Product Round-Up: Instrumentation & control

Food Processing magazine

Probes, monitors, sensors, gauges--they're lined up for readers' review and inspection

Distributed starter for washdowns
Food and beverage processors and system-level users who spend excessive amounts of time configuring and installing motor starters into existing applications now have a cost-effective, time-saving solution. The Allen-Bradley ArmorStart distributed starter is a pre-engineered, pre-configured combination motor starter that requires no additional enclosures and features a modular, plug-and-play design for quick and reliable installation. Since a traditional enclosure is not required, the starter can be quickly and easily mounted on the machine near the motor. The integrated, machine-mount design uses fewer cables, which simplifies wiring, minimizes panel space requirements, and allows faster and more accurate connections.

Rockwell Automation; Bloomington, Minn.
800-223-5354 x1630; www.rockwellautomation.com

Vortex for mass measurement
Two new instruments, the Prowirl 72 and Prowirl 73, join the Proline family of vortex flow measurement devices. They measure steam, gas and liquid, even in hazardous areas. They provide reliable and safe mass measurements using patented Differential Switched Capacitor sensor technology. The units are immune to vibrations up to 1g, extreme temperature shocks, clogging, water hammer and high pressures. The 73 model introduces direct mass measurement without the need of an additional thermometer and flow computer.

Endress+Hauser; Greenwood, Ind.
317-535-7138; www.us.endress.com

Moisture analyzer finds the best method
The HR83 halogen moisture analyzer is particularly useful for method development and regulation compliance. It combines a precision-regulated halogen radiator with the company’s proven weighing technology. The unit allows the user to specify the reference point, then automatically performs repeat sample runs until the optimum method is found to give the correct results for a given sample. It includes a GLP/GMP-compliant reporting mechanism.

Mettler Toledo; Columbus, Ohio
614-438-4511; www.mt.com

pH is sensor is unbreakable
The Durafet III pH electrode is a non-glass and unbreakable ISFET-based pH sensor. Featuring a new Vario Pin watertight connection, it provides fast, accurate and dependable pH measurements. A sanitary version is available to meet 3A standards for food and dairy, pharmaceutical and biotech applications. The new IP68-rated Vario Pin connector assures a watertight cable connection, enabling easy and reliable electrode replacement without twisting cables. The probe eliminates problems commonly associated with conventional glass electrodes such as: frequent probe replacement due to breakage; slow response due to probe aging; frequent calibration; and limited temperature and pH range.

Honeywell Industrial Measurement and Control; Fort Washington, Pa.
215-641-3798; www.honeywell.com

Level in vivid color
LevelStar is a bi-color LED indicator for the Magnicator II line of magnetic level gauges. It uses a patent-pending design and technology to deliver clear-across-the-plant visibility in both day and night conditions. The vivid level lights provide a long field of view and have a continuous service life that exceeds 80,000 hours. There are no mechanical or moving parts and the units are field-upgradeable.

Jerguson; Strongsville, Ohio
440-572-1500; www.clark-reliance.com

Reading temps by satellite
The company has developed a real-time data management system that links its RFID-based Tempasure temperature monitoring system with GPRS and satellite technology, allowing processors, transportation companies and retailers to track perishable and temperature-sensitive products and monitor conditions anywhere in the world, in real time, through an internet portal.

Syscan International; Montreal
613-762-4262; www.syscan.com

FM approved for level
The FM-approved LS 5000 Series level switches for liquid applications, including those in food processing, have a rugged tuning fork measuring system. It is unaffected by product variations in density, conductivity, dielectric constant or viscosity and is insensitive to foam, air bubbles, turbulence, pressure and temperature variations, strong external vibrations or varying products. Other features include simple set-up without adjustment and integrated fault monitoring. Certain models have surfaces especially polished for applications in hygienic industries.