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Here is this week's issue of the Automation.com e-Newsletter...
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In this Issue
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From One Techie to Another:
Networking is Key
Featured Article:
ABB is Back! - A Report from ABB's Automation World 2006
Featured Tutorial
OPC Tutorial on CD
Featured White Paper
Safe Motion Technologies
Featured Products:
Pentium 4/Celeron D Processor-based Motherboard
Control Panels
MFT Hart Communicator
www.automationdirect.com/directsoft.
Networking is Key
No, I'm not talking about networking control systems, although that is very crucial as well. I'm talking about the kind of networking that happens at user conferences and trade shows. I'm talking about that in-person opportunity to meet and share ideas and solutions with industry experts and other engineers. If you (or your management) doubt the value of these events, you (they) probably haven't been to one for a very long time. You can communicate with a person via phone or e-mail all day long, but it just doesn't compare to the in-person experience.
Historically, trade shows provided the best, most cost-effective networking opportunity for just about everyone. Today's trend is vendor-specific user conferences. Vendors have a captive audience. All of the presentations are focused on only their (or their partner's) solutions. Many of the presentations are actually case studies given by actual customers about how the vendor's solutions helped them solve a specific automation or control problem. That is pure gold! You now have access to the vendor experts and other customers who had (or have) the same (or similar) problems that you have.
Here's the challenge for both vendors and users. You couldn't possibly attend each vendor's conference because of costs and scheduling conflicts. So, you have to figure out which vendors or conferences will have the best solutions for your company's automation problem(s) or processes. With Spring and Fall being the two major seasons for conferences, available time is limited. Each vendor now has to convince you that their events or solutions are more valuable than the next.
The central tragedy of the last 20 years is that technology has not made our lives easier (this point was made by the CTO of Matrikon at their recent conference). In many respects, technology has further complicated our lives. It becomes increasingly more difficult to find the best solutions. As an information resource, we will work with vendors to make you aware of new solutions, upcoming conferences and agendas so you can make more informed decisions.
Sure, there are costs associated with attending these user conferences, but the benefits can far outweigh these costs. If and when you find the right solution, it could mean millions of dollars in cost savings for your company. And all it took was a little networking. How hard of a sell is that?
Enjoy the rest of this eNews!
Rick Zabel
Vice President, Editor-in-chief
ABB is Back! - A Report from ABB's Automation World 2006
While that was not the formal theme of this year's Automation World, it surely was the undercurrent. Formally, the theme was "Countdown to Results," a play off of the Houston location with a keynote speech by astronaut Jerry Linenger and Wednesday’s dinner at the Johnson Space Center. Informally, it was not just about being back, but being ready to tackle just about anything.
Read full article by Bob Gross of Gross Automation.
More articles and white papersMore application stories
Northwire custom-configured ITC/PLTC cable for exposed-run applications reduces material and installation costs in industrial control and instrumentation circuit applications. We have six platforms with millions of possibilities – general purpose or extreme use. Factory-direct pricing built and shipped in three to four weeks.
Request Northwire ITC/PLTC cable brochure today. 877-210-9941.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.
- B&R Automation Introduces Stainless Steel Operator Panels for the Hygiene Industry
- ExperTune's PlantTriage® Now Includes Simple, Actionable Diagnosis for Plant Loops 5/16/06
- Yokogawa Achieves “Powered by SAP NetWeaver®” Status for MES and Operational Excellence Solutions 5/16/06
- ASI Introduces IDC to Screw Clamp Terminal Block 5/16/06
- Phoenix Contact Introduces New Electronic Monitoring Relays to Measure Current and Voltage 5/16/06
- PSI Introduces Warehouse Control Software to ‘FICS’ Order Fulfillment Errors and Increase Distribution Center Throughput 5/16/06
- RF Connectors Provides Cable Assembly Value-added Services 5/16/06
- Schaefer Introduces 1U Rackmount Pure Sine Wave Inverter 5/16/06
- Spartan Scientific Introduces New Versatile Electronic Pressure Switch 5/15/06
- Honeywell and Crossbow Collaborate to Bring Customers New, Innovative Wireless Sensing Products 5/15/06
- OMRON Releases World's First Mass-producible Polymeric Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Antenna 5/15/06
- PMD Introduces MC73110 Motor Control IC with Field Oriented Control (FOC) 5/15/06
- Intermec's RFID and Mobile Computing Gear to be Featured at Microsoft MEDC 2006 5/15/06
- Deacom Introduces Electronic Document Management 5/15/06
- Siemens Introduces New Generation Compact Coriolis Flowmeters 5/12/06
- B&R Releases Intel Celeron-based CPUs for the X20 System 5/12/06
- Hirschmann Announces New FO Repeater with ATEX Approvals for Profibus Systems 5/12/06
- Hirschmann Introduces New FO Repeater (Basic and Professional Versions) for RS 485 based Fieldbus Systems 5/12/06
- Hirschmann Introduces New Version of Industrial HiVision Network Management Software 5/12/06
- Hirschmann Offers Special Software Packages for Switches of the Rail, MICE, PowerMICE and MACH 4000 Product Series 5/12/06
- PANDUIT Corp. Introduces EASY-MARK™ Labeling Software 5/12/06
- AXIOMTEK’s First PICMG 1.3 Single Board Computer Supports Intel Dual-Core Processors and Advanced DDR II DIMM 5/12/06
- Acrosser Introduces AR-M9936 - 1U Rackmount Server Solution 5/12/06
- SICK Launches M4000 Advanced Perimeter Guard 5/11/06
- Phoenix Contact Bluetooth Wireless Radios Make Data Communication Faster and Easier 5/11/06
- Electro-Sensors' New DeviceNet Enabled Tachometer Converts Pulse Frequencies to RPM Units 5/11/06
- GE Fanuc Announces Availability of First Productivity Pack for Its Proficy™ HMI/SCADA iFIX and CIMPLICITY Customers 5/11/06
- Phoenix Contact Introduces New Single Phase, 40 Amp Power Supplies 5/10/06
- SICK STEGMANN, INC. Introduces DGS65 Incremental Encoders 5/10/06
- Emerson Launches Copeland Scroll Modular Compression Technology for Offshore O&G 5/10/06
- Control-See Announces Compliancy With FDA's 21 CFR Part 11 for Its U.C.ME-OPC™ Alarm Notification Software 5/10/06
- Matrikon™ Announces Share Buyback Program 5/16/06
- Advanced Technology Services, Inc. Named to The Global Outsourcing 100 5/16/06
- Precise Automation and Power/mation Sign Distribution Agreement 5/15/06
- Hirschmann and Innominate Form Industrial Security Alliance 5/12/06
- Square D Files Suit Against Scott Electric Company 5/12/06
- LGInternational Announces RoHS Compliance Program 5/12/06
- Honeywell Wins Frost and Sullivan's 2006 Product Innovation Leadership of the Year Award 5/11/06
- Honeywell Secures $6.6 Million Contract With Lyondell 5/11/06
- Multi-Industry Collaboration Launches Manufacturing Interoperability 5/11/06
- B&B Electronics Poised for Aggressive Growth with Reorganization 5/11/06
- Nanotech Measurement Contest Offers $5000 in Cash Prizes for Innovative Test Applications 5/11/06
- Aspectrics, Inc. Closes Series B Round of Financing Led by Cargill Ventures 5/11/06
- Honeywell Technology Selected By Genentech For Biotech Facility Expansion 5/16/06
- Emerson Completes Digital Automation Engineering and Design for LNG Project in Qatar 5/16/06
- MTS' Liquid-Level Sensors Used to Improve Efficiency of Railroad Fuel Management Systems 5/16/06
- Emerson's Fieldbus Technology Used to Upgrade Temp Monitoring at Largest UK Coal Fired Power Station 5/15/06
- BMW AG Names B&R Automation as Exclusive Supplier of Windows CE-based Operator Panels 5/11/06
- QSI and NLS Build Graphic Human Machine Interface For Firing Weapon Systems 5/10/06
OPC Tutorial on CD
OPC (OLE for Process Control) is the world's fastest growing standard for the exchange of process control data. Since the inception of OPC in 1996, many companies have embraced the technology, which enables them to connect multi-vendor devices and applications while reducing integration time and costs and creating scalable infrastructures. Although this published standard has been around since the mid-nineties and the acronym OPC is well known within the process control industry, many do not really know how OPC is integrated and the many benefits it provides. The CD talks about the vision of OPC, covers a case study, and provides information about the various OPC specifications. After the online presentation, viewers will understand the basics of OPC and possess the knowledge to begin integrating OPC into a new or current system.
Safe Motion Technologies
Bosch Rexroth has released a new white paper titled “Safe Motion Technologies: Competitive Advantages for Early Adopters.” The white paper explains how intelligent safety systems can increase machine uptime and limit liability as today’s manufacturing engineering organizations become more aware of the strategic value of safety. The white paper shows how new motion control technology can keep machine operators and equipment safe in the midst of an industry climate that strongly emphasizes productivity improvements. The document includes the topics:
- Competitive Advantages of Modern Safety Solutions
- Safe Drives Achieve the Highest Productivity Improvements
- IndraDrive SafeMotion Solution
- European Union Influences Trends in Machine Safety
Advantech's AIMB-560 is a LGA 775 Pentium 4/Celeron D Processor-based Motherboard with DDR2/Dual GbE LAN starting at $310.More Information on Pentium 4/Celeron D Processor-based Motherboard
Contact Advantech for Product Guide or Application Assistance
Beckhoff Automation Control Panels offer built-in intelligence, Ethernet connectivity and industrial PC capabilities.More Information on Beckhoff Control Panels
Contact Beckhoff for Product Catalog or Application Assistance
AD Products now offers the MFT Hart Communicator! See more about this multifunctional calibration equipment on our site!More Information on MFT Hart Communicator
Contact AD Products for Product Literature or Application Assistance
Product & Supplier Search
Here's a list of new jobs posted on Automation.com:
- Senior Application Engineer: Texas, United States - GE Fanuc Automation 5/16/2006
- Controls Engineer: Denver, CO - Denver Water Department 5/12/2006
- Assembly Automation Engineer: Titusville, FL - Trinetics Group Inc 5/10/2006
- Systems Engineer: Albany, OR - automationtechies 5/16/2006
- Senior Engineer: Albany, OR - automationtechies 5/16/2006
- Automation Manager: Southern, MN - automationtechies 5/12/2006
- Sr. Controls Engineer: Exton, PA - automationtechies 5/9/2006
To view other recent job postings, please use our Job Search Function.
This might explain why fewer new companies are emerging from garages.
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
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