Control Suppliers Lead HMI Market, Add Control and Supervisory Modules to Products.DEDHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 2, 1998--The HMI (Human Machine Interface) The user interface in a manufacturing or process control system. It provides a graphics-based visualization of an industrial control and monitoring system. and related software market continues to evolve. Recent changes to the landscape include Siebe's acquisition of HMI market leader Wonderware -- evidence of the increasing importance to control companies of offering software as part of a total control solution, and competing with independent software suppliers. With this acquisition, Siebe gains access to Wonderware's sales channels and large installed base of users. They also gain access to Wonderware's Windows NT-based technology for incorporation into other products. In 1997, nearly 44 percent of the HMI market was attributed to North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. , while Europe (including the Middle East and Africa) accounted for just over 35 percent. A slowing Asian market (including Japan) accounted for 16 percent, followed by Latin America Latin America, the Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, and French-speaking countries (except Canada) of North America, South America, Central America, and the West Indies. with just over 5 percent. Technology continues to alter the HMI and related software landscape. Object-based architectures are changing user's expectations of traditional HMI software and expanding its application space. Systems based on object technology will be easier to configure and maintain, and information will be highly distributed. Introduction of Windows CE-based HMI products in 1998 will also make an impact as suppliers start to provide low-end versions of their products that run on flat panel displays and other low-cost hardware platforms Each hardware platform, or CPU family, has a unique machine language. All software presented to the computer for execution must be in the binary coded machine language of that CPU. Following is a list of the major hardware platforms in existence today. See platform. . Since Windows CE (Windows Consumer Electronics) Microsoft's version of Windows for handheld devices and embedded systems that use x86, ARM, MIPS and SHx CPUs. Windows CE .NET superseded Windows CE 3.0. is highly customizable to the hardware platform, HMI software suppliers will partner with hardware suppliers to bundle a low-end, open operator interface solution. In addition to business and technology changes, HMI products are evolving to solve larger problems. Many HMI software products have expanded functionality due to the addition of PC-based control features. Others have added supervisory control Supervisory control is a general term for control of many individual controllers or control loops, whether by a human or an automatic control system, although almost every real system is a combination of both. functions like batch control (1) The management of documents or electronic media that have been grouped, cataloged and are waiting for processing. See batch processing. (2) An industrial control application that makes products in vats and tanks rather than in a continuous series of processes that and MES-like functionality to expand their reach up the control hierarchy. These new features will help cutting-edge suppliers redefine their products and target applications, and at the same time help to collapse the automation hierarchy into a more manageable number of levels and interfaces. The above information is taken from ARC's HMI Software Global Outlook study. ARC's studies and services are specifically designed to help industry executives lower their risk in making strategic decisions. The studies are prepared to provide strategic market intelligence to executives responsible for planning, marketing, sales and development of their company's industrial automation business. This study is available immediately from ARC for an investment of $3,900. Automation Research Corporation is a leading international market research and management consulting Noun 1. management consulting - a service industry that provides advice to those in charge of running a business service industry - an industry that provides services rather than tangible objects firm focusing exclusively on the industrial automation marketplace. ARC provides strategic planning Strategic planning is an organization's process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy, including its capital and people. and technology assessment services to major industrial systems integrators, users, and suppliers. Further information can be obtained from ARC, Three Allied Drive, Dedham, MA 02026, (781) 461-9100 ext. 120, Fax (781) 461-9101, E-mail sdepaola@arcweb.com, Web www.arcweb.com.
CONTACT: ARC
Steve DePaola, 781-461-9100, Ext 120
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