Yokogawa receives control system order for thermal power-plant in Vietnam

Yokogawa Engineering Asia Pte Ltd reports that it has received an order from Marubeni Corp to supply control systems for a thermal power-plant (two 300-MW units) that is being built by Vietnam Electricity (EVN) in the Nghi Son district of Thanh Hoa Province, in the northern part of the country.

Yokogawa will provide the control systems for the plant’s boilers, turbines and auxiliary facilities. This is the firm’s third order for control systems for a thermal power plant in Vietnam, following the Pha Lai thermal power-plant No. 2 (1998) and the Vung Ang plant No. 1 (2009).

Nghi Son 1 will be one of the largest power plants in the district - fast-growing industrial region. This construction project is being financed by official development assistance (ODA) loans backed by the Japanese Government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). In March 2007, an agreement was signed for the disbursement of the first loan worth YEN 20 943 billion. The plant is scheduled to start operating during 2014 and will supply electricity to the Nghi Son industrial complex and to the northern part of Vietnam.

Yokogawa is providing Centum VP series integrated production control units and Exaquantum plant information management systems, as well as carrying out the engineering work and installation, and commissioning these systems.

The company says that it was able to win this order by demonstrating excellent engineering capability and having an extensive track record in the Vietnamese power plant sector (including the Pha Lai and Vung Ang projects).

Driven by industry expansion and population growth, demand for electricity is increasing in Vietnam, and the country’s electric power market is expected to continue to expand for the foreseeable future. Plans are in place to construct a second thermal power-plant and an oil refinery in the Nghi Son district. Encouraged by the success in winning this order, Yokogawa aims to expand its control business in Vietnam by targeting the power-plant sector.

Established during 1995 to centrally manage electric power in Vietnam, EVN is a government-run company.

For further information, contact:

Yokogawa Engineering Asia Pte Ltd, 5 Bedok South Road, 469270 Singapore. Tel: +65-6241-9933, Fax: +65-6444-6252, Web: www.yokogawa.com/sg

Yokogawa UK Ltd, Stuart Road, Manor Park, Runcorn, Cheshire WA7 1TR, UK. Tel: +44-1928-597100, Fax: +44-1928-597101, Web: www.yokogawa.com/uk

AcousticEye’s technology enables complete inspection coverage of heat exchanger systems

Dutch company AcousticEye Ltd claims that it has developed a non-destructive testing (NDT) system, based on acoustic technology, that is capable of producing comprehensive, accurate results considerably faster than traditional methods.

The non-destructive inspection technologies start-up company, which is based in Leusden, The Netherlands, says that the easy-to-use system is able to inspect tubes 10-20 times faster than all previously existing methods - making it possible, for the first time ever, for companies to accurately test 100% of their heat exchangers.

Cost, time and expertise constraints have historically made it impractical to test every tube in heat-exchanger systems. Inspectors have had to rely instead on the hope that sampled subsets would accurately represent the functional integrity of heat-exchanger tubes, which are so critical to the safe and reliable operation of heat exchanger systems across industries such as the oil and gas, chemical and power-generating sectors.

“As a service provider for power-plant, tubular heat exchanger systems, we have been impressed with the ease-of-use, speed and accuracy of the AcousticEye technology,” said Earl Proud, Vice President and General Manager, TEi Struthers Services.

“The capabilities of the Dolphin system and accompanying software are powerful, and we have yet to fully explore the scope and versatility of its application.”

Research has shown that the total heat-exchanger fouling cost for highly industrialised countries represents about 0.25% of their gross national product (GNP), says AcousticEye. The Dolphin system eliminates the inherent statistical risk that comes with the incomplete and unsafe approach of inspection by sampling.

“A large portion of the 15-20 million heat exchanger installations worldwide are ageing and require more frequent inspections to ensure structural integrity - a process that historically has been difficult and time consuming to carry out, and at times, not possible at all because of the tube configuration or material,” said Nadav Ofir, a senior consultant at market research company Frost & Sullivan.

“AcousticEye’s technology significantly simplifies the entire heat exchanger inspection procedure, enabling 100% of the tubes to inspected quickly. In addition, its analysis software reduces the dependency on the availability of a technician who specialises in NDT - a limiting factor in the industry. Overall, the AcousticEye system brings a positive message to sectors where small-diameter tubes are used.”

With existing technologies, heat exchanger users are typically limited to sample-testing well under 10% of deployed tubes. AcousticEye’s Dolphin 2000 system, based on acoustic pulse reflectometry (APR), is a non-invasive NDT technology that enables heat-exchanger system tubes of every configuration, size and material - aspects that have inherently limited the effectiveness of traditional invasive methods - to be inspected.

The firm says that the accompanying software produces automated, repeatable results which are consistent, comprehensive, objective and actionable, enabling anyone to conduct and analyse inspection data.

AcousticEye claims that unlike the industry standard of eddy current testing, which requires years of education and a high level of certification, its products can be implemented quickly, following a two-day training course.

“Standard inspection technologies are time-consuming and require highly skilled professionals to physically traverse the entire length of a tube with specialised probes - a process that is slow and prone to breaking down,” explained Tal Pechter, Chief Executive Officer, AcousticEye.

“Our goal is to change the way companies inspect and monitor heat exchanger systems. Using our patented APR technology companies can test a tube in less than 9 seconds. They no longer need to rely on sampling and can now inspect 100% of tubes quickly and confidently.”

Using APR, AcousticEye’s Dolphin 2000 technology emits a series of acoustic waves and then measures the resulting reflections. The company’s patented software assigns a different signature to each type of flaw, enabling the system to identify every defect, and then pinpoint the location and determine the severity of every problem - all without human interaction or interpretation.

AcousticEye was established during 2005 by Tal Pechter and Dr Noam Amir to bring acoustic technology to the NDT industry. The company develops, manufacturers and markets mobile and embedded tube inspection devices. AcousticEye’s patented (pending) technology offers accurate and rapid single-point inspection of inaccessible tubes. Its Dolphin family of devices are unique in their ability to quickly find and accurately locate defects in complex tube systems, regardless of the material from which they are made, without the need for a probe to physically traverse the tubes.

For further information, contact:

AcousticEye International, PO Box 205 3830, AE Leusden, The Netherlands. Tel: +31-20-708-4784, Web: www.acousticeye.com

Rico Ltd, Unit 4 Henry Edwards Industrial Estate, Worcestershire WR15 8LE, UK. Tel: +44-1584-811716, Web: www.ricoservices.co.uk

Fluke chooses Azima DLI’s technology to power vibration tester’s diagnostic capabilities

In the USA, Azima DLI, a provider of predictive machine condition monitoring and analysis services, has announced that its ExpertAlert automated diagnostic system (ADS) technology has been selected by portable electronic test and measurement instruments firm Fluke Corp for use in its latest vibration tester.

The Fluke 810 is a portable, hand-held device that is ideal for troubleshooting industrial plant equipment, such as motors, gearboxes, pumps and compressors. The instrument enables maintenance professionals to quickly identify existing and developing causes of mechanical failures, including bearing problems, misalignment, imbalance and internal looseness.

The Fluke 810 captures vibration data and processes it using the ExpertAlert ADS technology, then quickly translates the data into easy-to-understand and highly-accurate machine fault diagnoses. The combined system will provide users with a simple step-by-step process that helps assess machinery health, troubleshoot and prioritise mechanical problems, without requiring expertise in data collection or vibration analysis.

“In the process of developing the Fluke 810, we surveyed the market for expert systems that could provide the diagnostic benefits our customers needed to effectively troubleshoot machine problems -Azima DLI had the answer,” said Barbara Hulit, President, Fluke.

“By combining Azima DLI’s vibration data and software technology with our engineering and industrial design, we could make expert vibration diagnoses immediately available to maintenance professionals everywhere.”

The software technology embedded in the Fluke 810 is similarly deployed in ExpertAlert, Azima DLI DCX and SpriteMax systems that are used by manufacturing, petrochemical, pharmaceuticals, water and wastewater, transportation and power-generating companies, as well as the US military.

Azima DLI says that for plants which have realised the value of mechanical troubleshooting, and are interested in implementing a more extensive plant-wide, machine condition monitoring programme, choosing its Watchman Reliability Services is often the next step required to expand the benefits of a vibration analysis programme without having to invest in additional equipment, software, training or personnel.

“The Fluke 810 is an excellent tool to introduce vibration analysis to plants that do not have established programmes. We believe this relationship has the potential to expand the vibration market by showing that vibration analysis is an important element of comprehensive predictive maintenance programmes,” added Burt Hurlock, Chief Executive Officer, Azima DLI.

“With an innovative technology partner like Fluke, Azima DLI also has the opportunity to raise the visibility of our diagnostic software and expand the footprint of Watchman Reliability Services in new vertical markets and geographies.”

Fluke develops and sells compact, professional electronic test tools. The firm’s customers are technicians, engineers, electricians, metrologists and building diagnostic professionals who install, troubleshoot and manage industrial electrical and electronic equipment and calibration processes for quality control and conducting building restoration and remediation services. Fluke says that in the past five years its tools have won more than 50 industry awards.

For further information, contact:

Azima DLI, 300 TradeCenter, Suite 4610, Woburn, MA 01801, USA. Tel: +1-781-938-0707, Fax: +1-781-935-0179, Email: sales@AzimaDLI.com, Web: www.AzimaDLI.com

Fluke Corp, 6920 Seaway Boulevard, Everett, WA 98203, USA. Tel: +1-425-347-6100, Fax: +1-425-446-5116, Web: www.fluke.com

Fluke Europe BV, PO Box 1186, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Tel: +31-40-2-675-200, Fax: +31-40-2-675-222, Web: www.fluke.eu

SKF supplies wind-turbine monitoring systems to Guohua Energy Investment

SKF has been awarded a contract by Guohua Energy Investment Co Ltd, a major energy company based in China, to supply 180 SKF WindCon systems for monitoring wind turbines.

These systems will be used to improve reliability maintenance for existing turbines. Guohua Investment is also preparing for a new wind farm in Beijing and SKF has supplied 58 SKF WindCon systems to SEC, a major Chinese manufacturer that will supply the wind turbines.

Guohua wanted to improve reliability and reduce maintenance costs at its existing wind farm. SKF says that the WindCon systems will enable maintenance decisions to be based on the actual machine conditions - providing the opportunity to perform necessary inspection and repair work during a planned, turbine stoppage.

During 2009, SKF participated in a pilot project run by Guohua Energy Investment. It supplied WindCon on-line condition monitoring systems for three of its planned wind farms. Having been successful in that project, the company continued to work with SKF to make its maintenance strategy more effective.

“We are pleased to sign this contract with Guohua Energy Investment since the wind industry is an important market for us and a growing segment in China. SKF has, over the years, developed well defined remote diagnostic processes for many industries, such as wind energy, which enable us to reduce operating costs for our customers,” said Vartan Vartanian, President, SKF Service Division.

For further information, contact:

SKF, SE-415 50 Göteborg, Sweden. Tel: +46-31-337-1994, Fax: +46-31-337-2832, Web: www.skf.com

SKF (UK) Ltd, Sundon Park Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU3 3BL, UK. Tel: +44-1582-490049, Fax: +44-1582-848091, Email: marketing.uk@skf.com, Web: www.skf.com/uk

SKF USA Inc, 890 Forty Foot Road, Kulpsville, PA 19443, USA. Tel: +1-267-436-6000, Web: www.skfusa.com

PressureGuard systems protect CNPC’s gas storage reservoir

China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) has selected Bettis PressureGuard, self-contained hydraulic shut-down systems from Emerson Process Management for use in the Dazhangtou natural gas storage reservoir project in Tianjing, China.

Seven PressureGuard systems, which require no external power source, will protect the gas storage reservoir by closing gate valves when a high-pressure or low-pressure threshold has been reached.

The Dazhangtuo reservoir is the first gas storage facility in China. It strengthens the peak-gas adjustment capacity of the Shan-jing natural-gas pipeline that extends 940 km (585 miles) from Yulin, Shanxi, to Beijing. Gas that is not needed immediately is diverted into underground storage facilities. This enables excess gas delivered during the summer to be made available to help meet the increased demand during the winter.

The Bettis PressureGuard systems are being installed in the well-head area of the gas storage facility, where there is no electrical power. This is an ideal application for the spring-based PressureGuard shut-down systems because no plant air, fuel gas, electricity, or expensive nitrogen back-up systems are required. A self-contained oil reservoir also removes the need for any external hydraulic piping. A pressure pilot, with ‘hi-hi’ and ‘low-low’ options, triggers the system when a pressure threshold is reached.

The system offers built-in temperature compensation and pressure relief and has proven to be highly successful in years of field service under some of the most demanding operating and environmental conditions, claims Emerson. The actuator can be used with either rotary or linear spring-return hydraulic operators to provide a fail-safe system that is adaptable to ball, plug and other quarter-turn valves, and reverse-acting gate and linear-operated valves.

For further information, contact:

Emerson Process Management, 12301 Research Boulevard, Building 3, Austin, TX 78759, USA. Tel: +1-512-835-2190, Web: www.EmersonProcess.com, Web: www.Emerson.com

Emerson Process Management, Horsfield Way, Bredbury, Stockport SK6 2SU, UK. Tel: +44-870-240-1978, Fax: +44-870-240-4389; Email: uksales@emersonprocess.com, Web: www.emersonprocess.co.uk

Patent awarded for NDI technique that detects corrosion beneath paint

Concurrent Technologies Corp (CTC) of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA, has announced that it has been awarded a patent for “processes to create discrete corrosion defects on substrates and establish corrosion non-destructive inspection (NDI) test standards”, used to solve real-world corrosion problems.

The company describes this intellectual property, protected under US Patent 7 776 606, as technology that is needed for the effective application of NDI tools to detect corrosion underneath paint on military and commercial aircraft, and other vehicles.

As aircraft age, the maintenance required because of corrosion increases. Corrosion can progress, causing substrate damage that is visually undetectable. This presents a need for NDI tools and protocols capable of locating hidden corrosion beneath paint.

The tools and protocols support condition-based maintenance for the repair of locally affected areas at the onset of corrosion, before extensive and costly substrate damage can occur. Local detection and remediation at the onset of corrosion can reduce repair costs, down time and the environmental effects associated with the current practice of completely removing a coating and then reapplying it.

“The issuance of this patent exemplifies CTC's plan to ensure competitiveness in emerging technology fields,” commented Edward Sheehan Jr, President and Chief Executive Officer, CTC.

“Starting as a corrosion project for US Army Aviation more than eight years ago, and later expanding to applications for the US Air Force, the team developed a process to create test standards containing hidden discrete corrosion defects used to characterise corrosion detection performance of NDI instrumentation, develop NDI analysis protocols and validate NDI results of inspecting corrosion on aircraft. These processes and standards ensure the structural integrity of the aircraft, and therefore ensure our war-fighters' safety.”

CTC started working with NDI to detect corrosion beneath paint during 2002. In 2003, employees based at CTC's office in Largo, Florida - Joe Pecina, a metallurgical advisory engineer, and Scott Ryan, a laboratory technician, along with several co-inventors - started development of the process to create discrete corrosion defects in the laboratory.

The patent application was filed in 2007, approved in 2010 and Pecina and Ryan applied for two related, divisional patents to cover additional claims in the application.

For further information, contact:

Concurrent Technologies Corp, 100 CTC Drive, Johnstown, PA 15904-1935, USA. Tel: +1-814-269-2592 Web: www.ctc.com

Uptime Magazine announces award winners

In the USA Uptime Magazine a publication that serves over 50 000 maintenance reliability professionals, has announced the winners of the 2010 Predictive Maintenance Program of the Year Awards.

The winners were honoured during a special award ceremony at Solutions 2.0 conference, run by Reliabilityweb.com Inc, which was held on 8-11 November 2010 in Bonita Springs, Florida. The winners also presented an overview of their programmes in a special workshop at the conference.

“This group of maintenance reliability professionals help keep their companies operating reliably and safely,” said Terrence O'Hanlon, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer, Uptime Magazine.

“This year, by contrast, we have seen the unfortunate results of unreliability blasted 24/7 on cable news channels. We are very proud of these winners because they each demonstrate that in leading companies, reliability, safety and profits are all aligned. They have used best practice strategies and spent years of effort evolving maintenance practices from the typical reactive nature so often employed, to a more proactive, safe approach that eliminates many of the emergencies that set up dangerous conditions for workers in the first place. These programmes stop failures before they happen. Eliminating failures is good for business.”

The awards recognise organisations that demonstrate excellence in managing equipment reliability using advanced strategies and high- tech sensing technologies in order to determine the early onset of a potential failure. Technology areas include vibration analysis, infrared thermography, electric motor testing, oil analysis and airborne ultrasound. This year’s winners are:

*Arnold Engineering Development Center/ATA - ‘Best Overall Predictive Maintenance Program’;

*Arch Coal - ‘Best Overall Predictive Maintenance Program’ (mobile/fleet);

*Talecris Biotherapeutics - ‘Best Emerging Predictive Maintenance Program’ and ‘Best Ultrasound Program’;

*FutureMark Paper - ‘Best Green Program’;

*Lightship Group - ‘Best Vibration Program’;

*Hibbing Taconite - ‘Best Vibration Program’ (mobile/fleet);

*Arizona Public Service - ‘Best Infrared Program’ (transmission and distribution);

*Medtronic - ‘Best Infrared Program’ (plant maintenance);

*Southern Co - ‘Best Electric Motor Testing Program’;

*Iron Ore Canada - ‘Best Ultrasound Program’ (mobile/fleet);

*Peabody Energy - ‘Best Lubrication/Oil Analysis Program’ (mobile/fleet);

*Domtar Espanola - ‘Best Lubrication/Oil Analysis Program’; and

*Well's Dairy - ‘Best Lubrication/Oil Program’.

“In recent years we have noticed significant increase in C-Level sponsorship for proactive maintenance reliability. These corporate leaders view proactive maintenance as an enabler of productivity and profit rather than the outdated context of maintenance as a cost-centre,” continued O'Hanlon.

“They also recognise the contribution that higher reliability makes to safety. It is satisfying for us to provide visibility for these superior programmes so that more reliability improvements can be leveraged both inside and outside of winning organisations.”

John Eaves, President and Chief Operating Officer, Arch Coal, commented: “Earning the ‘Best Predictive Maintenance Award’ is an important achievement for Arch Coal's national network of mines.”

“The mining environment is very dynamic, which makes the maintenance of equipment intense and challenging. That is why our mining personnel value the recognition for their best-in-class PdM practices that include managing risk and reducing exposure through planned, preventative and predictive maintenance.”

Steve Silver, Chief Executive Officer, FutureMark Paper, added: “Our predictive maintenance programme is a prime example of how new technologies and process innovations can help transform a business. Our maintenance engineers have helped us achieve our highest-ever production levels to meet the unprecedented demand for our recycled paper. We are grateful for their hard work and are proud to be honoured as Uptime's ‘Best Green Reliability Program’.”

(Uptime Magazine begins accepting nominations for the 2011 Predictive Maintenance Program of the Year Awards on 2 January 2011.)

For further information, contact:

Uptime Magazine, PO Box 60075, Fort Myers, FL 33906, USA. Tel: +1-239-333-2500, Web: www.uptimemagazine.com

Audi Deploys Thermal Imaging Cameras

FLIR Advanced Thermal Solutions has announced a new application story that describes how Audi AG is using infrared thermography to uphold its quality standards. ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ has been the motto of automobile manufacturer Audi for decades. Driven by this approach, the group now also makes extensive use of FLIR thermal imaging technology for testing of supplied parts and internally developed engines to prevent expensive product recalls and to meet its exacting quality criteria.
The application story describes how thermal imaging cameras are being used to test all parts - from simple items such as transmission belts to complex ones such as turbochargers or catalytic converters before they are cleared for production. A thermal imaging camera is also used on the engine test-bed. New engines are put on trial to determine heat build-up and distribution as well as the determination of the failure point. Audi also uses a FLIR Systems infrared camera to test interior furnishing materials such as leather, wood and synthetics on wear and tear and material resistance, including under extreme climate conditions.

Found at: http://www.labmate-online.com/news/microscopy-and-microtechniques/4/flir_systems/audi_deploys_thermal_imaging_cameras/14220/

Integrated device for monitoring the deformation of an electrically insulating part - Patent Abstract

Applicant: Schneider Electric Industries Sas, France

This invention relates to an integrated device for monitoring an electrically insulating part. It is composed an optical fibre in which at least one Bragg grating is formed. The electrically insulating part is made of a composite that has a thermosetting matrix and the optical fibre has a protective sheath made from a polyamide material. The electrically insulating part, or electrically insulating enclosure - into which this device is integrated - is also described, as is a method of manufacturing the device. A portion of the optical fibre, in which at least one Bragg grating is formed, is positioned in a mould in order to obtain the electrically insulating component.

Patent number: WO/2009/004137

Inventors: B. Ohl, S. Teyssier and J. Aymami

Publication date: 8 January 2009

OMS appoints client solutions executive

UK-based specialist measurement technology company Optical Metrology Services Ltd (OMS) has announced that it has appointment James Buston as its client solutions executive.

Based at OMS’ office in Bishop’s Stortford, UK, Buston will be responsible for seeking out new business and potential applications for OMS technology on a global basis. The role will include sales, marketing and business development, and attending a variety of international trade fairs and exhibitions.

Prior to his new role, Buston spent six years working for a UK-based laser cutting and marking company, initially as a laser technician, but more recently as its technical sales manager. Despite difficult market conditions, he helped his previous employer achieve outstanding sales growth over the last couple of years <em dash> personally achieving sales in excess of £1 million during 2010.

Buston also has experience in exhibition management, technical training, and teaching laser applications and theory to both academic and industrial clients.

Buston commented: “There are lots of similarities between laser cutting and marking technologies and laser-based pipe measurement systems. I look forward to helping OMS achieve significant sales growth by developing new markets for its products and services.”

OMS provides measurement services and precision measurement systems to the oil and gas industry. A key focus for the company is the dimensional measurement of oil and gas pipes or other structures such as aero engines, process industry tubes or manufactured cylindrical objects, where dimensions are critical.

In 2007 the firm received The Queen’s Award for Enterprise, in the ‘Innovation’ category. This was the company’s second award, the first being the Pipeline Industries Guild Award for Land Based Technology.

The OMS Pipe Checker range of tools (also see Condition Monitor October, page 4) provides dimensional checks on all aspects of manufactured pipe. These tools are used throughout the world for onshore and offshore projects, and in pipe mills.

For further information, contact:

Optical Metrology Services Ltd, 8 Twyford Business Centre, London Road, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3YT, UK. Tel: +44-1279-656038, Fax: +44-8700-940014, Web: www.oms-measure.com

Meggitt adds Spanish-language page to Wilcoxon Research’s Web-site

Meggitt Sensing Systems, a supplier of vibration sensors and sensor networks, has added a Spanish-language page to Wilcoxon Research Inc’s Web-site that focuses on vibration sensors for industrial machinery health monitoring.

The page features an introduction to Meggitt’s Wilcoxon Research product line of industrial accelerometers. It also features translated data sheets so that Spanish-speaking customers across the world can view specifications for the most popular Wilcoxon Research products in their own language. Ten data sheets provide detailed specifications for over 30 sensors and related products.

The Spanish-language page can be accessed by going directly to Wilcoxon’s Web-site and selecting ‘En Español’ in the upper right corner. From there, Spanish speakers can learn about Meggitt’s Wilcoxon Research product line and open and save specifications for popular products. A broader selection of products and specifications can be found in English on the firm’s main site.

“Spanish is the third most common language globally and the second most common language in the USA,” said Tom Smith, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Wilcoxon Research Products.

“Now this important group of customers, including many in emerging markets in South America, can connect with Meggitt in their native language on the site.”

Meggitt also has Spanish-speaking resellers in Latin America and Spain to further meet the needs of these customers.

For further information, contact:

Wilcoxon Research Inc, 20511 Seneca Meadows Parkway, Germantown, MD 20876, USA. Tel: +1-301-330-8811, Fax: +1-301-330-8873, Email: wilcoxon@meggitt.com; Web: www.wilcoxon.com

Meggitt Sensing Systems, 30700 Rancho Viejo Road, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-1789, USA. Tel: +1-949-4938181, Fax: +1-949-6617231

Meggitt Plc, Atlantic House, Aviation Park West, Bournemouth International Airport, Dorset BH23 6EW, UK. Tel: +44-1202-597597, Web: www.meggitt.com

NI to open shared operations centre in Costa Rica

National Instruments Corp (NI), a global technology company based in Austin, Texas, USA, has announced that it is opening a shared operations centre in San José, Costa Rica, during the second quarter of 2011.

The new centre is expected to employ 200 people over the next five years in customer relationship management, financial services, IT and sales operations positions. NI says that it is opening the centre, which is expected to require an investment of $700 000 by the end of 2011, to optimise global operations to support the firm’s growth.

“The widespread adoption of National Instruments’ software and hardware has resulted in strong, long-term growth for our company, and the new centre in Costa Rica will help us better support our customers in North, Central and South America,” commented John Graff, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Americas, National Instruments.

“We selected Costa Rica as the site of our new centre because of its competitive business infrastructure, talented workforce and unique culture that promotes education and continuous learning, and empowers its people with a drive to succeed.”

Founded during 1976, National Instruments develops and manufactures software and hardware products that engineers and scientists use for test, control and embedded design applications. Throughout the company’s history it has demonstrated a solid track record of revenue growth and strong financial performance <em dash> most recently reporting a record revenue of $220 million for the third quarter of 2010.

It claims that more than 30 000 companies worldwide use its technology across a variety of industries, such as energy, life sciences, automotive and wireless communications sectors, to develop systems to meet some of the world’s greatest challenges.

“We are pleased to announce the establishment of National Instruments in Costa Rica,” said Anabel González, Minister of Foreign Trade, Costa Rica.

“The company is a job-generating source and proof of our progress towards the goals set by the government in terms of FDI attraction and exports <em dash> a goal which we have been working towards with the close collaboration of Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE).”

NI is currently recruiting experienced people to fill key management positions at the new centre.

For further information, contact:

National Instruments Corp, 11500 North Mopac Expressway, Austin, TX 78759-3504, USA. Tel: +1-512-338-9119, Fax: +1-512-683-8411, Web: www.ni.com

National Instruments Corp (UK) Ltd, Measurement House, Newbury Business Park, London Road, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2PS, UK. Tel: +44-1635-523545, Fax: +44-1635-523-154, Email: info.uk@ni.com

Integrated device for monitoring the deformation of an electrically insulating part

Applicant: Schneider Electric Industries Sas, France

This invention relates to an integrated device for monitoring an electrically insulating part. It is composed an optical fibre in which at least one Bragg grating is formed. The electrically insulating part is made of a composite that has a thermosetting matrix and the optical fibre has a protective sheath made from a polyamide material. The electrically insulating part, or electrically insulating enclosure - into which this device is integrated - is also described, as is a method of manufacturing the device. A portion of the optical fibre, in which at least one Bragg grating is formed, is positioned in a mould in order to obtain the electrically insulating component.

Patent number: WO/2009/004137

Inventors: B. Ohl, S. Teyssier and J. Aymami

Publication date: 8 January 2009