
November 27, 2018
The Electronic Controls Division of Parker Hannifin Corporation recently announced an updated version of PHD Packager for the PHD display product line. Parker's PHD displays are rugged, general purpose displays offering full color, touch capable screens with built-in CAN ports and I/O. The latest release, PHD Packager V1.51, includes several enhancements that improve the ease of use and help to reduce programming time for faster application development.
"PHD displays can be used in a wide variety of machines and vehicles. The robust design, size variations and easy to program interface has made an impact in multiple market segments including construction, material handling, mining, and transportation,” said Janaki Viswanathan, regional application engineer, Parker Electronic Controls Division.
The PHD Packager V1.51 now allows users to select the target PHD display and highlights the corresponding configuration items available for it. This helps reduce development time by eliminating errors that result from selecting configuration items that are not available for that display. In addition, a library of basic gauges, icons, buttons, and other images is now included in the PHD Packager installation to provide developers a head start on screen design.
The update also introduces the ability to load previously created and saved PHD display application files directly to the displays. The files can be shared and reused by PHD developers to help shorten development time and reduce errors during system development. Several checks and configuration options have also been updated to minimize errors during the application file loading process, reducing debug time during application development.
Please click here to download PHD Packager V1.51.

With Canadian manufacturing suffering from a growing labour shortage, the participation of industry in skills development is emerging as a vital component in hiring and retention.
The needs are stark: The Canadian Exporters and Manufacturers Association says almost 40% of its members have jobs they can’t fill. Five years from now, 60% expect to be short-staffed, especially when it comes to skilled trades. Statistics Canada forecasts the country’s labour force growth rate will remain below 0.2% for the rest of the decade, below replacement levels.
This growing shortage is affecting companies of all sizes. Already, some manufacturers acknowledge losing out on contracts because they can’t find the manpower to fulfill them.
In reality, the challenge is two-fold: to replenish and expand the workforce to help close the gap between the number of job seekers and vacancies through 2030 when the last baby boomers reach age 65, and ensure workers get opportunities throughout their careers to upgrade or add to their skillset as current technologies evolve and new ones emerge. Festo, through Festo Didactic, one of the world leading provider of equipment and solutions for technical education, intends to help Canada meet this challenge on both fronts. In essence, the approach Festo has always taken is that the learning never stops.
Read more here
New Product

Emerson recently introduced the ASCO™ Series 209 proportional flow control valves, which offer the highest standards of precision, pressure ratings, flow characteristics and energy efficiency available in a purpose-built, compact architecture. With this combination of size and performance, Series 209 valves allow users to precisely regulate the flow of fluid in a wide range of devices that require exacting performance, like those found in the medical equipment, food and beverage, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industries.
Accuracy, response time and repeatability are critical in high-precision flow control applications, such as controlling tool speed in dental chairs, the flow of steam in coffee makers, water flow in cooling systems and hydrogen flow in fuel cells. Series 209 valves have low hysteresis (less than or equal to 5%), excellent repeatability (less than or equal to 1%) and high sensitivity (less than or equal to 0.2%) that contribute to their precision.
To find out more, click here
Featured Product
Teledyne FLIR Integrated Imaging Solutions is pleased to announce the all new Ladybug6— the latest addition to its field proven Ladybug series. Ladybug6 is the leading high-resolution camera designed to capture 360-degree spherical images from moving platforms in all-weather conditions. Its industrial grade design and out-of-the-box factory calibration produces 72 Megapixel (MP) images with pixel values that are spatially accurate within +/- 2 mm at 10-meter distance.
“The new Teledyne Ladybug6 is designed for mobile mapping and all-weather inspection projects requiring excellent image quality and high resolution,” said Mike Lee, Senior Product Manager at Teledyne FLIR. “With the addition of Ladybug6, we are now pleased to offer a wider variety of spherical cameras with higher resolutions ranging from 30 MP to 72 MP.”
To learn more, click here