - The new Research Control® SRD991 top-mount valve positioner from Badger pushes the limits of process control and optimization. The new valve positioner mounts directly to the top of a control valve with a rugged linear potentiometer.

Handheld oscilloscope for lab and field. - The R&S Scope Rider from Rohde & Schwarz is equally impressive in the lab and in the field. With an acquisition rate of 50,000 waveforms per second, a 10‑bit A/D converter developed by Rohde & Schwarz and a maximum bandwidth of 500 MHz for the analog input channels, this portable oscilloscope clearly outperforms comparable instruments.