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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 |
Gee, not too long ago, pundits were writing off Boeing. Never do linear extrapolations of social "data." Maybe there's hope for GM (General Motors, that is, not Gary Mintchell, I'm beyond hope)?
Awaiting Big Show, Airbus Encounters More Problems. Beyond its management crisis, Airbus's parent company faces poor sales figures, delivery delays and a lawsuit. By JAMES KANTER, International Herald Tribune. [NYT > Business]
3:13:00 PM 
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Just received this announcement from Stratus Computers. It has joined the Mainframe Migration Alliance, a group that includes Microsoft, to "help companies migrate mission-critical enterprise applications from their proprietary mainframe computers onto smaller, flexible and cost-effective systems running Microsoft Windows Server 2003."
OK, all of you who think anything Microsoft is "proprietary" note that I'm quoting there.
If you're not familiar with the server end of things, Stratus makes some pretty cool high availability servers for you mission critical needs based on Windows.
2:51:09 PM
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Siemens surprised many recently when it announced support of EDDL (enhanced electronic device description language-the backbone Foundation Fieldbus) and seemingly turned its back on the (some say) rival FDT Foundation. Well, the company has taken the next step by annoucing with Fieldbus Foundation major supporter, Emerson Process, further interoperability between Profibus and FF.
In an announcement I received second hand from Emerson (Jerry, it's gmintchell@automationworld.com), the companies announced they will exchange technology and engineering support to add interfaces that will extend their systems and software to offer customers expanded interoperability. First products are expected by mid-2007.
Specifically, Siemens will add interfaces to its Simatic PCS 7 and Process Device Manager tool to support Foundation Fieldbus in addition to Profibus and Hart.
Similarly, Emerson will expand its DeltaV and Ovation control systems and Intelligent Device Manager with an interface to Profibus DP and ProfiNet. That means users of Emerson controllers with the new interfaces will now be able to connect to Profibus DP and Profinet products such as drives and motor starters.
In both cases, this means more ability for customers of each to integrate more systems. Definitely a win for the customers. Competitors of each of these companies have long grumbled about them being pretty much closed companies when it comes to working with others. I guess this pretty well shatters some of that thought. Good to see them opening up.
2:41:46 PM
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A couple of news items from Schneider Electric (known in the US as Square D). First, it has joined the ranks of companies with users conferences, but it's not giving customers a lot of time for planning. Known as Initi@tive 2006, it will be held September 28-30 (yes, into a weekend) in Orlando. That one would make six straight weeks of travel for me (plus a wedding), so Wes will be covering it. Look for news then.
Then it was announced that Christopher B. Curtis will become president of Schneider Electric USA, evidently reporting to David Petratis, CEO and president of Schneider Electric North American Operating Division. Curtis will be responsible for electrical distribution, automation and control, and services business activities within the United States.
1:03:29 PM
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In further consolidation of the electrical distribution industry, Rexel, a French company with operations across Europe and the US, has purchased GE Supply. The current GE Supply management team will stay with the company and continue to run the operation under the same name. I'm trying to research more on Rexel, but its server has exceeded its bandwidth. Every other editor and analyst must be researching it, as well.
9:17:01 AM
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© Copyright 2006 Gary Mintchell.
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