Friday, September 15, 2006

OPC conference I just can't be everywhere. This week was Matrikon's OPC user conference. There are reports on the Matrikon blog. Sounds interesting. 8:33:24 AM    comment []

Energy efficiency pays Here's a post from the Johnson Controls blog making a point that I've tried making for 16 years. I could show in clear financial terms the paybacks of just adding a variable frequency drive to a fan motor. Companies didn't want to make the initial capital expenditure. How shortsighted! Energy Efficiency Challenges. In this dialogue, Gerrit Reinders, director, Sustainable Energy Solutions, Johnson Controls Inc., and Ron Fillmore, Dow Corning global executive director for Construction and Xiameter, discuss the importance of sustainability to businesses. How are energy-efficiency challenges driving business sustainability initiatives? GR: With today[base ']s volatile energy prices and unprecedented awareness of the environmental impact of our addiction to oil, it[base ']s becoming increasingly obvious that upgrading buildings to make them [base "]green[per thou] is critical, particularly since green buildings are, by definition, very resource efficient. Many local governments now require that new buildings be constructed to green standards. This is a great thing that unfortunately only addresses one percent of buildings; the opportunity is greatest if we also [base "]green[per thou] the existing building stock. For that reason, organizations are hiring energy services companies to renew their infrastructures with more energy-efficient equipment. Some are paying for these improvements through the savings they generate. We[base ']ve seen energy savings as high as 90 percent by upgrading lighting and 60 percent by upgrading HVAC, office equipment, and appliances. The business case for energy efficiency is clear, and there[base ']s widespread acceptance that doing the right thing and making money are not conflicting strategies. [Johnson Controls: Your Energy Forum] 8:20:23 AM    comment []

Cruise and learn Come Learn About PACs in Style!. MCR Technologies and Opto 22 are jointly sponsoring a free "PACs and Ethernet in Automation" Seminar on October 24th from 10am to 2pm. No boring conference room or hotel banquet hall...but on a beautiful Pacific Avalon chartered yacht. Come cruise the Newport Harbor, enjoy a delicious lunch, and learn about PACs and Ethernet in Industrial Automation. [Leave it to Opto to find a different kind of location for a seminar. We used to do "lunch and learn" when I sold automation products. Now, it's "cruise and learn."] 8:09:18 AM    comment []

Growth "Isn't change about growth?" N.L. Belardes at the ProSoft blog. Certainly you can't grow without changing. And as we've learned from studying nature, you must keep growing and changing or you'll die. (works for companies, too) Then he puts a product teaser at the end of his post. Editors hate to be teased ;-) 7:57:36 AM    comment []

STI Omron Merger Complete Scientific Technologies Inc. has completed its previously announced merger with a subsidiary of Japan-based Omron Corp. ("Omron"). STI shareholders will receive $10.67 per share in cash as a result of the merger, and STI will cease to be a publicly traded company. As a result of the merger and related transactions, Omron acquired STI's Safety Products Group (SPG) business and STI sold its Automation Products Group (APG) business to Automation Products Group Inc., a new company formed by members of the Lazzara family. The total transaction values the equity of the STI at approximately $110.8 million. The Safety Products Group business is now part of Omron and will operate under the name of Omron Scientific Technologies Inc. The operations of STI's Safety Products Group will remain in Fremont, California. The APG business will continue to operate out of its Logan, Utah facilities as the Automation Products Group Inc. under private ownership of the Lazzara family. 7:34:51 AM    comment []

Soccer Problem Revisited As a follow up to the soccer posting of a couple of days ago, we talked to one of the referees on the match. Somewhat different perspective. Referee saw two players shoving each other, glanced over to the ball, it was beyond the arc at the top of the penalty area with at least two defenders (remember the original question was denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity). So he stopped play to deal with the players. I found out the parent/coach actually has switched schools this year and is coach of a boys team in another town. So this was a boys game and you take these shoving things very seriously. At any rate, National Federation (high school) rules say if you stop play for a caution, restart is from the point of the situation, not the point where the ball was. The referee's only potential mistake was that he probably should have restarted with a drop ball but there were overriding considerations in his mind. Soccer players often bring their arms away from their bodies as a protective measure. Referees always must be alert to whether it's just making space for themselves or pushing or striking an opponent. Coaches seem to always think (at least at the moment when they are trying to "work" the referee) that any extended arm (by an opponent of course) is a vicious elbow. Therefore, the difference in point of view. I had a situation Wednesday when I was referee of a college women match. Two evenly matched teams that were well coached. Final score was 1-0. Beautiful goal (from a pure athletic perspective). Cross came from the right wing to the middle of the goal area maybe 8 yards out and headed in. Unfortunately, just about the time of the cross there was a big collision of players over at the touch line (right in front of my AR). Coach of the defenders is screaming for a foul. What I saw was a group of players (at least 3 from each team were over there). Play goes toward goal line along the touch line. Defender runs into a stationary attacker and falls down. I saw no nefarious activity on the part of the attacker, so I called no foul. Cross was made, goal scored. AR also saw no foul. We have four major areas within the Ohio Collegiate Soccer Officials Association -- Toledo, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati. I am closer to Dayton and have worked with those guys for many years. Plus, Toledo is in the USSF Ohio-North while the rest of us are in Ohio-South. So, I seldom see Toledo referees. Beginning last year, the OCSOA assigners decided to mix referees from the different areas so that we don't become "cliquish" or something. Since I live 40 miles north of Dayton, I do a lot of games in central-western Ohio with Toledo referees with whom I have never worked. Same thing Wednesday. I got a couple of signals that I'd have never gotten from the guys I'm used to working with. Things like that keep you on your toes and reminds you of the need for thorough pre-game instructions. 7:23:21 AM    comment []

GE News News from GE in The New York Times. The industrial division includes GE Fanuc Automation. Its executives have consistently told me to continue to watch for more acquisitions after the purchase of Intellution from Emerson a few years ago. It had also picked up Mountain Systems, Total Control Products and VMIC. More to come? One of the "manufacturing intelligence" companies? G.E. Will Sell Materials Unit to Buyout Firm. G.E. said it agreed to sell its advanced materials business for about $3.8 billion and use the income to expand its industrial division. By REUTERS. [NYT > Business] 7:03:16 AM    comment []