Managing Automation - October 2007 - (Page 14)

managingautomation FREE Online Membership Transform your business through technology news managingautomation.com maonline Go online for daily news updates in perspective line, for instance, the EdgeWare technology provides the communications channels that allow a business system to verify retail demand and direct a PLC to flip a diverter that sends an RFID-tagged box down the line to the proper store. Comtrol also plans to broaden its worldwide presence into Central and South America to augment its domestic, European, and Asian sales. The company goes to market through direct sales and distribution pacts with CDW, Ingram Micro, and Tech Data. — Chris Chiappinelli Alliances, Executive Appointments, Mergers & Acquisitions, Products FREE Membership includes: • Award Winning Editorial • Web Exclusive Articles • Whitepapers & Webcasts • Improved Online Tools and Expert Forums • Product Comparison Engine • Targeted Newsletters • Special discounts for Executive Conferences • My “MA” which allows you to save products, comparisons and more directly connects you with vendors www.managingautomation.com Shift Corp.; Karen Gilles Larson, an entrepreneur, CPA, and executive; James Murdakes, former CEO of Image Sensing Systems; and R.M. Rickenbach, who has managed a number of technology and services businesses. Kris Rydberg, director of product development and marketing at Comtrol, says the company was hamstrung during the later years of Robert Beale’s leadership. “For what we wanted to do as a company — I don’t want to say we were bottlenecked — but it was a point where you have to make a decision,” he says of the pre-August 2006 period. The management changes weren’t solely the result of Robert Beale’s legal woes, he says, “but that probably kicked it into overdrive.” Kris Rydberg Revenue for the 65person company, which ranges from $20 million to $25 million annually, hasn’t suffered as a result of the recent events, Rydberg says. The company is looking to expand its offerings beyond its flagship products, which allow industrial Ethernet connectivity to serial devices, including many brands of PLCs. EdgeWare, now in beta release, helps companies integrate RFID deployments with PLCs and enterprise systems. In the case of a packaging NEW OMRON COO OUTLINES FOUR-PART GROWTH AGENDA or nearly a year, the position of president and chief operating officer of Omron Electronics LLC was vacant following the sudden death of Craig Bauer in June 2006. In May, Gregg Holst, 49, stepped into the role with four objectives for the company: to fill out the product portfolio, become more customer-centric, increase reliance on distributors for selling, and emphasize service. Holst, who most recently served as executive vice president of Revere Electric Supply Co., a distribution and engineering partner to Rockwell Automation, has also held jobs at F UPCOMING IFS WORLD CONFERENCE 2007 Oct. 15-17, 2007 The Estrel Hotel & Convention Centre Berlin, Germany www.ifsworld.com GE FANUC AUTOMATION’S DISCOVER 2007 USERS CONFERENCE Oct.. 22-25, 2007 Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel and Suites St. Louis www.gefanuc.com/discover THE PRODUCT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT SUMMIT, NORTH AMERICA Nov. 5-6, 2007 World Golf Village, St. Augustine, FL www.plmnorthamerica.com BRAINSTORM NEW YORK Nov. 7-8, 2007 The Roosevelt Hotel, New York www.bpminstitute.org/events/newyorkcity.html EVENTS 2007 EXTOL USERS CONFERENCE Nov. 11-14, 2007 Disney’s BoardWalk Resort Orlando, FL www.extol.com ORACLE OPENWORLD Nov. 11-15, 2007 San Francisco Moscone Center San Francisco www.oracle.com/openworld ROCKWELL AUTOMATION FAIR 2007 Nov. 13-15, 2007 McCormick Place West Chicago www.automationfair.com ACTIVE RFID & RTLS SUMMIT Dec. 5-6, 2007 Adam’s Mark Hotel Dallas www.idtechex.com Visit Today! ® http://www.managingautomation.com http://www.extol.com http://www.ifsworld.com http://www.oracle.com/openworld http://www.gefanuc.com/discover http://www.automationfair.com http://www.plmnorthamerica.com http://www.managingautomation.com http://www.bpminstitute.org/events/newyorkcity.html http://www.idtechex.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Managing Automation - October 2007

Contents Take 1 Mailbox New Selling and Fulfillment Product Leads Plan to Transform Sterling Commerce Comtrol Closes Bizarre Chapter Involving Founder New Omron COO Outlines Four-Part Growth Agenda New Mfg. ‘Czar’ Will Have a Full Plate of Issues Lawson Embraces The Trend of Fewer Upgrades Notes Wanted: A Unified Infrastructure Needed: Greater Reliability Special Report: Innovation: Why Are So Many Coming Up Short? Transforamation: Beating the Odds in Global Supply Industries: Metals: Tracking Carbon Footprints Product Scan Advertiser Index Next

Managing Automation - October 2007

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