The newly named International Society for Automation (ISA) held its annual ISA Expo conference and trade show in Houston Oct. 14 through 16. Exhibit space was similar to last year's. The show floor was busy both Tuesday and Wednesday. While there was some emphasis on wireless and communication at this year's event, many companies took advantage of the assembled attendees and editors to announce new products. Following is a summary of things I uncovered:
Siemens Energy & Automation Inc. and the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) that will improve the processes used to convert second generation, non-food-based, biofuel feedstocks, including perennial grasses, animal wastes and agricultural residues such as corn stover, into liquid bio-fuel intermediates, such as bio-oil.
The Fieldbus Foundation and ISA have announced an agreement to facilitate the implementation of wireless backhaul transport networks. This technology initiative is based on shared interests in serving the needs of end users and suppliers of wireless systems in industrial automation.
At an ISA100 meeting in June, ISA100 leaders established a new working group, ISA100.15-Wireless Backhaul Networks Working Group-to develop and maintain a standard to address one or more dedicated or shared wireless backhaul(s) to support technologies running multiple applications. The first of these backbones will be the Fieldbus Foundation's High Speed Ethernet (HSE) implementation.
Byres Security Inc. and MTL Instruments, a division of Cooper Crouse-Hinds, introduced the Tofino Modbus TCP Enforcer Loadable Security Module (LSM), which performs detailed analysis and filtering of all Modbus TCP messages, and is certified by Modbus-IDA. It allows owners of control and SCADA systems to regulate Modbus network traffic to a level of detail that has never before been possible, thereby increasing network security, reliability and performance of critical systems.
Several major automation vendors demonstrated EDDL solutions in their automation systems and for their devices at the ISA104 standards committee's booth. Automation systems from ABB, Emerson, Invensys, and Siemens interoperated with devices from Emerson, Endress+Hauser, Foxboro Eckardt, Metso, MTL, Samson, and Siemens.
HIMA, the worldâo[dot accent]s leading designer and manufacturer of safety automation solutions, today introduced its latest HIMatrix F35 controller for Subsea applications. Together with its Norwegian representative BjÃ[cedilla]rge Saas System AS, HIMA has developed a HIPPS (High Integrity Pressure Protection System) that monitors excess wellhead pressure and partially isolates pipe pressure by closing off effected pipeline segments. The HIMatrix F35 Subsea controller meets the rigorous demands of the growing subsea market and is one of the first safety-related programmable logic controllers for use at up to SIL 3.
Industrial Defender Inc. announced the Company has obtained approval from the United States General Services Administration (GSA) under contract 35F-0617U to provide Professional Security Services for critical infrastructure industrial control systems to the Federal Government. It is part of the comprehensive Cyber Risk Protection Lifecycle solution which enables the efficient assessment, mitigation and management of cyber security risk within the critical infrastructure network domain.
Apprion announced the release of the Apprion ION Wireless Audio application. The Apprion ION Wireless Audio is an integrated solution that delivers quick, easy and cost-effective compliance with employee safety requirements and site security mandates. The ION Wireless Audio application includes an Audio IONizer and industrial-grade amplified speakers designed to produce crisp, clear tones, digital voice messages and live public address in harsh industrial environments with high ambient noise levels.
Nivis and Apprion announced that the two companies will collaborate on providing industrial facilities with reliable, secure wireless networks, devices, applications and services.
Pepperl+Fuchs announces the acquisition of Christensen Display Products. Christensen designs and manufactures ruggedized, industrial-grade, flat-panel monitors for the process and industrial control markets.
Phoenix Contact introduced the QUINT SFB family of industrial grade power supplies. The QUINT SFB is the first industrial grade power supply to feature Selective Fuse Breaking (SFB), a technology that increases system reliability.
It also introduced two additions to its marking system line. The new Thermomark W2 thermal transfer printer simultaneously prints on both sides of Phoenix Contact endless shrink sleeves. Additionally, new UniCard marking card options make the Bluemark printer compatible with a wider range of terminal blocks.
The ILC 150 VLC is a compact, low-cost embedded control platform for small- to medium-sized applications. This new control platform adds a controller choice at the low end of the Phoenix Contact VLC scalable controller architecture. The built-in Ethernet port on the ILC 150 VLC allows for easy networking and data exchange to a supervisory system using the EtherNet/IP protocol. All the VLC control platforms now have integrated Ethernet/IP capability for either scanning I/O or for serving up application status information to a supervisory system.
Honeywell announced the introduction of the XNX, a universal gas transmitter using Honeywell Analyticsâo[dot accent] full range of toxic and flammable gas sensing technologies--including catalytic bead, electrochemical and infrared. The XNX also works with all major Industrial communication protocols, including Hart (standard) and Modbus (optional).
MTS Systems Corp. Sensors Divisionâo[dot accent]s M-Series Level Plus liquid-level transmitters are now being used in sump applications for numerous process industries such as Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Petrochemical and Oil & Gas. The M-Series transmitters provide accurate and continuous measurement that allows for more efficient removal and transportation of waste only when the tank is full by detecting the liquid level instead of the foam level.
HMS Industrial Networks has extended its Anybus-IC family with the addition of the Anybus-IC for Profinet IO.
Invensys Process Systems (IPS) announced a line of SIL 2-certified pressure transmitters and the achievement of dual seal certification required by the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC). The companyâo[dot accent]s five most popular Foxboro Hart version pressure transmitters are now SIL 2-certified by TUV Rheinland, and all IPS differential, gauge and absolute pressure transmitters meet the new Canada CEC/NEC Dual Seal certification.
Ridgid introduced the microExplorer Digital Inspection Camera. This tool can capture digital quality images and record video in color to help analyzed problems and make a more accurate diagnosis. It is a handheld video inspection system that allows users to take digital quality images and record viceo onto on-board memory or a secure digital (SD) card. An integrated mini USB port is available to transfer the recorded information onto a computer.
National Instruments announced a high-performance 8-slot chassis that delivers deterministic expansion I/O to the LabView graphical development platform. The new chassis provides high-speed jitter-free communication for applications such as distributed control, machine building and hardware in the loop. The NI 9144 also features two Ethernet ports, making it possible for engineers to daisy-chain multiple NI9144 chassis from a single controller to expand time-critical applications while maintaining hard determinism with minimal processor resources. It uses EtherCat technology for deterministic Ethernet (but not TCP/IP).
Ocular introduced two lines of HMI systems, the Cascade featuring ARM9 processors while the Denali features Intel x86 processors. Both product lines include Crystal Touch projected capacitive touch screens. The touch panel is made of capacitive glass, resulting in a durable surface less susceptible to scratching and environmental contamination than resistive polymer film.
Green Hill's Software Inc. demonstrated a secure environment for hosting SCADA applications. Integrity Padded Cell secure virtualization technology hosted Microsoft Windows and Linux guest operating systems running on an Intel core 2 Duo processor. The Iconics Genesis32 automation suite was hosted inside one of the secure Integrity Padded Cells. The company also announced a partnership with 3S, Smart Software Solutions, makers of CoDeSys IEC 61131 programming software for creating controller applications.
4:14:28 PM 
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