Entivity Africa is offering software and web-enabled services designed to significantly improve productivity in the development, deployment and operation of automation, automated material handling and manufacturing systems.
The company says that unlike traditional automation suppliers with proprietary architectures, it is focused on intuitive, open architecture solutions that readily integrate with hardware and software components from virtually all suppliers. Entivity's software and service products are designed to accelerate system implementation while closing the traditional gap between automation and information systems.
As a part of its formation, the Entivity team brought together two of the leading automation software solutions (Think & Do Software and Steeplechase Software). As a result, Entivity is now a leading supplier of PC-based automation and control software, with transparent scalability across the full range of Microsoft operating systems.
Think & Do Software and Steeplechase Software were merged in February 2001 to form a new independent software company - Entivity. This company is focused on enabling manufacturers to significantly improve productivity through effective application of information and Internet technologies.
Prior to the merger and formation of Entivity, Think & Do Software, founded in 1997, was built on the foundation that the market for PC-based control was being driven by the demand for information technology and the need to integrate more complex applications. They developed, marketed, and sold PC-based controls that made effective use of commercial information technologies to significantly cut the cost, increase the flexibility and speed the development of machine and process control systems. The company reports that in its first six months of operation it talked with thousands of prospects, won-over hundreds of customers, and interacted with dozens of potential partners. Since then, Think & Do proved its position in the control market through value pricing. OEMs, end users, and system integrators alike could obtain cost effective state-of-the-art control solutions. Think & Do Software was a technology leader that claimed to have provided the first unified development environment that utilised the industry standard Microsoft Visio technology.
The other half of the merger, Steeplechase Software, was founded in 1993 on the premise that manufacturing and process control engineers want to focus on their manufacturing processes and spend less time programming and integrating complex control systems. They developed, marketed, and sold a PC-based control system that was easy to use, increased design and maintenance productivity, and offered significant cost savings over dedicated Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) based solutions. Steeplechase was also a technology leader, laying claim to developing significant 'firsts' in the industry: the first Windows-based flowchart programming solution; the first integrated Windows-based control solution (control, programming, operator interface, realtime simulation, DDE server, On-line programming, and more on a single PC-platform); and the first 32 bit PC-based controller.
Entivity is an independent software and web-based services company backed by major Venture Capital firms and several Strategic Investors, including Automationdirect.com (PLCDirect by Koyo) and Schneider Electric. Major companies, including Lonmin Platinum, AngloGold, VW of SA, TSW and Eveready rely on Entivity's software.
PC-based control products increase productivity design of automated material handling and manufacturing systems. With thousands of installations worldwide, Entivity has the proven expertise to make PC-based control a productive advantage for the user through:
* Rapid automation development and implementation cycles with an integrated tool set for automation control development with advanced flowchart programming, operator interface, debugging, and simulation tools.
* Flexible control solutions for a wide range of requirements from low-cost semi-automatic to high-performance automatic systems.
* Extensive connectivity from enterprise to the factory floor devices.
* Reduced downtime and easier continuous improvements because of a better understanding of the application across a broader set of disciplines resulting in faster troubleshooting.
Automation ProjectNet (APN) speeds deployment of automation projects and reduces overall project costs. APN is a web-based collaboration tool that provides a complete solution for the design and implementation of complex automation projects. The project team has access to the most current information - anytime, anywhere, and without an investment in client software. APN highlights include:
* Secure document storage with controlled access to a neutral website hosted by Exodus Communications. No extra IT technologies or resources required for an APN implementation.
* Automation of project workflow through the use of forms for approvals, change orders, and other communication requests.
* Virtual team has secure WEB access to project documents using a standard browser. Over 250 file formats supported without additional application software. Authorised team members can post, view, redline download and make information requests to the project team.
* Information traceability for all project activities and deliverables are logged with the project including messages, issues, approvals, meetings, documents and actions audit trail.
Entivity Africa
(012) 664 8860
© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved
printer friendly version