Control System World

Throughout the company’s near-sixty year history, Rotork engineers have focussed on solving customers’ problems and developing new flow control solutions. Whilst some innovations can be adopted immediately, others demand thousands of hours of testing, assessment and certification before they can be offered to customers.

Continuous investment in product testing is therefore a key part of the policy, ensuring that Rotork manufactures the most reliable valve actuation products in the world. The latest evidence of this activity has witnessed the further expansion of the Product Assessment Laboratory at Rotork’s electric actuator manufacturing plant in Bath. This facility has a long and successful track record of research and development leading to the introduction of innovative and market-leading technologies including IQ intelligent non-intrusive actuation and CVA electric actuators for process control valves.

In one area of the expanded laboratory, new test-rigs and data acquisition systems have been installed to enable increased testing of nuclear actuator products. Rotork’s extensive experience of nuclear operations and nuclear qualifications has contributed to the development of new products, whilst the acquisition of new businesses has further increased Rotork’s scope of supply and service to the nuclear industry.

The latest electric valve actuator ranges for nuclear new-builds is tailored to suit the specific requirements of the internationally predominant nuclear island designs. The NE actuator range has been developed for use in EDF and AREVA (EPR) nuclear power stations. The ND DC (direct current) and NA AC (alternating current) actuator range has been developed for Westinghouse AP1000 Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) nuclear power stations.

These new designs are developments of the widely proven Rotork NA range that has been fully qualified to IEEE 382-1996/2006, comprising a simple single-stage worm drive in an oil bath gearbox, electric motor, torque and limit switches and a separate terminal compartment to which all electrical components are wired. The actuators are designed for a working life of sixty years and the new test rigs will play a critical role in confirming this ability.

The increased investment in testing facilities is supported by additional manpower to meet the demands of research and development across all of Rotork’s increasing ranges of electric actuation products.

Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management, has released Wonderware® Alarm Adviser to work with industry-leading Wonderware InTouch®, Wonderware System Platform, Vijeo Citect® and ClearSCADA® software products. Based on industry recommended standard alarm management practices, Wonderware Alarm Adviser is an interactive, web-based application for visual analysis of historical alarm data. It provides an instant view of alarm activity for a specified time period, allowing engineers to quickly analyze alarm patterns and identify nuisance alarms that can lead to operator distractions.

Alarm Adviser helps reduce nuisance alarms, discover the root cause of an abnormality and detect the most important automation alarms from routine process alarms. Its customizable dashboard provides a range of configurable widgets that allow users to set KPI targets and compare recent and past performance for tracking their improvement over time. The software helps users to filter and examine alarms by priority, time of day, process, alarm category, frequency and plant area to systematically work through and improve each part of the system. It has seamless connectivity to Wonderware InTouch, Wonderware System Platform, Vijeo Citect and ClearSCADA software products.

“Modern control rooms receive more than 1,000 alarms per operator per day, which is far more than the industry recommended limits” said Rob Kambach, Product Manager for Wonderware HMI/SCADA at Schneider Electric. “Alarm overload can distract or confuse operators, which leads to delayed or even inaccurate decisions, especially during plant upsets. This can increase the risk of serious incidents affecting the overall safety of the plant, its equipment and personnel. Alarm Adviser is an advanced, web-based tool for optimizing existing alarm systems to identify and rationalize chatter alarms, and reduce operator workload. The software helps improve operator awareness and plant productivity while minimizing the risks of unplanned shutdowns and equipment damages.”

Alarm Adviser also offers alarm correlation capability, which greatly improves the ability of an engineer to discover the root cause of an issue; this is especially valuable during major disruptions or an alarm flood situation. The software is compatible with tablets and thus enables plant engineers, operators and managers to view alarm metrics anytime, anywhere, from virtually any location. Alarm Adviser supports HTML5 technology for device and operating system independence. Alarm Adviser enables unlimited analysis clients, which gives users the freedom to use the software on as many devices as needed. In addition to HMI/SCADA and alarm management software products, Schneider Electric also offers alarm management consulting and support services across the globe. Alarm Adviser leverages the advantages of being part of both Wonderware and Schneider Electric ecosystems and has seamless connectivity to Wonderware InTouch, Wonderware System Platform, Vijeo Citect and ClearSCADA.

Product Website

GE Measurement and Control, Inspection Technologies division, announced the issuance of two patents for the use of dual multi-axis robotic devices for parts inspection (U.S. Pat. No. 8,833,169 and UK Pat. No. 2497418B). The patents cover a robotic inspection system that uses a pair of cooperating, multi-axis robots mounted on linear slides to perform ultrasonic inspection of parts. Features described in these patents can be found in GE’s Hydrastar ultrasonic inspection product.

Hydrastar systems are deployed globally at several aerospace manufacturers, specifically those that build composite airframe and jet engine components for major airframe and engine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). These systems have proven to be very flexible, are high through-put machines, and are available with a variety of ultrasonic end effectors for both conventional and phased array ultrasonic methods.

“We’re extremely pleased to be recognized for the development of automated ultrasonic inspection technologies for critical airframe and aircraft engine structures which is consistent with industry needs for flexible, high productivity solutions,” said Jeffrey Stetson, Testing Machine Leader for GE Measurement & Control, Inspection Technologies division. “By utilizing commercially available six axis robots, GE’s Hydrastar platform provides an outstanding, standardized solution, replacing conventional Cartesian-based gantry systems.”

Additional proprietary application technologies available on the Hydrastar platform include GE’s Wide Phased Array TTU squirter tool (U.S. Pat. No. 8,650,959), which can provide up to six times the through-put of conventional ultrasonic squirter tools and GE’s Phased Array Surface Adapting ultrasonic method (U.S. Pat. No. 7,581,444), which uses the time of flight information from an ultrasonic signal to provide real-time adjustment of phased array focal laws to accommodate changing geometries.

Press Release by Yokogawa Electric Corporation: "Yokogawa is preparing to mark its 100th anniversary on September 1, and in so doing will be closing the book on its first 100 years and setting out on a journey toward its next 100 years.

We wish to use this occasion as an opportunity to express our gratitude to all our stakeholders for their support down through the years and to give some indication of the direction we will take in the future.

Toward this end, we have created the 100th anniversary logo that you see here on this page. In addition, an all-new top page as well as a new Yokogawa videos page has been uploaded to our global website today. We also plan to unveil the Yokogawa 100th Anniversary Site in mid-May.

We will continue to make every effort to become a solutions and service company and a partner that our customers can trust and readily turn to for solutions to whatever business issues they face.

The gradation from yellow to blue, which are the Yokogawa colors, is a key visual aspect of this design. With this, we wish to express our determination in a new era to play a role in bringing about a sustainable society and achieve growth together with our stakeholders by taking on new challenges and creating value-added solutions."

The ToughNet TN-5816A/5818A switches are high performance M12 Layer 3 Ethernet switches that support Layer 3 routing to facilitate the deployment of applications across networks. By using M12 and other circular connectors, the TN-5516A/5518A series ensures tight, robust connections and guarantees reliable reslience against environmental disturbances, such as vibration and shock. TN-5816A/5818A switches provide isolated power with 24 to 110 VDC power input range, which allows you to use the same model at different sites around the globe.

In addition, TN-5816A/5818A switches provide up to 16 Fast Ethernet M12 ports with 4 bypass relay ports, and 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports with bypass relay function. Furthermore, the -40 to 75°C operating temperature and IP54-rated waterproof enclosure allow deployment in harsh environments. The TN-5816A/5818A series Ethernet switches are compliant with essential sections of EN 50155, covering operating temperature, power input voltage, surge, ESD, and vibration, as well as conformal coating and power insulation, making the switches suitable for a variety of industrial applications.

Features and Benefits:

• Layer 3 routing interconnects multiple LAN segments
• 4 Fast Ethernet ports and 2 optional Gigabit ports with bypass relay function
• Isolated power with 24 to 110 VDC power supply range
• Essential compliance with EN 50155*
• -40 to 75°C operating temperature range
• Turbo Ring and Turbo Chain (recovery time < 20 ms with 250 switches), and STP/RSTP/MSTP for network redundancy

A key trend in the industrial automation industry, the Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming the way that many businesses operate. Kepware Technologies, a software development company focused on communications for automation, today announced that CEO Tony Paine will speak to this technology at the upcoming ENTELEC Conference & Expo. His presentation titled "Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Communications at the Edge" occurs on Wednesday, April 8 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.

Several of Kepware's executives and industry experts will also present on the following topics at prominent automation conferences this spring:

"OPC Fundamentals: What Is It, How Is It Used, and How Can It Simplify Your SCADA Communications" and "Simplifying Real-Time and Historical EFM Data Collection for the Oil & Gas Industry" at the International School of Hydrocarbon Measurement in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from May 12-14 at the Cox Convention Center

"Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT): Leveraging New Technologies to Solve Old Problems" at The Automation Conference in Chicago, Illinois from May 19-20 at the Chicago Marriott O'Hare

"Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Communications at the Edge" at Rockwell Automation TechED in San Diego, California from May 31-June 5 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt

"It's an honor to have been invited to present at these conferences and be acknowledged as an industry thought leader," said Paine. "These speaking engagements are ideal opportunities to learn from and contribute to the industry-wide adoption of the Internet of Things, and serve as a testament to Kepware's commitment to developing new solutions that enable IoT."

Beckhoff Automation turned in a very successful performance in the 2014 financial year, generating global turnover of 510 million euros, an increase of 17 % year over year. The company’s increased sales stem from a growing global market and new project and customer wins for the PC-based control technology from Beckhoff. In keeping with the growth in turnover, the number of employees increased by 12 % to 2,800. Beckhoff has an optimistic outlook for the current financial year and expects another double-digit increase in sales.

Managing Director Hans Beckhoff is satisfied: “We can look back on a successful financial year. We are especially happy that this growth pattern extended to all regions and market segments. All continents contributed with new applications in areas ranging from industrial engineering and energy generation to building automation and the entertainment industry.”

Exports in 2014 accounted for 62 % of the company’s total turnover; of that, 29 % was generated in Europe (outside of Germany), 22 % in Asia, 10 % in North America, and 1 % in the remaining countries worldwide in which Beckhoff operates. “We’ve grown in all regions of the world, but especially in Asia and above all in China (+38 %). We are pleased to see healthy growth also in other regions – for example in southern Europe, with Spain (+10 %) and Italy (+19 %) delivering significant increases,” notes Hans Beckhoff.

PC control technology wins new projects worldwide:

“Beckhoff has achieved average growth of 16 % annually during the period from 2000 to 2014. This positive performance can be traced back to our leading-edge technology, which has helped build our strong reputation worldwide. Our high-performance technology platform of PC-based automation software, Industrial PCs, distributed I/O components and Drive Technology can be universally used in a multitude of applications,”

Hans Beckhoff explains, detailing the company’s rising market share in a wide variety of industries. “Our product innovations contribute similarly to our sustained growth. For example, we have won many new customers worldwide with the introduction of new product groups such as e.g. our state-of-the-art XTS drive system,” adds the Managing Director.

In terms of technology, Beckhoff customers are ideally positioned through the use of PC-based control. This is also true for the implementation of Industry 4.0 concepts. “Our ongoing research and development is a driver of advances in automation technology and that’s why we offer our customers a technological ‘head start’, due in large part to innovations such as the many-core control concept introduced with the C6670 many-core Industrial PC. With this high-end platform we can deliver what we believe are the most powerful control systems on the market today,” emphasises Hans Beckhoff. He continues: “With processor options reaching as high as 36 cores and 2,048 GB of RAM we offer our customers a level of performance today that will be the industry standard in 2020.”

“Technology is one aspect of our company. The other is our 35 years of experience in automation paired with a pronounced company culture of trust and stability. All these are the factors on which our sustained growth is based,” says Beckhoff.

Strengthening global sales channels:

Beckhoff Automation also continues to expand on a global scale. Following the establishment of a subsidiary company in the Czech Republic and representative offices in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Indonesia in 2014, Beckhoff is primarily investing in strengthening its existing sales network in 2015. “We are represented in over 70 countries worldwide with 34 subsidiary companies and distributors. Our focus this year will be on enhancing the density of our existing sales network. This includes adding more regional branch offices throughout all countries. We are particularly pleased to establish a larger office in Silicon Valley this year. Not only is German automation technology very much in demand in California, we also want to benefit from the spirit and the speed of technological development in this area,” says Beckhoff.

Training initiative for over 180 junior employees:

Beckhoff currently has approximately 2,800 employees worldwide; of these, almost 2,000 work in Germany, with about 1,800 at the company’s headquarters in Verl. Trained engineers account for almost one-third of the workforce. “We are again investing heavily in research and development in 2015, allocating funds of roughly 40 million euros,”

Hans Beckhoff announces. “As a technology-driven company whose success is based on supplying its customers with new ideas and technology, we have a very great demand for skilled engineers. We are always happy to add fresh new talent to our roster.”

Current Industry 4.0 projects, which are part of the “it’s OWL” Leading-Edge Cluster, also contribute to the company’s progress. “The Leading-Edge Cluster has developed very successfully. This East-Westphalia-based alliance between companies, universities, and scientific centres of competence was only founded in 2011, but is already highly regarded as a pioneer for Industry 4.0 in Germany and even in Europe,” Beckhoff points out.

This year's topics include "Chasing a Pipe Dream — installation effects on flow measurement", "Taking Radar Measurement Instrumentation to the Next Level" and "Plug into Industrial Ethernet — and set your HART on success".

Content:

• Chasing a Pipe Dream — installation effects on flow measurement
• Taking Radar Measurement Instrumentation to the Next Level
• Plug into Industrial Ethernet — and set your HART on success
• For full details, click the "Downloads" link, which you'll find on the right hand side of this page, just above "Contact."

Objectives:

• Determine what questions should be answered prior to meter selection. And ensure you are applying good instrument engineering practice for your specific installations.
• Learn how you can make use of advanced radar diagnostics and signal evaluation functionality in a simple and pragmatic way to reduce operational costs while increasing plant safety.
• Get the most out of instrumentation digital technologies and see how they can help you save time, money and increase product quality.

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