Renowned safety expert discusses accident prevention
Workplace accidents often occur when engineers design machines without taking into account practicalities, or without understanding all of the features of a plant or process, explained Trevor Kletz, a veteran plant safety expert, during his keynote presentation at ISA Expo.
Kletz, who is widely recognized for his expertise and efforts in worker safety and accident avoidance, provided real-life examples of accidents that have occurred because of a design gone wrong, or a mistake that went unnoticed. His message was that diligence is the key to accident prevention.
"If something looks odd, say so," he advised.
Kletz also suggested discussing new designs and procedures with those who will use them.
The author of 11 books, Kletz is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of England and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He teaches at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, and is also an adjunct professor at Texas A&M.

MTL and Byres Security partner
MTL and Byres Security Inc. recently announced a co-operative agreement to develop, manufacture and distribute a product for securing both new and legacy SCADA and process control systems.
Known as the Tofino Security Solution, the system is designed to be used right out of the box, allowing electricians and instrumentation mechanics to install it without any further training. Field technicians simply attach power to Tofino, connect two network cables and walk away. The system allows company security specialists to confidentially monitor it from anywhere in the world. Dynamically loadable security modules provide encryption, intrusion detection and control protocol-aware security solutions tailored to specific plant floor devices.
The Tofino Security System is scheduled for release by the second quarter of 2007, and will include a firewall, intrusion detection, Modbus and EtherNet/IP protection modules. An associated drag and drop, thin client network management interface is designed to make security management and monitoring as easy as navigating a web page or installing an I/O module in a PLC.
MTL will provide both the hardware platform and global sales/support channel for the product, while Byres Security will develop the security modules.
www.mtl-inst.com
www.byressecurity.com

Control Microsystems names 2006 Customer Innovator Award winner
Control Microsystems, a Kanata, Ont.-based developer of PLCs, SCADA management software and intelligent sensors, recently recognized Devon Energy Corporation with the 2006 Customer Innovator Award. The annual award is presented to one Control Microsystems customer who demonstrates excellence and innovation in solving SCADA application challenges using Control Microsystems products.
The award was presented to Devon representatives Reed Estes and Kathleen Carrizales during ISA Expo. Devon Energy Corporation is an Oklahoma City-based independent energy company engaged in oil and gas exploration, production and property acquisitions.
www.controlmicrosystems.com

Photo: Michael Colgin (left) and company president T.L. Divelbiss pose with Divelbiss' PLC on a chip technology at ISA Expo
Innovation Alley features PLC on a chip
Fredericktown, Ohio-based Divelbiss Corporation featured its HEC-1000 harsh environment controller, which is based on the company's PLC on a chip technology, in Innovation Alley during ISA Expo 2006. Divelbiss has been providing solutions for industrial automation and control problems since 1974. The company was invited to showcase its PLC on a chip by industry veteran and Manufacturing AUTOMATION columnist Dick Morley, the man behind Innovation Alley.
The HEC-1000 harsh environment controller allows for programmable intelligence under less than ideal conditions due to a sealed, water-tight enclosure with pluggable connectors. The standard enclosure is submersible to three feet, and is screw and sub-plate mountable. The HEC-1000 is programmed using Divelbiss EZ Ladder software, which supports ladder diagram and function block programming. Network communication is accomplished via two CAN ports. Expansion I/O includes both digital and analogue with allowance for future custom modules as required. Typical industrial use includes control for engine driven pumps and compressors, mobile asset management and tracking, intelligent mining or oil field equipment, conveyor systems, and marine applications.
www.divelbiss.com

Vibration energy harvester generates power for wireless environment
Perpetuum's next generation microgenerator, PMG17, is a wireless and battery-free device designed to generate energy from vibration frequencies. Designed as an energy source for low-power electronic systems such as wireless sensor nodes, the microgenerator converts kinetic energy from the vibration of equipment running at mains frequency (50 or 60Hz) into electrical energy. OEMs, sensor manufacturers and end-users can use the generators to power devices that monitor machinery and processes. For additional details, visit www.perpetuum.co.uk/.

Microsoft names Iconics a Partner of the Year finalist
Iconics announced its nomination for Microsoft Corp.'s Partner of the Year Award for Sales and Marketing in ISV/Software Solutions at a press conference during ISA Expo. Microsoft's Partner Program Awards recognize top Microsoft partners delivering market-leading, Microsoft-based solutions. Iconics was nominated for creating robust software to meet specific customer needs and market demand.
Iconics, based in Foxborough, Mass., develops web-enabled manufacturing intelligence and business visualization software. The company celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.
www.iconics.com

ISA committee merges working groups
Wireless Systems for Automation, ISA's SP100 standards committee, recently announced that it will merge two working groups — ISA SP100.11, which covers industrial process measurement and control, and ISA SP100.14, which focuses on optimized solutions for industrial monitoring. The two will be combined into ISA SP100.11a.
The committee unanimously approved the merger and work is already underway. Co-chairs of the new working group are Dan Sexton of GE Research and Pat Kinney of Kinney Consultants LLC. The scope of the consolidated effort will define the OSI layer, security and management specifications for wireless devices serving the Class 1 through 5 industrial environment with some attention to Class 0 for fixed, portable and moving devices. It is the intent of this project to work towards a level of coexistence with other wireless devices anticipated in the industrial workspace.
www.isa.org

NI releases LabVIEW drivers for wireless sensor networks
National Instruments (NI) has released LabVIEW drivers for wireless sensor networks, giving engineers and scientists working with these devices the ability to fully integrate their ZigBee, IEEE 802.15.4 or proprietary wireless sensors into the LabVIEW graphical development environment. The free driver software works with sensors from Accsense, Accutech and Crossbow Technology, and includes communication functions and example programs compatible with sensors from each vendor.
With NI LabVIEW, developers using wireless sensors have an open and flexible development environment to customize an application or integrate data from the wireless network with other data acquisition, analysis or reporting functionality. LabVIEW also includes more than 600 graphical and text-based math and analysis functions that developers can use to process data acquired from wireless sensor networks. Additionally, the software includes a fully documented template to build a LabVIEW interface for wireless sensors not natively supported by the driver software.
The LabVIEW drivers can be downloaded at www.ni.com/wsn.

Sensicast releases smart sensor
Sensicast Systems, a provider of wireless sensor networks for industrial automation and monitoring enhancement, recently released the SensiNet TECO-1021 thermocouple smart sensor. Designed for harsh environments, the TECO-1021 is a wireless temperature monitoring device. A wide variety of thermocouples can interface with the sensor, which operates at 2.4 GHz.
The TECO-1021 operates as a component of Sensicast SensiNet — a self-configuring, self-healing, battery-operated wireless sensor network. It integrates transparently with the SensiNet Services Gateway, a self-contained network appliance with embedded connectivity and data-reporting functionality that manages the SensiNet network and integrates it with legacy systems.
www.sensicast.com

Fieldbus Foundation launches new programs
The Fieldbus Foundation recently announced the creation of the Foundation Certified Solution Provider Program (FCSP). The program is designed to encourage greater support for fieldbus device development throughout the automation industry, and define an acceptable level of expertise for Foundation-certified solution providers. Device and host system suppliers will be able to identify solution providers certified for their ability to deliver products and/or services facilitating the implementation of Foundation technology in control systems and field devices. Solution providers will be able to market themselves as having an FCSP certificate to potential customers, and will be recognized on the Fieldbus Foundation website. The term of the FCSP certificate is one year, and certification is renewable annually.
The Fieldbus Foundation also launched the Foundation Certified Training Program (FCTP), which is designed to establish uniform standards for fieldbus training curriculum at Foundation-certified training sites around the world, and define acceptable levels of learning for students of the technology. End-users will gain access to highly skilled employees possessing a strong knowledge of Foundation technology principles; a consistent understanding of fieldbus fundamentals; and a proven ability to implement fieldbus-based control systems. Students will be able to identify colleges, universities and other educational facilities offering a certified Foundation training curriculum.
www.fieldbus.org

Electronic Systems Technology debuts industrial wireless products
Electronic Systems Technology, Inc. recently released two new wireless products — the ESTeem 195Ep and 195Es wireless modems.
The 195Ep is designed for use in the 4.9 GHz licensed public safety frequency band. It will provide users with a licensed frequency for high data rate remote networks without the concern of interference from nearby 802.11b/g/a consumer hardware. The modem is contained in an industrial hardened, pole-mountable case and has RF peak output power levels up to two watts, allowing data rates of up to 54 Mbps for a range of approximately 11 km.
The 195Es wireless modem is a 900-MHz spread-spectrum modem for long-range, low-cost applications requiring either serial or Ethernet interface. The modem is contained in an industrial hardened, pole-mountable case and has RF peak output power levels up to one watt, allowing data rates of up to 384 Kbps for a range of approximately 16 km.
www.esteem.com

ISA increases financial support for standards
ISA's executive board recently approved a financial commitment to support standards development activities.
"Because of this action, our current and future members will benefit professionally from our standards at no cost, and they'll be able to bring value to their employers by introducing best practices into their business," said ISA president-elect secretary Steve Huffman.
ISA traditionally invests more than $1 million US per year in its industry standards development programs. The society has typically recovered only 70 per cent of that investment through the sale of standards. This additional funding commitment assures that ISA will underwrite the annual financial deficit allowing standards development to continue unabated, independent of any other society business trends.
The board also announced that members will be able to download any ISA standard for free as of January 1, 2007.
www.isa.org

Core sensor seals out wet environments
MTS Systems Corp., Sensors Division, has enhanced its C-Series core sensor by adding a three-wire option that provides manufacturers with additional design alternatives in wet environments. Standard C-Series sensors include a connector in the electronics housing to attach a mating-connector equipped cable.
In a wet environment, cables can wick water or other liquids down the inside of the cable jacket if a sealed cable is not used, or if the other end of the cable jacket is exposed. MTS Sensors offers an alternative to sealed cables by replacing the connector and cover with three discrete wires that allow sealing against the wire insulation instead of a cable jacket. A grommet can then be used to provide tight water sealing.
www.mtssensors.com

Patton launches industrial Ethernet and hardened-network gear
Patton Electronics, a manufacturer of communications equipment based in Gaithersburg, Md., showcased its new solutions for the industrial automation network at ISA Expo. The EtherBITS brand of single-port serial-to-Ethernet device servers and the EnviroNET brand of hardened industrial-network equipment, were introduced during a press conference at the event.
"Everything over Ethernet," said Scott Whittle, vice-president of product management, "that is where the automated environment is going."
EtherBITS is designed to transparently and securely connect serial RS-232/RS-422/RS-485 devices to wired and wireless IP networks for automated control, monitoring and data collection. EnviroNET delivers industrial communications in temperatures ranging from -40 to 85 C. Enclosures protect network equipment against high wind, precipitation, salt spray, sand, oil, corrosive chemicals and ice.
www.patton.com

Fieldbus Foundation names marketing manager
Bill Tatum is the new marketing manager for the Fieldbus Foundation. An automation industry veteran, Tatum will be responsible for strategic marketing initiatives promoting the growth of Foundation Fieldbus technology. Previously, he held the positions of national sales manager, systems division manager, fieldbus products manager and regional sales manager for Smar International, a worldwide supplier of automation systems and field devices for the process industries.
www.fieldbus.org

Young automation professionals gather at expo
ISA included YAPFEST, the Young Automation Professional Festival, for the first time at this year's event. The festival, open only to automation professionals and students aged 30 and under, featured networking opportunities with industry executives, food, entertainment and prizes. The young professionals were also given free admission to conference sessions on the day of the festival.

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