Happy Hour with the VersaView 5000

Kevin West

Rockwell Automation has just released its open-architecture industrial computers and it first line of thin client hardware (+ software) with the VersaView 5000 portfolio. Why is this important for you? Solutions Architect Vinod Anandarajah highlighs a few reasons in this episode:

1.) Flexible & Scalable Options – You can choose between Windows 7 and 10, screen sizes ranging from 12 to 21 inches, as well as integrated display and non-display computers.

2.) Improved Safety, Security, Productivity – With ThinManager’s content delivery management system, there is a software layer for these thin clients. You now have the ability to secure content based on the user, device, or location. [...]

Cybertrol Uses ThinManager to Centralize Management, Reduce Downtime of Large Facility

Tom Jordan

Cybertrol Engineering has used ThinManager across numerous sites ranging from installations of less than five clients to more than 50. When setting up plants with the best possible solution, ThinManager is the go-to solution for managing thin clients. Here is an example of a large-scale facility that has benefited from the use of centralized technologies and uses ThinManager managed clients every day.

One of our customers has a plant that has been around for over 20 years, and they have seen the evolution of technology on the factory floor—from Windows NT 4 workstations and NT 4 servers to highly available datacenters and 50+ thin clients. From its humble beginnings as a small meal replacement beverage manufacturing operation to what has morphed into one of the largest ice cream manufacturing operations in the nation, the growth pace has been nothing short of astounding. In the midst of this ever-changing operational climate, they’ve also had to manage the never-ending evolution of technology and its impact on their ways of working. [...]

Rockwell Automation acquired Automation Control Products (ACP)

Tom Jordan

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. [...]

Dairy Farmers of America Reduces Downtime with Resilient Thin Client Tech

Tom Jordan

When you think of Dairy Farmers of America you probably think of milk. While you wouldn’t be wrong to have such a thought, milk processors do a lot more than you think with the raw milk that comes from the cow.

Dairy Farmers of America is a co-op owned by over 14,000 dairy farmers. With 2015 net sales over $13.8 billion you can see that dairy production is serious business. It’s more than milk though. This particular plant takes in over 160 trucks full of raw milk every day. The material skimmed from the raw milk is turned into milk powder that is used in all manner of food production. [...]

New Bluetooth Proximity Beacon

Tom Jordan

Please note that ACP is no longer able to order and or stock the GELO.01 Bluetooth beacons.

Effective immediately, we will inventory and endorse a Bluetooth proximity beacon from a company called Radius Networks. Their ‘RadBeacon X4’ is a rugged, weatherproof (NEMA 4X), and temperature resistant beacon powered by four AA batteries (not included). Battery life has been extended to over 5 years. Both the transmit and interval levels are adjustable.

The RadBeacon X4 is a fully stand-alone Bluetooth Smart™ proximity beacon that supports iBeacon™, AltBeacon™, and Eddystone™ technology. The RadBeacon X4 is a rugged, weatherproof, and temperature-resistant proximity beacon powered by four AA batteries. It can be installed in any location, regardless of available power and provides proximity advertisements for mobile applications that are compatible with iBeacon, AltBeacon, and Eddystone standards, including xthe Physical Web™. [...]

TECH|TIP » Virtual Screens

Kevin West

Layout custom-sized screens on a single monitor with ThinManager.

Virtual Screens are defined using the Display Client Configuration Wizard. It is launched by selecting the Display Client icon at the bottom of the ThinManager tree, right clicking on the Virtual Screen branch, and selecting Add Display Client.

For a step-by-step guide on how to add Virtual Screens to your ThinManager configuration, flip to page 166 in the ThinManager Version 9 User Guide.

 

Click here to download the User Guide »

 

TECH|TIP » ThinManager Platform 9

Kevin West

April 25, 2016 marks the release of ThinManager Platform 9.

ThinManager is a software solution for automation networks that enable secure, centralized confi guration and deployment of applications and content to every PC, thin client, mobile device and user. ThinManager® increases safety and security through powerful visualization and authentication features allowing you to reduce your maintenance and downtime by simplifying the management of all devices and users.


Download ThinManager

You can also go mobile with ThinManager’s built-in mobility solution, Relevance®—the only location-based mobile management platform that allows applications and content to be securely delivered to specifi c locations within your facility and nowhere else. [...]

Press Release » ThinManager Platform 9

Tom Jordan

Automation Control Products Releases ThinManager® 9.0—Includes Virtual Screens with Session Scaling Allowing Customized Visualization Management

For release April 25, 2016

Alpharetta, GA — ACP releases ThinManager 9.0 as a major release of the ThinManager platform. Version 9.0 contains many new features including Virtual Screens as one of the most powerful tools for providing custom visualization. Virtual Screens allows administrators to lay out work screens in custom-sized regions on a single monitor. Add in automatic session scaling and you don’t even have to recode an application to get it to fit the area of the screen you assign it to. ThinManager also supports 4K resolution so a single monitor can now be used in place of multiple monitors—saving on hardware costs and reducing the effort of wiring and mounting. [...]

It’s in to be thin

Kevin West

ThinManager was mentioned in a recent LinkedIn Post from InSource Solutions about how thin client technology is more manageable, scalable and mobile.

Below are excerpts written by Jason Paquette, Product Marketing Manager at InSource Solutions, from his post regarding thin client management and mobility with an HMI.