Articles and News

By Bill Lydon, Editor Over the last two years, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) UK Petrochemicals has empowered users to create custom dashboards based on Excel spreadsheet data and calculations using software from Sabisu. The software enables people to organize their data around "Communities" related to areas of interest.

Monsanto engineers used the full capabilities of HART Communication to “get connected” and integrate the intelligent information from more than 600 HART-enabled devices into their control systems.

Catalog covers weighing solutions for the chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries with hazardous environments.

Honeywell will install an Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS) to modernize the integrated control room at the Tokuyama Refining and Petrochemical Complex in Japan.

PAC will supply laboratory analytical instruments for Petroleum Testing application to JAC, including instruments for gas chromatography, sulfur, nitrogen, halides, and elemental and physical properties.

Pradeep Metals manufactures closed-die forgings for the oil & gas, valve, instrumentation, petrochemical, and general engineering industries around the world.

By Hugh Davies, Optical Metrology Services How high precision laser profile measurement tools and video inspection equipment are helping companies verify the quality of CRA-lined pipes by detecting the presence of wrinkles or buckling.

Shipments for the U.S. industrial valve industry will grow to nearly $4.3 billion, according to figures released by the Valve Manufacturers Association (VMA). This exceeds the industry’s previous 10-year peak in 2008.

By Bill Lydon, Editor Siemens COMOS 10 is an enterprise platform for the process industry that integrates functions including automation design, plant engineering, operations, and enterprise interfaces.

Industrial Thinking’s Chronicle software connects to flowmeters using redundant Modbus and OPC protocols to report on Hydrocarbon and Co2 emissions from all facilities, including steam boilers, superheaters, furnaces and purge to flares.

Handbook provides expert advice on the design and application of load cells and weigh modules for tanks, silos, vessels, hoppers and conveyors.

The X3302 Multispectrum Infrared Hydrogen Flame Detector was certified as Safety Integrity Level 2 (SIL 2) capable by exida.

By Bill Lydon, Editor The Tofino Security Appliance and its management software withstood a variety of sophisticated reverse engineering attacks conducted by Digital Bond, the world's most respected sources for control system security research.

Automation.com, January 2013 By Bill Lydon, Editor The addition of an EtherNet/IP stack to the Siemens Sinamics drives offers another option and makes life easier for users and machine builders. The Sinamics S120 drive products now support Profibus DP, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, and Ethernet TCP/IP.

After Emerson Process Management replaced existing valve positioners with Fisher digital valve controllers, the plant gained $40,000 in annual maintenance savings.

Automation.com, November 2012 By Bill Lydon, Editor Invensys Foxboro describes their Modernization Program as taking a holistic approach based on business requirements with four major goals - Reduce risk of failures, operational improvements, new & existing systems integration, and securing automation systems from cyber-attack.

The free app provides mobile access to information about Endress+Hauser instruments, such as operating instructions and technical details, from a smart phone and other mobile devices.

The research says only 32% of managers are very confident that the gas detectors in their workplace actually work.

InTech, October 2012 By Rick Zabel While job satisfaction remains high (79.9%), this year’s survey indicates salaries are on the rise—up a respectable 4.4% over last year. This rise is indicative of the noticeable increase in the demand for qualified automation professionals.

While the original pneumatic actuator worked well once set up, adjusting its force and speed to accommodate a different size container was complicated.