NEWS

COPA-DATA presents zenon with comprehensive Multi-touch support

Innovative control concepts, maximum security:
Salzburg, Austria
November 15, 2011

COPA-DATA presents its HMI/SCADA software zenon at the SPS/IPC/DRIVES 2011, for the first time with comprehensive Multi-touch support. The operating of touch panels with several fingers simultaneously offers numerous advantages for the user: usability is improved, thus making daily use more efficient. At the same time, the Multi-touch technology allows for maximum security in industrial applications.

Multi-touch control concepts are making strong advances into industry and manufacturing. More and more machine and plant engineers require Multi-touch solutions from both hardware and software suppliers. The consumerization of IT, and Multi-touch support in Windows 7, are pushing this development and increasing the demand further still. COPA-DATA is one of the first suppliers able to comprehensively implement this technology in a HMI/SCADA solution. It is presenting its software zenon with full Multi-touch support at this years` SPS/IPC/DRIVES trade fair in Nuremberg, Germany.

„With the increased use of smartphones and tablet-PCs, Multi-touch has already become a trusted form of technology and can also offer many advantages outside of IT. We have intensively addressed and redefined the technology so that Multi-touch is also perfectly suitable for machine operation in industrial applications”, explains Thomas Punzenberger, COPA-DATA`s CEO. “First inquiries from machine manufacturers in this area confirm our thoughts. Usability is an important success factor for our customers and a modern, intuitive control concept is an essential part of this. We recognized this demand early on and have already integrated Multi-touch functions in zenon.”

A paradigm shift in the user guidance

The HMI/SCADA solution, zenon, can fully recognize and process touch movements involving various contact points. Among these standard touch gestures are tap, swipe and zoom movements. These can be used directly in zenon. With this, zenon allows the user to comfortably page through function overviews, lists, directories and documentation. Users can also very easily navigate in display pages as well as overview and process screens. Screens can be easily moved, and display screens enlarged or reduced as needed. Thanks to the open interfaces it is also possible to define individual touch gestures which then trigger predefined actions. Hence, the user can, for example, place a tick on the screen to acknowledge an alarm and with that confirm the action. With the input of an S, for example, they are brought directly back to the start screen.

Simple navigation, individually configured

Thanks to Multi-touch the navigation structure within projects is easier to manage by replacing menus and submenus with so called docks. This is achieved by a toolbar which evenly arranges the central symbols of a project enabling speedy access to the most important screens or applications. The symbols can be arranged as required within a dock using the drag and drop capabilities of Multi-touch. The user can achieve a simple overview across the entire dock by scrolling. The objective function can be reached more quickly than before, thus reducing search time. The drag and drop capabilities can also be used in process and overview screens. The user can put them together on the HMI according to their individual requirements. It is therefore possible to bring a standard process screen out of a menu and to position it at a particular point on another screen. This configuration can also be saved: enabling the user to find his personal, individual work space at their next login.

More efficiency, more security

Users of the Multi-touch technology profit from better usability, an optimum overview on the HMI and intuitive handling. Efficiency in the handling of the machines and plants is greatly improved. Professionals - as well as new or inexperienced employees - can work with zenon quickly, easily and with little training work with zenon, thanks to the Multi-touch technology. Particularly important in industrial applications: users must use an additional button for unlocking commands when making safety critical actions. Thanks to this two-handed operation it is ensured that unwanted touches don’t result in an operation to switch or change values. In addition, the login process is simplified as users can authenticate and register via a gesture-based login.

zenon: Certified direct connection to SAP

COPA-DATA calls MES applications into question with its certified interface to SAP(R) ERP.

Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) are used in many production facilities as the link between the process level and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. What used to be an integral part of many industrial systems now becomes a questionably unnecessary cost factor; at least for those who are using SAP(R) applications and controlling their production with zenon. COPA-DATA has now created a direct connection: A certified bidirectional interface now connects SCADA with ERP. zenon and SAP work as a team to take over the tasks that used to be performed by MES or by manual data transfer.

COPA-DATA has opened its already communicative zenon to the world of SAP. The HMI/SCADA system interacts with SAP ERP applications via a bidirectional interface. This means it sends messages about any type of event to the ERP level and also accepts control commands from there. Companies can now directly link their process level with the ERP level making a closed information loop, producing a complete overview of their business from order management, recipes and production to shipment.

zenon gives SAP applications access to the process level

ERP systems are increasingly required to be connected to processes and real-time data, their functionality increasingly takes over tasks that could or were performed by MES or similar systems. COPA-DATA integrates to these ERP systems - not by developing its own MES components, but rather by creating clearly defined standard interfaces for direct connection.

Thomas Punzenberger, CEO COPA-DATA: We asked ourselves, what do you really need an MES for? Generally, zenon can communicate with any ERP system. SAP already covers a wide range of requirements with its applications from order management, bill of materials, schedules, to production planning. zenon can fulfill further real-time process - level important tasks such as traceability, data acquisition, secure user management or maintenance management. So why should our users need a separate MES investment?

The new interface by COPA-DATA allows SAP applications to have extended functionality that even with an MES would be difficult, that is direct interaction with the process level. zenon takes over commands such as recipes and other data sequences from SAP applications and executes them in cooperation with its integrated SCADA-logic straton. Once executed, the steps are reported back in a closed loop and new commands are acquired. The complete process is transparent with fast reaction times. COPA-DATA uses the widely accepted PP-PI interface to communicate with a wide variety of SAP(R) applications.

For example, it is used in the SAP ERP application to monitor stock in real time, with zenon delivering exact data about real resource consumption from the SCADA level. The SAP module is now in communication with real-time stock levels instead of planned or predicted levels. Just-in-time production, as well as long-term planning, become more precise and efficient, with cost savings and efficiencies associated with reduced work-in-progress and inventory holding.

Overview and control with zenon

zenon is already provided with a set of modules that allow the user to obtain a clear overview and the ability to think ahead. For example, the Industrial Performance Analyzer (IPA), which raises production efficiency, and its ingenious partner module Industrial Maintenance Manager (IMM), which organizes maintenance tasks in an economic and efficient way.

zenon is open to any hardware and many software packages, paving the way for new applications both in the discrete and process industries. It integrates seamlessly into existing systems through its automatic engineering and standardized integration features.

COPA-DATA and SAP optimize processes and save resources The bidirectional connection between SCADA level and ERP level delivers many advantages for companies. Thanks to the direct exchange of data, two levels that used to be separated are now combined into a continuous system that controls everything from order to shipment, taking in to account actual production data and events the unpredictable is now brought under control. This enables the optimal use of labor and material as the various tasks reflect the true production position rather than an off-line and therefore obsolete production plan.

Product manager Reinhard Mayr: Our direct connection to the ERP level gives zenon users access to new ways of efficient and effective production planning. Why invest in an intermediate level, incur additional costs for implementation and maintenance and also increase risk of errors from an additional system?

This cooperation with the market leader for ERP systems allows COPA-DATA to offer new and interesting applications, potential and benefits to its customers. The certified solution guarantees perfect interaction with SAP applications for zenon users.

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