OptoBlog

Janice Colmer

Janice has worked at Opto 22 for nearly 20 years and is part of the marketing team that strives to share new and relevant content with the automation industry. She enjoys books, camping, country music, and spending time with family and friends.
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Recent Posts

Get to know your Opto Distributor for Colorado to Four Corners

Posted by Janice Colmer on Mar 19, 2025 7:16:13 AM

Process Control Dynamics joins the OptoChannel of distributors to share their industrial IoT expertise and focus on the groov family of products in Colorado and the Four Corners region.

Now you have more options when it comes to finding IIoT and critical infrastructure application solutions, especially in Colorado and the Four Corners region of the USA.

Meet Process Control Dynamics. They've helped thousands of customers implement technologically advanced and cost-effective solutions in a wide variety of applications and vertical markets since 1986.

Hear about their product experience and why they've added groov EPIC and groov RIO products to their portfolio.

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Topics: IIoT, groov EPIC, cybersecurity, groov RIO, OptoChannel

A few seats are still available for April 2025 groov EPIC training

Posted by Janice Colmer on Mar 11, 2025 2:50:02 PM

Hear from the students who attended groov EPIC Premium Factory Training in March 2025. Then choose a date from the remaining 2025 class schedule that works for you.

Interested in learning more about edge controller technology? Need help to achieve digital transformation goals within your company? Or are you in search of a better solution for your current applications?

Attending an in-person groov EPIC training class at Opto 22 headquarters can help. Learn about the topics covered and what the most recent group of students thought about the experience.

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Topics: Training, groov EPIC, Factory Training, edge computing, digital transformation

Create custom, dynamic graphics for your HMI

Posted by Janice Colmer on Mar 5, 2025 8:09:25 AM

This new step-by-step video walks you through Opto 22's free image library and how to create custom graphics to enhance your HMI screens. 

Are you hoping to take your projects to the next level with eye-catching graphics? Do you wish you could have more control and customization options when designing screens for your control programs? Then you should take advantage of Opto 22's free SVG Image Library.

This new 14-minute video shows you how to navigate to the library on the website, how it works, and how to use it with groov View—an easy-to-use tool for building and viewing mobile operator interfaces.

As your video host, Opto 22's Paul Hardt shows you how simple it is to use the image library, improve your HMIs, and monitor and control your systems, equipment, and data.

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Topics: groov View, groov EPIC, HMI, SVG

Increasing profitability with Ignition, Factory Stack, and groov EPIC

Posted by Janice Colmer on Mar 4, 2025 3:03:01 PM

Learn the powerful results you can achieve when using Ignition, groov EPIC, and 4IR Solutions' Factory Stack™ cloud platform together.

As shown in a recent webinar here on the OptoBlog, Inductive Automation often brings together its solutions partners (including Opto 22) to demonstrate complete solution packages. 

When using collaborative technologies, you see increased benefits—including an easier path to digital transformation and finally getting the data you need, where you need it.

This Inductive Automation case study is an excellent example of how using a combined solution allowed a glass company to achieve a lean manufacturing goal with a unified reporting system, along with increased efficiency in production.

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Topics: Case studies, groov EPIC, Ignition, manufacturing

Time to level up your smart manufacturing game

Posted by Janice Colmer on Feb 26, 2025 8:27:50 AM

Attend the Smart Manufacturing Roadshow to start collaborative relationships that help build your plant's success.

Smart manufacturing has become a popular topic and a rapidly growing space. Where are you on the path to reaching smart manufacturing status? Looking for some direction?

The State of Indiana is once again forging the path—encouraging manufacturers to leverage one another by sharing what each has learned and working together for mutual benefit.

Here's your chance to attend a free, one-day event that brings manufacturers together.

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Topics: Energy management, Events & conferences, groov EPIC, groov RIO, smart manufacturing, groov rio emu, energy monitoring

A new kind of industrial expo

Posted by Janice Colmer on Feb 19, 2025 7:53:28 AM

With over 20 years of industrial automation experience, Evo Integration hosts their first expo—to connect you with global manufacturers and new tech that can transform your operations. 

Welcome to Evo Expo! It's your chance to step into the future of manufacturing. This interactive technology showcase, scheduled for March 26, 2025 in Reading, Pennsylvania, features cutting-edge automation and control solutions.

This is your opportunity to connect with experts who understand the real challenges of modern manufacturing. Meet with industry leaders who can show you how you can quickly transform your operations. Get the event details...

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Topics: Events & conferences, groov EPIC, system integrator, groov RIO, smart manufacturing, manufacturing

Simplifying access to many systems with one interface

Posted by Janice Colmer on Feb 12, 2025 10:05:49 AM

Learn from the City of Morro Bay's dynamic operations and see how your systems could be adapted for real-time data.

Managing multiple control systems doesn’t have to be a headache. When Operational Technology Specialist Grant Chase went to work in Morro Bay, California, he found a utilities infrastructure in need of unification and stability. 

The city’s water and wastewater control systems were a patchwork of different technologies—some dating back decades.

Grant was determined to rebuild a standardized operation with key security controls in place to protect critical infrastructure. See how edge controller technology played a prominent role in getting operators working smoothly on one platform to visualize data across all processes.

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Topics: Case studies, Ignition Edge, groov View, groov EPIC

Key design considerations for new SCADA systems

Posted by Janice Colmer on Feb 12, 2025 10:00:19 AM

See how Edge Controls introduced a standardized interface and hardware solution for legacy equipment.

What are some of your current application challenges? Mixed control systems? Differing protocols and interfaces on your machinery? Or are you simply trying to reach predictive maintenance for your operations?

If any of this sounds familiar, then this standout application story from the 2024 Ignition Community Conference Discover Gallery can offer some guidance.

Stonehill Environmental Partners asked OptoPartner Edge Controls to help them regain their competitiveness by implementing a new SCADA system that would address their legacy equipment challenges. See what happened next.

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Topics: Oil & gas, Ignition Edge, groov EPIC, Ignition, Ignition Community Conference, groov RIO, Discover Gallery

Teaming Up to Enable Digital Transformation and a Unified Namespace (UNS)

Posted by Janice Colmer on Feb 5, 2025 7:38:34 AM

How can your operations achieve seamless digitalization and a path toward a UNS? Watch this webinar recording for an informative demo.

Were you able to tune in to last week's Inductive Automation Solution Partner webinar? You can now watch it on demand for the first time or for review.

Inductive Automation's Solution and Strategic partners teamed up with Inductive to demonstrate the benefits of using their collaborative technology offerings. The companies featured in this webinar include:

  • Inductive Automation
  • 4IR Solutions
  • Cirrus Link Solutions
  • Sepasoft
  • Opto 22
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Topics: Webinars, Ignition, digital transformation, Inductive Automation, Technology Partners, UNS, Unified Namespace

Explore smart manufacturing and operational resilience at ARC Forum

Posted by Janice Colmer on Jan 30, 2025 7:49:55 AM

Two must-see presentations at the 2025 ARC Industry Forum promise to deliver on this year's theme of winning in the industrial AI era.

Will you be joining Opto 22 and Inductive Automation at the annual ARC Industry Forum in Orlando February 10-13, 2025? There you'll see groov EPIC controllers and groov RIO edge I/O in action—working with the Ignition software included in the groov family of products.

In addition to live demos in the Inductive Automation booth, you'll hear two guest speakers presenting their first-hand experience with this collaborative technology. Here are the applications they'll be sharing and the kind of results you can expect.

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Topics: Events & conferences, groov EPIC, ARC Forum, Ignition, groov RIO, Inductive Automation

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