Tasty and wholesome, the frozen fruit bars made by Natural Fruit Corporation must be stored at precise temperatures.

Although their cold storage rooms were automated, on weekends operators used to have to stop by the company's factory to verify that systems were running and temperatures were within range.

Topics: Energy management, Case studies, Food & beverage, groov, Internet of Things, Remote monitoring, IoT, optonews, Building management, OptoNews 2016-08-31

Have you been on the OptoForum lately? It looks different—clean and modern—and it's easier to use, too.

• It's easy to see the latest posts in one category, or in all of them.
• Also easy to see who's on a thread.
• Search works great.

Topics: optonews, OptoNews 2016-08-31

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is here, it works, and you can see it in action at the 2016 Ignition Community Conference (ICC).

Every day industry publications tout the IIoT, IoT, or Industry 4.0. At the ICC, you can see IIoT solutions that really work, right now. 

Topics: Internet of Things, IoT, optonews, PACs, Events & conferences, REST API, OptoNews 2016-08-31

Here's the latest Code Samples and Tips contribution in our new OptoForum: an example of easier peer-to-peer communication between PAC controllers.

This example takes advantage of the new RESTful API in SNAP PAC hardware controllers (both the standalone S-series and the rack-mounted R-series). 

Topics: Internet of Things, Tips, IoT, optonews, PACs, PAC Control, API, REST API, RESTful server, OptoNews 2016-08-31, REST

Announcing groov 3.2 for the groov Box and groov Server for Windows.

In the new release:

• View system information in your groov interface. Show operators the time and date. Show groov admins the number of current user sessions, CPU usage, uptime, and more. The new System device includes these tags. 

Topics: groov, Updates, optonews, OptoNews 2016-08-17

One of the world's largest automation events is headed to Chicago!

It's the international trade fair for industrial automation: Industrial Automation North America (IANA).

And here's an even bigger reason to attend: IANA is co-located with IMTS 2016, North America’s leading manufacturing technology trade show.

Topics: Energy management, Process control, Food & beverage, Discrete control, Internet of Things, IoT, optonews, PACs, Events & conferences, REST API, OptoNews 2016-08-17

With the release of firmware R9.5a, Opto 22's rack-mounted and standalone SNAP PAC industrial controllers include a built-in RESTful API. 

But what does that mean? What can you do with a RESTful API, and how does it fit into that Internet of Things (IoT) idea you've thought about?

Topics: Internet of Things, IoT, optonews, PACs, REST API, OptoNews 2016-08-17

A lot of our customers have gotten excited about the new HTTP/HTTPS server and RESTful API just added to Opto 22 SNAP PAC standalone and rack-mounted industrial controllers.

Why?

Because now your software developers can use the programming language of their choice to securely access data in the SNAP PAC—both I/O point data and data from any variable in your PAC Control strategy.

Topics: Internet of Things, Remote monitoring, IoT, optonews, PACs, REST API, OptoNews 2016-08-03

How do you get fresh apples in March?

California Controlled Atmosphere (CalCA) knows the secret: strictly controlled storage.

CalCA builds produce storage systems for growers in California and all over the world. Each system must be flexible to accommodate fluctuating harvests and individual produce varieties.

Topics: Case studies, Videos, Food & beverage, optonews, PACs, OptoNews 2016-08-03

A lot of you post questions and share your expertise in the OptoForum. It's a great place to get advice from other Opto product users, explore new ways to solve a control problem, or share your sample code.

Now we're updating the forum platform to make it easier to use. Sometime in the next couple of weeks you'll see a major change.

Topics: Insider, Updates, optonews, OptoNews 2016-08-03