Vendor News: Who's acquiring who and what new offerings are there for process automation professionals?
March 9, 2016
- HMS Industrial Networks AB has agreed to acquire Belgium-based eWon SA, which manufactures intelligent, Internet-based remote access routers. Its communication products and services focus on remote access to PLCs, data acquisition devices and cloud-based connectivity solutions.
- The International Society of Automation has opened registration for its 2016 Analysis Division Symposium, which will explore advances in analytical processes, techniques and applications on April 24-28 in Galveston, Tex. Besides its three-day technical program, which incorporates expert insights and more than 30 peer-reviewed technical papers, the event will features: training on process analytic fundamentals as well as on advanced subjects; nine vendor-led training sessions; an exhibition by 60 vendors; and the ISA Analysis Division banquet and other social activities. Go here for more information or email [email protected], or call 919-549-8411.
- ABB reports that Vancouver, Canada-based Goldcorp has contracted with it for a three-year, long-term service agreement (LTSA) for its ring-geared mill drive (RMD) in the Cerro Negro mine in the Santa Cruz province of Argentina. This represents the first LTSA won by ABB on an RMD system, and close cooperation between ABB and Goldcorp's teams will help identify risks, make qualified decisions and comprehensively structure and manage available current and historical data to support Goldcorp's plant maintenance strategy.
- Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS) and Palo Alto Networks reported Feb. 23 that Honeywell's Industrial Cyber Security division is offering Palo Alto's security platform with process network traffic monitoring and advanced threat prevention. Their joint solution combines Palo Alto's advanced and natively integrated security platform with Honeywell's process control expertise.
- Acromag Inc. has formed a contract manufacturing division at its headquarters in Wixom, Mich. The company reports its new Electronic Contract Manufacturing division is a natural expansion of its existing design and manufacturing Process Automation and Embedded Solutions divisions, and will offer PCB assembly to the commercial, industrial, aerospace, defense, telematics and automotive industries. These divisions offer SMT and through-hole components, RoHS and non-RoHS compliant manufacturing, component packages down to 0402, automated optical inspection (AOI), conformal coat, potting, test services and box builds/turn-key assemblies.
- Fluid automation solution provider ASCO has introduced a new website at www.asco.com that brings together the company's ASCO and Numatics product lines in one, easy-to-use, online environment. The site features an enhanced visitor experience with robust search capability. The new site features: an intuitive user interface with menus for quicker navigation; dynamic product selector with enhanced search capability; product information, technical specifications, 3D CAD/CAM drawings, literature, configuration, and ordering on one page; expanded industry section with rich content on application-specific literature and animations, technical support, and customer success stories; online customer service and chat functions; and product review functions.
- Watlow recently introduced its new sensors and controllers catalog, which downloadable and can be ordered in print at its website. This updated resource features its new F4T with Intuition, a temperature process controller with a 4.3-inch color, graphical touch panel. The catalog also features other new products, such as Series LS safety limit and the EZ-Zone RMZ/RMF for fluorescence-based temperature measurement and control. It also showcases Composer with Intuition, Watlow's software for configuring and customizing controllers such as F4T and EZ-Zone RM.
- Banner Engineering has opened a new production plant at the Millennium Industrial Park in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The new facility features 30,000 square feet of production space and 10,000 square feet of office space. It is designed to accommodate future growth with the ability to expand to 60,000 square feet, and is projected to generate approximately 150-200 new jobs when fully built out.
- Heidenhain Corp. has a new online home with the launch of a redesigned and user-friendly web portal at www.heidenhain.us. It will be useful to machine builders and end users in North America, who need accurate, reliable precision measurement and motion control solutions. Industries and applications categorized specifically on the new web portal include machine tool, semiconductor, automation, metrology, electronics and medical.
- Siemens PLM Software and Autodesk Inc. have formed an interoperability agreement aimed at helping manufacturers decrease the costs associated with incompatibility among product development software applications, and avoid potential data integrity problems. The agreement will bring together two computer-aided design (CAD) software firms to streamline data sharing and reduce costs.
