Wonderware, an operating unit of British-based Invensys, represented exclusively here in South Africa by Futuristix, has signed a third-party licensing agreement with CimQuest. As part of the agreement, the company will market CimQuest's INGEAR OPC data access servers for interfacing Wonderware FactorySuite automation applications to programmable logic controllers (PLCs) made by Allen-Bradley, Omron, GE Fanuc and Modicon.
Wonderware has released the INGEAR OPC data access server for use with Allen-Bradley ControlLogix PLCs, along with those for Omron and GE, and the remaining INGEAR OPC DA server for Modicon is nearly ready for market.
This third-party approach will provide immediate support for Wonderware customers who wish to use the OLE for process control (OPC) interface while Wonderware prepares its own line of OPC servers for delivery by year-end, according to Carl Hoffman, Wonderware Product Business Manager for Device Integration.
"This is a mutually beneficial arrangement for both companies because it extends our already extensive connectivity options to include data access servers and it gives CimQuest a powerful sales channel through which to sell its interface products," Hoffman said. "Wonderware presently offers more than 750 different I/O server devices for connecting to plant floor devices and PLCs. Adding the option to use the INGEAR OPC DA servers from CimQuest provides support to our customers for several key interfacing functions offered by Allen-Bradley in its RSLinx connectivity. It also eliminates the need for the expensive RSLinx module while still providing support for legacy Allen-Bradley PLCs, its Logix family of open controllers and its microPLCs."
"This new relationship between our two companies provides a much lower cost method to interface FactorySuite applications to Allen-Bradley and other devices while providing the high level functionality users need," said Chuck Karwoski, President of the INGEAR Software Division of CimQuest. "In this joint programme between Wonderware and CimQuest, FactorySuite customers get the INGEAR data access OPC servers for Allen-Bradley that provide the same depth and breadth of OPC connectivity as RSLinx. Customers also benefit from higher performance and better ease of use than provided by RSLinx with smoother import of tag names into InTouch human-machine interface (HMI) applications."
Wonderware distributors worldwide are now able to access the INGEAR OPC DA servers from Wonderware's Internet site ( www.wonderware.com/Partners/FSPartners) or from the company's FS Partners CD-ROM, which is included in the company's comprehensive support CD set.
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