Coriolis flowmeter finds ‘vanishing’ product in specialty chemical batch processing

FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, USA – September 29, 2006 – The Foxboro Measurements & Instruments Division of Invensys Process Systems (www.foxboro.com/instrumentation) is providing advanced digital Coriolis technology to assist Great Lakes Chemical Corporation (www.e1.greatlakes.com/corp/common/jsp/index.jsp) in accurately reading flow in their chemical batch process, reducing material loss and increasing productivity. Great Lakes Chemical is the world’s leading producer of certain specialty chemicals for applications such as water treatment, household cleaners, flame retardants, and performance chemicals.

At the Great Lakes Chemical facility in Manchester, UK, a Foxboro CFT50 digital Coriolis transmitter was installed to address particular trouble with a batch line that makes a variety of water treatment chemicals for heating systems and desalination. The application involves combining three feeds into a tank, blending and pH balancing the batch, and pumping it into a storage tank. With some batches the product needs to be filtered when it is pumped from the tank, which reduces the flow and increases metering problems.

Accurate flow measurement at the beginning and end of batch runs is a common problem in industries ranging from chemical to food processing. Typically the flow meter starts empty, suffers the “hit” from the onset of process fluid, meters the bulk of the fluid, and then encounters slugs and two-phase flow at the end of the batch. While no flowmeter technology performs especially well in these conditions, Coriolis meters, which are most accurate when full of fluid, are especially vulnerable to start and end conditions.

“We had huge discrepancies between the metered inputs and the output, and it was clear that the Coriolis meters were not ‘seeing’ all the product passing through,” says Roger Marsden, director of Westmeade Services Limited, who provides technical support for Great Lakes Chemicals. Depending on the flowrate, up to 200 kg of product was missing. And in situations where the product had to be filtered, as much as a 1000 kg went unmetered. “We have other clients with similar problems, and we pride ourselves in supporting the latest technology. Upon learning of the Foxboro CFT50 digital Coriolis flowmeter, we arranged a trial,” says Marsden.

Great Lakes Chemicals implemented the Foxboro CFT50 digital Coriolis transmitter at the Manchester site and recent trials indicate that the transmitter can resolve the problem. The instrument has demonstrated what engineers at Westmeade say is a “remarkable ability” to meter accurately during the difficult start and end stages of the batch.

The Foxboro CFT50 was installed in series with the existing meter on the outlet to properly compare performance. A chart recorder was used to capture data, with a two second update time. Data collected included the start and end of a typical batch, the two mass flow readings, and the Foxboro CFT50 density reading to indicate the percentage of air in the fluid.

Prior to the onset of flow, both meters showed a zero reading, while the density reading indicated that the meters were “wet and empty.” Once the flow began, at 18 seconds, the CFT50 started up immediately, whereas the other meter required some 16 seconds to register the flow, allowing approximately 4 kg of material to pass through unmetered. Once the batch was in full flow the two meters matched each other. At the end of the batch, some two hours later, both meters registered the drop in flow at 130 minutes, but as the flowtubes drained the traditional Coriolis meter stalled. It failed to register the final blow-though of product.

“Based on proven performance, we now trust the CFT50, so the other meter will be pulled out,” says Mark Wilkinson, I+E manager (instrumentation and electrical) at Great Lakes, who funded the trial. “We will be recommending the CFT50 to our clients for batching applications where entrained air is an issue,” adds Roger Marsden. “This is a significant extension of Coriolis capability.”

For more information on the CFT50 mass flow transmitter or other advanced Foxboro measurement and instrument devices, readers can contact their local Invensys/Foxboro representative, visit the Foxboro Measurements and Instruments Web Site at www.foxboro.com/instrumentation or call 866-746-6477 (508-549-2424 outside the U.S. and Canada). The CFT50 mass flow transmitter can also be purchased on-line at http://www.buyautomation.com/.

About Invensys
Invensys is the world leader in industrial asset performance management. In addition to its rapidly expanding Global Solutions and Performance Management services groups, Invensys’ automation businesses includes industry-leading brands such as Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, Wonderware, and Avantis, whose products are installed in more than 100,000 plants across the world. These range from small hybrid and batch plants to the world’s largest upstream projects, refineries, gas plants, petrochemicals plants, power plants, and pulp and paper mills.

For more information on Invensys’ process automation businesses, please visit www.invensys.com/ps. For more information on Invensys’ groundbreaking InFusion enterprise control system, please visit http://www.infusionecs.com/. The Invensys Group (http://www.invensys.com/) is headquartered in London and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, with approximately 30,000 employees working in 60 countries.

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Invensys, SimSci-Esscor, Foxboro, Triconex, Wonderware, Avantis, and InFusion are trademarks of Invensys plc, its subsidiaries, or affiliates. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

[Foxboro Measurements & Instruments] [Invensys] [flowmeter] [flowmeters] [Coriolis flowmeter] [mass flowmeter] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

Invensys Process Systems earns Support Center Practices certification for fourth consecutive year

SCP re-certification follows audit of Invensys Process Systems Global Product Support group in Foxboro, Massachusetts

FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, USA – September 29, 2006 – Invensys Process Systems announced today that the company’s Foxboro, Massachusetts-based Global Product Support group has achieved certification under the prestigious Support Center Practices (SCP) certification program for the fourth consecutive year. SCP certification quantifies the effectiveness of customer support based upon a stringent set of performance standards representing best practices in the industry. Successful re-certification demonstrates an on-going commitment to high-performance standards.

Invensys Process Systems’ Global Product Support group provides first-line technical support for Invensys’ Avantis enterprise asset management system customers (http://www.avantis.net/), Foxboro industrial automation customers (http://www.foxboro.com/) , SimSci-Esscor simulation and optimization customers (http://www.simci-esscor.com/), and Triconex safety and critical control system customers (http://www.triconex.com/). The group also provides first-line technical support for Invensys’ recently introduced InFusion enterprise control system (http://www.infusionecs.com/).

“Thanks to these annual audits, we’re able to continuously improve our customer support capability,” said Ricardo Cortejoso, vice president and general manager of global product support at Invensys Process Systems. “Last year’s audit identified several areas where improvement was possible and we were pleased to learn that the current audit verifies that we have successfully addressed these issues.”

About SCP Certification
The SCP Certification program defines best practices for delivering world class technology support. The program quantifies the effectiveness of customer support, establishes a foundation to build on existing quality processes and provides a clear focus on measurable results, The world’s leading service and support providers use SCP Certification as a roadmap for service excellence and a measure of success. Service SCP Strategies Corporation as a roadmap for services administering the SCP Certification program and conducting onsite certification audits. For more information about SCP Certification, contact Service Strategies Corporation at 858-674-4864, toll free in North America 800-552-3058; email info@serivcestrategies.com; or visit http://www.scpcertification.com/ .

About Invensys
Invensys is the world leader in industrial asset performance management. In addition to its rapidly expanding Global Solutions and Performance Management services groups, Invensys’ automation businesses includes industry-leading brands such as Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, Wonderware, and Avantis, whose products are installed in more than 100,000 plants across the world. These range from small hybrid and batch plants to the world’s largest upstream projects, refineries, gas plants, petrochemicals plants, power plants, and pulp and paper mills. For more information on Invensys’ process automation businesses, please visit www.invensys.com/ps. The Invensys Group (http://www.invensys.com/) is headquartered in London and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, with approximately 30,000 employees working in 60 countries.

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Invensys, InFusion, Avantis, Foxboro, SimSci-Esscor, Triconex, and Wonderware are trademarks of Invensys plc, its subsidiaries, or affiliates. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners.

[Invensys] [asset management software] [enterprise control system] [enterprise asset management] [process automation] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

Foxboro pH sensors cut costs, improve performance in high temperature chemical application

FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, USA – September 29, 2006 – The Foxboro Measurements & Instruments Division of Invensys Process Systems (www.foxboro.com/instrumentation) has worked with Archer Daniels Midland to develop a solution for robust pH sensing in high temperature chemical applications. Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) (http://www.admworld.com/) is one of the largest agricultural processors in the world producing food ingredients, animal feed ingredients, renewable fuels, and naturally derived alternatives to industrial chemicals.

The application is high-temperature ethanol production at ADM’s Cedar Rapids, Iowa facility, where managing pH is critical for consistent product quality, efficient process reaction, and compliance with environmental regulations. The ADM/Foxboro collaborative effort resulted in a pH sensor that extends service life from days to months without replacing, thus significantly reducing equipment and labor costs, while maintaining high process quality.

Ethanol is a high-alcohol, renewable fuel additive that helps gasoline producers meet environmental regulations. Maintaining accurate pH levels during ethanol production is critical to control the sulfur dioxide levels. Excessive sulfur dioxide in the ethanol corrodes the carburetor and other engine components involved in gas distribution.

Ethanol production involves fermenting and distilling starch and sugar crops. In the early stages, liquefied starch is converted to sugar (dextrose), which is then fermented. Yeast is added to the mash to convert the sugars to ethanol and carbon dioxide. The fermented mash, called “beer,” contains about 11 percent alcohol, as well as all the non-fermentable solids from the corn and the yeast cells. The beer is then heated to 235 degrees F, to evaporate alcohol content, which is collected and condensed, and run through a rectifier to eliminate the remaining water. The final product is 199-proof, almost pure alcohol, ethanol.

“We tried taking pH readings directly from the process, but the 235 degree temperature ate sensors up,” says Lloyd Feickert, instrumentation supervisor at the ADM Cedar Rapids facility. “To reduce excessive sensor costs we set up a slipstream arrangement, whereby we run a sample of the ethanol offline to cool it down to 140 degrees F, and measure that,” says Feickert.

While the slipstream arrangement significantly extended pH sensor service life, inherent process conditions still caused frequent replacement of components in the rebuildable pH sensors. “At the lower temperatures, pH sensors could last for weeks, but process conditions caused temperature fluctuations within the slipstreams. These reduced sensor life significantly. We had standardized on the Foxboro 871 rebuildable pH sensors, so we turned to them for the solution,” says Feickert.

To accommodate ADM’s application, the Foxboro Measurements & Instruments division of Invensys worked with Feickert to develop a field replaceable measuring electrode that could withstand severe temperature cycling up to 250 degrees F. The replaceable electrode incorporates patented technology from the award-winning Foxboro DolpHinTM pH sensor line.

“I heard about the DolpHin line of high temperature pH sensors and asked Foxboro if they could develop a similar product for rebuildable sensors. They studied my application and came back with a replaceable electrode that, after a cooperative testing period, increased our sensor service life from days to months,” says Feickert.

The newly developed measuring electrode features a unique pH glass formulation that provides superior measurement stability, accuracy, and longer service in high-temperature applications. This pH glass also increases response speed up to five times. The electrodes are available in domed, spherical, or ruggedized flat glass. The domed glass electrode is for the harshest applications: temperatures up to 250 degrees F and extremes of chemical concentrations.

The spherical glass electrodes are for standard process applications up to 212 degree F, and the flat ruggedized glass electrodes are for applications where the process water contains solid materials with pH between 2 and 12 and temperatures up to 185 degrees F. All electrodes are interchangeable and their plug-in design facilitates quick and easy replacement to address changes in measurement conditions or application.

“Rebuildable sensors are definitely the most cost effective way to measure pH for our applications,” says Feickert. We have standardized on the Foxboro 871 line and now, with the addition of the high temperature domed electrode, we have all the tools to cost effectively handle pH sensing throughout our plant.”

“The domed 871PH electrode has increased pH sensor service life from 10 days to four months,” says Feickert. “That’s a 1000 percent increase. When you consider that we use the domed sensor in four beer stills, as well as other processes within the plant, that’s an enormous savings.”

In addition to the product cost savings, ADM has significantly reduced labor and maintenance costs. “Every time you send a person out to work on a sensor, it’s at least an hour’s worth of labor. I estimate that we have reduced time spent on changing electrodes over the course of a year from 36 hours per electrode to three hours per electrode,” says Feickert.

For more information on the DolpHin series pH sensors or other advanced Foxboro measurement and instrument devices, readers can contact their local Invensys/Foxboro representative, visit the Foxboro Measurements and Instruments Web Site at www.foxboro.com/instrumentation or call 866-746-6477 (508-549-2424 outside the U.S. and Canada). The DolpHin series pH sensors can also be purchased on-line at http://www.buyautomation.com/.

About Foxboro M&I Division
The Foxboro Measurements and Instruments (M&I) Division has a long-standing reputation for providing world-class measurement solutions. With a legacy of accurate, reliable, and innovative products, the group prides itself on working with customers to achieve industry-best total solutions for optimum measurement or analysis of temperature, pressure, flow, and electrochemical variables.

About Invensys
Invensys is the world leader in industrial asset performance management. In addition to its rapidly expanding Global Solutions and Performance Management services groups, Invensys’ automation businesses includes industry-leading brands such as Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, Wonderware, and Avantis, whose products are installed in more than 100,000 plants across the world. These range from small hybrid and batch plants to the world’s largest upstream projects, refineries, gas plants, petrochemicals plants, power plants, and pulp and paper mills. For more information on Invensys’ process automation businesses, please visit www.invensys.com/ps. The Invensys Group (http://www.invensys.com/) is headquartered in London and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, with approximately 30,000 employees working in 60 countries.

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Invensys, SimSci-Esscor, DYNSIM, SIM4ME, Foxboro, Triconex, Wonderware, and Avantis are trademarks of Invensys plc, its subsidiaries, or affiliates. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

[Foxboro Measurements & Instruments] [Invensys] [pH meters] [pH analyzers] [pH transmitters] [pH suppliers] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

Invensys to implement integrated turbine compressor control and emergency shutdown systems at largest ammonia plant in Egypt

Egypt Basic Industries Corporation (EBIC) grass-roots plant to use solutions based on Triconex triple modular redundant technology

FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, USA –September 28, 2006 – Invensys Process Systems will implement five Tricon triple modular redundant (TMR) systems for integrated turbine compressor control (ITCC) and emergency shutdown (ESD) at a new plant being built for Egypt Basic Industries Corporation (EBIC). The anhydrous ammonia plant, at Ain Sokhna in Egypt's Suez Industrial Zone, will produce a planned 2,000 metric tons per day and will be the largest ammonia plant in Egypt. The complex will include a pipeline connecting the plant to storage tanks and a dock area at Sokhna Port. The plant is being designed, built and operated by Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR).

Three Triconex TS3000 TMR (http://www.triconex.com/) systems will be deployed for air compressor, feed gas compressor, SynGas compressor and ammonia refrigeration compressor controls. System functions include governor, surge control, equipment protection, vibration monitoring, and control and monitoring of auxiliary equipment such as lubrication systems. The Invensys ITCC implementation will include Bentley Nevada vibration monitoring equipment, Wonderware (http://www.wonderware.com/) InTouch human machine interface (HMI) software, and a range of Invensys professional services, including application programming, testing, training and site support for installation and start-up.

For emergency shutdown, two Tricon TMR systems will be deployed to protect the entire main plant area, as well as the dock area at Sokhna Port. Invensys will also supply InTouch HMI software, system testing, training and site support for installation and start-up for the ESD systems.

The five TMR systems will connect with more than 1,100 I/O points around the complex. By employing the Triconex TMR platform throughout the entire implementation, KBR and EBIC expect to achieve significant benefits such as simplified engineering, reduced spare parts requirements, and efficiencies in operator and maintenance training.

The TS-3000, based on TMR fault-tolerant technology, uses an integrated architecture that combines driven (compressor) equipment control with driver (turbine) equipment control. By combining EBIC’s four ITCC applications on the common TMR platform, the TS-3000 systems can reduce nuisance trip rates to less than one in five hundred years. The TS3000 TMR control system provides the highest reliability for a wide variety of critical rotating equipment applications, including gas and steam turbines, compressors and generators, and a wide range of integrated turbine/generator control applications.

The Triconex TMR technology employs three isolated, parallel control systems and extensive diagnostics integrated into one system. The system uses two-out-of-three voting to provide high-integrity, error-free, uninterrupted process operation. The TMR architecture eliminates any single point of failure and enables on-line maintenance, on-line programming downloads, self-calibration and fault localization.

The Wonderware InTouch HMI software provides user-friendly process visualization, operation, and easier access to performance and operational data. InTouch applications are flexible enough to meet users’ immediate needs and can scale to accommodate their future requirements, while retaining the value of earlier engineering investments and efforts.

About Egypt Basic Industries Corporation
Egypt Basic Industries Corporation (EBIC) is an Egyptian exporter of ammonia. Buyers use the ammonia as a feedstock to manufacture fertilizer. Shareholders in EBIC include PSK Holdings, KBR, Orascom Construction Industries, Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation, Sokhna Port and several private investors. Project financing for the new ammonia plant is being provided by five international banks.

About Invensys
Invensys is the world leader in industrial asset performance management. In addition to its rapidly expanding Global Solutions and Performance Management services groups, Invensys’ automation businesses includes industry-leading brands such as Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, Wonderware, and Avantis, whose products are installed in more than 100,000 plants across the world. These range from small hybrid and batch plants to the world’s largest upstream projects, refineries, gas plants, petrochemicals plants, power plants, and pulp and paper mills. For more information on Invensys’ process automation businesses, please visit www.invensys.com/ps. For more information on Invensys’ groundbreaking InFusion enterprise control system, please visit http://www.infusionecs.com/. The Invensys Group (http://www.invensys.com/) is headquartered in London and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, with approximately 30,000 employees working in 60 countries.

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Invensys, Triconex, Wonderware, InTouch, Foxboro, SimSci-Esscor, and Avantis are trademarks of Invensys plc, its subsidiaries, or affiliates. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

[Invensys] [distributed control system] [distributed control systems] [process manufacturing] [asset availability] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

New EH&E White Paper Helps Hospitals Address Process and Documentation Requirements for Infection Control During Construction

Newton, Mass. -- September 28, 2006 -- A new free white paper entitled “Infection Control in the Healthcare Environment During Construction,” is available to help hospitals efficiently comply with specific Environment of Care standards of the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

This paper describes a system designed by EH&E, currently in use at a leading teaching and research hospital in the United States, which both standardizes the construction review process and provides the necessary documentation. It’s available for download at: http://www.eheinc.com/infectioncontrol.htm from EH&E, a leading provider of environmental, health, safety, and engineering consulting services for healthcare institutions.

“Most healthcare institutions are continuously being upgraded to keep up with advances in technology, and must devise policies and procedures to allow construction projects to go forward while simultaneously maintaining critical patient services. This system has been in place for more than two years, and provides standardized, proven procedures for approaching infection control issues in all construction projects,” said Jack McCarthy, President and co-founder of EH&E.

This white paper reviews the applicable JCAHO standards and American Institute of Architects guidelines, and describes a field-tested, successful solution for maintaining ICRA documentation. The paper will be interesting and informative to all those responsible for maintaining environmental health and safety compliance in healthcare facilities.
For more information or to download the free white paper, “Infection Control in the Healthcare Environment During Construction,” visit http://www.eheinc.com/infectioncontrol.htm.

About EH&E
EH&E has provided an extensive range of environmental and engineering consulting services for over 18 years. Our team consists of more than 60 experts with an outstanding record of providing business-focused solutions for issues that affect the built environment. EH&E has a depth of knowledge and credibility unmatched in the industry and our wealth of readily accessible information has become a powerful resource for our clients. Our new series of eH&E web compliance solutions is just the latest example of our continuing effort to provide this knowledge and information to a wider audience of healthcare institutions.

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[EH&E] [infection] [infection control] [hospital] [healthcare] [white paper] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

Sunnex’s Celestial Star Surgical Light Offers Critical Illumination, Flexibility in a Compact Design for use in Plastic Surgery Procedures

-- Details at Plastic Surgery 2006, Booth 1790 --

Natick, Mass. – September 27, 2006 – Sunnex’s state-of-the-art Celestial Star™ surgical light meets the critical illumination, maneuverability, and ease-of-use requirements that plastic surgeons demand for lighting solutions in the operating room.

To be featured in Sunnex’s booth, number 1790, at Plastic Surgery 2006, the innovative Sunnex Celestial Star delivers up to 64,500 Lux of White-RAL 9002 light in a space-saving design featuring unparalleled flexibility and an extensive reach and range of motion.

The FDA Class II surgical light features a drift free balance arm design, unlimited positioning and optimal flexibility around the bore, and a 114-inch horizontal reach for head-to-toe coverage during surgery. Its compact design minimizes obstruction of the work area. Illumination is provided by three 35W long life halogen bulbs.

The Sunnex Celestial Star surgical light features a removable, sterilizable handle and is virtually maintenance free. The light is immediately available in single and dual ceiling, wall, and mobile configurations.

Sunnex medical lights provide critical illumination in examination rooms, MRI and surgical suites, emergency rooms, and trauma centers of top medical hospitals and clinics around the world.

In addition to the Celestial Star, Sunnex medical lights of interest to plastic surgeons include:

• The Sunnex Tri-Star™ offers the best value on the market for examination light and minor surgical light needs. Ideal for use where space is limited, the Tri-Star ensures that bright and cool light can be easily directed where needed. The mobile version features a unique 40 to 80-inch telescoping pole and caster base for easy portability among exam rooms. The wall model delivers a full and flexible 55 inches of reach.
• The Sunnex Solo Spot™ is ideal for procedures requiring intense, focused spotlight illumination such as exams and minor surgery. Heat control, an important factor to consider when selecting spotlights, is well managed by the Solo Spot. The spotlight’s unique double filtered lens and lampshade extension focus a concentrated, but cool, beam of light on the subject – for the benefit of both doctor and patient. The Solo Spot is available in mobile, c-clamp and wall models.

All of Sunnex surgical and examination lights represent the best in innovation and quality of Sunnex's 30 years experience in medical light technology.

For more information on Sunnex’s complete line of medical lights, visit Sunnex in booth 1790 at Plastic Surgery 2006, October 6-11, 2006, in San Francisco.

Or, contact Charles Nashef at Sunnex by email: cnashef@sunnex.com, telephone: 1-800-445-7869, or on the Web: http://www.sunnexmedical.com/.

About Sunnex
Sunnex is a leading designer and manufacturer of innovative, quality surgical and examination lighting, with 30 years of medical industry experience. Sunnex lights offer extensive reach, low maintenance, and unparalleled flexibility and are installed in top hospitals and clinics around the world. Headquartered in Natick, Mass., Sunnex is an ISO 9001 registered company with sales and service representatives located worldwide. For more information, visit www.sunnexmedical.com or call 1-508-651-0009, or toll-free 1-800-445-7869.

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[Sunnex] [plastic surgery] [surgical light] [examination light] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

Conductivity sensing ensures consistent rubber product quality while reducing costs

FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, USA – September 27, 2006 – The Foxboro Measurements & Instruments Division of Invensys (www.foxboro.com/instrumentation) has provided a solution for Calzin, Inc.’s sticky rubber situation. Calzin, an international supplier of coatings for the rubber industry, now offers Foxboro conductivity sensing technology as part of a measurement system that helps ensure customers get consistent product quality, as well as reducing their labor and materials costs.

Without a properly mixed antitack additive, rubber production can indeed be a sticky situation. Too little calcium stearate powder, the main ingredient of the antitack liquid additive, and rubber sheets could adhere to each other; creating costly rework to bring them back into spec. Too much calcium stearate and sheets could slide off of pallets and end up in the scrap pile. Despite the fact that variations in the mixture have tremendous implications for labor and material costs, as well as product quality, rubber producers have relied on human judgment to develop antitack mixtures that work for their products.

Recently, however, Calzin has produced a measuring system that enables its customers to determine the exact proportions of calcium stearate concentrate and water for their application. Calzin ships the calcium stearate to customers as a concentrated dispersion, and they in turn dilute it with water for use as needed. Through what has largely been trial and error, customer technicians adjust the flow of water into the premix concentrate until they feel it has the right consistency.

“This is far from an exact science. There’s a fine line between hitting or missing the proper ratio,” says Jeff Blanchard, vice president at Calzin, Inc. “For instance, if your target is a mixture of three percent solids, a two percent mixture will result in the rubber sticking to itself and may require rework. A four percent ratio can cause rubber sheets to slide off of pallets and possibly result in scrap. Worse yet, the excess can become airborne resulting in severe dust problems that endanger workers,” says Blanchard.

Seeking to help customers make more effective use of his product, Blanchard set out to develop an automated mixing system to remove the guess work and help his customers achieve consistent and repeatable release agent mixes. Figuring that determining the exact percent of solids ratio in the solution would provide a much more accurate and consistent solution, he hypothesized that conductivity sensing could deliver that information. His Internet search for authorities on the subject led him to the Foxboro Measurements & Instruments Division of Invensys Process Systems. After preliminary discussions about his application, Blanchard met with Foxboro process measurement experts, who demonstrated an electrodeless conductivity system, with which he could measure and maintain percent solids ratios with high accuracy. "The Foxboro solution measures and maintains a predetermined percent solids ratio based on conductivity, which assures accurate batch composition every time,” says Blanchard.

The Foxboro system consists of a conductivity analyzer with a tailored custom curve set, and electrodeless conductivity sensor. The sensor measures the conductivity and sends a reading to the analyzer. From there, the software triggers alarms when conductivity setpoints are reached, which control a series of valves and pumps that supply the Calzin concentrate and water in proportion to maintain a predetermined target conductivity setting.

“The key was converting conductivity measurements into discernable information that technicians could understand. Through trial and error I developed a percent ratio chart as a guide for determining percent solids at different temperatures,” says Blanchard. “Conductivity is not the easiest thing to work with. It can be very temperamental. But Foxboro supplied a complete solution, including technical support that made it possible. If I had a question, Foxboro was always there to help.”

By automating the release agent mixing process, Calzin has improved the use of its additives, while assisting customers in reducing labor and material costs. “The most significant benefit for our customers is ease of use of our agents,” says Blanchard. “They love it because we give them a quality concentrate and the capability to automate mixing specifically for their applications.”

The automated system also reduces labor and material costs for Calzin customers. “In some cases there have been as many as six people checking and adding to the release agent mixtures. Our system totally eliminates the ‘too-many-cooks’ problem through automation. It eliminates human error while enabling customers to use just the right amount of concentrate, which also reduces waste. The Foxboro-based system enables us to better serve our customers and gives us a competitive edge in the market place,” says Blanchard.

For more information on the Foxboro electrodeless conductivity sensing system or other advanced Foxboro measurement and instrument devices, readers can contact their local Invensys/Foxboro representative, visit the Foxboro Measurements and Instruments Web Site at www.foxboro.com/instrumentation or call 866-746-6477 (508-549-2424 outside the U.S. and Canada). The electrodeless conductivity sensing system can also be purchased on-line at www.buyautomation.com.

About Invensys
Invensys is the world leader in industrial asset performance management. In addition to its rapidly expanding Global Solutions and Performance Management services groups, Invensys’ automation businesses includes industry-leading brands such as Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, Wonderware, and Avantis, whose products are installed in more than 100,000 plants across the world. These range from small hybrid and batch plants to the world’s largest upstream projects, refineries, gas plants, petrochemicals plants, power plants, and pulp and paper mills. The Invensys Group (http://www.invensys.com/) is headquartered in London and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, with approximately 30,000 employees working in 60 countries.

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Invensys, SimSci-Esscor, Foxboro, DolpHin, Triconex, Wonderware, and Avantis are trademarks of Invensys plc, its subsidiaries, or affiliates. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

[Foxboro Measurements & Instruments] [Invensys] [electrodless conductivity sensor] [electrodless] [conductivity+sensor] [flow-through sensors] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

Hagen Introduces True Opportunity™ Dollar-Based Software

MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS, USA, September 27, 2006 – Hagen & Co., a leading provider of software and services for manufacturing and process improvement, has introduced True OpportunityTM software – the world’s first dollar-based manufacturing performance reporting system.

True Opportunity software is ideal for Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), Six Sigma, and Lean Manufacturing applications and is the only solution that calculates the true profit potential of an organization’s manufacturing operations. In addition, the solution also breaks down this total extra profit opportunity by reason, allowing an organization to focus on the problems or opportunities that will realize the greatest results.

“Our software compares the current performance of a production line or plant to the profit that could be made if everything ran to its true potential,” said Ian Thompson, Founder and Chairman of Hagen & Co. “It evaluates these opportunities in terms of profit, not just costs or budgets, and allows everyone in the organization to see the potential improvement for their area of responsibility.”

True Opportunity software prioritizes each opportunity by its financial value, enabling performance improvement teams to focus on projects that will deliver the greatest profit. “The solution collects production data from existing plant business systems,” said Thompson. “It then calculates the present profitability levels of a facility’s operations and compares them to their true profit potential.”

True Opportunity’s Activity Based Costing functionality provides accurate cost, gross margin, and net margin data for each product, broken down by plant and line.

Initial versions of the software have been proven in projects at BP, Kimberly-Clark, H.J. Heinz, and Cadbury-Schweppes.

Dashboard Displays Highlight Production Opportunities

True Opportunity’s reporting system presents process improvement opportunities at any level of an organization – from executive to the plant floor operator. It comes with a dashboard display that graphically highlights production opportunities in terms of true potential profit. These opportunities are broken down into individual reasons – the actions that need to be taken to recover the money. The dashboard provides trends of performance and utilizes an easy-to-read "traffic light" system, showing red (out of control), orange (approaching a set limit), and green (within user defined limits) for rapid visualization of problem areas. It also has drill-down capability that allows user to click on a measure or a trend for more detailed information.

Powered by Microsoft .Net and SQL Server 2005 technologies, the software easily installs on a network and is accessible through a Web browser. Data can be imported into the application automatically from plant systems, manually, or combinations of both. In addition, Hagen can install real-time data collection through its associations with third-party providers.

The solution is highly scalable and can be implemented from the production line level all the way up to an enterprise system. Full user security is provided that limits access to data and reports only to authorized individuals.

True Opportunity software is available immediately and can be ordered by contacting Hagen & Co. at (781) 639-4200 or info@hagenco.com. A demonstration of the software package is available at www.hagenco.com/TrueOppDemo.htm.

About Hagen
Founded in 1990, Hagen & Co is a leading provider of software and services for manufacturing and process improvement. With offices in Boston, USA, Bristol, UK, and Sydney, Australia, the company has delivered over 400 profit improvement projects for more than 80 customers in over 20 different industries. For more information about Hagen’s solutions, visit www.hagenco.com.

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[Hagen & Co.] [manufacturing performance reporting system] [True Opportunity ] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

Specialty chemical producer improves valuable batch yields with process-tailored sensing technology

FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, USA – September 26, 2006 – Raylo Chemical, a leading producer of specialty chemicals, is reducing equipment and maintenance costs and improving process efficiency and batch yields using patented pH sensing technology from the Foxboro Measurements & Instruments Division of Invensys (http://www.measurements-instruments.com/).

Implementing Foxboro 871PH Series sensors has helped Raylo reduce manufacturing cycles by up to 20%, which translates into a savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.

“Batches typically range from 300 to 900 kilograms and even the slightest variation in our process has a significant impact on costs. If our process is off even slightly, the cost implications are significant. Over time, this could add up to substantial losses in production and profitability,” says Rob Pastushak, senior technical supervisor of pharmaceutical manufacturing for Raylo.

Based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Raylo Chemical is a member of the Degussa Fine Chemicals Division, the world market leader in specialty chemicals. Raylo Chemical has a 40-year history of custom manufacturing active pharmaceutical ingredients and advanced intermediates for innovative pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies. As a custom manufacturer, Raylo is faced with developing and scaling a wide range of chemistries and products and ultimately delivering these on a commercial basis. “The compounds we produce are used in various human applications from cancer treatments to anti-virals. Processes have to be controlled tightly in order to insure quality and consistent high yields. While our products are generally high value, it is a competitive industry so delivering high yield to the customer is a must,” says Pastushak.

To assure consistent product quality and maximize batch yields, Raylo launched an effort to improve the efficiency of its manufacturing process. Pastushak focused on pH measurement.

“Measuring pH was a problem at that time because of the unreliability of our pH sensors. They simply could not hold up under aggressive chemicals that we use, such as hydrobromic acid. The organic solvent constituent caused the probe’s o-rings to degrade during the most critical point of the process. In many cases, three probes, at approximately $600 per probe, would fail during processing just one batch,” Pastushak says.

Because of the unreliability of these devices, Raylo was forced to confirm pH measurements on a bench top meter in their lab. “When you process 3,000 to 5,000 liters and add 5 to 10 kilos of caustic solution at a time, it might take 20 to 40 lab tests to ensure the pH is right during pH adjustment,” says Pastushak. “Going to the lab so often to confirm pH just killed production efficiency, but it was a necessary evil to comply with the strict quality control standards that are essential to our business.”

Pastushak points out that given the competitive nature of the custom manufacturing business and the tight margins that exist in the industry, even a small 1 or 2 percent variance in yield can have a huge impact on the bottom line. "A small 1 or 2 percent increase in the target commercial yield is translated as 100% pure profit. Likewise, a consistent loss of 1 or 2% of the commercial target yield translates as lost profit. You don't stay in business long with this type of performance," says Pastushak.

To resolve the pH measurement issue, Pastushak researched several probes and decided to test the Foxboro 871PH Series sensor, from the Measurements & Instruments Division of Invensys Process Systems. The 871 is a rebuildable pH probe that incorporates patented technology from the award-winning Foxboro DolpHin™ pH sensor line. “We found many vendors that offered quality sensors, but Foxboro was the only one that could provide a robust design that could stand up to all the reagents and solvents in our solutions. The 871’s Ryton® polymer plastic construction is compatible with all the materials in our process and is just what the doctor ordered for our demanding application,” says Pastushak.

Foxboro worked closely with Raylo to fully understand the requirements of the application and provide a solution tailored for Raylo’s process requirements. “Foxboro offered the technical expertise and production capabilities to modify the 871 sensors to include o-rings made out of Kalrez, which was a big factor in us choosing them over their competitors,” says Pastushak. “The other units we considered were only available as is, off-the-shelf. We needed a durable pH sensor with Kalrez o-rings, and Foxboro was able to deliver the solution.”

“We can now complete a pH adjustment in 3 hours rather than the 18 to 24 hours it previously took,” says Pastushak. “And we no longer have to take 40 samples to the lab to confirm measurement accuracy -- we only take one, as a matter of quality assurance protocol. Previously, every time we grabbed a lab sample, we had to put the process on hold until we got the results back. This is significant when you consider not only the yield impact but the cost of a process hour,” says Pastushak.

This reduction in the number of confirmation measurements also improved personnel safety. The fewer the confirmation measurements, the less times the technicians need to open the line to manually obtain samples. This fits in line with Raylo’s strong commitment to implementing the highest precautions with all of its safety controls.

The Foxboro 871PH sensor’s fast response, coupled with the sensor’s long reliable duty cycle and the elimination of 40 grab samples also allows Raylo to produce more batches in the same period of time. The faster, real-time readings have helped Raylo reduce manufacturing cycles by up to 20%, which increases capacity and competitiveness. “Overall, yields have increased and cycle times have been shortened. When you add-in the increase in quality, the improved pH readings by one sensor can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars per year,” Pastushak says.

But the benefits of Foxboro 871PH go far beyond improving Raylo’s bottom-line. “By enabling us to increase product quality and yield, the Foxboro 871PH sensor has allowed us to do our job better so we can contribute to improving the quality of life for countless people and that’s what we’re in business for,” says Pastushak.

For more information on the Foxboro DolpHin™ pH sensor line or other advanced Foxboro measurement and instrument devices, readers can contact their local Invensys/Foxboro representative, visit the Foxboro Measurements and Instruments Web Site at www.foxboro.com/instrumentation or call 866-746-6477 (508-549-2424 outside the U.S. and Canada). The Foxboro DolpHin™ pH sensor line can also be purchased on-line at http://www.buyautomation.com/.

About Foxboro M&I Division
The Foxboro Measurements and Instruments (M&I) Division has a long-standing reputation for providing world-class measurement solutions. With a legacy of accurate, reliable, and innovative products, the group prides itself on working with customers to achieve industry-best total solutions for optimum measurement or analysis of temperature, pressure, flow, and electrochemical variables.

About Invensys
Invensys is the world leader in industrial asset performance management. In addition to its rapidly expanding Global Solutions and Performance Management services groups, Invensys’ automation businesses includes industry-leading brands such as Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, Wonderware, and Avantis, whose products are installed in more than 100,000 plants across the world. These range from small hybrid and batch plants to the world’s largest upstream projects, refineries, gas plants, petrochemicals plants, power plants, and pulp and paper mills. The Invensys Group (http://www.invensys.com/) is headquartered in London and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, with approximately 30,000 employees working in 60 countries.

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Invensys, SimSci-Esscor, Foxboro, DolpHin, Triconex, Wonderware, and Avantis are trademarks of Invensys plc, its subsidiaries, or affiliates. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

[Foxboro Measurements & Instruments] [Invensys] [pH meters] [Raylo Chemical] [pH meters] [pH analyzers] [pH and ORP sensors] [pH transmitters] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

Emission system provider meets tight delivery deadline despite need to replace component supplier at the eleventh hour

FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, USA – September 26, 2006 – When The Hanover Company’s pressure transmitter supplier backed out at the last minute, The Foxboro Measurements & Instruments Division of Invensys (www.foxboro.com/instrumentation) came through with record delivery time, allowing Hanover to meet the contracted delivery date for a multi-million dollar system order. By supplying specialty pressure transmitters in just three days versus the industry standard of two weeks, The Invensys division helped Hanover fulfill an emissions control system order on time and on budget, avoiding significant late-delivery penalty charges.

The Hanover Company is a global market leader in designing, fabricating, and delivering custom equipment for oil and natural gas processing. One such system is a sulfur recovery unit (SRU), an emissions control system that eliminates or reduces sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions. Designed for use in oil fields, the SRU partially oxidizes hydrogen sulfide to produce elemental sulfur for disposal as a solid, as compared to the full oxidation product, which produces gaseous SO2. This reaction in combination with several stages of separation, reheating and catalytic conversion produces a final off-gas that complies with emissions regulations, thus eliminating pollution resulting from flaring of by-product hydrogen sulfide associated with petroleum.

As a fabricator, Hanover’s Broken Arrow, OK, facility works closely with its supply chain of vendors for critical components ranging from control systems to flow loop instrumentation. While Hanover is ultimately responsible for the SRU, it’s a team effort whose success relies on every component being delivered on time and to specification.

For the application, Hanover needed more than 60 differential pressure (DP) transmitters as a critical component of the flow loop system to maintain the pressures and flows required for peak performance. “We reviewed proposals and selected a vendor based on an extremely competitive package they offered that included attractive pricing. But as it turned out, they could not meet the promised delivery date, which left us in a very precarious position. At the eleventh-hour we had to recall vendors and see who, if anyone could deliver DP transmitters that met our stringent requirements, at a competitive price, within our tight timeframe. This was a time for Superman,” says Scott Pickens, electrical engineer with The Hanover Company.

Having used Invensys Foxboro DP transmitters extensively in the past, Pickens contacted the local Foxboro representative, the Canada Company, Tulsa, OK, to discuss the situation. “They provided a solution that at first I had a tough time believing. I had to be certain of meeting this delivery date, and there was no margin for error,” says Pickens.

He contacted the folks at Canada Company on Monday, May 23 to review their original proposal submitted back in March. Invensys was closed that Monday, but got back to the Canada Company first thing Tuesday. This immediate response allowed the Canada Company to close the deal and secure a verbal order from Hanover by Tuesday afternoon.

“While I was impressed with Invensys’ response time, it was nothing compared to their lightning delivery,” says Pickens. ”We consummated the deal on Tuesday and product started showing up on Thursday. By Friday, 90 percent of the order was on site. Even I didn’t expect delivery that promptly.”

The Foxboro pressure transmitters selected for this application were the IDP10 differential transmitter and the IGP10 gage pressure transmitter. Both are intelligent two-wire transmitters and feature silicone strain gage sensors that have proven themselves in thousands of field applications. For high reliability performance, the Foxboro transmitters include proprietary sensor packaging with very few parts. Each transmits a 4 to 20 mA output signal and includes HART protocol for remote configuration.

“Foxboro really pulled out the stops to work with us and even worked with their supplier of seals to expedite delivery to accommodate our time frame. They truly came through as a strong link in our supply chain,” says Pickens.

Timely delivery of the pressure transmitters allowed Pickens to complete the instrumentation and electronics portion of the SRU, just under deadline, which allowed Hanover to meet its promised delivery deadline. “Given that the system was going to Bulgaria, we had to allow for shipping, which was no problem. The system arrived on time and fired up right on schedule,” says Pickens.

For more information on the Foxboro differential pressure transmitters, other advanced Foxboro measurement and instrument devices, or the quick delivery Rocket Program®, readers can contact their local Invensys/Foxboro representative, visit the Foxboro Measurements and Instruments Web Site at www.foxboro.com/instrumentation or call 866-746-6477 (508-549-2424 outside the U.S. and Canada). The Foxboro differential pressure system can also be purchased on-line at www.buyautomation.com.

About Foxboro M&I Division
The Foxboro Measurements and Instruments (M&I) Division has a long-standing reputation for providing world-class measurement solutions. With a legacy of accurate, reliable, and innovative products, the group prides itself on working with customers to achieve industry-best total solutions for optimum measurement or analysis of temperature, pressure, flow, and electrochemical variables.

About Invensys
Invensys is the world leader in industrial asset performance management. In addition to its rapidly expanding Global Solutions and Performance Management services groups, Invensys’ automation businesses includes industry-leading brands such as Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, Wonderware, and Avantis, whose products are installed in more than 100,000 plants across the world. These range from small hybrid and batch plants to the world’s largest upstream projects, refineries, gas plants, petrochemicals plants, power plants, and pulp and paper mills. The Invensys Group (www.invensys.com) is headquartered in London and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, with approximately 30,000 employees working in 60 countries.

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Invensys, SimSci-Esscor, Foxboro, DolpHin, Triconex, Wonderware, and Avantis are trademarks of Invensys plc, its subsidiaries, or affiliates. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

[Foxboro Measurements & Instruments] [Invensys] [press transmitters] [multivariable transmitters] [DP cell] [d/p cell] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

Sunnex Features MRI Compatible Mobile Examination Light

Natick, Mass. – September 25, 2006 – Sunnex, a leading manufacturer of medical light solutions (http://www.sunnexmedical.com/), offers its unique PF Series MRI Examination Light designed for use in any MRI facility.

Made of durable, MRI compatible materials, this mobile medical examination light is ideal for imaging centers, radiology departments, and CAT/PET Scan labs and clinics.

Features of the Sunnex PF Series MRI Examination Light include:

• Powerful, 50-watt halogen light source
• Adjustable jointed arm for easy positioning
• Mobile caster base with easy-glide wheels
• 30 ft. cord extends to enclosed wall-mounted transformer
• Weighted base for added stability

Specifications for the Sunnex PF Series MRI Examination Light include:

• Power supply: 120V 60 Hz AC or 230-240V 50 Hz AC
• Light intensity: up to 4,300 Footcandles/46,000 Lux
• Light source: Halogen bulb – Dichroic 12V/50W/10o
• Light color temp: Up to 4,000 Kelvin
• Color: White – RAL 9002
• Weight: 40 lbs

For more information about Sunnex’s innovative PF Series MRI Examination Light, or any Sunnex medical light solution, contact Charles Nashef at Sunnex by email: cnashef@sunnex.com, phone: 800-445-7869, or Web: www.sunnexmedical.com.

About Sunnex
Sunnex is a leading designer and manufacturer of innovative, quality surgical and examination lighting, with 30 years of medical industry experience. Sunnex lights offer extensive reach, low maintenance, and unparalleled flexibility and are installed in top hospitals and clinics around the world. Headquartered in Natick, Mass., Sunnex is an ISO 9001 registered company with sales and service representatives located worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.sunnexmedical.com/ or call 1-508-651-0009, or toll-free 1-800-445-7869.

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[Sunnex] [medical lighting] [examination light] [MRI] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

Liko Introduces “Teddy Bear” Slings for Lifting Pediatric Patients

Franklin, Mass. -- September 25, 2006 -- Liko Inc., a leading global supplier of patient lift and transfer solutions, has introduced a new line of pediatric slings featuring specially chosen fabrics decorated with a “Teddy Bear” motif. The new slings are designed to complement Liko’s line of mobile floor lifts and overhead lifting systems which include narrow slingbars and other accessories specifically for handling pediatric patients.

Liko has been a supplier of pediatric slings for nearly three decades and was the first lift supplier to introduce lifting accessories designed especially for children.

The new slings are manufactured of soft, knitted polyester fabric and incorporate several functional improvements designed to meet the special needs of the pediatric market. They can accommodate children as small as 20 lbs., and can lift from sitting or semi-recumbent positions.

Typical applications include moving children between bed and wheelchair, onto toilets, or lifting from the floor. A net polyester version can be used for bathing or showering. Another version, configured as “teddy pants,” facilitates standing, gait training, and ambulation assistance.

About Liko
Liko is one of the world’s leading suppliers of patient lift and transfer solutions. The company’s products range from mobile and transportable lifts to sit-to-stand models, overhead ceiling mounted systems, and bariatric models. For more information on the company’s Pediatric lifts of accessories, contact Liko, Inc., 842 Upper Union Street, Franklin, MA 01038. Telephone (888) 545-6671 or (508) 553-3993; fax (508) 528-6642; or visit the Liko website at http://www.liko.com/.

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[Liko] [pediatric] [sling] [Safe Lifting] [patient safety] [hospital] [healthcare] [patient lift] [caregiver] [injury prevention] [lifting system] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

EH&E Launches Affordable Web-based Compliance Support to Help Colleges and Universities Manage Environmental Health & Safety Programs

Newton, Mass. - September 24, 2006 – EH&E, a leading provider of health and safety and engineering consulting services, has introduced an environmental health and safety compliance support site specifically designed for colleges and universities. The site helps reduce risk through better compliance management and direct access to industry experts.

The affordable knowledge-based solution, “eH&E–Campus,” enables colleges and universities to successfully manage the complex environmental health and safety (EH&S) compliance programs, involving federal, state, and local regulations, without a large safety staff.

“Because colleges and universities are comprised of many types of buildings, usually including laboratories (chemical, biological, and art), the environmental health and safety program requirements are necessarily complex, and come from a variety of governing sources. Large universities often employ a large professional staff to manage the program and its requirements. Small and mid-size colleges and universities face the same regulatory requirements, but often cannot afford the dedicated staff,” said Jack McCarthy, President and co-founder of EH&E.

eH&E–Campus provides much of EH&E’s compliance expertise to these smaller organizations through a web-based portal, and in a unique and very affordable way. The solution provides a complete outline of a comprehensive compliance management program, and includes tools, databases, and document templates to facilitate easy program development and maintenance. Web training programs are available to minimize classroom training requirements. And eH&E–Campus additionally provides direct access to EH&E’s experienced team of EH&S professionals and engineers.

A free whitepaper detailing some of the common compliance issues faced by higher education, Environmental Health and Safety Compliance in Laboratory Operations: Common Deficiencies Encountered During Audits, is available for download from: http://www.eheinc.com/labaudit.htm.

For Suzanne Howard, Environmental Health and Safety Director for Wellesley College in Massachusetts, eH&E–Campus provides just the right amount of help and adapts to her unique program needs.

“The eH&E–Campus site is a perfect blend of support functions for my health and safety compliance program,” Howard said. “It provides a single, easy to use interface for my entire program that allows me to get information fast when I need it. The site is customizable so I was able to quickly adapt it to my specific needs – I’ve consolidated building information from many Excel spreadsheets into one easily managed and accessible database. I’ve got all my updated training records in a single place for the first time. And, the built-in collaboration functions allow me to both share and obtain information with some key departments on campus without multiple emails.”

Microsoft-based, Web-enabled
eH&E–Campus is built upon Microsoft® Windows® SharePoint®, a powerful web-based project collaboration tool, thus allowing users to easily customize and integrate the eH&E–Campus application with all their Microsoft Office products, including Outlook.

eH&E–Campus Features:

• Document templates for virtually all required documentation, including a Chemical Hygiene Plan, Emergency Action Plan, Biosafety Manual, EH&S Policies Manual and Lockout/Tagout Program and Procedures.
• Over 15 databases that can be easily customized, including Chemical Inventory (with 5,000 chemical library), Permit Tracking, Fume Hood and Biosafety Cabinet certifications, Hazardous Waste Manifest Tracking, and Student/Employee Safety Awareness Training.
• The Lab Inspection Assistant, a customizable program that generates inspection checklists and a variety of reports to streamline the inspection process for the whole campus.
• Compliance Calendar pre-populated with a customizable compliance plan.
• Auto-notification via email of upcoming deadlines such as permit expirations and refresher training.
• Access via email or phone to expert advice on a wide variety of compliance and health and safety issues.

Options include web-based safety awareness training programs covering a wide variety of topics. Each topic includes a self-test and completed training is automatically logged in the Training Database.

Additional Information
For more information or to download the free whitepaper, Environmental Health and Safety Compliance in Laboratory Operations: Common Deficiencies Encountered During Audits, visit http://www.eheinc.com/labaudit.htm.

About EH&E
EH&E has provided an extensive range of environmental and engineering consulting services for over 18 years. Our team consists of more than 60 experts with an outstanding record of providing business-focused solutions for issues that affect the built environment. EH&E has a depth of knowledge and credibility unmatched in the industry and our wealth of readily-accessible information has become a powerful resource for our clients. Our new series of eH&E web compliance solutions is just the latest example of our continuing effort to provide this knowledge and information to a wider range of clients.

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[EH&E] [college] [university] [laboratory] [EH&S] [laboratory audit] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

Foxboro Coriolis flowmeter provides ‘breakthrough’ in filling system measurement and performance

FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, USA – September 22,2006 – The Foxboro Measurements & Instruments Division (www.foxboro.com/instrumentation) of Invensys is providing advanced digital Coriolis technology to assist Mount Packaging Systems, Ltd., (www.mountpackaging.com/) in developing and implementing automatic short-batch, rapid filling systems. Headquartered in Dewbury, U.K., Mount Packaging specializes in providing technical solutions for difficult filling applications with liquids and pastes including paints, chemicals, lube oils, adhesives, and food products.

Based on initial testing, as well as full scale production at a customer beta site, Mount Packaging now has a new technology from Invensys; the Foxboro CFT50, which it considers to be a “breakthrough” in Coriolis flow measurement for automated filling applications. Mount Packaging is now achieving consistent, reliable results well within its quality target range and offers systems with quick dynamic response to consistently handle small batches, and eliminate product waste.

Over the years, Mount Packaging has implemented a variety of methods to help its customers achieve consistent, accurate measurement of the materials that its machines dispense. While customers have been largely satisfied with the traditional measurement methods, company officials were aware of certain limitations of each approach and had identified measurement technology as an improvement area in their efforts to provide customers with continuous quality enhancements.

One of the conventional measurement methods is volumetric piston filling, which is quite accurate, but has a limited turndown ratio of approximately 20:1 and poor repeatability at the bottom end of the range. Trimming the fill size must also be done mechanically.

Weigh-scales, another conventional measurement technology, are limited in a different way. They require trickle or ramping flow at the end of each fill, which is time consuming and causes spillages that can lead to erroneous readings.

To overcome these limitations, Mount Packaging officials experimented with conventional Coriolis flow measurement technology, but had mixed results. “We tried traditional Coriolis meters, but they did not deliver the repeatability we require,” said Kevin Beaumont, managing director of Mount Packaging.

While conventional Coriolis meters were very accurate with steady flow in longer batches, they lacked responsivity to rapid flow changes during the course of short batches. Moreover, when used with viscous fluids like paint, even small levels of gas in liquid (two-phase flow) skewed Coriolis readings.

Beaumount found that Foxboro, in collaboration with Oxford University, has improved Corliolis mass flow measurement using digital technology to keep the flowtubes in constant motion; so there is no loss of flow measurement during dynamic flow conditions. Using this approach, the Foxboro CFT50 digital Coriolis mass flowmeter, re-tunes the drive frequency of the Coriolis flowtubes every half cycle. Built-in algorithms also compensate digitally for inaccuracies resulting from two-phase flow.

Mount Packaging initially tested the CFT50 transmitter on a 1-1/2-inch (40 mm) flowtube with a nominal flow capacity of 900 lbs/min (6.8 kg/s). In this application, the CFT50 produces pulses that correlate with product weight, for example three pulses per ml of flowing liquid – and transmits these pulses to a PLC, which counts them and is programmed to actuate the shut-off valve when the target fill weight is achieved.

Mount Packaging is now getting consistent results well within target. The trial system provided precise performance with consecutive runs on filling 1.1 pounds (0.5 kg) batches, in short runs of 0.5 sec., which are repeatable to ± 0.004 lbs (2 g).

And the consistency proved itself in full scale production as well. One of their customers achieved repeatability well below 0.1 percent during 64 consecutive batch runs, at 4.2 sec, to fill 2.64 gallon (10 liter) cans, with a target weight of 30.95 lbs. (14.04kg). “This technology has huge potential and we're looking forward to taking it out to all our customers,” says Beaumont.

For more information on the CFT50 mass flow transmitter or other advanced Foxboro measurement and instrument devices, readers can contact their local Invensys/Foxboro representative, visit the Foxboro Measurements and Instruments Web site at www.foxboro.com/instrumentation or call 866-746-6477 (508-549-2424 outside the U.S. and Canada). The CFT50 mass flow transmitter can also be purchased on-line at http://www.iastore.com/.

About Foxboro M&I Division
The Foxboro Measurements and Instruments (M&I) Division has a long-standing reputation for providing world-class measurement solutions. With a legacy of accurate, reliable and innovative products, the group prides itself on working with customers to achieve industry-best total solutions for optimum measurement or analysis of temperature, pressure, flow, and electrochemical variables.

About Invensys
Invensys is the world leader in industrial asset performance management. In addition to its rapidly expanding Global Solutions and Performance Management services groups, Invensys’ automation businesses includes industry-leading brands such as Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, Wonderware, and Avantis, whose products are installed in more than 100,000 plants across the world. These range from small hybrid and batch plants to the world’s largest upstream projects, refineries, gas plants, petrochemicals plants, power plants, and pulp and paper mills.

For more information on Invensys’ process automation businesses, please visit www.invensys.com/ps. For more information on Invensys’ recently-announced groundbreaking InFusion enterprise control system, please visit www.infusionecs.com/. The Invensys Group (www.invensys.com/) is headquartered in London and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, with approximately 30,000 employees working in 60 countries.

# # #

Invensys, SimSci-Esscor, DYNSIM, SIM4ME, Foxboro, Triconex, Wonderware, Avantis and InFusion are trademarks of Invensys plc, its subsidiaries, or affiliates. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

[Foxboro Measurements & Instruments] [Coriolis] [Invensys] [distributed control system] [distributed control systems] [process control system] [enterprise asset management] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

Home Decorating Pitfalls to Avoid – Design Tips from Furniture.com

WALTHAM, MASS. – September 21, 2006 – When beginning a home decorating project, it’s helpful to know the most common interior design pitfalls. Avoiding these will improve your design, save time and money, and help make your experience more enjoyable.

Furniture.com lead design consultant Davis Remignanti offers these approaches to avoid when tackling interior design projects:

• The Big Bang. Don’t expect to go from blank canvas to finished interior in one fell swoop. Interesting interiors are created in layers, over time. Don’t try to get it all at once.
  
• Wing and a Prayer. Don’t start without a plan. Survey your resources - your current furnishings, your work schedule, your budget. Then make a list of needs, wants, and things you'd love "down the road." Reconcile accordingly.
  
• Ebenezer Scrooge. There are times when it’s better to splurge than to economize. Shop carefully for the right balance of price and quality. A “bargain” sofa loses its charm when its seams split and arms start to wobble.
  
• My Way or the Highway. Be open-minded about new ideas - sometimes a fresh approach is best. Try re-arranging your furniture to jump start a design update. Use Furniture.com's free online Room Planner to help lay out your room.
  
  
• Making Do. That “perfectly good” hand-me-down dining room probably isn’t winning any points for good design. Just because someone offers you something, you don’t have to accept. Second-hand can be wonderful and inspiring, as long it fits with your “look.”
  
• More is Better. Mix, as well as match, your furnishings to add variety and increase your design options. Use accent pieces to introduce new colors, textures and shapes to prevent your room from becoming monotonous.
  
• Doubting Thomas. Don’t trust your own judgment? Do research, clip photos from magazines, watch design shows, and ask your friends. Start small, build your confidence and learn from mistakes. The best designers did the same.

Furniture.com (http://www.furniture.com) offers consumers the best of Internet shopping by merging the convenience, accessibility and ease of online shopping with the proven infrastructure of North America’s largest furniture retailers. At Furniture.com, consumers quickly browse, compare and buy brand-name furniture and accessories, find decorating advice and product information, and utilize interactive design tools. To complete the experience, The RoomStore, Levitz, and Harlem Furniture in the U.S., and Leon’s Furniture in Canada, provide customer service and fast, in-home delivery.

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[Furniture.com] [furniture] [home furnishings] [decorating] [home] [design] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

Foxboro pH sensors cut costs and optimize operations in corrosive petrochemical application

FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, USA – September 20, 2006 – The Foxboro Measurements & Instruments Division of Invensys (www.foxboro.com/instrumentation) is providing robust, high-temperature pH sensing technology to aid Eastman Chemical Company in reducing costs and optimizing operations in its gas scrubbing process. Headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, U.S.A., Eastman Chemical Company is a global manufacturer and marketer of more than 1,200 chemicals, fibers, and plastics and is the world’s largest supplier of polyester plastics for packaging.

In harsh applications such as chemical and petrochemical processing, one plant-floor device that can represent significant costs is the sensor. Often exposed to or immersed in highly corrosive solutions and subject to extremely high operating temperatures, sensors are the critical front-line probes that gather and deliver key data; support safe, reliable operation; provide regulatory monitoring and validation; and ensure quality control, process efficiency and optimization.

Eastman Chemical Company turned to Invensys — specifically to its Foxboro® line of DolpHin™ series pH sensors — to provide these solutions for a gas scrubber at the company’s Longview, Texas, manufacturing complex. Eastman’s Texas operations manufacture and ship 8.8 million pounds per day of chemicals and plastics to customers worldwide. At Longview, its gas scrubber uses water and caustic in a 20% sodium hydroxide solution to remove hydrochloric acid from flue gas before venting.

To meet company standards and federal environmental requirements, acid gas content in vented emissions must remain within acceptable levels. Reliable measurement of pH level in the caustic solution is critical for effective scrubbing, regulatory compliance — and reduced caustic chemical consumption costs. To monitor pH levels, the scrubber uses a two-probe, redundant system. Scrubber conditions present significant challenges, including exposure to liquid caustic at a nominal operating temperature of 185° F and pH of up to 10.5. Existing pH sensors thus had to be replaced frequently — often within 2 weeks of installation, and even as frequently as 3 times per week.

Because the sensors could not withstand the environment, readings were not accurate, so operators had to add caustic. This drove up use of this costly material and gave higher pH values. In turn, higher pH etched the sensor glass, leading to inaccurate performance and faster failure. Results: unacceptably high manufacturing and maintenance costs.

Determining that other options were inadequate, Eastman Chemical engineers tested new Foxboro brand DolpHin high-temperature pH sensors from Invensys. They proved to be the ideal solution. These sensors are designed specifically for challenging process applications that span the entire pH scale, exhibit strong chemical concentrations and high solids, run at high temperatures, and cycle from high to low temperatures. Their unique, patented pH glass formulation provides superior measurement stability and accuracy, plus longer service life in high-temperature applications up to 250° F (121° C). The pH glass also increases response speed up to five times and provides longer duty cycles than conventional sensors. A DolpHin sensor’s innovative reference electrode construction includes an ion barrier to protect and stabilize the reference potential in harsh conditions. Its electrodes are packaged in a rugged mechanical housing that facilitates installation, removal, cleaning and calibration, reducing maintenance time and costs.

Eastman reports most impressive results. The DolpHin sensors’ pH glass formulation increased sensor life to 6 months — a dramatic improvement over previous products that operated properly for 3-4 weeks at best. This longevity reduced equipment and related maintenance/replacement costs eightfold! “With the Foxboro DolpHin pH sensors, Eastman’s equipment and maintenance costs were eight times lower than with the previous sensors, and the efficiency of our scrubber operation was optimized,“ noted Wyatt Partney, senior control systems technician at Longview. “In fact, the DolpHin sensors were so successful in solving the problems of high costs, reliable pH measurement, and process optimization for our scrubbers that we implemented them in a number of other demanding applications as well,” he added.

Besides significantly reducing equipment and related maintenance costs, the DolpHin sensors provide more accurate pH readings, ensuring that operators can use online pH measurements to optimize efficiency of scrubber operations. And since inaccurate pH level measurement no longer causes operators to continuously add sodium hydroxide scrubbing solution, DolpHin sensors have slashed caustic use levels by a remarkable 50%.

For more information on the DolpHin series pH sensors or other advanced Foxboro measurement and