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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

See what groov can do in Germany

Posted by Janice Colmer on Nov 1, 2023 8:26:34 AM

Join us for the SPS event in Nuremberg.

Here's another opportunity to see live groov EPIC and groov RIO product demos in Europe!

Opto 22 returns to Nuremberg this year for the annual SPS (Smart Production Solutions) event, taking place
November 14-16, 2023.

The SPS - Smart Production Solutions exhibition covers the entire spectrum of smart and digital automation, and its focus is on practical solutions for your specific business area.

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Topics: Events & conferences, CODESYS, groov EPIC, Ignition, groov RIO

The Art of the Possible: groov EPIC Booth Cam

Posted by Janice Colmer on Oct 25, 2023 9:08:38 AM

OptoPartner Corso Systems shares how they collaborated with another OptoPartner, Inframark A&I, to build an EPIC addition to the Opto 22 Booth at #ICCElevate.

Inspired by the ENTELEC Conference & Expo's Innovations Lab, Inductive Automation introduced an event called the Data Dash at this year's Ignition Community Conference (ICC). Corso Systems CEO Alex Marcy gives us some insight and background on how this project led to another fun application using an IP camera at Opto 22's conference booth.

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Topics: groov EPIC, Ignition, Ignition Community Conference, Art of the Possible

Lethbridge College Gains Flexible Automation System for Research Requirements

Posted by Janice Colmer on Oct 11, 2023 9:00:00 AM

New case study featuring groov RIO demonstrates how OptoPartner Microclimates helped provide a secure system for the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence.

The groov case study library continues to expand with its latest application story that shows how groov products play an important role in education.

The Aquaculture Centre of Excellence at Lethbridge College mimics conditions in large commercial aquaponics facilities, but for research purposes, they needed a highly flexible automation system. Research parameters change frequently to test a variety of system elements, and most automation systems don't allow frequent adjustments. 

This case study shows how Microclimates software running on groov RIO industrial I/O modules gave researchers the secure, flexible system they required. 

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Topics: Case studies, ssh, OptoPartner, groov RIO

Register for 2024 groov product training

Posted by Janice Colmer on Oct 11, 2023 8:00:00 AM

The 2024 groov EPIC Premium Factory Training class dates have been announced.

Are you interested in learning more about edge controller technology? Do you need help achieving digital transformation goals within your company? Or do you simply want to be exposed to the latest types of controllers that can do so much more than a PLC?

Make plans to join us next year in one of the groov EPIC Premium Factory Training classes at Opto 22 headquarters in Temecula, California. The 2024 class schedule has just been released.

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Topics: Training, groov EPIC, Factory Training, groov RIO

Apex Energy Replaces End-of-life System for Improved Data

Posted by Janice Colmer on Sep 27, 2023 9:10:16 AM

New case study shows how StrataVu and groov EPIC secure a flexible future for Oil & Gas production.

When the hardware for the automation system you’ve deployed throughout your entire installed base is suddenly declared end-of-life, you’re faced with a problem. That’s what happened to Apex Energy LLC, a natural gas exploration and production company, headquartered just outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

As a longtime customer of systems integrator and Opto technology partner Strata Innovative Solutions, Apex had used Strata’s field-proven PadPro automation solution starting with their second drilling site, or well pad. They were happy with the solution. But in 2019-2020, manufacturers of the hardware components began to end-of-life their products. For their planned growth, Apex needed a new solution that would offer as seamless a transition as possible.

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Topics: Case studies, groov EPIC, Technology Partners, oil and gas

Inductive Automation names Opto 22 as a Solution Partner

Posted by Janice Colmer on Sep 26, 2023 12:53:45 PM

Partnership gives you simple solutions for remote equipment, cloud connections, brownfield applications, and more.

This week has been a busy one for the Opto 22 team at the annual Ignition Community Conference, hosted by Inductive Automation. It was also the perfect time to share some exciting news with our customers and media partners about our IA partnership status. Opto 22 has now been named a Solution Partner.

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Topics: groov EPIC, Ignition, groov RIO, Inductive Automation, Technology Partners

Three must-sees at ICC 2023

Posted by Janice Colmer on Sep 13, 2023 8:30:00 AM

Don't miss the Opto 22 live demonstrations and sessions taking place at the 2023 Ignition Community Conference.

Do you have your ticket to the Ignition Community Conference? This three-day event takes place September 26 - 28, 2023, in Folsom, CA, and it just sold out! But don't worry, you can still be part of the action by purchasing a Livestream pass.

This annual event, hosted by our technology partner Inductive Automation, grows in popularity each year as the number of Ignition software applications grows worldwide. The conference promises:

  • Global networking with the IA team as well as Ignition Community members
  • Learning opportunities through keynote speakers, expert panels, table talks, and breakout sessions
  • Interactive demos and use case presentations from exhibitors

This year, the Opto 22 team returns as a sponsor and exhibitor and will be conducting live demonstrations and sessions you won't want to miss. Whether attending in person or with a livestream pass, don't forget to add the following presentations to your schedule (note that the Exhibitor Demo will not be live-streamed):

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Topics: Events & conferences, Ignition Edge, groov EPIC, Ignition, Ignition Community Conference, groov RIO

Sparkplug 3 compatibility brings standardized interoperability

Posted by Janice Colmer on Aug 30, 2023 8:00:00 AM

The latest 3.5 firmware updates for groov EPIC and RIO include new Sparkplug 3 compatible certification.

groov products have always supported the MQTT and Sparkplug communication protocols, so what's important about this latest Sparkplug update?

groov EPIC and RIO are some of the few hardware devices to pass a series of tests for the Sparkplug Compatibility Program, managed by the Eclipse Foundation.

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Topics: MQTT, groov EPIC, Sparkplug, groov RIO, Eclipse Foundation

Case Study: Nucor subsidiary POK brings foundry to industry 4.0

Posted by Janice Colmer on Aug 8, 2023 12:27:15 PM

New factory saves initial and recurring costs, improves products with groov EPIC and Ignition.

Moving to Industry 4.0 takes time and determination, especially for an established company in a heavy industry. Castings Foundry POK in Guadalajara, Mexico, a Nucor subsidiary, uses equipment from manufacturers all over the world, which may include PLCs from a variety of automation suppliers. But data from all this equipment needed to be shared with corporate SCADA and ERP systems.  

In this new Opto 22 case study, see how POK's new factory solved this problem, saving an estimated 60% in initial costs, making operators' jobs easier with comprehensive HMIs, and improving product quality. 

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

Meet more groov EPIC graduates

Posted by Janice Colmer on Jul 31, 2023 2:01:40 PM

Another full class of students learned about groov EPIC in the July 2023 Premium Factory Training class.

Another full class means word is getting out, and classroom PLC training is in demand. Are you considering a system upgrade or just curious how groov EPIC compares to other systems you've used?  Do you need help configuring and programming hardware and software for your industrial automation or IIoT application? 

Then consider spending a week with us at Opto 22 headquarters learning all the programming options and features of groov EPIC, the Edge Programmable Industrial Controller.

July's group of students represented a variety of industries and provided some great feedback on their training experience. Take a look at what they said.

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Topics: Training, groov EPIC, Factory Training

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