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8 September 2009

Web exclusive: September Industry Newz

ABB will implement its Network Manager SCADA/EMS product in the U.S. for energy utility National Grid, which will deploy the technology in its up-state New York and New England electric operations control centers to manage the transmission and distribution networks in the region. ABB won an order from Comisión Federal de Electricidad to provide a static VAr compensator to help strengthen the transmission grid in southern Mexico. The unit will be installed at the La Ventosa substation, close to the city of Ixtepec in the state of Oaxaca. The technology will enable better voltage control and improve grid reliability in the area’s 400 kV transmission network.

ARRIS acquired certain assets of Atlanta-based EG Technology, Inc., (EGT) for nearly $6.5 million. Under terms of the agreement, ARRIS acquired EGT patents and video processing technology for digital networks and will employ nearly 20-25 of the existing employees.

BinMaster Level Controls of Lincoln, Neb., appointed Cape Instrument Services CC of Cape Town, South Africa, as distributor for the company’s SmartBob continuous level management system and point level controls throughout the country of South Africa.

CiDRA Minerals Processing Inc. chose SONARtrac process monitoring instrumentation for the flow measurement on critical lines within the Minera San Cristóbal, one of the largest open pit silver, zinc, and lead mines and processing facilities in the world.

Dezineforce partnered with Microsoft to make its design optimization and decision support suite available as plug-and-play appliance, incorporating an easy to deploy Microsoft high-performance computing cluster.

Dynamic Fuels, a 50/50 venture of Tyson Foods, Inc., and Syntroleum Corporation has awarded Emerson Process Management the contract to digitally automate North America’s first commercial-scale renewable diesel plant. The $138 million facility in Geismar, La., will use Syntroleum’s biofuels manufacturing process with plans to convert animal fats and greases into 75 million gallons/year of ultra-clean, renewable diesel fuel. 

Emerson Process Management’s four-electrode conductivity sensors are helping German brewer Schneider Weisse optimize the clean-in-place process at its Bavarian brewery, replacing aging existing sensors with Rosemount Analytical 410VP sensors and reducing total caustic detergent, water and energy.

Functional safety and security services supplier, exida, certified the design and engineering processes for GE Energy’s Bently Nevada 3500/63 gas detection monitor as suitable for applications up to and including SIL 2 per IEC 61508.

Gemalto, a digital security company, completed the acquisition of digital security player Trusted Logic, who provides secure software for personal portable devices, from its founders and other shareholders and had operations in France, Ireland, Singapore, and South Africa.

Honeywell signed an agreement with Australia-based Synengco Pty Ltd. to license and sell SentientSystem, a suite of advanced applications that optimize operations and provide asset management for utility power customers.

In the latest survey by the Newton-Evans Research Company, Inc., North American electric utilities ranked Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. the number one relay manufacturer in all categories: technology, price, flexibility to add new features, technical service and support, security against hackers, ease of use/relay setup, maintenance cost, and web information.

Open Text has chosen partner Matrix Logic Corp., an integrator of enterprise content management for law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies and private businesses, as its OEM provider of wireless products to access Open Text document management, eDOCS edition content. The expanded partnership will enable Open Text to include Matrix Logic wireless products in its portfolio of eDOCS offerings, specifically the Wireless DMS suite.

Processing and Packaging Machinery Industry (PPMA) and UK Industrial Vision Association (UKIVA) signed a memorandum of understanding about the amalgamation of UKIVA into the PPMA as a special sub-group, following a similar amalgamation of the British Automation & Robotics Association earlier this year.

Communications products from Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. are now available in the B&B Electronics Manufacturing Company catalogs and web pages.

St1 Biofuels Oy in Finland is the only bioethanol producer in the world making biofuel from food waste. The originators of the process say the fuel can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80%. The food-waste fuel is 85 parts ethanol blended with 15 parts gasoline components and additives, and it is sold in Finland as Refuel or RE85.

Career move

Mark Maleta has joined LMI Technologies, Inc. as worldwide manager of business development for the wood division.