Volume 1, Issue 8

Unlike other issues of the Entertron Intelligence news letter where we provided you both technical and marketing information, this issue will focus on the Introduction of our new concept - the Power of e

The power of e is a concept that we have been putting together over the last few months. The idea behind the power of e is to offer a complete Scada solution from PLC to PC, no matter where they are. Components of the power of e consist of:

• Entertron's ePLCs - Smart-PAK series, SK1600-RIC and Elite-2000

• Eclipse Operator Interfaces and Touch screens

• Communications via GSM modem, Lease Line or Dial Up

• Connectivity through Ethernet gateways to connect to PCs.

• Data logging - hardware @ the PLC through LoggeR or software through eLink

• HMI Scada software that brings all of the above together.

Most of you are familiar with our ePLCs and Eclipse Interfaces. New to our product offering are:

• A GSM / GPRS wireless modem. The exciting point about this product is the service that we have bundled. A fixed IP address for the modem allows you to access the ePLC from your sight without the modem needing to establish an IP address. (other services provide dynamic or random IP address requiring the modem to establish an IP address each time, thus making two way communications extremely difficult.) The service will cost less than a typical cell phone and provide you with 1 MB of data transfer / month. We will offer a service with 2 MB of data also.

• A combination modem that can either be set up for regular dial up or lease line.

• A basic dial up modem that will be our inexpensive entry point to the Power of e

• An inexpensive hardware based data logger that connects directly to the RS232 port of the ePLC.

• A dual serial port, one Ethernet port gateway that will allow you to interface two ePLCs to one Ethernet IP address.

• An HMI Scada software package that will be called e-Link. There will be many features offered with this package that when you compare our price with other more expensive packages, will be amazed at what you will receive. The development software is FREE of charge and can be downloaded directly from our web site.

To view the products incorporated as part of the Power of e click for details.

SPECIAL OFFERS

This Newsletter Special is available to any OEM that has never purchased from Entertron in the past can take advantage of this offer - 50% off any controller, in any configuration. For more information, click for details. When speaking and or emailing your request to Entertron, you must mention that you saw the information in our newsletter.

To the many students that are currently learning about the incredible world of PLCs and programming, we are offering you a special student discount - Any controller, any configuration - 20% off (includes computer cable and programming software). Compare this to other offers and you will see the benefits.

CLOSING NOTES

As was the case with 2003, 2004 was a very challenging year for Entertron. Many applications and production schedules were pushed back. What we believe this means is that 2005 will provide even more excitement than 2004 did. We have many opportunities that were being fine tuned in 2004 and should be ready to go full steam ahead in 2005.

The seeds have been planted, as evidence by the activity our web site generated. We continue to hear the frustration of many people and organizations dealing with the manner in which their accounts are handled. The fees that they have to continually pay for support and software upgrades. In addition to these people, others are both intrigued and in agreement with Entertron's concepts that benefit OEMs.

To put our Free Eware32 downloads in to perspective, our visitors saved between $617,958.00 if they had purchased Automation Directs least expensive programming package that only allows you to program one family of PLCs to $9,363,000.00 if they had purchased a version of RS Logix that also only allows for programming of one family of PLCs. Remember - all manufacturers that charge for programming software provide you with single run licenses. For every computer you install your software, you require a run license.

Who downloads Eware32?

Over the last two years, we have seen OEMs and end users download Eware32. However, the people receiving the greatest benefit from our free download are instructors/professors and students...the future of our industry. Students benefit from our library of 32 programming examples, manual and off line run simulator that allows them to create a program and test the logic, entirely in software.

Companies that require multiple developers and / or sites for product development benefit from the unlimited run license. In addition to the original cost of the software, they also save on future costs for support. With Entertron you never have to worry about a support contract or cost for support.

Although rare, some of our OEM customers actually provide our programming software with their products. The third benefit...no purchasing of additional copies of software to provide to your customers.

On a side note, we would like to extend our warmest blessings to our founder, Jack Luft, whom after founding the company and dedicating 26 years of service to Entertron has decided to retire. His last day with the company was December 31st.

Additionally, everyone at Entertron would like to extend our gratitude to you our customers for your continued support. Because of you, Entertron is still in business and making a difference to the status quo of the PLC industry.

Our commitment to you is to do better than we did in 2004.

If you have missed an issue of Entertron Intelligence, not to fear, you can view past issues on our web site.

Any general questions, not related to one of our subjects can be emailed to us at plcs@entertron.com and in the subject area type in "entertron intelligence question"

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