ISA Expo 2003: Iconics’ visualization links manufacturing, business

Houston, TX—Iconics showcased several new visualization products at ISA Expo 2003, including BridgeWorX; Genesis32, version 8.0; and OPC ToolWorX.

By Control Engineering Staff October 28, 2003

Houston, TX— Iconics showcased several new visualization products at ISA Expo 2003. These included BridgeWorX, a new member of Iconics’ Business Visualization Suite (BizViz); new capabilities in its Genesis32, version 8.0, which integrates

BridgeWorX performs efficient data exchange to and from any database or data source, and has a unique visual transaction data-mapping configuration wizard, which enables users to transfer information to and from real-time OPC-enabled manufacturing devices to corporate business information systems. In addition, BridgeWorX data-mining technology can access Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, Microsoft Access, SAP and virtually any real-time manufacturing or archived business data source. BridgeWorX’s scheduler triggers “transactions” based on real-time OPC data, alarms, events, time and date, or based on database or file attributes.

‘Virtually any real-time or archived data source can be connected to any data source,’ says Russ Agrusa, Iconics’ president and CEO. ‘BridgeWorX reduces integration and the tedious chore of connecting the plant floor to business systems.’

Another new member of the BizViz suite, PortalWorX is based on Microsoft’s new SharePoint Server .NET technology. PortalWorX allows users to create and manage custom manufacturing and business portals and visualization dashboards, which provide single sign-on, collaboration, and optimization of key performance indicators (KPI). PortalWorX provides all the tools for creating a manufacturing or business portal for real-time and historical plant and business information. The company adds that PortalWorX requires virtually no administration, is easy to configure, and delivers data to those who need it, when they need it.

Meanwhile, Genesis32 8.0 integrates several new capabilities and products, including VCRWorXTM32 and DataWorXTM32. Gensis32’s new data-mining technology allows users to integrate real-time manufacturing and business information into a common, web-enabled visualization dashboard. Other features of Genesis32 include:

  • Open data-mining technology that connects to Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, Microsoft Access, ODBC, OLEDB, SAP and virtually any other database;

  • OPC Data Access (DA) 3.0 and OPC XML 1.0 compliance;

  • VCRWorX32 that replays archived data into HMI visualization screens;

  • WebHMI that supports OPC XML and OPC DA 3 communications;

  • PortalWorX that leverages Microsoft’s SharePoint technology; and

  • An historical trend viewer for fast information analysis.

VCRWorX32 visualizes historical data from plant and business systems. From its VCRWorX32 on-screen graphical user interface control, users can select a start time, playback speed, and step mode for viewing data. They can also compare live views with historical views, or compare current production runs with ‘ideal data,’ and make real-time set-point changes to cut waste. VCRWorX32 is designed to work on desktops, LANs and web applications.

‘Adding VCRWorX32 to our Genesis32 products is just another way Iconics continues to offer software visualization solutions for the industrial automation marketplace,’ adds Agrusa. ‘As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, Iconics is in an elite class of companies. We receive critical product and strategic technology information from Microsoft 18 months before Microsoft’s products are available to the general market. This unique partnership has enabled us to create these cutting-edge technology products.”

In addition, OPC ToolWorX allows users to quickly develop OPC servers, as well as ActiveX OPC clients that conform to the latest OPC specifications for real-time data, alarms and events, and historical data, including OPC Data Access (DA) 3.0 and OPC XML DA 1.0. OPC ToolWorX is reportedly the first OPC toolkit that integrates OPC Data Access and OPC Alarm and Events in one toolkit.

Control Engineering Daily News Desk
Jim Montague, news editor
jmontague@reedbusiness.com