Control & monitoring. (What to See at NPE 2003).

In addition to numerous introductions of sensors and controls for temperature, pressure, and position, this year's NPE brings an unusually large crop of plantwide process and production monitoring systems, including both high-end and entry-level versions. Portable machine-monitoring terminals also count among the new entries.

Eyes on your plant floor

New monitoring networks are the big newsmakers at this show. All the familiar names are bringing out new versions. Both Syscon-PlantStar and RJG are coming out with two plant-monitoring systems each--a low-end and a high-end version. Mattec and Hunkar Laboratories also have new versions of their Windows-based monitoring systems. And Moldflow will show off its new Moldflow Manufacturing Solutions (MMS) 1.0, which integrates into one platform the monitoring functions of its former Shotscope product with the control capabilities of the Moldflow Plastics Xpert (MPX).

Among the less-familiar names introducing new monitoring systems are Atrix International, showing its new Plant Floor Alert System, and Automation and Control, Inc. with its new Factory Intelligence Network. In addition, Plastisoft Corp. will introduce its new Mold Manager job-costing and scheduling software for mold-making operations.

American MSI is showcasing a production-records management system designed specifically for the product-liability and regulatory concerns of medical-products manufacturers. Celltrak PROT records, archives, retrieves, and transmits data needed to comply with the FDA's (Thod Manufacturing Practices (GMP) requirements. It records recipes, setpoints, and actual process values, as well as any equipment changes- including the who, what, where, when, and why for all changes.

At the show you'll also find newly enhanced ERP systems designed specifically for plastics. DTR Software International is introducing the new version of its software suite, and IQMS will bring the newest addition to its Enterprise IQ suite, the web-based IQ Quality Management module (see PT, Feb. '03, p. 69). New from Canada is version 3.0 of the JobTrack web-based ERP system, designed by Cyframe International for injection molders and extruders of blown film, sheet, and profiles.

When it comes to monitoring one machine at a time, Priamus System Technologies is showing the new Mobile DAQ portable data-acquisition unit and its Priamus Tool Box software for mold set-up and machine analysis.

News in controls

In new temperature sensors and controls, Watlow will arouse interest with its new SD Series controller that's addressable by a Palm PDA. Watlow's new Infosense technology allows the user to input sensor characteristics into the controller based on data that comes with the sensor. This is said to improve accuracy at least 50%.

Meanwhile, Gefran's new combined temperature and power controllers save space and wiring. Look for other new temperature controls at the booths of Ogden Manufacturing, RKC Instrument, and Tempco Electric Heater.

Low-cost pressure sensors are new from Terwin Instruments, while RIG is introducing piezoelectric cavity-pressure sensors and Gefran has new digital melt-pressure transmitters. Dynisco is bringing out networkable hydraulic-and melt-pressure transducers, as well as new pressure and process indicators that are smaller, faster, and less expensive than before.

Gefran also has new non-contacting, magnetostrictive position sensors, and Turck is introducing new position encoders. New motion controllers are to be seen at the booths of Delta Computer Systems, Moog, and Siemens Energy & Automation.

Exhibitor Listings

Includes temperature, pressure, and position sensors and controls; process and production monitoring systems; and manufacturing software. New developments appear in boldface type.

ACCUMOTION CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Booth 12947

Integrator of motion controls for extrusion machinery. Will have brochures and information at booth.

ACTION INSTRUMENTS INC.

Booth 5161 (Exhibiting w/Eurotherm Controls)

Offers signal isolators and conditioners, temperature/process indicators, heat sinks, limit alarms, power supplies, and remote data loggers.

AMERICAN MSI CORP.

Booths 1293, 1296

Introducing new Celltrak PROT paperless production-records management system.

ARICO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

Booth 10241

Taiwanese maker of controls for injection molding and extrusion. Also makes temperature controls, pressure and position transducers, and solid-state relays.

ATRIX INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Booth 10955

Upgrading its Atrax production-monitoring software to handle family molds. Also introducing Plant Floor Alert System, which provides real-time visibility of press operating status and conditions.

AUTOMATION & CONTROL, INC.-ACI

Booth 9306

Introducing Factory Intelligence Network, a real-time plant-floor data-collection package.

BARBER-COLMAN

See Eurotherm Controls.

BAUMULLER LNI 

Booth 7413

Supplies electronic control systems, open-or closed-loop motion controls, and drives.

BEAR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Booth 13337

Supplies the Tracker, a Windows-based production/process monitoring system.

CAL CONTROLS INC.

Booth 5943

Supplies autotuning temperature and pressure controls with digital interface, temperature sensors, solid-state relays, process controllers, and monitoring and networking software.

CARLO GAVAZZI

Booth 10309

Supplies level controls, motor controllers, current/voltage and phase monitors, digital panel meters, temperature controls, and PLCs. Also offers other automation components, inductive sensors, and solidstate relays.

CONTINENTAL INDUSTRIES INC.

See Eurotherm Controls.

CYFRAME INTERNATIONAL

Booth 13528

Canadian software provider will demonstrate its new JobTrack Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system designed for plastic manufacturers.

DELTA COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC.

Booth 6041

Rolling out the RMB family of motion controllers, said to provide precise, velocity, pressure, and force control. Showing demonstrations of position and pressure control.

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Booths 9740, 9840, 10101

Offers complete remanufacturing of controls and circuit boards. Offers repair services for temperature controls, PLCs, motors, drives, and other components.

DTR SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL

Booth 3138

Launching version 9 of The Manufacturing Manager ERP software. New features include Insight business intelligence tool that helps identify and ease supply-chain issues.

DYNISCO, LLC 

Booth 5526

Introducing SPX series melt-pressure transmitters with HART (highway-addressable remote transmitter) protocol-an industry first. Also introducing bus-enabled melt- and hydraulic-pressure transducers with digital output for CANopen and DeviceNet protocols, as well as new 2290 and 2291 family of pressure and process indicators that are slightly smaller, faster, and less expensive than the previous 1290 series.

EUROTHERM CONTROLS

Booth 5161

Supplies complete automation solutions for injection, extrusion, and blow molding machines, including integrated control systems, sensors, indicators, and discrete controls for power, temperature, pressure, and motion.

GAUMER PROCESS HEATERS, SYSTEMS AND CONTROLS

Booth 13919

Supplies control panels, temperature controllers, and thermocouples.

GEFRAN ISI, INC.

Booth 6155

Introducing modular power controllers that combine a temperature controller and solid-state power controller in one DIN-Rail mounting package. The combination saves space and reduces wiring. Also unveiling digital melt-pressure transmitters and new non-contact magnetostrictive position sensors. Also showing temperature controllers and indicators.

GENTRAN

Booth 4483

Supplies melt-pressure and temperature transducers.

GP-50

Booth 13047

Supplies melt-pressure and temperature transducers, as well as indicators for extrusion and injection molding.

HANYOUNG ELECTRONIC CO., LTD.

Booth 11324

Korean firm supplies PID autotuning temperature controls, digital timers and counters, panel meters, and sensors.

HUNKAR LABORATORIES INC.

Booth 3028

Introducing SQL Smart Manufacturing system that detects and confirms imminent production/process problems, then automatically recommends corrective action. Plans to simulate a plant production line in its booth. Also showing warehouse-management technology and asset-tracking systems.

IFM EFECTOR, INC.

Booth 12834

Supplies industrial sensors for position and level control, including capacitive and inductive proximity switches, photoelectric sensors, pressure switches, flow switches, level switches, and electronic temperature sensors.

INTERNATIONAL TEMPERATURE CONTROL, INC.

Booth 10925

Supplies temperature controls and accessories for hot-runner molds, as well as integrated industrial control systems (standard and custom).

IQMS

Booth 942

Supplies Enterprise IQ suite of ERP software for business management monitoring and support. Includes new web-based IQ Quality Management module.

IRCON INC.

Booth 9329

Supplies infrared thermometers and thermal-imaging devices for mold inspection and monitoring film extrusion, wire coating, blow molding, and thermoforming.

KINTEL, S.A. DE C.V.

Booth 12607

Mexican firm supplies temperature sensors and controls.

LAND INSTRUMENTS INTERNATIONAL

Booth 11242

Introducing LSP7 thermal process imager for thin film plastics, providing high-resolution images. Also showing thermal imagers and infrared thermometers in fixed and portable models.

LINEAR LABORATORIES

Booth 4483 (Exhibiting w/Gentran)

Supplies fixed and portable non-contact infrared temperature sensors.

MATTEC CORP.

Booth 3045

Introducing Release 5.3 of ProHelp EPM production and process monitoring system. New features include an advanced scheduling module, improved real-time labor tracking, labor-needs forecasting, and web-enabled reporting and access. System hardware now supports wireless communication from the shop floor to handheld PDAs or remote terminals. Also previewing a beta version of EPM Release 6.0. Includes separate tracking, scheduling, and inventory forecasting for each part from a family mold. New functions at the database and shop-floor level for process tracking, recording, and accountability meet FDA GMP requirements.

MOLDFLOW CORP.

Booth 862

Introducing Moldflow Manufacturing Solutions (MMS) 1.0, an integrated control and monitoring platform for injection molding that combines the former Moldflow Plastics Xpert (MPX) and Shotscope systems. Includes software modules for optimizing machine set-up and molding, process control, production scheduling, SPC, and production reporting. Also has Process Analyzer to display and analyze real-time or historical process profiles; Production Manager to provide "at-a-glance" data on machine uptime/downtime, part counts, defect tracking, and machine efficiencies; and Operator Station module to allow users to login, enter part defect and downtime causes, and view job-specific information.

MOOG INC.

Booth 2676

Introducing MaxForce 887 series electromechanical actuator for high-performance, heavy-duty motion control of all-electric machines. Also introducing Moog servo controller (MSC) with MoogAxis Control Software (MACS). They provide digital motion control for hydraulic and electric machines.

NORIHERN SUPPLY CO., DIV. OF MILACRON

Booth 1440 (Exhibiting w/D-M-E)

Supplies temperature and voltage controllers, thermocouples, and other components.

OGDEN MANUFACTURING CO.

Booth 1358

Introducing ETR-4300 and ETR-8300 Super fuzzy-logic temperature controls in 1/8-DIN and 1/4-DIN sizes. Also showing a complete line of electric heat and control products.

OHS

Booth 1640 (Exhibiting w/Milacron Inc.)

Distributes temperature and pressure sensors, indicators, and controls, plus relays and MRO products.

OMEGA HEATER CO.

Booth 3129

Supplies temperature controls and thermocouples.

OMRON ELECTRONICS, INC.

Booth 840

Manufactures industrial automation components and control systems, including temperature and process controls, solid-state relays, PLCs, and sensors. Also supplies motion controls, power supplies, and vision systems.

PATLITE CORP.

Booth 10612

Supplies factory-automation technology including visual and audible signaling devices.

PILZ AUTOMATON SAFETY L.P.

Booth 10919

Supplies safety control, monitoring, and signaling technology, sensors, programmable safety systems, and operator terminals.

PLASTISOFT CORP.

Booth 13043

Canadian firm introducing Mold Manager job-costing and scheduling software for mold makers. Also showing Tori ERP software for film extrusion and injection molding, as well as RIMMS ERP software for plastics recycling, compounding, and coloring.

PRIAMUS SYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Booth 4295

Introducing Priamus Tool Box, a portable system for speedy mold set-up on injection molding machines. It also performs process monitoring and analyzes energy-use, repeatability, control accuracy, and machine capability. Tool Box software works with new Mobile DAQ, a mobile data-acquisition unit. Also new are the Multi DAQ universal signal conditioner for monitoring and controlling injection machines. Also showing PRAISED sensitivity-detection system for cavity-pressure sensors.

RAYTEK

Booth 3107

Offers a wide variety of infrared thermometers that monitor and control temperature in film and sheet extrusion, extrusion coating, orienting, laminating, embossing, and thermoforming.

RJG, INC.

Booth 216

Introducing Insight System for plantwide production and process monitoring based on its eDART controller. Also showing new iLink low-cost, easy-to-use production-monitoring system. Supplementing its cavity-pressure monitoring and control systems with a new line of piezoelectric cavity-pressure sensors in flush-mount and button styles.

RKC INSTRUMENT

Booth 5744

Unveiling SRV modular digital temperature controls. Dual-loop modules can be connected in systems for up to 62 loops. Also introducing SRX high-speed DIN-rail control module for 2-channel to multi-zone systems. It has 25-millisec scan time. New HA high-speed DIN-rail control module has 2-channels and embedded DeviceNet and Profibus networking protocols.

Newly expanded E3A modular control system is designed for small to medium-size extrusion systems. Rolling out OPC-VO6 small pre-programmed operator screen for the SR Mini control system. Unveiling the SSN DIN-rail mount for replacing low-amperage mercury switches. Also introducing the THV power controller and new MA900/901 series 1/4-DIN controller with up to eight channels.

SENSONETICS, INC.

Booth 8412

Supplies melt-pressure transducers and transmitters, including injection nozzle transducers and extrusion transducers/transmitters. Also supplies mold transducers, vacuum transducers, industrial hydraulic transducers and transmitters.

SIEMENS ENERGY & AUTOMATION, INC.

Booth 5787

Supplies control systems for injection and blow molding, thermoforming, and extrusion. Featuring new control system for electric injection machines, based on new Simotion motion controller, which has integrated logic and temperature/pressure-control functions.

SYSCON-PLANTSTAR

Booth 226

Rolling out Quickshot low-cost monitoring system for up to 48 machines. Also introducing Total Manufacturing Production Control and Monitoring concept for monitoring raw-material flow from silo to molding machine and then to assembly and QC operations. It's based on a universal, industry-standard data-transfer interface for all programmable devices. Will demonstrate the new interface with Van Dorn Demag machines, showing improved integration of data transfer between local and remote manufacturing locations. Will also demonstrate total plant-floor integration between local and remote sites in new Continuous Improvement Center. It will monitor molding at two show locations and two remote locations.

TECHNE INC.

Booth 7140

Offers temperature measurement and calibration equipment.

TEMPCO ELECTRIC HEATER CORP.

Booth 1432

Introducing TEC line of temperature controls and chart recorders.

TERWIN INSTRUMENTS INC. Booth 12912

Launching low-cost 5000 series melt-pressure transducers and transmitters. Also exhibiting a full range of extrusion pressure and temperature instrumentation.

TRANSDUCERS DIRECT

Booth 10158

Displaying its full line of melt-pressure, pneumatic, hydraulic, and position transducers and indicators, all available for ordering online at prices said to be 15-30% below typical levels.

TURCK INC.

Booth 10531

Unveiling absolute and incremental encoders and Turck Process Automation products, as well as flow, temperature, pressure, proximity, and level sensors, including Q-pak flat rectangular sensors.

VAISALA, INC.

Booth 13531

Introducing Drycap DMT142 dewpoint transmitter for plastic dryers. Also showing Drycap DM70 hand-held dewpoint meter and the Drycap DMP248 dewpoint and temperature transmitter.

WATLOW

Booth 144

Rolling out Series SD temperature controller programmed by a Palm PDA. Also unveiling Infosense technology that improves sensor accuracy more than 50%. Also showing the PPC-2000 multi-loop process controller for extrusion.