Kepware Endorses Software Toolbox
as their Wonderware "Center of Excellence"
RELEASE: Portland, ME December
17, 2007 -- Portland, Maine; Kepware, the world leader
in communication software for automation, announces with its
long standing partner Software Toolbox, the world leader in 3rd party add-in software for Wonderware products, the expansion of their relationship by naming Software Toolbox as their official "Center of Excellence" for supporting and promoting the use of Kepware
OPC technology and native interfaces with Wonderware products. Software Toolbox has marketed and supported the TOP Server OPC & I/O Server, a branded version of the KEPServerEX, to their global customer base, with a specific focus on Wonderware distribution channels, users, integrators and OEMs. The "Center of Excellence" endorsement is designed to clearly let the market know how Kepware and Software Toolbox serve users of Wonderware with Kepware's OPC technology and Software Toolbox's Wonderware focused expertise and support. To prevent confusion of TOP Server and KEPServerEX as competing solutions, the TOP Server branding will now include the tagline "Powered by Kepware".
The TOP Server OPC & I/O Server incorporates the latest generation
of Kepware's OPC
server technology and allows users to quickly setup communications
from equipment to control systems using a wide range of
available "plug-in" device
drivers and components. Software Toolbox has marketed and
provided technical support for Kepware Technologies products
since 1996, forming a partnership with Kepware in 2001, and creating
the TOP Server brand to grow the presence of Kepware's technology
in the Wonderware space. Software Toolbox, working with the global
Wonderware distribution channel, has installed thousands of licenses
with Wonderware InTouch, InSQL/Historian, and System Platform/Application
Server, including major Wonderware users such as SAB Miller,
Campbell Soup, Chevron/Texaco, Dow, and more. Software Toolbox's
support of Wonderware includes application notes, videos, training,
and a technical support team focused on the application of Kepware
products with Wonderware software products.
"The support team at Software Toolbox has proven to be highly
competent and responsive to their clients and users should know
that when they buy TOP Server, in addition to Software Toolbox's
excellent support, they are getting the full backing of the Kepware
team working in close partnership with the Wonderware experts
at Software Toolbox," Says Roy Kok, VP of Marketing and
Sales for Kepware Technologies. "TOP Server and KEPServerEX
are identical from a technical standpoint and because Software
Toolbox always releases TOP Server in step with KEPServerEX,
users of TOP Server will have immediate access to our latest
technologies. Additionally, the Software Toolbox development
team has created products which add value to the TOP Server solution.
Beyond demonstrating another level of technical competency this
shows their commitment to this endeavor." he added.
"Many customers think TOP Server is a competing technology
to KEPServerEX. This announcement clarifies that Software Toolbox
and Kepware have been partners for years" said John Weber,
President of Software Toolbox. He continues, "Software Toolbox
offers a variety of connectivity products as well as graphical,
wizard, and HMI object add-in products that enable it to offer
a one-stop shop for 3rd party products for automation applications.
Because we have a wide range of complementary offerings specific
to the Wonderware market and other products that add-value to
Kepware's products, we are ideally positioned to continue to
focus on the Wonderware market for Kepware."
"We have been aware of both Kepware's and Software Toolbox's
product offerings and relationship for many years," says
Craig Resnick, Research Director, ARC Advisory Group. "This
is a move designed to make it clear to the marketplace that these
two companies share the same technology and are not competitors.
This move will help provide the marketplace with additional clarity
and visibility regarding both Kepware and Software Toolbox, while
allowing these companies to show support for each other's technologies
and strengths. Although the OPC server technology offered by
both Kepware and Software Toolbox is identical, these companies
can now provide the marketplace with specific choices based on
differences in available HMI/SCADA technology, add-ins and complementary
offerings, product support, or user preference. Offering the
marketplace a greater number of choices is a positive thing,
which should ensure that this announcement will be well received."
ABOUT KEPWARE: Kepware is the world leader in
communication software for automation and offers unique experience
in both OPC and embedded
device communications. Since 1995, Kepware has focused on
the development of communication drivers to automation controllers,
I/O and field devices. Today, with over 100 communication protocols,
and through the efforts of our direct sales, distribution and
embedded partners, Kepware is the leading provider of communications
with annual shipments exceeding 100,000 units. Kepware's responsiveness
to customer needs and strong partnerships with other leading
automation suppliers ensure that your next application will be
a success. Ask around and you'll hear why automation professionals
everywhere consider Kepware Technologies "Automation's Best
Friend". (http://www.kepware.com)
ABOUT SOFTWARE TOOLBOX: Software Toolbox was
founded in 1996 in Charlotte, NC and has helped over 10,000 users,
integrators, and OEMs in 90 countries maximize their industrial
software results by providing software add-ins, development components,
and software applications that enable them to maximize their
industrial automation software results. Software Toolbox's products
add functionality, improve connectivity, enhance the engineering
and user experience, reduce development time, and improve overall
results with every major HMI/SCADA software application in the
industry and enable Microsoft Visual Studio developers to access
and visualize plant floor data. Software Toolbox also licenses
numerous technologies to many major software suppliers in the
automation industry to help them maximize the value they deliver
to their clients. Software Toolbox has been an active member
of the OPC Foundation and the Control System Integrators Association
(CSIA) since 1997. (http://www.softwaretoolbox.com)
Media Contact:
Roy Kok
V.P. Sales and Marketing
Kepware
207-775-1660 x253 roy.kok@kepware.com
