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Article: Adventures in system integration: the success of automation projects depends on a number of factors--not least of all the skills of the system integrators.(SYSTEM INTEGRATION)
- Article from:
- Food Engineering
- Article date:
- May 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 BNP Media. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
The system integrator who wouldn't leave isn't a legend but an unhappy reality of automation projects of the not too distant past. Open architectures and standardized hardware are squeezing much of the time and expense out of projects, allowing food and beverage companies to begin generating returns on their automation investments more quickly. But careful planning is a precursor to vertical startups.
Evidence of the benefits of open systems was on display recently in Cologne, Germany, host to the triennial Anuga FoodTec trade show. Encouraged by the reception to a 2006 demonstration, organizers of the Robotik-Pack-Line project ...