Gas sensing and analysis equipment manufacturer acquired.

ION Science has announced the acquisition of Analox Group, a gas sensing and analysis manufacturer based in Stokesley, North Yorkshire.

Analox M.D., Emma Harbottle Analox, established in 1981, specialises in the research, develop-ment and manufacturing of gas sensing technology. The company is based Britain, with an office in California. Delivering innovative life-supporting gas measurement products, services and solutions, the Analox gas monitors and sensors are used in diverse markets such as food, beverage and hospitality, space exp-loration, healthcare, laboratories, commercial diving and defence applications. Ion Science M.D. Duncan Johns

“This is a major step on our strategic growth journey,” explains ION Science Group Managing Director, Duncan Johns. “With strong brands in global markets, ION and Analox will continue to operate separately. However, both companies invest heavily in research and development, so by working together, we are really excited by the opportunities this acquisition presents for accelerating future growth.

“Importantly, both companies share a common focus on customers’ needs, and especially product quality and reliability. We also both supply OEM sensors and engineered solutions, so customers can expect a broader range of solutions in the future. From an ION Science perspective, this move will expand the range of measurement technologies that we will be able to offer, which means that in addition to VOCs, we will also offer detection and measurement solutions for a wide range of other gases.”

Analox Managing Director, Emma Harbottle says: “Over the last 40 years we have designed and developed innovative gas sensing solutions that truly solve our customers' challenges. We are extremely proud of the reputation we have built, especially in the defence, beverage & hospitality and laboratory sectors. By working closely with ION we can continue to build on the success of both companies and I am excited to see what the future holds.”

@ionscience @AnaloxGroup @_Enviro_News #PAuto #Analysis

NDIR sensing.

Since the 1940s Non-dispersive Infrared (NDIR) sensing has become an important, safe, reliable and accurate method for the detection of gases such as CO, CO2, CH4 and various refrigerants. In essence, one version of this equipment, consists of an infrared lamp, a sample chamber or light tube, a light filter and an infrared detector. The IR light is directed through the sample chamber towards a dual detector. One element of the detector is covered by an optical filter that passes light that is absorbed by the gas being detected the other element is covered by an optical filter that passes light that is not absorbed by the gas being detected.

A gas such as sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) is an extremely potent greenhouse gas and therefore leaks to the environment must be minimised. Inorganic, colourless and odourless it does however absorb strongly in the infrared, so NDIR sensors of the type described above are ideal for detection at very low ppm concentrations of this and other important gases.

NDIR technology has now been widely accepted and standardised by gas sensor manufacturers worldwide and our diverse range of robust OEM Gas Sensors and Gas Monitors enables fast, reliable and continuous gas detection which has given Edinburgh Sensors a truly global reputation for accuracy, safety and reliability. Applications are many and including horticulture, brewing, agriculture, process control, biogas, personal safety and indoor air quality.

The Guardian NG NDIR gas monitors from Edinburgh Instruments, typify their commitment to customers convenience and safety, backed by over thirty years of sensor design and manufacturing experience. They are wall-mounted and easy to install, detecting gases from sampling points up to 30 metres away, using the built in sampling system. Monitors are housed in robust plastic IP54 rated enclosures to prevent the ingress of particulates and water and have an integral LCD display with digital alarm set-point controls and password protection to prevent accidental or deliberate change of settings.

The Guardian NG infrared gas monitors provide near-analyser quality, offering continuous sampling, measurement and display of target gas concentrations for either CO2 or CH4 gases, where detection level ranges of between 0 – 3000 ppm and 0 – 100% by volume are required. Data can be easily transferred via an on board RS232 I/F with optional Ethernet I/F and relay outputs for control of external devices. Graphical display of historic readings is also possible over a period defined by the user.

These infrared gas monitor also offer near-analyser quality continuous sampling, measurement and display of CO2 concentrations between 0 – 3000 ppm by volume but from low voltage DC (18-30V) supplies. Like the AC Guardian NG these monitors offer long-term stability plus low maintenance, all part of our commitment to our customers that has helped make Edinburgh Sensors a leader in the field of gas sensing.

@Edinst #PAuto

Compact pressure sensor.

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

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

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

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

@FestoAG #PAuto

Shortlisted for IET award.

Plessey, a leading expert in the manufacture of lighting and sensing products and components, announced today that it has been shortlisted in the Healthcare Technologies category for its imPulse ECG monitor at The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Awards 2016. IET’s prestigious annual awards celebrate the best innovations from both industry and academia. The IET highlights landmark work and developments that take place across a number of important areas of science, engineering and technology.

Plessey’s imPulse hand held device utilises Plessey’s patented and award winning EPIC™ sensing technology. Plessey’s EPIC™ disruptive technology has uses in the medical, automotive and industrial market segments. This sensor technology has been creating considerable interest within the medical community where the primary focus has been in using EPIC for surface body electrode physiology applications such as electrocardiograph (ECG), electromyograph (EMG), electroencephalograph (EEG), and electrooculography (EOG).

With Health and Wellbeing so prominent in people's minds, Plessey has developed in the imPulse sensor a simple to use hand held ECG monitor. Utilising Plessey's disruptive Electric Potential sensing technology to detect an ECG signal, all that is required is the simple placement of the thumbs on the sensors embedded in the imPulse unit. This allows for a routine, quick, accurate recording of a lead one ECG signal without the need for conductive gel or skin preparation. The signal is transmitted using Bluetooth to a Smartphone or Tablet computer and displays the ECG trace along with heart rate readout and provides a simple output indicating whether the user is at risk of arterial fibrillation (AF) a precursor to a stroke.

Alan Colman, Commercial Director for EPIC at Plessey, said, “We are delighted to be shortlisted in the Healthcare Technologies category at the IET awards. Plessey is dedicated to using the best of British research, manufacturing and engineering to create disruptive and innovative technologies to bring a positive influence to the interaction we all have with technology. Plessey’s imPulse capacitive lead one ECG sensing system is helping with the identification of Atrial Fibrillation in both primary and secondary care in the UK to be used as a screen for potential stroke victims.”

• Winners of the IET awards will be announced at the award ceremony taking place on Wednesday 16th November at The Brewery, London.

@PlesseySemiCon #Medical

Awards for mission-critical network connectivity solutions!

Wzzard B&B Electronics' Intelligent Sensing Platform has won awards, independently judged for technical achievement and market potential, for Internet of Things (IoT) networking applications:

•  “Best Technical Development of the IoT” from international research firm IDTechEx, awarded at its November 2014 IoT Applications Conference in Santa Clara. The winner must be a new IoT product launched in the last 24 months. Wzzard won based on its technical development, its potential market, and its benefits over alternatives.
• “Most Innovative Connectivity Solution” at Total Telecom’s IoT Awards (IoTA) December 2, London. Judged based on evidence that Wzzard is innovative, sustainable and focused on the IoT space.
•  “Hot 100 Products” which showcases the electronics industry’s most significant products of the year that caught the attention of EDN Magazine’s editors. Wzzard earned a spot in the Sensors category.

Jerry O'Gorman (on Left) receiving the IoTA from Total Telecom for Wzzard (Most Innovative Connectivity Solution) in London on December 2

The Wzzard Intelligent Sensing Platform is a complete wireless sensor connectivity platform featuring edge decision-making which enables more efficient, intelligent and scalable networking in remote and demanding IoT environments. 

Mike Fahrion,  B&B's
Director of Product
Management

B&B developed Wzzard to facilitate the coming world of connected intelligence, where smart machines and systems will collaborate, inform and make decisions on the intelligence gained from each other with little human supervision.  In this scenario, low-power wireless solutions that extend the network edge to include difficult locations while simultaneously providing “five nines” (99.999%) uptime will be important. Wzzard anticipates these needs.

The Wzzard platform’s technologies, protocols and hardware work together to reduce the expertise and time it takes for integrators to develop scalable IoT connectivity solutions. They include:

• Wzzard Intelligent Edge Nodes which connect to industry-standard sensors.
• SmartMesh IP wireless sensing technology which enables auto-forming, self-healing, self-sustaining networks that are also highly scalable.
• MQTT – a simple messaging transport protocol for M2M/IoT over wireless networks.
• B&B’s intelligent Spectre cellular gateway, connecting equipment and devices to the Internet or Intranet over either wired Ethernet or wireless cellular connections. 

Wzzard has also been named a finalist in the Control Engineering 2015 Engineers’ Choice Awards program, in the Network Integration — Wireless Products category. Voting continues through December 31, and winners will be announced February 16, 2015.