Automation.com e-News - March 8, 2006

Dear %%if(%%firstname%% is empty,"Colleague",%%firstname%%)%%: Here is this week's issue of the Automation.com e-Newsletter...


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March 8, 2006 - Volume VII, Issue 8
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In this Issue	Sponsored by Moxa
From One Techie to Another: User Conferences are in the Air Featured Article: Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) Reduction by 1% Product & Company News New on Automation.com Red Lion Controls Featured Seminars Understanding Direct Part Mark Identification Featured Application Tool Terminal Block and Din Rail Assembly Designer, Product Locator & Marking System Featured Products: RFID System Sensor/Actuator Junction Boxes E-direct Online Shop New Job Opportunities New Auctions & Classifieds Dilbert Pick of the Week	Moxa’s NPort 5600 Series Serial Device Servers Moxa’s NPort 5600 Series provides a convenient and transparent way to establish an Ethernet connection that not only protects your current hardware investment, but also ensures future network expandability. Perform simple configuration tasks, and you'll be ready to network your existing serial devices. Moreover, NPort 5600 can transparently transmit data bi-directionally between the serial and Ethernet interfaces. By using NPort 5600, you can centralize serial device management and distribute management hosts at the same time. For more information visit Moxa's homepage at www.moxa.com or www.moxa.com/product/nport_5600.htm. You may also contact Moxa at 800-MOXA-USA or (714) 528-6777.
From One Techie to Another
User Conferences are in the Air And so is Spring? That may be wishful thinking. I know...it's only March 8th and we are a few weeks away from Spring, but here in Minnesota, we are more than ready for warmer weather. It looks like April showers will be bringing more than May flowers...they'll be bringing User Conferences. As we've discussed in the past, with the decline of trade shows, more and more suppliers are hosting their own user conferences. For suppliers, these independent user conferences have a number of advantages over trade shows. The audience is captive and there is no fear of potentially loosing existing customers to the competition (that may be in the next booth). They also present an opportunity to invite and foster new customers because many of these conferences include case study presentations by customers that have successfully implemented the supplier's products. In addition, at most of these conferences, supplier's partners can even exhibit their solutions, showing customers added value. In all, these events offer everyone a more personalized experience. For your reference, here is a list of the upcoming conferences, listed by date. I know there are probably more, but these are the ones I know about (or could quickly Google for more information)... Matrikon Valued Partners Event - May 8-10, 2006 ABB Automation World Conference & Exhibition - May 9-10, 2006 Citect International User Conference - May 16-18, 2006 Siemens Automation Summit - June 6-8, 2006 Honeywell Users' Group Americas Symposium - June 11-15, 2006 And later in the year... National Instruments NIWeek - August 8-10, 2006 Emerson Global Users Exchange - October 2-6, 2006 Rockwell Automation Fair - October 25-26, 2006 If there are any other user conferences that we should be aware of, please submit the Add an Event to our Calendar form so we can add them to our calendar in the Resources & Tools section of the site. My problem is I'd like to go to all of these events, but that's not possible. So, for now, I'll have to pick the ones that fit into my work and family schedule. Maybe I'll see you at one or more of these events. And, if I can figure out a way to clone myself, you might see one of me at each of these events. Enjoy the rest of this eNews! Rick Zabel
Featured Article	Sponsored by AutomationShowcase.com
Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) Reduction by 1% Cost information in most organizations is fragmented throughout the enterprise. Critical pieces of cost information are spread across independent silos within an organization in different functions like engineering, planning, manufacturing, sourcing, and finance. This situation typically results in estimates that do not include all relevant information required to make accurate and predictive product cost assessments. Read full article by Thomas R. Cutler. Other articles by Tom Cutler More articles and white papers More application stories	This industry-specific web site allows you to search the latest NEW automation, control and instrumentation products by product category, supplier, release date and keyword. Each product description allows you to contact suppliers directly for more information or a quote. Search New Products Online, Anytime.
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: WAGO Releases Ice Cold I/O for 750 Series WAGO-I/O-SYSTEM 3/7/06 Ormec Introduces New ServoWire SD Drives with IEEE 1394b 3/7/06 Korenix Introduces New JetNet 4500 Series Industrial Managed Ethernet Rail Switch 3/7/06 ASI Introduces Screw-Lock Pluggable Terminal Blocks 3/7/06 Falcon Electric Introduces New 50/60/400Hz Frequency and Phase Converters 3/7/06 EMX Announces First Color Sensor That Combines Discrete and RGB Analog Outputs 3/6/06 Emerson Offers Hastelloy Tube and High Pressure Options for Brooks® Instrument QUANTIM® Coriolis Mass Flow Meter 3/6/06 Danaher Expands NorthStar Brand with New Line of Harsh-Duty Optical Encoders (ATEX) 3/6/06 Escort Memory Systems Introduces SILVERJET™ RFID PDA Handheld RFID Solution for Factory Automation 3/6/06 Keithley Publishes New Edition of Switching Handbook 3/6/06 Advantech Launches RS-232 or RS-422/485 to WLAN Data Gateway Modules 3/3/06 Carlo Gavazzi Offers New Stainless Steel Enclosures 3/3/06 Newcon Data Announces TessEm⁸⁰⁰⁰ Software, Emulates ABB (ASEA) TESSELATOR 8000 Family of Multi-channel Color Graphic Display Systems 3/3/06 Beckhoff Introduces BK7150 CC-Link Compact I/O Bus Coupler 3/2/06 Unique Connector Enables Control of Multiple Solenoids With Single Controller Connection 3/2/06 Contemporary Controls Announces EtherNet/IP Switches 3/2/06 Bosch Rexroth Introduces New ISO 15407-2 Pneumatic Valve 3/2/06 Online Development’s xCoupler Module Receives Control Engineering Magazine’s Editors’ Choice Award 3/2/06 Schaefer Introduces 2KVA Rackmount Pure Sine Wave Inverter 3/2/06 ProSoft Technology Launches TermLinx, an Innovative New Product Line for Bulk Terminal Management Systems 3/1/06 SEW-Eurodrive Integrates Drive Operator Panels into Power Transmission Solutions 3/1/06 Power Sources Unlimited Introduces 1U Configurable Power Supplies 3/1/06 FKI Logistex Begins Manufacturing Its Hybrid AS/RS Cranes in the United States 3/1/06 Company & Organization News: Keithley Plays Key Role in New IEEE Test Standards for Carbon Nanotubes 3/7/06 ISA Forms New Standard Committee, ISA SP104, to Focus on EDDL 3/7/06 ODVA Elects New Officers and Announces New Initiatives at Annual Meeting 3/7/06 Intermec Announces The 2006 Canadian RFID Conference 3/7/06 Siemens Introduces the 2006 Automation Summit 3/6/06 Silchester Awarded Silver Integrator Partner Status with Citect 3/6/06 The Automation Alliance Is Envisioned to Advance Technology Innovation and Applications 3/6/06 WBF and ISA Announce Intent to Affiliate 3/6/06 Yokogawa Selects Desselle-Maggard Corporation as Sales Representatives in the Gulf Coast 3/6/06 LXI Consortium's Fourth PlugFest Shows Growth in Compliant Products 3/6/06 ABB and Tetra Pak Sign Global Purchase Agreement 3/3/06 Invensys Joins BP, Shell and Chevron in Digital Energy Forum 3/2/06 Cognex to Host DPM Identification Seminars 3/2/06 OMAC Celebrates First Anniversary with ISA 3/2/06 ISA Foundation Looks Forward to Serving the Industry in 2006 3/1/06 Process Control Systems Forum Celebrates One Year Anniversary 3/1/06 Application News: Invensys Breaks New Ground with Borealis LLDPE Contract in Austria 3/7/06 Invensys Wins First Comprehensive Long-term Automation Maintenance Contract with Sinopec’s SPC Group in China 3/6/06
New on Automation.com
I would like to welcome Red Lion Controls as a Featured Supplier on Automation.com. Red Lion Controls manufactures a complete line of industrial control products including HMI panels, protocol converters, data loggers, PID controllers and panel meters. Models with built-in communication drivers and Ethernet capabilities allow seamless communications between all connected devices such as PLCs, PCs, Drives, Modems, Barcode scanners, & Vision Systems. For more information about Red Lion Control, please use the following links... Red Lion Company Profile Red Lion Product & Company News Red Lion Information Request Form
Featured Seminars
Understanding Direct Part Mark Identification These half-day events, hosted by Cognex, cover the most important factors to consider when implementing DPM ID for part traceability in the automotive, aerospace, healthcare, electronics and defense industries. Anyone with a DPM application in the assembly and parts supply chain will appreciate this highly informative seminar. Participants will learn how to implement a reliable DPM traceability program that includes marking, reading, verification and process control. The program contains valuable information to help manufacturers achieve DPM ID requirements and traceability goals. Attendees will walk away with a thorough understanding of: The benefits of DPM traceability Various marking methods The difference between reading and verification Code "readability" for dot peen, laser, electrochemical etch or other types of marks on manufactured items Department of Defense UID implementation Click here for more information.
Featured Application Tool
Terminal Block and Din Rail Assembly Designer, Product Locator & Marking System WAGO’s ProServe Software CD is more than a searchable database of over 10,000 WAGO products, Version 4.0 offers added features including expanded functionality of the "Smart Designer" for custom rail assemblies. This advanced design tool saves design time by calculating the rail length, identifying errors in the design and automatically correcting them. Completed drawings can be exported to any CAD programs or into a data file. The software also provides customers with a bill of materials according to the drawings, and in numerical order, making purchasing easier. Click here to request your CD
Featured Products
ifm efector’s RFID System provides reliable tracking and control throughout the manufacturing process. More Information on RFID System Contact ifm efector for Product Literature or Application Assistance
WAGO IP 67 Sensor/Actuator Junction Boxes – Safely distribute control cabinet functions. Starting at $44.16 (for 4 ports). More Information on Sensor/Actuator Junction Boxes Contact WAGO for Product Catalog or Application Assistance
E-direct is the On-line Instrument Shop for process control instrumentation from Endress+Hauser. More Information on E-direct Online Shop Contact Endress+Hauser for Product CD or Application Assistance
Product & Supplier Search Other Featured Products for March Find Products by Category Find Manufacturers & Suppliers
New Jobs
Here's a list of new jobs posted on Automation.com: Systems Controls SCADA Network Engineer: San Diego, CA - Garrad Hassan America, Inc. 3/07/2006 Controls Manager: Oakland County, MI - Confidential Employer 3/05/2006 Project Manager – Strategic Controls: Granville, OH - Owens Corning 3/03/2006 Communications Engineer: Pullman, WA - Schweitzer Engineering Labs 3/01/2006 Controls Engineer: Fairmont, MN - automationtechies 3/07/2006 Field Engineer: Northern Atlanta, GA - automationtechies 3/07/2006 Controls Field Service: Northern CA, USA - automationtechies 3/03/2006 Sales Representative/Manager: Newark, NJ - automationtechies 3/03/2006 Programmer/Technician: Houston, TX - automationtechies 3/01/2006 Controls Engineer: Seattle, WA - automationtechies 2/27/2006 Senior Engineer: Albany, OR - automationtechies 2/14/2006 To view other recent job postings, please use our Job Search Function.
New Auctions & Classifieds
eBay hosts over 8000 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
Sometimes, it all comes down to marketing.
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.