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 real-time insights to avoid downtime, reduce costs, and optimize your industrial operation

Posted by Janice Colmer on Apr 16, 2025 6:08:48 AM

New white paper outlines actions you can take for practical and cost-effective machine monitoring with edge devices.

Keeping machines running smoothly is at the heart of every industrial operation. Machine monitoring helps avoid downtime by providing real-time insights needed to catch problems early and keep equipment working.

Have you been tasked with an IIoT (industrial internet of things) or digital transformation initiative for your company? Ready to learn how edge devices can be a part of your solution?

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Topics: machine data, white paper, edge computing, groov RIO, Edge I/O, machine monitoring

What drives IIoT success?

Posted by Janice Colmer on Apr 9, 2025 8:31:55 AM

Tune in to the latest episode of Unplugged: An IIoT Podcast to get insights on IIoT technology and how to make it work for everyone—not just the tech savvy.

Join IIoT podcast host Phil Seboa for another interesting discussion about the IIoT and its effect on several aspects of your daily life. His guest in the latest episode is Opto 22's Benson Hougland. 

Benson brings his 30 years of experience in industrial automation and IoT to discuss the benefits of IIoT, how he got started in home and industrial automation, the importance of interoperability, and his experiences from the recent ProveIt! tech conference.

Listen in for some valuable insights and tips to get started on your automation project—either at home or at work.

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Topics: IIoT, groov EPIC, industrial automation, podcast

Did Opto 22 Prove It?

Posted by Janice Colmer on Apr 2, 2025 9:45:56 AM

Listen in on a conversation from this year's ProveIt! conference as Benson Hougland discusses the why and how of securely moving data from OT to IT systems with the Manufacturing Hub podcast.

Have you tuned in to the Manufacturing Hub podcast yet? It's an educational show hosted by two longtime industrial practitioners—Dave Griffith and Vladimir Romanov. They asked Opto 22's Benson Hougland for a sit down discussion at this year's ProveIt! conference in Dallas, where several topics were covered.

What types of solutions are readily available for manufacturers to start their digital transformation? What are the most common challenges and roadblocks? What does the future look like in terms of product features?

And most importantly, was Opto 22 able to prove a viable solution on stage at the ProveIt conference?

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Topics: Events & conferences, IIoT, groov EPIC, podcast, edge computing, groov RIO, smart manufacturing

OEM achieves real-time data, predictive diagnostics, and remote access

Posted by Janice Colmer on Mar 26, 2025 11:47:28 AM

Learn from this new case study as CryoPhit USA explains how they overcame the complexity of cryotherapy systems with an advanced automated solution.

CryoPhit USA needed to design a system that was easy to use, maintain, and service, ensuring accessibility for end users, operators, and refrigeration technicians. This meant access to real-time data would be key. Sound familiar?

In this case study, find out how the groov RIO provided real-time data, predictive diagnostics, and remote access for their innovative cryochambers.

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Topics: Case studies, OEM, groov RIO

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

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