New release PACTware

PACTware Release 4.1 is now available for download free of charge. Using the new Topology Scan Addin of this release it is possible to automaticly build a project of a given plant for the first time. Even communication structures consisting of e.g. Profibus lines with remote I/O systems can be scanned. In order to get a complet project of a plant all device type managers (DTMs) of the used devices must be included in the device catalog of PACTware.

If there are DTMs missing for some Profibus or HART devices or if you want to work with a minimum of DTMs it is a good idea to use generic DTMs provided by ICS. Using Generic HART DTM 5 and Profibus PA Profile 3 DTM only a plant can be parameterized and observed in a wide range. All Profibus PA devices must be switched to " profile mode" then.


The following new features are included in PACTware 4.1:

• the Diagnostic Scan Add-In (called "Device State Manager Add-In" in release 4.0), that shows and logs NAMUR status information of devices, is now implemented non-modal. Actions with DTMs can now be executed while a basic condition monitoring is running in the background.
• online help and manuals are provided now in 5 languages: German, English, French, Spanish and Russian
• in addition the graphical user interface can be displayed in Nederlands and Japanese language
• a DTM can now be easily replaced by another DTM within the project tree

Space observation for climate monitoring

We have reported recently on a number of climate/polar initiatives (see New monitoring technology helps reveal Arctic secrets and Gases trapped in High Arctic could tip climate scales!)and here is another.

ABB is to develop key applications for an instrument designed for meteorological observations onboard satellites for the Canadian Space Agency’s Polar Communications and Weather (PCW) mission.

This R&D contract for an imaging spectroradiometer, a device designed to measure the wavelengths of individual colors of light, is worth $5.5 million and was awarded by the Canadian Space Agency through the Space Technologies Development Program (STDP). The technologies that ABB will develop are similar to those currently under development for the next generation of geostationary weather satellites.

Currently there are limitations to the short-term weather forecasts, long-term climatological predictions, and other services offered in the high Arctic by existing satellites, particularly with respect to mobile communications for ships, planes and unmanned aerial vehicles. To help improve these services the PCW mission aims to place two satellites into a highly elliptical orbit approximately 39,900 km above the North Pole to provide reliable and continuous communication services and to monitor weather and climate changes throughout the Arctic region.

“Space-based and ground-based atmospheric instrumentation is a core business at ABB, and this contract will strengthen our position within this market,” said Marc-Andre Soucy, Manager of ABB's Remote Sensing division. “Backed by its rich heritage in the space industry, ABB will use its expertise to the benefit of the Canadian Space Agency in connection with this major project.”

ABB already has a number of space-related projects to its credit, including the interferometer module that is at the heart of the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) instrument, which is a key component of the American National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project (NPP) meteorological satellite that was launched on October 28, 2011.

Control knobs!

Cliff Electronics have made some new introductions to their wide range of control knobs.

The new K88 range of space saving skirt-less knobs is suitable for use with rotary switches, potentiometers and encoders. Standard colours available are black and grey with opaque caps available with or without a marker-line - in standard colours of black, white, red, grey, yellow, blue and green. The cost effective Cliff K88 knobs are available to fit 4, 6 and 6.35mm D fit shafts and 6 and 6.35mm splined shafts. Typical applications include audio mixing and lighting desks and instrumentation panels.

To accommodate the growing use of rotary encoders Cliff has introduced the K18 encoder knob series which fit a standard 6mm splined shaft. These knobs feature ergonomic inner and outer finger dimples for fast and slow rotations, are available with a choice of 35 or 50gm weights for desired ‘feel’ to suit the application and may be supplied in either black or grey.

The new Cliff K3 and K4 “chicken head” knobs are available in Bakelite or phenolic material and fit a 6.35mm screw-fit shaft. These vintage-look knobs are designed to match original designs for guitars, amplifiers and foot-pedals and are available with or without a marker line on the “Beak”.

Melvyn French, Sales Manager at Cliff Electronics comments; “The pro-audio and broadcast markets are very important to Cliff Electronics and within that the music industry continues to grow. Our new K88 range of skirt-less knobs offers a value-for money, space saving control knob for mixing desk and lighting control system manufacturers. Aesthetics play an important part in the design of musical instruments and amplifiers and our retro-looking “chicken-head” knobs are being welcomed by our customers worldwide.”

Security assurance recognition!

Honeywell is the first industry vendor to earn the ISASecure Embedded Device Security Assurance (EDSA) certification, by the ISA Security Compliance Institute (ISCI), for an industrial control systems product. The award recognizes Honeywell’s commitment to stringent cyber security standards and the security of Honeywell’s control systems products. 

The formal announcement was made during the Honeywell HUG event this summer. Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS) is the first process industry vendor to be certified. The award recognizes the integrity of both the embedded Safety Manager device and its production lifecycle, and follows rigorous testing against communication robustness, functional security and software development security. 

Safety Manager delivers safety assurance for operators who oversee industrial processes. The solution helps lower the cost of safety and improves performance by reducing the risk of incidents, maximizing production uptime, reducing the cost of compliance and providing productivity tools that help manage safety in industrial plants. 

The ISASecure™ EDSA certification provides Honeywell’s customers–and their procurement teams–the extra reassurance that Safety Manager can deliver on its promises. 

“Honeywell continues to demonstrate leadership for ensuring cyber security of industrial automation and control systems,” commented Andre Ristaino, ISCI managing director. “Being the first supplier to submit products for the ISASecure EDSA certification was courageous and demonstrates Honeywell’s commitment to security.” 

Greater Safety

Profinet and Profibus offer greater safety with fault-tolerant high-performance controllers

Siemens Industry Automation division has improved its fault tolerant Simatic S7-400H high-performance controllers and equipped them with new functions. In addition, the range of controllers has been extended with the new CPU 416-5H. All CPUs now have a Profinet interface with a 2-port switch, larger memory and an expanded quantity structure for data and function block as well as function calls. One of the new functions concerns the master-reserve switchover that can now be programmed by the user. The performance has also been improved with extended resources for communication, for example. The Profinet interface with a 2-port switch is used for plant communication and supports fault tolerant H-connections via TCP/IP (ISO on TCP). In combination with the integrated MPI/DP and Profibus DP interfaces, the new Profinet interface permits the system-redundant connection of IO devices. Using fiber-optic cables, data synchronization is possible at distances of up to ten kilometers. In terms of performance, the new CPU 416-5H controller with 16 MB RAM is positioned between the 412-5H CPU with 1 MB, 414-5H with 4 MB and the 417-5H with 32 MB RAM. The controllers are programmed and configured using the Simatic Step 7 engineering tool. Start of delivery is planned for the first quarter of 2012.

French & Spanish markets strengthened!

Hitachi Display Products Group (DPG) has strengthened its sales management team to enable continued sales growth in Southern Europe. Vincent Levigoureux has been appointed to the position of French and Spanish account manager and will provide sales support to key OEM and distribution accounts.

Vincent Levigoureux

Vincent joins Hitachi DPG from NEC Electronics where he spent 4 years as French distribution account manager supporting displays, semiconductor and RF products. Previous positions within the electronic components industry include 3 years as a field applications engineer with distributor Eurocomposant and 3 years with NEC Electronics Smart Card application centre. Vincent will support and promote Hitachi’s full LCD product portfolio and will be based near Paris.

Mark Stanley, Sales and Marketing Manager, Hitachi DPG commented, “We are very pleased to have Vincent join the Display Products Group. He brings with him a wealth of valuable industry knowledge and experience. He will be a strong asset to the European sales team.”

A further appointment for Hitachi DPG is that of Jason Tsai as European technical liaison engineer. Jason has been with Hitachi’s LCD design and development department in Kaohsiung, Taiwan for 11 years as a design engineer. He will provide technical support for OEM and distribution customers and will be based in Maidenhead.

Wireless distributor

LPRS appoints new distributor for ASPAC region

LPRS has appointed Veloxity Components  as their distributor for the Asia/Pacific region. Veloxity will principally sell the LPRS market leading easyRadio Advanced (eRA) industrial wireless communications modules as well as development kits and accessories.

(LtoR) Sandie Sharples LPRS Client Services Director, David Schmider, LPRS Technical Director and from Veloxity; Alex Khoo Account Manager, Tan Shu Qi Sales Executive and Tan Chia Boon Sales Manager

John Sharples, Managing Director of LPRS comments; “We see the Asian and New World markets as key to the continued sales growth of our products. We are confident that our British designed and manufactured wireless modules can not only compete on price in Asia but that their unique feature sets offer all system builders the shortest time to market for any industrial project requiring wireless communication.”
Based in Singapore, Veloxity Components is an independent distributor of electronic components with sales offices also in Malaysia and Thailand. Veloxity also offer a number of value-added services including supplier base consolidation, worldwide sourcing, excess inventory management, minimal MOQ restrictions, 3rd party programming , stocking and kitting, re-packing, taping, vacuum packing, baking, in-house visual/microscopic inspection and solderability testing, low volume PCB assembly and 3rd party testing.                                                                                 

In addition to its own easyRadio Advanced (eRA) wireless modules the LPRS product range now includes, narrow band long range wireless modules from CDP, the IQRF range of wireless networking components, the IQVC range of visual control panels together with antenna, wireless key fobs and a wide range of sensor products.