News Industry Comment Sensors & Instrumentation 2013 - the clock is ticking


SENSORS & INSTRUMENTATION, a new, dedicated exhibition, conference and seminar programme, is taking place in Hall 3 at the NEC, Birmingham on Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th September 2013. The free to attend show, organised by Datateam Business Media in partnership with Trident Exhibitions, combines the solid industry foundations cemented by previous shows Sensing Technology and Sensors and Systems. The result - a single, focused, bigger and undoubtedly better event.


It is worth remembering that the printed version of Electrical Engineering magazine is not the only way to keep informed of what’s happening in the industry. Full versions of some of our news stories can be viewed online by following the links at the end of the individual story (see opposite). If you are viewing our digital issue (which is also available as a free download via our website), these links are fully interactive and will take you directly to the story. You can also follow us on Twitter (@CI_Electrical) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Electrical EngineeringMag).


Along with our regular content, September sees the return of our competition page, with Newey & Eyre offering one lucky reader the chance to win an exclusive racing day - page 30.


Also this month sees the latest addition to our range of supple- ments with this issue focussing on UPS & Standby Power. Power shortages and the risk of powercuts are becoming increasingly pertinent to modern businesses, with heavy financial consequences resulting from sustained down-time periods. As a result UPS systems are play- ing an evermore prominent role with- in the modern and progressive busi- ness. In our September supplement we look at how businesses can best prepare for the energy shortfall that the UK is likely to experience in the next few years. In addition, rising power costs are an increasing con- cern for businesses, so we also look at how the correct specification of a UPS system can help businesses save power - and therefore money. In the context of the modern envi- ronment, we also take a look at how important it is that those who are managing critical power supplies in electrical, data centre, ICT and net- working arenas, are flexible in order to combat the growing uncertainty that is inherent within the critical power industry. Joe Bush, Editor


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The exhibition will showcase sensors, test and mea- surement equipment along with a variety of other types of instrumentation and will play host to a range of seminars aimed at professionals from areas includ- ing automation, calibration, cases and enclosures, con- dition monitoring, control systems, data acquisition, displays, environmental analysis, flow and level, gas


detection, inspection and measurement, instrumenta- tion, thermal imaging and many more. Visitors to the show will also benefit from an excit- ing event co-location, providing easy access to nearby shows Micro | Nano | Mems 2013, The Machine Building Show 2013, TCT Live and Mediplas. Due to the significant overlap in technology usage within these sectors, more visitors than ever are expected to attend the UK’s only event of this kind. Anyone wishing to register for this must-attend event can do so on the website - details below. www.sensorsandinstrumentation.co.uk


A boost to plastics in electrical applications


ROYAL DSM HAS claimed that a recent change to an Underwriters Laboratory (UL) standard cover- ing low voltage switchgear (LVSG) has opened up the way for plastics innovation in electri- cal applications such as minia- ture circuit breakers.


The UL 1077 standard, for sup- plementary protectors used in elec- trical equipment, is widely applied


in the US and South America. In Europe, Asia and elsewhere, IEC/EN 60947, a standard for LVSG and related industrial control gear published by the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC), is more prevalent.


The recent change in the UL will make it possible for engineering plastics to be used in applications such as miniature circuit breakers


(MCBs) in the Americas, where until now it was hardly possible to use materials other than ther- mosets. This change also signals a continuation in the convergence of UL and IEC standards, which will make it easier for suppliers to supply the same products globally. Peter Dufour, global marketing manager - electricals with DSM, said, “The change in UL 1077 will spur growth in the LVSG market as innovative product suppliers take advantage of the new design free- dom it offers, and the opportunities it provides for them to cut costs and increase sustainability.”


The full article on UL 1077 can be viewed here - www.connectingindustry.com/ ul1077. www.dsm.com


Drives and motors achieve huge savings for exhibition venue


A MANCHESTER-BASED conference and exhibition venue has become one of the UK’s first major venues to achieve the new ISO 20121 standard for sustainability. Part of this goal has been achieved with the decision to replace the ventilation fan drive system for the large venue with a new solution supplied by motor and drive manufacturer WEG.


When combined with an intelligent interactive building management system (BMS), the new installa- tion has provided significant savings, amounting to a 30% annual reduction in the energy costs for the venue and an ROI of less than nine months. Located in the heart of Manchester’s city centre, the iconic venue was originally a train station, which underwent a transformation in 1986 to become an exhibition and conference centre. Now, nearly 25 years on, the original plant and equipment is under review with a determined effort to reduce energy consump- tion and improve overall efficiency.


This project, in conjunction with a number of others undertaken at the venue, has resulted in it being one of the first in the UK to achieve ISO 20121, the industry’s most sought after sustainability credential.


ISO 20121 is a management system standard that has been designed to help organisations in the events industry improve on the sustainability of their event related activities, products and services. ISO 20121 is based on the earlier British Standard called ‘BS 8901 Specification for a Sustainability Management System for Events’ which led to an international version of the standard to coincide with the London 2012 Olympics. The full case study can be viewed here


www.connectingindustry.com/wegiso20121. www.weg.net


SEPTEMBER 2013 Electrical Engineering


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