Friday, 29 March 2013

Water & Wastewater professional recognised!

The 2013 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls (WWAC) Symposium, to be held 6-8 August 2013 in Orlando (FL USA), highlights ISA’s ongoing partnership with the Water Environment Federation (WEF). An award recognizing the collaboration between the two organizations was recently bestowed on Thomas DeLaura, vice president of Eramosa International, Inc.

DeLaura was named ISA’s Water and Wastewater Industry Division Member of the Year for his work to promote collaboration between WEF’s Automation and Information Technology Committee and the ISA Water and Wastewater Division. The award is given by the ISA Water and Wastewater Division to recognize a volunteer leader whose contributions have had a significant impact on the water and wastewater automation community.

The WWAC Symposium is experiencing a new-found growth in popularity thanks to newly formed alliances with the WEF, the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA) and the National Rural Water Association (NRWA). By forming strong partnerships with other associations, the symposium has been able to reach a broader cross-section of water and wastewater professionals across the industry. For members of these associations, the symposium provides targeted professional development and training opportunities otherwise inaccessible.

“This collaboration aligns with WEF’s Strategic Direction, connecting water professionals to leverage knowledge and promote innovation,” said DeLaura. “I am very much looking forward to continuing WEF’s technical co-sponsorship of the 2013 WWAC Symposium. It has been a pleasure to be part of the team that brought ISA and WEF together for this symposium, as well as on several other initiatives. The power of such collaboration is uplifting.”

DeLaura, who also serves as vice chair of WEF’s Utility Management Workforce Subcommittee and chair of Michigan Water Environment Association’s (Bath) Asset and Infrastructure Management Committee, has been a member of WEF since 1982. He has more than 38 years of experience in creating strategic plans, conducting research and developing integrated programs of interrelated projects. DeLaura has served as end user and manager of information and process-control computer systems with a municipality, and has consulted with water utilities across the United States, Canada and Australia. He has written and presented on numerous topics of interest to the water and wastewater industry, been involved in research projects for the Water Research Foundation and the Water Environment Research Foundation and received several awards from the industry for dedication and service.

Massive growth for air quality show

AQE 2013, the air quality and emissions show, has been heralded a phenomenal success by organisers, exhibitors, speakers and visitors. With air pollution concern running high, this event could not have been better timed, and succeeded in attracting three times the number of registered visitors than the previous event in 2011.
The health effects of air pollution including the number of premature deaths, particularly in urban areas, were the focus of much attention in the first day’s conference, with several speakers extolling the benefits of routine monitoring networks supplemented by low cost and portable monitors.
(See also our report "In the money.")
The second day of the conference addressed emissions monitoring and the requirements of the Industrial Emissions Directive, with speakers explaining the standards and procedures for producing accurate reliable data. Every conference session was packed and the workshops were so busy that visitors often had to jostle for position in the doorways.

Unsurprisingly, the AQE exhibitors and visitors have provided glowing recommendations for the event  and the AQE 2015 exhibition (22-23rd April) is already booking fast.

Thursday, 28 March 2013

High-precision dew-point hygrometer

Helps to reduce cost of annealing processes

Michell’s S8000 RS new high-precision dew-point hygrometer enables furnace operators to achieve high standards of finishes and quality of metal products at lower annealing temperatures.

For best control, the moisture content of the furnace atmosphere needs to be continually monitored, so the hygrometer used must be capable of showing changes accurately and quickly. Michell’s S8000RS uses the chilled-mirror technology, which is the most accurate and reliable method to monitor dew-point, because it measures the actual formation of moisture or frost on a temperature-controlled mirror, rather than relying on calculated values. The S8000RS’s advanced dual optics system detects minute changes in moisture condensed on the mirror surface, resulting in very high sensitivity (±0.01°C) when making measurements at low levels of moisture content. Because of the high temperatures involved, the sample gas is extracted from the furnace and passed through a cooling coil to bring it back down to ambient temperature for safe measurement.

Typically, the dew-point required for optimum performance in an annealing furnace is between -70 and -50°C, depending on the type of metal being treated and the end results required. This is well within the range of S8000RS, which has a measurement range of -80 (or -90, depending on the model) to +20°Cdp.

The S8000 RS has an intuitive interface, offers user selectable measurement units and has three analogue outputs as standard. Other features include internal datalogging to an SD card and a USB connection. The instrument is supplied with a traceable calibration as standard, but an optional UKAS accredited calibration is also available.

• Michell products are marketed by Instrument Technology in Ireland.

Wireless position monitor with on/off control for discrete valves

Cost-effective way to achieve wireless valve control with position feedback for quarter turn valves

Emerson Process Management has expanded its Smart Wireless solutions family with the release of the Fisher® 4320 Wireless Position Monitor with On/Off Control Output Option - the first and only WirelessHART® valve automation solution that includes linkage-less position feedback and discrete valve control.

Most process plants have thousands of discrete valves that are manually operated. From customers surveyed, 90% have had valve alignment issues in the past 12 months, resulting in spills, lost batches, and safety incidents. These customers are automating discrete valves each year; however the wiring costs of traditional automation prevent many from being converted from manual to automated control.

The Fisher 4320 Wireless Position Monitor with On/Off Control Output Option changes the economics of automating discrete valves as an alternative to solenoids and limit switches. By eliminating the need for wires, the project cost and project time are reduced by minimising engineering time, materials, control system I/O, and installation labour. For simplicity, traditional quarter turn valves and pneumatic actuators are used - only air is needed to automate a valve. Wireless valve solutions from Emerson install and commission quickly, providing users with a cost-effective way to achieve real-time discrete valve control with position feedback.

Like other devices in the Emerson wireless family, the Fisher 4320 has secure and reliable performance, a 5 to 10 year SmartPower™ battery life, and is fully compatible with existing Smart Wireless self-organising mesh networks.

Automation and safety system for LNG

Yokogawa has been selected to supply the integrated automation and safety system for the new liquefaction trains at Cheniere’s LNG facility in Sabine Pass, (LA USA), which is being developed by its Cheniere subsidiary Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC (SPL).

SPL is the first company with US Department of Energy approval to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-Free Trade Agreement countries. The development of liquefaction services at the Sabine Pass LNG receiving terminal in Cameron Parish, LA, will transform the terminal into a bi-directional facility capable of liquefying and exporting natural gas and importing and re-gasifying foreign-sourced LNG.

“We are proud to be part of this groundbreaking liquefaction project in the US”, says Chet Mroz, President and CEO of Yokogawa Corporation of America: “Yokogawa has a 25% worldwide market share for LNG plants as well as a long-standing relationship with Cheniere Energy, beginning with their purchase of Yokogawa’s CENTUM(R) CS 3000 control system for the original gasification facility at Sabine Pass in 2006.”

Yokogawa’s CENTUM VP integrated production control system was selected for the new liquefaction facility. While CENTUM VP is classified as a distributed control system (DCS), it goes beyond a traditional DCS by offering a more intuitive human-machine interface and a large-capacity field control station to process data faster while maintaining exceedingly high reliability. The dual-redundant configuration of processor cards combined with pairing each processor card with two CPUs (“pair & spare” configuration) ensures uninterrupted operation and high availability.

SPL will also utilise the ProSafe(R)-RS integrated safety instrumented system (SIS) from Yokogawa for the site. ProSafe-RS delivers the world’s first completely integrated SIS for DCS to simplify deployment, operation, and maintenance. Until now, two separate monitoring and operating environments were required for the DCS and SIS. ProSafe-RS eliminates the need to implement separate communications and distinctive hardware architectures for the DCS and SIS, thus fast-tracking implementation at Sabine Pass, lowering overall costs, and simplifying operation and maintenance.

PCB female connector

Harting has expanded its Harting RJ Industrial® series with new RJ45 female connectors featuring integral transformers for operation at 10 Gbit/s.

The highly compact dimensions of these RJ45 connectors enable convenient and simple integration into all established IP 65/67 interface types, from PushPull through to Han® 3A.

The reduced height is also an advantage in scenarios involving plug-in cards, allowing the realisation of very flat assemblies and modules. In addition to the new 10 Gbit/s types, versions for 10/100 Mbit/s and 1 Gbit/s are also available. Versions for Power over Ethernet (PoE) as well as individual adaptations to specific customer wishes are possible and can be rapidly executed.

In connection with surface-mount LEDs on the customer PCB, integrated optical fibres enable signalling of the port status.

These industrial female connectors can be processed in all standard soldering methods such as wave-soldering or SMT reflow.

In the money!

Instrumentation specialist Air Monitors Ltd received a £1,000 cheque at AQE 2013 (the Air Quality and Emissions Show) for attracting the highest number of visitor registrations to this year’s event at the Telford International Centre.

JimMill and Marcus Pattison
Following the presentation, exhibition organiser Marcus Pattison said: “AQE 2013 was a phenomenal success, attracting three times the number of visitors than the previous event in 2011, so we are extremely grateful to all of the speakers, exhibitors, attendees and organisational staff that helped make this event such a success.

“Air Monitors made a tremendous contribution to the advance publicity, so I am naturally delighted to present this cheque in recognition of their outstanding efforts.”

Accepting the cheque on behalf of Air Monitors, Jim Mills said: “We were naturally delighted to win the competition, but for us, the greatest reward was the success of the event – our workshops were full to bursting and our stand was extremely busy throughout.

“We launched two new technologies at AQE 2013, both of which generated enormous interest. The new ambient air monitoring system, AQMesh, looks set to revolutionise the way air quality is monitored, and the FIDAS particulates monitor will provide much greater insight into the pollutant that is responsible for the most premature deaths.”

Wednesday, 27 March 2013

Thums up at Czech facility!

Smart Wireless enables instrumentation upgrade at underground storage facility in Czech Republic

Emerson’s Smart Wireless technology is helping RWE Gas Storage maximise the capacity of its Dolní Dunajovice underground gas storage facility in the Czech Republic. Installation of five Smart Wireless networks and more than 100 wireless measurement devices has increased visibility into the process, enabling the plant to improve control and run closer to its capacity. Automating data collection has also eliminated manual rounds at the plant, improving operator efficiency and safety.

Rosemount Guided Wave Radar level 
transmitter at RWE Gas Storage.
THUM™Wireless Adaptor fixed on
 right of transmitter

"We needed to upgrade our existing instrumentation and add additional measurements, but with just two short windows of opportunity each year and no available existing cabling infrastructure, it was impossible to complete the work within the scheduled two-week downtime," said Pavel Silinger, Energy Manager, RWE Gas Storage s.r.o. "Extending the downtime would cost RWE an estimated $250,000 (195,000 Euros) a day in lost income."

RWE needed a solution that did not require installation of new cabling and allowed a longer period for the upgrade to be completed. To meet this need, RWE selected Smart Wireless technology from Emerson. Based on IEC 62591 (WirelessHART®) communications, the technology is well-proven, reliable and both quick and easy to install and commission.

The wireless solution didn’t require RWE to install new cabling or new I/O cards in the control host. RWE simply added Smart Wireless Gateways to the existing Modbus network and all data from the new wireless transmitters was then available within the existing control system. This meant that the plant could continue to operate while new instruments were being installed, removing the need for the upgrade to be completed within the scheduled two-week downtime.

Five wireless networks span the entire 50,000-square-metre facility, supporting more than 100 new wireless transmitters. The instruments are predominantly Emerson’s Rosemount® wireless pressure and temperature transmitters, with a number of Rosemount Guided Wave Radar level transmitters and Fisher control valves also connected using Emerson’s THUM™ Adapters.

"Emerson’s wireless solution takes only a quarter of the time to install, and saves around 20% of the cost of a cabled installation," continued Silinger. "The availability of HART® data, including diagnostics from new and existing devices, was another significant reason for selecting Smart Wireless and is helping us to improve plant maintenance procedures."

In addition to the benefits of better process management, RWE is saving 10% per year on its total maintenance costs. Remote online access to diagnostic information enables operators to identify potential instrument problems earlier and correct them before poor measurements start to affect the process. Access to online data has also reduced the number of trips into the field, helping to improve the safety of equipment and workers.

Based on the successful implementation of wireless technology at the Dolní Dunajovice site, RWE plans to implement Emerson’s Smart Wireless at all of its underground storage facilities in the Czech Republic.

RWE Gas Storage, part of the RWE Group, is the biggest underground gas storage operator in the Czech Republic, operating six facilities with a total operating capacity of almost 3 billion cubic metres. Gas is stored in porous underground facilities during low-off take periods and supplied to users when demand peaks.

Lab accreditation achieved

The Technical Services division of Keighley Laboratories has achieved world-class Nadcap accreditation for a Materials Testing Laboratory (MTL), a status recognised by the majority of global aerospace primes as a mark of quality assurance excellence. The West Yorkshire Company also gained coveted Merit grade, which rewards superior performance in Nadcap audits and reduces subsequent audit frequency. Accreditation has also prompted affirmation and prolongation of its Airbus approval, the aircraft manufacturer having adopted the Nadcap programme for its global supply chain.
 Keighley Labs' MD Debbie Mellor, Tim Clegg, Peter Hanson and Matthew Mellor
As one of the few Nadcap-accredited MTL facilities in the UK, Keighley Labs has been successfully assessed for the evaluation of aerospace welds, tensile, impact and bend testing, metallographic and micro indentation hardness procedures, and specimen preparation and machining. Combined with UKAS accredited testing and certification to many international standards and Civil Aviation Authority approval of in-house weld specimen supervisors, this confirms the company as a centre of excellence for weld testing, at a time when there is a Europe-wide shortage of the necessary expertise.

“Achieving Nadcap accreditation is not easy; it is one of the ways in which the aerospace industry identifies those who excel in superior special processes. Companies such as Keighley Laboratories go above and beyond achieving Nadcap accreditation, to obtain Merit status, and they should be justifiably proud of that,” says Joe Pinto, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Performance Review Institute, which administers the Nadcap programme. “We are determined to support continual improvement in the aerospace industry, by helping companies such as Keighley Labs become even more successful.”

Established in 1990 by key aerospace industry and US government representatives, Nadcap represents a concerted, cooperative effort to improve quality, while reducing costs, throughout the global aerospace and defence sectors. It defines a standardised approach to quality assurance and establishes requirements for accreditation, improving performance throughout the supply chain, utilising expert auditors to ensure familiarity with special processes and conducting technically superior in-depth quality audits. With most aerospace prime contractors and secondary tier suppliers now adhering to Nadcap, accreditation is vital for securing subcontracting opportunities in this sector, as well as in quality-minded markets like nuclear, marine, defence and rail, with more than half of accredited companies reporting an upturn in sales and new business.

“This is an important breakthrough for the company, since it raises our profile and reputation within the aerospace industry and enables us to obtain greater recognition for our expertise in weld and materials testing,” says Keighley Labs’ MD, Debbie Mellor. “It helps us to retain existing customers within the Northwest Aerospace Alliance and beyond, establishes our technical credentials for fresh market opportunities in other industries and paves the way for further export business in weld testing and other special processes.”

The Keighley Labs’ Nadcap application, which was supported by numerous key aerospace customers and Airbus itself, involved Divisional Technical Services Director, Matthew Mellor, Senior Metallurgist, Peter Hanson, and Quality Manager, Tim Clegg, in a thoroughly intensive programme.

Although modern composites are increasingly used in aviation, metal is still the most prevalent aircraft construction material, including but not limited to steel, aluminium, stainless steel, nickel and titanium alloys. The company’s in-depth weld assessment and inspection expertise, across all metallic materials and current manual and automatic welding methods, will ensure that welded joints comply with the highest aerospace and equivalent specifications.

The company already has quite a number of aviation primes and tier 1, 2 and 3 supply companies amongst its customer base, as well as overseas defence and aerospace suppliers, and is confident of using Nadcap Merit status to leverage extra domestic and export business.

Exhibition and Lecture series sponsor

Yokogawa is the official sponsor of The West Cumbrian Institute of Measurement & Control (IMC) Section’s first ever exhibition and lecture series. The day’s theme, entitled “Lessons from Buncefield – Fuel Storage and Beyond” will be held on Thursday 18th April 2013, at the Energus Centre, Workington, Cumbria in the North West of England.

As well as a keynote lecture from Colin Howard, a consultant and expert witness who gave evidence at the criminal court in respect of the instrumentation and control aspect of the Buncefield Explosion, Yokogawa will be giving an instructive and informative talk on how safety systems can be used to avoid such tragedies in the future. Other lectures cover subjects such as process interfaces and measurement, alarm handling and CCTV applications, as well as how to make the most of the IMC membership.

In the evening at the Annual dinner, Yokogawa will again be sponsoring the prestigious ‘Graduate of the Year’ Award. Speaking about the sponsorship, Mark Halliwell, Business Development Manager for Yokogawa’s Nuclear Division says: “We are proud to support the IMC and especially encourage new engineering graduates. There is a shortage of skilled engineers in the UK and as a profession we need to encourage more youngsters to study and reward the best.”

Line measurement

First of its kind in the world: this new sensor performs two-dimensional on line measurement with micron precision.

The new TM-3000 Series from Keyance opens new possibilities by performing high-speed on line two-dimensional measurements. It thus avoids off line controls which are expensive and introduce variability between operators. True measurement system, it also offers a much more accurate alternative to vision systems.

This 2D optical micrometer is equipped with a high-speed computing CPU and two dedicated image processing DSPs. Using a total of four processors for parallel processing, it allows for fast processing of 1800(images)/minute.

A stable measurement to micron precision
The 2D optical micrometer uses a dual telecentric optical system with a uniform collimated light beam. The two-dimensional CMOS array detects the light and dark edges in the received light, and measures the target dimensions. With the dual telecentric system the variations of the image projected on the CMOS according to the target position based on the receiver are suppressed. Thus high precision measurement is achieved by performing subpixel processing offering an accuracy of 0.5 µm to 3 µm according to the models for a repeatability of +/- 0.06 µm to +/- 0.2 µm.

Multi-point measurement without changing the target position
As the TM-3000 Series is two dimensional, it can measure up to 16 points on the target. This system combines more than 15 measurement modes, thus answering to the very large majority of applications including but not limited to: hole diameters, distances between centres, measurements of diameter, co-ordinates of points of intersection, measurements of angle, height, step, distances to a perpendicular, radius, outer diameter. Moreover, the TM-3000 Series position adjustment automatically corrects the target misalignment and tilting, performs an accurate measurement even when positioning is difficult or when objects move randomly. Thus, the adjustment is very simple and there is no need for an accurate repositioning mechanical system of the part.

Simple programming and visualization can be carried out with or without a PC. Thanks to the measured values history and shapes saved, the TM-3000 Series provides tracking data. The measurement range reaches 65 mm for a maximum distance of 270 mm between the transmitter and the receiver. The LED technology used offers an exceptional stability and a very long lifespan.

New SCADA service pack

Free Service Pack adds multi-touch capability

InduSoft has released the first service pack for its award winning SCADA software InduSoft Web Studio v7.1. Free of charge for InduSoft Web Studio v7.1 users, this new service pack adds multi-touch development capabilities for touch-screen enabled devices.

To download InduSoft Web Studio v7.1 Service Pack 1 free of charge, click here
Unlike traditional touch screen designs, multi-touch systems can recognize the position of several touch contacts and finger movements (gestures) at the same time. Without a keyboard or point device, users can navigate screens and issue commands for an entire system.

Training time is reduced because many gestures, like Zoom and Pan, function in the same way as they do for smartphones and tablet devices. Besides lowering training time, multi-touch technology provides much faster execution of commands. The average multi-touch screen users finish an action three times faster than they would by using a keyboard and pointing device.

Above all, multi-touch capability can improve safety. Certain actions may require operators to keep their hands away from a machine; the multi-touch screen can be configured to require users to have both hands on the screen before the command can be executed.

In addition to multi-touch development capabilities, InduSoft Web Studio v7.1 also offers an enhanced mobile access client and new language interfaces, including Spanish, for the development environment.

Trip Amplifier for hoist, winch & crane apps!

LCM Systems has launched the LCTA series of Load Cell Trip/Relay Amplifiers developed to provide dual volt free relay outputs from a load cell signal. Aimed primarily at OEMs, this latest product provides a cost-effective, simple to use, yet highly reliable amplifier for applications such as hoist overload protection, crane safe lifting control and personnel lifting platform protection.

The new amplifier module has the ability to power a single load cell or load pin or up to four 350 load cells connected in parallel. The volt-free relay outputs have a trip switching current of 10A at 230vac and can be adjusted independently by simply using a reference voltage to determine the adjustment value. For design engineers who wish to connect the LCTA to a remote display, there is also a 0-5v analogue output. Designers at LCM Systems have also included a shunt facility for regular and easy calibration.

To add to the versatility of this new product, the LCTA can be supplied in a number of mounting options including an IP66 sealed plastic or metal case or ready for DIN rail mounting and has field screw terminal connections. Also, although the standard product requires a 12/24vdc power supply, there is the option with the DIN-mounted version to power from a 48vac supply.

For straightforward application advice, LCM Systems’ experienced in-house design engineers are only a phone call or email away and can assist with the selection and configuration of the correct module for your application. LCM can also supply, complete with the sensor required, pre-configured, ready for installation.

Tuesday, 26 March 2013

Managed gigabit Ethernet switch


Red Lion Controls has announced the modular N-Tron NT24k managed Gigabit Ethernet industrial switch series. With up to 24 Gigabit Ethernet ports and a flexible modular format for different configuration options, the NT24k switches are designed to handle the most challenging industrial environments with high reliability and wire-speed performance.


Available in rackmount and DIN rail models, the NT24k switches provide versatility to customers through Gigabit and 100Base connectivity options in both copper and fiber. With all Gigabit capability and a versatile array of connectivity options, the NT24k switches deliver configuration flexibility that meets industrial networking requirements across industries such as factory automation, utilities, video surveillance, security, transportation and alternative energy.

“The NT24k is built with maximum flexibility in mind, giving customers many choices for media type, form factor and module combinations,” said Diane Davis, director of Ethernet networking at Red Lion Controls. “This versatility means that customers in several different industries can customize a solution to fit their particular environment, while taking advantage of Gigabit speeds, high port densities and a full range of management features that bring network-based communications to some of the most rugged scenarios imaginable.”
The NT24k includes expanded shock and vibration tolerances and an extreme operating temperature range. It also offers redundant power input options, configuration backup and an onboard temperature sensor to ensure maximum reliability. Its full set of management features include Web browser management, SNMP, Jumbo Frame support, port trunking, port mirroring, DHCP client, 802.1Q VLAN, 802.1p QoS and other features. In addition, N-Ring advanced ring technology restores network communication within ~30ms of fault detection. Robust remote monitoring capabilities make management easy.

Ethernet to serial communication gateways

These gateways are a powerful, robust and cost effective solution for connecting devices on dissimilar networks.

ProSoft Technology’s new PLX30 gateways are powerful modules designed with both Client and Server support, enabling easy communication between EtherNet/IP, Modbus Serial, Modbus TCP/IP, ASCII devices, and Siemens Industrial Ethernet.

This solution is cost effective due to its modular design and use of state-of-the-art electronic components. Moreover, it enables a quick and user-friendly configuration.

The first six gateways released include:
• EtherNet/IP to Modbus TCP/IP
• EtherNet/IP to Modbus Serial, 1 & 4 ports
• Modbus TCP/IP to Modbus Serial, 1 & 4 ports
• EtherNet/IP to Siemens Industrial Ethernet
• EtherNet/IP to ASCII, 1 & 4 ports
• Modbus TCP/IP to Siemens Industrial Ethernet

The module is a stand-alone DIN rail mounted protocol gateway that provides one Ethernet port and up to four isolated serial ports. Each serial port is individually configurable to provide a flexible host or device interface solution.

Designed for use in industrial environments, the PLX30 gateways come with a wide input power range (10Vdc-36Vdc), and an extended operating temperature range (-25°C to 70°C), and have agency approvals and certifications with CE Mark, UL/cUL Class I Div II, ATEX Zone 2, and CB Safety.

Our new line of gateways supports multiple I/O connections to EtherNet/IP-enabled Programmable Automation Controllers, providing real time transfer of up to 4000 words of data between various devices such as HMIs, SCADA systems, power monitors and flow computers.

These modules are compliant with the ODVA EtherNet/IP specification, and benefit from ProSoft Technology 20 years of expertise in MODBUS environment.

Another advantage: an SD card for storing configuration files is optional, and can be transferred to another gateway reducing downtime in the event of a disaster.

All the necessary cables required for communication are provided with the PLX30 gateways.
And a training video with step-by-step configuration instructions is available online www.prosoft-technology.com/PLX30


Partnership responds to automation cyber threats


HardwarePT, the industrial IT division of SolutionsPT, has announced a new partnership with Tofino Security, in response to the growing cyber threats in the industrial automation industry.

Tofino Security, a Belden brand, provides practical and effective industrial network security and SCADA security products which are simple to implement and that do not require plant shutdowns.

The partnership will see HardwarePT becoming the largest provider of Tofino Security’s industrial network security products, consultancy and training to the manufacturing and infrastructure sectors in Britain and Ireland.

Multiple Pathways for Stuxnet Infection
(Pic Tofino)
Mike Lees, Business Manager at HardwarePT, said: “Since the Stuxnet attack, industrial IT cyber security has become a major consideration for manufacturers and infrastructure organisations in meeting their availability targets. Our experience is that while such high profile targeted incidents make the news headlines, the main threat comes from inadvertent infection by system users, with the end result being just as devastating and highlighting the need for a solution based around strength and depth. We recognised the need to work with a specialist security vendor and it was clear that Tofino Security would be the perfect partner, due to its experience, credibility and pedigree of success”.

“Unlike security products designed for mainstream IT, the Tofino Security solution has been designed with the rugged environment, staff skills and specific needs of industry in mind, is fully compliant with the ANSI/ISA-99 security standard and is, therefore, well matched with the needs of our customers.”

Frank Williams, Senior Product Manager at Tofino Security, said ‘We are delighted to be working with an organisation like HardwarePT which understands the specialist requirements of the industrial sector and is able to offer a complete solution to its customers from system design through to the on-going management of Tofino installations."

Tofino Security products protect zones of equipment on the plant floor and are complementary to Belden’s Hirschmann brand, which is the industry leader for industrial networking solutions in sectors including oil and gas, utilities, transportation and automation.

• See also our ICS & SCADA Security page.

Enclosures for the water industry


Rittal's CS New Basic enclosures, made of aluminium, offer clear advantages over conventional plastic or glass-fibre-reinforced enclosures. More flexibility in the manufacturing of switchgear and better protection against weather influences are some of the reasons why this highly robust material is particularly convincing for rugged outdoor enclosure technology use.

Aluminium withstands external conditions much better than glass fibre due to the resistance of the material to UV radiation. Another advantage of aluminium is its flexibility as enclosures can be built in the desired size much more quickly. By contrast, plastic requires the designing of casting moulds, which is both protracted and cost-intensive.

Whether for the processing of drinking water, waste water treatment or measurement of the ground water level, along with solutions produced for pump stations and sewage treatment plants, ranging from simple to highly complex, Rittal can supply manufactured-to-order outdoor enclosures from its CS New Basic series, along with accessory components for interior installation such as compact enclosures, heaters, thermostats and enclosure lights.

Rittal’s single-wall outdoor enclosures are made of aluminium (AlMg3) and painted in RAL 7035 (powder-coated). In addition, the CS New Basic enclosure can also include protection class IP55 and NEMA 3R through the bottom plates offered as accessories. The single-door or two-door enclosure is available in widths of 600/800/1,200 mm, heights of 800/1,200 mm and depths of 400/500 mm. Accessories include concrete ba-ses/plinths, divided gland plates, cable entry plates, mounting plates, 482.6 mm (19") mounting angles, heaters, thermostats and semi-cylinders for the locking system.

Heat exchanger monitoring solution

New integrated application solution detects accelerated fouling and identifies best cleaning time to optimise facility’s energy usage, capacity, maintenance cost, carbon footprint, and safety

Emerson Process Management has announced the release of an integrated Heat Exchanger Monitoring Solution.
Typical heat exchanger monitoring application

The solution is part of Emerson’s new suite of Essential Asset Monitoring applications. The pre-engineered heat exchanger solution embeds process and exchanger best practices into software using existing wired and new wireless instrument applications for cost-effective, automated 24/7 monitoring, enabling operations improvements and reduced energy costs.

Emerson’s Heat Exchanger Monitoring Solution allows maintenance personnel to schedule optimal time to clean to sustain optimal heat transfer. As a result, facilities can reduce energy and capacity loss due to fouling by up to 10 per cent. For a 250,000-barrel-per-day refinery, that could mean savings of as much as 2.7 million Euros or more annually, across all process units.

he environmental footprint is lessened by avoiding additional emissions from heater operation because of improved heat recovery in the process. And safety is improved as wireless data transfer reduces hazardous information-gathering trips to the field amongst exchangers that can be difficult to access, stacked, and filled with hot flammable fluids.

"Typical world-class process facilities use hundreds of heat exchangers which foul over time resulting in missed operating targets," commented Pete Sharpe, Emerson’s Director of Applications Development. "Fouling typically occurs slowly but can be accelerated by inlet stream impurities or incompatible crude blends."

"Energy costs rise when fouling forces downstream process heaters to supply more energy because of heat transfer degradation in pre-heat exchangers," continued Sharpe. "Increased demand on downstream fired heaters can also diminish throughput as operating temperature limits are reached, and can increase emissions and potential fines. Avoiding these issues requires an effective cleaning programme that enhances operations, and eliminates costs and time lost due to unnecessary schedule-driven cleaning or manual exchanger surveys."

The Heat Exchanger Monitoring Solution is scalable. Users simply choose the number and type of monitoring applications and instruments that are needed for their facility. Dynamic temperature and pressure measurements are trended, historised, and analysed, delivering alerts of accelerated fouling and optimal time to clean. Heat transfer, exchanger heat-transfer coefficient, fouling factors and cost of degradation can be calculated. Operations personnel can get valuable insight into operations that can be adversely affected by exchanger fouling.

The monitoring instruments are easily installed and commissioned to form a wireless field network for automatic online measurements. The Heat Exchanger Monitoring Solution uses AMS Suite operator graphics and maintenance screens to communicate continuous online diagnostics and application data to user host systems, control systems, and historians.

"The new automated monitoring solutions reduce costs through pre-engineering savings and wireless efficiency," said Sharpe. "Whereas wired continuous monitoring is traditionally afforded for only the most expensive and critical heat exchangers, the lower costs of Essential Asset Monitoring Solutions enable expanded asset oversight."

Tape extension sensor

ASM Sensor Specialists has launched the NEW WB61 Tape Extension Sensor providing up to 4000mm measuring length in a compact housing. All ASM Tape Extension Sensors have been designed to operate in harsh conditions which make them a perfect choice for the Mobile Working Machine Market as well as other harsh demanding applications.

Due to the design of the sensor and the inherent strength of the stainless steel tape they can be found in environments and areas where other sensors struggle to survive such as hard to reach areas where directional changing pulleys are used or where temperature extremes cause problems such as icing. The life of our range of Tape Extension Sensors is totally unaffected by the use of pulleys which makes them the perfect choice for safety critical areas often found in crane operation or the Mobile Working Market in general.

The NEW Model WB61 is made from a quality moulded housing which enables lower construction costs for a rugged sensor that meets a high sealing level of IP67/69K (operational) making it an affordable choice for today’s demanding markets. The WB61 is also available with a choice of three analogue and three digital outputs (SSI, CANopen or CAN J1939) a linearity of +/- 0.10% with the option of redundant outputs. The WB61 is perfectly suited for installation on cranes, excavators, forklift trucks, hoists and access platforms.

Heating control system marks new generation

Siemens Industry Automation Division has expanded its offer for heating control systems with the compact Siplus HCS3200 system. In its rugged, totally enclosed housing with degree of protection IP65, Siplus HCS3200 is protected against dust and dirt and can therefore also be mounted outside the cabinet near to the heating elements.

The connections for up to nine heating elements in the mid power range up to 4kW and for an external fan are easily accessible at the bottom of the device. The areas of application for the heating control system are primarily distributed applications with a high degree of protection, for example the production of PET bottles, in which preforms are heated or the drying of coatings for wheel rims
in the automotive industry. Siplus HCS3200 marks a new generation of Siemens heating control systems: The new enclosure concept combines all functionalities in a single device and reduces the space requirement compared with a conventional assembly with individual components by 50 percent.

Siplus HCS3200 also provides detailed and intelligent diagnostics functions. This enables faults in the heating process to be located faster, thus increasing plant availability. The system is also integrated into the TIA environment and can easily be integrated into existing automation systems with Siemens components. Configuration can be performed quickly and simply via STEP 7 or the TIA Portal.

Over the next few years, further models will successively expand and modernize the Siemens product line for heating control systems.

Event partner announced

Falcon Electric is an ISA Automation Week Partner.

ISA Corporate Partnerships Program

ISA’s Corporate Partnerships Program offers companies customized packages, combining ISA products and services with marketing opportunities across all channels, and providing a streamlined approach to corporate sponsorship. Three partnership levels are offered: ISA Strategic Partners, ISA Corporate Partners, and ISA Automation Week Partners. The program, in its fourth year, is limited to a select group of companies at each level to maintain the highest level of visibility for each partner.
Falcon Electric’s partnership agreement with ISA ensures that the company and its solutions will gain privileged brand exposure and marketing promotion at ISA Automation Week 2013, the premier international event for automation and control professionals scheduled for November 2013 in Nashville (TN USA).

In addition, the partnership has paved the way for an educational webinar developed jointly through the input of subject matter experts from both companies. The seminar, “Protecting Automated Systems in Harsh Environments,” to be held 30 April 2013 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., eastern standard time, will discuss how to protect automated systems against disruptive and costly power interruptions.

This is a highly informative session, particularly valuable to help electrical design engineers, project managers and plant/maintenance operators better understand the power requirements of critical automation equipment, and learn how to improve system uptime and reliability.

“Falcon Electric is excited to become an ISA Automation Week Partner,” said Ron Seredian, Vice President of Marketing for Falcon Electric. “Given that ISA Automation Week draws such a highly engaged group of automation and control professionals and decision-makers, we are eager to gain opportunities to promote our power protection expertise, and build a strong dialogue with attendees. In addition, our partnership with ISA enables us to explore new ways to collaborate with ISA and leverage our mutual strengths. Our joint webinar in April, focusing on the challenges of power protection in harsh environments, is a great example.”

“ISA is proud to welcome Falcon Electric as an ISA Automation Week Partner,” states Jennifer Infantino, ISA’s Manager of Marketing, Communications, and Corporate Partnerships. “We’re eager for ISA members and the automation and control community at large to learn more about Falcon Electric’s power solutions.”

Session presenters include power industry veteran, Michael A. Stout, Vice President of Engineering at Falcon Electric, and a highly recognized authority on computer and industrial automation, and power conversion; and Lawrence (Larry) Thompson, an ISA subject matter expert and author who has extensive career and teaching background in electronics, measurement and control, and computer networking.

Handheld communicator

Yokogawa has released the YHC5150X FieldMate Handheld Communicator. The YHC5150X is a simple, user friendly HART® communicator that allows all HART® field devices to be configured, polled, and trimmed utilizing a Windows Embedded CETM based system for faster processing and greater storage capacity.

The YHC5150X is a full function, DD Direct, HART® Communicator supporting Universal, Common Practice and Device Specific commands for commissioning, configuration, and maintenance operations.

Outstanding features of the Yokogawa YHC5150X include:
• Reads manufacturers’ DDs in their native format without the need for translations
• HART®-compliant modem communicates with any registered or unregistered HART® Device
• Features an ergonomic, handheld design
• Enhanced 4.3” diagonal anti-glare touchscreen with color graphic display (no stylus required)
• Full QWERTY keyboard for commissioning new transmitters
• On Demand Help Menus and teachable device-specific short cuts
• More than twice the battery capacity of any handheld communicator
• Manage device information through PC connection
• Integrated multi-language support

The Yokogawa YHC5150X is complementary to our existing portfolio of process instrumentation, such as the EJX/EJA Pressure Transmitters, Vortex/Magnetic/Coriolis Flow Meters, and Analytical products. In addition, the YHC5150X can be used with any registered or un-registered HART® field device.

Standard accessories provided with the YHC5150X:
Docking Station with Universal Power Adapter, HART® test Lead Kit, 250 ohm resistor, Rechargeable Battery, USB Cable, Soft Case, Hand Strap, SD Card, and Software
The YHC5150X has a 1 year warranty.

Explosion proof fluid level sensors

Sensors now have ATEX, IECEx and CSA (UL) approvals

The Deeter Group has achieved CSA Explosion Proof Accreditation for its LVCS-AFP and FS-AFP fluid level sensing products.

The addition of the CSA approval to the existing ATEX and IECEx approvals means the products are suitable for use in hazardous environments in most regions worldwide and will be suitable for use in the American and Canadian oil and gas, petro-chem and chemical industries.

Peter Whiteaker, Managing Director of Deeter Group, comments; "This latest approval will add to Deeter's continued growth in the North American and Canadian markets and confirms our commitment to being a global leader in the design and manufacture of sensors for hazardous areas. Our aim is to be able to offer our customers a one-stop-shop for sensors and wireless measuring systems for all types of process control and measuring systems.”

The Deeter LVCS continuous level sensor comes in standard and custom lengths, up to four meters. It is also available with a variety of analogue output signals and can operate in temperature ranges from - 20 to 180ºC.

The FS-AFP float switch is also available in lengths up to four meters, with up to seven switch points and an operating temperature of -20 to 190ºC.

The Deter Group is happy to produce both the LVCS-AFP and the FS-AFP sensors with custom sensor mounts to suit specific customer requirements and with low minimum order quantities.

Monday, 25 March 2013

Level Meter - Explosion-Proof, Loop-Powered!

Precision Digital's PD6801 is an easy to read, explosion-proof meter designed for safe or hazardous environments, such as oil wells or chemical storage. The 4-20 mA loop-powered input displays level in feet and inches; a second line shows volume, percent, or a custom label. The meter also features a 20-segment tank level indicator that displays height. The PD6801 is optimized for wide-angle viewing of about 80˚, nearly twice that of competitive models. The meter has FM, ATEX, CSA, and IECEx approvals and is housed in a rugged, cast aluminum NEMA 4X enclosure. Unique SafeTouch® through-glass buttons allow operation without removing the cover, ensuring the integrity of the unit.

"Unlike generic 4-20 mA meters, the PD6801 is designed specifically for level applications," said Jeffrey Peters, President, Precision Digital Corporation. "The easy-to-read feet and inches display delivers an intuitive, instantly understood reading of the level, superior to a standard decimal level readout. Users can display more information from their level transmitter using the PD6801's tank level indicator and second input scale for volume or percent full display."

The PD6801 features an upper display that is 0.6 inches high and shows level in feet and inches -- up to 399 feet, 11 and 15/16 inches. The lower display is 0.4 inches high and shows volume, percent, or a custom tag programmable for any seven alphanumeric digits. The backlit meter is easy to read from a distance, under various lighting conditions, and from wide viewing angles of up to +/- 40 degrees (twice that of competitive models).

Four sensors in the PD6801 operate as through glass buttons for programming and operation without removing the cover in hazardous areas. These SafeTouch® buttons are standard, and allow high or low level alarm acknowledgement while being designed to prevent unintended triggers.

A 20-segment tank level indicator provides a quick view of height and will flash to alert operators about alarm conditions. It can be scaled independently of the analog input scale. This means the PD6801 can display as full at less than 20 mA, for level transmitters that output less than 20 mA at the maximum height of the tank or pit depth.

For non-linear signals, such as measuring the volume of odd-shaped tanks, the PD6801 features multipoint linearization up to 32 points. The level and volume scales can use different numbers of linearization points.

The PD6801 is housed in a rugged, cast aluminum NEMA 4X (IP68) enclosure that provides two threaded conduit holes and integrated pipe or wall mounting holes. Operating temperatures range from -40 to 75 degrees C.

• Precision Digital products are marketed in Ireland by P J Boner & Co.

Fittings conform to strict material standards

Oil and gas process design projects targeting extreme resistance to corrosion and extended service lifetimes have been boosted by a new metal processing technology. The advance comes from the Instrumentation Products Division of Parker Hannifin – the global leader in motion and control technologies – which is the first company to make fluid instrumentation products manufactured in the specialist alloy 6Mo and conforming to the stringent material quality specifications of the NORSOK M-650 standard.

The Norwegian petroleum industry is pioneering higher standards for equipment manufacturers and the NORSOK M-650 standard verifies that a manufacturer has the competence and equipment to produce reliable products from a number of specialist materials. Parker is the only instrumentation fittings company to have secured this level of product conformity, which applies to all the small bore instrumentation valves, manifolds, tubes and fittings it manufactures from 6Mo, a standard material with 22 years’ service in the North Sea.

Parker is one of the world's largest suppliers of instrumentation for offshore applications, and 6Mo super austenitic stainless steel alloy has become the most popular design choice for new North Sea oil and gas instrumentation engineering projects. Compared to standard 300 series and duplex stainless steel, the material offers much greater resistance to chloride-induced pitting, crevice corrosion and stress corrosion cracking, making it ideal for applications demanding long in-service life in hostile environments. The alloy contains a minimum content of 6% molybdenum, and has a pitting resistance equivalent (PRE) of at least 40.

One of the first bodies to investigate the quality of materials such as 6Mo was the Norwegian petroleum industry, which discovered that the current international standards for this material were not stringent enough. The introduction of NORSOK M-650 follows an earlier standard which defined appropriate processing methods for various materials – including 6Mo – used in the manufacture of pipes, but these methods are not suited to the production of small bore instrumentation components such as fittings, valves and manifolds.

Underlying its commitment to producing products that make a significant contribution to safety, Parker wanted to ensure that its 6Mo instrumentation products are the best available and could be offered with much reduced testing and qualification due to the Norsok M-650 requirements. The company sources this material from highly reputable mills, and took the decision to implement all necessary changes to ensure even higher levels of quality and traceability during product manufacture. To achieve this, the company first had to write a new material and manufacturing specification and collaborate with its suppliers to ensure that they could produce the necessary raw material.

Next, Parker modified its 6Mo manufacturing processes, test methods and quality management systems to comply with the requirements of the NORSOK M-650 standard. Part of this procedure involves validation by an interested third party, so Parker worked closely with a leading Norwegian energy company during this time. Although the new manufacturing process is patent pending and commercially confidential, it involves special treatment stages that guarantee the quality and consistency of the raw material as set out in the Norsok M-650 requirements. The entire process is defined in a new ESSM standard code held by Parker, which is referenced in the Qualification Test Record (QTR) verifying that the company fully complies with the NORSOK M-650 standard for production of 6Mo parts.

“Achieving NORSOK M-650 conformity for 6Mo products is a considerable accolade for Parker and the culmination of extensive development and investment”, says Spencer Nicholson, R&D director at Parker Hannifin’s Instrumentation Products Division Europe. “Many oil companies are set to follow the lead of the Norwegian oil and gas industry by demanding instrumentation products that conform to this standard, to help ensure the continued safety, reliability and 40 year operational life of their offshore platforms.”

New president for Europe

The Board of Directors of Yokogawa Electric Corporation resolved in a meeting on the 19th February to appoint Herman van den Berg to the position of President of Yokogawa Europe B.V.

Herman van den Berg succeeds Harry Hauptmeijer, who has been Yokogawa Europe’s president since 2002 and will continue as director until the 1st October 2013 to support the transition. Yokogawa Europe B.V. has developed to a growing, resilient and financially healthy company with a strong focus on customers and delivering its promise. It has a solid base to further expand business in its Test & Measurement and Industrial Automation activities in the future.
In fiscal years 2009 and 2010, Yokogawa modified its business structure and sought to make the Yokogawa Group’s operations more efficient. Based on the success of these structural reforms, Yokogawa announced the Evolution 2015 mid-term business plan in November 2011 with the aim of growing its business. Now that the company has successfully completed its first full year under the Evolution 2015 plan, the decision has been made to reorganise the management team and set the stage for the continued implementation of this growth plan.

Mr. van den Berg was born in 1958, and started his engineering career in a uranium enrichment facility before moving to an offshore platform and refinery engineering team with a project company. He became involved in global projects and eventually became the global electrical, control and instrumentation manager for the company.

He joined Yokogawa in 2005 as Managing Director for Yokogawa South Africa, and moved in 2011 to Yokogawa’s European headquarters in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, as Vice President for delivery and service with the Industrial Automation Division.

Herman van den Berg strongly believes that the secret of success in the automation sector is to get to know the customers’ businesses and then use this knowledge to drive new innovations as well as partnering with the customers to realise mutual benefit. “To be close to the customer, feeling their pulse, seeing their difficulties, living with them through their concerns and seeing how they attempt to address them are crucial factors in getting close to what is important for them and earn the right to share their benefits”, he says. “In addition, Yokogawa’s pioneering spirit, appetite for quality and appreciation for a sustainable society provide the attributes that our customers need to make them successful.”

For any organisation to perform optimally Herman van den Berg believes that it is essential for each employee to understand how his or her value adds to the company and that they are respected and appreciated by all other employees,

USB isolators protecting field computers

B&B Electronics has expanded its family of USB isolators with the small-form-factor UH201 USB Port Guardian.
Designed with field technicians in mind, this unit protects PCs, laptops, and netbooks from the surges, spikes, electrostatic discharges, and ground loops that can occur when connecting such portable devices to equipment in the field. Measuring only 2.0 x 1.0 x 0.5 inches (5.0 x 25 x 1.2 cm), and packaged in an over-moulded enclosure that protects the circuit board, the USB Port Guardian is small enough to tuck into a pocket or a laptop bag, yet tough enough to stand up to repeated use in harsh environments.

The UH201 USB Port Guardian provides up to 2 kV of protection on the USB line and up to 4 kV ESD contact protection. The isolator is bus powered, has male and female type A USB connectors, and provides 400 mA downstream power when connected to a high-power USB port. Its high-speed digital isolation chip electrically separates the technician’s PC from the remote I/O device, while allowing full-speed USB 2.0 communications at 12 Mbps – the top of the line for USB isolation products. The isolator also operates reliably over a wide temperature range -40 to +85°C.

Applications include any situation in which a technician must obtain data from equipment in the field, as in industrial control and manufacturing, remote sensing and remote metering, instrumentation, point-of-sale, test and measurement, laboratory information systems (LIMS) and more.

Water Innovation Day


Mitsubishi Electric, in conjunction with partner DDC Ltd., will hold a Water Innovation conference on the 18th of April 2013, in the Mitsubishi Electric Irish headquarters in Dublin.

This in a one day free water conference that will showcase the innovations and solutions that are driving efficiency, productivity and data management in the Water/waste water industries.

Delegates will hear from industry leaders about the challenges facing the Water/wastewater industries and the innovative changes needed to address them.

One issue that faces owners and operators of water and waste water plants is the requirement for Data Logging in order to satisfy the needs of EPA Reporting. Mitsubishi Electric have devised a solution for this which has already been installed running across several treatment plants,

“We have installed a complete Mitsubishi Solution comprising of Mitsubishi’s Automation Process Suite (MAPS) alongside their range of PLCs and Variable Speed Drives in some of our Water and Waste Water Treatment Plants. The most attractive features for us are the ability to capture data and the facility to automatically generate EPA reports.”- Paul Olthof, County Council Senior Engineer.

Mitsubishi Automation Process Suite, or MAPS, is a fully integrated automation design, engineering and management solution that reduces the lifecycle engineering effort and costs associated with automation projects. The MAPS process suite, including the integrated SCADA package significantly adds value throughout the entire value chain and can offer engineering time-savings of up to 50%, among many other benefits.

The key feature of MAPS is its automatic EPA Report generation function. It is important for the plant operators of Ireland to be able to supply the EPA with this report in the prescribed format. In some instances beforehand this information had to be collected manually by engineers. However, MAPS can now offer engineers instant automatically compiled reports thanks to the Mitsubishi Business Intelligence System, which is available through MAPS.

As one of the biggest suppliers of Industrial Automation Control Equipment to the Water and Waste Water Industry in Ireland, Mitsubishi Electric Ireland recognise the difficulties facing water/wastewater treatment facility plants. As demonstrated across several plants, Mitsubishi Electric in conjunction with our partner integrator company DDC Ltd, have successfully implemented complete integrated automation solutions comprising of the Mitsubishi Electric iQ control platform, various frequency inverters and GOT series HMI’s. This solution was designed and visualised using the Mitsubishi Automation Process Suite (MAPS), an integrated documentation management application with diagnostic and maintenance tools. With this intelligent system, data can archived by MAPS and displayed clearly to the user via the Adroit SCADA Intelligence Suite (ASI). Communication between the local pumping stations and the central plant is conducted via a GPRS network.

Friday, 22 March 2013

New man at the helm!

The HART® Communication Foundation, the standards organization for the leading communication technology in process automation, announces that its Board of Directors has appointed Ted Masters as President and CEO. Mr. Masters will succeed Ron Helson, who has been the Foundation’s chief executive since 1993 and will retire from his position as Executive Director. Mr. Helson will work closely with Mr. Masters to ensure an orderly transition of Foundation initiatives and no interruption in day-to-day operations.

Ted Masters, 
President & CEO,  HCF
Ron Helson, Retiring
Mr. Masters comes to the Foundation with a wealth of business experience and origins in process control and instrumentation. He has worked in leadership roles with both instrumentation and systems companies and served as president with the former Elcon Instruments, a leader in signal conditioning I/O and HART products. In addition, he has executive-level experience in predictive analytics and smart devices and brings to bear a solid understanding from the users’ perspective.

“Ron Helson has served the Foundation well for 20+ years. His dedication and vision are responsible for the success of the Foundation and HART technology. We wish Ron well in his retirement,” says Mark Schumacher, Chairman of the HART Communication Foundation Board. “I am very pleased and excited about the appointment of Ted Masters to succeed Ron in this very important role, both for the Foundation and for the industry. Ted’s leadership capability, technology expertise and commitment to excellence will ensure the ongoing success of the HART technology for the benefit of the member companies and the end users.”

“It has been my privilege to work with the talented people in our member companies and on the Board of Directors and the Foundation staff in serving the HART Communication Foundation over the past 20 years,” says Helson. “Together we have accomplished a great deal in advancing the HART technology and the benefits it provides to process automation industry users. I have had the benefit of knowing Ted Masters for many years and believe that he is the right executive with the right experience to lead the Foundation forward to greater achievements in the years ahead.”

“I am excited to be a part of forging the future strategy of the Foundation at this exciting time in the industry,” says Masters. “I look forward to delivering additional value to the member companies and building upon the cutting-edge leadership of process automation technology.”

Temperature calibrators

Professional Temperature Calibrator

The JOFRA Model PTC-125 Ultra Cooler -90 to 125°C, is a direct replacement to the well proven ATC-125. Similarly to the RTC-159 it addresses the sub-zero calibration requirements often found in the health care, medical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and food industries. The PTC-125 is an alternative to the RTC-159 when requirements on accuracy, stability and temperature range are less demanding. See the specification sheet (pdf).

Reference Temperature Calibrator
The JOFRA Model RTC-159 Ultra Cooler -100 to 155°C is a testament to AMETEK’s position as a market leader and their dedication to push the limits and capabilities of dry block calibration. It builds upon the well proven ATC-125 patented technology and features all the expected advantages and functionality of the RTC series.

The RTC-159 is designed to cover the full range of applications within the health care, medical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and food industries. Previously users needed multiple calibrators to cover their requirements, ranging from calibration of sensors in super freezers (-95°C) all the way up to sensors in autoclave sterilization (135°C). With the RTC-159 one size fits all. See specification sheet (pdf).

• These models are available from Instrumentation Technology in Ireland and they also use them in the calibration services they provide for customers.

Thursday, 21 March 2013

Proof of concept for LIMS applications

Autoscribe has adopted a novel approach to save time and money and minimise the risk for laboratories embarking on LIMS and sample management projects. Utilising the versatile configuration capabilities of Matrix Gemini, Autoscribe can offer a unique ‘Proof of Concept’ service, which will enable the laboratory to evaluate the system for up to a month, working on an agreed percentage of the laboratory’s needs.

This comprehensive service includes detailed discussions with all of the relevant departments and personnel in order to identify all mandatory items and the desirable but not essential items. This allows the creation of a User Requirements document including, where needed, flow diagrams related to the work patterns and responsibilities. Matrix Gemini is then configured to meet an agreed percentage of the requirements and the configured system is delivered to the customer for an agreed Proof of Concept evaluation period of up to one month.

Autoscribe’s founder and CEO, John Boother, said: “Although Proof of Concept is a chargeable service, the ease of configuration of Matrix Gemini keeps the costs very low making it a very attractive, low risk option for potential users. In addition, customers benefit from Autoscribe’s considerable experience of defining projects and developing a User Requirements Document. Not only that, we will credit 50% of the proof of concept fee if an order for a Matrix system is received within 3 months of the end of the evaluation period.”