BEST OF THE BLOG

GE and Fanuc to split

Interesting news, but I don't think it'll change much in the automation landscape. I'm not sure to what degree GE and Fanuc have integrated technologies over the last several years. Fanuc will concentrate on its core strength in CNC products and GE Intelligent Platforms will continue to run its industrial automation, process control, software and embedded computing products. The companies expect the transaction to be completed by the end of this year. The partnership was established in 1986.

Fanuc Honorary Chairman Dr. Seiuemon Inaba said, "Our joint venture has achieved great success toward its original mission, which was to cooperate on the global growth and technical development of the PLC and CNC business. Over this time period, markets and opportunities also have changed dramatically, and both companies further expanded into adjacent segments. Today's market conditions are such that it's imperative we pursue these expanded opportunities, and while we have achieved great things together, it's in both our best interests that we focus our efforts on industry opportunities unique to our respective companies and that will deliver greater benefits to both our companies..." Read more

NI Week 2009

The annual National Instruments "geek bash" called NI Week was held August 4 through 6 in Austin, Texas. President and co-founder James Truchard (Dr. T) greeted a record crowd in the opening keynote with a remark about how the "financial engineers" who helped create the mess we're in should go back and do "real engineering" to help get us out. "Math the way it's been taught in business schools has serious flaws." Warren Buffet, he said, called it a "false perception" of reality. In a later meeting with editors, he said that business schools are trying to apply the laws of physics to an area with a lot more variation.

Truchard used this a jumping off place to promote the added "real-time" math capabilities in the latest revision of the company's flagship programming platform--LabView 2009. The new release also moves LabView more heavily into systems design... Read more

PTO annual meeting

The 15th annual meeting of the Profibus Trade Organization (PTO), the North American marketing arm of Profibus International, was held August 6. Given company travel cuts, this meeting was virtual--so we had virtual August desert heat, virtual T-shirts and a virtual meeting-ending pool party. But otherwise, things are still looking good for Profibus... Read more

Magazines still live

Since I work in the magazine industry now, I study as much as possible. Is it true that magazines (along with other "dead tree" products) are dead in a digital age? I think not. And once again I point to Mr. Magazine, a university professor who studies this topic. Here he talks with the Vice President and Publisher of Scientific American about the need to be "must have..." Read more

More rules for life

In the two weeks I was essentially off the grid, I was saving some good Zen Habits posts. Always good thoughts on how to live.

How Giving Changes Everything... Read more

Event Announcement

Registration is Now Open for the Safety Automation Forum event!

Join industry speakers and experts to learn about safety's continued importance within the manufacturing industry, its affect on the top and bottom line, and how changing standards can best be leveraged. Register now to hear leading authorities from around the globe share their expertise on best practices, evolving standards and how integrated safety solutions can help improve production. Our one-day agenda, moderated by Gary Mintchell, Editor in Chief at Automation World will provide opportunities for questions, feedback sessions and networking with industry peers and experts.