|
 |
Friday, May 4, 2007 |
So, Iâo[dot accent]m finally finishing my wrap up of Interphex. One thing I noticed overall about the show was the lack of buzz about process analytical technology or PAT. The past two shows (the first I had attended), that phrase was everywhere. One person said that too many people jumped on one or the other of the wordsâo[per thou]process or analytical. The new phrase from the government is âo[ogonek]quality by design,âo[caron] but I didnâo[dot accent]t hear that anywhere. Attendance at the show seemed low. Some said that having an Interphex in Puerto Rico in February really cut into attendance in New York. The third thing is the devaluation of the keynotes. Two years ago one keynote was Rudy Giuliani. Last year had less star power, but attendance was still good. This year, they moved the keynotes from the main hall to somewhere I never foundâo[per thou]and from a morning kick-off to 11:30.
So, the news:
Invensys Process Systems and Centric Software announced the availability of an application that co-ordinates the management of the regulated validation process in the medical device, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. This application enables life science companies to automate the documentation of validation processes to help reduce the time required to obtain FDA validation for new process plants. The critical validation process documents all evidence that a system is performing according to exact specifications and that all related equipment is implemented and tested correctly.
Further Invensys Process Systems news. It introduced a compact, non-invasive conductivity sensor for high purity measurement in low volume liquid applications.
Parsec Automation Corp. introduced Parsec TrakSYS 5.0 at the recent Interphex conference. The company has enhanced the functionality of its modeling and configuration, multi-mode real-time data collection and post-production edits, advanced analytics, messaging and notifications, and the foundation for multi-site intelligence reporting and benchmarking.
Some additional features include notification ability by email or text messages, enhanced manual data collection capability, support for Microsoft Vista operating system.
MTS Systems Corp., Sensors division, has leveraged its electronics expertise in the linear-position measurement systems to create a fast response liquid level sensor. The new sensors include faster response for control and sanitary configurations. They provide for remote programming and diagnostic capabilities via serial communication. The company also showed its sensing technology for pharmaceutical applications.
ABB announced Induatrial IT for PAT (process analytical technologies). This product combines process data collection and analysis with traditional process control and data management functions. IIT for PAT provides access to online real-time process data.
As one of the few gatherings of all the large process automation systems suppliers, Interphex provided a venue for all to show their unique combinations of products and services especially for regulated industries. In addition to those already mentioned, Emerson Process Management, for example, demonstrated a "Plant of the Future" in a variety of stations in its booth. Rockwell Automation discussed the ability to integrate building automation and environment information into its historian for future review and analysis. Yokogawa also had a presence showing its integrated offerings for regulated industries. Honeywell Process Systems had experts on hand discussing its set of products and services, as well.
2:53:49 PM 
|
|
Activplant has released ActivEssentials 5 performance mangement platform. This application is built on the Microsoft .Net framework using Web services in a service-oriented architecture. The latest upgrade incudes improved enterprise capabilities in data management, consolidation of data and improved security.
GE Sensing and Dust Networks have developed a technology partnership to build wireless sensing solutions for a range of monitoring applications in various industries including pharmaceutical, biotechnology, automotive, industrial, commercial, petrochemical and power generation. The Kaye RF ValProbe is the first product introduced from the partnership. It offers operators the option to view data in real time without wiring sensors.
In a release from Cimnet, it was announced that Invensys Systems Inc., a subsidiary of Invensys PLC and Cimnet Inc. have signed a definitive agreement to merge Cimnet into Invensys in an all-cash transaction. Invensys is offering $2.43 per share, valuing the transaction at approximately $23.2 million plus the assumption of existing debt.
Cimnet designs, markets and integrates software for manufacturing facilities. Its products allow manufacturing companies to schedule and monitor work flow in real time and improve product quality.
1:22:32 PM
|
|
As planned for some time, Dennis Sadlowski has been appointed president and chief executive officer of Siemens Energy & Automation in Atlanta. He succeeds Aubert Martin, who is retiring. I've had some great conversations with Martin over the past few years, and I'll miss his point of view. I also wish him well in retirement.
Sadlowski has been with SE&A since 2000, starting as vice president and general manager of the Electrical Apparatus business. From 2003 to 2006 he led the Siemens Automation and Drives Sensors business from Germany. In 2006 he returned to Atlanta as chief operating officer of SE&A while also manageing the Power Distribution & Controls Division. Prior to joining Siemens, Sadlowski worked at GE and Thomas & Betts.
12:53:55 PM
|
|
I see that Wonderware is celebrating 20 years. One more and it can drink ;-) That mid-80s time was great for innovation in automation--based mostly on the power of the personal computer and then Windows. They're having an employee party today. Congratulations and cheers.
12:48:16 PM
|
|
I see Dave Harrold commented on my note about understanding your sources of information. This is really a continuation of at least weekly conversations we had when we both worked at another magazine. We left manufacturing at about the same time to enter the publishing world. We would run into editors with a journalist background who tried to write about technical subjects when they had no background with which to do it. I think Dave is more cynical than I about those abilities. We knew some people in the industry who just couldn't grasp the nuances. I sometimes run across a writer, otherwise fine, who doesn't realize that during an interview he thought was just technical background was really a heavily "political" view of the topic that needed balance from others. It's tough for any of us to sort through the stuff sometimes.
He's right, you've got to trust your source--or at least understand the biases. If you read a white paper from a supplier, then you should know that the technical value is intertwined with the point of view of what that supplier sells. As long as you realize that, then who cares? As far as editors without technical backgrounds goes--well,
that's one of those issues of trust. A couple of the high tech blogger reporters I follow are not technical, but are highly regarded within the community. I'd cite, for example, Michael Arrington of TechCrunch who is a lawyer <gasp>. Wes Iversen on our staff has a journalism background but he wrote a great piece on Dave's favorite area--safety systems. He gave readers a balanced overview of the issues and points of view of the various technologies and suppliers. He gave no answer, because there IS no answer. What the story revealed is that there are very smart experts on all sides of the question. If the "experts" cannot agree, then what are users to do? Avoid implementing modern systems out of confusion? Trust your current supplier? Get persuaded by another supplier? It's tough.
What I do is to read with an open mind and trust someone until they give me reason not to. The reason may be in sentence two, or it may be after a year or two. I just bit (and I was glad to see I wasn't alone) on a message from someone I thought I trusted and found out it was bad information. Guess what? That person is no longer a trusted source. By the way, I'm slowing down some of the race to post quickly. I find a little reflection is better. I may not break something (but there's not a lot of breaking news in our space), but hopefully it'll be more thoughtful.
12:37:14 PM
|
|
© Copyright 2007 Gary Mintchell.
|
|
|
