My wife went with me to the recent RSTechED event in San Diego and got to witness my networking ability at the Sunday evening reception. The crowd was packed around the pool (no one was thrown in while I was there, anyway) as I made my way around to talk to most of the partners. Here’s a summary of my visits.
Mimic Instructor StationMYNAH Technologies released MiMiC v3.5 offering dynamic simulation for control system development, testing and optimization, operator training, process hazard analysis review, operation documentation validation, and Operation Excellence (OPEx) initiatives.
MiMiC Simulation Studio, the graphical development application for process modeling, has also been enhanced to include a new graphical drawing mode, a simpler way of relocating stream destination, a model recovery feature, and an easier method of tracing data references.
Component Studio, MiMC’s Instructor Station application, includes several significant enhancements for allowing quicker instructor training screen building and providing better run time performance.
WebPort from Spectrum ControlsSpectrum Controls talked with me about some new products including WebPort, a device offering remote access via wireless, Ethernet to PC, Ethernet to controller, or Serial to controller. It also offers VPN connectivity, can improve predictive maintenance schedules, access to data through SMS or email and cloud or onboard SQL database.
eRPortal, asset, materials and maintenance management software, have condition-based maintenance connector to Rockwell FactoryTalk.
KepWare showed its OPC and embedded device communications.
Online Development showed iManager modules for data exchange between computers and Rockwell ControlLogix.
Panduit discussed physical infrastructure for Rockwell’s Ethernet backbone.
SeQent has technology to push alarms to personnel, discussed coming new products to expand on remote alarm notifications usability.
As I become increasingly focused on all the connectivity (new site coming–The Manufacturing Connection–plus discussing operations management and maintenance at a higher level, these are all products and companies that interest me.
