GE Intelligent Platforms has launched PACSystems® with integrated real-time PROFINET

GE Intelligent Platforms has launched PACSystems® with integrated real-time PROFINET, a global open protocol over standard Ethernet. This new product combines open standards into a solution that creates significant value in reliability, connectivity and performance. PACSystems with PROFINET provides flexible deployment that minimizes hardware and configuration issues, improves application uptime with minimal cost and satisfies user demand for high performance, distributed systems.

PACSystems with PROFINET is made for businesses moving from centralized control systems to Ethernet based distributed structures.  A high speed network with the ability to drop large amounts of I/O without compromising performance, PACSystems with PROFINET can operate in high-noise areas and cover large distances in real time with an elegant redundancy capability to maximize uptime.

“Companies today value solutions that control critical infrastructure and manufacturing operations at the highest levels of performance,” said Bernie Anger, Vice President, Control & Communication Systems for GE Intelligent Platforms. “The new PACSystems with PROFINET helps our customers increase production uptime, increase asset performance and improve their reliability.”

“The automation industry has been working for a long time to provide real-time control over standard Ethernet for performance and infrastructure simplification,” said Connie Chick, Global Product General Manager for GE Intelligent Platforms’ Controls. “To obtain vast adoption of Ethernet as a control network, we need to make the connected devices act and look like local IO — taking out the network complexity for setup, making it incredibly easy to use everywhere without compromising performance.  PACSystems is all about taking open standards and making them better for targeted applications.”

“I am particularly excited by this news from GE,” said Michael Bryant, PI North America Chairman. “GE has been working to integrate PROFINET across its products, systems and solutions because it’s an open protocol developed by global players. This means a global presence backed up by local knowledge.  Additionally, PROFINET provides higher performance and better access to real time plant floor data taking the worry out of volume, latency and throughput.”

Utilizing PROFINET combined with PACSystems, GE is providing all of the benefits of an Ethernet system without the complexity. Name-based configuration enables solutions in just minutes.  Built-in switches with a choice of copper or fiber cable types for direct connection means that no extra hardware is needed for connectivity, allowing long distances between I/O nodesand increased reliability.The adoption of MRP (media redundancy protocol) in a ring topology allows customers to take nodes offline for maintenance without ever shutting the application. In the event of a wire cut, the system redirects traffic in as low as one millisecond without disrupting I/O.  PACSystems is known for its outstanding high availability offering and the PROFINET extensions add significantly to that capability. 

“Multi-disciplined automation platforms require real-time, open standards-based connectivity not only to devices on the plant floor, but also to production management systems that share data and information throughout the enterprise,” according to Craig Resnick, Research Director, ARC Advisory Group.  “PACSystems with integrated PROFINET appears to fulfil this market requirement by providing a plug-n-play solution to deploy real-time industrial Ethernet-based communications at all levels of the manufacturing enterprise, utilizing TCP/IP along with open IT standards.”

“PACSystems with PROFINET sets a new standard for integration of open systems, providing the user clear benefits now and easier migration to new technology in the future,” concluded Chick.“Our goal is to make customers more productive instantly by simplifying and eliminating unnecessary work.”

For more information: www.ge-ip.com/profinet

Honeywell To Acquire EMS Technologies, Inc. For Aerospace and Mobile Computing Business

– Adds to Scanning and Mobility Offering and Expands into Global Tracking Space

Honeywell has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire EMS Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of connectivity solutions for mobile networking, rugged mobile computers, and satellite communications, for $33 per share in cash, or an aggregate purchase price of approximately $491 million, net of cash acquired. The purchase price translates to approximately 13 times EMS’s 2010 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), or approximately 9 times 2010 EBITDA excluding certain corporate costs.  The agreement provides for a subsidiary of Honeywell to commence a tender offer within 10 business days to purchase all outstanding shares of EMS.

 

The acquisition will enhance Honeywell’s existing capabilities in rugged mobile computing technologies and satellite communications within its Automation and Control Solutions (ACS) and Aerospace businesses. EMS’s $181 million Global Resource Management (GRM) division provides highly ruggedized mobile computing products and services for use in transportation, logistics, and workforce management settings as well as secure satellite-based asset tracking and messaging technology for search and rescue, warehousing, and field force automation environments. Through its $174 million Aviation division, EMS provides terminals, antennas, in-cabin network devices, rugged data storage, and surveillance applications predominantly for use on aircraft and in other data gathering objectives.

 

“EMS is a terrific addition to Honeywell, adding leading positions in attractive markets that are closely aligned with favorable trends in the growing Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) space and commercial aerospace, as well as being highly complementary to our existing Scanning and Mobility business,” said Honeywell Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dave Cote. “Honeywell is uniquely positioned to acquire EMS due to the strategic fit across EMS’s Global Resource Management and Aviation divisions.  The acquisition brings engineering expertise, differentiated technologies, global reach, and profitable adjacent segments that build upon our great positions in good industries and enhance our growth profile.”

– Aerospace Satcom Capabilities Broaden Airborne Connectivity Solution 

EMS’s GRM division offers a broad range of solutions for supply chain logistics, mobile workforce management, and remote asset monitoring applications, supported by hundreds of partners worldwide. EMS’s proven mobile resource management solutions include LXE-branded rugged handheld and vehicle-mounted computers featuring multiple radio technologies and satellite-based global tracking and monitoring solutions for cargo, fleet assets, and personnel.

 

“This is another terrific transaction for our Scanning and Mobility business,” said Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions President and Chief Executive Officer Roger Fradin. “EMS strengthens our core mobile computing business and expands our addressable market with complementary new products, channel partners, and entry into the warehousing and port segments that we believe will be growth drivers for the business. This also represents an opportunity to demonstrate our proven acquisition integration process.”

 

EMS Aviation designs and manufactures satellite-based broadband communication systems that enable worldwide high-speed Internet and voice and video capabilities.  The Aviation division serves a broad base of commercial and defense customers, delivering leading-edge antenna systems and beam-management capabilities for mobile network-centric operations, radar for battlefield visibility, and commercial aerospace connectivity.

 

“Combining EMS products into our Aerospace business means that Honeywell can now deliver the next big leap in satcom technology, a key growth area for aerospace,” said Honeywell Aerospace President and Chief Executive Officer Tim Mahoney.  “Our customers will greatly benefit from these new products and solutions, enabling them to leverage the strong global growth of high-speed wireless and satellite data services.”

 

Honeywell has been informed that all directors and officers of EMS intend to tender all of their respective shares in the Offer.  The Offer will be subject to the tender of a majority of EMS’s shares and customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.  The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2011. Although the transaction would be dilutive in 2011 by three to four cents, it is not expected to impact the company’s previously announced 2011 earnings per share guidance range, and Honeywell anticipates it to be accretive in 2012. 

 

The tender offer described in this news release has not been commenced.  This announcement and the description contained herein is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of EMS.  At the time the tender offer is commenced, Honeywell and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Egret Acquisition Corp., intend to file a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO containing an offer to purchase, forms of letters of transmittal, and other documents relating to the tender offer and EMS intends to file a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with respect to the tender offer.  Honeywell, Egret Acquisition Corp., and EMS intend to mail these documents to the stockholders of EMS.  These documents will contain important information about the tender offer and stockholders of EMS are urged to read them carefully when they become available.  Stockholders of EMS will be able to obtain a free copy of these documents (when they become available) and other documents filed by EMS, Honeywell, or Egret Acquisition Corp. with the SEC at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.  In addition, stockholders will be able to obtain a free copy of these documents (when they become available) from the information agent named in the offer to purchase or from Honeywell.

 

B&R POWERLINK Day a great success

B&R POWERLINK Day 2011 was a great success.

More than 60 participants from various industry sectors, among them automation device manufacturers and process automation professionals, accepted B&R’s invitation to the Salzburg Radisson Blu hotel on May 24th.

B&R POWERLINK Day a great success

The convention chiefly addressed manufacturers of electronic automation components such as sensors, actuators, motors, drives, and bus couplers for I/O modules, as well as complete control systems suppliers. In a series of talks, managers and engineers from B&R, IXXAT, port, and Hilscher discussed technical questions and implementation strategies for POWERLINK and the bus-independent safety protocol openSAFETY.

In the opening presentation, Stefan Schönegger, Open Automation Business Unit Manager at B&R, introduced the new POWERLINK Slave Development Kit. Hans-Jürgen Hilscher, owner and manager of the systems automation company Hilscher, spoke about multi-protocol solutions based on high-end netX processors.

Marcus Tangermann, CEO of port, gave a presentation about consistent parameterization of field devices, highlighting the benefits and drawbacks of FDT/DTM over XML-based device description files. Wolfgang Seiss from the Open Automation Technologies department at B&R then presented the company’s POWERLINK Master solution.

Concluding the session, IXXAT CEO Christian Schlegel spoke about the implementation of openSAFETY solutions in specific projects.

“We welcome the positive feedback and the large number of participants who took part in B&R POWERLINK Day”, says Schönegger. “Once more, this overwhelming response underscores our leading position in the market for real-time Industrial Ethernet systems.” The Ethernet Powerlink Standardization Group (EPSG) is an independent organization founded in 2003 by leading companies from the drive and automation industry. Its aims are the standardization and further development of POWERLINK, which was first introduced by B&R in 2001.

The high-performance real-time communication system is a protocol extension of the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard, designed to ensure real-time data transfer on the microsecond level. EPSG cooperates with leading standardization organizations, such as CAN in Automation (CiA) and the IEC. Anton Meindl, Business Manager Controls at B&R, is the EPSG’s CEO.

TI take National Semiconductor

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) and National Semiconductor (NYSE: NSM) has announced they have signed a definitive agreement under which TI will acquire National for $25 per share in an all-cash transaction of about $6.5 billion.  The acquisition combines two industry leaders in analog semiconductors, each with unique strengths in delivering products to improve performance and efficiency and convert real-world signals in electronic systems.  The boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction.

TI to acquire National Semiconductor

“This acquisition is about strength and growth,” said Rich Templeton, TI’s chairman, president and chief executive officer.  ”National has an excellent development team, and its products combined with our own can offer customers an analog portfolio of unmatched depth and breadth.  In recent years, National’s management team has done an outstanding job of improving margins and streamlining expenses, which upon close will increase TI’s profitability and earnings per share, excluding transaction costs.  Our ability to accelerate National’s growth with our much larger sales force is the foundation of our belief that we can produce strong returns on our investment.  The combined sales team will be 10 times larger than National’s is today, and the portfolio will be exposed to more customers in more markets.”  

“Our two companies complement each other very well,” said Don Macleod, National’s chief executive officer.  ”TI has much greater scale in the marketplace, with its larger portfolio of products and its large global sales force.  This provides a platform to enhance National’s strong and highly profitable analog capability, power management in particular, leading to meaningful growth.”

Each company has unique strengths.  Among them are the breadth of TI’s 30,000 analog products, extensive customer reach, and industry-leading manufacturing including the world’s first 300-millimeter analog factory.  National brings a portfolio of 12,000 analog products, a strong position with customers in the industrial power market, and excellent customer design tools.  Upon close of the transaction, National becomes part of TI’s analog segment, and sales of analog semiconductors will represent almost 50 percent of TI’s revenue.

The combined company also will benefit from National’s manufacturing operations, located in Maine, Scotland and Malaysia, which TI will continue to operate.  Each site has additional capacity to increase production.  National’s headquarters will remain in Santa Clara, California.

Under terms of the agreement, National stockholders will receive $25 in cash for each share of National common stock they hold at the time of closing.  TI expects to fund the transaction with a combination of existing cash balances and debt.  The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including review by U.S. and international regulators and approval by National’s shareholders.  The transaction is expected to close in six to nine months.

The market for analog semiconductors was $42 billion in 2010.  TI is the market leader with 2010 analog revenue of $6.0 billion, or 14 percent of the market.  National’s revenue in calendar year 2010 was about $1.6 billion, or 3 percent of the market.

The AS-i Safety OEM Slaves with 2 Standard Outputs

Connect your standard safety switches simply to AS-i Safety

With the amazingly simple >>AS-Interface Safety at Work<< concept you can send safety data over the same cable as standard data. Would you like to profit from this system but still continue to use your own standard safety switches (e.g. E-STOP switches, key switches, enabling buttons)? The Safety OEM Slaves from Bihl+Wiedemann enable you to make your standard safety switches AS-i capable and integrate them easily into AS-i Safety at Work.

Fig. 1: AS-i Safety OEM Slave with 2 standard outputs and contact pins (BW2521)

 

The AS-i Safety OEM Slaves in detail:

• Dimensions (L / W / H in mm): 43 / 30 / 10
• Connection of 2 safe switching contacts
• Support applications up to Category 4 / SIL 3
• 2 standard outputs with LEDs
• Modules fully powered out of AS-i
• Length per connecting wire: 90 mm
• Especially simple to install in your safety switch having a standard contact set using the contact pins of the Safety OEM Slave (BW2521)
• Also available without contact pins (BW2426)

 You can find all information on our products on our homepage.

Fig. 2: AS-i Safety OEM Slave mit with 2 standard outputs (BW2426)