CIM Techniques: A Pioneer in Easy to Use On-Line Wireless Monitoring Systems

Most of today's manufacturers of on-line wireless monitoring systems for the laboratory and healthcare markets offer a relatively narrow range of sensors for use with their systems. These sensors are typically battery-powered wireless units that monitor temperature. Only a few suppliers still offer a wired solution. Wireless sensors are great and the installation cost is low, but they are not always appropriate. In addition, batteries must be replaced. This adds to the cost of ownership of a system and contributes to the pollution of the environment since the spent batteries [almost always lithium units] need to be discarded.

For the past fifteen years, CIMTechniques, a Beaufort, South Carolina, company, has been quietly providing reliable CIMScan monitoring solutions that are easy to install and use and that meet the expanding needs of a growing market. While temperature monitoring predominates, CIMTechniques offers over 28 different types of off-the-shelf sensors ranging from very low-level differential pressure to CO2. Both wired and wireless sensors are available and can coexist in the same system. In addition, most of the wireless sensors can be line-powered as well as battery operated. Battery replacement in line-powered units need only occur after the equivalent of a year of battery operation during power failures. This means that a10 year battery life is quite possible and can yield a $15,000 maintenance savings for a 100-point system over 10 years.

Although modern sensors are very stable, they do occasionally drift, and their calibration must be periodically verified and adjusted when necessary. This is accomplished by comparing the sensor's output with that of a calibrated standard. Astonishingly, many monitoring system suppliers don't offer the ability for users to easily adjust sensor calibration the field. Again, CIMTechniques takes the lead by not only providing the recalibration ability for every sensor that it manufacturers, but also by supplying the tools with which to do it and by documenting the results in a fraction of the time that competitive systems take.

All the sensors in a CIMScan system send their measurement data to the CIMScan server via a facility's Local Area Network [LAN] or the Internet. A standard WiFi solution is also available. Every sensor has the ability to store measurement information whenever communications with the server is interrupted. A small alarm display is available for customers who need to be notified locally of an abnormal condition during these outages.

The CIMScan server software runs on a standard Windows platform, is completely web-based, and is built around a standard SQL database. A simple web-browser is all that is required to log onto the system from anywhere in the world and see the current status of any monitoring point in real-time. Since it's completely web-based, remote servicing of the system is easily accomplished. In fact, CIMTechniques provides an annual support plan whereby the company acts as the system administrator, relieving your IT department of this burden.

CIMTechniques is an ISO 9001/2008 certified company with installations throughout the world. Its systems meet or surpass the monitoring requirements established by JCAHO,FDA,CAP,AABB,and others.

For more information on high-quality, easy to use monitoring systems, visit cimtechniques.