Control System World

National Instruments today announced that NI Alliance Partner G.R.A.S. Sound & Vibration, a leading producer of acoustic front-end products, now sells microphone kits for use with NI dynamic signal acquisition (DSA) hardware. NI offers several different microphone types, from array microphones to condenser microphones appropriate for class 1 sound-level measurements. Customers in a number of industries, including aerospace and defense, are already having success using these products for applications like acoustic holography, environmental noise, noise mapping and sound power.

“For more than 10 years G.R.A.S. and NI have worked together on joint projects, and there has always been a great collaboration between our companies,” said Peter Wulf-Andersen, managing director at G.R.A.S. Sound & Vibration. “I am proud that one of the biggest players in the industry has chosen G.R.A.S. as an official partner.”

NI’s new microphone kits include a G.R.A.S. microphone capsule and preamplifier. Inside the capsule is a diaphragm made of a special stainless alloy that provides maximum sensor life. The microphones contain a Transducer Electronic Data Sheet (TEDS) chip and combine with NI DSA hardware to provide a plug-and-play sensor experience.

Black Box announces new line of Gluten-Free Fiber Cable. This innovative new cable is ideal for sensitive systems and can solve many common problems associated with ordinary fiber cable.  “Gluten intolerance is more prevalent than previously thought,” says Andy Schmeltzer, Structured Cabling Product Manager at Black Box. “If your systems are showing unusual symptoms such as slowdowns, bloat, or gas in the data center, Black Box Gluten-Free Fiber Cable will have your data moving along smoothly again in no time.

OMRON introduces CPU Units NJ301. New controller that covers functions and high-speed processing required for machine control and safety, reliability and maintainability that are the features of industrial controllers. Up to 8 axis control.

Features are:

- Architecture Based on new Intel® AtomTM Processor

- Integration of Logic and Motion in one CPU

- Complete and robust machine automation: fast control performance and basic functions and reliability of industrial controllers

Technip has been awarded a lump sum contract for the basic, front-end engineering design and the first phase of project management consultancy services for the Petrocarabobo upgrader(1), to be built in the Faja del Orinoco region, Venezuela. The final Client is PETROCARABOBO S.A.(2).

The upgrader will have a capacity of 200,000 barrels per standard day.  Technip’s operating center in Rome, Italy, will execute the contract in collaboration with PDVSA - Ingenieria y Construccion (a subsidiary of PDVSA). The contract activities are scheduled to be completed by the first half of 2014.

Zurich, Switzerland, March 29, 2012 - ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won an order to provide complete power plant and propulsion systems for the first new build ship for German cruise operator TUI Cruises. The ship is being built in Finland at the STX Europe yard in Turku.

TUI Cruises, a joint venture between German tourism company TUI AG and Royal Caribbean International, is increasing its passenger capacity to serve the growing sea vacation market in German-speaking markets. Shipbuilder STX Europe has worked with ABB on numerous marine projects; ABB’s ability to deliver energy efficient systems was a key decision driver in this project.

ABB’s delivery will help the new ship maximize its onboard energy efficiency while providing a reliable power supply for all equipment and systems, as well as optimize its fuel consumption.

ABB will supply complete power plant and propulsion systems for the new ship, including medium voltage generators, main switchboards, propulsion transformers, propulsion drives, propulsion motors, thruster motors and ring main units for power distribution. ABB will also provide engineering, project management and commissioning services.

New record in patent applications – seven awards given. Innovators of the Endress+Hauser Group met this year at Maulburg for their 12th inventors' meeting, celebrating a record 225 patent applications. Seven product and process innovations were honored with awards.

Curiosity, thirst for knowledge and inventive spirit have made the Endress+Hauser Group a world leader in measurement engineering and automation solutions. Now almost sixty years after the foundation of the company, the innovative drive shows no signs of abating: the record 219 patent applications in 2010 were topped last year with 225 patents. "This excellent figure shows that we are on the right track," says Michael Ziesemer, COO of the Endress+Hauser Group. "Our unbroken powers of innovation give us confidence that we will continue to offer our customers the best possible solutions in the years to come."

Patents with a sustained and positive effect on Endress+Hauser's business success are honored every year at the Endress+Hauser Innovators' Meeting, held in 2012 inMaulburg, Germany. Over 300 inventors met on 30 March in a friendly atmosphere to celebrate the intellectual achievements and to present the winning projects.

The four "Patent Rights Incentive Awards", each with a prize money of 15,000 euros, went to teams of inventors at the production sites Endress+Hauser Conducta, Endress+Hauser Flowtec,

Industrial wireless transmission has arrived providing clear and significant advantages. Nevertheless, security is always an important issue and a question often asked is, "Will information be secure when broadcast via Data-Linc Group wireless modems?" The answer can be found in understanding the technologies employed in these products and, to that end, this paper will provide the understanding needed.

This paper applies to Data-Linc's SRM6000, SRM6100, SRM6200E, SRM6300E, SRM6210E and SRM6310E license-free, serial and Ethernet radio modems.

Please click data-linc to download the paper.

GE's MDS WiYZ is an intelligent data acquisition and networking platform combining wireless connectivity for sensors, I/O, instruments and meters with comprehensive network infrastructure solutions for IP/Ethernet and serial, machine-to-machine and backhaul communication to host systems and devices. Whether your application requires the collection of data from remote, unpowered sensors or deployment in areas with obstructed communication paths or a bridge for data using the cellular infrastructure to your enterprise network, MDS WiYZ products provide versatile, reliable and cost-effective solutions.

Key Benefits

- Cost effective wireless communication for sensors, instruments and I/O monitoring remote assets

- Improved communication reliability and simplified deployment using standards based, self creating, self healing mesh networking

- Reduce wiring, power and integration costs using battery powered, field hardened components

- Automate data collection using any combination of Cellular, WiFi and MDS backhaul options for seamless IP/Ethernet and serial communication to remote devices

- Global unlicensed use in 2.4 GHz spectrum plus GSM and CDMA cellular technology

Please click GE for details