Automation Parts

The Flexpower system from Banner Engineering combines low-power sensors, long-lasting batteries, solar panels and wireless I/O devices to allow wireless operation of remote applications. The no-wire solution is designed for applications where wired power is either not available or impractical. Power is generated by lithium D cell batteries or a solar connector and rechargeable battery combination that require an average of two hours of sunlight per day to power a 4-20mA loop. Flexpower is said to provide reliable, autonomous power sufficient to operate a range of sensors and the remote node of Banner's DX80 industrial wireless network. Applications for wireless sensing and control include: agriculture - irrigation control; monitor steam power plant valve temperatures; pump and flow control; perimeter guarding; tank level monitoring; rotating machinery for auto and other industries; landfill leachate pump counting; material handling; automated guided vehicle control; and vehicle

Ilix Launches Cutting Tools Catalogue For 2010 Cutting tool brand Ilix Precision has launched its 2010 catalogue, which features products for drilling, threading and reaming that are now available to UK engineers. Ilix describes itself as a true solid round precision-cutting tool brand with a product range of more than 50,000 items in HSS, HSSE, HSSE-PM, solid carbide and cermet. All products are offered with the latest surface-coating technologies. The 2010 catalogue has a 20 per cent increased programme range of the latest technology for drilling, threading and reaming. The catalogue is also available in 3D format on Ilix's website. The web catalogue is easy to work with and gives instant access to all the Ilix program and technical data.

Ilix Cermet Reamers Are Ideal For Dry Machining Engineers Cutting Tools, the UK agent for Ilix, has introduced Ilix solid-carbide and cermet reamers for the machining of hard metals. The machine reamers 6372C and 6323 allow the production of high-precision holes with good surface finish. Compared with HSS, the solid-carbide qualities enable the increase of cutting parameters and tool life. The quality of the reamers is said to guarantee high performance, even for hard metals with a resistance more than 1200N/mm2. The Ilix carbide 6372C range of hundredth reamers is from 0.98mm through to 12.05mm in increments of 0.01mm. The reamers are manufactured to a tolerance of +0.000 - +0.004mm. The cermet reamers 6323 have new cutting geometry developed by Ilix. These reamers are said to be ideal for steel machining, having high chemical stability during the cutting process. They offer good wear resistance due to the high hardness and have low material adhesion. The Ilix cermet reamer is said to

RFID Transponder Ideal For Medical Applications Smartrac has expanded its S-Tag product portfolio with an RFID transponder that withstands gamma radiation of up to 45kilogray (kGy) for medical applications where aseptic conditions are compulsory. Sanitising medical equipment with gamma rays is said to offer several benefits. As the irradiation destroys the DNA of any micro-organisms, medical equipment is sanitised reliably. In addition, radiation sterilisation is the only process in which products can be sanitised - including their packaging - as the gamma rays permeate materials and casings such as metal containers easily and without any appreciable increase in temperature. Compared with heat and chemical sterilisation, irradiation is a fast, easy, effective and environmentally friendly process that leaves no residues on the sanitised objects. The transponder has been developed based on the company's S-Tag product family. Smartrac said its S-Tags are characterised by robustness, h

Software Module Provides Clear Production Schedule Gemba Solutions has released the latest expansion to its real-time production efficiency software suite with the launch of a job sequencing module. This module allows a production machine's workload to be sequenced and its performance against that workload to be monitored. Unlike traditional scheduling or planning software, this module calculates realistic job start and end times based on data relating to the demonstrated performance of the user's assets. This gives a more accurate picture of the user's actual production schedule rather than one based on theoretical/nominal production rates. The user can pre-load the system with jobs and the software will calculate start times and dates based on actual shift availability, planned downtime and demonstrated OEE levels. The end times that the system calculates will be compared with the due dates/times that the user has entered into the system. Any jobs that will not meet their

Turn-Mill Cell Increases Machining Productivity Miyano has revealed that IMI Components has installed a 13-axis turn-milling cell with fully integrated gantry loader to reduce machining times on small components for the energy sector. IMI adopted single-cycle turn-milling to replace four separate CNC turning and milling operations on a range of small components destined for the energy and power generation industry. The 13-axis Miyano ABX-64TH3 turn-milling cell with fully integrated gantry loader is on final commissioning trials and has already reduced total machining times on four critical valves. Such is the level of increased productivity that for one particular component, three parts can now be produced complete in the previous floor-to-floor time total for one part. As an example of the level of complexity involved, one of the parts has some 100 dimensions that have to be maintained. Here, the Miyano has the advantage of being able to apply the 17 driven tools to carry out the

Burkert Discusses Benefits Of Integrated Valves Decentralised automation systems have become a suitable alternative to control cabinet systems in many process sectors, according to Burkert Fluid Control Systems. This comes as more and more practical solutions are developed that integrate automation functions into the pneumatic actuators of process valves. Food and beverage producers and companies in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors are now in a position to reconcile the commercial necessity of a high degree of automation in their production with the requirements of hygiene and safety. Thanks to their modular structure, systems based on process valves can be adapted to suit many situations and applications, whereby such optimised solutions are always based on high-quality, tried-and-tested components with a long service life. In the production of food, beverages, medicines and cosmetics, the statutory requirements of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) for food p

Super-Thermometers Calibrate Thermistors And SPRTs Electronic test and measurement specialist Fluke has introduced the 1594A/1595A super-thermometers from Hart Scientific for the calibration of SPRTs, PRTs and thermistors. The Fluke 1594A and 1595A super-thermometers are accurate enough for the primary lab, providing accuracy to 0.06ppm (0.000015C), and economical enough for the secondary lab. Fluke said metrologists can feel confident that every measurement made with the super-thermometer falls within expected limits, easy verifiable at any time. The 1594A and 1595A feature patent-pending ratio self-calibration that enables users to test the accuracy or calibrate the resistance ratio linearity of the super-thermometer's measurement circuit without requiring any external devices or special training. Metrologists can verify accuracy and performance automatically in about 30mins at the touch of a button. Although unlikely, measurement circuit defects would be detected and reporte

Robot Offers Compact Solution For Machine Builders Fanuc Robotics has launched a robot that can be mounted in a variety of orientations without modification and with an unobtrusive exterior for machine load, assembly and inspection applications. The M-10iA/10S is a six-axes, 10kg-payload robot with a hollow arm to completely remove tooling cabling from the work area. The company said the robot provides a compact solution for machine builders and system integrators needing to reduce space requirements. The arm can be mounted in floor, ceiling and angle orientation - for instance, overhead or an inclined plane - to reduce space required for other operations or peripheral equipment. The robot's hollow arm has integrated fluidics, signal and electrical cabling throughout, reducing the risk of cable snagging and breakages. By routing cables through to the wrist flange, joint six, full tool rotation is maximised without risk, speeding up programming and ensuring longer cable life. Fa

Tool Offers 3D Injection Moulding Flow Simulation Cimatron CAD/CAM provider Foregone Solutions has announced a partnership with Coretech System that will offer 3D injection moulding flow simulation for medical device manufacturers and more. As a result of this partnership, mould designers can now simulate and analyse the injection moulding process from within CimatronE. This will enable users to ensure optimal placement of injection points, increasing the quality of the manufactured part. Coretech's Moldex3D Explorer analyses tool displays a full 3D visualisation of the moulding process, providing the inner temperature and pressure of the cavity. CimatronE users will be able to evaluate the welding line, air traps, flow balance, cooling time, the number of gates needed, and the location of the gates. The Moldex3D Explorer add-on is activated with only a few clicks in CimatronE and requires no additional training or CAD conversion. A report generator enables users to provide relevan

Rocker Switches For Consumer Applications And More CandK Components has developed two series of rocker switches for household appliances, instrument panels, industrial controls and computers/peripherals. Designated the CG and CL series, the UL- and CSA-approved single-pole power rocker switches feature two-tone and multi-coloured illuminated actuators. The durable rockers are said to be easy to install and offer a casing that can retain markings. The CG series single-pole power rocker switches are available with a two-tone actuator (offered in five colour combinations) or with red, amber or green illuminated actuators. Additionally, the actuators can be marked. VDE-approved, the bevelled, framed CG series rockers offer easy panel-mount installation. The switch has contact ratings of 16A at 125VAC or 10A at 250VAC and an electrical life of 10,000 make-and-break cycles at full load. The operating temperature for the CG series is -20C to +85C. The CL series single-pole power rocker sw

QAM Modem IC For Narrowband Applications CML Microcircuits has launched the CMX7163 wireless data QAM modem IC designed to deliver high spectral efficiency QAM for narrowband applications including Scada and M2M systems. The CMX7163 provides 4/16/64-QAM baseboard modem functions in a single chip, replacing the current need for user-programmed DSP plus codec ICs. This development includes high dynamic range analogue signal capturing, digital baseband filters, auxiliary codecs, clock generator, and I/O functions, all designed to lower total bill-of-materials cost and chip count. The high level of total integration reduces technical risk and time to market, according to CML Microcircuits. The device is a complete baseband modem system delivering high performance and high spectral efficiency QAM for narrowband applications. These include M2M systems over dedicated channels, digital software defined radio (SDR), high-speed wireless data and Scada systems. The half-duplex device, which

Immunity Generator For Industrial Applications Advanced Test Equipment Rentals has announced the availability of the Teseq NSG 3060 6kV conducted immunity generator for residential, commercial and industrial applications. The Teseq NSG 3060 6kV conducted immunity generator meets IEC standards 61000-4-4, 5, 11 and 12, as well as various IEC 61000-4-4. It is said to establish a common and reproducible reference for evaluating the immunity of electrical and electronic equipment when subjected to electrical fast transient/bursts on supply, signal, control and earth ports. The test method documented in this part of IEC 61000 describes a consistent method to assess the immunity of an equipment or system against a defined phenomenon. IEC 61000-4-5 relates to the immunity requirements, test methods, and range of recommended test levels for equipment to unidirectional surges caused by over-voltages from switching and lightning transients. Several test levels are defined which relate to differen

Press Ensures Safe Operation For Assembly Company Tox Pressotechnik has provided a press system designed to meet a series of ergonomic and safety needs, for an assembly company with handicapped employees. Vebo Werkstatt Olten eventually installed a Tox Press type CEB, consisting of a press frame of C-shape, a pneumo-hydraulic drive system, a Tox Powerpackage EKSD and a base frame. The press is equipped with a safety control, a swivelling control panel and a pedal switch, protective sheathing and a safety light grid. For universal use with most tools, the throat of the C-frame press is 200mm and the tool aperture is 200mm. The pneumo-hydraulic Powerpackage cylinder Tox EKSD generates a maximum press force of 130kN at 6bar compressed air. The 100mm total stroke of the cylinder and the real powerstroke of 10mm ensure that the punching, forming or pressing-in/pressing position are attained at a very high speed and the press-force stroke is realised in a sensitive way. In order to limit

Factory Master Used For Pipe-Assembly Manufacture B and D is using the Factory Master system in the manufacture of fabricated pipe kits and assemblies, which are used on RR commercial, military, marine and power-generation jet engines. The integrated system can handle complex BOMs, purchase ordering and production procedures, enabling it to keep track of the entire process. The Material Requirements Planning Report (MRP) allows customers to ascertain what is currently available and what is going to be available against sales orders. Factory Master enables: bulk purchasing of common components; greater proactivity; reduced 'fire-fighting'; time saved identifying and ordering requirements; and forecast of results in shorter lead times.

Hepcomotion Develops Actuators For X-Y-Z Systems Hepcomotion has developed a range of actuators, enabling it to supply X-Y-Z systems for industrial and scientific tasks such as pick and place, automated assembly, inspection and product labelling. According to the company, X-Y-Z linear motion systems are widely used throughout industry. For many applications, using the same type of linear actuator in each of the axes is an adequate solution. However, with manufacturing economics focusing on greater productivity, X-Y-Z systems are increasingly being specified to automate vital processes. Their speed of operation is often greater and their duty cycle much longer. The new actuators have been developed to address these different needs so that each axis operates optimally and contributes to the overall efficiency and longevity of the system. This concept still allows X-Y-Z systems to be constructed using standard, off-the-shelf components but accommodates the specific characteristics of

Small-Scale Machine For Micro Injection Moulding Engel has developed a small-scale electric injection unit with a 15mm screw diameter, suitable for micro injection moulding. Using an E-max 50/50 or an E-victory 50/28, it is now possible to achieve shot weights of less than 1g and part weights down to 0.1g with a high level of reproduction accuracy, according to the company. Two new drive variants with injection speeds of 330mm/sec (standard) and 550mm/sec (high) are available for the screw diameters (15/18/20mm). The optimised screw geometry, in combination with a specially designed feed opening throat, enable the trouble-free processing of standard pellets with improved plasticising and reproducibility, even with this small diameter.

Beko Oil-Vapour Monitor Gains TUV Certification Beko's Metpoint OCV oil-vapour monitoring system for chemical and pharmaceutical production processes has been certified by TUV Nord in accordance with the requirements of ISO 8573-1, Classes 1 to 4. According to the company, even 'oil-free' components give no guarantee for 'oil-free' compressed air, owing to the contamination of the ambient air/intake air. In most cases, a certain residual oil content cannot be entirely avoided in standard applications. The precise monitoring of the oil-vapour content, which is possible at any time, is important. In particular, in critical production processes in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, in food production and surface coating, the analysis and control of compressed-air quality is a crucial factor, according to Beko. The network-compatible Metpoint OCV offers constant monitoring down to the range of a thousandth mg/m3 and features a touch-screen display and 24/7 pr

IMTS 2010 To Feature CNC Control Developments Fanuc CNC America will showcase advanced CNC control developments at IMTS 2010, along with industry solutions to meet strict automotive, aerospace, medical, heavy industry and job-shop requirements. The company, which will be found in Booth S-8919, will present the new model 30i-B Series CNC Control, the 0i-D/0i-DMate Control with newly enhanced functionality, the new 35i-B CNC Control for transfer-line machines, new five-axis volumetric error compensation and various industry solutions. The new Fanuc CNC 30i-B Series Control is an upgrade from the 30i-A Series. The 30i-B Series offers enhanced features and functions, with advancements in operability and maintainability including a USB memory port, enhancements in the dual safety check, a new punch press and laser functionality. For advanced machining with high accuracy, the 30i-B provides advancements in high-speed five-axis capabilities, with architecture and software algorithms to re

Unison Launches All-Electric Tube Benders At Mach Unison launched a range of all-electric tube bending machines, ideal for most small- to medium-diameter applications involving high-precision small batch sizes and expensive materials, at Mach 2010. Incorporating a real-time Ethernet control system architecture and a new release of programming and control software, the machines are said to enhance the shape-forming capability and flexibility of servomotor-controlled bending. The new UK-built Breeze machines bend faster, exploit advanced multi-axis synchronisation capabilities to support sophisticated roll forming, improve the tool adjustments that can be employed during the bending cycle to generate ultra-precise part shapes and offer a visual collision-checking programming feature as standard. They also feature an open architecture that can be adapted to integrate an application-specific capability or to build work cells. An all-electric architecture provides tube benders with performa

Hydrocarbon Fluorimeters Monitor Oil-Spill Extent Chelsea's range of hydrocarbon fluorimeters is being deployed in the Gulf of Mexico to monitor the extent of the oil spill. Originally designed for military use, these reliable, robust, high-sensitivity fluorimeters have previously been used to detect crude and refined oils in a range of environments. The UV Aquatracka and the Uvilux submersible fluorimeters monitor the concentration of refined (360nm) or crude hydrocarbons (440nm) in a range of coastal, oceanographic and freshwater applications. They have been designed to be deployed independently, as well as from submersible vehicles, diver held, moored, profiled or as part of a flow-through system. These robust, compact, lightweight instruments are suitable for shallow and full ocean depth. They are also suitable for long-term deployment and will be used to monitor the extent of the pollution caused after the oil slick has dispersed. The UV Aquatracka displays real-time, live

Veolia Filters Aid Effluent Wastewater Treatment Glen Water has selected Hydrotech Discfilter technology from Veolia for a project that is providing final effluent wastewater treatment and a sludge disposal solution in compliance with EU Directives. The Hydrotech Discfilter is considered to be a flexible technology that uses a series of segmented discs to support a woven media (polyester or stainless steel). The Hydrotech Discfilter was selected for use on the Omega scheme due to its modular design and compact layout. Under normal operating conditions the Hydrotech Discfilter will remain stationary. The influent enters the inside of the unit via a central drum, which houses a series of paired filter elements that remove particulate solids from the influent. As the water passes through the woven filter, solids are captured on the inner face of the element. Accumulation of these captured solids reduces the hydraulic throughput, which results in an increase in head loss over unit. At

Ethernet Cables Incorporate Flexlife Cable Jackets

TURCK has announced Cat 5e Ethernet cables that are Gigabit capable and are particularly suitable for harsh environments. The cables incorporate incorporate flexlife cable jackets, which are resistant to abrasion, crushing forces and chemicals. The Ethernet cables are available with four or eight conductors (two and four pair counts). The cables may be specified with straight or right-angle RJ45 or M12 connectors, accommodating diverse application requirements.

Aker Delivers Floating Platform To Statoil Aker Solutions has designed, engineered and assembled a semi-submersible platform for the Gjoa oil and gas field offshore Norway that is expected to help significantly reduce carbon emissions. With a topside weight of 22,000 tonnes and hull dry weight of 15,000 tonnes, the Gjoa deck measures 110m long and 85m wide. The platform's highest point is the flare tower at 143m. More than 500 Aker Solutions engineers have been mobilised to design the platform, from Oslo, Norway, and Mumbai, India. During the final assembly at Stord, peak manning reached 3,000 skilled operators. Installation of the mooring system, transportation and installation of the Gjoa platform is carried out by Aker Solutions' subsidiary Aker Marine Contractors.

PFC And FV Technology For Research And Development GYS, a welding gear and battery charger manufacturer, has invested in Power Factor Correction (PFC) and Flexible Voltage (FV) technology across a range of MMA for its research-and-development centre. PFC technology offers the user a range of benefits, including a reduction in power consumption. The requirement for less power also allows the user to weld at higher levels on a lower power supply. Using GYS's PFC-equipped MMA machines will allow high-duty-cycle welding at 160A (sufficient for 4mm rods) on a regular 13A power supply. Normally, a 160A machine without PFC is capable of welding only 3.2mm electrodes at 125A using a 13A fused plug. Inside electrical cables, energy travels at various frequencies. In the UK, we use energy at 50Hz, but up to 25 per cent of that energy travels at either higher or lower frequencies called diffractions. Mathematical models show that all of these diffractions add to each other for certain fre

ISC Implements CDS Modelserver Catalog Data Solutions (CDS) has announced that ISC Engineering now incorporates CDS Modelserver and CDS Catalog to present and aid online selection of products and CAD model downloads. ISC Engineering provides over-moulding technology for OEM and cable assemblies companies. 'We want our customers to be able to find and download CAD models of our products to simplify the design process,' said Steve Burk, president, ISC Engineering. 'To do this, we now use CDS software for its functionality and low cost. 'The conversion process results in a satisfactory user experience for our customers,' he added. 'Online 3D models are an important sales and marketing tool for all industrial suppliers and distributors and this implementation exploits the Adobe 3D CAD capability to add another user convenience - all the ISC Engineering product CAD models are viewable with the Adobe 3D PDF viewer already installed on most PCs,' said John Majo

Presspart To Exhibit Deep-Drawn Metal Components Presspart will be showcasing its latest deep-drawn metal components on stand D3 at the International Subcontract Manufacturing Show, Subcon 2010, to be held in Birmingham, UK, from 8-10 June. Presspart is a specialist supplier of metal precision parts for a wide variety of industries and applications - from electronics to utilities, heating and ventilation. Presspart's production processes include extremely long draws, ironed walls, multiple piercings and complex forms. Its capabilities extend to products from many different materials, including aluminium, stainless steel, carbon steel, brass, nickel, inconel and galfan.

Touch Point Products For Off-Highway Vehicles Southco's products cover access points and user touch points for all interior, chassis and entry applications associated with off-highway vehicles and equipment. Alex Wakeley, industry manager for transportation at Southco said: 'We have a product for everything, from interior latches and fasteners to the cab's entry-door system, and virtually every single access point on the chassis. Southco has addressed everything from precise control of the cab environment, including the angle of the armrest and the position of LCD touch screens, to a range of access hardware options that enable everything to be securely stored yet easily accessible. The company's platform of intuitive Touch Point products for interior applications include ergonomic latches to secure access panels, doors and storage enclosures, position-control devices that consistently hold display screens, armrests and headrests, and electronic access systems that p

Shell Supplies Lubricants For Ferrari Production Shell provides Ferrari with more than 250,000l of fuel and over 40,000 tonnes of lubricants to enable its automotive production each year. This includes a range of metalworking fluids that offer protection and efficiency during machining and finishing. Ferrari currently uses three Shell fluids in its new machining area, which finishes various engine parts. All of the Shell fluids are water-miscible cutting fluids and include Shell Adrana D 208 and Shell Sitala CE 3602, which are both semi-synthetic, mineral-based fluids. The third fluid is a mineral-free, fully ester-based fluid, Shell Sitala AF 800 and has been specifically developed to machine a range of aluminium alloys. Shell uses a development process to identify operational requirements known as 4D and develop high-performance lubricants that offer optimum performance during machining. This approach is designed to ensure that fluids are developed to machine a range of metals -

Bete's Hydrowhirl Performs Tank-Cleaning Duties The Hydrowhirl Orbitor from Bete is designed for high-performance clean-in-place (CIP) tank cleaning in industries such as food, brewing, beverage, dairy and pharmaceuticals. The Hydrowhirl device has a minimum number of moving parts and can be completely stripped and rebuilt onsite in less than 15 minutes. This optimum serviceability eliminates the time-consuming maintenance overhauls associated with other types of rotary tank-cleaning devices. Hydrowhirl is also self-cleaning and self-lubricating so the possibility of process contamination is eliminated. Its compact design allows it to be fitted through small, restricted access flanges. It is suitable for large tanks (up to 130ft in diameter) often found in the food, dairy, beverage and pharmaceutical industries, where high-performance cleaning with reduced cycle times and low water, energy and chemical consumption are important considerations. The range includes 10 standard m

ESAB Demobus Displays Latest Welding Equipment ESAB, a producer of welding and cutting equipment and consumables, is bringing its Demobus to the UK in June 2010. The mobile showroom is packed with the latest developments in welding and cutting equipment, automation, consumables and welding accessories, including PPE (personal protective equipment). ESAB has used a Demobus to tour Europe for several years, stopping at distributors to present to customers an overview of the company's welding and cutting products. As well as static displays and videos, the Demobus features live welding demonstrations of a range of equipment and consumables. The ESAB Demobus is also being used as part of the launch for the 'go anywhere welders', the Caddymig C160i and C200i. These two compact lightweight inverter-powered machines will be demonstrated throughout the tour. They can be used for a broad range of applications and can run off a 230V electric supply or operated by a generator. The

Torque Control Technology Offers Improved Safety Prodrive has developed a torque control system that is designed to improve the productivity, safety and running costs of large off-highway vehicles working on low-grip surfaces. The system adds electronic control to the vehicle's existing differentials to deliver a substantial improvement in performance at a cost-effective price, according to Prodrive. A large, heavily laden off-highway vehicle descending a slippery slope can present a substantial challenge for the driver: locking the differentials will improve braking performance but the ability to steer is greatly reduced; unlocking them restores steering authority but compromises braking. Climbing a slippery slope is equally difficult as the driver has to juggle the differential controls to switch between traction and steering. Even with the most highly trained personnel, wear on the driveline and tyres is increased and the potential safety issues associated with guiding a sub

Catalog Covers Test Tools For Harsh Environments Fluke's 124-page full-colour 2010/2011 Test Tools Catalogue includes handheld electronic test and measurement equipment for operating in harsh environments. An introductory section of the catalogue covers all recently introduced tools, such as the 810 Vibration Tester, the 233 Remote Display Multimeter, Ti32/Ti9 Industrial Thermal Imagers and TiR32/TiRx Thermal Imagers for Buildings, the 27 II/28 II Rugged Industrial Multimeters for operating in harsh conditions and the 1750 Power Recorder. The catalogue contains classified sections on all its handheld test tools under categories including digital multimeters, clamp meters and electrical testers, insulation testers and earth ground testers, installation testers and PAT testers, digital thermometers, thermal imagers, laser distance meters, indoor air-quality tools, scopemeters, power-quality tools, field calibrators, vibration testers, Atex-certified test tools and general accesso

Aptiv Film Enhances Mobile Phone Speaker Diaphragm Zhejiang New Jialian, a manufacturer of miniature acoustic components, has selected Victrex Polymer Solutions' Aptiv film for its new mobile phone speaker diaphragm. The company, headquartered in Jiashan, China, researches, develops, manufactures and distributes communication electronic acoustic devices, such as communications speakers, receivers, buzzers and Bluetooth headsets. Zhejiang New Jialian selected Aptiv film to meet the increasing demands of the mobile phone speaker diaphragm application and to overcome various challenges in product design. The deployment of Aptiv film is intended to improve the acoustic performance, durability and lifespan of the speakers. Compared with similar products, Victrex claims that its Aptiv film provides an improvement in processability, acoustic performance (especially in low-end response), durability, high-temperature performance at temperatures exceeding 220C (428F), chemical resistance

Axion And Projen Look To Biofuels Opportunities Axion has joined forces with Projen in a strategic partnership to develop business opportunities in biofuels, advanced thermal waste processing, specialty chemicals and mineral processing sectors. Through this alliance, clients can access a broader portfolio of expertise that is said to combine Axion's process design and development capabilities with Projen's project management capabilities. The two companies forged links several years ago when Axion helped Greenergy Biofuels to select Projen as its preferred supplier of project management services for its fuel storage facilities and large- scale biodiesel production plant.

Control Valves Help Meet Environmental Regulations Metso Automation launches the Metso intelligent control valves (ICV) suitable for both general and demanding applications in hydrocarbon processing plants. The company's ICV helps process plants to meet environmental regulations by using control valve constructions that are said to provide high performance, reliability and control accuracy. This control valve offering consists of eccentric rotary plug valves, V-port segment valves, Neles Rotaryglobe valves, high-performance eccentric disc valves and top-entry rotary control valves. Metso's ICV rotary control valves can reduce fugitive emissions by eliminating the gland-packing leakages often associated with rising stem globe valves. Metso's non-leakage, live-loaded valve packing prevents the loss of raw material and also eliminates the need for gland-packing maintenance and its associated maintenance costs. The control performance of Metso's ICV results from the fri

GE Holds Launch Event At Sensor And Test 2010 GE Sensing and Inspection Technologies has announced an event to launch the DPI620 communicator/calibrator and the Pace6000 pneumatic pressure controller/indicator. The DPI620 communicator/calibrator now incorporates full Hart capability and carries both Atex and IECEx certification. The Pace6000 pneumatic pressure controller/indicator with dual range configuration provides two instruments within a single casing. The company will also be introducing its Terps pressure sensor technology. This launch event will take place in the Madrid Room of the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre at 1pm on 19 May at the Sensor and Test 2010 exhibition.

Intelatrac System Monitors Plant Workflow Invensys Operations Management has released its updated Wonderware Intelatrac mobile workforce management and decision-support system to drive consistent best practice in plant operations. The Intelatrac 4.0 system's dynamic procedures, coupled with the open Wonderware system platform, can help companies adapt their workflow based on actual plant conditions. The updated system features new tools that extend and integrate it with important plant systems, allowing users to share data with the mobile workforce, providing better visibility into real-time plant operations and helping achieve asset and productivity excellence. The Intelatrac 4.0 system has a new oil and gas module that provides specialty calculations for tank volumes and pressure chart conversions. It can also deliver mobile data collection and calculation capabilities to hydrocarbon accounting systems, such as Tieto Energy Components, enhancing the ability to reliably operate r

SIS-Tech Safety System Protects From Overpressure SIS-Tech's Diamond-SIS high-integrity protective system (Hips) is used to provide overpressure protection where the opening of the pressure-relief valve poses unacceptable process safety risks. Diamond-SIS Hips is a low-cost standalone logic solver is certified for use in applications up to Safety Integrity Level (SIL) 3. API 521 and Code Case 2211 of ASME Section VIII, Division 1 and 2 allow the use of a high-integrity protective system, such as the Diamond-SIS Hips, in lieu of a pressure-relief device as long as the instrumented system meets or exceeds the protection provided by the pressure-relief device. To achieve this performance, the Hips design and management must also follow IEC 61511 and the logic solver should be compliant with IEC 61508 SIL 3. The Diamond-SIS Hips complies with these requirements. Diamond-SIS is an SIL 3 logic solver with 2oo3 voting, which provides the end user with a fault-tolerant logic solver tha

Rockwell Presents Oil And Gas Control Systems Rockwell Automation will be highlighting its digital field and integrated control, power and safety solutions and services for platform and subsea control at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). The Rockwell Automation OTC 2010 booth will outline the company's solutions and global support capabilities for the oil and gas industry. A process control centre featuring the Rockwell Automation Plantpax process automation system will be on display, featuring a critical control and safety system that enables the user to specify the level of reliability and availability needed for operational excellence. The booth also will feature an IEC-compliant motor control centre that offers protection for personnel and equipment. According to Rockwell, digital field solutions help oil and gas companies obtain high performance and value from their assets, including asset performance management (APM) solutions. Rockwell Automation APM solutions ut

Step Offshore To Sell Derrick Control Equipment Step Offshore, a subsidiary of Aker Solutions, has announced that it is to offer an extended range of drilling fluid management solutions for oil and gas projects. The company is now selling Derrick Equipment's premium solids control equipment and related products in Europe, which includes capital equipment, such as shale shakers, mud cleaners, centrifuges, degassers, flow dividers, as well as operational equipment such as shale shaker screens and spare parts. Derrick's screen technology, also available for competitors' shale shakers, includes the Pyramid and Pyramid Plus design. These three-dimensional screens offer the features of traditional flat, multi-layered screens while adding to the usable screen area. The result is a screen that allows for an increase in fluid handling capacity. Pyramid screens allow rigs to screen finer earlier in the drilling process, reducing total drilling fluid and disposal costs.