- February 21, 2007
February 21, 2007 - Knoxville, TN - For accurate, timely and assured data delivery between plant floor devices and business systems, xCoupler plant to business system data modules from Online Development now feature new message acknowledgement, handshaking and store-and-forward features. These modules are designed to install in Rockwell Automation ControlLogix PACs and are especially important for reliable data capture and compliance with standards or regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley or FDA CFR Part 11.The acknowledgement feature helps safeguard against communications errors. When the xCoupler sends device data to business systems, it requires recognition that data has been acted upon before it sends subsequent messages. If the message is not acknowledged, the xCoupler module stores remaining messages in its flash memory and sends an email alerting users of a communications problem. Only when resolved, does the xCoupler module send stored data to the business system.The xCoupler modules handshaking feature ensures that data transfer, such as a batch recipe or material handling movement, between the business system and plant floor devices has been completed. It occurs when a tag in ControlLogix is used to signal the completion of a database command and is supported through event triggers based on MSG INSTRUCTION, or ControlLogix tag triggers. With the exception notification feature, an email alert can besent if the database or tag data is not available.xCoupler plant-to-business system data managers are information appliances that exchange data between devices including sensors, actuators, drives, bar code scanners, robots and RFID controllers, as well as, business systems such as IBM DB2 or AS/400, Microsoft SQL, Oracle and MySQL. These modules can be set up to communicate between plant floor devices in 60 minutes or less using the modules WorkBench configuration tool. This tool is also used to create tag-based triggers and events and provides a high level of data security. Since the xCoupler module is not a PC-based device, it is less susceptible to security problems and virus attacks. About Online DevelopmentOnline Development is a "fast track" developer of factory automation hardware and software for products in the industrial market space. Since its founding in 1989, the company has led the industry in developing the technologies needed to enable various leading brands of PLCs/PACs to communicate with field devices or other controllers on the factory floor. The technologies developed by the company provide very simple, yet highly effective, connectivity between various proprietary factory automation devices including barcode scanners, modems, printers, robots, HMIs, sensors, RFIDs, and popular factory/warehouse network systems. The company is also helping its customers meet new regulatory and business pressure demands through the development of plant-floor-to-enterprise system data connectivity solutions such as its ETM suite of enterprise transaction modules. This suite of factory floor appliances provides simple and secure two-tier bi-directional data communications in real-time between plant floor devices and business servers for a variety of enterprise data transaction needs. xCoupler, the first of these ETMs, reduces the complexity and costs associated with cumbersome multi-tier data exchange options to quickly and easily enable the implementation of initiatives such as business intelligence, data warehousing, enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, supply chain management and others.Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Online Development is privately owned and has offices in Cleveland, Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio and Barcelona, Spain.