The 11th annual RSTechED conference, hosted by Rockwell Automation, welcomed more than 1,500 registered attendees to the June 1-6 customer and partner event in Orlando, FL. Principal discussions focused on how Rockwell Automation’s acquisition of Pavilion Technologies and Incuity Software add value to Rockwell Software’s FactoryTalk: by making the wealth of data contained in manufacturing production systems accessible for real-time optimization and future planning based on internal and external events, as well as what-if scenarios. Attendees also previewed future products, including FactoryTalk ViewPoint (a Web-based visualization solution) and FactoryTalk Metrics (equipment and performance monitor and event historian).

Five customer panel discussions addressed key industry trends, such as using asset management software to protect intellectual property and leveraging existing plant-floor investments. Panelists included engineering and IT representatives from Wyeth Biotech, Chrysler LLC, Kimberly-Clark, and Tyson Foods Inc., among others. The topic of convergence of IT and controls engineering was among the most attended panels, according to Rockwell Automation.

Alvin Toffler, a best-selling author and widely considered to be a leading “futurist,” was a keynote speaker. He spoke about how macro trends affect the future of business.

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