Friday 29 May 2020

Largest force sensor.

Kistler's Type 9397C 3-component force sensor, with a measuring range of up to 450kN in the Z axis and 100kN in the X and Y axes, offers a unique measuring capacity. This, the largest sensor of its type in the world, is the ideal choice for large-scale measurement tasks such as capturing impact forces in crash tests. The Swiss pioneer of piezoelectric measurement technology specializes in ready-to-use custom solutions that can also cope with extremely high measurement ranges.

Kistler piezoelectric 3-component force sensors are used to measure dynamic and quasistatic tensile and compression forces, especially where small variations need to be detected. Being very rigid, the high natural frequencies makes the measurement of the smallest dynamic changes to very large forces in all three directions with high precision and excellent reliability. The sensors are fully calibrated and pre- loaded on delivery and can be installed straight from the box.

The unique Type 9397C 3-component force sensor from Kistler simplifies high impact and vibration testing in a wide variety of applications including Aircraft Landing Gear, High Speed Train Crash Walls and Spacecraft Payload.
Landing gear

#Kistler #transport

Distribution partnership extended.

Territories supported by RS now include Europe, Africa and Russia, providing enhanced customer access to Rockwell’s market-leading industrial automation and control product portfolio

RS Components  has announced a partnership with Rockwell Automation, a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation, which expands its distribution territories beyond the European Economic Area (EEA) it has supported to date. With immediate effect, RS is also authorised to supply Rockwell Automation products to Africa and Russia, including its Allen-Bradley and Allen Bradley Guardmaster® brands.

Kristian Olsson, Vice President Product and Supply Management at RS, said: "This marks a significant next step in our relationship with Rockwell. Customers across Europe, Russia and Africa will reap the benefits of quickly accessing essential automation and control gear from RS, whether they are sourcing parts to enhance safety or to increase machine- and plant-wide efficiency and minimise downtime."

The Rockwell portfolio offered by RS extends across a vast range of automation and control products designed to improve manufacturing processes, from design and installation to operation and maintenance. A snapshot of the parts available includes smart devices for machine guarding and safety; programmable logic controllers (PLCs) for machine control; industrial push buttons; human machine interface (HMI) displays and accessories; and sensors and rotary encoders.

#PAuto @RSComponents @designsparkRS @ROKAutomation

LIMS for Pharma/Manufacturing solution.


Autoscribe Informatics has released a new and improved Matrix Gemini Pharmaceutical/Manufacturing LIMS to meet the changing needs of the pharmaceutical, manufacturing and regulated industries. Designed specifically for pharmaceutical and other regulated and non-regulated manufacturing industries the solution allows organisations to track the full batch manufacturing cycle. Full batch traceability allows the tracking of all raw materials and intermediate products used in the process to be linked to the final product. The goal of the solution is to reduce cost, reduce risk and decrease the time required for batch release.

“In addition to all the usual sample tracking and testing functions found in a LIMS the pharmaceutical and manufacturing LIMS requires the ability to link batches of raw materials and intermediate products to final products. As well as batch genealogy the system supports many other manufacturing specific features including specification and recipe management, supplier and materials management and customer or market specific certificate of analysis generation”, said Simon Wood, Product Manager of Autoscribe Informatics.

Building on more than 30 years of experience in the LIMS industry the system is built on the standard Matrix Gemini software, configured to the specific needs of pharmaceutical, manufacturing and regulated industries using the Matrix configuration tools. Uniquely, this configuration is separated from the underlying standard code with the benefit that upgrading and re-validation of the software is more straight forward. This leads to a longer system life and lower overall cost of ownership. The Pharmaceutical/Manufacturing specific solution adds to Autoscribe’s range of industry specific LIMS solutions.

“The improved Pharmaceutical/Manufacturing LIMS brings together, and builds on, many of the features of our existing LIMS solution to provide a comprehensive system for the manufacturing sector.” said Jason Jones, Technical Sales Manager of Autoscribe Informatics. “There are obvious benefits, both from a traceability point of view and a time and financial point of view, to this solution. The goal is to reduce cost, reduce risk and improve operational efficiency overall. It drives faster ‘go live’ timescales, enables easier validation and reduces project risks by encapsulating and reusing best practice”

#PAuto #Pharma @AutoscribeLtd

Thursday 28 May 2020

Communication creator tool.

port is increasingly focusing its activities on the range of semiconductor-independent real time multiprotocol solution. The stacks, resp. Protocol libraries for PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, CANopen, EtherCAT and CC-Link IE TSN have already been combined under the technology roof of the “GOAL middleware”. Now port has also combined its extensive range of design tools into an Eclipse-based toolchain – with a new name “Industrial Communication Creator”. This unifies the former separate tools into one Tool for all.

The Industrial Communication Creator supports customers in the design phase. Due to its simple handling, this tool leads to a significant shortening of the design in phase and thus to significant cost reductions.

The Creator Tool does not only speed up the development process, it is as well a unique way to create a repeatable documentation of the engineers activities. In case another engineers need to take over the activities – there is a source documenting what has been done.

While port´s customers using PROFINET / EtherNetIP and CC-Link IE TSN already know this look&feel – for our EtherCAT and CANopen customers this is a new approach. Especially for CANopen and EtherCAT, port´s customers will find the very same functionality as in the previously used Design-Tools. Newly supported platforms will be included by simply adding plugin files in the corresponding directory – no new version needs to be installed. These plugin files are provided in the corresponding driver directory in our customers download portal site.

The new Industrial Communication Creator support also the new SoM Modules from port and the new RJ45 Modules from RENESAS.

Customers are now able to integrate and use the Industrial Communication Creator in automated build systems and include the project files into code repositories.

This new Industrial Communication Creator can run with the regular GUI but as well as “headless”. For the “headless” mode a small executable without GUI is available, which simply processes the project file with library, creating the corresponding output. This will help to run our Industrial Communication Creator in automated build systems. Further there is an option to create the project file parallel in XML format. This XML-File can be parsed and archived and handled in regular code repositories. The possibilities for importing and exporting object information have been expanded and improved.

#Pauto #IoT #port @pressebox

Software Configurable Industrial I/O for buildings & industry.

Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) has announced the release of the industry’s first Software Configurable Input/Output (I/O) product line for building control and process automation, allowing manufacturers and industrial operators to achieve greater control system flexibility while reducing their own product complexities.

Product pages & data sheets
Traditional control systems require costly and labour-intensive manual configuration, with a complex array of channel modules, analogue and digital signal converters, and individually wired inputs/outputs to communicate with the machines, instruments, and sensors on the operating floor. ADI’s new AD74412R and AD74413R enable flexible control systems to be designed with reconfigurable module channels quickly, easily, and remotely without requiring extensive re-wiring. This drastically increases speed of implementation, flexibility, and the ability to make changes without significant cost and downtime.

As Industry 4.0 emerges, manufacturers need flexible systems that can quickly and easily adapt to changing requirements, all driven by shifts in consumer behaviours and demand. As a result, they can no longer rely on fixed, large-scaled systems designed for mass-market products and predictable demand. Instead, flexible systems that can be reconfigured quickly with minimal downtime and capital investment are required. With ADI’s software configurable I/O, manufacturers can more efficiently implement new projects and achieve more flexible automated control, resulting in reduced design and installation costs, as well as reduced commissioning delays.

In using software configurable I/O, manufacturers can develop a platform that replaces multiple aging fixed function I/O modules or be applied across multiple customer applications where the I/O dynamic changes with each installation. For systems traditionally reliant on control cabinets with multiple I/O modules and specified wiring for each channel type, the need for hardware diminishes as end users can now install a single module type programmable from the control room, helping to decrease logistic, manufacturing and support costs. Software configurable I/O also acts as a bridge to Ethernet-based control networks, as it can further be applied to brownfield installations requiring updates to 10BASE-T1L industrial Ethernet systems. It enables development of standardised, configurable field I/O units capable of translating between installed HART-enabled 4-20mA sensors and actuators and 10BASE-T1L or 100M Fibre backhaul.

#PAuto #BAS @ADI_News

New technological university for Ireland.


An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD (Head of Govenment in Ireland), Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD and Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor have announced the decision to grant Technological University Status to the TU Consortium made up of Cork Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Tralee. The new university will be styled as Munster Technological University (MTU). In all at present there are 6 campuses of the new university throughout the south west Munster area.

The Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) one of the constituent bodies of the new university, was the first educational establishment to offer degree standard qualifications in the discipline of automation through its degrees in Applied Physics & Instrumentation in the 1980s.
The Institute has been very active in promoting the discipline of automation in Ireland and has provided leadership in the founding and activities of the lively Ireland Section of the International Society of Automation (ISA).
“This is an important day for higher education in Ireland and for the South West," said the Taoiseach "The Government has a very clear ambition to expand and consolidate higher education facilities, to boost economic development across the country and to attract research funding. Technological Universities are central to delivering on this. The establishment of the Munster Technological University will stimulate a more balanced growth of population and employment across Ireland. It will make it easier to secure foreign direct investment and provide quality jobs in the region. This new TU in Munster will be a driver of regional development, and it will help to make higher education more accessible. Above all else it will provide more opportunities for individuals, enterprise and the community. I want to thank both Institutes, their staff, students and management. I congratulate in particular Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor who has been driving this change.”

Minister McHugh said: “I am delighted that we can announce this landmark development for the South West region and for Irish higher education, in line with the Government’s strategy for higher education and regional development. The development of the new university from these two institutes will bring enormous benefit to the higher education landscape, to both institutions’ communities and stakeholders and to the region.

“Both institutes have worked hard and overcome challenges to meet the conditions stipulated so that it is possible to announce this decision, and subject to the relevant Oireachtas process, proceed to award TU status.

“I would like to thank all concerned, and also thank sincerely the international advisory panel which played a key statutory role earlier in the initial application process, the Higher Education Authority, Quality and Qualifications Ireland as well as my Department officials.”

The Minister noted that it is important also that both institutes maintain a continued focus on ongoing engagement with staff representatives in relation to certain industrial relations issues currently under negotiation and in stabilising the financial situation in Tralee in line with the sustainability plan which has been developed. This plan has received positive assessment and endorsement from the Higher Education Authority.

The process to designate a new Technological University is underpinned in the Technological Universities Act 2018 which the Minister of State for Higher Education Mitchell O’Connor piloted through the Oireachtas to subsequent enactment on 19 March 2018.

Minister Mitchell O’Connor said: “Today is a great day for the South West and for the higher education system in Ireland. The higher education landscape is changing and the people who will benefit most are the students of the South West. The technological university model provides the template to drive regional development, enhance opportunities for students, staff and business, enterprise and community stakeholders, and creates a step change in the impact and influence of these institutions regionally, nationally and internationally.

“Munster TU will now take its place in our higher education system. It is essential that a new university is agile, forward thinking and builds on the combined strengths of its staff and students across all disciplines and all levels, promoting enhanced teaching, learning and qualifications opportunities for students, from apprenticeship level right up to post-doctoral level.

“This type of far-seeing initiative is doubly important to us, individually and collectively, as we begin to work through the Covid-19 and emerging post-Covid-19 realities.

“I know how hard everyone involved has worked to make this next step a reality. There is a deep commitment to ensuring that staff can flourish academically and in their research activity in the new environment, and that students will see Munster TU as a place where they can thrive and develop. This commitment and this drive will ensure that the university will take its place proudly in our higher education landscape, contribute hugely to our knowledge, innovation and research base and can drive change in our society and economy. I would like to warmly congratulate the many people from the two institutions who have brought us to today’s announcement and look forward to a strong future for this exciting new university.”

A draft Ministerial order will subsequently be prepared for approval by resolution by both Houses of the Oireachtas for the appointed day of 1 January 2021 for the establishment of Munster Technological University and the dissolution of Cork IT and IT Tralee following the designation by the Minister of a first president and the appointment of the first governing body to the new university. As such, students graduating in the 2020 – 2021 academic year will do so with university qualifications.

#PAuto #Education @MTU_ie @CIT_ie  @ittralee @Education_Ire @LeoVaradkar @McHughJoeTD

Cellular internet connectivity for remote assets,

HMS Networks has released the Anybus® Wireless Bolt IoT which enables reliable cellular-based internet connectivity for assets in the field, using the new LTE-based networks NB-IoT and CAT-M1.

Companies are increasingly looking to connect remotely located assets for remote monitoring and control over the internet. However, many times there is no local infrastructure available to connect such assets to the internet in a traditional way. The Anybus Wireless Bolt IoT by HMS Networks targets this very situation, providing reliable cellular-based internet connectivity over NB-IoT and CAT-M1 for remote assets that are otherwise hard to reach and connect.

Cellular connectivity with Wireless Bolt IoT bolted onto remote assets
Wireless Bolt IoT includes all elements needed to get stationary or mobile assets online over a cellular connection. Packaged in the unique Bolt format for on-asset M50 hole mounting, it features a robust IP66/IP67 housing with UL NEMA 4X certificate for outdoor mounting, an integrated cellular antenna with a modem, a microcontroller, and firewall.

Easy and transparent communication over Ethernet to the asset
A built-in Ethernet port is used to connect to a corresponding Ethernet port on the asset. The configuration is done via a built-in webserver or by sending REST commands via the Ethernet port. After this, Wireless Bolt IoT will transfer data transparently from the asset to the cellular internet connection using TCP/UDP based protocols. Power over Ethernet (PoE) is supported, but power can also be supplied via separate terminals.

NB-IoT and CAT-M1 with 2G fallback for global deployment
On the cellular link, Wireless Bolt IoT communicates using the latest LTE standards NB-IoT and CAT-M1 with 2G (GPRS/EDGE) fallback, which enables reliable deployment almost anywhere in the world. These new LTE standards are so-called LP-WAN technologies (Low Power Wide Area Network) suitable for new IoT use cases that typically require low power consumption, low bandwidth (25-300 Kbit/s), good geographical coverage and a low connectivity cost per asset. An onboard SIM-card slot enables connection to any operator network worldwide. Private enterprise networking of assets is also supported using cellular Private APN networks.

Power-saving solution for battery-driven equipment
Wireless Bolt IoT is especially suitable for battery-driven assets not connected to the electric grid, such as electronic road signs, traffic metering stations, and water level measuring stations. By using its “Low Power mode”, Wireless Bolt IoT enters a low power state when data is not transferred which means that the size of the battery/power supply can be kept to a minimum.

#PAuto #IoT #Mepax @HMSAnybus

Wednesday 27 May 2020

Motion in waste recycling!

Waste recycling industries are increasingly look towards technology to improve efficiency and productivity. Many are turning to motion control as part of automation systems that improve throughput and optimise processing quality. With the already ubiquitous use of sophisticated automated systems in large-scale industrial waste processing plants where significant improvements continue to be made possible, manufacturers of special purpose equipment are turning to problem solving for smaller food waste, general waste recycling and materials recovery requirements that are found, for instance, in industrial kitchens, restaurant groups, food outlet chains, supermarkets and logistics companies.
These application areas, just like their large scale counterparts, are characterised by the need to efficiently process waste material with minimal costs and maximum efficiency. By transferring the processing and materials recovery of bulk waste to outside contractors, in the form of foodstuffs, packaging materials and waste material from manufacturing processes etc., their costs are potentially much higher than in-house ‘vertically integrated’ waste processing using specialised equipment that now increasingly serves these industries.

For food waste processing, smaller scale macerators remove liquid through centrifugal action with grey water directed to normal drainage systems. Dried solid waste can then be processed in further operations. More sophisticated food waste processing equipment can include compactors to compress food waste with the ability to not only remove water but also separate oils and yield the waste as a dry fibre suitable for biomass – these machines can provide significant ROI, not just in reclaimed costs for the re-use of the material and reduced outside contracting costs but also transport, labour and storage costs - as well as saving the environmental kudos.

Heason Technology can supply high-torque servo motor driven rotary actuators with for this type of equipment where torque control and rapid profile-controlled acceleration can deliver the precisely controlled high forces that improve process results and throughput times. Where machine size and its footprint are important considerations the higher power and torque ratios of these geared servo motors will realise a more compact machine design. Furthermore, the possibility of intelligent controls can bring additional benefits in machine operation, scalability and processing flexibility.
Compacting waste such as cardboard and packaging materials reduces volume and assists with disposal or material recovery processing – and is also made more efficient and productive with motion control. By compressing materials in machines fitted with competitively priced electric actuators driven by geared motors, high performance and high efficiency processing is possible for machines of all sizes. As opposed to machinery using hydraulic actuators, the processing remains clean and ultimately more controllable with the added benefit of quieter operation. The machines that fulfil these tasks include various sized equipment that can compact product into bin bags or wheelie bins, or for larger operations can include bailing for ease or transportation for other processes.

The company works closely with its customers across many industrial and research areas where its motion control components and sub-systems play important enabling functions for manufacturing machinery, test equipment and where other demanding high precision positioning tasks are vital. With a large product range encompassing mechanical and electrical/electronic components as well as motion control and industrial automation software from global distribution partners, Heason’s system integration expertise brings these component parts together with its own in-house design and build capability to deliver complete motion controlled sub-systems. Such systems include single and multi-axis motion controls, servo or stepper motors and complementary drive technology with both standard and Heason designed customised positioning mechanics. Application areas include but are not restricted to aerospace & defence, printing & packaging, medical & laboratory automation, research & development, motorsports and industrial automation.

#PAuto #mepax @heasonmotion  

Gateway that enables easy and fast integration.

HMS Networks announces a new compact Intesis™ Modbus RTU to KNX gateway that enables easy and fast integration of Modbus RTU slaves to KNX. Fully configurable using the standard ETS tool, it targets small-scale room control applications with up to 100 data points.

Room automation projects in commercial applications such as hotels or office buildings are often of small scale, only requiring a limited number of signals from HVAC and metering devices to be integrated into a KNX system. Here, integrators are often faced with connecting rooftop units, fan coils, or meters, but these typically come with Modbus RTU slave connectivity as standard.

Addressing this situation, the new Intesis Modbus RTU to KNX gateway is a cost-effective protocol converter that supports up to 100 data points. Easy to install with a compact form factor, the gateway features Modbus RTU master functionality for seamless integration of any Modbus RTU slave to KNX. With separate interfaces for KNX TP and serial Modbus RTU (RS485) respectively, it enables bidirectional data monitoring and control of the integrated data. Power is supplied by the KNX bus.

The Modbus RTU to KNX gateway can be configured with the ETS tool which makes configuration easy and seamless for the many KNX professionals who are using the ETS tool daily in their KNX projects. Users also benefit from the fact that the product database can be directly downloaded from the ETS catalog and imported into the integration project.

Thanks to the KNX connectivity offered with the Intesis gateway, manufacturers now have an opportunity to offer their Modbus-enabled HVAC and metering devices to the KNX market by using the Modbus RTU to KNX gateway as their standard KNX interface. To facilitate integration to KNX, the gateway allows manufacturers to create pre-defined templates that match the Modbus register maps of their devices. With this, KNX integrators can integrate Modbus RTU slaves such as HVAC or metering devices into the KNX network very quickly, while maintaining full data control.

The gateway extends the comprehensive range of already existing Intesis KNX protocol translators and has been certified by the KNX Association in order to guarantee the highest quality standards.

#BAS @intesis 

Electronics 7 production to be highlighted at July Event.

On May 8, 2020, The Government of the Peoples' Republic of China has issued the guidelines of preventing and controlling the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV Level 3). 

The emergency response level of major public health emergencies in Shanghai was adjusted to level 3. The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and Shanghai Convention & Exhibition Industries Association has now published the notice and guidelines of preventing and controlling the epidemic on organizing exhibitions.

With the gradual alleviation of the epidemic, this is good news for the exhibition industry. After continuous communication with exhibitors, visitors, partners and venue counterparts, it is once again confirmed that electronica China, productronica China and LASER World of PHOTONICS CHINA will be held on July 3–5, 2020, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) as scheduled.

With the controlling of the epidemic in China, work resumption is taking place across the country and the national economy is believed to be recovered in a rapid and strong pace. The accelerated deployment of 5G, new infrastructure and intelligent manufacturing will promote the overall recovery of the electronics and photonics industries in China. The end market is still full of opportunities and the industry as a whole is expected to rebound in the second quarter or the second half of the year.

From July 3–5, 2020, electronica China and productronica China will continue to involve the vertical industry and related technologies in addition to displaying more diversified products. The shows will provide a comprehensive displaying platform for industry practitioners to present their latest equipment, technologies and application solutions, so as to inspire the industry innovation speed up the development of the whole electronics industry chain.

The health and safety of exhibitors, visitors and partners will continue to be top priority. The relevant policies and regulations will be strictly followed during the shows, the various prevention and controlling security measures will be effectively implemented to ensure the safety and orderliness of the exhibition.

@productronica @PhotonicsMedia @PHOTONICSWORLD #China

Tuesday 26 May 2020

Servo Drives with Developer Kit.

A new developer kit from Festo enables system designers and machine builders to familiarise themselves with the functions and application possibilities of the company’s CMMT servo drives.

The Festo CMMT developer kit allows users to explore the ease of installation, powerful networking capabilities and simple commissioning software available to help them specify and become familiar with the configuration of the best servo drive for their application.

Festo’s CMMT range of servo drives includes the high power CMMT-AS and the miniature CMMT-ST, which needs less than half the installation space. The developer kit provides users with a risk-free application development tool that enables them to try out CMMT servo drive capabilities and evaluate the connectivity available through Festo’s Automation Suite at their own pace. It also enables easy replication across the range functionally at a very low initial outlay.

The developer-kit contains:

  • The CMMT-ST extra low voltage servo drive controller
  • An EMMS-ST-42 servo motor
  • Encoder cable (1.5 m)
  • Motor cable (1.5 m)

The CMMT-ST servo drive controller makes connectivity simple. Users choose between EtherCAT, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP and Modbus protocols to integrate the CMMT servo drive seamlessly into the system environment of their chosen PLC. Necessary plug-ins and function blocks are provided – at no additional cost – for integration into host systems such as Festo, Siemens, Beckhoff, Rockwell and Omron environments.

Users of the developer kit can utilise Festo’s free “Positioning Drives” software to quickly size and select the correct components. They can then use the Automation Suite software for quick and easy commissioning of the drive system in just five steps. The positioning drives project can be imported into the Automation Suite, making the commissioning process even easier. E-Plan schematics and macros are also provided in the package, enabling developers to see how easy it is to speed up technical documentation using these tools.

For those who require support, Festo is offering a series of ‘how to’ videos available on the YouTube channel "Festo Service". These video tutorials show how to configure and commission the servo components and can be viewed on a smartphone or tablet, enabling the correct sequence to be followed at any time to suit the user, day or night. One-to-one online commissioning support is also available through the Application Support engineering team on your first system.

#Pauto @festo_global @Publitek

Friday 22 May 2020

Online calculators to help speed electronic design process.

Mouser Electronics is a single destination for all of the technical resources and tools to help design engineers throughout the design process.


Mouser’s free Technical Resource Center now offers an extensive lineup of online calculators designed to help engineers of all skill levels save time figuring out anything from power conversion computations to resistor color codes.

“Part of delivering exemplary service to our customers means providing them with the tools and information they need to order and design with latest products,” says Kevin Hess, Mouser Electronics’ Senior Vice President of Marketing. “Mouser’s online calculators help save time, providing more opportunity for customers to find essential technical data and application information.”

#Electronic @MouserElecEU

Functionality extended.

HMS Networks has extended the functionality of the Ixxat® CAN@net NT and CANbridge NT series with the new Service Pack 2. Users can now add smart, event-controlled network actions and versatile bi-directional MQTT-messaging to cloud applications. The new hardware CAN@net NT 100 complements the CAN@net NT range with new network connectivity.

The Ixxat® CAN@net NT and CANbridge NT product families enable smart and seamless CAN-based networking on-site and remotely. The CANbridge NT enables easy coupling of up to four CAN and CAN-FD networks using filter and translation rules. Network wiring can be simplified through tree and star topologies, and all connected segments are protected thanks to electrically isolated bus interfaces. All CAN@net NT products come with an additional Ethernet interface, allowing very distributed networks by coupling up to four CAN@net NT devices using Ethernet. CAN@net NT products also allow remote access to CAN and CAN-FD networks via Ethernet and PC.

New SP2 functionality powers up the CAN@net NT and CANbridge series
The new Service Pack 2 introduces enhanced "Action Rules" programming for flexible definition and execution of events and actions for all CAN@net NT and CANbridge products. Based on LUA script processing, these user-defined actions can be triggered upon e.g. pre-defined message content or status information.

The Ethernet interface of the CAN@net NT series enables direct cloud connectivity via the implemented MQTT protocol. In SP2, bi-directional MQTT messaging is introduced. In addition to transmitting e.g. alarms and status information to mobile devices, messages can now also be received from the cloud for LUA script-based pre-processing, plausibility checking and transmission to the CAN bus.

CAN@net NT 100 – new connectivity
HMS also introduces a new hardware – CAN@net NT 100 – that offers a D-Sub 9 network connector for CAN/CAN-FD network connectivity, complementing the existing CAN@net NT 200 and 420 products that both feature screw terminals. The CAN@net NT 100 is a direct successor of the older CAN@net II which means that existing customers can exchange installed CAN@net II units in existing systems with CANnet 100 NT and benefit from all the new functionality provided in SP2.

 #PAuto #Communications #CAN #MEPAX @hmsnetworks

Leading in gas leak investigation.

In the Unites States, around 65% of gas utility first responders carry a SENSIT instrument for gas leak investigation work. So, with such a dominant position in the market, SENSIT Technologies is under constant pressure to keep ahead of the competition, and in the following article Arthur Burnley, a Director with Alphasense Ltd, examines the ways in which it has managed to do so.

Scott Kleppe
For over 40 years, SENSIT Technologies has developed and manufactured hazardous gas detection equipment for applications such as gas leak surveys, underground gas location, pipeline purging, personal safety and confined spaces. The company was founded by the parents of the current CEO Scott Kleppe, and has built a global reputation for its combustible gas leak detectors. “To maintain and build on our market position, we have to continually innovate; by finding new ways to meet the needs of our customers,” Scott explains. “However, as we seek to expand our product range and market activity, it is important for us to retain and build on the strengths that made us the market leader.”

The core technology in many of the SENSIT products is an advanced low power semiconductor sensor to measure combustible gases in the LEL (Lower Explosive Limit) range, and a thermal conductivity style sensor to measure combustible gases in the percent volume range.

Developing a broader spectrum of measurement parameters
The expansion of the SENSIT product range has been driven by the requirements of new applications and by customers wishing to monitor other gases in addition to Natural Gas, Propane and Butane. Oxygen, for example is a useful parameter to monitor, particularly in confined spaces, where a lack of oxygen can prove fatal.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is also an important gas; produced when fuel is burned in low levels of oxygen. After CO is breathed in, it enters the bloodstream and mixes with haemoglobin to form carboxyhaemoglobin. This reduces the ability of blood to carry oxygen, which causes the body's cells and tissue to fail. Consequently, there is a requirement to measure CO levels in many applications, and around 20 years ago SENSIT manufactured its own sensor for this purpose. “At that time, a number of different sensor manufacturers were knocking at our door, seeking to become the supplier of our CO sensors,” explains Scott Kleppe. “Our CO sensor requirement was significantly smaller than the numbers being manufactured by the main manufacturers, so it made sense to exploit their experience and economies of scale.”

Among the prospective suppliers was a representative from Alphasense in Britain, and following extensive trials the incorporation of Alphasense electrochemical sensors into several of the SENSIT products was agreed. Scott says: “Accuracy, stability, repeatability and price were of course major issues in the assessment, but we also took other factors into consideration such as the quality and speed of technical support.”

Shared values create long relationships
With the partnership between SENSIT and Alphasense now stretching back over 20 years, Scott says: “Shared values and goals are the underlying reasons for the relationship’s longevity. For example, both companies strive to deliver outstanding levels of service for our customers. At SENSIT, we constantly remind ourselves that we have two ears and just one mouth, so when a customer calls for help, we listen, and we go the extra mile to ensure that they get what they need.

“We are fortunate to have a team of almost 120 people that really care about our customers because they appreciate the importance of the life saving work that they do. As a result, most of our staff have been with us for a very long time.

“Over the years, we have learned from experience that Alphasense shares the same working philosophy because they have consistently responded quickly and effectively to our requests. They also constantly seek to innovate, which feeds into our development work so that we now include a much wider range of sensor options in our product range.

“The instruments that leave our factory have the SENSIT name upon them, which means that our reputation travels with them and our brand therefore depends on every part of every instrument. Consequently, we need a supply chain that delivers components and sensors that are consistently reliable; delivered on-time, every time.

“After working with Alphasense for over 20 years, we have become accustomed to high levels of quality. We know for example, that every sensor has been individually tested, which saves time and cost, protects our brand and builds trust into the relationship.”

Helping critical workers
As a provider of equipment to critical workers, SENSIT had to ensure normal manufacturing output at its facilities near Chicago during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The factory had to be quickly adapted to accommodate social distancing,” Scott explains, “we also moved the factory to a shift pattern, with the facility being completely sanitized between shifts. Staff now work longer shifts, but with a week on, followed by a week off.

“Some staff have been able to work from home, which meant less time lost travelling, with benefits to the work/home balance and the environment, so it will be interesting to see if we can retain those advantages once the ‘new normal’ emerges.”

Looking forward
Scott believes that the recent pandemic will inevitably make citizens more conscious of risks such as airborne hazards, and this will further drive the market for safety products; particularly personal monitors. At the same time, SENSIT’s partnership with Alphasense will help to meet other market needs such as a broader range of parameters and lower cost sensors with less interference and a longer interval between maintenance.

Instruments are also likely to become smaller and even easier to use, with wireless communications and improved functions for transparency and traceability.

#Safety #gasleaksensors #SENSIT #Alphasense  #Environment  @_Enviro_News  

Leas na teicneolaíochta digití in athmhúscailt pobail ghnó tuaithe.

Taighde nua cómhaoinithe ag Údarás na Gaeltachta chun leas na teicneolaíochta digití in athmhúscailt pobail ghnó tuaithe a fhiosrú.

Údarás na Gaeltachta ag cómhaoiniú taighde nua i gcomhar le hInstitiúid Teicneolaíochta Phort Láirge (WIT), chun féachaint ar na bealaí le leas a bhaint as teicneolaíochtaí digiteacha chun tacú le gnóthaí imeallacha agus faoin tuath sa Ghaeltacht chun nascadh agus forbairt a dhéanamh.
Beidh an taighde féin thar a bheith tráthúil ag an am seo agus léargas á thabhairt ar an leas a bheidh gnóthaí faoin tuath in ann a bhaint as teicneolaíochtaí digití agus iad ag athmhúscailt tar éis na géarchéime COVID-19.

Dúirt Príomhfheidhmeannach Údarás na Gaeltachta Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh “Tá comhpháirtíocht seanbhunaithe idir Údarás na Gaeltachta agus Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Phort Láirge maidir leis an Ard Dioplóma i Léiriú Teilifíse agus na Meáin Dhigiteacha agus tá muid an-sásta leis an gcomhpháirtíocht nua seo agus súil againn gur féidir linn an dea-chaidreamh oibre sin a fhorbairt tuilleadh leis an Institiúid ar thionscnaimh amach anseo. Beidh taighde agus nuálaíocht ríthábhachtach don Ghaeltacht agus muid ag iarraidh a theacht ar ais ó thionchar na géarchéime COVID-19. Chuige seo, beidh sé riachtanach do ghnóthaí leas a bhaint as teicneolaíochtaí nua chun téarnamh a dhéanamh agus tacóidh an taighde seo go mór leo an tairbhe a thuiscint.”

Ní hamháin sin ach fiosróidh an taighde seo cothú pobail Ghaeltachta imeallacha tríd úsáid na teicneolaíochta – rud atá an-ábhartha faoi láthair agus an teicneolaíocht ríthábhachtach do chách atá ag obair ón mbaile, ag coinneáil gnóthaí ag feidhmiú agus ag coinneáil clainne nasctha.

Mar chuid den taighde gníomhaíochta PhD 4 bliana atá beartaithe, beidh an taighdeoir neadaithe i nGaeltacht Phort Láirge agus in Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Phort Láirge.

Tá Údarás na Gaeltachta agus IT Phort Láirge ag lorg taighdeoir a bhfuil an-spéis aige/aice sa taighde sóisialta is úire agus a bhfuil tuiscint dea-fhorbartha aige/aice ar an dul chun cinn is déanaí maidir le modhanna taighde cáilíochtúil. De bharr nádúr neadaithe an taighde seo, beifear ag súil go mbeadh an t-iarratasóir ina c(h)ónaí de ghnáth i réigiún oirdheisceart na hÉireann, rannpháirteach le pobail na Gaeltachta agus ní mór dó/di a bheith i láthair in Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Phort Láirge le bheith páirteach sna modúil struchtúrtha PhD. Ó tharla go mbeidh an t-iarratasóir tumtha i bpobal gnó na Gaeltachta i bPort Láirge, ní mór a bheith líofa i nGaeilge chun an staidéar a thabhairt chun críche agusbeifear ag súil go mbeidh an t-iarratasóir PhD ábalta a léiriú go bhfuil sé/sí líofa ó thaobh labhairt agus scríobh na Gaeilge agus an Bhéarla.

Tá an scoláireacht cómhaoinithe ag Údarás na Gaeltachta agus Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Phort Láirge agus cuirfear stipinn bhliantúil €12,000 ar fáil don scoláire a n-éireoidh leis/léi faoin scoláireacht sin. Tá piléar oideachais fada agus rathúil ag Údarás na Gaeltachta agus stair fhada ag an eagraíocht le scéimeanna éagsúla oideachais a chur i bhfeidhm. Le cúpla bliain anuas d’eascair roinnt comhpháirtíochtaí le hinstitiúidí tríú leibhéal eile áit a bhfaigheann mic léinn iarchéime tacaíocht leanúint ar aghaidh leis an staidéar, go háirithe má bhaineann an staidéar sin leis an nGaeltacht.

Is é an Aoine an 29ú Bealtaine 2020 an spriocdháta don deis PhD seo agus is féidir eolas breise a fháil anseo. 

#Digitisation @UdarasnaG @waterfordit

Potential of digital technology to reengage rural business.

New research to investigate the potential of digital technology to reengage rural business communities.

Údarás na Gaeltachta is cofunding new research, in conjunction with Waterford Institute of Technology, to explore methods in which increased digital technology interventions and learnings can assist peripheral and rural businesses in the Gaeltacht to connect and develop.

Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh, Údarás na Gaeltachta’s Chief Executive Officer said “Údarás na Gaeltachta has a long-standing partnership with WIT in supporting the Higher Diploma in Television and Digital Media Production. We are delighted with this new partnership and hope that we can build on our close working relationship with the Institute on other future projects. Research and innovation will be very important to the Gaeltacht as we try to recover from the COVID-19 crisis. To that end, it will be vital for businesses to maximise the value of new technologies in their recovery phase and this research will assist them greatly to realise the benefits.”

The research is opportune at this time and will provide an insight into the benefits that rural businesses can achieve from digital technologies in the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

The research will also investigate the development of peripheral Gaeltacht business communities by the use of technology – something that is very timely at the moment in light of the importance of technology to all who are currently working from home, continuing to operate a business or keeping families linked.

The proposed 4-year PhD action research project will embed the researcher in the Waterford Gaeltacht business community and Waterford Institute of Technology.

Údarás na Gaeltachta and WIT are seeking a researcher with an enthusiasm for cutting-edge social research and a well-developed understanding of the latest advances in qualitative research methods. Due to the embedded nature of this research the successful applicant will be expected to be ordinarily resident in the southeast region of Ireland, engaging with Gaeltacht communities and must be present at Waterford Institute of Technology to participate in structured PhD modules. As the applicant will be immersed in a Gaeltacht business community, proficiency in the Irish language is necessary to complete the study and it is anticipated that the PhD candidate will be able to exhibit oral and written proficiency in both Irish and English.

The scholarship co-funded by Údarás na Gaeltachta and Waterford Institute of Technology will provide an annual stipend to the successful scholar of €12,000. Údarás na Gaeltachta has a long established and successful educational pillar and has a long history of implementing various educational schemes. In recent years a number of partnerships have emerged with other third level institutes where post graduate students are supported to pursue areas of study, with a particular relevance to the Gaeltacht.

The closing date for applications for this PhD research opportunity is Friday May 29th 2020 and further information can be found here


#Digitization @UdarasnaG @waterfordit

Thursday 21 May 2020

Communicating in historic buildings.

In modern buildings, communication pathways and utility spaces are routinely provided. Historic structures, on the other hand, were not designed for routing cables or many other utilities (such as plumbing) that are standard today. The craftsmanship and solid construction of these buildings is important and appreciated, thus there is a desire to retain these architectural details and finishes while installing or modernizing a Building Management System (BMS) to comply with today's comfort, energy, and performance needs.

The challenge is how to install a modern BMS, such as BACnet, in an older structure with minimal impact. Fortunately, many older buildings have antiquated BMS systems in-place, using twisted-pair wiring. These wires are still serviceable.

It is possible to upgrade these buildings to a modern BACnet BMS using BACnet I/O modules and a Contemporary Controls BTL Listed BASrouter. This BACnet multi-network router provides versatile stand-alone routing between BACnet/IP, BACnet Ethernet, and BACnet MS/TP networks. The existing twisted-pair wires become a BACnet MS/TP network, with all the commissioning and troubleshooting features of BACnet. Multiple BASrouters allow you to consolidate discrete regions (such as floors or utility spaces) into a structure-wide system by installing a single CAT5 cable that links these areas together as a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet network. A wireless network solution is available as well, and we will discuss this in a future newsletter article.

The BASrouter provides troubleshooting and diagnostic capabilities. The BACnet MS/TP "Status" webpage contains a graphical table of all the MS/TP devices on the network and their status. Also provided are network statistics. In addition, a BACnet/IP "Routing" webpage with a discoverable routing table is useful when setting up or troubleshooting the BACnet network.

Another alternative, if Modbus I/O devices were used, is to utilize the Contemporary Controls BASgatewayLX to retain and allow these EIA-485 Modbus serial (RTU or ASCII) devices to appear as individual BACnet compliant devices that can be accessed and integrated into a modern BACnet Ethernet network. Contemporary Controls maintains a free library of pre-built Modbus profiles and will create new device profiles free-of-charge to make it very easy to integrate any Modbus device to BACnet. Multiple BASgatewayLX modules communicating over a single CAT5 cable (or wirelessly) can create a structure-wide high-speed BACnet Ethernet system from what was once a collection of discrete regions.

#BMS @ContempControls

Industrial IoT communication.

Anybus® Com-pactCom™ IIoT Secure products for both EtherNet/IP and PROFINET, including a new complete security platform for IIoT communication over OPC UA and MQTT are now available from HMS Networks.

The leading Anybus CompactCom product family from HMS Networks enables device manufacturers to connect their industrial devices to all major industrial Ethernet networks, and IIoT connectivity is already supported via OPC UA and MQTT. However, the increased market demand for IIoT connectivity calls for next-level data security solutions to ensure that data from automation devices reach the cloud in a secure way. Full security is needed for the OPC UA or MQTT communication itself, as well as during file transfer and on web pages. The data must be encrypted, and the integrity of any given data system must be guaranteed to prevent data theft, tampering, or sabotage.

Addressing this challenge, HMS is the first company to release a complete and ready-made embedded security product that enables fully secure communication from devices in the field to the cloud. The solution is called CompactCom IIoT Secure and features new powerful security hardware, secure boot, certificate management, encryption, as well as secure OPC UA and MQTT communication. The release focuses on CompactCom for EtherNet/IP and PROFINET with OPC UA and MQTT connectivity and includes the following main new software and hardware elements.


CompactCom software for secure IIoT
Encryption of data sent to the cloud using secure OPC UA channels or to use encrypted traffic via MQTT over TLS
Secure boot functionality ensuring usage of HMS firmware only
Authentication through advanced certificate management and secure access and file transfer over TLS using HTTPS and WebDAV
New certified hardware prepared for security and industrial use
A security chip ensures full product integrity and identity
The solution has been thoroughly tested from a cybersecurity point of view by HMS
Pre-conformance testing has been performed for the networks in question, facilitating customer product certification significantly
Complies with the applicable EMC and UL-standards same as for all Anybus products

The new Anybus CompactCom Secure IIoT products for EtherNet/IP and PROFINET enables  CompactCom customers to benefit from a fast path to secure IIoT communication without having to redesign their device.

#PAuto #MEpax #IIoT @HMSAnybus @hmsnetworks

Certified power quality analysis.

Taken together, these specific protective measures guarantee a high degree of security and while still ensuring the greatest possible variability in the applications.

Camille Bauer Metrawatt is determined to continue with enhancements and innovations in response to conclusive market feedback and international trends even in this time of COVID-19. The issue of power quality is becoming increasingly important, particularly to ensure security of supply in the areas of power generation, power distribution and electricity consumption. By providing the appropriate measurement technology, Camille Bauer Metrawatt contributes to maintaining and continuously improving the security of supply.

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Especially when making power quality measurements with a portable device, it is not uncom-mon for the supply voltage to be briefly interrupted. This often occurs for trivial reasons which, however, can influence measurement results significantly. For example, the power plug might fall out of the socket or be unplugged by mistake. If this happens during an EN50160-compliant measurement campaign for example, which normally lasts 7 days, the measurement result may contain gaps. For this reason, the newly integrated UPS in the LINAX PQ5000-MOBILE can easily outlast a power cut of 5 x 3 minutes. So, if there is a power failure, it provides enough time to reconnect the power plug to the socket while the measuring device continues to record without interruption. And the battery life is approx. 3-5 years. All LINAX PQ series power quality analysers can be optionally equipped with a UPS now.

Remote access via secure connection
We increasingly find in applications that measurements made with portable devices are also being made as part of a remote process. This entails not only having a qualified person on site to carry out the measurement on the electrical installation but also someone else, who may be located somewhere quite different, starts and ends the measurement series and saves the measurement data via Internet somewhere in the world. And so, this poses the question of how to implement this type of application securely.

To support this the company has introduced secure gateway access with a SIM card. This enables measurements to be carried out remotely at any time and from anywhere through the VPN tunnel. In addition, real-time data, for example from the event recorder, energy flow data, interim reports, alarms etc., can be safely viewed at any time, thus leading to early detection of mains power quality. In addition, the compliance reports, for example according to EN50160, can be generated without external software. Last but not least, the measurement data can be easily backed up to another location using the VPN connection.

Programmable event recording duration
In addition to the existing standards, customers are increasingly requesting individual parameters and results for evaluating and analysing power quality data. This has led Camille Bauer Metrawatt AG to introduce several new functions.

The time-based monitoring of the statistical conformity assessment, for example according to EN50160, IEC61000-2-2, GB/T, IEEE519, customer-specific protocol etc., can now be parametrized down to 10-minute periods. This also allows short-term monitoring of the power quality based on existing standards.

To make events even more readable, in future users will be able to configure the output graphics with reference to a programmable recording period. This includes the RMS values ½ ≤1s before and ≤180s after the triggering of a PQ event. In addition, the sample values of ≤1s before and ≤5s after triggering can be parametrized. The events can then be zoomed directly in the web browser and allow the relevant values to be read even better in a higher resolution.

All the above-mentioned properties can be entered easily in a user-friendly manner directly on the display of the LINAX PQ device (if display is available). It is even easier to do this directly in the integrated web browser using a PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. And all this without the need for complex and costly additional software.

IT security through specific protective measures
New protection mechanisms have been introduced to reduce threats such as data theft, data manipulation and misuse. These include role-based access rights which prevent unwanted access to various functions, views and data. Consequently, users only receive the rights need-ed to perform their specific activities.

The "Audit Log" function logs additional security-relevant processes and stores them securely on a system logger. Furthermore, the Syslog protocol can be used to transfer the contents of the audit log to a central server for network monitoring. The access authorization can also be restricted to up to 10 computers with access rights.

The web-based device access can also take place via an https channel. Here, messages are encrypted and decrypted with the help of a certificate. The certificate is provided by Camille Bauer Metrawatt or alternatively a customer certificate can be used.

• Camille Bauer Metrawatt products are marketed in Ireland through Irish Power & Process.


#PAuto #TandM #camillebauer @irishpwrprocess

Innovation centre & manufacturing expansion announced.

Emerson is to invest more than $100 million (€91 million)in Boulder, (CO USA) to significantly expand its manufacturing space and launch a new innovation centre focused on research, new product development and industry training for its advanced flow measurement products.


“This US investment significantly expands our ability to serve as industry leaders, helping customers in essential industries optimise their operations with the latest technologies,” said David N. Farr, chairman and chief executive officer of Emerson. “Our new facility demonstrates our continued commitment to customer-driven innovation and high-tech manufacturing, as well as our focus on attracting the best and brightest talent to work for Emerson.”

Emerson is recognised globally for its advanced flow measurement technologies and diagnostics that help leading global customers in the life sciences, food and beverage, chemical, power and energy industries. The new innovation centre will drive innovation and new product development to enable customers in these critical industries to realise performance improvements in production, reliability, safety and sustainability.

“As an entrepreneur, I saw first-hand how Colorado’s talent and market strengths can fuel innovation,” said Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. “This timely investment in Coloradans and our state is a bold statement about our economic power and the bright opportunities that lie ahead.”

The nearly 180,000 square foot (16,700 square metres) expansion includes a new, 85,000 sq ft (7,900 sq m) laboratory and manufacturing facility to design and develop products, technologies and software that measure and control the flow of material in a manufacturing process. These innovations are core components of Emerson’s Plantweb™ digital ecosystem, a scalable portfolio of technologies, software and services that help customers digitally transform their operations and achieve Top Quartile performance.

The expanded Boulder facility will offer a hands-on Interactive Plant Environment that simulates real-world industrial manufacturing conditions for worker training and upskilling to help reshape the future workforce. The experiential training facility will provide Emerson customers with hands-on access to the most advanced products and technologies, including flow, temperature, level, pressure and wireless instrumentation, valves and regulators, as well as Emerson’s leading control systems and Plantweb digital ecosystem. Emerson’s flow measurement portfolio includes Coriolis, magnetic, vortex, multiphase, differential pressure and ultrasonic meters under the Micro Motion™, Rosemount™, Roxar™ and Daniel™ brands.

Emerson will add charging stations for electric vehicles, launch green landscaping, energy efficiency and water conservation programmes, and provide bicycle parking at the new facility. Emerson expects to break ground in spring 2020.

Emerson currently has 630 employees in Boulder, home of its measurement solutions business. Micro Motion was founded in 1977 as one of Boulder’s earliest start-ups and invented the first Coriolis flow meter. Emerson acquired Micro Motion in 1984 and has continued to invest in design, engineering and attracting technical talent.

 #PAuto #USA @Emerson_News @EMR_Automation

Wednesday 20 May 2020

Sub-divide energy chains.

Reduce the associated construction and connection effort in less space.

The flexible and reliable supply for fast, linearly moving components of machines and systems is made possible by the Han-Modular® Flexbox – a novel interface in the modular plastic housing system from Harting. Longer, moving cable runs for machines and machine modules are easier to install and maintain.

The Han-Modular® Flexbox makes it possible to sub-divide energy chains into flexibly manageable and easily replaceable segments. The modular housing concept replaces the previous implementation consisting of multiple individual connections and offers a single plug-in and disconnection point as a compact overall solution. This reduces the associated construction and connection effort, and less space is needed. Fastening elements can be used to join the housings together in different configurations. As a result, the height and width of the interface can be flexibly designed. The Han-Modular® Flexbox thus fits the requirement profile of a wide variety of applications. The Han-Modular® Flexbox was developed in a co-engineering process with their partner igus.

The Flexbox’s housing and other components are made of high-performance plastic and comply with the applicable standards in terms of fire protection and resistance to environmental influences. The seals on the cable glands are designed for easy handling and are available for cable diameters from 4 to 24 mm. The system is rounded out by integrated strain relief that can withstand forces in excess of 150 Newton. The Flexbox is a stand-alone solution that boasts all the features of housing for industrial connectors.

Harting has succeeded in continuing the modularity inside the housing as well. Nearly all the Han-Modular® portfolio - which features more than 100 modules for transmitting currents, signals and data, as well as compressed air and fibre-optic signals - can be used in the Flexbox. This results in almost endless combination possibilities when it comes to implementing the right interface for every application. A plastic frame enables integration of the Han-Modular® modules in the Flexbox. Currently, a maximum of four modules can fit in one frame.

The connections in the Han-Modular® Flexbox are securely protected against environmental influences such as water and dust. Screw locks in different designs ensure tightness.

#PAuto @HARTING @hartinguk

Point level detection.

"The original puts you one step ahead – point level detection has never been this easy and reliable!" 

Thanks to the new level switch PL20, the CleverLevel series from Baumer now offers more possibilities for detecting point levels. CleverLevel reliably detects every type of medium, whether liquid, pasty, viscous, or solid, and is therefore the solution for a variety of applications for which standard vibrating forks are used today. One of its major advantages is the fact that it does not have to be parameterised to a medium as before but flexibly adapts to the medium at hand. This way, even adhesions such as those that frequently occur with pasty materials can be reliably masked. With its optional 4 - 20 mA analog signal, the PL20 offers a number of additional advantages and true added value for increased efficiency of your production process.

The food and beverage production sector is distinguished by increasingly individual customer requirements. Conventional measurement systems are unable to cope with the different media characteristics involved. The new level switch CleverLevel PL20 makes processes more flexible and eliminates additional efforts – because it no longer matters what is in the tank. The PL20 level switch offers true added value, especially when it comes to applications in the food production sector with changing recipes or batch production. The self-learning sensor automatically adjusts to the different media. This ensures maximum flexibility with minimum set-up times. In addition, thanks to its compact design and low installation depth, it has only a minor impact on the process and thus ensures maximum food safety.

Even adhesions such as those that occur with pasty materials and electrostatic charging do not affect the performance of the sensor. In such cases as well, the level switch adjusts the switching level without any type of parameterization, minimizing downtimes that may be caused by faulty switching. With an additional optional 4 … 20 mA analog output, the PL20 can help differentiate the media within the process or evaluate the cleaning process. What is more, the graphic evaluation of the measurement results with the help of the FlexProgrammer ensures a transparent process. In addition, the sensor can be easily and quickly integrated in already existing systems via the analog interface. At the same time, the large selection of process connections and adapters allows the flexible and easy integration of the sensor.

 #PAuto #Baumer #mepax

Indicator for all.

Most process loop indicators do an adequate job in indicating a process variable in the field. But what happens when signals are from level transmitters that sit on vessels where the level is not linear with volume and the loop indicator needs to display the volume? Or what if yesterday’s installation area was a Div 2/Zone 2 location and today it’s a Div 1/Zone 0/1 location? And what happens when you need to setup 50 loop indicators with tedious push button set up or a small HART handheld screen?

If you think all of this is too complicated and costly, meet the PSD – Moore Industries PC-Programmable 4-20mA Loop Display (2-Wire). Loop powered by less than 2.3 Volts, the PSD can be installed on burdened loops. When placed in one of Moore Industries’ rugged explosion-proof enclosures, the PSD has 3600 flexible mounting, letting you mount it at any angle.

The LCD is an easy-to-read display featuring two rows of large characters and supports five characters for EGU (engineering units). A handy front push button allows the operator to view the lower and upper EGU and shows the actual current on the loop that the PSD is reading.

The PSD is simple to program and comes with free PC Programming software allowing configuration in less than a minute with excellent support for custom curves. The software allows you to build up to an 85-point linearization curve, or you can build your own curve in Microsoft Excel then quickly and easily import it into the PSD.

For critical loops an optional LMD (loop maintenance diode) is available. The LMD allows the removal of the PSD from the current loop without breaking or bringing down the loop. The PSD is not only feature- rich with an easy-to-read customizable display, it is cost effective and an excellent choice to keep on hand in your stockroom for future needs.

 #PAuto @MII_Worldwide

Tuesday 19 May 2020

Robust turbidity measurement.

Sensor robust turbidity measurement in industrial applications, made to withstand aggressive media and is easy to maintain and operate.

The Turbimax CUS50D sensor has been launched by Endress+Hauser. This unit is a reliable absorption sensor for turbidity and suspended solids measurement in unfavorable environments. Its robust design is made to withstand aggressive media and is an ideal solution for applications in industrial wastewater or processes.

Turbimax CUS50D measures turbidity and suspended solids (attenuation of light in accordance with ISO 7027) reliably and accurately—even in very dark liquids and sludges. The sensor can be used in a wide range of applications; for example, turbidity measurement in processes within the chemical industry, concentration measurement of hot process water in the food industry, and solids measurement in industrial wastewater. Reliable measurement results are always guaranteed thanks to digital signal processing in the sensor and Memosens protocol.

It can be quickly and easily put into operation. The measuring principle is based on the attenuation of light and always provides reliable measuring values. These measurement results can be achieved, for most applications, from a single-point calibration. The sensor is also already pre-calibrated from the factory for turbidity and absorption measurements and includes various application models.

Turbimax CUS50D has a particularly long operating life thanks to the resistant material of the sensor head. The special Teflon-derivative sensor measurement surface minimizes the risk of dirt accumulating, thus guaranteeing a stable and consistent measurement. Surface contamination is removed by the sensor's air cleaning system so maintenance intervals can be ideally planned, and turbidity measurements can continue uninterrupted over a long period of time. The plastic version of the sensor is especially resistant to chemicals and is therefore suitable for measurements in media with a low pH value or high salt content.

Endress+Hauser has developed a solid-state reference to verify that the Turbimax CUS50D is functioning correctly and to check the long-term stability of the device. With this reference the sensor can be verified in a simple and reproducible manner. This makes the costly and complex production of reference media unnecessary. The solid-state reference is very easy to use and it provides reliable and definitive results for every turbidity measurement.

#PAuto @Endress_Hauser @Endress_US @Endress_UK

Environmental impact of construction.

Croydon Council is leading British local authority monitoring of the impact of construction in their borough. With no less than 11 multi-million pound construction developments in progress at any one time, the Council is rightly concerned about maintaining environmental compliance.

Following agreement with local communities to make Croydon the most sustainable borough in London, the new development at Queen’s Square presents an opportunity to demonstrate this aspiration in action.

South Coast Science, in partnership with EMSOL, is supporting this council to manage the impact of construction machinery and traffic on local communities. The first step is to deploy real-time air quality monitoring devices. The Praxis/Urban was selected for its ability to establish where pollutants are reaching harmful thresholds.

The flexible data infrastructure of the Praxis allows easy aggregation with tagged asset and vehicle data, made available by EMSOL. It is therefore possible to deliver a real-time, highly location specific view of air quality at Queen’s Square.

The EMSOL Platform enables businesses to take control of air quality through targeted actions. The multi-site dashboard designed for Croydon Council that offers intuitive and powerful reporting. Robust integration between South Coast Science and EMSOL’s technologies delivers reports to Council engineers including; the nature of an emission breach, how intensive it was and where on site it occurred. All data gathering elements seamlessly input to the dashboard, delivering accurate, reliable insight that supports evidence-based action.

#Environment #SouthCoastScience @emsol_iot