Yokogawa Introduces Release 3 of the SMARTDAC+ GX/GP Series Paperless Recorders and GM Series Data Acquisition System

Tokyo, Japan - November 9, 2015

Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces the November 10 launch of release 3 of the SMARTDAC+® GX/GP series paperless recorders and GM series data acquisition system. This new release includes a number of new features and capabilities for the SMARTDAC+ system's GX series panel-mount type paperless recorder, GP series portable paperless recorder, and GM series data acquisition system.

This latest SMARTDAC+ release includes an advance reminder notification and calibration correction feature that will help customers in the heat treatment industry comply with the requirements of the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (Nadcap) and the SAE AMS2750E standard, and options that facilitate communications with a variety of industrial equipment, a key requirement for the Industry 4.0 initiative. In addition, the release features multi-batch capability, a DC power supply module (GM series only), and a pulse input module, and also adds support for a communications protocol used by supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA*1) systems and human machine interfaces (HMIs).

The SMARTDAC+ GX/GP/GM Series and modules
The SMARTDAC+ GX/GP/GM Series and modules

Overview of New Release and Background of Development

Recorders and data acquisition systems (data loggers) are used on production lines and at product development facilities in a variety of industries to acquire, display, and record data on temperature, voltage, current, flow rate, pressure, and other variables. Yokogawa offers a wide range of such products, and is one of the world's top manufacturers of recorders. Since releasing the SMARTDAC+ data acquisition and control system in 2012, Yokogawa has continued to strengthen it with the release of a variety of recorders and data acquisition devices that meet specific market needs and comply with industry-specific requirements and standards.

Aerospace companies often need to certify that their heat treatment and other industrial processes are Nadcap compliant. This SMARTDAC+ release includes a new option that addresses this need as well as options that facilitate connectivity with other types of industrial equipment, a key requirement for achieving the objectives of the Industry 4.0 initiative.

Features

With this release, four (4) new firmware options and two (2) new optional hardware modules (a pulse input module and a GM series DC power supply module) are available. The key features of the four firmware options are as follows:

  1. Heat treatment process option for Nadcap and SAE AMS2750E certification
    Nadcap and the SAE AMS2750E standard specify the pyrometric requirements for thermal processing equipment that are used in the heat treatment industry. In heat treatment processes where sensors, recorders, and data loggers are mounted directly on the heat treatment equipment to monitor their operating temperature, it is important for their calibration cycle to be clearly displayed. It is also important with accuracy tests for any calibration errors to be clearly displayed. In addition to having these capabilities, this heat treatment process option facilitates the management of calibration schedules. It can also set error compensation values for individual sensors, recorders, and data loggers, and record these values together with the measurement data. This option makes it easier for companies to obtain and maintain Nadcap and SAE AMS2750E certification.
  2. OPC-UA and SLMP communications options
    Release 3 includes a server option that complies with the OPC-UA communication standard necessary for Industry 4.0 automation. This enables measurement data stored on general-purpose data servers to be accessed directly by SCADA systems and HMIs. With this option, the GX/GP series paperless recorders and the GM series data acquisition system can function as subsystems for the transfer of data from field sensors and measuring instruments to upper level systems. Also available with release 3 is a seamless message protocol (SLMP*2) communications option that eliminates the need for a separate module or program to connect with SLMP-compliant PLCs via an Ethernet link.
  3. Multi-batch recording option
    Processes in the heat treatment, food/beverage, and pharmaceutical industries often require the use of more than one recording instrument to capture data on multiple batch processes. With the multi-batch option, a single recording device can record data from multiple batch processes, with the ability to individually control the start and stop of recording for each process. Furthermore, as SMARTDAC+ I/O units can connect to a network via Ethernet cables, access to multi-batch data distributed over a wide area is assured.

Major Target Markets

  • GX series: Production of iron and steel, petrochemicals, chemicals, pulp and paper, foods, pharmaceuticals, and electrical equipment/electronics; water supply and wastewater treatment facilities
  • GP series: Development of home appliances, automobiles, semiconductors, and energy-related technologies; universities; research institutes
  • GM series: Both of the above target markets

Applications

Acquisition, display, and recording of process data such as temperature, voltage, current, flow rate, and pressure

About SMARTDAC+

SMARTDAC+ stands for smart data acquisition and control. SMARTDAC+ offers input and output modules for a variety of signal sources and widely supports manufacturing processes and product performance evaluation testing. As a leading company in the recorder market, Yokogawa will continue to respond to a wide variety of needs to help its customers.

*1 An industrial monitoring and control system

*2 A widely used protocol that enables Ethernet applications to communicate with CC-Link IE compliant instruments (CC-Link IE is an Ethernet-based integrated open network). This protocol enables communication without regard to network hierarchy or boundary.

For more information

 

About Yokogawa

Yokogawa's global network of 88 companies spans 56 countries. Founded in 1915, the US$3.5 billion company engages in cutting-edge research and innovation. Yokogawa is active in the industrial automation and control (IA), test and measurement, and aviation and other businesses segments. The IA segment plays a vital role in a wide range of industries including oil, chemicals, natural gas, power, iron and steel, pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals, and food. For more information about Yokogawa, please visit www.yokogawa.com.


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