Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/01/2010 -- While the numerator was different, the technology solution selected by each company, the denominator, was remarkably consistent. Chuck Karwoski, President of Cimquest INGEAR was not surprised as this journalist shared the eclectic nature of these responses. Karwoski suggested, "Companies are not only turning to INGEAR but to Microsoft Visual Studio .NET as a real solution to fit their needs. Customers recognize the speed, power, flexibility and cost reducing benefits that INGEAR software adds to the manufacturing environment. At the same time, Visual Studio .NET is an open development platform that is the backbone of any IT department and is supported with thousands of books, college courses, web sites, third party add-ons and components. It means the customer is not boxed in by the limitations of current automation software offerings on the market." Manufacturing Journalist, TR Cutler, recently interviewed eight distinct companies about technology, efficiency, and automation trends. The article appears in the current issue of AutomationMedia.com.

Here is the line-up of professionals and companies interviewed:
• Jim Feeney is VP of F&A Data Systems, Inc., based in East Brunswick, New Jersey. The company produces Controls and Systems for Warehousing and Distribution.

• Tim McGuire is President & CEO of MicroCODE, Inc., based in Troy, Michigan. The company is best known for software development and control engineering.

• Laz Temimi, Automation and Control Engineer for Olympus Automation based in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. The company adopted a lean approach to engineering to develop products and services that are more sustainable.

• Randal Boyd is a Software Engineer for Special Devices Inc., based in Mesa, Arizona. The company is solutions provider for precision engineered energetic devices.

• Rhett Spencer is the owner of Spencer Systems based in Heber City, Utah.

• Al Barnard is owner of True Logic Group, with a primary focus on the development of Data Collection & Control Systems for industrial equipment. The company is based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

• Jeff Zerr, Director of Engineering for United Sortation Solutions based in Owings Mills, Maryland brings together the best solutions for the material handling industry.

• Mike Sluz, Electrical Superintendant for Wynndel Box & Lumber based in Wynndel, British Columbia, Canada. The firm is a specialty wood product manufacturer.

So that is the team. Each of these individuals for each of these companies performed one act in common, regardless of industry sector, geography, title or function.

Each Googled the phrase ".NET PLC driver" which lead them to www.ingeardrivers.com.

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

• one of which manages the PLC,
• one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
• one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

The better the information plant personnel have regarding operations, the greater the ability to manage costs, output, quality, and ultimately – profitability. Some of the most valuable data lies within the programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that automate assembly lines. Manufacturers typically deploy PLCs machine-by-machine, however, accessing that data can be a real challenge.

Recognizing the growing importance of this data, manufacturers are looking to integrate plant floor operations with enterprise applications; PLC vendors have been offering solutions to improve communications with their devices. Rockwell Automation, a world leading manufacturer of PLCs, offers its customers a software connectivity solution built on the Object Linking and Embedding for Process Control (OPC) standard to enable connectivity between human machine interface (HMI) software packages and Allen Bradley PLCs. One OPC connectivity solution, which Rockwell Software offers is its RSLinx software. The RSLinx connector is an OPC Data Access 2.0 compliant server that provides communication services for Rockwell Automation's Allen-Bradley brand of PLCs.

Once a user builds an interface application with an HMI development tool, the RSLinx software provides the drivers and other connectivity components that enable communications with the PLC. Users are then required to purchase individual RSLinx copies for every machine on which they wanted to run their application, along with annual software maintenance fees for each cop. An off-the-shelf Microsoft.NET technology solution enables manufactures to develop an open standard HMI, using user-friendly tools.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/30/2010 -- Manufacturing Journalist, TR Cutler, recently interviewed eight distinct companies about technology, efficiency, and automation trends. The article appears in the current issue of Automation.com.

Here is the line-up of professionals and companies interviewed:
• Jim Feeney is VP of F&A Data Systems, Inc., based in East Brunswick, New Jersey. The company produces Controls and Systems for Warehousing and Distribution.
• Tim McGuire is President & CEO of MicroCODE, Inc., based in Troy, Michigan. The company is best known for software development and control engineering.
• Laz Temimi, Automation and Control Engineer for Olympus Automation based in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. The company adopted a lean approach to engineering to develop products and services that are more sustainable.
• Randal Boyd is a Software Engineer for Special Devices Inc., based in Mesa, Arizona. The company is solutions provider for precision engineered energetic devices.
• Rhett Spencer is the owner of Spencer Systems based in Heber City, Utah.
• Al Barnard is owner of True Logic Group, with a primary focus on the development of Data Collection & Control Systems for industrial equipment. The company is based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
• Jeff Zerr, Director of Engineering for United Sortation Solutions based in Owings Mills, Maryland brings together the best solutions for the material handling industry.
• Mike Sluz, Electrical Superintendant for Wynndel Box & Lumber based in Wynndel, British Columbia, Canada. The firm is a specialty wood product manufacturer.

While the numerator was different, the technology solution selected by each company, the denominator, was remarkably consistent. Chuck Karwoski, President of Cimquest INGEAR was not surprised as this journalist shared the eclectic nature of these responses. Karwoski suggested, "Companies are not only turning to INGEAR but to Microsoft Visual Studio .NET as a real solution to fit their needs. Customers recognize the speed, power, flexibility and cost reducing benefits that INGEAR software adds to the manufacturing environment. At the same time, Visual Studio .NET is an open development platform that is the backbone of any IT department and is supported with thousands of books, college courses, web sites, third party add-ons and components. It means the customer is not boxed in by the limitations of current automation software offerings on the market."

So that is the team. Each of these individuals for each of these companies performed one act in common, regardless of industry sector, geography, title or function. Each Googled the phrase ".NET PLC driver" which lead them to www.ingeardrivers.com.

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

• one of which manages the PLC,
• one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
• one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

The better the information plant personnel have regarding operations, the greater the ability to manage costs, output, quality, and ultimately – profitability. Some of the most valuable data lies within the programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that automate assembly lines. Manufacturers typically deploy PLCs machine-by-machine, however, accessing that data can be a real challenge.

Recognizing the growing importance of this data, manufacturers are looking to integrate plant floor operations with enterprise applications; PLC vendors have been offering solutions to improve communications with their devices. Rockwell Automation, a world leading manufacturer of PLCs, offers its customers a software connectivity solution built on the Object Linking and Embedding for Process Control (OPC) standard to enable connectivity between human machine interface (HMI) software packages and Allen Bradley PLCs. One OPC connectivity solution, which Rockwell Software offers is its RSLinx software. The RSLinx connector is an OPC Data Access 2.0 compliant server that provides communication services for Rockwell Automation's Allen-Bradley brand of PLCs.

Once a user builds an interface application with an HMI development tool, the RSLinx software provides the drivers and other connectivity components that enable communications with the PLC. Users are then required to purchase individual RSLinx copies for every machine on which they wanted to run their application, along with annual software maintenance fees for each cop. An off-the-shelf Microsoft.NET technology solution enables manufactures to develop an open standard HMI, using user-friendly tools.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/28/2010 -- The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

Special Devices, Inc. uses INGEAR technology to derive many benefits. The process…
- Installed the In Gear software for each PLC family they were going to talk to.
- Net.ABlink
- Net.Logix
- Allen Bradley OCX

- Configured Each PLC in a test environment (In out test lab)
AB 5, 500, 5000 and the 1400

- Wrote and deployed some simple .net applications using INGEAR to run on the test PC allowing the company to set and get data from the PLC's.
- Once satisfied with the results, adding monitoring to the code and hooked to production equipment.
- After a short time gaining the confidence to add Setting values and well as monitoring.

The phrase ".NET PLC driver" lead Randal Boyd, Software Engineer for Special Devices Inc. to www.ingeardrivers.com. According to Boyd, the challenges Special Devices, Inc. faced that caused the initial conversation with INGEAR included:

- Equipment control obsolescence.
PLCs and PCs that no longer communicated with current systems; therefore impossible to upgrade.

- The crippling affect of PC cards and preparatory hardware. (Boyd needed to break the links that bound the proprietary hardware such as ISA cards.)

While Special Devices looked at other technology solutions, Boyd noted, "Many systems were already dated. The Idea of upgrading to something less old does not make sense, it should be current. With INGEAR I found there was a short learning curve, with ease of integration into my existing software."

Boyd said there were three primary benefits derived from using INGEAR:

- Greatly reduced the time from requirements elicitation to production.
- Allowed reuse of exiting MMI code.
- Simplified the systems to a supportable level.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/27/2010 -- The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

MicroCODE President and CEO, Tim McGuire found INGEAR (http://www.ingeardrivers.com) out of an error proofing requirement.

According to McGuire, "The challenges MicroCODE, Inc. faced that caused the initial conversation with INGEAR were based in the fact that existing HMI products from Allen-Bradley, Siemens, and others, are closed systems. If you can't build your desired user interface with their canned controls you're basically out of luck.

MicroCODE executives envisioned a very comprehensive Error Proofing system for General Motors that would require five (5) things:

• Complete control for the graphical interface
• Low cost
• High Speed
• Independence from a proprietary controls system
• I/O flexibility

MicroCODE's unique challenges involved selling the Windows CE solutions with custom Applications as a preferred solution within General Motors.

While MicroCode staff evaluated Allen-Bradley RSView SE, Siemens WinCE HMIs, and some OPC software solutions, the simplicity of building Visual C# .NET applications with INGEAR's drivers sold the company. The company purchased two (2) INGEAR products:

• NET.LOGIX (XP version) Developer's License

• NET.LOGIX (CE version) Developer's License

McGuire discussed the benefits and quantifiable improvements did MicroCODE, Inc. experienced as a result of working with INGEAR commenting, "Proficiency with Windows CE, .NET applications integrated to a controls environment has opened opportunities for our company that were not there before, it has differentiate us from our competitors in this space. The drivers just work, as advertised, and their performance is excellent."

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/23/2010 -- Manufacturing Journalist, TR Cutler, recently interviewed eight distinct companies about technology, efficiency, and automation trends. The article appears in the current issue of Automation.com. While the numerator was different, the technology solution selected by each company, the denominator, was remarkably consistent. Chuck Karwoski, President of Cimquest INGEAR was not surprised as this journalist shared the eclectic nature of these responses. Karwoski suggested, "Companies are not only turning to INGEAR but to Microsoft Visual Studio .NET as a real solution to fit their needs. Customers recognize the speed, power, flexibility and cost reducing benefits that INGEAR software adds to the manufacturing environment. At the same time, Visual Studio .NET is an open development platform that is the backbone of any IT department and is supported with thousands of books, college courses, web sites, third party add-ons and components. It means the customer is not boxed in by the limitations of current automation software offerings on the market."

Here is the line-up of professionals and companies interviewed:
• Jim Feeney is VP of F&A Data Systems, Inc., based in East Brunswick, New Jersey. The company produces Controls and Systems for Warehousing and Distribution.

• Tim McGuire is President & CEO of MicroCODE, Inc., based in Troy, Michigan. The company is best known for software development and control engineering.

• Laz Temimi, Automation and Control Engineer for Olympus Automation based in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. The company adopted a lean approach to engineering to develop products and services that are more sustainable.

• Randal Boyd is a Software Engineer for Special Devices Inc., based in Mesa, Arizona. The company is solutions provider for precision engineered energetic devices.

• Rhett Spencer is the owner of Spencer Systems based in Heber City, Utah.

• Al Barnard is owner of True Logic Group, with a primary focus on the development of Data Collection & Control Systems for industrial equipment. The company is based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

• Jeff Zerr, Director of Engineering for United Sortation Solutions based in Owings Mills, Maryland brings together the best solutions for the material handling industry.

• Mike Sluz, Electrical Superintendant for Wynndel Box & Lumber based in Wynndel, British Columbia, Canada. The firm is a specialty wood product manufacturer.

So that is the team. Each of these individuals for each of these companies performed one act in common, regardless of industry sector, geography, title or function.

Each Googled the phrase ".NET PLC driver" which lead them to www.ingeardrivers.com.

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

• one of which manages the PLC,
• one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
• one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

The better the information plant personnel have regarding operations, the greater the ability to manage costs, output, quality, and ultimately – profitability. Some of the most valuable data lies within the programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that automate assembly lines. Manufacturers typically deploy PLCs machine-by-machine, however, accessing that data can be a real challenge.

Recognizing the growing importance of this data, manufacturers are looking to integrate plant floor operations with enterprise applications; PLC vendors have been offering solutions to improve communications with their devices. Rockwell Automation, a world leading manufacturer of PLCs, offers its customers a software connectivity solution built on the Object Linking and Embedding for Process Control (OPC) standard to enable connectivity between human machine interface (HMI) software packages and Allen Bradley PLCs. One OPC connectivity solution, which Rockwell Software offers is its RSLinx software. The RSLinx connector is an OPC Data Access 2.0 compliant server that provides communication services for Rockwell Automation's Allen-Bradley brand of PLCs.

Once a user builds an interface application with an HMI development tool, the RSLinx software provides the drivers and other connectivity components that enable communications with the PLC. Users are then required to purchase individual RSLinx copies for every machine on which they wanted to run their application, along with annual software maintenance fees for each cop. An off-the-shelf Microsoft.NET technology solution enables manufactures to develop an open standard HMI, using user-friendly tools.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/21/2010 -- Laz Temimi, automation and control engineer with Olympus Automation emphasized, "I have over 30 years experience and Net. Logix by INGEAR is by far more flexible than any other product I have seen in the market."

Olympus Automation faced several challenges that caused the initial conversation with INGEAR (www.ingeardrivers.com.) The INGEAR solution allowed the company to address these issues:

• Enterprise and shop floor ASP.NET application to communicate with various AB Control Logix PLCs over an Ethernet network.

• Window services to read and update data from various Control Logix PLCs over an Ethernet network.

• Window communication foundation services hosted in window services, IIS and console application to communicate with various Control Logix PLCs over an Ethernet network. This enables outside of the application clients to connect and communicate with a number of PLCs over the network.

• To formulate and design Dot net classes that get data from a SQL server database using LINQ to SQL and download data to various Control Logix PLCs over an Ethernet network.

• To design and implement a "Tags server" service which update a tag table in a SQL server database. These data are used by various clients.

• To minimize the number of connections to the various PLCs over the network

Temimi discussed the unique differentiators available only from INGEAR, noting, "By far the most unique feature about INGEAR NET.Logix is that it is like a chameleon it can be embedded "everywhere". This flexibility has been the key to the project success. Only one developer license is required. Other solutions would have needed several licenses and with INGEAR there is a freedom to have a design to suit the customer requirements rather than a design that suits the OPC servers then the customer's requirements. It was also beneficial that INGEAR demonstrated the ability to design wrapper classes with required functionality."

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/21/2010 -- The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

Googling the phrase ".NET PLC driver" lead Rhett Spencer of Heber City, UT, Spencer Systems to http://www.ingeardrivers.com.

According to Spencer, "Our first project using INGEAR was to provide a simple user interface to operate a string of lights near the top of a mountain in Utah. The lights illuminated the large letter for the school below. In the past someone had to hike or take an off road vehicle up to the lights to turn them on and off. The proposal was to create a simple C# web application that anyone with the correct username and password could operate the lights using a computer or cell phone web browser."

INGEAR had just the technology Spencer Systems required to communicate with Visual Studio and the Micrologix 1100 controller located on the mountain side and connected via WiFi radios.

"Our second challenge was the monitoring of a PLC network that was spread across hundreds of square miles of Utah mountains and valleys. Connected together via fiber optic cable, Wifi Radios, Cat5, Controlnet, Data Highway and numerous ethernet switches and patch panels, and making this data available via an OPC server that any HMI could utilize it. The idea was to try to monitor as many devices and network paths as possible in order to speed up the troubleshooting time when a network problem arose. We again chose INGEAR as one of our technology partners and utilized their NET.ABLINK and NET.LOGIX class libraries as we had a mixture of new and old PLC's to monitor," noted Spencer.

The company was attempting to do this without adding programming to the existing PLC's. This was working great with the older PLC but when it came to the newer controllogix the company was stuck, and it looked like they were going to have to add programming; it looked like they would not be able to have the status desired when the PLC was in program or faulted. After talking to INGEAR, there was an appropriate update; the needed functionality was up and running within a couple of weeks.

"INGEAR's .NET class libraries worked seamlessly with our OPC server and HMI systems, our project was finished and is working as advertised," enthused Spencer.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/15/2010 -- The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

Googling the phrase ".NET PLC driver" lead F & A Data Systems, vice president, Jim Feeney to http://www.ingeardrivers.com. According to Feeney, "F& A Data Systems develops Warehousing and Material Handling Control Solutions. Our primary clients are retailers. We have software that controls everything from small automated packaging lines to large-scale conveyor, sortation and monorail systems. Our software extends to the management of Shipping, Receiving, Packing, Storage and Retrieval, and e-Commerce Fulfillment operations. For some of our clients, everything that happens within their Distribution Center is controlled through our software. Historically we've run on mid-scale UNIX machines like IBM's AIX based P-Series Servers. Within that platform, our software made use of Rockwell's Interchange Software product to provide communication between our server and the material handling systems under our control. The conveyor systems were controlled by Allen Bradley PLC, SLC, ControlLogix, and MicroLogix processors."

Before selecting INGEAR Feeney looked to see how the firm could interface with those processes that would accommodate the smaller systems. Fenney noted, "We wanted to employ embedded communication drivers rather than Rockwell's RSLinx or a similar style of OPC communication service like Kepware. We wished to avoid the overhead of that type of solution and we also wanted more direct control rather than the "black box" approach of RSLinx. Key to our approach in the UNIX systems was Interchange's ability to receive unsolicited messages directly from the PLC. An unsolicited message is sent by the conveyor's processor (say a PLC-5) to us to notify us immediately of an event that needs attention, such as a carton on the conveyor system. Without unsolicited messages, our software would have to periodically poll the conveyor's processor looking for new events. To provide the best possible response time, you'd have to poll very quickly- but that's a network beater. Polling slower is more network polite, but the trade off would be a time lag in sensing the event. Using Unsolicited Messages provides the best response with no network impact."

F&A Data Systems is a small company competing in an industry with some large players. The firm currently uses ABLink and Logix products for communicating with Allen Bradley processors.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/14/2010 -- The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

Googling the phrase ".NET PLC driver" lead United Sortation Solutions, Director of Engineering, Jeff Zerr to www.ingeardrivers.com. According to Zerr the challenges United Sortation Solutions faced included, "Exchanging a wide variety of information between an Allen-Bradley Control Logix PLC and a custom PC application. Along with that, we needed to minimize communication delays, as well as development time."

Before selecting INGEAR Zerr looked at alternatives, noting, "We looked at basic TCP messaging, as well as having the PLC communicate directly with our SQL database. We also looked at INGEAR competitors and OPC servers." He went on to say, "It's always helpful to have a trial version so we can test it out. During the pre-sales phase, everyone at INGEAR was very helpful, including extending my initial trial license. But the most important thing for us from a technical point of view is having direct access to the PLC tags. It's very fast and flexible. It's almost like being on the same backplane as the PLC with dual port ram access."

The company used both ActiveX Studio 6.0 and NET.LOGIX 2.0. In both cases, the firm developed code using the trial license as part of the test. All the while, other options and competing products were consider, but consistently found INGEAR to offer the best value – including features, price, documentation and support.

Real cost-savings were realized. "The Ingear product allows us to have all of the technical features we need, most notably fast and flexible data exchange. While at the same time, we can quickly configure a custom system and shorten our development cycle," praised Zerr.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/10/2010 -- INGEAR had just the technology Spencer Systems required to communicate with Visual Studio and the Micrologix 1100 controller located on the mountain side and connected via WiFi radios.

Googling the phrase ".NET PLC driver" lead Rhett Spencer of Heber City, UT, Spencer Systems to www.ingeardrivers.com.

According to Spencer, "Our first project using INGEAR was to provide a simple user interface to operate a string of lights near the top of a mountain in Utah. The lights illuminated the large letter for the school below. In the past someone had to hike or take an off road vehicle up to the lights to turn them on and off. The proposal was to create a simple C# web application that anyone with the correct username and password could operate the lights using a computer or cell phone web browser."

"Our second challenge was the monitoring of a PLC network that was spread across hundreds of square miles of Utah mountains and valleys. Connected together via fiber optic cable, Wifi Radios, Cat5, Controlnet, Data Highway and numerous ethernet switches and patch panels, and making this data available via an OPC server that any HMI could utilize it. The idea was to try to monitor as many devices and network paths as possible in order to speed up the troubleshooting time when a network problem arose. We again chose INGEAR as one of our technology partners and utilized their NET.ABLINK and NET.LOGIX class libraries as we had a mixture of new and old PLC's to monitor," noted Spencer.

The company was attempting to do this without adding programming to the existing PLC's. This was working great with the older PLC but when it came to the newer controllogix the company was stuck, and it looked like they were going to have to add programming; it looked like they would not be able to have the status desired when the PLC was in program or faulted. After talking to INGEAR, there was an appropriate update; the needed functionality was up and running within a couple of weeks.

"INGEAR's .NET class libraries worked seamlessly with our OPC server and HMI systems, our project was finished and is working as advertised," enthused Spencer.

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/09/2010 -- MicroCODE executives envisioned a very comprehensive Error Proofing system for General Motors that would require five (5) things:

• Complete control for the graphical interface
• Low cost
• High Speed
• Independence from a proprietary controls system
• I/O flexibility

These requirements lead MicroCODE President and CEO, Tim McGuire, to INGEAR (http://www.ingeardrivers.com).

According to McGuire, "The challenges MicroCODE, Inc. faced that caused the initial conversation with INGEAR were based in the fact that existing HMI products from Allen-Bradley, Siemens, and others, are closed systems. If you can't build your desired user interface with their canned controls you're basically out of luck."

MicroCODE's unique challenges involved selling the Windows CE solutions with custom Applications as a preferred solution within General Motors.

While MicroCode staff evaluated Allen-Bradley RSView SE, Siemens WinCE HMIs, and some OPC software solutions, the simplicity of building Visual C# .NET applications with INGEAR's drivers sold the company. The company purchased two (2) INGEAR products:

• NET.LOGIX (XP version) Developer's License
• NET.LOGIX (CE version) Developer's License

McGuire discussed the benefits and quantifiable improvements did MicroCODE, Inc. experienced as a result of working with INGEAR commenting, "Proficiency with Windows CE, .NET applications integrated to a controls environment has opened opportunities for our company that were not there before, it has differentiate us from our competitors in this space. The drivers just work, as advertised, and their performance is excellent."

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/03/2010 -- The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

An OPC Server is a software application that acts as an API (Application Programming Interface) or protocol converter. An OPC Server will connect to a device such as a PLC, DCS, RTU, or a data source such as a database or User interface, and translate the data into a standard-based OPC format. OPC compliant applications such as a HMI (Human Machine Interface), historian, spreadsheet, trending application, etc can connect to the OPC Server and use it to read and write device data. An OPC Server is analogous to the role a printer driver plays to enable a computer to communicate with an ink jet printer. An OPC Server is based on Server/Client architecture.

OPC is an industry standard created with the collaboration of a number of leading worldwide automation hardware and software suppliers. The standard defines methods for exchanging real-time automation data between PC-based clients. The organization that manages this standard is the OPC Foundation.

The application of the OPC standard interface makes possible interoperability between automation/control applications, field systems/devices and business/office applications. "Traditionally, each software or application developer was required to write a custom interface, or server/driver, to exchange data with hardware field devices. OPC eliminates this requirement by defining a common, high performance interface that permits this work to be done once, and then easily reused by HMI, SCADA, Control and custom applications.

An OPC Server is often referred to as an OPC Driver. The two terms are synonymous. INGEAR offers OPC Servers that support the following:

ALLEN-BRADLEY OPC
- ControlLogix / CompactLogix
- MicroLogix 1000 / 1200 / 1400 / 1500
- SLC Family
- PLC-5 Family
- Ethernet / Ethernet/IP
- ControlLogix Gateway
- Data Highway PLUS
- Data Highway 485
- Serial DF1

MODBUS OPC
. TCP/IP
- RTU (Serial)
- ASCII (Serial)
- MODBUS PLUS

GE-FANUC OPC
- SRTP Ethernet
- PAC System Rx7i
- PAC System Rx3i
- Series 90
- Series 30
- Versa Max

OMRON OPC
- CS / CJ / CM and CQ Family
- C200 Series Family
- C Series Family
- Ethernet
- Serial

The better the information plant personnel have regarding operations, the greater the ability to manage costs, output, quality, and ultimately – profitability. Some of the most valuable data lies within the programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that automate assembly lines. Manufacturers typically deploy PLCs machine-by-machine, however, accessing that data can be a real challenge.

Recognizing the growing importance of this data, manufacturers are looking to integrate plant floor operations with enterprise applications; PLC vendors have been offering solutions to improve communications with their devices. Rockwell Automation, a world leading manufacturer of PLCs, offers its customers a software connectivity solution built on the Object Linking and Embedding for Process Control (OPC) standard to enable connectivity between human machine interface (HMI) software packages and Allen Bradley PLCs. One OPC connectivity solution, which Rockwell Software offers is its RSLinx software. The RSLinx connector is an OPC Data Access 2.0 compliant server that provides communication services for Rockwell Automation's Allen-Bradley brand of PLCs.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/02/2010 -- F & A Data Systems, vice president, Jim Feeney recently noted, "F& A Data Systems develops Warehousing and Material Handling Control Solutions. Our primary clients are retailers. We have software that controls everything from small automated packaging lines to large-scale conveyor, sortation and monorail systems. Our software extends to the management of Shipping, Receiving, Packing, Storage and Retrieval, and e-Commerce Fulfillment operations. For some of our clients, everything that happens within their Distribution Center is controlled through our software. Historically we've run on mid-scale UNIX machines like IBM's AIX based P-Series Servers. Within that platform, our software made use of Rockwell's Interchange Software product to provide communication between our server and the material handling systems under our control. The conveyor systems were controlled by Allen Bradley PLC, SLC, ControlLogix, and MicroLogix processors."

Before selecting INGEAR http://www.ingeardrivers.com, Feeney looked to see how the firm could interface with those processes that would accommodate the smaller systems. Fenney noted, "We wanted to employ embedded communication drivers rather than Rockwell's RSLinx or a similar style of OPC communication service like Kepware. We wished to avoid the overhead of that type of solution and we also wanted more direct control rather than the "black box" approach of RSLinx. Key to our approach in the UNIX systems was Interchange's ability to receive unsolicited messages directly from the PLC. An unsolicited message is sent by the conveyor's processor (say a PLC-5) to us to notify us immediately of an event that needs attention, such as a carton on the conveyor system. Without unsolicited messages, our software would have to periodically poll the conveyor's processor looking for new events. To provide the best possible response time, you'd have to poll very quickly- but that's a network beater. Polling slower is more network polite, but the trade off would be a time lag in sensing the event. Using Unsolicited Messages provides the best response with no network impact."

F&A Data Systems is a small company competing in an industry with some large players. The firm currently uses ABLink and Logix products for communicating with Allen Bradley processors.

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Wynndel Box and Lumber Electrical Superintendent Talks About Real-Time Quality Control with Help from INGEAR Products

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/02/2010 -- Wynndel staff has found the INGEAR product line to be very useful but its flexibility has shown that it has many uses that were not anticipated. Googling the phrase ".NET PLC driver" lead Mike Sluz, Electrical Superintendant for Wynndel Box & Lumber to www.ingeardrivers.com.

According to Sluz, "Our Company, Wynndel Box & Lumber a specialty wood product manufacturer, faced the original challenge of displaying real time error messages and production data at various workstations around our plant. Realizing, through a bit of research, that we could use the INGEAR products to help gather data from numerous Allen Bradley PLC's in our plant, we created various programs that use the INGEAR.ABLink.Net, INGEAR.Net.LogixCF, and INGEAR.Net.Logix. INGEAR was used to replace the need to purchase and install multiple RSLinx licenses at greater than $1100.00 per workstation."

Wynndel found that after using the INGEAR products to create real time error message and production displays on operator workstations (as well supervisory workstations) they also found other uses for the INGEAR product. "We use of a wireless handheld iPaq 110 to remotely gather data for real time quality control checks from any location on our plant site. Next we intend to build another wireless handheld to alert maintenance personal about problems or potential problems by displaying machine center errors and data, such as temperature, vibration, tank levels, voltage monitor, and current levels. With INGEAR products we can write programs to utilize any information or modify data from any PLC," enthused Sluz.

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/01/2010 -- Special Devices, Inc. uses INGEAR technology to derive many benefits. The process…

- Installed the In Gear software for each PLC family they were going to talk to.
*Net.ABlink
* Net.Logix
* Allen Bradley OCX

- Configured Each PLC in a test environment (In out test lab)
AB 5, 500, 5000 and the 1400

- Wrote and deployed some simple .net applications using INGEAR to run on the test PC allowing the company to set and get data from the PLC's.
- Once satisfied with the results, adding monitoring to the code and hooked to production equipment.
- After a short time gaining the confidence to add Setting values and well as monitoring.

The phrase ".NET PLC driver" lead Randal Boyd, Software Engineer for Special Devices Inc. to www.ingeardrivers.com. According to Boyd, the challenges Special Devices, Inc. faced that caused the initial conversation with INGEAR included:

- Equipment control obsolescence.
PLCs and PCs that no longer communicated with current systems; therefore impossible to upgrade.

- The crippling affect of PC cards and preparatory hardware. (Boyd needed to break the links that bound the proprietary hardware such as ISA cards.)

While Special Devices looked at other technology solutions, Boyd noted, "Many systems were already dated. The Idea of upgrading to something less old does not make sense, it should be current. With INGEAR I found there was a short learning curve, with ease of integration into my existing software."

Boyd said there were three primary benefits derived from using INGEAR:

- Greatly reduced the time from requirements elicitation to production.
- Allowed reuse of exiting MMI code.
- Simplified the systems to a supportable level.

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/27/2010 -- INGEAR strongly emphasized how important it is that customers keep and renew an annual subscription to stay current with the latest new product features and updates.

A Yearly Subscription Includes:

- Product Upgrades (Major/Minor)
- Live Phone Support (Toll Free in US/Canada)
- Priority Help Desk response
- Unlimited e-mail support
- Special Offers and Promotions
- Invitations to Beta Releases of new product

INGEAR (http://www.ingeardrivers.com) invests heavily in software development to insure applications continue to run with current automation and Microsoft technologies. The company also updates software titles by adding new capabilities, features, and functionality to enhance the application's performance.

Automation vendors continually change, update, and improve hardware, controllers, and devices. Microsoft improves their operating systems, compilers, and languages through new releases and service packs. All these changes can severely impact how current or future INGEAR applications run and behave.

The better the information plant personnel have regarding operations, the greater the ability to manage costs, output, quality, and ultimately – profitability. Some of the most valuable data lies within the programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that automate assembly lines. Manufacturers typically deploy PLCs machine-by-machine, however, accessing that data can be a real challenge.

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/27/2010 -- Googling the phrase ".NET PLC driver" lead Laz Temimi, automation and control engineer with Olympus Automation to www.ingeardrivers.com.

Olympus Automation faced several challenges that caused the initial conversation with INGEAR. The INGEAR solution allowed the company to address these issues:

• Enterprise and shop floor ASP.NET application to communicate with various AB Control Logix PLCs over an Ethernet network.

• Window services to read and update data from various Control Logix PLCs over an Ethernet network.

• Window communication foundation services hosted in window services, IIS and console application to communicate with various Control Logix PLCs over an Ethernet network. This enables outside of the application clients to connect and communicate with a number of PLCs over the network.

• To formulate and design Dot net classes that get data from a SQL server database using LINQ to SQL and download data to various Control Logix PLCs over an Ethernet network.

• To design and implement a "Tags server" service which update a tag table in a SQL server database. These data are used by various clients.

• To minimize the number of connections to the various PLCs over the network

Temimi discussed the unique differentiators available only from INGEAR, noting, "By far the most unique feature about INGEAR NET.Logix is that it is like a chameleon it can be embedded "everywhere". This flexibility has been the key to the project success. Only one developer license is required. Other solutions would have needed several licenses and with INGEAR there is a freedom to have a design to suit the customer requirements rather than a design that suits the OPC servers then the customer's requirements. It was also beneficial that INGEAR demonstrated the ability to design wrapper classes with required functionality."

Temimi emphasized, "I have over 30 years experience and Net. Logix by INGEAR is by far more flexible than any other product I have seen in the market."

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/24/2010 -- The phrase ".NET PLC driver" lead MicroCODE President and CEO, Tim McGuire, to http://www.ingeardrivers.com.

According to McGuire, "The challenges MicroCODE, Inc. faced that caused the initial conversation with INGEAR were based in the fact that existing HMI products from Allen-Bradley, Siemens, and others, are closed systems. If you can't build your desired user interface with their canned controls you're basically out of luck.

MicroCODE executives envisioned a very comprehensive Error Proofing system for General Motors that would require five (5) things:

• Complete control for the graphical interface

• Low cost

• High Speed

• Independence from a proprietary controls system

• I/O flexibility

MicroCODE's unique challenges involved selling the Windows CE solutions with custom Applications as a preferred solution within General Motors.

While MicroCode staff evaluated Allen-Bradley RSView SE, Siemens WinCE HMIs, and some OPC software solutions, the simplicity of building Visual C# .NET applications with INGEAR's drivers sold the company. The company purchased two (2) INGEAR products:

• NET.LOGIX (XP version) Developer's License

• NET.LOGIX (CE version) Developer's License

McGuire discussed the benefits and quantifiable improvements did MicroCODE, Inc. experienced as a result of working with INGEAR commenting, "Proficiency with Windows CE, .NET applications integrated to a controls environment has opened opportunities for our company that were not there before, it has differentiate us from our competitors in this space. The drivers just work, as advertised, and their performance is excellent."

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/24/2010 -- The phrase ".NET PLC driver" lead Al Barnard, Owner of True Logic Group to www.ingeardrivers.com.

According to Barnard, "The challenges True Logic Group faced that caused the initial conversation with INGEAR were twofold. Firstly we wanted a simple more flexible object model that would allow dynamic controller IP changes. Secondly we were trying to overcome licensing issues associated with OPC communications."

The primary reasons True Logic Group investigated the INGEAR product:

- Develop a next generation fully redundant system architecture that will allow the equipment to continue to operate after any single point of failure

- Develop a system that will transfer to backup modes of operation automatically without user intervention and will transfer back automatically when the problem is corrected

- Redundancy schemes must be predictable, repeatable, and reliable

- Develop or implement new communication drivers to eliminate problematic drivers

Barnard noted, "We originally used the INGEAR Allen Bradley Studio 5.1 for an application many years. We tried this product base on good recommendations from a colleague. For the last two years we have leveraged Visual Studio Dot Net and have focused our attention on the INGEAR Net.Logix.3 and the Net.ABLink 2 products (we are currently licensed for these three products). We've worked with two integrators who continue to use the INGEAR products with success. Word of mouth is important in this industry and a poorly developed product would quickly be weeded out. We now have a base product (with Ingear as that core technology) that we will implement as a starting point for all our custom data collection systems. We feel that over the next few years we should start to see the profits increase and the labor decrease."

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

INGEAR Products Demonstrate Multiple Uses for Wynndel Box and Lumber

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/22/2010 -- Mike Sluz, Electrical Superintendant for Wynndel Box & Lumber went to www.ingeardrivers.com and gained far more than originally expected. According to Sluz, "Our Company, Wynndel Box & Lumber a specialty wood product manufacturer, faced the original challenge of displaying real time error messages and production data at various workstations around our plant. Realizing, through a bit of research, that we could use the INGEAR products to help gather data from numerous Allen Bradley PLC's in our plant, we created various programs that use the INGEAR.ABLink.Net, INGEAR.Net.LogixCF, and INGEAR.Net.Logix. INGEAR was used to replace the need to purchase and install multiple RSLinx licenses at greater than $1100.00 per workstation."

Wynndel found that after using the INGEAR products to create real time error message and production displays on operator workstations (as well supervisory workstations) they also found other uses for the INGEAR product. Sluz reported, "We use a wireless handheld iPaq 110 to remotely gather data for real time quality control checks from any location on our plant site. Next we intend to build another wireless handheld to alert maintenance personal about problems or potential problems by displaying machine center errors and data, such as temperature, vibration, tank levels, voltage monitor, and current levels."

Wynndel staff has found the INGEAR product line to be very useful but its flexibility has shown that it has many uses that were not anticipated. "With INGEAR products we can write programs to utilize any information or modify data from any PLC," enthused Sluz.

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/19/2010 -- Googling the phrase ".NET PLC driver" lead Rhett Spencer of Heber City, UT, Spencer Systems to http://www.ingeardrivers.com.

According to Spencer, "Our first project using INGEAR was to provide a simple user interface to operate a string of lights near the top of a mountain in Utah. The lights illuminated the large letter for the school below. In the past someone had to hike or take an off road vehicle up to the lights to turn them on and off. The proposal was to create a simple C# web application that anyone with the correct username and password could operate the lights using a computer or cell phone web browser."

INGEAR had just the technology Spencer Systems required to communicate with Visual Studio and the Micrologix 1100 controller located on the mountain side and connected via WiFi radios.

"Our second challenge was the monitoring of a PLC network that was spread across hundreds of square miles of Utah mountains and valleys. Connected together via fiber optic cable, Wifi Radios, Cat5, Controlnet, Data Highway and numerous ethernet switches and patch panels, and making this data available via an OPC server that any HMI could utilize it. The idea was to try to monitor as many devices and network paths as possible in order to speed up the troubleshooting time when a network problem arose. We again chose INGEAR as one of our technology partners and utilized their NET.ABLINK and NET.LOGIX class libraries as we had a mixture of new and old PLC's to monitor," noted Spencer.

The company was attempting to do this without adding programming to the existing PLC's. This was working great with the older PLC but when it came to the newer controllogix the company was stuck, and it looked like they were going to have to add programming; it looked like they would not be able to have the status desired when the PLC was in program or faulted. After talking to INGEAR, there was an appropriate update; the needed functionality was up and running within a couple of weeks.

"INGEAR's .NET class libraries worked seamlessly with our OPC server and HMI systems, our project was finished and is working as advertised," enthused Spencer.

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/19/2010 -- Googling the phrase ".NET PLC driver" lead F & A Data Systems, vice president, Jim Feeney to http://www.ingeardrivers.com. According to Feeney, "F& A Data Systems develops Warehousing and Material Handling Control Solutions. Our primary clients are retailers. We have software that controls everything from small automated packaging lines to large-scale conveyor, sortation and monorail systems. Our software extends to the management of Shipping, Receiving, Packing, Storage and Retrieval, and e-Commerce Fulfillment operations. For some of our clients, everything that happens within their Distribution Center is controlled through our software. Historically we've run on mid-scale UNIX machines like IBM's AIX based P-Series Servers. Within that platform, our software made use of Rockwell's Interchange Software product to provide communication between our server and the material handling systems under our control. The conveyor systems were controlled by Allen Bradley PLC, SLC, ControlLogix, and MicroLogix processors."

Before selecting INGEAR Feeney looked to see how the firm could interface with those processes that would accommodate the smaller systems. Fenney noted, "We wanted to employ embedded communication drivers rather than Rockwell's RSLinx or a similar style of OPC communication service like Kepware. We wished to avoid the overhead of that type of solution and we also wanted more direct control rather than the "black box" approach of RSLinx. Key to our approach in the UNIX systems was Interchange's ability to receive unsolicited messages directly from the PLC. An unsolicited message is sent by the conveyor's processor (say a PLC-5) to us to notify us immediately of an event that needs attention, such as a carton on the conveyor system. Without unsolicited messages, our software would have to periodically poll the conveyor's processor looking for new events. To provide the best possible response time, you'd have to poll very quickly- but that's a network beater. Polling slower is more network polite, but the trade off would be a time lag in sensing the event. Using Unsolicited Messages provides the best response with no network impact."

F&A Data Systems is a small company competing in an industry with some large players. The firm currently uses ABLink and Logix products for communicating with Allen Bradley processors.

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/17/2010 -- INGEAR (http://www.ingeardrivers.com) invests heavily in software development to insure applications continue to run with current automation and Microsoft technologies. The company also updates software titles by adding new capabilities, features, and functionality to enhance the application's performance.

Automation vendors continually change, update, and improve hardware, controllers, and devices. Microsoft improves their operating systems, compilers, and languages through new releases and service packs. All these changes can severely impact how current or future INGEAR applications run and behave.

It is important that customers keep and renew an annual subscription to stay current with the latest new product features and updates.

A Yearly Subscription Includes:

- Product Upgrades (Major/Minor)
- Live Phone Support (Toll Free in US/Canada)
- Priority Help Desk response
- Unlimited e-mail support
- Special Offers and Promotions
- Invitations to Beta Releases of new product

The better the information plant personnel have regarding operations, the greater the ability to manage costs, output, quality, and ultimately – profitability. Some of the most valuable data lies within the programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that automate assembly lines. Manufacturers typically deploy PLCs machine-by-machine, however, accessing that data can be a real challenge.

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/17/2010 -- Googling the phrase ".NET PLC driver" lead United Sortation Solutions, Director of Engineering, Jeff Zerr to www.ingeardrivers.com. According to Zerr the challenges United Sortation Solutions faced included, "Exchanging a wide variety of information between an Allen-Bradley Control Logix PLC and a custom PC application. Along with that, we needed to minimize communication delays, as well as development time."

Before selecting INGEAR Zerr looked at alternatives, noting, "We looked at basic TCP messaging, as well as having the PLC communicate directly with our SQL database. We also looked at INGEAR competitors and OPC servers." He went on to say, "It's always helpful to have a trial version so we can test it out. During the pre-sales phase, everyone at INGEAR was very helpful, including extending my initial trial license. But the most important thing for us from a technical point of view is having direct access to the PLC tags. It's very fast and flexible. It's almost like being on the same backplane as the PLC with dual port ram access."

The company used both ActiveX Studio 6.0 and NET.LOGIX 2.0. In both cases, the firm developed code using the trial license as part of the test. All the while, other options and competing products were consider, but consistently found INGEAR to offer the best value – including features, price, documentation and support.

Real cost-savings were realized. "The Ingear product allows us to have all of the technical features we need, most notably fast and flexible data exchange. While at the same time, we can quickly configure a custom system and shorten our development cycle," praised Zerr.

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/16/2010 -- The better the information plant personnel have regarding operations, the greater the ability to manage costs, output, quality, and ultimately – profitability. Some of the most valuable data lies within the programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that automate assembly lines. Manufacturers typically deploy PLCs machine-by-machine, however, accessing that data can be a real challenge.

Allen-Bradley ActiveX Studio 6.0 is now available from INGEAR, www.ingeardrivers.com. This includes Visual Basic 6.0 Active X / OCX control for Allen-Bradley controllers and supports ControlLogix, CompactLogix, MicroLogix, SLC, and PLC. When purchasing from INGEAR also included are Ethernet / DH+ / DH-485 / Serial DF1 drivers. This technology solution does not require RSLinx or third party software.

Recognizing the growing importance of this data, manufacturers are looking to integrate plant floor operations with enterprise applications; PLC vendors have been offering solutions to improve communications with their devices. Rockwell Automation, a world leading manufacturer of PLCs, offers its customers a software connectivity solution built on the Object Linking and Embedding for Process Control (OPC) standard to enable connectivity between human machine interface (HMI) software packages and Allen Bradley PLCs. One OPC connectivity solution, which Rockwell Software offers is its RSLinx software. The RSLinx connector is an OPC Data Access 2.0 compliant server that provides communication services for Rockwell Automation's Allen-Bradley brand of PLCs.

Once a user builds an interface application with an HMI development tool, the RSLinx software provides the drivers and other connectivity components that enable communications with the PLC. Users are then required to purchase individual RSLinx copies for every machine on which they wanted to run their application, along with annual software maintenance fees for each cop. An off-the-shelf Microsoft.NET technology solution enables manufactures to develop an open standard HMI using user-friendly tools; Googling the phrase ".NET PLC driver" will lead to www.ingeardrivers.com

The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:

- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.

It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.

CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm