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February 28, 2007
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    Sponsored by Opto 22 In this Issue

    Most Automation Systems are Too Complicated

    SNAP PAC System from Opto 22

    Opto 22's SNAP PAC System is simple to understand, select, buy, and apply. Four easy-to-use components--software, controllers, brains, and I/O--form an integrated system that simplifies automation, monitoring, and data acquisition tasks.

    With FREE pre-sales consultation, product training, documentation, and technical support, the SNAP PAC System reduces your time, effort, and cost.

    Make automation simpler. The SNAP PAC System from Opto 22.

    		 

    From One Techie to Another:
    Countdown to online networking

    2007 Salary Survey

    Featured White Papers:
    PACs for Industrial Control, the Future of Control; Understanding PACs

    Product Announcements:
    Mini PCI Fieldbus cards, Wire labeling system, VPort 351 video encoder, DNCE Electromechanical Rod Actuators, and more

    Literature, Events & Training:
    Strategies for Operational Excellence Seminar, Measurement and Control Basics, and more

    Company News:
    ARC predicts future of servo drive and magnetic flowmeter markets, 3 acquisitions, ODVA publishes CompoNet specification for CIP, and much more

    New Job Opportunities

    New Auctions & Classifieds

    Dilbert Pick of the Week
    Sponsor: Festo From One Techie to Another

    High Precision, High Speed Automated Manufacturing

    More Information

    Festo offers a comprehensive range of ball screw, lead screw and belt driven linear actuators, engineered to deliver higher performance motion control in advanced automation equipment.

    • Repeatability: up to
      +/-0.005 mm
    • Speeds: up to 10 m/s
    • Stroke: up to 5m standard
    Visit: www.festo.com/us/ela

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    Find Automation Products
    Sponsor: OPC Foundation
    Become an OPC Member!

    Join the OPC Foundation and contribute to the advancement of OPC technology and open data connectivity.

    The OPC Foundation is dedicated to ensuring interoperability in automation by creating and maintaining open specifications that standardize the communication of acquired process data, alarm and event records, historical data, and batch data to multi-vendor enterprise systems and between plant floor devices.

    Learn more about OPC membership.
    		 

    Countdown to online networking

    We are still a couple weeks away from launching our networking site, but this week I was able to take a sneak peak. It’s coming together nicely and none too soon. With social networking sites like MySpace.com and Facebook.com taking off like wild-fire, this industry-specific network is sure to be a hit among automation professionals.

    One of the most powerful features of the site will be the ability for users to create private groups and interact with other members within that group. Members within the group will be able to post private discussions and events. I can see these private groups being used by engineers within a specific company or working on the same project, who may not all be at the same physical location.

    Of course, any member of the site will be able to create public groups, discussion forms and events that are open to anyone for view and participation.

    For those of you who are avid bloggers or blog readers, this site will offer a blogger's paradise. You will be able to create your own blog or access and subscribe to any other blog hosted on the site. And, if you are a blogger with a blog already on another site, you can simply import it to this site.

    If you are like me and haven't tried one of the social networking sites, you're going to want to give this one a try. Let's be honest, most users of social sites are below the age of 35, which is why I hadn't tried it before. But, there is a reason millions of young people are using them...because they work. Our site will give you an opportunity to try out this "new" phenomenon on a professional level. After all, if you haven't figured out yet that the future is online, the world may just pass you by. (nudge, nudge)

    If you missed it in a previous issue, here’s an overview of what the site will offer:

    • Create your own profile with contact info, career info, education, interests, etc.
    • Create your own home page with RSS news feeds, correspondence, calendar reminders
    • Create private or open groups
    • Join existing groups and communicate with other members
    • Privately e-mail other members
    • Invite other colleagues to join groups or events
    • Search for other members, blogs, forums, etc.
    • Create or respond to discussion forums, either private or public
    • Read and create blogs
    • View and post events to a calendar, either private or public
    • and much, much more tailored specifically for the industrial automation industry

    Remember, if you would like to get a preview of the site before it's released to the general automation public, please submit your e-mail address and I'll make sure you get a sneak peak.

    Stay tuned for networking of the future.

    Enjoy the rest of this eNews!

    Rick Zabel
    Vice President, Publisher

    Salary Survey

    2007 Salary Survey
    Automation.com is surveying automation, process control and instrumentation professionals about career, salary and company information. Find out how you stack up with other professionals, and how salaries vary by job function or geographic region. Please take a minute to complete our survey and then pass it on to your automation friends and colleagues. Survey results will be published in early spring 2007.

    Take the survey now
    Featured White Papers

    PACs for Industrial Control, the Future of Control
    With a number of vendors producing Programmable Automation Controllers that combine the functionality of a PC and reliability of a PLC, PACs today are increasingly being incorporated into control systems. This white paper explores the origins of the PAC, how PACs differ from PLCs and PCs, and the future direction of industrial control with PACs.
    Read full white paper

    Understanding Programmable Automation Controllers (PACs) in Industrial Automation
    Automation manufacturers have responded to the modern industrial application’s increased scope of requirements with industrial control devices that blend the advantages of PLC-style deterministic machine or process control with the flexible configuration and enterprise integration strengths of PC-based systems. Such a device has been termed a programmable automation controller, or PAC.
    Read full white paper

    More articles and white papers
    More application stories
    Product Announcements
    Beckhoff Automation announces Mini PCI Fieldbus Cards for Industrial PCs Beckhoff Automation announces Mini PCI Fieldbus Cards for Industrial PCs - 2/27/07
    Mini PCI fieldbus cards support PROFIBUS, CANopen, DeviceNet and Ethernet networks. The resulting smaller PC size saves valuable control cabinet space, but, like standard PCI fieldbus cards, the interfaces are optimized for fast controllers and real-time tasks.
    ASI releases Rolly 1000 Wire Labeling System ASI releases Rolly 1000 Wire Labeling System - 2/27/07
    Rolly 1000 high-speed desktop thermal printer for volume printing of wire markers and adhesive labels has 300 dpi resolution.
    MOXA releases VPort 351 video encoder to upgrade video surveillance MOXA releases VPort 351 video encoder to upgrade video surveillance - 2/26/07
    VPort 351 one-channel industrial video encoder provides D1 resolution @ 30 FPS and supports a dual MJPEG4/MJPEG algorithm, making it especially well suited for use with distributed surveillance systems in critical industrial applications. It meets UL508, Class1, Div. 2, making it suitable for transportation, utility, and manufacturing systems.
    Festo releases DNCE Electromechanical Rod Actuators Festo releases DNCE Electromechanical Rod Actuators - 2/22/07
    The DNCE screw-driven linear actuator has a nonrotating round piston rod suitable for conversions from pneumatic to electromechanical automation. the DNCE is a drop-in replacement for the Festo DNC and other pneumatic cylinders based on ISO standard 6431.

    Other Product Announcements

    Product & Supplier Search

    • Featured Products for February
    • Search Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date
    • Search Suppliers by keyword or product category
    Resources, Literature, Training, Events & Seminars

    Featured Seminar: Strategies for Operational Excellence
    ICONICS’ new Seminar Series taking place at Microsoft sponsored locations worldwide is in full operation. Plant engineers, operations managers, IT managers and automation directors are invited to learn how to stay ahead of the competition and leverage existing IT and automation infrastructures for real-time decision making. Topics range from how to best utilize the newly released Microsoft Windows Vista OS and 2007 Office system to the “64-bit Revolution” occurring within HMI/SCADA solutions. Locations include Detroit, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Minneapolis, Chicago, Toronto, Rochester, Philadelphia, Boston, Montreal, Nashville, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Grand Rapids, Denver and more. ICONICS will also bring its seminar to Thailand, Indonesia, New Zealand and other locations around the world.
    More information on this seminar series

    Featured Book: Measurement and Control Basics, 4th Edition
    Ideal for classroom use or self-study, this newly revised best-selling book has provided thousands of students, technicians, sales people, and others with a practical introduction to the technologies, systems, and strategies involved in industrial process control.
    More information or order online

    Other Resources & Events:

    Company & Application News

    Here are the latest company and application 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.

    Company & Organization News:

    Application News:

    New Jobs

    Here's a list of new jobs posted on Automation.com:

    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:
    Dilbert Pick of the Week

    How to know when you’re being set up as the scapegoat.

     

    I hope you enjoyed this automation 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, Publisher
    Automation.com

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