Instrumentation South an 'Excellent show'

More than 350 visitors from across the UK attended the first Instrumentation South exhibition held at the Madejski Stadium, Reading on 5th and 6th October: 33% more than the anticipated!

More than 350 visitors from across the UK attended the first Instrumentation South exhibition held at the Madejski Stadium, Reading on 5th and 6th October: 33% more than the anticipated! Following the success of Instrumentation North and Instrumentation Scotland and Offshore Systems, Instrumentation South offered companies involved in test measurement, data acquisition and control the chance to meet and do business in an informal environment within their own region.

The two-day event, strategically located in Reading, is where many of the top companies choose to site their headquarters - not just because it is conveniently close to London, but because it has excellent communication links with every part of the country.

Clusters of related industries in the surrounding areas include Southampton, Bristol, Oxford, Swindon and Luton, all of which are within a short travelling distance of Reading and featured heavily in the analysis of visitors who attended.

More than 45 companies involved with sensors, transducers, controls and PLCs, electronic test and measurement, QA, calibration, data acquisition, recorders, displays, monitors and analysis equipment exhibited over the two days, and feedback from exhibitors was very encouraging: "Good quality leads" from Pat Goodridge, Variohm Eurosensor "Quality of visitors was extremely good" said Fred Thornicroft, RDP Electronics; "Our first Instrumentation show.

Very worthwhile" from Andrew Christie, BFi OPTiLAS; "Well organised and well worth doing" from Richard O'Leary, Bronkhorst (UK); "Made a number of new contacts and visitor numbers were pleasing" Kathy Ambrose, Instrumentation Magazine; "Good mix of people.

Wide audience" from Ray Treagle, VEGA Controls; "Quality visitors.

We didn't stop nearly all day!" Barry Towner Dewetron; "Good mix of visitors from industrial backgrounds, from research to hi-tech electronics.

Something for everybody!" Nicky Ballard, Dewetron.

The event saw a number of new products on display.

National Instruments exhibited their latest version of NI-DAQmx - the NI-DAQmx 8 - its powerful data acquisition driver software and the core of its measurement services software shipped with each piece of NI multifunction DAQ hardware.

Penny + Giles launched a new rotary position sensor.

The SRH280 uses proven, non-contact Hall effect technology to provide OEMs with reliable and accurate rotary measurement in extreme industrial environments.

Vaisala exhibited their new HMT100 products, which can measure relative humidity, temperature and dewpoint in applications where close control is important, plus the DMT340, a new dewpoint transmitter with a choice of probes and options.

Position sensor manufacturer ASM introduced new sensors in their magnetostrictive, magnetoresistive and cable-actuated technologies.

These included a range of Ex versions, measurement ranges up to 60 metres, rotary measurements, and resolutions to 1 micro metre.

The UK office of Weldlogic exhibited the latest in microprocessor controlled power sources, the AWS-150, along with a host of welding lathes, turntables, orbital lathes and mechanical handling devices.

BEKA associates showcased their new range of Fieldbus Foundation and Profibus-PA fieldbus instruments, which can display up to eight process variables together with units of measurement and tag information on an easy to read 86 x 45mm backlit display.

Transducer solutions specialist RDP Electronics demonstrated a new, highly accurate range of competitively priced load cells, ideally suited for research, testing, batch weighing and OEM applications.

Honeywell Process Solutions used the event to mark the release of the XYR5000 series, comprising of the following core wireless products; Base station and transceiver, Pressure transmitters for pressure, flow and level measurements, Temperature transmitter for dual temperature measurements, and a 4-20mA Converter which allows the addition of any existing measurements to the wireless network.

Enhancing the visitor experience were very well attended, free workshops held by the Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society (ISA) England Section.

The free workshops covered: Wireless networking of sensors and instrumentation: applications and techniques, and reviewed sensor types and designs, and discussed their optimal use for wireless transmission of sensor and/or control information.

Re-bookings for the next Instrumentation South show, which will be held once again at the Madejski Stadium, Reading on 3rd and 4th October 2007, are already going well.

More than 60% have rebooked in the week following the show alone! And of course in the meantime Mtec - Sensors Measurement and Instrumentation, the UK national showcase for sensors and systems returns to the NEC, Birmingham on 15th and 16th February 2006, followed by Instrumentation North on 24th and 25th May 2006 at the Magna Science Park, Rotherham and Instrumentation Scotland and Offshore Systems on 6th and 7th September 2006 at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.

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