Monday 31 July 2017

1900 IO-Link device listed.

Just 6 months after its introduction, over 80% of all known IO-Link devices are already included in the IODDfinder, the central database for IO-device descriptions. The service launched by the IO-Link community at the start of this year was received very well by manufacturing companies and users alike and will contribute decisively towards the further spread of IO-Link.

This portal meets the desire of users of IO-Link technology for a central access point for IODDs of all IO-Link devices common in the market. This data pool is available 24/7 allowing interested parties access to the database and facilitating direct connection of engineering and parameterization tools. Relevant software tools are given access via the Internet to this manufacturer-neutral data pool, which guarantees users automatic access to all operationally-important description files of IO-Link devices.

So far, more than 30 manufacturers of IO-Link devices are participating in the data platform and have already stored about 1900 IODDs. With this amount of IODDs, more than 3900 different IO-Link devices can be parameterized. On the consumer side, the platform was able to deal with roughly 2500 call-ups per day in the first half of the year.

These figures demonstrate in an impressive way how valuable this new service is for the IO-Link world.

 #IO-link, #PAuto 

Friday 28 July 2017

Gas purity in semiconductor applications.

Michell Instruments is now offering to customers in the semi-conductor and gas manufacturing industries a class-leading trace oxygen analyzer for ensuring the quality of ultra-high purity gases.

Analytical Industries’ PI2-UHP Oxygen Analyzer is both cost-effective and reliable. With a low detection limit of less than 100 PPT, it is designed to measure trace-level oxygen contamination in high-purity gases. The Pico-Ion electrochemical sensor is maintenance free and routine calibrations are quick and simple thanks to the built-in auto-calibration and sample handling system. There is no need to add electrolyte.


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To ensure the zero gas is completely free of O2,  an oxygen scrubber is included as part of the integrated sampling system. To protect the sensor, a sample by-pass is provided to isolate the sensor from high oxygen levels during, start-up, sample line switching and during maintenance.

Mitchell Instrument products are marketed in Ireland by Instrument Technology.

@Michell_Inst #PAuto 

Thursday 27 July 2017

Good news for life sciences in Northern Europe.

Pharma and biotech manufacturers in Northern Europe benefit from additional local PAS-X MES expertise during on-site implementation

LtoR: Mats Forsberg (ÅF), Max Börjesson (ÅF), Anders Bennermark (ÅF), Torsten Isenberg (Werum) and Peter Vigh (ÅF)
Good news for pharma and biotech manufacturers in Northern Europe: Werum IT Solutions further expands its PAS-X Service Partner network. The world’s leading supplier of manufacturing execution systems (MES) signed a partnership agreement with ÅF Industry. ÅF is a leading engineering and consulting company based in Stockholm, Sweden.

As a certified "PAS-X Endorsed Service Partner", ÅF Industry will support Werum customers in Europe – especially in the Scandinavian and Baltic countries – during the on-site-implementation of Werum's PAS-X MES. ÅF will e.g. provide resources for MBR design, system configuration, installation, and the integration of automation systems and equipment.

“We opted for ÅF Industry because they have many offices in Scandinavia and the Baltic region and they already know our customers,” says Torsten Isenberg, Senior Director Services at Werum IT Solutions GmbH. “With their unique Level 2 and MES implementation expertise plus their excellent reputation in Northern Europe, ÅF will provide high-quality services and support to our existing and new customers."

Max Börjesson, Section Manager Food & Pharma at ÅF Industry: “ÅF’s long experience in offering consulting services to the pharmaceutical market makes us a stable and reliable partner for Werum and its customers in the context of PAS-X MES implementation. With our deep understanding of the daily operations in the industry, we can perform the transition from a paper-based to a digital quality control system efficiently and in high quality.”

"PAS-X Endorsed Service Partners" meet all requirements of Werum's PAS-X Service Partner Program. The main objective is to offer the same quality and competence of services to Werum customers all over the world – through reliable, experienced and certified partners. The PAS-X Service Partners need to have comprehensive PAS-X knowledge, participate at PAS-X trainings on a regular basis, possess experience in the regulated industry and use a quality management system. The certification has to be renewed on a regular basis.

@Werum #PAuto #Pharma

Robust docking frame.

The Han-Modular® Docking Frame Metal is a new robust connector solution from Harting, for speeding the installation of systems that have to be mated “blind” or coupled automatically – in switch cabinet drawers, for example.

The new docking frame allows machine components to be switched quickly and securely, providing a cost-effective technique for incorporating slide-in modules in low-voltage switching systems or energy storage units along with signals, power and data.

The frame works as a receptacle for units in the company’s Han-Modular® family of industrial connectors, in which different modules for the transfer of power, signal and data or compressed air can be located side-by-side. With over 100 different modules, the Harting modular connector range offers almost endless flexibility and connection options.

The docking frame works without the need for any additional articulated frames, and connector modules can be fitted directly to it, saving time and cost. The frame has two long leading guide pins on the pin side to bring the two connector faces together.

The connectors are located in a “floating” mount with a ±2 mm tolerance, allowing the socket face to be oriented to the ideal position for greater accuracy and a more secure connection. Because grounding is separate in many insertion scenarios, the docking frame has no PE contact, but grounding can be added as required with a Han® PE module that can be obtained separately.

The Han-Modular® Docking Connector Metal can be connected either manually (directly or indirectly) or automatically. The construction of the device is particularly robust and mechanically stable to make it secure enough for all applications.

@harting #PAuto

Terms & Definitions for IIoT.

The Industrial Internet Consortium® (IIC) has announced version 2.0 of the Industrial Internet Vocabulary Technical Report. The report provides IIoT vocabulary terms and definitions that enable all stakeholders in the IIoT ecosystem, from system architects to IT managers to plant managers to business decision makers, to communicate with each other effectively.

The IIC Vocabulary Technical Report v2.0 is the foundation for the collective body of work from the IIC, ensuring that consistent terminology is used throughout all IIC publications. This includes the Industrial Reference Architecture (IRA), Industrial Internet Security Framework (IISF), Industrial Internet Connectivity Framework (IICF) and the Business Strategy and Innovation Framework (BSIF) that collectively comprise the IIC IIoT suite.

“The Industrial Internet comprises a diverse set of industries and people with various skill sets and expertise. Often, concepts and terminology in one field will have different meanings in another, leading to confusion,” said Anish Karmarkar, IIC Vocabulary Task Group Chair, and Director, Standards Strategy & Architecture at Oracle. “Industrial Internet projects succeed when participants can communicate using common vocabulary terms and definitions. The IIC Industrial Internet Vocabulary Technical Report v2.0 ensures all IIoT stakeholders are speaking the same language, avoiding what would otherwise be an IIoT ‘Tower of Babel.’”

The Industrial Internet Vocabulary Technical Report v2.0 was developed by members of the IIC Vocabulary Task Group, which is part of the IIC Technology Working Group, comprised of software architects, business experts, and security experts. The group analyzed the previous version of the report and made the following updates:

  • Interdependent terms were aligned to create a cohesive whole.
  • Terms were eliminated if they did not have a specific meaning in IIoT, if the dictionary meaning was already sufficient or if there were other terms that were better replacements.
  • Terms were added following the publication of the IIC IISF and the IIC IRA V1.8.

“The IIoT is changing quickly and as such, the meaning of specific words and phrases has also changed,” said Marcellus Buchheit, member of the IIC Vocabulary Task Group, and co-founder, President and CEO of WIBU-SYSTEMS USA. “The vocabulary team reviewed nearly every first edition term, removing 11 unnecessary terms, adding 16 terms and redefining 11 terms. Our goal was simplicity, clarity, and relevancy to the IIoT.”

New to version 2.0, the IIC Vocabulary Task Group voted to add the prefix “IoT” to terms such as device, sensor, actuator and connected their interdependencies with endpoint, component and interface to align these terms as part of a cohesive whole. A definition for “trustworthiness” was added following the publication of the IISF and several terms, such as application domain, operations domain, implementation viewpoint and usage viewpoint were added following the publication of the IIRA V1.8.

"Vocabulary is where stakeholders come together from Working and Task Groups to discuss and agree on the commonality across their interests,” said Eric Harper, IIC Steering Committee Member and Senior Principal Scientist, ABB. “The IIC Vocabulary 2.0 release continues this process by generalizing architecture concepts to prepare the way for contributions focused on edge computing and interoperability.”


@IIConsortium #PAuto #IoT

Wednesday 26 July 2017

New management at drive manufacturer.

Reinhold Rückel
Reinhold Rückel took over the position of the commercial director of the Baumüller Nürnberg GmbH and together with Andreas Baumüller is now managing the Baumüller Nürnberg GmbH. Furthermore, he will be acting as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Baumüller group.

"With Reinhold Rückel we recruited an experienced professional. I look forward to cooperating with him and wish him success for his new position",  said Andreas Baumüller, CEO at Baumüller.

#PAuto @BM_Services

Mechatronic solution to thermal errors.

The most frequent approach to reducing thermal errors is to regulate the environment in which the machine operates. This mitigates the need to design a thermally insensitive machine, which is a difficult and costly endeavor.

Although successful at minimizing thermal effects, environmental regulation can also be expensive when maintaining precise building temperature control, and always adds to production quality risks due to the inherently unreliable stability of most air-conditioning systems. The level of environmental stability achieved in most industrial facilities (normally on the order of 1°C) can be wholly inadequate for many high-precision manufacturing processes.

Aerotech’s new product feature, ThermoComp™, is a complete mechatronic solution to thermal errors. Through the employment of integrated hardware and sensors, and a proprietary compensation algorithm implemented via Aerotech’s A3200 controller software, ThermoComp minimizes stage inaccuracy due to thermal effects even over extreme temperature ranges. Up to 90% of the thermal-related errors can be eliminated, regardless of stage travel and range of temperature change.

Additionally, internal self-heating is another major source of thermal-related positioning errors, particularly in stages without direct feedback devices such as ball-screw-driven stages. ThermoComp not only prevents environmental changes from affecting positioning performance, but also diminishes the errors caused through internal heating, eliminating up to 90% of the thermal-related errors caused by the self-heating of a ball-screw-driven stage.

ThermoComp is currently available on all Aerotech PRO Series stages and operates through an intuitive and easy-to-use integrated command set within the Aerotech A3200 controller software.

 @aerotechmotion #PAuto

More ways with IIoT.

Advancing Automation - Key Trends & Predictions for IIoT

In April 2017, Automation.com released their first eBook sharing several real instances where IIoT is delivering tangible value in factories and plants all over the world. The reader response was such that they have brought out a 2nd edition of Advancing Automation to share still other ways that the digital transformation is delivering economic growth throughout several industries.

This edition, sponsored by Sciemetric Instruments, discusses how IoT is driving manufacturing, how digital technologies are generating mountains of previously unseen data to enhance decision making, the current evolution of digital business models as seen in the modern enterprise, where IIoT will lead in the future, and much more.

For those whose focus is on process control, manufacturing, energy conservation, or those who are just interested IIoT innovation, this eBook has the latest stories and studies of how industrial organizations are currently using digital technologies and the IIoT to advance innovation and the bottom line.

@automation_com  #PAuto #IoT @sciemetric

Recognition for excellence in and service to automation.

Members of the International Society of Automation (ISA) elevated to the distinguished membership grade of Fellow and the Celebrating Excellence Award honorees for 2017, including Member’s Choice honorees chosen by their peers, have been announced.

ISA Fellows & Excellence Ceremony 1216
Elevation to the distinguished grade of ISA Fellow is granted to Senior Members in recognition of their exceptional engineering scientific contributions to the field of automation. ISA’s Celebrating Excellence Awards honor companies and individuals, both members and non-members, for significant contributions in leadership, technical innovation, and contributions to education that have advanced the profession.

2017 ISA Fellows
Elevation to the distinguished grade of ISA Fellow is granted to ISA Senior Members in recognition of outstanding achievements in scientific or engineering fields as recognized by ISA peers.

• Penny P. Chen, Ph.D., Communications Division, Yokogawa Corp of America.
For innovation and leadership in industrial wireless as related to process automation and instrumentation
• Gerald Combs, Ph.D., Analysis Division, Retired (Siemens Industry)
For contributions to process analytical technologies for environmental monitoring
• David L. Neal, PE, Louisville Section, Advanced Industrial Systems Inc.
For contributions to the field of computer based programmable data acquisition and test systems
• Brent Shumaker, Power Industry Division Analysis & Measurement Services Corp.
For development and implementation of online technologies to assess the health and remaining useful life of critical components in nuclear power plants
• Iwan Van Beurden, Chemical & Petroleum Industries Division, Exida
For development of probabilistic analysis safety verification data, methods, and tools used to improve the safety lifecycle in the process industries.

2017 Celebrating Excellence awards
Excellence in Leadership
Recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the industry and/or profession to advance automation
• Judith F. Marks, Siemens USA
For taking a leading role in STEM issues through apprenticeships to fill the skills shortage in manufacturing 

Excellence in Analytical Technical Innovation (Endowed by the ISA Analysis Division)
Recognizes an individual who has played a critical role in the conception, design, and/or implementation of an innovative product, process, and/or service in the analytical technology field
• Dale Harrison, Ph.D., VUV Analytics
For his contributions in the development of vacuum ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy instruments

Excellence in Technical Innovation (Endowed by UOP, a Honeywell Company)
Recognizes an individual who has played a critical role in the conception, design, and/or implementation of an innovative product, process, and/or service
• Manikandan Pandiyan, Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India Pvt. Ltd.
In recognition for developing a portable real-time Electrocardiogram device for local on-chip data acquisition of health parameters and remote diagnosis

Excellence in Corporate Technical Innovation
Recognizes the company whose contributions and innovations have enhanced social value
• APERIO Systems, Haifa, Israel
For developing an innovative solution in recognizing and protecting Industrial Control Systems against data forgery

Excellence in Technical Presentation
Recognizes the author(s) of the most outstanding paper, article, presentation, or document published and/or presented on behalf of ISA that introduces a new technology or explains an existing automation process
Cyrus Taft, Taft Engineering, Harriman, TN, USA
John Sorge, Southern Company, Birmingham, AL, USA
Mircea Lupu, Emerson Process Management, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Rick Kephart, Emerson Process Management, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
For paper, “Application of Model Predictive Control to Improve Steam Temperature Control on a Pulverized-Coal Unit,” presented at ISA’s 59th Power Industry Division Symposium

Excellence in Education
Recognizes an individual who has developed and/or enhanced established educational programs to advance the automation profession in educational institutions
• Chetan B. Bhatt, Government Engineering College, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
For developing university courses in India using the Automation Competency Model and developing Web-based Intelligent tutoring system for I&CT students

Excellence in Enduring Service
Recognizes dedicated volunteer service to the Society at the grassroots level. May be presented to multiple (up to five) honorees
• Kenneth Belteau, Process Measurement and Control Division, Spectra Energy Transmission LLC
For outstanding service and contributions to the Society and its members 
• M. Venkatram, Maharashtra Section.
For outstanding service and contributions to the Society and its members 
• Richard O. Williams, Process Measurement and Control Division
For outstanding service and contributions to the Society and its members

Standards Excellence
Recognizes an ISA standards committee member for exceptional efforts in organization, development and/or administration to further the development of ISA standards and for services to advance the mission of the Society
• Nicholas P. Sands, CAP, ISA18.2
For years of dedication to ISA standards, and especially the development of ISA18.2 


Member’s Choice Award Honorees
Member’s Choice candidates are nominated by the members and honorees are selected by vote of the members.

Division Leader of the Year
Recognizes a division leader whose activities in the previous year, in an innovative way, have provided exceptional value to a division, or enhanced an existing conference and/or symposia, or contributed to the development of a new conference and/or symposia
• Sohail Iftikhar, Chemical and Petroleum Industries Division

Section Leader of the Year
Recognizes a section leader whose activities in the previous year, in an innovative way, provided exceptional value to a local section
• Rajesh Rathi, Bangalore Section

Student Mentor of the Year
Recognizes a member whose activities in the previous year have promoted and encouraged student involvement in automation programs
• S. Vivekanandan, South India Section, VIT University Vellore

Volunteer Leader of the Year
Recognizes a member who in the previous year has demonstrated exceptional leadership of a task force, committee, or board at any level within the Society (section, division, district, department, executive) resulting in a specific positive outcome
• Veena Hegde, Ph.D., Bangalore Section

Division & Section Excellence
The following two awards will be announced at the Gala itself.

Division Excellence
Recognizes an ISA division for development and/or execution of programs and/or services to advance the mission of the Society
The nominees are:
• Analysis Division
For promotion of student participation at the 61st ISA Analytical Division Symposium through collaboration with local colleges that hold analyzer and instrumentation certificate programs
• Food and Pharmaceutical Industries Division
For organizing ISA Food and Pharmaceutical Industries Division Symposium in collaboration with the Ireland Section, and promoting society goals
• Process Control and Measurement Division
For collaboration with ChemPID, Safety, Pulp and Paper, Communication, and Education and Management divisions in organizing 2016 ISA Process Control and Safety Symposium

Section Excellence
Recognizes an ISA section for development and/or execution of programs and/or services to advance the mission of the Society
The nominees are:
• Bangalore Section
For hosting the Food Safety Symposium, attended by automation experts to discuss technical solutions, and for organizing 8 technical presentations  
• Ireland Section  
For hosting the third ISA International FPID Symposium in Ireland and conducting training courses on alarm management and security
• Texas Channel 
For reactivating a student section, sponsoring student team's travel to the International Instrumentation Student games and adopting two FIRST® robotics teams. 

Award presentations will be made at the 55th Annual ISA Honors & Awards Gala on 29 October 2017 at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay, Florida, USA. 


 #ISAuto #PAuto #Standards, #TandM

Tuesday 25 July 2017

Major doubts revealed about requirements for serialization!

More than one third (40 per cent) of pharmaceutical industry professionals are not confident that they will meet serialization deadlines in the US and Europe, according to new industry research.

Download e-book
As the FDA has announced plans to delay the active enforcement of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) in the US to November 2018, the research, conducted by SEA Vision and  Zenith Technologies, gives further evidence for the need for additional time both in the US and Europe.

Just 18 per cent of those that took part in the survey are ‘extremely confident’ that they will meet impending track and trace deadlines, including the US DSCSA and the European Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD).

Highlighting a major cause of the lack of preparedness, 40 per cent of industry professionals admit that they are not clear what the global requirements for serialization are.

Despite the lack of understanding, the majority (38%) of companies will rely on an in-house team to handle the entire implementation. One third will use an implementation partner and 20 per cent will rely on their software and hardware providers for the required support and expertise.

Commenting on the research findings, Carlos Machado, serialization director at SEA Vision US, said: “Clearly the industry is going through a challenging period and there is nervousness around whether the supply chain will be ready for compliance deadlines in the US and Europe.

“The delay of the active enforcement of the DSCSA should not be viewed as a reason to be complacent, but instead the chance for small and mid-sized manufacturers that are behind in their serialization journey to get their preparations back on track.

“Just 43 per cent of those companies surveyed are already supplying serialized products to other markets where regulations are in place, so for many, the DSCSA and the FMD are steps into the unknown. As a result, we believe that reliance on implementation partners will increase and this brings about new challenges as demand may surpass capacity as the deadlines draw closer.”

• In 2016, SEA Vision and Zenith Technologies formed a global partnership to support pharmaceutical companies with the impending challenge of installing and integrating serialization across drug manufacturing sites.


@SEA_Vision  @ZenithIre  #PAuto 

IR workshop crosses Atlantic!

Laser Components will sponsor the 4th International WORKshop on Infrared Technologies for a broad audience of leading IR experts. The event will take place at Arizona State University on November 8 - 9, 2017 in Tempe (AZ USA).

"The concept is fairly unique", says Susan Wells, Scientific Coordinator of the IR WORKshop. "With fast paced presentations, we wanted to design a platform that connects researchers and industry professionals in an interactive and collaborative environment. We are also delighted to open up the event to students who we want to give a chance to show their entrepreneurial spirit and creativity".

Based on a proven concept in Germany, this the first IR WORKshop in the US will introduce 40 paper presentations and more than 20 research poster presentations on IR detectors, sources and filters, instrument subsystem designs, and spectroscopy and sensing applications.

The purpose of the event is to create a community conversation about industry challenges and breakthroughs, technical concepts, and scientific ideas. To ensure a high-quality and well-balanced program, the WORKshop has attracted the tremendous support of a well-respected Advisory Board, the MIRTHE+ Photonics Sensing Center at Princeton University, and the ASU Center for Photonics Innovation.


@LCUSA03051 #InfraRed #Training #USA

HART modem with power!

A new USB HART Modem that includes a +24Vdc power supply to power HART instruments has been launched by ProComSol. The HM-USB-PWR is the newest member of our modem family and reduces connection complexity and setup time.

Jeffrey Dobos, President of ProComSol says, “Integrating power and communication simplifies device configuration and test setups on the bench and in the field. This all-in-one package and simple-to-use design saves time and money.”

The HM-USB-PWR only requires two connections. First, connect it to the USB port on your PC or laptop. The USB connection provides both power and the communication modem to your device configuration application. Then connect the mini-grabber cable to your HART transmitter. You are now ready to configure, adjust, test or diagnose your HART device!

The HM-USB-ISO HART modem meets industry standards for USB connectivity. The USB interface is compatible with both USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 standards. The HART interface also meets the HART physical layer specification HCF_SPEC-54. The power supply also meets international standards. Together they deliver the flexibility and reliability you expect.

The HM-USB-PWR includes everything you need including an integrated Loop Resistor and quick connection points for your multimeter. The device can be used in 3 modes - a modem only mode, a power supply only mode or a power plus modem mode. An included 110/220 Vac power adapter can be used to power the HART transmitter and modem when a USB port is not available.

An easy to install Virtual Serial Port driver allows the HM-USB-PWR HART modem to be used in any Windows based application. The driver is included with every modem and is also available for download via the company website.

@ProComSol #PAuto 

Industrial Cybersecurity for SMEs.


The International Society of Automation (ISA), at the request of the US Department of Homeland Security, has developed a white paper designed to help small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs - the Acronym SMB is used in the USA) recognize their vulnerability to industrial cyberattack and forge an effective cybersecurity plan based on established standards and practices.

The white paper covers:
• Risk assessment
• Essential cybersecurity initiatives, including: Identification, Protection, Detection, Response and Recovery
• Awareness and training
• Continuous improvement &
• Additional references
“Effective cybersecurity management is essential for all organizations, regardless of size,” emphasizes Bill Joss, ISA’s Senior Business Development Manager. “However, most medium- and smaller-sized companies that manage industrial processes and employ some level of automation are unaware of the cyber-risks they face, and are not adequately prepared to implement the proven cybersecurity standards and practices that are available to them.”

“Industrial Cybersecurity for Small and Medium Sized Businesses” draws on ISA’s vast in-depth knowledge of industrial automation and control systems (IACS) and subject-matter expertise in industrial cybersecurity.

“SMBs need to fully understand their cybersecurity risk and take action to reduce this risk, just as they do with other business risks,” Joss says. “The absence of previous incidents, or the belief that the organization is not a likely target, is not sufficient justification for ignoring this issue.”

SMBs—just like large manufacturing operations—are at risk from a wide variety of threats, including amateur and professional hackers, environmental activists, disgruntled employees or contractors and even nation states or terrorists. In addition, many cybersecurity incidents are a result of accidents or unintentional actions. A company does not have to be a specific target to be affected.

The document was co-written by two prominent ISA cybersecurity experts: Steve Mustard, a consultant who has developed cybersecurity management systems, procedures and training for many critical infrastructure organizations throughout the world; and Eric Cosman, a manufacturing operations and control systems consultant and Co-Chair of the ISA99 Committee on industrial cybersecurity standards and practices.

@ISA_Interchange  #PAuto #SME #SMB 

Whole wireless gas detection system.

The ProSafe-RS® SIL2 wireless gas detection system is to be released by Yokogawa in September. Established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), a safety integrity level (SIL) indicates the relative level of risk provided by a safety function. SILs 1 through 4 are defined by IEC 61508. At SIL2, the risk factor for a plant where safety measures are not in place is in a range between 1/100 and 1/1,000. At SIL3, the risk factor is in a range between 1/1,000 and 1/10,000.

The ProSafe-RS SIL2 wireless gas detection system will consist of a newly enhanced version of the Yokogawa ProSafe-RS SIL3 safety instrumented system (R4.03.10), their field wireless network devices, annunciator panels, and subsidiary of the German company Drägerwerk AG & Co., GasSecure, wireless gas detectors GS01 or the GS01-EA which is equipped with an extension antenna.

Thus Yokogawa is to establish a total solution that will include both consulting and engineering.

Development Background
In energy and basic materials industries such as oil & gas, petrochemicals and chemicals, a safety instrumented system is employed to safely initiate an emergency plant shutdown when a critical failure is detected, and to initiate the operation of facilities that can extinguish or prevent the spread of a fire.

A field wireless system consists of field devices that are able to communicate wirelessly with a monitoring and control system. Wireless devices have a number of advantages such as allowing installation in difficult-to-access locations and the reduction of installation costs, and they are increasingly seen as essential elements in plant safety solutions. This is a particularly important consideration with gas detection systems, as operation can easily be impacted by factors such as installation location and ambient conditions. And even after system installation, ongoing efforts to optimise its overall configuration may necessitate occasional changes in the location and number of detection devices. The use of wireless technology eliminates the need to worry about wiring and thus greatly facilitates the process of moving and/or installing additional detection devices.

To achieve SIL2 level risk reduction when using wireless gas detectors with a safety instrumented system, communication protocols that comply with the functional safety requirements specified in the IEC 61508 international standard are required. A standard for the functional safety of electrical/electronic/programmable safety-related systems. To meet this need, Yokogawa will provide a SIL2 wireless gas detection system based on a new version of the ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system that will link to field devices using an IEC 61508 compliant communication protocol.

Features of the System
The ProSafe-RS SIL2 wireless gas detection system will consist of a new version of the ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system, R4.03.10, that will be enhanced to add support for an IEC 61508 compliant safety communication technology used in distributed automation; annunciator panels; ISA100 Wireless compliant field wireless devices; and GasSecure GS01 or GS01-EA wireless gas detectors, which are the only devices of this type in the industry that achieve SIL2 risk reduction. The ISA100 Wireless network protocol is based on the ISA100.11a wireless communication standard for industrial automation that was developed by the International Society of Automation (ISA), and the applications necessary for its implementation. This was approved as the IEC 62734 international standard in October 2014.
    1. Total system solution including both consulting and engineering Through the use of wireless technology, the ProSafe-RS SIL2 wireless gas detection system will allow increased flexibility with the configuration of detection devices, and will be suitable for use as a fire & gas system and emergency shutdown system thanks to its achievement of SIL2 risk reduction. Based on its knowledge of each of this system’s components and its expertise in production control, safety instrumentation, and field wireless engineering and consulting, Yokogawa will be able to offer a total system solution that includes customer support. 
     2. Enhanced operating efficiency On their Yokogawa CENTUM® VP integrated production control system screens, operators will be able to easily monitor the operation of the ProSafe-RS SIL2 wireless gas detection system as well as that of any conventional wired gas detection system. Since the GasSecure GS01 or GS01-EA wireless gas detector uses the same faceplate as a wired gas detector, operators will have no trouble identifying any changes in the detector’s status, thus helping to prevent errors that can result from the misinterpretation of information. 
    3. Improved maintenance With CENTUM® VP, operators will have on-screen access to information on the status of all network devices, the charge remaining on the gas detector batteries, and the status of wireless communications, and thus will be able to quickly detect and respond to any abnormality. Thanks to this functionality, more efficient maintenance plans can be drawn up that, for example, will require fewer periodic checks.

Released in February 2005, the ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system helps prevent accidents by detecting abnormal conditions in plant operations and initiating emergency actions such as a plant shutdown. An independent certification body has certified that ProSafe-RS can be used in SIL3 applications. Unlike conventional safety instrumented systems and distributed control systems, which are regarded as having different roles and functions and operate separately, the operation of ProSafe-RS and the CENTUM integrated control system can be fully integrated. ProSafe-RS is highly regarded by users and has been installed in more than 2,100 projects worldwide (as of June 2017).

Yokogawa’s Commitment to the Field Wireless Business
Yokogawa developed wireless communication technologies for continuous processes that necessitate advanced control and released the world’s first ISA100 Wireless system devices in July 2010, thereby offering its customers a wider range of products to choose from. Currently, Yokogawa offers its customers in the oil & gas, and other industries a wide range of field wireless management stations, field wireless access points, wireless field devices, and wireless adapters for conventional wired devices.

Major Target Markets and Applications
For use in fire and gas systems (FGS) and emergency shutdown systems (ESD) in process industries such as oil, natural gas, petrochemicals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electric power, and iron and steel.

@YokogawaIA  #PAuto @DraegerNews

Advanced chemical injection technology acquired.

TechInvent2 AS, a Norwegian enterprise that holds the rights to FluidCom™, a chemical injection metering valve (CIMV) has been acquired by Yokogawa. FluidCom prevents blockages and corrosion in oil wells, pipelines, and other facilities and employs a patented technology for thermal control. It incorporates the functions of a mass flow meter, control valve, and valve controller and has very few moving parts.

Commenting on the acquisition of this company, Shigeyoshi Uehara, head of Yokogawa’s IA Products and Service Business Headquarters, said: "FluidCom will improve flow assurance, which is a key concern of our customers in the oil and gas industry, and it will make a major contribution to their operations by helping them not only improve production efficiency and reduce operational costs, but also enhance HSE. The combination of FluidCom, KBC’s simulation technology, and Yokogawa field devices will allow us to expand the range of our upstream and midstream solutions and enable the delivery of value in new ways to our customers."

FluidCom has already been delivered to several international oil and gas majors. With TechInvent2 joining the Yokogawa Group, Yokogawa will now target delivery of this solution to the oil and gas upstream and midstream sectors, thereby helping to improve operational efficiency, reduce operational costs, and enhance health, safety and the environment (HSE).

Background Information
Based on its Transformation 2017 mid-term business plan, Yokogawa will continue to focus on the oil and gas industries, and will strive to strengthen its solutions targeting the upstream and midstream sectors, in addition to its forte downstream sector businesses. Following its April 2016 acquisition of KBC Advanced Technologies, a provider of consulting services that are based on its own advanced oil and gas simulation technologies, the company has been striving to work with its customers to create value through the provision of solutions that address every aspect of their business activities.

At oil wells and pipelines, efforts to ensure a secure oil flow path (flow assurance) play an important role in maintaining production efficiency. The adherence of various chemical substances to the inside walls of a pipe can reduces its internal diameter and causes corrosion. To prevent the accumulation of substances and corrosion, certain chemicals must be injected in the pipes. Improving the efficiency of this process is a major challenge in the upstream and midstream sectors.

FluidCom’s CIMV
Chemical injection valves have traditionally been manually operated in the upstream sector, although there are cases where chemical injection has been automated using an actuated solution. In the former case, the valves must be frequently opened, closed, and adjusted by plant personnel. This is costly as it necessitates the hiring of additional staff, and it is work that must be done under very harsh environmental conditions in the field.

It is also a well-known problem that inaccurate and unstable dosing of chemicals leads to additional operational costs and challenges with specific processes. To address and resolve such problems, there is an increasing demand for integrated automatic injection solutions that perform stably and offer a high level of precision in the dosing.

FluidCom’s CIMV has a unique design this is based on a patented technology, providing integrated flow control and metering using a unique combination of material and thermal effects. FluidCom is a fully automated and reliable device with a simple design that performs autonomous valve control and continuous flow metering. The device is able to stably inject chemicals in the required small amounts. It has few moving parts and has proven to be an accurate, reliable solution for the control of chemical injection applications. No regular maintenance is required and remote control features are provided.

The device features a self-cleaning mechanism that reduces maintenance workload, and the automatic injection of chemicals in the correct amounts eliminates the need for manual interventions by plant operators and maintenance workers, thereby enabling personnel to lessen their exposure to harsh environmental conditions in the field. This enhances HSE.

FluidCom is also a valuable solution for downstream operations, where corrosion prevention is always a pressing concern. An ISA100 Wireless™ version is planned.

@YokogawaIA #PAuto #Oil #Gas

Monday 24 July 2017

Network simulator support enhancement.

COMPRION eUICC Profile Manager, the only software tool for efficient eUICC life cycle management, has been enhanced by an additional connectivity option. The software allows over-the-air updates of eUICCs and their profiles by means of a simulated network. 
“Starting with the COMPRION eUICC Profile Manager release 1.2, the connection can now be established using the Anritsu MD8475A network simulator”, announces Jens Christoph, Director of the eUICC Test Solutions Business Unit.

For over ten years, COMPRION and Anritsu have been strong technology partners combining expertise and working on joint projects and products. “We have very similar customers, such as MNOs, test houses, or device manufacturers. In fact, many of our customers’ test departments are already equipped with an Anritsu MD8475A. These customers can now get more out of their network simulators by using them for the new testing challenges connected with eUICC life cycle management”, explains Christoph. “We expect that even more test engineers working with eUICC profiles can profit from our tool”, Christoph adds.

Jonathan Borrill, Director of Engineering and Technology Group for EMEA says “Anritsu’s Signalling Tester MD8475A all-in-one base station simulator together with COMPRION’s technology offers a truly flexible platform for the development and testing of future eUICC devices.”

Once an eUICC is permanently soldered into an M2M or consumer device, it is no longer possible to access the card by physical contact. With the launch of eUICC Profile Manager in September 2016, COMPRION was the first test tool manufacturer that found a way to manage (load, delete, enable, and disable) profiles of an eUICC over a cellular network connection by using a simulated network.


The Signalling Tester MD8475A is an all-in-one base station simulator supporting LTE, LTE-Advanced, W-CDMA/HSPA/HSPA Evolution/DC-HSDPA, GSM/EGPRS, CDMA2000 1X/1xEV-DO Rev. A. and TD-SCDMA/TD-HSPA. It supports service, VoLTE and call-processing tests for multimode LTE smartphones and mobiles with excellent cost-performance.


@AnritsuEMEA  #PAuto #Tandm

Concentric contact connectors.

Multi concentric contact connector is a new range of products from Lemo, dedicated to setups where connectors need to allow some rotation. Applications include petroleum downhole drilling systems and turret applications.

These precision engineered connectors include multiple concentric electrical contacts. The number of contacts range from 4 to 10, available in various shell sizes.

The contacts are designed for low speed rotation, they can last up to 10000 rotation cycles. This product is available both in the S series and E series (IP68) version.

 @LEMOConnectors #PAuto 

Friday 21 July 2017

Event focuses on oil products, chemicals and petrochemicals.

The organisers of PEFTEC 2017 (Antwerp {B}, 29-30th November) have published the Conference themes for this year’s event and announced that registration is now open.
PEFTEC is a specialist event focused on the testing, analysis and monitoring of downstream oil products, chemicals and petrochemicals. Created to provide the latest guidance on regulations, methods and technologies for analytical chemists, scientists, process operators, laboratory personnel and environmental managers, PEFTEC 2017 builds on the success of the inaugural event that took place in 2015.

Antwerpen (B)
The event will be situated at the centre of one the world’s largest clusters of petrochemical companies, and will include 4 Conferences focusing on analytical techniques, environmental monitoring, methane measurement and safety issues in hazardous situations.

It will provide the petrochemical industry with an opportunity to discover the latest information on testing and monitoring, in the laboratory, in the field and on-site. A major international exhibition will feature over 150 of the world’s leading providers of analytical testing and monitoring equipment and services, and technical conferences will address the topics of greatest interest to industry practitioners.

PEFTEC Analytical Conference (29th & 30th November)
This 2 day conference is divided into 4 half-day themed sessions which are planned to allow delegates with particular technique interests to cover their topic of interest in the conference whilst also consulting the wide range of relevant instrument manufacturers and providers in the exhibition. The Analytical Techniques sessions will discuss the latest developments and trends in analysis in the petrochemical industries through presentations from leading academic and industry experts.

Day 1
The morning session on Day 1 will cover Elemental Analysis and Speciation including trace metal analysis and the speciation of mercury, phosphorus, arsenic and oxygen compounds in a range of petrochemical samples. The afternoon session of day 1 will be dedicated to the latest developments in Mass Spectrometry.

The increased availability of affordable, reliable and easy to operate high resolution mass spectrometers when combined with sample ionisation techniques which offer a degree of chemical selectivity has led to a recent dramatic rise in the use of these techniques. In this session, leading researchers in this field from academia and industry will cover all of the main techniques and their application.

Day 2
The morning session on Day 2 will address Separation Science techniques including GC, HPLC and SFC with a focus on multidimensional and hyphenated systems. GC continues to be the most commonly used chromatographic technique in the industry and the application of multidimensional GC techniques will be covered in the first 2 presentations, followed by a talk on the application of in silico modelling of GC separations. The remainder of the session will cover the application of SFC and HPLC and their combinations to achieve improved separations.

The final afternoon session will cover spectroscopic techniques and on-line analysis, focusing on the rapid rise of Vacuum Ultra-Violet Spectroscopy (VUV) in the industry. VUV is a selective and sensitive detector for hydrocarbon analysis which in a relatively brief time has been widely accepted by the industry and in combination with GC has recently been approved as an ASTM method for the analysis of finished gasoline (ASTM D8071). The application of thermo-gravimetric analysis coupled with infra-red spectroscopy (TGA-IR) for fouling deposit analysis and the application of comprehensive two dimensional GC for on-line analysis will complete the session and the analytical technique conference.

PEFTEC Environmental Monitoring Conference (Wednesday 29th November)
Prof Alastair Lewis from the University of York (GB) will introduce this one day conference focusing on the management of gaseous and particulate emissions to the atmosphere - a vital component of environmental sustainability in the petrochemical and refining industries. The presentations will examine the latest theoretical, observational and modeling approaches that are available for quantifying both greenhouse gases such as methane and CO2 and short-lived air pollutants including NOx, mercury and hydrocarbons. The presentations will cover the latest techniques that can be used to better quantify emissions from existing industrial activities and that provide insight into the future impacts of new industry practices and regulations.

A programme of international speakers from Britain, Spain, Netherlands, Germany and Austria has been assembled from academic and industry sectors. The speakers will cover issues ranging from measurement science, emissions quantification, regulation and future environmental priorities for the industry.

#PEFTEC17 #PAuto #Oil #Chemical

Thursday 20 July 2017

PCB adaptor provides Ethernet straight to the circuit board.


Harting has introduced a new M8 D-coded PCB adaptor that allows Fast Ethernet and PoE (Power over Ethernet) communications to be interfaced directly to a circuit board via an individual miniaturised connector, with corresponding space savings for customers.

The new interface is designed to address the challenge provided by the fact that field components such as sensors, actuators, cameras and switches are getting smaller as they follow the trend for miniaturisation in industry. At the same time, smaller and smaller field components need to be able to communicate via the Ethernet.

Traditionally, the vital lifelines of power and data have been supplied via two separate connections, but the advent of miniaturisation and smaller housings, in particular, has rendered this arrangement a luxury. Today, Power over Ethernet (PoE) is the number one prerequisite for supplying both lifelines via a single interface.

With the M8 D-coded interface, Harting now offers a connector that carries power and 100 Mbit/s Ethernet straight down to the circuit board in the smallest field applications. In line with Harting’s larger circular connectors, the new device is IP67 protected, and can also carry the necessary power to small field components via PoE. The fact that it meets the requirements of the PAS IEC 61076-2-114 standard makes it a safe investment, as it can be combined with the connectors and sockets of various manufacturers. Hence all users can benefit from a smaller but totally reliable interface for miniaturisation.

@Harting #PAuto 

Web based real time temperature monitoring.

A new company, LPRS Connected Solutions Ltd (LPRS CS) has been set up to provide systems integrators with Cloud based end-to-end M2M and IoT monitoring solutions.
“LPRS developed their market leading easyRadio modules to overcome the problems our customers found with developing wireless communication systems and the software to control them.” comments Nick Pummell, Managing Director of LPRS “The same is now true of customers looking to deploy IoT solutions and attempting to assemble various elements including cloud back office, sensor hardware and communications infrastructure from a number of disparate sources, and combine them into one overall system for an effective, reliable, control and monitoring solution”

LPRS CS builds on over 25 years of experience in the M2M wireless control market and offers systems integrators complete end-to-end solution including wireless sensors, wireless gateways and a cloud platform with secure web-browser access.

The LPRS CS’s new long range wireless temperature monitoring solution has been developed for industrial temperature sensing applications. Using the latest wireless technology and cloud back-office infrastructure, the system is designed to operate as a standalone wireless network completely independent of a location’s own IT infrastructure.

The system comprises, LPRS CS’s low power wireless temperature sensor devices, coupled to their own cloud based service, robust and scalable management and a web based control platform for managing wireless devices.

“Using our new IoT system allows customers to automate existing manual processes and gather a high level of accurate and detailed information from installed systems or new services,” adds Pummell.

The system is designed with ODM’s and end users in mind, offering a fully customizable white label solution for industry expert companies to take to market. By using this innovative technology, companies can change business outcomes and behaviours, add new revenue streams, disrupt existing markets and drive customer loyalty

The hardware is battery powered and provides long range wireless communication for campus coverage with a 3 to 5 year operational life before requiring battery replacement. It has an IP67 waterproof housing, is IT network independent; no Wi-Fi or Ethernet required, provides a temperature reading every 10 minutes and has an operating temperature range from -20 + 60°C

The LPRS CS proprietary cloud platform provides secure web-browser access, infinite hierarchal login’s for flexible customer use, an easy-to-use reporting system, a user configurable alerting engine and is secure and scalable.

Typical applications include medical refrigeration monitoring, room temperature monitoring, museum and leisure temperature monitoring, facilities management (monitoring for Legionella and other potential hazards) and in home telehealth.

@LPRS_Ltd #Wireless #IoT

Change of guard at imaging technology company.

After 44 years, company founder Wilhelm Stemmer is handing the company over to proven successors.

Wilhelm Stemmer with the two newly
appointed managing directors
Christof Zollitsch & Martin Kersting.
Stemmer Imaging achieved turnover of 88.7 million euros over the twelve months of the business year that has just ended. After adjustment for exchange rates, this means a growth of 6 percent for the company, which is active in 19 countries.

"The biggest increase as a percentage was realised by our branches in Finland, the Netherlands and Switzerland", says managing director Christof Zollitsch, explaining the positive result. "It was unfortunate that a substantial growth, especially in the UK but also in Sweden, has been offset due to the depreciation of the local currencies against the Euro."

He said it was particularly pleasing that the portion of turnover attributable to customer services had increased further in the preceding year. "We have extensive resources in this area that enable us to significantly reduce the effort that our customers have to put in to solve their image processing tasks. Our range of services increases our customers' profitability and thus represents a major criterion for co-operating with Stemmer as a preferred partner for all aspects of image processing."

The close of the business year 2016/17 also represents the end of an era: Company founder Wilhelm Stemmer has sold his shares in the company and is retiring from the operative business. 75.04%  of the shares are now held by Munich-based AL-KO AG, parent company of the internationally active AL-KO KOBER SE. As part of the transaction, the proven management team acquired 24.96% of the shares.

"I have been an entrepreneur for 44 years and am now 73 years old. It was time for me to find a sustainable succession plan to ensure the continuation of my life's work", says Wilhelm Stemmer, explaining why he has taken this step. "With AL-KO AG as the majority owner, Stemmer Imaging will continue to be able to tap into future markets and expand them further. From now on Martin Kersting, who has been a partner in the business until now, will control the fortunes of the company as managing director together with Christof Zollitsch, who I also appointed managing director back in 2001. So I know that the company is in the best hands for the future and I wish both of them and indeed the entire workforce all the best for the future."


 @stemmerimaging #PAuto

Moisture sensor is rugged, fast and accurate!

Servomex has launched the AquaXact 1688: a rugged, fast and accurate moisture sensor that can be used as a standalone 4-20mA loop-powered device, or digitally interfaced to Servomex’s AquaXact control unit, SERVOPRO MonoExact DF310E oxygen analyzer or forthcoming SERVOPRO MultiExact 4100 multi-gas analyzer.

Jim Belanger, Global Market Sector Manager at Servomex, explains: “The AquaXact is our first specialized moisture detector, designed specifically to integrate perfectly with the new, easier-to-use MonoExact DF310E and MultiExact 4100 analyzers, or the AquaXact controller. It delivers what our customers want: robust reliability, accuracy, ease of use, and low maintenance. In addition, eliminating the need for return-to-factory calibration when replacing the sensor tip offers significant savings on cost of ownership.”

Using a class-leading, ultra-thin film technology Aluminum Oxide replaceable sensor element, the AquaXact 1688 enables fast and accurate dew point and ppm H2O measurements in various process applications, including glove boxes, air separation units, natural gas processing and instrument air.

The sensor tip is user-replaceable, using any of the controller options to load the associated calibration file. This significantly reduces the cost of ownership by eliminating the need to send the transmitters back to the factory for calibration.

Because it has been designed to complement the next generation of Servomex industrial gas analyzers that includes the MonoExact DF310E and MultiExact 4100, the AquaXact has the unique option of integrating seamlessly with the products via a remote digital interface. The high-brightness color, icon-driven 5” touchscreen display offered by these analyzers enables easy navigation of the software features; a dedicated AquaXact 1688 digital controller, also using the color touchscreen, is also available.

Housed in a stainless steel, weatherproof casing (which is IP65/NEMA4x certified) the AquaXact 1688 operates in ambient temperatures ranging from -10oC to +70oC. With a dew point range from -100oC to +20oC (ppmv ranges are also available), the sensor offers an accuracy of ±3oC and repeatability within 0.5oC.

@Servomex  #PAuto 


Wednesday 19 July 2017

Handbook for calibration.

The International Society of Automation (ISA) has published a new book designed for operators involved in verifying and calibrating measuring instruments used in ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems, ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems, ISO 16949 Automotive Quality Management Systems, and AS/EN 9100 Aviation Series Quality Management Systems.

The Calibration Handbook of Measuring Instruments by Alessandro Brunelli, an expert in the measurement and automation of industrial processes, helps guide and manage industrial process measurement, specifically addressing:

  • The general concepts for managing measurement equipment according to the ISO 10012 management system of instruments and measurements.
  • An instrument’s suitability to perform accurate measurements and control the drift to maintain the quality of the measurement process.
  • The criteria and procedures for accepting, managing and verifying the calibration of the main industrial measuring instruments.
  • The provisions of law and regulations for production and European marking CE of metrological instruments used in commercial transaction and for their periodic verification.

Report templates useful for recording both instrument data and experimental calibration data and for evaluating the conformity of instruments are included on an attached CD. The CD also contains various spreadsheets—in Excel and calibration reports—that automatically calculate errors and the relative measurement uncertainty for determining a calibrated instrument’s compliance.


• For greater perspective on the value and significance of the new book as well a more detailed overview of its content, read the Q&A feature with author.


 #ISAuto #Pauto #Calibration

Reducing downtime from the cloud!

Senseye has reached a significant prognostics-at-scale milestone of automatically monitoring over 1,000 machines at a single customer site for early signs of mechanical damage and failure; using machine learning to help the client to avoid unplanned downtime, without relying on expensive consultants.

Senseye is based in the cloud and has been able to rapidly scale with client demands after quickly proving its capabilities on a small cluster of machines. Rather than relying on preventative maintenance, the client is now automatically notified of current issues as well as the Remaining Useful Life of industrial machinery, enabling its maintenance teams to implement effective predictive maintenance.

“Senseye is designed to make condition monitoring and prognostics analysis at scale accessible and affordable. Automatically monitoring the future health of over 1,000 machines 24/7, has traditionally been out of reach both technically and financially. We’re proud to have broken a significant milestone in making prognostics accessible to all!” said Robert Russell, CTO of Senseye.

Trusted by a number of Fortune 100 companies, Senseye is the leading automated cloud-based condition monitoring and prognostics product. The award-winning solution is usable from day one and available as a simple subscription service, enabling customers to rapidly start and expand their predictive maintenance programs.

@senseyeIO #PAuto

Tuesday 18 July 2017

Laboratory accredited!

Gooch & Housego Orlando has received ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation from international registration body NVLAP (National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program).

Specifically, they are accredited for Spectral Irradiance and Total Spectral and Luminous Flux calibrations. This confirms the company's quality management system meets the requirements of the international standard. Prior to this accomplishment, the Orlando facility's QMS was certified to ISO 9001:2008 in 2012 through LRQA and maintains that certification in addition to the newly acquired 17025 accreditation.

The facility has earned a worldwide reputation for high quality instrumentation and unique solutions to the most difficult and complex light measurement challenges.

@ghphotonics  #Laboratory @USNISTGOV