Racal Instruments and Geotest increase backing for PXI platform

San Diego, Calif. – The PXI Systems Alliance (PXISA) announced April 30 two additions to its Sponsor-level member roster, a group who serves as the steering committee coordinating overall PXISA technical, communication, and education initiatives. Racal Instruments (Irvine, Calif.) and Geotest (Irvine, Calif.), both producers of electronic test and measurement equipment, have become PXISA Sponsors committed to supporting the PXI industry standard for PC-based measurement and automation solutions. The PXISA, originally announced in 1997, consists of nearly 50 companies charged with the continuing improvement of PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation (PXI). PXI is a rugged, open system for modular instrumentation based on CompactPCI with special mechanical, electrical, and software extensions.

“I am delighted to welcome Racal Instruments and Geotest as Sponsor members,” said Darach Kelly, ceo and president of PX Instrument Technology and president of the PXISA since 2001. “Their commitment to the goals of the PXISA reflects the growing importance of the PXI standard.”

According to a 2001 industry report by Frost and Sullivan, the market for test and measurement equipment modules using PXI grew 37.9 percent to $47.7 million in a year when most other test platforms saw a decline in revenue. Frost and Sullivan forecasts 2002 growth of PXI to be 47 percent.

As Sponsor members, companies vote on all PXI specification decisions and board of director elections. In addition, they are involved in all technical, marketing, and business aspects of the organization. PXISA also recruits Executive-level members, who vote on technical specifications for the standard, and Associate members, who contribute ideas and information about the standard to the organization.

Racal Instruments manufactures general purpose test equipment, automatic test equipment, and communication test sets for wireless, laser diode, and photonics test systems.

Geotest-Marvin Test Systems Inc. designs and produces PXI-based products, systems, and turnkey solutions for military, aerospace, telecom, medical, and semiconductor test applications.

Other Sponsor members include ASCOR Inc., National Instruments, Pickering Interfaces, PX Instrument Technology, and Teradyne.

Formed in June 1998, the PXISA is a group of nearly 50 companies who share a common commitment to end-user success with open, multivendor CompactPCI systems for applications in test and measurement, industrial automation, and data acquisition. The primary goal of the PXISA is to improve the effectiveness of CompactPCI-based solutions in measurement and automation through use of the PXI specification. PXISA membership is open to vendors who share the PXI philosophy and objectives and have a desire to produce and promote products and solutions compatible with Alliance goals.

To download a free copy of the PXI specification, the new PXISA brochure, or membership information, visit https://www.pxisa.org .

Control Engineering Daily News DeskGary A. Mintchell, senior editor gmintchell@cahners.com

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