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Cisco Systems and RedPrairie have joined Intermec Inc. and Cascade Corp to create a concept for a forklift that will build RFID and real-time location capabilities into the equipment of the future.

Schneider Electric has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the Italian Group OVA G. Bargellini SpA. OVA operates in the emergency lighting market, with leading positions in Italy and a strong presence across the rest of Europe. The company is also active in the wiring devices business, through electrical components such as portable socket-outlets, plugs and adapters.

From a small workshop in Maldon, UK, ICS Triplex has grown into a world-wide organisation and one of the few remaining independent manufacturing and engineering companies in the automation industry today. With its Headquarters still located in Maldon, UK, ICS Triplex maintains the technology driven, customer led ethos that has been the force behind 40 years of successfully protecting people, investments and the environment.

Southern Peru Copper Corp. (SPCC) has selected PlantWeb® digital plant architecture with FOUNDATION™ fieldbus (FF) technology for digital automation of its Ilo Smelter, Peru facility.

Intermec Inc. today launched two ambitious RFID purchase programs designed to help companies worldwide obtain the superior business benefits of Gen 2 RFID equipment and technology, while maximizing previous investments in earlier-generation RFID. The programs are designed to aid both companies that purchased RFID equipment and tags to meet early compliance deadlines, and companies now considering initial RFID implementations.

Mafelec is a specialty manufacturer of onboard push-button switches for railway, overland and maritime transportation applications. The sale, which is part of the company’s acquisition by its management (Gilles Heinrich and Eric Heitz), demonstrates Schneider Electric’s commitment to supporting the entrepreneurial spirit of its employees.

LCRA will employ I/A Series digital automation from Foxboro in a control system modernization at the Fayette Power Project, a 1,641-megawatt, three-unit, coal-fired generating facility near La Grange, Texas. The new controls implementation will replace existing ash handling PLC systems controls in Units 1 and 2, each with a capacity of 598 megawatts.

The certification recognizes a Microsoft Competency in ISV/Software Solutions and in Networking Infrastructure Solutions. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners represent the top tier of organizations within the Microsoft Partner Program and membership is only awarded to those who have demonstrated the highest level of expertise in creating and implementing solutions based on Microsoft technologies.

Kagan is technology marketing director at Foxboro, Mass.-based Invensys Process Systems. He has worked in the automation and controls industry for more than 25 years. He headed Foxboro’s systems engineering group for a number of years and was part of the original team that developed the ground-breaking, standards-based I/A Series automation system.

ABB's 2005 net income reached $735 million compared to a $35-million loss in 2004, with strong increases in orders, revenues and EBIT. Continuing market strength and further operational improvements in the fourth quarter of 2005 contributed to the strong result.

MTS has expanded the services offered to existing and potential new customers to assist them in specifying, installing and maintaining level sensors in a wide variety of applications. For a reasonable fee, MTS will offer a site survey and pre-sale specification; evaluation and recommendations for the upgrade path; on-site training and hands-on training at the factory; installation and commissioning; scheduled periodic maintenance; and factory-authorized repair service.

A major international petroleum company has standardized on ProcessDoctor for auditing, monitoring and optimizing the assets that control plants for all 16 of their refineries and gas plants. The roll-out of the technology has already begun with one refinery being fully commissioned and two more with plans for immediate deployment.

As announced on January 30, 2006, OMRON Corporation expects to achieve highest ever consolidated profits in FY2005, making this the company's fourth consecutive year of record consolidated revenues and income. We are fully aware that this success is due in large part to the support of our shareholders and other stakeholders.

OMRON has established OMRON Automation PVT Ltd., a new, wholly-owned subsidiary in New Delhi, India. The move marks the beginning of a full-scale entry to the rapidly growing Indian factory automation (FA) market by OMRON's Industrial Automation Business (IAB). The new company will handle the sales and servicing of IAB's control equipment and is scheduled to start operations in April 2006.

Ethernet-compatible servo motor drives are catalyzing a breakthrough in the performance of tube bending machinery - allowing multi-stage bending operations to take place in parallel, while also reducing the electrical bill of materials and machine footprint.

Case IH, a worldwide leader in the farm equipment industry, has been using System E2 Energy Chain® to house and protect hydraulic cables on its line of 1200 ASM Series Planters. The 1200 Series is a top-of-the-line precision planter that delivers accurate population and precise in-row seed placement. Energy Chain plays an important role for each machine both on and off the field.

Students from the University of Minnesota in the Igus Y.E.S. (Young Engineers Support) Program developed a chainsaw variation of an Alaskan Mill for cutting large blocks of ice for the commercial use of Ice Occasions, one of the largest manufacturers of ice statue making equipment.

Nachi Robotic Systems recently upgraded its Quality Management System from QS9000/Tooling & Equipment Supplement: 1998 to ISO 9001:2000. This certification reflects Nachi’s commitment to continuously improve its quality management system to provide customer satisfaction by incorporating a process-oriented system.

Yokogawa Electric Corporation and its group companies have launched the Vigilant Integration Partners (VIP) Initiative, an open, non-exclusive, standard-based, and interoperability-driven partnership that enables Yokogawa customers to integrate best-in-class field devices supplied by VIP member companies with the industry-leading CENTUM series production control system and the PRM asset management system.