Control, instrumentation and sensor & measurement showcase

From its conception, MTEC continues to be Britain's  premier event for companies showcasing the latest in control, instrumentation and sensor & measurement technologies needed in today's non- or limited-tolerance production processes and products. Officially supported by the Institute of Measurement & Control, this is your company's opportunity to stand out among key decision makers from diversified industries such as aerospace, medical, automotive, manufacturing and green energy.

Co-located with MEDTEC UK and the new broad-based manufacturing show, Midlands Design & Manufacturing, these three events are expected to attract in excess of combined 6,500 design, process control & instrumentation engineers, as well as corporate management to the NEC this April.

These visitors will be searching for the latest technologies and innovations to solve current production issues, assist in the delivery of new innovation products, and give a boost to their overall business activities.

With companies such as Huba Control, Variohm, Micro-Epsilon, Vishay Measurement Group, Rhopoint Components, Tesa Technology, Infratec, Nixon Flowmeters, ESI Technology , Weldlogic & Renishaw to name but a few exhibiting, MTEC cements itself as the hub event for the UK's control & instrumentation industry.

 See our Reports on previous mtec shows.

Focus to diversify theme of British automation event.

"Mtec 2011 is your opportunity to stand out among key decision-makers from as diverse industries as the aerospace, defence, medical, automotive and green energy sectors." Thus goes the release for this show scheduled for 6th & 7th April next.  "These visitors will be seeking the latest technologies and innovations to solve current production issues, assist in the delivery of new cutting-edge products and accelerate and enhance their businesses overall."

Read-out has been a regular attendee of this event for the last ten years and our reports may be seen on the main website . Mtec visitors read like the who’s who of the industry. Over 6,500 design, process control and instrumentation engineers, as well as corporate management will attend these events at Birmingham's NEC. It will be co-located with other shows including the recently announced Midlands Design & Manufacturing show.

Mtec continues to be the Britain's sole focused event for companies showcasing the latest in control, instrumentation, sensor and measurement technology required in today’s zero- or limited-tolerance production processes and products.

"Officially supported by the Institute of Measurement & Control, and with high profile speakers already lined up for its co-located 2011 conference programme from the likes of Siemens, ABB and Honeywell, Mtec has cemented itself as the central forum for the Britain's control and instrumentation industry."

No-nonsence manufacturing exhibition for Britain

Introducing Midlands Design and Manufacturing 2011...

Based in the heart of British manufacturing, Midlands Design and Manufacturing, taking placefor the first time on 6-7 April 2011 in Birmingham's NEC. Midlands Design and Manufacturing sets out to provide you a specialist no-nonsense event for lead generation with the next generation of British Manufacturing Industry.

It is to help business meet with thousands of design engineers, production managers, R&D specialists, specifiers and corporate management, all looking to accelerate their future business, projects with their products and manufacturing technologies.

Midlands Design and Manufacturing Offers:
• Co-location with Mtec, 3c and MEDTEC. Mtec has been the British event for instrumentation, sensors and measurement for many years. Visitors to these two events will be encouraged to visit MDM free of charge.  3C is the sole dedicated exhibition and conference for contamination control and cleanrooms. MEDTEC is a showcase of medical manufacturing already attracting the key design and manufacturing engineers from Britain’s medical device industry.

• Formatted and priced in such a way that it can often be paid for from sales rather than corporate marketing or exhibitions budgets, Midlands Design and Manufacturing is an event intended to accelerate lead generation process

• A face to face encounter with key prospects with built in time for them to sit and discuss their design and manufacturing challenges

Watlow at Advanced Manufacturing

Watlow designs and manufactures industrial heaters, temperature sensors, controllers, system assemblies and software – a complete thermal system. The company has 12 manufacturing facilities in the US, Mexico, Europe and Asia and sales offices in 17 countries worldwide.

They are introducing the EZ-ZONE® RM – a configurable multi-loop temperature/process controller. The EZ-ZONE RM is the first industrial controller to integrate an entire assembly of control loop functionality in one space-saving, DIN-rail mounted package.

EZ-ZONE RM can be used as a PID temperature/process controller, an over/under limit controller or these functions can be combined into an integrated controller. Other control functions can be integrated as well, such as high amperage power controller output, creating a complete and integrated thermal loop controller all in one package.

EZ-ZONE RM can be configured with between 1 to 16 modules controlling from 1 to 64 loops. Because the controller is single-loop scalable, customers pay only for what they need – exact loop count.

Utilizing an integrated controller solution reduces wiring time and termination complexity, improves overall system reliability, reduces termination and installation costs and eliminates compatibility issues encountered when using many different components and brands. In addition, integrated controllers reduce troubleshooting time and downtime costs since the system can specifically identify to the operator if there are any problems with a sensor, controller, solid state relay (SSR) power output or heater load.

EZ-ZONE RM allows for many optional integrated controller functions to be combined together or ordered in different quantities, including:

• PID temperature/process controller;
• Over/under temperature limit control loops;
• 10 or 15 ampere power output/heater driver options;
• On-board data logging;
• Current measurement input;
• Sequencer start up and control function;
• Programmable timer and counter functions;
• Programmable math and logic options;
• Multiple communication protocol options;
• Mobile configuration with removable secure digital flash card
• SPLIT-RAIL™ configuration to isolate low voltage input modules from high voltage output modules.

EZ-ZONE RM offers current monitoring for the entire system, on-board data logging, sensor back-up capability and TRU-TUNE®+ adaptive control, which provides tighter control for demanding applications. Its communications capabilities feature a range of protocol choices including USB (Universal Serial Bus) device port, EtherNet/IP™, Modbus® RTU, Modbus® TCP, DeviceNet™ and PROFIBUS making integration to a larger PLC based system architecture seamless.

As part of the EZ-ZONE family of integrated PID controllers there is no need to learn a new menu flow or wiring and connection scheme because the EZ-ZONE RM shares a common user interface, menu structure, wiring and connector labeling and user manual support documentation with its other family members (EZ-ZONE PM and EZ-ZONE ST).

This new rail mount integrated multi-loop controller is ideal for semiconductor processing, photovoltaic, packaging, plastics processing and a variety of other applications that require multi-loop control.

Kistler at Advanced Manufacturing

Kistler Instruments will be showing a new low cost, contactless torque sensors plus its wide range of acceleration, force, pressure and torque sensors and associated electronics and software at this years mtec.

From acceleration to torque via pressure and force, Kistler is a world leader in the design and manufacture of high quality, high reliability sensors for research and development applications.

Now, Kistler is moving into the manufacturing sector with a new range of contactless, low maintenance torque sensors costing no more than slip-ring types, typically around £1,500 (ca €1700).

Using non-contact signal transmission eliminates wear making the new sensor exceptionally robust and maintenance free, even in continuous use.

The Type 4520A is available with rated torque from 1 to 1,000 Nm with accuracy class of 0.5 at speeds up to 10,000 rpm. Output is the standard ±10 V plus a speed signal of 60 pulses/rev and remotely switchable 100% test function.

More on Advanced Manufacturing UK

Michell at Advanced Manufacturing

Showing smallest and fastest portable in range at mtec

Michell Instruments will be showing their smallest and fastest portable dew-point hygrometer at mtec, part of Advanced Manufacturing (Birmingham GB 27-28 April 2010). At just 21cm by 17cm, weighing 1.5kg, and with a battery life of up to 48 hours typical usage, it enables the user to take field moisture measurements with the minimum of fuss.

The MDM300 has an innovative ergonomic design, with all the buttons easily accessible while the instrument is held comfortably in both hands. All measurement parameters are available at the touch of a button and the password-protected set-up menu is simple to navigate and intuitive to use. Both instrument set-up and downloading of logged data are easy with a Bluetooth connection that comes as standard.

New developments in Michell’s ceramic sensor technology have dramatically reduced the response time for low dew points, allowing for many more measurements to be taken each day.

To maximize flexibility, external sensors can be easily connected and used to measure and display pressure and temperature. These parameters can also be used to provide pressure and temperature compensated measurements improving accuracy and allowing users to choose from a range of measurement parameters.

If you visit Michell at MTEC on stand 1340 see a demonstration of the MDM300, or for advice on moisture measurement and control. Michell have over 35 years of research and development in the field of moisture measurement, and have recently added a range of oxygen analyzers to their range of instruments.

Weldlogic at Advanced Manufacturing

Weldlogic displays a computer-controlled arc-welding package developed to carry out precision automatic welding operations simply and accurately, while offering the flexibility to adapt to a wide range of weld configurations.

The dual process AWS-6100 system combines a set of proven components to provide a complete ‘ready-to-go’ package offering advanced levels of weld process control and automation.

Circumferential, longitudinal and spot welds can be made simply and with a minimum of operator training, says the company. Standard features include a choice of current from 0.1A to 200A for tungsten inert gas (TIG) or plasma welding, arc gap setting and distance control, arc start, multiple current levels, shield gas and back-up control and wire feed controls. All welding functions are synchronised from a single enclosure, putting everything at the operator’s fingertips.

Manufacturers dealing with heat-sensitive components can additionally benefit from AWS-6100’s ability to use the micro-TIG method rather than the traditional electron beam method. For example, automated computer-controlled production of medical devices such as surgical baskets, heart valves and biopsy needles can be carried out using low-level assembly heat to minimise mechanical distortion to the finished product. The manufacture of metal bellows used for conducting gas or liquid between two members that may be susceptible to vibration or sifting is another application for which significant benefits are claimed.

More exhibits at Advanced Manufacturing UK 27-28 April 2010

Hamamatsu at Advanced Manufacturing

Hamamatsu Photonics offers a wide range of CMOS linear image sensors for use in analytical instruments such as spectrophotometers and industrial process monitoring equipment. A new range of CMOS linear image sensors (dual inline and surface mount types) has recently been developed offering very high-speed response while maintaining high resolution.

The new S11105 series has 512 pixels with a 12.5 µm pitch giving an aspect ratio of 20:1, thus allowing 20 times the light collection area compared to conventional linear CCDs.

The CMOS arrays incorporate 512 individual photodiode elements with buffer amplifier, digital shift register (multi-plexor) and signal processing circuit (i.e. a correlated double sampling noise reduction circuit) all on the same “monolithic” silicon chip. The S11105 series has a high-speed readout of up to 50 MHz and an electronic shutter function to facilitate high speed imaging. Also both are provided with all the necessary clock generation functions on chip, making system design and implementation easier than ever!

The S11105 series are ideal for applications such as in-line product inspection, portable spectrometers, industrial process control, colour monitoring, medical diagnostics, distance measurement, optical encoders, blood analysers, optical scanners and water pollution analysers.

New this year is a 12-bit digital output colour sensor Photo IC. The S9706 device consists of a matrix photodiode array, coupled to a RGB (red, green and blue) filter matrix to give colour response. The device is combined with ‘in house’ CMOS processing electronics, all contained within a monolithic silicon chip. The output of the S9706 is in 12-bit digital format with the colour intensity of red, green and blue read out sequentially at potentially high speed.

The S9706 is easily operated with a standard 3.3V CMOS power supply and has higher speed and is much lower in cost than three colour image sensors. It is also highly accurate and is easier to implement than current discrete three colour photodiodes.

Hamamatsu has also recently introduced a new range of high power laser diode products. The single bar modules are capable of emission powers from 50 W to 200 W. Depending on the packaging option chosen, up to 75 bars can be stacked in one module, offering a maximum output power of over 11 kW. Various cooling methods are available, from water and Funryu active cooling to open heat sink types. Emission wavelengths including 792 nm, 915 nm and 980 nm, with many more in between easily achievable.

Also on show will be the new LC-L2 range of UV curing systems featuring new higher power UV LEDs (compared to those in the well-established LC-L1) that ensure a high stability light output is easily maintained over the 20,000 hour LED lifetime.

More exhibits at Advanced Manufacturing UK 27-28 April 2010

National Instruments at Advanced Manufacturing

mtec Stand 320
National Instruments measurement and automation hardware and software products work seamlessly together to meet the application requirements of scientists and engineers, irrespective of business or industry sector. With a proven track record and over 30 years of experience and a large and knowledgeable UK based support team, National Instruments has brought the concept of virtual instrumentation and graphical system design to reality.

National Instruments is transforming the way engineers and scientists design, prototype and deploy systems for measurement, automation and embedded applications. Over the past 30 years, NI have pioneered the concept of virtual instrumentation; the idea of combining open, intuitive graphical programming software with powerful modular hardware to give unparalleled flexibility in the design and implementation of user-defined systems. By adopting this approach, engineers and scientists at more than 30,000 companies annually simplify development, increase productivity and dramatically reduce timescales. From testing next-generation gaming systems to creating breakthrough medical devices, NI customers continuously develop innovative technologies that impact millions of people.

Visit stand 1320 in the MTEC hall to experience the latest NI product innovations in virtual instrumentation and graphical system design through modular hardware, powerful software, and advanced COTS (custom off-the-shelf) platforms.

Do More with LabVIEW 2009: Parallel Programming, Wireless Technologies, and Real-Time Math

Now, more than ever, the tools you use must be flexible and evolve quickly to changing environments.

NI LabVIEW 2009 is a platform-wide software update with new features for taking advantage of parallel multicore and FPGA (field-programmable gate array) based architectures as well as new capabilities for programming wireless sensors and mathematical algorithms in real-time hardware. The latest version of LabVIEW 2009 adds programming and productivity features to drive more efficiency and performance into your applications, helping you do more with evolving PC and embedded technology platforms.

New and Advanced Technologies Products and Technologies to be Showcased at MTEC by National Instruments:
New WSN Platform Delivers Reliable, Low-Power Wireless Measurements
The NI wireless sensor network (WSN) platform provides a complete remote monitoring solution that consists of NI LabVIEW graphical programming software and new reliable, low-power wireless nodes for remote measurements.

Based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, the NI WSN protocol supports mesh routing, which means a WSN router can relay measurements from end nodes to a central gateway. If a primary router is unavailable and an alternate router exists, the protocol automatically routes measurements through the alternate path. Operating for up to three years on just four AA batteries the NI WSN platform offers reliable connectivity from a gateway to end nodes at a distance of up to 300m line of sight or further using mesh networking,

Generic 4 channel 16 bit analogue input nodes are available alongside more specialist nodes such as the 24-bit thermocouple node and all closely integrate with LabVIEW to simplify and accelerate system configuration and deployment by delivering a drag-and-drop programming environment. LabVIEW also facilitates the ability to deploy code directly onto the nodes creating standalone embedded data-loggers with user defined decision making capabilities.

The combination of LabVIEW and NI WSN measurements provides a reliable, low-power system for remote monitoring, environmental monitoring and resource monitoring applications.

Flexible Technologies for Data Acquisition, Test, Measurement and Automation

NI's position holds the position as world leader in DAQ, new enhancements in counters, advanced timing, and parallel software execution are enabling cutting-edge applications across the globe and cementing this position for years to come. Data acquisition applications frequently involve multiple types of analogue, digital, and counter measurements and can consume hundreds of megabytes per second. Featuring NI-STC3 timing and synchronization technology, X Series DAQ devices for PCI Express and PXI Express are the most advanced DAQ devices ever designed by NI.

Leveraging this advanced technology NI has also released for MTEC this year a new generation of CompactDAQ for USB applications in every industry. With over 60 different modules the popular C Series platform gives the CompactDAQ unimpeded I/O versatility while with four 32-bit counter timers, external triggers and the ability to run modules at different rates, CompactDAQ elevates USB DAQ to new heights in power, versatility and affordability.

PXI, the open, rugged PC-based platform for test, measurement and control, is the perfect system for high performance measurement, parallel test and advanced automation systems. Through modular instrumentation, engineers can choose from a wide variety of measurement, signal generation, RF, power, and switch modules, and then configure the instruments in software to meet their specific needs. Based on Compact PCI, PXI supports measurements from high resolution DC to 6.6GHz RF, making it an ideal platform for high performance applications. See the latest modular hardware on display including the new NI FlexRIO product family which provides flexible, customisable I/O for NI LabVIEW FPGA.

NI Programmable Automation Controllers (PAC) and Machine Vision
On display at this year’s event is the NI CompactRIO PAC which combines real-time and FPGA technologies to deliver high-performance in a small, rugged industrial control and acquisition platform. This architecture combines:

• Reconfigurable I/O to provide the reliability of dedicated hardware circuitry and the performance of true parallel execution
• Real-time embedded processors for stand-alone and distributed deterministic operation with a built-in web-based human-machine interface
• Industrial hot-swappable analogue and digital I/O modules for direct connection to industrial sensors and actuators.

For the first time, you can add imaging capabilities to your CompactRIO system! With NI Vision Development Module 2009, you can now deploy imaging libraries to both deployment targets, as well as acquire compressed images from IP cameras with the latest NI-IMAQdx image acquisition driver. The vision capabilities on CompactRIO are ideal for autonomous robotics, industrial monitoring, and embedded medical device applications.

Also on display at Advanced Manufacturing 2010 will be the latest additions to the NI Smart Camera family. The NI Smart Camera is a high performance, low cost embedded device that combines an industrial controller with an image sensor. It integrates seamlessly with NI vision software to offer image processing directly on the camera, making it ideal for applications such as locating parts, inspecting packaging, verifying assembly and reading 1-D and 2-D codes.

See more on exhibits at Advanced Manufacturing 2010 covered by Read-out for the last ten years!