Chicago, Ill.— The National Industrial Automation Show, part of National Manufacturing Week, March 13-16, at McCormick Place, Chicago, featured the following innovations and announcements. For expanded coverage, visit www.controleng.com.

GE Fanuc Automation (Charlottesville, Va.) launched its new Enterprise RT software that combines and visualizes real-time data from multiple systems. Enterprise RT is based on technology from IndX Software Corp. (Aliso Viejo, Calif.). Visit www.gefanuc.com or www.indxhq.com respectively. National Instruments (NI, Austin, Tex.) exhibited its new CompactPCI, real-time, LabView RT-based control solution, which helps users develop real-time monitoring and control on Windows-based PCs by downloading applications across an Ethernet network to run on NI's PXI/CompactPCI embedded controller. Visit www.ni.com/nati . Siemens Energy and Automation Inc.'s (Alpharetta, Ga.) Industrial Software Business Unit announced it will offer a real-time extension option, WinAC RTX, for its Windows NT-based control solution, Simatic WinAC version 3.0. This extension will be licensed from VenturCom Inc. (Cambridge, Mass.). Visit www.sea.siemens.com or www.vci.com respectively. Steeplechase Software Inc. (Ann Arbor, Mich.) launched its Visual Logic Controller version 5.0 with real-time, Windows 2000 compliance, Windows NT 4.0 compatibility, and direct integration with Ethernet and TCP/IP. Visit www.steeplechase.com .

Ci Technologies' (Charlotte, N.C.) Plant2SQL software, a companion to its Citect for Windows, removes barriers to sharing information in plants using SCADA systems. Visit www.citect.com . DVT Corp. (Norcross, Ga.) exhibited new FrameWork 2.0 software, which assists the firm's SmartImage sensors with many Windows-based tools. Visit www.dvtsensors.com . Intrinsyc Software Inc. (Vancouver, B.C., Canada) announced an agreement to license its deviceCOM software solution to Intellution (Norwood, Mass.), which plans to embed deviceCOM into iVisualize, the newest addition to the firm's Intellution Dynamics solutions family. Visit www.intrinsyc.com or www.intellution.com respectively. Lighthammer Software's (Exton, Pa.) version 8.0 Illuminator Plant Information Portal allows visualization of information from plant data sources that support OPC, SQL queries, OSI, or ODBC. Visit www.lighthammer.com . USDATA Corp. (Richardson, Tex.) showed FactoryLink 7, the latest version of its multi-user, real-time SCADA product. Visit www.usdata.com . Wonderware Corp. (Irvine, Calif.) unveiled MaintenanceSuite, a group of plant-centric software applications that users can combine with Wonderware's FactorySuite industrial automation software. Visit www.wonderware.com .

Adaptive Micro Systems (Milwaukee, Wis.) eases integration of LED marquees with HMIs with its user-configurable Alpha ActiveX marquee control, which is built on Visual Basic or Visual C++. Visit www.ams-i.com . Cutler-Hammer (Columbus, O.) introduced PanelMate Power Pro 5000, a 24 V dc, 3-in deep operator interface that allows simultaneous communications with multi-brand PLCs or PLC networks. Visit www.eaton.com . Hirschmann (Pine Brook, N.J.) has expanded its Ethernet solutions with HMN-3760 series switches; RS2 fast switch, and RT2 fast transceiver. Visit www.hirschmann-usa.com . Olflex Wire and Cable (Fairfield, N.J.) announced its new Olflex Systems business unit, which makes custom-populated cable carriers and assemblies for control and drive applications. Visit www.olflex.com . Rittal (Springfield, O.) reports its TS8 enclosure system features EMI protection; full-enclosure bonding; and a symmetrical design that allows placement in any configuration. Visit www.rittal.com . Rockwell Automation's (Milwaukee, Wis.) Allen-Bradley FlexLogix distributed control system uses the firm's Flex I/O distributed architecture to deliver efficient control capabilities closer to applications. Visit www.rockwellautomation.com .

To expand its U.S. presence and increase customer choice, ABB Automation Inc. (New Berlin, Wis.) agreed to supply aluminum, three-phase, low-voltage induction, fractional to 30 kW, 63 to 200 frame size, IEC/metric motors through W.W. Grainger Inc. (Lake Forest, Ill.). Visit www.abb.com/usa or www.grainger.com respectively. Datastream Systems (Greenville, S.C.) exhibited its www.iprocure.com web site with more than 2 million industrial parts. Visit the site . IndustrialVortex.com (Laguna Hills, Calif.) debuted as an online marketplace for industrial automation products that also helps users compare items. Visit the web site above .