The Government of Canada released today its draft model for improving food inspection in Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is proposing a single approach to food inspection that will provide consistent and appropriate oversight across all regulated food commodities — either imported or produced domestically.

“We have a world-class food safety system in Canada but we want it to be the best,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “A single inspection approach will make an even stronger system that will benefit all Canadians.”

The draft food inspection model is based on feedback from discussions with inspectors and industry stakeholders as well as feedback on a recent discussion document called The Case for Change that outlined the rationale for modernizing inspection.

This initiative is part of the commitment made by the Government of Canada in Budget 2011, which provided the CFIA with $100 million over five years to modernize food safety inspection in Canada. In addition to building a consistent inspection model, this investment is being used to provide better training and more modern tools to front line food inspectors as well as building additional capacity in CFIA laboratories.

The CFIA is seeking comments from consumers and industry stakeholders until October 31, 2012 on the following aspects of the proposed draft model:

• a single licensing and registration requirement for those manufacturing, importing and/or exporting food for trade outside provincial borders,
• more consistent oversight and inspection across all regulated food commodities,
• a scaled approach that adapts to the size and complexity of businesses, and
• the distribution of more information to consumers about compliance and enforcement activities.

The CFIA is planning extensive outreach activities on this proposed model with its inspectors, consumer associations, industry, and federal, provincial and territorial government counterparts in the fall. The model will continue to be developed based on feedback that the Agency receives.

The CFIA is carrying out a number of complementary initiatives including a review of the CFIA’s regulatory frameworks and the Safe Food for Canadians Act, tabled in June, which aims to modernize and strengthen food legislation. Together, these initiatives are part of a comprehensive effort to better manage food safety challenges and make food as safe as possible for Canadian families.

For more information on the CFIA’s proposed approach to strengthening food inspection or to provide your comments, visit the CFIA website at www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/accountability/inspection-modernization/proposed-draft/eng/1342549427433/1342549854104.

Researchers at Simon Fraser University have created a robot with the ability to scale walls with tank-like moves using an adhesive that re-creates the “sticky toes” of a gecko.

The research, published today in the IOP Publishing journal Smart Materials and Structures, provides an alternative to using magnets, suction cups or claws which typically fail at climbing smooth surfaces like glass or plastic. It also paves the way for a range of applications, from inspecting pipes, buildings, airplanes and even nuclear power plants to employment in search and rescue operations.

Known as the Tailless Timing Belt Climbing Platform (TBCP-11), the robot can transfer from a flat surface to a wall over both inside and outside corners at speeds of up to 3.4 cm per second. It is fitted with sensors that allow it to detect its surroundings and change direction.

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Researchers mimicked the “dry, sticky toe pads” of the gecko by creating an adhesive using a material called polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), manufactured as tiny mushroom cap-like shapes that are 17 micrometres wide by 10 micrometres high.

Meanwhile, tiny belts drive the robot’s tank-like moves, providing optimum mobility and expandability.

Lead author Jeff Krahn’s work on getting the robot to climb formed the bulk of his master’s thesis. The research was carried out together with engineering science assistant professor Carlo Menon.

Krahn explains: “With an adequate power supply, our robot is capable of functioning fairly independently when it encounters larger-scale objects such as boxes or walls.  However, we are still developing a control strategy to ensure the robot is capable of fully autonomous functionality.”

Krahn says the robot, still in the prototype stage, utilizes biomimetic dry adhesives that rely on Van der Waals forces — weak but attractive forces that occur between molecules — for adhesion.

“The adhesives are composed of an array of micro-scale fibres which look similar to flat-topped mushroom caps. This design allows the fibres to conform to relatively rough surfaces, as is important for Van der Waals forces.”

Besides using dry adhesives, the robot is unique in that instead of a tail as required by previous tank-like robots, it uses two modules linked by an active joint to ensure contact of the adhesives.

Sensors were used to detect when detachment of the robot is beginning to occur and allows the robot to adjust itself accordingly.
www.sfu.ca

GE Measurement & Control Solutions has released the USM Vision ultrasonic (UT) weld inspection system, which allows non-UT trained specialists to gather reliable and accurate pipe weld inspection data, for subsequent remote assessment by a suitably qualified ultrasonics expert. This permits ultrasonic inspection to be used in situations conventionally requiring radiography, removing constraints such as extended film processing times, radiation screening and waste chemicals disposal.

As a result, it facilitates the migration of skills from radiography to UT, reducing the possibility of bottlenecks, providing significant increases in productivity and improving operational health and safety. USM Vision will find particular application in the oil and gas and power generation sectors, bringing benefit to asset owners, welding and fabrication contractors and inspection service companies.

The new inspection solution can operate in phased array and TOFD mode and is supplied with its operating software and GE’s Rhythm analysis software, as well as the probes and wedges to suit the selected codes and pipe ranges. Set-up is menu-directed allowing the operating software to calculate the ultrasonic parameters for each weld and pipe combination and create an easy-to-follow inspection plan. The operator can then scan the weld, with an encoded scanner, using TOFD or Phased Array. Inspection data is transmitted to a review station in the industry-accepted protocol, allowing advanced analysis tools, such as real time, volume corrected imaging, to allow easier and more reliable image interpretation. By using GE’s Rhythm software platform, inspection data can be reviewed and shared, reports generated and inspection results archived for tracking or further analysis.
www.ge-mcs.com/en/inspection-technologies.html

Pure Technologies Ltd. in Calgary has purchased the business and assets of Electromechanical Technologies Inc., a Salt Lake City-based developer of advanced pipeline inspection technologies.

Commenting on the transaction, Jack Elliott, Pure's President and COO, said:

"The ground-breaking extra-high resolution magnetic flux leakage (XHR-MFL) systems developed by EMTEK will immediately position Pure as the industry leader in condition assessment of ferrous water and wastewater pipelines. Conventional MFL is a well established technique for inspecting oil and gas pipelines; however the internal cement mortar lining common in water pipelines has always created challenges. EMTEK's patented technology has overcome these challenges.

"While the majority of our growth to date has come from the inspection, condition assessment and monitoring of prestressed concrete pressure pipelines, this type of pipe represents less than five percent of the total installed base of pressure pipe around the world. The EMTEK technology, opens up a much larger available market to us, and complements our SmartBall and Sahara solutions for leak detection and condition assessment, which are applicable to all types of pressure pipe.

"In the oil and gas sector, we will now be able to package the EMTEK system with our unique SmartBall leak detection system, thus providing the only combined integrity and pinhole-leak detection capability available on the market.  Recent high-profile oil and gas pipeline leaks in North America have resulted in increasing regulatory and political pressure on operators to upgrade their leak detection systems.  We have already seen increasing interest in our SmartBall system and we expect our enhanced offering to accelerate our growth in this sector.

"EMTEK's commitment to innovative non- destructive testing systems fits well with Pure's aggressive R&D program and the patents acquired with the transaction will strengthen our already comprehensive IP portfolio. EMTEK's solutions will be delivered through our regional offices in the Americas, Middle East and Australia; through our Hong Kong joint venture in greater China; and through selected licensees."

Pure Technologies Ltd. is an international asset management technology and services company which has developed patented technologies for inspection, monitoring and management of critical infrastructure around the world.
www.puretechltd.com
www.emtek.us