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APRIL 2007 INDUSTRY NEWS

 

NVLAP Launches e-Newsletter

NVLAP recently launched its redesigned newsletter - NVLAP News - in an electronic format. The newsletter was distributed to NVLAP laboratories and assessors via e-mail, and is available on this web site at: NVLAP News: April 2007. http://ts.nist.gov/Standards/upload/NVLAP_News_April_2007.pdf

One of NVLAP's objectives for quality is to communicate frequently with customers and stakeholders to determine their accreditation needs and requirements. The new e-Newsletter is one means for fulfilling this objective. We are anxious to hear how you like the newsletter and whether it meets your informational needs!

 

National Instruments Hosts Oil and Gas Industry Symposium in 13 Cities

In 2007, the oil, gas, and energy industries are increasing their capital equipment technology investments to meet the ever-growing energy needs of the global economy. The 2007 Oil and Gas Industry Symposium delivers cutting-edge information on the latest technologies for the oil and gas industry, including advancements in service, drilling, distributed measurements, and oilfield inventory management applications. This complimentary one-day symposium brings together partners, managers, and experts in your region for technology discussions, in-depth case studies, hands-on training, and networking opportunities.

Attend the 2007 Oil and Gas Industry Symposium to:

  • Discuss technology trends in your region during the Panel Discussion
  • Explore in-depth case studies for drilling, oilfield service, and inventory management applications
  • Attend hands-on LabVIEW training

Register today for this complimentary symposium in your area. The symposium will be held in the following cities on the corresponding dates:

Stavanger, Norway - May 8
Amsterdam, Netherlands - May 10
Aberdeen, UK - May 15
Houston, Texas, USA - May 22
Denver, Colo., USA - June 7
Macae, Brazil - July 3
Villahermosa, Mexico - July 24
Mexico City, Mexico - July 26
Calgary, Canada - Sept. 11
Edmonton, Canada - Sept. 13
Caracas, Venezuela - Sept. 27
Neuquen, Argentina - Nov. 6
Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina - Nov. 8

For more information visit http://www.ni.com/oilandgas.

 

Danaher Announces Record First Quarter Results

Danaher Corporation announced that net earnings for the first quarter ended March 30, 2007 were $255 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, 16% higher than its 2006 first quarter net earnings of $216 million, or $0.67 per diluted share.

Sales for the 2007 first quarter were $2.56 billion, 19% higher than the $2.14 billion reported for the 2006 first quarter. H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are very pleased to announce another record first quarter. Growth from existing businesses, also known as core revenues, was 3.5% despite the negative impact of approximately 2 percent as a result of the completion of several large postal projects in the first half of 2006 within our Videojet and Accu-Sort businesses, as well as the impact of recent emission regulations on our Jacobs Vehicle Systems business. Total sales growth for the quarter also included acquisition growth of 12.5% and a positive currency impact of 3%. We continue to see strength across most of our portfolio and served markets and this gives us confidence in our ability to continue to deliver positive results for 2007.”

Danaher Corporation is a leading manufacturer of Professional Instrumentation, Medical Technologies, Industrial Technologies, and Tools and Components (www.danaher.com)

 

Ametek Posts 26 Percent Earnings Increase in 1Q on Higher Sales

Electronic instrument maker Ametek Inc. said Thursday its first-quarter earnings increased more than 26 percent, due to higher sales in its electronic instruments and electromechanical groups.

For the quarter ending March 31, the company earned $50.9 million, or 48 cents per share, up from $40.3 million, or 38 cents per share, in the same quarter last year. The earnings per share came in two cents above Wall Street estimates and the company said it exceeded its own expectations.

Ametek's net sales totaled $505.3 million, 19.2 percent higher than the revenue of $423.9 million it brought in during the year-ago period.

The increases in sales and profits came in part from growth in its electronics instruments group, whose revenue rose year-over-year to $282.9 million from $236.4 on gains in the unit's process and analytical, power and aerospace businesses, Ametek said. The group was also positively impacted by the company's Land Instruments and Precitech acquisitions.

Ametek's electromechanical group also had a strong quarter, showing sales of $222.4 million compared with $187.4 million in last year's first quarter. The group's sales increased on core growth and the inclusion of its PennEngineering Motion Technologies and Southern Aeroparts acquisitions, the company said.

 

Suzi Wesch Joins Davis Instruments and Calibration as its National Quality Manager

Davis Instruments and Calibration announced that Suzi Wesch, a senior member of American Quality for Society (ASQ), has joined the company as its National Quality Manager. In this position, she will oversee quality system and calibration processes at Davis’ corporate headquarters as well as its nationwide network of 28 calibration laboratories.

“We are pleased by the addition of Ms. Wesch to our team of professionals. Her technical expertise and background, including more than 15 years in the quality system field, will aid our company in providing unparalleled service along with client cost savings and increased productivity,” says Rob Flack, Vice President of Business Development at Davis.

Wesch, who is qualified to conduct ISO 9001 registration audits and ISO 17025 accreditation assessments, has assisted in the implementation, maintenance and registration to ISO 9001 requirements as well as accreditation to ISO 17025. Additionally, Wesch has conducted external training at the Measurement Science Conference (MSC) and internal training for personnel on regulations and quality system concepts.

She also has extensive experience performing internal audits of laboratories, quality management systems and reference standard programs. Along with her ISO qualifications, Wesch is an ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) and Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE).

Formerly, Wesch was employed by a pharmaceutical company as an analytical chemist and at a reference standard setting organization. She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a master’s degree in business administration.

Davis Instruments and Calibration, headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is a world leader in distribution and calibration of test, measurement and control instrumentation. Davis Calibration laboratories are ISO 9001 registered, accredited to ISO/IEC 17025. For more company information visit www.daviscalibration.com.

 

NVLAP Radiation Detection Instruments Program

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requested that NIST establish a laboratory accreditation program for laboratories that test radiation detection instruments used in homeland security applications. In response to the request by DHS, and after consultation with interested parties through public workshops and other means, the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) has agreed to establish the accreditation program.

NVLAP will accept applications from laboratories that perform testing of radiation detection instruments, such as handheld detectors, radionuclide identifiers, and portal monitors, using standards developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the DHS.

If you would like more information on the Radiation Detection Instruments program, please contact Betty Ann Sandoval at betty.sandoval@nist.gov or (301) 975-8446.

 

NIST Work Enhances Shop Floor Productivity

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) engineers, together with colleagues from industry and other standards organizations have completed a five-part series of standards designed to evaluate the accuracy—and thus usability—of manufacturing measurements. The standards, the last of which was published last month by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), describe ways measurement personnel can communicate, evaluate and respond to uncertainties in manufactured part measurements.

Adopting these standards on the shop floor should enhance manufacturing productivity at the same time that it minimizes scrapping of acceptable parts, unnecessary rework, and even litigation.

In a previous era, shop engineers could relax if component parts varied slightly from specification. Parts just had to “fit together.” However the complexity of many of today’s products, ranging from airplane turbines to nanotechnology microscopes, requires ever more advanced measurement capabilities at the shop floor. The ASME standards were needed because measurements often vary each time they are made (even the temperature of the part can change the measurement result by a significant amount). The series of standards also explains dimensional measurement traceability. Traceable measurements demonstrate the connection between the standard international (SI) unit of length (the meter) and the task-specific measurement under consideration; this also requires an uncertainty statement describing the accuracy of the measurement result.

The ASME B89.7 standards series addresses, with clear descriptions, the role of measurement uncertainty when accepting or rejecting products based on a measurement result and a product specification; economically efficient methods to overcome differences between two parties in the evaluation of measurement uncertainty; how to determine the economically appropriate decision to accept or to reject a product due to measurement uncertainty; and ways to demonstrate dimensional measurement traceability to the SI unit so that all parties can be sure of the reliability of their measurements. The latest addition to the series, B89.7.3.2, offers simplified guidelines for understanding and evaluating the major sources of measurement uncertainty.

NIST researchers chaired the ASME B 89.7 working groups and contributed to other related development work during the five-years it took to develop the five standards. More information on the ASME B89 standards is available at: http://catalog.asme.org/home.cfm?SEARCH=B89.7.

 

Transcat announces Charles Hadeed as Chief Executive Officer

Transcat, Inc. , a leading global distributor of professional grade test, measurement, and calibration instruments and a provider of calibration and repair services, is pleased to announce that Charles P. Hadeed has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer. The announcement was made by Carl E. Sassano, who has been elected Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company.

Mr. Hadeed joined Transcat in April 2002 as Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer. In late 2004, he assumed additional responsibilities as the head of the Company's laboratory operations and was named Chief Operating Officer in October 2004 and President in May 2006. He will continue to serve as President.

Commenting on Mr. Hadeed's promotion, Carl E. Sassano, Executive Chairman said: "Charlie's efforts, discipline and strategic guidance in finance were the foundation of Transcat's return to sustained profitability in fiscal year 2004. His operational leadership materially improved Transcat's calibration services as well as laboratory cost efficiency. Over the past eighteen months as President and Chief Operating Officer, he led the redesign of Transcat's sales process and strengthened our approach to finding new calibration business. As our CEO, Charlie's experience and knowledge will continue to help make Transcat a market leader in our industry."

Mr. Hadeed stated: "I'm honored to be named Chief Executive Officer of this wonderful company and pleased to be working with Carl Sassano, our Executive Chairman, to build on the solid foundation that has been established over the previous five years. Our excellent results are due to the superb team that has been assembled at Transcat over the past few years, whose efforts are producing year-over-year growth in Distribution Product sales, as well as growth in our Calibration Services business. I continue to believe that bundling our Distribution Products sales and Calibration Services provides significant value to our customers and gives us both competitive advantages and operating efficiencies. We are operating from a very strong foundation and I look forward to working with Carl to continue to identify opportunities to grow our business that are consistent with that strategy."

Charles P. Hadeed, 57, brings over 35 years of financial and strategic leadership experience to Transcat, serving as Chief Operating Officer, Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining the Company, he was Vice President - Heathcare Ventures Group with Henry Schein Inc.; Group Vice President - Operations at Del Laboratories Inc., and in various executive positions, including Vice President-Global Lens Care Operations, President-Oral Care Division, Vice President-Operations-Personal Products Division and Vice President/Controller-Personal Products Division, during his 20-year career at Bausch & Lomb, Inc. Mr. Hadeed earned a B.S. in Accounting from Syracuse University and is a certified public accountant.

Mr. Sassano, who was named CEO of Transcat in March 2002 and Chairman in 2004, has been elected Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. He will continue working with Mr. Hadeed to identify and evaluate acquisition targets that have the potential to enhance Transcat's strategic plan.

About Transcat, Inc.
Transcat, Inc. is a leading global distributor of professional grade test, measurement and calibration instruments and an accredited provider of calibration and repair services primarily to the process, life science and manufacturing industries. Through the Company's Calibration Services segment, Transcat offers precise, reliable, fast calibration and repair services through eleven Calibration Centers of Excellence strategically located across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to approximately 8,000 customers. To support the Company's customers' requirements, Transcat delivers the industry's highest quality calibration services and repairs. Each of the calibration laboratories is ISO-9001: 2000 and the scope of accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 is the widest in the industry.

 

Company Growth Fuels Gasco Facility Expansion

Gasco Affiliates, LLC, a leading producer of precision calibration gas, equipment and accessories, has expanded into a 12,000-square-foot building to house its corporate headquarters, production operations and warehousing.

Thomas Hanway, Gasco founder and managing member, says the new facility provides an expanded and improved layout that will facilitate increased workflow efficiency as the company continues to experience steady growth. “Our 2006 sales increased 42 percent over the previous year, representing Gasco's tenth consecutive year of growth since its inception. The new building will not only increase our production and inventory capacity, but will support our expanding distribution.”

Gasco's state-of-the-art facility boasts additional calibration gas filling instrumentation, improved logistics from order to delivery and increased production and warehouse capacity. "The new facility will give our customers a competitive advantage in the gas monitoring and detection market. We now have room to house additional inventory, allowing our customers to order and receive exceptional quality products at a faster delivery rate than any of our competitors," says Hanway.

Founded in 1996, Gasco Affiliates, LLC is a leading producer of precision calibration gas, equipment and accessories. The company employs proprietary procedures to create the highest quality grades of pure gases, gas mixtures - single gas, complex four-gas and highly reactive gas mixtures - cylinders and accessories for a wide range of applications. Gasco products meet or exceed all safety equipment industry specifications, and are available exclusively through safety distributors worldwide. For more information, visit www.gascogas.com.

 

Announcements from Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. announced that it has received a $94 million contract from the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command Redstone Arsenal. Under the contract, Agilent will deliver its AN/PRM-35 Radio Test Set or RTS over six years, beginning in 2008, to the U.S. Army Product Manager Test, Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment organization.

Agilent also announced that its series of handheld digital oscilloscopes was voted the No. 1 Product of the Year by readers of Elektronik, one of Europe's key electronics magazines. Other nominees in the test and measurement category included National Instruments and LeCroy. The Agilent U1600A Series is available now. Pricing starts at $1,321.

For more information visit Agilent Technologies at www.agilent.com.

 

Measurement Science Conference (MSC) 2008 Information

The 2008 Measurement Science Conference welcomes Kara Harmon, of Geotest-Marvin Test Systems, Inc., as the MSC Director of the 2008 MSC. The MSC will be held at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California Mduring the week of March 10 to 14, 2008 and will present the latest educational information available as in the previous conferences.

The theme for 2008 will be ‘Measuring Today’s Products and Tomorrow’s Technologies’.

The Measurement Science Conference was founded in 1970 to promote education and professionalism in measurement science and related disciplines. The Conference has grown and matured to meet the needs of dynamic measurement technologies as well as to address pertinent national and global measurement issues. Based in California, the MSC has attracted experts from around the world as speakers, exhibitors and attendees.

For more conference information visit www.msc-conf.com.

 

Integrated Service Solutions, Inc. Announces Grand Opening of New Headquarters

Integrated Service Solutions, Inc. announced today the relocation of corporate headquarters to a new facility in the Towamencin Corporate Center, on Bustard Road, Lansdale, Pennsylvania. The decision to relocate was driven largely by the need to expand service operations in support of more than 300 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies nationwide. The 20,000 sq. ft. facility is a notable expansion from the Company’s previous location in Schwenskville, Pennsylvania.

In announcing the move, Joseph Uricchio, Founder and President of Integrated Service Solutions, Inc. said, “Today is an exciting day for us. Integrated Service Solutions move to this new facility represents a number of investments we are making to support the rapidly growing demand for our services. This facility is nearly four times the size of our former location and will serve as a showcase in design and location for our customers. In addition, future growth in staffing levels as well as the increase in our Metrology Laboratory business were key drivers behind the decision to expand to a much larger and more conveniently located facility.”

"Our growth expresses the success we have achieved by providing excellent service and a broad service portfolio to our customers," says Uricchio. Our new facility supports our future growth potential and expanded service capabilities along with the capability to conduct training for our resources and our customers.”

Renovations on the single-story structure began last summer. The company completed the makeover by converting the space’s interior into a state-of-the art facility resulting in a visually stimulating and functionally efficient structure complete with energy saving Geothermal heating. Design elements include adding bold signage inside and outside of the building, contemporary lighting, glass walls and doors, visible open spaces flooded with natural light, custom designed work areas, a well-equipped employee kitchen, and display walls that showcase the Company’s portfolio of services.

In addition to housing executive, customer service, administration, and quality assurance departments, the facility also includes a 6,000 sq. ft. environmentally controlled Metrology Laboratory. The ISO/IEC 17025 compliant Laboratory (A2LA accrediation pending file number 2551.01) is equipped with ergonomic workbenches and sophisticated test and measurement devices for precisely calibrating customers’ equipment. Complementing the Metrology Laboratory are two additional distinct laboratories. They include the Mass Laboratory for the precision calibration of weights and the Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Laboratory for the testing and analysis of TOC ultra pure water.

The contemporary structure is also outfitted with the latest telecommunications software allowing for video conferencing, paperless processing and wireless communications. There are media-rich training and conference areas that are designed to host regular training sessions for customers, technicians and industry conference meetings.

“The facility’s visibility and its convenient location allow customers and current employees easier access, plus it helps with recruiting efforts as we are also actively recruiting for additional administrative and field technical support” adds Uricchio. We’re located less than ¼ mile from the Lansdale Interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, 4 miles from the Lansdale train station and 35 miles from either the Lehigh Valley or Philadelphia airports. Likewise, the nature of our business requires pharmaceutical companies to regularly audit us. Having the convenience of the world’s largest hotel chain right next door along with a broad range of amenities makes it much easier for our out-of-town guests.”

 

 

Manufacturing & Measurement Conference & Workshop – 2007 MMCW
Learn the Latest in Measurement Technology

The 2007 Manufacturing & Measurement Conference & Workshop (MMCW) is now in its 9th year. The event is being held April 23-27, 2007 at the Marriott Suites Resort at Sand Key in Clearwater, Florida. This must-attend event focuses on measurement applications on the manufacturing floor, as well as dimensional measurement issues and strategies.

Keynote Presenter - Tuesday, April 24
Pat Nugent, Vice President, Metrology Systems, Mahr Federal, Inc.
Reduce Inspection Costs by Measuring More

Keynote Presenter - Wednesday, April 25
Dean Beautel, Director of Technical Resources, Caterpillar, Inc.
The State of Industrial Metrology Yesterday - Today, and Tomorrow

2007 expanded topics include:

  • Temperature controls on measurements
  • CMMs
  • Vision systems
  • Laser scanning
  • In-line measurements
  • Cost savings through scrap reductions
  • Facility and manufacturing floor set-up
  • Thread gaging
  • and other test, measurement and inspection methods and strategies.

For more MMCW event details visit http://bnpevents.com/QTY/MMCW/index.htm. Take advantage of the co-worker discount – Register one person and second person receives 50% discount.

 

Bio Gas Flow Calibration Solution

Find our how Bios International’s new integrated system powers, controls and enables multi-setpoint calibrations and flow verifications of your mass flow devices - all by itself.

Experience the power of full calibration automation featuring Proven DryCal® Technology - fast and super-precise, by the accredited leader in primary gas flow measurement.

Please visit our new web site at www.biosint.com, or give us a call at 973.492.8400 to experience the individual attention and personal service that's made Bios the first choice of laboratory and process control professionals in the United States and Europe.

 

Troemner Technical Seminar on Tour

Troemner’s lead Metrologist Joseph Moran, with 27 years of experience, is hitting the road to help you to better understand the following topics:

  • Weight Selection
  • Requirements of CFR
  • Guidelines of USP 41
  • Internally Generated Procedures
  • Calibrating Balances
  • Identifying Environmental Effects on the Method
  • Methods for Pipetting with Balances
  • Calibration of Pipettes
  • Maintenance of Weights
  • Establishing Calibration Intervals
  • Handling, Storage and Cleaning of Weights

Troemner will be presenting six, one-day technical seminars. The first seminar will be held April 27 in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. The second will be held in Parsippany New Jersey on May 17th. In September we will be visiting Philadelphia and Boston, October in Chicago and San Diego in November. All of these seminars are scheduled to run from 9:00-3:00pm and breakfast and lunch will be provided. Also each person will receive a technical booklet of the presentation.

Don’t let this terrific opportunity pass you by, limited seats are available so call Donna Lodek today at 856-686-4209 or e-mail her at troemner@troemner.com. Please visit www.troemner.com/seminar.php for additional information and the reservation forms.

 

Sign Up for USP Email Notices

Monthly updates, providing timely information on:

  • The latest Reference Standard releases, estimated availability for out of stock items, and lists of Reference Standards with recent or pending valid use dates
  • USP-NF and PF publication schedules and other publication related announcements
  • Pharmacopeial Education news and class schedules
  • Helpful tips and answers to frequently asked questions

To view March’s newsletter and subscribe to future monthly email newsletters visit USP at: http://www.usp.org/products/emailNotice/.

 

Sensor Developments Inc. Offers ISO-17025 Force Calibration Lab

Sensor Developments Inc’s. (SDI's) A2LA accredited laboratory can calibrate force levels up to 300klbs/1334.4kNewtons and torque levels up to 360kin-lbs/40.6kNm. We use a combination of NIST traceable force standards and NIST traceable dead weights to perform calibrations.

SDI offers complete repair and remanufacturing of any strain gage based sensors and each one is fully certified to the ISO-17025 calibration standards. Our service department is committed to providing the highest quality repair, remanufacturing, and recalibration of strain gaged based transducers at competitive prices with quick, reliable turnaround times. Our extensive repair capabilities range from simple wiring repairs to complex re-gaging of a customer’s sensor.

Visit Sensor Developments at http://sendev.com/.
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