ISA Tech/99

ISA Tech/99 is expected to attract more than 500 exhibitors and 11,000 visitors, Oct. 5-7, at the Philadelphia Convention CenterOne good idea, one useful solution can mean the difference between survival and success or failure and liquidation in these technologically turbocharged times. It just depends who finds and implements crucial innovations first—you or your competitors.

By Jim Montague, CONTROL ENGINEERING September 1, 1999
ISA Tech 1999
  • Trade shows

  • Process control systems

  • Productivity, management, and control

  • Flow sensing/measurement

  • Batch control

  • Actuator-sensor networks

Sidebars:
Process control expands horizons at ISA Tech/99
Instrumentation, sensors, connectors bring reality to control

ISA Tech/99 is expected to attract more than 500 exhibitors and 11,000 visitors, Oct. 5-7, at the Philadelphia Convention Center

One good idea, one useful solution can mean the difference between survival and success or failure and liquidation in these technologically turbocharged times. It just depends who finds and implements crucial innovations first-you or your competitors.

To give engineers, users, and other technical professionals a head start finding breakthrough technologies and products, ISA Tech/99 will highlight the latest solutions and applications in multiple forums and formats organized by the ISA, the international society for measurement and control (Research Triangle Park, N.C.).

ISA Tech/99 is the university-oriented, technical conference portion of the event’s alternating-year format. Last year’s ISA Expo/98 in Houston focused more on exhibitors and products in a ‘bazaar’ setting. This emphasis likely will be repeated at ISA Expo/2000, Aug. 21-24, in New Orleans.

Taking in technologies

To help visitors pack in as many Technical Conference sessions and exhibits as possible, ISA Tech/99 will continue the event’s non-compete format. This strategy limits scheduling conflicts by holding keynote and plenary sessions at 9-10 a.m., technical sessions at 10:15 a.m.-1 p.m., and exhibits in the Technology Center at 1-6 p.m. ISA Tech/99’s Innovators Center will be open, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

The Technical Conference includes eight plenary speakers and more than 100 technical papers, presentations, tutorials, and panel sessions organized into six themes: Automation and Control, Emerging Technologies, Management Issues, Networking and Communications, Productivity and Flexibility, and Safety and Environmental.

Besides these onsite technical sessions, the ISA Training Institute will offer more than 30 courses in four training paths-Fundamental Skills, Technical Skills, Engineering Skills, and Industrial Computing Skills-at the Wyndam Franklin Plaza Hotel, four blocks from the convention center.

Innovations, exhibits, theaters

Following the technical sessions, ISA Tech/99’s other primary sources of solutions are its Innovations Center and Technology Center exhibits and theater presentations.

To aid visitors navigating its 500 exhibits, the Technology Center will be color-coded to match the four ISA Tech/99 themes on display-Automation and Control, Networks and Communications, Productivity and Flexibility, and Safety and Environmental.

Because ISA Tech/99’s official format limits exhibitors to 20 x 20 ft. spaces, many larger companies will occupy several booths, each located in different theme areas. Some visitors at ISA Tech/97 in Anaheim, Calif., reported that multiple booths resulted in missed meetings and made it harder for them to navigate using notable exhibits as landmarks. However, a new interactive floor map (isa99.bluedot.com) for ISA Tech/99 is expected to solve some of these logistical problems (see sidebar).

Located at the front of the Technology Center, ISA Tech/99’s Innovators Center will include 21 participants and 22 presentations. The 1999 Innovators Center President’s Award will be announced at ISA Tech/99’s keynote session on Oct. 5. Similarly, the four theaters in the Technology Center have been assigned numbers, 1-4, and titles of the 55 scheduled presentations are linked with the number of the venue where they’ll be staged.

For more information about ISA Tech/99, visit www.controleng.com/freeinfo .

Process control expands horizons at ISA Tech/99

To make applications more efficient, productive, and competitive, engineers can use many of the solutions highlighted at ISA Tech/99. Some of the most innovative include:

GCX Process Gas Chromatograph Transmitter from Rosemount Analytical (Orville, O.), a division of Fisher-Rosemount, now includes embedded Intel-based PC electronics with an HTML, web-compatible HMI program, as well as FOUNDATION fieldbus communications. This means start-up, diagnostics, troubleshooting, and data acquisition can be handled remotely via any web browser interface on virtually any platform type. Rosemount Analytical is also exhibiting its OCX 4400 O2/Combustibles Transmitter and Continuous Analyzer Transmitter product line.
ISA Tech/99 booth 631

Quadlog Safety Matrix, a toolkit for Moore Process Automation Solutions ‘ (Spring House, Pa.) Quadlog Safety PLC, halves specification, design, configuration, testing, and maintenance time by merging into one tool the usually separate steps of creating a cause and effects matrix diagram and configuring the safety system. No added programming is needed because I/O configuration details are entered in the matrix as well.
ISA Tech/99 booths 253, 1919, 2705

Besides incorporating advanced multiserver, multiclient networking, Lookout 4.0 has added a new pricing structure to help users connect more clients at a lower price. This latest version of National Instruments ‘ (Austin, Tex.) HMI/SCADA software also includes integrated, interactive web support; OPC server and client capabilities, and seamless connectivity with the company’s BridgeView software, which is LabView for industrial applications. National Instruments is also showing FP-1600, an Ethernet network interface module for its FieldPoint modular I/O system. With 10 or 100 Mb/sec communication rates and TCP/IP compatibility, FP-1600 links FieldPoint I/O modules directly to open, standard Ethernet and Fast Ethernet networks.
ISA Tech/99 booth 1725

CP5613 and CP5614 AT are PC-compatible Profibus I/O communication interface cards for PC-based soft logic control or human-machine interface applications. Both 12-megabit/sec modules from Siemens Energy & Automation (Alanta, Ga.) are in short PCI format and run on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 as Profibus DP masters for high-speed I/O applications. The modules offload the Profibus DP communications stack from the host CPU. Direct memory access via DualPort-RAM allows direct process data transfer from the board to the PC application. A built-in event filter polls I/O data only when changes occur, which saves host resources.
ISA Tech/99 booths 105, 1005, 2205

A Profibus Master Module has been added to the Universal Communication System (UCS) embedded fieldbus interface from SST (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada), part of Woodhead Connectivity. UCS gives manufacturers an open architecture embedded fieldbus solution for global customer networking demands. UCS includes small, inexpensive network modules with a common interface to the host product, which means manufacturers are no longer required to make separate programming efforts for each network protocol.
ISA Tech/99 booth 305

Instrumentation, sensors, connectors bring reality to control

What’s going on? Control and automation systems would never know if sensors, I/O devices, transmitters, gauges, and other instrumentation and connectors didn’t gather and deliver the data they need. Products exhibiting at ISA Tech/99 include:

The 752 Series modular compact distributed I/O system from Wago Corp. (Brown Deer, Wis.) is compatible with fieldbus and device networks, such as DeviceNet, Profibus, and Interbus. Compatible with Wago-I/O-System, 752 Series is available with 32 inputs or 32 outputs and 16 inputs and 16 outputs. Wago is also exhibiting its new Programmable Field Controller for Wago-I/O-System, which communicates with the network-even if the fieldbus connection is lost.
ISA Tech/99 booth 1747

Designed for use in low-voltage and current control systems, WDU 1.5/3.5 and WDK 1.5 terminal blocks from Weidemüller Inc. (Richmond, Va.) are 70% smaller than conventional blocks and can be mounted on TS-15 DIN rails. WDU 1.5/3.5 and WDK 1.5 are rated at 300 V and 10 A and accept 26-14 AWG wire.
ISA Tech/99 booth 511, 1565

To aid control task programming and integration in PC-based systems, Phoenix Contact (Harrisburg, Pa.) has introduced Interbus Field Controller (FC) with PC ISA interface and two performance levels. Programmed with PC Worx, Phoenix Contact’s IEC 61131-based automation software, Interbus FCs give users a solution via Interbus I/O network. The two boards available are: IBS ISA FC/486DX/I-T with a 486/133 MHz coprocessor, and compact IBS ISA FC/I-T.
ISA Tech/99 booths 525, 1753

To expand its Remote Interface Communications System (RICOS), Wieland Electric (Burgaw, N.C.) recently introduced its PT-100 module, which accepts four PT-100 or PT-1000 sensors-with two or four wires. PT-100 attaches to a Wieland buscoupler for incorporation into fieldbus systems, such as Profibus-DP, DeviceNet, CANopen, or Interbus. PT-100 provides spring clamp wire terminations delivered in the open position, accepts 26-16 AWG stranded wire or 20-14 AWG solid wire, and measures 69 x 92 x 51 mm. Wieland is also has a new terminal block for terminating initiators and actuators.
ISA Tech/99 booth 2325

Miniature insulation displacement contact (IDC) terminal blocks from Entrelec (Irving, Tex.) are 25% shorter than its standard IDC blocks without a loss in current capacity. Mini IDC blocks don’t need individual wire stripping and clamp screw tightening and offer a vibration- and corrosion-proof connection.
ISA Tech/99 booth 1931