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May 23, 2007
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    Sponsor: Opto 22 In this Issue

    More Information

    Six reasons to consider the SNAP PAC System for your next project

    1. Simple to understand — software, controllers, brains, and I/O.

    2. Lower capital and long-term costs — free software, training, and product support.

    3. One flexible system for tackling many projects — process, sequential, motion, and data.

    4. Advanced, intuitive programming tools — flowcharting and procedural scripting.

    5. Single tagname database — no retyping, no cross-reference lists.

    6. The best I/O in the business — individually tested and guaranteed for life.

    More Information

    		  

    From One Techie to Another:
    Trying to stay Real in this Virtual World

    Featured Article:
    Showing Customers something 'Real' - Phoenix Contact's Customer Technology Center

    Product Announcements:
    -PCs and software support Intel Core Duo
    -Sliding link terminal blocks
    -PXI Express high-speed instruments
    -EtherNet/IP and Modbus TCP gateways
    -RS-232 device server
    -Touch panel computer
    -Vision sensor ring lights
    -IP69K I/O and junction boxes, and much more

    Resources & Literature:
    -Plant2Enterprise Webcasts
    -Machine Safety Engineering Guide, and more

    Events, Seminars & Training:
    -Mechatronics Forums for Machine Designers
    -OPC UA DevCon 2007
    -ARC Advisory Group's 15th Annual Forum
    -Oil and Gas Industry Symposium, and more

    Company & Application News:
    -ARC says automation services market will grow
    -MTL acquires Elpro International for £12m
    -Beckhoff Automation sales increase 26%
    -Vulnerabilities identified in SCADA systems; and much more

    New Job Opportunities

    Dilbert of the Week
    Sponsor: ARC From One Techie to Another

    More Information & Register

    Globalization means manufacturers must adopt strategies that incorporate globally-available resources throughout their design, manufacturing, and distribution processes. They must also foster a collaborative culture. Learn how leading manufacturers achieve best-in-class performance across all operations at ARC Advisory Group’s 15th Annual Forum: Winning Strategies for Global Manufacturers, June 25-27 in Boston.

    Visit www.arcweb.com, for more information & registration.
    Live News Feeds
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    Product Search
    Sponsor: OPC Foundation

    More Information about OPC Events

    What is OPC? Want your company to be an innovator leader, and maximize your product and resource utilization? Learn more about OPC, and how to achieve secure reliable interoperability with high performance quality products from hundreds of vendors.
    • For End-Users and System Integrators: the OPC Foundation provides no-cost seminars providing the solid foundation for what and how to use OPC-based products.

    • For Vendors and Developers: The OPC Foundation will conduct an OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) Developers' Conference in Scottsdale, AZ June 25-28, 2007.

    Click Here for more details, schedule and registration for these and other important OPC Events.

    		 

    Trying to stay Real in this Virtual World

    Have you heard about the web site called Second Life (www.secondlife.com)? For those who haven’t, Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by a total of 6,613,044 people from around the globe. Sites like these have gotten so popular that they are now giving Oscar-like awards for categories like "Best Virtual World," "Best Virtual Fashion Designer" and "Most Dynamic Virtual Economy."

    I was first introduced to this site last year by a presenter at one of the many conferences I attended. The presenter went on to imagine how you and I could have meetings between our avatars (alter egos) in this virtual world. Just think, we'd never have to leave our offices again.

    I'm all for technology and I'm a huge proponent of online tools, but I do want to get out of my chair and go meet people occasionally.

    We are seeing suppliers offer valuable virtual resources, like webcasts, forums and blogs. But I think most people agree that these resources can't replace personal contact. Instead, they are intended to augment the personal touch.

    This year, I will personally be going to more events than any other previous year. Why? Because in this virtual, electronic age, it's simply too hard to connect with people otherwise. It's tough to reach people on the phone unless you set up the phone call ahead of time. And, unless you already have a relationship with someone, it's often difficult to get a response via e-mail.

    Virtual tools do help companies stay in touch with suppliers, partners, and customers in global markets, but it's difficult to maintain a real relationship through virtual-only means. For this reason, we are seeing more and more suppliers hosting user's conferences and localized events. For example, every year National Instruments hosts a Worldwide Virtual Instrumentation Conference...a real event that focuses on virtual design and automation tools.

    But even once-a-year conferences don't always fulfill the "personal" needs. To compete effectively on a global scale, many companies have set up support centers around the world, like Phoenix Contact's new Houston-based CTC. This is Phoenix Contact's way of showing Houston-based customers something real without having to travel too far.

    Virtual tools also help manufacturing companies stay in touch with their equipment and processes. The hot topic today is improving and optimizing efficiencies in production and process. The only way to achieve this is by providing people with real data in real time so the company can react accordingly.

    This week's Dilbert conveys how a virtual tool (executive dashboard) presents real data to executives. Unfortunately, sometimes that real data doesn't always paint a pretty picture. But that doesn't mean the data is useless. That just means the data is indicating a problem that should be fixed.

    So go ahead and use the virtual tools, but don't forget to put them in a real perspective! And don't forget to take those opportunities to meet with real people.

    Enjoy the rest of this eNews!

    Rick Zabel
    Vice President, Publisher

    Featured Article

    Showing Customers something 'Real' - Phoenix Contact's Customer Technology Center
    The CTC is the product of Phoenix Contact employees taking the feedback they receive from their customers and turning it into something real. Right in the heart of the energy and process industries, Houston is no less than an ideal location for the new facility.

    Read full article by Kia Weller, Automation.com

    Browse Portals for more articles, white papers and application stories

    Product Announcements
    Beckhoff PCs and TwinCAT software support Intel Core Duo Beckhoff PCs and TwinCAT software support Intel Core Duo - 5/22/07
    Intel Core Duo processors feature two computation kernels in one processor case. This technology enables multitasking and improves the throughput in multithread applications.
    ASI announces SCB sliding link terminal blocks ASI announces SCB sliding link terminal blocks - 5/22/07
    SCB terminal blocks are for use in power generation applications, such as shorting of current transformers.
    PANDUIT releases crimping tools PANDUIT releases crimping tools - 5/22/07
    Tools include the Battery Powered Terminal Crimping Tool (CT-2500) and the Semiautomatic Ferrule Crimping Tool (CT-1000).
    NI announces PXIe PXI Express high-speed instruments NI announces PXIe PXI Express high-speed instruments - 5/21/07
    Instruments include the PXIe-5122 100 MS/s 100 MHz dual-channel digitizer, and PXIe-6537 and -6536 50 MHz and 25 MHz 32-channel digital I/O modules.
    TURCK enhances BL20 gateways for EtherNet/IP and Modbus TCP TURCK enhances BL20 gateways for EtherNet/IP and Modbus TCP - 5/18/07
    BL20 Ethernet gateways are available for EtherNet/IP and Modbus TCP network protocols. The gateways may be controlled by a PLC or set up as a separate system.
    Advantech announces TPC-660G Touch Panel Computer Advantech announces TPC-660G Touch Panel Computer - 5/18/07
    TPC-660G AMD LX800 touch panel computer for small-size operator interface applications is priced at $1,090.
    SENA announces LS110 single-port RS232 device server SENA announces LS110 single-port RS232 device server - 5/17/07
    LS110 device server connects RS-232 serial devices such as printers, barcode readers and other data acquisition devices to a 10Base-T Ethernet network. Price: $99.
    Banner introduces low-angle ring lights for vision sensing Banner introduces low-angle ring lights for vision sensing - 5/17/07
    Low-angle ring lights connect directly to PresencePLUS vision sensors or an external power supply to illuminate an inspected part.
    TURCK AIM I/O and JBBS junction boxes rated IP 69K TURCK AIM I/O and JBBS junction boxes rated IP 69K - 5/15/07
    Testing proved that AIM and JBBS junction boxes can withstand hot steam jet cleaning per EN 60529 and DIN 40050-9.

    Other Product Announcements

    Product & Supplier Search
    Resources & Literature
    Featured Webcast: Plant2Enterprise Webcasts
    GE Fanuc hosts four new webcasts in its monthly Plant2Enterprise Transformation webcast series. Attendees will learn how to “Optimize Plant Performance” and have the opportunity to ask questions during live question and answer sessions. During these webcasts, a panel of industry experts will share how to build a roadmap to transform production operations based on best practices and an in-depth capabilities and results study of more than 200 companies.
    More information

    Other Resources:

    Events, Seminars & Training

    Featured Event: Mechatronics Forums for Machine Designers
    National Instruments, SolidWorks Corporation and Wind River today announced the 2007 Embedded Technology Forum for Machine Designers, a one-day complimentary forum on embedded system design that offers an overview of technologies for reducing machine design cost and risk. Attendees will explore techniques for mechatronics-oriented design with software, electromechanical sensing and actuation; graphical programming for embedded systems; and remote monitoring and support.
    More information

    Other Upcoming Events & Training

    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:

    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.
    Dilbert of the Week
    Sometimes visibility shows the hard truth.

     

    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

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