Combining Thermo’s PlasmaLab software for the X Series ICPMS with the established Metals Analytical Review and Reporting System (MARRS) from EISC, a scientific software development company, has yielded a comprehensive reporting and electronic data deliverables (EDD) package for EPA methods. Environmental analysis for regulatory work using ICP-MS must be of a consistent, high quality, and the laboratory undertaking the analysis must work from approved documented methods.

The MAAP5 Modular Accident Analysis Program code provides a wide range of integral plant evaluations in support of probabilistic risk assessment (PRA), design basis evaluations, and plant evaluations. This edition builds on MAAP4 code by expanding the severe-accident knowledge base, as well as modeling enhancements that extend the representation of plant-specific features.

The 3E Online-MSDS (material safety data sheet) management system is now capable of promptly alerting users when a new or revised MSDS is added to the company’s catalog. Users can choose to be notified on a weekly basis via an e-mail message containing both the old document and the new document, allowing the two MSDS files to be compared and revisions identified. Current users can manage their online subscriptions by logging into their accounts and clicking on the Admin tab. There is no additional fee to receive this value-added service.

The upgrade to Advanced Back Calculation (ABC) release-rate estimation software significantly improves the ability of the end user to detect, quantify, and respond to hazardous airborne emissions. The program uses open-path laser and infrared (IR) technologies, along with point gas measurement, to maximize the use of data and the ability to create sophisticated detection architectures. This allows the responder to organize a proactive response to a loss of containment event. The open-path design presents concentration over a path as ppm.

Visual Explorer 2.5 (CVE 2.5) uses existing data to deliver significant process improvements in a wide range of process plants, including oil refineries, pharmaceutical facilities and chemical manufacturing sites. The program allows the user to view hundreds of process variables and their alarm limits on a single graph. This release includes new features such as alarm management, process stewardship and production reporting, continuous process control, process analysis and troubleshooting, and spectral analyzer support for process analytical technology (PAT) applications.

PlantTriage software allows tuning over 50 control loops per day. It identifies the loops to be tuned and indicates the best proportional-integral-derivative (PID) values, and performs before and after simulations to quickly confirm the settings. This real-time monitoring provides prioritized, focused advice via a standard web browser or automated e-mail, which allows users to perform simulations, fine-tune the controller, and generate loop documentation.

The VantagePoint addition to FactoryTalk Integrated Production and Performance Suite allows users to configure web-based dashboards, trends and reports without requiring expensive, time-consuming support resources. Its easy-to-use interface reduces installation times to as little as a few hours, which allows virtually immediate access for monitoring and management of productivity, as well as control over high-profile operations such as energy efficiency and global supply-chain execution.

The Proficy Plant Applications Version 4.4 upgrade includes several new features that are designed to help streamline a company’s problem-solving capabilities. The software’s model configuration tools expand its event detection and modeling subsystem. Its ability to correctly distribute information has been enhanced with improved run-time displays and reporting functions. This release supports VMware virtualization, Citrix remote desktop architectures, and Microsoft Server Clustering.

ProSafe-RS version R2.01.00 offers improved security and smoothly integrates with the manufacturer’s Centum VP production control system. This distributed control system helps to achieve stable and efficient plant operations, which is important for performing controlled emergency shutdowns. ProSafe-RS restricts communications by controlling access to folders and the registry, preventing unauthorized access to the system. It is rated as meeting Safety Integrity Level 3 (SIL3) requirements.

Isentris 3.2 enables users to explore, compare and report on information spanning multiple experiments captured in electronic notebooks, the manufacturer’s lab execution and analysis (LEA) software suite, and laboratory information management systems (LIMS). It allows LEA researchers to easily aggregate data from multiple information sources in a single view and to report on chemical structures, images, chromatograms, spectra, and XY datasets, all within the familiar Microsoft Excel environment.