Wednesday 30 November 2016

Modular connector for CAN networks.


Harting has added a CAN (Controller Area Network) module to its range of Han-Modular® ID smart connectors. CAN is a bus system for automation and control which features a number of advantages such as high functional reliability and the ability to operate in demanding and harsh conditions.
The Han-Modular® ID module allows machine-level components to be identified with little effort and integrated into a production network. The revision status of a drive and its operating parameters are just some of items of information that can be stored to ensure reliable identification.

The CAN ID module is suitable for industrial applications and supports the standardised DS301 communication profile, which governs how devices exchange data in CAN systems. In addition to features such as status and diagnostic displays and automatic baud rate, an extensive object directory ensures that customers will find sufficient space for their data.

For the future, HARTING’s strategy towards smarter connectors includes an ID module for Industrial Ethernet-based networks, along with integrated sensors and media converters in modular connectors.

@HARTING  #PAuto #CAN

Touch enable operator panels.

R. STAHL HMI Systems provides a line-up of highly robust touch-enabled operating devices developed for efficient, direct operation and visualisation of applications in hazardous areas.
Certified for zones 1 and 21, the ET-208 Operator Interfaces with 7-inch widescreens and a hardened glass front feature front-side IP69 protection. This makes them cleanroom-suitable according to FDA requirements, because their operating front can be cleaned with a pressure washer. The HMIs come in a V2A stainless steel enclosure.

They are corrosion-proof, certified according to ISA-S71.04-1985, severity G3, according to EN 60068-2-6. Seawater presents no problem, either. Highly versatile for universal applications, they can be operated in ambient temperatures ranging from -40 °C to +65 °C. The luminous display and an antireflection coating ensure good readability outdoors in strong daylight.

The HMIs are equipped with interfaces for Industrial Ethernet and RS-422/RS-485, and optionally offer WiFi capability as well. A powerful Cortex A8 processor ensures fast data processing. In the standard configuration, the IP69 grade devices feature the Windows Embedded Compact 7 operating system. R. STAHL’s proprietary SPSPlusWIN software can be used to flexibly create and edit screens, process connections and messages for the HMIs.

• Stahl products are marketed in Ireland by Douglas Controls & Automation.

 #Stahl #HMI #Pauto

Debug and trace!

Ashling Microsystems has an advanced real-time debug and trace solution for NXP’s P60-Step-Up! secure controller device. The P60-Step-Up! secure controller targets applications such as eGovernment, banking, mobile security and transport solutions where software quality is of the utmost importance and an essential aspect of end applications for this device.

“Ashling is delighted to make available this high performance debug and trace tool for NXP’s P60-Step-Up! secure controller” said John Murphy, Managing Director, Ashling Microsystems. “At Ashling we know that applications using the P60-Step-Up! device have strong software quality and reliability requirements where the advanced timing analysis features of Ashling’s SmartICE-XPK system will be essential”

Developed in close co-operation with NXP, the SmartICE-XPK trace system for P60-Step-Up! includes advanced timing analysis features allowing users to accurately monitor software execution in real time non-intrusively during development and test. The timing analysis features enable users to verify software performance and identify program ‘hot-spots’ for performance optimisation. The system has support for long duration testing (up to 360 hours of continuous analysis) of up to 32K program functions simultaneously. In conjunction with the advanced debug, trace and code coverage features of the SmartICE-XPK system, the timing analysis features ensure users have the highest performance tool for their real-time application development and test.

#AshlingMicros #TandM

Flyover cable assy.

Samtec has released an extended temperature version of its FireFly™ Active Optical Micro Flyover Cable Assembly. The new ETUO series support temperature ranges of -40°C to +85°C.

“Samtec’s new extended temperature FireFly™ Active Optical Micro Flyover Cable Assembly opens new markets and applications for mid-board optical systems," says Matt Burns, Technical Marketing Manager at Samtec. “FireFly™ can now be used in diverse applications such as commercial and military aviation, IFE, IR cameras and wireless backhaul instrumentation.”

ETUOThe ETUO series shares the core features of their existing ECUO series FireFly™ Active Optical Micro Flyover Cable Assembly. Both are designed for flexibility and are interchangeable with the FireFly™ Copper Micro Flyover Cable Assembly using the same connector system. However the extended temperature range of ETUO makes it ideally suited for ruggedized applications.

The ETUO series is immediately available with 12-channel simplex or duplex configurations enabling 10.3125 Gbps data rates per channel (123.75 Gbps aggregate). Additional 4-channel simplex and duplex configurations with extended temperature are under development with a targeted Spring 2017 release.

Samtec tests the ETUO series to industry-standard ruggedized standards. All ETUO solutions provided demonstrated error-free transmission during MIL-STD-810G shock and vibration testing.

@SamtecInc #PAuto #Cable

Pyrometer for High-Temperature Applications and Metals.

The new FibreMini is a fibre-optic pyrometer from Calex Electronics with advanced features that allow accurate temperature readings on metal surfaces in harsh applications.

Measuring the surface temperature of metals is challenging. Reflective surfaces, high ambient temperatures and harsh environments make it difficult to achieve accurate measurements with infrared temperature sensors.

The following features, provided as standard on all FibreMini models, make non-contact temperature measurement possible in these difficult conditions:

  • - Fibre optic sensing head withstands up to 200°C ambient temperature, making it ideal for mounting near furnaces.
  • - Containing no electronics, the FibreMini sensing head is immune to electromagnetic interference in high-EMC applications such as induction heating.
  • - Achieve accurate readings when measuring reflective objects in hot environments such as furnaces, with the FibreMini's reflected energy compensation feature. On Modbus models, adjust this setting automatically on-the-fly using RS485 Modbus communications.
  • - See the exact size and location of the measurement spot with the built-in laser sighting light.
  • - Large, full-colour temperature display with data logging makes the FibreMini a truly plug-and-play solution - just connect power and start measuring. A choice of 4-20 mA or RS485 Modbus outputs is available.
  • - Fully configurable via touch screen.

A choice of optics for measuring small or large areas at short or long distances is available, as is a choice of temperature ranges from 250°C to 2000°C.

It is easy to feed the sensing head through conduit and trunking, thanks to the slim, flexible fibre optic cable. This is available in lengths of 3, 5 or 10 metres. An optional air purge collar is available to help keep the lens clean.

@Calex_Infrared #PAuto 

VP at data, analytics, communications and sensor processing leaders.

Abaco Systems has appointed Kevin Campbell as Vice President, Engineering. He joins from Onmyx, where he was Chief Technology Officer.

Kevin Campbell
Previously, Campbell – who holds Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering degrees, both from the University of Alberta – held a range of increasingly senior posts at GE, culminating in promotion to Chief Technology Officer for GE Healthcare, Clinical Business Solutions.

He is is located at Abaco’s Huntsville, Ala headquarters.

This appointment is the latest addition to the company’s rapidly growing pool of talent, which has seen Abaco grow from ~600 employees in December, 2015 to over 800. Resource is being added across the board as Abaco looks to put in place the capacity to handle an increasing number of customer programs and to ensure they are delivered on time, while also accelerating the development of growing numbers of innovative new products.

“I've known Kevin professionally for over 20 years and have witnessed his ability to drive engineering organizations to achieve seemingly impossible things across a number of mission-critical industries, from industrial automation to transportation and healthcare,” said Bernie Anger, CEO, Abaco Systems. “I am very confident that Kevin's cross-functional collaborative approach, ‘can-do’ attitude, passion for innovation and strong business acumen, combined with the capabilities of our 240+ engineers, will accelerate the transformation of the Abaco portfolio so we can truly deliver on our vision of ‘mission-ready embedded systems’ for our customers.”

“I’m delighted to be joining Abaco as the company continues to strengthen its leadership in the rugged embedded computing market,” said Campbell. “I’m particularly looking forward to the challenge of helping create the innovative products and solutions that can help our customers succeed, and to leading a team wholly committed to bringing those solutions to the market in the shortest possible time.”


@AbacoSys #PAuto 

FID analyser retired.

Quantitech has supplied large numbers of MCERTS approved FID analysers for many years. These instruments are employed for the monitoring of TOC gas emissions in regulated processes. However, the Bernath 3006 analyser that was supplied for this purpose has been discontinued and Quantitech MD Ken Roberts says: “We are delighted to announce that we have replaced the 3006 with the portable SK Elektronik Thermo-FID PT, which is also manufactured in Germany to high standards, offers improved performance and enjoys MCERTS approval.

“Naturally, we are continuing to service the 3006 units that are still in the field, but customers wishing to upgrade their FID or to replace an ageing instrument will now be offered the portable Thermo-FID PT.”

The Thermo-FID PT weighs just 14Kg including a gas bottle holder, or 10kg as the free-standing version. Consequently, this portable FID is ideal for stack test houses and for users with multiple monitoring locations. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are commonly monitored in the emissions of combustion processes and those which involve the evaporative emissions of solvents and petrochemicals, including the Part B processes that are regulated by Local Authorities.

The Thermo-FID instruments measure TOC across an extraordinarily wide range of concentrations – from ppm to Vol% and also include fixed gas analysers. All models feature automatic start-up/ignition, built-in zero gas and burner air catalyst, automatic calibration, automatic adjustment of sample flow and require very low levels of maintenance. In addition to a choice of models, customers are also able to select from a number of options including Non-Methane Hydrocarbon measurement, internal data logging, heated sample line length, etc.

@Quantitech  #PAuto 

Motor drives.

The CFP2000 series is Delta’s brand new high reliability and industry-specific vector control drive for fan and pump applications. Featuring a built-in EMC filter, DC chokes, Real-Time Clock (RTC), and BACnet, the CFP2000 Series provides the best solution for the special needs of the HVAC industry. The IP55 model features highly effective protection against dust and water in harsh environments.
Delta's CFP2000 series is an AC motor drive specially designed for HVAC, fans & pumps, and water treatment applications. It is designed with an IP55 enclosure to provide effective protection from dust and other particles and to offer a good level of water protection. In addition, it includes many outstanding features and built-in functions that reduce setup and tuning time in operation, and provide higher efficiency.

Various parameter groups are also included to allow simple and straightforward system setup. If a higher safety standard is required, an optional mains switch function is also available upon selection. The CFP2000 complies to STO/SIL2. Other outstanding features include support for both induction and permanent magnet motors, a real time clock, a built-in 10k-step PLC capacity , built in BACNet & MODBUS and various optional extension cards such as MODBUS TCP , Profibus DP and EtherNet/IP.

High reliability
The CFP2000 benefits from Delta’s high range production quality systems that differentiates both for reliability and cost. With an IP55 rating, the CFP2000 series features highly effective protection against dust and water in harsh environments. Additionally, an enhanced coating protects the PCB from gases such as salt, SO2, O3 and H2S. The CFP2000 is vibration (IEC 60068-2-6) and shock (IEC / EN 60068-2-27) resistant. Operation temperature range is -10 °C to 50°C. The CFP2000 is equipped with a built-in EMC filter and a DC choke. This design replaces the need for an electrical distribution cabinet and saves space for other devices whilst providing the benefits of harmonic suppression and better power quality to the system.

Multi-pump control
Delta´s Multi-Pump Solutions adopt the CFP2000 series to manage up to four pumps simultaneously. In HVAC applications, the Sensorless Vector Control (SVC) function of the CFP2000 series automatically adjusts motor output based on changing torque conditions to improve motor performance, reduce energy consumption, and extend service life. This auto-tuning capability also eliminates vibration in mechanical systems caused by sudden starts and stops, and provides protection in variable load environments where momentary power loss or variable loads are encountered.

Fire Mode Application
This feature is designed for ventilation of buildings, tunnels, subways and more. The drive will bypass the alarm warning in fire mode. When a fire occurs, it forces the drive to continue to operate to extract smoke or supplies water , until the drive fails or runs out of emergency power.

Perfect solution for HVAC and water treatment applications
The CFP2000 Series High Reliability Vector Control Drive is Delta’s brand new AC motor drive for fan and pump applications. The CFP2000 is available for all IP55 models from 0.75kW to 90kW and it integrates high speed communications such as BACnet and MODBUS.

The built-in 10k-step PLC Function supports independent and distributed control when connecting to a network system for high operation flexibility. The Real Time Clock (RTC) function facilitates the PLC program writing process for ON/OFF chronology, daylight savings operation and many other settings. Interface is English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Russian, Turkish and Polish.

  @delta_ufa #PAuto

Tuesday 29 November 2016

Compact pressure sensor.

Festo has announced a new compact pressure sensor, SPAN, to build on its comprehensive range of sensors for process and factory automation applications. SPAN extends Festo’s pressure sensing offer, delivering an easy to set up, use and maintain sensor in a compact 30x30mm form factor with IP40 certified protection against outside ingress, optimised to be competitively priced. Applications include supply pressure monitoring, vacuum monitoring, leak testing, pressure monitoring at the regulator and object detection.

“This new compact pressure sensor improves on the previous generation, delivering higher performance, greater flexibility and increased usability, with easy availability and competitive pricing, without compromising Festo’s usual high standards of quality,” says Andy Parker-Bates, product manager at Festo. “Along with the SPAU pressure sensor and SFAW flow sensor, SPAN forms part of a family of sensor devices designed to simplify choice and reduce complexity for engineers through open, modular and versatile functionality.”

SPAN shares the same intuitive menu guidance used in the recently released SPAU and SFAW sensors and features a clear, high-contrast, two-colour, back-lit LCD, allowing users to easily monitor their systems. The sensor’s IO-Link functionality reduces commissioning and set-up time, as well as enabling remote maintenance and parameterisation. Designed to be open and modular, with high flexibility, SPAN has switchable PNP/NPN and analogue current or voltage outputs, allowing simple and rapid integration into numerous control systems.

The new sensor forms part of Festo’s redesigned and reengineered ‘blue star’ core product range, which combine optimised functionality and cost to meet 80% of automation technology customer demands at an attractive price, with easy online ordering, global stocking and next-day availability. Customers still benefit from Festo’s usual high standards of quality, service and support, and can access the same software and engineering tools for selection and sizing, design, ordering, commissioning and service to optimise their machines and systems.

@FestoAG #PAuto

High performance PLC.

The Delta AS300 series Compact Non-backplane Mid-range PLC is a high performance multi-purpose controller designed for all kinds of automated equipment. Delta's self-developed 32-bit SoC (System on Chip) CPUs offer an enhanced execution speed (40 k steps/ms) and supports a maximum of up to 32 extension modules. The series supports up to 1,024 inputs/outputs. Response time is 1ms when LD instruction time is 25ns and MOV instruction time is 0.15 μs.
Modular and convenient programing of advanced motion systems structure
This series provides accurate positioning control for a maximum of 8 axes via a CANopen motion network and a maximum of 6 axes via pulse control (200kHz).

It supports multiple programming languages in the same project (Structured Text, CFC, SFC and Ladder). The advanced yet simple ISPSoft V3.0 editing software delivers fast hardware and network configuration with built-in function blocks for different industries. It also provides multi-layer password protection for enhanced system security.

Supporting EtherNet/IP and various fieldbuses for industrial applications, the AS Series controller is equipped with CANopen and EtherNet/IP network communication for high-speed data transmission.

Flexible and easy network system configuration
The AS300 series supports star and linear network topology for fast expansion and management on production lines. It is compatible with all IT networks and can be combined with Delta’s IES solution to construct IoT automation applications and Industry 4.0 upgrades. The AS series can be extended to up to 32 modules.

Easy implementation
Delta’s patented non-backplane assembly with its robust slot and clip interlocking design offers a more flexible configuration and simple installation process, with convenient earth protection. This new PLC features screw-less and time-saving installation. Operators just have to press the clip rings and push the module to the desired position until hearing a "click" to finish installation. Configuration changes are as easy as possible thanks to its fast disassembly. Operators are able to release the clip ring and easily remove the module from the front without moving adjacent modules.

The space-saving design enables easy installation in control panels. The simple design and dark gray exterior of the AS series help resist stains and dirt in harsh industrial environments. With recyclable and lead-free material, it is compliant with international environmental requirements for industrial products.

This high-efficiency controller can be combined with other Delta solutions – including drives, sensors, communication devices – in order to maintain increased productivity and adaptability for demanding automation applications.

#PLC. @delta_ufa #PAuto

Monday 28 November 2016

Benefits for automation & control professionals extolled!

As part of an established relationship with the ISA Ireland Section the section committee were invited to visit Rockwell Automation's local office in Cork (Irl) to give a briefing on the benefits that membership would bring to the many Engineers and Technicians in the company, especially in fast evolving world of Automation and Control.
LtoR: David O’Brien, ISA District 12 (EMEA) VP Elect; Brian Curtis, ISA Executive Board Member and President 2108 Elect; Trish Kelly, HR Manager Rockwell Automation; John Murphy, President ISA Ireland Section; Christophe Bourillon, Business Manager Life Sciences Rockwell EMEA; and Billy Walsh ISA Executive Board Member.
The committee was welcomed to the offices by Ms Trish Kelly, HR Manager, and Mr. Christophe Bourillon, Business Manager Life Sciences EMEA. They were enthusiastic about the involvement of the ISA Ireland Section and Rockwell Automation as a well established established partnership.

Rockwell Staff & Visitors
The ISA Ireland section committee members thanked  the company for the opportunity to come and meet with their team. Among the committee were two members of the ISA Executive Board, Brian Curtis, who was recently elected to take up the position of President of the Society in 2018, and Billy Walsh, who has served on the Board for several terms.

Declan Lordan, ISA Membership Chair give a full presentation on the benefits of ISA membership to the Automation Staff. He noted the availability of new online digital content that has been recently updated.

The Ireland Section President, John Murphy, updated the company on Ireland Section events for 2016/2017. He also spoke about the key benefits of ISA membership and association to access ISA Technical Knowledge, Standards and opportunities for developing future career skills through involvement directly and indirectly with committee members. He also emphasised the importance of Cyber Security and adapting to the changing technologies in Automation. "We need to protect Plant systems from real world attack vectors," he said. “The growing importance of cyber security standards in plant automation network security such as S95 is more important today than it ever was.”

More Pictures

Left to Right: Declan Lordan, Section Membership Chair; Christophe Bourillon, Business Manager Life Sciences EMEA; John Murphy, Section President; Brian Curtis, ISA Executive Board Member.
Left to Right: Christophe Bourillon, Business Manager Life Sciences EMEA; John Murphy, President ISA Ireland Section; Brian Curtis ISA Executive Board Member and ISA 2018 President Elect.


@IrelandISA @ROKAutomation #PAuto #ISAuto

Friday 25 November 2016

Portable hygrometer spot checks natural gas.

The MDM300 I.S. high speed portable hygrometer from Michell Instruments enables gas pipeline operators to ensure safety and quality compliance on natural gas. Often these measurements are made in remote locations in extreme weather conditions – either hot or cold. The following features are key to ensuring the instrument is up for the job:

Certified for use in hazardous areas around the world: crucially, the MDM300 I.S. has ATEX, IECEx, FM, CSA, GOST INMETRO and TC TR Ex certifications. This means it is compliant no matter where the gas plant is located.

Long battery life: recognising that spot checks of natural gas often need to be carried out in remote locations, the MDM300 I.S. has a long battery life to allow up to 24 hours of operation between charges.

Fast response reduces waiting time: to ensure operators spend less time waiting for measurements, the MDM300 I.S. has a T95 response to -60°C dew point in less than 30 minutes. More spot checks per day means time and money saved.

Lightweight, ergonomic design: the MDM300 I.S. weighs 1.5kg so it can easily be held during operation. The large buttons are placed so the user can perform all operations using their thumbs, even when wearing gloves. The hardwearing IP66 / NEMA4 rated enclosure is designed to stand up to the rigours of daily usage in harsh environments.

Convenient, portable sample options available: to ensure the most reliable measurements and protection for the sensor, sample conditioning is a must. Michell’s sampling options range from simple kits to control sample flow, through to a panel mounted system which includes filtration, flow bypass, and pressure / flow indication.

• Michell Instruments' products are marketed in Ireland through Instrument Technology.

@Michell_Inst #PAuto

Keeping in touch with the next generation!

‘We were delighted with the attendance at our recent Next Generation Conference. We believe InTouch Omni is a ‘game changer’ and will become a key tool for those businesses looking to implement an Operations Technology revolution," said Susan Roche, General Manager at SolutionsPT.

The Wonderware Next Generation Conference 2016, saw people travelling from far and wide across the globe, to witness the future of industrial automation.​

Attendees of the event were amongst the first in the world to see the Next Generation of Wonderware SCADA, and the solutions that are available to make the connected, future-proof manufacturing environment a reality of today.

They have organised a series of webinars up to the end of January 2017 to discuss a range of solutions that tackle the issues faced by many manufacturers on a daily basis. Details of these and other events may be viewed on their website!

@WonderwareUK  #PAuto @SolutionsPT

Fairness in business in Scotland.

Edinburgh Instruments has been accepted to the Scottish Business Pledge, as part of its ongoing commitment to delivering fairness and equality in the work place.

The Scottish Business Pledge is a values-led partnership between the Scottish Government and business. It is a shared ambition of boosting productivity, competitiveness, sustainable employment, and workforce engagement and development.

Edinburgh Instruments pays all employees at least the Living Wage and has no employees on zero hours’ contracts. "We support workforce engagement through flexible working policies and are actively engaging the workforce in business decisions and operational innovation through product development plans. Our business operates internationally which has stimulated innovation and increased growth helping introduce us to new ideas and new markets. Edinburgh Instruments actively supports the local community by providing sponsorships towards local charities as well as supporting our employees who participate in charitable events."

As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of state-of-the-art fluorescence spectroscopic instrumentation, the company takes pride in being able to meet the most demanding research and technical requirements.

@Edinst #PAuto #TandM @scotgoveconomy

Thursday 24 November 2016

New manager appointed at gas analysis leader.

Servomex has appointed Barbara Marshik as Market Segment Manager – Power, based at the company’s Boston Technical Center in the USA.

Barbara Marshik
Servomex president Chuck Hurley said: “I am delighted to welcome Barbara to the company. The skills and experience she has gained across a number of roles in the industry will benefit both Servomex and our customers enormously. I am sure she will be a great asset, and wish her every success in her new role.

By providing leadership on Servomex’s world-leading range of combustion and emissions analysis solutions for the power generation market, including the introduction of Servomex’s new Laser 3 Plus TDL analyzer series, Barbara will work closely with Servomex’s global network of business centers to ensure customers receive application solutions tailored to their precise process requirements.

Barbara joins Servomex from Massachusetts-based MKS Instruments, where she worked for more than 12 years, spending the last nine as the Applications Manager supporting the FTIR and NDIR gas analyzer mobile and stationary source gaseous emissions monitoring businesses.

Prior to MKS she worked for medical device start-up company InfraReDx as the Director of Algorithm Development for an early stage NIR minimally invasive catheter, for Whatman (now Parker) as their R&D Manager for the Analytical Gas Generator product line, and at Galactic Industries as an Applications Scientist, creating user interfaces and algorithms for spectral analysis.

Barbara has extensive product development and product marketing experience handling multiple products and markets across a global customer base. She has spent more than 25 years in new product development, which included providing market directions through direct customer networking and VOCs.

Barbara said: “My wide range of experience in dealing with customers directly will help Servomex better understand the needs of their clients. This in turn means our customers can be sure that Servomex products will continue to address the demands of the power sector and provide the most reliable and cost-effective solutions to their requirements.”

Holding a PhD in Physical Chemistry and BS in Chemistry, Barbara’s interests outside of work include golf, cycling and hiking.

@Servomex #PAuto #USA

LIMS developer moves!

Autoscribe Informatics has moved to larger premises in England. As from 21st November, 2016, the company’s headquarters are located in Aldermaston, near Reading (GB). This is a seamless transition for customers as the telephone number, e-mail addresses and website URL all remain unchanged.

John Boother
John Boother, President of Autoscribe Informatics, said: “This expansion is the latest phase in a period of sustained investment into Autoscribe’s worldwide business. Over the last few years this has included the purchase of our distributor in the USA to create a wholly-owned subsidiary there, the appointment of additional distributors throughout the world and the establishment of an office in the north of the UK to support our installations in that part of the country.”

“Accompanying this investment, we have seen continued and significant growth not only in the sales of our LIMS and Business Information Management Systems, but also in our support business. We have therefore needed more people, and have now outgrown our old premises. Our new headquarters provide around 30% greater floor area, which will allow us the space for further expansion in the future.”


@AutoscribeLtd #Laboratory #Britain

Higher Dynamic Range Spectrum Analyzer Measurements.

Anritsu Corporation has introduced the MS2840A-051 Noise Floor Reduction and MS2840A-019 2dB Step Attenuator for Millimeter-wave options for the Signal Analyzer MS2840A series. These latest releases are ideal for accurate measurements aimed at improving the performance of wireless equipment and signal sources, as well as for improving phase noise, which is the key to upgrading the measurement resolution of microwave and mm-Wave radar and sensors.

With the demand for high-quality graphics and video in applications such as mobile and satellite communications/broadcasting, achieving faster radio communications is reliant on using wider bandwidth radio signals, with a trend towards using microwave and mmWave bands which offer much wider frequency spectrum options. Ensuring wideband and low error rate radio signals in the microwave and mmWave bands requires the use of transmitters with high dynamic range performance, bringing with it the need for high-dynamic range measuring instruments to optimise designs, in particular, those associated with noise interference.

The Noise Floor Reduction (NFR) option subtracts up to 11 dB from the measured internal noise level of the measurement system, to lower the displayed noise floor and support more accurate measurement of very low-level signals than has been possible previously. In addition, the new 2dB Step Attenuator option can set a 0 to 60 dB attenuator with 2 dB steps across the entire frequency range for 44.5 GHz model, versus a standard specification of 0 to 60 dB attenuation in 10 dB steps. This option improves the measurement dynamic range by optimizing the mixer input level even at high frequencies.

These latest options are especially useful for measuring wideband signals and microwave and mmWave signals requiring measurement of spectrum emissions, adjacent channel leakage power, and high-dynamic range signals at Tx ON and OFF.

The MS2840A Signal Analyzer is the leading solution for signal and spectrum analyzer with excellent close-in phase noise performance comparable to that of high-end analyzers. There are four models with different maximum measurement frequencies of 3.6, 6, 26.5, and 44.5 GHz. The 26.5 and 44.5 GHz models can be expanded to cover a measurement frequency range up to 325 GHz by connecting an external mixer. Due to its high performance, the MS2840A is used widely for development and manufacturing of narrowband radio equipment, radio oscillator modules, wireless backhaul, satellite communications, radar, etc.

@Anritsu #TandM @AnritsuEMEA #PAuto

Servo controllers - new options.

Baumüller has further improved its servo controller b maXX 3300. Now the controller for small drives is also available with a single-phase option. One advantage is the lower wiring expense, resulting in time and cost savings for the machine manufacturers.

The b maXX 3300 can now also be equipped with an external brake resistance. If the application requires very short brake times or if frequent, fast braking and dynamic changes of direction are needed, the internal brake resistance may not be sufficient. Now the necessary dynamics can be achieved by simply installing an external brake resistance.

The servo controller b maXX 3300 is a compact device for a low power range with gradations from 0.8 to 5 kW. The devices also excel with an up to fourfold overload factor. For highly precise positioning, high dynamics and speeds, the b maXX 3300 is exactly the right product. In combination with the highly dynamic Baumüller servo motors in the DSD series, this results in an increase in the number of cycles and thereby the productivity of machines and systems.

#Baumueller #PAuto 

Passive harmonic filters.

Schaffner is setting a benchmark with its product offering of harmonics mitigation solutions. ecosine evo combines superior technologies to reliably mitigate excessive harmonics with an evolutionary modular product concept.

The new Schaffner ecosine filters FN 3440, FN 3450 and FN 3452, designed for use with three-phase diode and thyristor rectifier systems, are achieving a THID ≤ 5% even without DC-link choke included in the drive. They guarantee compliance with the toughest requirement of IEEE-519 and other stringent international power quality standards while being the most compact passive harmonic filters available in the market. The filters offer excellent performance at rated power with minimal reactive power, even at partial or no-load conditions. With the installation of the new ecosine filters, the electrical infrastructure is unburdened and its utilisation is much more efficient and reliable. Installation of an ecosine filter ensures the service life cycle of electrical equipment is extended and energy costs are reduced.

Thanks to the modular concept, the filter design also offers great flexibility. It allows Schaffner to provide the optimal solution by merely “plugging in add-on modules”; depending on different installation requirements and motor drive setups. Installing the new Schaffner modular filters ensures the optimal tailored solution for applications and aligns product offerings with the international market requirements and customer expectations.

ecosine evo filters FN 3440, FN 3450 and FN 3452 are rated for 50 Hz/400 VAC, 50 Hz/500 VAC and 60 Hz/480 VAC grids, respectively, with standard power ratings available from 1.1 to 250 kW (1.5 to 300 HP for 60 Hz filters). They are available as open frame IP 00 and protection category IP 20 (IP 21 and NEMA 1/NEMA 3R (only in the US) as a future option). All filters are CE-marked, UL listed (pending) and RoHS compliant. The ecosine evo filters are easy to install and maintain and are be fully supported in Schaffner’s well known power quality simulator SchaffnerPQS3.


Process Control & Safety Symposium & Exhibition success.

The 2016 ISA Process Control and Safety Symposium and Exhibition, held in early November 2012 in Houston, Texas, drew more than 300 attendees to explore solutions to the varied challenges facing process measurement and control professionals in chemical and energy processing, pulp and paper, and other process industry sectors.

Uniting the global expertise of seven ISA technical divisions and with the support of ISA’s Houston Section, the symposium featured: three outstanding keynote addresses; the perspectives of more than 100 process automation industry experts; interactive panel discussions and tutorials; a wide range of vendor demonstrations and exhibits; two ISA training courses; lively networking opportunities; and other value-packed activities.

Attending engineers, technicians and plant managers gained the latest insights, news and trends in process measurement and control across key process industry sectors. Particular attention was placed on the critical issues in instrumentation, communications, control systems, safety and security.

The 2017 Process Control and Safety Symposium and Exhibition will again be held in Houston during the month of November. Watch for details as they become available by visiting the event section of the ISA website.

#ISAuto #PAuto 

Monday 21 November 2016

Signal processing portfolio strengthened by acquisition.

Abaco Systems has acquired 4DSP LLC of Austin (TX USA). Founded in 2004, 4DSP designs and manufactures commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) high speed digital signal processing and data acquisition solutions based on FPGA technology to address the specific requirements of aerospace, defense, biomedical, communications and semiconductor applications.

The company provides solutions for applications such as image processing, software defined radio, radar, sonar, airborne surveillance and medical imaging. 4DSP products are complemented by its engineering services, which include the development of custom hardware, FPGA firmware and software, as well as turn-key solutions.

Pierrick Vulliez, CEO of 4DSP, and his team will join Abaco with immediate effect.

The acquisition underscores Abaco’s plans to serve customers with mission ready systems based on best-in-class open architecture platforms that reduce risk and accelerate time to deployment.

“The addition of 4DSP and, more importantly, Pierrick and his team, substantially strengthens Abaco’s signal processing portfolio, helping us accelerate our plans to deliver our customers the industry’s best mission ready systems,” said Bernie Anger, CEO, Abaco Systems. “4DSP has an outstanding reputation in the embedded computing industry, and especially in the defense and aerospace industry, for its technical and engineering excellence and the quality of its products.”

“I have spoken to a number of 4DSP’s customers, and their feedback has been unanimously positive,” continued Anger. “We’re delighted that 4DSP is now part of Abaco Systems. What they bring is highly complementary to our existing offering, and I believe they will help us deliver an even more complete range of innovative solutions that will improve our customers’ competitiveness and help them succeed. We are also confident that this move will be very beneficial for current 4DSP customers, who will benefit from accelerated investments in expansion of 4DSP’s signal processing portfolio and additional field support resources.”

“We’re thrilled to become part of Abaco Systems,” said Pierrick Vulliez, CEO, 4DSP. "There is no doubt that this move will enable us to progress to the next level, leveraging Abaco’s global reach and scale. We look forward to helping Abaco increase the breadth and depth of solutions we can offer to customers.”

@AbacoSys #PAuto @4DSP_LLC

Protecting vital control systems!

Outdoor shelters with a novel combination of Intertec's passive and active cooling technologies have been chosen to protect vital control systems at a Middle Eastern refinery. The environmental protection solution is being provided as part of an upgrade to the burner management systems at the core of the plant's refining processes.

High-reliability PLC-based systems will provide the control and safety functions needed for management of eight separate burners. However, the physical location of the systems - deep inside the process - and the harsh coastal desert location of the refinery, pose major additional challenges for this engineering upgrade.

The project partners selected the field instrumentation protection specialist Intertec to provide the enclosure solution because of its experience of harsh environments, and for its novel protection ideas that will enhance the overall functional reliability of the control systems.

Intertec's design response to the engineering problem incorporates two major features. The first is custom-designed remote instrument enclosures (RIEs) based on composite GRP materials. The materials protect against the many environmental challenges of the application including very high levels of UV, extremes of temperature, dust and sand abrasion. The second key part of the protection solution is a regulated internal environment that provides the essential cooling required for the reliable operation of the electronics in the harsh Middle Eastern climate. This is maintained by a combination of three cooling methods, in order to provide exceptional redundancy against failure. The IP65-rated shelter also utilises the plant's instrument air service - after drying and filtering. This provides a slight positive pressurisation of shelter interior atmosphere for safe operation in a hazardous area, as well as ensuring there are no corrosive chemicals in the atmosphere.

"Intertec's novel approach to this field protection problem meets a growing need in today's process world," says Keith Wood, Intertec's project manager. "Control and instrumentation systems are being sited much closer to the process, deep inside corrosive and hazardous areas - and this in turn is demanding higher levels of reliability. GRP enclosure construction materials, combined with innovation in the associated protection systems such as cooling, are helping engineering consultancies to create advanced new plant solutions."

Three cooling technologies will protect the PLC-based control and safety systems: an air cooler, a water cooler, and a water-based passive cooling system. In normal operation, the water cooler and passive cooler operate in combination to decrease the internal operating temperature of the eight shelters. The aluminum heatsinks of the PLCs and cases will be installed directly onto conductive mounting plates, in contact with the liquid-based cooling media. This conductive heat transfer provides a much more efficient cooling mechanism in addition to conventional air convection.

The passive cooling system works by exploiting the regional climate's large temperature swing over the daily cycle, using water as a medium to store the coolness of the night and moderate internal temperatures during the day. Natural convection moves the water around the system and its heat exchangers. In this application however, Intertec's addition of an electrically powered water cooler improves efficiency - and reduces the size of the water tank needed for the passive cooling circuit. If the powered water cooler should fail, the electrically powered air cooler switches on to maintain the internal environment. If both of the powered water and air coolers fail, the passive system has enough cooling and storage capability to maintain a low shelter temperature for many days - giving refinery staff plenty of time to effect repairs.

One of the advantages of this multi-faceted approach to cooling is a reduction in size of the protection solution. A pure passive system would need to be sized to deal with the hottest days of the year, which would necessitate a large water tank for a Middle Eastern location. The inclusion of two other cooling technologies allows each cooling component to be reduced in scale - and cost - as the systems can work in combination to handle occasional extremes of duty cycle. In most normal operational cases, each cooling technology has the capacity to handle the load by itself. This particularly reduces the cost of the air cooler element, as the system must be ATEX-rated - adding significant costs.

Another interesting feature of Intertec's solution is the size of the shelters. The shelters are scaled to accommodate the PLC control and safety systems, but are also designed to be accessed only from the outside in normal plant operation. The powered water and air cooler units are mounted on an external wall. Several other small panel-mounting enclosures provide external access to the electrical connection and I/O termination points. The PLC is fitted with a touchscreen HMI panel that sits on an external wall - allowing operators on the ground to make adjustments to the control programs locally if needed. A door is incorporated in the shelter design but this is locked in normal operation, and only accessible under controlled circumstances. This reduces the size and cost of the enclosures, and eliminates the need to make them blast proof. All eight shelters use a common design with a footprint of around 2 x 3 metres, plus a heat exchanger on the roof, which also overhangs to provide shade.

The need for a custom shelter shape was easily handled by Intertec's extensive investment in manufacturing automation, which includes large-bed CNC cutting, routing and drilling machinery that can make custom panels in quantities as small as one.

The shelters will be assembled and factory tested at Intertec's European manufacturing centre in southern Germany. This plant incorporates a modern and well equipped assembly and testing line. Intertec will install the PLC and safety control system modules inside the shelter, to the design layout provided by the project engineers. The shelter will then undergo two separate in-depth testing programs. One will test all the features of the shelter including pressurisation and the correct operation of the cooling systems - which will involve the use of a very large and sophisticated environmental test chamber. The functioning of the PLC-based control and safety system will also be tested in conjunction with the project engineers, before the finished shelters will be transported in standard shipping containers to the refinery, ready for connection to the process. Delivery of the eight RIEs will start in the second quarter of 2017.

#INTERTEC #PAuto #Oil

New modular absolute pressure sensor for highly dynamic applications.

Designed specifically to meet the demands of highly dynamic applications, the new absolute pressure sensors from Kistler Instruments cover pressure ranges from 0-5 bar to 0-500 bar. The seven sensors all offer automatic sensor identification, wide dynamic range and digital temperature compensation. The modular design allows the sensor to be combined with a wide range of adapters to make the Type 4011A exceptionally suited to a wide variety of applications where highly dynamic events in challenging environments need to be monitored in real time with maximum precision and reliability.

The separation of the measuring element from the measured media by a welded stainless steel diaphragm ensures excellent media compatibility whilst digital temperature compensation minimises temperature induced zero point and sensitivity changes without impairing the signal bandwidth. Two temperature compensated ranges, -20 to 120°C and 15 to 180°C, allow a wide variety of applications and the temperature output allows the sensor element to be monitored to identify potentially damaging conditions before sensor malfunction is caused.

The Type 4011A can be used as a universal absolute pressure sensor to take measurements on exhaust systems with a cooling adapter but is equally suited to intake area or water pressure measurements. In addition, the new sensors open up new possibilities for exhaust gas back pressure measurements. Designed specifically for engines with an exhaust manifold integrated in the cylinder head, one version can be mounted directly or through the cooling jacket using a sleeve. The fully shielded cabling with kink protection together with the high-grade steel diaphragm ensures maximum lifetime, enhanced signal quality and increased functionality.

Although designed to meet the needs of automobile engine development and testing applications, the new pressure sensors are equally suitable for other dynamic, absolute pressure measurements in challenging applications where precision, integrated temperature compensation and long life are demanded.

@KistlerAlert #PAuto 

Next generation automation software!

Wonderware Ireland, part of SolutionsPT, has unveiled the next generation of Wonderware industrial automation software, including the upcoming Wonderware SCADA release, InTouch Omni.

At a launch event at the International Centre in Telford (GB), John Krajewski, Director of Product Management, HMI/Supervisory at Schneider-Electric, showcased InTouch Omni’s ‘game-changing’ interface and features. SolutionsPT also celebrated the 25th anniversary of its long-standing software distribution partnership with Wonderware in Britain & Ireland.

Marc Herreweghe, IDC,
addresses the meeting.
Built on the same core technology as Wonderware System Platform, InTouch Omni is an evolved version of the software, and will co-exist with both InTouch and InTouch for System Platform offerings. InTouch Omni has originated from this technology platform, and has been significantly enhanced upon with considerable investment over several years. Improvements include an updated UI visual experience, a simplified development environment and an enhanced ability to access and aggregate Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) data. The result is a new industrial software solution that Wonderware believes ‘leap-frogs traditional HMI/SCADA systems.’

During his presentation, John described Omni as ‘Wonderware’s most complete offering to date’ and outlined the key benefits to users including improved simplicity, flexibility and scope. InTouch Omni improves user experience whilst delivering “out-of-the-box” content and process visualisation standards which greatly simplify the task of achieving optimal Situational Awareness of industrial processes. In addition, it works with any device, adding modern form factors, smart navigation and displays capable of delivering a superior operations experience. For ease of use and integration, third party app support is an integral part of the solution, helping drive further Information and Operations Technology (IT/OT) convergence. John concluded by reassuring delegates that InTouch remained Wonderware’s best-selling product and said the brand would continue to invest in its development.

The first day of the two day event also featured a presentation from keynote speaker, Marc Van Herreweghe, Associate Vice President at the International Data Corporation (IDC). Marc’s presentation, entitled Digital Transformation: Unleash Your Potential, spoke of the Industrial Internet of Things as the fourth industrial revolution and looked at how manufacturers could prepare themselves for digital transformation. He said that the factory of the future would be ‘IT intensive’ and that, by 2020, manufacturing operations would be at the forefront of business transformation projects.

Experts from SolutionsPT also gave presentations on Networking and Cyber Security, Cloud and SaaS offerings and ‘Managed Platform’, SolutionsPT’s new High Availability Managed Services offering for industrial environments.

The conference’s Expo area featured a chance to see Wonderware InTouch Omni software in action, as well as demonstrations by a number of SolutionsPT’s partners, including ThinManager, Citect and Stratus Technologies, ecom instruments, MDT Software, Ocean Data Systems and WIN-911.

Sue Roche, General Manager at SolutionsPT, said: “We were delighted with the attendance at our recent Next Generation Conference. We believe InTouch Omni is a game-changer and will become a key tool for those businesses looking to implement an Operations Technology revolution.”

@SolutionsPT #Pauto @SchneiderElec @WonderwareUK

Faster and Safet start-ups!

Maverick Technologies, (now part of Rockwell Automation), has announced the release of eStart℠, a groundbreaking new app that keeps projects on track by making commissioning more efficient and transparent than ever. When outage windows become condensed, even the slightest inaccuracies in project tracking can have a major impact. Maverick is responding to these challenges with eStart.

At the beginning of a startup and commissioning project, they use eStart to digitally gather data and create loop folders to house all relevant instrument data and checksheets. Digital folder creation not only greatly reduces documentation time, but also keeps all electronic data at the technicians’ fingertips, anywhere they are. In addition, eStart’s Near Me feature uses GPS technology to locate nearby instruments and identify which stage of commissioning they are in, to make loop shooting more efficient.

“Loop shooting and documentation can eat up a lot of time,” says Consultant Mark McMakin. “With eStart, loop-shooting time is reduced by up to 10% and documentation time is reduced by up to 30%, ensuring a more efficient workflow.”

eStart also offers customers greater visibility into their commissioning projects. Every time a step is completed, the app automatically records the technician’s name, date and time stamp, giving customers real-time updates so they always know how close the project is to completion. This way, if the schedule slips, customers can proactively make adjustments to get back on track.

The breakthrough eStart app is a fully integrated feature of the company's proven SureStart solution for startup and commissioning. With SureStart, their construction managers, technicians and electricians work in parallel with construction efforts to minimize downtime, enhance reliability and finish ahead of schedule. The result is faster and safer startups.

@MavTechGlobal #Pauto @ROKAutomation 

Outdoor noise and vibration monitoring station.

Svantek has launched its SV 258 PRO, an outdoor noise and vibration monitoring station with a more compact and lightweight design. Specially developed for construction site, tunnelling and blasting applications, this upgraded model weighs just 10kg and is available with 3G modem, solar panel support, advanced alarms and METEO.

Waterproof and portable, Svantek’s SV 258 PRO is battery powered and used for a wide range of outdoor industrial monitoring applications where measurements are required over a period of time, ranging from days to months, and where a hand-held sound level meter taking on the spot recordings would not be suitable. It can be set up to send email or SMS messages when threshold levels are exceeded.

The SV   258 PRO incorporates a SVAN 958A Class 1 four-channel sound and vibration analyser for applications that require simultaneous Class 1 sound and vibration assessment. Each of four input channels can be independently configured for sound or vibration detection with different filters and RMS detector time constants giving users significant measurement flexibility.

This station is protected by an IP 65-rated case containing a lead-acid battery and operating time can be easily extended by connecting an external battery or small solar panel. The intelligent charging unit enables use of a solar panel without expensive controllers and heavy batteries.

The case is fitted with very robust, waterproof connectors (military standard) and has an IP 65 external power supply. The system uses a low noise, hermetically sealed tri-axial piezoelectric accelerometer enabling the outdoor use without additional enclosures. The accelerometers’ signal ground is insulated from the mounting surface and outer case to prevent ground loops. All accessories fit conveniently into a second carrying case.

It provides broadband vibration results such as RMS and Peak or Peak-Peak. Optionally it can use FFT analysis for determination of dominant frequency used for comparison with the BS and DIN norm curves. The broadband noise results can be recorded simultaneously in three acoustic profiles, which enable measurements to be taken with three different filters (e.g. A, C, Z) as well as 3 different detector time constants (e.g. Fast, Slow, Impulse).

It can be easily removed from the case and used as hand-held vibration and sound level meter. The monitoring station uses the 3G modem for the remote communication with Internet.

The relay server, SvanNET, supports the connection between PC and station allowing the usage of all types of SIM cards with the system, regardless if they have public or private IP. The connection over SvanNET gives access to the status of the noise monitoring station via mobile phone or tablet.

Svantek’s SV 258 PRO is available with a range of optional functions including SvanPC++ remote communication software package and FFT for dominant frequency determination. In building / ground vibration mode, the 1/1 octave analysis is recorded as velocity RMS spectrum while the 1/3 octave analysis is available as an alternative to building / ground vibration mode.

@Svantek_UK #PAuto #Tunnelling #Mining @elhcomms 

Friday 18 November 2016

Security for IoT edge devices.

The Floodgate IoT Security Toolkit has bee launched by Icon Labs. The solution enables IoT edge devices to be easily and securely integrated with IoT cloud platforms, including Verizon’s ThingSpace IoT Cloud Platform, and provides security management for remote IoT devices from a single user interface.

“Security concerns are consistently cited as one of the major issues impeding IoT deployments,” says Alan Grau, President of Icon Labs. “This solution provides designers an interactive and scalable drop-in security solution that protects IoT devices from the growing threat of cyber-attacks. Icon Labs’ Floodgate IoT Security Toolkit provides robust and easy to implement end-to-end security management for IoT devices - allowing a client application to harden and manage endpoints from the cloud.”

The new Icon Labs Floodgate IoT Security Toolkit provides connectivity to the cloud platform over a secure communication link for both normal device operation and for security management. The solution includes critical security countermeasures to protect the device from attack, intrusion detection to identify when the device is being attacked, and security management to respond to attacks.

Alerts from the intrusion detection module inform the user of security anomalies. These alerts are sent to the security management systems, allowing changes to security policies to be pushed out to each device in real-time. The management system also supports software updates to be securely transmitted and installed, all using the same management interface.

Critical security countermeasures included are secure boot, encrypted communication, an endpoint firewall, and mutual authentication based on PKI certificates.

The Floodgate IoT Security Toolkit is the industry’s most complete security platform for IoT devices, providing a full suite of device protection, secure credentialing services, and integration with IoT cloud services. The toolkit includes the following Floodgate Security Framework elements: secure boot, secure software updates, firewall, intrusion detection, MQTT, TLS, key management/SCEP, and a management agent.

This solution is available today and has been integrated with Verizon’s ThingSpace IoT Platform and Verizon’s IoT Secure Credentialing Servicer (IoT SC), and demonstrated on the Renesas Synergy platform from Renesas Electronics America, Inc. The Floodgate toolkit supports any embedded OS including embedded Linux, Nucleus, ThreadX, UC/OS-III, LynxOS, VxWorks and other RTOSes.

#IconLabs #IoT #PAuto #Security

BACnet to the cloud...

Sierra Monitor's BACnet gateways, routers, and network explorers are now “IIoT-Empowered out-of-the-box” and are shipping with new software that allows customers to securely register, access, and manage their field-installed products from Sierra Monitor’s FieldPoP device cloud. By seamlessly and securely bridging BACnet-based facility networks to the cloud and using FieldPoP as a portal, facility managers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of industrial devices such as sensors and controllers, can remotely service and support devices and gain operational insights to improve the facility’s comfort, safety and energy efficiency.

Sierra Monitor’s line of gateway products including the EZ Gateway and QuickServer products are used by OEMs and integrators to connect devices that speak a variety of protocols such as Modbus, SNMP, LonWorks, N2, M-Bus, KNX, and more than a hundred other proprietary protocols to BACnet-based networks and management systems within a building or facility. Additionally, Sierra Monitor’s BACnet Router connects BACnet devices to BACnet/IP backbones, while the BACnet Explorer assists with installation and troubleshooting by discovering devices and data points on building and facility networks. The newly-released software enables all of Sierra Monitor’s gateways, routers and explorers to be securely connected to the FieldPoP device cloud with just a few clicks. In addition to serving as a service management portal, FieldPoP also serves as a data middleware layer that collects IIoT device data from the field and lets third-party applications incorporate that data in business and analytics applications. As a result, OEMs and facility managers can gain new insights leading to improvements in product quality, innovations in products and services, and identification of new revenue opportunities.

Customers who choose to take advantage of the pre-built integration between FieldServer products and the FieldPoP device cloud have a choice of “Freemium” options. Basic connectivity to the cloud over the Internet and the ability to remotely run the standard web user interface available on the FieldServer products are part of the standard package. Value-added “fog applications” that run on the FieldServer products such as a dashboard view of field devices and data, trend logs, control logic applications, data uploads to the cloud for long-term analysis, and real-time alerts and notifications to authorized personnel are offered as premium features.

“BACnet has emerged as the leading protocol used in building and facility automation,” said David Nardonne, Membership Manager at BACnet International, an industry association that facilitates the successful use of the BACnet protocol in building automation and control systems through interoperability testing, educational programs and promotional activities. “The ability to securely and seamlessly bridge BACnet-based facility networks to the cloud is a significant addition to the BACnet toolkit.”

“This announcement underscores our commitment to be one of the leaders in bridging Operational Technology (OT) with Information Technology (IT),” said Varun Nagaraj, CEO of Sierra Monitor. “The FieldServer protocol translation gateway has long been a leader in the building and industrial automation markets. Now, with the pre-integration of FieldServer gateways, routers and explorers with the FieldPoP device cloud, we have made it extremely easy for our customers to take advantage of the cloud and the IIoT opportunity.”

@sierramonitor #PAuto #BACnet #IoT

Thursday 17 November 2016

Safety & Quality in Food & Drink event.

Autoscribe Informatics is sponsoring the Inaugural Food and Drink Quality and Safety Summit which is being held on November 30th 2016 in the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham (GB). The Summit will bring together food manufacturers, regulatory officials and scientists to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration in order to help protect the global food supply.

As part of the conference agenda, Sarah Westall from Autoscribe Informatics will give a presentation entitled: ‘Food Safety Through Environmental Monitoring.’ This will outline how the emphasis in food safety has shifted from response to prevention, therefore placing even greater importance on environmental monitoring practices to provide an early warning of increased microbial contamination in production and storage areas.

Sarah will discuss how Autoscribe Informatics’ Environmental Monitoring solution, part of the Matrix Gemini Laboratory Information Management System, can drive good practice by helping organizations to carry out and record their preventive controls in ways that are more easily monitored and retrieved by both management and technicians.

@AutoscribeLtd @FoodBevQS #PAuto 

Infrared Cameras deliver 640 x 480 image quality.

Fluke has introduced the Fluke® Ti480 and TiX580 Infrared Cameras with 640 x 480 resolution and MultiSharp™ Focus, delivering exceptional image quality to industrial, process, utilities maintenance and building inspection professionals who need high measurement accuracy to quickly detect problems.
With the Ti480 Infrared Camera, Fluke has introduced 640 x 480 resolution into a rugged, pistol-grip form factor. The camera provides fast, one-handed operation to perform multiple inspections quickly and accurately. Now there is an “everyday” camera, with four times the resolution power of many commonly used 320 x 240 pixel cameras, for quick point-and-shoot troubleshooting.

The new TiX580 Infrared Camera features a 240-degree rotating screen that allows thermographers to easily navigate over, under, and around objects to preview and capture images with ease. The 5.7-inch screen provides 150 percent more viewing area than a standard 3.5-inch screen, enabling thermographers to quickly identify issues in the field and easily edit images directly on the camera, reducing production time back at the office.

Both cameras include MultiSharp™ Focus, an advanced focus system that takes multiple images with a press of a button. The camera combines them to produce one focused image of both near and far objects, delivering precision image clarity guaranteeing an in-focus image when back in the office no matter what the conditions.

Both infrared cameras feature:

  • SuperResolution, which captures multiple images and combines them to create a crisp, sharp 1280 x 960 resolution image - four times the pixel data of a 640 x 480 image.
  • LaserSharp® Auto Focus, which uses a laser distance meter to calculate the precise distance to the designated target for sharper, more accurate images.
  • Fluke IR-Fusion® technology, which captures a visible light image in addition to the infrared image and combines them with three different operating modes: Picture-in-Picture, full visible light, and AutoBlend™.
  • Fluke Connect SmartView® Desktop Software, for optimising and analysing thermal images, generating customisable reports and exporting images in multiple formats to the Fluke Connect Cloud.

Fluke Connect Compatible
The new infrared cameras integrate into Fluke Connect® - the company’s full-feature platform that permits Fluke tool users to receive, store, visualise, and report electronic measurement data from more than 40 Fluke Connect wireless test tools. This allows technicians to record and share thermal images, along with electrical and other measurements, in real time via their smartphones or tablets and automatically upload them to the cloud.

The Fluke Connect system provides access to maintenance records simultaneously at the inspection site and from the office or an off-site location, enabling faster decision making. It also enables real-time collaboration between team members with ShareLive™ video calls, increasing productivity in the field.

Images sync wirelessly direct from the camera to the Fluke Connect system, so images can be attached to an asset record or work order. Reports can be created and shared directly from the job site via email.

@FlukeCorp  #PAuto #TandM