Articles and News

GarrettCom, Inc., a leader in Industrial Ethernet, is acquiring DYMEC, Inc., a leader in substation-hardened network products. This move broadens GarrettCom’s product offerings and sales and service channels, with a particular focus on the expanding market for power utility automation and surveillance networks.

Honeywell announced it was awarded a three-year contract worth $41.4 million by Eskom, the national electricity utility of South Africa to provide the distributed control system in the reactivation unit and upgrade the company’s Grootvlei electric utility power plant, located near Heidelberg. Honeywell will supply its Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS), field instrumentation, basic design, engineering, fire detection, training simulation and installation services to the plant.

Keithley Instruments, Inc. announces the first Weblog, or Blog, designed exclusively for engineers confronting testing issues in the semiconductor industry. The Semiconductor Test Blog informs visitors of the latest technical and business developments in the semiconductor industry and their impact on testing.

Membership into the CIP Conformity Club signifies that Phoenix Contact has affirmed its commitment to uphold the ODVA “Gold Standard” for network product conformity by following the most current edition of the CIP Network specifications and maintaining ongoing compliance to CIP Network specifications, rules and guidelines.

EPCglobal Canada announced today that RFID technology solution provider Ship2Save joined its Strategic Advisory Council. With the addition of Ship2Save, the total number of Council members increases to 20, establishing it as the leading advisory forum in Canada focused on increasing the awareness and adoption of the electronic product code and RFID (EPC/RFID) technologies within the Canadian supply chain.

Tendril announced today that one of the most widely respected figures in the wireless sensor network industry, Adrian Tuck, most recently a member of the Executive Team at Ember Corporation, has joined the company as Tendril’s new CEO.

Tendril announced today that the company has secured $5.25 million in Series B funding to continue its growth as the leading provider of network operations platform software for developing and deploying Wireless Sensor and Control Networks (WSCN).

Automation Systems Interconnect Multiple Wire Terminal Blocks, sometimes called “twin conductor terminal blocks,” allow for the connection of two or more conductors to one terminal block.

Cognex Corporation announced In-Sight® Explorer software release 3.3 for In-Sight vision sensors. The software includes new calibration, communication, and other tools that minimize integration time when deploying vision in robotic guidance and inspection applications.

Deacom has been recognized as one of the leading “Vertically Focused Companies to Watch” by Supply & Demand Chain Executive Magazine in its June/July 2006 issue.

Emerson Process Management announced that it has been chosen as Main Automation Contractor (MAC) for Total's Akpo Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel of the Akpo field development. The Akpo field is located 200 kilometers off the coast of Nigeria in water depths of 1100 to 1700 meters.

Almost a year after Hurricane Katrina dealt its devastating blow to the Gulf Region, Square D has donated labor, supplies and money to eight separate initiatives in the affected region, attempting to rebuild cherished community locations and organizations.

Compliance software helps facilities comply with new electrical industry standards for determining the Short-Circuit Current Rating (SCCR) of industrial control panel assemblies.

The Manufacturing Interoperability Guideline Working Group has established a set of principles for converging the OAGi, ISA-95, and B2MML activities. "It's an important milestone in our development process, because we've been able to come together and agree on the main points of our process and how we want to drive our activities in the future," said Gary Sullivan of BWXT and chairman of the Working Group.

ISA appointed Shari L.S. Worthington as Director-Elect of the Management Division. She will serve in this role through the end of 2007, supporting members who are involved in management as it relates to instrumentation, systems, and automation assets, such as marketing and sales, supply chain management, industry standards, education and training, project management, and personnel management.

Stonewater Control Systems announced that it will provide its Field Instrument Management System (FIMS) solution to systems integrator Sanchez Industrial Design, Inc. (SID) to monitor gases, liquids and alarm remotely in real time.

American Welding Society (AWS) announced their newly published standard on plastic welding, AWS G1.1M/G1.1:2006, Guide to Ultrasonic Assembly of Thermoplastics. This ANSI-approved standard details the ultrasonic equipment and processes used in fabricating thermoplastic parts.

CHS Inc. has selected Invensys to implement an InFusion-based supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system for Front Range Pipeline, LLC and Cenex Pipeline, LLC. These pipelines provide transportation of crude oil to the CHS refinery in Laurel, Montana, and transportation of refined products to markets east, including eastern Montana and North Dakota.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has succeeded in verification testing of a combined-cycle power generation system incorporating two different types of power generation system: solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and a micro gas turbine (MGT). The feat is unprecedented in Japan.

Invensys Process Systems will be presenting the unique benefits of the company's recently introduced InFusion enterprise control system (ECS) technology and unique asset performance management approach in 25 cities around the world. Includes schedule.

Altech UL489 AC and DC miniature molded case circuit breakers offer the highest rating in the industry for their type and can deliver reliable performance in a wide range of applications, including low inrush motors, appliances, lighting, wiring protection, transformers, power supplies and industrial controls, among others.

Michael Mikolajczak has been named a product line manager for ABB Automation Products, Low Voltage Drives, according to Cliff Cole, director of marketing, ABB Low Voltage Drives.

ExperTune is offering free web-based training to improve plant performance. ”The 6 Myths of Process Performance” identifies the “right things” to focus on for improved process performance. The myths represent outdated methods of plant performance improvement. Each myth is debunked in a short 5-minute video.

Ice Qube has contracted with Siemens Building Technologies to provide in-field support for our cooling systems. This service option will be included on all Ice Qube cooling systems at no additional charge during the warranty period.

Frost & Sullivan has conferred the 2006 Frost & Sullivan Award for Excellence in Technology upon Hitachi America Ltd in recognition of its achievement in developing a revolutionary new intelligent sensorless vector (SLV) control technology. Incorporated in the company’s SJ200 iSLV drive series, this technology stands poised to transform modern vector control technology by eliminating many of its key challenges.

ISA has announced the donation of 4 Nullmatic controls Model 55M (M43) with integral setting and transfer switch from Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc., to its training program. Valued at over $11,600, the donation will be used in ISA's technical training program.

Ship2Save and AAID Security Solutions have teamed up to provide the first step in an elaborate roll-out plan for a Canadian Crown Corporation. The unidentified company has been using the system over the course of the last several months to help address a variety of logistical inefficiencies related to their cross-docking operations.

Well known elevator company, OTIS, has been awarded the distinction of becoming member number 300 of the EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG). OTIS is the world’s largest company involved in the manufacture, installation and service of elevators, escalators and moving walkways. OTIS Elevator Korea officially joined in the ETG in April and was honored at an EtherCAT training class in Seoul.

Yashpaul joins InSync with senior management experience in Operations, Applications, and Supply Chain Management in the healthcare, aerospace, and high technology industry verticals.

PlantData Technologies announced it has completed more than 50 SCADA, EMS, and DCS Security assessments in the past five years. A division of Verano, Inc., the leading provider of security and SCADA solutions for mission-critical industries, PlantData continues its commitment to serving energy, utility, transmission and distribution, transportation and other critical infrastructure industries.

Bud Industries, Inc., the leading manufacturer of electronic enclosures, has hired Josiah Haas for the position of National Sales Manager – the fourth generation of the Haas family to work in Bud Industries management. According to the Family Business Institute, only 30 percent of businesses survive into the second generation, 12 percent into the third, and fewer than three percent into the fourth.

Honeywell (NYSE:HON) has been awarded a $17.5 million contract to supply process controls for Vietnam ’s first oil refinery. The Technip Consortium – which will build the refinery in Dung Quat for state-owned company PetroVietnam – selected Honeywell to supply its award-winning process automation system, the Experion® Process Knowledge System (PKS). The refinery will begin production in central Vietnam in early 2009.

Donald E. Labbe, P.E., of Invensys Process Systems has been presented the 2006 ISA POWID Achievement Award at the 16th Annual Joint ISA Power Industry Division/EPRI Controls and Instrumentation Conference. This is the highest award of the Power Industry Division (POWID), a group within the Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society (ISA). The conference, co-sponsored since 1991 by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), is regarded as the key automation forum in the power industry.

Keithley Instruments, Inc. ( NYSE:KEI), announces that Research & Development Magazine has named Keithley Instruments, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, as one of the recipients of the 2006 R&D 100 Award for the Series 2600 System SourceMeter Instruments. Winners of this prestigious award are chosen each year by a panel of industry experts who review hundreds of entries from universities, private corporations, and labs around the world to select the 100 most technologically significant products and processes introduced during the previous year.

Featuring the R-, G-, and E-Series sensors, the catalog highlights the company’s significant capabilities for the wood, plastic, paper, machine tool, and other industrial markets. This includes a wide range of accessories to aid the application of Temposonics magnetostrictive sensors, as well as new programming and diagnostic tools created especially for the latest R- and G-Series sensors.

FlowSense has been awarded a contract from the US Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) for a design-build project in the replacement of existing HVAC systems in Minneapolis.

KUKA Robotics has been selected by Encobotics, Inc. of Derby, Kansas to provide 6 axis robots for a new plastics routering cell.

National Instruments (Nasdaq: NATI) today reported record revenue in Q2 2006 of $160 million, a 14 percent USD increase over Q2 2005 and an equivalent 16 percent increase in local currency.

In a 10-day mini-Roadshow blitz across the state of New York, June 5 - 16, ABB Low Voltage Products, manufacturers' reps Lachut Electrical Sales and RPM Controls, along with distributor KOM Lamb, visited 10 locations in five major markets -- and introduced 327 customers and prospects from 62 different companies to ABB controls and drives products.

Meeting on July 27, 2006, the Supervisory Board reviewed the financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2006 established by the Management Board on July 25, 2006.

Caterpillar's Newberry, S.C., facility is now manufacturing Caterpillar brand diesel generator sets in the 10-200 kW range. First off the line are the D25-D100 generator sets, and the XQ30-XQ100 rental packages, all powered by the Cat C3.3 and C4.4 engines.

ISA recently announced the appointment of Timothy Feldman as Global Operations Manager.

Adept Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADEP) has been chosen by Cool Clean Technologies as their robotics automation and controls supplier for the CleanFlex cleaning system, an innovative cleaning system for disk drive manufacturers.

Emerson Process Management's Machinery Health Management technologies have enabled BASF Antwerp to maximize plant output and reduce costs through the introduction of a maintenance strategy based on predictive intelligence.

MOXA'S PCI Express serial boards were recently approved by Microsoft's WHQL. This means that the boards meet the "Designed for Windows XP, Windows XP x64, Windows 2003, Windows 2003 x64 standard," and the "Designed for Microsoft Windows" logo is printed on the boards themselves.

MTS Systems Corp. Sensors Division has enhanced the testing process for its sensing elements and decreased lead times for its USDT II sensors with new testing facilities at its factory.

Quatech was selected by Impressionaire, LLC for integration into its digital washroom advertising system.

Emerson Process Management is fulfilling a contract received from Formosa Petrochemical for Fisher digital valves to be installed at olefin OL3 plant in Mai Liao, Taiwan. Emerson was awarded the contract based on the technology and proven, reliable capabilities of Fisher products.

Networking Communications pioneer Moxa Technologies, Inc. today announced its agreement with Tech Data Canada, the Canadian subsidiary of Tech Data Corporation (NASDAQ/NMS: TECD), to distribute Moxa’s products in Canada.

The Automation Federation has named Bruno L. Kisala as its Managing Director. A search committee, made up of representatives from each of the Federation's member organizations, announced the hire this morning after an intensive interview process.

Unmanned robotic ground vehicles Matilda and Marv participated in the Response Robot Evaluation Exercise conducted by NIST, from April 4 through April 6, 2006 at Disaster City, FEMA’s Texas Task Force 1 training facility.

With the introduction of its new corporate identity, Belden marks its evolution from a wire and cable product supplier to a full-service provider of signal transmission solutions.

The contract covers the complete operation and maintenance of equipment from various suppliers used in baggage check-in, transportation, security control, identification and sortation. Changi Airport, a strategic international gateway to Asia, serves approximately 24 million passengers a year. FKI Logistex has managed the operation and maintenance of the baggage operations at Changi Airport Terminal 2 for the past five years.

Pepperl+Fuchs acquired the Intrinsic Safety Instrumentation (ISB) business from Cooper Crouse-Hinds, a division of Cooper Industries. ISB is located in Buehl, Germany. Both parties agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

Ethernet Direct has partners across the United States, Canada, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East.

FlowSense was recently awarded an HVAC project at the Correctional Facility in Stillwater from the Department of Corrections. The project specified the removal and replacement of a roof top unit, associated pipe and duct work including demolition, general construction, and integration of existing building automation system.

Baumüller b maXX 4400 servo controllers, frame sizes 1 to 6, now feature a Safe Stop function certified in accordance with Category 3 (single-channel stop) as defined by standard EN 954-1.

Host Ken Rayment of Better Process Podcast, a process manufacturing news show that reports on topics ranging from United States manufacturing to manufacturing technology, recently interviewed Jay Deakins, President, and Susan Shaw, Marketing Coordinator, of ERP-producer Deacom, Inc. to discuss the major challenges facing small and mid-size process manufacturers.

ISA's SP88 Batch Control standards development committee has formed a working group to update the first two standards in the widely used ISA-88 series. The update project will focus primarily on ANSI/ISA-88.01, Batch Control Part 1: Models and Terminology, but will also consider revisions to ANSI/ISA88.00.02, Batch Control Part 2: Data Structures and Guidelines for Languages.

International Electrotechnical Commission certifies Logix 3200IQ digital positioner for use in hazardous locations.

GE Fanuc Automation announced an innovative program for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) that provides them with a significant edge to attract new customers and expand their existing base to grow their businesses.

More than 800 Indonesian schoolchildren will soon be starting classes in four new schools at Meulaboh and Banda Aceh, leaving behind them the tents which gave them temporary shelter and served as classrooms.

The Automation Federation is starting a new initiative aimed at creating a set of specifications and processes for the security testing and certification of critical control systems products. The Automation Federation will provide financial and personnel support for the initial feasibility study project.

A bird's-eye view of the entire stadium and playing field of the New England Patriots' Gillette Stadium provided the background to the more than 20 ABB control, drives, instrumentation and process automation products for visitors to the recent "Results-Driven Power Control" ABB Low Voltage Products Roadshow here.

Intermec, Inc. (NYSE:IN) and Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:SBL), pioneers and leaders in automated identification and data capture (AIDC) technologies, have reached an agreement that settles all outstanding intellectual property (IP) disputes between the two companies.

Pepperl+Fuchs Systems & Solutions Business Unit recently received UL508A, UL698A and UL698B accreditation from the Underwriters Laboratories Inc. for the manufacture and certification of general purpose and hazardous location control panels.

Industry veteran with 15 years experience will be responsible for sales in Michigan and all points west of Ohio, Louisville, Ky., Nashville, Tenn., and west of Alabama.

ISA's standards committee on wireless systems for automation, ISA-SP100, has just issued calls for proposals (CFPs) to encourage a variety of experts to collaboratively create a new series of wireless communication standards for industrial monitoring and control.

Citect announced sponsorship of the "Global Manufacturing: MES and Beyond Benchmark Report," written by the Aberdeen Group.