Automation Weekly - March 21, 2007

Automation.com has launched 24 Product Portals, each hosting and organizing content such as products, articles, application stories, news headlines, events, training, and other resources specific to the following topics:

-Automatic Identification
-Automation Software
-Building Automation
-Connectors, Cables, Wiring
-Control Panel Devices
-Electrical Power
-Enclosures
-Fieldbus Networks
-Fluid Power
-HMI & Operator Interfaces
-Industrial Communications
-Industrial Computers
-Industrial I/O
-Machine Control
-Machine & Process Safety
-Motion Control
-OPC
-PLCs & PACs
-Process Control
-Robots & Robot Controllers
-Sensors & Instruments
-Test & Measurement
-Valves & Pumps
-Wireless Connectivity

For more information, see What is a Product Portal?

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Product Search

Search for automation products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date in our Enhanced Product Showcase.

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.

Automation World - Collaborating for Results

ABB's Automation World kicked off this week in Orlando, Florida, with a record attendance of more than 2400 customers, executives and partners from 38 different countries.

In the first keynote, Fred Kindle, ABB President and CEO, addressed the crowd with an enthusiasm that quickly emanated through the room. After all, ABB has much to celebrate. After a few hard years, ABB has rebounded very strongly to close 2006 with record earnings. According to Kindle and other top executives, ABB owes its success to customers who continue to believe in their world-class technology.

But it's not just about technology anymore. What really counts is what you do with that technology. Manufacturers will continue to see an increase in competitive pressures due to globalization, consolidation (to reduce costs) and capital efficiencies. New technologies are an important factor to success, but technology without proper implementation is almost useless. According to Kindle, ABB not only offers the right products at the right price, but they bring solutions, services, reliability and trust to the table.

The world is rich with new challenges and new opportunities. For many manufacturers, China and India pose serious competition. But, for ABB, China and India are incredible success stories. For example, ABB is actively working with Chinese governments to facilitate the electrical power systems needed to support this growing region. While many of the electrical systems in the U.S. are decades old (and inefficient), China is implementing the latest technologies to maximize efficiencies. And the opportunities don't stop there. Brazil, Russia, Vietnam, Pakistan and Indonesia (to name just a few) are all emerging markets.

In the second keynote, Nicholas Donofrio, IBM Executive VP of Innovation & Technology, went on to discuss the World economy in this era. "It's different now," says Donofrio. "We now have more than 1 billion Internet users and over 3 billion wireless subscribers. We have widely adopted technical and transaction specifications. We have a new business design of horizontally integrated operations. The changing nature of innovation is open, collaborative, multi-disciplinary and global."

According to a recent survey of technology companies, the top sources of new ideas and innovation come from employees and business partners. This presents a problem as a large percentage of the automation workforce approaches retirement age. To help replace retiring talent, ISA has begun working with academia to develop an automation engineering degree program.

Also, in this world economy, as companies focus more on services, the existing labor force is experiencing a skills gap. IBM, along with other leaders and universities, have begun exploring and investing in a new academic discipline called SSME (Services Sciences, Management and Engineering). This discipline would fuse technical competency with industry-specific knowledge and business process expertise.

For most companies, improving efficiencies is the number one goal. And collaboration allows companies to make the necessary improvements to stay competitive. Collaborate with your colleagues, partners, suppliers and academia. Collaborate for results.

Mark your calendar now for next year's Automation World on April 29 - May 1, 2008 in Houston, TX.

Related Links:

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 Article

Infosys – Global growth with a conscience
Infosys is one of the largest software companies in the world. Jim Pinto visited the corporate headquarters in Bangalore, India in February 2007. Here is Jim's report which describes this significant company and its strikingly different corporate culture.

Read full article by Jim Pinto
More articles by Jim Pinto

More articles and white papers
More application stories

Product Announcements

	ASI announces 42A DIN Rail Power Supply - 3/20/07 Compact power supply has a universal auto-ranging input, which means the same part can be used with 340 to 550 Vac and provide a 24 Vdc output. The power supply is also available in a version that supplies a signal in the event of failure.
	Prosoft expands wireless product line in license-free 2.4GHz band - 3/19/07 Products in the license-free 2.4 GHz band include Frequency hopping (FHSS) radios, wireless gateways for PROFIBUS and HART, and in-rack wireless modules for PLCs.
	Opto 22 introduces OptoDataLink software - 3/19/07 OptoDataLink is used to create and facilitate bi-directional data exchange between the SNAP PAC System and enterprise databases - like Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, and MySQL, among others. It is suitable for users who need to simply and quickly exchange data among desktop or enterprise applications and control, data acquisition, and monitoring systems using standard methods and file types.
	Northwire introduces ODVA-compliant DeviceNet cable - 3/15/07 ODVA DeviceNet cable is available in ODVA-compliant thick (600V-rated), which exceeds CL2 and CL3 per NEC 725.61; thin (300V-rated); and special PLTC thin, designed with 22AWG data pair and PLTC-rated (Power Limited Tray Cable), which exceeds CL2 and CL3 per NEC 725.61.
	Siemens adds Foundation fieldbus, plus other features, to Simatic PCS 7 - 3/15/07 Enhancements to Version 7 of SIMATIC PCS 7 Process Automation System include integration of Foundation Fieldbus, configuration / change management, redundant fieldbus with safety communication, smart alarm management, cyber security, plant asset management and condition monitoring.
	Phoenix Contact introduces Fuse Terminal Blocks - 3/15/07 Touch-safe fuse terminal blocks accept Class CC and Class J fuses to meet National Electrical Code requirements for Branch Circuit Protection.
	Opto 22 introduces dual Ethernet SNAP I/O Brains - 3/15/07 The SNAP-PAC-EB1 and SNAP-PAC-EB2 I/O Processors have dual, switched 10/100 Mbps Ethernet interfaces. This built-in two-port Ethernet switch design lowers network equipment costs by making it possible to build multi-drop I/O networks over standard Ethernet cable.
	Advantech Launches MIC-3723 Analog Output Card - 3/15/07 MIC-3723, a 3U CompactPCI 16-bit 8-channel non-isolated analog output card, starts at $695. Each analog output channel is equipped with a 16-bit double-buffered DAC and has an auto-calibration function and BoardID switch.
	Control-See introduces U.C.ME-OPC for alarm import from HMI systems - 3/15/07 U.C.ME-OPC offers alarm import from iFix, Cimplicity, InTouch, RS-View32 and Citect. This enables users to import alarms that are already defined in their SCADA/HMI software.

Other Product Announcements

GE Fanuc announces isolated Relay Output Module 3/20/07
FCI's CM Series Coriolis Flow Meters Receive FM Approval 3/20/07
Multenet launches Router with VPN 3/20/07
Rockwell Automation releases 150hp HPK servo motor 3/20/07
Avantis enhances PRO asset management software 3/20/07
Baumüller adds EtherCAT to bmaXX 3422 drive 3/19/07
OpenMake announces Meister build-to-release software 3/19/07
ServoSoft enhances EasySize Wizard motion control design software 3/19/07
Kepware offers free download of OPC sample code 3/19/07
Green Hills adds software-defined radio to MULTI 3/19/07
Matrikon's AlarmInsight works with ABB's Industrial IT 3/16/07
Omron releases hinge-operated safety interlocks 3/16/07
Acromag releases Virtex-II FPGA modules with digital I/O 3/16/07
AIC Wireless releases WLD Wireless LonWorks device 3/16/07
Leica Geosystems introduces T-Mac wireless postion sensor 3/16/07
SKF releases Type LLM miniature profile rail guides 3/16/07
Thomson introduces MS46 Series Positioning Slides 3/16/07
ABB announces Automation Sentinel for software management 3/15/07
Amplicon announces Impact-R 3010 industrial computers 3/15/07
Rockwell Automation adds EWEB Web server to CompactLogix 3/15/07
Lanner releases IAC-H672 SBC in a ISA half-size slot card 3/15/07
Ethernet Direct introduces BMS-436 4-port serial device server 3/15/07
Infor introduces SCM WM 9.0 warehouse management software 3/15/07
Symbion Systems partners with Labtronics for LIMS solution 3/15/07
Measurement Computing announces 500 series data loggers 3/14/07
GarrettCom releases Magnum 6K25e Ethernet switches for video surveillance 3/14/07
Midwest Motion introduces 12 Volt DC Gearmotor 3/14/07
Matrox Graphics supplies Extio remote graphics unit to ABB 3/14/07
Spartan Scientific announces CRDV/S drain valve 3/14/07
ACCES I/O announces 104-IDI-48 Series PC/104 Digital Boards 3/14/07
Zaber introduces T-LSR long travel linear stages 3/14/07

Product & Supplier Search

Featured Products for March
Search Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date
Search Suppliers by keyword or product category

Resources & Literature

Featured Resource: Data Acquisition, Measurement and Control Handbook
Keithley's free 220+ page "Understanding New Developments in Data Acquisition, Measurement, and Control" handbook is a practical guide to high performance test and measurement. The handbook is divided into nine sections that discuss issues influencing the selection of data acquisition and control equipment.
More information or request your handbook

Other Resources:

Moore Industries releases Temperature Line Card Brochure 3/16/07

Events, Seminars & Training

Featured Event: Matrikon Summit 2007
The technology conference for industry executives, process control engineers and other professionals. Come see the latest in process data technology for industries including petrochemical, pulp and paper, mining, oil and gas, and power and learn how it will transform your business. Through presentations, case studies, panel discussions, demonstrations and networking events, you'll be immersed in new ideas for making a step change in operational and business excellence.
More information or register

Other Upcoming Events & Training

WINA "Introduction to Wireless for Industry" (Webinar): March 28, 2007
MTA2007 – The Precision Engineering Industry Event - Singapore Expo: March 28-31, 2007
Intelligent Actuator Inc. Robo Expo + Programming Seminars: March 28, 2007
ZigBee Developers' Conference: April 3-5, 2007
Deliver Operational Efficiency to Process Manufacturers (Webinar): April 4, 2007
Industrial Ethernet Training Class: April 11, 2007
ISA Analysis Division's 2007 Symposium: April 15-19, 2007
HANNOVER MESSE 2007: April 16-20, 2007
PAS 'Process Matters' Users Conference: April 17-18, 2007
Electromate Industrial Sales' Toronto & Montreal Automation Fair & Expo: April 17&19 2007
ExperTune & TiPS User's Conference: April 17-19, 2007
Deliver Operational Efficiency to Process Manufacturers (Webinar): April 19, 2007
Innovation Fair: April 24, 2007
Total Processing & Packaging 2007: May 15-17, 2007
Deacom User Conference: May 16-17, 2007
PTO Free PROFINET 2007 Developer Workshops: Starting May 21, 2007
ASi-tech 2007: May 22, 2007

Go to our Calendar of Events to see other upcoming events. Add an event to our calendar.

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:

NI Vice President keynotes Education Conference 3/20/07
Emerson forms Remote Automation Solutions division 3/19/07
SIXNET names GE Supply Company as distributor 3/19/07
ARC says Asian DCS Market thrives on massive investments in manufacturing 3/16/07
ISA leads efforts to develop an Automation Engineering Degree Program 3/15/07
Syncroness study confirms trend of outsourcing new product development 3/15/07
RTP signs Tyco as rep for UK and MidEast 3/15/07
Ethernet Direct signs RA Controls as rep in Poland 3/15/07
GiveMePower launches Technical Services Division 3/14/07
KSE Protech and ObjectAutomation Merge 3/14/07

Application News:

New Jobs

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

Control Engineer: Wastech Controls & Engineering Inc. - Chatsworth, CA 3/19/2007
Electrical Engineer: BIT Corp - Patchogue, NY 3/19/2007
Latin America Sales, Industrial Automation Software: Intech Process Automation, Inc - Houston, TX 3/19/2007
Automation/Controls Engineer: Enterprise Automation - Tusin, CA 3/19/2007
Automation Engineer: Advanced Automated Controls, Inc. - Eastern, PA 3/16/2007
Electrical Engineer: Quanta Laboratories - Santa Clara, CA 3/16/2007
Controls Engineer: Prime Controls - New Orleans/Baton Rouge, LA 3/15/2007
Controls Engineer: Prime Controls - Dallas or Houston, TX 3/15/2007
Applications Engineer: Hess Corporation - Port Reading, NJ 3/15/2007
Senior Automation Engineer: Flint Hills Resources - Wichita, KS 3/14/2007
Controls Systems Engineers: automationtechies - Houston, TX 3/16/2007
Controls Engineer: automationtechies - Houston, TX 3/16/2007
Controls Engineer II: automationtechies - Houston, TX 3/16/2007

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

Invoke squatter’s rights to keep your empty cubical space.

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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