Tuesday 31 May 2016

M12 connectors for switches!

Microprecision Electronics SA is extending the possibilities of its MP700 series of sealed limit switches in order to facilitate the connection of limit switches as sensing devices to industrial bus systems.

The switches are now available with an M12 connector integrated directly into the housing, thus making for easy and flexible interfacing to a bus interconnect box. This feature allows for a simple and detachable cable connection as an alternative to the common potted cable solution. Standard M12 connection cables are broadly available.

M12This option is implemented for 30mm and 35mm housing sizes which reflects the 20mm “EN” and 25mm “US” mounting style. Metal housing for rugged outdoor applications as well as plastic housing for indoor use are both offering this new feature.

A five-pin version is used in the MP740/60 metallic cases and a four-pin for the MP730/750 plastic cases. All cases are IP67 sealed. The electrical rating is adapted to the power specification of M12 connectors for 4 A up to 120VAC and 3A for 240 VAC.

The MP700 limit switches come with a wide selection of actuator types consisting of pin and roller plungers, roller levers and many others. The electrical switching module is a positive opening circuit with either slow- action or snap-action movements for a broad range of industrial applications. The products fulfil the EN 60947-5-1 standards and are also UL approved.

#Microprecision_Electronics  #PAuto 

Monday 30 May 2016

Strategic alliance in process analysis!

Berlin-based process analytical specialist Knick Elektronische Messgeräte (Knick) and Cincinnati-based M4 Instruments have announced their mutual strategic investment in M4 Knick LLC, Cincinnati (USA).
Working from Cincinnati, Ohio, M4 Knick LLC will continue to provide excellent process analytical solutions and customer-service for the North American market with Shawn Little as their President.

Knick is one of the worldwide leading providers of on-line process equipment whose well-known line of Stratos and Protos analyzers and first-in-class SensoGate and Ceramat retractable holders are the standard for quality and performance in today's chemical and pharmaceutical facilities. M4 Instruments, already Knick's distribution partner, has many years of field expertise in the process control industry.

Providing a wide range of sensors, hardware, and system solutions for their customers, M4 Instruments have rapidly grown their installed base within the North American marketplace. Knick's investment in this new venture is the next step in the company’s international expansion. With regional support offices in Brazil, China, SE Asia, Switzerland, SW Europe, Germany, and now North America, Knick is fully committed to supporting international customers worldwide.

#Knick #PAuto @M4instruments

Emissions testing!

Engine emissions analyser further improves Intertek’s emissions testing capability

An advanced FTIR analyser installed at Intertek’s engine test facility in Milton Keynes (GB) is enabling engineers to improve the quality of their tests on the gaseous components of engine exhaust emissions.

The gas analyser manufactured by Gasmet Technologies and installed by Quantitech, measures multiple organic and inorganic components simultaneously from a large library of compounds, enabling Intertek’s engineers to quickly and easily change the measured compounds; to change the fuel type or cycle conditions, and to see the impact on the emitted gases. The FTIR gas analyser is also highly portable so that it can be employed in any of the test cells at Intertek, a leading Total Quality Assurance provider.

Intertek’s engine test facility, which accommodates every type of motor vehicle engine covering all fuel types and including both hybrid and battery powered vehicles, provides its customers with the ability to conduct research on prototype engines and evaluate developments in engine technology. Intertek works with vehicle manufacturers, tier suppliers and high performance driveline development businesses.

The work in the test cells is complemented by Intertek’s ability to conduct on-road emissions testing using its state of the art Portable Emissions Measurement System (PEMS) to measure Real World Driving Emissions (RDE).

Intertek test engineer Cory Graham said: “Vehicle manufacturers are focused on improving both the performance and the emissions of their vehicles. FTIR provides a greater insight into exhaust emissions so that Intertek can assist manufacturers with their goals of improving air quality and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.”

Most recently the FTIR has been deployed in one of Intertek’s most sophisticated cells, which hosts a complete drive line including an engine, a gearbox and also a rig, which creates a complete ‘virtual’ car.

The regulatory tests that are undertaken on vehicles to check their emissions against international standards, have recently been under the spotlight, and the latest developments in the European Union will result in a move to vehicle emissions testing while the car is being driven (RDE) and this is now provided by Intertek.

Quantitech’s Dominic Duggan says: “Engine emissions testing is an ideal application for FTIR technology, because it provides automotive research and development engineers with a broad spectrum of measured compounds, creating a more complete picture of the products of combustion.”

@Quantitech #PAuto #FTIR

Friday 27 May 2016

Multifunction installation testers.

Fluke has launched the new 1660 Series Multifunction Installation Testers, the only installation testers that help prevent damage to connected appliances. This new series puts more power in users’ hands by quickly and efficiently testing fixed installations to BS7671 17th Edition Wiring Regulations, protecting appliances that may be inadvertently connected to the system under test, and making it easy to share test results over a smartphone using Fluke Connect®.

The Fluke 1664 FC features the patent pending Insulation PreTest™ function that detects if an appliance is connected to the system under test and will stop the test while also providing a visual warning. Insulation PreTest helps avoid accidental and costly damage to peripheral equipment. Also new to the unit is an Auto Test function that does 5 required installation tests in one sequence, ensuring compliance with BS7671 17th Edition Wiring Regulations. This reduces the number of manual connections, decreases the possibility of making errors, and reduces test time by up to 40% compared to previous Fluke models.

The wireless 1664 FC model is part of the Fluke Connect system of software and wireless test tools. Measurements from the tester can be wirelessly transmitted to the Fluke Connect app on smartphones or tablets and automatically uploaded to FlukeCloud™ Storage, eliminating transcription errors. Technicians can collaborate in real time with other colleagues with ShareLive™ video calls, increasing productivity in the field. Measurements from the 1664 FC can be combined with measurement data from multiple Fluke Connect test tools to create and share comprehensive reports from the job site via email.

The new instruments are designed to verify insulation resistance, loop impedance, resistance of the earth connect, resistance to earth, RCD performance in TT and TN systems, phase sequence, and loop/line impedance and RCD tests in IT systems.

@FlukeCorp #PAuto #TandM 

Project for intelligent sensor systems for Industry 4.0.

Multi-sensor systems form a crucial basis for the success of Industry 4.0 applications. They record, process, and transmit a number of measurement parameters, such as pressure, acceleration, and temperature, all in a highly compact space. Machines are not the only ones to receive such sensors; workpieces are also increasingly being fitted with the intelligent sensor systems so that each product can provide its blueprint and report its manufacturing status. Based on this information, production is largely able to organize and monitor itself.
Eleven research partners now aim to simplify and accelerate the development of intelligent multi-sensor systems. As part of the RoMulus project, they want to standardize and refine the steps leading up to the finished product in such a way that it is possible to produce even small quantities in a cost-effective manner. As a result, they are improving the market position of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the sensor technology sector.

In the future, SMEs will be able to offer their industrial customers customized sensor systems with considerably less effort and expense. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is supporting the RoMulus project as part of the IKT 2020 incentive program to the tune of approximately 4.5 million euros, which covers some 70 percent of the total investment amount.

Challenging development
The development of multi-sensor systems for Industry 4.0 applications is challenging. The task is to combine two technologies in a highly compact space, namely microelectromechanical sensors (MEMS), which measure mechanical parameters, such as pressure and acceleration, and microelectronic sensor components, which determine temperature, light intensity, and chemical concentrations. The finished systems must process large amounts of data in the most energy-efficient manner possible. Furthermore, they need to be robust enough to function reliably in an industrial setting.

Collaboration with semiconductor manufacturers and service providers
The German sensor technology sector predominantly comprises small and medium-sized enterprises. As a general rule, they are unable to cover all of the services themselves that are necessary for the development and production of multi-sensor systems, which is why they rely on close collaboration with semiconductor manufacturers and service providers for research and development. “We want to disentangle and standardize this collaboration − and thereby the design and manufacturing processes,” says project coordinator Dr. Eckhard Hennig, professor at Reutlingen University. In the future, SMEs will be able to select and compile development services as well as electronic components as if from a large kit, depending on what solution the customer requires for their very specific industrial application.

“RoMulus makes it possible to systematically design and cost-effectively manufacture robust, energy-efficient multi-sensor systems, even in small quantities. As a result, German sensor technology manufacturers are leading the field in terms of creating an important technological basis for Industry 4.0 applications,” explains Dr. Reinhard Neul from Robert Bosch GmbH.

• Eleven partners from research and industry
The abbreviation RoMulus stands for “robust multi-sensor technology for status monitoring in Industry 4.0 applications.” The project began in October 2015 and is scheduled to last three years.
As part of the RoMulus project, eleven partners are pooling their expertise – from semiconductor manufacturers and development companies to SMEs. They are as follows: Zeiss, the Fraunhofer Institute IIS/EAS, Reutlingen University, Institut für Mikroelektronik- und Mechatronik-Systeme gemeinnützige GmbH, microsensys GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH, the Technical University of Munich, TETRA Gesellschaft für Sensorik, Robotik und Automation mbH, the University of Bremen, the University of Freiburg, and X-FAB Semiconductor Foundries AG. The edacentrum in Hanover is responsible for project management.

 #Industrie40 #PAuto @edacentrum @BMBF_Bund #Germany

CO2 Calibration kit.

The CO2 Zero Calibration kit was developed, following a customer request, to allow less calibration gas to be used when checking the Edinburgh Sensors CO2 Guardian monitor range.

The Guardian infrared monitors offer near-analyser quality continuous sampling, measurement and display of target gas concentrations. When a customers' equipment is installed in greenhouses worldwide, it is difficult to keep costs low when transporting cylinders of gas. Furthermore, there are strict rules in place when transporting high-pressure gas cylinders by air. As such, the company developed the CO2 Zero calibration kit without needing a cylinder of gas.

The CO2 Zero Calibration Kit for the Guardian NG wall mounted monitor works by removing CO2 from the air being drawn into the instrument. This provides a cost effective alternative to nitrogen, which is the usual method for checking zero readings on a CO2 sensor. The zero calibration kit is compatible with any of the CO2 Guardian NG range without modification.

The Guardian NG range has applications in landfill gas measurements, biogas, horticulture and much more.

@Edinst #PAuto

Gas alarm system protects waste treatment staff.

The human nose is particularly sensitive to Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S); a highly offensive odorous gas, reminiscent of rotten eggs. With an odour threshold between 0.005 ppm and 1.5ppm, relatively low levels of Hydrogen Sulphide can result in complaints if industrial plants generate exposure at these levels. A chemical waste treatment plant in Britain has therefore installed a monitoring and alarm system to generate alerts when H2S concentrations reach levels that might cause concern with staff and the Public.

Hydrogen Sulphide is often produced by the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen, and for this reason it is a major concern for the operators of waste treatment facilities. Hydrogen Sulphide gas is well known as an unpleasant odour; forming, as it does, the main component of the stink bombs that children are able to buy. Stink bombs generally contain Ammonium Sulphide, which, when exposed to air, reacts with moisture to form Hydrogen Sulphide and Ammonia, another unpleasantly odorous gas. One might therefore assume that any problems associated with Hydrogen Sulphide are solely associated with odour nuisance. However, Hydrogen Sulphide is a highly toxic and flammable gas, causing irritation to the eyes, throat and lungs, and can cause death in high concentrations

The maximum occupational exposure level (8 hour time-weighted average) in Britain is 5ppm, with a short term exposure limit of 10ppm. Exposure to levels over 20ppm can cause dizziness, and exposure to over 100ppm can cause death after 48 hours. Levels over 700 ppm cause almost instantaneous death.

The challenge for the monitoring instrumentation sector is to be able to monitor Hydrogen Sulphide at sufficiently low levels continuously without interferences from other gases. So, when Air Monitors was approached by a chemical waste treatment plant looking to install a Hydrogen Sulphide alarm system, the Honeywell SPM Flex was the obvious choice. 

“The plant regularly treats sewage, so Hydrogen Sulphide is a significant concern, both for plant staff and for the local community,” explains Colin Craggs from Air Monitors. “The SPM Flex operates a novel cartridge system that enables users to select the specific gas or gases of interest – H2S in this case, and we connected the instrument to an Envirologger, so that data could be viewed on the web, and so that alarms can be issued in a variety of ways – email, text etc.”

With a detection limit of 1 part per billion (ppb) the SPM Flex is extremely sensitive; each cartridge contains a tape which has been impregnated with chemicals that perform analysis of the target gas. The chemical reaction that takes place produces a colorimetric response that, whilst not visible to the eye, is measured by the instrument’s internal optics. For continuous operation, each cartridge lasts for around one month before a change is necessary (the instrument alerts the operator beforehand). However, ‘extended’ cartridges are available which lengthen the operational period to 2 months.

The SPM Flex can also be employed as a portable instrument, running for up to 10 hours on an internal rechargeable battery. Colin says: “In combination with the selection of cartridges available, this provides an opportunity to respond to an emergency with an instrument that is able to test for the gases of specific concern.” In applications where continuous monitoring is required, the SPM Flex can be connected to mains power and the battery effectively becomes a back-up in the event if power failure.

Describing the performance of the SPM Flex at the wastewater treatment plant, Colin says: “The system was installed over 6 months ago, with alarm levels set at 50 ppb, and since that time, alarms have only been issued a handful of times, so the client can rest assured that any unusual H2S levels will be detected quickly, and his staff and neighbours are now protected.

“The key to the success of this system is the sensitivity of the monitor; by setting the alarm level at such a low concentration the wastewater treatment plant is able to raise an alarm before staff and neighbours notice the odour, and in doing so, they ensure that potentially harmful exposure is effectively prevented.”

 @airmonitors #PAuto 

Thursday 26 May 2016

Electrical and mechanical performance of electric motors.

Measuring mechanical loads typically requires load sensors that can be costly or physically inaccessible. The new Fluke® 438-II Power Quality and Motor Analyser uses innovative algorithms to analyse not only three-phase power quality but also torque, efficiency and speed, to determine system performance and detect overloaded conditions, eliminating the need for motor load sensors.

The Fluke 438-II simplifies the process of motor performance diagnosis by providing analysis data for both the electrical and mechanical characteristics of the motor while it is in operation. Using proprietary algorithms, the 438-II measures the three-phase current and voltage waveforms and compares them against rated specifications to calculate motor mechanical performance. The analysis is presented in simple readouts, making it easy to gauge the operating performance and determine if adjustments are needed before failures cause an operational shut down.

The new analyser also provides measurements to determine a motor’s efficiency (i.e. the conversion of electrical energy to mechanical torque) and mechanical power under operating load conditions. These measures allow maintenance engineers to determine the motor’s in-service operating power compared to its rated power to determine if the motor is operating in overloaded condition or, conversely, if it is oversized for the application when energy may be wasted and operating cost increased.

The 438-II is part of the Fluke 430 Series of three-phase power quality analysers that provide frontline troubleshooting and long-term trending to keep equipment running smoothly.

@FlukeCorp #TandM #PAuto 

Award for enclosure distributor!

For the second year running, Foremost Electronics has won the award for Channel Partner with the best growth performance in sales from Pentair Schroff the market leading electronic equipment enclosure manufacturer.

“Foremost was appointed as a distributor for Pentair Schroff enclosure products in 2013”, commented Alan Cook, Managing Director of Foremost, "and it’s a great achievement to have won this award twice in such a short timeframe.”


Originally appointed as a British Channel Partner for 19” racks, enclosures and accessories from Pentair Schroff Equipment Protection Foremost later established enclosures4U as an online source for the innovative Interscale M enclosure range. These highly flexible, modular, standard enclosures are simple to modify and customise and easy to specify and buy online. The Interscale M range now includes the revolutionary new Schroff embeddedNUC™ case which features an innovative “Flexible Heat Conductor” (FHC) integrated cooling solution and is compatible with 1U embedded NUC enclosures.

Foremost continues to increase its product offering from Pentair Schroff and has recently added a wide range of electronic packaging solutions for rail traffic systems. Enclosures are available for installation on rail vehicles, in buildings and trackside. Schroff‘s modular platform concept enables products to be quickly and easily adapted to meet individual customer requirements.

Alan Cook continues,“We have made a substantial investment in our efforts to become the UK’s premier source for Pentair Schroff products. We hold stock of large number of products and accessories, provide application engineering support and have been very pleased with the success of our enclosures4U specialist online sales channel for fast delivery of standard products.“

Pentair Schroff offers a broad range of products for a diverse range of industries that safely and reliably protect electronic controls and systems from dust, dirt, oil, water, corrosion, heat and other contaminants. In addition to a wide range of standard products, leading edge technology and market expertise can be brought to bear to deliver modified enclosures that fit complex customer needs.


Typical applications for Pentair Schroff racks and enclosures include standard and custom enclosures for electronic, communication, control and electrical system builders IT, medical and industrial computer systems. In addition to enclosures, shielding and cooling systems can be provided for critical systems that support electronic environments.

#4most #PAuto @Schroff_NA

Wednesday 25 May 2016

Protection from cyber-attacks.

The low cost and easy to install Floodgate Defender firewall appliance is available from Icon Labs. The compact Floodgate Defender Mark III (4 inches by 3.75 inches by 1.25 inches) provides a critical layer of security for legacy devices that comprise The Internet of Things including SCADA networks, military equipment, critical infrastructure controllers, and medical devices.
“A large portion of our critical infrastructure is controlled by legacy devices that were originally designed for use on closed networks and therefore contain little or no security. Even though they perform critical functions managing our power grid, factories, communication networks, and hospitals, most are easy targets for cyber-criminals and cyber-terrorism,” said Alan Grau, President of Icon Labs. “Many of these devices cannot be updated to include security, and replacing them with new secure versions will take years. The Floodgate Defender provides a simple and cost-effective solution to stop these attacks.”

The Floodgate Defender device is plugged in between the Internet or WAN and the device. It includes two Ethernet ports for easy installation. It can be easily configured with communication policies customized for the device it is protecting by using a web-based management interface. The Floodgate Defender enforces the policies, blocking attacks before a connection can be established with the target device, without requiring any change to the network or the target device. The Floodgate Security Manager, or other security management systems, can access the event log to audit and manage policies.

The Floodgate Defender’s patented technology protects legacy devices from a broad range of cyber-attacks.
Features include:
- Filtering by IP addresses, ports, and protocols
- Stateful packet inspection
- Deep packet inspection for ModbusTCP and other industrial protocols
- Detection and reporting of suspicious traffic
*Floodgate Security Manager
*McAfee ePO
*McAfee SIEM
- Integration with security management systems including:
- Ethernet pass-through upon power failure to facilitate continuous operation in critical environments
The Floodgate Defender includes an innovative security coprocessor from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. that provides secure key storage and a cryptographic accelerator. This improves the resistance of encryption functions, enables secure boot, and ensures the security of both the Floodgate Defender device itself and the devices it is protecting.

“We are pleased to partner with Icon Labs to incorporate our secure microcontroller into this new compact firewall that protects installed networked devices with insufficient security. This exclusive combination of our technology with Icon Labs’ software is a significant advancement in creating the “Internet of Secure Things,” said Christophe Tremlet, Senior Business Manager, Maxim Integrated.


"Embedded devices have failed to maintain pace with the increasing number of attacks targeting them, making them easy targets for industrial espionage, hacktivists or even terrorist groups. These devices need the same level of security used to protect enterprise networks,” said Jared Weiner - Analyst, M2M Embedded Software & Tools, VDC Research. “Floodgate Defender provides these devices with a critical, missing layer of security.”

#IconLabs #PAuto #Cybersecurity

Summer discount on personal vibration dosimeter!

Svantek has announced its summer promotion. Until September 2016, the Bedford-based business is offering 15% discount on its range of noise and vibration dosimeters for occupational health and safety monitoring, including the SV104 personal noise meter and SV103 personal vibration meter.

Svantek’s SV104 is the world’s first personal noise meter to offer octave band analysis for helping to select hearing protection, full audio recording and a colour OLED screen that displays information in both text and graphical form. The cable-free instrument is easily attached to the operator’s shoulder, close to the ear using assorted mounting clips.

It also incorporates a virtually indestructible MEMS microphone enabling easy calibration and integrated tri-axial accelerometer for vibration shock detection. Measurement data is safely stored in the large eight GB memory and it is powered using built-in rechargeable batteries or through the USB interface which also enables easy connection between the SV104 and a PC.

The world’s first personal vibration dosimeter to accurately measure the vibration dose received by the operator, Svantek’s SV103 is the only instrument on the market to take into account grip/contact force which greatly reduces measurement uncertainty.

The small, rugged SV103 easily attaches to the user’s arm while the lightweight MEMs accelerometer straps to the hand. The instrument also features a colour OLED screen and data can be quickly downloaded to a PC for analysis and easy reporting.

@Svantek_UK #PAuto #Safety @elhcomms

Flexible and reliable DCS access with Thin Client terminals.

Series 500 Remote HMIs from R. Stahl HMI Systems are an ideal software and hardware package for operating current control systems in the process industry. Designed for safe and comfortable access to Emerson, Siemens, Yokogawa, Honeywell, Allen Bradley, ABB, Rockwell or Schneider control solutions, the Thin Clients are suitable for interoperation with both classic workstations as well as the ever more popular Virtual Machines (VMs).

VMs are increasingly used as host environments for control systems – especially in process plants with divergent control solutions, as they radically simplify the operation and maintenance of different systems and system generations. For one, a VM is not subject to any hardware defects, which in the case of dedicated computers may lead to problems with repairs and spare parts supply. Instead, an identically replicated system running in another VM can take over in the case of a fault. Secondly, IT capacities can be more fully exploited with virtualisation, instead of remaining underused in individual workstations.

Resource efficiency is also a guiding principle for Series 500 components in their own right: in contrast to standard PCs, these Thin Clients are limited to the features required for their intended use. The Remote HMIs are available both as touchscreen models and with keyboards, and come with displays sizes ranging from 15" to 24" (WUXGA), with resolutions from 1024 x 768 to 1920 x 1200 pixels. They have an energy-efficient LED backlight, and their extremely robust design makes them suitable for operation in temperatures from -30 °C to +55 °C (+50 °C in permanent operation). As well as in rough environments, they can also and especially be operated in clean rooms. In addition to versions for standard industrial operation, models certified according to ATEX and IECEx for operation in zone 1, 21 and 2, 22 are also available.

• Stahl products are available in Ireland through Douglas Controls & Automation.

#Stahl #PAuto #HMI

A simplified supply chain for the analyser needs.

A new service – ASI or Analyser System Integration has been announced by Yokogowa. This makes Yokogawa a true one-stop-shop for ASI at both green-field or brown-field projects of almost any size, thus helping project owners to simplify their supply chains as they need only deal with a single team for all analytical requirements.

ASI Centre - Madrid (ES)
The mature European process industry has many aging plants, with many requiring updates, renovation and modernization. The complex nature of these renovation projects requires the highest quality design and engineering at all stages of implementation. At the same time, project managers need to simplify the procurement process to help manage risk and ensure that there is clear ownership of each part of the project.

Loek van Eijck, business unit manager, analytical solutions at Yokogawa Europe, said: “We’re very pleased to announce the introduction of Yokogawa Europe’s Analyser System Integration service. This services responds to a growing market demand within the chemical, oil & gas industry, and increasingly in other process industries, to simplify project management of both new installations and renovations. We’ll be working with our own analysers and those of 3rd-party manufacturers, but it makes sense for project owners and primary contractors to deal with a single integrator of analytical systems, and for that integrator to be a supplier of instruments being installed.”

One of the major issues facing project managers is finding a team with the right skills and experience for specialist areas of project implementation. Yokogawa’s ASI service guarantees access to design and implementation engineers with the highest levels of qualification and certification. The highly skilled project management team is fully certified by Project Management Professional (PMP), while the engineering team designs solutions to the explosion-proof standards specified by ATEX, IECEx and all other relevant standards bodies, making design compliance easier to prove. They are backed up by a professional execution team with more than 150 years of accumulated installation experience.

Yokogawa has built a global reputation for quality and innovation, and has now applied this to its ASI service. “We believe this sets our service apart from the competition,” said van Eijck. “Yokogawa has earned its reputation through involvement in some of the industry’s largest and most innovative projects, and is now able to apply this in Europe to ASI projects of almost any size from any process industry requiring highly accurate analytical instrumentation by sharing know-how with other ASI facilities and developing synergy among Yokogawa Group Companies.”

The service provides a full analytical services life cycle from design, fabrication and manufacturing to installation, on-site services and training. Yokogawa ASI also links up to the similar services provided by Yokogawa in its Asian and US divisions providing customers with global coverage – an obvious advantage for international organisations and projects.

The ASI service is based in Madrid (ES). Almudena Mier, ASI location manager at Yokogawa, said; “We have created an excellent facility here for the new service which offers a great environment for the team and the projects they will work on. Madrid is well served by transport links to the rest of Europe and beyond, and has access to some great local engineering talent as well as being an attractive place to work for staff and customers who come from elsewhere in Europe.”

Yokogawa Europe’s new ASI service is set to provide a simplified supply chain for the analyser needs of major process engineering projects, ensuring quality of design and implementation, together with reduced project risk and cost, all backed by Yokogawa’s enviable reputation for quality.

@YokogawaIA #PAuto 

Tuesday 24 May 2016

Four-wire Coriolis mass flowmeters and transmitters family launched!

Yokogawa has announced the global release in all markets (except Japan where  release is set for the second quarter of fiscal year 2016) of ROTAMASSTotal Insight (TI), a new portfolio of four-wire Coriolis mass flowmeters and transmitters. This new Coriolis mass flowmeter product platform was developed based on a Total Insight concept that seeks to optimize operations and reduce maintenance costs at all phases of the product lifecycle.

Development Background
Of the two main types of flowmeters that are in use today the volume flowmeter and the mass flowmeter the latter is generally more accurate as its measurements are less susceptible to variations in temperature and pressure. Coriolis mass flowmeters are versatile and highly accurate instruments whose utility extends beyond mass flow, inline density, and temperature measurement. They have evolved into multi-functional devices that can measure concentrations, function as net oil computers (NOC), and even measure heat transport. Our customers expect first-class performance from these instruments in demanding process control applications that involve liquids with high viscosity, entrained gas, and two-phase flows.

Rota Yokogawa, a Yokogawa subsidiary in Germany, has been producing and supplying ROTAMASS series mass flowmeters to the global market since 1993. The company continues to refine these products to add more value and future proof the investments that our customers make. By giving our customers greater insight into their processes, our Coriolis flowmeters help them improve the efficiency and flexibility of their operations and reduce maintenance costs at every stage of the product lifecycle.

Product Features
Designed based on a unique philosophy that emphasizes full product lifecycle support, ease-of-use, and reduced total cost of ownership, the ROTAMASS TI product portfolio consists of six new sensor product lines and two new transmitters that can be configured to suit the specific requirements of an application. At the heart of this design is the concept of gaining “Total Insight” into a plant’s operations. The new sensor product lines have each been designed for specific application requirements and process conditions, be it high pressure or high temperature applications or highly challenging processes involving hygienic or cryogenic conditions. The new general-purpose (Essential) and high-end (Ultimate) transmitters all come with an AC/DC universal power supply and can be flexibly configured to handle a range of functions.

1. Introduction phase solution – Selection tool and expert guide
Yokogawa has developed a new tool that will assist our customers in selecting the optimal sensor and transmitter combination for specific applications. In addition, an online expert guide and a built-in configuration wizard are provided to ensure quick and error-free commissioning.

2. Operational phase solution – Process Guard function for event management
We have added a Process Guard function that can be used to select event patterns for the issuance of alarms, configure the triggering of data logging based on alarms or manually set points, and specify whether data is to be backed up to a microSD card for use in root cause analysis.

3. Post-implementation phase solution – Facilitating preventive maintenance and advanced flexibility
A Maintenance Manager function that includes Yokogawa’s patented Tube Health Check technology monitors all key sensing elements while the flowmeter is in use, yielding data that can be used to minimize disruptions and thereby reduce maintenance costs. All data can be stored on a microSD card for easy data transfer. A new Feature On Demand (FOD) option is available that allows users to upgrade already installed flowmeters by adding new product functions such as the Tube Health Check and a concentration measurement function.

Andreas Dobratz, the managing director of Rota Yokogawa observed: “Yokogawa’s new Coriolis mass flowmeter portfolio, ROTAMASS TI, sets a new standard in the industry. ROTAMASS TI offers improved specifications under real conditions, supporting an increased number of applications. The holistic approach of the Total Insight philosophy supports the customer in all stages of the product lifecycle, significantly improving operations and plant maintenance.”

Masatoshi Nakahara, a Yokogawa director and executive vice president who is head of the IA Platform Business Headquarters, added: “With its Transformation 2017 mid-term business plan, Yokogawa has set forth a number of strategies for its industrial automation business. One of these strategies is to enhance and develop the platform products that are at the core of our solutions. Based on our new Total Insight concept, ROTAMASS TI will generate new value for our customers.”


Rotamass TI Portfolio


@YokogawaIA #PAuto 

Process control & safety papers sought!

ISA’s 2016 Process Control and Safety Symposium and Exhibition is seeking authors, innovators, thought leaders and other professionals in process measurement and control—particularly in the chemical and energy processing and other key process industry sectors—to submit abstracts for presentation consideration at the conference prior to the 22 July deadline.

The 2016 event will again be held in Houston (TX USA)—widely recognized as a global center for process industry and the oil and gas hub of the US.

To be conducted 7-10 November at the Houston Marriott Westchase, the conference will feature a wide range of workshops, tutorials, keynote speakers, paper presentations and exhibits, and is being co-organized by ISA’s Chemical and Petroleum Industries, Communications, Education, and Pulp and Paper divisions.

#PCS2016 #ISAuto #PAuto

Monday 23 May 2016

Smaller push-pull connectors!

Fischer Connectors, the worldwide innovator in push-pull circular connectors and cable assembly solutions, today launched an even smaller ultra-miniature connector, MiniMax 06, as an extension of its miniature high-density product range, the Fischer MiniMax™Series.

The MiniMax 06 connector can include up to 12 power and signal contacts in a footprint of only 10 mm. This corresponds to a density factor* of 0.83 – a unique technological feature for a connector with standard 0.5 mm contacts. The new MiniMax 06 connector also includes a new unique configuration with 2 signal and 2 high-power 1.3 mm contacts for applications needing 10 Amps or more power, doubling the standard 5 Amps current rating of the existing MiniMax product line.

MiniMax 06 is easy to use and ensures premium performance even in harsh environments. Also available as a pre-cabled solution, it is ideally suited for handheld or body-worn applications when space is limited, in such fields as defense & security, instrumentation, testing equipment, civil or military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), among many others.

Increased power & miniaturization with continued durability
With this new smaller connector, Fischer Connectors continues to drive the evolution towards combined signal and power connectors as a way of making electronics lighter and smaller. MiniMax 06 integrates fully into the ultra-miniature high-performance Fischer MiniMax™ Series, well-known for its use in limited space and lightweight applications, and for meeting the combined needs of multiple signals and power. Tested for high-speed protocols such as HDMI and data transfer up to 10Gb/s, the series also addresses the growing market need for higher data transmission rates.

“This product proves that miniaturization in connectivity can be successfully implemented in rugged high-density connectivity solutions that combine power and signal”, explains Wim Vanheertum, MiniMax Product Manager at Fischer Connectors. “We’ve extended our Fischer MiniMax™ Series to address application engineers’ need to increase the performance of their miniature rugged devices. Handling more mixed signal and power connections in a unique combination of multiple contacts also means increasing flexibility in meeting specific design challenges in miniaturization.”

MiniMax 06’s main technical specifications
• Up to 12 contacts in less than 10 mm diameter
• Unique combined power and signal configuration
• IP68 mated & unmated
• Transfer data up to 10Gb/s
• Robust locking systems: push-pull, screw and quick-release
• Also available pre-cabled with straight or angled bend relief overmold
• 5,000 mating cycles

The Fischer MiniMax™ Series connectors and cable assembly solutions allow design engineers to save up to 45% space and to reduce weight by up to 75% compared to standard connectors with a similar contact size. By replacing multiple connectors with only one, they pack more functionality into smaller devices, lowering the total cost of ownership.

These connectors are also rugged, with IP68 sealing (2m/24h), both mated and unmated, an unbreakable keying system, and over-molded cable assemblies. Available in three locking systems (push-pull, screw and quick-release), they are easy to connect and disconnect up to 5,000 times.

With its new smaller version, the Fischer MiniMax™ Series now comes in two sizes, 06 and 08, with receptacles of 10 mm and 12 mm footprint respectively. Configurations range from 4 to 24 contacts.

@FischerConnect #PAuto 

Field replaceable SMA connectors.


Intelliconnect (Europe) has introduced a range of cost effective, field replaceable SMA and 2.9mm connectors providing solderless attachment to  0.141" (RG402) semi rigid cables and 2.9mm connectors for 0.085"(RG405) and 0.141" cables. Customers will find the main advantages of these connectors are assembly time saving, repeatability and performance.

Intelliconnect’s newly developed unique clamping technology provides similar I/L and VSWR results to standard soldered connectors. No special tooling is required and cable retention force is similar to soldered versions.

These stainless steel SMA and 2.9mm connectors have been designed for applications where reliability, durability, robustness and high frequency performance are very important. Typical applications include civil and military telecommunications, civil and military aeronautics, military equipment, space and measurement systems.

Roy Philips, managing Director of Intelliconnect (Europe), comments, “Our new SMA and 2.9mm clamp connector series offers our customers an exciting alternative for assembling SMA connectors to semi-rigid cable with no loss in performance or reliability. Solderless assembly facilitates field replacement in the event of wear or damage to the connector.”

#Intelliconnect #PAuto

RH probes on-line!


Michell’s new web shop
 is now open for business, giving customers in Europe a quick and simple way to order and pay securely for a comprehensive range of relative humidity transmitters.

The products available to buy online include the most popular pre-configured instruments in Michell’s RH range, such as the HygroSmart WR293. This is a relative humidity and temperature transmitter with remote probe, designed specifically for tough process applications. A selection of RH and temperature probes is also available, including the PCMini52. This mini-probe offers a digital output and offers exceptional reliability in harsh or corrosive environments. All the products for sale online are easily identified from the main Michell websites.

As well as relative humidity probes and transmitters, Michell is also offering the SF52 dew-point transmitter. Using the fast-responding polymer sensing tile, the transmitter is resistant to corrosion and measures dew points between -40 to +60°C which is a common range for many industrial dryer applications.

The option to buy products online is a new service provided by Michell for customers who require standard products. Michell’s sales engineers and support staff are always ready to discuss customers’ requirements and the engineering design team is also available to produce customised products to meet specific requirements or specialised applications.

• Michell Instruments are marketed in Ireland by Instrument Technology.


@Michell_Inst #PAuto

Friday 20 May 2016

Tool-free quick termination.

Harting has announced the introduction of its new Han® ES Press contact inserts with tool-free quick connection technology. These new inserts significantly reduce assembly time during wiring. In addition, jumpers offer the possibility of potential multiplication in the connector.

The secret of the design lies in the innovative cage clamp. The Han® ES Press’s cage clamp is delivered open so that the conductor can be inserted directly and without effort. Once the installer presses the actuator into the contact chamber, the cage clamp returns to its starting position, fixing the conductor end so that the conductor is electrically connected to the contact. This connection technique permits faster termination during wiring.

The Han® ES Press is also the first product in the Han E® product family that enables bridging of individual contacts for potential multiplication. Various longitudinal and transverse bridges are available, which for example, also enable star and delta circuits for motor control.

With a current capacity of 16A, the Han® ES Press is available in models 6, 10, 16 and 24 for housing sizes Han® 6 B, 10 B 16 B and 24 B. The contact inserts are mating compatible with the corresponding inserts in the Han® E, ES and ESS series. The cage clamps used are suitable for wire cross-sections between 0.14mm2 and 2.5mm2 and can be used with both solid and stranded wires (with or without ferrules).

@HARTING_Group #PAuto @PeterBushComms

Inert media separation valves.

Humphrey Products is expanding the line of products suitable for use in the medical and analytical markets with the introduction of the iDP Valve family. Humphrey iDP are a series of inert media separation valves, specifically designed for aggressive liquids and gases.

The 300 and 350 Series iDP models are efficient 2-port valves constructed of material suitable for bodily fluids, aggressive chemicals and cleaners, and elevated liquid temperatures. The flexing diaphragm-poppet isolates media from the solenoid, within an inert body material, ensuring long life and sustained performance. 3-port models coming soon.

Typical markets and applications include: Clinical Diagnostics, Analytical Chemistry, Agent Detection,
Environmental Monitoring, Food and Beverage, and Gaseous Flow Control.

• The valves were developed and marketed by South Bend Controls for several years, and moved to
Nogales, Mexico when they were acquired by Curtiss-Wright. After Humphrey acquired the products in 2015, the manufacturing moved to Humphrey’s Kalamazoo, Michigan facility.
Founded in 1901, Humphrey Products is a leading producer of pneumatic and fluid handling products, including valves and cylinders, and the design and manufacturing of valve systems via their Engineered Solutions group. Humphrey’s products are proudly made in the USA and used in a variety of applications in medical, process control, manufacturing automation, transportation, analytical instrumentation, packaging and material handling.


@HumphreyProduct #Medical #PAuto

MagMeter for concrete batching applications.

The M7600 electromagnetic flow meter has been added  to Badger's accurate, high-performance ModMAG® family. The Badger Meter M7600 Flow Meter combines the most advanced electromagnetic flow metering technology, with a simple, yet robust output, providing an easy-to-use flow measurement solution for use in a wide range of concrete batching applications.
Specifications:
• Pipe size: 1/2...4 in. (15...100 mm)
• Accuracy: ± 0.5% of rate for velocities greater than 1.64 ft/s, ± 0.008 ft/s for flow rates less than 1.64 ft/s
• Repeatability: ± 0.1% of reading
• Flow range: 0.14...1320 gpm (0.53...5000 lpm)
• NEMA 4 and NEMA 4X weather-resistant transmitter enclosure options
• Power supply: 92...275V AC (9...36V DC)

Features & Advantages:
• Ability to recognize empty pipe
• Open cross-section design: no pressure loss, no moving parts, no maintenance required
• Unaffected by the presence of most suspended solids in the liquid
• Pulsed DC magnetic field for maximum zero point stability
• Two standard pulse outputs: solid-state relay and open collector output, compatible with most batch controllers and totalizer displays
• Programmable scale factor for batch accuracy compensation
• Long life, corrosion-resistant liner (PTFE)
• Complies with NIST Handbook HB44 for batching meters
The M7600 electromagnetic flow meter achieves an accuracy of ± 0.5% of rate for velocities greater than 1.64 ft/s and ± 0.008 ft/s for flow rates less than 1.64 ft/s with a repeatability of ± 0.1%. Its rugged design ensures exceptional reliability in demanding environments. The meter features a non-intrusive open flow tube that virtually eliminates pressure loss, and with no moving parts to impede the flow stream, maintenance is kept to a minimum — even in less than ideal fluid conditions. The M7600 is the ideal metering device for clean or reclaimed water batching in ready mix, precast, prestress, and block plants, and requires minimal maintenance over a long operating period.

Greg Perona, product manager, Badger Meter, commented, "The M7600 electromagnetic flow meter was specifically developed for applications in harsh environments, such as concrete batching. Its fully-enclosed transmitter protects an internal LCD display and electronics from dirt, debris and other hazardous conditions. Plus, its rugged construction makes the meter ideal for operation in the concrete industry."

With a robust design, advanced electronics and signal processing, and the ability to perform unaffected, even with the presence of suspended solids in the pipe, ModMAG M7600 electromagnetic flow meters are an excellent choice for concrete batching applications. Reliable and accurate flow measurement in concrete batching enables companies to control material costs and ensure optimal finished product quality.

@Badger_Meter #PAuto @BadgerMeterDE 

Best & brightest in Water/Wastewater!


The best and brightest minds—including five eminent speakers—will address the critical issues and challenges in automation facing the water/wastewater industry at the 10th Annual ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls (WWAC) Symposium, 4-6 August 2015 in Orlando (FL USA).

Attendees will gain the latest news and trends in automation and control systems, instrumentation, cybersecurity and emerging technologies across the water/wastewater industry. More than 30 technical presentations will be delivered, along with a forum session that will allow attendees to have a voice in the future of automation.

ISA training Courses
Add value to your attendance at the symposium by taking an on-location ISA training course. 
2 courses will be offered during the week.

3-4 August
Asset Management and Enterprise Integration Using the ANSI/ISA95 Standard (IC55)
Instructor: Paul Nowicki
Credits: 1.4 CEUs /14 PDHs

4 August
Introduction to the Management of Alarm Systems (IC39C)
Instructor: John Bogdan
Credits: 0.7 CEUs / 7 PDHs
A strong emphasis will be placed on recent advances and innovations in applying security to control systems; improving operator situational awareness; and monitoring and diagnosing plant equipment and system reliability issues through smart technology.

The exhibit showcase will feature the latest product and service information at engaging vendor and supplier exhibits, and daily networking luncheons and an evening reception will set the stage for mingling, meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends.

The symposium, which will be held at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort in Orlando, Florida, USA, is expected to draw between 200 and 300 attendees and is presented by the ISA Water/Wastewater Industries Division, in collaboration with the Florida Section of the AWWA (FSAWWA), the Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA), the WEF Automation and Info Tech Committee and the Instrumentation Testing Association (ITA).

Five outstanding opening session presentations and speakers
John S. Young, Jr. P.E., will help to kick off the conference, delivering a presentation focused on the numerous challenges which must be addressed for water/wastewater utilities to be sustainable and provide safe, reliable service.

Mr. Young has worked in the water utility industry his entire career. In 2010, Young retired from American Water, the largest water/wastewater utility in North America, after a 33 year career. At American Water, he served in numerous technical and management positions including Vice President–Engineering, President–American Water Works Service Company, Chief Water Technology Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Recently, as a utility consultant, he has supported or assessed numerous water utilities including the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (during the Detroit bankruptcy) and PRASA.

In addition to Young’s address, the following prominent speakers will also give presentations during the event:

“Open Secure Automation: Observations for Improved ICS Reliability, Security and Performance”
Speaker: Albert Rooyakkers
Albert Rooyakkers will deliver a talk about the importance of cybersecurity beyond the network. This presentation will discuss how the reduction in the system attack surface can impart simplification while hardening embedded systems from the inside out to cyber, electromagnetic pulse and other forms of malicious nation state attacks resulting in improved reliability and mean time between failures.
Rooyakkers is the Founder, CTO, and VP of Engineering of Bedrock Automation. Albert’s recent technical endeavors include developing parallel processors for video, hybrid propulsion systems for transportation and currently, as a Bedrock founder and CTO, designing and commercializing a revolutionary cyber secure automation platform for the global market.

“Situational Awareness – The Next Leap in Industrial Human Machine Interface Design”
Speaker: John Krajewski
John Krajewski will discuss how the HMI should be designed to optimize the operator’s interpretation of the vast amount of data being displayed. The cornerstone of improving the overall HMI design is to deliver Situational Awareness (SA). Only by achieving the proper Situational Awareness can the operations team make effective decisions that will deliver overall business success.
Krajewski has 19+ years of experience in industrial automation and control systems. Krajewski began his career working as a control system engineer in the potable water industry. Subsequently, he worked as an application engineer for a system integrator who primarily focuses on the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
He joined Invensys Wonderware in April 2000 as a Senior Application Developer in the Product Marketing Department. Shortly thereafter, he assumed the role of Product Marketing’s Functional Manager of Infrastructure. He spent 5 years as a domain architect with responsibilities for architectural and functional definition of InTouch and ArchestrA technologies. For the past 5 years, he has served in multiple product management roles for Invensys HMI/Supervisory Control products.

“WEF Current News and Trends”
Speaker: Tom DeLaura, P.E.
Thomas DeLaura, P.E. is the Vice President of Eramosa International, and the Executive Director of the Instrument Testing Association. DeLaura has 40 years of experience with automation, and has seen firsthand how it can support and enhance all facets of the wastewater business. His career has focused on influencing and comprehending industry best practices to enhance performance, enable well-informed decision making, and utilize human and automation resources to produce optimum results.
His active roles at the local and national levels of ISA, WEF and AWWA are examples of his dedication to the industry and give him a true appreciation for the need to keep automation relevant during the many challenges and changes the wastewater industry is facing. DeLaura is a member of a number of committees in AWWA and WEF, including the AWWA I&C Committee, and he was WEF’s Chair of the Automation & Information Technology Committee.
DeLaura has worked in all facets of automation associated with water/wastewater systems, from down in sewers, to out in the plant, and all the way up to the boardroom. He has written and presented on numerous topics of interest to the water and wastewater industry, and has received awards from the industry for his dedication and service.

“AWWA Current News and Trends”
Speaker: Michael Sweeney, P.E., Ph.D.
Michael Sweeney, P.E., Ph.D. has served as the Deputy Executive Director of Toho Water Authority and has 30 years’ experience with water and wastewater utilities serving Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Louisville. He has also provided consulting services concerning utility management and technology throughout the U.S. and Canada and has served as Adjunct Professor at Purdue University and University of Louisville.
He is a registered professional engineer and holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Engineering from Purdue and a B.S. degree in Public Health from Indiana University. Memberships include ISA, AWWA and he is WEF’s immediate past chair of the Utility Management Committee and current chair of the Literature Review Committee.

#PAuto #ISAuto #WWAC16

New Micro PLC provides PAC power plus...

The FC6A MicroSmart is a powerful PLC with up to 520 I/O just released by IDEC Corporation. The MicroSmart PLC provides the power of a PAC (programmable automation controller) in a low-cost controller with a small form factor, making it an ideal fit for demanding applications.

Industries particularly well suited to the MicroSmart PLC include oil & gas, chemical, solar, marine, packaging, food & beverage, material handling, utility vehicles, and OEM machinery and process skids. Within these industries, a wide variety of applications are a good fit for the MicroSmart PLC—especially those requiring control of standalone machines, process skids, vehicles and small-scale systems.

Basic instructions can be executed in 0.042 microseconds, and program memory is 640 kB. There are 1,024 timers, and six of the 512 counters are high-speed at rates up to 100kHz. These capabilities are combined with extensive data and bit memory, double the capacity of a typical micro PLC. These features allow the MicroSmart PLC to handle large programs with complex control requirements such as PID, flow totalization and recipes.

Three models are available, each with 24 Vdc or 100-240 Vac input power. The 16 I/O model has 9 inputs, and 7 relay or transistor outputs. The 24 I/O model has 14 inputs, and 10 relay or transistor outputs. The 40 I/O model has 24 inputs, and 16 relay or transistor outputs. Each model also includes an integral 0-10 Vdc analog input. The 16 and 24 I/O models can accommodate one plug-in analog cartridge, and the 40 I/O model can accommodate two plug-in analog cartridges. Each cartridge has two analog I/O points, either two inputs or two outputs.

Up to 12 expansion modules can be added to the 16 I/O model, and up to 15 expansion modules can be added to the 24 and 40 I/O models. These modules can be of any type with no restrictions as to the number of analog and specialty modules. This gives the 40 I/O MicroSmart PLC the capability to handle up to 520 I/O with a maximum of 126 analog I/O, much more than a typical micro PLC.

The MicroSmart PLC is programmed with IDEC’s WindLDR PC-based software, which includes no cost updates for the life of the product, and which can be used to program IDEC’s entire line of controllers in a simple and intuitive manner. Software programs from IDEC FC4A and FC5A PLCs can be automatically converted by the WindLDR programming software for execution on the FC6A MicroSmart PLC.

PLC programming languages include ladder and Script, the latter similar to the C programming language. The Script language can be used to create more complex programs, particularly those with multiple sub-programs and custom function blocks.

All models have a built-in RJ45 Ethernet port, and an RJ45 RS232C/RS485 serial port. A plug-in cartridge adds an additional RS232C/RS485 port. An SD memory port and a mini-B USB port can each be used for data logging, program storage/transfer, firmware updating or recipe storage. The Ethernet port supports the Modbus TCP protocol, and the serial port supports the Modbus RTU protocol.

An optional HMI module can be added to the CPU to provide operator interface via its display and control buttons. The HMI module can also accommodate an optional plug-in analog cartridge, and it has an integral Ethernet port. Using the operator interface functionality, any PLC parameter can be updated.

IoT capability is provided by custom web pages which can be configured for remote monitoring and control. Web pages are created using simple drag and drop functionality with no HTML programming required, a major advantage over competing products.

These web pages are stored in the MicroSmart PLC, which functions as a web server when its built-in Ethernet port or the HMI Ethernet port is connected to the Internet. These web pages can be accessed via any web browser running on any Internet-connected device such as a remote PC, a tablet or a smartphone.

Connecting the MicroSmart or the HMI Ethernet port to the Internet also provides email and text notification functionality, which can be used with third-party email servers such as Gmail and Yahoo.

The 40 I/O model can be powered by 12 Vdc, making it an ideal fit for solar- and battery-power applications. The 40 I/O model also includes support for the Society of Automation Engineers (SAE) J1939 protocols. The SAE J1939 protocol is often used in diesel engine applications for various types of vehicles and vessels, and for mobile power generators.

@IDECUSA #PAuto

Precision laser module.

The origin of their precision is their alignment. In practice, this means that the laser beam of precision lasers is emitted parallel to the housing. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a given.

Standard laser modules exhibit an angular error of 0.5° or more. This means that at a distance of 1 m, the laser beam lands almost 10 mm away from the axis of the housing. If the laser is mechanically adjustable, this does not matter. If, however, the alignment of the laser is not possible because, for example, it is placed in a fix bore hole or adjustment is too complex, then Laser Components' precision laser is used.

The angular deviation of the LT-PLM-532 amounts to 0.05 mrad or ± 0.05 mm at a distance of 1 m. This is an improvement of 200 times over the example shown above – and essential if machines or components have to be aligned very precisely.

A precision laser is also available with a 532 nm green laser light for mere visual alignment in a bright environment. The ability to recognize green light over red light on very dark surfaces or under daylight-like conditions is vastly improved. In addition, the dot is smaller and appears sharper, especially at shorter distances.

The precision laser is available with two types of housings: round with a diameter of 24 mm or square with a 32 mm edge length. The round lasers have an h6 fit for assembly at zero clearance. The power supply of up to 30 VDC is in the form of an integrated M12 connection. With an output power of 1 mW, these laser modules are eye safe in accordance with laser class 2.

@LaserComponents #PAuto 

Pneumatic process actuator turns heads!

Festo has leveraged its design capability, manufacturing scale and logistical strengths to offer customers a modern quarter turn actuator  - DFPD, with price reductions of up to 20% compared with previous models, as well as next day delivery.

Festo’s new configurable quarter-turn actuator DFPD for use in process industry automation

The DFPD fits into the range alongside analogue position controllers and ball and butterfly valves giving customers matched components that are easy to configure, purchase and assemble.
It fits into the range alongside pilot solenoid valves, switch boxes, and ball and butterfly valves giving customers matched components that are easy to configure, purchase and assemble.
As a leading provider of industrial automation solutions, Festo is no stranger to process automation. The DFPD fits into the existing range alongside pilot solenoid valves, analogue positional controllers, switch boxes, and ball and butterfly valves giving customers matched components that are easy to configure, purchase and assemble.

“This important update to Festo’s range of actuators for the process industry not only sets new standards for quarter turn actuators, it also delivers improved affordability and easy online ordering, with global next-day availability,” says Steve Sands, product manager at Festo.

The updated configurable DFPD sets a new benchmark for quarter turn actuators and offers a simple, compact and modular design. The DFPD is ideal for many tasks in the process industry, including automating butterfly or ball valves and air dampers in the chemical, beverage and pharmaceutical industries, as well as in water treatment. It can be used as an individual actuator or combined with other components, such as sensor boxes, positioners and pilot valves, as part of a complete, integrated single manufacturer automated process valve system, delivering reliability and ensuring that everything works together perfectly.

With a torque range from 10 to 480 Nm, a rotation angle of up to 180° and corrosion-resistant versions, the versatile and modular single or double-acting DFPD performs well across a broad range of applications and industries. Its compact rack-and-pinion combination is easy to install, even when space is at a premium. Both the end stop positions can be adjusted by ± 5° for increased flexibility during commissioning. The direction of rotation can be selected and the rotation angle for standard sizes is up to 90°, rising to 180° for the 40, 120, 240 and 480 sizes.

Thanks to its innovative spring cartridge design, the single acting DFPD’s pressure range can be easily optimised for the task in hand. Nine different spring combinations allow pressures from 2 to 6 bar to be efficiently configured in increments of 0.5 bar to meet the most precise operating pressure requirements. The standard version is suitable for temperatures between -20 and +80 °C, with variants also available to operate reliably at either low or high extreme temperatures, ranging from -50 to +150 °C.

With optional corrosion-resistant surface coatings, the DFPD can also be reliably used in harsh conditions. It can be mounted anywhere and its range of variants, the standardised hole patterns to NAMUR VDI/VDE 3845 for pilot valves, as well as its many compatible peripheral components mean that it can fulfil a large variety of applications.

@FestoAG #PAuto