Yokogawa Releases GX and GP Series Paperless Recorders

Tokyo, Japan - October 30, 2012

Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces the release of two new product series, the GX panel-mounted paperless recorders and the GP portable paperless recorders. These are components of SMARTDAC+™, a newly developed next-generation data acquisition and control system with excellent operability and expandability. The GX20 will be released on October 31, and this will be followed by the GX10, GP20, and GP10 in late January.

SMARTDAC+ paperless recorders
From left: GP10, GP20, GX20, GX10

Development Background

Recorders are used on production lines and in R&D units in a variety of industries to acquire, display, and record data such as temperature, voltage, current, flow rate, and pressure. Yokogawa has long been one of the world's leading recorder vendors. Two major trends in the recorder market are a shift from paper to digital recording systems and the proliferation of computer networks, allowing all the data stored in recording devices to be centrally managed and monitored, no matter where they may be located.

With the recent significant improvements in the user interfaces of tablets, smartphones, and other mobile terminals, users have been calling for similar enhancements to be made with recorders and other industrial instruments to improve ease of use. There is also a need for I/O modules that will enable the flexible configuration of recorders for different applications, and a need to improve network connectivity.

The GX series panel-mounted paperless recorders and GP series portable paperless recorders for Yokogawa's SMARTDAC+ data acquisition and control system meet all these needs with features such as an easy to use operator interface like those found in the latest handheld terminals, flexible configuration, and excellent system expandability. The GX and GP series devices are the first products to be released for the SMARTDAC+ system.

Product Features

1. Easy and intuitive navigation
   Easy and intuitive navigation is assured with a touch panel user interface that is similar to those found in the latest tablets and smartphones. With a flick of a finger, users can easily scroll through a waveform image to view past data, just as if they were scrolling through a roll of recording paper. To read the digital values for a specific location on a waveform image, users only need to drag a scale to that position. And with a spreading or pinching multi-touch gesture, users can zoom in or out on a waveform image. The resistive touch screen can even be operated while wearing gloves.
2. System configuration with high flexibility and expandability
   By selecting the appropriate I/O modules, uses can easily configure I/O segments for a specific measurement task. The GX20 and GP20, both of which come with a large touch panel, can accommodate up to 10 modules or 100 I/O channels; the GX10 and GP10, which have a smaller touch panel, can accommodate up to 3 modules or 30 channels.
3. Open network
   The GX and GP recorders support the Ethernet international LAN standard, enabling both monitoring and configuration to be carried out from Internet Explorer, a general-purpose web browser. In addition, FTP^*1 support enables all recorder data to be managed through a file server. These recorders also support Modbus^*2, so data can be shared with Modbus-compliant devices.
   
   With these recorders, it is also possible to make and output a screenshot and compile a report in a specified format for output as a PDF file.

*1 File Transfer Protocol:
a communications protocol for transferring files via Ethernet or some other TCP-based network

*2 Modbus:
a communications protocol developed by Modicon Corporation for the connection of industrial electronic devices via Ethernet and other network protocols

Specifications

Note: Both product series have SD card slots.

Major Target Markets

• GX series: Production plants in industries such as iron and steel, petrochemicals, chemicals, pulp and paper, food, pharmaceuticals, water supply and wastewater treatment, and electrical equipment and electronics
• GP series: R&D units in industries such as consumer electronics, automobiles, semiconductors, and new energy; universities; and research institutes

Applications

Acquiring, displaying, and logging data such as temperature, voltage, current, flow rate, and pressure

Future Product Development

SMARTDAC+ stands for smart data acquisition and control. In addition to the GX series and GP series paperless recorders, the introduction of other products series as well as input modules for a variety of signal sources and output modules for control applications is planned for the SMARTDAC+ system, thereby supporting a wide range of data-gathering control applications such as production process monitoring and performance evaluation.

The recorder market is expected to continue expanding, with this growth centered on paperless recorders. As the leading company in the recorder market, Yokogawa will continue to respond to a wide variety of needs with the release of new products for the SMARTDAC+ system.

Note: All company names and product names appearing in this document are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.

For more information

• SMARTDAC+™ next-generation data acquisition and control system

 

About Yokogawa

Yokogawa's global network of 90 companies spans 55 countries. Founded in 1915, the US$4 billion company conducts cutting-edge research and innovation. Yokogawa is engaged in the industrial automation and control (IA), test and measurement, and other businesses segments. The IA segment plays a vital role in a wide range of industries including oil, chemicals, natural gas, power, iron and steel, pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals, and food. For more information about Yokogawa, please visit the company's website www.yokogawa.com