The Kepware Connection - Quarterly Newsletter
October 2008,
Welcome to our first Quarterly "Kepware Connection" newsletter. We are proud to keep you up-to-date on developments at Kepware and the Automation Industry. We have a lot going on at Kepware and you can keep current by checking our website often or signing up for our RSS Feed.
We want to hear from you! We are always looking for unique and interesting ways our products are used in your applications. If you have one, tell us about it through Stories@kepware.com. If we use your story, we'll send you a prize!
Product News and Updates
Just Released
Upcoming Releases
Upcoming Events/Shows
News
Customer Stories
Technology Update
Did You Know?
• Kepware
Product News and Updates
Just Released
Oracle MES and MOC Connector for KEPServerEX
The latest KEPServerEX release delivers new Options for connecting your manufacturing automation systems with Oracle enterprise business solutions featuring connectivity to Oracle MES and Oracle MOC (Manufacturing Operations Center) products. The additional Advanced Tag Option for KEPServerEX completes the suite with Math and Logic capabilities. ...more
Advanced Tag Option for KEPServerEX
KEPServerEX now offers a new Math and Logic option called Advanced Tags. This enables KEPServerEX to perform mathematic, logic, and advanced functions - Counter, Timer, Min, Max, Average and Accumulation. Let KEPServerEX create or analyze data for you. ...more
OPC DA Client Driver for KEPServerEX
The OPC DA Client Driver enables communications to third party OPC Servers in addition to Kepware protocols, enabling Client products to maintain one source for all communications with Client access through both OPC Standards and vendor specific native interfaces. Now KEPServerEX is the one Gateway to any plant floor data sources you have, and KEPServerEX exposes all this data, from various drivers and sources, to your client applications through one standard (OPC) or native interface. ...more
Torque Tool Driver for KEPServerEX
The New Torque Tool Driver Plug-in leverages the Torque Tool Open Protocol, to interface with Stanley E and EA Series, Atlas Copco PF3000, PF3100, PF4000 and other Open Protocol compliant torque tools. ...more
iSNMP OPC Server and SNMP Driver enhancements
iSNMP lets you monitor and manage your network and business system infrastructure, with the same HMI/SCADA you use to run your plant. This release provides significant enhancements to our iSNMP solution to deliver MIB import and automated Tag generation, Device Auto-Discovery, and Network Analyst - to generate device performance and bandwidth data. ...more
Upcoming Releases
KEPServerEX V4 New Drivers [January, 2009]
Beckhoff TwinCAT IO Driver
System Monitor Driver - Monitor the health of your PC and Apps
Opto 22 Snap PAC Driver
Cutler Hammer ELC Serial and Ethernet Drivers
A-B 1609 UPS Driver
and many other enhancements ...more
KEPServerEX V5 Initial Release [February, 2009]
The initial release is only being made available to select OEM Partners and you will see these new features in their products first. KEPServerEX version 5 will be the foundation for KEPServerEX going forward. It delivers a new internal architecture delivering the future benefits of portability to other operating systems, thin client access, remote configuration and much more. Version 5 is also designed for Microsoft Vista and Windows Server 2008. The version 5 release will include all drivers in the January Version 4 release. ...more
New Licensing and Support Program [Q2, 2009]
Kepware will be moving to a new Licensing technology that will be delivering even more flexibility than our current licensing offering. In addition, we'll be offering a support and upgrade subscription program. This new offering will be rolled out in the Q2 timeframe. ...more
Upcoming Events/Shows
OPC Road Show in Cincinnati, OH and Richmond, VA
The OPC Foundation and its sponsoring members are hosting eight one-day Training Seminars during 2008. These Seminars are designed to cover the fundamentals of OPC including Servers, Clients, OPC Data Access, OPC Unified Architecture, Best Practices and Compliance. ...more
Wonderware's North America WonderWorld Week - October 7-9 2008 in Las Vegas, NV
We will be exhibiting at Wonderware's User event in Las Vegas.  Come talk with us and our partner Software Toolbox to learn about our latest product developments. ...more
ISA EXPO 2008 - October 14-16, 2008 in Houston, TX
Experience the power of a technology intensive event. Organized around six core automation and control themes, ISA EXPO 2008 provides attendees a content-rich environment that offers unlimited opportunity for exploration of key technologies, professional growth, and interaction with like minded professionals. Kepware will be in the BUS Station. ...more
Rockwell's Automation Fair - November 19-20 2008 in Nashville, TN
We will be exhibiting at Rockwell Automation's User event in Nashville TN.  Come talk with us to learn about our latest product developments.  Kepware is now an Encompass Global partner, delivering solutions with Rockwell channels world wide! ...more
SPS/IPC/DRIVES 2008 - November 25-27 2008 in Nuremberg, Germany
SPS/IPC/DRIVES is one of the largest automation events in Europe.  Come see Kepware in the OPC Foundation exhibit. ...more
News
GE Fanuc Selects Kepware as their communications solution for Proficy HMI/SCADA - iFIX and CIMPLICITY
GE Fanuc has entered into a resale agreement with Kepware, to deliver all Kepware protocols with their Proficy HMI/SCADA - iFIX and Proficy HMI/SCADA - CIMPLICITY solutions. In addition, GE Fanuc is "Connected with Kepware" as a VEP (Vendor Endorsed Protocol) Partner, working with Kepware to ensure Kepware offers the best GE Fanuc connectivity in the industry.
Wonderware selects Kepware for Expanded Communications
Kepware was selected as the primary provider to extend device communications options for Wonderware's System Platform 3.0 product beyond Wonderware's own line of device communications servers. ...more
Online Development selects Kepware for Communications
Kepware was selected as a strategic provider of communications for Online Development Incorporated (OLDI) and their development of a new Machine to Machine (M2M) communications Gateway for use with an Allen Bradley Control Logix controller and as a standalone solution for use between other third party automation controllers. ...more
Eaton Joins Kepware's Protocol Program
Eaton Corporation's Electrical Group has chosen Kepware as their primary provider of device communications and has joined Kepware's VEP (Vendor Endorsed Protocol) Program. ...more
Customer Stories
Kepware products are used tens of thousands of different applications and here are few of the more unique stories worth highlighting.
ROV .NET Applications - Problems and Solutions
The environment is appalling, dealing with the massive pressures found 5 kilometres underwater is only a part of it. Construction work in places like the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico go on all year round. Weather conditions on the surface are often bad and even subsea, the visibility is often measured in a few inches. ...more
Hudson Productions - Drops the Ball with Kepware
Hudson is one of the largest full service production and scenic fabrication companies serving the professional entertainment community since 1980. Hudson has provided precision automation systems that lower the Times Square New Year's Eve ball, bring the Lady of the Lake up from the depths in Monty Pythons' Spamalot, and allowed Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to swoop over audiences heads. ...more
Amcor integrates its container manufacturing equipment with Kepware's OPC server & driver plug-ins
Seeking an OPC Server solution was a team effort in terms of investigating options and testing possible scenarios. Amcor PET looked at several vendors before selecting Kepware as the vendor of choice. A key reason for choosing Kepware was its simple integration with Wonderware and its ability to support Siemens and Allen-Bradley applications, as well as the capability to connect diverse pieces of equipment into a single network. ...more
Technology Update
OPC Training Institute
Check out this video on YouTube from OPCTI which covers how to get data out of Excel (a DDE Client application) using our DDE Client driver with KEPServerEX and our OPC Quick Client. ...more
Drivers - The Unsung Hero of Automation - White Paper
Sure, the engineer is proud of his HMI and the plant manager pleased with his KPI dashboard and how effectively the plant is running with the implementation of his new MES solution. The historian and analytic solution get all the credit when a plant control crisis is averted. Does anyone ever think to thank the lowly driver? Without data, the HMI is just a pretty picture, and the best analytics in the world are only ideas without any basis in fact. ...more
OPC UA - Getting Ready for Prime Time!
OPC, the automation industries' most adopted technology, has been the backbone for application and vendor interoperability since its inception back in 1995. It is time for a refresh of that technology, delivering Platform (operating system) Portability, enhanced Security, an updated architecture with SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) - and leveraging Web Services for Firewall Friendliness, and the ability to pass Complex or Structured Data enabling more intelligent communications between applications. The Specifications are approved. And now the OPC Foundation is planning for the rollout of this new technology. It will be the most important technology to influence our software automation space in the foreseeable future! 2009 will be a big year for OPC-UA. Kepware will play an important part, both in delivering OPC-UA with our products, and in supporting and evangelizing the technology along with the OPC Foundation.
Did You Know?
Kepware is the most widely OEM'd product in the Automation Industry. Today, we are delivering well over 100,000 servers Per Year, through our network of OEMs, Channels, System Integrators and End User Sales.
Key Website areas you should be aware of Include:
Windows Embedded