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53-612: Spectris plc is a supplier of precision instrumentation and controls. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index . The company was founded by Richard Fairey in 1915, as the Fairey Aviation Company with the objective of manufacturing seaplanes . In 1980 the business was acquired by Pearson from which it was the subject of a management buy-out in 1987. It

106-407: A Gloucestershire -based manufacturer of rheology and viscosity instruments. They also acquired Spectral Dimensions Inc, a manufacturer of infrared chemical imaging instruments, in 2006. Malvern received the 2006 Queen's Award for International Trade. Viscotek Corp, manufacturer of chromatographic and laboratory equipment and supplies, was acquired in 2008, as well as Reologica Instruments AB,

159-408: A Lund -based manufacturer of rheology and viscometry instrumentation, in 2010. Malvern received the 2010 Queen's Award for Innovation. The company was also listed as a 2010 winner of the annual Queen's Awards for Enterprise for its work measuring particles in fluids. In 2013, they acquired NanoSight , a Wiltshire -based manufacturer of nanoparticle characterization instruments, and, in 2014,

212-471: A "fourth big scientific revolution" after World War II is the development of scientific instrumentation, not only in chemistry but across the sciences. In chemistry, the introduction of new instrumentation in the 1940s was "nothing less than a scientific and technological revolution" in which classical wet-and-dry methods of structural organic chemistry were discarded, and new areas of research opened up. As early as 1954, W. A. Wildhack discussed both

265-462: A branch of Philips under the name of Philips Analytical, which developed XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) and XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) equipment. In 2002, Philips Analytical was officially renamed to PANalytical after Spectris’ acquisition of this x-ray analytical branch. Malvern later merged with PANalytical to become Malvern Panalytical Ltd. in 2017. As part of the materials analysis sector, Malvern Panalytical derives most of its revenue through sales of

318-505: A central control focus, this arrangement was inflexible as each control loop had its own controller hardware, and continual operator movement within the control room was required to view different parts of the process. With coming of electronic processors and graphic displays it became possible to replace these discrete controllers with computer-based algorithms, hosted on a network of input/output racks with their own control processors. These could be distributed around plant, and communicate with

371-501: A collection of equipment might be used to automate the testing of drinking water for pollutants. Instrumentation engineering is the engineering specialization focused on the principle and operation of measuring instruments that are used in design and configuration of automated systems in areas such as electrical and pneumatic domains, and the control of quantities being measured. They typically work for industries with automated processes, such as chemical or manufacturing plants, with

424-449: A desired output variable, and provide either remote monitoring or automated control capabilities. Each instrument company introduced their own standard instrumentation signal, causing confusion until the 4–20 mA range was used as the standard electronic instrument signal for transmitters and valves. This signal was eventually standardized as ANSI/ISA S50, "Compatibility of Analog Signals for Electronic Industrial Process Instruments", in

477-536: A destination. Automotive instrumentation must be cheap and reliable over long periods in harsh environments. There may be independent airbag systems that contain sensors, logic and actuators. Anti-skid braking systems use sensors to control the brakes, while cruise control affects throttle position. A wide variety of services can be provided via communication links on the OnStar system. Autonomous cars (with exotic instrumentation) have been shown. Early aircraft had

530-575: A few sensors. "Steam gauges" converted air pressures into needle deflections that could be interpreted as altitude and airspeed. A magnetic compass provided a sense of direction. The displays to the pilot were as critical as the measurements. A modern aircraft has a far more sophisticated suite of sensors and displays, which are embedded into avionics systems. The aircraft may contain inertial navigation systems , global positioning systems , weather radar , autopilots, and aircraft stabilization systems. Redundant sensors are used for reliability. A subset of

583-618: A fully automated robotic analytical system, incorporating fusion bead sample preparation, implementing X-ray spectrometry instrumentation, and developing thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) equipment. The company also joined partnership with Concept Life Sciences that year. Netzsch acquired Malvern Panalytical’s rheometer product lines in February 2020. In this acquisition, Malvern Panalytical extended Netzsch’s product portfolio by providing Kinexus rotational rheometers and Rosand capillary rheometers. In September 2020, Malvern Panalytical received

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636-737: A further £150 million subject to approval by shareholders. In May 2022, it was announced Spectris had acquired the California-based designer and manufacturer of piezo-electric accelerometers and dynamic force sensors, Dytran Instruments for £66 million. The company is organised as follows: Instrumentation Instrumentation can refer to devices as simple as direct-reading thermometers , or as complex as multi- sensor components of industrial control systems . Instruments can be found in laboratories , refineries , factories and vehicles , as well as in everyday household use (e.g., smoke detectors and thermostats ). Instrumentation

689-451: A pressurized bellows displaces a pen. Integrating sensors, displays, recorders, and controls was uncommon until the industrial revolution, limited by both need and practicality. Early systems used direct process connections to local control panels for control and indication, which from the early 1930s saw the introduction of pneumatic transmitters and automatic 3-term (PID) controllers . The ranges of pneumatic transmitters were defined by

742-451: Is a device that produces an output signal, often in the form of a 4–20  mA electrical current signal, although many other options using voltage , frequency , pressure , or ethernet are possible. The transistor was commercialized by the mid-1950s. Instruments attached to a control system provided signals used to operate solenoids , valves , regulators , circuit breakers , relays and other devices. Such devices could control

795-449: Is based on sensed antenna direction and sensed time delay. The other information is embedded in the transponder transmission. Among the possible uses of the term is a collection of laboratory test equipment controlled by a computer through an IEEE-488 bus (also known as GPIB for General Purpose Instrument Bus or HPIB for Hewlitt Packard Instrument Bus). Laboratory equipment is available to measure many electrical and chemical quantities. Such

848-407: Is often knowledgeable of techniques to minimize temperature gradients that cause air turbulence within the telescope. Instrumentation technologists, technicians and mechanics specialize in troubleshooting, repairing and maintaining instruments and instrumentation systems. Ralph Müller (1940) stated, "That the history of physical science is largely the history of instruments and their intelligent use

901-502: Is used to measure many parameters (physical values), including: The history of instrumentation can be divided into several phases. Elements of industrial instrumentation have long histories. Scales for comparing weights and simple pointers to indicate position are ancient technologies. Some of the earliest measurements were of time. One of the oldest water clocks was found in the tomb of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep I , buried around 1500 BCE. Improvements were incorporated in

954-470: Is well known. The broad generalizations and theories which have arisen from time to time have stood or fallen on the basis of accurate measurement, and in several instances new instruments have had to be devised for the purpose. There is little evidence to show that the mind of modern man is superior to that of the ancients. His tools are incomparably better." Davis Baird has argued that the major change associated with Floris Cohen ' s identification of

1007-472: The Northampton -based manufacturer of Thermodynamic analysis instruments, MicroCal Instruments, was acquired from GE Lifesciences. In 2017, they merged with PANalytical to form Malvern Panalytical Ltd. That same year, Malvern Panalytical released their X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer Epsilon, which was specifically designed for small spot analysis. In 2018, Malvern Panalytical unveiled Empyrean,

1060-532: The Philips Analytical business. In 2011, Spectris bought Omega Engineering for $ 475 million. In December 2012 it sold Fusion UV to Heraeus Holding, GmbH. for US$ 172 million in cash, using the proceeds to pay down debt. In 2014 it acquired ESG Solutions , an industry leader and pioneer in microseismic technology and services for the oil and gas, mining and geotechnical industries. In January 2018, Spectris Group acquired Concept Life Sciences from

1113-582: The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) type approval, as a “full-protection” X-ray instrument, for its Aeris range of benchtop XRD diffractometers. Malvern Instruments began with a focus on particle sizing. As it grew, this focus changed toward developing a "broad portfolio of analytical solutions". In 2014, the company's CTO expressed the company's focus as "We want to solve analytical bottlenecks". In order to maintain agility and currency in product development,

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1166-417: The 1970s. The transformation of instrumentation from mechanical pneumatic transmitters, controllers, and valves to electronic instruments reduced maintenance costs as electronic instruments were more dependable than mechanical instruments. This also increased efficiency and production due to their increase in accuracy. Pneumatics enjoyed some advantages, being favored in corrosive and explosive atmospheres. In

1219-728: The Queen's Award for Export & Technology (1988). In 1992, Burnfield acquired Malvern Instruments from Cray Electronics Holdings, and, in 1996, there was the acquisition of A3 Water Solutions GmbH, a Stuttgart -based specialist in the design, marketing, and manufacturing of air and liquid particle counters. In 1997, Malvern was also acquired by the Fairey Aviation Company , and Insitec Inc from Burnfield PLC. The holding company changed its name to Spectris plc in 2001. In 2003, they acquired Bohlin Instruments Ltd,

1272-414: The advancement of particle sizing technology. The company produces technology for materials analysis and principal instruments designed to measure the size, shape and charge of particles. Additional areas of development include equipment for rheology measurements, chemical imaging and chromatography . In 2017, they merged with PANalytical to form Malvern Panalytical Ltd. Malvern Instruments Ltd.

1325-600: The biomedical instrumentation of laboratory rats has very different concerns than the expert in rocket instrumentation. Common concerns of both are the selection of appropriate sensors based on size, weight, cost, reliability, accuracy, longevity, environmental robustness, and frequency response. Some sensors are literally fired in artillery shells. Others sense thermonuclear explosions until destroyed. Invariably sensor data must be recorded, transmitted or displayed. Recording rates and capacities vary enormously. Transmission can be trivial or can be clandestine, encrypted and low power in

1378-568: The business merged with Spectris owned HBK in February 2020. In July 2018, Andrew Heath was announced as the new CEO of Spectris following the retirement of John O’Higgins. O'Higgins served as CEO of Spectris for 12 years. Heath formally joined Spectris as the CEO in September 2018. In September 2019 it announced the divestment of BTG to Voith for total gross cash consideration of €319 million (£283 million). In January 2020, Spectris announcement

1431-491: The clocks. By 270 BCE they had the rudiments of an automatic control system device. In 1663 Christopher Wren presented the Royal Society with a design for a "weather clock". A drawing shows meteorological sensors moving pens over paper driven by clockwork. Such devices did not become standard in meteorology for two centuries. The concept has remained virtually unchanged as evidenced by pneumatic chart recorders, where

1484-643: The company built an isolated internal division, the Bioscience Development Initiative based in Columbia, Maryland , which has an entrepreneurial character and freedom from corporate management constraints; the unit aims to rapidly develop technologies in partnership with scientists and engineers from the pharmaceutical and other industries and academia. This unit focuses on the biopharmaceutical sector, specifically formulation of drug products. PANalytical originally began in 1948 as

1537-479: The control racks to be networked and thereby located locally to plant to reduce cabling runs, and provided high level overviews of plant status and production levels. In some cases, the sensor is a very minor element of the mechanism. Digital cameras and wristwatches might technically meet the loose definition of instrumentation because they record and/or display sensed information. Under most circumstances neither would be called instrumentation, but when used to measure

1590-497: The divestment of EMS Brüel & Kjær, a joint venture with Macquarie Corporate Holdings Pty Limited. Spectris and Macquarie Corporate Holdings Pty Limited divested EMS Brüel & Kjær to Envirosuite Limited , an environmental management technology company. Spectris received AUD35 million cash, less repayment of EMS B&K's debt facility on completion, and 10 million shares in Envirosuit in consideration. In November 2020, it

1643-567: The divestment of ESG Solutions from its Industrial Solutions Division for $ 4 million to SCF Partners to be merged into their existing company Deep Imaging Technologies, Inc. Following this, on the 24 August 2021, the divestment of NDC Technologies was confirmed. NDC was acquired by Nordson Corporation from Spectris for $ 180 million. Spectris announced on 11 January 2022 that the specialist bioanalysis sensor company, Creoptix, had been acquired by Malvern Panalytical for an undisclosed sum. Creoptix would be integrated into Malvern Panalytical throughout

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1696-435: The early years of process control , process indicators and control elements such as valves were monitored by an operator, that walked around the unit adjusting the valves to obtain the desired temperatures, pressures, and flows. As technology evolved pneumatic controllers were invented and mounted in the field that monitored the process and controlled the valves. This reduced the amount of time process operators needed to monitor

1749-409: The elapsed time of a race and to document the winner at the finish line, both would be called instrumentation. A very simple example of an instrumentation system is a mechanical thermostat , used to control a household furnace and thus to control room temperature. A typical unit senses temperature with a bi-metallic strip . It displays temperature by a needle on the free end of the strip. It activates

1802-478: The examples of DDT monitoring and the use of UV spectrophotometry and gas chromatography to monitor water pollutants . Malvern Panalytical Malvern Panalytical is a Spectris plc company. The company is a manufacturer and supplier of laboratory analytical instruments . It has been influential in the development of the Malvern Correlator, and it remains notable for its work in

1855-421: The first fully automated multipurpose x-ray diffractometer ; Claisse LeDoser-12, an Automatic Dispensing Balance; Morphologi Range, a new morphologically-directed raman spectroscopy system, and Epsilon 4, a benchtop x-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Malvern Panalytical launched a new partnership with SCOTT Technology Ltd., a supplier of sample preparation equipment, in 2020. Their contract included engineering

1908-593: The first half of 2022. In April the Spectris operating company, Red Lion Controls, announced that they have acquired MB Connect Line for an undisclosed figure. On the 19 April 2022, Spectris announced its intention to divest Omega Engineering to the Dwyer Group, an Arcline portfolio company, for $ 525 million subject to regulatory approval. In addition, Spectris announced a share buyback programme of up to £300 million, with an initial tranche of £150 million followed by

1961-406: The furnace by a mercury switch . As the switch is rotated by the strip, the mercury makes physical (and thus electrical) contact between electrodes. Another example of an instrumentation system is a home security system . Such a system consists of sensors (motion detection, switches to detect door openings), simple algorithms to detect intrusion, local control (arm/disarm) and remote monitoring of

2014-408: The goal of improving system productivity , reliability, safety, optimization and stability. To control the parameters in a process or in a particular system, devices such as microprocessors, microcontrollers or PLCs are used, but their ultimate aim is to control the parameters of a system. Instrumentation engineering is loosely defined because the required tasks are very domain dependent. An expert in

2067-446: The graphic display in the control room or rooms. The distributed control concept was born. The introduction of DCSs and SCADA allowed easy interconnection and re-configuration of plant controls such as cascaded loops and interlocks, and easy interfacing with other production computer systems. It enabled sophisticated alarm handling, introduced automatic event logging, removed the need for physical records such as chart recorders, allowed

2120-496: The information may be transferred to a crash recorder to aid mishap investigations. Modern pilot displays now include computer displays including head-up displays . Air traffic control radar is a distributed instrumentation system. The ground part sends an electromagnetic pulse and receives an echo (at least). Aircraft carry transponders that transmit codes on reception of the pulse. The system displays an aircraft map location, an identifier and optionally altitude. The map location

2173-439: The need to control valves and actuators in the field. Typically, a signal ranged from 3 to 15 psi (20 to 100kPa or 0.2 to 1.0 kg/cm2) as a standard, was standardized with 6 to 30 psi occasionally being used for larger valves. Transistor electronics enabled wiring to replace pipes, initially with a range of 20 to 100mA at up to 90V for loop powered devices, reducing to 4 to 20mA at 12 to 24V in more modern systems. A transmitter

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2226-597: The presence of jamming. Displays can be trivially simple or can require consultation with human factors experts. Control system design varies from trivial to a separate specialty. Instrumentation engineers are responsible for integrating the sensors with the recorders, transmitters, displays or control systems, and producing the Piping and instrumentation diagram for the process. They may design or specify installation, wiring and signal conditioning. They may be responsible for commissioning, calibration, testing and maintenance of

2279-452: The private equity firm Equistone Partners for £163m. In April 2018, Spectris acquired Revolutionary Engineering from company management for US$ 19m on a debt and cash-free basis and merged the company into the Spectris owned subsidiary, Millbrook Proving Ground . In July 2018, Spectris acquired the leading provider of turnkey solutions, VI-Grade for an undisclosed sum. It joined Spectris as an independent company; however, following changes in

2332-451: The process indicators. This again reduced the number and amount of time process operators were needed to walk around the units. The most standard pneumatic signal level used during these years was 3–15 psig. Process control of large industrial plants has evolved through many stages. Initially, control would be from panels local to the process plant. However, this required a large manpower resource to attend to these dispersed panels, and there

2385-410: The process. Latter years, the actual controllers were moved to a central room and signals were sent into the control room to monitor the process and outputs signals were sent to the final control element such as a valve to adjust the process as needed. These controllers and indicators were mounted on a wall called a control board. The operators stood in front of this board walking back and forth monitoring

2438-408: The productive and destructive potential inherent in process control. The ability to make precise, verifiable and reproducible measurements of the natural world, at levels that were not previously observable, using scientific instrumentation, has "provided a different texture of the world". This instrumentation revolution fundamentally changes human abilities to monitor and respond, as is illustrated in

2491-731: The system so that the police can be summoned. Communication is an inherent part of the design. Kitchen appliances use sensors for control. Modern automobiles have complex instrumentation. In addition to displays of engine rotational speed and vehicle linear speed, there are also displays of battery voltage and current, fluid levels, fluid temperatures, distance traveled, and feedback of various controls (turn signals, parking brake, headlights, transmission position). Cautions may be displayed for special problems (fuel low, check engine, tire pressure low, door ajar, seat belt unfastened). Problems are recorded so they can be reported to diagnostic equipment . Navigation systems can provide voice commands to reach

2544-408: The system. In a research environment it is common for subject matter experts to have substantial instrumentation system expertise. An astronomer knows the structure of the universe and a great deal about telescopes – optics, pointing and cameras (or other sensing elements). That often includes the hard-won knowledge of the operational procedures that provide the best results. For example, an astronomer

2597-589: Was announced that HBK subsidiary, VI-grade would acquire Imtec Engineering for an undisclosed sum. Further to acquisition of IMTEC Engineering, the traffic simulation and sensor simulation company, RightHook, was acquired and merged into VI-grade in November 2020 for an undisclosed sum. Spectris announced in December 2020 that Millbrook Proving Ground would be divested from the Spectris portfolio of companies and acquired by UTAC CERAM for £133 million. The divestment

2650-460: Was completed on the 2 February 2021. In December 2020 it was announced that B&K Vibro, another Spectris company, would be acquired by NSK Group for £163 million in cash. In April 2021, Spectris announced the acquisition of the real-time operating system developer and manufacturer Concurrent Real-Time from Battery Ventures , a Boston-based PE firm, for a purchase consideration of $ 166.7 million (£121.2 million) in cash. Spectris also announced

2703-480: Was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1988. In the 1990s the company focused on electronics selling its electrical insulator and hydraulic actuator businesses. In 1997 it acquired Burnfield , a measuring instruments manufacturer, and in 1999 it bought Servomex , an industrial instruments manufacturer. In 2000 it bought four instrumentation businesses from Spectris A.G. of Germany and then in 2001 changed its name to Spectris plc . In 2002 it bought

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2756-599: Was incorporated in 1971. In 1977, Malvern Instruments was recognised by the Royal Academy of Engineering , jointly with the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment (RSRE), for developing the Malvern Correlator. It also received the MacRobert Award for Outstanding Technical Innovation (1977), the Queen's Award for Technological Achievement (1977), the Queen's Award for Export Achievement (1981), and

2809-469: Was no overall view of the process. The next logical development was the transmission of all plant measurements to a permanently staffed central control room. Effectively this was the centralization of all the localized panels, with the advantages of lower manning levels and easy overview of the process. Often the controllers were behind the control room panels, and all automatic and manual control outputs were transmitted back to plant. However, whilst providing

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