LIMS at Aussie show!

Autoscribe will be showing the Matrix Gemini Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) at the ISBER exhibition (5-9 May 2013 Sydney AUS). This provides a highly configurable environment for all aspects of biobank, biorepository and clinical trials management with no custom coding required. A data management solution can be designed quickly to represent exact user requirements in terms of workflows, screen designs, menu designs, terminology, report designs and much more.

Matrix Gemini features modules for the management of sample collection, sample shipments, QA/QC activities, multi-level storage, sample picking/shipping and downstream analysis. The software provides compliance with regulatory authority guidelines such as HTA, GCLP, MHRA, FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and other similar requirements.

Full sample tracking includes parent/child samples, aliquots, and derivatives. Complete location recording from room to freezer, shelf, container and container position is possible. A full audit trail of all changes is provided, together with storage location auditing and reconciliation with chain of custody reporting.

IR thermometer range extended

New features for a wider range of industrial applications

The IRCON Modline 7 series from Raytek, has been extended with two new infrared thermometers and a new processor box. The new 7V line has been especially designed for the semiconductor industry, while the 75 series now comes with a new high temperature model dedicated to heat treating & annealing.

Ircon’s Modline 7 Series includes eight specialized sensor lines for rugged applications. The new PROC-7 processor box enables remote configuration.

With these additions, the Modline 7 series includes eight distinct thermometer lines for various application fields including glass manufacturing and forming, ultra-thin glass production, semiconductor processing, and industrial furnaces. The modularity of the series helps users reduce installation efforts, since the installation hardware and application software is identical for all sensors and each model features an extended measured temperature range, with the entire series covering a -40..+3,000 °C range.

The common Windows ModView Pro software platform facilitates multiple product configurations. Users can set up and monitor sensors either via the rear panel of the sensor, the ModView Pro software included in delivery, or the new PROC-7 processor box. This optional self-contained control unit was designed to operate all Modline 7 sensors independent of ModView Pro software and enables remote sensor health check, for instance in hard-to-reach or hazardous locations.

The IP65 (NEMA 4) sealed sensor systems provide high-resolution optics, very good repeatability, and fast response times. The stainless steel enclosure integrates motorised focus control and both through-the-lens and laser sighting. The thermometer´s sensing head can operate as a stand-alone sensor, provid-ing simultaneous analog and digital outputs of process temperatures.

All sensors are available with integrated water cooling to handle ambient temperatures up to 175 °C or with a WJ-7 water jacket for ambient temperatures up to 315 °C. An optional air purge collar keeps the lens free of debris in hot dusty environments and avoids unwanted condensations on the lens due to intensive cooling.

Combined with an extended five year warranty, the Modline 7 provides best-in-class solutions for demanding industrial environments. With this completion of the Modline 7 Series Ircon provides continuation over several years of the very successful Ircon Modline family

From Lego to space ships

LEGO^® MINDSTORMS^®

In a session at SXSWedu, National Instruments and LEGO Education demonstrated the power of robotics and the new EV3 platform to change the landscape of STEM education.

LabVIEW – the software powering EV3 – also powers feats of engineering such as the Red Bull Stratos supersonic free fall project and the Large Hadron Collider, a machine that is fundamentally impacting our understanding of the laws of physics. This means students as young as kindergarten are learning the exact same technology used by some of the world’s most prolific scientists and engineers.

In the session, LabVIEW K-12 Group Manager Nicole Richard and a panel of other STEM education advocates discussed what’s needed to inspire students to pursue science and engineering careers.

“LEGO platforms build technical literacy. Kids take complex engineering concepts and scale them down,” Richard said. “They're not just using technology, they're creating technology.”

Panelists also examined the need to help educators access the tools necessary for developing project-based curricula using real-world technologies. They noted that introducing students to critical thinking and problem solving in their first few years of education plays a pivotal role in helping them develop the confidence to continue engaging in STEM activities.

“LEGO and National Instruments have been collaborating for over a decade to create technology that puts tools used in industry into the hands of students. That type of collaboration is crucial to building a foundation for generations of future engineers,” said NI Vice President of Marketing Ray Almgren. “We must focus on creating future STEM industry professionals in Texas and around the globe who are ready to tackle the science and engineering challenges our world faces.”

Five company partnership serves gulf region

Endress+Hauser has signed the Vector Controls and Automation Group (CAG) in Houston, (TX USA) as its sales representative servicing Texas, Oklahoma, and portions of New Mexico and Arkansas.

Vector Controls and Automation Group (CAG) is a newly formed representative partnership consisting of five representative organizations that merged in March 2013 to offer customers the very best in instrumentation, automation, mechanical and analytical solutions with technical product and application support. Initial merging partners include Pantech Controls, Instrument TAGS, M&D Controls, Remote Data Solutions, and Summit Controls, who have been serving customers for over 150 years combined.

Endress+Hauser has always believed in its partnerships being key to its success – and its channel partners are at the heart of that. According to Todd Lucey, Endress+Hauser General Manager, “We believe that the Vector merger is a bold and proactive move to anticipate changes in the market place. The competitive landscape is changing for us and for our customers. Endress+Hauser’s goal is to be a preeminent supplier in all of the areas we serve – and we believe Vector is the right platform to achieve that goal in its territory. Our channel partners are the face to our customers, so channel development is at the core of Endress+Hauser achieving its goals. Endress+Hauser can only be successful when we’re successful together with our sales channel – as true partners.”

Valve controller for safety instrumented systems

Intelligent automatic partial stroke valve testing provides improved safety and reliability

Emerson’s new FIELDVUE™ DVC6200 SIS digital valve controller responds to safety demands, and features partial stroke and position monitoring capabilities for the final control element in a safety instrumented system (SIS). Intelligent automatic partial stroke valve testing provides improved safety and reliability versus traditional pneumatic and jammer partial stroke methods.

Meeting plant safety and reliability targets is easier using the DVC6200 SIS, which combines the field-proven linkage-less, non-contact feedback design of the DVC6200 and DVC2000 platforms with the safety demand and automatic partial stroke testing capability of the DVC6000 SIS. The DVC6200 SIS has been evaluated to the latest version of IEC 61508 (2010) and is certified as a SIL 3 capable device for both 4 or 20mA and 0 or 24Vdc power settings.

An integral position transmitter is available with the DVC6200 SIS, and is capable of reading valve position even upon loss of power to the digital valve controller. The position monitoring safety function has been evaluated independently from the digital valve controller safety function and is SIL 2 capable.

Partial stroke valve testing can be used in service to safely increase the period of time between proof-testing the final control element. Additionally, the DVC6200 SIS confirms solenoid operation and captures useful diagnostic data during a trip event.

When integrated with Emerson’s DeltaV™ SIS logic solver, the native interface provides users increased availability, while at the same time removing complexity from their safety systems. DeltaV SIS provides out of the box tools that allow direct access to the DVC6200 SIS diagnostics and partial stroke data, and the ability to set-up and run the partial stroke tests automatically.

Chilean office opened!

National Instruments has announced the official opening of an office in Santiago, Chile. The NI Chile office provides direct field engineers, training and the strong Alliance Partner Network to customers in a variety of industries including mining, defence, academia and energy. Working with NI since 2006 as a direct distributor for NI, Sociedad de Innovación y Transferencia Tecnológica Limitada will now work with NI as an Alliance Partner offering complete solutions and high-quality products based on graphical system design.

“We are excited to officially open an office in Chile because of the rapidly growing number of customers using NI products and the increased regional interest in NI test, measurement and control solutions,” said Rodrigo Riquelme, Branch Manager of NI Chile. “With an office in Chile, NI can more effectively serve the needs of customers in the Cono Sur region, including Argentina, Bolivia, Perú, Uruguay and Paraguay.”

John Graff, NI Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Americas, said “NI Chile expands the presence of NI in Latin America, which includes direct sales offices in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico with a shared operations centre in Costa Rica. We doubled our headcount in Latin America over the last two years because of exciting opportunities to equip local engineers and scientists with tools for innovation and discovery.”

New facility in Bulgaria

A new cost effective production plant in Sofia, Bulgaria is to be opened by LEM. 50 new jobs will be created in the first phase, and LEM's plans call for production from the Sofia facility to commence as soon as October 2013; The company has allocated an initial investment of CHF 2 million, (€1.6million) to establish the site and bring it to the point of delivering its first products.

LEM has already identified the property it will lease for the operation, and will occupy floor space of 4,500 square meters with its production plant. Additionally, the company has plans in place that call for the new Sofia site to be the focus for a major part of its future growth. This represents a continuation of a long-term strategy that LEM initiated in 2004. Under this plan, LEM will increasingly relocate volume production to plants in countries that combine a lower cost base together with an appropriate location – such as Bulgaria. Opening LEM Bulgaria increases production capacity close to LEM's European customer base, while geographically diversifying the company's attractive cost manufacturing base.

François Gabella, CEO of LEM, comments: “The opening of the new production plant in Bulgaria will be a major milestone for LEM’s development. With the new plant we will increase our competitiveness while significantly growing our presence in the European economy.”

In LEM's forward planning, activities at its facilities in Geneva, Switzerland and Machida, Japan, will be re-focussed; its Swiss operations will see continued investment both in R&D activities and in marketing, and will concentrate on developing products combining high complexity and high precision, for markets worldwide. In line with the approach of serving regional markets with local resources, LEM's Machida facility will concentrate on the Japanese market.