New Products & Services
September 2022
The new HazardWatch FX-12 fire and gas system (photo) is designed to help process and plant engineers reduce hazard vulnerability while meeting demanding safety standards in hazardous industries, including oil-and-gas production, tanker loading and unloading, petrochemical refining and storage, pipelines and gas compressor stations, hydrogen production, electric power generation, automotive and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The HazardWatch FX-12 System is designed with an Allen-Bradley ControlLogix programmable logic controller (PLC) technology and advanced gas- and flame-detection field devices. Allen-Bradley DLR-enabled communication protocols allow secure integration with other products. A complete solution in a single system, the HazardWatch FX-12 System includes: a standalone local fire and gas alarm panel with touchscreen operator interface; a redundant power supply to support the fire and gas system according to NFPA 72; easy integration with third-party auxiliary devices, such as horns, beacons and fire suppression systems; and FM-approved EtherNet/IP system communications. The HazardWatch FX-12 can accommodate up to 12 field devices per alarm panel, with the capability to network up to 12 panels. — MSA Safety, Inc., Cranberry Township, Pa.
The extensive range of Finnish Thompson FTI air-operated double diaphragm (AODD) pumps has recently been expanded with the addition of a new 0.25-in. non-metallic model, the FT025 (photo), available in polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and conductive polypropylene for use in ATEX areas. The FT025 model delivers a maximum flowrate of 22 L/min (5.8 gal/min) at a maximum air-supply pressure of 120 psi (8.3 bars). The FT025 extends the minimum flow capabilities of AODD pump for a wider range of pumping applications. Furthermore, FT025 pumps are suited to handling abrasive, viscous and shear-sensitive liquids and even “dirty” liquids, with particles up to 1.8 mm (0.06 in.) in diameter. Typical applications will include handling acids, bases, plating solutions, wastewater, paints, inks, solvents, ceramic slip and glaze, lubricants and oils. The FT025 includes a unique lube-free air valve design, which means that significantly fewer components are used compared to other air valves, resulting in reduced servicing time and the associated maintenance costs and downtime. The air valve components include a low-friction slide valve on a ceramic plate to allow for long lifetime and superior sealing, and a molded Buna rubber gasket that ensures total sealing and eliminates flat gasket tearing. — Michael Smith Engineers Ltd., Woking, U.K.
BusWorks NT series remote I/O modules (photo) are now enhanced with conditional logic. The conditional logic increases the functionality with a system of rules that allows extremely complicated decisions based on relatively simple “yes/no” questions. For example, reading an analog or digital input value can trigger an action to happen as a result. This value could be used to control a relay when one or more conditions occur. Another example would be when a discrete input is “On” and a temperature threshold is crossed. More complex math computation and logic are also an option. The modules support up to 64 conditions using “if/then/else” statements. — Acromag, Wixom, Mich.
Instead of traditional neoprene rope gasketing, new Foam-in-Place gaskets have been added to all product sizes in the Heartland series of polycarbonate and non-metallic electrical and industrial enclosures (photo). These gaskets provide full secure contact to the mating cover surface with a continuous overlapping seal that ensures no air gaps, no glue joints and no shrinking of gasket size due to stretching of the material. The result is maximum sealing integrity and reliable protection of all wiring, connections, instrumentation and controls housed by Heartland enclosures. Heartland enclosures can be configured with either a screw cover or a hinged cover, and are available in 13 sizes with either opaque or clear smoked covers. — AttaBox, a brand of Robroy Enclosures, Belding, Mich.
The FS10i flowmeter series (photo) is designed to measure the flowrate of natural gas. The FS10i meter is accurate to±1.5% of reading,±0.5% of full scale, with repeatability of±0.5% of reading and has a response time of 4 s. Designed with highly stable direct mass-flow sensors, FS10i flowmeters require no additional pressure or temperature sensors or other components to infer flow measurement. The sensor does not foul or clog, and requires no routine maintenance, ensuring continuous operation. FS10i flowmeters provide a fluid-matched, calibrated and linearized 4–20-mA output of flowrate, and a user-programmable high- or low-flow alarm or trip point. For visual indication, the flowmeters include a 10-segment LED array display that illuminates proportionally to the flowrate and flashes if an alarm trip occurs. Available in both inline and insertion-style configurations, FS10i meters support installation in line sizes from 1 to 20 in. (DN25 to DN500). They operate over a wide turndown ratio from 1 to 400 std. ft3/min, depending on fluid media and line size. Their 316L stainless-steel construction ensures corrosion resistance. — Fluid Components International LLC (FCI), San Marcos, Calif.
This company has extended its offering of compact position sensors with the WIM-IOL series (photo) for detecting magnetic pistons in pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders. The new series consists of eight sensors with IO-Link 1.1, covering measuring ranges from 32 to 256 mm. IO-Link and the integrated pushbutton enable users to teach the measuring range of sensors quickly and conveniently to the stroke of the pistons in the cylinder. This simplifies mounting compared to analog sensors, as these have to be fitted either exactly to the dead points or operate with correction factors in the controller. The IP67 sensors operate with a 15-bit resolution. Typical applications include feed detection in injection molding machines or automatic screwing machines, the positioning of the welding head with ultrasonic welding or the monitoring the foil tension in packaging machines. — Hans Turck GmbH & Co. KG, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
The GUC-F Universal Feeder Controller (photo) allows additional feeding capacity to be installed to meet increased or changing production demands without purchasing additional, individual controllers for each feeder. Devised to future-proof against sudden demand spikes and provide flexibility to accommodate frequent recipe changes, the controller instrumentation automates control over weighing, dosing and feeding from up to four feeders on up to four different processing lines from a single HMI screen. Accurate weighing and precise powder feeding are assured in a streamlined production operating with reduced equipment, labor and maintenance costs. Developed for food, chemical, pharmaceutical and other powder and bulk-material feeding processes, the GUC-F is delivered preconfigured based on the type of feeder or feeders, required modes of operation, and use of frequency converters for easy installation and fast setup. — Gericke USA, Somerset, N.J.
A new version of the J22 tunable diode-laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) gas analyzer (photo) now includes support for the Modbus TCP/IP protocol, which enables users to communicate with their analyzers from a central network location in a bidirectional, secure point-to-point manner. Combined with the addition of a native web server, this enables users to easily monitor, configure and service analyzers remotely. The web server also can be used to optimize the analyzer. — Endress+Hauser, Greenwood, Ind.
The new Ecobulk SX-D intermediate bulk container (IBC; photo) is designed for transporting hazardous goods, such as flammable or highly combustible liquids. The IBC has already received the quality seal of the FM Global Group. It has a closed, fire-resistant hull in addition to the classic steel grid. This hull is welded to the integrated bottom plate, forming a separate sealed containment basin around the inner bottle of the container. The double-wall construction provides effective additional protection against leakage and stops sensitive liquids from escaping, even in extreme situations, such as in the event of a fire with very high temperatures. — Schütz GmbH & Co. KGaA, Selters, Germany
The RepTek Grip silicone palm-coated gloves provide adhesion resistance paired with high cut resistance and dexterity. Hot butyl can become bothersome when it sticks to gloves, shortening the life and costing more money. This new silicone coating prevents sealant or hot-melt buildup and stands up to everyday wear and tear, lasting up to six times longer than most standard gloves. The GPD487 (photo) features a Hyperon ANSI cut-level A5 shell, and the GPD787 uses the company’s AeroDex Technology to achieve cut level A7 protection. Both options are cool and lightweight, providing long-wearing cut-resistance, so workers do not have to sacrifice dexterity or comfort to stay safe. — Magid Glove & Safety Manufacturing Company, LLC, Romeoville, Ill.
Properly installed ferrules provide dependable wire terminations to both screw and push-in terminals, but installers and technicians need suitably rated parts and associated tools for making these connections. This company has therefore introduced a complete product line of S3TL series ferrules, wire strippers, crimpers (photo) and screwdrivers. The S3TL ferrule product line includes various sizes accommodating wire gauges from AWG 26 to AWG 8, each with one or two wires, depending on part number. Each ferrule incorporates an electrically insulated cover, which is color-coded using the German Weidmüller standard, for easy recognition by installers. The ferrules are UL 486F certified when used together with S3TL series crimping tools. — IDEC Corp., Sunnyvale, Calif.
The biosolids granulator (photo) is a dry-on-demand system for the treatment of sewage sludge from municipal and industrial wastewater-treatment plants. It combines existing centrifuge-based dewatering with proven drying technology. This process, said to be unique in the world in this form, uses the dewatered solids ejected directly from the rotating centrifuge bowl. This is then immediately heat-treated and solidified by the primary direct-heat input stream. The solid particles are then further dried by the secondary hot airstream in the main drying chamber. The result is an improved dried granule with up to 50% dry solids and a consistent pathogen count below 100,000 cfu/g. These process results can be achieved using either low-temperature (75–90°C) waste heat available on site, heat generated from a fuel source or a combination of both. — GEA Group, Düsseldorf, Germany
The E-finity (photo) is a patented, continuous dense-phase conveyor system for fragile materials. Precise pressure monitoring and airflow corrections allow the system to operate efficiently under all conditions, while gently inducing materials through the convey line in slug form. E-finity is suitable for granular and pelleted materials, and has proven itself on many projects for pet foods, cereals, nuts, grains and prills. Unique E-finity air controls can employ a single air source to operate two to three different systems simultaneously. — Schenck Process LLC, Kansas City, Mo.
The new X-Viz confined space monitoring system (photo) is a complete safety-monitoring system designed to meet OSHA requirements during plant turnarounds. By integrating gas detection, video monitoring, alarms and access control technologies, X-Viz allows fewer safety attendants to remotely monitor a greater number of confined spaces. It also reduces overall labor costs and delegates safety supervision to skilled specialists. The high-quality, real-time video footage allows safety professionals to exponentially increase the level of safety at a reduced cost. — Draeger, Inc., Telford, Pa.
Capsuloc (photo) is a new reusable shipping container for transporting flammable liquids. Made of hard plastic and featuring a twist-on lid, Capsuloc is a lighter, safer and more convenient alternative to traditional metal “paint can” secondary-containment packaging used for hazardous materials. Capsuloc’s advanced design provides a compliant seal without needing lock rings, and opens and closes by simply twisting the cap with no tools required. These durable containers can be reused repeatedly without denting or having to replace lock rings, and are completely recyclable. Having passed rigorous UN testing, Capsuloc can be compliantly shipped with an outer UN fiberboard box by all modes of transportation. Capsuloc container kits weigh 32% less than paint can kits, so they cost less per unit to ship. Futhermore, Capsuloc kits are half the size of traditional paint cans, meaning twice as many kits fit on a pallet, so shippers can keep more inventory in the same space. Finally. Capsuloc’s advanced sealing technology makes it easier to open, close and ship, while reducing spills, leaks and the risk that comes with using sharp tools to open and close containers. Capsuloc kits are available with different-sized pressurized glass bottles, pouches and outer boxes. — Labelmaster, Chicago, Ill.
The Neles Q-Disc butterfly valve (photo) has a new high-performance feature to help with flow balancing in control valve applications. Q-Disc is specifically designed for control applications. One of its key benefits is that it helps to avoid oversized actuators for control-valve packages, which saves energy and costs. Designed for challenging flow conditions, Q-Disc can be utilized to avoid cavitation in low opening angles, and it also provides market-leading noise reduction capabilities — even up to 12 dB in certain flow conditions, the company says. Q-Disc also helps in optimizing the entire valve-actuator package by making it possible to reduce the impact of dynamic torque caused by the flow. Q-Disc is available as a modular option for a wide range of butterfly valves, and it can be used for a temperature range up to 600°C. — Valmet Oy, Espoo, Finland
With Ayríís (photo), this company has optimized the contact-angle method for quality assurance and developed the first solution for measuring the 3D contact angle. The instrument creates a virtual 3D model of the water drop dosed during the measurement and determines the contact angle reliably and automatically on the basis of this spatial image. The measurement takes only seconds and requires no prior knowledge or training. To prepare the quality-control (QC) checks, sample types can be created via the touch display and tolerance limits for the contact angle can be set. — Krüss GmbH, Hamburg, Germany
This company has optimized its existing induration technology, offering and launched its Compact-sized Pellet Plant (photo). The plant design is based on a 3-m wide indurating machine, building on the state-of-the-art design of the company’s larger (4-m wide) product range. The new compact plant offers the same plant performance and product quality as the larger-size plants. Three standard sizes (capacities) are offered: 189 m2 (1.2–1.5 million metric tons per year (m.t./yr)); 288 m2 (1.7–2.3 million m.t./yr); and 315 m2 (2.0–2.6 million m.t./yr). — Metso Outotec Corp., Helsinki, Finland
The SpectroMAXx LMX10 arc/spark optical emission spectrometry (OES) analyzer (photo) performs fast, accurate, advanced elemental analysis in metal-producing and fabricating plants, as well as iron and non-ferrous foundries. The LMX10 OES is said to deliver outstanding repeatability, reproducibility and reliability in material control analyses from incoming materials to in-process testing to final quality inspections — adding certainty to critical supply chains. Advanced diagnostics and easy maintenance prevent expensive downtime. In addition, the analyzer features the company’s proprietary iCAL 2.0 calibration logic, which requires only 5 min, and a single sample per day, and automatically compensates for most changes in environmental temperature or pressure. Conventional analyzers may need 30 or more minutes for standardization, plus reruns whenever site conditions change. — Spectro Analytical Instruments GmbH, Kleve, Germany
Specially developed for green forage pelleting, the 55-1500 pellet mill (photo) is designed to produce smaller and thinner pellets, as well as coarser grass cobs. The pan grinder rollers, measuring 450 to 550 mm, with a speed of only 2.5 m/s, enable very good defibration of the product. Due to the larger die diameter of 1,500 mm and a larger, open perforated surface, the 55-1500 easily processes higher volumes than the company’s 45-1500 pellet mill, while achieving an increase in output of up to 50%. It also requires only one motor instead of two as before. This makes the machine particularly energy-efficient, while offering low maintenance. Its footprint is identical to that of the 45-1250 pellet mill, so it can be easily integrated into existing drying plants. — Amandus Kahl GmbH & Co. KG, Reinbek, Germany
Demanding die-cast components, such as structural components in the automotive sector (megacastings), place special requirements on the temperature control, in particular on the cooling of so-called hotspots. The jetPulse system (photo) offers a reliable and economical solution for cooling such hotspots in a die-casting die. The jetPulse system offers two unit sizes (30 or 100 L). Up to six multiJet distributors with eight channels each can be connected per unit. These reliably cool up to 64 individual hotspots with pinpoint accuracy and cycle control. The system is supplemented by the flowrate monitoring of each individual channel with the company’s flowControl unit. The system detects problems in individual cooling channels at an early stage and thus avoids costs due to quality problems and rejects at an early stage. — Regloplas AG, St. Gallen, Switzerland
The EDX-7200 energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (photo) is equipped with a high-resolution silicon drift detector (SDD) to achieve a higher count rate and detection efficiency than its predecessor models. Along with the SDD, the EDX-7200 incorporates a high-speed circuit that achieves highly precise analysis of the target element in a shorter measurement time. It increases the count rate by up to 30 times compared to the former model (EDX-720). Improved algorithms and performance also help to reduce measurement times. In addition, the EDX-7200 delivers high-sensitivity performance, improving the lower detection limit of trace elements in metal by up to six times that of the previous model. With the SDD, the EDX-7200 offers superior energy resolution compared to earlier models. This reduces the effects of overlapping peaks of different elements, enhancing the reliability of the analysis results. This flexible instrument accommodates all types of samples — from small to large, from solids to powders to liquids. Options include a vacuum measurement unit, helium purge unit (for highly sensitive measurement of light elements), and a 12-sample turret for automated continuous measurements. The new automatic measurement time-reduction function automatically switches to the next analysis channel if a controlled substance clearly has a high or low concentration, making evaluation possible while measurement is underway. This achieves more efficient screening analysis. — Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Columbia, Md.