Automation Weekly - September 5, 2007

NEMA 6P and IP 68 rated, Remke Dome Cap Cable Glands offer you more styles of liquidtight strain relief for applications that are dry, damp, wet or underwater. Quick installation, plus impact & abrasion resistance even at very low temperatures, are just a few features of these connectors

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Sponsor: OPC Foundation

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

Summer’s End Brings Flurry of Events - Ugh!

For our U.S.-based audience, this past weekend (Labor Day Weekend) marks the unofficial end of summer. Summer vacations are over. Children go back to school. Professionals try to get back into the swing of work. And then there are the events - trade shows, expos, user conferences, summits, etc. The spring and fall are popular times of year for suppliers to plan their events, mainly because spring and fall are the times when most people don’t mind traveling.

As a publisher, we have two challenges with all these events. Our first challenge is making you all aware of what is happening when and where. We have to rely on event planners to keep us informed about events they have scheduled. When we become aware of new events, we do our best to publish them in our Calendar of Events. We recognize that our current calendar leaves a little to be desired, so we are currently in the process of revamping our calendar so it’s a little more user-friendly for browsers and event planners. Right now, event planners can submit their events using the Event Form.

While the Calendar of Events on Automation.com is a repository of events, it relies on browsers actively looking for events in the calendar. However, our professional networking site at My.Automation.com, not only offers the ability for event planners to post events, but they can then actively invite other site members to attend, either via a site-wide check-box or by specific groups. This powerful networking tool would, for example, allow suppliers or organizations to invite members of a Process Control group to attend a process control related webinar, seminar or conference. Create a Profile on the site now to create/join groups or add events in the calendar.

Our second challenge with so many events is finding the time to travel to them all. I personally believe that every event offers an invaluable networking opportunity with other automation professionals. That’s one of my primary reasons for going. We also go to put our fingers on the pulse of the industry, organizations, suppliers and latest technologies, so we can keep you better informed.

I’m certain our Calendar of Events doesn't include everything, but it does cover a lot. If you look at September and October alone, just about every weekday has one or more events scheduled. There are a number of upcoming events that I want to and should attend. I just can’t do it. With a spouse who works (and travels) and two small children at home, it is impossible to go to everything. As it is, either my wife or I are traveling every week in September. That’s no fun! And there are 2-3 other events I should be going to. I have to pick and choose the events that will give me the most return and/or don’t conflict with anything else.

I can’t help but think that other industry professionals have similar issues when trying to attend so many events. It was a lot easier when there were one or two events per year that all the suppliers and automation professionals went to. Today, with companies operating so lean, I doubt most industry professionals can attend more than one or two events per year. I think as a user, I would want one place where I can go to meet with multiple suppliers. I don’t argue the merit of vendor-specific user conferences, but are they the best option for users? If all the suppliers participated in a nationwide show again, would users then go to the show? I don’t claim to have the answers, but I do know that all these events are becoming a logistical nightmare. And I suspect it will get worse as more small suppliers jump on the user conference bandwagon. Something has got to give. Share your thoughts in our Conference Discussion Forum.

Enjoy the rest of this eNews!

Rick Zabel
Vice President, Publisher

Featured Article

Beyond the F.U.D. - How to start securing your DCS network today
You work in the Process Control industry, so I’m sure you have heard the mixed and confusing messages about Cyber Security. Are you trying to determine how all these Cyber security issues are affecting you? Or do you know you need to do something but just don’t know where to start? The following text has been written to step you through some of the issues in the market today.

Read full article by Doug Clifton of the Invensys Process Systems cybersecurity practice

Browse Portals for more articles, white papers and application stories

Product Announcements

	Advantech announces TPC-1270H touch panel computer The system is powerful enough to support full Windows operating systems such as XP Professional, as well as embedded operating systems such as XPe. Price: from $1,695.
	MTL introduces ZoneDefender2 surge protection ZoneDefender2 provides AC and DC power surge protection for small distribution panels.
	ASI announces IEC Limit Switches Limit switches satisfy requirements for quick installation, wiring ease, simple setup, modularity, sturdiness, and constant reliability.
	Emerson enhances Rosemount X-STREAM process gas analyzer Enhancements allow installation in Class I, Zone 1, Group IIB + H2 hazardous areas requiring ATEX or CSA-C/US certifications.
	NI enhances LEGO MINDSTORMS Robotic Software LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT software Version 1.1 now provides support for the Windows Vista operating system and Intel-based Macintosh computers in addition to improving memory usage on the NXT Intelligent Brick.
	ProSoft introduces RLX-IHW industrial access point LX-IHW is a wireless access point, repeater, or client. It offers high-speed wireless Ethernet communications including EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP/IP, and DNP over Ethernet.
	TURCK annouinces DeviceNet Drive Interface station The Drive Interface station is for use where up to four stand-alone adjustable frequency drives need to be interfaced onto a DeviceNet network.
	Lantronix launches XChip single-chip web server Single chip Ethernet web server helps OEMs add networking to new and existing products.

Other Product Announcements

Product & Supplier Search

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

Resources & Literature

ABB publishes brochure on Smart HART temperature transmitters

Events, Seminars & Training

ISA EXPO 2007
October 2-4, 2007
Organized around six core automation and control themes, ISA EXPO 2007 provides attendees a content-rich environment that offers unlimited opportunity for exploration of key technologies, professional growth, and interaction with like minded professionals. The six technology exchanges include: Security, Wireless & Networking, Process Automation, Safety, Environmental & Quality Control, and Enterprise Integration. As an Automation.com subscriber, you are entitled to FREE registration! Don't miss this important event! Use promotion code W24559.
More information and Registration

Fieldbus Educational Seminar
October 11, 2007 in San Juan, Puerto Rico
November 13, 2007 in Greenville, SC
This one day Fieldbus Educational Seminar agenda will cover the entire infrastructure included with demonstrations on: Open Scalable Integration, Process Integrity and Business Intelligence. Local end user speakers will be present in the afternoon talking about their experiences with the technology. Attendees will receive a CD with all the presentation materials and technical guides, workshop presentation handouts and much more.
More information on San Juan
More information on Greenville

Upcoming Events & Training

Siemens Safety Webinars: Started May 24, 2007
Opto 22 Lunch & Learn Program: Today through November 23, 2007
Infor User Conference: September 9-12, 2007
EUROSENSORS 2008: September 10, 2007
2007 Emerson Global Users Exchange Conference: September 10-14, 2007
ICONICS Training Course: September 10-14, 2007
Emerging Automation Open House: September 12, 2007
Facililties Expo 2007: Southeast Industrial: September 12-13, 2007
Securing Industrial Networks: Cyber Protection for Automation, Control & SCADA Systems: September 16, 2007
Activate 2007 by Activplant Corporation: September 16, 2007
MESA International Plant to Enterprise Conference: September 16-18, 2007
RIA Robotic Material Removal Training: September 17-19, 2007
SCMLogistics World 2007: September 17-20, 2007
PLC Structure, Programming, Installation and Maintenance Course: September 17-21, 2007
FDT Group North American Technology Seminar Series: September 18, 2007
Facilities Midwest: September 18-19, 2007
ODVA 2007 CIP Networks Conference and 12th Annual Meeting: September 18-20, 2007
3rd IEEE International Conference on Wireless Communications, Networking and Mobile Computing: September 21-23, 2007
WAGO Industrial Ethernet and IEC 61131-3 Seminar: September 24-26, 2007
National Manufacturing Week: September 24-27, 2007
PTO Free PROFINET 2007 Developer Workshops: October 2007 (exact date TBD)
ISA holds Executive Summit at ISA EXPO: October 3, 2007
ZigBee Expo in Europe: October 4-5, 2007
Global Packaging Forum: October 13, 2007
Midwest RFID Symposium: October 23-24
ISA Training Courses at WonderWorld: October 23-25, 2007
RoboDevelopment Conference and Exposition: October 25-26, 2007
Introduction to Fieldbus: October 27, 2007
Remote Monitoring & Onsite Power Show: November 6-7, 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:

Application News:

New Jobs

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Humor of the Week

Dilbert - Why the CEO’s son can never be a good Intern

Goin' Fishin' - Customers have needs...We try to identify them

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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