Is Your Automation System Up to Date?

Prime Partner Guide - 2008
by Clive Walton,
Managing Director
ICONICS UK

“Windows Vista provided us everything that we could dream of for developing new visually-compelling applications that deliver unprecedented user experiences.”

The last couple of years have seen significant advances in technology: the development of 64-bit processors, the launch of Windows Vista, application platform .NET 3.0 and Windows Server 2008.

Thanks to the work of Microsoft and its new 64-bit operating system, Windows Vista, software developers are releasing new applications, which can now take full advantage of the advancements made by Intel and AMD.

64-bit technology has several benefits and has become the mainstream processor, even amongst consumers. The support for vastly greater physical memory and virtual memory space enables scenarios that were not possible with 32-bit. New features in the 64-bit processors offer better security and protection and the unprecedented compatibility with existing 32-bit applications has allowed for a controlled transition to the superior processor.

The recent launch of Windows Vista is starting to allow 64-bit technology to be used to its full potential. The Vista operating system was launched to mixed reviews; however the benefits of the innovative operating system are significant for developers and users alike, especially when coupled with the revolutionary .NET 3.0. These benefits include, amongst others, increased plant floor security and enhanced 3D visualization features. .NET 3.0 has allowed for far superior applications to be developed and delivered to end users very quickly.

ICONICS, a global leader in industrial automation software, has been providing automation solutions for over 21 years, and during the last four years has been developing its next generation product suite. This will incorporate desktop technologies such as sidebar gadgets, search integration and core .NET Frameworks 3.0 technologies like Windows Communications Foundation, Windows Presentation Foundation and Windows Workflow Foundation into a new 64-bit, Web-enabled HMI/SCADA suite. GENESIS64 has been a very exciting development project. Windows Vista provided us with everything that we could dream of for developing new visually-compelling applications that deliver unprecedented user experiences.

ICONICS has used Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) to develop high-performance 3D graphics. These allow users to locate operational problems that have been reported on a display model by rotating a single model from hover view right down to the nuts and bolts. This saves the kind of time that can be crucial to the survival of a manufacturing plant. Many other software vendors provide 3D models that can be easily imported into the ICONICS 64-bit graphics application, GraphWorX64. ICONICS’ expertise additionally enables the animation of the 3D model with real-time data from the plant or process.

Using Windows Error Reporting, which has been enhanced in Windows Vista, has allowed ICONICS to close the reporting loop with customers by taking advantage of the centralized reporting mechanism. Errors can now be collected as they happen, allowing for better customer service and frequent service packs to be deployed if required.

Windows Vista has a new search mechanism that takes advantage of metadata exposed by applications. ICONICS has built extensions into all of its new client and server applications that expose metadata to Windows Vista search, which has helped to meet a customer need. Customers want to data mine their HMI display. For example, they can now find the location of a reported problem that is exposed in metadata, using the search from their Windows Vista desktop.

Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) has made it possible for ICONICS to focus on its core business. In the past, ICONICS has had to write its own workflow engines for SCADA data processing. However, WF has allowed ICONICS to collapse several different custom workflow engines into a WF-based engine, using its reliable, scalable and transactional workflow engine, which allows the customer to work with proven technology and benefit from greater interoperability.

The recent launch of Windows Server 2008 offers further opportunities for manufacturers to improve efficiency. Windows Server 2008 is the most advanced server operating system yet, designed to deliver rich user experiences and improve technological efficiency, whilst providing the most secure network infrastructure. ICONICS was one of the first companies in the industrial automation industry to be certified for both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008; something that will benefit end users.

ICONICS is proud to be a gold certified partner with Microsoft and to be a recent winner of the ISV Trailblazer Partner Award. On receiving the award, company president Russ Agrusa said, “Such recognition reinforces our direction of integrating ICONICS and Microsoft solutions for the benefit of our shared manufacturing customers. I look forward to achieving more breakthroughs, and meeting more customer expectations, as a result of this continuing relationship.”

Step changes in technology don’t happen every day, especially not when it comes to operating systems. The transition from the 32-bit platform to the 64-bit has been described by some as like going from DOS to Windows. There will undoubtedly be customers who will express concern over the transition. Others will embrace the change, looking to benefit from the early adoption of the new platform, but the real question is which applications will you run on Windows Vista 64? Simply porting the old applications onto the new platform allows for continued support of legacy systems but in no way exploits the full advantages provided in this major technology advancement.

ICONICS’ ethos to innovate has driven the company to go beyond the norm, to engage with its forward-thinking client base, to listen to their business needs and to exceed their demands.

Change does require belief; belief that the investment will bring about a return and an improvement in operational methods and practice. GENESIS64 offers such an opportunity for those companies who require a flexible platform that allows them to rethink the way they have operated for the last decade, a tool set that is abundant with the very latest Web-enabled graphical capability, just asking of companies to explore the new methods that now exist to visualize your enterprise. As we say at ICONICS, “To change does require belief, but to innovate is ICONICS.”

ICONICS Background Information

Founded in 1986, ICONICS is an award winning leader in the development of Web-enabled industrial automation and manufacturing intelligence software for Microsoft® Windows® operating systems. Our solutions are certified for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista. ICONICS has successfully deployed more than 250,000 solutions in over 60 countries worldwide. Its solutions meet diverse customer needs in a variety of industries including Automotive, Building Management, Food & Beverage, Oil/Gas/Petrochemical, Machine Builders, Pharmaceutical/Biotech, Security, Water/Wastewater, Utilities, Government Infrastructures and more.

ICONICS’ corporate headquarters is located in Foxborough, Massachusetts (USA) near Boston. The company has offices throughout the United States, as well as in Australia, China, France, India, Italy, Germany, Netherlands and United Kingdom. ICONICS also has a joint software development and sales office in the Czech Republic.

© 2010 ICONICS, Inc. All rights reserved. Specifications are subject to change without notice. GENESIS64, GENESIS32, Pocket GENESIS, BizViz and their respective modules, OPC-To-The-Core, and Visualize Your Enterprise are trademarks of ICONICS Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.