Control and Instrumentation articles from November 1999

Control and Instrumentation archives from November 1999

Hold on tight please.(imminent release of Microsoft Window CE 3)(Brief Article)(Column)
November 1, 1999... Show season is with us and most of the pundits are talking about Microsoft's imminent release of the developed version of Windows CE 3, the real time operating system for palm top and embedded systems. Expectations are high and suppliers...

ABB on top of the world.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... ABB has bean named one of the worlds top 20 global companies by Global Finance magazine. ABB was also named as the top company in the infrastructure sector. ABB was cited for its growth in Central and Eastern Europe and China; for its profit...

Tyco joins Profibus and AS-i.(Tyco Valves and controls, AS-Interface)(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... Tyco Valves & Controls has joined Profibus International and AS-Interface UK to enable fieldbus compatability with an actuated valve. Profibus has established a stringent qualification procedure by which a member company conforms to standards...

Vero Electronics name change.(APW Corp.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... Following the acquisition of Vero Electronics by the APW Corporation, Vero electronics is now registered under the APW Corporation and will trade under that name in all major European countries. In a period of less than a year APW has acquired...

Motor Market Grows.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... IMS have produced a report entitled "The European and North American Markets for Motors with a Built-in Drive" which forecasts that the combined US and European markets will grow substantially to over $500 million by 2005. This growth will be...

High Court takes control over Wheatley dismissal.(Trevor Wheatley)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... AFTER OVER TWO YEARS of legal battle, Control techniques has been vindicated of its position in the case regarding the dismissal of Mr Trevor Wheatley in May 1997. In a judgement on October 1st 1999, The High Court of Justice rejected...

C&I show on target for 2000.
November 1, 1999... CONTROL & INSTRUMENTATION 2000 takes place on 9-11 May 2000 at Birmingham's NEC and will be the UK's key event for the automation industry to display technologies and solutions to the process and industrial manufacturing markets. Next...

TLA's are here to stay: We lift the lid on the meaning of three letter (and sometimes more) acronyms - part 2.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... In this, the second instalment of a series by Chris Haines of Rockwell Automation we take a look at more Three Letter Acronyms (TLAs) in everyday industry use. COM - Component Object Model is the objectoriented programming model that...

Gambica elects John Hemming as President at annual luncheon.
November 1, 1999... GAMBICA, the industry association for control and instrumentation, held its annual luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel, London last month. With a focus on control and instrumentation as a key enabling industry Mr Michael Gutteridge, explained...

Eurotherm restructure.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... EUROTHERM has launched a programme of corporate reorganisation. resulting in the amalgamation of Eurotherm Controls, Eurotherm Recorders and Eurotherm Process Automation. Peter Tompkins, new managing director, commented: "the primary focus for...

SI Pressure Instruments.(acquires Theta Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... SI Pressure Instruments has announced the acquisition of automated pressure controller manufacturers Theta Systems. The acquisition will complement SI's current range of primary pressure standards and pressure calibration equipment.

Honeywell Control Systems.(contracts with Esso)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... Honeywell Control Systems has received a $1.6 million control systems order form National Power for a cogeneration plant at Esso's Fawley oil refinery. The plant will generate 140MW of electrical power and high pressure steam at 250 tonnes/h...

Sequencia and Mettler Toledo.(marketing alliance)(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... Sequencia and Mettler Toledo have announced a marketing alliance to integrate Sequencia's batch automation and enterprise Integration software with Mettler Toledo's weighing and measuring systems using ActiveX controls.

USDATA.(USDATA Corp. in alliance with Automation Software Engineering)(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... Software developer USDATA has named systems integrator Automation Software Engineering (ASE) its first 'Certified Integration Partner' (CIP) In Europe. This status is afforded to companies who demonstrate expertise with one of USDATA's...

Safety and control systems.(finances of International Control Services Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... Safety and control systems supplier ICS is reported to be 'back in the black' after recent poor results and 'could make a profit of [pounds]4.4 million this year' according to recent reports.

Alstom Drives & Controls.(Alstom Drives and Controls Inc. awarded contract)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... Alstom Drives & Controls has been awarded a contract by US Steel for the second phase of an upgrade of its Irvin Works in Pittsburgh. The contract Is valued in excess of $20 million and Involves Alstom providing digital regulators, drives,...

Schneider Electric.(sales growth)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... Schneider Electric have reported a year of growth when consolidated sales in 1998 grew by 7.1% to around [pounds]5 billion. Performance showed sustained growth in demand in Europe and the US, with a marked fail in sales in South East Asia.

Fisher-Rosemount Systems.(partnership with MDT Technology)(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... Fisher-Rosemount Systems and MDT Technology have established a partnership to provide Advanced Process Optimisation products and services via the embedding of MDC products within Fisher-Rosermount's DeltaV automation system.

Endress + Hauser.(Endress and Hauser Inc. in strategic alliance with Orsi)(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... Endress + Hauser has entered into a long term strategic alliance with Orsi with the objective of developing common systems and process solutions thus increasing their market presence. Synergy between the company's development, production and...

In house expertise shows its metal.(Gefran S.p.A)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... Now that many of the companies supplying the process control sector have been swallowed up by conglomerates which rely on out sourcing to complete their product offerings, it is refreshing to find a company which does everything in house. Paul...

Oracle for ERP milks the way.(process manufacturing software from Oracle Corp.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... MILK MARQUE DEVELOPMENTS (MMD), a subsidiary of Milk Marque is amongst the first companies in the world to implement Oracle's ERP solution with Financial and Process Manufacturing modules on Windows NT. The project is being carried out by IT...

Take the strain out of wrenches.(software control system for managing electronic wrenches)(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... A SOFTWARE control system for managing electronic wrenches has been launched by Ingersoll-Rand. The Interlink program can be used in production, laboratory use and quality control. Step-by-step screens enable the user to name the wrench, set up...

Software testing: disturbing issues are raised by a new independent UK survey.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... COMPANIES MAY have thought that they have eradicated the Millennium bug problem but new research suggests that many business-critical software applications risk failure without comprehensive testing of software. The automation industry depends...

Software for two networks.(Rockwell Automation products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... New networking management capabilities for Rockwell's software RSNetworx include DeviceNet and ControlNet. The software versions offer users software platforms to take advantage of the open network capabilities of the two protocols. The...

Twoway software interface.(product release)(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... EnvisionIt Software Corporation and Wonderware have released a powerful, bidirectional interface between Envisionlt's VisualFlow Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) product, and Wonderware's FactorySuite Manufacturing Management...

What does it take to design and test an innovative drive?(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... Paul Gay looks at how London Associates designed an award winning AC drive, with Alstom Drives & Controls from original concept to prototype in just four months. WHEN THE CONCEPT for Alstom's latest range of AC drives was agreed with...

The yellow bus makes the biscuit.(food handling control system)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... THE AUTOMATED HANDLING of ingredients is a key control element in the food industry. A system from Harting, in the form of an AS-i compatible PowerSwitch system, is manufactured by Reimelt. A system may include up to 12 containers in which...

Training the burning boys.(temperature controller applications at firefighting training school)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... TEMPERATURE CONTROLLERS have found a very unusual application at Lothian and Borders Fire Training School in Edinburgh. The Scottish International Fire Training Facility uses eight temperature controllers from Cal Controls linked to a PC to...

Switches fire up the ship's battle guns.(power switches for Royal Navy's gun control system)(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... THE ROYAL NAVY is upgrading its MK8 gun control system on board vessels. The 4.5in calibre gun was originally developed by the then Vickers Shipbuilding & Engineering Ltd (VSEL) to meet the Navy's operational requirements anti-aircraft,...

Inverters control the flow in Wales.(waste water treatment equipment)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... SOUTH WALES is just about due to complete the Newport & SE Coastal Strategy Scheme. The Nash Waste Water Treatment Works is core to environmental regeneration of the area. The works is fed from a number of outlying feeder stations. At the two...

A delicate art of position.(Alstom operating off Brazil's shore)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... AN OFFSHORE VESSEL, operating on the Roncador oil field off Brazil, is using a triple voting dynamic positioning system in the world's deepest oil production field. The vessel is the first continuous dynamically positioned Floating, Production,...

Landfill leachate lingers.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... LEACHATE VOLUMES from some of the largest closed landfill sites in East Sussex are being measured for the first time thanks to an innovative flow metering system designed by Meggit Mobrey. Two different versions of the system were installed at...

Scada bridges North Sea divide.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... BP AMOCO EXPLORATION in the Southern North Sea has recently brought a new Scada interface on line for the Cleeton gas platform and Dimlington shore terminal, using Wonderware's In Touch software, supplied by Pantek. The Cleeton platform...

Warning don't put your foot in it.(fault tolerant computing)(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... The choice of fail safe or fault tolerance in safety shutdown systems is very much controlled by legislation. But as with the installation of most industrial equipment, expense is also a major consideration. In this article, we take a hard look...

Transmitters one package for all?(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... The number of transmitters on the market may present the user with an impossible choice. However, the user may wish to specify certain criteria for an application to enable the purchase of the so-called complete package The increase in the...

POWER monitoring is a must.(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... Analysing energy usage patterns can provide information to aid reliability and supplier choice Rising energy prices are forcing users to identify and implement a strategy of Energy conservation throughout their process plants. Deregulation...

New Generation flowmeters are out of this world.(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... With reliability and accuracy now a norm, ease of use has become the key requirement for flow meter users and right at the cutting edge of technology, says Eddie Bridges of Krohne. Growth in the market for flowmeters over the last decade...

ISA Show highlights.(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... This year's ISA Show (held in Philadelphia on 5-7 October 1999) is one of the main showcases for the control and instrumentation industries - C&I picks out some highlights. The 1999 ISA Show was notable for a few main themes: smaller,...

SAAB AEROSPACE.(introduces gauge)(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... SAAB AEROSPACE'S new radar based level gauge for tank inventory management

DIGITAL SYSTEMS ENGINEERING (DSE).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 1, 1999... DIGITAL SYSTEMS ENGINEERING (DSE) introduced its PT-CE sealed flat panel computer running Windows CE from its 16Mb flash memory and 32 Mb RAM.

TRIHEDRAL.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... TRIHEDRAL showed its HMI software Visual Tag System with features allowing OEM's and integrators to handle large networked systems.

SST.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
November 1, 1999... SST announced the release of a new Profibus interface card in PCMCIA format, a ControlNet interface card in VME format and an Industrial Ethernet connector that merges a standard RJ-45 connector with an IP67 sealing.

SERVOMEX.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
November 1, 1999... SERVOMEX introduced the latest version of its industrial gas analyser, the Xentra 4000C with additional gas capabilities.

PROSOFT TECHNOLOGY.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... PROSOFT TECHNOLOGY have announced an alliance with Online Development and GMI to provide solutions for Rockwell Automation/Allen-Bradley products. The alliance brings together expertise in sales and marketing, engineering and marketing and...

INTRINSY SOFTWARE.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... INTRINSY SOFTWARE announced the availability of deviceOPC, which it is claimed brings WindowsDNA for Manufacturing to factory floor devices and allows Windows CE based solutions that are network compatible across the enterprise.

VMIC.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
November 1, 1999... VMIC introduced IOMax, a distributed I/O product that can be usedas I/O and as a DCS for up to 256 I/O points, and a 16 channel, 16 bit CompactPCI a to d converter.

PRO-FACE.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... PRO-FACE released the PL-X900 series touch operated panel computers for which they claim all major parts can be serviced in the field using one screwdriver!

FACTORY SOFT.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
November 1, 1999... FACTORY SOFT released OPC development toolkits for OPC Alarm and Event specification 1.0 and demonstrated a Profibus OPC server running Windows CE.

BRISTOL BABCOCK.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... BRISTOL BABCOCK introduced a new Ethernet Cpu for its Network 3000 Automation/Scada system controllers and a new series of low power transmitters.

Spectrum Controls.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... Spectrum Controls demonstrated its new 50 Khz counter/flowmeter Input module for Allen-Bradley 17461 I/O, a 32 channel analogue input module for Allen-Bradley 1771 I/O arid a 16 channel analogue input module for Modicon Quantum plcs.

SmartPlant Explorer.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
November 1, 1999... Intergraph announced v4.2 of its Intools software for instrumentation system design, maintenance and system management, v3.0 of Smart Plant Explorer, its web based data access and reporting software, and an agreement with ABB Utility Automation...

Precision Digital.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... Precision Digital released three large display temperature meters, three process meters, two low cost annunciators and an auto switching scanner/multiplexer and annunciator for multi-point display and alarm systems.

FCI.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
November 1, 1999... FCI introduced the FLT basic series switch and the FlexMASSter ST98 application specific flowmeters for compressed air, nitrogen flow or air monitoring.

ELO.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... ELO touchsystems introduced its iTouch 'touch on tube' technology using surface wave technology and launched an alliance program with control systems integrators.

Rockwell Automation.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... Rockwell Automation launched additional discrete and motion control functionality to the Allen-Bradley ProcessLogix distributed process control system, which now offers Fieldbus Foundation as well as ControlNet connectivity.

Wonderware.(acquires SCADAlarm from Fluid Solutions)
November 1, 1999... Wonderware announced the acquisition of the SCADAlarm, the advanced telephonic dialler for Windows from Fluid Solutions.

National Instruments.
November 1, 1999... National Instruments showed the new Lookout HMI/Scada software package featuring advanced networking technology aiding connectivity and communication and unveiled its wireless data acquisition capability for Fieldpoint, the modular distributed...

Endress + Hauser.
November 1, 1999... Endress + Hauser announced its new liquiphant M vibration limit switch for liquids, the Cerabar M pressure transmitter, the Micropilot II two wire loop powered radar level gauge, a new 4 inch Promass F coriolis mass flow meter and the Minicap...

LEVELLING out the natural state of things.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... Level sensors are used across many industries to measure solid as well as liquid levels. Tania Coates looks at a few applications of different types of level sensing technologies. Simple level measurement gauges have been used since Greek...

Peppy data module.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... THE COMPACT PCI product portfolio from PEP Modular Computers includes a high speed and precision data acquisition module. The unit provides the user with a range of single-ended or differential unipolar or bipolar Inputs, quad 12-bit analogue...

The data flows from a remote control unit.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... A MODULAR INSTRUMENT consisting of a signal conditioner and software provides comprehensive data acquisition facilities. With a maximum of eight expansion slots and each slot equipped with a four channel plug-in card the slot is automatically...

Hand held system that measures up.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... The MMS3000 hand held data logger from RiL Instruments includes six channels of voltage or temperature, six channels of RTD and four or eight channels of 4-20mA. Further analysis can be made by down-loading measurements to a PC. All versions of...

Control package does not make sacrifices.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... DATALOGGERS, RECORDERS, and plug-in card data acquisition equipment have been combined by Keithley Instruments into a high performance, low cost data acquisition, measurement and control package. In a half rack size, the Integra Series Model...

Data for back to the future.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... AUTOMATIC GEARBOXES for cars of the future are being developed with the aid of a new type of data acquisition technology from HBM UK. The data acquisition system, consisting of 22 MGCplus units, is used to capture data from a mobile testing...

Eager start up for motor.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... THE ECO STARTER from Allen-Bradley is a range of simple, compact starters rated up to 43A. The range consists of five versions and is appropriate for motors up to 22kW AC-3 duty. Motor protection can be provided by the 140M circuit breaker from...

Compact distributed field system in a unit.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... SIEMENS AUTOMATION & DRIVES has developed ET 200S to meet the demands for distributed field systems with integrated safety systems. The new communication-capable load feeder combines I/O modules with load feeders for controlling motors and...

Alarming fan options.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... COOLING FANS with built-in alarm options and thermal control functions are particularly suited to use in equipment with a standby mode, when full fan performance is required only during periods of full operation. The DC San Ace range...

Neat PLC plays hard.(programmable logic controllers)(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... THE VISUAL KV SERIES of compact PLCs (programmable logic controllers) from Keyence includes a built in Access Window with a variety of features. Data can be checked on start up, during changeover or when being modified without the need for a PC...

PCB transformers coated for quality.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... PCB TRANSFORMERS from Aspro technology are available from Relec Electronics and feature Aspro's coating technology. The coating improves reliability, increases batch consistency and reduces losses. It also stops any vibration noise produced by...

Digital amplifier used to detect colour flaw.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... A POWERFUL AMPLIFIER for fibre optic sensing heads has been launched by Omron Electronics. The amplifier provides an analogue output in addition to the standard NPN or PNP digital output. The main feature of the new E3X-DA is its analogue...

Transducers are shaftless wonders.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... THE NOVOTECHNIK TE/TES range of single sided position transducers are available from Variohm Components. Similar to the T/TS series, the new units are particularly important in the plastic injection moulding business. In the new range a shaft...

ON THE MOVE.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... The training conundrum THE SPEED OF CHANGE in the measurement and control industry, particularly in the area of technology, is constantly increasing. This puts huge pressure on everyone involved. But has the provision of training changed...

People on the move.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... Miles Clee has become General Manager of Baldor Optimised Control, the motors, drives and motion controls supplier. Miles was previously Sales Director at Baldor. ERP software company Cincom Systems has appointed Kevin Asbridge as European...

Networked PC solutions.(Brief Article)
November 1, 1999... Cutler-Hammer's PowerNet software suite lets engineers access alarming, trending and control information on the electrical distribution system. It enables companies to analyse power quality, manage power costs and schedule maintenance as well...