Articles and News

“Software for Next Generation Automation and Control” paper touches on topics such as requirements for the next-generation of automation and control, the IEC 61499 standard itself, and the IEC 61499-compliant ISaGRAF 5.0 software development environment. The white paper can be downloaded.

Ethernet Direct is cooperating with ICSystems to set up Ethernet Direct's base in Central Europe. ICSystems in Greece provides products and solutions for factory automation, process control, manufacturing intelligence, industrial communications and energy management.

Intermec received an award from Frost & Sullivan for RFID market strategy leadership in the Asia Pacific market for the years 2005-2006. The award is presented each year to a company whose market strategy has yielded significant gains in market presence during the research period.

AMF (Richmond, Virginia) will use the KUKA KR 180 PA palletizing robot in its meat stacking and de-stacking system. The system will be demonstrated at AMF's booth (#S-2234) at PackExpo 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, starting October 29th.

Advanced Technology Services announced an agreement with O'Neal Steel's Shelbyville, IN, facility to provide production asset maintenance services. ATS will implement disciplined processes, systems and teams, thereby enabling O'Neal Steel to maximize the performance of its facility.

The sessions bring users of industrial automation solutions together to discuss their experiences. BOF roundtable discussions will focus on ABB, Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Emerson, and Honeywell platforms. The discussions, by invitation only, are not open to vendors or press to ensure a free, open environment to discuss user issues.

Downloadable document explains how the company's managed Ethernet switches can help monitor the state of networks as well as diagnose network problems.

Smart Wireless solutions combine self-organizing wireless network technology and gateways with wireless-enabled Rosemount measurement transmitters and wireless AMS Suite: Intelligent Device Manager predictive maintenance software. All are integrated with DeltaV and Ovation automation systems, or legacy hosts.

The U.S. government Defense Supply Center Richmond (DSCR) has rated Invensys among its best suppliers. The DSCR is a primary source for repair parts and operating supply items within the Department of Defense supply chain. Invensys received a gold medal for achieving a perfect score in meeting stringent quality and delivery requirements for Foxboro specialty instrumentation.

The PocketPAD LAN Buffer enables data transmitted from a serial device to be stored and then retrieved by establishing a TCP connection to the Buffer over the Ethernet network. The PocketPAD Buffer connects to the serial port of the PABX and into the company LAN, storing up to 50,000 call records. In Offline mode, data from the PABX is saved to flash for later download to a management station.

The latest revision to a technical specification introduced earlier this year defines an open mathematics semantics standard for numerical algorithm development. This update includes newly ratified functions from classes that include polynomials and vector analysis.

This catalog features 2,000 of the most commonly ordered items out of more than 3,500 off-the-shelf products and problem-solving components. Included are: shaft collars for round, square, hexagonal, and threaded shafts; set-screw, one-piece, two-piece, and triple-link hinge collars; and a full line of rigid clamp-type couplings in various sizes and materials.

ABB received a contract from Myllykoski Paper Oy to assume responsibility for maintenance operations at the company's mill in Anjalankoski, Finland. The ABB Full Service agreement is valued at more than $150 million. The arrangement covers automation, electrical and mechanical maintenance and planning as well as material management at the mill, which produces some 500,000 tons of coated and uncoated papers annually.

Honeywell will supply an Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS), a Da Vinci quality control system and a Devronizer steambox to Powerflute's paper machine in Kuopio, Finland. Powerflute makes the world's strongest semi-chem fluting medium and has a single mill at Kuopio in Eastern Finland. Honeywell also won a multi-year Life Cycle Management agreement to help the mill update control systems, maximize asset effectiveness and improve production.

STI shareholders will receive $10.67 per share in cash as a result of the merger, and STI will cease to be a publicly-traded company. Omron acquired STI's Safety Products Group (SPG) business will operate under the name of Omron Scientific Technologies. STI sold its Automation Products Group (APG) business to Automation Products Group, Inc., a new company formed by members of the Lazzara family.

Presented today by Homega Research at the 9th annual Net-atHome event in Cannes, France, the award recognizes contributions to the worldwide connected home markets made by particular companies or people. Mark Ossel, vice president of Echelon, accepted the award on Echelon’s behalf.

PostNet and OneCode Barcode Font Packages support USPS OneCode (also known as the 4-State Customer Barcode, 4CB, 4-CB, OneCode Solution Barcode and USPS4CB). USPS OneCode is a height-modulated barcode designed for use in high speed, automated, mail sorting machines.

RF Monolithics will offer its recently acquired asset management software through and under the name of its subsidiary, Aleier, Inc., and discontinue use of the Caver-Morehead Systems brand. Aleier will be a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) application provider and will provide a broader asset management solution, particularly condition-based maintenance.

The opening of a Texas sales office follows the launch of its Florida office in Tampa a year ago. Bill Walton, president and CEO of GiveMePower attributes the company's growth in part to its suite of desktop and mobile applications such as the PowerCAD SiteMaster automated building surveying and information management solution.

Omron has established OOO OMRON ELECTRONICS ('OEE-RUS'), a wholly owned subsidiary of OMRON's Industrial Automation Business ('IAB') in Moscow, Russia. The new company, which will handle the sales and servicing of IAB's control equipment, is scheduled to start operations in October 2006. Until now, IAB has serviced its Russian customers by stationing OMRON Finland staff in Moscow.