Automation.com e-News - September 21, 2005



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September 21, 2005 - Volume VI, Issue 38
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In this Issue	Our Sponsor
From One Techie to Another: Upcoming Challenges for ISA Online Information Requests Featured Article: Antique Governance Plagues Cash-Cow ISA Product & Company News Featured Application Tool: Machine and Process Safeguarding Guide Featured Products: Browser-based HMI Toolkit Color Process Display Industrial Control Panels Flat Panel Monitors New Job Opportunities Featured Book: Pinto's Points – How to Win in the Automation Business New Auctions & Classifieds Dilbert Pick of the Week	Make the Switch to Phoenix Contact for Ethernet switches designed for industrial applications. Phoenix Contact offers a broad family of Ethernet switches with options and flexibility to meet your application needs. The line includes the new Managed Compact Switch that gives you full managed Ethernet messaging capability in a fixed configuration, compact design that’s perfect for distributed Ethernet applications. Designed for 24/7 industrial use, SF Switch features including redundant power supplies, alarm contact, auto negotiation and cable auto crossing cut your system startup and maintenance time. Find out how these switches can work for your application at www.phoenixcon.com/ethernet.
From One Techie to Another
Upcoming Challenges for ISA Our featured article this week, Antique Governance Plagues Cash-Cow ISA, was written by Jim Pinto about the "state" of ISA. This is a must-read! There is information in this article that is not published anywhere else. As you may know, ISA has struggled over the past few years to regain "what once was". Jim makes some very good points about "our industry" and ISA, including a 6-point plan for turning things around. I personally would like to see ISA become a strong influence again. As an example of our support, we are a sponsor of ISA EXPO 2005 and will be providing the lanyards...you know, those silly cords you put around your neck to display your show badge. Online Information Requests, Survey Results As promised, here are the results to our recent online information request survey. I was hoping for more responses to this survey because I believe it's an important issue as more companies and users embrace the Internet. It has become the most efficient and effective media and it's important that suppliers, users and web publishers understand its value and idiosyncrasies. We had 42 respondents (with 28 from the US, results broken out separately) and here's what they said along with my conclusions as a survey wrap-up. 1. At what point in your purchasing decision do you prefer to contact the supplier (manufacturer and/or reseller) for more product information? Information Gathering - 57% Overall (57% of US Respondents) Product Comparison - 29% Overall (25% of US Respondents) Ready to Buy - 14% Overall (18% of US Respondents) 2. Do you typically request product information online from 3rd-party industry sites like Automation.com, Engineeringtalk.com, etc. ? Yes - 60% Overall (57% of US Respondents) No - 40% Overall (43% of US Respondents) 3. For what reason(s) do you not request product information via online forms? (select all that apply) I can find all the information I need online - 31% (29% of US Respondents) I'm afraid my personal information will fall into the wrong hands - 17% (11% of US Respondents) I'm afraid a sales person will pester me continuously - 38% (46% of US Respondents) Online forms are too lengthy and time consuming - 33% (32% of US Respondents) I don't think I'll ever receive the information - 14% (11% of US Respondents) I don't think I'll receive the information in a timely manner - 33% (29% of US Respondents) I'd rather contact the supplier (manufacturer and/or reseller) via phone or in-person visit - 33% (21% of US Respondents) I have no problem requesting information online - 45% (46% of US Respondents) 4. We are trying to determine if there is a correlation between information requests and geographical territory. What is your geographic region of residence: Asia/Pacific - 12% Canada - 7% Central/South America - 5% Europe - 5% Middle East - 5% United States - 67% Survey Conclusions: The majority of respondents (57%) generally request more product information in the "Information Gathering" stage. Almost half (46%) of the US respondents have no problem requesting information online, while the same percentage of US respondents don't request information online because they are afraid a sales person will pester them constantly. Imagine that! Nearly a third of all respondents don't believe they will receive the information in a timely manner. Could this be from previous experiences? With the Internet and e-mail, you would think suppliers should be able to respond quickly, but for some reason some suppliers can't respond to online requests in a timely manner. I'm sure most will agree that users should feel confident that their requests will be answered in a timely manner. A third of the respondents find all the information they need online. I honestly expected this number to be larger. A third of respondents thought the forms were too long and time-consuming. We are working on this problem. One solution is to require registration before anyone can access information so you can track their activities and automatically identify them when they request information. I personally believe this method is a little too big-brotherish. Soon, we will be implementing a function that will auto-populate request forms, but only if you requested information from our site previously. This way, we don't track your every step and you only have to manually complete a form once (the first time). For subsequent requests, forms will auto-populate for you. Unfortunately, many users have become overwhelmed with spam, resulting from online activity. We have never sold or given away user e-mail addresses or personal information. View our privacy policy. If you request information on a specific item on our site, your information is given to the supplier offering that item, and only that supplier. But, some sites do share your e-mail addresses and personal information. My advice is to use your best discretion when submitting your personal information online. If the site looks fishy or you feel uncomfortable, surf away. Pun intended. Enjoy the rest of this eNews! Rick Zabel
Featured Article
Antique Governance Plagues Cash-Cow ISA In the changing business environment of this new century, most membership based technical societies are steadily declining. The Instrumentation, Systems and Automation Society (ISA) is just one example. There are several strategic reasons for this decline. Read full article by Jim Pinto. Other articles by Jim Pinto More articles and white papers on various automation topics More application stories using various automation products
Product Announcements & Company News
Hear all about it...industry news is published on our site daily. Here are the latest news headlines for your review...use the following links to read the full article. Check out our Daily News Headlines page frequently to stay up-to-date on the industry events. Product Announcements: Invensys Introduces New Triconex Communications Module to Integrate Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) and DCS 9/20/05 National Instruments Announces Plan for New RoHS Compliant Products 9/20/05 Contemporary Controls Introduces Overlapped VLANs to Rescue for Your Control Networks 9/20/05 AxissComm Announces Patent-Pending MeterPod Prescribed for Analog Sunset Blues and SCADA Fixes 9/20/05 Cognex Announces New Software for In-Sight Vision Sensors 9/20/05 Intermec PM4i First RFID Gen 2 Printer to be XMLReady™ for Oracle MSCA/WMS Systems 9/20/05 Bud Expands Offerings in Plasticase Line of Plastic Enclosures 9/20/05 Power Sources Unlimited Introduces CFM05 Family of Switching Power Supplies 9/20/05 Beckhoff Introduces Next Generation of Embedded PCs with the New CX1020 9/19/05 Citect Unveils Ampla as New Name for its Suite of MES Solutions, at Oceania User Conference 9/19/05 Switch2Citect Launches Globally 9/19/05 Aplex Introduces 15 Inch Ultra Slim Pentium M Panel PC w/ Stainless Steel Enclosure 9/19/05 Advanced Control Systems Introduces the New Programmable Machine Controller PMC-328 9/19/05 TC Communications Introduces New Ethernet & Serial Data Multiplexer 9/19/05 Fauske & Associates, LLC Announces New Improved Version of Advanced Reactive System Screening Tool for Process Industries 9/19/05 Echelon Announces First Platform to Embed Control Networks Inside Everyday Devices 9/19/05 Alarm Management White Paper Highlights Simple Steps To Improving Safety & Efficiency 9/16/05 Scientific Technologies, Inc. Introduces OptoShield OS3100 Laser Light Safety Scanner 9/15/05 Danaher Motion Offers RediMount™ Motor Mounting System as Standard Feature on Thomson Positioning Tables 9/15/05 JAI PULNiX Introduces CV-M77 Color CCD Machine Vision Camera 9/15/05 Flow Technology Introduces VisualLink® Flowmeter Programming Software 9/15/05 Lake Monitors Introduces New Hydraulic System Test Analyzer 9/15/05 Caterpillar Brings ACERT™ Technology to Diesel Generator Sets 9/15/05 Banner Introduces Chemically Resistant U-GAGE® Ultrasonic Sensors 9/14/05 Emerson Introduces New Single-Port Fiber Optic Ethernet Switch for Zone 1 and Class 1 Division 2 (C1D2) Environments 9/14/05 Korenix Launches New Power over Ethernet Solution 9/14/05 CIS Corp. Introduces New Mini Camera Link® Connector Cameras in 29mm Package 9/14/05 Axeda Releases WizReport XL, the New Professional Reporting Solution for Wizcon-based Applications 9/14/05 Wonderware Makes Significant Enhancements to Industry-Leading IndustrialSQL Server Data Historian 9/14/05 PPT VISION Introduces Intelligent Camera Replacement for Obsolete Vision Systems 9/14/05 ARC Informatique Integrates Dream Report™ into PcVue 9/14/05 InterTech Development Company Announces Test-Centric Assembly Uptime Optimization Services 9/14/05 Company & Organization News: OMRON Establishes Development Center in Shanghai 9/20/05 CAP Program Sets ISA Apart, Helps to Define Automation Profession 9/20/05 ASI Introduces New EZ E-Card Deck to Aid in Website Navigation and Online Purchasing 9/20/05 New ISA Vision to Debut at ISA EXPO 2005 9/19/05 Citect and MESware Form Strategic Partnership to Extend and Distribute Ampla 9/19/05 Citect Signs OEM* Agreement with Preferred Instruments 9/19/05 Computing Solutions, Inc. Partners with OSIsoft® Inc. as Independent Software Vendor 9/19/05 JAI PULNiX Moves to New Facility in San Jose, CA 9/19/05 STI Machine Services and Alcoa Partner to Offer Professional Referral Safety Services 9/16/05 GE Fanuc Automation Names CH2M HILL IDC as New Premier Solution Provider 9/16/05 Flexware Innovation Named GE Fanuc Automation Premier Solution Provider 9/16/05 PIAB Honors 'Vacuum Pioneers' at Chicago Conference 9/16/05 FKI Logistex Appoints Ted Clucas as President of North American Manufacturing Systems Group 9/16/05 ISA EXPO 2005 Announces Manufacturing and Controls Security Forum Panelists 9/14/05 ARC Advisory Group Study: Low Power AC Drive Market Experiences Robust Growth 9/14/05 Camstar Systems Announces Web Seminar: Synchronize MES & ERP to Raise Vital Signs of Medical Device & Diagnostics Manufacturing 9/14/05 Endress+Hauser to Assist Hurricane Katrina Victims 9/14/05 ABB Provides Support to Businesses Affected by Katrina 9/14/05 GE Fanuc Automation Names AIC Authorized Distributor in Nevada 9/14/05 ISA Releases 'Electronic Security for Manufacturing and Control Systems' 9/14/05 Application News: Contemporary Controls Announces Robert Redford 'Green' Building Uses CTRLink® Industrial Ethernet 9/19/05 Honeywell Wins $10M Contract in Algeria 9/19/05 Rockwell Automation & Discovery World Partner to Create Rockwell Automation Dream Machine 9/14/05 FKI Logistex Wins $22 Million Contract With AAFES 9/14/05 BEST Robotics Competition Kicks Off and Delivers iglide Products to Hands of Engineering Students 9/14/05
Featured Application Tool
Machine and Process Safeguarding Guide Scientific Technologies, Inc. (STI) offers their free Machine and Process Safeguarding Guide. This 750+ page guide is the most comprehensive machine and process safety product and technical reference guide available today. It includes 100+ pages of educational resource material, and features nearly 30 new products across a broad spectrum of safety technologies. The guide also comes in a CD-ROM version that contains the complete STI catalog, as well as Product Certificates and Declarations of Conformity, and downloadable CAD drawings. Click here to request your free guide
Featured Products
New browser-based HMI Toolkit for SoftPLC embedded web server with enhanced send Email function. More Information on HMI Toolkit. Request Product Selection Guide or SoftPLC Assistance
Endress+Hauser's NEW Color Process Display with recording capabilities is paperless, and low-cost. More information on Color Process Display Request Product CD or Endress+Hauser Assistance
Beckhoff Automation Control Panels offer built-in intelligence, Ethernet connectivity and industrial PC capabilities. More Information on Control Panels. Request Product Catalog or Beckhoff Assistance
New Economical Advantech 15” Industrial Flat Panel Monitor Starting at $795. More information on Flat Panel Monitor. Request Product Guide or Advantech Assistance
Product & Supplier Search Other Featured Products for September Find Products by Category Find Manufacturers & Suppliers
New Jobs
Here's a list of new jobs posted on Automation.com: Automation Specialist - Sales: Birmingham, AL - Siemens Energy & Automation 9/20/2005 Cross Automation Field Account Manager: Orlando, FL - Cross Company 9/20/2005 Electronics Technician: Cumming, GA - Industrial Repair Service 9/19/2005 Controls Technician: Le Sueur, MN - automationtechies 9/20/2005 Controls Engineer: Minneapolis, MN - automationtechies 9/20/2005 Automation Engineer: Fort Worth, TX - automationtechies 9/20/2005 Industrial Controls Engineer: Denver, CO - automationtechies 9/19/2005 Machine Design Engineer II: Tulsa area, OK - automationtechies 9/13/2005 Controls Engineer: Aiken, SC - automationtechies 9/13/2005 Project Manager: Houston, TX - automationtechies 9/08/2005 Application Engineer: Houston, TX - automationtechies 9/08/2005 Applications Engineer: Akron, OH - automationtechies 9/08/2005 HMI Developer: Houston, TX - automationtechies 9/08/2005 Senior Engineer: Seattle, WA - automationtechies 9/06/2005 To view other recent job postings, please use our Job Search Function.
Featured Book
Pinto's Points – How to Win in the Automation Business Jim Pinto's new book is just in from the printer. If you need some insightful pointers on how to succeed in the automation business, or an overview of today and tomorrow's hot technologies, then this is the book for you. Pinto's Points covers management topics, globalization, sales and marketing, technology trends and futures, and far-out technology visions. It closes with whimsical humor and poetry which I hope you'll enjoy. It includes 174 brief "points" in 6 different parts, each introduced by an industry guru. Once again, Jim Pinto has gone beyond 'business as usual' to explore the implications of future technology and how it will change the global automation marketplace. Conveniently organized and with insights from other industry leaders, this book is a must read for every automation professional and a classic for your automation library bookshelf. Requeste more information or order Jim's new book at: www.automation.com/store/pdetails15051.php. Order both of Jim's books in a discounted bundle at: www.automation.com/store/pdetails15063.php
New Auctions & Classifieds
eBay hosts over 6500 auctions for industrial automation, control and instrumentation products. From PLCs to sensors, from motor controls to robotics...Use the links below to browse the latest new, used and surplus automation products by category: Control Systems & PLCs Drives & Motion Control Fieldbus, DeviceNet, Ethernet Instrumentation Operator Interface Panels Power Supply, Circuit Breakers Relays, Timers, Counters Robotics Sensors Switches Temperature Controllers Valves & Flow Controls Wiring, Connections & Cables Other
Dilbert Pick of the Week
Looking for a scapegoat? Next time blame the meeting ditcher.
I hope you enjoyed this e-news update. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding the content in this e-newsletter or on Automation.com, please don't hesitate to contact me. Rick Zabel Vice President Automation.com View our Privacy Policy For editorial and advertising inquiries, please contact Rick Zabel or see our Media Kit. For automationtechies recruiting and contract staffing services, please visit www.automationtechies.com.