Articles and News

The blog keeps readers up to date on the LAN eXtensions for Instrumentation (LXI) standard. The site also provides a forum for visitors to ask questions or share their expertise in LXI instrumentation. Recent postings highlight several LXI-related resources, including a series of application notes and an online LXI tutorial created by UK-based www.radio-electronics.com.

Continuing ISA's relationships with third-party vendors, course offerings have now been expanded to over 300 courses online and on CD-ROM. ISA's distance education program, now termed ISA CyberU, features online courses, CD-ROM training, brand new DVD courses, video training and web seminar courses covering the world of automation.

"Tools and Downloads" website has downloadable CAD files, calculators, configurators, literature, software and more to help engineers save time in their design work. CAD files are available in categories including pneumatic cylinders, aluminum framing, conveyors, motors, drives and more.

Emerson will automate a 1.5 million tons per year hydrotreating unit in a refinery in Dalian, China. The refinery is owned by Dalian West Pacific Petrochemical Co. Ltd., better known as WEPEC, a joint venture between Sinochem, PetroChina and Total. PlantWeb digital automation technologies being used at the WEPEC refinery include the DeltaV system, AMST Suite: Intelligent Device Manager, Rosemount smart temperature and pressure transmitters, and DeltaV OTS operator training solution.

EZ Trax new software provides a tool to manage bar code images as they are captured. It has an intuitive user interface for user-defined settings such as file naming and output mode options, and memory allocation for storage of image captures. The software works with Microscan's Easy Setup Program (ESP) to support and provide additional functionality for imager products. A free demo version is available for download on the website.

ML4.2 Photoelectric Sensors provide optimal background suppression sensing capabilities in a compact 14mm x 18mm x 33mm housing. Targets are precisely detected at ranges up to 80mm, while background objects just millimeters away are ignored. Color insensitivity is less than 10%, so targets are reliably detected regardless of color.

GRAMS 8.0 is a comprehensive update of the company’s multi-vendor spectroscopy software solution. Version 8 enhances workgroup and enterprise connectivity via a full client/server update to Spectral DB, and features the all-new Web-enabled Envision viewing and reporting tool.

Aluminum-based inlay (V730S-D13-P01)(HF ISO15693) achieves comparable performance with copper inlays, making it suitable for security and asset tracking applications such as library and access control. The new inlay caters to the needs of customers who prefer aluminum instead of copper inlays due to environmental concerns about disposal of copper waste.

Some part numbers will be available in two to three weeks. This reduced lead time will provide extended service capability to meet the demanding requirements of customers. ITT's microminiature connector line consists of rectangular, circular, quick disconnect, high-speed signal, filter, hermetic, mixed signal packages and strip style interconnects.

Teck Cominco Metals Ltd. selected Invensys Process Systems to implement a new mesh network-based Foxboro I/A Series automation system for the electrolytic and melting plant processes at Teck Cominco's metallurgical operations at Trail, in southeast British Columbia, Canada.

FKI Logistex has been awarded a contract from Schenker AB, an international provider of air, sea freight, and logistics services, for a parcel sorting system at its distribution center in Stockholm, Sweden.

Keithley's Metrology Services Group is now accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005, the single most important metrology standard for test and measurement, by the A2LA (American Association for Laboratory Accreditation).

The Schneider Electric Motion Competency Center in Plymouth, Mich. brings together a team of motion control experts from multiple disciplines, including application engineers, quote and application specialists, design engineers and project managers to provide customers with complete motion solutions. The center will offer customers increased proficiency, superior product knowledge and custom solutions in one location.

Control Design magazine’s Reader’s Choice awards are the result of an unaided survey of subscribers who have authority to specify, recommend or purchase industrial automation and control products. Hardware and software categories are listed without any list of vendors, and participants are asked to indicate the single best vendor for the products he or she has experience with.

Napac designs, builds and markets a comprehensive portfolio of software and equipment to deliver end-to-end remote management solutions, comprising dedicated PLCs, SCADA software and web interfaces for a wide variety of customer applications, such as gas and fluids storage, water networks, refrigerated warehouses, control room management, power generation and HVAC engineering. It reported nearly €6 million in revenue in 2005.

To celebrate the introduction of its new low cost, high performance EPSON Micro PowerDrive controller, EPSON Robots will be giving away one (1) free Micro PowerDrive controller with one high performance E2 SCARA robots in the first ever North American Robot Giveaway.

The Moerdijk QRC is a fully equipped, regional sales and service center that provides complete sealing solutions and localized customer support. The new Moerdijk QRC offers mechanical seal manufacturing, repair, failure analysis, and inventory backup for quick response to Flowserve customers in the Netherlands and throughout northern Europe.

The 14th annual BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) Robotics Competition kicks off this month at BEST hub locations nationwide. This year's competition marks the second year for igus as the sole nationwide product sponsor for the event. BEST, a non-profit, volunteer organization, aims to inspire middle and high school students to pursue careers in engineering, science and technology through participation in science- and engineering-based robotics competition

Invensys Process Systems' Foxboro, Massachusetts-based Global Product Support group has achieved certification under the Support Center Practices (SCP) certification program for the fourth consecutive year. SCP certification quantifies the effectiveness of customer support based upon a stringent set of performance standards representing best practices in the industry.

Powerpact R-frame UL 489 listed molded case circuit breakers can replace bulkier, more expensive, insulated case breakers. For panel builders and electrical distribution equipment manufacturers, the unit-mounted breakers can fit applications including main service, feeders and high-current branches. They are also ideal for panels and equipment requiring high currents, such as back-up power, generators and HVAC.