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From One Techie to Another:
A look back at my Automation
Featured Article:
A short history of Automation growth
Product Announcements:
CSF500C 20 A Power Supply; Modbus wireless device servers; AIMB-240 Mini-ITX motherboard; EZ-Array light screen; Etherbus line of PoE; HMI software; Current sensors; and much more
Resources & Literature:
2007 Machine Safeguarding Design Guide; Industrial Ethernet tutorial site; and more
Events, Seminars & Training:
ISA Wireless Conference July 23-24 in Vancouver; Honeywell User's Group, Siemens Automation Summit; and more
| Sponsor: Northwire | |
From One Techie to Another | |||||||
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A look back at my Automation If you can remember the birth of the DCS and PLC, then the chances are good that you are retired, or at least close to retirement. Both the DCS and the PLC were born in the 1970s, giving them a relative short history. The automation industry, as we know it, is still relatively young. I can only imagine how difficult it was to build a control system in the old days with relays, timers and analog controllers. I entered the automation industry in 1989 when I graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a degree in Electrical Engineering. My first job out of college was as an applications engineer for a manufacturer’s representative of motion control products (Compumotor, now part of Parker Automation). After a couple of years, I went to work as a sales engineer for an industrial computer supplier that manufactured STD-bus computers and peripherals. At that time, Pro-Log was on the bleeding edge of industrial computing. It was often a tough sell, but I thoroughly enjoyed selling the product. It was during my time with Pro-Log that I was introduced to PC-based control and Windows-based HMI software. In my mind, this was the true start of the "automation software revolution." At that time, SoftPLC had developed an AB-like PLC programming software that ran on an industrial PC. In 1993, I took a job as a sales engineer with a Minneapolis-based controls distributor that, among other products, sold Wonderware software. With Pro-Log, I had the challenging experience of trying to configure an application using the well-known DOS-based software from Intellution. It’s no wonder (pun intended) that Wonderware launched a competing package for Windows. God bless them! I quickly latched on to this wonderful software package and made it my cause. I sold it. I configured it. I even taught other engineers how to use it. This was my calling…this software made the automation world go around. Of course, not too long after, Wonderware’s competitors released their own Windows-based packages. Eventually, Intellution (now GE Fanuc), ICONICS, Citect and others were all competing in this space. I had the pleasure of selling Wonderware software for more than four years when the rug was pulled out from under me. Wonderware was in the process of “reconfiguring” their distribution channel and my distributor was on the chopping block. Fortunately, I was in the know before my managers because the new distributor offered me a job. Except for one thing…I had signed a non-compete agreement that my employer threatened to pursue. So, I took a job as a sales/marketing guy for a systems integrator who, of course, was known to do a few Wonderware projects. As you all know, Wonderware is now part of Invensys. In 2000, I was presented with the opportunity to work on a web site called www.automationtechies.com, then a job board focused on the automation industry. The initial site evolved to what Automation.com is today, in addition to a full service recruiting and contract staffing group that still uses the automationtechies name. And the rest is history. I wanted to share my personal automation history because it’s a small world. The longer you stay in automation, the smaller our world becomes. One company leads to another, either by job change or acquisition. If you enjoyed reading my personal history, read our featured article this week by Jim Pinto. Jim does an excellent job of summarizing the history of automation in…A short history of Automation growth. Enjoy the rest of this eNews! Rick Zabel |
A short history of Automation growth
Trace the roots of all significant automation business segments and you’ll find key people and innovations. Industrial instrumentation and controls has always been a hotbed of new products – improved sensors, amplifiers, displays, recorders, control elements, valves, actuators and other widgets and gismos. But the markets are relatively small, specialized and fragmented, and it’s rare that any significant volume results directly from individual products.
Read full article by Jim Pinto.
More articles by Jim Pinto
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ASI introduces CSF500C 20 A Power Supply - 4/24/07 Compact CSF500C 20A, 24 Vdc output power supply is almost 66% smaller in size when compared to ASI's existing 20 amp power supply. |
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| Elpro adds Modbus Master Function to wireless device servers - 4/23/07 Industrial 802.11 products now provide Device Server functionality with Modbus Master capability for both Modbus TCP and serial Modbus RTU. |
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Advantech Launches AIMB-240 Mini-ITX motherboard - 4/23/07 AIMB-240 Mini-ITX motherboard has 2.8 GHz power and six serial communication ports. Price: $219. |
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Banner introduces EZ-Array light screen - 4/20/07 EZ-ARRAY provides high-speed, precise process monitoring and inspection, profiling and web-guiding applications. It uses closely spaced infrared beams to detect objects as small as 5 mm. Edge resolution is 2.5 mm. |
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SIXNET announces Etherbus line of PoE (Power over Ethernet) products - 4/19/07 Etherbus combines Ethernet, PoE (Power over Ethernet) and Fieldbus technology in a series of Ethernet switches, power injectors and splitters, power supplies, Kevlar-rugged cabling and IP67 connectors. |
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Emerson announces F-Series high temperature flowmeters - 4/19/07 Micro Motion F-Series models F025, F050 and F100 are available in Stainless Steel or Hastelloy, all rated to 350º C for flow measurement in a compact, drainable style. |
| Opto 22 enhances Qlarity Foundry HMI Software - 4/18/07 Enhancements include a SNAP PAC object library, support for object themes, and source-level debugging. |
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| Control See enhances U.C.ME-OPC software - 4/18/07 Enhancements include an alarm import from iFix, a new alarm type for Citect, improved OPC connectivity, and tighter integration with SCADA/HMI applications. |
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AutomationDirect launches AcuAMP current sensors - 4/18/07 AcuAMP line includes current sensors, transducers, and switches, all of which mount on a DIN rail. |
Other Product Announcements
- Woodhead announces Ethernet and DeviceNet diagnostics 4/24/07
- Invensys adds Centric validation software for life sciences 4/24/07
- Foxboro introduces FT10 Electrodeless Conductivity sensor 4/24/07
- Intelligent Motion releases MicroDrive microstepper 4/24/07
- BEI announces L15 incremental encoder 4/24/07
- CAS releases BrainChild VR18 Paperless Chart Recorder 4/24/07
- FCI introduces MT91 Mass Flow Meter for stack gas 4/24/07
- MTS introduces LLH Sanitary Level Sensors 4/24/07
- Avalue announces Industrial Motherboards 4/24/07
- Thermo Fisher adds BMC AppSight to lab software 4/24/07
- Murrelektronik introduces Cube67 distributed I/O 4/24/07
- General Monitors adds HART to FL4000 Flame Detector 4/24/07
- SKF introduces roller screws for linear actuation 4/24/07
- BlueCielo/Cyco renames products 4/24/07
- Weidmuller releases RIDERSERIES II Industrial Relays 4/23/07
- Pittman introduces Series N2300 brushless DC motors 4/23/07
- GarrettCom announces PES42P PoE edge switch 4/23/07
- Multenet launches Mobile Router 4/23/07
- OpenMake enhances Meister software 4/23/07
- Technosoft introduces ISCM8005 Servo Control Modules 4/20/07
- May makes management dashboards available 4/20/07
- Axiomtek announces SBC86831 Intel Core2 Motherboard 4/20/07
- Omron releases MS4800 Safety Light Curtains 4/19/07
- Ethernet Direct introduces Modbus Gateways and DAQ modules 4/19/07
- RTP announces Model 8714 intelligent counter 4/19/07
- Measurement Computing's boards support Vista 4/19/07
- Mosaic adds GPS to Wildcard SBC 4/19/07
- P+F releases Mobile Advanced Diagnostics Module for fieldbus 4/19/07
- AMS introduces ST10-S Stepper Drive for OEMs 4/19/07
- Agilent releases 5000 Series portable oscilloscopes 4/19/07
- Raytek introduces Marathon MM 3M IR Thermometer 4/19/07
- Blancett announces QuikSert Turbine Flow Meter 4/18/07
- Toellner Systems anounces Part Loader 4/18/07
- McObject releases Perst for .NET Compact Framework 4/18/07
Product & Supplier Search
- Featured Products for April
- Search Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date
- Search Suppliers by keyword or product category
Featured Resource: 2007 Machine Safeguarding Design Guide
This 2-volume set offered by Omron STI includes over 200 pages of engineering and regulation data. The balance of the 1400 pages includes product specifications and selection guides for the following safety products: Light Curtains, Laser Scanners, Mats, Interlocks, Relays, Network Controllers, Contact Strips, Edges, Two Hand Controls, and Enabling Switches.
Request your guide
Other Resources:
Featured Event: ISA Wireless Conference July 23-24 in Vancouver
ISA will hold a two day conference entitled "Wireless Solutions for Manufacturing Automation: Insights for Technology and Business Success," 23-24 July 2007 at the Marriott Vancouver Airport in Richmond, BC, Canada. The two day program provides enterprise management and senior technical personnel with business insights into the current state of wireless technologies for manufacturing and control systems. It is intended to facilitate understanding of the technology issues and business considerations that underlie effective decisions on when and where wireless solutions in the industrial environment are appropriate.
More information
Other Upcoming Events & Training
- Computer/Human Interaction (CHI) 2007 Conference April 28-May 3, 2007
- FutureNet April 28-May 3, 2007
- WBF 2007 North American Conference: April 30 - May 3, 2007
- Matrikon Summit 2007: May 7-10, 2007
- Oil and Gas Industry Symposium in 13 cities: Starting May 8, 2007
- NI Automated Test Summit on Web: May 8, 2007
- SMMA Spring Management Conference: May 9-11, 2007
- RoboBusiness Conference and Expo: May 15-16, 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
- M2M Forum 2007: May 22-23, 2007
- BuilConn: May 22-24, 2007
- Cyco's Americas User & Reseller Conference: June 3-5, 2007
- Fugitive Emissions-LDAR Symposium: June 5-7, 2007
- Automation Technology Expo (ATX) East: June 6-8, 2007
- 2007 Honeywell Users Group Americas Symposium: June 10-15, 2007
- ISA POWID Division Symposium: June 10-15, 2007
- Sensors Expo & Conference Conference: June 11-13, 2007
- The Managing Automation Progressive Manufacturing Summit: June 12-14, 2007
- East Coast's Advanced Manufacturing Event: June 12-14, 2007
- 2007 International Robots & Vision Show: June 12-14, 2007
- ATX - Automation Technology Expo East: June 12-14, 2007
- Process Improvement Training - DOE Workshop: June 12-15, 2007
- Siemens 2007 Automation Summit: June 12-15, 2007
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:
- National Instruments wins magazine award 4/24/07
- Harbour Group Acquires Haydon 4/24/07
- Moore Industries bakes and boils NCS DAQ for two years 4/24/07
- Invensys receives award for contributions to RasGas Project 4/23/07
- Bosch Rexroth educates Pennsylvania Officials on wind power 4/20/07
- Oxford Sensor Technology signs rep in India 4/20/07
- Danaher Industrial Controls changes name to Dynapar 4/19/07
- PSI procures patent for packaging PDFS 4/19/07
- GE Fanuc Expert speaks at INTERPHEX 2007 4/19/07
- Schneider Electric announces 1Q results 4/19/07
- Bosch Rexroth presents Hydraulics Training Courses 4/19/07
- Flowserve president promoted to Chairman of Hydraulic Institute 4/19/07
- Thermo Fisher to hold Middle East User Meeting May 14-16 4/19/07
- Flowserve builds pump plant in India 4/18/07
- FF names P+F CEO to FF BOD 4/18/07
- ISA issues standard for power plant HMIs 4/18/07
- Fieldbus Foundation praises EDDL/FDT agreement 4/18/07
- Infor appoints Jon Pilkington vice president 4/18/07
Application News:
Here's a list of new jobs posted on Automation.com:
- Sales Engineer: Harold Beck & Sons, Inc. - Newtown, PA 4/23/2007
- Project Engineer: Harold Beck & Sons, Inc. - Newtown, PA 4/23/2007
- Account Executive - Process Automation: Standard Automation & Control LP - Houston, TX 4/23/2007
- Sr. Engineer: CRISP - Catalyst Inc. - East of DFW Metro, TX 4/19/2007
- Project/Program Manager: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, Airport Services - DFW Airport, TX 4/19/2007
- VP/Director of Manufacturing: automationtechies - San Jose, CA 4/20/2007
- MES Consultant: automationtechies - Birmingham, AL or Southeast, USA 4/20/2007
- Instrumentation Sales Representative: automationtechies - Rochester, NY 4/20/2007
- Engineering Manager: automationtechies - New Zealand 4/20/2007
To view other recent job postings, please use our Job Search Function.
Dilbert
The next big innovation.
Understanding Engineers – Take 3
Normal people believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Engineers believe that if it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet.
I hope you enjoyed this Automation Weekly 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
For editorial and advertising inquiries, please contact Rick Zabel or see our Media Kit.
For recruiting and contract staffing services, please visit www.automationtechies.com.