GE Cisco Industrial Networks’ team introduced

As part of the startup’s unveiling, GE Cisco Industrial Networks’ (Charlottesville, Va.) management team was introduced June 22 during a press event at Chicago’s Navy Pier. Discussion emphasized the power of Ethernet networking for the factory floor as an integral part of a company’s e-business strategy. Notable comments from the event included Anthony Cinalli, CE Cisco’s technology vp, who said, “The factory floor may be the last bastion of connectivity.” Discussing the rationale for starting this new company, Jeff Pompeo, CE Cisco’s president, quoted Jack Welch, GE’s ceo, who projected that, “E-business may be the most sweeping change in industry since the Industrial Revolution.” While talking about design and security, Eric Byers, founder of Artemis Industrial Networking (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) and chair of ISA Industrial Ethernet Conference, advised that, “Just because it’s Ethernet it doesn’t mean you can just throw a network together.” Bill Rossi, Cisco’s senior marketing director, added, “This debate [about fieldbus networks] is reminiscent of arguments about enterprise networking of about five years ago. After the debates about ATM and other methods, Ethernet became the standard. Once Oracle, SAP, and others see open automation communications in the factory, they may take more interest in that area—just like they did with sales force automation.” At any rate, GE Cisco Industrial Networks will undoubtedly increase Ethernet’s momentum in manufacturing . For expanded coverage, see this issue’s “News” section, p. 37.

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