More comprehensive product selection with integration of nine Encompass partners.

Rockwell Automation has rebuilt Motion Analyzer software as a Web tool. The tool offers new user-friendly features and a vastly expanded product catalog to help engineers more easily specify, design and validate complete motion control systems.

The Motion Analyzer Web tool is cloud-based, allowing users to access, update and collaborate on projects stored in a single location, reducing version control issues and the need to share project files back and forth. A cloud-based platform also means users are no longer limited by the processing speed of their computers when designing systems for more complex applications. The tool’s new browser-style format allows users to filter, review and compare products and general pricing, similar to search capabilities on popular e-commerce sites.

“Incorrectly sizing a motion system not only generates unnecessary costs in wasted engineering time and re-stocking fees, but it can greatly slow a machine’s time-to-market,” said Michael Lennard, product manager, Motion Solutions, Rockwell Automation. “The latest Motion Analyzer release is an evolution of the platform that is more collaborative, expansive and easy to use. When engineers can quickly create and examine complete motion control systems within a single platform, they can spend more time innovating and improving their machines.”

The Motion Analyzer Web tool provides machine builders access to a wider range of motion control products than ever before. It now incorporates products from nine Rockwell Automation PartnerNetwork Encompass product partners, including STOBER Drives, NIDEC-SHIMPO, item North America, Tolomatic, Nook Industries, WITTENSTEIN, Exlar Corporation, Bonitron and Elwood Corporation.

“Collaboration between various disciplines among machine builders and automation solution providers is critical to lower the Total Cost to Design, Develop and Deliver equipment,” said Clayton Webber, national sales manager, STOBER Drives. “Having mechatronic solutions up-to-date in the cloud establishes Motion Analyzer as a differentiator in machine design. STOBER and Rockwell Automation are striving to lead online solutions for machine design.”

Using the Motion Analyzer Web tool, engineers can determine a system’s specifications, evaluate multiple products, finalize the design and create a bill of materials. The tool can help shorten motion system design from a multiday process to a matter of hours. The Web tool supports English, German and Chinese languages, and it is compatible with a wide range of computer, smartphone and tablet operating systems.

To protect user data, Rockwell Automation developed the Motion Analyzer Web tool using industry-accepted best practices in security. This includes using the HTTPS/TLS 1.2 protocol for 128-bit encryption of all connections. The tool also leverages the defense-in-depth security features built into the Microsoft Azure cloud platform, which has achieved the highest levels of international certification and accreditation, including ISO 27001.

Automation Fair, to be held on November 19-20, 2014, at Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA, USA, offers a platform wherein ‘The Connected Enterprise’ help achieve faster time to market, optimize your assets, lower your total cost of ownership and improve enterprise risk. It also gives an opportunity to discover how to improve productivity and efficiency throughout the life cycle of automation investments.

Besides, it gives the know-how of how flexible, scalable automation solutions can lower costs and improve overall performance, and experience how sustainable production practices can increase competitiveness and help you better manage energy and materials costs.

With around 150 exhibits, it offers an added advantage of automation expertise from Rockwell Automation and its PartnerNetwork, providing comprehensive solutions from industry leaders in distribution, systems integration, machine building, and complementary technologies.

Industry Forums
The Forums at Automation Fair present examples and concepts that different manufacturers have used to increase their productivity and improve the efficiency of their business. They strive to reduce product development cycles to maximize sales opportunities. They also look for ways to reduce production costs and meet ever-changing global regulatory requirements while producing a wide variety of consistently high-quality products. They must adopt new strategies in order to survive.

At Automation Fair, representatives and experts from several industries will present their experiences and application of the latest automation technologies in these Forums:

• Engineering and Consultants (EPC)
• Global Machine & Equipment Builders
• Power & Energy Management
• Food & Beverage
• Mining
• Oil & Gas
• Safety
• Safety (OEM)
• Water Wastewater

Automation Perspectives
On November 18th, industry experts will gather to discuss their perspectives on the Connected Enterprise and how it can be applied across industries and geographies for better collaboration, faster problem solving and improved innovation.

Following this half-day global media forum, Rockwell Automation executives will be discussing the following:

• Industrial Control Systems Security
• Macroeconomic Outlook and Alliance Update
• Connected Enterprise: The Rockwell Automation Journey
• Connected Enterprise: The Rockwell Automation Vision
• Remote Monitoring and Support

The Product Showcase includes information on new offerings from Rockwell Automation and its PartnerNetwork that will be exhibited at the Automation Fair event.