Tuesday 31 January 2017

VA meters with HART!

The Krohne variable area flowmeter H250 M40 is now available with HART 7.4 communication.

HART 7 compliance and interoperability have been validated by FieldComm Group FCG (formerly HART Communication Foundation HCF) and issued with a "HART Registered" certificate. Thus, the H250 M40 can now also provide NE107 diagnostic messages; compliance with the requirements of NAMUR has been proven as part of a supplementary type test according to NAMUR recommendation NE95.

H250 M40 is a well-proven flowmeter in all process industries for cost-effective measurement of liquids and gases. The new communication option adds to its modular design: with the purely mechanical version as a base, electronic (communication) modules can be added or replaced/retrofitted to match applications from analogue flow measurement without auxiliary power to digital integration into a fieldbus system.

• Krohne Products are marketed in Ireland by DWN Instruments.


@krohnegroup #PAuto

Monday 30 January 2017

Smart factory day!

Distec is partnering with Red Lion Controls to host a smart factory day on March 28, 2017. The event, which will be held at the De Vere Cranage Estate in Cheshire (GB), is designed to give plant managers an overview of the benefits of smart factory technology.

The day will feature speakers discussing their experiences using the latest automation technology to build smart factory environments. Plant managers and engineers can also view live demo kits to get a hands-on experience of the automation technology that's helping to build the current and next generation of smart factory. Technical staff will also be on hand to answer questions about the technology and its use in factories.

The concept of the smart factory has become increasingly popular among plant managers in recent years. Developments in industrial networking technology have allowed businesses to improve efficiency and output while minimising downtime and wastage. By giving plant managers real-time access to the wealth of data generated through day-to-day operation, businesses can gain a much better insight into process efficiency and machine status.

“There is a persistent myth that smart factories and industrial networking inevitably leads to a high capital expenditure,” explained Noel Sheppard, a director of Distec. “Many businesses fear that the transition to a smart factory requires them to overhaul the majority of their legacy systems, which may not be compatible with the latest smart technologies. We want to use this smart factory day to show businesses how they can make the move to a smart factory without incurring the associated costs and downtime.

“On the day, we will demonstrate a cost-effective alternative to equipment replacement. Red Lion Controls’ products allow even legacy systems to communicate with each other in a network effectively, regardless of differences in communication protocols. This makes the process of updating equipment more cost-efficient and just as effective.”


Register on the on-line form.

• Red Lion products are marketed in Ireland by Instrument Technology

@disteclimited @redlioncontrols  #PAuto @StoneJunctionPR

Air manifolds.

RCC’s Air Manifold Division is primarily focused on the manufacture of high quality Air Distribution Manifolds. An expanding customer base includes many of the world’s leading bluechip multinational companies operating in Ireland and abroad.

RCC Air Manifolds are used in Biotechnology, Food & Beverage, Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Facilities.

Richard Cotter, RCC Managing Director says, "Our Manifolds are ideal for instrument air distribution, providing reliable, efficient signal air solutions. From providing air flow to skid valves, to large scale production projects, our innovative designs increase uptime and maximize process efficiency.

"RCC manifolds have earned a reputation for reliability and are trusted to perform."

 #RCC #PAuto #Pharma #Food

Friday 27 January 2017

Photonics company appoints sales & marketing director.

Optoscribe has appointed Steve McMahon as its new Sales and Marketing Director.

Steve McMahon
Steve has established a track record of working with start-ups and turning them into successful multi-million pound companies. Over 25 years, Steve has held senior commercial roles in several international companies from Britain and North America.

Nick Psaila, CEO, said: “We are pleased to have Steve join us here at Optoscribe. The wealth of his expertise and knowledge will add significant value as we rapidly expand the team and operations from our new headquarter.”

Steve is a Chartered Engineer with a First in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, an MBA and an MSc in Digital Techniques.

@Optoscribe #PAuto

Thursday 26 January 2017

Rotary coded switch.

The Elma C15 Rotary Coded Switch range is now available from Foremost Electronics. The C15 multifunction switch is intended for cost sensitive applications where space is critical and is particularly suitable for frequency and channel selection in two way radios, portable appliances, instrumentation and similar miniaturised mobile applications. The C15 offers users exceptional switching “feel” and provides designers with a reliable HMI device delivering consistent torque over its long life time.

Alan Cook, Managing Director of Foremost Electronics, comments, “Elma is a long established manufacturer of high quality switching products. Their new miniature rotary encoder is a very flexible and reliable control device for handheld and portable devices and will find many commercial and industrial applications.”

Key features of the Elma C15 include a body size just 7.7 x 9.35 x 11.1mm, operating lifetime of 15,000 switching cycles, operating temperature range from -30 to +60°C, 16 positions gray coding, shorting switching mode, up to 3.0 Ncm switching torque, tray or tape and reel packaging and THT suitable for reflow soldering. Users can specify custom shaft dimensions and shape.

The C15 rotary coded switch has switching options of 16 positions with 20° indexing and end-stop or 16 positions with 22.5° indexing with endless rotating shaft.

#ForemostElectronics #PAuto @proactivefleet

Drives for power station cooling towers!

This Power Station is now using Control Techniques Unidrive M700 variable speed drives from Emerson to control 22 cooling tower fans across two towers. Replacing a system that was first installed in 1975, the advanced new drive brought many benefits. It means that the fan speeds can be varied to minimize power usage at low unit loads, eliminate wind milling due to a lack of a braking system, minimize freezing potential in winter, mitigate fan vibration without removing from service, and eliminate seasonal blade pitch adjustments required to prevent motor overloads in the winter and low air delivery in the summer. Just the blade pitch adjustment itself resulted in a significant saving in man hours, which the power station estimates to be worth $38,000 per year.

Located in the mid-Atlantic region of the USA,the power station has multiple units firing gas and oil. The power station was keen to implement an automated control system for its cooling fans, which were served by a system that was more than 40 years old. The retrofit addressed these issues directly:

Energy and cost reduction without impacting tower efficiency
  • To manage energy usage and cooling capacity meant turning the 200 HP fan starters on and off since they always ran full speed. The capability to vary fan speed and therefore cooling rate for different loads allows all fans to run (best tower efficiency) with much lower energy requirements. The system only moves as much air as is needed to extract heat and results in much less energy consumption.
  • To manage vibration on individual fans they had to be shutdown, even when load demand and therefore cooling demand were high. The capability to maintain all fans in operation, with some at reduced speed to manage vibration, provides optimum cooling when needed for unit generation.
  • Another issue was the need for manual seasonal fan blade pitch changes, due to differences in air density associated with summer and winter months. That alone demanded close to 480 man hours a year, a significant diversion of maintenance resources from more pressing needs around the plant plus crane rental and safety management required for blade pitch adjustments.

Asset management and protection

  • The fans have a 16 foot long fibreglass/metal drive shaft connecting the fan gearbox and motor. With no braking system free wind milling of idle fans was a constant problem that sometimes resulted in bad starting scenarios that caused motor overloads, severe torsion forces on the drive shaft and sometimes gearbox problems. With the new system soft start and prestart braking are inherent in the M700 VSD capabilities. The addition of soft start and fan braking minimized torque peaks that the drive shaft experiences during fan starts and eliminated the wind milling concerns. The motors never see the high current applied by an across the line starter.
  • Freezing and thawing are a problem on cooling towers. The existing system required fans to be put in reverse if ice was forming on the sides of the towers in an attempt to thaw the heavy load on the tower intakes. These can have very damaging effects up to and including tower collapse. Properly managed air flow in cold weather using the variable speed capability can eliminate sub-cooling that, in turn, causes ice formation. This eliminates the need to reverse fans except in the most adverse weather conditions.

“We decided to look at variable frequency drive (VFD) solutions and three manufacturers were initially considered,” says Mark Leigh, technical consultant for the power company. “However, Control Techniques [an Emerson company] was the only organisation that could meet the very short project delivery times we required. They were also very competent technically in terms of recommending an optimised solution.”

Control Techniques Unidrive M700 AC drives with real-time Ethernet capability were installed in a motor control room at the power station, where it is now used to control 22 cooling tower fans. The drives deliver high performance and flexible control of induction and permanent magnet motors. Most importantly for the station, the new Unidrive M700 has more control of the process.

“In a standard across-the-line starter fan motor, the variables are fan blade pitch and air density with a fixed maximum HP at a fixed speed, which was 1750 rpm in this case,” explains Mr Leigh. “In contrast, the variables in a VFD-controlled fan motor are speed and air density with a fixed maximum HP at a fixed fan blade pitch. It therefore costs nothing in man hours to adjust the speed, as this is done automatically by the VFD based on a 200 HP limit, which is the maximum rating of the motor and starter. We estimate a saving of around four men for three weeks, or about 480 man hours, which equates to approximately $38,000 per annum.”


@EmersonIndAuto #PAuto #POwer @EmersonNews

Production monitoring seminar/workshop.

Kistler Instruments will be holding a free production monitoring seminar/workshop at the Holiday Inn, Solihull (GB) on the 1st March 2017.

Hands on workstation sessions will provide practical insight into the application of force, pressure, torque and surface strain sensors using the Kistler maXYmos production monitoring systems for zero defect manufacturing.

In addition, there will be an Introduction to the Kistler electro-mechanical joining systems using the maXYmos NC production monitoring system.

Places on the free seminar/workshop, including refreshments and lunch, are limited and must be booked by the 17th February 2017. 

To reserve a place, email Shaun Egglestone at shaun.egglestone@kistler.com.

#Kistler #PAuto #Britain

Low-noise single axis accelerometer.

Silicon Designs has announced the added versatility of its Model 2210 Series, to include measurement capabilities on one, two, or three orthogonal axes.

Low-noise single axis Model 2210 accelerometer modules integrate a MEMS VC accelerometer chip with high-drive, low-impedance buffering for reliable, repeatable measurements. When used with a Silicon Designs mounting block, such as the Model 2330-BLK, the new accelerometer can effectively measure on either one, two, or three axes, allowing for the specification of a single part number for multiple requirements, thereby reducing in-house inventory counts.

Offered in ranges from ±2 to ±400 g, the Silicon Designs Model 2210 Series generates two analog voltage outputs which vary in response to applied acceleration. Customers can utilize either single-ended or differential output, the latter of which doubles accelerometer sensitivity over single-ended versions. The sensitive axis of the Model 2210 is perpendicular to the package bottom, with positive acceleration defined as a force pushing on the bottom of that package. Output scale factor is independent from the supply voltage of +8 to +32V. At zero acceleration, differential output voltage is nominally 0 VDC; at full scale, ±4 VDC.

Sensing elements of the Model 2210 are packaged within a compact, lightweight, anodized epoxy sealed aluminum housing, occupying a total footprint of just one square inch. Their design features a simple-yet-robust four-wire connection and internal voltage regulator, which minimizes supply voltage variation effects. Units are relatively insensitive to temperature changes and feature quick, easy self-calibration. All Silicon Designs accelerometer modules and chips are 100% designed, developed and manufactured at the company’s global corporate headquarters and MEMS fabrication facility near Seattle, Washington, USA. Each unit undergoes rigorous quality testing prior to shipment.

Model 2210 MEMS VC accelerometer modules are ideal for lower frequency vibration testing requirements, including vibration analysis, machinery control, modal analysis, robotics and crash testing. With their versatile design and performance reliability, they may be specified within a variety of aerospace, automotive, defense, energy, industrial, and test & measurement applications.

#Silicondesigns #PAuto 

For the cyclists among us!

We feature from time to time news on products with at best a tenuous connection with industrial or laboratory automation. Here is something that we liked.

For the safety of both cyclists and drivers, bicycle lights are essential. Yet technology in this area hasn't changed much for decades, and the simple bike lights that have been available do not catch enough attention from drivers. For the last two years, Brightspark, a new start-up company, has been developing a more innovative and adequate product, and has announced that it will be available this year.

After two years of research and development, Brightspark is ready to launch its innovative product.


“Our intention is to make cyclists and vehicle drivers more comfortable and confident about sharing the road with each other,” said Dominic Walters, Founder of Brightspark.

Brightspark’s features are numerous and unique. The USB rechargeable headlight set can easily attach to a bicycle's handlebars with quick release grips. They may be detached easily also, allowing users to pack the product and take it with them, thus preventing theft. Simple to recharge, the light set's lithium ion battery holds charge for approximately five days of typical use.

Each unit includes a headlight, which can put out 300 lumens, creating up to 600 lumens of light per pair. A blinker set is incorporated in the product, with a flashing orange light located on the front and back of each unit. The flashing lights resemble vehicle or motorcycle turn signals, and can be viewed from virtually every angle. While the signal indicator is in use, the handlebar vibrates, which lets the rider know that it has been activated. It continues vibrating, reminding the cyclist if it's still on after the completion of a turn. The sophisticated addition of red roadway lasers is the neatest function of the product. Projecting bright red arrows on the road, the lasers let other travelers know the cyclist is turning.

• Brightspark will have a booth at The Bike Place at Silverstone next week (January 29-31). Later in the year, they will be present at the Interbike International Expo 2017 in Las Vegas (September 20 - 22, 2017). Last year, the bike accessory gained a lot of attention from attendees. In February, the company will launch a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo.com to make the bike lighting indicators available. Cyclists can back the campaign and become some of the first to use such an advanced bicycle safety accessory.


@brightspark_1 #cycling

Wednesday 25 January 2017

Gas monitoring appointment for Middle East & South Asia.

Ion Science has expanded KS Chari’s role as Regional Manager for South Asia to include the Middle East with the aim of increasing sales.
KS Chari

“KS Chari’s sound knowledge of monitoring instrumentation will continue to provide a valuable service to existing and potential customers across our ever growing Middle Eastern market,” 
comments Ion Science Managing Director, Duncan Johns.

Although Chari will be targeting a range of markets, his focus will be on the oil & gas and petrochemical sectors, in line with the Ion Science global growth strategy.

In preparation for his newly expanded role, Chari recently visited Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia where he met local distributors. He also attended Petrotech 2016 in Bahrain.

Commenting on his promotion, KS Chari said: “A key part of my role will be to further develop relationships with distributors and sub distributor networks by providing in-depth training and support to regional offices. I will also be available to answer technical enquiries about Ion Science instrumentation and applications, and assist sales growth by visiting key customers where required.”

Chari has over 30 years’ experience in strategic planning, profit centre management, sales & marketing, business development and customer relationship management. Prior to joining Ion Science, he spent almost 15 years as General Manager with a major Japanese instrumentation manufacturer.

@ionscience #PAuto @elhcomms

TFT screen transform instrument panel.

The new andersDX letterbox display offers an outstanding IPS TFT screen in a unique form factor. It provides a high contrast image that can be easily viewed over a wide angle even in bright sunlight and unfavourable conditions. This is a very high performance display, with a contrast ratio of 800 and a surface luminance of 850 cd/m2.  Viewing angle is 85° x 85° x 85° x 85°, allowing it to be read from an almost side-on position. Its’ resolution is 1280 x 480 at a pixel pitch of 0.228 mm².

They offer the display with optional five-touch CTP (Capacitive Touch Panel), operating through a 1.80mm thick cover glass. The thickness can be increased to 6.00mm with single touch operation. For maximum optical clarity, the touch panel and cover glass can be optically bonded to the display.

Commenting, Paul Hooper, Display Group Manager at andersDX said, “We’re breaking the mould of display design with this innovative and unusual display. Most displays on the market are on 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios, which are a legacy of TVs and computer monitors and aren’t designed for the clear and effective presentation of information in a user interface. This display allows designers to create a very different front panel around an exceptionally clear, bright and easy to read display.”

Suitable for use in portrait or landscape mode, the display has a diagonal of 12.3” and is 340.7mm wide by 150.75mm high. Standard features include an LVDS interface, an anti-glare coating and an LED backlight with a rated life of 70,000 hours to half brightness. The wide operating temperature of -30 deg C to + 80 deg C is key for industrial, automotive and marine applications.

@AndersElec #PAuto

Drives aid Dutch innovative fishing craft.

Control Techniques & Leroy-Somer have recently helped complete a landmark fishing industry project by contributing to the construction of a brand new type of marine vessel, the MDV-1 “Immanuel”.
The solution comprises a number of Unidrive M variable speed drives, along with motors, transformers, brake resistors, rectifier units and generators.

The MDV-1 “Immanuel” is a Dutch-built 30.2 x 8.6m twin-rig fishing vessel devised for the Masterplan Sustainable Fishing Foundation (shortened to ‘MDV’). The boat offers a number of key innovations over traditional craft including, notably, savings of up to 80% in both fuel consumption and emissions (CO2/NOx).

The remit of the MDV, which was established in 2012 to drive innovation in the Dutch fishing sector, is to seek efficiency improvements in every area, including the propulsion system, which on the MDV-1 “Immanuel” is diesel-electric with a variable-speed generator and DC-bus.

This design presents the opportunity to run the generator extremely efficiently, at speeds ranging from 800 to 1,200 rpm, and means the boat can be equipped with two generators (one running) instead of three in the case of AC (where normally two would be in operation). The larger generator (500kW) is used during transit and fishing, while the smaller one (117kW) is mainly an emergency generator, capable of bringing the boat back to shore at a lower speed.

The system benefits from the use of a 400kW water-cooled permanent magnet motor (120 rpm) for the main propeller in place of a conventional diesel engine. Along with higher efficiency, further benefits include its small size, with no need for an in-line gearbox with transmission.

Moreover, the fact that impact loads can be absorbed electrically by the engine controller makes the generator more stable and energy-efficient, with less engine noise, less vibration and virtually no need for maintenance.

Four Control Techniques Unidrive M variable speed drives work in tandem with the propulsion engine, with another such unit deployed for the drive of the rotary transformer, along with others for the hydraulic pump, flushing pump, engine room ventilation, fish hold cooling system, and two for the pulse fishing windlasses. The windlasses have to pay an electric cable in and out with a stable tensile force (without breaking), but with a variable swell.

Further products supplied include a Leroy-Somer motor/generator transformer for the on-board electrical system, a brake resistor for the power generation system, rectifier units for the common DC bus, a 12-pulse transformer suitable for variable frequencies, and Leroy-Somer main and auxiliary generators.

Besides the drive components, Control Techniques & Leroy-Somer also took care of the engineering, documentation, testing, set-up, training and drives operating software – not just for control from the PLC, but the application software for managing the frequency controllers of the propulsion engine and rotary transformer.

In order to reduce harmonic current distortion, engineers also advised the use of an electrical system in which a 12-pulse isolating transformer was employed. Switching controllers and generators guarantees a broad-based redundant system without any on-board electrical system interference compromising the instrumentation.

Construction ran to plan and the MDV1 was launched on time. Furthermore, after eight months of fishing the figures look good – the vessel is designed for the efficient fishing of both plaice and sole with a capacity to carry 850 boxes. Importantly, the systems that control and monitor energy consumption are doing their job so well that the MDV 1 can make money even when the price of oil is high.

@Emerson_News #Marine #Netherlands

Closing the gap between automation & IT.

Softing Industrial announced that its dataFEED uaGate SI gateway now also supports the MQTT protocol in addition to OPC-UA, enabling easy and reliable integration of Siemens S7 data into cloud solutions.

Thanks to the MQTT protocol's publisher functionality in the new 1.30 firmware version of its dataFEED uaGate SI, Softing is closing the gap between automation and IT. The gateway to Siemens S7 control systems now also allows easy and secure integration of data into cloud-based IoT and Industrie 4.0 applications. With this move, Softing acknowledges the growing acceptance of MQTT (Message Queue Telemetry Transport) as an IoT standard communication protocol. It is already being natively supported by many respected cloud providers, including Amazon Web Services, IBM Bluemix and Microsoft Azure.

"The dataFEED uaGate SI offers the highest level of security, simple configuration, and low maintenance costs", says Sebastian Schenk, Product Manager at Softing Industrial. "This new version provides mechanical engineers, system integrators and other customers with a flexible and future-proof tool bridging the interface between industrial networks and IT applications."

In addition to the MQTT Publisher functionality, the built-in OPC UA Server allows data to be integrated into ERP, MES or SCADA applications. User authentication, certificate handling and SSL encryption ensure maximum security. The gateway is easy to configure via a web browser and supports icon import directly from SIMATIC STEP 7 and TIA Portal projects. dataFEED uaGate SI is equally suitable for new systems and retrofits in existing systems.

The new firmware version 1.30 is available now for download from the Softing website. Existing customers can upgrade to the new version for free.

#Softing #Pauto 

AC/DC power sources.

The AFV-P Series of precision, programmable AC/DC power sources have been introduced by Intepro Systems. The compact rack-mounted units are available in four power levels – 600VA, 1250VA and 2500VA (2U) and 5000VA (5U) – and provide clean power with distortion less than 0.3% at 50/60Hz.

The AFV-P series delivers output voltage from 0 to 310 VAC and frequency from 40 to 500 Hz (15 to 1000 Hz with the high-frequency option). The devices can also be programmed to provide DC power from 300W to 2500W at 0-210/0-420 VDC. The units feature 300 µs slew rate (for 0-90% change in output voltage) and can deliver up to 4.5 times peak current (crest factor) from its max rated current. The APF-V Series is ideal for commercial, defence and aerospace test applications, from design verification and quality assurance to automated production testing.

Their graphical user-interface software makes it easy to set up complex testing sequences. Transient generation functions provide simulation of voltage variations, surges, drops and frequency disturbances with 1msec programming resolution. The five-inch touch screen with rotary knob allows quick adjustments and configuration of voltage, current and frequency. Users can remotely control the unit via standard interfaces of USB, RS232/RS485, LAN or optional GPIB and analogue control. Free control software and LabVIEW driver are available for easy programming and remote control.

“The AFV-P Series’ high crest factor capability makes it ideal for switching power supply and motor testing,” said Gerard Sheehan, Intepro's Chief Technical Officer. “And its high slew rate enables testing for compliance with IEC-61000-4 or MIL-STD-704F.”


@InteproSystems  #PAuto

Power supply home page!

Gresham Power Electronics has updated its power supply homepage to offer visitors easy access to its wide product range and has added a simple to use product search facility.

Jake Moir, Managing Director of Gresham Power, comments, “We are growing our distribution portfolio and stock levels and are now a complete power supply solution provider for a wide range of markets. Working in partnership with a number of carefully selected industry leading power supply manufacturers we are committed to offering our customers a best-fit technical and commercial solution to all of their power supply requirements.”

Gresham now offers industrial, medical, CompactPCI, rail and transportation, test and laboratory power solutions from world class manufacturers including EOS Power, Vox Power, Magna-Power, Polytron Devices, Advice Electronics and Digital Power. The range include market leading and cost competitive open frame power supplies, modular configurable and encapsulated power supplies, programmable power supplies and electronic loads and DC:DC converters.

Gresham’s vast experience of designing and manufacturing defence power systems is available to customers to provide modified standard or full custom power supply designs if required. Gresham can also supply a new range of defence power products for land based or vehicle applications to complement its world-leading naval power systems.

 @GreshamPower #PAuto @proactivefleet

Tuesday 24 January 2017

Sales director for sound and vibration specialist.

The AcSoft Group (AcSoft, Svantek and G.R.A.S UK),  has promoted Emily Norman to Sales Director.

Emily Norman
Prior to taking up her new role, Emily was Sales Manager at G.R.A.S UK - having joined the AcSoft Group in 2011. She comes from a strong sales and financial background and has previously worked in customer facing roles in both the retail and technical sector.

John Shelton, Managing Director at AcSoft Group comments: “AcSoft Group is in a good place after a successful 2016 so the promotion of Emily will help strengthen the senior management team to ensure the business maintains and builds on this momentum. Emily will oversee new business development and maximise opportunities in our key target markets. She has already proved herself to be a dynamic and forward-thinking individual who has in-depth knowledge of the three companies and all products across the Group.

“As leaders in our field, we work with major universities and consultancies, as well as companies within the automotive, aerospace, telecommunications, environmental and occupational health markets. Emily will play a crucial role in further developing these relationships as we focus on continued growth.”

Emily Norman adds: “My focus as Sales Director is to continue to develop AcSoft Group’s reputation whilst delivering profitable business growth and ensuring high service levels to clients. I now have the scope to help drive the business forward and achieve these goals.”


 @acsoft_sound #PAuto @elhcomms

Approval for particulate monitors.

The TSI Environmental DustTrak™ Aerosol Monitors in Ashtead Technologies' fleet of particulate matter (PM) monitors have achieved MCERTS* approval.

"As evidence of the health effects associated with PM10 and PM2.5 exposure continues to mount, this certification provides assurance that monitoring data is accurate and reliable,” says Ashtead’s Josh Thomas. "An MCERTS certificate demonstrates compliance with the performance requirements of the Environment Agency, which means that these instruments will be ideal for monitoring PM from construction projects, traffic and industrial sources."

With a ‘cloud’ based data management system, the Environmental DustTrak provides users with easy access to real-time data on dust levels, with the optional addition of other sensors. Alarm conditions can be set by users so that text and email alerts are issued when threshold levels arise.

Available in three configurations, these MCERTS-certified models are capable of monitoring PM Total, PM10, PM2.5 and PM1.0 mass fractions simultaneously. The latest version is equipped with a heated inlet, enabling longer run times, increased accuracy and the ability to measure in a wider variety of temperatures and humidity.

Summarising, Josh says: “Environmental DustTrak units are quick and easy to set up and run, with remote web-enabled access helping to lower operating costs, and MCERTS approval providing confidence in the data.”

MCERTS is the British Environment Agency’s Monitoring Certification Scheme.

@ashteadtech #PAuto #MCERTS @_Enviro_News

Measurement Uncertainty.

The fifth edition of Measurement Uncertainty: Methods and Applications by Ronald. H. Dieck has been launched by ISA.

For greater perspective on the value & 
significance of the updated edition &
its areas of new & enhanced content,

In addition, a working version of an
uncertainty analysis template is 
available for download at the bottom
of the interview page.
Dieck, a former ISA president and a recognized expert in measurement uncertainty analysis, says an updated edition of his popular book was needed in light of ongoing technological advances and improvements in measurement uncertainty methods and applications.

“There’s still a need for a well-organised, up-to-date book for properly analyzing the uncertainty of test and experimental data, particularly given the pace of technological change,” Dieck explains. “This new edition features a significant amount of new and enhanced content, ranging from new appendices to more detailed examples of uncertainty analysis and computation.”

The book’s new appendices: include condensed descriptions of the basics of uncertainty analysis, pinpoint the advantages and disadvantages of several uncertainty models used throughout the world, and provide key equations for uncertainty analysis—all in an easy-to-use format.

 #PAuto #ISAuto

Monday 23 January 2017

Cybersecurity Career Pathways for Protecting Critical Infrastructure.


As part of its mission to help develop a workforce capable of competing in advanced manufacturing, the Automation Federation will deliver a presentation on career pathways in industrial cybersecurity at this week’s 2017 Workforce Development Institute conference.

The conference, which will be conducted 25-28 January in Newport Beach, (CA USA), is sponsored by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). It will bring together education leaders, manufacturing executives, and workforce and economic development experts from both government and private enterprise to assess current workforce challenges and consider new partnerships and perspectives.

The presentation by the Automation Federation, “Cybersecurity Career Pathways for Protecting Critical Infrastructure,” will be delivered on Friday morning (27th January).

The Automation Federation has long regarded community colleges as essential for providing the community-based education and training needed to groom future automation and control professionals and engineers. For many years, it has been working with the AACC as well as individual community colleges to help expand students’ access to automation curriculum and degree programs.

In 2012, the Automation Federation worked with the AACC to establish the US Automation Community College Consortium. The member colleges that comprise the Consortium use the Automation Federation’s Automation Competency Model as the framework for developing an automation curriculum that will result in two-year degree programs in specific automation arenas and provide an educational track leading to a four-year degree program in automation, engineering, and technology.

The Automation Federation is currently working with numerous community colleges to develop automation curriculum leading to associate degrees in automation.

“The Automation Federation and the AACC have established a strong partnership around the Community College Consortium,” emphasises Michael Marlowe, Managing Director and Director of Government Relations at the Automation Federation. “We’re confident that, by working together, we’re creating a pathway for a new generation of automation professionals that is so critical to the future of advanced manufacturing."

#Cybersecurity  #PAuto @Comm_College

Rentings for NDT training.

TWI recently ran a Non Destructive Testing training course in Madrid at which, thanks to rented instruments from Ashtead Technology, each participant was able to use individual test instruments.

“The candidates were overwhelmed by the quality and volume of equipment for their personal use,” said TWI Principal Project Leader and Advanced NDT Lecturer Neil Harrap. “Most of the Madrid trainees were from the Spanish Association of Non Destructive Testing (AEND) and their customers. At previous courses, the participants had had to share equipment, but we find that training is more effective when every candidate has his or her own equipment.”

To supplement the TWI fleet of instruments, Neil hired Olympus OmniScan® SX flaw detectors from Ashtead Technology for the Madrid course. “These were chosen because of their simplicity and cost,” Neil adds.

The TWI course, entitled ‘Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) – Welds’ is a blended learning package; combining eLearning and in-class practical training followed by certification to BS EN ISO 9712. The online modules can be studied when and where convenient and at the candidate’s own pace, and the practical sessions are included within 10 days of classroom training. The package separates the learning of key concepts from learning about a specific instrument, coupled with interactive exercises focused on the principles behind set-up, calibration, acquisition and data analysis.

Neil commented: “The quality of Ashtead’s products and service was first class, as expected, and their educational discount helped ensure that enough instruments could be provided.”

As the world’s largest provider of NDT training and with a reputation for the highest standards, TWI demands the very best from its test equipment, which is why Neil Harrap and TWI already have plans to employ Ashtead instruments on future training courses around the globe; with Denmark’s leading environmental consultancy ‘Force Technology’ next in line to benefit from Ashtead’s cutting edge equipment.

@ashteadtech #PAuto @TWI_training #NDT #Spain

Plugging into ProfiBus!

ProfiBus is growing each year with millions of newly installed devices, that are becoming more and more intelligent. For that reason, like the devices, ProfiBus plugs keep evolving to comply with the future demands of industrial automation. What usually looks like a simple passive component, is actually responsible to prevent many installation and wear-and-tear issues that can arise. The plug is the first component that connects the devices to an often companywide bus system. Reliability a key ingredient for the selection of proper plugs.

With its many years of acquired ProfiBus experience, the crew of Procentec developed a unique series of innovative ProfiBus Plugs that cover the common installation issues.

Looking at the plugs, the first thing to notice is that the series consists out of multiple colored plugs. Especially with large networks, that are also equipped with repeaters and hubs, proper administration is an important topic. The colours of the plugs help the user to distinguish sections of the installation. For example; the backbone is “green”, the high speed bus is “red” and the segments are “orange”. Any combination can be defined by the end-user. This handy add-on will save a lot of time and makes working with ProfiBus a more enjoyable experience.  (Contact them on availability of other colours!)

The plugs are equipped with a terminating resistor and high frequency inductors to filter out the first level of reflections. In our testlab the plugs have been tested under a variety of conditions to see how the inductors behave and support the user to keep-up the reliability of the installation. Under the highest baudrates and maximum allowed cable lengths, the plugs have had no issues transmitting information from point A to B.

The shielding was also an important design topic. Procentec designers were successful keeping the resistance from the connector to the shield clamp as low as possible to create the best EMC behavior and conduct ground loops smoothly.

Besides the standard plug with one 9-pin connector, a PG (piggy back) version is also available to allow easy connection of diagnostic tools like ProfiTrace.

#ProfiBus @procentec #PAuto


Friday 20 January 2017

Acreditation recognises high-quality lifelong automation training expertise.

The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) has awarded accreditation status to Endress+Hauser.


One of E+H’s Process Training Units.
IACET Accredited Providers are the only organizations approved to offer IACET Continuing Education Units (CEUs). The accreditation period extends for five years, and includes all programs offered or created during that time. These CEUs are recognised, accepted and, even required by many state agencies and credentialing organisations.

“Endress+Hauser is proud of our education programs which train instrument technicians and engineers from the process automation industry in important installation, programming and troubleshooting skills so that our customers stay on the cutting edge,” stated Jerry Spindler, Customer and Field Service Training Manager, Endress+Hauser. Spindler added, “Our partnership with IACET is a demonstration of our commitment to lifelong learning and high standards for all of our programs, and we are very pleased to remain with such a prestigious organization and the elite group of organizations that offer excellent continuing education and training programs.”

“We are pleased to continue our relationship with Endress+Hauser as an Accredited Provider,” stated Lori Schnaider, president of IACET. Schnaider added, “Endress+Hauser joins nearly 600 organisations around the globe that have had their programs audited by third-party continuing education experts to ensure the highest possible standards are met.”

Upcoming classes in 2017 which offer CEUs at Endress+Hauser include I-101 Basic instrumentation in January, March, June, and September in Greenwood (IN USA).

Endress+Hauser completed a rigorous application process, including a review by an IACET site visitor, to achieve its Accredited Provider accreditation. The organization successfully demonstrated adherence to the ANSI/IACET 1-2013 Standard addressing the design, development, administration, and evaluation of its programs. Endress+Hauser has pledged its continued compliance with the Standard, and is now authorized to use the IACET name and Accredited Provider logo on promotional course material. In addition, Endress+Hauser is now linked to the IACET web site and is recognized as offering the highest quality continuing education and training programs.

#PAuto @Endress_Hauser @IACETorg

Thursday 19 January 2017

Examining the fourth industrial revolution!

Key companies at the forefront of the 4th industrial revolution have confirmed their participation at the Industry 4.0 Summit. This is scedulee to be held in Manchester (GB) on 4th-5th April 2017.  A combined high-level conference & trade exhibition the event is attracting support of many leading automation & technology companies such as Schneider Electric, Rockwell Automation, SMC Pneumatics, Panduit, EPlan, Murrelektroik and Bosch Rexroth, who are also the headline sponsor.
The four industrial revolutions.
B&R Automation, are another leading automation company exhibiting at the event, and their Regional Manager Andrew Norcliffe commented on the reason for their involvement  "B&R provides manufacturers with innovative hardware and software solutions to bring their factory into the 21st century. What better place to promote our technology than in the heart of the Northern Powerhouse, Manchester, at the Industry 4.0 Summit. We are delighted to be involved in the event look forward to sharing our own experiences of modernising our 65,000 square metre factory in Austria with visitors to the show."

Event Director Gary Gilmour commented “We have been really encouraged by the level of support that this new event has received. With support from trade associations such as Gambica and the Industrial Internet Consortium, to endorsement from the government’s Innovate UK, through to incredible speakers from Airbus, Siemens, Unilever and of course all the exhibitors we have secured, we believe we have a great event that will educate British businesses on what the benefits of Industry 4.0 can deliver, and to see the latest technology from companies driving the 4th industrial revolution.”

The organisers will be delivering 40 leading speakers on industry 4.0, IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) and smart factories. The event aims to attract 300 conference delegates as well as 60 exhibiting companies & 3,000 visitors to the trade exhibition.

@Industry_4 @BR_Automation #industrie4 #PAuto

Installing a power-off brake!

Thomson Industries, has released an educational video for design engineers, illustrating how to properly install its SB Series power-off brake. Thomson’s SB Series is designed as a servo brake with low backlash splines for high-performance applications such as robotics, medical equipment and packaging.
SB power-off brakes are typically mounted on the back end of a motor that requires the stopping and/or holding of a load in the absence of power. The video describes the installation of these brakes in simple and clear steps.

Thomson’s SB Series includes a spline drive, which is constructed to withstand high-impact stresses and minimise system backlash. The spring-set, electromagnetic power-off brakes provide a safe and efficient way of stopping or holding load in the absence of power. Low-inertia, rotating components enable higher acceleration rates for design engineers to consider using for their specified application.

Thomson strives to continually innovate and lead the marketplace in linear motion solutions and share their application engineering and technical expertise. To that end, Thomson has authored a wide range of educational videos, webinars and technical white papers available on their website to inform and guide design engineers, explain technology alternatives and simplify the linear motion component selection process.

@Thomson_Ind #Motion #Pauto

Wednesday 18 January 2017

Agreement on co-operation on automation opportunities.

Bedrock Automation has signed a memorandum of agreement with Jacobs Engineering Group, one of the world’s largest and most diverse providers of full-spectrum technical, professional and construction services. Under the agreement, the companies will pursue selected projects with automation system requirements for potential implementation of the Bedrock Open Secure Automation (OSATM) system.

“Our clients are increasingly concerned about both cyber security and advanced automation and we have been creating innovative service packages to meet these needs. Bedrock Automation has excellent experience and superior designs in this area. I am impressed with their comprehensive background and knowledge in the industrial DCS and PLC arena,” said Jacobs’ Mission Solutions Chief Technology Officer Dr. Tommy Gardner.

The BedrockTM control system is known for its patented Black FabricTM Cybershield architecture, which provides an intrinsic cyber secure automation platform to protect user hardware, software and applications. Unlike other conventional industrial control systems, Bedrock was designed from a clean sheet of paper with advanced components and architecture to be simple, scalable and secure.

“Jacobs is taking a leadership role in integrating the next generation of information and automation technologies for its clients,” added Bedrock Automation President Bob Honor. “We see this as a tremendous opportunity to bring our technology and our vision of holistic cyber security to a much larger audience. We look forward to an exciting and mutually beneficial relationship with Jacobs.”


#PAuto @BedrockAuto #JacobsEngineering

Pipeline management & control system order.

Yokogawa has received an order from the British Pipeline Agency Limited (BPA), that country's leading provider of engineering and operational services to the oil and gas pipeline sector, to supply a management and control system for a major multi-product fuel pipeline system. This project will replace BPA’s existing pipeline management and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems.

The pipeline system consists of three integrated multi-product fuel pipelines that, altogether, are some 650 km in length and extend from Ellesmere port in northwestern England to the country’s southeastern coast. The pipelines connect to the City of London’s major airports and are a critical part of the Britain’s infrastructure,

This order is for Yokogawa’s Enterprise Pipeline Management Solution (EPMS), which will manage functions such as delivery scheduling and oil storage, and the FAST/TOOLS SCADA software, which will monitor and control the oil pipelines and related equipment such as compressors. The EPMS supplements a basic pipeline management system with specific gas and liquid applications that enable a pipeline operator to manage delivery contracts and associated logistics in a time and energy efficient manner. With the SCADA system covering monitoring and control, the EPMS will integrate the management of the SCADA data.

Yokogawa United Kingdom Ltd. will be responsible for the engineering, installation, and commissioning of these systems. Yokogawa Europe Solutions B.V., which has a wealth of oil and gas pipeline project experience, will provide support. Delivery of these systems will be completed by March 2018.

In accordance with its Transformation 2017 mid-term business plan, Yokogawa targets the entire energy supply chain. The company is strengthening its efforts to drive up sales by providing solutions for oil and gas pipelines and other midstream applications. Encouraged by its success in winning this order, Yokogawa plans to expand its control business in the midstream applications segment.

@YokogawaIA  #PAuto #Britain #BPA

Connectors to simplify panel building & system integration.

Cliff Electronics has introduced a 1U 19” rack mounting panel to aid system builders with integration of their very successful range of XLR-Format FeedThrough connectors. The panel has a black anodized finish and will accept 16 FeedThrough connectors and features a labelling strip for end users to identify the function or individual connectors. The panel is also fitted with a strain-relief bar for tying internal cables to, relieving pressure on internal cable assemblies and improving system reliability.

John Hall, General Manager of Cliff Electronics, says, “The introduction of our new FeedThrough connector mounting panel enables us to supply system builders with a complete panel mounting interconnection system. Demand for our FT connectors continues to grow and we are being asked to support more applications on a regular basis. The industry standard XL format speeds up our development time and allows our customers to simplify and standardise their panel design, improving flexibility and reducing cost. Our FeedThrough connecters are being employed in our traditional audio broadcast market and many more applications in instrumentation and industrial markets where our ability to provide custom solutions is welcomed.”

Cliff’s Feedthrough connectors provide one of the widest ranges of digital, optical and analogue available to system builders. The range now includes Firewire, HDMI A-A and 50 ohm BNC versions, USB2 A-to-B and B-to-A “gender change” sockets, high speed USB Type – C, USB3 to USB3 in all gender changing configurations - A-A, A-B and B-A. Also available are all popular data and Ethernet connectors including USB 2.0 and 3.0, LC and SC fibre (Duplex & Simplex), UTP and FTP RJ45s in both Cat6 and Cat5e (shielded and unshielded), Toslink, RCA Phono and HDMI and blanking plates. Further options will continue to be introduced throughout 2017 and custom design enquiries are welcomed.

Cliff’s very extensive FT connector range is designed to fit into the industry standard 24mm diameter XLR connector panel cutout simplifying panel design and manufacture and improving design aesthetics. Models are available with plastic or rugged zinc/nickel XLR housings finished in nickel or black to enhance the high quality, high performance and prestige image of the product range. All models may be front or rear mounted to control panels and the Firewire and HDMI models may be specified with an optional socket sealing cover to prevent the ingress of dust when not in use or when in transit.

The FT connector range allows designers to integrate audio, video, digital, optical, networking and data feeds into professional equipment for broadcast, lighting, audio, home theatre, automation, solar power and a growing range of industrial applications including instrumentation, industrial control and data acquisition.

.All versions, metal and plastic, share the same features and dimensions and offer a complete range of very cost effective audio, data, and fibre connectors, all of which can both front or rear mounted into industry standard 24mm XLR connector mounting holes. For ease of assembly the Cliff FT Series are available with standard or countersunk mounting holes. Bezels are available in 7 colours to identify the function of FT connectors when fitted to a control panel

The FT Series offers true feed-through connection, allowing standard cabling to be used to connect at both front and rear, eliminating the need to solder or terminate the connections and simplifying and speeding up assembly.

#CliffElectr #PAuto 

OPC Communication with Secure Link to IoT Clouds.

The new version of Softing’s dataFEED OPC Suite now includes an MQTT connector. This makes transfer of data to IoT Clouds simple and secure.

With Softing’s dataFEED OPC Suite, a secure IoT cloud data application can now be easily implemented. The new MQTT Connector enables the integration of automation devices via MQTT Publisher functionality in IoT cloud applications, e.g. IBM Bluemix Cloud. Highest security during transmission is guaranteed through the encryption of the data using SSL/TLS.

“A key issue for the successful implementation of Industrie 4.0 is the provision and analysis of production data. For system builders, operators and IT administrators, the crucial question is how and where to store and analyze large amounts of data safely and cost-effectively. This is where we come in with our solution”, says Andreas Roeck, Product Manager Data Integration at Softing Industrial.

Softing's dataFEED OPC Suite combines OPC Server and OPC Middleware functionality into one compact software solution. The integrated MQTT gateway allows easy integration of legacy and new controllers into IoT solutions. It is also possible to integrate components without MQTT support such as, for example, Siemens, B&R and Rockwell controllers. The state-of-the-art user interface with intelligent, common sense default settings and intuitive user guidance is designed to make it exceptionally easy for plant manufacturers and maintenance engineers to quickly and easily configure their IoT communication. The modular design of the suite offers the user the greatest possible flexibility since only the required functionality has to be licensed.

@SoftingIA #PAuto @OPCFoundation 

Measuring stylus tracking force.

Demonstrating its continuing role as a technological innovator, Rega will soon be launching a new accessory – a weighing scale that precisely measures stylus tracking force. With tone arm set-up critical to sound performance as well as stylus and record condition, their new Atlas Tracking Force Scale will confirm tone arm adjustment to 1/100th of a gram with a working range of 3.5 to 5 gm in a simple in-situ process. As an integral component for the scale, Rega chose the Zemic Q70 series miniature load cell, supplied and fully supported in the Britain by Variohm EuroSensor.

Having identified that an accurate way to measure tracking force was desirable for the high-end audio market, Rega set out to design a scale that would be affordable and be able to be offered alongside the majority of its turntable range.

Rega design engineer, Ashton Wagner explains how the project developed, "We looked for a load cell with an accuracy to one hundredth of a gram that would fully maintain that accuracy over its lifetime; we needed excellent durability and a scale that would not require calibration by the user." 

Budget constraints were also fully considered at the outset, "To meet our target costs the use of premium digital and analogue electronics were off the table. A microcontroller with an embedded commodity ADC was chosen which meant, that to achieve the accuracy we desired, we would have to use a high gain amplification circuit with little room for adjustment. We needed a gauge that would maintain consistent performance under variance in temperature, age, stress, and from gauge to gauge as well – after technical support from Variohm and thorough testing we thus chose the Zemic Q70 series load cell."

The Q70 series miniature load sensor is available in five range options from 0 to 20 gm, up to 200 gm and is well proven in hand-held scale applications. Its semiconductor strain gauge sensing element provides a 0.05% accuracy class and an output sensitivity of 0.5 +/- 0.15 mV/V for excitation from 2 to 5 V DC supply. Its high overload capability and compensated temperature range of -10⁰C to ~+40⁰C ensures consistency in measurement and high reliability for normal ambient temperature conditions.

Rega’s Atlas Tracking Force Scale packages the Q70 miniture load sensor in an attractive case that fits the contour of the record deck’s platen. The battery operated scale has a simple on/off button and a three segment digital display.

@RegaResearch @Variohm #Audio

Drive ranges purchased to continue availaibility.

Following the recent closure of SmartDrive Limited*, Mclennan has purchased the design and manufacturing rights for the entire line of the former motion control provider’s D- and DM-series full/half stepping and microstepping Eurocard drives.

This popular and well-proven range had been a flagship product for SmartDrive since its inception in the mid-80’s and has become a key product for many OEMs and end-users. Notwithstanding the regrettable closure of SmartDrive, by securing the manufacturing rights Mclennan can guarantee existing users continuity of supply going forward. The range also stands alone as an excellent and compelling Eurocard format stepper drive for new applications, perfectly suiting motion control integrators and machine builders preferring stepper drives and 19-inch rack systems for automation hardware.

Mclennan’s new D and DM series drives are form-fit replacements for the former SmartDrive models, utilising the equivalent components, manufacturing techniques and quality control procedures as their previously available counterparts. D- and DM-series drives use the 3U high x 160mm deep Euromodule format. Both drive types are available in 5 current-rated ranges and employ top quality MOSFET technology coupled with high efficiency heat sinking for maximum efficiency. Continuous current ratings cover 2.8A, 5.5A, 8.0A, 11.0A and 16.5A with supply voltages ranging from 27 to 94V DC. For each model type flexible and straightforward current setting ensures optimum performance whilst the highly reliable drives feature Comprehensive Dynamic Protection (CDP) which reacts against motor winding faults within 5 µs. The D series provides 200/400 full/half step resolution whilst the DM series offers microstepping up to 51,200 steps/rev binary or 50,000 steps/rev decimal.

As part of its wide range of motion control components, Mclennan can supply compatible stepper motors, gear units and other power transmission components as well as design and build complete motion systems around the new drives.

* Details of winding up of SmartDrives (19/12/2016)


#Mclennan #PAuto #Drives

Tuesday 17 January 2017

Circuit protection in Britain & Ireland.

Anglia has significantly strengthened and enhanced its circuit protection portfolio with its appointment as Britain and Ireland distributor by Littelfuse.


John Bowman (L), Marketing Director, Anglia 
Paul Turner, EMEA Sales Director Electronics Bus
Unit , Littelfuse 
The announcement gives Anglia customers access not only to Littelfuse cartridge and surface-mount fuses, resettable fuses and fuse holders, but also to its suppression products such as Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV’s), Gas Discharge Tubes (GDT), TVS Diodes and Arrays and SIDACtors. Anglia will also be offering and supporting Littelfuse magnetic sensors and reed switches, as well as the power semiconductor range encompassing IGBT, Rectifier and Thyristor modules, Schottky diodes, Ultrafast rectifiers and Silicon Carbide (SiC) diodes.

Commenting, David Pearson, Technical Director at Anglia said, “Littelfuse is one of the best known and most respected brands in electronics today. Through innovation and technology-driven acquisition it has built up a portfolio of solutions without parallel. Starting from its heritage of circuit protection, it has become a leader in suppression, power semiconductors and other areas too. Our new relationship with Littelfuse gives us access to an extensive range of devices that we currently aren’t able to offer.”

He continued, “Additional products Anglia can offer as a result of the new relationship include LED protection devices and surge protection modules for outdoor lighting. These will be of great interest to customers of Anglia Lighting.”

Paul Turner, EMEA Sales Director, Electronics Business Unit at Littelfuse added, “We realized there are segments of the UK market that we were not addressing and this was holding back Littelfuse’s growth. It became clear that Anglia is very much engaged with these segments. The focus and energy that we see at Anglia gives us confidence that we can now address these segments and mutually enjoy accelerated growth.”

Anglia has put in place a comprehensive stock profile of the most popular Littelfuse lines, which are listed on Anglia Live with immediate effect. Datasheets for non-stocked lines that are recommended for new designs have also been loaded onto Anglia Live, for easy reference by Anglia customers.

 #Britain  #Ireland. #Anglia #PAuto @Littelfuse

Cylinder pressure sensors.

The Type 6124A uncooled cylinder pressure sensor, from Kistler, has a measuring range of 0 to 300 bar and is equally suited to laboratory and on-road applications in challenging environments.

The key to the performance of the new sensor is the high sensitivity of Kistler’s PiezoStar® crystal even with the compact physical design. The sensor offers excellent thermal sensitivity and linearity characteristics (thermal sensitivity shift ≤±1 %) and linearity (≤± 0.3 %) with a measuring range of 0 to 300 bar at up to 350°C. The combination of high sensitivity and excellent thermodynamic characteristics delivers high-precision and accurate measurements.

The decoupling of the measuring element and an improved cable connection ensures that the Type 6124A can deliver an excellent lifetime, even under harsh operating conditions and the new sensor, being uncooled, is suitable for test-cell applications and in-vehicle testing.

This shoulder-sealed sensor has the benefit of offering a flush-mounted installation in the cylinder head and the extensive range of mounting accessories ensure that the sensor can be installed through the water-jacket directly or by using a mounting sleeve.

The new Type 6124A cylinder pressure sensor delivers a powerful combination of high sensitivity, low thermal shock error, excellent linearity and minimal sensitivity change across the temperature range and is interchangeable with the ground-isolated Type 6125C pressure sensor. Whether on the test bed or the road, the new sensor provides performance to match the demands of the most challenging applications.

 #Kistler #PAuto #Laboratory