01 Mar 1999
Whilst unfavourable macro-economic circumstances have forced the group to curb operational and overhead costs, investment in R&D has remained a priority, yielding numerous new products over the past twelve months. These developments will enable Fairey's operating companies to defend their leading positions in core markets and to seize opportunities in growth areas.
Electronic Controls
- Arcom Control Systems has released a Windows CE development kit. The kit provides a complete set of hardware and software components to enable the rapid development of new Windows CE applications for the versatile Arcom Elan-104 SBC computer board.
- Imaging Technology has launched SmART Search software for object search and location within automated manufacturing environments. This new vision tool pinpoints objects in images with a precision that is 15 times higher than the most commonly used methods.
- Microscan Systems' latest family of barcode scanners offers high-speed scanning of multiple label types and symbols. Benefits include raster scanning for flexibible label placement, ruggedised housing for harsh environments and small size/weight to ease installation - the smallest in the range weighs a mere 3 ounces.
- Red Lion Controls' new Paradigm series of graphical operator terminals links with PLCs and instrumentation to present performance data in graphic form for instant communication and interpretation.
Process Instrumentation
- Beta LaserMike has launched Wirescan, a durable laser diameter gauge designed specifically for wiredraw applications, delivering consistent measurement to an accuracy of 1 micron. A new series of micrometers measures small diameter products such as datacom, telecom and insulation wire.
- Fusion UV Systems' Aetek division, specialising in UV curing for the graphic arts industry, has released a series of 'plug & play' modular power supplies for the their range of narrow web UV curing products. Customers can now expand capacity on an ad hoc basis.
- Ircon has introduced two low cost products with wide appeal. Mini-IRT is a thermometer targeted at OEMs, whilst DigiCam IR is an affordable thermal-imaging camera aimed at the growing market for on-site inspection and preventative maintenance. At the high end of the market, ScanIR II is a redesigned line scanner intended to consolidate Ircon's strong position in the glass, steel and paper industries.
- Loma has extended its product portfolio with the addition of x-ray technology. Already a leader in metal detection for the food industry, x-ray inspection widens the company's capability by detecting contaminants such as glass, bone fragments, PVC, ceramic material and even metal contaminants within metal packaging.
- Luxtron Corporation has developed the Optima 9100, a multiple chamber plasma etch end-point controller designed to improve processing of low exposed area wafers. Luxtron's new True Temp 7250 measures wafer temperatures in-situ during critical plasma-enhanced wafer processing steps and extends the range of lowest measurable temperature from 125 to 40 degrees C, vital in manufacturing complex new generation devices at geometries of 0.18 microns or less.
- Malvern Instruments' Mastersizer 2000, a new generation of laser diffraction particle size analysers, advances particle size measurement to the point where it is now a simple, straightforward and routine task, without compromising the integrity and reliability of the results.
- NDC Infrared Engineering has launched GaugeView, a Windows software package that automatically captures and plots measurement data for process analysis and gauge calibration. GaugeView's graphical display makes trend plotting much easier, highlighting process characteristics such as cyclic variations and parameter drifts that can otherwise remain hidden in digital data.
- Particle Measuring Systems' new Data Touch acquisition system interfaces with the company's new families of aerosol and liquid particle counters to provide dedicated local display and control capabilities in applications where contaminants are monitored continuously at multiple locations. The product complements Facility-View, PMS' facility monitoring software package for centralised control of multiple instruments.
Filtration Systems
- Fairey Arlon's Low Environmental Impact Filter with re-usable metal sleeve dispenses with the traditional integrated steel core, reducing disposal costs.
- Fairey Industrial Ceramics has launched an intelligent domestic water filter, with LCD display showing flow rates, servicing details, cartridge change warning and life expectancy data.
- Fairey Microfiltrex has developed a one-piece capsule stack, consisting of close-coupled stainless steel filter discs, for final filtration within polymer melt applications - the system improves filtration integrity whilst reducing maintenance time and costs. The company has also developed a range of differential pressure indicators for harsh environments, which gauge filtration performance under
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