eNewsletter

July 2010

Distribution Automation Trends and Outlook in The United States: 2010-2015
The US market for distribution automation of electric power medium voltage networks is currently in the emerging stage. 2009 expenditures for distribution automation activities (in addition to the $575 million value of the smart DA field equipment itself) hover around the $250 to $275 million dollar range at this time. This “adoption” curve provides revenue growth expectations.

Click Here to Read Entire Article

Monitor and Modify Live Process Variables from an iPhone Using ProSoft Technology Industrial Hotspots
ProSoft Technology has announced the support of the Industrial Hotspot series of radios in conjunction with Sweet William Automation’s new ScadaMobile application for the iPhone/iPod platform. The application is designed to provide engineers with access to live process control variables, and the ability to modify this data remotely from their iPhones.

Functionally, the application creates a secure wireless interface between an iPhone device and an existing 802.11 wireless network on the plant-floor, allowing an iPhone device to read Modbus TCP/IP and EtherNet/IP process control variables from PAC/PLCs distributed throughout the plant. These live values are displayed in stylized lists and include user-established variance allowances and alarms. Engineers are able to monitor these variables in real time and make adjustments on the fly from an iPhone.

Cumulative security features are offered by both the iPhone and the Industrial Hotspot radios to prevent unauthorized access to the network. The new 802.11n industrial hotspots feature WPA2-PSK and 802.11i RADIUS security, which prevent unauthorized access and modification to the network. ScadaMobile provides a feature upon configuration, which requires the user to assign a matching security code as both a password for network access and as a security tag in the CPU. When ScadaMobile launches, the security code must match that on the CPU in order to create a connection.

Hear ProSoft Speak at the Remote 2010 Conference
Session: Wireless Technologies for SCADA
For more information visit www.RemoteExpo.com

NL-AUX-RLY Solves Remote Application On/Off Switching
RF Neulink has broadened its portfolio of wireless data products to include the NL-AUX-RLY. There are many applications where users need the quick availability of a relay for connection to a particular apparatus. The NL-AUX-RLY auxiliary dual relay box was designed to facilitate this need.

The NL-AUX-RLY consists of two single-pole, double-through relays with a contact current rating of 6 amps at 250 VAC. A high voltage, high current relay driver IC is used to trigger the relays, thus allowing for a selectable active high or active low independent trigger source for each relay. The NL-AUX-RLY works with the NL900 and NL900S radio modems, when configured for dry contact closure function. A typical application is in remote powering of motors, pumps or any application requiring an isolated on/off switch.

Solar Powered Wireless Communications More Efficient With Carlson Wireless PoE System
Carlson Wireless Technologies has integrated a new Power over Ethernet (PoE) device into its solar powered wireless product line. The PoE unit increases system efficiency by up to 45 percent, allowing for greater solar system run times. 

Other benefits include reductions in required solar panel size as well as the elimination of costly inverters. Carlson Wireless engineers also note that the new PoE allows an increase in powered cable length, expanding site configuration options.

Designed for remote locations, Carlson’s Trailblazer and LongHaul microwave backhaul radios integrate with its solar power kits, directly monitoring both radio and solar equipment via data throughput, temperature and voltage readings; sending e-mail alerts at customer-set thresholds to communicate problems before failure occurs.

GE to Increase Availability of Wireless Network Coverage with New Backup Power System
GE Energy Storage Technologies has introduced the Durathon battery, an industrial energy storage device for the telecom industry. The Durathon battery can be used as a backup system for hybrid telecom sites where non-grid sources of power are utilized, as well as in traditional base stations that are powered by robust and/or unstable electrical grids.

Because of its proprietary chemistry, the Durathon battery lasts up to ten times longer than traditional telecom backup storage systems, which reduces the total cost of ownership and ensures network efficiency and optimization for wireless providers. The product of a $160 million investment by GE, the Durathon battery is also temperature insensitive, allowing for coverage in remote areas with extreme weather conditions, an important attribute as wireless providers continue to expand coverage around the globe.

IVC and Rockbestos-Surprenant Cable Debut Class I Division 1 Video Solution
Industrial Video & Control Co. (IVC) and Rockbestos-Surprenant Cable Corp. (RSCC) have introduced a new networked video solution designed for use in hazardous areas. RSCC’s Gardex CAT5e is designed for Ethernet communication and Class I Div 1 applications. The cable is designed for use in extreme temperatures and is UL-listed instrumentation tray cable ITC-HL, 300 volts. Its continuously-welded aluminum armoring reduces installation costs by negating the need for conduit. IVC and RSCC have successfully tested this cable with IVC cameras to a distance of 600 feet.

IVC camera offering includes pan-tilt zoom, fixed, auto-zoom and manual zoom cameras. IVC cameras are suitable for the harshest weather and environmental conditions. IVC camera systems combine camera products and state-of-the-art management software. Their Relay Server and View Station software packages enable remote viewing and control of video as well as management of all aspects of your surveillance systems. IVC software also facilitates integration of video into SCADA applications.

Ground-Breaking Market Research Study Commissioned by Remote Site & Equipment Management Magazine
Supporting vendors and users, industry leading trade magazine Remote Site & Equipment Management Magazine, in partnership with Atenga Inc, is commissioning an in-depth perception and pricing study of the remote monitoring and control equipment market.

David Webster, president of Webcom Communications, the publisher of Remote Site & Equipment Management Magazine, said, “While technology and adoption trends in the industry are well documented, buying behavior is not. In a fragmented market, few vendors have the opportunity to gain a complete picture of buying behavior, and instead have to rely on anecdotal, incomplete information”. Webster continues, “Providing this in-depth information will help all parties as vendors will be able to provide users with products that increasingly meet their needs.”

The survey is distributed to users and resellers of remote monitoring and control equipment throughout the USA, and will capture the decision drivers, value drivers and price drivers from a statistically significant market population.

“It is exciting to see Remote Site & Equipment Management Magazine step up to the plate and really try to help both the user and vendor population of its subscribers,” said Per Sjofors, Founder and CEO of Atenga, Inc. “The study will uncover valuable information about the marketplace that neither vendors nor users are likely to even know about.”

The study will provide detailed, qualified and ranked information on what types of features and functions are important for buyers, what drives users to make buying decisions and what are they willing to pay for a typical product. The report will provide vendors a data driven foundation to enhance its products and go-to-market strategy wile providing users with the opportunity to compare their decision criteria with the marketplace as a whole.

The research findings will be published in a number of short, targeted and affordable reports, which will be available for purchase from Remote Site & Equipment Management Magazine from early September 2010.

Latin America to Invest $450 Billion in Infrastructure through 2015
CG/LA Infrastructure LLC has released its Latin American Infrastructure 2015 Report, the firm’s annual five year projections of the Latin American infrastructure market.  The region is projected to invest just over $450 billion in the five-year period 2011 to 2015.

Countries with the strongest prospects, in terms of growth in infrastructure investment, are those with the strongest sense of infrastructure as critical to competitiveness. Brazil, with World Cup and Olympics projects, is projected to show an annual 18 percent increase in infrastructure investment. Colombia, as peace gains traction, is just behind at 17.6 percent. 

Other countries investments include Argentina, which will invest a total of $17.9 billion in infrastructure through 2015, with investment levels rising at only 2 percent a year throughout the period. Chile continues to outperform, investing almost 6 percent of GDP in infrastructure, totaling $42 billion, with investment rising by an average of 15.7 percent per year. Mexico’s infrastructure investments are projected total $70.2 billion through 2015, rising at an annual rate of roughly 8 percent. Peru’s investment, driven largely by mining developments, will total a cumulative $22.2 billion. Venezuela is the single large country in the region not projected to see any rise in infrastructure investment through the period, and will invest just $10.6 billion in power generation, water and transport through the period.

Sector performance is projected to change dramatically.  By 2015 the region is projected to show dramatic increases in investment levels for water/wastewater, along with urban mass transit.  At the same time, surface transportation (mostly highways, but including rail and waterways) will remain the largest single infrastructure sector. Meanwhile electricity will be at $26.1 billion by 2015 (generation, as well as transmission and distribution), a rise of 18 percent above the $17.3 billion project to be invested region-wide in 2010. Water/Wastewater is projected at $17.7 billion for investments, an increase of 52 percent over current levels.

Power Remains Strongest Influence on Growth of Distributed Control Systems
The world market for distributed control systems is projected to exceed $17.2 billion by 2014. The growth of this market will primarily be driven by the power, oil & gas, refining & petrochemical and water & wastewater industries.

After extensive consultation with manufacturers of distributed control systems and end-users, IMS Research (www.imsresearch.com) found that growth in this market is heavily dependent on the energy consumption and future requirements of developing regions of the world.

“Alternative fuels and energy production is a very lucrative market, and companies in the industry often benefit from having large investment resources available. Market research analyst, Marc Fernandez, commented “As existing oil reserves are consumed, there is a growing need for governments and energy companies to invest in new technologies and plants dedicated to producing alternative forms of energy. This requires increased investment in distributed control systems to not only ensure operations are monitored and controlled efficiently, but also to maximize return on investment and increase productivity. Over the next five years, distributed control systems used in the power industry is expected to grow by an estimated $1.5 billion. This highlights greater investment in existing and new facilities across the globe.”

WirelessHART Approved by IEC as First International Standard for Wireless Communication in Process Automation
The HART Communication Foundation has announced that the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has approved the WirelessHART specification as a full international standard (IEC 62591Ed. 1.0). The unanimous vote by the IEC National Committees of 28 countries confirms the broad global support for WirelessHART technology as the international standard for wireless communication in process automation.

“The overwhelming approval by IEC fulfills the request of users for a single international wireless communication standard that is supported by major automation suppliers,” said HART Communication Foundation Executive Director Ron Helson. “WirelessHART technology has been confirmed by both users and suppliers to be a technically sound, reliable and secure solution for wireless communication in process automation.”

Attend HART Communications Foundation’s FREE Pre-Conference Workshop at Remote 2010
A Vendor-Neutral, Educational Seminar on the First Open Interoperable Wireless Communication Standard for the Process Industries
Visit www.RemoteExpo.com for more information

Webcom Communications Provides new Videos from Industry Leading Remote Technology Companies
Webcom Communication’s publisher and editor recently sat down with Remote Magazine related companies to discuss Embedded Wireless Control and Monitoring Systems and Embedded Energy Measurement ICs and Monitoring Units. Click the links below to view these videos from Webcom.

Synapse: New Capabilities for Building Embedded Wireless Control and Monitoring Systems Click Here

Teridian Semiconductor Corp: New Family of Embedded Energy Measurement ICs and Monitoring Units
Click Here

Two-day special seminar and training on key standards for Smart Grids: IEC 61850, IEC 61400-25 and DNP3
Remote 2010 Conference & Expo
October 19-20, 2010 - Dallas, Texas
Register Here - ($1,350)

In this comprehensive 2-day workshop students learn the fundamental concepts and vision of the NIST Smart Grid activities and of the IEC 61850 standard series. Students compare well known solutions like DNP3 and the new OPC UA with IEC 61850 and discuss the strength each method offers. All the IEC 61850 standards, their extensions, and many application domains are briefly discussed and the class delves into IEC 61850 real-time and client/server solutions. Each student (that brings his own PC) will do some hands-on training with client/server communication and GOOSE messaging.

Click Here for More Information

July 2010
27-30, HydroVision International, Charlotte, NC. Contact www.hydroevent.com

August 2010
1-5, APCO 2010, Houston, Texas. Contact www.apco2010.org

31- September 1, Smart Energy West Coast, San Deigo, Calif. Contact www.spintelligent-events.com

September 2010
8-9, ENTELEC Roundtable in the Rockies, Denver, Co. Contact www.entelec.org

12-14, BICSI Fall 2010, Las Vegas, Nev. Contact www.bicis.org

12-16, World Energy Congress 2010, Montreal, Canada. Contact www.wecmontreal2010.ca

13-15, Darnell's Power Forum, Chicago, Ill. Contact Contact http://dpf.darnell.com/

13-15, Utility Scale Solar, San Diego, Calif. Contact www.infocastinc.com

28-30, International Pipeline Expo, Calgary, Alberta. Contact www.internationalpipelinexposition.com

CTIA Enterprise & Applications 2010 Conference and Exposition
October 6–8, 2010     
Moscone West, San Francisco, CA

Fifteen years ago, CTIA launched Wireless I.T. to educate and drive wireless data deployments within the enterprise. Along the way, the show has nurtured every piece of the ecosystem and has been a proud contributor to the fulfillment of the Mobile Business vision. As we enter the Mobile Decade, this event becomes more relevant, more vital than ever. CTIA Enterprise & Applications 2010 is focused on the integration and usage of wireless technology in any business or vertical industry such as enterprise, media, content, health, energy, retail and transportation. We invite you to join the Mobile Business revolution. Come learn, network and succeed with CTIA Enterprise & Applications!  Register Now!

M2M Zone Connected Devices Conference
October 7, 2010
San Francisco, California

In this M2M seminar, our panel of experts will underline the values of telecom connectivity packages and service-level agreements by sharing examples from enterprise, municipal, industrial, and commercial deployments. Topics will include Smart Energy, Asset Tracking and Security, Consumer Apps, Automotive Telematics, and Service Platforms.

www.m2mzone.com

The Technology World in One Location • October 19-20 • Dallas, Texas

Click here to download a brochure

For the first time ever, six leading market-focused events will be co-located and sharing a combined exhibit hall in the Dallas area this fall. Each attracts leading technical professionals in their respective field. Together, it means a show floor populated by top design engineers, system engineers, manufacturing and facility managers, control and wireless communication specialists, and management executives from multiple industries and markets throughout North America.

The event is backed up by the programs of five separate in-depth annual conferences and more than 15 intensive workshops and master classes covering many of today’s hottest technologies and fastest-growing markets. Additionally, a series of free educational classes on energy efficiency for engineers and managers will take place on the exhibit floor for Energy Efficiency Expo.

Discover how and where to integrate new technologies into your systems to improve performance and efficiency, as well as new market trends and how they can impact your company. Find new suppliers and solutions for a variety of technology needs in your organization.

Battery Power 2010 • Advancements in Thermal Management
REMOTE Site & Equipment Management 2010 • Energy Efficiency Expo 2010
Antenna Systems 2010 • Electrical Manufacturing & Coil Winding Expo

For a free subscription to the print version of the magazine,click here.

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