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Video Essay Wrap up of Automation Fair

by | Nov 9, 2010 | Automation

Gary analyzes the changes at Rockwell Automation and reflects on the PSUG and Automation Fair week in Orlando. He includes pieces of interviews with CEO Keith Nosbusch and CTO Sujeet Chand. “It’s an exciting time to be in manufacturing.”

 

Maintain Your Wireless Networks

by | Nov 9, 2010 | Automation

Here’s a set of new tools to keep your wireless networks at optimum performance. AirMagnet, now part of Fluke Networks, today released new versions of its AirMagnet Survey PRO 8.0 (including the AirMagnet Planner module) and AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer PRO 9.0. Both products now include the company’s new multi-adapter solution, which delivers dramatic enhancements to the wireless LAN (WLAN) designing and troubleshooting process by going beyond just collecting greater amounts of data, to integrating that data into features that help speed the performance and accuracy of site surveys, and deliver the industry’s most in-depth client roaming analysis to ensure wireless continuity.

“Our new multi-adapter solution, while not the only new update to these two products, is noteworthy because it provides a new way for users to measure and visualize the WLAN client experience. When integrated into AirMagnet Survey PRO (the Planner module) and AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer PRO, this has a profound impact on the time, effort, cost and effectiveness associated with designing, deploying and troubleshooting a WLAN,” said Chia-Chee Kuan, CTO and SVP of Engineering at AirMagnet. “We are the first to offer true multi-adapter capabilities that go beyond just the data capture and push to root-cause analysis leveraging our intelligence engine, AirWISE.”

The release of AirMagnet Survey PRO (including the Planner module) allows an organization to perform simultaneous multiple surveys – to dramatically reduce time and cost associated with WLAN design and deployment – by leveraging the industry’s only true visualization of the “client experience” with active surveys, and also includes the new WLAN throughput coverage mapping capability. Furthermore, it offers customized report templates to meet project requirements – a critical business component for installers, integrators and services provides that need to deliver customized WLAN design recommendations.

The new release of AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer PRO offers advanced WLAN roaming analysis that leverages the multi-adapter capability to allow users to monitor every client roaming event in the network and provide details on the success and failure of client device roams and the overall impact of roaming on the client experience and performance. This root-cause analysis of roaming issues helps mitigate reoccurrences of roaming associated problems in the future as users are provided with the precise reasons for the inefficient client roaming. Along with the roaming functionality, AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer PRO also offers a new wireless dashboard that focuses on top issues requiring immediate attention, helping to ensure maximum network security and performance, while still giving easy drill-down analysis on other issues that require deeper investigation.

AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer also addresses one of the most common IT staffer complaints with WLAN monitoring – “why isn’t there a single-click technique for testing connectivity and application performance?” Now there is, with a new onetouch connection audit with unique, on-the-spot verification for network connectivity and application performance.

OPC In The Cloud

by | Nov 9, 2010 | Automation

Cloud computing–a computing solution that utilizes the Internet to access files on remote servers–continues to show momentum. Software Toolbox, an industrial automation software supplier, has launched Industrial Falcon, a cloud computing-based solution that enables customers to view raw data from any OPC server via a Web browser. Industrial Falcon eliminates the need for customers to maintain Web servers, is highly scalable and allows access to multiple users without additional costs. The solution also provides a central repository for data where changes to a system or operation can be made and easily propagated to other users accessing the repository.

“Ultimately, companies are seeing the benefit of cloud-based solutions because they free up resources for other aspects of an operation,” said Kevin Rutherford, brand manager for Industrial Falcon at Software Toolbox. “With cloud-based business intelligence solutions such as Industrial Falcon, customers can reduce or even eliminate capital expenditures such as physical hardware and the need for individuals to operate and maintain those solutions. Customers can simply connect as many instances of Industrial Falcon OPC Client to as many OPC servers they need.”

Industrial Falcon is a combination of two separate configuration components that enable customers to access live and historical process data from anywhere via an Internet connection. Industrial Falcon OPC Client is a cloud connector for OPC data using industry-standard OPC technology which enables users to access any OPC server that is collecting live process data. That data is then transferred to the Industrial Falcon Online Repository for storing. The Industrial Falcon Web Interface can be configured to direct how much and how often data is stored on the server. It provides HMI-type visualization of data that can be accessed anywhere via the Web.

The software accesses raw data from I/O sources and streams it to a Web server where a customer has the ability to configure Web pages to display data for trending or viewing purposes. Industrial Falcon also eliminates IT issues typically associated with exposing process data at external locations, such as opening TCP ports in the firewall and enabling remote access, all of which introduce potential security vulnerabilities.

“Industrial Falcon provides the tools customers need to remotely control applications without having to change local network settings and there is no need for a static IP address or a dedicated Web server,” Rutherford said. “The application enables companies to operate leaner and more cost effectively in this tough economic climate.”

Industrial Falcon provides simple controls for accessing and displaying raw data and features basic drag-and-drop controls for easy visualization of raw data values, charting and trending of accumulated historical data for data points. Industrial Falcon Online Repository allows customization for storage of historical data based on specific customer-selected variables. Users have the ability to create visualization pages for displaying live and/or historical data such as value displays, gauges and trends. Customers can monitor and record process settings when they change and display alarm conditions.

Thousands Descend On Orlando and Rockwell’s Automation Fair

by | Nov 9, 2010 | Automation

“This year’s theme is Smart, Safe and Sustainable,” Keith Nosbusch, Rockwell Automation chairman and chief executive officer, told a gathering of international press as Manufacturing Perspectives, the prelude to Automation Fair, kicked off on November 2 at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center. Stressing the use of industry standards, Nosbusch said customers are looking for plant-wide optimization, sustainable production, and machine builder performance. “We are unique in our ability to deliver the entire requirement,” he added.
In addition to the previously reported registered attendance of 640 at the Process Solutions User Group on Nov. 1-2, Rockwell announced a crowd in excess of 11,000 attended the two-day Automation Fair trade show and training sessions. Attendees could browse 10 large Rockwell booths and 98 partner booths.
During a series of one-on-one interviews with Rockwell executives, I asked Nosbusch about his visibility on the speaker circuit in Washington, D.C. trying to stir up action on a national manufacturing policy. “Manufacturing is important to an economy,” he said. “It’s not just about jobs, it’s about the overall strength of the economy. We need a strong manufacturing sector for wealth creation. It’s the role of government in setting the environment for manufacturing. We need to raise awareness.” I followed up asking why, as CEO of a global company, he doesn’t speak globally. “Other countries know manufacturing is important,” he added.

“We need to position manufacturing as technology-intensive to make it more attractive,” Sujeet Chand, senior vice president and chief technology officer told me in a later interview. “We’re doing model-based control, using Ethernet. We need to develop manufacturing to be prosperous. There are many areas that remain for innovation and development. Take sensors, for example. You need them for information from manufacturing. Perhaps we could sense bacteria in tomato sauce or other types of sensors. Customers are focusing more on advanced control, and you need to measure in order to apply the control.”  

Some significant products included a new release of the Logix control platform, high availability/redundant Ethernet networks, a layer three Ethernet switch that supports virtual local area networks, new Panelview visualization products and embedded ViewPoint that enables Web-based visualization clients.  

 

Rockwell Process Continues To Build Momentum

by | Nov 1, 2010 | Events

Update: One error of typing noted in the second paragraph–my brain was thinking GreenPrint, but my fingers went their own way.
One speaker noted it was the largest Rockwell Automation Process Solutions Users Group (PSUG) ever, which I later confirmed at 640 registered attendees. While one might thing that everyone would come from consumer packaged goods (CPG) or perhaps pharmaceutical companies, I saw name tags from oil & gas and pulp & paper companies. Another indication of the seriousness of Rockwell’s growth in this industry segment.
The first announcement of PSUG was that Ken Deken, vice president of product portfolio and the executive charged with developing the process business, is retiring. Ralph Carter who has been heading the information software group since joining Rockwell with the acquisition of Pavilion two years ago will assume responsibility for heading the process automation business along with his software duties.
John Nesi, vice president of market development, presented Rockwell’s position on Plant-wide Optimization–sure to be one of this week’s themes. Nesi first told the group that Rockwell has been investing in four specific areas–process, software, safety and solutions for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Plant wide optimizations includes integrated technologies and solutions designed to gather information and deliver it to appropriate systems and people. He addressed key points of challenge for attendees that included globalization, sustainability, productivity and innovation. Specifically he linked sustainability and productivity into Sustainable Production and a new service from Rockwell–Industrial Greenpoint, a patented service designed to help customers achieve their sustainability goals.
ARC Advisory Group Research Director Larry O’Brien presented attendees with several challenges his research has uncovered in the process industries. These are people (recruitment, training), safety (building a safety culture), plant-wide optimization (information), installed base (migrating to modern control), operations and COTS.
Som Chakraborti, Process Business director, presented an overview of the process business and a technology roadmap of where the company has come from over the past five to six years. There is no doubt that the company has progressed a long way in the process business on its way to becoming a serious competitor in the market. He also announced new products including Release 2.0 of PlanPAx, Rockwell’s distributed control system solution. New features include high availability, greater device integration and asset management, design productivity, batch and sequencing control advances and operations productivity.
Some of the new features include:
  • System High Availability — New capabilities include EtherNet/IP network support for redundant systems and Device Level Ring network topology that provides a highly available EtherNet/IP network without any additional infrastructure costs. A new I/O line — based on ICS Triplex technology — adds redundant I/O capability for the system. PlantPAx System Release 2.0 also includes new diagnostics and error checking to help operators and maintenance personnel identify and resolve the root cause of a problem before disrupting production.
  • Device Integration and Asset Management — The PlantPAx system already had connectivity options, including Hart, Profibus-PA, and Fieldbus Foundation. PlantPAx System Release 2.0 expands on these offerings adding the integration and asset management of other devices in the system, such as intelligent motor control centers, variable frequency drives, condition monitoring and power control components.
  • Design Productivity — Evaluation of the typical DCS configuration workflows has revealed a number of steps that can be simplified or accelerated. This includes initial sizing and architecture design, the creation of reusable engineering and template objects, and engineering and deployment tools for objects and diagnostics in the PlantPAx library.
  • Batch and Sequencing Control — New batch server software adds capabilities such as intelligent recipes, improved runtime user control, expanded data collection and reporting, and enhanced material management.
  • Operations Productivity — The PlantPAx approach to operations productivity is a three-tiered solution. At the most basic level, the Rockwell Automation historian collects key process data from within the controller chassis or via a server at the site level. Data is then analyzed in an information and decision support portal. This portal provides appropriate information about the production system based on user role. Then, as the third tier, PlantPAx System Release 2.0 offers optimization solutions. This optimization leverages advanced control techniques for single loops or unit operations or more advanced model predictive solutions for an entire line or plant area.
PlantPAx System Release 2.0 is available in the first quarter of 2011.

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