GE Fanuc releases iPower 5.0 for iFIX

January 27, 2009 - GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms announced iPower 5.0 with its DNP3 driver providing a complete vertical industry solution for electrical transmission and distribution utilities. iPower reduces the cost of implementing, supporting and operating a SCADA system and increases operational efficiency by providing a secure, consistent, and intuitive interface for operators. iPower delivers a unique value proposition for Electrical Transmission and Distribution SCADA applications by combining the strength of Proficy HMI/SCADA - iFIX with additional industry specific functionality that is tightly integrated and easy to use. It was built using the iFIX toolkit and delivers built-in object security, enhanced graphic capability, standard operator interfaces, alarm and event reporting and standard drag and drop electrical utility objects. The iPower option reduces customer development and maintenance costs while delivering an easier to use SCADA system.DNP is the industry’s standard communication protocol, so the addition of the DNP3 driver offers the ability to communicate with a wide variety of devices, RTUs and substations – rounding out the overall solution. The DNP3 driver is native to iFIX 5.0 and can also be operated independently as a stand-alone OPC server. The DNP3 driver’s key features include DNP level 3 (requests and responses), on-the-fly configuration without requiring a system restart, and sequence of events (level 3). iPower increases engineering and maintenance productivity with its automated configuration tools, development environment, RTU Vendor Neutrality, and industry standards communication protocols. The combination of iPower 5.0 and DNP3 are completely integrated with GE Fanuc’s HMI/SCADA iFIX 5.0, enabling quick integration of iFIX 5.0’s standard features with iPower 5.0 elements to deliver a tailored SCADA solution at a low total cost of ownership.It provides an open and flexible solution that is easier to deploy and support than generic SCADA software. iPower SCADA with DNP3 makes it easy for even small utilities to install and maintain their own SCADA.Key features that iPower adds to iFIX: