The Realcold Millers Mechanical 3D-Veyor Bi-Planer Chain Conveyor systems are especially suitable for the food processing industry and have applications in many other areas requiring conveying systems.

The fourth-generation Pilz PMI operator interface and diagnostic display units offer improved performance. Both the PMIvisu and PMIopen series are available in the fourth-generation specification, with the PMIvisu models being suitable for diagnostics and visualisation with PNOZmulti modular safety systems, PSS programmable safety and control systems and SafetyBUS p networks. The fourth-generation PMIvisu units can also be used as graphics systems for all common programmable logic controllers (PLCs). If custom software needs to be run on the display, then the PMIopen operator terminals can be specified.

APC Technology has announced the redesign of the DW-860 rugged wireless keyboard into a sleeker, more compact case with no protruding battery pack. The case enables the keyboard to be more convenient for mobile and wireless users.

The Euroimpianti Skilled ANT101 is a simple palletising robot. It has a modular construction and can be adapted to any pre-existing product conveyor and packaging line. The fully automatic, compact line dedicated palletisers remove the need for conveying to a centralised palletising area and enable independence of production lines. The Cartesian structured robot with four degrees of freedom houses one or two palletising stations and one pick-up conveyor. Its pick-up station conveyor has sloping rollers in order to guide and centre the cases before pick-and-place palletising. The adjustable pick-up gripper of mechanical or venturi vacuum style equipped with an anti-collision safety device provides the most flexible and reliable pick-and-place operation.

Hirschmann Automation and Control has expanded its range of industrial WLAN products to include the leaky cable. This flexible antenna can be used to establish a pipe-shaped transmission field on the 2.4 GHz band with a range of up to 100 m. This easy-to-install solution is particularly suitable for use in long and narrow areas in buildings or production areas. The flexibility of the cable enables even corners to be lit up well.

The Fluke 225C and 215C ScopeMeter test tools, with automated test capability for Fieldbus, Profibus and other industrial communication protocols, are designed for maintenance specialists who keep automation and process plant equipment operational. The instruments feature easy signal validation of all the critical signal parameters like amplitude and noise, and have floating and fully isolated inputs for true differential signal measurements on 2-wire differential bus systems.

Acoustic Research Laboratories has released the Ngara noise monitor. Ngara is a real-time sound acquisition system that offers class 1 specifications, allowing the user to post-process statistical noise measurements from 1/10th of a second stored data files. Ngara provides the option to store calibrated (continual or triggered) 48 kHz raw audio data. Measurements and data are stored to a USB storage device (HDD or memory stick).

The BAT54-Rail WLAN Client from Hirschmann Automation and Control allows mobile terminal devices in the production environment to be securely connected to the wireless network. It is designed for a temperature range of between -30 and +50 °C. It also fulfils the requirements of the IP40 protection class as well as all relevant specifications regarding shock and vibration resistance and electromagnetic compatibility. The integrated Fast Roaming function can be adapted specially to industrial ethernet protocols such as Profinet or Ethernet/IP, enabling stable connection when changing from one radio cell to another.

GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms has announced the availability of a Profibus-DP bus interface module for its 8000 line of general purpose and intrinsically safe I/O.

As rising electricity costs compel companies to examine their energy usage, advanced technologies are emerging which bring new efficiencies to old tasks, such as ensuring a clean flow of compressed air. John Davis, Business Development Manager for the Australian operation of Parker domnick hunter Filtration, explains.

The products and technologies that help make more efficient use of energy in industrial applications are already available. However, maximising energy productivity is not necessarily straightforward.

The WirelessHART standard provides a robust wireless protocol for the full range of process measurement, control and asset management applications.

In the Part 1 of this article, Joel Young explored cellular, Wi-Fi/802.11 and WiMAX/802.16 technologies. In this second part, he examines ZigBee/802.15.4 and provides some guidelines for planning a successful commercial or industrial deployment.

EDDL technology was specifically designed with the process industry in mind. It is an integral part of the bus protocols used in process industries: HART, Foundation fieldbus and Profibus.

Systems for thermal exhaust purification are subject to furnace regulations, and the safety of such plants presents a particular challenge for automation technology. In the past, the safety functions on systems manufactured by Dürr were monitored using conventional automatic gas burner control systems and safety relays, but safety and efficiency have since been greatly improved with the implementation of advanced safety control systems.