IF YOU ONLY GO TO ONE CONFERENCE THIS YEAR, MAKE IT THIS ONE!

Automation Technology in Process Manufacturing Conference

Whew! I just got done moderating one of the best webcast discussions I've ever participated in.

I have been doing and teaching webcasting since about 1998, so that's saying something.

Our Sr. Technical Editor, Dan Hebert, has sent in the following report about the spring meeting of the CSIA.

As is noted in the body of this release, Dow last year announced that they will be donating over $25 million a year to academic institutions in furtherance of their commitment to STEM education. Go, Dow! If we want to have workers for the plants we will not be closing, we all need to do like Dow does. Get it up, asset owners and vendor companies. Now's the time to make the investment. It will pay great returns.

 Here's the release: 

I just learned that Putman Media has very suddenly lost our vice-president, Julie Cappelletti Lange, to a very uncommon disease that affects fewer than 1.25 people out of a million.

Here is the last day of our live coverage from ABB Automation & Power World 2012

Arena Immerses Attendees in 800xA Experience
If a picture's worth 1000 words, then what about a 45-minute dramatization? That's the logic behind ABB's effort to paint a real-life picture of the problems faced by the staff at a hypothetical process plant, and how its System 800xA extended automation platform and related solutions can help solve them.

Get your daily fix of ABB Automation & Power World 2012

Headlines from April 25, 2012 Show News

If you didn't cath last night's show news, here you go again (access the newsletter directly).

ABB Sees Growth Through Megatrends, Disruptive Technologies
Despite the series of "unprecedented events" over the past year, players in the industrial automation and electric power industries should be able to look forward to a robust business climate for 2012 and beyond, according to Enrique Santacana, region manager, ABB North America.

ABB reported quarterly financials this morning, and even though the economy appears to be slowing in China and other economic sectors, the numbers continue to be good.    The rebirth of manufacturing in North America provides hope for a rosy future, as does the continuing strength of the Mittelstand companies in Europe.    

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Most large technology companies have an investment arm that is different from their normal business development and mergers and acquisitions groups. In ABB's case, that would be ABB Technology Ventures, which has been actively pursuing interesting small companies in the automation, power and data industries.