Control Engineering articles from March 2006

Control Engineering archives from March 2006

Global perspective.(globalization )
March 1, 2006... Industry's globalization is an undeniable fact of 21st century business. Following this trend over several years, Control Engineering has extended its brand abroad to follow these developing global trends and to help the world's engineers...

Transmitter cuts wiring costs.(product information of transmitters)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Model TPZ Profibus PA temperature transmitter from Moore Industries comes as a ready-to-install assembly with sensor, thermowell, fittings, and enclosure. Device saves wire and installation costs by allowing up to 32 field devices (126 with...

Power supply for harsh environments.(product information of electric controller)
March 1, 2006... Sola/Hevi-Duty's new SCP-X extreme environment power supply delivers 24 V dc power from a machine-mounted IP67-compliant package that is resistant to dust, water, and other contaminants. Stand-alone unit can be mounted on a machine, reducing...

Hannover Fair = 10 in 2006.(reports of trade shows)
March 1, 2006... There's a lot of technology to "update" at a confluence of 10 thematically integrated trade shows in one location, as will be the case at Hannover Industrial Fair in Germany, April 24-28, 2006. Visitors will be afforded a wide sweep of state-of...

Courier-Journal upgrades newspaper handling system.
March 1, 2006... Modern presses, in-plant logistics, and motion control allow late news, more advertising revenue, and faster delivery. For Louisville, Kentucky's then-132-year-old Courier-Journal (CJ) newspaper, stopping the presses was an ongoing and greater...

Industrial Ethernet moves into mainstream, mission-critical applications.(industrial ETHERNET)
March 1, 2006... It wasn't that long ago that Ethernet was viewed as an office, not a plant, technology. However, business, economic, and technical factors have driven industrial Ethernet into the mainstream of mission-critical applications. This ubiquitous...

Manage knowledge ... or lose 'memory'.(loss of information and the knowledge management)
March 1, 2006... Quick! Quick! Capture that knowledge! It's hard to believe that, in the information age, one of our biggest problems may be the loss of vital information. Three factors converge: * Fewer manufacturing professionals; * Far flung work...

APC-compliance for emissions trading.(advanced process-control)
March 1, 2006... Brussels, Belgium -- European Union's (EU) Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), launched in 2003, reflects member governments' belief that technology, not politics, will overcome climate change. At Pavilion Technologies Inc.'s recent environmental...

European pressure sensor, transmitter market set for higher growth.(NEWS)
March 1, 2006... New York, NY -- Demand for process instruments is experiencing a steady increase, a recent study from Frost and Sullivan (F & S) shows, and a growing need for information and monitoring is expected to create continued interest in these devices...

Total valves-and-actuators market for process industries: revenue forecast.(NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Total valves-and-actuators market for process industries: revenue forecast (North America, 2001-2011) [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Source: Control Engineering, with data from Frost & Sullivan Note: all figures are rounded

Expert controls replace legacies, 3% boost.
March 1, 2006... Pittsburgh, PA -- Tighter system integration and new controls at the 10th largest U.S. power plant improved load ramp rates by 3% and better regulated temperature. Emerson Process Management said that its Power & Water Solutions group is...

Ready for real-time wireless control?(NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Natick, MA -- A large percentage of those using wireless technology in industrial applications are applying it to control functions, or both control and monitoring, according to a recent study by Venture Development Corp. (VDC). Further...

[euro]425-million digitally controlled plant.(Sohar Aluminium Company LLC)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Paris, France -- Alstom has won a 425-million euro (about $521 million, as of Jan. 27, 2006) turnkey contract from Sohar Aluminium Co. It will construct a digitally controlled, 1,000 MW, gas-fired combined-cycle power plant in Sohar, Oman. ...

Lattix: new member of Eclipse Foundation.(NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Andover, MA -- Lattix Inc. has just announced that it has joined the Eclipse Foundation--an open-source community chartered to implement an extensible development platform for building software applications. Lattix will serve as an "Add-In...

Ultracapacitors help fuels cells replace lead-acid batteries.(NEWS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... San Diego, CA -- A hydrogen fuel cell manufacturer is using ultracapacitors to enhance performance and energy management in its drop-in replacement for lead acid batteries in forklifts. General Hydrogen (GH), a developer of fuel cell systems...

Roland S. Boreham, Jr. passes.(obituary )(Obituary)
March 1, 2006... Fort Smith, AR -- Roland S. Boreham, Jr., Baldor Electric Co.'s CEO from 1978-1981 and chairman from 1981-2004, passed away on February 5. Beginning with Baldor in 1947, working for his father--a grinder representative in Los Angeles--he...

ABB's $26-million power-plant automation.(NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Zurich, Switzerland -- System integration is part of a $26 million contract for Switzerland-based ABB to automate a new coal-fired power station at Torrevaldaliga Nord at Civitavecchia, Italy (near Rome). The award was made by...

Verano acquires SCADA security and integration firm.(NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Mansfield, MA -- Verano Inc. (www.verano.com), a provider of security and SCADA systems for mission-critical industries, has acquired PlantData Technologies, a SCADA security, IT services, and industrial automation firm headquartered in...

Enea relocates North American headquarters.(NEWS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Kista, Sweden -- Enea, a global leader in advanced device software, announced the relocation of its North American headquarters from Phoenix, AZ, to Silicon Valley. The new San Jose, CA, office will provide marketing, sales, technical support,...

National Manufacturing Week Show and Conference.(location of convention center)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... The March 20-23, 2006 event is expected to attract over 1,000 leading suppliers featuring the best and newest products and innovations from all manufacturing fields and disciplines. This year it will be at the Donald E. Stephens Convention...

Product name correction.(Corrections)(Correction notice)
March 1, 2006... Product name in Control Engineering, January 2006, p.EC23, "Twist-less, tape-less wire connections," should be Series 773-173 Wall-Nuts by Wago Corp.

Software name, URL correction.(Corrections)(Correction notice)
March 1, 2006... January 2006, Control Engineering, p. 45, "Ford Motor selects Activplant software," should have called the software "Activplant Performance Management Solution" and listed the URL as www.activplant.com.

Siemens invests in G2 Microsystems.(Siemens Venture Capital invests in G2 Microsystems Inc)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Oakland, CA -- Intent of Siemens Venture Capital's (SVC) investment in G2 Microsystems Inc. is to further the development of Wi-Fi Active RFID (radio-frequency identification) for the mobile resource management market. It will boost G2...

Westlock Controls selects Fieldbus Center.(agreement of Westlock Controls with Fieldbus center)
March 1, 2006... Baytown, TX -- The Fieldbus Center at Lee College--recognized and funded by the National Science Foundation--has an agreement with Westlock Controls to train its sales professionals on the basics of FOUNDATION fieldbus. This is the first such...

JV to undertake India's biggest biofuels project.(Joint-Ventures)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... New Delhi, India -- A joint-venture (JV) project funded by BP, in conjunction with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)--in Andhra Pradesh State--is aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of producing biodiesel from Jatropha Curcas, a...

LG.Philips launches LCD business; seeks insolvency protection for CRT operations.(company expands)(liquid crystal displays)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... LG.Philips LCD, manufacturer of TFT-LCDs, launched a new Application Business Div. late last month to further penetrate this attractive and growing market. The company will focus on invigorating its small- to mid-size TFT LCD product lines. In...

By the numbers.(awards to honor the best science education )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... $24,000 is what the Volusia County (FL) School District receives from Pittcon (The Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy) for the Pittcon 2006 Science Education Award, presented this month. The award will be...

How to improve product design.(reports of innovative research)
March 1, 2006... Everyone wants to boost innovation and creativity when designing products or processes. Yes, some people are naturally more creative than others, thus the truckload of self-help, "get in touch with your inner imagination" books on the market....

Healthy machines: if your machines aren't telling you how they feel, you're probably wasting money on unplanned outages and unneeded maintenance. Use diagnostics and analysis tools to help keep equipment well and operating at peak performance.
March 1, 2006... 'Excuse me, I'm not feeling well: slowing here, running hot there. A few non-critical errors are cropping up, and my cutting edge is getting dull. Don't push me past 93% capacity, if you're relying on me. At 85% though, I guarantee I can last...

Haptic controls: a touching experience; Providing tactile output is increasing in applications as benefits grow and costs drop.(HMI)
March 1, 2006... Most of us interact with computers using our senses of sight and hearing. In some cases, however, the most appropriate sense to use is that of touch. Increasingly, computer technology is recognizing this today and incorporating haptic...

Fundamentals of optimization: although often thought of as a buzzword, 'optimization' actually is based on sound mathematical principles.
March 1, 2006... Optimization is the art of getting the greatest value, whether it's finding the best deal on a new pair of shoes or operating a catalytic cracker at its point of maximum efficiency. It can be a relatively simple exercise when the choices are...

Enclose as needed: is the extra protection of an enclosure needed or can those new automation, instrumentation, or control technologies endure on their own? And what about the myriad options? Here's help to decide.(ASSET PROTECTION)
March 1, 2006... To enclose or not to enclose, that is the question. So perhaps the decision isn't a Shakespearean epic, but it could be a tragedy nonetheless if you pay to enclose when you don't have to, or don't enclose and shorten the life of what you're...

Servo motors: compact physical sizes, direct-drive designs, stainless-steel versions, planetary gear heads--even onboard drives are among developments helping to keep servo motor technology fresh from year to year.(survey report)
March 1, 2006... They come in many shapes, sizes, and configurations--from large slow-speed, direct-drive rotary torque motors to sleek, compact units with low rotor-inertia for optimum acceleration and deceleration of loads, to frameless motors, to linear...

Control methods series Part 8, profitable process control: designing, installing, and commissioning control strategies represent an investment in time and money.(INSIDE PROCESS)
March 1, 2006... Previous articles in this series have discussed how best to achieve a set of control objectives. Specifying those objectives has not been an issue. This article discusses creating and integrating a process optimization function with process...

Smart valves in harsh environments; 'Oil wells are sensitive creatures: they can upset at the slightest provocation.'.(INSIDE PROCESS)
March 1, 2006... Day-to-day, oil-and-gas production often comes from wells in harsh conditions* that are situated in some of the world's most remote locales. While oil's rising price makes big media headlines, the daily work in the field is to maintain steady...

Safety integrity level 3: does your safety-instrumented system really require SIL 3?(safety integrity levels)(standards of safety)
March 1, 2006... Three safety integrity levels (SIL) were described in the ANSI/ISA-84.00.01-1996 standard. Revised standard ANSI/ISA 84.00.01-2004 (IEC 615111 mod) now includes the higher SIL 4. SILs are a measure of system performance: the higher the number,...

Pneumatic vacuum conveyors for food, pharmaceutical use.(PRODUCTS & software)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... UC Series vacuum conveyors feature unibody construction for tool-free dismantling and easy cleaning. Hygienic products are suitable for pharmaceutical processing applications. Constructed of stainless steel AISI 316L and powered by...

ITC/PLTC includes cable for exposed runs.(instrumentation tray cable and power-limited tray cable)(product information of Northwire Inc )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... ITC/PLTC (instrumentation tray cable and power-limited tray cable) for industrial control and instrumentation circuit applications includes exposed-run-rated product platforms. Three new offerings are custom configurable to fit most...

Test instruments for rotating devices.(PRODUCTS & software)(Sakor Technologies)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... DynoLAB-EM electric-motor test system is designed to check electric motors and other rotating electrical devices, including alternators, starters, pumps, and generators. It handles a variety of tasks including performance testing, engineering...

Software scans for networked industrial devices.(PRODUCTS & software)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... TwinCat 2.10 has functions for scanning hardware connected to systems with high-speed, deterministic EtherCat, Profibus, CANopen, DeviceNet, SERCOS, real-time Ethernet, and Lightbus. Latest version provides faster, easier diagnostics by...

Electric direct-drive steering system.(PRODUCTS & software)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... DDS direct-drive steering system is designed to replace hydraulic steering systems. IP67-rated intelligent electric system reportedly provides increased uptime, quieter operation, reduced maintenance, and less energy use. DDS linear...

Metal pushbuttons, 22 mm; no contact blocks.(PRODUCTS & software)
March 1, 2006... A number of 22 mm metal pushbuttons now come without contact blocks. Momentary flush and extended operators are available in red, green, or black. Devices have 30-mm actuators and mount in a 220-mm hole. Each pushbutton includes the operator...

Harmonic estimating software for drives.(PRODUCTS & software)
March 1, 2006... E7 harmonic-estimating tool software estimates and calculates voltage and current harmonic distortion produced by Yaskawa's E7 variable-frequency drives on almost any electrical system at the point of common coupling or at drive input...

Encoder acts as programmable switch.(PRODUCTS & software)
March 1, 2006... MagRes Absolute Singleturn CAM-encoder acts as a programmable limit switch, replacing PLC or PC controllers in low-level applications. General-purpose, rotary motion device processes data and coverts them to usable switching points along its...

QC/process control system has real-time functions.(PRODUCTS & software)
March 1, 2006... Dimension-P Raman system for quality and process control provides functionalities for real-time analysis and monitoring. Compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 for audit, security, and validation requirements, the device features trigger-activated...

Expert control system.(PRODUCTS & software)(Emerson Process Management on its expert control systems enhancement)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Latest Ovation expert control system features enhanced historian capability, redesigned controller and I/O modules, and new engineering tools. Designed for the power generation industry, software offers embedded advanced control algorithms, a...

Mechanical pump switch.(PRODUCTS & software)(SJE-Rhombus Controls)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Double-float master pump switch is a mechanically activated, wide-angle device that provides automatic control of 120- or 240-V pumps up to 13 FLA, 78 LRA in non-potable and sewage applications. It has an adjustable pumping range of 10-56 in....

Dual-level terminal block.(PRODUCTS & software)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Hybrid, dual-level terminal block provides two channels for two termination technologies in one footprint. Design gives OEMs an insulation displacement connection (IDC) and end-users a screw-clamp connection for field terminations. Externally...

Fanless SBC consumes just 5 W.(PRODUCTS & software)(single board computers)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... PCA-6189-C1A1 fanless alternative-SBC uses a low-power Celeron-M processor at 1.0 GHz to deliver efficient power consumption with less heat to dissipate and longer mean time before failure (MTBF). No cooling fan is needed. Board can be...

Electromagnetic flowmeters.(PRODUCTS & software)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... F-3000 Series electromagnetic-flowmeters use a velocity measurement principle based on Faraday's Law. Reported to be widely accepted for accurate measurement of water-based liquids, the meters come in sizes from 1-42 in. and are factory...

Compact I/O modules.(PRODUCTS & software)
March 1, 2006... Six high-density I/O modules for analog, digital, and ASCII control help conserve panel space and improve communication with serial-type devices. Expanded offering is said to provide increased flexibility, greater communication capabilities,...

Wireless base station radio card.(PRODUCTS & software)
March 1, 2006... TC8201 jointly developed radio card increases power amplifier (PA) efficiency compared to analog feed-for-ward-based systems. Card increases efficiency up to 300%, reducing cost, cooling, and maintenance requirements in new 3G/3.5 G base...

Wireless sensor system.(PRODUCTS & software)(Moteiv Corp.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Tmote Invent wireless sensor system consists of hardware and software components combined to allow users to build and install wireless sensing applications economically. Hardware component uses the company's Tmote Sky sensor module for...

Controller board for multimedia applications.(PRODUCTS & software)(Apollo Display Technologies LLC)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Prisma II controller board is optimized for multimedia applications. Next-generation development of the company's standard Prisma RGB/video converter board enables TFT LCDs to be connected to standard graphics/video interfaces. Input signals,...

Microcontroller offers speed, economy.(PRODUCTS & software)
March 1, 2006... PIC18F45J10 family of 8-bit microcontrollers are said to be among the world's fastest to provide 32 KB of flash program memory in 28-pin packages. The four models offer 40 MHz performance at 3V, and analog-to-digital (ADC), comparator, USART,...

Real-time plant-floor data client.(PRODUCTS & software)
March 1, 2006... RemoteLog RTU and datalogger has a variety of applications, including unattended site monitoring, energy management, and inventory management. System combines remote terminal unit, datalogger, real-time database client, and telemetry interface...

Miniature industrial LED indicators.(PRODUCTS & software)(light emitting diodes)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Q-Series LED indicators comes in a selection of colors and features long life and durable design. Components complement the company's existing panel-mounted switches and are intended for industrial panels, panel indicators, automation...

Don't overlook S/N ratio.(communications controllers)(Signal-to-noise ratio)
March 1, 2006... Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is used as a system figure of merit and as a system design parameter in communicating information, whether for an automated process control system or for spacecraft applications. The concept of higher the SNR value...

Transformational to tacit: the evolution of North American manufacturing.(manufacturing forecasts)
March 1, 2006... Manufacturing industries have been on a tear the past few years, but sector employment hasn't kept pace. The reason: fewer employees skilled in the knowledge of turning raw materials into finished goods are needed, while more workers are sought...

Automation and control in Europe.(Special Supplement: Europe)
March 1, 2006... Poor old Europe. Since the industrial revolution, she has either driven or charmed the rest of the world with her learning, money, and power. She considers herself in the vanguard of liberal and intellectual pursuits, a center for science and...

Market in rapid transformation.(energy management)
March 1, 2006... In recent years, I've met quite a few overseas vendors who want to expand their business into China. Many times I had to explain the role that Design Institutes play in China's control market--why and how these institutes are important because...

Russia's industrial automation market.(Special Supplement: Russia)
March 1, 2006... Russia ended 2004 with its sixth straight year of growth, averaging 6.5% annually since the 1998 financial crisis. Although high oil prices and a relatively cheap ruble are important drivers of this economic rebound, investment and...

Poland: positioned for investors.(economic conditions)
March 1, 2006... Poland's entry into the European Union in May 2004 culminated a wide-ranging, 15-year, political and economic transformation. As part of the single European market, the nation is still undergoing economic and social change. Poland has become an...