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Jean Femia

Jean Femia writes about technical subjects and has focused on automation and control systems for more than 15 years. She likes learning about technology and taking corners in her Honda S2000.
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Recent Posts

It's EPIC in Chicago this month!

Posted by Jean Femia on May 7, 2018 4:33:22 PM

Join Opto 22 and OptoPartner/Distributor Kiser Controls in Chicago, May 24, 2018, for an introduction to the new groov EPIC® automation system.  

groov EPIC combines guaranteed-for-life I/O, real-time control, local and remote HMI, and industrial/IT data exchange in a single compact, industrial package. 

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Topics: groov, Events & conferences, EPIC

Tech Briefs' Product of the Month: It's EPIC!

Posted by Jean Femia on Apr 17, 2018 2:00:00 PM

Tech Briefs brings the latest technical news from NASA, the military, federal laboratories, universities, and commercial companies to automation designers and engineers.

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Topics: groov, Internet of Things, IoT, New products, Awards and recognition, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, EPIC

See groov EPIC at events in April and May

Posted by Jean Femia on Apr 11, 2018 4:51:33 PM

If you'd like to see the new groov EPIC system in action—or talk with us about any automation project—here are two opportunities coming up soon.

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Topics: Process control, Discrete control, groov, Events & conferences, Integrators, EPIC

ARC Advisory Group interviews Opto 22's Benson Hougland on IIoT products

Posted by Jean Femia on Mar 28, 2018 12:01:00 PM

The 22nd Annual ARC Industry Forum in Orlando this February focused on digitizing and securing industry and infrastructure. 

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Topics: groov, Internet of Things, Remote monitoring, IoT, PACs, New products, Events & conferences, API, REST API, REST, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, Node-RED, Data acquisition, Ignition Edge, EPIC

Order your new groov EPIC system starting now

Posted by Jean Femia on Mar 26, 2018 12:01:00 PM

Opto 22's groov EPIC® system starts shipping on May 18.

You can start ordering now!

Pre-orders will ship first, and based on early feedback from several EPIC Roadshows, this new system will be in high demand. Customers are excited about the built-in features of groov EPIC, not only for IIoT applications but for all automation and data acquisition applications.

Here are just a few of these features:

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Topics: Process control, Discrete control, groov, Internet of Things, PLCs, Remote monitoring, IoT, Machine builder, New products, Integrators, I/O, PAC Control, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, Node-RED, Data acquisition, MQTT, Ignition Edge, EPIC

New groov View R3.5 release adds SNAP PAC I/O units, improves scalability

Posted by Jean Femia on Mar 19, 2018 3:00:00 PM

Just released! groov View R3.5a brings a new feature you've been waiting for: you can now connect to SNAP PAC I/O units directly, instead of going through a controller strategy, and use their tags in your groov View operator interface.  

In addition, the new release has been optimized to improve performance and responsiveness, especially when you have a large number of users. 

And all updates to your groov View interface are now automatically pushed out to users. No need to refresh screens.

Here's a closer look at these and other new features. (For details on bug fixes, see the groov View Readme.) 

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Topics: groov, Updates, I/O

Do you ship Opto 22 products to EU countries?

Posted by Jean Femia on Mar 6, 2018 10:00:00 AM

If you ship Opto 22 products (or products containing Opto 22 parts) to countries within the European Union, you need to know about our changes to the Declarations of Conformity required for shipments.

We've recently heard about possible problems with shipments of industrial hardware to the European Union. EU Customs officials are more stringently enforcing requirements for Declarations of Conformity (DoCs) documents on these shipments.

To prevent delays in Customs, we recommend you use the new CE DoCs we have created for shipments to EU countries.

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Topics: Machine builder, OEM, Integrators, compliance

Request-response vs. publish-subscribe, part 2: Which to use?

Posted by Jean Femia on Feb 27, 2018 10:00:00 AM

In part 1 we met two communication models for computers on a network: request-response and publish-subscribe. Now let's take a look at when you might want to use each, and why.

Request-response: proven and reliable

In a request-response architecture, each client opens a direct connection to each server, because the client requests data directly from the server.

In automation, typically clients are PCs and servers are PLCs or PACs. So each PC opens a direct connection to each PLC or PAC from which it needs data. 

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Topics: groov, Internet of Things, Remote monitoring, IoT, Machine builder, OEM, Integrators, Networking, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, Data acquisition, MQTT, Ignition Edge, EPIC

groov EPIC data sheets now available

Posted by Jean Femia on Feb 15, 2018 10:10:52 AM

You've been asking for more details about our brand-new groov EPIC® system for the IIoT and automation, and here they are! 

We just published a part numbers list and the first several data sheets, with preliminary descriptions, specs, wiring diagrams, and dimensions. So take a look and start planning the system you want. 

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Topics: Process control, Discrete control, groov, Internet of Things, PLCs, Remote monitoring, IoT, Machine builder, PACs, OEM, New products, Integrators, I/O, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, Data acquisition, EPIC

You're the first to know...about our EPIC announcement!

Posted by Jean Femia on Feb 12, 2018 9:52:04 AM

When we announce a new product, we want you—our loyal customers and OptoBlog readers—to be the first to hear about it. 

And this isn't just one product. This is EPIC: the world's first Edge Programmable Industrial Control system—a brand-new I/O and control system built for the future of automation and designed for the way you work.

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Topics: Energy management, Process control, Food & beverage, Discrete control, groov, Internet of Things, PLCs, Remote monitoring, Water & wastewater, IoT, Machine builder, PACs, OEM, New products, Integrators, I/O, PAC Project, Building management, Oil & gas, PAC Control, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, Node-RED, Data acquisition, MQTT, Ignition Edge, EPIC

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