GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms Announces QuickPanel View Integrated Communications

RELEASE: CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, April 15, 2008 GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, a unit of GE Enterprise Solutions, today announced that its QuickPanel View products have been enhanced to allow greater integrated communications with a vast array of products through collaboration with Kepware Technologies' KEPServerEX.

"By using Kepware Technologies' software, we added 39 new third-party protocols to the QuickPanel View platform and will add 97 protocols for View Runtime on the PC platform," said Paul Daugherty, Operator Interface Product Manager for GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms. "We can now easily connect the benefits of our QuickPanels to virtually any device in the world. This helps manufacturing run better."

A joint development team from Kepware Technologies and GE Fanuc worked to integrate KEPServerEX and drivers into GE Fanuc's award-winning Proficy Machine Edition View software. This integration means that users can add drivers, devices and tags just as they did before. Tag Variables are created once and once only. Integration provides consistency in configuration from driver to driver and access to in-depth diagnostics for troubleshooting. QuickPanel View drivers are included in the Machine Edition View Development package.

Available in a variety of display sizes, the QuickPanel View bundled visualization solution provides the tools required for today's application needs. By integrating the best-selling QuickPanel family of touch screens with Proficy Machine Edition software, QuickPanel View delivers flexible, scalable performance on a rugged hardware platform. The intuitive environment of Proficy View – Machine Edition software helps reduce application development time, and connectivity is made easy with a family of serial, Ethernet and fieldbus interfaces.

"GE Fanuc is a leading vendor in the HMI/SCADA and HMI Panel marketplaces and we are excited to have been selected as a supplier of communications technology," said Roy Kok, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Kepware Technologies, located in Portland, Maine. "GE Fanuc has always been a supplier of open technology and this relationship will significantly enhance their ability to serve customers with third-party controller solutions."

"Because our system is open and connected," continued GE Fanuc's Daugherty, " users can configure it to act as the bridge between the enterprise and the plant floor providing useful data in managing the business. As information needs grow, the hardware easily grows as well with the ability to connect to any device with more than 100 built in drivers and a wide range of communications options. We are very excited about the possibilities for our customers."

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ABOUT KEPWARE:
Kepware is the world leader in communication software for automation and offers unique experience in both OPC and embedded device communications. Since 1995, Kepware has focused on the development of communication drivers to automation controllers, I/O and field devices. Today, with over 100 communication protocols, and through the efforts of our direct sales, distribution and embedded partners, Kepware is the leading provider of communications with annual shipments exceeding 100,000 units. Kepware's responsiveness to customer needs and strong partnerships with other leading automation suppliers ensure that your next application will be a success. Ask around and you'll hear why automation professionals everywhere consider Kepware Technologies; "Automation's Best Friend";. (http://www.kepware.com)

ABOUT GE FANUC INTELLIGENT PLATFORMS:
GE 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, 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 http://www.gefanuc.com/.
All product and company names listed are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.

Kepware Media Contacts:
Roy Kok
V.P. Sales and Marketing
Kepware
207-775-1660 x253
roy.kok@kepware.com

GE Fanuc Contacts:
Elli Holman
GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms
508-698-7456
elli.holman@gefanuc.com
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