This Edition is Sponsored by Control Connection

December’s monthly newsletter is designed to keep you up–to–date on the most current new products and resources available to the marketplace for process, factory and machine control applications. This month highlights some new product and resource offerings that will surely help to optimize your organization’s performance. See you next month.

Patti Pool, New Products Editor

Patti’s Picks

Low–Cost PAC
CompactRIO programmable automation controller (PAC) offers engineers and machine builders a solution for advanced control and monitoring applications. The CRIO–9073 system has an integrated hardware architecture that combines an embedded real–time processor and a user–programmable FPGA chip within a single chassis. The CRIO–9073 also supports the scan mode programming features in the LabVIEW Real–Time Module 8.6, which simplifies the programming of the FPGA–based CompactRIO system.
National Instruments
800/258–7022

Ethernet Evaluation
netANALYZER, a PCI–based network analyzer is designed for use with Real–Time Industrial Ethernet protocols such as EtherNet/IP with CIPSYNC, EtherCAT, PROFINET RT/IRT and SERCOS III. Network traffic can be time–stamped within a 10 ns resolution, thus providing accurate information to determine jitter and delay times for individual nodes on a real–time Ethernet network. The netANALYZER is controlled by WireShark, a network analyzer with plug–ins for EtherNet/IP, PowerLink, PROFINET RT/IRT and SERCOS III. It provides 4 full duplex ports, thus allowing the measurement of traffic into and out of a node.
Hilscher North America
630/505–5301

Acopian’s Pluggable Redundant Power Package
Unlike other hot–swap power systems, the WP Series includes full metering and failure alarm contacts that can be used to control a remotely located alarm. They are available with any output from 3.3 Vdc to 125 Vdc to 250 W. Two sets of input connections permit input power for redundancy. They have PFC and may be operated on inputs from 90 Vac to 265 Vac. Each is housed in a 3U–high rack assembly. They are shipped within 9 days.

AMETEK Chandler Instruments’ Model 7500 small–footprint viscometer is designed for deep reservoirs in harsh environments where testing the limits of drilling and completion fluids can be a problem.

STONEL’s FieldBlock enclosure with easy–entry cover and six individually selectable drops houses networking components in process environments.

Top 50 – Who’s on YOUR Playlist?
Control and ARC Advisory Group show you who’s hot and who’s not on the automation hit parade.

The economic situation certainly reminds us all of an amusement park rollercoaster ride, maybe Disney’s “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.” But as we can see from the growth of the automation industry in 2007, there’s plenty to be happy about. While these numbers are for 2007, the first three months of 2008 continued the mostly double–digit increases in bookings for automation companies.

» Find out who made the top of the list

Electro–Chemical Devices’ Triton Dissolved Oxygen (DO8) sensor is designed with a FQ optical technology coupled with microprocessor–based electronics. The self–monitoring DO8 stores calibration data within the sensor, which minimizes maintenance.

Rockwell Automation’s FactoryTalk VantagePoint software allows end users to self–configure Web–based dashboards, trends and reports without support resources.

QSI’s QTERM–G70 Ethernet–enabled, graphic HMI terminal is designed to operate in sub–zero, harsh–environment settings.

2008 Top 50 Automation Vendors

Machine Builder Spotlight: ATS Supertrak

Winsystems’s EPX–855–G, an EPIC–compatible, Intel 1–GHz, low–power single–board computer operates over –40 °C to +70 °C range and provides a platform for management of geographically distributed machinery and sensors used in industrial environments.

Time Mark’s Model 16–1 over/under voltage monitor with adjustable trip and restart delay protects equipment from over, under, over/under voltage or rapid cycling conditions that can damage equipment.

Survey
Advanced pH Measurement and Control Survey
The first 25 participants who answer 10 or more questions will get a free copy of Advanced pH Measurement and Control, 3rd Edition. The results of this survey will be used in McMillan’s future Control columns, where he will touch on the past, present, and future of pH measurement. The information gathered also will be used for development of the next edition of Advanced pH Measurement and Control and a chapter in McMillan’s new book, Batch and Continuous Control Loop Foundation.

Poll
Hiring–Practices During Recession Times
If your firm is maintaining staffing levels during this recession, how will you handle less work with the same number of people?

TURCK’S WIM45 magnetic field sensor provides a direct analog output for determining the position of a piston magnet on all types of pneumatic cylinders.

Westermo’s DDW–120 Ethernet extender allows existing twisted–pair cable to be used to establish a high–speed remote connection between two Ethernet networks.

Daydreaming about your job? Find it now at Control Connection.