Rockwell Automation released its PharmaSuite v7.0 manufacturing execution system (MES) software for use in discrete applications.  This extends the software, which is used by pharmaceutical producers for capabilities, such as batch track-and-trace, into new applications, such as medical device manufacturing, that combine discrete and batch processes in their operations and require tracking capabilities down to the smallest saleable unit.

Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, released an updated version of its Wonderware Recipe Manager Plus software. Designed specifically for food and beverage and any other batch manufacturing applications, the new software will help speed up and better optimize how new recipes and recipe variations are adopted and how new products are brought to market.

Rockwell Automation has expanded its Allen-Bradley Stratix family of industrial switches with the Allen-Bradley Stratix 5400 switch, an all-gigabit option that helps manufacturers achieve higher network speeds for their increasingly high bandwidth applications. The switch also supports both Layer 2 switching and Layer 3 routing for a range of network configurations.

Building off of IBM's recent investment of $3 billion over the next four years to establish a new 'Internet of Things' (IoT) unit, IBM announced new software and services to enable an ecosystem of partners and clients to more efficiently create, build, and manage the connected products and systems at the heart of the IoT:

ABB introduced the Tropos 6420-XA, a fourth-generation outdoor broadband mesh router that is an oil well pad communications hub for all life cycle phases from lease to production. Using the Tropos 6420-XA, upstream oil and gas companies reportedly can now own a single wireless network to meet all their communication needs throughout the oil well pad life cycle.

Mentor Graphics Corporation announced the new Nucleus SafetyCert real-time operating system (RTOS), targeting high-performance, next-generation applications for embedded devices designed to meet safety and reliability regulatory requirements for industrial, medical, and airborne systems. Running in more than 3 billion devices, the higher-performance and scalable Nucleus RTOS has been verified and documented by Verocel, Inc., a leading independent safety-critical software verification company.

​Siemens launched a new DCS product line SIMATIC PCS 7 SMART specifically designed for small to mid-sized process automation markets across applications and industries. PCS 7 SMART ensures lower initial acquisition cost than a larger DCS, thus reducing the total-cost-of-ownership (TCO). It offers a fixed, compact configuration which ensures ease of repeatability; i.e. once a standard solution is designed, the same can be used for several similar applications. This feature not only reduces engineering efforts but also ensures lesser time-to-market.

Infor, an industry cloud company, announced the general availability of the Infor Implementation Accelerator for Chemicals, helping customers achieve faster time to value. This latest solution is designed to provide chemical-manufacturing companies with tools to quickly implement an integrated, prescriptive solution anchored by Infor M3.

Emerson Process Management has released its new SmartProcess Oil and Gas Applications Suite - answering critical challenges facing the oil and gas production/transmission markets. The new application software suite was developed by Emerson's industry experts to provide applications for monitoring, controlling and optimizing vital oil and gas operations. The application suite helps operators achieve greater production, reduce lifecycle costs, ensure consistency between sites, and reduce the likelihood of HSE events.

“The future is electric” – after e-cars and e-bikes, we may soon by flying in e-planes.

Siemens researchers last week reported the development of an electric motor designed for use in aircraft with a takeoff weight of up to two tons.  The company already offers electric powertrains for use in passenger and commercial electric vehicles, so the reach to aviation should not be a big step.  Siemens has already worked together with Airbus and Diamond Aircraft on next-generation propulsion systems.