New version of plant information software

Illuminator connects to manufacturing automation and information systems and leverages web technology to facilitate cost-effective, real-time access to information throughout the supply chain

Pantek, the UK distributor for Lighthammer Software Development, the leading supplier of Plant Information Portal technology, announces the release of Illuminator Version 8.5.

Illuminator connects to manufacturing automation and information systems and leverages web technology to facilitate cost-effective, real-time access to information throughout the internal and external supply chain.

Illuminator enables users to make informed operational and tactical decisions and to achieve true "zero latency" manufacturing, a prerequisite for any manufacturing organization undertaking an eBusiness strategy.

Visibility to operational measurements also provides the foundation for ongoing process improvement and can be an important enabler for Six Sigma and Balanced Scorecard initiatives.

The latest release extends Lighthammer's leadership in the deployment of XML technology as an enabler for acquisition, analysis, distribution, and presentation of information from manufacturing systems.

Enhanced functionality includes built-in transformation of data into any standard XML message structure such as BizTalk, RosettaNet, and others, as well as the ability to interface with peer or enterprise systems using XML as the default data format for both incoming and outgoing data.

Illuminator 8.5 introduces a breakthrough Intelligent Agent subsystem, which can be used to enable interapplication messaging on detection of production events or exceptions, automated calculation of key performance indicator (KPI) metrics, automatic transfer of information between XML, database, and e-mail sources, gathering and conversion of data from external web sources, and much more.

Illuminator now provides an expanded set of "connectors", enabling users to mine information from a broad range of manufacturing technologies include Rockwell RSView, Siemens WinCC, Schneider FactoryCast, USData FactoryLink, Citect, and general-purpose OPC servers, as well as direct connections to Sybase and DB2.

This augments the extensive list of connectors already available for Wonderware, Intellution, Oil Systems, Aspen Technology, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and ODBC data sources.

This unequalled connectivity positions Illuminator as the premier technology for bringing real time manufacturing and production information to web users.

Integral to Illuminator is the concept of "non-intrusive" connectivity, allowing legacy data sources to be integrated into the overall enterprise decision support scheme with minimal effort and no disruption to operations.

With Illuminator, broad connectivity is not limited to data sources - the product can deliver information to a broad range of web devices, including all major browsers, handheld/palmtop devices, web phones, and enterprise applications.

New visualization functionality has also been added, including a variety of new charting components, expanded support for wireless devices, and a powerful set of wizards for automatic generation of web page content for users with little or no technical expertise.

A comprehensive reporting module has also been added to Illuminator, allowing content from multiple data sources to be aggregate and correlated in a single report.

These reports can be "live" or static, and can be displayed in a browser, printed, or disseminated via e-mail.

Version 8.5 also provides an Enterprise option for multi-site views of production and manufacturing operations, enabling multiple Illuminator servers throughout the business to act as a single, unified view of enterprise information.

This allows a Corporate Process Engineer to assist plants with process problems - or for a Production Executive to view real time manufacturing results at a number of sites - from a single web browser.

Russ Fadel, Lighthammer CEO states, "Many CEO's, CTO's and CIO's recognize the link to real time systems in manufacturing represents the 'missing link' in the complete eManufacturing strategy.

While many business systems do an adequate job in providing a view of "business" metrics, they all lack the resolution to provide a current view of production activities and performance.

Illuminator complements and extends investments in Enterprise Knowledge Management by expanding the 'reach' into plant/production systems.

Rick Bullotta, Lighthammer CTO adds, "Our early decision to leverage openly available web technologies, such as Java and XML, has enabled Illuminator to deliver unparalled functionality and value to our users.

The product can be installed and deployed literally in hours, enabling rapid realization of benefits.

The latest release is also continued evidence of our commitment to constant value delivery for our customers through new product capabilities, enhanced developer productivity, and world-class customer support.

Evolving Internet technologies and internet-based manufacturing solutions can radically change the way in which companies conduct business and revolutionise the way industrial processes are monitored and controlled.

An Internet-enabled plant network makes it possible to manage, view and control real-time processes, network devices and configurations from within application clients and standard Web Browsers.

Back to top