GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, a unit of GE Enterprise Solutions, announced the availability of iPower 5.0 with its DNP3 driver providing a complete vertical industry solution for electrical transmission and distribution utilities. iPower reduces the cost of implementing, supporting and operating a SCADA system and increases operational efficiency by providing a secure, consistent, and intuitive interface for operators.“iPower delivers a unique value proposition for Electrical Transmission and Distribution SCADA applications by combining the strength of Proficy HMI/SCADA - iFIX with additional industry specific functionality that is tightly integrated and easy to use,” said Prasad Pai, iFIX Product Manager for GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms. “It was built using the iFIX toolkit and delivers built-in object security, enhanced graphic capability, standard operator interfaces, alarm and event reporting and standard drag and drop electrical utility objects. The iPower option reduces customer development and maintenance costs while delivering an easier to use SCADA system.DNP is the industry’s standard communication protocol, so the addition of the DNP3 driver offers the ability to communicate with a wide variety of devices, RTUs and substations – rounding out the overall solution. The DNP3 driver is native to iFIX 5.0 and can also be operated independently as a stand-alone OPC server. The DNP3 driver’s key features include DNP level 3 (requests and responses), on-the-fly configuration without requiring a system restart, and sequence of events (level 3). “iPower increases engineering and maintenance productivity with its automated configuration tools, rich development environment, RTU Vendor Neutrality, and industry standards communication protocols,” continued Pai. “The combination of iPower 5.0 and DNP3 are completely integrated with GE Fanuc’s industry-leading HMI/SCADA iFIX 5.0 enabling quick integration of iFIX 5.0’s standard features with iPower 5.0 elements to deliver a tailored SCADA solution at a low total cost of ownership.“It provides an open and flexible solution that is easier to deploy and support than generic SCADA software,” he said. “iPower SCADA with DNP3 makes it easy for even small utilities to install and maintain their own SCADA.”Key features that iPower adds to iFIX:
- Menu system for easy navigation
- Pan, zoom and declutter for uncluttered monitoring and easy navigation
- Electric SCADA sample system and electric SCADA object libraries to create the ideal look and feel
- Device dialogs for intuitive, consistent and safe operation
- Auxiliary screens to avoid information overload
- Industry Standard safe and secure control
- Control tagging (locking) for safe operations
- Events, Sequence of Events and Event History of efficient network management and fault finding
- Industry specific lists like ‘Disabled Alarms’ and ‘Off Normals’
- Automated display configuration to drastically reduce the time and cost of SCADA implementation
“The automated configuration within iPower 5.0 reduces 20+ steps to one drag and drop,” said Pai. “All of the new features are achieved with intuitive tools that are easy for Microsoft Windows users. And, it delivers a consistent system that is easy to maintain long term."The software was developed by Catapult Software, headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, and is sold and supported globally by GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms. “We have been delivering iPower and DNP communications for eight years to the electrical transmission and distribution industry,” said Tony Haresnape, CEO of Catapult Software. “iPower 5.0 and DNP3 are examples of our coordinated development efforts and focus on delivering integrated value.”More information can be found at
www.gefanuc.com/iPower.
About GE Fanuc Intelligent PlatformsGE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, a joint venture between General Electric (NYSE: GE) and FANUC LTD of Japan, is a high-performance technology company and a global provider of hardware, software, services, expertise and experience in automation and embedded computing, with products employed in virtually every industry, including manufacturing automation, process automation, defense, automotive, telecommunications, healthcare and aerospace. GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms is a worldwide company headquartered in Charlottesville, VA and is part of GE Enterprise Solutions. For more information, visit
www.gefanuc.com.
