Tokyo, Japan -
June 11, 2003
STARDOM Continues to Evolve with the Release of the InfoWell Data Casting Tool and the Enhancement of its Autonomous Controllers
Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces the June 11 launch of InfoWell, a new application package for the STARDOM Network-based Control System, which greatly facilitates the addition of data casting capabilities.
Together with the release of InfoWell, Yokogawa has further strengthened its STARDOM autonomous controllers by providing such features as a new communications module, a PC-based debugging simulator, and a time synchronization server.
Development Background
With the rapid growth of information technology, a broad range of industries are utilizing a variety of information through networks, and the manufacturing sector is no different. It has become essential for manufacturers to know how to make good use of network technology to integrate production facilities at the lowest possible cost, as well as how to take advantage of the information obtained.
To this end, conventional production systems have commonly adopted PC-centered solutions as a quick solution. This kind of system built with personal computers costs much less than one using dedicated machines, and this approach benefits from the wide availability of off-the-shelf software and advanced development environments. However, such systems are more vulnerable to malfunction when used in an industrial environment and they tend to have a relatively short service life.
Against this background, Yokogawa has developed and is selling FCN and FCJ autonomous controllers that facilitate control functions which are compliant with the IEC 61131 programming language standards, the Java application environment, and various information processing capabilities such as file transfer via FTP and Web based e-mail. With these features and robust controllers, STARDOM is now able to flexibly handle process information in much the same way as a personal computer.
The newly released InfoWell package gives STARDOM users the ability to implement the above-mentioned data casting capabilities. InfoWell requires no special programming skills and significantly reduces engineering-related costs.
Product Features
1. No programming
Data casting capabilities such as Web screens and the sending of e-mail over a network are simple to configure and require no special programming expertise.
2. Reduced implementation costs
Before the introduction of InfoWell, it sometimes took one month or more to implement a Web-based remote configuration and e-mail transmission in combination with the other functions of STARDOM. It now takes less than half a day to implement the same functions using InfoWell, which substantially reduces implementation costs,including engineering work. The result is that InfoWell users are able to implement their systems in one-half the time of those who use small-scale systems made up of personal computers and programmable logic controllers.
About Yokogawa
Yokogawa's global network of 19 manufacturing facilities and
89 companies spans 32 countries. Since its founding in 1915, the US$4 billion company has been engaged in cutting-edge
research and innovation, securing more than 7,500 patents and registrations, including
the world's first digital sensors for flow and pressure measurement. Industrial automation
and control, test and measurement, information systems and industry support are the core
businesses of Yokogawa.
For more information about Yokogawa, please visit our web site at
www.yokogawa.com.
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