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27/2/04

Free stuff for members - ISA membership comes with many benefits. But there's one you may not have heard of - free access to classic technical papers from past ISA conferences and events. This exclusive benefit puts potential solutions to the most challenging technology and applications problems right at your fingertips. With just a click of your mouse, you can immediately search and access PDFs of over 500 technical papers from ISA's world-renowned technical conferences and symposia from 1997-1999. Learn more about this!

Two joining board - At its December Board meeting, Modbus-IDA expanded its Board of Directors to seven by electing Schneider Electric's Ronald Schoop and Phoenix Contact's David Skelton to fill the two newly created seats. The two new members join the Board from the former IDA Group, which combined with the Modbus Organization in October 2003.
Free measurement software toolkit for nanotech researchers - Keithley Instruments, leader in solutions for emerging measurement needs, has developed a Nanotech Toolkit, a set of measurement software tools designed specifically for a variety of tests common to nanotechnology researchers to assist them in making the very precise, often complex electrical measurements associated with nanotechnology. The Nanotech Toolkit and its software routines are available at no charge and are compatible with Keithley's Model 4200-SCS Semiconductor Characterization System. Measurements at the nanoscale level are challenging even for those trained in electrical measurements, while many of the chemists, biologists, and physicists often working in nanotech labs have less formal training in measurement science. The Nanotech Toolkit is designed to shortcut many measurement tasks by providing common routines typically used in testing nanotech devices.
"A world first for electronic position detection!" - Covering all measurement tolerances in every application, Moeller's LSE Titan limit switch represents a world first in the highly competitive position detection arena. Users of the LSE (limit switch electronic) will not require adjustment gauges or callipers to set the limits on the switch. Instead, each device has a freely programmable operating point that can be easily set with the absolute minimum of tooling. All that is required is for the plunger to be moved from the original position to the new switching position and a teach-in button depressed for a duration of 1 second by a screwdriver. Once the LED flashes at a higher rate, the new position is accepted and is useable. The switching point is freely adjustable within a range of 0.5 to 5.5mm. Two high-speed, bounce-free PNP switching outputs allow high operating frequencies. They are overload-protected, as well as conditionally short-circuit proof. Switching takes place with a snap-action, which ensures a definite and reproducible switching point. Just like electro-mechanical position switches, the LSE's conform to safety category 3 to EN 954-1 in accordance with the Machine Directive. The devices are therefore also suitable for use in safety applications designed for personnel and process protection.

Ultrareliable PLCs ensure platform production and safety - Silvertech Limited, part of the global organisation Silvertech International plc, has supplied a Unified Control System for Burlington Resources (Irish Sea) Ltd's unmanned Calder gas platform, installed in the Irish Sea. The Process Control System (PCS), Emergency Shutdown System (ESD) and Fire and Gas System (F&G), applications each use pairs of GE Fanuc Series 90-30 PLCs linked on a dual redundant network, enabling full control from one HMI system. This approach allowed rapid installation and commissioning and reduces running costs. Silvertech is an approved GE Fanuc Integration partner. With offices in the UK, the Middle East, North and South America, the company specialises in control and safety system solutions for oil and gas extraction and production, the petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries, utility infrastructures and factory automation.
Product appearance low priority for design engineers - A recent survey has revealed that design engineers do not consider product appearance their highest priority. Indeed, not one of those questioned placed appearance as the top priority. The survey, carried out on behalf of Hothouse Product Development Partners, showed that 76% of design engineers questioned viewed function as the top priority of their designs. "These results are disappointing, yet not surprising," commented Neville Pryke, senior partner at Hothouse. "Clearly function is a given, but aesthetics, image and importantly, ergonomics, serve to encourage the user's acceptance of a product and also to differentiate it from its competitors. Ultimately, this has a direct influence on sales."
Analysis of the European HMI market - The uptake of human machine interface (HMI) solutions has rapidly increased with a parallel growth in HMI technology and the demand for efficient operation and monitoring of essential production equipment in European industrial plants, reveals a new study by international growth consultants Frost & Sullivan. "The number of operators per machine has reduced sharply over the last decade and HMI facilitates easy monitoring of complex manufacturing systems," says Frost & Sullivan research analyst Gabriela Martinho. "Easy to install, operate and maintain, these devices allow companies to focus on more value-added operations such as speed-to-market, reliability and the capability to develop new products."
Application available for students at reduced prices - Students can now work outside their university labs and classrooms with their own full-featured version of National Instruments LabVIEW graphical development environment, the most widely used software for test, measurement and control. Offered with a more than 20 percent price reduction compared to previous editions, the LabVIEW 7 Express Student Edition is the first version of the student software to deliver the same full functionality as the professional version of LabVIEW. The software is included in a new Learning with LabVIEW 7 Express textbook and CD bundle from Prentice Hall.
New soft starters reduce motor maintenance and power costs - Baldor has introduced a range of AC electric motor soft-starters providing the means to reduce the wear and tear that conventional direct-on-line starting can cause, and reduce the peak demand currents that can impact electricity bills. Two types of soft starter are offered: an intelligent soft starter with keypad control - offering a high degree of programmability to optimise the starting profile for particular applications; and a low-cost unit available in forms suitable for standalone connection or retrofitting inside existing motor cabinets.

Hacks at the tower! - Before what was probably the largest gathering of European technical journalists and writers outside of Interkama, Emerson Process Management launched their long heralded Smart Management Architecture in the most august venue they could find in Britain, the Tower of London. Around forty sat in the 16th century New Armoury to hear Steve Brown, (MD UK & Ireland), introduce what he called the "21st Century new PlantWeb Smart SIS solution, which enables safer process plants and facilities."
Report on Conference.

New general manager takes over at fittings division - Ian Huggins has been appointed General Manager of Parker Hannifin's Instrumentation Products Division, European leader in instrumentation tube fittings, valves and manifolds. After 14 years with Parker in logistics and financial management roles, Ian now takes over responsibility for a division serving international oil, gas, petrochemical, processing and utility markets. This appointment follows the promotion of David Bailey to General Manager of Parker Hannifin's Filter Division Europe in Dewsbury (UK), after six years in charge at Barnstaple.
Another record for Signpost! - During the week ending 15th February 2003, 5498 visitors came to the Instrumentation signpost. This is the highest weekly figure to date. The previous highest figure was 5240 for the week ending 23rd November 2003.
More statistics
Sensor technologies enhance factory operations and precision measurement in robotics and industrial automation - A new-age simulation engine that remotely controls factory processes in real time using data from sensors is likely to be the next big thing in assembly line operation management according to new analysis by Technical Insights, a business unit of Frost & Sullivan. The engine's unique visualisation tool helps cut out interferences from human errors, inadequate materials, or logistic planning gone awry by virtually representing the manufacturing facility for itemised monitoring. The sensors read the changes on the factory floor and convert it into data for a configuration event analyser that converts it into 3-D animation events. To facilitate system improvements, the engine's Singapore-based inventors have built a new visualisation device, which enables even novice users to operate the machine.
Tough display is cost effective answer to automotive, marine and industrial user interfacing - TeleflexMorse Electronics has introduced two cost-optimised versions of its CANtrak range of rugged CAN-compatible user interfaces. The DIN-format LCD modules with soft keys provide an HMI platform that can be programmed rapidly to create optimised instrumentation for automotive, industrial and marine equipment applications - such as engine gauges or machinery control panels. This third generation of the popular CANtrak range employs a range of design-for-manufacture techniques including chip-on-tab to minimise component count and assembly operations - substantially reducing costs for OEMs.
Operator training solution for major refinery project - Aspen Technology, has announced that Motiva, a joint venture between Shell Oil Company and Saudi Refining Inc., has selected AspenTech to supply operator training simulators for its Norco refinery in Louisiana. The simulators will help to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the refinery during the transition to a new distributed control system (DCS), which is being installed in all of the plant's main process units.

Colour display and extra memory added to power analyser - LEM has enhanced its NORMA 4000 power analyser with a colour display and a memory option. No other analyser offers such high performance and accuracy in such a compact box, making it especially suitable for on-site measurement. The NORMA 4000 measures current and voltage with high accuracy and calculates active, reactive and apparent power and other derived values. Its accuracy is independent of waveform, frequency and phase shift across a wide range. Harmonics are calculated at up to half the sampling rate. Voltages up to 1000V and currents up to 10A can be measured directly due to integrated voltage dividers and shunts. It is also possible to connect external voltage dividers, as well as shunts or probes.
Low-cost function generator sweeps to 20 MHz - TTi (Thurlby Thandar Instruments) has introduced an upgraded version of its TG120 low-cost function generator that is capable of much higher frequency operation than other generators in its price range. Most lower-cost function generators use a technology which enables them to operate at up to a few megahertz maximum. The TG120 utilises an alternative technology which retains satisfactory waveform quality right up to 20 MHz.

Quality Award for work in South Wales - Shanahan Engineering have been highly commended in The Built in Quality Award for their work in the Baglan Bay Power Station Project. The Award is accredited by Neath Port Town Council. Recently voted Top Power Project of 2003, the Baglan Bay Power Station reached a major milestone for the global power industry when GE Power System's, H system, gas turbine debuted there early last year. This Award demonstrates Shanahan Engineering's continued deliverance in well recognised high quality. projects.
New line of low cost, high accuracy laser level transmitters - K-TEK, leading manufacturer of state-of-the-art level instrumentation for liquid and bulk solids detection, today announced the SureShot family of low-cost, laser level transmitters. The lightweight, corrosion-resistant SureShot features a unique, all-digital design that delivers high performance for complex level and positioning applications. Using an advanced timing system and sophisticated digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms, the SureShot is able to select true signals, even in the harshest of conditions. In addition, the SureShot architecture ensures users are up and running quickly because it requires no calibration or special configuration software.
New range of t/c connectors - Omega's range of thermocouple connectors specifically for temperature sensor manufacturers continues to grow. New features include solid pin standard plugs, a unique universal in-line & panel socket, which accepts both standard and miniature plugs with an unparalleled range of accessories including crimp-on adapters for mineral insulated cable. All available in thermoplastic materials for use up to 220 Deg C and high temperature ceramic connectors for use up to 650 Deg C. The complete range is stocked in IEC and ANSI colour coding, making it the widest range of thermocouple connectors available. "All this and competitively priced too!"
Regulatory amendments and efficiency drives to boost uptake of flow sensors - The need to conform with new European Commission (EC) regulations, combined with increased demand for improved efficiency in process industries are encouraging greater adoption of flowmeters. Aided by greater demand for more advanced and higher-priced flowmeter technology, this relatively mature €650.00 million market is projected to experience steady revenue growth in the next years. Various EC directives related to environmental issues and processes in the food and beverage and pharmaceuticals sectors are compelling companies to regulate their production practices, reports Frost & Sullivan, an international growth consultancy. Monitoring the flow of fluids not only ensures improved, more streamlined processes in these industries, but also helps to save costs.
Enhanced industrial leased line modem - SixNet has announced the availability of the first significant improvement to leased line modem technology in many years. The VT-MODEM-4 supports fast point to point continuous connections over 2-wire leased PSTN lines. Traditionally, leased line modems have been restricted to slow communications (typically 1200 or 2400 baud.) This new industrially hardened modem incorporates modern data compression technology to speed up communications to rates up to 33.6 Kbaud. This modem can be used to replace obsolete leased line modems, improving both performance and reliability.
Industrial controller makes Ethernet a snip - Io Limited has released a compact programmable automation controller with embedded Ethernet connectivity, the NAD208. The ruggedised module makes it both easy and cost-effective to apply high degrees of computing power to solve real-time control and instrumentation problems, by means of a built-in messaging language called SNIP. Users may now control remote industrial-grade I/O 'out-of-the-box' from their desktop PC, using standard Ethernet communications and a Windows based console.

New automation system extends the reach, functionality of traditional automation systems - An enhancement to ABB's distributed control system (DCS) has been launched which, for the first time, gives personnel from all areas of manufacturing or process plants access to customised information according to their job function. While this information is extracted from the same source, it is delivered direct to their desk in a format suited to that user. Rather than make just process control improvements, the new automation system is able to tap into valuable information from a whole raft of peripheral devices and assets that may have previously been ignored.
TÜV approves fieldbus safety instrumented systems concept - The Fieldbus Foundation (FF) has announced that TÜV Anlagentechnik GmbH, Automation, Software and Information Technology, the global, independent and accredited testing agency, has approved its Safety Instrumented Systems (FF-SIS) system concept.
More on our Fieldbus News page
Instant replay for materials testing - A powerful feature that records live action of materials testing events for training and detailed analysis purposes is now available on the latest version of NexeGen MT instrument control software from Lloyd Instruments. With 'Video Capture', it is possible to video record live tests, then synchronise the playback during results analysis. Unlike similar systems currently available, the synchronisation covers all tests including multi-stage, multi-speed and cycling.
Documenting process calibrator offers extensive device-specific calibration support for HART instrumentation - The Fluke 744 Documenting Process Calibrator (DPC) offers a unique integration of multifunction calibration and HART communication capability in a rugged, handheld package. The new V2.3 software features device-specific calibration support for the latest revisions of currently supported transmitters, as well as for new temperature and pressure transmitters and instruments including those from Honeywell, Wika, Endress+Hauser and other leading vendors. With these additions this unit is said to offer the most extensive list of device-specific HART support available.
Portable gas analyser brings rapid results and huge savings - For the fast, accurate analysis of dissolved gases in oil, the new Kelman 'Transport X' portable gas analyser is now available in Europe from Mans International. With Transport X, it is now possible to conduct dissolved gas analysis on site. Transport X is easy to use, with a step-by-step touch screen operation. After loading the oil sample, the gas is extracted automatically and analysed by a special technique called photoacoustic spectroscopy. Results are achieved in a matter of minutes, rather than days or weeks being analysed at a laboratory off site. Not only does this bring significant cost savings through faster analysis turnaround times, but also allows routine operators to make oil analysis checks on a regular basis and keep valuable equipment up and running for maximum productivity.
Photoacoustic spectroscopy was first discovered by Alexander Graham Bell in the late 19th Century, but is only now available to industrial applications thanks to the advanced technology developed recently. This method is identical to that used by the European Space Agency for monitoring blood gases.

Key fieldbus components to be supplied to the $4.3 billion project in China - MTL-Relcom have been awarded the contract to supply FPS fieldbus power conditioners and 10-way Megablock wiring hubs to the Nanhai project in China, regarded as one of the largest fieldbus installations so far with over 30,000 fieldbus device connections on more than 3,000 segments. "MTL-Relcom were selected as the supplier of key fieldbus components because of their proven record with Shell and other fieldbus users," said Johan Veerman, Principal Instrument and Process Control Engineer for CSPC. "Also, MTL's ability to support the many engineering contractors throughout the world and to offer on-site support from their offices in China is important in this fast track project. As the most experienced fieldbus physical layer supplier, MTL-Relcom has helped minimise the risk on this prestige fieldbus project".
Product line expansion - Aonix is expanding its ObjectAda product line with a port of its LynxOS target to a Linux development platform. With this new release, developers gain a significant speed boost as the Linux development platform is able to take advantage of next-generation Intel. The target LynxOS provides a rich real-time feature set for complex networked applications in the mission- and safety-critical space.

Three new high-performance motion controller modules - Factory automation engineers and machine builders can now select a National Instruments PXI-735x high-performance motion controller in three new axis configurations. Complementing the original PXI-7358 8-axis version, the PXI-7352, PXI-7354 and PXI-7356 modules offer 2, 4 and 6-axis versions of the stepper or servo motion controller.

pH and conductivity transmitters with Profibus PA outputs - Yokogawa has released new versions of its proven pH and conductivity transmitters with Profibus PA communications interfaces. The inclusion of Profibus PA outputs in the company's EXA Series of CE-approved 2-wire transmitters completes the suite of available outputs that already includes Foundation Fieldbus, HART and conventional 4 - 20 mA. The products that have been updated with Profibus PA are the EXA PH202 pH and redox (ORP) analyser, the EXA SC202 conductivity and resistivity analyser, and the EXA ISC202 inductive conductivity analyser. All three instruments incorporate Yokogawa's proven EXA sensor diagnostics capabilities to provide enhanced status monitoring and asset-management facilities for the end-user.
OPC Foundation approves system - Moore Industries' process control and distributed I/O network, the NET Concentrator System (NCS), has obtained OPC Foundation approval for the system's OPC server. This approval confirms the connectivity and interoperability of the NCS with other OPC vendors

Hot stuff torques in Dublin - During our visit to the mtec show earlier this month we attended the launch of Sensor Technology's new TorqSense transducer and learned about this interesting application. Real time process control for food manufacture has come a significant step closer, thanks to pioneering research work at University College Dublin into viscosity measurement techniques for characterising the flow and mixability of highly non-Newtonian fluids. At the heart of the researchers' experiments is the Torqsense transducer made by Sensor Technology in Oxon, which monitors the constantly changing flow characteristics of materials as diverse as tomato ketchup, chocolate, pasta sauce and chicken tikka massala as they are mixed.
Torqsense uses Surface Acoustic Waves techniques to provide non-contact monitoring of instantaneous rotary torque, allowing accurate modelling of the instantaneous load changes. It is in effect a frequency dependent strain gauge operating at ultrasound frequencies and consists of a transducer mounted on the mixer's rotating shaft to monitors variations in its resonance frequency as the torsional load varies. An RF (radio frequency) link is used for wireless transmission of signals to an adjacent pick up so that rotation is unhindered.
Technology advances to support manufacturing and space exploration - President George W. Bush of the USA, recently established the aggressive goal for NASA of building the International Space Station by 2010. The advances in engineering and logistics are required to support not only the mission objectives of NASA, but to launch manufacturing technologies to a higher level of efficiency and productivity. ISA - The Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society is presently soliciting abstracts for papers covering the broad spectrum of applications, technologies, and services that will be needed to satisfy these new technology requirements for automation and control.
The Home of the Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas will host ISA Expo 2004 Technical Applications Conference and the ISA Expo 2004 Emerging Technologies Conference, scheduled 5-7 October. See also our ISA Expo 2004 Review
Global plant of the year nominees sought - The HART Communication Foundation (HCF) is seeking nominees for the HART Plant of the Year for 2004. The award is presented annually to recognize innovative use of HART Communication in real-time industrial process plant applications around the globe. Nominations are encouraged from all world areas and will be accepted up to and including May 28.
More on our Fieldbus News page

Competency center launched with seminar - ARC (Automation Research Centre) based at University of Limerick (Irl), were officially designated as the Irish ProfiBus Competency Centre (PCC) by ProfiBus International (PI) following an accreditation visit by PI experts on 10th February 2004. To coincide with this event ARC in Co-Operation with Siemens (Ireland) hosted a one-day seminar on Fieldbus Technologies. The topics covered were ProfiBus, PROFInet, PROFIsafe, FDT/DTM. The main presenter was Dr Manfred Popp who is well known authority on PROFIBUS and related technologies.

Standard set for signal sources - Tektronix, leading provider of test and measurement solutions, announced today that the recently introduced DTG5000 Series of signal source equipment is receiving rapid adoption in the semiconductor, computing, and video industries. Designed in response to ever higher clock rates and tighter timing margins, the DTG5000 Series combines the power of a data generator with the capabilities of a pulse generator in a versatile, bench-top form factor. The new series of signal source equipment shortens the duration of complex test procedures and simplifies the generation of low-jitter, high-accuracy clock signals or serial data across multiple channels.
Guide reissued - Perry Marshall's "Industrial Ethernethas now been re-released in a new, easier to use format by ISA Press.
More info on our Fieldbus News page
Solartron Mobrey launches new products to enable companies to meet European regulations - Solartron Mobrey will be launching a new range of products for the level measurement of dry materials. Ideal for industries such as chemical, aggregates, pharmaceutical, food and plastics, the range has been developed as a direct result of customer demand, and will include a capacitance switch, paddle switch and long-range ultrasonic transmitter.
This is the first release we have received for Interkama 2004 which is scheduled for 19/24 April 2004 in the new venue of Hannover (D).
More choice for remote plant control monitoring - Ideal for remote industrial plant monitoring or remote energy metering, the new Telemodem2 industrial modems from Jekyll Electronic Technology have years of proven experience in harsh industrial environments for efficient remote data acquisition at an affordable price. It can connect to equipment monitors, environment logging systems, leak or overflow detectors, door contacts, tank level indicators, and PLC programmable logic controllers that control plant sensor networks for remote condition monitoring. The main advantage is the ability to download data from remote monitoring equipment as often as required, without the need to deploy resources on site.
Improved service for cable avoidance and pipeline inspection needs - To provide customers with an even greater level of service, Radiodetection, leading specialists in cable locators and pipeline inspection solutions, has made the significant step of relocating its service team to much larger custom built premises at its Bristol headquarters (England). As a result, enquiries for before and after sales are now handled extremely efficiently, and customers will see improved job turnaround times for equipment servicing, testing and calibration. For basic pipeline inspection needs, an expanded camera repairs department has also been included at Bristol, while the Pearpoint testing facilities at Borden and Sheffield will continue to offer their services for more advanced camera inspection applications.

Site upgrade reflects conference - Profibus UK has updated its web site at www.profibus.co.uk. It is now completely dedicated to the International PROFIBUS Conference at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire, England June 22 & 23 2004.
More information on our Fieldbus News Page
Compact electronic load handles 80 A and 80 V - The LD300, new from TTi (Thurlby Thandar Instruments), is a DC electronic load with maximum input levels of 80 A and 80 V, making it ideally suited for use in investigating the behaviour of many different types of DC power sources such as batteries, solar cells, fuel cells or wind generators, as well as electronic power-supply units.
Acquisition achieves new level in water treatment competence - ITT Industries announced today that it has purchased 88,06 % of WEDECO AG Water Technology. "ITT Industries is poised to assume a leading position in the water treatment business. Through its acquisition of WEDECO AG Water Technology of Düsseldorf, Germany, and Heng Tong Water Treatment Engineering Co. Ltd. of Shanghai, China, ITT Fluid Technologies' Sanitaire business unit has secured access to technology that is leading edge within the industry" says Tom Pokorsky, President ITT Industries, Sanitare.

"Today marks a defining moment for our Group - a day on which we put the difficulties of the past two years behind us and start to plan for a more certain future" - Good news from the Invensys Group which has announced a guaranteed £ stg 2.7 billion refinancing programme. This will result in a significant injection of cash into their business from shareholders and bondholders, and the addition of a stg £1.6 billion banking facility - that guarantees them access to further funds as needed according to Rick Haythornthwaite, Chief Executive. This necessitates a number of structural and personal changes in the group
New sanitary magnetic flowmeter extends reliability to hygienic applications - A new sanitary magnetic flowmeter has been added to the flow product range from the Rosemount Division of Emerson Process Management. Their 8721 magnetic flowmeter is designed specifically for food, beverage, pharmaceutical and biotechnology applications, and has achieved EHEDG certification. The Model 8721 utilises FDA approved materials for all surfaces in contact with the process fluid, with 316SS or Hastelloy electrodes and a PFA liner. The flowtube is CIP/SIP cleanable, and with an ID that matches the process piping to eliminate step changes: the internal design is free of cracks and crevices, and is self draining.
Quality instrument manufacture in Northern Ireland - Star Instruments Ltd is a manufacturer of pressure gauges, thermometers, level and flow instrumentation. As a result of the company's commitment to quality, the company has received the ISO9000-2000 accreditation for the manufacturing of its class 1 instrumentation in Dunmurry, Belfast. Star Instruments are able to manufacture bespoke instrumentation to meet the requirements for various industries. They also are the sole Ireland and Britain distributor for a number of manufacturers of complementary instrumentation. Sika - Armaturen Franz Schneider, Lehmann and Michels.
Increasing need for intelligent field data heats up temperature transmitter market - The worldwide Temperature Transmitter market, which totaled nearly 205 million USDollars in 2003, is estimated to exceed 253 million USDollars by the end of 2008, expanding at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) greater than 4 percent, according to a new study by the ARC Advisory Group. "Increasing need for more accurate field data is creating renewed interest in temperature transmitters. Industrial manufacturers are increasingly striving to assimilate greater amounts of field data such as alarm alerts, calibration documentation, and measurement validation, into a common database. The need for a common repository for intelligent field data is being driven by such initiatives as on-line Plant Asset Management (PAM) and Real-time Performance Management (RPM) strategies," says Research Director Wil Chin, co-author of ARC's new Temperature Transmitter Market Outlook Study.
Modular track on brushless linear servo motors facilitates unlimited travel stroke - Baldor has released a new series of advanced iron core brushless linear servo motors that provide machine builders with exceptional configuration flexibility. The new LMIC (linear motor iron core) series offers a very wide choice of sizes and power ratings, and features a modular track which enables designers to achieve any desired travel stroke length simply by placing sections end-to-end. Available in standard and low profile versions, the motors are capable of delivering extremely high thrust forces, acceleration and speed, and are designed specifically for ease of system integration. Different models offer continuous thrust forces as high as 13,813N peak (5,179N continuous), acceleration rates in excess of 98 metres/second/second, and positioning speeds of more than 8 metres/second.
Publication highlights process capabilities - Aerotech has released a publication that details its expertise across a variety of demanding, high-precision industries. The 40-page Automation solutions for the automotive, machine tool, assembly and packaging industries goes into great depth within each of these industries, highlighting how Aerotech's products have helped major manufacturers attain - and maintain - a competitive advantage through the use of matched, high-precision motion systems.

Company's wireless communications analysers provide one solution to handle all IEEE 802.11 variations - Tektronix, provider of test, measurement and monitoring tools, today announced a new software analysis package to speed design and validation of wireless local area network (WLAN) products complying with any of today’s prevailing WLAN standards.
Largest single field instrumentation order - Bechtel National, on behalf of the US Dept of Energy has awarded Invensys a 2.68 million US Dollar contract to supply pressure and temperature transmitters for a nuclear facility environmental restoration project. The contract is the largest single field instrumentation order for Foxboro M&I, amounting to over 2,700 transmitters. The goal of the project is to stabilize 200 million litres of radioactive and chemical waste from years of nuclear weapons research, which included the Manhattan Project that developed the first nuclear bomb during World Ward II.
Partnership announced - Keithley Instruments, leader in solutions for emerging measurement needs, today announced that it is partnering with the Albany NanoTech Center at the University at Albany - State University of New York to share research information and work together to further the understanding of nanotechnology and optoelectronics technologies. Keithley will provide the Albany NanoTech Center with a state-of-the-art semiconductor device characterization system.

Test tools catalogue is out! - Fluke, leader in compact, professional electronic test tools, has just released its 2004 Test Tools Catalogue. The free, 60-page full-colour catalogue contains complete descriptions of features and specifications for Fluke's full line of test tools. Sections include handheld digital multimeters (DMMs), basic electrical testers, ScopeMeters, installation testers including the new Fluke 1650 Series multifunction testers, process calibration tools, power quality tools, clamp meters, digital thermometers and accessories.