• OptoTherm releases HP20 thermoelectric temperature control
• Brooks Instrument's B-Series mass flow controller ignores fluctuations
• IFS releases Eco-footprint Management tool
• West Control introduces ProVU process controller
• Hardy Instruments introduces HI 4060 Rate Controller
• Unitronics releases Vision570 controller
• RKC announces FB100 temperature/process controller

Browse more Product Announcements on the Process Control portal.

Search all Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date.

Video Monitoring Helps in Tough Economic Times
By Steve Rubin, Longwatch
Video monitoring can help companies survive through layoffs, plant closings, and idling of plants. The white paper explains that when plants have layoffs or shut down, much work remains to be done, often by a severely reduced workforce. Video can help pick up the workload.

Adding Process Control to a PLC-based System
By Opto 22
Today’s automation applications are less narrowly defined than in the past. Today, both discrete control and process control are often required to get the job done. Because of the architectural differences between a PLC-based system and a DCS, approaching a hybrid system from the PLC side can offer some challenges.

Visibility, Enablement, and Process Innovation for a Mobile Workforce
By Wonderware
In a modern plant, the right time to view information is not when you are standing in front of an operator console. It is when you are in the field, in front of a failing piece of equipment or discussing a problem while on the move. More often than not, the right way to deliver information is by putting it in the hands of a mobile worker.

The Secret Behind Wide Temperature Technology
By Abel Lee, et al, Moxa
Wide temperature industrial computers generally have an operating temperature range of -40 to 75°C. Designing such a computer requires a full understanding of the product’s thermal gradient to optimize the placement of components inside the computer.

Browse more white papers on the Process Control portal.

Manufacturing Mobility Guide
By Motorola
Manufacturing mobility guide features more than 150 pages that show how to unleash the full power of mobility across multiple manufacturing segments--from high-tech and consumer packaged goods to automotive, pharmaceuticals and more. The Unified Voice and Data Architecture section shows how a unified voice and data network can reduce costs and improve overall business efficiency.

Flow Handbook - Hands-on Guide to Industrial Flow Metering
The Flow Handbook, a hands-on guide to industrial flow metering, is available from Endress+Hauser free-of-charge. This 456-page, hardbound handbook gives readers a more in-depth understanding of the way modern flowmeters actually work. This new handbook is valued at $110 and includes an Endress+Hauser bookmark.

AutomationDirect Industrial Automation Product Reference Catalog
Have AutomationDirect's entire product line at your fingertips - it is more than a catalog...it is a Desk Reference containing detailed product descriptions complemented by plenty of technical illustrations, step-by-step procedures for selecting various PLC hardware and software, PC-based control, operator interface, motor contactors, drives, sensing equipment, connection systems, and much more.

Omron STI publishes Guide to DeviceNet Safety Systems
Guide outlines the benefits of implementing a DeviceNet safety network in a variety of machine safety applications, including standalone safety applications or distributed safety control systems.

Browse more resources and literature on the Process Control portal.

Paper plant ups productivity, cuts errors
Control Engineering Europe, January 2009
St. Regis Paper boosted production 17 per cent and cut errors by 63 per cent at a UK mill after implementing a new process control solution from ABB. The 800xA system includes QC and scanning measurement systems and the integration of existing motor control centres, variable speed drives and instrumentation.

HART-Enabled Plug-In Control System Migration
By Invensys Process Systems
Two companies--Dakota Gasification and Teck Cominco—upgraded their control systems to use HART communications. In both cases, the companies had HART instrumentation that had been installed years earlier, but were not using the HART data because their old control systems didn’t support it. IPS solved the problem.

Tank control at Klawer
South Africa Instrumentation & Control, February 2009
Klawer required a reliable solution for its wine tank control system. Critical parameters such as temperature set-points, pump cycle times and variable pump speeds are all addressed through Adroit SCADA screens

DL06 PLC puts heaters to the test
By Tom Brickey & Mike Sabatine, Pyromatics Automation Systems
Pyromatics built a Life Cycle Test Station for electric heating elements. If a heater failed, the test had to be shut down and QC alerted. Pyromatics used a DirectLOGIC DL06 PLC to control eight PID loops, DirectSOFT ladder logic editor, and a C-more EA7-T10C 10-inch TFT touch-screen operator interface.

Virtual Plant Provides Real Insights
Chemical Processing, January 2009
By Gregory K. McMillan, et al
Today, many pH control systems are operating in manual or severely oscillating in automatic. Effective automatic pH control often should be possible — this belief led to a project at Monsanto’s Luling, La., plant to improve a pH control system for wastewater.

Browse more application stories on the Process Control portal.

Gas Monitors Training Course - Electronic Download
This self-paced training course which covers all of these aspects of Gas Monitors. The subject is explained by means of text, rich graphics, Flash based animations, real-life plant photos and videos and interactive simulation exercises. It makes the subject fun to learn and easy to grasp. There is also a self-assessment test & a glossary.

Hazardous Area Instrumentation Training Course - Electronic Download
This is a self-paced training course which covers all aspects of instrumentation and automation systems used in hazardous (classified) locations.

Emerson to host biofuels summits in Denver, Atlanta, Houston
Alternative Fuels/BioRefinery Summit will be Thursday, March 19, in Denver, followed by summits in Atlanta in April and Houston in May.

AIMCAL expands Converting School courses
Courses focus on real-world problem solving for experienced converting professionals such as engineers, lead operators, foremen, and maintenance personnel.

Browse more training and seminar opportunities on the Process Control portal.

ABB appoints Rick Dolezal Channel Partner marketing manager
Most recently, Dolezal was Manager of the Process Market Development Group at Rockwell Automation.

Yokogawa opens sales and service office in Ireland
Process Industry Informer, December 2008
The new Dublin office will provide a local base for sales, systems projects, asset management, engineering and on-site support services for the Irish market.

Honeywell appoints Norman Gilsdorf president of Process Solutions Business
Gilsdorf was formerly vice president and general manager of the Process Solutions business in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). He replaces Jack Bolick, who retired from Honeywell.

Frost & Sullivan says wireless market in factory automation to nearly double by 2012
The European market earned revenues of over $75.2 million in 2008 and this will reach $132.8 million in 2012.

IPS developing Virtual Reality Process HMI
Invensys unveiled its Immersive Virtual Reality Process technology, a next-generation HMI that will revolutionize the way engineers see and interact with the plant and the processes they control.

Browse more company and organizational news on the Process Control portal.

Yokogawa to control Australia’s largest gas-fired power station
Yokogawa will supply CENTUM VP control system, ProSafe-RS Safety Instrumented System, Exaquantum Plant Information Management System, and a variety of transmitters.

ABB to control iron ore pellet plant in Oman
ABB will supply System 800xA for process control and system integration, a production management system, drives, motors, and power equipment.

Saudi success for Experion
South Africa Instrumentation & Control, February 2009
Honeywell will provide automation solutions for Al-Khafji Joint Operations’ FDP-1 project. This entails integrating TPS and Experion systems from the existing desalination, water treatment and Ratawi control rooms into a new central control room, and a process control system for new onshore and offshore oil and gas facilities.

Yokogawa to supply DCS to Savannah River Project  
Managed by the United States Department of Energy (DOE), the PDCF facility will convert weapons grade plutonium and uranium into fuel rods to be used for electrical power generation.

Honeywell to control biotech manufacturing processes
Shire Human Genetic Therapies will use Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS), Experion Batch Manager, wireless network and Uniformance Process Historian Database.

Browse more project news on the Process Control portal.

Add an event to our calendar.

Hannover Messe
April 20 - 24 Hannover, Germany
HANNOVER MESSE is the world's leading industrial technology trade fair. Established 60 years ago, the event is internationally renowned for new products, innovative technologies, and knowledge transfer in sectors that range from automation, energy, and microtechnology to compressed air, power transmission, and surface treatment. HANNOVER MESSE also features an extensive range of conferences and special events, including Energy Efficiency, Global Business Forum, World Energy Dialogue, and Hermes Award, the world's most lucrative prize for pioneering technology.

ISA Industrial Automation Safety and Security Symposium  
April 22-23, 2009 Houston, TX
This year's symposium will address technical and business issues associated with identifying and mitigating safety and security hazards in industrial environments.

ACHEMA 2009
May 11-15, 2009 Frankfurt, Germany
Exhibition for chemical engineering and the process industries. 4,000 exhibitors expected. Pumps, compressors, valves and fittings make up the largest group of exhibitors, followed by laboratory and analytical, engineering and thermal processes, mechanical processes, instrumentation, control and automation and pharmaceutical, packaging and storage.

Pumps Conference
May 13-14, 2009 Brisbane, Australia
The emphasis at the conference will be on practice and lessons learnt from current installations and potential for these pumps and meters. Consideration will also be given to life-cycle costing of pumps (including maintenance, energy and disposal costs) as opposed to the more traditional capital cost.

Yokogawa Technology Fair & Users Conference
May 17-21, 2009 Houston, TX.
The conference will offer attendees courses and product technical seminars, and to see how Yokogawa automation solutions delivery measurable results.

Browse more industry events on the Process Control portal.

Add an event to our calendar.

I hope you enjoyed this Process Control update. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding the content in this e-newsletter or on Automation.com, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Rick Zabel
Vice President, Publisher
Automation.com

View our Privacy Policy

For editorial inquiries, please contact Rick Zabel
For advertising inquiries, please contact Karen Olson or Kia Weller, or see our Media Kit.