OptoBlog

New video: Find your ideal industrial automation manufacturer

Posted by Janice Colmer on Aug 5, 2024 1:53:29 PM

Looking for an innovative source to help with your application challenges?

What's on your list of requirements when selecting a supplier? How about 50 years of reliable products made in the U.S.A., multiple technologies for your digital transformation, and free product support and training?

That's the Opto 22 difference, and our engineering and sales teams are ready to help you with your projects.

Discover what makes Opto 22 different in this new, one-minute video.

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Topics: Videos, SSRs, groov EPIC, snap pac, groov RIO, Opto 22 product support

Reserve your seat for groov EPIC training

Posted by Janice Colmer on Jul 31, 2024 12:38:26 PM

Don't miss your chance for hands-on edge controller instruction & tips for choosing the best programming options for your control applications.

In-person training sessions at Opto 22 headquarters help you expand your skill set and find easier ways to meet your application challenges. We only have a few classes left this year and seats are filling up fast! 

Learn system components and configuration, networking capabilities, diagnostics, troubleshooting, and communication methods that you can apply to your own industrial automation application. You might just build a complete solution before you leave! And now is the time to reserve your spot.

Hear what this month's students had to say about their groov EPIC training experience. Then register to join us for the next class!

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Topics: Training, groov EPIC, Factory Training

OT SCADA CON—An Engaging and Efficient Format

Posted by Dan White on Jul 29, 2024 12:03:43 PM

Why a first-of-its-kind event is changing the world of SCADA.

Attending the inaugural OT SCADA CON in Houston can only be described as “a breath of fresh air.” I attend a lot of automation industry events, and this one was a hit—thanks in large part to its excellent format.

Informative sessions were kept to 30 minutes—a block of time long enough to highlight each speaker’s real-world experience and expertise, but short enough to keep the audience engaged, attentive, and in some cases, QUITE entertained.

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Topics: Events & conferences, IIoT, SCADA, OT data

Watch: Happy Anniversary Opto 22!

Posted by Janice Colmer on Jul 22, 2024 10:17:05 AM

Check out our fun, new video featuring our five-decade journey to see what products started it all and how far technology has come.

What's important to you in an industrial automation supplier? We often hear about reliability, innovation, and long-term support being at the top of that list. Rest assured, Opto 22's product philosophy incorporates all those ideals. 

You can feel secure in your product designs and confident in a manufacturer who is here to help support and achieve all your long-term project goals. 

Whether you’re looking for a product to take you to the next level of control and data communications, want a reliable automation system proven over many years, or just need another SSR to accompany that dusty, guaranteed-for-life one in some dark enclosure, Opto 22 is the place to come. 

This new video is a fun look back on how we got here. Please join us in celebrating 50 years of our company and product philosophy. We're glad you're along for the ride.

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Topics: Videos, Opto 22 product support, product philosophy, product design, Anniversary

50 years of Opto 22 - a personal perspective

Posted by Dan White on Jul 22, 2024 9:33:28 AM

In 1974, Robert Engman III stared down at 22 optically isolated, highly reliable, liquid epoxy-filled, solid state relays (SSRs) with no moving parts—quite an innovation back then—and he contemplated what to name the new company.

The result? "Opto" signifies optical isolation, and the "22" represents the original lineup of 22 relays. But this year, there’s another important number that we need to discuss—50!

Yes, Opto 22 is 50. Years. Young

This week, as we celebrate Opto’s Golden Anniversary of existence, I’d be remiss not to reflect on the legacy of a company I have loved being a part of for the last decade. And while my 11 years may seem like a long time, many of the folks I work with each day have tenures twice or thrice as long—they’ve been carrying the torch, maintaining the legacy that we are still building today.

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Topics: groov EPIC, snap pac, groov RIO, Anniversary

OEM Integrates Open SDKs to Stay Competitive

Posted by Janice Colmer on Jul 16, 2024 9:39:26 AM

Laundry OEM Gurtler Industries reinvents their dispensing systems with groov EPIC and Opto 22's free Software Development Kits (SDKs).

What do you do when competitors in the chemical storage and dispensing industry are surpassing you, and a shift in technology is needed to put you back at the forefront of laundry operations?

Learn how Gurtler Industries, a third-generation family business based in the United States Midwest, regained its position as a leading provider of laundry chemical products, services, and support for many industries including healthcare, hospitality, and textile rentals. When their competitors began leveraging data collection, remote monitoring, and enhanced visualizations, Gurtler knew they also needed to expand the capabilities of their dispensing systems to maintain their competitive market position.

In this case study, find out how Gurtler Industries was able to stay ahead of the competition by transitioning to an open-source platform with Opto 22's free Software Development Kits (SDKs) and advanced hardware solutions.

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Topics: Case studies, OEM, PAC Control, groov EPIC, sdk

Break Through with Opto 22 at ICC 2024

Posted by Janice Colmer on Jul 15, 2024 12:41:59 PM

The annual Ignition Community Conference is your opportunity to see how Ignition software can provide new, innovative solutions for your projects and industrial applications.

The exciting tradition continues as Inductive Automation recently announced the dates and theme of this year's Ignition Community Conference. We invite you to attend the 2024 Ignition Community Conference taking place September 17 - 19th in Folsom, California, and experience your own "A-ha!" moment. 

Meet industry thought leaders, see innovative Ignition use cases, and learn from Ignition experts. And of course, meet with Opto 22 engineers and see live demos of groov EPIC and groov RIO working together with Ignition.

This year's "Breakthrough" theme is focused on three categories designed to educate about Ignition software:

  • Keynote speakers, exhibitor presentations, and table talks
  • Product announcements revealing software version updates and exciting new features
  • Discover Gallery with videos and project demonstrations of real-world Ignition application scenarios from a variety of industries, from all over the world

This event has sold out the last few years, so get your tickets now! Attend in person or with a livestream pass.

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Topics: Events & conferences, groov EPIC, Ignition, Ignition Community Conference, groov RIO, Inductive Automation, energy monitoring

Case Study: Varland Plating Upgrades 30-Year-Old Legacy System

Posted by Janice Colmer on Jul 8, 2024 2:26:33 PM

How do you go from serial comms to serious SCADA without downtime or compromise?

Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, Varland Plating has provided high quality, precision barrel-plated finishes to their customers since 1946. Varland manually performed plating operations until the early 1990s. Then automated systems improved turnaround times and product quality. More recently, the company saw the advanced capabilities of Opto 22's groov products—smaller equipment footprint, Ethernet, data visibility, and more—and entered a new era of industrial automation.

In this case study, find out how Varland Plating was able to bring a 30-year-old automation system into the future without downtime or compromising their SCADA goals.

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Topics: Case studies, groov EPIC, serial module, Ignition

Webinar Recording: Assembling the Puzzle Pieces of Digital Transformation

Posted by Janice Colmer on Jul 8, 2024 1:45:20 PM

Learn how all the pieces of digital transformation come together to add another level of data connectivity and security to your projects.

Did you attend last month's Digital Transformation webinar? The discussion revolved around data, connectivity, and cybersecurity, so you can improve your industrial processes. In case you missed it or would like to watch it again, here's your chance!
 
Webinar host Inductive Automation released the recording of the complete presentation so you can watch on demand. Opto 22 joins fellow Inductive Automation Solution Partners for a step-by-step demonstration of how to build a scalable system for SCADA, MES, IIoT, and Digital Transformation.
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Topics: Webinars, groov EPIC, Ignition, groov RIO, digital transformation, Inductive Automation

Update to groov RIO 3.6

Posted by Ben Orchard on Jun 26, 2024 8:07:00 AM

Get Enterprise WiFi and several other updates in the latest free firmware download of groov RIO.

If you have been getting some friction from your IT department about connecting any of the groov RIO family to your corporate WiFi network, this firmware update is for you!

Just like the groov EPIC firmware update 3 weeks ago, we have added WPA-2 Enterprise WiFi connectivity to the groov RIO MM1, MM2 and EMU (Energy Monitoring Unit).

This enterprise WiFi configuration complements the existing LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) authentication options, which have been part of the RIO for a long time.

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Topics: Updates, Firmware, groov RIO, groov rio emu

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