Control Engineering articles from January 2005

Control Engineering archives from January 2005

Engineers and Sarbanes-Oxley.(Editorial)
January 1, 2005... Control engineers need to be more aware of and involved in automation system integration with higher-level business systems. The long-promised intersection of these two areas of technology will actually begin taking place at companies of all...

Highly modular control system solves complex tasks.(product EXCLUSIVE)(B & R Industrial Automation )
January 1, 2005... X20 compact block I/O system from Bernecker + Rainer Industrie-Elektronik (B & R Industrial Automation in the U.S.) is a highly modular control system that enables combining all components needed for an application's requirements. X20 can be...

Metricate your company.(opinion SOAPBOX)(usage of SI metrics (Systeme International d'Unites))
January 1, 2005... The U.S. is becoming a metric country. Yes, there are those who will forever prefer their inches, feet, and miles to meters, but it is undeniable that the U.S. is on its way to becoming a metric country in a few years. Consider how much we...

RFID impacts automation.(IT & engineering INSIGHT)
January 1, 2005... Lower-cost RFID tags are a new opportunity in manufacturing that will have a major impact on manufacturing IT systems. Essentially RFID tags are radio frequency bar codes implemented with inexpensive semiconductor chips and antennas. RFID tags...

Four major German automakers standardize on Profinet.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Nuremburg, Germany -- Four of Germany's leading automotive companies recently agreed to support the Profinet industrial Ethernet standard. Profinet was developed and is administered by Profibus International, which is also responsible for the...

Molex hires new auditor; switches CEOs.(Appointment of Frederick Krehbiel)(Molex Inc.)
January 1, 2005... Lisle, IL -- Molex Inc. reports that its board of directors' audit committee has hired Ernst & Young LLP to serve as Molex's independent auditor. Molex's board also has appointed Frederick Krehbiel, present board co-chairman and former CEO, to...

Asyst laying off 15% of staff in restructuring.(NEWS)(Asyst Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Fredmont, CA -- Asyst Technologies Inc. reports that it's laying off about 15% of its 500 employees as part of a restructuring of its ATI operations. The downsizing includes ATI's base business, but excludes its joint venture, Asyst Shinko Inc....

Worldwide distributed control system (DCS) market forecast.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Fueled by increasing demand for automation services, infrastructure investment in China, and U.S. productivity growth, the worldwide market for distributed control systems (DCSs) is expected to grow at a close to 4% compound annual growth rate...

ZigBee Alliance finalizes specification for global, interoperable wireless standard.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... San Ramon, CA -- The ZigBee Alliance reports that it has ratified the first ZigBee wireless specification (IEEE 802.11g), which it says will help users develop and deploy powerful, efficient, cost-effective, low data-rate monitoring, control,...

Omaha Public Power District picks Invensys for nuclear plant automation upgrade.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Foxboro, MA -- Invensys Process Systems was recently selected to provide its Foxboro-brand I/A Series distributed control and data acquisition system to help ensure reliable operation and improve generating efficiency at Omaha Public Power...

U.S. appeals court requires more review of ABB asbestos case.(NEWS)(ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Zurich, Switzerland -- ABB reports that the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that ABB's Chapter 11 reorganization plan for its U.S. subsidiary, Combustion Engineering (CE), needs to be reviewed again by the U.S. District Court. ...

Parker Hannifin acquires linear motion company.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Cleveland, OH -- Parker Hannifin Corp. reports that it has acquired Houston, TX-based Trilogy Systems Corp. for an undisclosed sum. Trilogy will join Parker Automation Group's Electromechanical Automation Division, located in Rohnert Park, CA....

Schneider Electric introduces compact, thin-client PCs.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Palatine, IL -- Schneider Electric recently expanded its family of Telemecanique industrial PCs by introducing its Magelis Smart iPC, a thin client for Ethernet architectures, and the Magelis Compact iPC, designed for embedding in small...

OSHA allies with AHTD on machine guarding, lockout/tagout procedures.(NEWS)(United States. Occupational Safety and Health Administration )(Association for High Technology Distribution )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Washington, DC -- The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Association for High Technology Distribution (AHTD) have formed an alliance to provide machine automation industry workers with information and guidance on...

Woodhead launches Ultra-Lock system for fast, failsafe connections.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Northbrook, IL -- Woodhead Industries Inc. reports that it has expanded its Brad Harrison family with a new Ultra-Lock connector system, a new series of distribution boxes and cordsets based on an innovative "push-to-lock" operating principle....

SPS/IPC/Drives 2004: SynqNet User Group established.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Nuremberg, Germany -- To facilitate adoption and broaden the application capabilities of the SynqNet industrial networking protocol, Danaher Motion and other SynqNet suppliers jointly launched the SynqNet User Group at the recent SPS/IPC/Drives...

BP Cooper gets HART Plant of the Year award.(NEWS)(BP Cooper River Plant employee recieves award)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Ron Helson (left), executive director of the HART Communication Foundation, presents the HART Plant of the Year award to A.J. Lambert (right), instrument and electrical reliability specialist at BP Cooper River Plant, located in Wando, SC....

Rockwell, Endress+Hauser jointly simplifying process device configurations.(NEWS)(Rockwell Automation Inc.)(Endress + Hauser )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Milwaukee, WI; Reinach, Switzerland -- To deliver preferred device configuration based on existing and emerging industry standards, Rockwell Automation Inc. and Endress + Hauser (E + H) are working jointly to provide users with more convenient,...

Ormec releases motion, logic, HMI, networking for 1-3 1/2 axes.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Rochester, NY -- Ormec reports that its new SMLC-Lite is a cost-effective motion, logic, human-machine interface (HMI), and networking solution for 1- to 3 1/2-axes systems. SMLC-Lite reportedly reduces system costs, and reduces complexity by...

In-person intelligence.(Editorial)
January 1, 2005... Have you stopped typing and writing "2004" yet? Not me. Despite that bit of subconscious denial, it is 2005 and time to re-examine goals, ambitions, and plans. (Better to think about "re-examining" things, rather than making New Year's...

Ethernet explained: like other off-the-shelf technologies, Ethernet has become widely accepted in the world of automation. Understanding the basics is key to effective implementation.(TUTORIAL)
January 1, 2005... Ethernet was born in 1973 when Xerox's Bob Metcalfe sketched the basic concept on a napkin now archived at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center. Originally designed for interoffice communications, Ethernet's performance and applications have...

Alarm! Alarm! Your line is about to shut down: if you were using predictive maintenance, you'd have time prevent the shutdown. Despite the promise of new technologies to optimize maintenance processes and reduce costs, most users are not achieving expected benefits. The problem lies in the implementation.(predictive maintenance)
January 1, 2005... Since the 1980s, we have seen the rise of instrumentation that can provide maintenance departments with information on real-time conditions. These include vibration sensors for rotating equipment, corrosion monitoring, and the use of ultrasound...

RtPM: now, OSIsoft's Real-time Performance Management (RtPM) Platform offers you the information, accuracy, and agility to cross the deepest water safely.(manufacturing process control software)
January 1, 2005... Whatever business challenges you face, RtPM[TM] spans your organization with unprecedented levels of collaboration, security, and productivity. We've incorporated all the power of PI--and taken it far beyond, driving efficiency and productivity...

Flurry of innovation: automation and control manufacturers launched more new products and solutions in 2004 than in recent years. As a result, Control Engineering's editors evaluated a larger pool of nominees to choose the 40 winners of the 18th annual Editors' Choice Awards.
January 1, 2005... Stock market averages and economic indexes aside, one of the best gauges of the recent industrial sector upswing in the U.S. and globally has to be that many control and automation manufacturers released more new products and solutions in 2004...

Smarter devices point to better maintenance, precise operation, market growth.(RESEARCH CONTROL VALVES)
January 1, 2005... Like people, control valves come in all types, shapes, and sizes. They are found in homes, utility services, institutions, and nearly every manufacturing operation imaginable. These common control components are equally important in a domestic...

Network control of multiple motors.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Accelnet Micro servo amplifiers drive servo-positioning motors in automation systems. Small in size, they fit right on the electronic circuit boards of automation systems, obviating the need for additional PCBs and support hardware. Each motor...

Exclusive: isolated analog signal conditioner.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... SensorLex 8B isolated analog signal conditioner provides instrument-class performance in a package 20% the size of competing modular products, according to the manufacturer. Small size is suited for embedded or portable applications, such as...

Substation computing platforms.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... SEL-3351 substation computing platform is designed to replace office-grade PCs in substation environments. SEL-3301 Protocol Gateway is intended for connecting older and newer equipment. Rugged computing products are designed to improve...

Linear motion with built-in feedback.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... EZ Limo series of linear motion products combines advanced step motor functionality and sophisticated motion control features into an easy-to-use linear motion product. It uses a stepping motor with a built-in feedback system. When a misstep is...

In-rack serial, Ethernet connectivity.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... ProTalk Q in-chassis, protocol conversion modules let Quantum and Unity processors communicate with a vast array of protocols, such as Profibus DP, Ethernet/IP, and HART Multi-drop. Features include cost-effective single-slot solution and...

AS-interface network tools.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... AS-interface tools help implement an effective AS-i network. Included are AS-interface Bus Terminator, Tuner, Analyzer. Bus Terminator potentially lets a user double the total length of an AS-i network. Tuner can almost triple total network...

Computer-on-module for embedded systems.(Products & software)(Kontron Modular Computers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... E2Brain RISC processor-based computer-on-module is intended for embedded systems in the real-time domain, with minimum power consumption and passive cooling. EB405, with 266 MHz IB PowerPC 405EP processor, lets the user focus on designing...

HMI software: reporting, alarms, easy deployment.(Products & software)(Manufacturing software)
January 1, 2005... FactoryLink 7.5 software solution for industrial HMI and SCADA systems offers new functionality and enhancements so users can more quickly build and deploy applications and react to operations. Features include out-of-box reporting, automatic...

Transmitters for hazardous locations.(Products & software)(Detection transmitters equipment)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... CorrTran corrosion detection transmitters satisfy Class I, Div. 2 hazardous-location applications. They let users monitor effectiveness of corrosion inhibitors online and detect and correct corrosion issues through upkeep and preventive...

1 indicator, 7 light/flash functions.(Products & software)(Control equipment industry)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... EZ-Light indicators offer compact, inexpensive means for showing run and stop modes, good and bad parts, process identification, and pick-to-light help. One indicator can be programmed for seven light and flash functions: red; red flashing;...

UPS for continuous operation of 24-V devices.(Products & software)(Control equipment industry)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Quint Buffer and DC-UPS uninterruptible power supplies ensure continuous operation of all 24-V devices in electrical installations during power interruptions. For brief outages lasting up to four seconds, Quint Buffer module supplies required...

Rotary torque sensor system.(Products & software)(PCB Piezotronics Inc. IMI Sensors Div.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Torkdisc rotary torque sensor systems are designed for dynamometer and other torque measurement applications that require a robust torque transducer where space is limited. On board transducer is an electronic module that converts torque...

Color camera with onboard processing.(Products & software)(Jai Pulnix Inc..'s TMC-6700CL charge-coupled device)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... TMC-6700CL progressive scan CCD (charge-coupled device) digital color camera features a 1/2-in. CCD imager with 640 X 480 pixel resolution at 60 fps. Camera uses a Bayer RGB color filter array with onboard color interpolation using real-time...

Basic regulatory control: control methods series, Part 1; A performance reference for advanced control technologies.(INSIDE PROCESS)
January 1, 2005... A generic flow-through reactor, common to most industries, can serve as a performance reference for advanced control technologies. Looking at how the reactor operates can illustrate which control methods are best. Figure 1 is a diagram of...

Unified control migration.(INSIDE PROCESS)(Aracruz Celulose S.A. deploys integrated control technology in its pulp mills)
January 1, 2005... Lush green forests sweep grandly from the mountains to the ocean in the coastal states of Espirito Santo and Bahia, Brazil, about 450 kilometers north of Rio de Janeiro. What's unusual about these forests is that they're part of nearly 611,000...

Control valve cavitation: considerations of pressure parameters vs. trim fluid velocity in valve liquid applications.(INSIDE PROCESS)
January 1, 2005... When selecting control valves, is the efficiency of the pressure parameter more important than valve trim fluid velocity? There's been some important debate on this point recently in the valve manufacturing community. Although the trim...

Temperature, process controllers.(Products inside process)(Kaif Digital's digital process control equipment)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... wMPC Series controllers offer up to seven zone controllers in a single wall-mount package. They accommodate a universal range of temperature and process inputs. Input type is individually configurable from the keyboard for each zone, allowing a...

Digital controller for many applications.(Products inside process)(Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... UDC3200 universal digital controller is built on the same platform as the recently released UDC2500 controller to deliver high-level functions in 1/4 DIN size. It is part of the UDC family of controllers, which includes three models that...

Globe valve for steam service.(Products inside process)(TLV Corp.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... BE3L bellows-seal globe valve for steam service is designed for steam, hot water, and heat transfer fluid applications. It comes in 1/2 in. to 2 in. sizes in screwed, socket weld, and flanged connection styles, and is tested for valve leakage...

Sealless gear pumps reduce downtime.(Products inside process)(Mag Drive 855 from Viking Pump Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Mag Drive 855 Series internal gear pumps offer a sealless design to eliminate seal leakage. Pump's driver turns an outer magnet, whose force passes through a stationary o-ring-sealed canister to turn an inner magnet, which drives the pump shaft...

Control system with globe valve.(Products inside process)(Burkert USA)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Type 8630 TOP control system coupled with Type 2712 pneumatically operated globe valve provides a complete, intelligent process control/proportional valve system. Type 8630 digitally fired positioning unit has on/off and continuous...

Pressure gauges, flowmeters for hazardous use.(Products inside process)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Differential pressure (DP) gauges and flowmeters are designed for use where dangerous gases and vapors may exist. Products have a Class 1, Div. 2 (Group B, C, and D atmospheres) rating. Models come with operating ranges from 5 in. water to...

Diaphragm position control pump.(Products inside process)(industrial pumps)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... H/G25 Kel-Cell series industrial pumps feature diaphragm position control (DPC) technology under a variety of adverse inlet conditions. DPC, says the pump manufacturer, provides maximum protection against diaphragm ruptures, flow to 20 gpm, and...

Dynamic modeling technology.(Products & software)
January 1, 2005... OneSpace Designer CAD and data management software includes a family of products for rapid 3D modeling, 2D drafting and analysis, and team-focused data management. Designer Modeling 2005 eliminates the sequenced steps that constrain designs....

Adaptive motion control.(Products & software)(CompactRIO)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... High-speed adaptive control solution runs on National Instruments CompactRIO embedded control and data acquisition program. Embedded MFA (model-free adaptive) controllers running in NI LabView Real Time on CompactRIO offer general-purpose,...

Servo amplifiers to motion control drives.(Products & software)
January 1, 2005... SAC option card transforms Kollmorgen S300 and S600 digital servo amplifiers into intelligent, fully programmable motion control drives to give designers access to a broad range of motor designs and form factors. Card also provides simple...

DIN-rail-mount power supply.(Products & software)
January 1, 2005... DIN-rail-mount power supply module can connect two power supplies in 1 + 1 redundancy. DLP-PU series is applicable to process control and critical monitoring equipment where downtime would cause extensive and costly manufacturing delay. Module...

Real-time enterprise software.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Real-time enterprise software initiative SenseDecideRespond gives discrete manufacturers the ability to sense critical activity at equipment, factory, and enterprise levels; decide how to optimize production resources throughout a plant; and...

More PC/104 serial cards.(Products & software)
January 1, 2005... PC/104 line expands to include four new serial cards designed for wide temperature operation for the industrial, transportation, COTS, and medical markets. Set embraces a wide range of serial capability, including modes of operation and serial...

Avoid electrical ground loops.(back to BASICS)
January 1, 2005... Ground loops (also referred to as "noise") in an electrical system result from unwanted current that flows in a conductor connecting two points that are supposed to be at the same electrical potential, but aren't. When this condition occurs in...