Sunday, November 25, 2007

Sign up to be part of the solution I'll be in Seattle at the OMAC Symposium Wednesday and Thursday. Will I see you there? There are apparently still some open chairs. Visit the Website for agenda and registration. The focus is getting process and discrete standards into harmony. I think this is vital for enticing suppliers such as Rockwell Automation to build state models into programming software. This would be a huge benefit to end users. Also, part of the agenda is a tour of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner manufacturing facility. I can't wait. 9:30:06 PM    comment []

MTL acquisition I slowed down over the weekend and am still whittling down the pile of news that came while I was swamped with Automation Fair and getting our December issue of Automation World finished. MTL Instruments Group has struck again and acquired a 90 percent stake in RTK, a manufacturer of process alarm equipment, displays and interface products. The release states RTK has specific expertise in the application of alarm handling apparatus in hazardous and potentially flammable environments. The acquisition will enable an international expansion of RTK's customer base leveraging MTL's channel. I'd keep an eye on MTL. It's gradually putting together a sizable company. 9:24:08 PM    comment []

Safe at Sea We write a lot about safety. One of the longer discussions I had at Automation Fair centered on the subject. Here's an example of why from The New York Times about a fire on an off-shore platform. No details, yet, but I'm sure the analysis will come. That will be used to avoid future fires. 7:55:17 AM    comment []