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Technology group launches fully integrated industrial IT solutions

December 2000 News

ABB Automation, part of the global technology group, recently introduced its industrial IT concept, which includes a comprehensive and integrated range of next-generation automation software and hardware technologies that work seamlessly and in realtime across an entire enterprise.

"These systems will serve the plant floor, the control room and the boardroom, and will allow customers higher process optimisation, improved productivity and better informed decision-making," says Richard Becker, General Manager for Marketing, ABB Automation. "One of the big advantages that ABB has built into these systems is that they are highly scalable which allows the customer to start small and grow the system as his needs dictate."

ABB's worldwide automation segment launched the new product range in Johannesburg as part of a series of global launches that have taken place in China, the US, the Czech Republic, Germany and Norway. South Africa was chosen because of its increasingly sophisticated industrial sector.

Becker says modern managers have to constantly work to maximise the return on assets such as plant, machinery and materials. "For example, industrial IT can help a paper manufacturer decide which of two machines is capable of producing the most product today or which end product will take best advantage of the specific qualities of a specific batch of raw material."

The new product range includes concrete products in the area of FieldIT, ControlIT, EngineerIT, OperateIT, InformIT, ProduceIT and OptimizeIT. Further products will be launched shortly.

"Our industrial IT will enable customers to take advantage of the web era to really optimise the value of their assets and activities. This will lead to greater productivity, quality and safety and enable them to make realistic responses to market opportunities, minute by minute," continues Becker. The industrial IT concept is ABB's response to rapidly changing business needs. "We need to ensure that our customers succeed in the new economy and to gain advantages of e-business they need industrial IT to manage the back end integration and all other aspects," says Becker.

Becker says existing customers with an installed base of ABB Automation's equipment will be catered for in that the new industrial IT products will integrate with earlier systems.



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