I didn’t rate an invitation to this year’s Honeywell User Group. They have reorganized. All my marketing contacts are evidently gone. I checked in to the only source I have, Control Global, who somehow maintains contact and once again published the email show daily. The link is to one of the days of the show.
Looks like the highlight from the keynote is that once again Honeywell Process is reorganizing. They are trying to reflect the latest hype in the industry—AI and cybersecurity. Indications filtering to me hint at the relegation of Honeywell Connected Enterprise (whose user conference last year was the same dates as HUG this year) as a business unit. It’s all hard to tell what’s up with the major automation suppliers in this era.
From Control Global’s editor in chief Len Vermillion:
In case anyone still had any doubts, Pramesh Maheshwari, president of Honeywell Process Solutions, stepped on stage and matter-of-factly reminded an audience full of process control professionals of one simple fact: digital solutions will be at the forefront of the industrial future.
Maheshwari and other Honeywell business leaders mapped out the company’s business vision to open this week’s 2024 Honeywell Users Group (HUG) Conference at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas.
Their vision focused on three key trends driving the future of the global industrial sector, each requiring a proactive approach utilizing new and existing technologies that will help businesses stay “ahead of the curve”—the event’s main theme. Those key trends include artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and the energy transition.
“Imagine a world that is incredibly efficient. That’s the power of AI. Imagine a world that is safer. That’s the power of cybersecurity. Imagine a world that is cleaner. That’s the power of energy transition,” Maheshwari said. “Finally, imagine a world that is a better place to live. That is what it means to stay ahead of the curve.”
I think I’ve been to all twelve Inductive Automation Ignition Community Conferences in Folsom, CA. It’s possible I missed one. They are always enjoyable. It’s truly a community where people share ideas and show success stories. The partner ecosystem for Ignition consists of strong, smaller, innovative companies and creative systems integrators.
To quote from the press release, Now in its twelfth year, the Ignition Community Conference (ICC) brings together industrial professionals from around the world to network, collaborate, and learn more about Ignition — an industrial automation software platform for SCADA, HMI, IIoT, MES, and more — and the ecosystem of technology solutions that work with it.
Highlighting the first day, executives Colby Clegg and Carl Gould previewed the release of Ignition 8.3. Yes, the last version was 8.1. This is a significant update even further integrating with IT technology. Founder Steve Hechtman explained to me when we first met 20 years ago how Ignition was built from the ground up to be IT friendly—unique for a SCADA application. They continue the tradition.
The update, scheduled for January 2025 release, features a redesigned Gateway user interface said to be faster, more intuitive, and easier to navigate. Upgrades to the Ignition Perspective Module include integrated drawing tools, a flexible form generation component, and the ability to design applications for offline use.
Another upcoming feature called Event Streams will allow users to map event data from sources to handlers, giving them new ways to push, transform, filter, and batch data. Also included are a new, public historian API and a new Power Historian that’s embedded in the Ignition platform, along with many other new features, and will be actively supported for five years after its release.
System integrators who leverage the Ignition platform to create exceptionally innovative and successful projects, are featured with Firebrand Awards. This year’s awards featured these applications.
NeoMatrix Inc., which helped Lucid Motors implement a real-time factory information system that provides data on manufacturing performance to enable data-driven decisions, optimize processes, and improve overall operational performance.
Deloitte, which implemented a modern SCADA/MES system, realizing Goodman Fielder’s initiative to enhance production efficiency and replace manual processes at their three largest bakeries.
IDOM, which implemented a real-time automation orchestrator for the entire production process at the pharmaceutical company Cinfa, including a Unified Namespace that allows applications to exchange information in a decoupled architecture.
Saint-Gobain CertainTeed, which deployed the Vision Module-based FaCTory+ MES solution, which pulls in production orders from SAP, tracks 24-hour performance, compares current and previous production runs, and more.
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, which created a library of standardized objects with heavy use of User Defined Types (UDTs), allowing it to easily monitor and control a large-scale experiment analyzing the properties of neutrinos.
Madkour Group, which built a system providing real-time data from remote locations and reporting and analytic tools for the National Project for Developing the New Valley in Toshka, which aims to reclaim vast desert areas as part of Egypt’s overall plan to cultivate three million acres in total.
All of the winners’ and finalists’ project submissions, including videos and written case studies, can be viewed in the online ICC Discover Gallery.
The event sold out once again packing about 900 people into the Harris Center in Folsom. Inductive Automation made the difficult decision to leave their home of the past 12 years and move to the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento, California. Located in downtown Sacramento, about 30 miles from Folsom, the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center is a fully remodeled, state-of-the-art venue with over 240,000 square feet of space, and within walking distance of many hotels, restaurants, and entertainment options.
During the Closing Keynote session on September 19, Project Manager Nick Barfuss made a surprise announcement that Inductive Automation will soon launch a unified, browser-based interface for end users, integrators, and IA staff and distributors.
Known as Inductive Automation Workspaces and launching in 2025, the new interface will streamline the Ignition sales process with self-service or assisted-service modes, and empower organizations to access and manage their licenses, support plans, roles, and organizational structure.
Workspaces will launch with features for creating organizational units; creating and sharing estimates, quotes, and orders; managing licenses and support plans; making purchases in local currency; and more.
During the Closing Keynote session, Co-Directors of Support Services James Hunt and Marcus Bellamy announced that Inductive Automation will be extending its software support hours by nearly 50 percent in Q1 of 2025. The two leaders explained that the company is adding more support engineers at its offices in the US and Australia, which will expand the support hours from 6 AM to 5 PM PST to 6 AM to 11 PM PST.
During the Main Keynote session, Chief Technology Evangelist Travis Cox discussed the tenth anniversary of Inductive University, the free online industrial automation training platform that the company launched during ICC 2014.
Cox said that Inductive University (IU) has become one of the company’s most popular training resources and has seen fantastic growth. Since launching a decade ago, IU has had over 10 million video views, almost 8 million tests (known as “challenges”) have been taken, over 100,000 user accounts have been created, and 30,000 Ignition credentials have been earned. Cox also said that these IU numbers represent hundreds of thousands of people who have gained new knowledge that helps them turn their ideas into reality.
During the Closing Keynote session, Co-Directors of Support Services James Hunt and Marcus Bellamy gave a glimpse of what lies ahead for IU, saying that their team will be adding over 70 new videos to IU in 2025, as well as adding learning paths that are specific to skill level.
Organizers of the International Machine Technology Show (IMTS 2024) communicate often about the automation section within the upcoming (Sept. 9-14 at Chicago’s McCormick Place) event. This will be a bit of a switch given the end of a long-time partnership for this part of the show.
Check it out. I will be in attendance for a day or two. Let me know. Maybe we can do coffee or something.
Siemens sent one heck of a teaser for its presence at the show. I’ll summarize some of their products on display.
At the upcoming IMTS 2024 in Chicago, September 9–14, Siemens will present its extensive machine tool CNC portfolio and digitalization software technology, highlighted by the digital native SINUMERIK ONE control platform for machining applications. Also, using a sports theme of “Speed, Agility and Endurance,” aimed at the machine shop on its path to digitalization, Siemens will introduce MACHINUM to the North American market. MACHINUM brings together machine tool controls, digitalization software and machine shop services from Siemens to help manufacturers optimize their production processes, to provide agility for quick adaptation to changing customer requirements and calculated uptime needs, plus enable digitally proven endurance to maximize the productivity of the entire machine shop or production department.
Under the theme “Empowering the Digital Machine Shop”, Siemens will display its digital threads, from blueprint to finished part, digital twin to simulation, part production, as well as the total integration of these processes into the digital factory for job shops and production departments, all brought to life by Siemens hardware automation and digitalization software.
Aimed at developing a complete eco-system for the machine tool builder and end-user, the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio brings together the breadth of engineering and manufacturing to provide the optimum solution for customers of any size in any industry.
With SINUMERIK ONE, Siemens is accelerating the digital transformation of the machine tool industry. The new CNC control platform works with software to create the machine controller and the associated digital twin from a single engineering system and thus contributes to the total integration of hardware and software. Thanks to its seamless interaction between the virtual and real worlds, including high-performance PLC, drive and motor hardware, SINUMERIK ONE is setting new standards in terms of productivity, performance and digitalization. It is the future-proof machine controller in the increasingly digital world of manufacturing.
With Create MyVirtual Machine and Run MyVirtual Machine, SINUMERIK ONE is provided with software to create the universal concept of the digital twin, powerful hardware and integrated IT security, making it a forward-looking CNC.
Using Mcenter, the open and modular platform for efficient shopfloors, end-users can seamlessly link all their machine tools and network with company’s IT landscape.
I have begun working with a software company called Quickbase. Several companies have introduced me to low-code applications. Quickbase takes it to another level. Built in, not added on due to acquisition.
I’m on a panel discussion with two engineers who actually use the software. Their stories of how they use the software and the benefits of an easy way to add to the application when users ask for help are to the point.
Join me and others from our community at #Empower 2024 for a jam-packed day filled with big ideas, best practices, inspiration, and innovation built to support the work that we do, and the work we aspire to do. Register now and let’s do this together!
A quick update. Yokogawa is holding a users conference this year in Houston.
Yokogawa Corporation of America and KBC (A Yokogawa Company) announce YNOW2024, an in-person event taking place October 28-30, 2024, at the Hilton Americas-Houston in Downtown Houston, Texas. Professionals in the energy, petrochemicals, mining, food, and water industries and life sector will learn how to leverage innovative technologies to optimize their company-wide processes and thrive in dynamic business ecosystems.
With keynotes and panels from industry leaders, guests will gain valuable insights into industry trends, proven strategies, and best practices. Additionally, the conference will feature technology workshops and live innovation centers, giving attendees hands-on experience with emerging technologies. Finally, interactive sessions will foster a collaborative environment, encouraging attendees to learn from peers. By the end of the event, attendees will be armed with the practical knowledge and tools to successfully plan, manage, and implement emerging digital technology projects to drive innovation throughout their enterprises.
For all you Artificial Intelligence buffs out there, here is a chance to learn a little about what influential people are thinking. This January 25 event will focus on ways to protect consumers and competition.
The summit will bring together representatives from academia, industry, civil society organizations, and government to discuss the state of technology, emerging market trends, and real-world impacts of AI. The discussions will also explore how to cultivate a marketplace that allows both consumers and businesses, including startups and small businesses, to thrive.
FTC Chair Lina M. Khan and Commissioners Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya will provide remarks at the summit. The event will also feature three panel discussions. These include discussions on the hardware and other key infrastructure that will be needed for AI development; issues related to the data and models used in AI; and AI-powered consumer applications.
The summit will begin at noon and take place online. The tentative agenda is available on the event website. Information on how to participate will also be posted to the event page soon.
The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and report scams, fraud, and bad business practices online at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
