Instrumentation Monthly Test | Measurement | Control
When it opens on 12th February at FIVE, Farnborough, the two-day Southern Manufacturing & Electronics event promises a wide range of exhibitors, demonstrations, and a free seminar programme
The south’s longest-running and largest industrial technology show – Southern Manufacturing & Electronics – is returning to FIVE Farnborough on February 12th and 13th for its 18th edition, promising more exhibitors and more to see than ever before.
The event started as a modest gathering of a hundred or so engineering firms, yet 2013 witnessed some 700 exhibitors and more than 8,500 visitors over the two days. 2014 promises to be larger still, with around 800 companies taking part and around 10,000 visitors expected.
As befits a show based next to Farnborough Airport, it is now a truly international event, with exhibitors travelling from across the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy and even Japan and India to take part.
This year all aspects of manufacturing, electronics and precision engineering will be featured in the one venue, with virtually every kind of industrial activity represented. There will be a large number of well-known international firms there, but a high percentage of specialist SMEs will also be exhibiting.
The event will also host various demonstration areas and its free seminar programme will take place over both days of the event. Covering both business and technical topics, the programme is delivered by acknowledged experts in their fields and designed to be of practical benefit to anyone involved in manufacturing and industry. Demand for places is always high and pre-registration is strongly advised. Simply visit www.industrysouth.co.uk for full details and to secure your seat.
From measuring systems to enclosures…
As normal, there will be a number of companies displaying instrumentation products and equipment. Examples include Bowers Group, which will be showing a range of products. Its sub-micron capable Ultima range, for example, can accurately gauge bore sizes from 1.0 to 300mm, with a choice of measuring resolutions of up to 0.0001mm.
MicroGauge, meanwhile, is a 2-point bore gauging system designed for the accurate measurement of bores from 1.0 to 6.0mm and featuring an integral digital readout. Also on display will be the robust and easy to use SmartPlug measuring plug gauges, which are designed to provide great speed of use, accuracy and repeatability, even in harsh industrial environments. Bowers will also be demonstrating a wide range of recently launched digital gauges from Swiss manufacturer, Sylvac. These include the S Dial Work Nano Bluetooth Smart digital indicators with advanced wireless communication capability; the new S Dial Work digital/analogue indicator; the Sylvac S-Cal PRO micron caliper and the Trimos VL height gauge.
Vision Engineering will be showcasing Xpress, its new ultra-fast video measuring system, within the field of view (FOV).
According to the company, Xpress makes an easy job of 2D measurement of flat parts, with its ‘place & press’ functionality. There is no need to focus – the components can be placed anywhere in the field of view. Users then simply press ‘Run’. The system is therefore suitable for measuring flat components such as washers, gaskets, O-rings, aluminium extrusions and other pressed metal parts.
Enclosures will be the focus of Takachi’s stand at Southern Manufacturing. There are 22 versions in the AWP IP67 heatsink, aluminium enclosure range; and to provide EMI shielding the inside of the end panels are unpainted.
The two end panels are die-cast aluminium in silver, black or painted and the body frame is an aluminium extrusion which is either silver or black/anodised. A silicone protector is available in black, navy or yellow and the two shielded gasket conductive silicone pieces are available in black.
The enclosures are capable of operating in temperatures ranging from -40 to +105°C and can be PCB or chassis mounted.
Micro-Epsilon will be using Southern Manufacturing to display its full range of sensor technologies.
Products on show will include the new scan CONTROL 2600/2900, part of the company’s range of 2D/3D laser profile scanners. Compact and lightweight, this is suitable for a wide range of measurement tasks in highly automated production environments, and can be mounted on robot arms or on plant and machines.
Other highlights include the eddyNCDT 3100 displacement sensor, the first standard, catalogue sensor, to benefit from Micro-Epsilon’s Embedded Coil Technology (ECT). ECT is a technological breakthrough in eddy current sensor design and manufacture, enabling ultra-compact designs to be produced. It provides almost unlimited scope in terms of the external design and geometrical shape of the sensor, which can be adapted to suit virtually any application, claims the company. The sensors also offer extreme mechanical robustness and higher temperature stability.
Micro-Epsilon will also showcase its latest thermoIMAGER TIM 450 inline infrared thermal imagers; and the thermometer CSmicro, a miniature sensor with a diameter of just 14mm and with the electronics unit now fully integrated in the cable. The sensor now includes an LED for self-diagnostic functions or for displaying the current measured temperature.
To encourage visitors to interact with the products, the stand will stage a number of ‘live’ working demonstrations, where sensors will be set up to capture measurements from a variety of real-world applications. Visitors will also be invited to take part in Micro-Epsilon’s sensor challenge – Measure your Strength – using the high precision capa6200 capacitive displacement sensor series. The winner will receive an iPod mini.
Monitran will be showcasing its recently announced intrinsically safe sensors. Certified to ATEX and IECEx Group II, the MTN/2285IT and MTN/2285IT series of sensors are all sealed to IP67, are available with integral cables or four-pin connectors, and are said to be ideal for measuring vibration levels and temperature in areas where explosive gases, liquids or dust may be present.
The company will also be displaying its MTN/5000 microcontroller-based monitoring system. Features include an extruded aluminium enclosure, and a 3.5in TFT touch screen with a high-performance ARM Cortex-M3 processor. This has an easy-to-navigate menu.
Visitors will also be able to find out about Monitran’s turnkey engineering services during the event.
Bronkhorst will be displaying a wide range of instruments, including the EL Flow range of high accuracy thermal gas mass flow meters and controllers; Flow surface mount solutions – compact solutions for gas; and the EL Press pressure meters and controllers for liquids and gas. Also on show will be the Liqui View liquid meters and controllers; Maxi Coriolis: calibration equipment; and Mani Flow OEM solutions.
The company will also be carrying out demonstrations on its stand. These include a Coriolis and Pump demonstration; Liquid control demonstration; M&W Instruments Gas Flow Control demonstration; and a demonstration on Mass View – budget thermal flow meters and controllers for gases.
In addition, visitors will be able to discuss applications of liquid and gas control with experienced staff members.
KDPES will be displaying products such as the AS-6600, a battery operated, portable instrument designed to simulate the electrical output signals generated by many commonly available vibration transducers.
This provides output signals which will mimic those of either voltage mode accelerometers (generic IEPE types) or charge mode accelerometers (both single ended and differential configurations). Output is provided in mV or picocoulomb signals which can be scaled in acceleration, velocity or displacement units as required.
The instruments also provide a basic FFT function to identify fundamental frequency, and its order of magnitude, within a complex vibration or similar waveform.
On Testo’s stand will be a thermal imaging camera which features a SuperResolution option which effectively doubles the geometric resolution of thermal images. This feature provides four times more pixels on each image, states the company.
Testo, however, will also be showing a range of data loggers and wireless monitors. The 13 compact data loggers are suitable for monitoring temperature, humidity and absolute pressure in industrial, production and maintenance processes.
Furthermore, wireless temperature and humidity monitoring is possible during transit with the Saveris Mobile data monitoring system, which is said to deliver savings in time and costs. Visit the company at the show to find out more.
PPM Power will be unveiling two new products for engineers in design, debug, research and development at the show. The first is the Typhoon HIL602 which emulates complex power electronics systems. The second is the LeCroy 12bit oscilloscopes which operate up to 1GHz. Typical applications include power electronics, automotive bus analysis and pulsed power.
From inspection systems to test equipment…
Another exhibitor this year is Göpel, which will be displaying electric and optical test and inspection systems for electronic components, PCBs and vehicle control units.
Visitors will also be able to find out about the JTAG/boundary scan software and hardware, plus optical inspection of PCBs in the OptiCon family.
The company also supplies functional test and simulation systems used in the automotive and supplier industry. Visit Göpel at the show to find out more.
Bryant Unlimited, a supplier of connectors, cable, test and audio/video equipment, is using this year’s Southern Manufacturing to introduce ‘eyepower’, the stable, high resolution power monitoring MDU (mains distribution unit) for broadcast and IT racks.
This offers 14 IEC outlets; 20A powerCON single or dual inlet auto-changeover from main to back-up power, in event of power failure and comprehensive control and monitoring of inlet and outlet parameters over multidrop serial or optional Ethernet interface with PoE (Power over Ethernet). There is also one-wire sensors for environmental monitoring, all in a 1U rack mount unit.
On the Cupio/Yestech stand will be the latest Intepro dynamic load from Cupio, the ABI functional and in-circuit tester, and the Yestech optical inspection systems.
The Interpro System EL97 extends test system capabilities to include power supplies. This combines six modes of operation and delivers dual range, 16bit resolution measurements of voltage, current and power, with the convenience of a single connection. The product can be integrated into automated test systems or used as a standalone instrument.
High current, power recycling DC systems will be exhibited by ET Power Systems (ETPS). The LAB-GSS-HC, for example, is available as 20 or 32kW modules and can operate as either a DC source or electronic load. When sinking energy from the unit under test, the module automatically inverts the DC to AC and synchronises this output to the grid. According to the company, this is versatile enough to allow performance and qualification testing of virtually any power consuming or power feeding device.
When load testing, excess electrical energy from the unit under test is regenerated back to the grid, and additional functionality is provided by automated test software, an integral eight-channel recording scope, adjustable internal resistance and an embedded function generator which allows complex DC waveforms to be created.
Also exhibiting this year is Teslatest Systems, the official UK distributor for the Binder ranges of environmental test chambers, temperature chambers, climatic and humidity chambers and heating and drying ovens.
Visitors will be able to learn about the Binder MKFT 720 climatic chamber which offers a temperature range of -70°C to +180°C with a humidity range of 10% to 98%RH. This measures 1200 x 600 x 1020mm and completes the MKFT range, with three sizes of climatic test chambers now available.
The other new models available will be the water cooled Binder MKF range of chambers which offer increased cooling capacity, high heat dissipation, rapid cooling down time, and low energy consumption.
Visitors will also be able to find out about the largest MKF 720 Humidity test chamber.
The Peak Group will be featuring its recent partnership with Simplicity AI to provide integrated test solutions based on National Instruments’ industry-standard platforms, along with Peak’s test hardware and fixturing technology and Simplicity AI’s test and measurement software.
Both companies are NI Alliance Partners. Peak Production Equipment provides automated test and measurement, while Simplicity AI provides technical products and engineering services for test, measurement, control and automation, with a particular emphasis on developing automatic test and measurement software built around industrystandard platforms.
Peak will also be featuring its extensive range of test probes and related interfacing hardware, including the recently introduced ENGMATEC range of test plugs for industry-standard interfaces including Western-Min, USB, TAE and HDMI.
Register to attend
The companies above are just a small example of those exhibiting at Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2014.
Entry to the show is free to business visitors, and the venue offers free on-site car parking and straightforward access by road or public transport. To register online for event tickets, visit the website or call the number below.
T: 01784 880 890
