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JANUARY 2008 INDUSTRY NEWS

 

USDA Recommends Calibrating Pressure Gauges with Tester to Accurately Measure Water and Pesticide Use

Farmers, greenhouse growers and others rely on the accuracy of pressure gauges to ensure the desired rates of irrigation waters and pesticide sprays. However, it is essential to frequently check the accuracy of pressure gauges on the sprayers or in the irrigation lines. Pressure gauges on irrigation lines and pesticide spraying equipment frequently fail, and defective pressure gauges can result in either over or under application of pesticides or water.

The Application Technology Research Unit of the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Research Service has developed a portable device for checking pressure gauge accuracy. The easy-to-use, easy-to-build device incorporates a lightweight Model T-621 hydraulic pressure pump from AMETEK Measurement & Calibration Technologies.

A farmer or grower simply removes a pressure gauge from the equipment and screws it onto a threaded port on the left hand side of the tester. On the right hand side is a factory-calibrated pressure gauge. In the middle is a small reservoir containing water attached to the pump's pistol grip handle. Squeezing the handle generates pressures for comparing the two gauges side by side.

If the farmer's gauge doesn't match the factory-calibrated gauge, the farmer can either replace the faulty gauge or mark it for the actual location of the desired readings and continue using it. AMETEK offers a number of pressure gauges with adjustable pointers especially for this purpose. If a number of different pressures are needed or the readings are too far off, a new gauge is recommended. In any case, an accurate pressure gauge will save money, water and help keep unneeded pesticides out of the environment.

The portable calibration device is both useful and inexpensive. The AMETEK T-621 hydraulic pressure pump at the heart of the device is engineered with the user in mind. The durable lightweight pump features a transparent fluid reservoir and factory-calibrated reference gauge that are both easy to view along with vernier valves, vent valves, manifold connections and swivel fittings.

For additional information on the Model T-621, contact AMETEK Calibration & Measurement Technologies, 8600 Somerset Drive, Largo, FL 33773 USA. Phone: 727-536-7831 or 800-527-9999. Fax: 727-539-6882. E-mail: calinfo.us@ametek.com or visit www.ametekcalibration.com.

For more information on agricultural applications for the hand-held pressure gauge calibrator, contact Dr. Heping Zhu at the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Application Technology Research Unit, Woster, OH. Tel: (330) 263-3871. E-mail: heping.zhu@ars.usda.gov

 

ISO 9001:2000 Registration Growth Slows

The calibration services industry will be affected by the slower growth in ISO registrations according to a new research report on the industry now available from The Signal Group. This trend is offset somewhat by strong GDP growth worldwide and strong ISO 9001:2000 registration in some areas of the world. “The Market for Calibration of Test and Measurement Equipment: Strategies, Trends and Forecasts 2008-2012” examines developments in the industry and forecasts trends and market size.

The United States continues to have very low adoption of ISO 9001:2000 but the primary risk factor will be the degree of weakening in the U.S. economy in 2008. In some areas of the world double-digit growth will continue.

The study analyzes the situations faced by different providers of calibration services including test equipment manufacturers, commercial vendors and in-house laboratories.

“The Market for Calibration of Test and Measurement Equipment: Strategies, Trends and Forecasts 2008-2012” is a sourcebook of current conditions, practices, trends and developments in the industry including an analysis of eight key industry segments. The report analyzes fundamental background issues and provides detailed five-year forecasts accompanied by practical strategic advice. To view a Table of Contents and to order the report online visit http://www.thesignalgroup.net/research. The 109 page report is delivered immediately in electronic form and can be licensed for distribution within an organization.

 

2009 MSC Conference Information

The 2009 Measurement Science Conference welcomes Arman Hovakemian as the President of the 2009 MSC. The Conference will be held at the Disneyland Hotel March 23-27, 2009 and will present the latest educational information available as in the previous conferences.

 

NIST, EC Agency Partner for Better Measurements and Standards

Enhancing trade between the United States and the nations of the European Union (EU) while helping ensure the safety and quality of goods sold in both markets is the goal of a collaborative agreement signed on Dec. 17, 2007, between the European Commission (EC) Joint Research Centre (JRC)’s Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The pact will advance the development and availability of international measurement standards in the fields of chemistry, life sciences and emerging technologies.

Alejandro Herrero, director of the IRMM, signed the agreement in Geel, Belgium, on behalf of the EC, and Willie May, director of NIST’s Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory, signed for the United States.

Under the agreement, the JRC and NIST will work to better coordinate their research and development programs in metrology. This will include collaborative research on new measurement methods and their quality assurance, including but not limited to cooperation in the preparation and value-assignment of certified reference materials (artifacts certified as having specific component content or characteristics that are used for calibrating instruments or procedures, for validating the accuracy of measurement methods and as quality control benchmarks for industrial processes).

The JRC and NIST also plan to share resources and harmonize their respective regional and national responsibilities for chemical metrology, biometrology and international measurement standards.

NIST and the JRC are establishing a work plan that will detail specific projects and activities, including workshops and conferences. Specific topics already identified for such meetings are:

  • measurement methods and standards for hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (i.e. RoHs, the EU’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive);
  • reference materials for the analysis of potentially dangerous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); and
  • new measurement methods, technologies and standards for biofuels, multiplex biological measurements and the health and environmental effects of engineered nanomaterials.

For more information on the IRMM, go to http://irmm.jrc.ec.europa.eu/html/homepage.htm.

 

JASCO Celebrates 50 Years in the Analytical Instrument Marketplace

In 2008, JASCO celebrates its 50th anniversary in the analytical instrumentation market. The company was founded in 1958 by a group of researchers at the Institute of Optics, at what is now Tsukuba University, who required an infrared spectrophotometer for their research. Since a commercially available instrument did not exist in Japan, they undertook the challenge of developing their own. Their combined efforts produced a reliable instrument with excellent optical performance. Other research groups began asking these researchers to replicate the instrument for use within their laboratories. With increased demand for more instruments, JASCO Corporation was founded.

Today, JASCO is located in over 57 countries, manufacturing both spectroscopy and chromatography instruments and continues to meet the needs of its customers with quality products and a pro-active service and support team. The company’s line-up of products includes: UV-Vis/NIR, Dispersive Raman, FT-Raman, FT-IR, Polarimetry, Fluorescence, Circular Dichroism (CD), Dissolution, NSOM, HPLC, SFC/SFE, and Extreme Speed X-LC®.

For more information, visit the JASCO website at www.jascoinc.com or call us at
1-800-333-5272.

 

Emerson Sells Brooks Instrument to American Industrial Partners

Emerson announced it sold its Brooks Instrument unit on December 31, 2007, to American Industrial Partners Capital Fund IV, L.P. (“AIP”) for approximately $100 million in cash. AIP is a private equity investment firm that applies an operational approach to building and improving middle-market companies.

Brooks, headquartered in Hatfield, PA, provides flow measurement and control devices to the low flow application market, and principally serves the chemical and semiconductor industries. Its sales in fiscal 2007 were approximately $90 million.
“Brooks Instrument has performed well for Emerson,” said David N. Farr, chairman, CEO and president. “However, we believe Brooks’ alignment within AIP’s business provides the right synergy going forward for both companies.”

The sale of Brooks is representative of Emerson’s ongoing strategy to manage its business mix toward high-growth, high-return businesses that are strategic to its entire portfolio. Over the past 18 months, Emerson sold several small businesses which included its Western Forge hand tool unit and Buehler materials testing business, and in recent weeks sold its joint venture interest in Industrial Motion Control (IMC). Emerson also made a number of strategic acquisitions in the past year. Most recently, Emerson in September agreed to acquire Motorola’s Embedded Communications Computing (ECC) business for $350 million. That transaction also closed on Dec. 31.

About Emerson
Emerson (NYSE:EMR), based in St. Louis, is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions to customers through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and appliance and tools businesses. Sales in fiscal 2007 were $ 22.6 billion. For more information, visit www.Emerson.com.

About American Industrial Partners
Founded in 1989, American Industrial Partners is a private equity firm that makes control equity investments in mid-sized industrial companies that can benefit from the firm’s systematic approach to implementing strategic and operational improvements. For more information, visit www.aipartners.com or American Industrial Partners can be reached at 212-627-2360.

 

Invitation to NVLAP Seminar

NIST/NVLAP will conduct a two-day seminar entitled Preparing Your Laboratory for 17025 Accreditation: A Step-By-Step Approach, at the Measurement Science Conference (MSC) held at the Disneyland Hotel Conference Center in Anaheim on March 10-11, 2008. Twenty-five representatives from industry and government agencies participated in this seminar in 2007.

The seminar is useful for new laboratories seeking accreditation, but it would also be useful to train new staff, as a refresher course for existing staff, or to assist in preparation for scope additions for laboratories already accredited.

This interactive two-day seminar is aimed at quality managers, laboratory management and personnel thinking about seeking accreditation, and assessors. It includes presentations and lectures, group exercises, and panel discussions with ample opportunities for questions.

Topics include: How should a laboratory prepare for an initial and renewal accreditation? What should you expect during an assessment? How does your laboratory respond to the accreditation body when the management system has nonconformities? What is traceability and why should anybody care? Proficiency testing is required so, how is it handled and what’s the benefit? This year a presentation has been added on referencing NVLAP accreditation and logo usage in the international community.

Instructors for the seminar include: Barbara Belzer and Thomas Hettenhouser, Calibration Program Mangers from NVLAP, Greg Strouse, Scientist from NIST, and Sherrie Wentzel, Management and Program Assistant from NVLAP.

Registration link is http://www.msc-conf.com/2008/registration/. Register for NIST Seminars, and then select N04.
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