High performance 5GigE Camera.

The Teledyne DALSA Linea™2 4k Multispectral 5GigE line scan camera is now in production. This new camera takes vision systems to the next level with its performance and value, offering a 5GigE interface with five times the bandwidth of the Linea GigE camera.

The Linea2 4k Multispectral 5GigE simultaneously captures high resolution RGB plus Near Infrared (NIR) multispectral images to reveal invisible features that cannot be detected using visible lighting alone. This makes it ideal for identifying hard to see defects, contaminants and security features in applications such as automated optical inspection, printing inspection, optical sorting systems, material grading and inspection, web inspection and many other machine vision applications.

Packed into a small form factor, this camera is powered by Teledyne’s high-performance quadlinear CMOS sensor with a 4,096 x 4 pixel resolution and 7 x 7 μm pixel size. There are four sensor rows for red, green, blue, and NIR channels, with spectrally independent color and NIR outputs for minimal crosstalk. Unlike prism-based cameras, the Linea2 cameras do not require high-cost optical lenses which helps significantly reduce the overall vision system cost.

@TeledyneDALSA #Manufacturing #PAuto

Intelligent inline spectrometers.

Blue Ocean Nova AG, a manufacturer of innovative inline spectrometers for monitoring quality-relevant process parameters has been acquired by Endress+Hauser, adding to its portfolio of products, solutions and services in the field of process analytical measurement.

The company’s 15 employees located in Aalen (D) will be retained. Blue Ocean Nova will operate under the umbrella of Endress+Hauser’s center of competence for liquid analysis headquartered in Gerlingen (D) .

Dr Manfred Jagiella

“The intelligent process sensors developed by Blue Ocean Nova will enhance our offering in the field of process analytical measurement, adding a strategic building block,” says Dr Manfred Jagiella, Managing Director of Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG. As a member of the Group’s Executive Board he is also responsible for the analytics business.

Innovative concept
The process sensors developed by Blue Ocean Nova cover the relevant optical spectroscopy regions of UV-VIS, NIR and MIR to analyze liquids, gases and solids inline. The innovative technology allows the spectrometer to be directly integrated into the measurement probe, even in explosion-hazardous areas. The sensors can furthermore be automatically cleaned and easily integrated into process control systems.

The systems from Blue Ocean Nova are utilized in the food & beverage, oil & gas, chemicals and life sciences industries for applications such as concentration and moisture measurements and for measuring relevant quality parameters. The technology enhances the Group’s portfolio, which already encompasses Raman spectroscopy, tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) and process photometers.

Extensive experience
Blue Ocean Nova was founded by Joachim Mannhardt and Stefan Beck in 2015, bringing extensive product development experience in the field of industrial spectroscopy and process analytical measurements to the company. “Endress+Hauser opens the door to international markets and customers for us,” explains Stefan Beck. Joachim Mannhardt adds: “We’re convinced that our technology will be an ideal enhancement to Endress+Hauser’s optical portfolio.”

Endress+Hauser acquired Blue Ocean Nova effective 31 October 2017. Both parties agreed not to disclose the details of the transaction. Joachim Mannhardt and Stefan Beck will remain on the management team of the innovative company. “With this acquisition, we are continuing to pursue our strategy of strengthening the process analytical measurement portfolio and in the future supporting our customers from the lab to process,” says Manfred Jagiella.

 @Endress_Hauser  #Pauto 

Retractable sensor assemblies ensure continuity in process.

The Cleanfit CPA875 and CPA871 sensor assemblies from Endress+Hauser allow pH, ORP, oxygen and NIR sensors to be installed or removed during operation. By moving the sensor from the measuring position to a service position, these retractable assemblies allow the sensor to be cleaned, calibrated or replaced without interrupting the process.

The Cleanfit CPA875 is ideal in applications in the pharmaceutical and food and beverage industry where sensors must be removed for cleaning, calibration or maintenance on a regular basis, while the CPA871 sensor is ideal for applications in the water and wastewater and chemical industries.The retractable assemblies permit removal and installation, while protecting both the process and operating personnel.

In hygienic or sterile processes, the CPA875 assemblies are protected against contamination in accordance with international standards including EHEDG, ASME BPE, FDA, ATEX Directive 94/9/EC, CE/PED, EC VO 1935/2004 and Biological Reactivity (USP Class VI). In pneumatic operating mode, the CPA871 meets ATEX and CE/PED standards.

The CPA875 assemblies, along with their service chambers and process adapters, are certified by EHEDG for cleanability and sterilizability. This certifies that residual media is not only destroyed, but is also removed completely from the service chamber and the sealing surface. The service chamber and sealing surface thus remain free from product residue and microorganisms.

The design of the service chamber allows liquid media to drain freely and completely. The alignment of the inlet and outlet, as well as the flow configuration, ensures that solid built-up deposits are loosened and removed when cleaning. It is also possible to clean and sterilize the seals' contact surfaces. This ensures the sensor is free from contamination when it is reinserted into the process.
The CPA875 assemblies are available with single or dual service chambers. The front chamber in the double-chamber system can also be used as a protective barrier to the process. This chamber can be continually rinsed with water for injection, which ensures the cleaning solution cannot enter the process, even if the process seal is damaged. At the same time, this front chamber can be used to isolate the service chamber temperature from the process. The sensor can therefore be checked, replaced, calibrated, adjusted and cleaned with hot water or sterilized, all without influencing the process.

The Cleanfit CPA875 assembly has seals, process connections and couplings that make it suitable for use in food, pharmaceutical, life sciences and specialty chemical applications, while the CPA871 has similar options for the water/wastewater and general chemical industries. Materials in contact with the process medium are all stainless steel, while seals can be EDPM/FMP or Viton/FFKM, depending on the application. The immersion tube, process connection and service chamber can be stainless steel, titanium, Alloy C22, PEEK or PVDF, again depending on the application.

Both sensor assemblies are available with a manual or an automatic drive. The manual drive has a self-retaining thread to hold the sensor in any intermediate position, and can be used for process pressures up to 116 psi. The pneumatic drive can be used for process pressures up to 232 psi. In assemblies with a pneumatic drive, the service and measuring positions of the sensor are detected and reported to connected monitoring and control systems.

Merger leads to a new leader in measurement solutions!

NDC Infrared Engineering and Beta LaserMike, recognized global leaders in NIR (near infrared), nucleonic, optical, X-Ray, laser, microwave, ultrasonic and process control technology for non-contacting measurement and control solutions, have merged to create NDC Technologies. The combination strengthens the new company’s position in the marketplace by offering a more comprehensive portfolio of gauging solutions across a multitude of industries.  

NDC Technologies will offer four key product groups: 

• Web Solutions – for the converting, extrusion, calendering, and nonwovens industries, delivering real-time measurement and control of key product parameters such as product thickness, coating thickness, and basis weight.
• Sensors -- on-line gauges and at-line analyzers for the measurement of moisture and other key product constituents in the food, chemical, pharmaceutical, mineral, bulk materials and tobacco industries.
• X-ray gauges for metals – on-line measurement of thickness, coat weight, width and optical flatness measurement for the ferrous and non-ferrous metals industries.
• Ultrasonics & Lasers – non-contact gauges for the on-line and off-line measurement of diameter and ovality, wall thickness and eccentricity, length and speed, and other dimensional monitoring of products in the wire and cable, fiber optics, pipe and tube, building, nonwovens, paper, plastic, and metals industries.

Headquartered in Irwindale, (CA USA), NDC Technologies is part of Spectris PLC, a leading supplier of productivity enhancing instrumentation and controls based in England. With a commitment to innovation, the pooling of research and technology resources will streamline product development and rapidly address the evolving needs of industry and customers. In addition, the combined company has proven teams of talented, experienced employees with strong customer relationships and a commitment to customer excellence. The merger will increase the distribution channels and customer care network, expanding the company’s reach to better serve customers around the globe.

Collagen in meat!

At-line measurement of collagen in meat

An extended range version of the InfraLab e-Series Multi-component At-Line Meat Analyser from NDC Infrared Engineering has been developed to include the measurement of collagen, as well as fat, moisture and protein. The extended range InfraLab provides a good indication of collagen levels over a 1-8% concentration range.

Measuring the amount of collagen or collagenous material present in meat is important in meeting local quality and legislative requirements. Collagen has traditionally been measured in meat samples using laboratory methods, which means that the sample has to be sent away for analysis, which slows the production process.

The InfraLab uses non-contacting multi-wavelength NIR technology for measurements of fat, moisture and protein. The new collagen measurement capability features a robust algorithm which quantifies the spectrum shifts in the NIR spectrum associated with changes in collagen content. Measurements can be made in just 10 seconds, and the analyzer can be located right next to the production line for fast turn-around of results, eliminating the delays associated with laboratory analysis.

Meat analyser at IFFA

NDC Infrared Engineering will be showing the simple-to-use InfraLab at-line NIR Meat Analyzer at IFFA (8/13 may 2010 Frankfurt/Main D). At-line measurement using NDC’s proven NIR (Near Infrared) technology, provides a rapid and accurate measurement of moisture, fat or protein in meat, without the need to send samples off for time-consuming laboratory analysis.

The InfraLab can be calibrated to standard laboratory methods such as Gravimetric Oven or Karl Fischer for moisture, Soxhlet (for crude fat), Werner-Schmidt or Weibull Stoldt (for total fat), NMR (for fat) and Kjeldahl for protein. This ensures laboratory accuracy without the costs or the need to use the often-hazardous chemicals associated with laboratory methods. In addition the grab samples used by the InfraLab are much larger than those used by many laboratory techniques making them much more representative of the actual manufacturing process.

Easy to use, and with automated sample detection, the InfraLab requires no special user skills. Measurement data can be stored in the instrument and/or downloaded to a PC at any time for in-depth analysis by tracking measurement values product by product over long time periods.