Walt Boyes' Blog

EMERSON ACQUIRES SOLARTRON MOBREY Solartron Mobrey -- whose measurement technologies include level, density, viscosity and flow computer products -- will be renamed Mobrey Measurement and become part of Emerson Process Management. Complementing Emerson’s established measurement brands, which include Rosemount, Micro Motion, Brooks, Saab Rosemount and Daniel, the acquisition … [Read more...] about Emerson Strikes Again!

Just when it looked like we were forgetting about sensors, look what this blog has been about most of the week. It is a continuing theme (okay, one of my hobby horses) that we need better, smaller, cheaper, more reliable sensors for every type of measurement. I've had real world confirmation of the importance of this point of view this week from Elpro (lifetime warranty), … [Read more...] about Elpro, Photon, NASA and Sensors

NASA scrubbed the space shuttle Discovery's launch yesterday, with less than two and a half hours to go. Why? One of the fuel level sensors in the big hydrogen tank stubbornly refused to acknowledge that the tank was in fact full. As if underscoring the importance of sensors, NASA's spokespeople said they have an "unexplained anomaly" on their hands. In other words, they can't … [Read more...] about Anybody still wonder how important sensors are?

Have you ever said to yourself, "Jeez, I wish there was a standard on (insert name of problem you are facing) so I don't have to do it all myself!"? I am sure you have. Well, it may be that your wish could be granted. Yesterday, ISA announced that they have implemented a new way for professionals to suggest standards projects. Through a web interface, users can provide … [Read more...] about New Suggestion Box at ISA

For many years, I worked with a company in the chlorine gas feeding business called Capital Controls Company, now part of Severn Trent. My fatherwas one of their first set of reps in the United States, just like Eoin O'Riain's (publisher of Readout in Ireland) was. It is a very small world, this automation stuff. So I know first hand just how much fun it is to try to measure … [Read more...] about Sometimes, analysis can be a real pain…