Large International Food Manufacturer Makes Quantum Leap to Thin Client Technology

More and more industrial manufacturers are realizing the benefits of using thin client computing technology to run their modern facilities. We recently had the chance to speak with Thanh Phan from Quantum Solutions about how they used ThinManager to build out a new food production facility in the Midwest.

When one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies wanted to open a new processing plant in Davenport, Iowa, they called on their partners at Rockwell Automation to help them design and implement a modern, connected workspace. [...]

Mr. Demo Training Has Gone Global

ThinManager training has made great strides in the past year by adding what we call the “Mr. Demo” demonstration kit to the mix. Mr. Demo is a preconfigured server loaded with a ThinManager install and paired with some peripherals like a thin client, card reader and web camera to quickly illustrate some of the awesome functionality of ThinManager. This kit has made it easier and more consistent for partners and staff to demonstrate and train with ThinManager.

The Rockwell team in Southeast Asia Architecture & Software decided they wanted some training and went above and beyond to make it happen. Satish Basa and Anukoon Asawachatroj assembled a group of System Integrator trainees in Malaysia looking to become ThinManager certified. Satish took the initiative to procure enough Mr. Demo kits from Australia to facilitate the training. Over a two day span they successfully trained 10 attendees to become certified ThinManager integrators in Malaysia. Many people worked diligently to make this happen and in a remarkably efficient and effective way. [...]

Rockwell Automation acquired Automation Control Products (ACP)

Rockwell Automation Acquires Automation Control Products to Deliver Simple and Secure Centralized Visualization and Mobility Solutions

September 12, 2016

MILWAUKEE–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) today acquired Automation Control Products (ACP), a leading provider in centralized thin client, remote desktop and server management software. ACP’s two core products, ThinManager® and Relevance®, provide manufacturing and industrial leaders with visual display and software solutions to manage information and streamline workflows for a more connected manufacturing environment.

This acquisition supports the Rockwell Automation growth strategy to help customers increase global competitiveness through The Connected Enterprise – a vision that connects information across the plant floor to the rest of the enterprise. It is accelerated by the Industrial Internet of Things and advances in technologies, such as data analytics, remote monitoring, and mobility. [...]

Monthly Integrator Spotlight

Effective Management of Facilities Large and Small

ESE Inc., the Engineering Solutions Experts, recently became a ThinManager Platinum Integrator after a number of successful, large scale deployments.  When we initially contacted ESE, their Director of Manufacturing Information Systems John Tertin stated, “This is going to be the new standard, and ThinManager is part of that standard.  Going forward, ThinManager will be employed wherever the SE system goes.”  Apparently, John wasn’t kidding because when we checked in with him again, he had another successful integration story to share with us. [...]

Monthly Integrator Spotlight

Stacking up the Benefits:  ThinManager and Rockwell Automation

For nearly thirty years, ESE, Inc, the Engineering Solutions Experts, has seen continuous growth in plant automation engineering.  Headquartered in Marshfield, Wisconsin, ESE specializes in Rockwell solutions for global food and beverage manufacturers. Yet, after years of providing support and upgrades, it became apparent that there was a missing piece to the puzzle.  That piece turned out to be ThinManager.

Contacted by a major cheese processing plant in California, ESE was brought in to upgrade their existing processes with a combination of modern hardware and a Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk View SE distributed SCADA system.  They replaced the older PanelView terminals that were on the factory floor with Allen-Bradley 200R VersaView Industrial PCs, as well as a legacy RSView32 SCADA system to give them more computing power and greater flexibility. [...]