NOVEMBER 2005 INDUSTRY NEWS

• Sypris Test & Measurement First to Achieve A2LA Standards for Air Flow
• Laser Laboratories Analyze Size Standards
• ISO Launches Work On Nanotechnology Standards
• NACLA Disappointed By A2LA Resignation, Seeks Dialogue
• Newark InOne launches first services division of its kind
• ARTEL announces that ISO Approves Photometry for Liquid Volume Measurement
• ARTEL Addresses Six Trends Driving Change in Life Science Labs - Superior Liquid Delivery Calibration Can Significantly Increase Efficiency
• Troemner’s Newest Calibration Services – Electrical, Time & Frequency
• WESTEC 2006 Exposition & Conference
• Acceptance of Accredited Calibration Providers Approved by NRC
• Why 'Filling-it-up' Takes More than 'Tank Capacity'
• Thirty-Sixth Annual Measurement Science COnference Line-up Announced
• First Lab A2LA-Accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005
• Essco Offers Gas Flow Calibration
• U.S. Air Force Chooses Agilent Technologies Microwave Measurement Equipment for Metrology, Calibration Applications
• NCSL International Strategic Roadmap for Metrology Education and Training
• National Instruments Reports Record Revenue and Strong Earnings Growth
• GE Announces Expanded Direct Rental Fleet in Europe
• Danaher Corporation Announces Record 3Q Results
  
  
  

Sypris Test & Measurement First to Achieve A2LA Standards for Air Flow

Sypris Test & Measurement, Inc., a subsidiary of Sypris Solutions, Inc., announced its lab in Fairborn, Ohio, is the only calibration lab in the country that meets A2LA accreditation standards for air flow capabilities.

"Meeting these standards is especially important to the automotive and HVAC industries," said Tim Harris, Sypris Test & Measurement's Fairborn branch manager. "These certifications set the standards for calibration of air flow measurement devices used in wind tunnels by industries that rely on fluid air movement for safety and/or operation of commercial equipment."

Sypris Test & Measurement calibrates thermo anemometers and vein type velocity meters which are devices similar to fan props among many other air flow measurement instruments.

"High-rise buildings are required to undergo wind tests, for example, and the hi-tech equipment designed for these tests must be calibrated to exact standards," added Harris. "Meeting the standard of elements set by ISO 17025 and A2LA Accreditation, Sypris Test & Measurement can ensure building contractors receive the most accurate readings from their test equipment."

Since earning the accreditation, Sypris Test & Measurement has seen an increase in customer requests for the calibration service. In most cases, according to Harris, manufacturers require the A2LA accreditation because their vendors and customers require it.

Laser Laboratories Analyze Size Standards

One of the largest ever series of round robin tests, where a number of different laboratories analyze the same materials, has now been performed on Whitehouse Scientific's polydisperse particle size standards. Under the auspices of the Laser Diffraction Proficiency Testing Scheme (LDPTS) more than 60 laboratories analyzed four glass microsphere particle size standards covering the size range from one to 350 microns. While a number of testing laboratories produced results that were in excellent agreement with the certified standards, some showed significant deviations.

This work highlights the need for reference standards in combination with prescriptive methods of analysis.

It also explains why there has been a significant surge in the use of such materials in laboratories performing precision particle size analysis.

Visit Whitehouse Scientific for more information, www.whitehousescientific.com/

ISO Launches Work On Nanotechnology Standards

The new ISO technical committee established to develop International Standards for nanotechnologies held a productive first meeting at which it defined the scope of its future tasks and agreed on the initial structure for the work.

ISO/TC 229, Nanotechnologies, held its inaugural meeting on 9-11 November 2005 in London, hosted by the ISO member for the United Kingdom, the British Standards Institution (BSI), which provides the Chair and Secretariat of the new committee. The national standards institutes of 24 ISO member countries are participating, while another eight have observer status.

Specific tasks before it include developing standards for: terminology and nomenclature; metrology and instrumentation, including specifications for reference materials; test methodologies; modelling and simulation; and science-based health, safety, and environmental practices.

According to the committee’s scope, ISO/TC 229 will produce standards for classification, terminology and nomenclature, basic metrology, calibration and certification, and environmental issues. It will also develop standardized test methods that will focus on physical, chemical, structural, and biological properties of materials or devices whose performance is critically dependent on one or more dimension of less than 100 nm.

By giving nanotechnologists a common language and processes, standardization will facilitate safer and faster product development and production and will enable interoperable end-products.

ISO Secretary-General Alan Bryden commented: "The productive and successful first meeting of ISO/TC 229 augurs well for its future work which will play a crucial role in facilitating and sharing innovation in an exciting new field of technology."

The committee tackled a full working agenda, including agreement on the following initial working group (WG) structure:

• WG 1, Terminology and nomenclature – convened by Canada;

• WG 2, Measurement and characterization – convened by Japan, and

• WG 3, Health, safety and environment – convened by the USA

The committee also agreed on the following scope for its work:

“Standardization in the field of nanotechnologies that includes either or both of the following:

• Understanding and control of matter and processes at the nanoscale, typically, but not exclusively, below 100 nanometers in one or more dimensions where the onset of size-dependent phenomena usually enables novel applications,

• Utilizing the properties of nanoscale materials that differ from the properties of individual atoms, molecules, and bulk matter, to create improved materials, devices, and systems that exploit these new properties."

Nanotechnology is the science of engineering matter at the atomic and molecular scale, about 10 000 times smaller than the thickness of a human hair. The global nanotechnology market is expected to reach USD 29 billion by 2008.

For more information visit ISO at -- http://www.iso.org/iso/en/commcentre/pressreleases/2005/Ref980.html

NACLA Disappointed By A2LA Resignation, Seeks Dialogue

The President of the National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation (NACLA) has expressed NACLA’s disappointment with the decision of the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) to resign from NACLA and has asked for an opportunity to meet with the A2LA leadership to discuss the important relationship between the two organizations.

In a letter to Dr. William Kavanaugh, A2LA’s Chairman, Dr. William Tilstone characterizes the A2LA action as “unfortunate, as it makes it more difficult to achieve the very things that you express as being A2LA’s goals, and it comes at a time when NACLA is making steady progress toward realization of these goals.”

To finish reading this press release visit NACLA.

Newark InOne launches first services division of its kind

Through its new Newark InOne Services division, Newark InOne, the leading small-quantity distributor of electronic components and test equipment in North America and a subsidiary of global Premier Farnell plc, now offers new test equipment that is already calibrated, an expanded range of panel instrumentation, and custom capabilities for analog and digital panel meters, and controllers.

New clamp meters, digital multimeters, oscilloscopes and benchtop power supplies from Fluke, Tektronix, Agilent, B&K, Amprobe and Megger are calibrated at Newark InOne Service's ISO 9001:2000 certified metrology lab in Colorado, and are available nationwide through www.newarkinone.com or by calling 1.800.2.NEWARK (263.9275). Certification with data accompanies all test equipment.

Also available either online or by phone, is a huge selection of Simpson, Yokogawa, Newport, Modutec and Crompton panel meters, plus a wide range of current and potential transformers, switches, shunts, sensors and other accessories. Analog and digital panel meters, and controllers, are also available with custom company logos, colors, special artwork, non-standard input ranges, non-linear input signals and programming through 1.800.263.9275.

"Newark InOne Services is all about saving our customers time and increasing their productivity," comments Paul Tallentire, president, Newark InOne. "When you buy a scope or meter from us that's already been calibrated, you can start using it from day one."

In July 2005, Newark InOne purchased the assets of Colorado-based R&R Instrumentation and transferred all of its business and employees to create the new division.

ARTEL announces that ISO Approves Photometry for Liquid Volume Measurement

ARTEL, a leading innovator in precision testing and calibration systems for liquid handling instruments used in life science laboratories, announces that the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has approved the use of the photometric method for liquid delivery performance verification. This method utilizes light absorption to verify volume accuracy, and is readily implemented for low volume measurement and high throughput screening applications. The gravimetric method, which uses a balance to measure liquid volume, is difficult to implement at the low volumes typical of drug discovery applications, and is impossible to implement for high throughput liquid handlers. Because the photometric method can be adopted into laboratory practices easily and cost-effectively, its use can improve quality assurance procedures and speed drug development.

“Regularly ensuring the performance of liquid handling instrumentation, whether manual or automated, is critical in life science laboratories. Even slight volumetric discrepancies can compromise results, leading to higher costs associated with remedial actions and useless data,” notes George Rodrigues, PhD, Senior Scientific Manager at ARTEL. “As calibration technology advances, so too must regulatory standards. ISO recognizes the importance of photometry for drug discovery applications, in which liquid delivery performance must be verified at extremely low volumes.”

Regarding photometry, ISO 8655-7 states, “uncertainty with this [photometric] method tends to become lower as test volumes decrease.” This makes photometry “particularly well-suited for small volumes,” a quality guideline that reflects both the advancing science of calibration methodology and life science industry trends. With increasing reagent costs and a growing focus on the quality and content of high throughput screening results, pharmaceutical and clinical laboratories are handling smaller volumes of high value liquids, with an ever increasing need to ensure accuracy and precision.

“Laboratories can reduce risk by implementing a proven and internationally accepted quality assurance technology that is applicable across the globe,” says Richard Curtis, PhD, Chairman and Technical Director at ARTEL. “This facilitates method transfer across departments and laboratories.” Integrating an accepted calibration method is also important for laboratories striving to conform to cGMP/cGLP criteria and to ISO 17025, the international laboratory quality standard. The ISO decision places a global stamp of approval on ARTEL’s patented ratiometric photometric method for calibration, which is in full compliance with the new standard. ARTEL uses a dual-dye approach to photometry, employing two proprietary solutions to combat accuracy problems typically associated with low-volume measurement verification. This ultra-sensitive ARTEL technology provides unequaled accuracy and precision at low volumes, yielding results traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) with an uncertainty of less than 1 percent for volumes as low as 0.1µL.

For more information visit ARTEL’s power point presentation in PDF format for web viewing at: http://www.artel-usa.com/resources/pdf/200510AAPS.pdf

ARTEL Addresses Six Trends Driving Change in Life Science Labs - Superior Liquid Delivery Calibration Can Significantly Increase Efficiency

With the average breakthrough drug costing $800 million and needing seven years to reach the market, the pharmaceutical industry is under intense pressure to increase productivity and eliminate inefficiencies. Data integrity in drug discovery and development is critical, and several industry trends have highlighted the importance of liquid delivery calibration for improving pharmaceutical laboratory practices.

George Rodrigues, PhD, Senior Scientific Manager at ARTEL, discussed six of these trends and strategies to improve laboratory management at a press conference at the annual meeting of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) in Nashville, TN.

“The need for superior data integrity has never been stronger. Rising discovery and development costs, time-to-market demands and heightened regulatory scrutiny are driving change,” said Dr. Rodrigues. “Drug companies need new methodologies to efficiently, reliably and conveniently ensure the quality of their liquid delivery systems. For this reason, ratiometric photometry has emerged as a key strategic tool.” Ratiometric photometry utilizes dye chemistry for accurate and precise calibration of all types of liquid delivery instrumentation essential to drug discovery and manufacturing processes.

Dr. Rodrigues outlined six industry trends that are driving change in QA strategies for laboratories:

Increasing Use of High Value Liquids at Low Volumes: The industry trend toward low-volume assays has resulted from the increasing cost of reagents used in drug discovery laboratories, making precise volumetric measurements more important. According to recently announced international standard ISO 8655-7, photometry is “particularly well-suited for low volumes,” helping drug discovery scientists maximize use of scarce and valuable reagents by reducing erroneous results created from instruments out of specification. “Pharmaceutical scientists need their assays to be correct the first time, and ratiometric photometry can ensure this, even in minute volumes,” notes Rodrigues.

Growing Focus on Process Efficiency: The pharmaceutical industry is facing intense pressure to improve efficiency. Traditional gravimetric calibration requires increasingly limited laboratory resources and time to ensure data integrity. Conversely, ratiometric photometric calibration can be performed in less than ten minutes and is not affected by environmental conditions.

Rising Risk of “False Negatives/Positives”: A mounting focus on reducing the risk of failure is another prevalent issue impacting pharmaceutical companies. This is exemplified by the missed opportunity cost of false negative results and the wasted time and resources of chasing a dead end based on false positive results.

Need for Improved Method Transfer: The pharmaceutical industry is greatly affected by globalization and the increasing use of contract research and manufacturing services. As a result, there is an urgent need for transferable methodologies.

Scarcity of Lab Resources: An alarming shortage of qualified laboratory technicians and shrinking lab resources are driving the pharmaceutical industry to require improved liquid delivery quality assurance systems.

Stricter Regulatory Environment: Dr. Rodrigues lastly highlighted intense scrutiny, both internal and external, of laboratory practices as another trend calling for enhanced data integrity. This is evidenced by the FDA’s PAT (Process Analytical Technology) initiative for the pharmaceutical industry, which focuses on process efficiency, and increasingly stringent Standard Operating Practices set forth by laboratory management

The full text of Dr. Rodrigues’ presentation is available on ARTEL’s website at http://www.artel-sa.com/resources/pdf/Market%20Trends%20Release%20APVD.pdf

ARTEL is the worldwide technology leader in low-volume liquid delivery measurement and quality assurance. Based on its patented Ratiometric Photometry technology and advanced dye chemistry, ARTEL manufactures the most accurate, precise, and easy-to-use systems available for ensuring liquid delivery data integrity and NIST-traceable results. Since 1982, ARTEL technology has been proven in daily use in thousands of laboratories. Leading institutions such as Amgen, Eli Lilly, Merck, the U.S. FDA, the FBI and the Mayo Clinic depend on ARTEL technology to help them meet their objectives for productivity and quality. For more information, visit www.artel-usa.com.

Troemner’s Newest Calibration Services – Electrical, Time & Frequency

The newest additions to Troemner’s portfolio of calibration services are a variety of electrical calibrations, plus time and frequency calibrations. All electrical calibrations are ISO/IEC 17025 compliant and include DC Voltage, DC Current, AC Voltage, AC Current, DC Resistance, Capacitance, and AC/DC Power. Troemner can calibrate most equipment that produces measurements for the above disciplines as well as most multimeters. In addition, Troemner can calibrate most oscilloscopes. Electrical calibrations cover the measurement disciplines found in most multimeters and oscilloscopes.

Visit Troemner for more information about their calibration services.

WESTEC 2006 Exposition & Conference

WESTEC has been manufacturing's West Coast connection for over 40 years. In 2006, WESTEC offers even more opportunities for West Coast buyers and sellers to meet and conduct business.

The exciting events below are being incorporated into WESTEC, each attracting its own focused group of decision-makers. Automation & Assembly Conference & Exhibits - is a showcase for the latest automation and assembly solutions. Buyers from many diverse industries, including aerospace, automotive, biotechnology, chemical, computer, cosmetics, defense, electronics, and many more attend to explore technologies and processes that can help them achieve a competitive advantage.

The SME Summit - Where Manufacturers, Technologies and Innovations Connect. The Summit, brought to you by SME and its Technical Communities, is an exciting and dynamic forum for information exchange, networking, presentations on new applications, and developing research on advanced technologies spanning the entire manufacturing discipline.

At WESTEC, attendees find the latest technologies and applications and learn how best to automate their operations. Exhibitors meet with thousands of manufacturers, many who have never attended the event before, looking to upgrade their equipment and build long-term business relationships.

In 2006, the updated and expanded WESTEC is more than a tradeshow - it's a Total Manufacturing Experience! To learn more about the event visit www.sme.org/westec.

Acceptance of Accredited Calibration Providers Approved by NRC

In a letter and attached safety evaluation report (SER) issued to the Arizona Public Service Company dated September 28, 2005, the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation approved a requested change to the quality assurance (QA) program of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Units 1, 2 and 3.  The change provides for acceptance of accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025, General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories, as a means of qualifying calibration laboratories to provide commercial-grade calibration services to the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station.  The accreditation process will be accepted in lieu of a supplier audit, commercial-grade survey, or in-process surveillance.  This method for qualifying the calibration supplier and accepting its calibration services will be applied only to commercial-grade calibration services as defined by 10 CFR Part 21.  Almost all calibration services provided to nuclear power plants are considered commercial grade.

The SER includes the following stipulation:

The NRC staff recognizes the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) conferred by signatory status with ILAC.  However the NRC staff’s evaluation and approval are limited to NVLAP and to A2LA accreditations, which are recognized by NVLAP through the ILAC MRA.

With the issuance of the SER, other nuclear generating stations can take advantage of the approved changes by updating their licensing documents and procedures.  No additional approvals are required.  This decision helps eliminates the need for laboratory audits performed by the nuclear industry.

http://www.nrc.gov/who-we-are/organization/nrrfuncdesc.html

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part021/

Why 'Filling-it-up' Takes More than 'Tank Capacity'

You fill up your "empty" fuel tank at the gas station and the pump charges you for more gallons than the tank's rated capacity. Are you being deliberately overcharged?

Unauthorized tampering with pumps does happen, even though state and local weights and measures officials regularly check gasoline pumps to ensure their accuracy. But there are also legitimate reasons for a discrepancy between the amount of fuel metered by a gas pump and an automobile's rated fuel tank capacity, according to a recent paper from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

For example, some manufacturers estimate that actual fuel tank capacity can vary as much as 3 percent from the tank capacity rating because of design characteristics, the manufacturing process, and even the physics associated with the components that monitor emissions and the electronics of the fuel system and fuel indicators.

NIST notes that it is important to consider which parts of a vehicle's fuel tank are used to determine its capacity rating and what happens to these components when operating and fueling a vehicle. A small area at the bottom of a full tank is considered unusable because the fuel pump cannot reach that level to draw fuel. In addition, the tank's rated capacity does not include the “vapor head space,” the uppermost portion of the tank compartment, nor does it include the volume of the filler pipe where fuel enters the vehicle.

Drivers, however, sometimes fill the tank beyond the pump's automatic shut-off point, resulting in fuel being drawn into the vehicle's vapor recovery system or filler pipe. Similarly, if the lanes that surround the service station pumps are not level, fuel can shift into the vapor space allowing more fuel to be delivered into the tank.

NIST cautions against using the “half full” reading on the fuel gauge to determine the exact number of gallons it will take to fill the tank. The fuel gauge is intended as an approximate indication of the fuel level. Manufacturers may set the “full” indicator at a level just below the tank's actual capacity. Reserve fuel also can be present if the manufacturer designs the fuel gauge to indicate empty at a level above the actual point where the tank runs out of gas.

Thirty-sixth Annual Measurement Science Conference Line-Up Announced

Newport Beach, CA - Measurement Science Conference (MSC) Chairman John Fishell announced today the schedule for the 36th Annual Conference, being held at the Disneyland Hotel, February 27 - March 26, 2006.

"I am pleased to announce the 2006 MSC schedule and conference theme of The Science, Technology, and Control of Measurement. This stands to be our best and most informative conference to date," said Fishell. "We're expecting more attendees this year and have planned an exciting conference for them."

One of the key features of the MSC Conference is the excellent quality of training available to attendees. "We are glad to announce that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will once again be joining the Conference and leading two days of seminars," said NIST Seminars/Tutorials Chairman Bob Fritzsche. "As one of the largest off-campus conferences NIST participates in, this is an outstanding opportunity for hands-on training with the global leader in measurement standards," continued Fritzsche.

The Conference will also feature three special sessions dedicated to Recommended Practice (RP) and standard revisions that were discussed at the National Conference of Standards Laboratories International (NCSLi) Conference last August. Programs Chairman Mark Kaufman said, "The RPs being discussed for revision and feedback are RPs 1, and 12, and ANSI/NCSLi standard Z540. These sessions will be an excellent opportunity for participants to get the latest status and to provide their input on the recommended revisions."

Already known for its valuable tutorials for technicians, the Conference is expecting this year's anticipated increase in attendee registration to particularly benefit exhibitors. "Our technical program is especially strong this year, and based on the feedback we've received so far, we expect increased registration of attendees. This really benefits our exhibitors who will have the opportunity to market to even more people than before, not only the people who use their products, but those who buy their products," said Fishell.

A number of leading companies and organizations in the test and measurement field have already seen this opportunity and will be at the Conference. "We have a strong line-up of exhibitors at the 2006 Conference, with major companies like Fluke, Agilent, Northrop Grumman, and the U.S. Navy," said Exhibits Chairwoman Kara Harmon. "In addition to these established exhibitors, we strongly encourage first-time exhibitors to participate by taking advantage of our special discount offers, providing an opportunity to gain recognition at the Measurement Science Conference."

"Last year, we celebrated our 35th anniversary conference and are looking forward to the next 35. We've made some exciting changes for the 2006 Conference to accommodate growth, and we're looking forward to making additional enhancements in the coming months to make this the best conference ever," said Fishell.

First Lab A2LA-Accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005

Battelle Columbus Operations, Instrumentation Services Laboratory located in Columbus, OH, is the first laboratory accredited by A2LA to the new ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard.  The ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard was released on May 15, 2005, and Battelle achieved accreditation to the new version of the standard on October 13, 2005.  The management at Battelle has provided support to the ISL staff to get initial accreditation and maintain it through training efforts and acquisition of modern standards.

Battelle is a global science and technology enterprise that develops and commercializes technology and manages laboratories for customers.  Battelle also teams with more than 800 federal, state, and local government agencies, providing science and technology in the areas of national security, homeland defense, health and life sciences, energy, transportation, and environment and is also one of the founding members of the National Conference of Standards Laboratories International (NCSLI).

Essco Offers Gas Flow Calibration

Essco now offers gas flow calibration using the DH Instruments molbloc/molbox ™ system. This system has become the industry standard in gas flow metrology. We can now perform high accuracy low gas flow device calibrations in the range of 0.05-100 LPM to an accuracy of 0.5% of reading.

This flow calibration system can calibrate a wide variety of flow devices including thermal mass flow controllers, rotameters, turbine meters, bubble meters and others using either air or nitrogen. The software is capable of mathematically correcting for your flow meters that were factory calibrated with other gases.

We now join with many national measurement labs including NIST and The U.S. Military using this system.

U.S. Air Force Chooses Agilent Technologies Microwave Measurement Equipment for Metrology, Calibration Applications

PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 1, 2005 -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced it has been awarded a $19.73 million contract by the U.S. Air Force to provide Agilent microwave measuring receivers to the Air Force Metrology and Calibration Lab (AFMETCAL). Agilent also has received a $2.3 million contract to deliver low noise signal generators to the lab.

The microwave measuring receiver, which provides frequency coverage up to 50 GHz, will be used by AFMETCAL for calibrating signal generators and step attenuators to meet stringent government and commercial accuracy requirements. It also includes audio input and audio signal analysis capability.

The low noise signal generator is a reference source for the Agilent E5504B phase noise measurement system currently used by AFMETCAL. The low noise signal generator replaces the original system source, adding improved performance and the ability to measure close-in, low-level phase noise with greater accuracy. Software compatibility and tight integration with the phase noise measurement system will allow AFMETCAL to extend the life of its equipment cost-effectively.

For metrology and calibration applications, Agilent's microwave measuring receiver offers linearity accuracy of ±(0.009 dB + 0.005 dB/10 dB step) for level measurements, as well as exceptionally fast tuned RF level (TRFL) measurement speed and versatility. An integrated sensor module with a single input connection to 50 GHz is fully calibrated and traceable, which streamlines the calibration procedures and helps ensure measurement integrity.

The microwave measuring receiver meets or exceeds the performance levels of its predecessor, the industry-standard Agilent 8902A. Agilent expects the microwave measuring receiver to become the new industry standard for signal generator and attenuator calibration in this increasingly challenging area of test and measurement.

The low noise signal generator, which is based on the industry-standard Agilent E8257D PSG analog signal generator, delivers phase noise performance of -133 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset on a 1 GHz carrier frequency.

Both products are backed by Agilent's technical support and will be available for commercial order in early 2006.

NCSL International Strategic Roadmap for Metrology Education and Training

In response to the alarming decease in young folks entering the Metrology field, NCSL International has developed a strategic roadmap for planning, organizing and developing resources and activities in the U.S. to help reverse this trend. This effort is spearheaded by Georgia L. Harris, NCSLI Vice President for Education & Training who is rallying all stakeholders in the world of measurement to get involve and express their opinions and suggestions regarding the roadmap (many organizations throughout the U.S. have helped in its’ development).

Please take the time to read the roadmap and fill out the roadmap survey. PDFs available to download from eCalibration.com or visit www.ncsli.org.

ncsli-met-training-education.pdf (122 KB)

ncsli-roadmap-survey.pdf (20 KB)

National Instruments Reports Record Revenue and Strong Earnings Growth

National Instruments reported third quarter revenue of $142 million, an increase of 13 percent compared to the third quarter of 2004. This represents the highest quarterly revenue in the company's history, fueled by new product revenue and record revenue from strategic PXI and modular instruments platforms. GAAP fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) for Q3 were $0.18 with GAAP net income of $14.4 million, up 81 percent from Q3 2004.

The company also announced a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share on its common stock payable on Nov. 28, 2005 to shareholders of record on Nov. 7, 2005. As of Sept. 30, 2005, the company had $181 million of cash and short-term investments.

"Our investment in R&D continued to help drive virtual instrumentation into higher performance measurement and industrial control applications," said Dr. James Truchard, NI president and CEO. "LabVIEW 8, a significant upgrade to our flagship software product, will further support our expansion in test, design and control, especially in large applications and distributed systems. Now LabVIEW users can design, distribute and synchronize intelligent systems in real time."

Q3 2005 Highlights

• Highest quarterly revenue in company's 29-year history
• Revenue of $142 million, up 13 percent year-over-year
• GAAP net income of $14.4 million, up 81 percent from Q3 2004
• New product revenue continues to fuel growth
• Record sales of PXI and modular instruments
• Record attendance at NIWeek 2005 with attendees from more than 40 countries
• Cash and short-term investments of $181 million

"We turned in a solid quarter with the highest quarterly revenue in the company's history," said Alex Davern, NI CFO. "For the rest of the year and into 2006 we will be focused on continuing to grow the top line while managing the growth in our expenses to continue to generate operating leverage."

GE Announces Expanded Direct Rental Fleet in Europe

GE Sensing, a leading provider of precision sensing products, systems and services, announced a substantial extension to its fleet of rental equipment in Europe. In addition to an established range of thermal validation products, the fleet now includes pressure, flow and humidity products for measurement, test and calibration. This provides customers with a flexible solution, direct from GE, for short term needs and unexpected demands.

The GE rental fleet includes a broad selection of measurement and calibration products in the Druck, Kaye, General Eastern and Panametrics product line groups. These range from simple hand-held testers to portable calibrators, automated test equipment and transfer standards. Industry-specific equipment is also included such as aircraft air data test sets, pharmaceutical process validators and even manned rental services such as non-invasive clamp-on flowmetering surveys.

“Our newly expanded rental portfolio complements GE Sensing’s ‘total solutions’ approach to customer services” EMEA Services product manager Martin Bragg said “As manufacturer of the comprehensive range of hire equipment offered, we are able to offer highly competitive rates with unequalled product and applications expertise. Now customers can capture the best value solution for their shorter term and peak service requirements, together with full technical support, direct from a single manufacturer.”

"The GE Sensing rental fleet comprises Druck, Kaye, Panametrics and General Eastern products. Druck, Kaye, Panametrics and General Eastern have joined other GE high-technology sensing businesses under a new name—GE Sensing.”

Danaher Corporation Announces Record 3Q Results

Danaher Corporation announced that net earnings for its third quarter ended September 30, 2005 were $229 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, 14% higher than its 2004 third quarter net earnings of $201 million, or $0.62 per diluted share. Sales for the 2005 third quarter were $1,966 million, 12.5% higher than the $1,745 million reported for the 2004 third quarter. Sales for the first nine months of 2005 were $5,721 million compared to $4,910 million for the first nine months of 2004, an increase of 16.5%.

H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Once again, we are pleased to report record quarterly earnings. Growth from existing businesses, also known as core revenues was 4%. Total sales growth for the quarter also included acquisition growth of 8.5%. Our operating cash flow for the first nine months of 2005 of $902 million was another record and a 17.5% increase over the first nine months of 2004.”

Danaher Corporation is a leading manufacturer of Professional Instrumentation, Industrial Technologies, and Tools and Components.

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