Articles and News

Emerson won a contract to install its PlantWeb digital plant architecture with the Ovation expert control system at Plum Point Energy Station, a new pulverized coal-fired plant in northeastern Arkansas. The Ovation system will monitor and control the IHI boiler, as well as the burner management system and balance of plant processes.

JetCon 1301 Industrial 10/100Base-TX to 100Base-FX Multi-Mode fiber converter has been passed the EtherCAT system test.

"Motion, Drive & Automation" (MDA) trade fair for power transmission and control will be part of HANNOVER MESSE 2007 (the Hannover Fair). The net display space covers approximately 50,000 square meters, making MDA one of the biggest display areas at HANNOVER MESSE. Around 1,300 international exhibitors will be showing products for power transmission and control from 16 - 20 April 2007 in Halls 19 to 26.

INTROL Group in Poland will represent all Ethernet Direct’s product lines, including Industrial Ethernet, Industrial Conversion, Industrial Modem, Serial to Ethernet, Data Acquisition Modules, Fiber Optic Ethernet, Media Conversion, Power over Ethernet, and DIN-Rail Power Supplies.

GE Fanuc Automation, a unit of GE Industrial, recently participated in a web cast with Toray Plastics and MESA International entitled, “ISA-95 Accelerates Implementation and Lowers Lifecycle Costs.” The web cast is part of a series of events sponsored by MESA’s Technical Committee.

The two companies will work together to provide Abnormal Condition Management (ACM)-compliant Operator Graphics Style Guide and Object Library products. The partnership will also jointly develop & deliver a range of services including how-to workshops, graphics philosophy development services, gap analysis services, custom graphics development and graphic deployment services.

Parani-MSP100 Bluetooth to IP gateway connects Bluetooth devices to a 10/100 Base-T Ethernet network. Supporting point to multi-point connectivity to 7 points, it transmits data from each Bluetooth terminal to a management station via TCP/IP at a rate of 723Kbit/s. Connections can be extended up to 14 using an optional USB extension dongle.

Objective Interface is providing its small-footprint, high-performance ORB express communications middleware to student teams developing prototype software defined radios (SDRs) and participating in the SDR Forum's Smart Radio Challenge.

East Kansas Agri-Energy is expected to achieve an estimated annual value of well over $2.5 million through the deployment of Pavilion's Ethanol Solution at its Garnett, Kansas plant. Through this installation, Pavilion enabled the plant to increase yield of dried distillers grain with solubles (DDGS) and wet distillers grain with solubles (WDGS).

A fully-automated bending and punching cell developed by Unison helped tubular metalworking contractor Olicana Products to dramatically increase its manufacturing capacity. The cell is programmed to fabricate bath stands for four of Europe's leading bathroom product manufacturers. It currently produces W-shaped tubular frames with up to six bends and fixing holes every 11 seconds.

Four new courses reflect technology innovations released by Emerson in the last seven months, and customer requests for expanded offerings in these areas. Courses cover Turbomachinery Diagnostics, analyzing data collected from essential motor-pump machine trains, Laser Alignment, and advanced signal processing.

FieldServer Technologies will be demonstrating its gateway products for the building automation industry at the AHR Expo 2007 in Dallas, Texas at booth 1633.

Invensys Process Systems has implemented a comprehensive Avantis enterprise asset management system at the Platte River Power Authority in Colorado for its generation, distribution and maintenance operations, which includes a 274-MW coal-fired power plant located north of Fort Collins. The Avantis.PRO asset management software application is being used for maintenance management, inventory control and procurement for generating machinery, distribution yard equipment, transmission lines and towers, as well as vehicles and other company assets.

Honeywell will design and implement a process control system for Italcementi Group’s new production facility in Martinsburg, W.Va. The new system is part of a larger expansion project that will help one of the world’s largest cement producers meet growing United States demand while ensuring product quality.

The program includes standard shipping within 15 working days after receipt of an order, 10-day shipping for simple 2-pass cables, and 5-day shipping service for as much as 5,000 feet of custom-built cable after approval of drawings. Next-day or same-day shipping of custom-built cable is also available to customers who stock their product at Northwire.

Programmable end-of-arm tooling assists molders and manufacturers in cost reduction and efficiency. It can be programmed to automatically relocate four separate component holders within the cycle of the robot. Each of the four tool holders can be used for vacuum cups or grippers mounted on individual linear actuators which can be programmed for up to 28 separate locations.

SHL Automation will use the KUKA KR 16 robot in its Automated Grinding system. The new system is designed to grind, scotch and measure door handles, and allow manufacturers to improve worker safety and product quality. The new system will be demonstrated at SHL’s open house scheduled to take place at SHL’s headquarters on December 5-7 from 10am to 1pm.

Dynomax will open a new support facilty in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, in late November. The new facility, which will supplement existing Mundelein operations, is currently undergoing renovations to support the controlled environment necessary for precision manufacturing and assembly.

Continuum Integrated Tray/Shrink System is ideal for packaging loose containers and multipacks in a variety of materials, including glass, PET, HDPE, metal and fiber cans, HiCone, shrink bundles, and paperboard overwrap. These products can be packed into both corrugated and chipboard trays.

Emerson will install its PlantWeb digital plant architecture with the Ovation expert control system and Foundation fieldbus technology at the new Ratchaburi power plant in Thailand. When completed, the two-unit, combined-cycle plant will have a production capacity of 1,400 MW. The first 700-MW unit is scheduled to begin commercial operation in March 2008, with Unit 2 to follow in June 2008.

Honeywell will provide an advanced automated process control system with integrated wireless technology for Masteel, one of China's largest iron and steel manufacturers. The contract includes Honeywell's IntelaTrac PKS process control system, Uniformance PHD, LIMS. Digital Video Manager (DVM) system, and design, engineering, commissioning, testing and maintenance services.

An inventory, navigation and picking system, integrated by Primary Marking, combines Intermec 750 mobile computers and SF51 scanners with Genesta's SyVox speech recognition software. The combination increases productivity without sacrificing the accuracy of scanning. Primary Marking also developed custom interface software that allows the collected data to go directly into Lighthouse for the Blind's ERP system.

Invensys will install an InFusion-based SCADA system to monitor and control 56 substations and automation points located along the company's Myrtle Beach and Moncks Corner electrical distribution network in eastern South Carolina. Monitoring and control will include Power Factor Control by switching capacitor banks, to maximize the efficiency of power distribution, driving direct cost savings.

Livingston & Haven will sell and support Precise Automation’s products in Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. These products include PrecisePlace robots, Guidance motion controllers and PreciseVision software.

M-Series sensors are being used to increase the safety and efficiency of international coastal shipping between European nations. The highly accurate magnetostrictive level sensors provide precise measurements of hazardous materials being carried by fuel barges as required by the European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways (ADN).

Honeywell has been recognized for Excellence in Automation and Process for helping maximize energy and operational efficiency at the Samsung Fine Chemicals facility in Korea. The honor was presented to Honeywell at Asian Power Awards 2006.

Deutsche Messe AG and Fiera Milano S.p.A. have agreed to jointly promote and stage trade fairs in selected growth markets around the world, including the booming markets of India and China. Three new trade fairs on automation, motino control, and material handling have emerged from this alliance and will take place concurrently 27-30 November 2007 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Center.

ABB's 800xA Extended Automation system will provide control and monitoring of tanks and reactors, batch control plus control functions for automatic valves, stirrers and analog measurement signals for the process. The systems also include functions for the assembling and handling process, operational data management with functions for reporting and archiving.

The X-Mark line of cabinets, enclosures, racks and accessories for manufacturing facilities and IT environments will now be sold under the Belden brand.