September 2020

A DUTCH SPECIALIST in speed-sensing technologies has announced a“game-changing”overspeed protection system that, it says, will make a wider range of rotating machinery suitable for high-integrity overspeed protection, as well as satisfying the growing demand for SIL-certified systems. Istec, which has 50 years’experience of this market, adds that its SpeedSys 200 system takes scalability“to a new level”to bridge the gap between what can and cannot be protected. Istec says that the demand for high-integrity safety systems for rotating machinery is increasing, as is the need to ensure machine availability. At the same time, the global adoption of the SIL safety classification is driving changes in the machine protection market, for both large and small rotating machines. End-users want to comply with the standard, while insurance companies are demanding that functional safety is implemented on more applications. At present, however, the overspeed protection market is dominated by rack-based systems that are unnecessarily complicated and costly for smaller and less critical applications. The new protection system avoids complexity by providing the core layer of SIL-rated overspeed protection using a compact architecture. This, combined with its relatively low cost, will make the technology accessible to a wider range of rotating equipment, without compromising safety, Istec says. The SIL-2-certified device has an 8ms response time and includes two safety relays and an analogue safety output. It can be used with Hall effect, electromagnetic or proximity sensors. The company is planning to make the new overspeed protection technology available globally during the third quarter of this year. https://www.istec.com/en/product/speedsys-200 TECHNOLOGY n Istec's overspeed protection device is suitable for both small and large rotatingmachines ‘ Game-changing’ SIL overspeed systemprotects small machines Anti-viral coating protects equipment against Covid-19 WEG HAS DEVELOPED an anti-viral coating which, it claims, makes 99.9% of Coronavirus inactive within minutes of the virus landing on the coated surface. The polyurethane-based coating is designed to protect equipment used in high-risk environments, such as hospitals and laboratories, as well as for use on industrial machinery and public transport. The W-Thane APA 501 coating, available in a choice of colours, is the result of research and development at WEG Coatings and Varnishes. Containing anti-viral agents, the coating ensures that coronavirus cannot survive on the surface. It has been tested against the Coronavirus MHV-3 strain. The coating follows the recommendations of Brazil’s National Agency of Health Surveillance, and is being manufactured in accordance with the methodologies set out in the BS ISO 21702:2019 standard. www.weg.net