Smart device communicator software.

ProComSol has announced the release of its new Windows based Smart Device Communicator Software for Foundation Fieldbus (FF). The software uses the Device Descriptor (DD) for the connected FF device so the user has full access to every Parameter and Method. According to Jeffrey Dobos, President of ProComSol, Ltd, “DevComFF offers an alternative to the traditional high cost FF Communicators. With the Windows Explorer interface, and larger screen of most Windows devices, the user has unprecedented access to the FF instrument data - easy to find and easy to read.”

The Windows program (DevComFF.Win), in combination with the Softing mobiLink multi-protocol communicator (our PN: MOBI-FF), is a full functioned FF Communicator. The entire DD Library for FF devices from the FieldComm Group is included. New DD’s can be added very easily by the user. A FF communicator that uses DD’s can perform full configurations of Valves, Multi-Variable devices, and complex devices such as Radar Level and Coriolis Flow meters.

DevComFF.Win allows the user to view and edit device parameters and even save all the device parameters as a PDF file. The PDF file can then be shared with anyone in the world via the mobile network connections in a Windows device. Saving and sharing FF device configuration documentation is is now faster and more convenient. 

ProComSol may be contacted for a free 10 day trial.

@ProComSol @FieldbusEvents #PAuto #Fieldbus

Upgrade without hesitation!

The current version of Copa-Data's automation software, zenon 7.20, has successfully passed Microsoft’s Windows 10 compatibility test. The software runs reliably on the new operating system and supports all quality and security requirements.

When tested for compatibility, zenon achieved positive results leading to Microsoft confirming that the software runs smoothly on Windows 10. zenon customers can now bring their operating system up-to-date at any time, with all zenon projects running efficiently from first use.

Reinhard Mayr, Copa-Data Product Manager, explains: “Our software is geared to Microsoft technologies. Naturally, we’re very interested in the further development of Windows. For Windows 10, particular attention was placed on security and the user experience, as these two subjects are very significant for us in software development. We are pleased that we can now offer our customers full compatibility of zenon with Windows 10.”

Along with a range of other editions, Microsoft has presented Windows 10 Internet of Things (IoT) Core within its newest release. This new Windows edition was especially developed for small, embedded devices that operate with or without a display.

Stefan Hufnagl, Product Manager Integrated Solution at Copa-Data, explains: “Windows IoT Core offers developers and system architects creative freedom. The platform supports numerous programming languages and open source options. At Copa-Data, we are also focusing on this platform and current tests have shown that our IEC 61131-3-based PLC programming environment, zenon Logic, runs seamlessly on Windows IoT. Embedding of industrial PLC components in Windows IoT Core devices opens an approach to extremely interesting architectures and topological orders. Due to inexpensive platforms, both flexible and robust networks can be used. This way, technologies optimally complement each other to form a building block for creating intelligent information networks.”

Windows 7 complient

Wonderware Ireland has released new System Platform 4.0 components that are fully Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 compliant. The Application Server 3.1 SP3, Historian Server 10.0 SP1 and InTouch 10.1 SP3 components of Wonderware System Platform each now support Windows 7 32 and 64 bit (Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate), Windows Server 2008 R2 64 bit (Standard and Enterprise) and Hyper–V.

This important release will enable all users to utilise new generation hardware provided with the latest Microsoft OS to enhance the performance of their manufacturing information systems. The latest Microsoft platforms have rapidly been adopted by hardware vendors and users, with twice the usage being gained within the first five months than that experienced with Vista in the same period. Their functionality and stability now makes it appropriate to move away from XP and Windows 2000, for which Microsoft is phasing out support.

At the same time core CPU technology has significantly shifted to 64 bit, its ability to utilise far more memory being advantageous in real-time computing applications such as Wonderware and support for this is also included in this release.  Additionally virtualisation technology is increasingly utilised in industrial architectures, Hyper-V support is included in the new platforms and is capable of being used for Wonderware applications.

Sue Roche, Wonderware General Manager, “This is a really important release which will affect all stakeholders in the Wonderware ecosystem. Our industry places high demands on computer hardware and software. Now that Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 are generally available our customers will be able to do more and obtain additional benefits from the extensive Wonderware range of products that now fully utilise these important Microsoft releases. Our support group in Cheadle is fully prepared for this release and can be contacted by our customers for detailed upgrade procedures”.

Manufacturing intelligence software

ICONICS has announced the release of GENESIS64™ v10.5.

Designed from the ground up utilizing OPC Unified Architecture (OPC-UA) and 64-bit multi-core hardware platforms, the GENESIS64 suite includes several modular solutions that simplify connectivity from the plant floor to corporate business systems. Compatible with Microsoft Windows® 7 and certified for Windows Server 2008 R2, it allows plant operators and IT professionals to integrate real-time manufacturing and business information into a common, Web-enabled visualization dashboard. The GENESIS64 suite is comprised of GraphWorX64™, TrendWorX™64, AlarmWorX™64, EarthWorX™ and the Workbench Web-based development, deployment and operations products.

“GENESIS64 is helping customers to better visualize their business applications and truly lights up the rich visual features that are available with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2,” said Russ Agrusa, President and CEO of ICONICS.

GENESIS64 has attained Microsoft’s Compatible for Windows 7 status and was designed from the ground up for 64-bit computing. GENESIS64 takes advantage of 3D hardware acceleration, Windows Presentation Foundation, Multi-touch and more resulting in an increase in productivity for users.

GENESIS64 offers the following new features:

• Silverlight 3.0 support to view data in IE, FireFox, Safari, Opera, and more
  
• High-availability redundancy
  
• Support for Multi-touch Connectivity
  
• Cover Flow and Carousel Navigation Technology and Customizable Ribbons
  
• New AlarmWorX64 Multimedia for sending multimedia alarm notifications
  
• New Workbench “Project Pack and Go” for easy project backups and deployment
  
• One click support for adding multiple trending data points to TrendWorX64
  
• Seamless integration with Microsoft Bing Maps via ICONICS EarthWorX™
  
• New GENESIS64 OPC-UA Redundancy - Supporting DA and Historical Data
  
• Support for importing COLLADA objects with Kinematics into GraphWorX64 3-D
  
• New Pre-configure Connection to Remote OPC-UA Servers

“Market trends indicate rapid growth in the convergence of 64-bit-based computing machinery, migration to the most recent Microsoft operating systems and technologies, and requirements for 3D visualization of both manufacturing and business processes”, according to Craig Resnick, Research Director, ARC Advisory Group. “Windows 7, running on computers with new 64-bit processors, and leveraging features such as Multi-touch and Silverlight, will further enhance the real-time visualization and control solutions such as ICONICS GENESIS64 used to provide 360-degree views of the plant floor. That is why it was critical to ICONICS’ strategy to be an early recipient of Windows 7 certification to fully leverage GENESIS64 as a .NET 64-bit product.”