Automation.com e-News - May 10, 2006

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May 10, 2006 - Volume VII, Issue 19
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In this Issue	Sponsored by MOXA
From One Techie to Another: From Local SI to Global SP Featured Article: Matrikon - A Successful Solutions Provider Approaching $100m Product & Company News Featured Webcast Collaborative Case Study in Practical Alarm Rationalization Featured White Paper Learn The Top Ten Myths of WiFi Interference Featured Products: Non-Contact Distance Measurement Sensor Manufacturing Solutions E-direct Online Shop New Job Opportunities New Auctions & Classifieds Dilbert Pick of the Week	MOXA’S Industrial 26 - Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch – Modular, Managed, Redundant Features: Gigabit Ethernet Backbone, Redundant Ring Capability (< 300 ms) or Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol, IGMP Snooping and GMRP for multicast traffic, VLAN capability, QoS increases determinism, Bandwidth management prevents unpredictable network status, Port Mirroring for online monitoring, IEEE 802.1X enhances user authentication, Automatic warning by event, Easy Browser-based Configuration. Lifetime North American Warranty. Call MOXA for details 888-MOXA-USA, or visit www.moxa.com.
From One Techie to Another
From Local SI to Global SP I'm writing this issue of the e-newsletter from the beautiful city of Banff in the Canadian Rocky Mountains of Alberta where I'm attending the Matrikon MVP 2006 Users Conference. They couldn't have picked a better location for this event. Banff offers something for everyone - skiing, snow boarding, hiking, shopping, dining, or just plain sightseeing. I'm sure the location had something to do with the great turnout to this event. But, the real draw of this event is not about what Banff has to offer...it's about what Matrikon has to offer. Matrikon started 17 years ago as a local systems integrator and has evolved into a world-class solution provider. Many of you may recognize Matrikon as the world's largest developer of OPC servers. But, that's not all they are. Over the past few years, Matrikon has also productized a number of once custom software applications developed for industry-specific process control applications. After sitting through a number of presentations by Matrikon and their customers, I am thoroughly impressed by Matrikon's focus, discipline and commitment. Many of Matrikon's customers are actually partners that have helped shape Matrikon's products and success. Matrikon's broad product offering includes web visualization, asset performance control, advanced process control, alarm management, real-time monitoring, down-time reporting, connectivity software and plant data model. All of these components help end users solve industry challenges related to demographic pressures, i.e. aging workforce, knowledge base reaching retirement; cost pressures due to energy and maintenance factors; need to standardize; and increased regulations, both internal and external. All of Matrikon's products are "Plug and Play" components that operate on MI3™, Matrikon's Integrated Industrial Intelligence foundation. Complete real-time data access to all information systems is achieved using OPC Suite. ProcessSuite turns plant data into actionable information. ResolutionSuite provides real-time collaboration and production performance management. All of these components are integrated through a common web-based user interface. Matrikon's product suites ultimately allow users to resolve the mess of various data silos created by many disparate systems. Matrikon's goal is to provide easy-to-configure, out-of-the-box functionality that enables execution, enhancement and maintainability of manufacturing operations. What's even better, is their products are interoperable with other existing systems. It's hard to do their products justice in this short article, so if you find yourself with some process control challenges, be sure to check out Matrikon's products and services. And, if you would like to learn more about alarm management, don't forget to register for the upcoming Collaborative Case Study in Practical Alarm Rationalization webcast. The Matrikon MVP event and this overview are great lead-ins to our featured article this week. Jim Pinto continues his Corporate Cultures Article Series with the article Matrikon - A Successful Solutions Provider Approaching $100m. You can read Jim's other articles about Schneider Electric, Emerson, ABB, NI and future corporate culture articles on Automation.com at the following link: http://www.automation.com/sitepages/pid2291.php. Stay tuned for more articles on the corporate cultures of your favorite automation supplier(s). Enjoy the rest of this eNews! Rick Zabel Vice President, Editor-in-chief
Featured Article	Sponsored by MKS Instruments
Matrikon - A Successful Solutions Provider Approaching $100m Matrikon is one of the largest independent industrial automation systems integrators in North America. The company has already broken some of the barriers that limit the size of systems integrators: dependency on a couple of key founders; inability to grow beyond narrow, local markets; capital for global expansion. Read full article by Jim Pinto. This article is No. 5 in a Series of Articles on Corporate Cultures. Other articles by Jim Pinto More articles and white papers More application stories	RMU Embedded PCI-104 Control System The RMU from MKS Instruments is an open, integrated platform based on Linux technology. Logic flexibility is now limitless compared to traditional PLC systems. With large numbers of on-board I/O and expandability over Ethernet, the RMU is a robust, rugged system ideal for automation control, data acquisition, and process monitoring. More information on the RMU from MKS Instruments.
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: NI Releases Industry’s Highest Performance USB Multifunction Data Acquisition Devices 5/9/06 MOXA Introduces EDS-316 Industrial Ethernet Switch 5/9/06 Beckhoff Introduces AS1xxx Stepper Motors 5/9/06 New White Paper from Bosch Rexroth Highlights Safe Motion Technologies 5/9/06 Quatech Launches 802.11b/g Wireless Networking Products for OEMs 5/9/06 Banner's Newly Updated Catalog Features 500-plus Pages of Sensing Products and Helpful User Resources 5/8/06 SoftPLC Corporation Announces ModbusTCP Ethernet Connectivity for Tealware™ I/O System 5/8/06 ASI Introduces New Emergency Stop Switches 5/8/06 Baumueller Releases sizemaXX - Drive Configuration Made Easy 5/8/06 Datalogic Announces Extension of MCL-Collection to Wider Range of Datalogic.NET Mobile Computers 5/8/06 Sena Technologies Introduces New Embedded Device Server for Device Networking 5/8/06 K-TEK Introduces Resonator Vibrating Liquid Level Switches 5/8/06 Innova Holdings, Inc. Reports Third-Generation Robot Controller Nears Completion and Scheduled to Ship in June 5/8/06 ACP Enhances Thin Client Security with TermSecure and Smart Context Product Offerings 5/5/06 Cooper Bussmann® Introduces PDB Series Power Distribution Blocks with High SCCR 5/5/06 ProSoft Technology Introduces Wireless HART Multidrop Communication Gateways 5/4/06 Beckhoff Introduces New BX9000 Ethernet TCP/IP Bus Terminal Controller 5/3/06 JAI PULNiX New Gigabit Ethernet Camera Offers Excellent Price/Performance Ratio 5/3/06 Oxford Sensor Technology Launches OST-QuickSlide Vision Guided Motorized Slide Systems for Non-robotic Welding Applications 5/3/06 ABB Inc. and Metso Automation Inc. Announce Metso's Neles ValvGuard™ Has Been Industrial IT Enabled 5/3/06 Intergraph Introduces SmartPlant 3D Version 6.1 Breakthrough Plant Design and Engineering Software with Support for Oracle and Microsoft Databases 5/3/06 Company & Organization News: NI Bolsters Machine Vision Leadership with Adoption of GigE Vision Standard 5/9/06 Bosch Rexroth Sales Growth Continues in 2005 5/5/06 ODVA Publishes CIP Motion Drive Profile for Ethernet/IP 5/5/06 Opto 22 Introduces SNAP PAC Learning Center 5/5/06 The Automation Federation Holds Initial Organizational Meetings 5/5/06 U.S. Council for Automotive Research Supports Ethernet/IP Standard for Plant Floor Applications 5/5/06 Beckhoff Automation Increases Turnover by 17% in 2005 5/4/06 Schneider Electric Shareholders' Meeting Approves Excellent 2005 Results and Implements New Mode of Governance 5/4/06 ODVA Announces Ethernet/IP Milestone: One Million Nodes 5/4/06 Intermec Receives 2006 Frost & Sullivan Supply Chain Management Enabling Technology Award 5/4/06 SERCOS Releases Specification for Controller-to-Controller (C2C) Synchronization and Communication Profile 5/4/06 Adept Technology, Inc. Reports 344% Earnings Increase and 16% Revenue Growth in Third Quarter 5/4/06 ODVA Launches Series of Ethernet/IP Seminars 5/4/06 SERCOS Releases New Controller-to-Controller (C2C) Profile Specification at Hannover Fair 2006 5/4/06 ODVA Publishes CIP Safety Protocol for Ethernet/IP 5/4/06 End Users To Benefit from Fieldbus Foundation and NAMUR Working Group 2.6 'Fieldbus' Collaboration 5/3/06 ISA's Cyber Security Standards Committee Issues First Ballots 5/3/06 Adept Technology Board Elects New Director 5/3/06 Application News: Emerson Supplies PlantWeb Architecture and Services for Shell Offshore Platform 5/9/06 BOC Group Extends Matrikon™ Control and Information Technology Solution to Additional Plants 5/8/06 KUKA Robotics Selected by C.M.H. Manufacturing to Provide Robots for Casting Total Work Cell 5/8/06 Emerson Wins Contract to Upgrade Turbine Controls and Hydraulic Equipment at Associated Electric Cooperative's New Madrid Power Plant 5/5/06 Invensys to Implement I/A Series Digital Automation Systems for Four New China Power International Ltd. Generating Plants 5/4/06
Featured Webcast
Collaborative Case Study in Practical Alarm Rationalization Is your plant productivity and safety being compromised by the quantity and quality of your process alarms? Co-presented by Automation.com and Matrikon, this one hour webcast will: Give you a step-by-step account of how a major North American company implemented a successful Alarm Rationalization strategy Teach you the 5 Best Practices for effective Alarm Rationalization Show you how to avoid the common mistakes that result in project failure Teach you how to reduce the quantity and increase the quality of your alarms Help you to understand the benefits of Alarm Rationalization and the consequence of failure to do so Click here for more information or to register
Featured White Paper
Learn The Top Ten Myths of WiFi Interference How well do you see your wireless network? Get new insights into common beliefs about interference and the realities of building and maintaining secure WiFi networks. Fix it before it becomes a problem! In this White Paper you will learn the top ten myths of WiFi interference. Get new insights into common beliefs about interference and the realities of building and maintaining secure WiFi networks. Learn how to shield your WiFi network from unauthorized intruders and maximize network performance. Click here to request your free white paper
Featured Products
ifm efector PMD Sensor with time-of-flight sensing principle provides non-contact distance measurement with a 10-meter sensing range. More Information on Non-Contact Distance Measurement Sensor Contact ifm efector for Product Literature or Application Assistance
Citect Manufacturing Solutions for real time OEE, downtime and efficiency tracking. More Information on Citect Manufacturing Solutions Contact Citect for More Info 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 May Find Products by Category Find Manufacturers & Suppliers
New Jobs
Here's a list of new jobs posted on Automation.com: Cross Automation Field Account Manager: Greenville/Spartanburg, SC - Cross Company 5/8/2006 Strategic Marketing Manager: Corvallis, OR - ATS Automated Tooling Systems 5/8/2006 Process Automation Engineer: Harlow - Essex, Southeast England, United Kingdom - GlaxoSmithKline 5/5/2006 Product Marketing Manager: Foxboro, MA - Invensys 5/4/2006 Systems Engineer: Albany, OR - automationtechies 5/9/2006 Field Engineer: Northern Atlanta, GA - automationtechies 5/9/2006 Senior Engineer: Albany, OR - automationtechies 5/9/2006 Mechanical Engineer: Twin Cities, MN - automationtechies 5/8/2006 Project Engineer: Raleigh/Winston-Salem, NC - automationtechies 5/8/2006 Sr. Control Systems Engineer: Buffalo, NY - automationtechies 5/8/2006 Project Manager: Arlington, VA - automationtechies 5/8/2006 Sr. Engineer: Whiting, IN - automationtechies 5/8/2006 System Engineer: Eastern, NY - automationtechies 5/3/2006 Sr. Controls Engineer: Exton, PA - automationtechies 5/3/2006 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's best to stiffle your need to engineer, at least for the time being.
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.