Mechanical Technology February 2015

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38 Mechanical Technology — February 2015
⎪ Products and services ⎪
Booyco Electronics has unveiled its new
electronic checklist system, a comple-
mentary product to its biometric control
system. “This particular combination of
products will ensure that only licensed
users with a valid red ticket can operate
any specific vehicle or range of vehicles,
while also confirming the vehicle is
Intelligent ultrasonic gas leak detector
MSA has announced the introduction of
the new Gassonic Observer-i ultrasonic gas
leak detector with artificial neural network
(ANN) intelligence and real-time broadband
acoustic sound processing technology, set-
ting a new global industry standard in highly
reliable ultrasonic gas leak detection with
unprecedented suppression of false alarms.
With the incorporation of ANN technol-
ogy, the breakthrough Gassonic Observer-i
detector makes it possible to fully analyse
the sound spectrum above 12 kHz. The ANN
algorithm has been ‘trained’ to automati-
cally distinguish between unwanted acoustic
background noise and dangerous gas leaks.
MSA Africa fixed gas and flame detection
product manager Robbie Taitz explains that
this advanced ANN technology provides a
broader leak detection range, which also in-
creases sensitivity to smaller gas leaks with-
out interference from unwanted background
noise. “It enables the Gassonic Observer-i
ultrasonic to be installed without time con-
suming training sequences, and provides
industry-leading detection distance, with
unprecedented suppression of false alarms.”
Designed to support large plant distrib-
uted control systems, the detector features
HART and Modbus communication compat-
ibility, along with a 4-20 mA output, provid-
ing complete status and control capability. It
features ATEX, IECEx, FM, and CSA approv-
als and is SIL 3 suitable.
German instrumentation specialist
Burster, has introduced the new eco-
nomically priced ForceMaster 9110 that
can monitor both complex and simple
pressing operations for manual presses in
manufacturing and assembly processes.
The device monitors force/time or
force/displacement/time and is particu-
larly suited for application in the chemi-
cal, pharmaceutical and food industries;
production, manufacturing and assembly
processes; and medical engineering.
Smart auto-configuration, combined
with automatic sensor recognition, means
that even trainees can learn to use the
ForceMaster 9110 within a few minutes.
‘Card & Go’, the SmartCard management
The Gassonic Observer-i ultrasonic gas leak
detector with artificial neural network (ANN)
intelligence sets new standards for ultrasonic
gas leak detection.
Force monitoring for manual presses
system, provides tamper-proof operation
with access rights for handling bad parts
as well as administration of all sorts of
different press tools using tool data. In
case of recurrent parameters for tested
items, this data can be quickly and reli-
ably loaded into the system. Setup and
configuration is reduced to a minimum,
therefore preventing possible errors when
connecting the sensors.
The integrated visual and acoustic
signals of the devices indicate whether
the produced parts are OK or not-OK.
The adjustable tone and volume control
allows differentiation between several
ForceMaster machines in the produc-
tion facilities and also provides support,
which is essential during monotonous
manufacturing processes. Additionally,
integrated stroke and unit counters
means that external counters are un-
necessary. Simple control tasks can be
optionally implemented using a special
sequential control function. This can
be used for additional tasks such as
pneumatic clamping and release of
work pieces, blowing out pressed parts,
blocking and return stroke of the press
or control of OK/not-OK sorting diverters.
The option of saving measurement
curves on a USB flash drive provides
the user with an extremely cost-effective
method of storing curves at the machine
as well as archiving for later evaluation on
an office computer. The parameterisation
and evaluation software uses FMControl,
which is included in the system, and can
be used to read out the measured values
stored in the ForceMaster 9110 and to
display and configure the active evalua-
tion elements.
The Burster ForceMaster 9110 can monitor complex and
simple pressing operations for manual presses.
Electronic checklist system for mine operators
checked before being operated in a
mine environment,” says Anton Lourens,
managing director of Booyco Electronics.
The electronic checklist system com-
prises a high resolution human machine
interface (HMI) touch screen with an IP
65 rating. It is completely programmable
to the requirements of each vehicle type,
mine or shaft’s code of practice (COP),
and features multiple inputs and outputs.
The unit can also be utilised on explosive
boxes for stock control, diesel pumps to
control who filled which vehicle with
what quantity of diesel, as well as key
control and lock out applications for criti-
cal areas or projects.
The introduction of images in con-
junction with each ‘check’ item renders
it operator friendly. Each ‘check’ is con-
firmed with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and the
checklist is randomised to ensure that the
operator completes it in its entirety. All
data is recorded on each individual unit
and can be downloaded by either wireless
or by plugging an Ethernet cable directly
into the unit.
The new electronic checklist system from
Booyco Electronics complements its biomet-
ric control system.