Apprion, Motorola: More industrial wireless networks, mobility
Integrated products from original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement will focus on industrial enterprise wireless application networks and industrial enterprise mobility, say Apprion and Motorola.
By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff -- Control Engineering, 5/13/2009
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| Apprion says its IONosphere dashboard provides an integrated view of all data essential for wireless network management in a central location. |
Apprion signed an OEM agreement with Motorola Inc., which extends the relationship established last year when Motorola announced it had invested in Apprion through its strategic venture capital arm, Motorola Ventures. The OEM agreement enables the two companies to jointly develop and market integrated wireless application networks for industrial enterprises, Apprion said in a May 12 announcement. By integrating Apprion’s industrial-focused wireless appliances and applications with Motorola’s comprehensive line of indoor and outdoor wireless networking solutions, industrial enterprises will be able to leverage best-of-class wireless networks, enabling them to support dozens of applications that utilize numerous wireless radios and protocols, Apprion said.
Enhancements with cooperation
“Industrial systems have unique requirements. As industrial enterprises adopt wireless technologies, we have seen these unique requirements grow in complexity,” said Bob Mick, vice president of emerging technologies at ARC Advisory Group. “Apprion and Motorola understand the unique challenges industrial enterprises face as they go wireless. By working together, we expect them to produce wireless networking products and applications that enhance the productivity, efficiency, mobility, safety, and security of industrial enterprises."
“Motorola has a rich legacy of providing customers in industrial markets with reliable, robust wireless networking and mobility solutions that help improve operational efficiencies and empower workers with secure access to real-time voice and data applications when and where they need it,” said Jim Hilton, senior director, Manufacturing Solutions, Motorola Enterprise Mobility Solutions. The Apprion agreement allows Motorola to "better serve customers by delivering closely integrated wireless application networks that help industrial enterprises increase profitability by streamlining plant communications, enhancing manufacturing processes and increasing worker productivity,” Hilton said.
Two parts
Through the OEM agreement, Apprion and Motorola:
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Will initially incorporate wireless broadband systems and wireless LAN (WLAN) solutions from Motorola into the Apprion ION System.
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Second phase of enhancements will result in full integration of Motorola products and technologies as modular components of Apprion’s IONosphere and IONizer solutions. The combination of Apprion and Motorola technologies will enable a wide range of applications. Examples include mobile safety applications, unified voice communications, perimeter security, predictive maintenance, and remote monitoring and optimization of critical assets including compressors, batteries, solar panels, and pumping stations.
"While the basic building blocks for a wirelessly connected plant exist today, wireless systems and applications have remained fragmented and difficult to integrate," said Doug Donzelli, chief executive officer of Apprion. "By teaming with Motorola, Apprion will be able to seamlessly integrate Motorola’s innovative wireless technologies with Apprion’s ION System to create a unified wireless application network that addresses the needs of industrial enterprise customers for more cost-effective solutions for safety, security, energy efficiency and asset optimization.”
The functional demands of different industrial applications require different wireless technologies. For example, wireless instrumentation may be best matched with energy-efficient radios and protocols such as WiHART, whereas other applications such as the video monitoring of remote sites may require long-range wireless broadband capabilities such as WiMAX.
Apprion says its ION System is the first and only open, scalable, and extensible infrastructure for monitoring, managing and securing multi-vendor wireless devices and applications. The ION System consists of the Apprion IONosphere and IONizers. The IONosphere is an industrial network appliance that manages data services, workflow, security, monitoring and maintenance, and 3rd party application integration across wireless plant networks. Apprion's IONizers are industrial wireless field appliances for multi-protocol, multi-vendor wireless networks that cost-effectively integrate and secure previously standalone wireless applications, such as video, location tracking, voice-over-IP (VoIP) and condition-based monitoring.
www.apprion.com
www.motorola.com
- Edited by Mark T. Hoske, Electronic Products Editor, MBT www.mbtmag.com
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BASE Engineering is a world leader in developing industrial wireless remote control technology. They design and manufacture extremely rugged wireless controls for most industrial applications. Surface-mount electronic components are used to reduce hardware mass and maximize impact Resistance. Many BASE systems are available fully epoxy potted with a waterproof rating of IP68. Waterproof connectors and wire harnesses are supplied as standard offering. To know more details just visit www.baseng.com.
peter flintoff - 2009-26-8 02:45:14 CDT -
BASE Engineering is a world leader in developing industrial wireless remote control technology. They design and manufacture extremely rugged wireless controls for most industrial applications. Surface-mount electronic components are used to reduce hardware mass and maximize impact Resistance. Many BASE systems are available fully epoxy potted with a waterproof rating of IP68. Waterproof connectors and wire harnesses are supplied as standard offering. To know more details just visit www.baseng.com.
peter flintoff - 2009-26-8 02:44:59 CDT
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