Industrial Factory Automation

On-line viscometers from Hydramotion are helping to ensure that the chocolate melts in your mouth, not in your hand Chocolate consists of fine cocoa powder and sugar particle dispersed in a continuous fat phase (usually cocoa butter or equivalent). During production, molten chocolate must be cooled in a controlled way in order to promote the formation of small, stable fat crystals, a process known as "tempering". Stable cocoa butter crystals provide the right qualities of texture, surface gloss and melting behaviour in the finished product. If the crystals are small enough the chocolate will taste smooth and melt in the mouth (at a temperature of about 35C) but not in the hand (at about 20C). The viscosity of melted chocolate depends directly on its fat content and the degree of tempering, so monitoring viscosity gives an immediate window into the production process. With this in mind, a UK manufacturer of chocolate products recently installed Hydramotion XL7 on-line viscome...

Eltel Networks has been awarded a contract by the Danish utility EnergiMidt to deploy Echelon 's Networked Energy Services (NES) system to all of its 170,000 residential customers. Gorlitz is providing its EDW3000 software, a meter data management system (MDMS) and integration platform which runs on top of the NES system software to provide a rich set of utility applications. Revenue to Echelon for the project, including meters, data concentrators and software, is expected to total approximately US $18 million. Volume shipments should begin in the fourth quarter of 2008 and to continue into 2010. The NES advanced metering infrastructure from Echelon consists of a family of highly integrated, advanced electronic electricity meters accessed via a web services based network operating system over an IP networking infrastructure. Unlike systems with a dedicated radio per metering point, multiple NES meters can share a single IP connection through the use of Echelon's proven standard...

Lenze’s new 8400 series inverter drives offer impressive, consistent scaling. The clear functional grading of the BaseLine, StateLine and HighLine versions makes selecting the right inverter for the drive axis a very simple process – and the value for money is spot on too. Lenze will presentthe 8400 Inverter Drives as the newest member of the L-force drive and automation platform at the Hanover Fair from 21 to 25 April in Hall 14, booth H36. All versions share the same kind of handling, operation, programming, logistics and service options. This makes working with the inverters incredibly simple. The cost savings available in all life cycle phases of a machine increase the value-added in the long term. In conjunction with matching geared motors, Lenze also suplies complete drive axes from one source. Lenze, the specialist in drive and automation technology, is initially launching the 8400 inverter drives as BaseLine, StateLine and HighLine. The...

JW Winco has expanded its line of inch and metric stainless steel adjustable levers. These adjustable levers feature a solid, all stainless steel handle with a sand blasted satin finish. Inserts, screws and springs are also stainless steel. The all-stainless steel construction makes this lever appropriate for applications in the food processing and chemical industries. Levers are available in a variety of sizes, in tapped, blind bore and threaded stud types. Special bores, threads, and stud lengths are available on request.

Adept Technology and Prosurgics have reached an agreement to collaborate on the design and development of the next generation of Prosurgics' surgical robotic systems for image-guided neurological and soft tissue surgery. The surgical robotics market in the USA alone is forecast to be worth approximately US $2.5 billion by 2011 (BCC Research) with an expected average annual growth rate of 43% in the period 2006-2011. Examples of the emerging surgical robotics market include cardiac and prostate surgery. Surgical robots are now performing more than 50% of prostatectomies in the US. Clinical outcome data for this kind of surgery has shown superior patient outcomes while at the same time delivering a compelling economic benefit. 'The surgical robotics market requires very high precision products with no room for error', said Rob Bucher, Adept's Chief Executive Officer. 'Our goal in working with Prosurgics is to create technology platforms that can be used in a range of...

There are now more variations of cable gland available than ever, and with more choice comes the requirement for more knowledge in order to make the right selection. Considerations such as suitability for purpose, sealing, safety and installation time all need to be balanced against cost, which is always an issue. The need to know is universal, as is the responsibility for the selection; the decision can fall to the electrician, electrical fitter, distributor, specifier or designer, working freelance on behalf of a contractor or an OEM all need to make the right choices, for the right reasons. It is as easy to overlook a cable gland, as it is to under-specify, or, to over-specify it. With a huge range of fast new push-fit designs, tighter regulations and new materials coming onto the market it is essential to look at what is fit-for-purpose. Essential criteria include the quality of the hole available for the cable entry, the thickness of the cable, the ingress protection required (IP ...

The Fluke VR1710 voltage quality recorder is designed for single-phase power quality troubleshooting and preventative maintenance applications. Designed as an easy to use solution for detecting and recording power quality problems, the VR1710 is a single-phase plug-in voltage quality recorder that can help maintenance and facilities personnel in utilities, industrial environments and large service organisations to maintain the power quality essential to business operations. The Fluke VR1710 can help users pinpoint the root causes of voltage problems by recording data specified by a user-selected average period on voltage trends, dropouts and power quality parameters, including RMS average, transients, flicker and harmonics up to the 32nd. It features continuous recording of all values with no gaps, making testing more efficient by enabling users to gather data on both voltage and events with a single instrument. The recorder plugs directly into any single-phase mains power socket and ...