November 2008Service Pack 1 for Super-Flash 4.0
As already announced in the October AutomaNews, Service Pack 1 for the 4.0 version is now available. The patch is available in the download and freedownload sections of our site.
For further information, please contact Automa on number 035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. Super-Flash and the economical crisis
Lately a lot has been said about the economical crisis. This is a condition in which many companies find themselves having to work promptly to recover competitiveness. A market in crisis is very jumpy: customers' orders are put off until the last minute and, when they come in, have to be dealt with immediately: you end up working in a stressful situation, which often considerably complicates planning activities, to the point of increasing the initially estimated costs in order to fulfil the customers' orders
For those who have to develop SCADA/HMI applications, Automa puts forward some solutions which may be of great help, precisely in this kind of market situation. Super-Flash is a development system for guided development of supervision and human-machine interface applications. On the market since 1989, it is a product which features high reliability and a limited cost. Those who do not yet work with Super-Flash should ask themselves: how much will the SCADA package licence I'm using cost me, each time? The Runtime versions of Super-Flash, with a completely free development system, are available in different sizes (number of variables and number of alarms) starting from € 300.00. The Royalty-Free versions, again available in sizes, can rapidly take licence cost incidence down to "zero" per single application! Then, from the technical viewpoint, Super-Flash can use a technical assistance service at maximum level, provided directly by the product development team. In difficult market situations, there are companies who simply keep their heads down, whereas others set to and do something. Do something yourself, too: pass to Super-Flash, now! To take part in a presentation of the product, to receive a personalised offer, or for further information about Super-Flash, please contact our sales staff directly on 035.32.33.911 or via e-mail at: sales@automa.it. Special promotion for Super-Flash Royalty-Free upgrade
CWith the issue of the Super-Flash 4.0 version, Automa has made licences available for the Royalty-Free version as well, priced differently according to their size, which is measured in number of variables and number of alarms.
Up to Super-Flash Royalty-Free 3.9, there was always just one size: 10,000 variables and 16,000 alarms. Now this has become only one of the eight different sizes available. They go from the smallest size, with 50 variables (each variable goes up to 256 bytes!!) and 50 alarms, to the top-of-range version (RF/ZM) which has 30,000 variables and 30,000 alarms. The sizes are the same as those of the Runtime version. Here is the current table of the Super-Flash Royalty-Free licence sizes: With this new sales policy, it is now possible to purchase a Royalty-Free licence for less than € 5,000.00!! The top-of-range version already also includes the Royalty-Free version of the SmartDB and WAM products. 2008 has been the Royalty-Free year: to encourage upgrading to the new 4.0 version, Automa has announced a special end-of-year promotion. For orders and deliveries by and not later than 31/12/2008: 30% discount on the Price List value of the upgrades to the 4.0 version, also valid for upgrades with a reduction in size. This is a one-off chance, don't let it slip through your fingers! For further information about the promotion, for offers or orders, please contact our sales staff directly on 035.32.33.911 or via e-mail at: sales@automa.it. Super-Flash: message system
The applications made using Super-Flash can be managed freely by the user. The programmer defines whatever descriptions he likes best in each screen or print-out or file, without any particular restrictions. There are, however, some messages which are strictly pertinent to the system: for example, some messages indicating error conditions or those linked to functionalities (e.g. management of alarms), which the system makes available as pre-packaged modules.
In the standard fittings of a Super-Flash licence, the message systems are already available in Italian, English, German and Spanish. As optional products, the messages in French, Portuguese and Russian are also available. These sets of messages in different languages are provided in the Royalty-Free mode: they are purchased just once. However, as the versions of Super-Flash evolve, the message systems are generally extended or modified. For this reason, Automa also provides the possibility of updating the message system, without necessarily having to re-purchase the whole product and, once again, in the Royalty-Free mode as well. For further information about the message system, please contact our sales staff directly on 035.32.33.911 or via e-mail at: sales@automa.it. GTT and the message system for Super-Flash
As described in the " Super-Flash: message system" article, Automa offers Super-Flash users some sets of messages in different languages.
Some languages are already included in the standard basic fittings and others are optional. But what to do about the languages which are not yet available? Or how to modify the set of messages provided by Automa as you like? GTT (Gestione Traduzione Testi - Text Translation Management) has been created for this purpose: it is a very simple tool directed at the problem, with which users can easily create their own message files, or modify the message files provided by Automa. The new GTT 4.0 version is now available. For those in possession of a previous version, there is also an upgrade to the new version, from the 3.4 or prior versions. For more information about GTT, to request an offer or to send an order, please contact our sales staff directly on 035.32.33.911, or via e-mail at: sales@automa.it. New pages on the Automa site
As already announced in the last few AutomaNews, the Products section of our site has been restructured and made more powerful. To help navigation, the products have been grouped together into macro categories which allow rapid access, by means of submenus, to each individual product.
The macro categories are: Supervisione Libera, Comunication Drivers, Integration, Monitel, Hardware and Others. The Hardware section is absolutely new: some pages dedicated to the communication hardware solutions proposed and supported by Automa have been inserted. There are specific pages dedicated to the Applicom (WoodHead/Molex), Hilscher and Helmholz solutions. Now the pages dedicated to ATOP (industrial switches and Ethernet-serial converters) and to Erco&Gener (programmable GSM/GPRS modem, with TCP/IP stack and I/O) have been added. To help navigation, the new pages show pictures of the products and the data sheet of each individual product can be downloaded. For further information about the products described on the new site pages, please contact our sales staff directly on 035.32.33.911, or via e-mail at: sales@automa.it. Christmas Holidays
2008 has practically "flown by"! We are now in December.
Getting close to the end of the year, we should like to inform you that the telephone assistance service will be suspended from 22/12/2008 until 5/1/2009 for the Christmas holiday period. Refreshed after the festive break, our technicians will be available with renewed vigour, from 7th January 2009. We remind you that the telephone assistance service can be used every weekday from Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to midday and from 2.30 to 5.30 p.m.. The service can be accessed by underwriting a contract with a duration which goes from 2 to 12 months at any time. Our technicians are available free of charge every Tuesday and Thursday morning from 9.30 to midday for owners of at least one Super-Flash licence. For further information, please contact Automa on number 035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. October 2008Service Pack 1 for Super-Flash 4.0 is on the way
We remind you that the 4.0 version of Super-Flash was officially released on 1st March 2008. At the end of the month of March, Patch 1 had already been made available.
By the end of the coming month of November, Service Pack 1 of the 4.0 version of Super-Flash will be released. Apart from solving some problems encountered, Service Pack 1 consolidates some functionalities on the basis of requests which have come in from users of the system. The Service Pack will be available in the download and freedownload sections of our site. This means consolidation of a version which introduced many new performances developed in the following main directions:
We invite everybody to download the most recent version of Super-Flash Runtime, from the freedownload section of our site: the development system is free of charge and fully functional. For further information, please contact Automa on number 035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. New Automa site pages
The Products section of the Automa site has been restructured and made more powerful. To facilitate navigation, the products have been grouped together in macro categories which allow rapid access, by means of sub-menus, to each individual product.
The macro categories are: Supervisione Libera, Driver di comunicazione, Integrazione, Monitel, Hardware and More. The Hardware section is completely new: some pages dedicated to communication hardware solutions proposed and supported by Automa have been inserted. Specific pages dedicated to Applicom (WoodHead/Molex), Hilscher and Helmholz solutions are present. The pages dedicated to ATOP (industrial switches and Ethernet-serial converters) and to Erco&Gener (programmable GSM/GPRS modems, with TCP/IP stack and I/O will also soon be added). For further information about the products described on the new site pages, please contact our sales staff directly on 035.32.33.911 or via e-mail at: sales@automa.it. SmartDB Promotion
SmartDB is a product which allows the Super-Flash applications to publish and read the data of one or more tables in one or more databases. Fully compatible with the ODBC standard, SmartDB also offers the possibility of carrying out SQL commands.
SmartDB is powerful, solid, reliable and user-friendly. It make integration of SCADA/HMI applications, in the company's information systems, simpler. This way, the line or on-board machine stations can retrieve the processes to be carried out directly from the database, and publish the production data in realtime. SmartDB is available in the Royalty-Free and Runtime sales formulae. After having purchased the package, those who choose SmartDB Royalty-Free can use it for an unlimited number of applications. On the other hand, if you prefer the RUNTIME formula you purchase the licence for a single application. Thanks to this sales proposal, our customers do not take on any investment risks as only the number of licences needed at a certain time are purchased. The Runtime version can be freely downloaded from the freedownload section of our site: it contains a RUNTIME of 15 minutes which will allow evaluation of the product functionality. In order to encourage an initial approach to SmartDB, Automa puts forward a special promotion, which combines a specific basic training period on the databases and on SmartDB with the Runtime licence of the product. For orders placed by 30th November 2008 2008 is the year of Royalty-Free and of recognition of the most "loyal" companies: the amounts in the Loyalty column are reserved exclusively to those who are holders of an active software upgrading contract. For orders and to book courses, or to obtain further information about the promotion, please contact our sales staff directly on 035.32.33.911, or via e-mail at: sales@automa.it. Distribution Agreement with ATOP
Following a year of indirect collaboration, which gave Automa the possibility of trying out the quality and reliability of the Atop products, Atop and Automa have signed an agreement on the basis of which Automa will operate as their official distributor on the Italian market.
Atop (www.atoponline.com) is a producer of electronic devices focused on TCP/IP based networking solutions for industries. It currently produces Ethernet-serial converters, Ethernet industrial switches and Wi-Fi devices. Automa, the producer of Super-Flash, a development system for facilitated realisation of SCADA/HMI applications, has always considered strategic anything which allows or assists communication at industrial level. In fact, communication is not an optional for SCADA/HMI applications. For this reason, Automa has chosen to distribute and technically support a series of communication devices. The agreement made with Atop is the natural sequel of Automa's strategic plan which is to provide its customers with complete and reliable solutions for industrial communication. For further information about the ATOP products, please contact our sales staff directly on 035.32.33.911, or via e-mail at: sales@automa.it. Industrial Ethernet Switches
Ethernet is increasingly used in the industrial sphere as well. Compared to the office world, Ethernet communication in the industrial sphere is often very heavy going, and therefore requires particular attention in selecting the devices to be used. Whereas the network traffic in an office network may, at certain times, be less intense, when there are HMI applications which communicate with the PLC, traffic is always very intense, in view of the need to continuously and very rapidly process the data. The correct choice of the Ethernet switch can make the difference between efficient solutions and inadequate solutions. Atop proposes the family of switches with 8 EH6308 ports which offers decidedly good functionalities. The switch can have 8 10/100ports, or 6 10/100 ports and 2 Giga fibre Ports. Among the characteristics peculiar to this family, we point out:
This is a truly industrial device with very high speed performances. For further information, please contact Automa on number 035.32.33.911 or at the email address: sales@automa.it. New Ethernet Gateway for MPI-Profibus
The new Hilscher NetLink50 gateway is now fully available. This new product is an important development of the NL-MPI and NL-MPI Plus models: in a simple connector, it contains the plus points of the two previous models. Featuring an exceptionally limited form factor, which can also be used to programme Siemens PLCs, the new product incorporates all the functions in a practical DSub "passing" connector. NetLink50 is able to connect up to 32 PLCs, supports up to 16 TCP/IP sessions and incorporates an RJ45 connector with status LED.
For further information, please contact Automa on number 035.32.33.911 or at the email address: sales@automa.it. Solution Provider Initiative
The overall number of clicks transmitted by the Solution providers page on our site, towards the solution providers' sites on the list have exceeded well over the number of 14,000.
For further information about the Solution Providers Initiative, please contact Automa on number 035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. Replacement service for parallel keys
The Royalty-Free and Runtime licences of Super-Flash have, as a protection device, either parallel keys or USB keys. Since the parallel interfaces are now disappearing from the various industrial and office PCs, we should like to remind you that Automa offers a service for "replacement of parallel keys". By giving back a parallel key, an equivalent USB key is supplied, at a cost of € 300.00 + VAT + transport costs.
For further information, please contact Automa on number 035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. September 2008Apropos of TAG
The Runtime licences of SCADA or HMI systems are often priced "per size". The unit of measurement for the sizes is not standard, which makes it difficult, for users, to make a price comparison among the various products. One speaks of TAG, although everyone gives this word a different meaning. Some take TAG to be a communication variable with 16 bits, others understand it to have 32 bits. For some, the term TAG also implies the variable inside the system, or as a support to operation of the application. At times, the TAG number also includes the system variables (resources), or those which are used for the application logic.
But, in the case of Super-Flash, how are the "sizes" variables and 50 alarms. But how big is a Super-Flash variable? Super-Flash supports "block" type variables which each reach up to 256 bytes!! Without needing to use other variables, bits, nibbles, bytes, words and double words can be derived from the block. These derived values can be put on the screen or used to animate objects, or be linked to pushbuttons, or with the click in the hot areas, for value setting or resetting operations. All this with just one variable: try doing this with a different SCADA!! In addition, the resources which can be allocated in MicroC programs are completely free: 255 simultaneous 1 Mbyte programs, with 1Mbyte of memory for each program. And if all that is not enough, from MicroC runtime, and re-addressing the variables declared in Super-Flash, making them direct, as needed, to other addresses would always be possible!! For further information about the sizes of the Runtime and Royalty-Free versions of Super-Flash, please contact our sales staff directly on number 035.32.33.911 or via e-mail at: sales@automa.it. WAM - Web Alarm Manager
WAM (Web Alarm Manager) is a web application which allows historical and realtime display of alarm events coming from HMI/SCADA applications deployed geographically.
For each application, the system architecture envisages putting all the alarm events into a remote database. By means of a browser it is possible to launch WAM from any device fitted with access to internet and display the published alarm events. With this type of approach, the HMI applications are not disturbed by any consultation activities made over the Internet. They can dedicate themselves fully to local activity and publish the data at the most favourable time. There are no limits to the number of accesses supported simultaneously. In the case of Super-Flash applications, publication in a remote database can easily be implemented by means of SmartDB. WAM evolves the traditional remote assistance service since, apart from not disturbing any normal activity of the remote applications, it allows management, and simultaneous display, of data coming from different machines and plants. It therefore becomes possible to make comparative operating considerations on a historical basis, or also to compare similar machines in different plants. It can be considered as a basic application for implementing advanced remote maintenance services. WAM is open software, delivered with the ASP sources and with a Royalty-Free licence, to adapt to the needs of each customer. In fact, it can be fully customised, for example with information on production, on traceability of lots, on scheduling, etc. to be of help not only to operators and maintenance technicians, but also to the person in charge of production. Apart from assistance with the product, Automa is at your disposal to train users so they can become independent in their maintenance operations and in developing the application or, as a consultant to help reduce the time-to-market of producing a customised solution. Then there is the possibility of hiring a web space and a database on our servers to be able to start using the product immediately. The basic version of the product can be seen on the following website: www.sfwam.it. To simplify experimentation, Automa provides a starter-kit which includes:
With this offer, it becomes a simple matter to set up a functioning system which can be used to understand and demonstrate the possible potential and advantages to one's own customers. For further information about the WAM proposal and about the relative starter-kit, please contact our sales staff directly on number 035.32.33.911 or via e-mail at: sales@automa.it. At school with Super-Flash
September is the month when schools usually start up again, and the Technical Institutes which offer electrotechnical, automation and home automation courses start their activities again, too.
Automa has set up a proposal aimed at adequately equipping the laboratories for these courses with a complete outfit of Super-Flash Runtime licences. Automa's proposal is closely targeted, and takes into account the budgets of these training structures, which are often very limited. In some cases, however, the budget available does not allow any room for investments. For this reason, Automa has foreseen the possibility of involving local companies, in the role of sponsors. With a minimum investment, the companies can therefore contribute towards making the training regarding realisation of HMI applications more effective, and as a return benefit will have the possibility of obtaining technicians who already have basic preparation on the use of Super-Flash: this will make taking on new technicians simpler and less costly. For further information about the initiative, and to indicate any Technical Institutes which may be interested, or to take part as sponsors of local schools, please contact our sales staff directly on 035.32.33.911 or via e-mail at: sales@automa.it. Driver DLL for Super-Flash
Among the various integration possibilities, Super-Flash also makes the DLL driver available. This is a possibility aimed exclusively at programmers, who can therefore create their own communication drivers, additional modules or "virtual" peripherals with which to carry out complex data processing.
This possibility is present as standard in all the Super-Flash Runtime and Royalty-Free licences. In view of the distinctiveness of its technology, in order to illustrate the correct technique for preparing the interface with Super-Flash, Automa proposes a half-day training module at its head office in Gorle. For further information about the DLL drivers, or to book a course, please contact our sales staff directly on 035.32.33.911 or via e-mail at: sales@automa.it. Modem with TCP/IP and I/O stack
Automa proposes the GSM/GPRS modem products made by Erco Gener. Compared to the classic GSM/GPRS modems found on the market, these products have two important features: integrated TCP/IP stack, and availability of I/O which can be managed directly from the modem by means of an extended set of AT controls.
For further information, please contact Automa on number 035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. Low Cost Serial-Ethernet Converters
During plant automation reorganisation and upgrading operations, one tends to replace the old wiring based on serial lines with the Ethernet network.
This operation is often hindered by the presence of peripherals which are not fitted with Ethernet interfaces. In these cases converters can be used which allow direct connection of the devices with RS232/422/485 interfaces to Ethernet. If the existing software uses the standard Windows COM ports, then no modifications are needed: by using Virtual COM ports old software will continue to work in exactly the same way as before. It therefore becomes possible both to "pull" the new Ethernet network, and to keep the old peripherals, if this is reasonable. In these cases, Automa proposes and technically supports some very worthwhile converters, at low costs, able to support TCP, UDP and Virtual COM technologies. The device can be configured via a browser and supports remote update of the firmware. It is available in the RS232 or RS422/485 versions, with one, two or four ports. For further information, please contact Automa on number 035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. July 2008Not only Super-Flash
Not only Super-Flash, a development system to make SCADA/HMI applications, Automa has created numerous other products, again oriented towards the world of industrial automation, monitoring, remote control and laboratories. Among the various products made and proposed by Automa we should like to point out:
MainteX: software for maintenance management Maintenance can be transformed from a cost centre to a profit centre if it is put into the condition of implementing a reliable predictive system. The availability of the operating data lies behind any system of this type. Retrieval of these data is the really weak point of traditional maintenance systems: to be really efficient, data collection must be automatic. Manual collection is too costly and is a potential source of errors. MainteX is a very streamlined product, able to connect up directly with HMI applications to retrieve the data needed to trigger off the maintenance interventions. To allow personalisation and integration to be as complete as possible, MainteX is also available in source format (Visual Basic) Argo: software for control of emissions into the atmosphere, conforming to the Italian reference standards The Italian standards for emission control (DPR 203 of 24-5-1988; DM of 21-12-1995 and subsequent revisions) require a well-defined flow of information, and a series of processing operations which are not available in the standard functions of the SCADA packages. Argo is configurable software which strictly implements the provisions of the standard, guaranteeing those who use it full compliance with the standards. The interface with the equipment or the sizes to be measured takes place using a network of ADAM modules, or the ModBus protocol. SpyLog: software for continual monitoring, conforming to the 21 CFR part 11 SpyLog is configurable software which carries out the function of continual monitoring of analog sizes, typically temperature. It is made in compliance with what is foreseen under the 21 CFR part 11. Its application is above all in the pharmaceutical/hospital sector where there is apparatus with contents of high biological value. In these cases, 24-hour monitoring must be guaranteed, carried out in conformity with the provisions of the standard. Interfacing with the apparatus or the sizes to be measured takes place using specific acquisition modules (iBox), or the ModBus protocol. For further information about these products, please contact our sales staff directly on number +39.035.32.33.911 or via e-mail at: sales@automa.it. Royalty-Free: Loyalty bonus
The initiative, directed at holders of an active updating contract for Super-Flash Royalty-Free, continues and foresees a 10% reduction on all purchases of software products made during the months of July, August and September 2008.
Automa's Super-Flash Royalty-Free proposal is original and unique: with an investment starting from less than € 5,000.00 (the amount depends on the size of the licence, i.e. the number of variables and alarms), you can buy a development system which allows an unlimited number of HMI/SCADA applications to be made completely free of any licence restrictions. The licences can be treated as producer goods, therefore the cost can be amortised over the years. Following a preliminary inquiry by the company providing the service, the purchase can be financed in convenient instalments over a period of 12, 24 or 48 months. For further information on the Royalty-Free version, please contact our sales staff directly on +39.035.32.33.911 or via e-mail at: sales@automa.it. Super-Flash 4.1
Following meetings between Automa and its customers, a development plan has been drawn up which will be publicised in the September AutomaNews. The date forecast for the first Beta version of Super-Flash 4.1 will also be announced. We should like to remind you that, following the massive dose of new performances inserted in the 4.0 version, Automa has fixed a single fundamental objective for the 4.1: a significant reduction (at least 50%!!) in the time needed to develop an application of average complexity.
For further information, please contact Automa on number +39.035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. The Technical Assistance service is going on holiday ...
For the August holidays, the technical assistance service will be suspended from 11th to 29th. However, our offices will only be closed for the period from 11th to 22nd August 2008.
For further information, please contact Automa on number +39.035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. June 2008SmartDB
SmartDB is a product which allows the applications made with Super-Flash to publish, read and process the data of one or several tables of one of more databases, either local or remote. Fully compatible with the ODBC standard, it also offers the possibility of executing SQL commands. It is the ideal instrument for connecting HMI applications with the company information systems. With SmartDB it becomes easy to publish the data, either of operation or of production, destined to be used by means of web applications oriented to the problem.
Noting the difficulty customers have in dedicating large spaces of time to training, and with the aim of helping the initial approach to SmartDB, Automa proposes very short, highly intensive and effective training modules (4 hours), which provide the basic instruments to become immediately operative, or in any case able to carry out further in-depth studies efficiently. The aim of the course is exactly to allow those taking part to save the time which would be needed for self-study. The next course on SmartDB will be held on Wednesday 23 July 2008, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The course is aimed at technicians who know the MicroC language. The cost of the course is € 400.00 + VAT. For bookings, orders or for further information about the course, please contact our sales staff directly on 035.32.33.911, or via e-mail at sales@automa.it. Royalty-Free: Loyalty bonus
2008 is the Royalty-Free year. Automa continues with its original proposal, which has allowed many customers to make supervision and control applications, based on a PC, even in situations strongly conditioned by the cost. Having a Royalty-Free development system available means, for a single installation, not having a basic cost under which you cannot go.
With the Royalty-Free version of Super-Flash, once the cost of the development system has been amortised, there are no further costs for licences on the individual applications. From 2008 the Super-Flash Royalty-Free licences are available in 8 different sizes, starting from 50 up to 30.000 variables; with licence costs which start from less than € 5,000.00!! Within the sphere of its 2008 initiatives, Automa announces a special promotion aimed at Super-Flash customers who are owners of an active software updating contract: a reduction of 10% on all purchases of products made during the months of July, August and September 2008. For further information, please contact our sales staff directly on 035.32.33.911, or via e-mail at sales@automa.it. MicroC
The users of Super-Flash have the possibility of making the applications without having to programme in traditional procedural languages.
Super-Flash however, also makes MicroC, available - a powerful embedded programming environment which uses the C as the reference syntax. MicroC consists of a compiler and a Runtime engine. The compiler is already integrated in both the licences of the development system of Super-Flash. The Runtime engine of MicroC is always integrated for those who possess the Royalty-Free, licence, whereas, when they have to install an application, the users of the Runtime, Licence have the possibility of choosing, according to their needs, the Super-Flash Runtime licence with or without the MicroC engine. Here are some of the characteristics of MicroC:
With MicroC it is possible to:
Since MicroC is already integrated in both the development system licences of Super-Flash, all the users have the possibility of starting to use it right away and without any licence costs. Perhaps because they are worried about the complexity of programming in C, many do not yet use MicroC. This is a real pity because MicroC in no way has the complexity and trickiness of traditional C compilers. Furthermore, being a language at the service of Super-Flash, it is possible to learn to use it in a very gradual way: the first MicroC programme can really just be a couple of lines!! To bring everybody a bit closer to this powerful work tool, and thereby allow them to exploit the advantages offered by MicroC during the month of September, some training events will be planned, both to bring MicroC closer to those who are not using it, and to offer some in-depth information for those who already use it at various levels. To encourage everybody to take part, each event will last just a half day and will be proposed with a low cost formula allowing each person to attend every individual event at a cost of less than € 100.00 per person. The training programme will be worked out so that people can also take part in more than one event We are working to define the dates and these will be communicated officially in the next Automa News. We should therefore like to ask anybody who is interested in the MicroC subject to contact us as soon as possible so that the training plan can be made out in keeping with the effective needs found. To know more and to show your possible interest, you can either contact Automa's staff directly by phone, on 035.32.33.911, or by e-mail at the sales@automa.it. Partnership with R.C.C.
Apart from Super-Flash, a development system for making SCADA/HMI applications, Automa has created numerous other products always aimed at the world of industrial automation, monitoring, remote control and laboratories.
These products have a characteristic in common: communication. In fact, they are all connected, either directly or indirectly, with the physical world. For this reason, in the course of its activity, Automa has carefully selected partners able to provide solutions for communication between intelligent devices. Always attentive to market moves, in 2007 Automa welcomed with satisfaction the birth of R.C.C., a company set up as a distributor of products and solutions for remote control and communication, focused on the Industrial automation and Home automation markets. Basing itself on the more than twenty-year's experience of its founders in the Hi-Tech sector, R.C.C. immediately started distributing products and solutions of excellent level, and created a network of qualified partners able to sell and technically support the products distributed. The partnership between R.C.C. and Automa is the natural outcome of perfect synergy between the two companies: R.C.C. is highly involved in selecting the best communication solutions on the market, whereas Automa is able to help its customers to apply these in the best way in SCADA/HMI systems made using Super-Flash. Modems, industrial switches, ethernet ‹—› serial converters and Wi-Fi products: these are just some of the R.C.C. products which Automa proposes and supports. To enjoy a full overview of these products we suggest visiting the site: www.rccitaly.com. The site is complete, easy to consult and is kept constantly updated. For further information, please contact our sales staff directly on 035.32.33.911, or via e-mail at sales@automa.it. Ethernet-MPI Gateway made by Hilscher
Recently presented at BIAS, the new Hilscher Ethernet/MPI gateway is on its way. This is a product which further develops the strong points of the NetLink products. The new product, which incorporates all the functionalities in a practical DSub "pass through" connector, is able to connect up to 32 PLCs and supports 16 TCP/IP sessions; it incorporates an RJ45 connector with status LED.
For further information, please contact Automa on number 035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address sales@automa.it. Erco & Gener changes motor
Erco & Gener, the French manufacturer of GSM/GPRS and GPRS/GPS modems, has announced that the new Genpro20e-SQB model is now available. Based on a four-band Enfora engine, the new product replaces the GenPro10e being able to offer higher performances at a lower cost. The mechanical characteristics and electric connectivity have been kept unaltered for compatibility
For further information, please contact Automa on number 035.32.33.911 or at the email address:sales@automa.it. May 2008SendSMS
The needs for integration and interaction of the SCADA/HMI applications made using Super-Flash,are becoming increasingly diversified. Automa offers a spectrum of possibilities for connection, both with the field and with the production management level.
Among the various possibilities, Automa proposes SendSMS, a driver which allows a Super-Flash application to send SMS's by means of a GSM modem. The product is supplied both with the Runtime and with the Royalty-Free formula. To encourage the use of SendSMS, Automa is launching a special promotion which also combines a GSM/GPRS modem: for orders placed by and not later than 30/06/2008. For orders, or for further information about the promotion, please contact our sales staff directly on +39.035.32.33.911, or via e-mail at sales@automa.it. Super-Flash Communication with Siemens PLC
The applications made with Super-Flash often need to communicate with the Siemens S7 PLC.
For this purpose, Automa makes different communication possibilities available:
Each of these solutions has its own special features: selection of the most suitable solution is strictly linked to the application requirements and those of the customer. In any case, Automa is able to provide advice, and to supply and technically support all the solutions proposed. In this way, in case of any problems, the customer has a single interlocutor, able to help him identify the problem and find the relative solution. For further information about the promotion, please contact our sales staff directly on +39.035.32.33.911, or via e-mail at sales@automa.it. Super-Flash 4.1 Project
After the May session, the meetings between Automa and its customers, dedicated to the forthcoming 4.1 version of Super-Flash, continue. We remind you that, following the massive amount of new performances introduced in the 4.0, Automa has established a single basic objective for the 4.1: considerable reduction (at least 50%!!) of the time required to develop an average application. Automa, which has always been attentive to the stimuli coming from its own reference market, has selected the new characteristics of the 4.1 version, mainly based on the indications and on the requests made during the last few years by its customers. In order to reaffirm the close link with Super-Flash, users' real needs, Automa has organised some meetings with its customers during the months of May, June and July, dedicated to sharing the updated list of performances which have been thought up to achieve the objectives of the new version. The next meetings will take place at Automa's head office on 18th and 19th June 2008 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Attendance is free of charge but, given the limited number of places available, booking is compulsory.
To book, you can contact our sales staff directly on +39.035.32.33.911, or via e-mail at sales@automa.it. Personalised training
Among its various training services, Automa also proposes a completely personalised solution: the date the course is to be held, the course programme, the level of in-depth study of the subjects, and the methods for providing it, are defined according to the customer's specific requirements. This is a highly flexible service which can be extremely useful for those companies which, with their own technicians continually out in the field, find it difficult to plan structured training based on standard modules and with obligatory dates.
For further information, please contact Automa on number +39.035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. Uteco at Drupa with WAM
The Uteco Group, indisputable leader on the world market of machines for producing flexible packaging, is present with a dynamic and highly technological stand at Drupa 2008 (Düsserdorf, from 29/5/2008 to 11/06/2008). On stand no. E04, Pad. 3, it presents the latest novelties in flexography and rotogravure. The heart of the Stand is the Diamond HP 808 flexographic printer with high productivity and on which printing demonstrations will be given. The machine features a series of technical solutions which place it at the top of the technology available today in the sector. The operator stations of the Uteco machines are fitted with HMI applications based on Super-Flash, which are powerful and user-friendly. Being graphically and operationally very accurate, they offer the operator all the support needed to work efficaciously on the machine. Apart from the on-board machine applications, Uteco also presents a Web Based solution, based on WAM (Web Alarm Manager), for remote management of real-time and historical alarms coming from the various machines spread around the world. By means of SmartDB, each machine application publishes its own data on a remote database on the internet: a personalised version of WAM, called WSSM (Web Service Support Management) allows display and analysis of the published data for Uteco's " 3S" service and its customers.
For further information, please contact Automa on number +39.035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address sales@automa.it. Super-Flash in home automation
Super-Flash is a product which well adapts to the need for being economical and compact for home automation applications. The EIB bus is a standard which is really taking off: Super-Flash can communicate with the EIB by means of the OPC (SFOPC Client) technology. For the more sophisticated applications, the versatility of MicroC also allows the protocols for the specific control devices of the multi-medial part to be integrated easily: lights with variable colours, sounds and video.
For further information, please contact 035.32.33.911 on number +39.035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address sales@automa.it. April 2008SmartDB PromotionThe operator interface and supervision (HMI and SCADA) applications are required more and more often to have the capability of communicating with the higher level software (MES). Database technology is often chosen for this connection between different software applications. Super-Flash 4.1 Project
As announced in the January 2008 Automa News, after issuing the 4.0 version of Super-Flash, Automa is directing its attention to making the 4.1 version. Numerous new functionalities and performances were introduced in the 4.0 version. On the other hand, the 4.1 version will have a single basic objective: considerable reduction (at least 50%!!) of the time required to develop an average application.
Automa, which has always been attentive to the stimuli coming from its own reference market, has selected the new characteristics of the 4.1 version, mainly based on the indications, and on the requests made during the last few years by its customers. In order to reaffirm the close link with Super-Flash, users' real needs, Automa is organizing two dedicated meetings during the month of May, to share with its customers the updated list of performances which have been thought up to achieve the objectives of the new version. The meetings will take place at Automa's head office on 21st and 22nd May 2008 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Attendance is free of charge but, given the limited number of places available, booking is compulsory. To book, you can contact our sales staff directly on +39.035.32.33.911, or via e-mail at sales@automa.it. Conversion of old Super-Flash DOS applications
Super-Flash has been on the market since 1989. The old applications, above all the DOS ones, although working perfectly, have to be updated due to the difficulties in now finding hardware which uses the old operating system.
Passing from a very old version of Super-Flash to a recent one is a possible operation. If there is also a change in the operating system and hardware involved, the conversion operation does, however, require some operations to be carried out which, although of little count, could be complicated by the fact that, for example, the customer no longer has an updated version of the development system available. Automa also offers its own conversion service for old Super-Flash applications. This service can be completed, thanks to collaboration of numerous solution providers present in the various regions of Italy, with assistance in situ, if necessary, for the installation and testing activities of the converted applications. For further information, please contact Automa directly on number +39.035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. EMAF
In Frankfurt, on 14th and 15th May, ARC Advisory Group proposes l'EMAF (European Manufacturing Automation Forum): this is an exclusive series of seminars specially thought up for those who operate professionally in automation of manufacturing industries. People in charge of market leader companies will illustrate the strategies and technologies - both present and future - which are able to offer competitive advantages for manufacturing industry automation.
For further information about EMAF please consult the site: www.arcweb.com/emaf. Long weekend for 1st May
As already mentioned in the last issues of AutomaNews, on Friday 2nd May 2008 the telephone assistance service will be suspended: it will start up again regularly on 5th May.
We remind you that the telephone assistance service can be used every week-day from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to midday and from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. A contract lasting between 2 and 12 months can be stipulated at any time to access the service. Our technicians are available free of charge every Tuesday and Thursday morning from 9:30 a.m. to midday for all holders of at least one Super-Flash licence. For further information, please contact Automa on number 035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. New versions of the S7-HMI and ModBus TCP/IP drivers
For Super-Flash both the S7-HMI driver, for communication in MPI, and the ModBus TCP/IP driver have existed for some time. The new versions of these drivers are now available and have been prepared so that they are adapted to the most recent management of licences which foresees the possibility of using software protection keys or USB, at the customer's choice. These drivers support the new driverless dongles. The licences of the new drivers can be activated on the same USB dongle as the Super-Flash Runtime licence.
The new version of the ModBus driver has been converted from MicroC driver to DLL: the mode of addressing the variables is not compatible with the previous version of the driver. . The Runtime and Royalty-Free versions have been made available in the freedownload and download sections respectively. We remind you that the freedownload section is completely free, whereas the download is reserved for holders of Royalty-Free licences and the relative active updating service. For further information, please contact Automa on number +39.035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. March 2008Parallel dongle replacement service
The Super-Flash Royalty-Free and Runtime licences are available with different protection devices:
The USB keys are available in the classic or DriverLess version. The USB-PD dongles are only available in the DriverLess versions. The USB DriverLess dongle are only managed by the 4.0 version: they are not recognised by previous versions of the Super-Flash development system. Parallel ports have now almost disappeared from PC configurations. For those interested in changing their protection dongle over to a USB dongle a special replacement service is available. With the aim of helping exchange of the old parallel dongles, a special price will be applied for the various replacement options currently available for orders received by the end of the month of April 2008: 2008 is the Royalty-Free year as well as that of appreciation of the most "loyal" companies: the amounts in the Loyalty column are reserved exclusively for those who have activated a software upgrading contract. Attention: the USB dongles are not managed by versions of Super-Flash prior to 3.3! The keys, originals and replacements, are covered by a warranty of 24 months, during which repairs are free of charge: the user only pays the shipping costs for the material. For further information, please contact Automa directly on number +39.035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. Running Super-Flash without installation
Among the many other performances, the possibility of running Super-Flash without having to carry out any prior installation has also been introduced with the 4.0 version.
This ability makes both use of the development system and running applications on any PC very simple. Full configurability of the work areas provided by Super-Flash also allows the exe files to be kept separate from the data files, thereby facilitating, for example, preparation of configurations based on XP/Embedded or direct execution from read-only memory supports (protected memories, CDs, etc.). Any installation made on the PC is therefore converted into a simple copy of files. That means the preparative operations for operating stations destined for the end user are simplified and even local or remote updating operations of the applications are made particularly easy. For further information, please contact Automa directly on number +39.035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. Protections with PenDrive Embedded
Among the various novelties of the 4.0 version of Super-Flash full support for DriverLess USB protection dongles also stands out, and the dongles do not require installation of any specific driver in order for them operate.
The USB dongles are now also available in the version with PenDrive integrated, with capacities which go from 512 Mbyte to 2 Gbyte. At this point an interesting opportunity based on a mix of performances is created:
On a single dongles, which also carries out the function of Runtime or Royalty-Free licence protection key, it is possible to load the whole development system (including the documentation) with the application or applications developed. Everything needed both for development and for execution of Runtime of the applications can reside in a single device. Setting up the backup systems, even complete with the protection device, loaded onto a USB dongle becomes very simple. In the case of any problems with the supervision system, the customer simply inserts the dongle into any PC and can restart the "reserve" application without even having to carry out any installation!! For further information, please contact Automa directly on number +39.035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. Long bank holiday on 1st May
Those who use a SCADA/HMI development system daily know very well that telephone assistance is a precious service. Automa manages this service attentively, providing customers with support given directly by the team of developers. This is a precise choice made by Automa, allowing customers to have the highest possible level of service, which also keeps the development team in direct contact with the application problems actually met with in the field.
The telephone assistance service will be suspended on 2nd May 2008: it will start up again regularly on Monday 5th May. We should like to remind you that the telephone assistance service can be used every weekday from Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to midday and from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. The service can be accessed by stipulating a contract, at any time, lasting for a time varying between 2 and 12 months. For all holders of a Super-Flash licence, our technicians are available free of change every Tuesday and Thursday morning, from 9 a.m. to midday. For further information, please contact Automa directly on number +39.035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. Patch 1 of Super-Flash 4.0
There have been numerous downloads of the new Super-Flash 4.0 version. Automa has collected the various indications coming in from customers and has promptly made patch 1 available, which solves a few anomalies which were noted.
Patch 1 is available in the Download and Freedownload sections of the www.automa.it site: some notes regarding installation and on the bugs removed are contained in the ReadmePatch1.txt file. For further information, please contact Automa directly on number +39.035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. February 2008Super-Flash 4.0: It's here!!
As previously announced in the January News and on completion of a very strict testing programme, the 4.0 version of Super-Flash has been officially released and made available. In the Download and Freedownload sections the Runtime and Royalty-Free versions respectively have been made available. .
We should like to remind you that the Freedownload section is completely free of charge, whereas Downloading is reserved for holders of Royalty-Free licences and their relative active updating service. Starting from next 1/3/2008 the 3.9 version will be officially "retired"! The 4.0 will become to all effects the official current version. A document illustrating the new performances of the version is also provided with the software. Remember that the new performances of the 4.0 were developed along the following main lines:
We invite you all to download the new version of Super-Flash Runtime: the development system is free of charge and fully functional. For further information, you can contact our commercial staff directly by telephone on +39.035.32.33.911 or by e-mail at sales@automa.it. Super-Flash Royalty-Free
Why pay so much each time if you can pay less and just once? This is the truthful slogan with which Automa launched its proposal for a Royalty-Free development system on the market, now almost twenty years ago. It was back in 1989 and there were only a couple of products at international level on the Italian market. Automa took the market by surprise with a proposal which was as innovative as it was shocking. Customers often asked us to repeat whether it was true that there were no Royalties on the applications several times!!
The aim Automa declared was not so much to do with the competition as with widening the market of supervision applications and human-machine interfacing: by taking away the fixed cost of the licence on the applications it became possible to apply supervision in cost-sensitive applications as well. The competitors had no other weapon than that of insinuating doubts: "You"ll see, it won't last long", "Who knows whether it's really true that they don't make you pay Royalties", "When they've got a few customers they'll change and make you pay a cost for every application". Time has done justice and removed all the various doubts there were at that time. Today, twenty years on, Automa still continues as an independent producer, whereas all the competitors of that time either no longer exist, or have been sold and operate today, basically, at the service of an international group, often creating more than a few problems for their customers. After twenty years the Royalty-Free, version still exists and thrives today and has allowed many Automa customers to make countless applications by being able to take advantage of the lack of fixed costs for the applications. Automa now completely renews that proposal, offering the possibility of Royalty-Free licences "by Sizes" which go from a minimum dimension of 50 variables and 50 alarms, up to 30,000 variables and 30,000 alarms. Talking about variables, it is important to note that, unlike the other SCADA products currently on the market, the Super-Flash variables can each reach and contain up to 256 Byte!! The Royalty-Free licence of the Super-Flash development system with 50 variables and 50 alarms is proposed at a cost of € 4,950.00 + VAT! And that''s not all: a Royalty-Free development system is, by definition, a producer good: Automa offers a financing service on the purchase with payments in instalments over 12, 24 or 48 months. This service is subject to the good outcome of a preliminary enquiry carried out by the finance company which allocates the loan. For further information, you can contact our commercial staff directly by telephone on +39.035.32.33.911 or by e-mail at sales@automa.it. New March 2008 Price List
SThere really are a lot of novelties in the new March 2008 Price List. We shall just mention a few of these, leaving it up to each of you to enjoy finding out the details of all the other novelties.
New Super-Flash Royalty-Free Licence Proposal by sizes. This is one of the major novelties in Automa's commercial policy for 2008. The Price List presents this interesting and innovative proposal, both in the sections dedicated to the development system and in those destined to illustrate the services offered. Creation of two new sizes for:
The Runtime size with 50 variables and 50 alarms is the Entry-Level version and costs from € 300.00. Since the maximum capacity of each variable has practically doubled, this means that the current version with 50 variables is about equal to the version with 100 variables of the 3.9, with the price reduced by approximately 35%! The largest Royalty-Free size with 30,000 variables and 30,000 alarms is the TOP version: this is particularly interesting because, apart from enlarging the capacities, it already includes the Royalty-Free licence of the SmartDB and WAM products in the cost. Protections for USB driverless and with Pen Drive incorporated For the protections relative to the Super-Flash Runtime e Royalty-Free licence, two new versions of the USB key have been adopted: driverless (USB-DL) and with Pen Drive incorporated (USB-PD). The USB-DL protection does not require installation of a driver to manage the key. This means it is easier to use Super-Flash on a generic PC, as there is no longer the need to install drivers for management of the USB key. The USB-PD protection, with Pen Drive incorporated, allows the protection device to be used as a storage back-up, for up to 2 Gbyte. In view of the traditional compactness of Super-Flash, at this point it is possible to load the whole development system, with relative documentation and with the customer's application, or applications, onto a single "key". Everything needed to operate Super-Flash both as a development system and as Runtime can be stored in the key. The developer can easily use the USB-PD protection as the only device in which to keep all the applications developed. This same device will greatly facilitate organisation of backup systems for the Runtime systems as well: in the case of a fault, the customer inserts the key in any PC and can start the "reserve" application again, without even carrying out its installation!! To know more about these and other novelties in the New March 2008 Price List, simply ask for it on number +39.035.32.33.911 or by e-mail at sales@automa.it: we will send it to you promptly. Loyalty Prize
2008 is the Royalty-Free year. Automa is setting up a series of initiatives aimed at rewarding the most loyal Royalty-Free customers. The initiatives will particularly regard Super-Flash Royalty-Free Customers:
You can already see from the 2008 Price List that the passages in size for the Royalty-Free licences provide a favourable deal for those who have an active updating service. For those who have underwritten the updating service for more than 5 years, Automa is preparing a specific promotion aimed both at encouraging a possible transfer to the TOP version, and to offer some advantages for purchases of products and services made during 2008. For further information, you can contact our commercial staff directly by telephone on +39.035.32.33.911 or by e-mail at sales@automa.it. Distinguishing marks? ... beautiful!
In combination with modems and protocol converters, Automa also proposes some feeders on DIN rails as useful accessories. Apart from their traditional reliability, these feeders are also constructed with particular care.
Here are some of their interesting features:
For further information, please contact Automa on number +39.035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. USB Gateway for Profibus and MPI
Automa offers some complete communication solutions. Thanks to agreements made with some of the most well-known producers of connection devices, it can supply both the hardware and the software, offering valid technical support in addition to this. External gateways can be used when it is not possible, or not appropriate, to house a card inside the supervision PC. The new USB100PFB gateway has come about precisely to suitably support these needs as well. Perfectly compatible with the Applicom server and with the DirectLink series, this allows the USB interface to be used to connect up to MPI or ProfiBus devices. The standard Applicom driver, already integrated as inborn in Super-Flash, manages all the various solutions available, allowing the user to exchange the various communication devices as they like without the need to modify the application.
For further information, please contact Automa on number +39.035.32.33.911 or at the e-mail address: sales@automa.it. |