CTC Releases CTServer Software

May 08, 2003
Control Technology Corporation
News

Summary

Links factory floor to enterprise systems over the web

HOPKINTON, MA – Control Technology Corp., originator of web enabled automation, has released CTServer™ software. CTServer provides a direct, web-based link between the factory floor and enterprise systems such as MRP (Material and Resource Planning), CRM (customer relationship management), documentation and quality analysis. Remote terminal units such as those used for tank farms, water treatment and environmental monitoring may be used as CTServer clients, further extending its power and flexibility in enabling users to send data to and from anywhere. In addition to standard Internet browsers, devices such as cell phones and pagers provide people as well as systems with direct, real-time access to plant floor data.“Many facilities have implemented higher level enterprise systems only to find that they are not achieving their expected optimization and cost reduction goals,” said Greg Woods, CTC President and CEO. “The problem in many cases is a missing link: lack of accurate and consistent real-time data from plant and process level devices. CTServer software provides this missing link in a streamlined, cost-effective yet powerful package.” Easy to integrateCTServer links CTC Blue Fusion controllers or any OPC-compliant device to enterprise systems by using the following IT standards:· HTML, XML, SQL· HTTP, SMTP, SOAP (Web Services), SNTP· ODBC, JDBC, J2EE ServerCTServer additionally conforms to commonly used security strategies for multi-level user access (LDAP, MD5 digest authentication) and protection from unauthorized access (SSL with 128-bit encryption). This makes it easy for IT professionals to integrate plant floor data with enterprise-level systems. CTServer is Java-based, enabling it to run on many different hardware and software platforms.How is it different from what’s out there now?CTServer differs from currently available SCADA packages in two respects:· It is designed from the ground up as a web-based server product. It is not a “browser-based bolt-on.”· It provides a direct, bi-directional link between factory data and enterprise systems without complex, expensive SCADA gateways. CTServer also makes it easy for IT professionals to exchange plant floor data with the enterprise and its supply chain using the familiar standards and infrastructure that are already in place, without extensive support from plant floor personnel. An optional event-based package enables users to report or request data based upon events such as alarms, video motion detection, batch completions or other process events, shift and operator changes, or interruptions in communications. Robust, fault-tolerant architecture and performance features ensure data integrity despite hostile environments or heavy requests on the server.CTServer is available now. More information is available at www.ctc-control.com.

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