Manufacturing Software offers real-time data connectivity.

Press Release Summary:



Enterprise 2 Factory Floor (E2FF) Manufacturing Information System provides real-time data connectivity tools for enterprise IT and operations personnel. Open standards platform and device-independent productivity solution includes connector architecture, I/O library, and complete implementation of IEC standards data library. It also provides HMI Builder Software and customizable tools for integrating with enterprise business systems.



Original Press Release:



Starthis Announces version 2.0 of the Enterprise 2 Factory Floor (E2FF) Manufacturing Information System



Enterprise 2 Factory Floor Adds Major New Features and a NEW HMI Builder Application

Arlington Heights, IL - June 30, 2005 - Starthis, a leading industrial automation software company, today announced the release of the second version of their manufacturing productivity solution software. The Enterprise 2 Factory Floor Manufacturing Information System (E2FF) provides real-time data connectivity tools for both enterprise IT and operations personnel. E2FF is an open standards, platform and device independent productivity solution.

The new E2FF product includes a new Connector Architecture, a new I/O Library, a complete implementation of their IEC standards Data Library, a new Human Machine Interface (HMI) Builder Software, and customizable tools for integrating with a variety of enterprise business systems.

Starthis builds upon its ground-breaking technology linking the enterprise IT infrastructure and real-time plant floor data with four new components to provide more tools for manufacturers and their integration service providers. These tools make the jobs of IT and plant floor professionals significantly easier without unacceptable compromises. Finally the IT department has access to real-time data for monitoring, reporting and realtime dashboards for the enterprise executives. The Operations staff continues to focus on keeping the plant running while maintaining secure plant floor operations.

Connectors are used to communicate directly with plant devices using industrial network protocols such as EtherNet/IP or Modbus/TCP. Industrial Automation Protocol Connectors are unique to E2FF and are compliant with the Enterprise Java Connector Architecture (JCA). The Connector is also able to communicate directly with the plant devices using their native automation protocols. By supporting the full range of features of the automation protocol, the connector can leverage the advanced performance capabilities enabled by a sophisticated protocol such as EtherNet/IP.

The New I/O library incorporates a new management model for all I/O plus Java Management Extensions (JMX) to manage and monitor all the resources being used. JMX allows visualization of resource usage, management tools and optimization techniques for all system I/O including memory, bandwidth, and packet control. JMX is also used to maximize the performance of the E2FF resources such as Connectors to move data at maximum rates.

The IEC data library provides 100% compatibility with the IEC 61131-3 standard for data types. Therefore E2FF will consistently provide uniform and well defined data presentation no matter which vendors devices are used in the plant. The IT personnel won't spend time fixing data incompatibility issues, the data library meets all the IEC requirements.

The new HMI Builder is a fast and easy Drag and Drop development environment for display, monitoring and operator control of plant floor data. The product is a nonprogramming tool for the creation of operator information and control displays. Built with Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), the run-time operator screens are accessible through any web browser throughout the plant. The symbol library includes all the essential HMI tools including light towers, gauges, meters, stop and start buttons, tag editors and digital displays. This is the fastest, easiest and least expensive way to provide true real-time monitoring throughout the plant, without writing a line of code.

According to David Naylor, the CEO of Starthis, "We have incorporated the latest plant floor data connectivity technology into this new release of the product while making it much easier to install and configure on robust, reliable, enterprise strength application servers such as IBM's WebSphere, BEA's WebLogic or other Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) application servers."

E2FF is licensed on a per server basis. In addition, the new HMI Builder module is licensed on a per server basis rather than a per seat arrangement, providing unlimited access to plant data with a significantly lower investment. E2FF emphasizes the goal that data should be easily accessible by all authorized personnel, for both large and small projects, without spending beyond your budget.

About Starthis
Starthis is a leading developer of industrial automation software linking the plant floor with enterprise business systems. The software provides faster and easier access and improved productivity with industrial automation control systems. The E2FF Productivity Solution provides IT and Operations personnel with the tools needed to access, monitor and report on real-time data flows from a secure centralized location. When deployed, the Productivity Solution provides the ability to improve efficiency, performance, competitiveness and profit in manufacturing. Further information about Starthis is available at www.starthis.com.

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