All-rounder inverter for numerous drive applications.

Machine inverters for standard applications and application inverters for networked drive applications.

The NORDAC PRO SK 500P control cabinet inverter offers numerous integrated functions and economic advantages. Thanks to its versatile interfaces, the NORDAC PRO frequency inverter can be easily integrated into automation environments. As a control centre between control and axis motion, it provides optimum control of the drive and peripherals.

Precise motor control for asynchronous and synchronous motors, with and without encoder feedback, guarantees a high overload capacity of up to 200% and stable, load-independent speed as well as dynamic starting/stopping – as featured by NORD’s NORDAC PRO SK 500P control cabinet inverter.

The integrated POSICON function allows movement to numerous absolute positions or incremental feed along endless-loop axes. Movements of several drives that are synchronised along the same axis can be easily achieved using on-board functions; sequential control of several axes including encoder evaluation, for example in warehouse systems, can also be implemented.

One inverter series as standard.
With its features, the NORDAC PRO SK 500P covers a wide range of applications and can be used as a control centre for numerous drive applications, including lifting gear thanks to overloads up to 200%, pumps thanks to PI control or dynamic applications thanks to encoderless CFC open-loop injection control. As a result, NORDAC PRO SK 500P inverters can become the standard in the control cabinet, reducing effort in terms of procurement, storing and range of spare parts.

Ready to use in no time.
With this control cabinet inverter, NORD focused on easy system integration. Via its multi-protocol Ethernet interface, four Industrial Ethernet dialects – PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, POWERLINK – can be selected using parameter settings. The integrated PLC acts as a soft PLC, handling drive-related functions. Within an automation architecture, the NORDAC PRO SK 500P can therefore carry out specific tasks and reduce the load on the main PLC or render smaller PLCs redundant. As a stand-alone device, it makes a higher level control unit superfluous in individual machines. All in all, this speeds up commissioning of machines and systems and reduces effort in terms of wiring, installation and maintenance.

More space in the control cabinet.

With their compact design, the inverters in all power classes from 0.25 kW to 160 kW save a significant amount of space in the control cabinet. The NORDAC PRO SK 500P is available in book-size format up to a power class of 22 kW. Depending on the system architecture, the integrated functions also eliminate the need for slots in the control cabinet that were previously required, for additional control cabinets previously required or even for the higher-level PLC.

Scalable for various applications.
The NORDAC PRO family comprises three configuration packages that users can tailor to the requirements of the respective application. NORD offers the NORDAC PRO as a machine inverter for standard applications or as an application inverter in two variants for networked drive applications.

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@NORD_Drive @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Manufacturing

Motor control and power connection capabilities in cabinet.

Integrates motor control components, improves diagnostics and simplifies control panel design.

New capabilities of Rockwell's EtherNet/IP™ In-cabinet Solution, expanding support for additional motor control and protection devices has been announced. The update enables manufacturers to connect more components inside the control panel, simplify wiring and gain deeper diagnostic insight, without redesigning their existing architecture.

As manufacturers work to increase productivity and reduce downtime, they often face challenges related to limited data access and complex panel installations. The EtherNet/IP In-cabinet Solution addresses these issues by streamlining communication between devices inside the panel, improving real-time data availability and making it easier to install, scale and maintain motor control systems over time.

The expanded release adds a supplemental power tap and extends EtherNet/IP connectivity to additional motor control components, including 140ME Motor Protective Switching Devices and E100 Electronic Overload Relays through a 100-E Contactor communication module. These enhancements help manufacturers build smarter, more connected control panels while improving diagnostics and overall system visibility.

"The EtherNet/IP In‑cabin­et Solution continues to transform how customers design and deploy control panels," said Kelly Passineau, product manager at Rockwell Automation. "With the addition of a supplemental power tap­ and connections for additional panel components, we're giving them even more ways to reduce installation time, improve diagnostics and build intelligent, data- driven systems with less complexity." 

Key benefits of this new release include:

• Supplemental power tap: Helps maintain stable performance as device counts increase, reducing the need for oversized power supplies or additional interposing relays and enabling scalable motor control architectures.
• Expanded smart motor control capabilities: Extends EtherNet/IP communication to 140ME Motor Protective Switching Devices and E100 Electronic Overload Relays using a 100-E Contactor communication module.
• Faster installation: In certain case studies, EtherNet/IP In-cabinet Solution has been shown to reduce wiring time by up to 80% compared to traditional hard-wired installations when implemented according to recommended standards.
• Optimized space: Compact components allow more devices to fit within the same footprint, helping reduce overall panel size.
• Improved data access: Real-time communication between devices boosts productivity and supports smarter decision making. With expanded connectivity across more components, users gain access to more data and meaningful insights.
• Scalability: Easily adapts to future networking needs without major redesigns or infrastructure changes.

"The EtherNet/IP In-cabinet Solution isn't just a product—it's a growing portfolio designed to evolve alongside your system," said Jimmy Alvarez, director of Portfolio and Business Management at Rockwell Automation. "This release is the next step on our roadmap that includes expanding support for additional panel components, deeper data access and richer diagnostic capabilities that enhance visibility and performance over time. As your operational needs change, the solution is built to scale with you, offering a flexible, long-term path toward smarter, connected in-cabinet architectures."

This release adds a supplemental power tap and expands connectivity to additional motor control and protection devices, including 140ME Motor Protective Switching Devices and E100 Electronic Overload Relays.

This portfolio is designed for panel builders, manufacturers and OEMs looking to streamline industrial networking, simplify in-panel wiring and gain better diagnostics from their control panels with more connected devices.

The EtherNet/IP In-cabinet Solution reduces wiring time and complexity, improves access to real‑time data and allows manufacturers to scale systems without major redesign.

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@ROKAutomation #PAuto #Ethernet

Hygrometer controls cabinet climate.

The new ETF 012 from STEGO is the evolutionary answer to increasing demands in control cabinet climate management. Building on decades of application experience, the proven hygrotherm has been completely redesigned – setting new standards in functionality, space efficiency, and global usability.

At just 35 mm wide, the ETF 012 saves valuable space on the DIN rail inside the control cabinet. This not only allows more flexible positioning but also creates room for additional components – a crucial advantage in compact enclosures and control environments. The wide voltage range from 24 V to 240 V AC and 24 V to 60 V DC eliminates the need for multiple variants, reducing inventory and installation effort.

The ETF 012 features modern push-in terminals. Electrical connections are established quickly, securely, and completely without tools – a significant simplification compared to conventional screw terminals. This saves installation time and minimizes potential wiring errors. An integrated LED reliably indicates the device’s operating status.

The redesigned electronics of the ETF 012 measure temperature and humidity accurately and respond rapidly to changing ambient conditions. The adjustable temperature range extends from 0 to +60 °C, while relative humidity can be regulated between 50 and 90 %, each with a hysteresis of ±1. An optimized internal layout, with heat-emitting components positioned in the upper housing section, further enhances measurement performance.

Electronic hygrotherms such as the ETF 012 monitor temperature and relative humidity inside control cabinets and technical enclosures. When defined thresholds are exceeded, they automatically activate heaters or fans – effectively preventing condensation. Excess humidity can impair insulation, promote corrosion, or, in the worst case, cause short circuits. Hygrotherms therefore play a key role in maintaining operational safety and extending the service life of sensitive components – especially in applications exposed to fluctuating environmental conditions or low ambient temperatures.

With its dual °C/°F scale and international certifications (UL, CE), the ETF 012 is suitable for worldwide use. Its robust design enables operation at ambient temperatures from –40 to +70 °C and up to 95 % relative humidity (non-condensing). High switching capacity (16 A at 240 V AC) and long service life make it the first choice for demanding applications in control cabinets and technical installations – particularly in mechanical engineering, infrastructure, wind energy, and industrial systems.

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UkStego @stego_de @PresseBox #PAuto 

From sheet metal to digital leader!

It is April 1, 1961, when an international success story begins in a small weaving mill in central Hesse - the standardization of enclosures. Rudolf Loh founds the Rittal company and changes the industry with one idea.

Rudolf Loh

What was initially smiled at is now a phenomenon: The standard enclosure is used in millions of product solutions in over 90 percent of all industries worldwide. Rittal is the innovation and world market leader for enclosure technology and IT infrastructure. 10,000 employees worldwide work on new innovations, industry solutions and business models. A small steel manufacturing company has become a global digital enterprise. What hasn't changed: Rittal is a family business - responsibility, solidarity and social commitment have always been a top priority.

Rittershausen in Dietzhölztal - no one knew in 1961 that a small township in central Hesse would one day give its name to a global company. Rudolf Loh bought an old weaving mill and founded Rittal. 

The idea: standard enclosures in standard production, immediately available from stock, faster and better than the individually manufactured enclosures for control components of machines at that time. Long delivery times and quality defects were now a thing of the past. The boom of the post-war years had changed industrial manufacturing. Machines were interconnected and produced products in large series in the wake of growing consumption. 

So, Rudolf Loh's idea came just at the right time.

A lot has happened since then - Read On:

@Rittal_Ltd @PresseBox #PAuto 

For the well equipped enclosure!

A new guide from Essentra Components acknowledges the extensive array of cabinet and other mounting hardware that specialist panel builders need to assemble in producing a complete package. Their downloadable guide highlights the particular industrial components such as fasteners and hinges, levelling feet and gasket, cable glands and card slides, while providing help as to which builders should use.

For example: what attaches where and how, choosing cabinet door handles and hinges – using quarter turn latches and swinghandles, what can you use to secure the cabling and castors to help move the cabinet around in production or installation? Even down to the PCB level – Essentra Components have included guidance on support pillars, standoffs, mounting blocks and screw grommets. 

Their new Guide – includes links to downloadable CAD drawings and to request free samples before starting the ordering process.

@EssentraC @tradeandtech #PAuto #Electrics

Innovative field shelter keeps cool.

A field equipment shelter fitted with fault-tolerant cooling is ensuring the reliability of a wireless communications link that connects instrumentation on a new gas pipeline crossing a Middle Eastern desert to the remote control room. Fabricated from tough glassfibre-reinforced polyester (GRP) materials, the shelter houses a TETRA basestation powered by solar panels - in order to function reliably in an off-grid location some 50 km from the nearest town.

Intertec's shelter employs a 'hybrid cooling' system to safeguard the 56 m2 shelter's electronics equipment, and battery power storage compartment - a Zone 1 area. The system consists of a water-based passive cooler assisted by dual-redundant electrically-powered water coolers. This approach combines the intrinsic reliability of passive cooling with active water refrigeration to increase cooling efficiency on hot days. The system can handle a cooling load of around 1.9 kW, ensuring that even during this Middle Eastern climate's summer - when ambient temperatures can climb as high as 55 °C - interior shelter temperatures will always stay below a worst-case peak of around 35 °C. At other times of the year, internal shelter temperatures are maintained far below these levels.

"Hybrid cooling for field shelters and cabinets is a major enabler for process plant operators that need to install electronics equipment in remote off-grid locations, and hostile environmental conditions", says Intertec's HVAC Project Manager, Simon Marlier. "The very high level of reliability that can be achieved by hybrid cooling, and its suitability for applications in hazardous areas, can greatly simplify many common remote and unmanned applications. Among the applications potential are wellhead control systems, SCADA stations on pipelines, battery shelters - especially for lead-acid and lithium-ion types - and off-grid mobile basestations."

The remote location means that the basestation is far from the electricity grid, and must be powered by solar energy. The passive cooling system, based on a water tank with internal and external heat exchangers, exploits the desert climate's daily temperature swing to store the coolness of the night and use it to moderate internal temperatures during the day. The water circulates around the system by natural convection, without electrical power or moving parts. This system alone manages the shelter's cooling needs during the winter months - typically keeping temperatures at around 18 - 20 °C. The two powered water coolers increase the efficiency of the cooling system during the hottest months - operating in an alternating sequence for fault tolerance - typically maintaining temperatures in the 20 - 30 °C range. Even if both water coolers were to fail, Intertec's passive system has enough cool water capacity to maintain low shelter temperatures for many days - giving maintenance staff plenty of time to access the remote site and make repairs.

The water coolers are a new variant of Intertec's novel Hybricool range that operate directly from a DC power supply - making them an efficient solution for solar-powered installations. These cooling units are specially designed to supplement passive coolers operating in process plants, with a heat exchanger element that can be installed inside the water storage tank of a passive cooling system to decrease temperature. This interior element is isolated from the rest of the externally-mounted refrigeration system, making it both an efficient and economic solution for explosion proof applications such as the battery compartment of this shelter.

Hybricool water coolers operate on the refrigeration principle. They have a closed loop system with four main components: compressor, condenser, expansion valve and coil. The coil is a heat exchanger element that can be installed inside the water storage tank of a passive cooling system to decrease temperature. The interior and exterior compartments are completely isolated from each other to stop any weather elements from entering the shelter.

Cooling efficiency is aided by the shelter's construction, which uses composite wall panels with GRP sheets 'sandwiching' an embedded 85 mm layer of polyurethane foam insulation. In conjunction with a sunshade, this delivers very stable interior environmental conditions compared with conventional metal-based shelters. Intertec's manufacturing process allows it to fabricate composite GRP panels with many different material layers. In this application, the outer GRP layers provide exceptional resistance to corrosion - as GRP does not rust or degrade in any meaningful way. A further gel-coat layer on the exterior surface provides protection against the climate's very high levels of ultraviolet light, and abrasion from dust or sand. The externally-mounted water coolers additionally feature a centrifugal sediment separator that removes dust and sand, and flaps that close when the cooler is not operational.

A passive cooling system can typically limit the maximum internal temperature of cabinets or walk-in shelters to around 10 degrees Centigrade above minimum night-time temperatures - making it ideal for applications in arid and desert climates. The addition of Intertec's Hybricool water cooler technology reduces the dependence on low night-time temperatures, opening up applications in a much broader range of climates and geographical locations.

#PAuto #Intertech 

Panel labels.

TE Connectivity (TE) offers TTDS-245 thermal transfer printable adhesive backed panel labels. Their panel labels use high-performance adhesive foam to adhere to the surface making the need for rivets or bolts used for engraving obsolete. In addition to fewer components needed for installation, the engraving process can be noisy, dusty, and require special tooling to engrave the surface.

“The panel labels are an ideal alternative to metal or plastic engraving plates due to the lower material cost, ability to print on demand, and reduced installation time,” said Marco Ungano, TE field application engineer. “Adhesive-backed panel labels can be printed on-demand, anywhere using any TE thermal transfer printer. Printing on demand saves production time, allowing faster installation time for less money.”

TE’s panel labels are die-cut pieces on a liner in a roll format offered in standard colors of white and silver. Custom colors and shapes are available. Typical applications are industrial control panels, data racks, switchgear and general Industrial equipment labeling.

“We’re finding that even for customer applications in the harshest of environments, TE’s carefully selected adhesive used on our panel labels, allows for replacement of traditional metal and plastic engraving plates” said Ungano. “It’s additional time and costs when a customer realizes the etched metal or plastic plate has incorrect data and requires a new plate. TTDS-245 panel labels allow our customers integrate custom logos along with variable data and print all in-house. TE’s panel labels provide a superior solution with a far lower average total cost”.

Panel labels have three distinct layers- a printable topcoat that provides protection, a central film for stability and structure, and an adhesive layer which is ideal to adhere to many surface types including low surface energy and powder coatings. The adhesive foam backing can conform and adhere to textured surfaces, uneven surfaces and rounded shapes unlike traditional rigid metal or plastic engraving plates. TE Panel Labels are ideal for both indoor and outdoor applications.

#PAuto @TEConnectivity

Protecting offshore process analysers.

Shelters fabricated from glassfibre-reinforced polyester are protecting gas metering instrumentation from the harsh North Sea environment on an offshore platform upgrade project engineered by Oil & Gas Systems. Two outdoor shelters - supplied by Intertec Instrumentation - provide lightweight and corrosion-resistant protection for gas chromatograph analyzers and process transmitters mounted above new natural gas export pipelines connecting the platform to an onshore British gas terminal. The instrumentation provides critical monitoring data on gas quality as part of the custody transfer metering system.

Installed on North Sea platform

This particular platform upgrade project presented a number of challenges, including the harsh operating environment of the southern North Sea, and the space and weight restrictions of adding the new facilities onto a working platform. Metering systems for fiscal, allocation and custody transfer applications are a significant part of the systems integration work of Oil & Gas Systems (OGS) - which has a reputation for being able to rapidly design and build efficient solutions for complex project requirements.

Glassfibre-reinforced polyester (GRP) materials were specified to protect the instrumentation. This allowed weight to be reduced significantly compared with metal shelters. GRP construction also provided excellent protection against both the harsh weather in the offshore location, and the local environmental conditions. Intertec Instrumentation was selected to build the custom GRP shelters because of previous good experience of working with them on projects, including shelters and enclosures already installed in the same gas field.

The lightness of GRP compared to steel helped to reduce the size and weight of the metalwork structure that mounts the shelters directly above the export pipelines. The location - in the middle of a crowded working platform - also presented access difficulties. So, natural ventilation according to IEC EN DIN 61285 was specified. This eliminates routine maintenance visits that would be required with other shelter ventilation approaches such as fans or an HVAC system.

Gas chromatograph inside shelter

To support natural ventilation for safe operation in the hazardous environment, Intertec supplied explosion-proof heaters and installed louvre panels at the top and bottom of shelter walls. This maintains the interior environment a few degrees above ambient temperature, and ensures an efficient convection cycle to meet the air change requirements of OGS. All of the shelter fittings, apart from the finned aluminium bodies of the heaters, are fabricated from 316 stainless steel for corrosion resistance - including the panic bar door opening mechanism.

"It can be a significant challenge to add new facilities into existing processing plants, and especially so when they are located offshore," says Anthony Dingle, OGS's Sales Manager. "Intertec's ability to design and build custom enclosure solutions was a big help to us in meeting the design constraints of this complex and fast-track offshore instrumentation project."

In total, two walk-in shelters and two large cabinets were built by Intertec to meet the custom shape, size and weight constraints. Each shelter houses an identical instrumentation system including pressure reduction sample conditioning equipment, a Danalyzer gas chromatograph, Rosemount pressure transmitters, calibration facilities and various safety devices and accessories. The two cabinets house cylinders to supply the required gas for calibration purposes, along with associated pressure regulation, measurement instruments, tubing connection and flow control components.

The GRP material used by Intertec to build the shelters and cabinets is a proprietary multi-layer composite with moulded GRP panels enclosing polyurethane foam insulation, protected by gel-coated surfaces.

Shelter under construction in assembly facility

This composite material has a very high thermal resistance, reducing the amount of energy required to heat equipment. A further benefit of Intertec’s approach to shelter fabrication is an advanced gel-coat, which is applied in a much thicker layer than alternatives such as paint. It protects against ultraviolet (UV), and is highly effective against abrasion. It offers exceptional environmental protection and resistance to ‘corrosion’ (GRP does not rust or degrade in any meaningful way), allowing maintenance-free lifecycles of 30-40 years - more than enough to meet the anticipated cease of production date for the platform.

The gel-coat also incorporates a unique nanotechnology treatment that provides conductivity to dissipate static electric charges safely to ground - protecting against sparking in hazardous areas. Developed for Intertec by BÜFA, the coating employs single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) to provide conductivity. Because the SWCNTs are only around 1-2 nanometres in diameter, they enhance surface smoothness. The gloss retention after accelerated weathering tests of this surface is some 50% better than the previous coating technologies used. This technology is behind the significant improvement in resistance to UV of Intertec's shelters. Previously, exposure to high UV levels over the long term could lead to surface roughening - which is sometimes referred to as 'chalking' or 'frosting'. Intertec's weathering tests have demonstrated that the new coating will withstand extended exposure to very high UV levels - providing hitherto unachievable protection for GRP field enclosures destined for ultra-harsh environments such as offshore platforms, deserts and Arctic environments.

#PAuto #Oil_Gas #Intertec_Insts @OGScompanies 

Enclosures comply with CSA, UL and NEMA standards.

An extended range of Type 4X outdoor equipment enclosures that comply with CSA, UL and NEMA standards is now available from Intertec. Manufactured from proprietary GRP (glass reinforced polyester), the enclosures combine high performance environmental protection capabilities with exemplary long-term resistance to corrosion. They are ideal for protecting instrumentation and electrical equipment sited in marine and coastal areas, where the presence of salt in the atmosphere can severely damage traditional steel cabinets and shorten their service life significantly.

An additional advantage of Intertec’s Type 4X enclosures is that they provide superior protection when used in a Class I, Division 2 or Class I, Zone 2 hazardous area to protect equipment that does not constitute a source of ignition. Typical applications include housing non-arcing connections and connection devices such as joints, splices, terminals, terminal blocks and junction boxes.

Following qualification testing by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), a large and growing number of Intertec’s MULTIBOX and DIABOX enclosures are now available in Type 4X versions that comply with the relevant parts of the CAN/CSA C22.2 No 94.2-07, UL 50/50E and US NEMA 250 standards for electrical equipment enclosures. All three of these standards stipulate that the enclosures must provide enhanced protection against corrosion, as well as other environmental effects.

Intertec’s MULTIBOX and DIABOX families are popular choices for housing process monitoring and control equipment in the field. Offering a wide range of containment capacities from 25 to 277 litres, they are designed for convenient mounting on walls/panels or small-footprint pipe stands.

To comply with the CSA 22.2 94.2-07, UL50/50E and NEMA 250 standards, Type 4X enclosures must prevent the ingress of dust and be watertight against rain, sleet, snow, water splashes and hose-directed water. They must also be undamaged by the formation of ice on their external surfaces. This level of protection is broadly equivalent to the IP 66 rating of the international IEC/ANSI/EN 60529 standard.

The hose-down test stipulates that all gasket seams be subjected to a high pressure water spray. This involves subjecting the enclosure to a steady stream of water at a distance of 3 metres from a 1 inch nozzle at a flow rate of 246 litres/minute. MULTIBOX and DIABOX enclosures feature a moulded two-part construction, which means that they only have a single joint between their two halves, making it much easier to ensure a reliable seal. The mating surfaces are sealed by a continuous and highly durable silicon or EPDM synthetic rubber gasket embedded within a containing groove – this same design provides ingress protection ratings as high as IP68.

Intertec goes to considerable lengths to ensure that the Type 4X versions of MULTIBOX and DIABOX enclosures maintain their IP ratings under extreme or fast-changing weather conditions. For example, if a hot enclosure is subjected to a stream of cold water, as might be the case during a sudden thunderstorm in a hot climate, the air inside will cool down and contract. In a conventional unvented enclosure, this can create a partial vacuum that causes air – and water – to be sucked past the joint seals. To prevent this problem, Intertec’s Type 4X enclosures are equipped with a special waterproof ‘breather’ seal that equalizes the air pressure and ensures that full sealing integrity is maintained under all operating conditions.

Type 4X enclosures must also provide enhanced protection against corrosive agents. Metallic enclosures which are susceptible to corrosion are required to undergo a series of stringent material tests. The NEMA 250 standard, for example, calls for two salt spray tests, one with a duration of 200 hours, together with a test that involves subjecting sample material to a moist mixture of carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and air for 1,200 hours. The GRP material that Intertec uses for all its enclosures is inherently resistant to corrosion from these types of atmospheric pollutants and therefore does not require qualification testing in its own right.

Intertec’s GRP is a relatively inert material that has enormous advantages over the sheet metal materials commonly used for enclosure construction. It is highly stable and virtually immune to the affects of salt and most common petrochemicals and airborne pollutants. An excellent thermal insulator, GRP has a similar strength to stainless steel but is about 75 percent lighter, which helps to lower transport costs and simplifies installation.

Intertec’s DIABOX enclosures are available with a wide choice of containment capacities from 27 to 277 litres. They feature a two-part design with hinges on their top edge and open diagonally to provide a very ergonomic and self-contained field protection solution. The lower half of the enclosure houses the instrumentation – process and electrical connections are usually made via the rear or base of the unit – while the upper half functions as a fully retained lid.

MULTIBOX enclosures offer a similarly extensive choice of sizes, with 12 standard models covering containment capacities from 25 to 250 litres. Featuring a two-part construction, they can be mounted vertically or horizontally, with the instrumentation contained in either the deep or shallow section. Process and electrical connections are usually made via the top or bottom of the unit.

For applications that require protection against extremely cold climates, all MULTIBOX and DIABOX enclosures are available in ‘arctic’ versions that are suitable for use in temperatures as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius. Depending on the model, the additional thermal insulation is either provided by an internal polypropylene liner with a polyurethane (PU) foam infill, or the entire enclosure is manufactured from Intertec’s proprietary triple-layer composite-GRP material, comprising inner and outer walls of GRP with a PU foam core.

Many of the standards compliance tests on Type 4X enclosures – such as ingress protection, impact resistance and gasket ageing – are similar to those used on the type of increased safety (Ex e) enclosures designed for use in hazardous areas. As Intertec’s CEO, Martin Hess, points out, “Broadly speaking, it is this similarity which allows installers to use our Type 4X enclosures to house non-hazardous equipment in hazardous areas, without having to resort to using large and labour-intensive sealed conduits. We also believe that our Type 4X enclosures will make it much easier for installers to adapt ATEX compliant products on the European market to comply with hazardous area safety standards in North America.”

Put a handle on it!

The selection of a suitable handle is often left to the very end of the product design cycle, but Multitron aims to change that by offering a very wide range of MENTOR handles which will enhance and transform a run-of-the-mill-looking end product into something stylish and even funky, but never forgetting everyday practicality and functionality.

Multitron, the exclusive British & Irish agent for MENTOR, has announced the availability of their extended handle range which now includes aluminium; steel; stainless-steel; plastic and mixed-material options. In terms of design and shape, MENTOR aims to add style with many different designs: D-shape; bow; square; recessed; folding; finger-tip, hand-moulded; strap-style and many more.

Many different finishes and colours are available as standard, including black; grey (or custom-coloured) plastic; natural-anodised or black-anodised aluminium; brushed aluminium; chromium-plated; shiny-matt stainless steel; silver powder-coat; black powder-coat; silver-enamel; ground and polished; plastic-coated; etc. Each handle style is designed to be ergonomic and comfortable to hold, and many different dimensions are offered in every range.

A range of heat-resistant plastic handles is also available, manufactured from highly-durable Duroplastic Type FS31, rated for use up to 100⁰C. Rack systems are also supported with handles designed for standard 19" rack systems - these handles are suitable for handling higher loads using a variety of pulling, pushing and lifting actions.

MENTOR has also developed a Modular Handle System so that a custom handle can be configured to meet any dimension required by the application. The handle components are supplied un-assembled, ready for customisation

Protecting small installations.

A new range of small GRP cabinets from Intertec provides installers with increased flexibility for protecting outdoor equipment. The new MINICAB housings combine a relatively high containment capacity with convenient pipe stand or wall mounting, and feature a flat full-size hinged door for quick and easy access. They are designed to help customers simplify the layout, installation and maintenance of outdoor equipment without having to recourse to large footprint free-standing cabinets.

Ideal for protecting small installations
of electrical, analytical or safety
equipment against unauthorized
access and the effects of weather.

MINICABs are especially suitable for protecting smaller-scale field-based installations such as electrical, analytical or safety equipment against the effects of weather and unauthorised access. Their GRP construction also makes them ideal for long-life applications in harsh climates, and in plants handling chemicals and petrochemicals.

The company is initially launching the MINICAB 44 model, which has a capacity of approximately 44 litres and measures just 506 x 356 x 245 mm (HxWxD); larger versions will follow. This is the smallest cabinet-style housing that Intertec has produced to date – other products in this size range comprise two-part enclosures that split open for access.

These cabinets are manufactured from hot-pressed GRP (glass reinforced polyester) for robust, maintenance-free performance in harsh outdoor environments. This material does not corrode and is impervious to the effects of salt and common atmospheric pollutants, making it suitable for use in any type of rural, urban or industrial environment. An unobtrusive light grey in colour, the GRP is also UV resistant, has very low flammability and is self-extinguishing. An optional exterior gel-coat offers added protection for applications that involve prolonged exposure to intense sunlight.

All hinges and mounting fixtures are manufactured from corrosion-resistant 316 stainless steel and the door can be fitted with a lockable handle or security-key mechanism. As standard the cabinet carries an IP54 rating, but IP65 versions are available to order for applications that require higher protection against water ingression. A durable EPDM rubber compression seal is incorporated in the moulded retaining groove that runs the full length of the joint between the cabinet and the door. The cabinet is also impact resistant.

To help simplify installation and ensure optimum thermal performance, equipment can be attached to a separate mounting plate, which is then secured inside the cabinet. Intertec offers a choice of corrosion resistant GRP or stainless steel mounting plates. For applications where it is necessary for personnel to be able to see annunciator devices such as equipment status indicators or meters without having to open the cabinet, the door can be fitted with an acrylic or safety glass window.

Intertec MINICABs are also available in versions that are suitable for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Options include IEC 60079-0 compliant models that use a special electrically conductive form of GRP to prevent the build-up of electrostatic charge.

Sunshade for process instrumentation!

Intertec has launched a large cube-shaped sunshade for process instrumentation. It provides plant engineers with a highly cost-effective means of shielding equipment such as electronic monitoring systems, explosion-proof junction boxes or analyser installations from solar radiation. Dubbed CubeShade, the protective cover measures 600 x 550 x 500 mm (HxWxD). This provides a massive 165 litre capacity shaded environment that make it easy to accommodate and protect large or multiple instruments, as well as simplifying maintenance access.

The new sunshade design is manufactured using an automated moulding process and offers a particularly economic solution for this common application. Most process instrument sunshades on the market are relatively small and are often targeted at single instruments or small-scale field equipment installations. If Intertec needs to provide solar protection for larger installations – such as two or three process transmitters – sunshades are usually created to suit the specific application by building up multiple layers of glass reinforced polyester (GRP) in a custom mould to achieve the necessary thickness. This manually-intensive process can increase costs significantly. And if the number of sunshades required runs into hundreds – which is common for greenfield projects – the extra costs can be high. 

Intertec's new CubeShade is constructed entirely from glass fibre reinforced sheet moulding compound (SMC). This combines chopped glass fibres, fillers, polyester resin and a catalyst in the form of a ready-to-mould composite that is ideal for low cost, high volume manufacturing. The material has similar advantages to GRP for this type of application, including a high resistance to UV and corrosion from salt and common petrochemicals, and a low thermal conductivity, which helps to prevent heat generated by solar radiation being transferred to the shaded area. It also combines excellent rigidity and mechanical strength – for protection against impact – with a very low weight.

CubeShade’s single-part design and SMC-based construction facilitates production using automated moulding techniques. As standard, the body of the sunshade is 5 mm thick but incorporates 8 mm thick reinforcing ribs around the rim and down the back of the unit. These ribs also help to channel rain and melt-water run-off. 

Unlike many instrument sunshades on the market which essentially consist of a single top shade that only protects against overhead sun, Intertec’s design incorporates structural side walls that also shade low-angle sun, as well as providing partial protection against rain, snow, wind-chill, blown dust or sand and accidental impact. 

Intertec believes CubeShade is the largest SMC instrument sunshade on the market. The design is also suitable for use with equipment such as explosio-proof junction boxes or distribution units and is likely to prove especially popular for new-build processing plant projects. 

CubeShade can be mounted on a standard two-inch pipe stand, or attached directly to walls or steel structures. It is also available in an electrically-conductive antistatic version.

Alternative to cabinets for instrumentation!

A new high capacity, easy-access enclosure from Intertec provides plant engineers with a versatile alternative to free-standing cabinets for the environmental protection of field-based process instrumentation. Developed at the request of a Russian oil refinery, the enclosures are made from tough glass reinforced polyester (GRP) and include highly insulated options for use in extremely cold climates. They also offer more space than typical instrument enclosures, to allow plant personnel to use gloved hands when accessing the equipment. Typical applications include housing differential pressure flowmeters and process transmitters in refineries, petrochemical and chemical processing plants.

The new enclosures are the latest addition to their Diabox range of instrumentation protection solutions, which are moulded two-part enclosures that open diagonally to provide easy access for operating and maintenance staff.

The new Diabox 277 enclosure measures 600 x 750 x 600 mm (HxWxD) and has an internal volume of approximately 277 litres, depending on the level of insulation specified. Manufactured from a high-performance grade of GRP using a hot-press moulding process, the standard versions of the enclosure provide an exceptionally robust and rigid housing; they have a wall thickness of 6 mm yet typically only weigh 18 kg. This combination of rigidity and low weight means that the enclosures can be mounted on small-footprint pipe stands or clamped directly to process pipes, making them ideal for protecting instruments in locations where free-standing cabinets would be impractical due to the amount of ground space they require.

For applications that require protection against extremely cold conditions, Intertec produces an ‘arctic’ version of Diabox 277 that is suitable for use in temperatures as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius. This enclosure is manufactured from a proprietary composite ‘sandwich’ material, comprising inner and outer walls of GRP enclosing a closed-cell polyurethane (PU) foam core. The inner GRP wall provides a smooth, easy-to-clean finish. It also protects the foam against accidental physical damage, such as might be caused during equipment installation, routine maintenance or cleaning, thereby maintaining the enclosure’s thermal integrity and performance.

Despite its large size, the Diabox 277 has a very low heat transfer coefficient of 13 W/K, which minimises the power rating and operational cost of any freeze protection, anti-condensation, or temperature regulation heating that may be fitted. In the case of the ‘arctic’ version of the enclosure, its GRP-PU foam-GRP walls provide uniform and near-perfect insulation, resulting in an exceptionally low heat transfer coefficient of just 2.4 W/K.

All Intertec Diabox enclosures feature a two-part design with hinges on their top edge and a diagonal opening, to provide a highly ergonomic and self-contained field protection solution. The lower half of the enclosure houses the instrumentation – process and electrical connections are generally made via the rear and/or bottom surface – while the upper half functions as a fully retained lid.

The new enclosure features a continuous double seal, comprising a mechanical tongue and groove plus a flexible silicon insert strip, which is incorporated in the mating edges to ensure high integrity closure. As standard, Diabox 277 enclosures are rated to IP65 against the ingress of contaminants such as dust and moisture; for more severe applications involving prolonged exposure to driving snow or rain, IP66/67 versions are available. The 'arctic' version is also available with an IP68 rating.

Hundreds of accessories are available to configure the enclosure for specific applications. Among the options are viewing windows available in acrylic-, safety- or insulation-glass variants, and a special insulated adapter to prevent heat loss at the point where impulse lines and heat tracing cables enter the enclosure. The inner and outer layers of the composite material can be produced using an electrically conductive form of GRP to comply with the antistatic requirements of the international IEC EN 60079-0 standard for equipment used in hazardous environments where explosive gas or dust may be present. For applications that demand purging, Intertec offers a specially sealed Ex p version that is prepared for pressurisation in accordance with the IEC EN 60079-2 standard.

The GRP material that Intertec uses for its Diabox enclosures has multiple advantages for plant designers seeking to protect field instrumentation against environmental effects, especially for long lifecycle applications and where harsh media or severe local climatic conditions might be encountered. GRP is inherently inert and immune to damage from most common chemicals and petrochemicals. It has a similar strength to steel, but weighs some four times less, and will not corrode in the presence of salt – which is why it is increasingly becoming the enclosure material of choice for offshore and coastal oil and gas applications. GRP is also fire retardant and has very low thermal conductivity – making it easier to implement efficient, condensation-free enclosures.

The latest addition means that Intertec’s Diabox range of enclosures now includes six models, with capacities ranging from 27 up to 277 litres, enabling plant designers to choose the optimum size for their application – for single or multiple process instruments.

Flooded airflow cooling solution!

Rittal have recently provided high quality TS IT server racks, with a customised chimney venting solution, for data centre provider Datum who required cost effective cooling technology when developing their flagship Farnborough (GB) facility.

After research Rittal’s roof mounted chimney module, a one piece duct assembly on top of the TS IT enclosure for airflow management, was found to work perfectly with the patented ecofris cooling solution from Keysource.

A reliable passive system requiring no fans or electrical connections, the chimney module permits the hot and cold air to be separated efficiently, eliminating the hot aisle, as the exhausted heat is contained within the chimney system.

Utilising Rittal chimney modules allowed the cooling system in the room to work to its’ full potential, delivering a PUE of 1.2 or less, achievable even with a partial load.

Dominic Phillips, MD of Datum said “The result is a complete alignment of our energy efficient goals with those of our clients delivering a reduced carbon footprint and cost”.

Enclosure for extreme conditions!

Rittal’s SE 8 enclosure range is now fit for extreme conditions with a new NEMA 4/4x protection category. The SE 8 enclosure type has UL, cUL and NEMA 12 (IP55 equivalent) approvals as standard features, with protection class NEMA 12 as the default, sufficient for the majority of applications.

With the optional NEMA 4 (for steel enclosures) and NEMA 4x classifications (for stainless steel ones), which roughly correspond to IP 66, the enclosures offer increased defence against wind-driven dust, rain, splashed water and water jets, as well as from damage caused by external ice formation. Electrical and electro-nic equipment within the NEMA 4/4x enclosure is protected and can now also be used in extreme applica-tions, thanks to the improved dust and water protection.

In order to achieve NEMA 4/4x classification, modificati-ons to Rittal’s SE 8 range of enclosures has been made. The door and rear panel have been reinforced with a tubular door frame, integrated through a one-piece floor plate with an all-round seal in the base area of the enclosure.
Unlike baying suites with frames and removable side panels, the body of the SE 8 free-standing enclosure consists of two side panels and a roof which is made from one piece of sheet steel. The rear panel can be unscrewed for easy access to the enclosure.

Material of choice for tomorrow's offshore enclosure applications

Enclosure designs for protecting offshore equipment are evolving rapidly to combat the widespread problem of corrosion, and to meet industry demands for higher levels of safety and reliability, and new functionality. At Offshore Europe 2013 this week, Intertec is highlighting advanced enclosure materials and fabrication techniques for offshore applications that provide solutions meeting both current and projected future trends.

Among the demands satisfied by enclosures made from Intertec's unique GRP (glass reinforced polyester) based composite materials are superb resistance to the corrosive forces of the offshore environment, an ability to make pressurised explosion proof (Ex p) enclosures in any size - not just the small types that are commonly available - as well as the ability to withstand blast forces and jet-fires.

All oil and gas platforms have 'hazardous areas' where the atmosphere is potentially flammable and electrical equipment must be made explosion proof. Traditionally, such equipment is installed in protective 'flameproof' (or Ex d rated) enclosures. One marked current trend offshore is a move away from flameproof cabinets towards other types of explosion proof protection such as Ex e (increased safety) or Ex p (pressurised). This is because of numerous issues including corrosion - most Ex d enclosures are fabricated from metal - problems from the build up of condensation, and a need for routine maintenance to ensure good sealing.

Intertec's Ex p or Ex e enclosures have an intrinsic performance advantage over similar metal enclosures for the offshore environment. This stems from the use of a composite 'sandwich' material with high-performance GRP sheets enclosing internal insulation, and environmental protection provided by a gel-coat surface layer. Intertec's GRP material is almost as strong as stainless steel yet is some 75% lighter - which makes it particularly desirable for offshore use. This material offers exceptional resistance to ‘corrosion’ - it does not rust or degrade in any meaningful way, allowing maintenance-free lifecycles of 30 years. Another benefit of Intertec’s unique approach is the surface gel-coat, which is around an order of magnitude thicker than the protective paint coatings sprayed onto metal. Intertec has documented examples of enclosures and cabinets that have survived over periods of 30 to 40 years in petrochemical environments - with local atmospheres containing corrosive chemicals such as sulphuric acid.

Another key attribute of the material - compared to metal - is very high thermal resistance. Internal insulation greatly reduces the energy required to 
heat or cool equipment. Intertec's composite fabrication technique also makes it easy to build enclosures that have no ‘thermal short cuts’ - conductive links between interior and exterior - avoiding cold-spots (or hot spots) that lead to condensation. This can be much more difficult to achieve for any metal-based enclosure.

The composite material can also be prepared and treated in numerous ways to deliver other useful properties for offshore applications. Enclosures can be constructed to withstand extremely high pressures such as offshore winds (240 km/h), for example, or the blast pressure of an explosion. Another possibility - and one which is expected to be subject to more regulation in the near future - is the ability to utilise different insulation materials and construction techniques to construct higher-performance fire-resistant walls to separate hazardous and non-hazardous plant areas. Intertec's walls can even protect against rapid-temperature-rise hydrocarbon pool or 'jet' fires – resulting from the continuous escape of pressurised flammable media. This innovative fire-resistant enclosure technology has recently been tested and demonstrated to maintain internal temperatures below 60 degrees C for periods of two hours, for example.

For added versatility, Intertec is able to make these advanced enclosures in any size. Flameproof enclosures have been commonly used for offshore electricity power supplies for example, but one trend today is to replace local gas turbine power generating equipment with high voltage supplies cabled from the shore. The transformer and other electrical equipment required for this application can be quite large, and Intertec is able to easily provide corrosion-proof and maintenance-free enclosures protected by Ex p or Ex e techniques for such applications.

Expanded online range for configuring control cabinets

Siemens now offers even more freely accessible product data records on the Internet for designing control cabinets with CAE/CAD applications. Around 10,000 EPLAN Electric P8 macros in .edz format are thus now available via the CAx Download Manager. The Siemens Online Support Portal also offers data records for 3,500 products in the ecl@ss Advance standard for components from the Sirius Innovations portfolio.

In addition, Siemens has redesigned its Industry Mall configurators for controllers (TIA Selection Tool), motor starters (3SK1/3RK1 configurator), power supplies (Sitop Selection Tool), and 3WL air circuit breakers from the Sentron portfolio. It has also simplified use of the configurators and expanded their functionality. As a result, the new Simatic S7-1500 controllers and the ET 200SP and ET 200MP I/O systems can be easily configured in the TIA Selection Tool to obtain the plant configuration with associated ordering list. The tool automatically takes account of the configuration rules, and offers several export functions to other systems, such as the Siemens Industry Mall and the CAx Download Manager.

The Siemens Industry Mall, the CAx Download Manager, and the Siemens Online Support Portal are component parts of the Planning Efficiency initiative. The basic idea of Planning Efficiency is to use online functions to support design engineers and control cabinet builders in all aspects of configuring control cabinets throughout the entire value added process. This is achieved on the one hand by means of simple and clear selection and ordering of components on the Internet. Users can compare different products in detail at the click of a mouse, and configure them quickly for their own requirements. Customers can then click to transfer the product selection made to the shopping cart of the Industry Mall, order it there, and track the status of the order.

On the other hand, Siemens offers free access to a host of data for computer-aided design and engineering on its Web sites. As well as EPLAN Electric P8 macros in .edz format, a host of 2D dimension drawings, 3D models, and master data on approximately 90 percent of all products required by users for control cabinet building are available free of charge in the CAx Download Manager. In total, the offer encompasses data and information on more than 60,000 products in up to 12 variants and ten languages. Additionally, customers can create and download project-specific and standardized documentation using the My-Documentation function. A representative customer survey has shown that, all-in-all, Planning Efficiency can deliver time savings of up to 80 percent compared to control cabinet configuration using components from different vendors.

Outdoor cabinet technology protects process analysers

Intertec has won the contract for the environmental protection cabinets and shelters that will protect the field-based process analysers at the new Sadara petrochemical complex in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The outdoor cabinets will be constructed from high-performance grades of GRP (glass reinforced polyester). This will provide proven long-term protection against the region's extreme climatic conditions - which include very high temperatures and UV levels for example - as well as the corrosion threats posed by the process media and salty sea air.

The Sadara complex will have 26 world scale manufacturing plants and will be the world’s largest petrochemical facility ever built in a single phase. Intertec is expecting that cabinets to protect around 1000 field-based analysers will be needed for this project.

The key technical reasons behind the selection of Intertec's enclosure technology are the performance of the GRP-based construction materials used - which have been proven in previous applications with the joint venture partners behind Sadara - and the company's turnkey manufacturing capability.

The enclosures required range in size from small cabinets suitable for housing a single analyser, to shelters as large as 11 x 3m, which can accommodate 10 or more analysers. The cabinets are being designed and manufactured at two of Intertec's global facilities, in Sarnia, Canada and Neustadt, Germany. Deliveries to the instrumentation OEMs involved in the Sadara project started in Q1, 2013.

Sadara Chemical Company (Sadara) is a joint venture between Saudi Aramco, a leading energy supplier, and The Dow Chemical Company, a leading science and technology company. Sadara will construct, own and operate a world-scale integrated chemicals complex in Jubail Industrial City II, in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

When completed, the Sadara complex will represent the largest petrochemical facility ever built in a single phase. Sadara and the adjoining PlasChem Park will establish a world-scale manufacturing footprint that delivers a full range of value-added, performance products destined for the emerging markets of Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa. Sadara’s world-scale integrated complex will produce over 3 million tons of chemical and plastics products: amines, glycol ethers, isocyanates, polyether polyols, polyethylene, polyolefin elastomers and propylene glycol.

Modular PXI test rack

A modular PXI test rack providing 13U of full-depth instrumentation space and a further 6U of depth for rear-mounted instrumentation space is now available from the Peak Group. The new system is ergonomically designed for use in production test environments, and includes an integrated VPC (Virginia Panel Corporation) mass interface receiver adaptor, allowing large numbers of different contact types to be quickly and easily connected in a single one operation.

The Peak modular PXI test rack features an internal 19-inch instrument rack with slides, and is height adaptable to accept up to 42U of test instrumentation. It incorporates built-in service panels, large doors on the sides and rear and rack cooling, with a wide body allowing for cooling fans on both sides of the main chassis. It is specifically designed to fit through a standard single-width door. Also incorporated are full emergency stop and door interlock safety circuitry, a mains distribution and safety circuit box, and an internal integrated keyboard and mouse.

The Peak Group is an Alliance Member with National Instruments (NI), the leading developers of PXI test interface technology, and is also the British distributor for Virginia Panel Corporation, the top international suppliers of mass interconnect technology for automatic test systems.

Cabinets for shutdown valves protect against hydrocarbon fires for 90 minutes!

Innovative passive fire protection cabinets extend margin of safety for critical plant shutdown equipment!

Intertec's fire-resistant cabinet on test.

A novel new range of cabinets to protect critical process equipment in hazardous areas against very high temperature fires has been launched by the field equipment protection specialist Intertec. The cabinets ensure that equipment such as emergency shutdown valves remain operational by keeping them below 60 degrees Centigrade for periods of up to 90 minutes in the event of a hydrocarbon-based fire, to allow time for controlled shutdown. The new 90-minute protection capability - which Intertec believes to be a first in this sector of the industry - has been tested against the ANSI/UL 1709 standard by the test body MPA Dresden.

Passive fire protection cabinets for process plant protection applications are usually only required to provide 30 minutes of protection. Intertec's new cabinet design provides at least three times this duration. This provides a very broad margin of safety to ensure that plant operators are able to continue remotely controlling critical valves to ensure that the process cannot feed the flames with flammable materials, or that vessels do not burst from over-pressurization. It additionally provides as much control time as possible to support personnel evacuation procedures and fire fighting responses.

Another key advantage offered by Intertec's unique range of cabinets is the ability to incorporate easy-access panels to simplify maintenance and inspection, because of the rigid structure provided by the composite construction materials. Rapid access is less easy to achieve with other fire protection methods such as blankets or intumescent coatings.

"This advance comes at a very important time, as many chemical, oil and gas organizations are currently looking to improve the safety and reliability of their processing plant infrastructure wherever they can," notes Klaus Meyer of Intertec.

As there is no specific international standard for this application area, process plant designers tend to employ the rapid temperature rise fire curves of ANSI/UL 1709, a standard used to protect structural steel in buildings ('Rapid Rise Fire Tests of Protection Materials for Structural Steel'). Hydrocarbon processing plants are one of the key application areas, as fires here can reach 1093 degrees C (2000 degrees F) within five minutes.

The third-party testing program was carried out by MPA Dresden. The test house subjected a typical process valve/actuator sized cabinet - with an interior space of around a cubic metre - to a hydrocarbon-based fire. After a period of 90 minutes when the test was stopped, the body temperature of an example electrical actuator mounted inside the cabinet was still less than 55 degrees C (131 F) - considerably below the target 60 degrees C (140 F) level. The cabinet also retained its structural integrity, suggesting that it could survive even longer.

Intertec has been building cabinets for the fire protection of valves and actuators and other critical field equipment such as electrical junction boxes and marshalling cabinets for over 10 years. Its cabinet designs for this application are based on a unique form of layered construction with GRP (glass reinforced polyester) sheets 'sandwiching' insulating and fire resistant mineral wool materials. Other proprietary techniques are also employed to help the cabinets to resist the damaging effects of the fire, and to degrade in a slow and predictable manner.

The composite sheeting material that Intertec uses to manufacture these cabinets combines great structural strength with high resistance to weather and the corrosive effects of salt and aggressive chemicals - making it suitable for use in the harshest of environments such as offshore platforms. The sandwich construction means that cabinets can be made using bonding techniques, avoiding thermal short cuts between inner and outer skins. A composite sandwich cabinet typically provides more than twice the thermal insulation of a steel shelter with the same insulation thickness.