Volume 1:  January/February 2009

 

In This Issue
: Two New Wonderware White Papers

Control Engineering magazine - Wonderware IntelaTrac 3.2 2008 “Engineers’ Choice Award.”  - Read the full press release

With the acquisition of SAT Corporation, Wonderware has become the leading global supplier of mobile workforce management solutions, improving mobile production workers' procedural efficiencies within industrial and manufacturing markets. Using Wonderware's mobile solutions, manufacturing and industrial organizations now have the ability to transform day-to-day inspection processes into something that can help to drive many different aspects of plant performance. 

Allowing organizations to move away from the tedious and error-prone manual method of data collection (around things like, operator rounds, safety and regulatory inspections, process safety management inspections, security rounds, lab sampling, general data collection, etc.) and into a model where workers are connected to information and have decision support tools at their fingertips will transform your operational effectiveness.   Organizations with a connected workforce will generate significant ROI as savings are realized across areas like increased equipment uptime, reduced energy consumption, reduced spare parts stores, increased effectiveness of operator rounds, increased completion of rounds, etc.

Please take a moment to review two new white papers from Wonderware detailing areas to save energy costs and best practices around improving the effectiveness of a mobile workforce.

How Everyone Can Generate Negawatts:

If you have equipment (pumps, turbines, motors, etc.) that use more energy as internal parts wear, you could save significant amounts on energy costs with an effective mobile maintenance program and with effective worker rounds.

In 1989 Amory Lovins introduced the concept of a “Negawatt.” Much like the classic concept of using machines to generate electricity or a Megawatt, reducing demand side energy consumption increases the available supply side generation capacity. This reduces the need for additional generation capacity while reducing the emissions from fossil fuels used in most electric generating technologies. This means that every organization can be a “virtual power generator” by generating Negawatts – the absence of consuming Megawatts.

An organization can reduce their energy consumption in two primary ways. First, they can reduce their level of production. This option, however, is rarely attractive since one of the primary objectives for the business is to produce a product to sell for a profit. However, sometimes market demand dictates that production levels be reduced, but this is not a consistent strategy that can be relied upon.

The second and likely most effective method for reducing energy consumption is retrofitting existing assets and modifying current work processes. As an example, a utility may choose to retrofit turbines with power augmenting devices. A chemical manufacturing plant may choose to perform more focused maintenance and optimization on the hundreds of large pumps and motors in their facility. This focus on energy efficiency not only reduces energy consumption and carbon emissions, but it also reduces the corporate risk of volatile energy costs and the ever-increasing environmental compliance regulations.

Request a Complete Copy of the Above White Paper

Visibility, Enablement, & Process Innovation for a Mobile Workforce:

A key aspect of the “Perfect Plant” is having the right information in the right place at the rightStranded Asset time. In most manufacturing environments, instrumentation and monitoring is widespread. Pages and pages of graphs and reports describe every operational characteristic and are used by operators and management to steer the plant to optimal performance. But in the modern plant, the right time to view this information is not when you are standing in front of an operator console. It is when you are in the field, in front of a failing piece of equipment or discussing a problem while on the move. More often than not, the right way to deliver information is by putting it in the hands of a mobile worker.

The right way to collect information also involves mobility. Remember that 40% to 60% of equipment in the plants and on the shop floors is not instrumented. Optimizing this critical aspect of plant performance depends on mobile field workers. Armed with the right tools, mobile workers can cost-effectively gather data from non-instrumented assets that can be readily analyzed and integrated into existing back-end decision support systems. Bidirectional flow of information to and from mobile workers is a key competitive imperative required to make fully informed decisions regarding the operation of the Perfect Plant.

This white paper provides a brief summary of modern best practices for improving productivity and effectiveness of a mobile workforce and highlights how the Wonderware IntelaTrac Mobile Workforce and Decision Support System offers a framework to accelerate and mainstream process improvements that all plants must implement to be successful and sustain competitiveness. 

Request a Complete Copy of the Above White Paper

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: New Facilities Management Application

Most facilities Management Systems are bundled hardware/software solutions that provide basic control and monitoring capabilities but are not state-of-the-art systems that allow users to select from the best software front end coupled with best hardware back end that they can source.  Additionally, these all-in-one solutions are often very costly to maintain and once purchased, lock users into a proprietary system with limited support resources and expensive upgrades.  As users begin to understand this scenario, they are beginning to take lessons from their industrial counterparts and are moving toward a paradigm where they can select best-of-breed components that are easily upgraded, and have large, independent talent pools for installation and maintenance support.

Wonderware's Industry Application for Facilities Management:

As the largest Industrial Automation Software Supplier in the world and the developer of the System Platform, Wonderware is becoming the system of choice for many large facilities management rollouts.  To extend our capabilities even further, Wonderware recently announced the introduction of a Wonderware Industry Application for Facilities Management as part of its Wonderware Industry Solutions for Facilities Management offerings. The new application enables more efficient management of facility operations and features a library of templates, graphics, faceplates and symbols for the development of consistent, open applications across the facility enterprise.

“In today’s environment, facility managers are faced with several significant challenges as they struggle to address the needs of their organizations,” said John Bishop, industry manager, Wonderware. “These managers are experiencing increasing costs for energy, service and maintenance as well as additional and more complex security and regulatory requirements with fewer knowledgeable resources. With all these challenges, customers are constantly looking for ways to streamline operations and reduce costs. Wonderware Industry Application for Facilities Management provides the basic application services needed for an open and modern facilities monitoring system.”

When coupled with partner resources from strategic systems integrators, technology companies and developers, Wonderware can effectively meet demands for energy and environmentally friendly solutions for a variety of market spaces such as education, health care, government, transportation and manufacturing.

Customer demands for a more sustainable architecture also have led to the development and adoption of open industry standards. All systems, devices and assets within facilities can be modeled as templates, enabling the development of an entire solution with approved standards that support a robust and sustainable model. Through partnerships with other leaders in the facilities management industry, Wonderware offers data access servers for BACnet®, LonMark and the Echelon i.LON® SmartServer, with utilities specifically addressing application development and automatic network, device and object creation services built in for system integration simplicity.

The Wonderware facilities management solution is provided through an open distribution model, which is supported by multiple independent systems integrators – offering more competitive choices to customers. This approach provides an alternative to the market’s “locked” distribution model currently available in the facilities management market space. By offering an alternative model, Wonderware enables customers to access more open, robust, scalable and secure solutions that best meet their specific technology requirements.

“Most traditional building automation system vendors deliver a costly architecture that typically provides proprietary hardware and software that is supplied by a single vendor,” Bishop said. “With the Wonderware software solution, the supervisory environment is decoupled from the control environment which unlocks the architecture and offers an open, competitive and consistent supervisory technology solution that enables competitive bids for the control layer. In addition, the Wonderware supervisory software layer is decoupled from the hardware providing the capability to upgrade each software component separately as technology changes and customer needs evolve.”

If you are interested in learning more about Wonderware and Facilities Management, give us a call at 215-675-5800 or send us an e-mail. 

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: New Packaging Application for Food, Beverage and Consumer Goods

At the recent ARC Conference in Orlando, Wonderware, announced the release of the Wonderware Industry Application for Packaging (OMAC Ready), targeting the unique needs of packaging operations in the food and beverage and consumer goods industry markets.

The Industry Application for Packaging delivers integrated, real-time monitoring, control and performance measurement of packaging operations. This new application has been developed to address today’s critical business objectives such as maintaining stringent product quality, adhering to safety and regulatory requirements and enforcing waste management practices. It helps minimize materials and energy consumption and assists in establishing best manufacturing practices. By leveraging the ArchestrA software architecture inside the Wonderware System Platform, the Industry Application for Packaging provides packaging operations with a common solution that can scale from a single line up to an enterprise-wide deployment.

In addition, timely reporting of yields, events, alarms and performance is achieved through the Wonderware Information Server Web reporting and data visualization component of the Wonderware System Platform. Wonderware Information Server offers report templates that utilize Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services and saves time when creating and distributing packaging reports.

Wonderware's Industry Application for Packaging (OMAC Ready):

“The Industry Application for Packaging delivers a prepackaged set of functionalities that meet the unique needs of operators, planners, supervisors and industry analysts across a wide range of industries that rely on flexible and efficient packaging operations,” said Kelly Kunkle, marketing manager for Wonderware. “The Industry Application for Packaging utilizes features of key Wonderware products including System Platform, InTouch, Historian and Performance Software. This combination of products and application capabilities offers packaging operations managers the ability to standardize on their development and operational best practices to save time and costs, and to enhance decision-making capabilities at all levels in the enterprise.”

Wonderware built the Industry Application for Packaging based on its extensive experience with food and beverage and other consumer goods companies. There are more than 40,000 food and beverage and other consumer industry users of Wonderware software solutions.

“The Wonderware Industry Application for Packaging brings two significant advantages to the consumer goods industry,” said Michael Grasley, consulting director for ASECO Integrated Systems, a Wonderware Endorsed Systems Integrator Partner. “We can rapidly deploy the Industry Application for Packaging and demonstrate to customers that significant opportunities for improvements exist on their shop floor.

“Second, it demonstrates that the Wonderware software has significant, broadly applicable functionality that brings tangible benefits to the customer. ASECO believes that the Industry Application for Packaging is an important tool for shortening the whole customer engagement cycle, helping to reduce risk, decreasing time to benefit and driving increased ROI.”.

If you would like to learn more about Wonderware's Industry Application for Packaging, please call us at 215-675-5800 or e-mail us with your questions.

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: New Industrial Dell PC Manufactured for STRONGARM

STRONGARM Designs (“STRONGARM”), the leader in plant floor operator stations, recently announced its new D755 line of industrially hardened computers. Manufactured exclusively for STRONGARM, the D755 provides the manufacturing, industrial, defense, and transportation markets with a computing system based on the award-winning Dell™ Optiplex™ platform that is designed for higher temperature environments. This simplifies extending IT standards into uncontrolled environments delivering unmatched reliability, technology and supportability.

“The STRONGARM D755 redefines what customers can expect from industrial computers,” said Tom Holden, President and Chief Executive Officer of STRONGARM. “By leveraging an industry standard platform and applying STRONGARM’s industrialization expertise, the D755 delivers measurable benefits to our customers including superior quality, reliability, and next-generation performance, all in an industrially hardened computing system.”

Working with the largest global computer suppliers, STRONGARM identified a standard PC platform that could be enhanced to increase its operating temperature range to be suitable for the industrial computing market. The higher temperature specifications allow the D755 to be used in uncontrolled environments with minimal or no cooling, while still maintaining the reliability, performance and maintainability customers expect from a global computer supplier. Additionally, when coupled with STRONGARM’s comprehensive line of operator interface stations, companies can deploy a new level of quality and computing performance in any environment.

Key features of the D755 include:

  • Ideal for NEMA4/4X and hazardous areas when included in a STRONGARM Ergonomic Operator Station.
  • Optimized for use in uncontrolled and high temperature environments (up to 45 DegC or 113 DegF) allowing it to be used in uncontrolled environments without additional cooling.
  • The D755 features the already familiar Dell™ Optiplex™ 755SFF software image (bios, OS, drivers, utilities) and system management capabilities.
  • Intel® Core™ 2 Duo architecture processors (available in various processor speed options).
  • XP Pro; Vista® Business.
  • Up to 2.0GB DDR2 Non-ECC SDRAM, 800MHz.
  • (1) PCI Half Height, (1) PCI Express x 16 Half Height.
  • Front Panel: (2) USB 2.0, Audio In/Out.
  • Rear Panel: (6) USB 2.0, Stereo Audio In/Out, RS232 Serial Port, Printer Port, VGA Video/HD15.
  • Supported by Dell’s 3 year on-site warranty.

To learn more about this new product, please call us at 215-675-5800 or send us an e-mail.  We are happy to help in any way that we can.

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: KEPServer for Wonderware Now Available

Kepware Technologies, a leader in Communications for Automation, was previously selected as an Endorsed Partner to be a provider of device communications for Wonderware software in addition to device communications servers from Wonderware. Hundreds of communication protocols are supported and validated with Wonderware software.

Kepware is the world leader in communication software for auto­mation and offers unique experi­ence in both OPC and embedded device communications. Since its beginning in 1995, Kepware has focused on the development of communication drivers to auto­mation controllers, I/O and field devices. Applications include M2M (Machine to Machine) and M2E (Machine 2 Enterprise) communications. Operating system sup­port includes; Microsoft Windows Desktop, Server and Embedded (Windows CE and Windows NT/XP Embedded). Today, with connectivity to thousands of devices, through over 130 automation industry protocols, combined with the efforts of our direct sales, distribution and embedded partners, Kepware is the lead­ing provider of communications with annual shipments exceeding 100,000 units.

KEPServer for Wonderware Driver List

Why work with Wonderware Endorsed Partners

Wonderware Software Partner's products that are endorsed or certified by Wonderware are only applications with proven compatibility with Wonderware software that is renewed every year. Our certified software partners have access to Wonderware Beta programs, toolkits and senior technical support people in order to enable our partners to integrate and extend Wonderware software on an ongoing basis.

  • Improved integration for lower application lifecycle costs
  • Certified compatibility with the latest Wonderware software
  • Faster application deployment and return on investment
  • Improved service and delivery capacity in conjunction with other Wonderware partners
  • Collaboration with Wonderware with a common drive toward solving customer problems and delivering innovative solutions

To learn more about Wonderware Endorsed Partners, please follow this Endorsed Partner Link or call us at 215-675-5800.

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: Echelon New Endorsed Partner

Wonderware has announced it has selected Echelon Corporation as an Endorsed Partner. Echelon will bring to market new innovative and cost effective facility energy monitoring, management, and efficiency solutions in collaboration with Wonderware for the industrial and commercial facilities market leveraging the new Industry Application for Facilities Management from Wonderware.

Echelon is a pioneer in control networks, which connect machines and embedded devices in facility energy conservation offering control networks, which connect machines and other electronic devices; embedded control networks, and smart metering, a next-generation utility infrastructure for automated metering and other utility services. The supported Echelon iLon Hardware controls, monitors, and manages virtually any electronic device in a network, and offers energy-saving benefits for many industry segments, including retail stores, quick-service restaurants, and monitored street lighting systems.

Read the full press release.

Why work with Wonderware Endorsed Partners

Wonderware Software Partner's products that are endorsed or certified by Wonderware are only applications with proven compatibility with Wonderware software that is renewed every year. Our certified software partners have access to Wonderware Beta programs, toolkits and senior technical support people in order to enable our partners to integrate and extend Wonderware software on an ongoing basis.

  • Improved integration for lower application lifecycle costs
  • Certified compatibility with the latest Wonderware software
  • Faster application deployment and return on investment
  • Improved service and delivery capacity in conjunction with other Wonderware partners
  • Collaboration with Wonderware with a common drive toward solving customer problems and delivering innovative solutions

To learn more about Wonderware Endorsed Partners, please follow this Endorsed Partner Link or call us at 215-675-5800.

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: Wonderware Patchfixes, Device Integration Releases & Tech Notes

Registered Wonderware Customer Support subscribers can download the following Wonderware device integration releases: (www.wonderware.com/Support/MMI):

  • No New Releases at this time

Registered users can now download the following Wonderware software patchfix releases (www.wonderware.com/Support/MMI):

  • Application Server 3.0 SP2
  • InTouch 10.0 SP2
  • InTouch for Terminal Services 10.0 SP2
  • InSQL 9.0 Patch 02

The following Tech Notes and Tech Alerts are now available:

  • Tech Note 570 Rebuilding a Corrupted InTouch® Managed Application for InTouch versions 10.0 SP2 (for versions later than InTouch 10.0 SP2)
  • Tech Note 569 Using Merge Modules
  • Tech Note 568 How Wonderware Application Server Manages DLLs and aaSLIB Imports
  • Tech Note 567 Using InBatch History Archiving Operations
  • Tech Note 566 Ensuring Accurate and Consistent Deployment of Custom Script Function Libraries
  • Tech Note 565 Connecting to Migrated QI Analyst Databases QI
  • Tech Note 564 Removing an Undeployed or Deleted Galaxy Erroneously Listed in the SMC DAServer Manager and Log Viewer
  • Tech Note 563 Configuring FSGateway to Access Historian Data from Wonderware® Application Server
  • Tech Note 562 Replacing the CMOS Battery in the Series B and C Touch Panel PC
  • Tech Note 561 Enabling Network COM+ Access on Windows 2003 Servers

Registered users can view and download these and other Tech Notes from the Wonderware Technical Support website.

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© 2008 Wonderware NorthEast (A Q-mation Company). All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, broadcasting, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Wonderware Northeast.