Software, Internet, network solutions diversify to serve users

Staff -- Control Engineering, 5/1/1999

Chicago, Ill.—ABB Industrial Systems (New Berlin, Wis.) launched Comp-AC, its online Internet e-commerce web site for ac-adjustable speed drives up to 50 hp. ABB also unveiled its Power Distribution Solutions (PDS) unit, a new entity focusing on industrial power management and quality. Part of ABB Power T&D Inc. (Raleigh, N.C.), this new unit is headed by Randy Schreiber, PDS' vp and gm in the U.S.

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• Though Windows CE seemed to be everywhere at NMW, a product using Linux was shown by Automation Control Products (Alpharetta, Ga.). Linux is the operating system for thin clients on a Windows NT server running Wonderware's (Irvine, Calif.) Factory Suite for HMI applications.
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• Intellution (Norwood, Mass.) announced its new manufacturing execution system (MES) Strategic Alliance Program aimed at supplying customers with enterprise-wide solutions. Including partnerships with Camstar Systems, CIMNET, and Realtime Info, the alliance allows customers to choose MES solutions based on specific needs and helps them fit better with Intellution's software. To eliminate the need for customer programming and interface with Intellution Dynamics applications, its MES partners are committed to using Microsoft's Distributed interNet Application (DNA) and Component Object Model (COM) architectures.
  Software integration is improved because each alliance member specializes. For example, Realtime Info is strong in food and beverage and consumer packaged goods; Camstar is expert in semiconductor and electronic assembly, as well as textiles, metals, and meat processing; while CIMNET has a strong base in discrete applications, such as automotive and aerospace. Intellution plans to announce additional MES Strategic Alliance partners in pharmaceutical and specialty chemical fields.
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• Siemens Energy & Automation's Industrial Software Business Unit (Princeton, N.J.) enhanced its software presence at NMW by adding more visualization functions. Many tools based on Microsoft Windows NT and CE were shown. Siemens E&A's software unit was formed in mid-1998.
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• Steeplechase Software (Ann Arbor, Mich.) embedded its new Visual Logic Controller 4.0 Microsoft NT software on a PC-5 industrial compact DIN rail-mounted Pentium PC from SBS Embedded Computers (Raleigh, N.C.) for a low-end application solution. SBS builds open-architecture industrial embedded computers, as well as VME and CompactPCI systems.
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• Think & Do Software (Ann Arbor, Mich.) demonstrated control software running on Microsoft Windows CE on a WinPLC from PLCDirect (Alpharetta, Ga.). There has been a successful beta installation. Another live demonstration of Windows CE for control was a mill cutting logo blocks controlled by Advanced Technology & Research (Burtonsville, Md.).
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