Graphite isn't just for lubrication and No. 2 pencils anymore.

Today it's a key ingredient in many industries, and the finest graphite is essential for nuclear power and semiconductors.

Toyo Tanso Japan was the first company to achieve mass production of this fine-grade isotropic graphite. Their subsidiary, Toyo Tanso USA, manufactures isotropic graphite and also provides graphite-related silicon carbide surface treatments to customers.

Topics: Case studies, Process control, groov, optonews, PACs, mobile, PID loop control, OptoNews 2016-10-26

You've heard about our Opto 22 SNAP PAC programmable automation controllers with their built-in RESTful API (application program interface).

The REST API gives you secure access to all the I/O point and variable data in the PAC.

Topics: Internet of Things, IoT, optonews, PACs, REST API, RESTful server, REST, OptoNews 2016-10-12, IIoT

If you've heard about our Opto 22 SNAP PACs with their built-in RESTful API (application program interface), you may be wondering how you'd use that API to send real-world data to the IBM Watson IoT platform.  

I'll show you how, step-by-step, in this blog post. It's a long post, but it includes everything you'll want to know. (You can print this page as a PDF if you like.)

Topics: Internet of Things, IoT, PACs, API, REST API, RESTful server, REST

Do you use Opto iPAC or Opto aPAC on your phone or tablet to commission and troubleshoot Opto 22 systems? With these mobile apps, you can:

• Automatically discover Opto 22 systems on your network
• Change point status or variable values from your phone, wirelessly
• Create watch lists to monitor

Topics: Updates, Machine builder, optonews, PACs, OEM, Integrators, I/O, mobile, OptoNews 2016-09-28

Join us in Utrecht, Netherlands, next week and explore the World of Technology & Science (WOTS) Exhibition. This is the technological venue for everyone in the industrial, science, and healthcare fields.

OptoDistributor Mulder-Hardenberg will welcome you there at stand 10F051 and demonstrate: 

Topics: groov, Internet of Things, IoT, optonews, PACs, Events & conferences, API, REST API, RESTful server, REST, OptoNews 2016-09-28

OptoForum member tohox recently posted a question about using PID control loops on a SNAP-PAC-R1 rack-mounted controller.

The issue? A really long dead loop time. 

"The time delta between the moment the strategy opens a given loop's valve [and] starts the pump+furnace and the moment a temperature increase is measured can sometimes be on the order of an hour," tohox notes.

Topics: Energy management, Tips, optonews, PACs, I/O, Building management, Modbus, PID loop control, OptoNews 2016-09-28

We're looking forward to seeing you at one of these shows!

Learn about the newest technology in factory, process, and building automation, and take advantage of networking and business development opportunities.

Topics: Process control, Discrete control, groov, Remote monitoring, IoT, optonews, PACs, Events & conferences, I/O, OptoNews 2016-09-14

We've talked about some technologies, like edge computing and RESTful APIs, that reduce system architecture complexity for the Internet of Things (IoT) or Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). 

Reducing complexity is essential to making the IIoT work, especially for getting data from existing sensors, equipment, and devices that are functioning fine in the field but have no built-in IoT capabilities.

Topics: Internet of Things, Remote monitoring, IoT, PACs, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, MQTT

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