PRESSESERVICE

The food processing industry relies heavily on temperature measurement – not only to prove compliance with food safety but also as a crucial means to optimize cooking cycles and save money. As a provider of thermal profiling and non-contact infrared temperature measurement solutions, Fluke Process Instruments has all requirements covered. Datapaq Food Tracker systems record the product and air temperatures in such processes as cooking, baking, and freezing. Based on a Datapaq datalogger, thermocouples, a protective barrier, and the powerful, yet easy to use Insight analysis software for lethality calculations, they pass through the process with the food products and generate HACCP-compliant reports. The Food Tracker’s radio functionality enables real-time cook validation, allowing operators to shorten cooking cycles and increase throughput. Complementing the profiling systems, infrared spot pyrometers such as the Thermalert 4.0, linescanners such as the Raytek MP150, and the TV40 thermal camera enable end-to-end product temperature monitoring. All these systems can continually monitor food products as they enter and exit an oven or chiller. They are designed for integration into process control systems and can be built into machinery for OEM applications.
More information: https://get.flukeprocessinstruments.com/foodsolutions/email/

Fluke Process Instruments will host a webinar on temperature uniformity surveys (TUS) of furnaces on 16 April 2020, 10 a.m. UTC. Attendance is free of charge for all interested participants who are requested to register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8677766185846099214 in advance. The webinar will be hosted by Rob Hornsblow, Datapaq product manager at Fluke Process Instruments. He will demonstrate correct use of the features of the Datapaq Insight Survey software when carrying out TUS measurements with a Datapaq Furnace Tracker temperature profiling system. Participants will learn how to create TUS reports according to the NADCAP specification AMS2750. Many of the procedures covered by the webinar will also benefit those who have to comply with CQI-9 and other metrology standards. The webinar will take about 30 minutes. Subsequently, Rob Hornsblow will answer users’ questions.

Fluke Process Instruments will showcase temperature sensing solutions for primary and secondary metals production at the 2019 HeatTreatmentCongress in Cologne, Germany. These include infrared sensors for noncontact measurements, which are ideal for continuous remote monitoring of products and equipment, and datalogging systems for furnace surveys and in-process product temperature profiling. Developed to meet today’s demanding industrial automation requirements, the hardware and software systems allow operators to optimize their processes for consistent high quality and fuel efficiency. An exhibition highlight, the ThermoView TV40 industrial-grade thermal imager with an integrated visible-light camera, enables 24/7 temperature monitoring in a -10 °C to 1200 °C range. Target applications include iron foundries where the imagers check temperatures of molten metal and monitor ladles to ensure that the refractory lining is intact. Users can define various areas of interest with distinct alarm conditions. Also on show, the Datapaq Furnace Tracker based on the Datapaq TP3 data logger with up to 20 measurement channels performs temperature uniformity surveys (TUS) and system accuracy tests (SAT) compliant with NADCAP AMS 2750E and CQI-9. These profiling systems are designed to travel through heat-treatment and quench processes. They include analysis and reporting software, thermocouples, and thermal barriers for maximum protection at high temperatures up to 1200 °C and process durations of hours and days. The team will be happy to advise visitors on the best way to tackle their particular application. Fluke Process Instruments at HeatTreatmentCongress Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany, 22 – 24 October 2019 Hall 4.1, Stand C-091

At the SVTM vacuum technologies and materials treatment exhibition, Fluke Process Instruments presents powerful temperature profiling systems based on robust Datapaq TP3 data loggers. Featuring up to 20 thermocouple channels and an outstanding 3.6 million data points memory, the loggers perform up to 10 consecutive measurement runs. The systems are application-tailored for all kinds of heat treatment processes in primary and secondary metals production, including vacuum brazing, aluminum solution reheat, and water or gas quenching. The measured temperature range is -100…1370 °C with a ±0.3 °C accuracy. Datapaq TP3 data loggers can be pre-configured for mixed thermocouple types. They enable temperature uniformity surveys (TUS) and in-process product temperature monitoring. The Datapaq Insight analysis software includes comprehensive reporting functions. Users can easily customize reports and generate CQI-9, AMS 2750E, and ISO9000-compliant reports. Application-specific thermal barriers protect the electronics throughout the length of the process. The line-up includes, among others, special barriers for vacuum brazing furnaces with minimized out-gassing and low-height quench systems. The team will be happy to advise trade show visitors on the best way to tackle their particular application. Fluke Process Instruments at SVTM Lille, France, 3 – 4 July 2019 Stand 96

Fluke Process Instruments presents its range of thermal profilers and infrared temperature measurement solutions at the THERMPROCESS trade fair. The latest addition to the IR pyrometer portfolio, Thermalert 4.0, enables automatic noncontact temperature monitoring in a -40…2250 °C range. Due to the outstanding ambient temperature range of -20…85 °C, more measuring points can be set up without cooling. Another IR innovation, the industrial-grade thermal imager ThermoView TV40 with an integrated visible-light camera, is also on show. The fixed-installation thermal camera enables 24/7 temperature monitoring in a -10…1200 °C range. Developed to meet today’s demanding industrial automation requirements, it supports GigE streaming of images and automatic alarms. The manufacturer’s thermal profiling systems are represented by Datapaq TP3 data loggers, featuring up to 20 thermocouple channels and outstanding 3.6 million data points memory capacity. The loggers enable temperature uniformity surveys (TUS) and in-process product temperature monitoring. Even water or gas quench processes can be profiled. Users can easily customize reports and generate CQI-9, AMS 2750E, and ISO9000-compliant reports. The measured temperature range is -100…1370 °C with a ±0.3 °C accuracy. Fluke Process Instruments offers complete application-tailored system solutions including resilient thermal barriers, Datapaq Insight analysis software, and thermocouples. The team will be happy to advise visitors on the best way to tackle their particular application. THERMPROCESS is part of “The Bright World of Metals”, the major international event for the metals industry, also comprising the GIFA trade fair for foundry technology, the METEC metallurgy and steel industry trade fair, and the Newcast trade fair for precision castings, which are all held concurrently in Düsseldorf. Fluke Process Instruments at THERMPROCESS Düsseldorf, Germany, 25 – 29 June 2019 Hall 9, Stand C73

At the 2019 SMTconnect, Fluke Process Instruments will present its new Datapaq DP5 data loggers for inline temperature profiling in reflow soldering processes. Launched at last year’s show, the profilers are now in serial production. They are showcased along with a comprehensive array of system components building on the established Datapaq Reflow Tracker program, which also comprises a dedicated software suite. These components include compact stainless-steel thermal barriers, thermocouples, and two sensor holding frames. These frames with fixed thermocouples save setup time and ensure high repeatability in monitoring process stability. The Datapaq Surveyor frame is designed to measure process performance at the critical board level. Together with the Insight Professional software, this tool detects trends in oven performance, allowing operators to take corrective action early on. The second sensor frame is a 12-thermocouple pallet for monitoring wave soldering process stability. The pre-heat, chip wave, and wave soldering phases can all be analyzed with one tool and one software. Analysis functions include maximum temperature, maximum slopes, contact time, and line speed. Users do not even have to wait for the profiler to exit the oven to visualize and analyze the data. An integrated radio transmitter optionally provides real-time data from within the process. All process and system data can also be communicated to factory-monitoring systems via the OPC interface. Fluke Process Instruments at SMTconnect Nuremberg, Germany, 7 – 9 May 2019 Hall 4, Stand 118

Fluke Process Instruments presents temperature profiling technology at the 2019 European Coatings Show. The manufacturer provides dedicated hardware and software kits for monitoring thermal cure of powder-coatings, paints, adhesives, and sealants. These systems help customers ensure consistent high quality, improve efficiency, and prove compliance. The prime showcase, the recently launched Datapaq DP5 data logger provides an outstanding ±0.5 °C accuracy and ±0.1 °C resolution over the full measuring and operating temperature ranges. These loggers are available in various 6-channel and 12-channel formats with matching thermal barriers to suit any thermal process. Measurements can be started and stopped manually, via two color-coded buttons, or triggered by time or temperature. The loggers combine ease of use with excellent availability and minimal running costs: they feature a user-replaceable NimH battery pack, which can be recharged from any USB outlet or port. One 90-minute charge allows for more than 40 hours of profiling. One logger can survey up to 10 ovens in succession, storing individual profiles with up to 600k data points in total. The Datapaq Insight software quickly transforms the raw data into actionable information. It includes the Easy Oven Setup recipe calculator, SPC, and trending analysis. The portfolio is completed by various thermocouple types for all application needs. The team will be happy to advise trade-show visitors on the optimal monitoring system selection. Fluke Process Instruments at European Coatings Show Nuremberg, Germany, 19 – 21 March 2019 Hall 5, Stand 152

Combining two devices using two different temperature measurement technologies, Fluke Process Instruments provides the glass industry with more information on high-value applications like float glass manufacturing, glass tempering, and windshield forming and laminating. Temperature profiling runs with a data logger enable operators to quickly optimize furnace settings for new products and to identify problems with burners or airflow. They are complemented by a thermal imager installed at the furnace exit for 100 % production monitoring and traceability. Datapaq Furnace Tracker profiling systems travel through heat-treatment and quench processes. They record the product temperature curves via up to 20 thermocouples cemented to the glass pane. These industry-specific profiling systems consist of a data logger, a thermal barrier, and software with advanced analysis, reporting, and archiving functions. The manufacturer offers the largest range of thermal barriers in the market and will advise customers on which system setup to use for their applications. The other measuring device, a Raytek MP150 infrared linescanner, scans each glass pane when it exits the furnace. It generates a thermal image and immediately shows up hot and cold spots. The series comprises various different spectral models, allowing even low-emissivity glass to be monitored. In contrast to thermal cameras, the linescanner needs only a very narrow field of view. It is therefore ideal for manufacturing lines with furnace and quench installed in close proximity.

Fluke Process Instruments provides a dedicated temperature profiler for aluminum vacuum brazing furnaces. The Datapaq Furnace Tracker system automatically generates CQI-9 and AMS 2750E reports. It is designed for frequent use, even during normal production. The data logger traces product temperature profiles via ten thermocouples throughout all process phases. Thermal protection is provided by a phase-change heat sink and a thermal barrier consisting of nine stainless-steel and aluminum reflective plates with a ceramic outer coating. The all-metal construction eliminates the need for micro-porous insulation and therefore minimizes outgassing along with its related problems of oxidation and unnecessary rejects. The Datapaq VB1150 vacuum barrier protects the logger for 3.5 hours at 600 °C. The maximum operating temperature in vacuum processes is 700 °C. After only 45 minutes of cooling down, the system is ready to be reused. The innovative application-specific design and superior manufacturing quality ensure a solution that will perform reliably for many years. The system software enables trending analysis and facilitates logger diagnostics. It allows users to identify hot and cold spots and optimize product load and furnace parameters such as brazing times, max/min temperatures, and temperature slopes to ensure that all products meet thermal specifications. An optional radio module enables real-time process control, allowing users to adjust furnace settings and ramp-up to the next zone at the right time. Fluke Process Instruments will present all its latest temperature profiling innovations for the aluminum processing industry at the ALUMINIUM 2018 exhibition in Düsseldorf, Germany, in Hall 10, at Stand H65. Fluke Process Instruments at ALUMINIUM 2018 Düsseldorf, Germany, 9 – 11 October 2018 Hall 10, Stand H65

Fluke Process Instruments offers a comprehensive range of temperature monitoring solutions for primary and secondary metals manufacturing. The company has just introduced ThermoView TV40 thermal imagers with an integrated visible-light camera. Designed for fixed installation, this new series is ideal for iron foundries where the imagers check temperatures of molten metal and monitor ladles to ensure that the refractory lining is intact. Users can define various areas of interest with distinct alarm conditions. The analysis software enables easy traceability for each melt. Fluke Process Instruments furthermore offers temperature profiling solutions for downstream steel and metals processing. The Datapaq Furnace Tracker based on the Datapaq TP3 data logger with up to 20 measurement channels enables furnace surveys according to NADCAP AMS 2750E and CQI-9. The systems include analysis and reporting software, thermocouples, and thermal barriers for maximum protection at high temperatures up to 1200 °C. They are also used for in-process product temperature profiling. These and more products and applications will be presented at the 2018 HeatTreatmentCongress in Cologne, Germany. Fluke Process Instruments at HeatTreatmentCongress Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany, 16 – 18 October 2018 Hall 4.1, Stand A-060, B-061

Fluke Process Instruments will showcase solutions for temperature measurement and quality control with data loggers and infrared technology at the glasstec exhibition in Düsseldorf, Germany. The new Thermalert 4.0 spot pyrometers enable noncontact, automatic monitoring of glass surfaces. The series includes a sensor with a 5 µm wavelength for measuring temperatures from 250 °C to 2250 °C, which is suitable for applications such as glass bending. A 7.9 µm model from the Thermalert series with a 300 °C to 900 °C range measures ultra-thin drawn glass that is used for screens in many mobile devices. The infrared thermometers have the largest ambient temperature range in their class: -20 °C to 85 °C. Therefore, many measuring points can be set up without cooling accessories, saving costs. Moreover, the sensors can be read out, configured, calibrated, and fitted with firmware updates remotely via the internet. This minimizes service costs per measuring point. In addition, the manufacturer will also present a system solution for glass tempering that allows plant operators to optimize their processes, especially in the production of high-value products such as architectural glass. A Datapaq Furnace Tracker measuring mere 29 mm in height passes through the tempering furnace and air quench along with the glass. Taking readings from ten thermocouples that are attached to the glass pane, it generates a temperature profile of the entire process. Such profiling runs are used for process setup and troubleshooting primarily. Complementing the profiling solution, noncontact infrared measurement technology ensures 100% production control and traceability: an IR linescanner generates full thermal images at the furnace exit, which are used to monitor temperature uniformity. The Raytek MP150 linescanner offers a superior resolution of up to 1024 measurement points per line, revealing even minimal deviations. Fluke Process Instruments at the glasstec exhibition Düsseldorf, Germany, 23 – 26 October 2018 Hall 14, Stand G48

At the ALUMINIUM 2018 exhibition in Düsseldorf, Germany, Fluke Process Instruments will present its latest temperature profiling innovations for the aluminum processing industry. The thermal profilers enable furnace surveys and in-process product temperature monitoring with up to 20 thermocouple channels. The Datapaq Insight analysis software includes comprehensive reporting functions. Users can easily customize reports and generate CQI-9, AMS 2750E, and ISO9000-compliant reports. Dedicated system solutions are available for temperature uniformity surveys (TUS) and for product temperature profiling during controlled atmosphere brazing, vacuum brazing, age hardening, solution treatment, aluminum log homogenizing, quenching, and ingot reheating. The Datapaq TP3 data loggers store up to 3.6 million data points. The measured temperature range is -100 °C to 1370 °C with a ±0.3 °C accuracy. Operating costs are minimal due to flexible charging with any of three user-interchangeable battery types: Lithium, Alkaline, or rechargeable NiMH batteries. Each logger is supplied with an onboard digital calibration certificate allowing automatic measurement correction functions which eliminate risk of human error and save time on reporting. Application-specific thermal barriers protect the electronics throughout the length of the process. The line-up for the aluminum industry includes, among others, special barriers for vacuum brazing furnaces with minimized out-gassing and low-height quench systems. Featuring automatic temperature triggers, the programmable loggers can automatically choose a faster sampling interval once immersed in the quench tank, enabling users to collect more data during this critical phase of the process. The barriers cool down quickly and can be re-used immediately after a measurement run. The data loggers, too, enable time-saving serial measurements: they can execute up to ten consecutive profiling runs before download via Bluetooth or USB. The manufacturer also provides suitable thermocouples as well as a surveyor jig for brazing, which enables repeatable measurements and furnace trending analysis without having to rig up a product. Fluke Process Instruments at ALUMINIUM 2018 Düsseldorf, Germany, 9 – 11 October 2018 Hall 10, Stand H65

Fluke Process Instruments launches a new range of data loggers for temperature profiling in short and medium-duration processes in the electronics and paint & powder-coating industries. The Datapaq DP5 series is optimized for ovens with a low clearance and reflow solder applications. A machined-from-solid aluminum case ensures maximum protection for the electronics when used in an industrial environment. Users can pick from various profiler formats for the best match to process restrictions. The loggers are available in six and 12 thermocouple input versions. They provide a ±0.5 °C accuracy and a ±0.1 °C resolution over the full measuring and operating temperature ranges. Measurements can be started and stopped manually, via two color-coded buttons, or triggered by time or temperature. The loggers combine ease of use with excellent availability and minimal running costs: they feature a user-replaceable NimH battery pack, which can be recharged from any USB outlet or port. One 90-minute charge allows for more than 40 hours of profiling. The sampling intervals can be set between 20 milliseconds and 10 minutes. One logger can survey up to 10 ovens in succession, storing individual profiles with up to 600k data points in total. Downloads via the USB or Bluetooth connections can therefore be scheduled more efficiently. An integrated radio transmitter optionally provides real-time data from within the process. All process and system data can be communicated to factory-monitoring systems via the OPC interface. The standard Datapaq Insight software quickly transforms the raw data into actionable information. It now includes the Easy Oven Setup recipe calculator, SPC, and trending analysis. The new Datapaq Insight Professional software includes the Surveyor profiling tool that measures process performance at the critical board level and reduces the need for expensive Golden Boards. Furthermore, the portfolio includes a complete range of thermal barriers for all industry needs. All Datapaq DP5 loggers are supported with a full one-year warranty. Complementing the warranty, the manufacturer offers a yearly service and recalibration contract, which includes free software updates and loan equipment for guaranteed peace of mind.

At the SMT Hybrid Packaging trade show in Nuremberg, Germany, Fluke Process Instruments will launch a new range of temperature profiling systems for quality control and optimization of soldering processes. The all-new family of DATAPAQ DP5 data loggers is augmented by the Insight Reflow Tracker professional software which quickly transforms the raw data into actionable information. Reflow soldering process optimization using the Easy Oven Setup recipe calculator is included as standard, as are SPC and trending analysis. These functions enable the operator to get the best out of every SMT production line. The launch furthermore includes two sensor holding frames that save setup time and ensure repeatability: an improved 12-thermocouple pallet for monitoring wave soldering process stability and a new, easy-to-use DATAPAQ Surveyor for reflow processes. The manufacturer will also showcase the world’s smallest temperature profiler for selective mini-wave soldering: no more than 20 mm high and 40 mm wide including the thermal shield, DATAPAQ SelectivePaq enables reliable measurements even in very tight spaces. Fluke Process Instruments at SMT Hybrid Packaging 05 – 07 June 2018, Nuremberg, Germany Hall 4, Stand 437

Fluke Process Instruments will present its temperature profilers for the unique challenges of heat treatment in the ceramic industry at the ceramitec exhibition in Munich, Germany. The DATAPAQ Kiln Tracker product family comprises thermal profiling systems for tunnel kilns, roller hearth kilns, and hydro kilns. These consist of heat-protected data loggers that record temperature profiles via up to 20 thermocouple channels, and user-friendly analysis software. The thermal barriers are engineered to protect the electronics so efficiently they can sustain firing cycles lasting several days and peak temperatures reaching up to 1,250 °C. Memory for storing 3.6 million data points also provides more than adequate capacity. Ceramics, bricks, technical ceramics, as well as the air temperature can be monitored during the burning process – with wireless data transmission and live evaluation options. Users can download all data after the end of the process, analyze and share profiles, and create certified reports. The software features sophisticated functions for speedy, optimal setup of kilns as well as quick diagnosis and correction of errors such as faulty burners and temperature imbalance. Dedicated TUS systems geared at manufacturers of ceramic molds for the aerospace industry ensure compliance with NADCAP specification AMS 2750E. Fluke Process Instruments at the ceramitec exhibition Munich, Germany, 10 – 13 April 2018 Hall B5, Stand 440

Fluke Process Instruments is happy to announce that Stewart Griffiths has joined the product management team in Cambridge, UK, as of January 2018. As the new Datapaq product specialist, Griffiths will be looking after the temperature profiling business worldwide. This encompasses all Datapaq product families: solutions for profiling temperatures in ovens, furnaces, kilns, reflow lines, cook and chill processes in the food and beverage industries, and solar/photovoltaics industry heat treatment applications. Griffiths who has worked in the aerospace industry for over 12 years has extensive experience in heat treatment and furnace applications and NADCAP and CQI-9 auditing requirements. This knowledge will help his team at Fluke Process Instruments develop turnkey solutions for the aerospace and automotive industries. Stewart comments, “Having spent 12 years in the contract heat treatment industry, I have always been aware of the benefits of the Fluke Process Instruments profiling solutions. Over those years, I have developed a broad knowledge of the heat treatment industry, particularly regarding aerospace metrology requirements. I am looking forward to using my experience to develop market leading solutions for profiling in the most challenging applications.”

Fluke Process Instruments has relaunched the German company website at www.flukeprocessinstruments.de. Following the relaunch of the .com domain of the same name, the temperature measurement specialists now also provide a single stop for all product lines for German-speaking customers. The redesign was due after the established brands Raytek, Ircon, and Datapaq had merged into one company. The new responsive web pages are easy to use with any device. Content is presented with an even stronger focus on areas of use, which facilitates product searches for any industry sector from metals to electronics and to coating. All kinds of applications are represented – each with one or more suitable temperature monitoring or temperature profiling systems. Data sheets and additional product information resources are listed on the same page and can be immediately downloaded. Of course, users can also navigate to products directly or by a search function. All the manufacturer’s infrared thermometers, thermal imagers, and temperature profiling systems are documented clearly and comprehensively. Users quickly find their local distributor and can also request a callback.

Complementing the newly launched DATAPAQ EasyTrack3 temperature data logger for paint and powder cure, Fluke Process Instruments supplies a comprehensive range of precise and reliable thermocouple probes. The type K thermocouples are specified to ANSI MC96.1 for an accuracy of ±1.1 °C or 0.4%. They are supplied with a PTFE-jacketed cable designed to give flexibility but also enhance life expectancy in an industrial environment. These measure temperatures up to 265 °C. In addition, high-temperature glass-fiber thermocouples rated up to 500 °C are also available. Various attachment options accommodate all magnetic and non-magnetic products of all shapes and sizes. Small patch probes have a very short response time and are therefore ideal for monitoring small parts, plastics, and cans. Clamp-on probes measure surface and air temperature and can be used universally for thin parts, including aluminum-extruded products. A range of magnetic probes are available for rapid attachment to ferrous surfaces in moving lines – namely offset magnetic probes for monitoring flat products and air temperature and MicroMag surface probes which easily fit in tight spaces. The range is completed by two-, four-, and six-channel probe clamps for quickly detaching the data logger and probe ID tags.

The temperature monitoring experts Fluke Process Instruments will showcase a wide range of sensors for various industry sectors and applications at the 2017 Advanced Engineering exhibition. The latest addition to the noncontact, infrared thermometer portfolio, the Endurance series covers measured temperatures from 50 °C to 3,200 °C. It comprises monochrome and ratio pyrometers with various spectral ranges. The sensors feature a stainless steel IP65 housing, galvanically insulated I/Os, a versatile range of sighting options including a high-resolution onboard video camera, remote monitoring via Industrial Ethernet, and a built-in web server for process troubleshooting and traceability. Applications include the metals, glass, plastics, and semiconductor industries. Outstanding additions to the manufacturer’s temperature profiling portfolio include the smallest profiler designed specifically for miniature wave selective soldering processes: the DATAPAQ SelectivePaq takes measurements from surface-mount assemblies as they pass through the preheating and dip soldering phases. The system combines a four-channel DATAPAQ Q18 micro data logger with the latest micro-miniature thermocouple plugs, the DATAPAQ Insight Reflow software, and a low-mass thermal shield that is merely 20 mm high and 40 mm wide. The paint and powder-coating industry will greatly appreciate another profiler premiere at Advanced Engineering: the latest-generation DATAPAQ EasyTrack3 system makes profiling oven cure of painted and powder-coated products as easy as never before. Loggers are now available for up to three consecutive profiling runs before data download to a PC. Upon leaving the oven, a traffic-light indicator on the logger casing shows whether process criteria have been met. The DATAPAQ EasyTrack Insight Professional software includes advanced analysis functions such as rise/fall, peak difference, area under curve calculation, marking of up to six oven zones in the temperature graph, a probe map for high repeatability, saved zooms for even more comfortable reviewing and sharing of data, and customized profile reports. Fluke Process Instruments at the Advanced Engineering exhibition Birmingham, UK, 01 – 02 November 2017 Booth J42

Fluke Process Instruments has announced the launch of a new website, www.flukeprocessinstruments.com, combining its extensive global capabilities in industrial temperature measurement. The website was designed to reflect the company’s core competencies and mission to provide the most comprehensive infrared temperature measurement and profiling solutions for industrial, maintenance and quality control applications. Fluke Process Instruments brings together more than 150 years of experience in pioneering new technologies into one integrated company. By joining three recognized brand leaders – Raytek, Ircon and Datapaq – it offers a complete line of infrared sensors, linescanners, thermal imagers and profiling systems for use in today’s most demanding environments. Fluke Process Instruments has consolidated multiple legacy domains into a single website with a new look and feel. Content and resources on the site are focused on industry and application-specific requirements, with solutions offered by type of technology. “We wanted a website that projected our fundamental capabilities, including our ability to meet the challenges of industrial temperature measurement through a world-class customer portal,” said Fluke Process Instruments Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Steven Moore. “This site accomplishes these objectives and accurately conveys our dedication to providing process instruments and solutions that assist our customers with making products that help the world function better.” Key features of the new Fluke Process Instruments website include: Integrated Assets and Resources – Provides one-stop shopping with easily recognizable industry application solutions for IR temperature measurement and thermal profiling Expanded and/or Refreshed Content – Increases availability of resources across the Fluke Process Instruments line and targets specific needs at each level of the customer journey Intuitive Interface – Makes information easier to find, simplifies search functionality and contributes to an improved overall customer experience Responsive Design – Simplifies navigation using any device (desktop, tablet and/or mobile) to keep pace with the new generation of industrial worker mobility Greater ease-of-use – Includes top-level navigation with dropdown menus to put information at the visitor’s fingertips, and provides links to relevant resources on each product page More Focused Sector capability – Helps end-users from various industries quickly and clearly understand solutions tailored to their unique requirements Improved Product Descriptions & Details – Offers concise specifications and visual images of the entire portfolio, with applications and products cross-referenced on individual pages Fluke Process Instruments developed its website based on recognized best practices and extensive voice of the customer (VOC) usability studies. The new site is currently provided in English, but will be updated to include German, French, Spanish and Chinese language versions in the near future. In addition, new Fluke Process Instruments social media sites will be coming soon. An “Our Shared Purposes” video provides additional information on the company.

The new DATAPAQ EasyTrack3 temperature profiling system from Fluke Process Instruments addresses the needs of any paint or powder coating operation. A comprehensive range of thermal barriers protects the data logger with its non-volatile memory in infrared and convection ovens. The light-weight aluminum standard barrier shields the electronics for up to 2 hours at 200 °C. Thermal protection is ensured by high-performance microporous insulation and a heat sink. The DATAPAQ EasyTrack3 Professional System extends protection to 3 hours, allowing users to monitor up to three cure processes consecutively. A thermal barrier for high-temperature PTFE and Dacromet coating withstands 400 °C for up to 90 min. Lastly, the manufacturer has also designed a low-height barrier for profiling typical mesh belt cure lines where oven clearance is significantly restricted. At merely 31 mm high, the barrier provides protection for a full 13 min at 200 °C or for 30 min at 100 °C. The logger operating temperature is 85 °C. It automatically switches off, should it ever heat above that point – for instance due to unscheduled line stops. This prevents faulty data collection. The profiler provides a measurement accuracy of ±1.6 °C (logger and thermocouple accuracy combined) over its entire operating temperature range. The robust, tried-and-tested system ensures successful measurements day after day.

Fluke Process Instruments presents a trade show novelty at the 2017 SMT Hybrid Packaging exposition – the world’s smallest thermal profiling system designed specifically for miniature-wave selective soldering processes. The DATAPAQ SelectivePaq measuring system consists of a new, smaller data logger and customized thermal barrier. Merely 20 mm high and 40 mm wide, it fits into every wave soldering system and is ideally suited for use with holding frames.Part of the proven DATAPAQ Q18 series, this micro-size data logger provides a superior accuracy of ±0.5 °C and a resolution of 0.1 °C. It uses four thermocouples to take measurements from electronic assemblies as they are preheated in an IR or convection oven and then dip-soldered. Probing intervals can be adjusted to up to 20 samples per second. With a logger case machined from solid aluminum and user-replaceable rechargeable battery packs, these products achieve a very long service life and extra-low operating cost. The profiling systems come with the full-fledged version of the DATAPAQ Insight Reflow software that has data analysis options for maximum slopes, maximum temperatures, and wave contact times. An optional Sensor Array facilitates regular and frequent checks of process stability.

Fluke Process Instruments at SMT Hybrid Packaging
16 – 18 May 2017, Nuremberg, Germany
Hall 4, Stand 437

Fluke Process Instruments supplies systems solutions for temperature profiling in SMT processes that comprise a data logger, thermocouples, a thermal barrier, and software. DATAPAQ Reflow Trackers monitor reflow, wave, vapor phase, and selective soldering applications. They travel along with the PCBs through every stage of the process including the preheating phase, capturing detailed temperature profiles along the way based on data gathered by up to 12 sensors. Featuring automatic analysis, traffic light signals, and programmable alarms, the loggers instantly show whether the specification for a profile is compromised. Precise temperature control is vital – the solder must be melted without damaging the electrical components. The DATAPAQ Easy Oven Setup software, which is included free-of-charge with any Reflow Tracker system, features a function for automatically determining oven recipes. This saves a lot of valuable time during commissioning and product changeovers. In addition, the software provides comprehensive analysis functions. Downloaded to a computer, the profiles can be shared via the open communications standard OPC for further analysis. The most recent addition to Fluke Process Instruments‘ profiler range for the electronics industry is the world’s smallest temperature monitoring system for selective mini-wave soldering: no more than 20 mm high and 40 mm wide including the thermal barrier, DATAPAQ SelectivePaq enables reliable measurements even in very tight spaces.

The newest generation DATAPAQ EasyTrack3 system makes profiling oven cure of painted and powder-coated products as easy as never before. Fluke Process Instruments has equipped the data logger with a rugged and light polycarbonate casing that withstands harsh treatment and heat up to 100 °C without distortion and without harm to the electronics. Versions with four or six thermocouple channels are available. Data is stored in a non-volatile memory – the capacity has been tripled to up to 18,000 readings per channel.The loggers use replaceable 9 V batteries. An intelligent power management ensures a long battery life for 50 and more profiling runs. Calibration certificates stored aboard the logger can be printed anytime. When the logger is connected to a PC (via USB), the software now starts automatically. Reviewing and analyzing the data, users can dynamically change the language. Logger diagnostics is much facilitated by a quick reference guide and animated tutorials. For remote diagnostics, status data can be emailed to the manufacturer’s tech support. Fluke Process Instruments supplies a versatile range of profiling systems with probes and thermal barriers to suit a variety of applications. The new pro version logger carries out up to three consecutive profiling runs before data download to a PC. It features a traffic light indicator that instantly shows whether process criteria have been met. The DATAPAQ EasyTrack Insight Professional software includes advanced analysis functions such as rise/fall, peak difference, area under curve calculation, marking of up to six oven zones in the temperature graph, a probe map for high repeatability, saved zooms for even more comfortable reviewing and sharing of data, and customized profile reports.

Fluke Process Instruments presents 10-channel and 20-channel data loggers for temperature profiling in aluminum solution treatment and age hardening processes. The new DATAPAQ TP3 loggers store up to 3.6 million data points and provide an excellent ±0.3 °C accuracy. Thermal and ingress protection have been enhanced to ensure optimal performance. The logger can automatically choose a faster sampling interval once immersed in the quench tank, enabling users to collect more data during the critical quench process. The manufacturer offers complete profiling systems including software, thermocouples, and a line-up of low-height thermal barriers that protect the electronics for 5 to 20 hours. To keep the data logger from heating above its 100 °C max. operating temperature, the thermal barrier is filled with water, which partly boils off in the first heating cycle.The water reservoir is replenished when the profiler is immersed in the quench tank along with the products, thus providing ample protection in the age hardening stage. Featuring low heights between 160 mm (5-hour model) and 321 mm (19- and 20-hour models), the barriers can be used even in furnaces with very low clearances. Due to the innovative combination of insulation technologies, the barriers can be re-used instantly after a measurement run. The loggers can execute up to ten consecutive measurement runs before data download via Bluetooth or USB. The DATAPAQ Insight software enables comfortable analysis of the temperature profiles and generates ISO9000 and CQI-9 reports if required. All systems can be combined with wireless telemetry technology for real-time transmission of temperature data, allowing for instant analysis and adjustment of process parameters.

Fluke Process Instruments has developed a miniature monitoring solution for monoblock cure processes. The DATAPAQ MonoPaq2 system profiles the metal temperature of coated aluminum bottles, aerosols, and collapsible tubes both in IBO and OBO lines. The thermal barrier measures merely 41 x 48 x 195 mm, making it 43% smaller by volume than the preceding generation. The temperature profiling system can be used in lines with very closely spaced pins (>45 mm) and with various product basket sizes. This engineering success is primarily based on the development of a new data logger with a minimal footprint. The new DATAPAQ Q18 logger connects four thermocouples via micro-miniature sockets and logs up to 32,000 readings per channel with an adjustable interval of 0.05 s or more. Its accuracy of ±0.5 °C puts it squarely in the class of the best available loggers.
Downloaded to a PC or notebook, the thermal profile can be reviewed with the DATAPAQ Insight software, which includes versatile visualization, analysis, and reporting functions. Manufacturers can thereby optimize their oven settings and ensure that every product experiences the specified time at temperature. Regular monitoring is facilitated by the compact size and light weight of the system. Mounting brackets are available in different versions for quick and secure attachment in any line layout.

Fluke Process Instruments announces the smallest thermal profiling system designed specifically for miniature wave selective soldering processes. The DATAPAQ SelectivePaq uses four thermocouples to take measurements from the electronic assembly as it passes through the preheating and dip soldering phases. Sample intervals can be adjusted to up to 20 times per second. The detailed temperature profiles enable electronics manufacturers to adjust their operations for optimum efficiency, validate the consistent quality of PCBs to customers, and prove adherence to both solder and component temperature constraints. The profiling system combines a new four-channel DATAPAQ Q18 micro data logger with the latest micro-miniature thermocouple plugs and a low-mass thermal shield merely 20 mm high and 40 mm wide. It is therefore optimally suited to monitor the performance of machines that offer very restricted space and for use with holding frames. The complementary DATAPAQ Selective Soldering Process Sensor Array facilitates regular and frequent process stability measurements. The logger provides a superior accuracy of ±0.5 °C and resolution of 0.1 °C. It connects up to three height-adjustable wave contact thermocouples and up to two preheat thermocouples for monitoring both process phases. The preheat thermocouples contain a top and a bottom sensor and are designed to work with IR and convection preheat technologies. The machined-from-solid aluminum logger case and user-replaceable rechargeable battery pack ensure a long operational life and lowest ownership costs. The system is supplied with the full DATAPAQ Insight Reflow software. Data analysis includes maximum slopes, maximum temperatures, and wave contact times. The software enables data export to other Windows-compatible programs.

Commissioning a new slab reheat furnace, Danieli Centro Combustion capitalized on application-tailored DATAPAQ Furnace Tracker systems from Fluke Process Instruments. Two systems were used to profile slabs in four different production scenarios, to set up the furnace, and fine-tune energy consumption. This validation proved to the customer, a leading global steel manufacturer at their plant in Poland, that steel slabs are heated to the required temperature of 1280 °C throughout. The DATAPAQ TP3 data loggers go through the furnace with the slabs and collect temperature readings from 20 thermocouples attached at various depths inside the product. Fluke Process Instruments provided a complete solution with engineering advice on how best to set it up. The electronics is protected by a TB4272-type low-height “phased evaporation” insulation system specified to ensure nine hours insulation to be still safe in case of delays in the measurement run. The type K thermocouples were supplied with a Nicrobell sheath which increases their temperature tolerance to above 1300 °C. Milan-based Danieli Centro Combustion, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of heating and reheating furnaces, has been using DATAPAQ systems for many years. In the current project, the company made use of the new DATAPAQ Insight Basic software, which comprises all essential visualization, analysis, and reporting functions. Danieli also used radio telemetry of data for the first time ever, an option that is available for most DATAPAQ applications. It enables parameter adjustments while the process is ongoing and prevents loss of data. Danieli used it to optimize fuel efficiency. Adjusting the furnace, Danieli ensured that the slabs reach the target drop-out temperature just before they leave the furnace after six hours. The furnace processes about 200 tons of steel per hour. Fuel costs amount to several 10K EUR per day. Reducing the fuel consumption by just 1 or 2%