BEST OF THE BLOG

Learning Opportunity

The lineup is all set for our Fourth annual Packaging Automation Forum brought to you by Packaging World magazine and Automation World magazine.

If your operations involve packaging, this is the place to be. The event takes place in suburban Chicago by O'Hare airport on March 31. This year we've expanded networking times (I keep telling people that while the presentations are important, time for people to network and ask informal questions is at least equally valuable)... Read more

Remote Services Business

I wrote about an acquisition in the remote services sector last month where Axeda purchased the assets and technology of Questra. The release included a statement about the two leading companies in the space--something that always starts editors checking. Yesterday, I talked with Product Management Director Dan Murphy of Axeda. He says that Axeda feels it has leading market share and that Questra was often the number two company involved in bid situations. He didn't really say what happened to Questra that caused it to sell assets and technologies, but he did talk about the two different approaches that will now be brought together... Read more

Emerson Strengthens Middle East Presence

Emerson Electric Co. has announced a new headquarters for the Middle East in an interesting arrangement where several of its companies will operate from the same facility--including Emerson Process Management.

Emerson celebrated on Jan. 12 the official opening of its new regional headquarters in Dubai to better serve its growing portfolio of business in the Middle East and to reinforce the company's long-term commitment to the region... Read more

New Manufacturing Performance Software

Wonderware, a business unit of Invensys, announced Jan. 12 the release of Performance Software 3.5, the newest evolution of its equipment downtime and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) software, and an integrated module of the Wonderware manufacturing execution system (MES) and supervisory software solution... Read more

ABB's SIS

One of the most interesting “religious” battles in process control involves whether or to what degree control and safety systems should be integrated. Each company has a somewhat different take on the subject--sometimes based on history, and sometime unique engineering opportunities. ABB takes the integrated approach, and it has just upgraded its 800xA Safety Integrated System. Here's the details... Read more

ANNOUNCEMENT

Back By Popular Demand!

Plan to attend the Make2Pack and Connect-and-Pack™ Workshop on March 30th at the Intercontinental Chicago O'Hare. In-depth, practical information for both packaging end-users and OEMs; held one day prior to Packaging Automation Forum 2009. More info.