Instrumentation Monthly Test | Measurement | Control
Visitors to the Sensors & Instrumentation exhibition had the opportunity to see the latest products from market-leading exhibitors. The show, sponsored by industry giant Mouser, returned to the NEC, Birmingham on 25 and 26 September and was co-located with What’s New In Electronics Live. Features included a lively and informative seminar programme, the Engineering Workshop and the Flow Level Control Zone (FLC Zone).
Show visitors could handle products, try out equipment, pick up literature and speak to experts. There was a wide range of products to see. For example, the ES-FLOW volumetric liquid flow meter was on display at the Bronkhorst stand. The ES-FLOW operates on an innovative measuring principle, using ultrasound in a very small, straight tube.
Huba Control’s pressure measurement technology was on display at stand B1. With its clear focus on pressure measurement technology, Huba Control is able to develop innovative products across a very broad spectrum, covering an extensive range of applications for the optimisation of machines, systems and processes.
The innovative DM650 series was showcased on the Shawcity stand. Being battery-powered, these industry-leading displays offer ultimate flexibility in the field.
A demonstration of a wireless telemetry sensor system featured on the Mantracourt stand. The system has been used to provide motorsport teams with a tool that allows quick and repeatable car set-up preparation by combining all tests required.
Rob Weemes, business development manager and Jeff Gurr, e-mech specialist, at Charcroft Electronics noted that there had been a “steady flow of high-quality visitors” resulting in “a good number of leads”, with many engineers visiting their stand to source products for specific applications.
This was echoed by Noémie Fechete, office manager at TopHex Ltd, who commented at the close of the Show: “Today was very good; you could have a thousand people come in and have very little engagement, but we’ve had real quality visitors at our stand.”
Exloc Instruments’ managing director Andrew Tither noted: “The show has been great value for money, and we’ve gained a good chunk of really useful leads.”
The Rohde & Schwarz RTM3004 touch screen oscilloscope was one of many products on display at the Thurlby Thandar instrument distribution (TTid) stand. TTid is one of the largest distributors of test and measurement equipment in the UK.
Over at the SIKA stand, market leading patented temperature calibrators were demonstrated with the company’s latest product launch of the TP Premium Calibrators with integrated measuring instrument and air shield insert.
A selection of precision, push‐pull circular connectors and cable assembly solutions were on show at the Fischer Connectors stand.
Data acquisition software and hardware was featured on the DEWESoft stand. The key thing about DEWESoft products is flexibility – companies can change the measurements they make with ease. Additionally, DEWESoft includes software in the price of hardware, making its products a very attractive proposition.
Churchill Controls’ brand new Mega_Bridge was on display at the exhibition. It adds flexible and fully featured internet protocol (IP) connectivity to the well-established Mega_Link family. Mega_Link is widely used in various industry sectors to pass two-way instrumentation, measurement and control data between sensors, equipment and industrial plant.
Machine vision products were highlighted at the Scorpion Vision stand. HIK Vision, distributed by Scorpion Vision, offers one of the most comprehensive ranges of machine vision cameras and optical parts at very competitive prices.
Another distributor at the show was Southern Temperature Sensors. The company represents UTECCO, TEWA and SKS Sensors (now LAPP Automation) in the UK, with temperature sensors that cover a variety of different applications ranging from instrumentation through to hazardous environments.
Pressure and temperature equipment featured on the Chamois Metrology stand. The company also showcased its calibration lab facilities.
Rheintacho displayed a selection of products from its range of multi-functional rotational speed sensors, rotational speed sensors and stroboscopes. The company was the sponsor of the popular F1 simulator which was positioned directly opposite its stand.
This is just a small selection of the products on show from some of the market leading companies who were exhibiting.
FLC ZONE
The Flow Level Control Zone (FLC Zone) featured industry leading companies. Bell Flow Systems, iCenta Controls, Premier Control Technologies, Sierra Instruments and Trafag displayed a variety of top technology.
Bell Flow Systems showcased its new TFX-500w transit time ultrasonic flow meter. The transducers are clamped on the outside of the pipework so installation is quick and easy without the need to cut into the pipework.
Sierra Instruments displayed its range of industrial Thermal mass, Vortex and Ultrasonic flow meters. This included the 640i Insertion thermal mass flow meter.
SEMINARS
The seminars kicked off on Tuesday with an interesting talk from Henry Langston of Ocean Optics. Langston explained how spectroscopy technologies, a form of optical sensing, can improve manufacturing outcomes. In the afternoon, a seminar on the importance of indepedent instrument evaluation from Tom Nobes at Sellafield was followed by a talk from Chris Haress, Microsoft, and Paul Haimes, PTC, on the opportunities presented by HoloLens.
On the Wednesday, Neil Hamilton opened the seminar sessions by providing real world insight into what is driving companies to connect their products to IoT platforms. This was followed by a talk from Steve Leech, Siemens GB&I, on the challenged and opportunities that data can bring to businesses.
Andrew Peaty, DASA, and Alison Mitchell, Sensor City, separately discussed some of the funding opportunities available to companies ranging from micro businesses to primes.
Other seminars included an engaging talk from Mathew Bates, Design Partners on designed successful connected product experiences. While Paul Worthington, Analog Devices, talked about the noise emissions in the power architecture of control and measurement systems.
ENGINEERING WORKSHOP
Over at the Engineering Workshop, new to Sensors & Instrumentation for 2018, visitors could get hands on experience of different technologies.
Tuesday’s workshops kicked off with John Reynolds, FLIR Systems, giving practical demonstrations of the use of thermal imaging for engineering applications. Later on Tuesday morning Third Dimension’s Aidan Hill and Stuart Randall provided an overview of non-contact laser measurement in modern metrology. Using handheld laser measurement devices, the speakers demonstrated the advantages of this technology.
Things began to heat up when Martin Peacock of Zimmer & Peacock closed the Tuesday workshop sessions. Peacock used chilli sauce in a demonstration of an innovation sensing system that can be adapted for different applications for use across many different industries.
On Wednesday, Trescal’s Jason Edwards provided an overview of turn-key metrology engineering and non-contact measurement with a laser tracker. This was followed by a workshop from Mettler Toledo’s Keith Warren on gas analysis using tunable diode laser technology. In the final workshop, Craig Storey, Cirrus Environmental, demonstrated noise measurement equipment. Visitors learned more about environmental noise monitoring and the challenges associated with undertaking noise measurement.
10 YEARS OF SENSORS & INSTRUMENTATION
Sensors & Instrumentation celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2019. The show will return to the NEC Birmingham on 1 and 2 October 2019, with event director Louise Pudney commenting: “There are a number of exciting changes in store to celebrate a decade of Sensors & Instrumentation and I look forward to growing this event alongside a thriving industry.” More details of the 2019 event will be announced soon on the Sensors & Instrumentation website: www.sensorsandinstrumentation.co.uk.
