Omron Unveils New Global RFID Reader Platform for Gen 2
Omron RFID has developed the V750 reader platform, an expansion of the vendor's Electronic Product Code (EPC) UHF reader product line for radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The new platform will support global frequency bands for the U.S., Europe and Japan. According to Omron, the reader platform enables a high level of performance in EPC Gen 2 reading and writing, and features easy setup, advanced diagnostics, self-execution and RF environmental marketing functions. The V750 runs on a light real-time operating system (RTOS) which meets high-line speed and input/output requirements for supply chain processes, as well as packaging and manufacturing operations. It features optimized implementation for tag density self-adjustment, which improves actual read times required for applications that have frequent changes to the number of tags being read. The platform supports Omron's recently announced electronic control antenna technology, which provides direction of tag travel and eliminates “null points” in the read zone to improve RFID tag-read reliability.
http://www.omronrfid.com/

Keane Beefs Up Applications Menu In Deal With Intelligroup
Keane, Inc. has entered into a strategic alliance with Intelligroup. Keane is a business-process and information-technology services firm; Intelligroup is a provider of consulting, business-process optimization and outsourcing services. Keane said it is strengthening its Enterprise Application Services (EAS) to help clients gain more value from their investments in large-scale software systems. The alliance with Intelligroup is intended to give Keane additional capabilities for enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), supply-chain management (SCM), business intelligence, financials and human-resource management (HRM). Clients will be able to draw on Keane's expertise in business-process and application outsourcing, project management and legacy platform integration, combined with Intelligroup's experience in enterprise application services (EAS) and knowledge of industry domains. Clients will also have access to a global pool of talent, both onshore and offshore, the companies said. Keane and Intelligroup will deliver a full spectrum of EAS services for SAP and Oracle, including the latter's PeopleSoft and Siebel product areas. Services include package evaluation and implementation, along with software upgrades, migration, support, maintenance, integration and enhancements.
http://www.keane.com/

SPS Commerce Cooks Up a Guide to SOA, Apps Best Practices
SPS Commerce, a provider of electronic data interchange (EDI) under the software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, has announced release of the “BPEL Cookbook: Best Practices for SOA-based Integration and Composite Applications Development.” Co-authored by SPS software architect Sean Carey, the book is based on the Oracle Technology Network's BPEL (business process execution language) Cookbook series. It features case studies written by leading experts in the areas of BPEL and service-oriented architecture (SOA). In addition to Carey of SPS, they hail from Oracle, Qualcomm CDMA Technologies, SpaceBel SA and the University of Maribor. Created from a standards consortium consisting of BEA Systems, IBM and Microsoft, BPEL is a computer language used for the definition and execution of business processes using Web services. Carey authored the Cookbook's chapter on “SOA Techniques: Making BPEL Processes Dynamic.” He explains the significance of dynamic partner links and offers a step-by-step guide to implementing such links in a sample loan-processing scenario. The approach allows users quickly to add or delete service providers participating in a business process, without actually changing the process.
http://www.spscommerce.com/

AirBridge Cargo to Base Freighter in Russian Far East
AirBridge Cargo said it will base an IL-76 freighter aircraft in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, to meet growing demand for the airline's services to the Russian Far East. The move provides extra capacity for the oil and gas industry based on Sakhalin Island. The aircraft will be provided by AirBridge's parent, Volga-Dnepr Group. AirBridge commenced operations in 2004, operating scheduled cargo flights between Europe and Asia via Russia. With the addition, cargo such as oil and gas equipment for the Sakhalin 1 and Sakhalin 2 projects can be delivered to Krasnoyarsk via AirBridge's Boeing 747 aircraft, then transported to Sakhalin on the IL-76. The approach supports the “air-cargo supermarket” range of services offered by the Volga-Dnepr Group. The Krasnoyarsk base will provide customers with the most efficient routes for cargo moving between Europe, Asia, the U.S. and all major Russian Far East destinations, as well as Sakhalin Island, the carrier said.
http://www.volga-dnepr.com/

Cognex Upgrades Software for Deploying Vision-Guided Robots
Cognex Corp., a vendor of machine vision sensors, has released version 3.3 of In-Sight Explorer. The software is intended to speed the deployment of vision-guided robots in manufacturing. It includes new calibration, communication and other tools that minimize integration time when deploying vision in robotic guidance and inspection applications. Features include non-linear calibration, which improves repeatability by correcting for lens and perspective distortion; robot drivers and sample code to facilitate seamless integration, and the component known as PatMax, which locates unfixtured parts. In-Sight Explorer 3.3 is available on a wide range of IP67-rated hardware platforms. From standard to high-resolution models, all sensors are available with high-flex cables designed for robotic applications. For end-of-arm mounting in light payload applications or wherever space is limited, the recently released In-Sight 5400R vision sensor supplies a compact, remote-head camera. All In-Sight vision-sensor models include a library of vision software.
http://www.cognex.com/

Prescient Forms Dedicated Practice Group for Dairy Industry
Prescient Applied Intelligence has formed a Dairy Supply Chain Practice Group, to address the unique manufacturing and distribution needs of the dairy industry. Headed up by Karen Sickles, Prescient's director of sales operations and product management, the new group will give dairy-industry suppliers a forum to share best practices and exchange ideas. It will examine key distribution issues that impact the dairy industry today, with a particular focus on the use of scan sales data for lowering out-of-stocks, enabling demand and replenishment planning, reducing shrink, managing inventory, maintaining high service levels, and promoting scan-based trading. Each year, the Prescient Dairy Practice Group will hold a members' meeting at the company's Annual Client Exchange in Philadelphia. The conference will feature a dedicated dairy track. Quarterly conference calls will also be held throughout the year.
http://www.prescient.com/


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