Control Engineering articles from May 2003

Control Engineering archives from May 2003

A principled approach.(Editorial)
May 1, 2003... When looking to affect change on anything-especially a product or process that is well known, highly respected, and widely considered to be the industry benchmark-one must proceed cautiously. Even the smallest adjustment can have long-lasting...

Parker Hannifin Corp. (In Business).(Parker Hannifin Corp. has purchased MTS Automation division from MTS Systems Corp.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Parker Hannifin Corp. (Cleveland, OH) announced April 11 that it has purchased MTS Automation division (New Ulm, MN) from MTS Systems Corp. for an undisclosed amount. As part of Parker's Automation Group, MTS Automation will become part of...

GE Fanuc Automation North America Inc. (In Business).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... GE Fanuc Automation North America Inc. (Charlottesville, VA) introduced April 10 its new Adapt for Milling adaptive control system, which it reports automatically maximizes a machine's material removal rate during rough cutting. The company...

Honeywell Industry Solutions. (In Business).
May 1, 2003... * Because of strong demand from users, Honeywell Industry Solutions (Phoenix, AZ) reported at an April 3 meeting with Control Engineering that it has received orders totaling approximately $200 million for its Experion Process Knowledge...

ICS Triplex. (In Business).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... * ICS Triplex (Maldon, U.K.) recently bought the assets and technology of AlterSys, including ISaGRAF as part of its strategy to broaden its offerings and become an even more essential automation technology supplier. The resulting subsidiary,...

GE says former Panametrics owners' lawsuit is "without merit". (News).(GE sued for deceptive business practices)
May 1, 2003... New York, NY -- General Electric Corp. (GE, Fairfield, CT) denied any wrongdoing April 18 in connection with a $25-million federal lawsuit filed against it April 1 by the former owners of Panametrics Inc. (Waltham, MA), which GE bought last...

Worldwide magnetic flowmeter shipments.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Worldwide Magnetic Flowmeter Shipments (in millions of $) The worldwide magnetic flowmeter market is projected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of just under 2% from nearly $590 million in 2002 to $650 million by the...

China petrochemical complex to install largest FOUNDATION system. (Global Update).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Shanghai, China -- Shanghai SECCO Petrochemicals Company Ltd. (SECCO), a $2.7-billion joint venture between BP, Sinopec and Shanghai Petrochemical Corp. (SPC), will install the world's largest FOUNDATION fieldbus system to date at a new...

Hannover Fair 2003: cautious optimism prevails. (Global Update).(Hannover Industrial Fair 2003 shows attendance decline)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Hannover, Germany -- Against a background of a tough economic climate and the war in Iraq, exhibitors at Hannover Fair 2003 indicated cautious optimism during the six-day event, according to fair organizer, Deutsche Messe AG (DMAG), which...

Invensys to divest Baan, most Energy Management units. (In Business).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... London, UK -- To focus more closely on automation and controls and pay off existing debt, Invensys plc announced April 15 plans to divest Baan and most of its Energy Management division units, which represent about $4.58 billion in annual...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
May 1, 2003... * A sidebar in "Product Focus: Machine Vision Sensors, Systems Penetrate New Realms," Control Engineering, April '03, p. 63, inadvertently left out the name of the author. The sidebar, "Five Myths about Low-cost, Prepackaged Machine Vision...

Temperature control users expect built-in intelligence, remote PC access. (Market Update).
May 1, 2003... Active users of temperature and power control systems report a growing need for digital control systems with the built-in intelligence required to manage information related to their processes and applications, according to a survey conducted...

The case for engineering input on to-order software. (Technology Update).(engineer-supplier planning needed to develop complex control sytems)
May 1, 2003... Selecting and upgrading automation processes is a common problem for manufacturing managers. Making such changes in an environment where products are extensively engineered in pre-production to suit each client's order, as well as re-engineered...

By the numbers. (Thank Again).(survey results about reader spending preferences and magazine usage)
May 1, 2003... Don't we all love numbers? (Especially when someone else does the analysis!) I spent several days this month crunching numbers for the May 2003 cover story on reader salaries and industry trends. Here are two of my favorites: Readers...

Calmer waters?(readers' survey on salaries, experience, business spending and practices)(Cover Story)
May 1, 2003... After years of turmoil, acquisitions and layoffs, control and automation engineers and technical professionals in 2003 report they're receiving a bit more pay, experiencing fewer mergers, and concentrating on job security. Geology dictates...

FDA's new initiative: an FDA campaign to include the use of risk-based assessments for identifying and prioritizing risk puts 21 CFR Part 11 electronic records and signatures to the test.
May 1, 2003... Despite having become law in March 7, end-users have been slow in complying with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA, Rockville, MD) 21 CFR Part 11 regulation on electronic records and signatures. Users often cite the FDAs need to...

Computers: industrial, commercial, and hybrid; engineers face numerous factors when deciding which type of computer to purchase for manufacturing operations. (How to Choose).
May 1, 2003... It's been said (by Mason Cooley) that "our most important decisions are made while thinking about something else." Considering the reasons why engineers purchase the types of computers they do, one might think that Mason Cooley could be a...

System integrators broaden their horizons: the information and control clients want from automation systems must also be supplied by their system integrators. (Career Update).
May 1, 2003... In a recent open-ended survey, system integrators listed in the Control Engineering Automation Integrator Guide (www.controleng.com/integrators) were asked, "What functionality have your clients been asking to get from their automation systems...

A wider field of view: wireless networking, intelligent systems, micro- and nano-technologies, and more are in today's mix of 'sensors'. (Sensors Expo[R] & Conference).
May 1, 2003... The technology basket that represents today's mix of "sensors" includes much more than the standard sensors to which we're accustomed. Wireless networking, intelligent systems, MEMS (microelectromechanical systems), MST (microsystem...

Seagate improves yields and control with automation software. (Application Update).
May 1, 2003... Seagate Technology LLC (Scotts Valley, CA) delivers a wide range of products, including storage area network solutions, server appliances and disk drives for enterprise applications, personal computers, and consumer electronics. Because of this...

I/O modules get smaller, smarter. (Product Focus: I/O Modules).
May 1, 2003... Just as all roads were said to lead to Rome, much of control engineering connects with I/O modules. People have strong views about their highways, and especially any crossroads. This crossroad is seeing traction in smaller footprints, embedded...

Exclusive: network modules for nano, micro PLCs. (Product Focus: I/O Modules).
May 1, 2003... Three advanced networking modules for the DL0S nano and DL06 micro lines of PLCs are the H0-ecom Ethernet Communications Module, D0-devnets DeviceNet Slave Module, and the H0-pscm Profibus Slave Module. H0-ecom Ethernet Communications Module is...

Exclusive: more than double DeviceNet capabilities. (Product Focus: I/O Modules).
May 1, 2003... Rockwell Automation more than doubles DeviceNet networking capabilities for AllenBradley 1734-adnx Point I/O Expansion adapter. The 24 V dc network interface adapter with subnetwork expansion increases DeviceNet's reach from 500 m to 1,500 m,...

Exclusive: modules get advanced digital functions. (Product Focus: I/O Modules).
May 1, 2003... Four new advanced digital modules are available for Compact FieldPoint and Lab-View Real-Time control applications. Small, rugged eight-channel digital modules can withstand high shock, vibration and wide temperature ranges, for high-speed...

Exclusive: distributed I/O eases device integration. (Product Focus: I/O Modules).
May 1, 2003... Schneider Electric, in October 2003, will launch a unique, all-in-one 1P20 distributed I/O platform that incorporates an improved wiring solution, power management, and device integration system. Modular Telemecanique Advantys STB platform is...

Intelligence eases maintenance. (Product Focus: I/O Modules).
May 1, 2003... DRT2 smart DeviceNet slave provides first-in-the-industry capabilities for monitoring I/O status and network communications status, according to Omron Electronics. It allows users to remotely monitor and diagnose low network voltage,...

Distributed I/O modules. (Product Focus: I/O Modules).
May 1, 2003... New modules for VersaPoint distributed I/O system connect easily to a variety of PLC, DCS and PC-based control systems and allow users to tailor the number I/O points per application. Snap-on modules combine the cost-per-point benefits of a...

I/O line gets HMI, PID, OPC. (Product Focus: I/O Modules).
May 1, 2003... Snap I/O lines expand with upgrades to automation and data acquisition software, with PID control, subroutines, and enhanced security and performance. "ioDisplay 2.0" is a new graphics-based human machine interface software package. "ioControl...

Proximity sensors designed for use with miniature connectors. (Products & Software).
May 1, 2003... Two compact 4 and 5 mm inductive proximity sensors are designed for use with ultra-miniature M5 (5 mm diameter) connectors. The sensor/connector combination is especially suited for tight mounting applications. Devices feature a supply voltage...

Machine vision system learns as it works. (Products & Software).
May 1, 2003... ZiCam ZI-640 performs machine vision tasks that once required human supervision. Essentially a self-learning machine vision system embedded into a high-performance digital video camera, this device features a neural-network-based Zero...

Asset management system gathers data remotely. (Products & Software).
May 1, 2003... Designed to integrate and manage maintenance information from field instruments, monitor online conditions, and record historical data, Plant Resource Manager version 2.03 enables users to remotely access devices that feature field...

Recover, verify data in less than 20 minutes. (Products & Software).
May 1, 2003... RealTime rapid data-recovery software can recover and verify a terabyte of data in less than 20 minutes. Package can be added on top of existing backup software. It runs across two systems: an application server and a backup server, capturing...

Power system provides dc voltage source. (Products & Software).
May 1, 2003... Model VSS-120 Voltage Support Solution provides a stable, reliable, low-maintenance extended-life dc voltage source to condition or completely replace batteries in UPS systems. The unit minimizes battery discharge "whiplash" effects commonly...

Tiny serial device server. (Products & Software).
May 1, 2003... EIS-W Series Serial Device Microserver, $195, connects most serial devices to an Ethernet network and the Internet. At 0.83 x 2.93 x 3.56 in., it handles RS-232, RS422 and RS-485 serial communications and has a Web-based interface for...

Digital drive for soft motion implementation. (Products & Software).
May 1, 2003... DC201 Series digital drive family lets users implement a multi-axis coordinated motion control system without the need for a dedicated motion controller. The series features built-in, third-order interpolation and a 5 kHz position loop....

Data historian adds two collectors. (Products & Software).
May 1, 2003... iHistorian 2.0 adds two data collectors to its data management, information sharing, and efficiency-enhancing capabilities. Data collectors in the latest version of the package accelerate the transformation of raw production data into...

Auditing tool ensures data integrity, quality. (Products & Software).
May 1, 2003... MetaPure data quality auditing tool for database systems continuously monitors and audits data to ensure adherence to pre-configured, customized rules. Easy to install and use, the system lets information systems and analytic personnel monitor...

Strain sensor monitors machinery forces. (Products & Software).
May 1, 2003... Model 240A01 Dynamic ICP strain sensor measures dynamic and quasi-static stress on stationary and moving machinery. It offers a simple technique for monitoring processes and detecting inconsistencies or upsets. A single screw installs the unit...

'Division' or 'zone' by any other name is still hazardous. (Back to Basics).(explosion and fire risk classification systems devised)(National Electrical Code)
May 1, 2003... Not all parts of processing plants or manufacturing facilities are created equal. In fact, some areas of petrochem plants, underground mines, even grain silos pose the potential of accidental explosion, due to ignitable gases, vapors or dust...