More from the mobile app.

Update empowers operators and technicians with more visibility, awareness and customisation options regardless of location.

The mobile app for Emerson's DeltaV™ SaaS supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) software has been redesigned. The new app is to empower operators and technicians to do more in the field from their mobile devices, helping teams in critical industries like oil and gas, specialty chemical and others achieve more efficient, optimised operations.

“Today, many operators and technicians are using mobile devices as their primary interface to their SCADA systems,” said Dawn Marruchella, vice president of Emerson’s Guardian software and solutions business. “We’ve redesigned the DeltaV SaaS SCADA mobile app from the ground up with this in mind —delivering a more seamless, intuitive way for users to access all the key information they need, in the format they desire, from anywhere across their plant, facility, or enterprise.” 

Operators and field technicians increasingly rely on mobile applications for SCADA solutions to help them monitor and manage production on the go, manually input data, change settings and issue commands and simplify the work of recording chart estimates from anywhere across a plant or facility. However, today’s most efficient and effective teams need more robust mobile applications and a user-friendly interface to allow them to do more from anywhere. The redesigned mobile app for DeltaV SaaS SCADA is designed to give operators and technicians the control and clarity they need to be effective in the field, without the need to drag a laptop along with them.

The rebuilt DeltaV SaaS SCADA mobile app provides an entirely redesigned user interface (UI) for more intuitive viewing of critical operations information. Via the new UI, users can create and customise their own reports, allowing them to compare multiple sensors and locations to have better visibility into how operations are working in the field. The new UI also delivers alarms via push notifications, helping ensure operators and technicians are made aware of problems as quickly as possible.

Users also gain access to new route planning features. They can create and manage routes/runs on the fly directly from the mobile app, making it easier to customise runs to their specific schedules and daily plans. An operator or technician can view the stops on the route at any time to quickly see which are in alarm and can seamlessly pass location information directly to the mobile device’s mapping app to be guided to locations.

 DeltaV SaaS SCADA’s mobile app also features new widgets to simplify operation, making it easy for users to quickly see total alarms for selected locations and comparison of volumes produced.

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@EmersonExchange @Emerson_News @EMR_Automation @HHC_Lewis #PAuto #SCADA

Functional safety for mobile machines.

The Anybus Safe2Link Remote IO-CS, from HMS Networks, is a rugged, type-approved I/O device designed to simplify the integration of functional safety into AGVs, AMRs, and other mobile machines. With TÜV-certified safety functions and support for CIP Safety over EtherNet/IP, the Anybus Safe2Link Remote IO-CS provides the fastest, most reliable path to compliance with ISO 3691-4 and the upcoming EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230.

The unit mounts directly on the machine, enabling system integrators and machine builders to add a safe remote stop and manage local or remote safety signals without custom hardware design.

Since the Anybus Safe2Link Remote IO-CS connects with existing local safety logic, system integrators can implement the same safety functions across AGV/AMR platforms from different suppliers. This significantly simplifies integration and reduces the effort required for the recertification of functions such as safe remote stop.

Advanced safety features such as SafeBound™ (fast local and slow remote safe reaction) and SS1-t (controlled safe stop) allow machines to react predictably, protecting both people and equipment.

With certification up to SIL 3 (IEC 61508) and PLe/Cat. 4 (ISO 13849-1), the Safe2Link Remote IO-CS is type-approved and ready to deploy. Its rugged IP54 enclosure, dual M12 Ethernet connectors, and straightforward D-Sub I/O interface make it well-suited for harsh industrial environments.

The launch of the Anybus Safe2Link Remote IO-CS expands HMS Networks’ functional safety portfolio, which also includes embedded hardware options and TÜV-certified safety protocol software. This flexible approach allows OEMs and system integrators to choose the right level of integration for their applications — from plug-and-play devices to fully customized safety hardware.

“Functional safety is no longer optional — it’s essential for accessing global markets and building trust with customers,” says Stefan Kraus, Functional Safety Product Manager at HMS Networks. “The Anybus Safe2Link Remote IO-CS gives system integrators or machine builders a plug-and-play solution to meet the latest requirements with minimal integration effort. This means faster time-to-market and safer, smarter machines.”

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@hmsnetworks @HMSAnybus @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Manufacturing #Safety

All-in-one gateway for worldwide use.

HMS Networks has announced significant updates to the Netbiter solution for remote management of field equipment. The new Netbiter EC360W gateway now comes with a fully revamped graphical user interface for Netbiter Argos Cloud to enhance user experience.

The new Ewon Netbiter EC360W is an all-in-one gateway for worldwide use. This new model includes a diversity antenna, making it more robust and ensuring better connectivity in harsh environments.

Additionally, the launch of the Netbiter Argos app will revolutionize how service teams manage notifications. With push notifications that can be sent and acknowledged via the app, service teams can now utilize these alerts to their fullest potential.

How it works.
The Ewon Netbiter EC360W connects field equipment to the Argos cloud via Cellular 4G or Ethernet, facilitating seamless data exchange. The device's dual-antenna setup ensures reliable communication even in the most challenging conditions. The cloud platform displays data via both the web and the new Argos mobile app. With the new Argos mobile app, users can receive and manage notifications. They will now be able to respond to alarms faster and more efficiently, enhancing the monitoring capabilities and responsiveness of this management system.

Users can enjoy comprehensive insights into their equipment’s performance and status with the Netbiter EC360W gateway and the Netbiter Argos cloud. The solution allows remote management of a wide range of field equipment spread across the globe: power generators, air compressors, chillers, and many more. It is ideal for ensuring the continuous performance and maintenance of critical equipment, even in remote locations.

James Kime, Netbiter Argos Product Manager at HMS Networks, emphasizes the competitive edge provided to users: "Netbiter Argos is the solution you can partner with to expand your rental fleet and provide that extra added service to your clients that the market requires to stay competitive".

The Netbiter Argos solution is perfectly suited for rental companies that manage and monitor various assets used for power generation. Offering an out-of-the-box, end-to-end solution, it allows these businesses to effectively track and service diverse fleets of equipment deployed across numerous locations. Netbiter Argos is ideal for companies whose equipment demands constant supervision. It ensures maximum operational efficiency and uptime. Additionally, it's a scalable, future-proof solution designed to handle expanding fleets of equipment seamlessly.

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@hmsnetworks @ewonrouters @mepaxIntPR  #PAuto

Energy Labelling regulation for mobile devices.

SmartViser and Anritsu have joined forces to usher in a new era of mobile device testing for the energy labelling regulation. This strategic partnership leverages SmartViser's expertise in test automation and Anritsu's cutting-edge testing solutions to deliver comprehensive, efficient, and innovative testing solutions for the ever-evolving mobile ecosystem.

The integration of SmartViser's automated testing solutions with Anritsu's advanced test solution creates a synergistic approach to smartphones and Tablets Testing for the EU Energy labelling regulation, providing manufacturers and service providers with a comprehensive suite of tools. This collaboration aims to streamline testing processes, accelerate time-to-market for new devices, and enhance the overall user experience.

The EU Regulation of Energy Labelling for smartphones and Tablets was published in the Original Journal of EU on the 20th of September 2023 and after 21 months of transition period will become mandatory on the 20th of June 2025.

Jonathan Borrill, CTO for Anritsu T&M, says: "We are proud to inform partnership with SmartViser and contribute to smart energy initiatives towards a decarbonized society. Combining SmartViser's innovative solutions with Anritsu communications technology will bring revolutionary and a major step towards achieving carbon neutrality."

Commenting on the partnership, Gilles Ricordel CEO of SmartViser stated, "We are thrilled to collaborate with Anritsu, a renowned name in the testing and measurement industry. This partnership represents a significant leap forward in our mission to provide cutting-edge testing solutions for the rapidly evolving mobile landscape. By combining our automation expertise with Anritsu's industry-leading technology, we are empowering our customers to deliver products and services in the market that exceed consumer expectations."

SmartViser was selected by EU to create the first pilot application for Android and ios in order to test smartphone devices and tablets energy class and battery consumption.

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@Anritsu @AnritsuEMEA @SmartViser @EU_Commission @NapierPR #TandM #Communications

Mobile access to critical data for better decision support.

New alert customisation and expanded OPC support in DeltaV™ Mobile bring improved notification and third-party system monitoring

Emerson has enhanced its DeltaV™ Mobile app to ensure plant personnel have faster access to process information and to help organisations tailor the notifications personnel receive.

This mobile app provides read-only access to a plant’s distributed control system and operation data. It now offers improved customisation and access to third-party systems in one app. DeltaV Mobile users will be able to more quickly respond to important process information and changes, including held batches, production bottlenecks and potential safety issues.

Custom notifications provide personnel across the organisation with fast access to essential information, including batch status, safety instrumented systems bypasses, key performance indicators, or any other process parameter they want to monitor. These notifications are customised to individuals, ensuring personnel such as process engineers and supervisors are notified on-demand of information relevant to their job, but do not create additional control system nuisance alarms or notifications that add unnecessary distractions for control room operators and other personnel.

DeltaV Mobile also enables teams to customise how they handle notification escalation and response. Notification escalation paths now include user-specific time delays, reminders, and limits for each stakeholder in the organisation. Users can claim ownership of notifications to clearly communicate to plant personnel who is investigating the problem and sparing others, particularly supervisory personnel, from the distraction of notifications for problems that are already being investigated.

New Open Platform Communication (OPC) browsing makes it easier to create watch lists and custom alerts from any OPC Classic data source including from historians such as the OSIsoft PI System, third-party control systems, and PLCs. In addition, a new bulk editing tool allows users to bulk-create lists (with or without notification preferences) in spreadsheet applications, making it easier to create personalised watch lists and alarm lists.

DeltaV Mobile can send notifications for any process parameter, including OPC values, without the need to configure an alarm in DeltaV.

@EMR_Automation  #PAuto @Emerson_News @HHC_Lewis 

Remote access via smartphone or tablet.

eWON eCatcher is the software that eWON users utilise to establish a remote connection via an eWON router to their machine. HMS Industrial Networks has launched a mobile version of this award-winning remote access solution called eWON eCatcher Mobile. It is available for free for iOS and Android.

By connecting an eWON Cosy or Flexy router to a machine, it is possible to access and control the machine via the cloud service eWON Talk2M®. eWON users can then access Talk2M in an easy and secure way from a computer using the eCatcher software. Now, eCatcher is also offered as an app for mobile devices on iOS or Android.

Today, many HMI and PLC manufacturers offer apps to connect to their devices. eCatcher Mobile is designed to work as a complement to these apps. eCatcher Mobile opens a secure tunnel to the remote machinery through the Talk2M cloud, enabling users to run any device manufacturers’ app and connect, just as if they were on site.


How it works
After logging in to their eCatcher account, users validate themselves using Touch ID (or a PIN code), similar to most mobile banking applications. Just like in the desktop version, users will see all eWON routers connected to their Talk2M account. After clicking on the eWON they want to access, they are securely connected. When the eCatcher mobile app is connected, it is possible to start native HMI apps from automation vendors. Examples include Sm@rtClient Lite from Siemens, Vijeo Design'Air from Schneider Electric, or Remote HMI from Pro-face. eCatcher mobile can also be used with VNC client apps.

“The eCatcher Mobile app is ideal for remote access, maintenance and monitoring of your devices wherever you are,” says Marie-Luce Bodineau, eWON Product Manager at HMS. “We see that more and more users are starting to utilize the native apps from HMI and PLC vendors, and with the eCatcher mobile we offer them a way to operate remotely in an easy and secure way.”

The eCatcher Mobile app is available for free at Apple App Store or Google Play.

@HMSAnybus #PAuto 

Mobile friendly website!

Olmec has published a new, mobile-friendly website providing a much simplified browsing experience for visitors. The new site highlights the company’s three key areas of expertise; vision inspection, inspection machines and track & trace and illustrates their capabilities with practical examples of use covering web inspection, code inspection and seal inspection

For simple vision applications, Olmec can guide customers towards the perfect combination of vision system, lighting and lens, with support with installation if needed. A range of proven user friendly inspection systems cover applications from code reading to laser perforation inspection. When requirements go beyond simply a camera to include product handling, configuration and rejection, Olmec can help with fully automated turnkey solutions, no matter how in-depth the requirements. With track and trace such a critical requirement in the pharmaceutical industry, Olmec has partnered with Domino Printing Sciences to power SerialTrac, a complete compliance system for the serialisation, aggregation and verification of unique codes.

Olmec-UK managing director, Rob Pounder sums up Olmec’s ethos: “We’re a team of engineers who love to understand how things work and how to make things work and as a result of that we are driven by solving problems. The people that we have in our company are very skilled, very passionate about what they do, very diligent and very capable. We become an extension of our customers’ project team and they see us as an integral part of the team. We understand the product and live and breathe the problems that they are facing so we are as motivated as they are to find the right solution. This means that they get great systems that exceed their expectations and great service – we’re a company that they should consider as ‘one of their own’.”

@OlmecUk #PAuto 

Fieldbus on your phone!

Easy-to-use Android app enables fast analysis of FF H1 physical layer.

A new app that turns Android Smartphones into mobile diagnostic devices for the physical layer parameters of a Foundation Fieldbus H1 network has been introduced by Stahl. The app is available free of charge in the Google Play Store. Physical layer properties of a fieldbus segment can be viewed and analysed on a mobile phone, provided that segment uses a series 9412 power supply from R. Stahl's ISbus portfolio.

These fieldbus power supplies feature built-in diagnostic functions to provide information about supply voltage and current, signal level, noise, jitter or shielding shorts (unbalance), so there is no need for any additional dedicated diagnostic devices. In the event of a fault, these parameters and the responsible fieldbus node are reported with a short fault description.

To use these functions, an Android mobile device with the ISbus DIAG app is simply connected to a 9412 through a connection cable available as an accessory. The app then requires no further input – physical layer data for the corresponding segment is immediately displayed. By keeping the diagnostics device off the fieldbus itself, the ISbus power supply also ensures there are no negative effects, which could otherwise occur due to bouncing or short circuits if a standard handheld unit were connected to the bus. Since ISbus DIAG is a read-only application, users cannot modify fieldbus settings or the configuration of connected devices.

If more than quick checks and troubleshooting on the spot are required, ISbus fieldbus power supplies also support significantly more complex diagnostic options. These include proactive monitoring of the physical layer with an adjustable warning threshold, LED and relay signalling (series 9412 / *-320-*), and even a powerful online diagnostic system based on an additional device, the DCM 9415 (diagnosis communication modules). The playlist "R. STAHL scalable fieldbus solutions" available in the R. Stahl Group YouTube channel showcases the broad range of versatile options.

• Stahl products are marketed through Douglas Controls & Automation.

‏@STAHL_UK  #PAuto @FOUNDATIONField

Mobility in hazardous areas.

SolutionsPT has continued its proactive response to the growing trend towards mobility in manufacturing by partnering with the world’s leading manufacturer of mobile computing devices which are designed for use in hazardous areas, including tablets, smartphones and handheld computers.

SolutionsPT will resell and promote ecom’s range of ATEX Certified hazardous area equipment, which enable safe, reliable communications to hazardous area workers in the Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, Offshore, Chemicals and Pharmaceutical industries. Thanks to ecom’s Tab-Ex Series, which include the World’s first Zone 1 certified tablet computer – the Tab-Ex 01, a wide range of application are now able to be used by engineers, operators and technicians in zoned hazardous areas around the world.

With a shift in work habits, the need to be efficient and a requirement to capture and analyse even more data – SolutonsPT has witnessed more businesses turning to Enterprise Mobility via the use of smart mobile devices and enterprise software solutions to perform business critical tasks. A recent survey found that 73% of manufacturing companies said that ‘mobility’ was a key priority for their businesses. This is can be traced to mobile solutions not only providing a more cost effective alternative to fixed terminals, but offering scalability, improved visibility of the production process and, crucially, access to real-time data.

Mike Lees, Product Manager from SolutionsPT, said: “Mobility is revolutionising manufacturing and businesses are increasingly designing mobility into new production strategies to deliver greater efficiency to production centres. However, it’s not as simple as applying the same devices used in commercial offices to the production environment. The potential cost and operational benefits of mobile computing technology in hazardous areas is particularly exciting and, over time, will radically re-shape the hazardous area computing market.
“Mobile deployment in hazardous areas requires a specialist partner, which is why we’ve chosen to work with ecom. They have over 25 years of experience making them experts in the field and have a highly robust product range, perfectly suited to the most testing conditions.”

Remote monitoring & control platform features worldwide cellular coverage.

Red Lion Controls has announced its Sixnet® series RAM® industrial cellular RTUs now provide high-speed global 4G LTE network support for use with many cellular carriers worldwide.* This follows Red Lion’s recent announcement of 4G LTE multi-carrier cellular support for major North American carriers.

The addition of global 4G LTE network support to Red Lion’s RAM industrial cellular RTUs enable customers to easily connect, monitor and control high-bandwidth applications in markets including oil and gas, water/wastewater, factory automation, utility and transportation. As manufacturing and industrial organizations continue to migrate from fixed legacy infrastructures to scalable high-performance networks, comprehensive solutions are needed to serve as the critical communication platform between facilities and equipment in disparate locations.

“More and more industrial organizations worldwide rely on cellular communications for increased data speeds, expansive coverage and reliable operation,” said Paul Bunnell, product manager at Red Lion Controls. “Given the size and scope of many of today’s industrial operations – with remote sites in various locations and countries – customers are demanding easy-to-deploy solutions that can operate reliably regardless of geography. This is why our high-speed RAM 4G LTE cellular RTUs provide a secure all-in-one platform that seamlessly integrates with existing equipment to enable critical remote monitoring and control.”

The RAM platform features a powerful built-in event engine that can easily be configured using an intuitive web-based interface to trigger actions when pre-defined alarm values are met. For example, if a tank level is too high or valve pressure out of range, the RAM event engine will not only cycle a relay to stop a pump or open a valve, but can also send SMS text messages to alert when actions should be taken. This helps automation engineers, technicians, production managers and network operators make critical decisions.

Red Lion’s RAM cellular RTUs combine optional I/O and Wi-Fi with active GPS and multiple serial and Ethernet ports to securely monitor and control remote devices over 4G LTE cellular networks. By providing data visibility, control and real-time notifications on field-deployed equipment and processes, the RAM platform enables organizations to take advantage of the benefits associated with the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

*NOTE: Red Lion’s RAM industrial cellular RTUs are not currently supported in Japan.

• Red Lion Products are markted in Ireland through Instrument Technology.

Incorporating mobile interfaces into industrial automation & control applications.

Opto 22 has announced the groov Action Plan, a service that quickly adds mobility to applications in industrial automation, control, and remote monitoring. The groov Action Plan result is a completed groov mobile operator interface—a custom mobile app—that authorized automation end-users, machine OEMs, or other personnel can use to monitor and control systems and equipment from smartphones and tablets. The groov Action Plan provides a planned path from concept to completion for creating, deploying, and supporting a groov mobile app.

With the groov Action Plan, an Opto 22 engineer works closely with a groov customer to understand project objectives, define requirements, and design the operator interface. The Opto 22 engineer also addresses networking setup and device connectivity. Graphics professionals at Opto 22 then develop the final groov mobile app. Follow-up service and support are included.

groov Action Plan customer Class Biologically Clean (CBC) in Madison, Wisconsin, manufactures softwall cleanrooms, isolation chambers, and similar products for research and medical use. According to David Holland, company vice president, using a smartphone or tablet to monitor and control a cleanroom’s environmental system is unique in the industry and helps to differentiate CBC from its competitors. For example, CBC’s groov mobile app eliminates the need to individually check several physical gauges on different pieces of equipment. Instead, environmental information for the cleanroom is presented on a single mobile screen.

With limited time and staff to develop the groov mobile app at CBC, Holland worked with local Opto 22 engineer Dave Engsberg to rapidly plan, develop, and deploy the groov mobile app. “Working with Opto 22 to develop the app was an easy process,” says Holland. “It was fast and allowed me to bring my mobile app to market quickly.”

Mobile solutions for efficient plant projects!

The Siemens is bundling its web-based solutions for plant projects in the process industry in the new product family Comos Mobile Solutions. This supports globally networked collaboration across the entire value chain for plant projects. With Comos, all of the participants in a project have access to relevant information via web-based services and mobile devices such as tablets - anytime, anywhere. Easy-to-use, tailor-made solutions for practical applications simplify collaboration and access to Comos data and documents. Even users with no direct access to the system such as managers and controllers who are working while traveling, or even external suppliers can now be quickly and securely integrated into Comos projects. The Comos Mobile Solutions is to be delivered to the market in significantly shorter release cycles so that new features and applications can be provided more quickly.

With Comos Mobile Document Review, the user can conveniently edit Comos docu-ments from any location using an iPad

The new product family has been expanded by two new solutions: Comos WebPQM and Comos Snapshots. Comos WebPQM (Project Quality Management), is specially designed for highly regulated processing industries, and is now available for the online editing of documents and engineering data. Comos WebPQM functions include: the uploading, checking-in and checking-out of documents, and full revision management directly in the Comos Web user interface. With these functions, global projects can now be more efficiently implemented across the entire value chain. The new, editable web attributes were advantageous in pilot projects: They simplified the exchange of engineering data with suppliers and they supported compliance with regulatory requirements. With Comos Snapshots, queries of even the largest data sets can be quickly displayed. The user defines these customized queries via an easy to use Graphical User Interface (GUI) and the data is available in a few seconds, at the press of a button.

The Comos Web Server is the basic prerequisite for all Comos Mobile Solutions for exchanging data via the web. This also applies to the already available solutions Comos WebView, Comos Mobile Document Review, and the SharePoint Interface for Microsoft environments. Comos WebView, with a simplified interface for use by popular browsers, allows read access to all Comos documents and data. Via the SharePoint interface, users work in a familiar Microsoft environment and can access Comos documents with no redundancy. The iPad app Comos Mobile Document Review provides comprehensive functions for document management (also available offline), including redlining and the release of revision steps.

For plant projects, it's important for all project stakeholders to have access to all relevant data anytime and anywhere, whether it is through a simple web connection or specific apps for mobile devices.. Now, with Comos Mobile Solutions, project stakeholders can have easy-to-use and efficient solutions for managing documents in plant projects; they can access different, distributed data sources; and they can make global collaboration easier. The applications for mobile working while traveling can be started directly with data access that is immediately available. The intuitive operation of the interface gives access to the desired information in just a few clicks. The easy access to plant project data is an important driver for project success in the process industries.

Omron goes mobile with new European website!

Fast search facility for building automation, home appliance,energy, healthcare

Omron Electronic Components Europe will be serving today’s mobile workforce with the recent launch of a new market driven website that is as easy to use from a smartphone and tablet as from a traditional PC. The new website combines specific content for key vertical markets and a greatly streamlined product tree taking customers to data in no more than three clicks.

Commenting, Leon Mordang, VP Sales and Marketing at Omron Electronic Components Europe said, “IDC is forecasting over 70% growth in smartphones and tablets over the next four years. The new Omron Electronic Components Europe website automatically detects the device being used and reformats content appropriately. Our product range is growing and becoming ever more diverse and innovative and customers can easily access this expanded range from a traditional or mobile platform. The product search tree takes them to data in just two or three clicks. For Energy, Building Automation, Home Appliance, Medical and Healthcare, we’ve identified the main application areas and brought together solutions addressing these applications. This means that customers can find for example Omron switches recommended for smart meters, sensors for respiratory devices or relays for lighting control with a single quick and convenient search.”

Other new features include product comparison allowing up to three components to be compared side by side, and a direct link to Omron’s distributor websites to source samples.

The new website covers the full electronic component range offered by Omron to its European customers. This includes the electromechanical switches, relays and connectors for which it is known around the world, as well as the full range of sensors based on its innovative MEMS technology. This sensor range includes pressure, flow, thermal and vibration sensors, as well as micro sensing components and blood pressure monitoring units.

Mobile App includes pressure ratings

Brennan Industries has expanded its mobile application that provides easy access to the Brennan product catalog and product cross-reference tool, to include pressure ratings for more than 6,000 parts in more than 330 popular series.

The mobile app, optimized for iPhone and Android devices, now includes pressure ratings in PSI or bar units for many Brennan products, as well as the ability for users to search for ratings by series or part number. The mobile app, originally introduced in 2012, gives users quick access to more than 30,000 Brennan products, product comparison information and the company’s contact information.

“Pressure ratings are important for our customers’ applications, so putting that information at their fingertips is one way that Brennan can make their jobs a little easier,” said Bill Jarrell, vice president of marketing and operations at Brennan Industries. “Especially when they are using their smartphones out in the field.”

The pressure rating product search is also available on mobile and desktop browsers. They also provide a demo video showing how the App works.

The app features an easy-to-navigate product catalog that is broken down by categories and includes specifications for each product. The app also offers a product cross-reference tool that allows users to compare Brennan products side-by-side with competitors’ products to determine the best value. Users who want more information about Brennan or how to contact the company can find their nearest location, contact phone number and email address and a Brennan overview video conveniently through the app.

More than business intelligence

Putting the right Information in the right hands at the right time

GE Intelligent Platforms has announced new software solutions that address the challenge of making sense of the myriad of data available in business today. These powerful solutions accessed by simple apps deliver Real-Time Operational Intelligence (RtOI) to exploit existing data sets and transform them into actionable knowledge with easy-to-use mobile interfaces coupled with powerful and scalable server-based components.

The first component to help companies achieve true RtOI is Proficy® Mobile. This product, designed specifically for industry, will spark customers to drive efficiency with real-time access to operational information, using the latest generation of mobile iOS and Android devices. It features an easy-to-use standard interface with GE’s patented GEO-intelligence technology that provides situational awareness typically found only in consumer apps like Facebook®, coupled with a powerful back-end server that transforms existing raw data into intelligent, actionable information. And, it provides companies with the option of allowing employees to use their own devices quickly, easily and securely

“Industrial operations need to break free of operating business from within a central control room,” said Mark Bernardo, General Manager, Automation Software for GE Intelligent Platforms. “Business and operational personnel can now leverage smart mobile devices that have actionable information in context to physical equipment. By harnessing RtOI, productivity is increased by arming each employee with the right information at the right time in the right place, to make the right decision, faster.”

Proficy Mobile accesses structured information through equipment models that can be configured specifically to a company’s operations, allowing users to find the information they need quickly and easily. Once data is mapped into the model, users can add intelligence through easy-to-use tools that can outline relationships and connections to multiple disperse systems transforming it to information. And, with GE’s patented GEO-intelligence technology, the system automatically navigates and provides information based on user location, role, and asset condition and context.


With a standard downloadable GE app, “point-and-click” server configuration and an extensible analytics engine – systems can be deployed on top of existing systems such as SCADA, HMI, MES, BMS, ERP and Historians. This capability is essential for industry as new visualization, mobility, analytics and collaboration tools enable action in real time, in the required locations and with the contextual information operators, engineers, managers and executives need to make quicker decisions.

The structured navigation features of Proficy Mobile provide the ability to map data from existing GE or third-party applications, allowing companies to add the necessary context to existing data no matter the source. The built-in intelligence foundation allows companies to define applicable key process indicators (KPIs) and equipment relationships forming standard plant/site-wide and asset-level detailed displays accessible from within the app.

Assets and processes are tracked using KPIs to notify users of alert conditions, as well as trends that may be occurring in the plant. This lays the groundwork for future integration to advanced alarming and predictive analytics, both of which are upcoming components GE is planning for 2013 release. In addition, Proficy Mobile provides aggregated asset health displays intelligently to alert the user to a current condition drawing attention to the most critical information. Health indices alert to pending conditions and alarms with state and severity as an indicator of a process or equipment in trouble.

Proficy Mobile uses technology innovations typically not seen in industry including HTML5, native app code, SSL and RESTful architectures that provide options such as deploying within a traditional non-connected industrial environment or harness private/public cloud Internet-based solutions.

“True industrial mobilization should really focus on pushing information to users in context to where they physically are,” concluded Bernardo. “Mobilizing existing user interfaces and their associated systems designed for 24x7 monitoring in central control rooms have great value. However, the ‘gold mine’ is achieved by adding intelligence on top of existing data elements from multiple systems, to not only transform into real information, but also to control what is accessible by location and role. This provides the true transformation from data everywhere to actionable knowledge anywhere, anytime.”

Engineers decide best software - three times

InduSoft, has won three awards in the 26th annual Control Engineering Engineers’ Choice Awards. This competition recognizes the best control, instrumentation and automation products introduced in 2012.

Each year the readers of Control Engineering magazine vote for the best products from more than 100 product nominations from 60 companies. This year InduSoft solutions were selected as the best product in three categories:

· Software – Applications, Monitoring
· Software – HMI Software
· Software – Mobile Apps for Controls, Automation, Instrumentation

“InduSoft is honored to have won an Engineers’ Choice award in three categories. We’re grateful to InduSoft users and others who voted for the InduSoft solutions. These awards are the result of the feedback from distributors, certified system integrators, OEMs and end users worldwide that we use to continuously improve InduSoft Web Studio SCADA software,” says Marcia Gadbois, vice president of business development, InduSoft.

In the Software–Applications, Monitoring category, InduSoft’s Business Intelligence Dashboard Template, an application for InduSoft Web Studio v7.1, was awarded the top prize for its intuitive and customizable configurations. The application enables users to effortlessly access information, which is displayed in user-friendly dashboards, from Microsoft Access or SQL Server.

InduSoft Web Studio v7.1 was chosen for the HMI Software award. A comprehensive HMI/SCADA software solution, InduSoft Web Studio v7.1 provides a variety of tools to simplify the creation SCADA and HMI applications. It also offers several new features, such as the InduSoft Collaborative Solution and the ALM (Application Lifecycle Management) option that lets users compare any configuration file merge changes from multiple developers. It also offers support for version and source control, as well as interaction through Microsoft's Team Foundation Server*.

The third Engineers’ Choice award for Mobile Apps for Controls, Automation, Instrumentation went to InduSoft’s Studio Mobile Access solution that enables operators, maintenance staff and managers to view and interact with process variables, trends and alarms from any HTML5 device such as iPad, iPhone or Android tablet/phones.

While honored to have received awards in three categories for the 2013 Engineer Choice Awards, InduSoft remains committed to continually developing and improving solutions—and offering the best, most comprehensive, independent SCADA software package.

Mobile plant management

An ever increasing number of users are enjoying the benefits of engineering software for mobile plant management. Modern web and sharepoint technologies offer users increasing flexibility in terms of global collaboration, help to improve the quality of information, enhance efficiency and save time.

Siemens has now extended its plant management software Comos by the inclusion of a solution for mobile data and document utilization in the form of an iPad app entitled Comos Mobile Document Review.

Users can now edit, review and release plant documentation and manage revision statuses anywhere, anytime with the aid of editing and redlining features – whether on business trips, in meetings or during tours of inspection. Documents from the Comos database are transmitted via a web server in pdf format to the Comos user’s iPad where they are edited offline. Available redlining functions include freehand drawing, insertion of comments and integration of photos taken on site. Once redlining has been completed, a pdf is created and the file returned to the Comos database for further processing.

The Comos App is intuitive to use and can be operated without any prior knowledge of Comos engineering software. All newly loaded documents are immediately visible and their management is simplified by the use of favorites functions.

The App is available in Chinese, German, English and French, and can be downloaded free of charge from the Apple App Store. It works best on the 2nd or 3rd generation iPad.

Mobile app for fittings

Brennan Industries has introduced a mobile application that provides easy access to the Brennan product catalog and product cross-reference tool.

The mobile app, optimized for iPhone and Android devices, gives users quick access to more than 30,000 Brennan products, product comparison information and the company’s contact information.

Available here on their website, the app features an easy-to-navigate product catalog that is broken down by categories and includes specifications for each product. Also available through the app is the product cross-reference tool that allows users to compare Brennan products side-by-side with competitors’ products to determine the best value.

“When we were developing the Brennan mobile app, we wanted to give our customers a convenient tool to access the information that they need from their smartphone while they’re out in the field,” said Bill Jarrell, vice president of marketing and operations at Brennan Industries.

Mobile app users who want more information about Brennan or how to contact the company can find their nearest location, contact phone number and email address and a Brennan overview video conveniently through the app.

Control on your iPad!

Mobile extensions are now available for GE Intelligent Platforms' visualization applications, Proficy® HMI/SCADA iFIX and CIMPLICITY, on the Apple iPad®. Mobility is one of the growing trends in the Automation industry and the iPad ProficySCADA “app” extends the control room providing users with information anywhere, increasing visibility and efficiency of operations.

The iPad app enables users of either
iFIX WebSpace or CIMPLICITY GlobalView
to instantly connect to their
HMI/SCADA runtime projects

The iPad app enables users of either iFIX WebSpace or CIMPLICITY GlobalView to instantly connect to their HMI/SCADA runtime projects. It supports the same full featured capabilities of a standard client by delivering full HMI/SCADA functionality including third-party application support with no screen conversions required. This enables every customer to quickly harness the power of the iPad with minimal engineering effort across their operations.

“HMI/SCADA represents the foundation of the industrial software ecosystem and GE Intelligent Platforms has more than 25 years of experience in HMI/SCADA,” said Mark Bernardo, Product General Manager for GE Intelligent Platforms’ Automation Software. “We use advanced server based technologies that provide full operation over the web, and now on the iPad, with no screen conversions required.”

The ProficySCADA app enables both power and casual users by incorporating the ability to limit functions via standard runtime project security features as required by a user and/or a group. It also incorporates popular iPad specific user interface functionality such as intuitive multi-touch gestures to achieve mouse and keyboard operation. It automatically zooms in to the currently active window to make it easier to tap windows user interface elements.

The new app also takes advantage of the open, flexible and scalable nature of the Proficy HMI/SCADA solutions, iFIX and CIMPLICITY. These products can operate on a single node or scale up to 200+ nodes. Although they have the ability to connect to almost any device via OPC, they also come with many standard built-in native drivers addressing the need for connecting major PLC brands. As such, they are completely hardware independent and provide the flexibility of communicating with multiple makes of control solutions from a single server.

iFIX and CIMPLICITY also excel at real-time data management, control and provide seamless integration with other solutions in the Proficy family including Proficy Historian. They facilitate adherence to industry standards for improved consistency, quality and compliance. Proficy HMI/SCADA products constitute the foundational platform that enables tools for advanced analysis, Work Process Management, and operational excellence.

“Many customers want the full HMI/SCADA functionality on devices like the iPad,” continued Bernardo. “ProficySCADA, GE Intelligent Platforms’ first iOS app, enables plant operators and engineers to react faster to problems with real live information and to investigate proactively in a very easy way. As more and more industrial companies realize the power of tablets and smartphones, they will want these types of software clients to expand their systems backed by powerful platforms like Proficy to enable their workforce.”

Testing WLAN

National Instruments has announced early access support for testing next-generation 802.11ac WLAN chipsets and devices. This announcement exemplifies how NI’s modular, software-defined wireless test platform continually expands to address the latest cellular and wireless connectivity standards including 802.11ac. 

NI’s 802.11ac WLAN test solution provides flexibility in testing 802.11ac devices in addition to testing 802.11a/b/g/n devices. It works with a wide range of signal bandwidths including 20, 40, 80 and 80+80 160 MHz for both Tx and Rx for up to 4x4 MIMO configurations. 

“By supporting the latest WLAN standard, 802.11ac, we are demonstrating the power of NI’s software-defined, modular test systems,” said Dr. James Truchard, President, CEO and Cofounder of National Instruments. “Our modular test platform delivers faster test times and lower total cost of ownership, and by combining it with LabVIEW, we help engineers address the latest emerging wireless standards. 

802.11ac Solution Features 

• Modulation formats up to 256 QAM 

• 4x4 MIMO for both Tx and Rx 

• Signal bandwidths including 20, 40, 80 and advanced 80+80 160 MHz 

• Optional MAC features such as LDPC, STBC and AMPDU 

• Automated test system development using NI LabVIEW, C or Microsoft Visual Studio 

NI is working with several early access partners, including silicon suppliers, OEMs and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers, to test the latest 802.11ac devices. 

NI will be exhibiting the new 802.11ac test solution at Mobile World Congress (hall 2.0, booth 2B93) in Barcelona, Spain, from Feb. 27 through March 3.