Control Engineering articles from June 2003

Control Engineering archives from June 2003

Get ready. (Control Engineering).(real-time enterprise on its way)(Editorial)
June 1, 2003... There's an initiative coming your way, if it hasn't already. It's from corporate, and it will directly impact you. It goes by many names, but is most often referred to as the "real-time enterprise." Don't roll your eyes too quickly upon...

ABB loses $45 million in 1Q03; selling two divisions. (News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Zurich, Switzerland -- ABB Ltd. recently reported that its net income dropped $45 million in the first quarter of 2003 (1Q03) due mainly to managing its more than $8.1-billion debt and paying related restructuring costs. This result compares to...

NNI's Plug & Play Sensors Program. (In Business).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... National Instruments (NI, Austin, TX) reports that European sensor vendors are joining NI's Plug & Play Sensors Program. This is a collaborative effort by NI and sensor vendors to gain widespread adoption of IEEE P1451.4, which is a proposed...

GE Industrial Systems. (In Business).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... To expand its presence in the $60-billion and growing global sensors and instrumentation market, GE Industrial Systems (Plainville, CT) recently purchased SI Pressure Instruments, previously a unit of Hill & Smith Holding PLC. Terms of the deal...

Entivity Inc. (In Business).(Steeplechase Visual Logic Controller (VLC) 6.1 software introduced)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Entivity Inc. (Ann Arbor, MI) has released its Steeplechase Visual Logic Controller (VLC) 6.1 software. It includes Transaction Express as the newest component of its PC-based control system. Transaction Express is a global data port that...

Texas Instruments Inc. (In Business).(extended, common-mode RS-485 transceivers introduced)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... To provide protection against noise and fault conditions, Texas Instruments Inc. (Dallas, TX) recently introduced what it reports are the world's first extended, common-mode RS-485 transceivers. TI's SN65HVD2X devices reportedly more than...

Hazardous area categorizations.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Only a few users and operators expect to change their applications' hazardous area zone classifications during 2003-06, according to a recent study, "European and North American Markets For Intrinsically Safe Equipment,"' by Venture Development...

CSIA adds technical section to registration process. (News).(Control and Information System Integrators Association)(related article: 10 integrators achieve CSIA registration)
June 1, 2003... New Orleans, LA -- The Control and Information System Integrators Association (CSIA, Exton, PA) reported during its recent 2003 Executive Conference that it's adding a technical management section to its Best Practices and Benchmarks Guidelines...

Siemens buying Danfoss' flow division. (News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Erlangen, Germany; Nordborg, Denmark--To continue its expansion into the international process automation field, Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D) and Danfoss A/S agreed May 12 that Siemens will acquire Danfoss' flow division. The firms say...

Yamatake, MycroSensor alliance creates Process Measurement Center. (News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Houston, TX; Phoenix, AZ--To give users added measurement expertise and responsiveness, Yamatake America Inc. and MycroSensor Technologies LLC formed a strategic alliance May14 that will focus on measurement instrumentation and create their...

MCAA 2003: financial outlook improves. (News).(Measurement, Control & Automation Association)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Lake Buena Vista, FL--Indicators show we're going to miss a double dip downturn, so now may be the time for heavy investment in many industries. Manufacturers of instrumentation and controls and the industries they serve generally are doing...

Global flowmeter market expected to reach $3.4 billion by 2007. (News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Wakefield, MA--The worldwide flowmeter market is projected to grow at a 2.1% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from $3.1 billion in 2002 to $3.4 billion in 2007, according to a three-year study, "The World Market for Flowmeters," released May...

Unemployment rate for electrical engineers skyrockets to record 7%. (News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Washington, D.C.-The unemployment rate for electrical engineers (EEs) shot up to an unprecedented 7.0% in the first quarter of 2003 (1Q03), according to data from U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and reported by the...

Yokogawa's Stardom process automation system debuts in North America. (News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Oak Brook, IL -- Yokogawa Electric Corp. (Tokyo, Japan) has launched its Stardom process automation system in North America. Refinements have been made since introduction in Japan more than a year ago to make Stardom more appropriate for this...

NI launches LabView 7 Express. (News).(National Instruments Corp. introduces improved system)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Austin, TX--To give users accelerated virtual instruments (VIs) that encapsulate measurement functions and run on PDAs and work with FPGAs, National Instruments Inc. (NI) has launched its LabView 7 Express. Billed as a major upgrade to its...

Pemco's ream wrappers are first U.S. application of Siemens' Simotion. (News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Alpharetta, GA--Pemco Inc. (Sheboygan, WI) recently became the first paper-processing machine builder in the U.S. to specify Simotion machine-control technology from Siemens Energy & Automation. Pemco manufactures complete packaging lines for...

Hannover Fair, Interkama plan to merge trade shows in 2004. (News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Hannover; Dusseldorf, Germany--Organizers of two of Europe's largest industrial trade shows, Hannover Fair and Interkama, report that they're merging the two events into one. Deutsche Messe AG (DEMAG) and Messe Dusseldorf GmbH will fold...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
June 1, 2003... An incorrect web address for Metagenix Inc. was listed in "Products & Software," Control Engineering, May'03, p. 70. The company's correct web address is www.metagenix.com.

Controls index lags in 1Q03; broader market rebound follows. (Market Update).(first quarter of 2003 )
June 1, 2003... In the first quarter of 2003 (1Q03), the industrial controls market declined a little bit more than other markets. The Control Engineering Index was down more than 10% during 1Q03, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Standard &...

HMI for stand-alone or integrated OEM applications. (Software Review).(Human machine interface)(original equipment manufacturer)
June 1, 2003... Human machine interface (HMI) software used in original equipment manufacturer (OEM) applications needs to integrate readily with the control function, either through a hardwired relay-based system, a custom electronics system, or a dedicated...

Create' more time.(Editorial)
June 1, 2003... How difficult can it be to get everything done? After all, time is an integral part of our job functions. Time stamps improve repeatability and quality Lag time influences how logic is shaped. We're asked to help reduce cycle times, apply...

Too hot to handle: why non-contact sensors provide a better solution for temperature measurements in many manufacturing applications.(Cover Story)
June 1, 2003... Measuring temperatures accurately in manufacturing operations has become increasingly important in recent years. Excessive temperature changes can indicate process problems (and probably defective products) or some kind of existing or imminent...

How to accelerate commissioning: under fire at start-up? More verification effort early on minimizes the time a control and instrumentation system spends on a project's critical path.
June 1, 2003... Once a new or retrofit project reaches mechanical and electrical completion, all eyes turn toward the instrumentation and control system as being the last obstacle that's preventing start up. Well, perhaps it's not quite that dramatic, but no...

Thermistors, monolithic linear sensors aid temperature detection: inexpensive, easy-to-use temperature detectors fulfill users' requirements in many niche thermometry applications. (Technology Update).
June 1, 2003... Temperature is one of the most frequently measured physical phenomena. However, if a traditional thermocouple or resistive temperature detector (RTD) isn't appropriate for a specific application, thermistors and monolithic linear temperature...

Servos optimize torque per volume. (Servo Motors).
June 1, 2003... They're the elite among various electric motor types. Servo motors stand out by incorporating the latest high-force magnet materials, advanced design methods, and precise dimensional tolerances. Combined with appropriate electronics, servo...

Relays with bifurcated contacts. (Products & Software).
June 1, 2003... Line of industrial relays includes devices with 24 V dc, 120 V ac, and 240 V ac coil voltages. Relays feature bifurcated contacts for improved contact reliability and low current switching capability Sockets are DIN-rail mountable and include...

AC drive reduces harmonic distortion. (Products & Software).
June 1, 2003... HR1018 Harmonic Reduction Technology package consists of an 18-pulse ac drive that reduces the total harmonic distortion common to standard 6-pulse drives. Unit minimizes interference that can impair sensitive electronic equipment such as...

Light curtain features modular design. (Products & Software).
June 1, 2003... MCJ4700 Series Safety Light Curtain, recently awarded a patent for its modular design, is a multiple segment device connected via solid electromechanical joints. Design uses no cabling between segments, eliminating the risk of accidentally...

Industrial tablet PC for mobile workers. (Products & Software).
June 1, 2003... CT60 rugged tablet personal computer brings the ease of a tablet PC to mobile workers regardless of the environment. Unit uses Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC edition operating system and a Mobile Intel Pentium III Processor-M for speed and...

Transmitter features echo tracking signal processing. (Products & Software).
June 1, 2003... Rosemount 5600 Series non-contact radar level measurement transmitter for process applications works on liquids and slurries and is available with a range of antennas. Smart FMCW echo-tracking features and advanced signal processing techniques...

Rotary actuators for angular positioning. (Products & Software).
June 1, 2003... Limited Angle Torque Motors are designed for applications that require quick, precise angular positioning (typically less than 170 deg). High acceleration, accuracy, and repeatability make them well suited for focusing lenses, positioning laser...

HTML-compliant SPC software. (Products & Software).
June 1, 2003... The newest version of SPC Software Suite includes significant enhancements to DataMyteAnalysis and Reporting, a fully-HTML compliant package that can be used on intranets and extranets for quick real-time reporting. Improved drill-down feature...

Terminal programmable in C. assembly. (Products & Software).
June 1, 2003... GraFX full-featured programmable terminal features a 120 x 32 pixel graphics display and a WYSIWYG display that lets users review data prior to processing. Rugged unit is especially suited for applications where wash-downs or submersions occur...

Operator interface terminals. (Product & Literature Showcase).
June 1, 2003... QSI Corporation manufactures rugged handheld and panelmount operator interface terminals for OEMs, for vehicle and industrial applications. Products include character and graphics terminals that are programmable, customizable, CE certified,...

Complete automation solutions. (Product & Literature Showcase).
June 1, 2003... POWER Engineers' Automation Group provides complete systems automation, integrating plant floor controls with enterprise business systems. POWER is a leading provider of engineering services, including instrumentation and controls, HMI/SCADA,...

Compact Ethernet switch. (Product & Literature Showcase).
June 1, 2003... New data sheet from Contemporary Controls details 9-port 10/100 Ethernet switch for industrial and commercial applications requiring temperature ranges from -40[degrees]C to +75C. Engineers will find the compact EISX9-100T switch packed with...

AutomationDirect[R]. (Product & Literature Showcase).
June 1, 2003... AutomationDirect[R] offers 3,500 brand name and private-labeled products through a new 1,300page desk reference and Online Automation Superstore. The desk reference features product descriptions, technical information and price lists for PLC...

The smart way to power-up your system. (Product & Literature Showcase).
June 1, 2003... Pulizzi Engineering offers a large selection of standard, readily available off-the-shelf, UL, cUL, CSA, TUV and CE approved AC Power Distribution and Power Management Control Systems. These units are designed as "turnkey systems" with...

Your express lane for enclosures! (Product & Literature Showcase).
June 1, 2003... The most common NEMA Type 12, 4 and 4X enclosures can now be bought on-line, with ship-out in 24 hours! AD Products Co. (a subsidiary company of Berkshire Hathaway) offers UL and cUL listed Adalet 304 stainless steel, aluminum* and fiberglass...

New! DASYLab V6C is now shipping. (Product & Literature Showcase).
June 1, 2003... With more power at every level, the easy-to-use data acquisition software for Windows-based PCs has added exciting new features, headlined by the Test Sequence Manager in the Full version. More documentation and display features enhance the...

Cost effective logging of process data to CSV, Access, & SQL databases. (Product & Literature Showcase).
June 1, 2003... OPC Data Logger saves you time and money with an easy-to-use tool for reading data from any OPC Data Access server and logging to text files, Access databases, or SQL server databases. Flexible setup options for controlling logging...

Electrical design software demo CD. (Product & Literature Showcase).
June 1, 2003... Multi-media demo CD-ROM illustrates the functions of Promis-e electrical control system design software. Powerful AutoCAD add-on has schematic design functions including auto ID assignment, auto cross referencing and auto wire numbering....

Platinum series process oxygen analyzers. (Product & Literature Showcase).
June 1, 2003... Microprocessor controlled with as low as 3 ppb sensitivity. Exclusive Non-depleting Sensor with NIST Traceable Factory Calibration and 5-year warranty eliminates frequent recalibration and periodic sensor replacement. Enclosures for Class 1,...

Smartimage Sensors. (Product & Software).
June 1, 2003... DVT Smartimage Sensors are easy to install, and include all the tools, function and flexibility you expect from a high-end vision system at a fraction of the cost. Simple enough for a technician to operate and powerful enough to handle most...

Snap-action switches for heavy-duty applications. (Products & Software).
June 1, 2003... GP Series snap-action switches provide actuator travel 1 differentials as low as 0.002 in. and mechanical endurance of more than a million cycles. These precision switches are designed for heavy-duty applications such as factory automation,...

Software solves common engineering problems. (Products & Software).
June 1, 2003... Control System Professional Suite is an extensible framework of tightly integrated Mathematica application packages that offers an object-oriented environment for solving common engineering control problems. Core of the suite is Control System...

Machine vision system for quality control. (Products & Software).
June 1, 2003... Third generation Spectrum vision system includes eleven 1k x 1k frame buffers for more than 92 Mb of pixel resolution in gray scale or full color. The dedicated vision engine inspects full resolution color images at more than 10,000 ppm (160 +...

Internet resources for the control engineer. (Back to Basics).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Katzel, Jeanine It is the best of resources; it is the worst of resources. The World Wide Web brings an abundance of information to the desktops of millions almost instantly. But just how valuable is the voluminous data that resides on...

Best Manufacturing Practices. (General).
June 1, 2003... Best Manufacturing Practices validates best practices, documents them, and encourages industry, government, and academia to share them. Best practice surveys, program overview, software tools, FAQs, electronic library www.bmpcoe.org

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). (General).
June 1, 2003... International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies. Standards, conformance assessments, trading practices, related acronyms. www.iec.ch

IEEE Control Systems Society. (General).
June 1, 2003... IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) is a global non-profit, technical professional association. www.ieee.org. A subset, IEEE Control Systems Society, focuses on theory and practice of systems and control in...

MCAA. (General).
June 1, 2003... MCAA (Measurement, Control & Automation Association) promotes the progress of the measurement, control, automation industry. Market studies, programs, special projects. www.measure.org

National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). (Motors; Drives; Machine, Motion Control).
June 1, 2003... National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) provides a forum for standardizing electrical equipment. Products, news, standards, government affairs. www.nema.org

OMAC Users Group. (Motors; Drives; Machine, Motion Control).
June 1, 2003... OMAC Users Group companies work together to establish a repository of open architecture control requirements and Operating experiences. Working groups, membership information, technical documents, meetings. www.omac.org

PLCopen. (Motors; Drives; Machine, Motion Control).
June 1, 2003... PLCopen is a vendor- and product-independent worldwide association supporting IEG 61131-3 for standardization in industrial control programming. Introduction to IEC 61131; training and education; certification. www.plcopen.org

Machine vision online. (Motors; Drives; Machine, Motion Control).
June 1, 2003... Machine Vision Online is part of the Automated Imaging Association (AIA) and provides information and education. Technical issues, opinion pieces, bookstore, chat room, Buyer's Guide. www.machinevisiononline.com

PLCS.net. (Motors; Drives; Machine, Motion Control).
June 1, 2003... PLCS.net provides tutorials on working with programmable logic controllers. Education, live Q&A, email updates. www.plcs.net

Control and Information System Integrators Association (CSIA). (System Integration, Networks, Communication).
June 1, 2003... Control and Information System Integrators Association (CSIA) promotes good business practices and provides integrated control and information systems to clients. CSIA information, best practices. www.isa.org

Fieldbus Foundation. (System Integration, Networks, Communication).
June 1, 2003... Fieldbus Foundation is dedicated to a single international, interoperable fieldbus standard. Products, services, news, end-user support, international information. www.fieldbus.org

OPC Foundation. (System Integration, Networks, Communication).
June 1, 2003... OPC Foundation ensures interoperability by creating and maintaining open specifications that standardize communications. Technical information, useful links. www.opcfoundation.org

Open DeviceNet Vendor Association (ODVA). (System Integration, Networks, Communication).
June 1, 2003... Open DeviceNet Vendor Association (ODVA) supports network technologies built on the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP). DeviceNet, Ethernet/IP products; technical information; training/support; Dr. DeviceNet. www.ODVA.org

Profibus International. (System Integration, Networks, Communication).
June 1, 2003... Profibus International supports a vendor-independent, open field bus standard that allows communication between devices of different manufacturers. Online product guide; case studies; system descriptions. www.profibus.com

Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society (ISA). (Instrumentation, Sensors, Process Control).
June 1, 2003... Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society (ISA) fosters advancement in the theory, design, manufacture, and use of sensors, instruments, computers, and systems for measurement and control. Technical information, training programs,...

World batch forum. (Instrumentation, Sensors, Process Control).
June 1, 2003... World Batch Forum supports process automation and operations needs in batch and related process manufacturing. Conferences, webcasts, working groups, batch markup language. www.wbf.org

Intelligent Manufacturing Systems. (Instrumentation, Sensors, Process Control).
June 1, 2003... Intelligent Manufacturing Systems aims to develop next-generation manufacturing and processing technologies. Conferences, forums, FAQs, manufacturing glossary, newsletters. www.ims.org

Software & Information Industry Association. (Software, Human-Machine Interface, Embedded Control).
June 1, 2003... Software & Information Industry Association strives to expand market opportunities and forge a stronger digital industry. Government affairs, anti-piracy information. www.siia.net

Business Software Alliance (BSA). (Software, Human-Machine Interface, Embedded Control).
June 1, 2003... Business Software Alliance (BSA) promotes a safe and legal digital world and educates consumers on software management and copyright protection. Anti-piracy information, research, public policy information. www.bsa.org/usa

International Engineering Consortium. (Software, Human-Machine Interface, Embedded Control).
June 1, 2003... International Engineering Consortium catalyzes technology and business progress in high-technology industries and universities. Online tutorial includes extensive material on HMIs. Publications, online education, conferences....