plantautomation Pressreleases

Emerson presents process, combustion and environmental solutions in new Rosemount® Analytical brochure

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:59:44 GMT

Gas Chromatograph, Liquid and Process Analyzer solutions represented in capabilities brochure

Emerson Process Management has released a new brochure profiling the solutions and capabilities of its Rosemount^® Analytical Gas Chromatograph, Liquid and Process Analytic Divisions. Titled "Get Real: Real Precision, Real Expertise, Real Solutions," the comprehensive, full-color brochure provides an overview of how Emerson can optimize processes for real-world success in a variety of process, combustion and environmental applications.

Products included in the brochure are gas chromatographs, multi-component gas analyzers, continuous emissions monitoring systems, oxygen analyzers, pH transmitters, process gas analyzers, conductivity analyzers, turbidity analyzers, and more.

Learn more about Emerson's full portfolio of industry-leading Rosemount Analytical solutions by downloading the "Get Real: Real Precision, Real Expertise, Real Solutions" brochure at www.emersonprocess.com/raihome.

About Emerson Process Management

Emerson Process Management (www.EmersonProcess.com), an Emerson business, is a leader in helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution in the chemical, oil and gas, refining, pulp and paper, power, water and wastewater treatment, metals and mining, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and other industries. The company combines superior products and technology with industry-specific engineering, consulting, project management and maintenance services. Its brands include PlantWeb^®, Fisher^®, Micro Motion^®, Rosemount^®, Daniel^®, DeltaV™, Ovation^®, and AMS^® Suite.

About Emerson

Emerson (NYSE: EMR), based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to create innovative solutions for customers through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and appliance and tools businesses. Sales in fiscal 2008 were $24.8 billion. For more information, visit www.Emerson.com.

Banner iVu Series TG Image Sensors Solve Complex Applications Without the Use of a PC

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:59:44 GMT

Banner Engineering Corp. introduces the iVu Series TG Image Sensor, combining the simplicity of a photoelectric sensor and the intelligence of a vision sensor to deliver powerful and affordable inspection capabilities. The iVu is the first product of its kind, featuring a touch screen with an intuitive interface and easily configurable inspection parameters. This allows even first-time users to quickly and conveniently apply and support inspections right on the factory floor, without the use of a PC.

The iVu offers three advanced sensor types in one compact, rugged package, making it possible to solve a wide variety of complex applications with one sensor. Typical applications include:
*Label inspection
*Part presence and orientation
*Date/lot code inspection
*Vial cap inspection
*Injection molding verification
*Packaging verification
*Drilled hole inspection
*Blister pack inspection
*Weld nut presence and orientation
*Feeder bowl inspection
*End-of-mail indication
*Electronic marking verification

"The iVu Image Sensor solves high-speed, complex inspection applications with ease," said Dan Holste, Director of Vision at Banner Engineering. "In the past, these types of applications have required vision systems with extensive sensor configuration using software and a PC." Holste adds, "Using the iVu Image Sensor’s integrated touch screen display, an operator can utilize the intuitive functions displayed on the touch screen to quickly and easily establish inspection parameters. The inspection can be configured, initiated and maintained without the use of a PC or other external equipment."

The features of the iVu seriesTG Image Sensor make it particularly useful in a variety of complex applications:
*Integrated or external lighting (red, blue, green or infrared options)
*68.5 mm (2.7") LCD touch screen display
*Software emulator to program the iVu offline and load parameters using a USB drive
*752 x 480 CMOS imager
*Remote TEACH
*Onboard help functions
*Adjustable focus lenses
*Onboard USB port for upload/download to USB drive
*Inspection/system logging for rapid analysis

Learn more about iVu seriesTG Image Sensor.

About Banner. Banner Engineering is the world’s leading manufacturer of photoelectric and ultrasonic sensors, vision sensors, electronic machine guarding systems, wireless networks, fiber optic assemblies and precision measurement systems.

For further information, contact Banner Engineering Corp.,
9714 Tenth Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55441

PH: 888.373.6767 (Toll-free North America), or 001.763.544.3164 (International)
FAX: 763.544.3213
Email: sensors@bannerengineering.com
Web: www.bannerengineering.com

Emerson's wireless technology helps Chevron improve oil field personnel safety and increase production

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:59:44 GMT

Smart Wireless networks reduce wastewater discharge during steam injection and deliver better down-hole pressure data at a $60,000 savings over traditional technology

Chevron's San Ardo, Calif., oil field operations boosted personnel safety, reduced wastewater discharge, and improved time and strategy for production by utilizing two Emerson Smart Wireless networks to monitor its steam injection process and measure down-hole well pressures.

Better Data from Wireless Steam Injection Monitoring Proves Valuable

Wireless Rosemount^® pressure transmitters are installed at eight stations and on multiple steam lines leading to out-of-service wells undergoing steam injection at the company's operations in the San Joaquin Valley. Chevron switched to wireless monitoring after a Smart Wireless demonstration on one well confirmed an operator's suspicion that steam usage was actually much higher than what had been previously recorded.

"The Smart Wireless transmitter in the demo uncovered that we were injecting four times as much steam as needed into this particular well," said Paul Kinne, Chevron head operator.

The over-steaming created more wastewater, which had to be pumped from the well and treated before being discharged into wetlands draining into the Salinas River. The over-steaming also meant the company used more natural gas than necessary to produce the steam.

Operator safety has been improved and maintenance and travel costs reduced at the oil field because of the wireless technology. Personnel no longer need to visit the injection wells to collect data from traditional chart recorders or to check instruments for proper operation. The robust, self-organizing wireless network includes a Smart Wireless gateway, which communicates reliable data to the oil field's control room via an Ethernet network connection.

"In addition, operators no longer need to make and break high pressure and temperature connections, so their safety is improved," said Kinne.

Production wells are periodically taken out of service for several days in the San Ardo field so steam can be injected into the formation. The steam heats the heavy crude and eases its flow to the pump. Chevron estimates that the incorrect steaming measurements on the one well lost the company 14 production days four times each year. The excess steam could also have adversely affected oil flow within the formation, leading to further production loss.

A traditional hard wired monitoring network would have been very costly to install at this location because of the large distances covered. The installation and commissioning of the wireless network was quick and easy.

"It only took three hours to install a wireless instrument, configure and establish the network IP address, and make the Ethernet connection to the control room," Kinne said. "We have eliminated the excess steam usage and now have a reliable steam injection measurement at eight stations."

Wireless Down-Hole Well Monitoring Gives Reliable Production Strategy Data while Saving $60,000 Installation Cost

Chevron saved $60,000 in installation costs by choosing the Emerson Smart Wireless battery-powered network over monitoring devices requiring hard wired power.

The company had been using a remote telemetry unit (RTU) wireless system to collect the data. Each helium-filled capillary that extended into a well was connected to a pressure transmitter, which was wired to a pole-mounted radio. All the radios and transmitters required wired power supplies. This RTU system became obsolete, and Chevron needed a reliable replacement.

"By choosing a Smart Wireless application that operates on battery power, we spent $30,000 on installation instead of the approximately $90,000 it would have cost to install an RTU wireless system similar to the one we had been using," said Mohammad Heidari, Chevron automation engineer.

In the new self-organizing network, 11 capillaries are now connected to pole-mounted wireless Rosemount pressure transmitters, which are battery operated. Chevron uses the data collected for its proprietary oil formation calculations, including determining steam injection requirements, oil flow patterns, and new well locations.

"Maintenance is also easier with the new wireless system," said Heidari. "We don't have to worry about calibrating the instruments because they send a digital signal versus analog. The many wired connections in the old system meant there were many more potential points of failure."

A Smart Wireless gateway collects pressure data from the monitoring wells and sends it to Chevron's PLCs. The distances covered extend up to two miles.

"The new wireless system is reliable and has passed our rigorous IT security review," Heidari said. "Installation was easy and we haven't had any problems."

About Chevron

Chevron is the second-largest U.S.-based integrated energy company, producing oil, natural gas and other products. It operates extensive oil and gas exploration and production operations around the world. In 2007, it produced 2.6 million barrels per day of oil-equivalent. Last year, Chevron was the third-largest producer of hydrocarbons in the United States. Its California oil production operations are primarily focused on the crude oil fields of the San Joaquin Valley.

About Emerson Process Management

Emerson Process Management (www.emersonprocess.com), an Emerson business, is a leader in helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution in the chemical, oil and gas, refining, pulp and paper, power, water and wastewater treatment, mining and metals, food and beverage, life sciences and other industries. The company combines superior products and technology with industry-specific engineering, consulting, project management and maintenance services. Its brands include PlantWeb^®, DeltaV™, Fisher^®, Micro Motion^®, Rosemount^®, Daniel^®, Ovation^®, and AMS^® Suite.

About Emerson

Emerson (NYSE: EMR), based in St. Louis, is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to create innovative solutions for customers through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and appliance and tools businesses. Sales in fiscal 2008 were $24.8 billion. For more information, visit www.Emerson.com.

DALSA Enjoys Continued MEMS Success, Launches First Phase of New 200mm MEMS Line

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:59:44 GMT

DALSA Semiconductor, a premier supplier of specialized and custom wafer foundry services and a division of DALSA Corporation (TSX: DSA), announced today the launch of the first phase of a 200mm MEMS (micro electro mechanical systems) manufacturing line at its semiconductor wafer foundry in Bromont, Quebec, Canada. The announcement closely follows several new MEMS supply contracts the Company has recently received for delivery of product in 2009 and for new product development.

The larger 200mm MEMS wafer size will allow DALSA, one of the world’s leading pure-play MEMS foundries, to increase its production capacity and meet the growing demand from its customers to manufacture next generation MEMS chips that feature increased functionality, smaller package sizes, and lower costs. The increase in demand for MEMS accelerometers, gyros, microphones, and radio frequency devices is being driven largely by the explosive growth in consumer electronics devices including cell phones, PDAs, and game controllers.

“Adding 200mm MEMS capability at Bromont is a natural step forward to meet the production needs of our customers,” commented Brian Doody, CEO of DALSA Corporation. “As we begin to produce 200mm MEMS products, we will continue to focus on the smooth, high-volume operation of our existing 150mm MEMS lines. We have strong ongoing demand from our customers as MEMS devices become an ever greater part of our everyday lives.”

About DALSA Semiconductor
Located in Bromont, Quebec, Canada, DALSA's award winning semiconductor wafer foundry has a proud history of innovation in specialties such as MEMS, CCDs, and high voltage CMOS. As a pure-play foundry, our goal is to deliver innovative foundry capabilities as a manufacturing partner to fabless and fab-lite semiconductor companies to help them succeed with their advanced MEMS or IC designs.

About DALSA Corporation
DALSA is an international leader in high performance digital imaging and semiconductors with approximately 1000 employees world-wide. Established in 1980, the company designs, develops, manufactures, and markets digital imaging products and solutions, in addition to providing semiconductor products and services. DALSA's core competencies are in specialized integrated circuit and electronics technology, software, and highly engineered semiconductor wafer processing. Products and services include image sensor components (CCD and CMOS); electronic digital cameras; vision processors; image processing software; and semiconductor wafer foundry services for use in MEMS, high-voltage semiconductors, image sensors and mixed-signal CMOS chips. DALSA is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “DSA” and has its corporate offices in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

For more information, please contact:

Media Relations:
Kumi Verma
Internet Marketing & MarCom Mgr., Intl.
DALSA Corporation
514-333-1301, ext. 227
Email: kumi.verma@dalsa.com

Investor Relations:
Patrick Myles
Vice-President, Corporate Communications
DALSA Corporations
519-886-6001, ext. 2177
Email: patrick.myles@dalsa.com

ASM International N.V. and SAFC Hitech(TM) Sign Certified Manufacturer and Partnership Agreement

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:59:44 GMT

ASM International N.V. (Nasdaq: ASMI; Euronext Exchange in Amsterdam: ASM) and SAFC Hitech(TM), a business segment within SAFC(R), a member of the Sigma-Aldrich(R) Group (Nasdaq: SIAL), today announced that they have entered into a certified manufacturer and partnership agreement for certain Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) source materials for advanced Ultra High-k insulators. The agreement provides certification criteria for the chemical source materials, a license to certain ASM ALD patents and a partnership for the marketing and further development of these chemical source materials.

The newly developed 'cyclopentadienyl' source materials will enable ALD of next generation Strontium and Barium based Ultra High-k insulators with dielectric constants exceeding 100. By comparison, the Zirconium and Hafnium based High-k insulators that are in production today have dielectric constants less than 30 to 40. An insulator with a higher dielectric constant is expected to allow device manufacturers to produce much smaller capacitors for DRAM memory chips, and microprocessors with smaller transistors. These Ultra High-k materials are expected to be needed for production of 3x nm node memories, beginning around 2011.

"We see Moore's law being increasingly enabled by the ability to produce and integrate new materials in the chip manufacturing process," said Dr. Ivo Raaijmakers, ASM's Chief Technology Officer and Director of R&D. "Partnership agreements such as this will allow us to develop new materials much more efficiently, and to prepare the supply chain for timely introduction of Ultra High-k materials in the manufacturing process."

"SAFC Hitech has been working closely with ASM's research groups for some time, focusing on evaluation and process development of this class of cyclopentadienyl source materials," added Dr. Peter Heys, Research and Development Director, SAFC Hitech. "This effort has resulted in sources that have demonstrated ALD of high quality, Ultra High-k films. We are now working towards the scale-up for high volume manufacture of both strontium and barium Ultra High-k source precursors. The current target is to have product available in quantities up to and beyond 2011, consistent with ITRS road map requirements and ASM and SAFC Hitech projections."

About ASM International: ASM International N.V. and its subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment and materials used to produce semiconductor devices. The company provides production solutions for wafer processing (Front-end segment) as well as assembly and packaging (Back-end segment) through facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia. Further information can be found at http://www.asm.com

ASM Safe Harbor Statement under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: All matters discussed in this statement, except for any historical data, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, economic conditions and trends in the semiconductor industry generally and the timing of the industry cycles specifically, currency fluctuations, the timing of significant orders, market acceptance of new products, competitive factors, litigation involving intellectual property, shareholder and other issues, commercial and economic disruption due to natural disasters, terrorist activity, armed conflict or political instability, epidemics and other risks indicated in the Company's filings from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Company's reports on Form 20-F and Form 6-K. The Company assumes no obligation nor intends to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future developments or circumstances.

About SAFC Hitech: SAFC Hitech provides a unique chemistry service translating application understanding into performance materials worldwide. Through collaborative partnerships and an integrated approach from research and development, process development and scale up to commercial manufacturing, SAFC Hitech invests in innovation and manufacturing enabling current and future technology needs. Further information can be found at http://www.safchitech.com.

About SAFC: SAFC(R) is the custom manufacturing and services group within Sigma-Aldrich that focuses on high-purity inorganics for high technology applications, cell culture products and services for biopharmaceutical manufacturing, biochemical production and the manufacturing of complex, multi-step organic synthesis of APIs and key intermediates. SAFC has manufacturing facilities around the world dedicated to providing manufacturing services for companies requiring a reliable partner to produce their custom manufactured materials. SAFC has four focus areas - SAFC Pharma(TM), SAFC Supply Solutions(R), SAFC Biosciences(TM), and SAFC Hitech(TM) - and had annual sales of nearly $600 million in 2007. SAFC is one of the world's 10 largest fine chemical businesses. For more information about SAFC, visit www.safcglobal.com.

About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich: is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Its biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technology manufacturing. The Company has customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 36 countries and has 8,000 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customer Success through Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its award-winning Web site at http://www.sigma-aldrich.com.

SAFC(R), SAFC Supply Solutions(R) and Sigma-Aldrich(R) are registered trademarks and SAFC Pharma(TM), SAFC Biosciences(TM) and SAFC Hitech(TM) are trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Biotechnology L.P. and Sigma-Aldrich Co.

CONTACT:
Dr. Geoff Irvine of SAFC Hitech, geoff.irvine@sial.com;
or Mark Button of Impress Public Relations, +1-408-852-1789, mark@impress-pr.com, for Sigma-Aldrich;
or Ivo Raaijmakers, +31 88 100 8570, or Mary Jo Dieckhaus, +1-212-986-2900, both of ASM, for Sigma-Aldrich
Web Site: http://www.asm.com
http://www.safcglobal.com
http://www.safchitech.com
http://www.sigma-aldrich.com

Sigma-Aldrich Acquires Seppro(R) Depletion Technology From GenWay Biotech

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:59:44 GMT

Sigma-Aldrich now offering antibody-based depletion columns and new catalog of IgY antibodies to proteomics research community

Sigma-Aldrich (Nasdaq: SIAL) has expanded its proteomics offerings with the acquisition of Seppro(R) affinity depletion technology and a library of 700 avian-derived antibodies from GenWay Biotech, Inc. Seppro depletion products enable scientists to measure more precisely the expression of protein biomarkers from a range of mammalian and plant biological samples. This acquisition covers current inventory, production technology and all future rights to produce and distribute the product lines.

The Seppro IgY depletion platform is an antibody-based technology for processing plasma, serum and plant samples. It enables researchers to detect and analyze commonly obscured biomarkers in samples by removing highly abundant proteins. Seppro depletion products are built using chicken-derived IgY antibodies, providing higher selectivity and lower cross-reactivity than other comparable products. The Seppro platform, incorporating SuperMix technology, represents the most complete human depletion system available, removing 14 of the most abundant proteins from human serum or plasma, as well as other high and medium abundant proteins. Additional products are available for the depletion of mouse and rat samples, as well as the industry's only depletion system for the removal of Rubisco.

The library of 700 polyclonal IgY antibodies acquired from GenWay represents Sigma-Aldrich's first IgY antibody offering. The new antibodies are derived from chicken embryos and prepared using recombinant antigens. Chicken antibodies display less cross-reactivity with mammalian proteins, producing fewer false positive reactions in certain immunochemical assays. Chicken IgY is also typically more stable than IgG derived from mammalian species. With the acquisition of the chicken-derived IgY antibodies library, Sigma-Aldrich also plans to expand its antibody catalog, to which more than 8,000 new antibodies were added in 2008.

"The acquisition of Seppro significantly strengthens Sigma-Aldrich's position in antibody-based depletion technology," said Dr. Dave Smoller, President of Sigma-Aldrich's Research Biotech Business Unit. "Our goal, through acquisitions and collaborations, is to provide researchers with the most comprehensive and highly characterized portfolio of antibodies and antibody products."

Seppro technology joins Sigma-Aldrich's leading collection of depletion products, including ProteoPrep(R) kits for the removal of highly abundant proteins, such as albumin and IgG, from human serum and plasma. For more information on Seppro, and all Sigma-Aldrich proteomics sample preparation products, visit http://www.sigma-aldrich.com/genway.

About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Its biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technology manufacturing. The Company has customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 36 countries and has 8,000 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customer Success through innovation and Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its award-winning Web site at http://www.sigma-aldrich.com.

About GenWay Biotech: Genway Biotech Inc. is a diagnostic company based in San Diego, CA that manufactures and supplies key components of diagnostic kits, such as antibodies and antigens, to diagnostic companies. GenWay is actively developing novel diagnostic tests for point-of-care and over-the-counter diagnostics. GenWay specializes in immunoassay development, applications, and manufacturing, as well as novel antibody platforms, such as shark and chicken monoclonal antibodies, for increased sensitivity in immunoassays and stability of diagnostic tests. For more information about GenWay Biotech, please visit http://www.genwaybio.com.

Cautionary Statement: This release contains forward-looking statements relating to future performance, goals, strategic actions and initiatives and similar intentions and beliefs and other statements regarding the Companies' expectations, goals, beliefs, intentions and the like, which involve assumptions regarding the Companies' operations and conditions in the markets the Companies serve. The Companies do not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Sigma-Aldrich and ProteoPrep are registered trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Biotechnology L.P. and Sigma-Aldrich Co.

CONTACT: Sean Battles of Sigma-Aldrich

Phone: 001 3142867616

sean.battles@sial.com

GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms Announces Environmental Cables for Servo and Spindle Motors

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:59:44 GMT

New cables use polyurethane mold to make them stronger to hold up in the harsh environment of the machine tool

GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, a unit of GE Enterprise Solutions, today announced the availability of new environmental cables for servo and spindle motors. The power cable connectors have been redesigned to be low profile and the feedback, brake and fan cables now have molded connectors instead of assembled ones.

GE Fanuc has a comprehensive line of environmental cables that are specifically designed for use in the rugged environment common to most machine tool applications. The cables cover a wide range of GE Fanuc servo and spindle motors used with GE Fanuc’s CNC and Power Mate products. Selecting one of GE Fanuc’s environmental cables will help ensure the highest quality cable assemblies are present on the final machine tool. The alternative is to spend time and effort designing an in-house cable, which will consume valuable engineering resources, and slow down time to market.

“The common method to make cables is to use an assembled connector for the connection point to the motor,” said Paul Webster, CNC Product Manager for GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms. “The problem with this is that the connectors can leak and deteriorate over time and, in some cases, they can be weak. The new cables use a Polyurethane mold that creates the connector out of solid plastic. Molding the cables makes them very robust - they are stronger and hold up better to the harsh environment of a machine tool. “

These new environmental cables may be used on older machine tools as well as in newly designed machine tools. They cover a range of motors and amplifiers and will even work with older alpha servo systems. The new low profile molded power cables are designed for the compact Alpha i series, the shorter connector reduces clearance needed around the motor. New molded feedback and brake/fan cables designed for the Alpha i series improve environmental protection and reduce the connector size. All CNC System ordering tools have been updated to select suitable cables for the system being ordered.

GE Fanuc’s environmental cable ordering system allows cables to be selected to fit the application. Options include:

Cable length to the nearest meter from 1 meter to 25 meters.
Cables over 25 meters are available in 5-meter increments in some cases.
Standard polyurethane jackets for servo motors and feedback devices
Oil resistant 105°C PVC cable jackets for spindle motors
Optional shielded power versions for some cables
Selectable connector orientation for elbow type connectors
Molded polyurethane feedback cables for high environmental protection and mechanical strength.
New molded power cable designs for the Alpha i series include low profile power connectors for reduced motor height.

GE Fanuc’s cables are backed by the standard warranty.

About GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms
GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, a joint venture between General Electric (NYSE: GE) and FANUC LTD of Japan, is a high-performance technology company and a global provider of hardware, software, services, expertise and experience in automation and embedded computing, with products employed in virtually every industry, including manufacturing automation, process automation, defense, automotive, telecommunications, healthcare and aerospace. GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms is a worldwide company headquartered in Charlottesville, VA and is part of GE Enterprise Solutions. For more information, visit www.gefanuc.com.

About GE Enterprise Solutions

GE Enterprise Solutions elevates customers' productivity and profitability with integrated solutions using sensors and non-destructive testing; security and life safety technologies; power system protection and control; and plant automation and embedded computing systems. Enterprise Solutions' high-tech, high-growth businesses include Sensing & Inspection Technologies, Security, Digital Energy, and GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms. The business has 17,000 problem-solving employees in more than 60 countries around the world.

Press Contact:
Elli Holman, GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms
508-698-7456; elli.holman@gefanuc.com

Emerson Enhances Ovation® SCADA Capabilities for More Effective Management of Remote Power Generation Assets

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:59:44 GMT

Integration of Bristol® ControlWave® RTU technology offers better insight into remote operations; capability is particularly valuable for managing renewable energy resources

Today Emerson Process Management announced that its Bristol® ControlWave® remote terminal unit (RTU) technology has been fully integrated into its Ovation® SCADA platform, translating into a number of benefits for power generators. These benefits include better management of remote sites – such as wind farms, solar farms, hydro-electric plants and other renewable energy resources – and reduced operations and maintenance (O&M) costs.

Traditionally, SCADA systems poll RTUs for information either at specified time intervals or on demand. With the tight integration of the Bristol ControlWave RTU, the Ovation SCADA platform now features a configurable polling mechanism. This allows operators the option of having the RTUs send data directly to the SCADA server or central Ovation control system only when values change. Not typically available from other SCADA suppliers, this “report by exception” messaging scheme not only optimizes bandwidth but also provides real-time alarming of remote sites.

The Ovation SCADA system now also offers users access to more data than was available previously. If configured for periodic polling, the Ovation SCADA solution with ControlWave RTU technology has the capability to buffer and time stamp data – including alarms – then send it directly to the Ovation historian so that no data is “lost” in the event of a communication failure. Conversely, when most other SCADA systems are configured to transmit data during specific time intervals, only a “snapshot” of information is relayed back to the SCADA server. This is less than optimal, as alarms or other abnormalities can be missed if they take place between polling intervals or during a communication outage.

The availability of better and more complete information through the integrated Ovation SCADA solution is advantageous for early detection of equipment failure, more efficient deployment of field crews, and a higher degree of data integrity. It also offers enhanced reliability features unique to Emerson. These include fault-tolerant data transmission through redundant communication schemes as well as an additional security mechanism that ensures the RTU is communicating only with the SCADA server or central Ovation control system and not being intercepted by an outside source.

The state-of-the-art monitoring, control and diagnostic functionality of Emerson’s enhanced SCADA solution optimizes renewable energy generation operations. It supports connections to a variety of equipment used in renewable energy sites, including turbine controllers, feed water controls, mirror assemblies, heat storage controls, substation controls, water level controls, pump house controls, meteorological towers and switchgear. The Ovation SCADA solution also supports multiple communication network types, such as dial-up, leased lines, and wireless, and is able to remotely start, stop, reset and tag out individual pieces of equipment, minimizing labor-intensive site visits. Protective supervisory shutdown is automatically conducted by the Ovation SCADA system when certain predefined site conditions are reached. Diagnostic information generated from the generation equipment is available from the Ovation SCADA system through network interfaces. Also, the SCADA system allows users to easily track equipment maintenance schedules and histories, and access custom reports.

Emerson’s solutions for renewable energy are derived from more than a century of experience providing proven technologies for a variety of energy generating assets, including coal-fired, combined cycle and cogeneration units, according to Bob Yeager, president of the Power & Water Solutions division of Emerson. “For the past 20 years, we have built upon our successful fossil-fuel foundation to develop automation strategies for alternative energy resources, including hydro-electric, solar and wind,” explained Yeager. “As power generators around the world diversify their generating assets by investing in alternative energy resources, Emerson is uniquely qualified to help our customers best manage their renewable generation assets.”

About Emerson Process Management
Emerson Process Management (www.emersonprocess.com), an Emerson business, is a leader in helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution in the power, water and wastewater treatment, metals and mining, chemical, oil and gas, refining, pulp and paper, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and other industries.

Emerson's Power & Water Solutions division (www.emersonprocess-powerwater.com), is a global supplier of advanced distributed process control and information systems. The Pittsburgh-based company is a recognized leader in developing plant-wide process control solutions for the power generation, water treatment and wastewater industries. Power & Water Solutions plays a key role in the Emerson mission of combining superior products and technology with industry-specific engineering, consulting, project management and maintenance services.

Emerson brands include PlantWeb®, Ovation®, Scenario®, SmartProcess®, Fisher®, Micro Motion®, Rosemount®, Daniel®, Bristol®, ControlWave®, DeltaV™, and AMS® Suite.

About Emerson
Emerson (NYSE: EMR), based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to create innovative solutions for customers through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and appliance and tools businesses. Sales in fiscal 2008 were $24.8 billion. For more information, www.Emerson.com.

ASM International N.V. and SAFC Hitech(TM) Sign Certified Manufacturer and Partnership Agreement

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:59:44 GMT

Deal Paves Way For Use of ALD Ultra High-k Insulators; Marks Transition to 3x nm Memory Nodes

GestureTek Displays Ground-Breaking 3D Depth Tracking & Control Solutions at CES Booth 15523

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:59:44 GMT

GestureTek Inc., the pioneer and world leader in gesture control interfaces for interactive displays and electronic devices, today announced that the company will demonstrate its pioneering, multi-patented 3D tracking and control innovations at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 8th to 11th. GestureTek’s exhibit will be located in Central Hall, Booth #15523.

Webcam-Based Hand, Face and Body Tracking Solutions
GestureTek’s gesture recognition technology enables a user to control a television, set top box, display screen or any camera-enabled consumer electronic device by using simple hand motions instead of a remote control, keyboard or other touch-based interface. The system tracks full-body movement and subtle gestures in complete 3D space, translating those movements into specific computer commands.

The system can be programmed to recognize virtually any pose or gesture, including hand waves, pointing or any combination of recognizable motions. For example, a hand wave can turn on a television set or activate a multi-media presentation. Circular hand movements can adjust volume, and hand swiping motions can control menu selections. Other applications include full body avatar control, two-handed and multi-touch control and hand tracking for 360º navigation control (replacing a joystick).

“What makes GestureTek’s depth based tracking solution so impressive is its real time modeling and identification of the user. The software isolates the person interacting with the system, regardless of how many people are moving around in the environment,” said GestureTek’s Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Francis MacDougall. “Whether it’s a living room, boardroom or busy mall, the system’s control and responsiveness remains unaffected by light or background movement.”

Lifelike 3D Virtual Reality Experiences
Using depth sensing cameras to measure ongoing changes in positioning and distance between the various parts of a user’s image and other elements in the scene, GestureTek’s depth sensing system repeatedly and reliably tracks a user’s unique movements. The system can even capture people’s real-time full-body video image or their full-body 3D avatar onscreen, enabling users to see themselves as they interact dynamically with computer-generated characters, objects and icons in a three dimensional virtual world.

Along with applications for exciting 3D and 2D interactive experiences on everything from personal computers to game consoles, mobile devices, digital signs and digital picture frames, GestureTek has already deployed successful commercial 3D tracking solutions in interactive displays worldwide. At the Beijing Olympics, for example, GestureTek’s hand tracking technology powered a spectacular interactive flight simulation attraction that allowed individuals to explore the province of British Columbia in a virtual airplane that was controlled by tilting and moving their hand.

“GestureTek is leading the way to a fully gestural touch-free user interface for all camera-enabled consumer devices,” says Bill Leckonby, CEO of GestureTek. “Our award-winning, intuitive and fun gesture control technology is already used in interactive game systems, digital signage networks and millions of mobile phones worldwide.”

“GestureTek has created many other exciting applications with our gesture recognition technology, including motion controlled mobile games, web browsing, text messaging, interactive exercise programs for physical therapy and interactive storefront windows,” says MacDougall.

CES participants are invited to visit GestureTek’s exhibit in Central Hall, Booth #15523, where the company will showcase its latest innovations in gesture control interfaces for mobile phones, PCs, interactive multi-touch tabletops and other consumer devices. “Visitors will be treated to eye-popping demonstrations of the many ways in which motion control interfaces are being used by consumers and business,” says MacDougall.

About GestureTek Inc.
GestureTek is the pioneer, patent-holder and world leader in gesture-recognition technologies and computer vision for information, presentation and entertainment systems. The company’s revolutionary video gesture control software lets users control interactive content, access information, manipulate special effects or immerse themselves in an interactive 3D virtual world - simply by moving their hands or body. In the past 20 years, GestureTek has delivered approximately 4,000 interactive displays, kiosks, exhibits, games and other interactive solutions for museums, science centers, location-based entertainment facilities, retail stores, tourism and hospitality venues, real estate presentation centers, corporate boardrooms and showrooms, television networks and game developers. The technology is also used by advertisers and marketers to make their digital signs and advertisements interactive and immersive. Healthcare organizations specializing in rehabilitation, sensory stimulation, activation and recreation also use GestureTek’s technology for virtual therapy. GestureTek’s clients include leading organizations and Fortune 500 companies such as CNN, NASA, BMW, Ford, Oracle, Intel, IBM, Federal Express, Autodesk, Panasonic and more. Software and patent licensees include Microsoft, Sony, Hasbro and NTT DoCoMo. GestureTek is headquartered in Silicon Valley, with additional offices in Toronto, Ottawa and Asia. For more information visit www.gesturetek.com or call (416) 340-9290 or 800-315-1189.