Rockwell Automation's Free Training Advisor

Understanding your workforces knowledge and ability can be a difficult task to perform. However, it is essential when trying to improve the performance of your automation assets, for this you need to have the right technical knowledge and apply it when required.

Rockwell Automation’s free Training Advisor helps you to determine the appropriate, tailored training path for your workforce to obtain the knowledge needed. This easy to use tool helps identify skill and knowledge gaps by using customised online assessments. These will be based on job tasks that are performed by your workforce, including: networks, controllers safety visualisation, motion control, process control and drives.

Training Advisor gathers the results and identifies areas for potential training and development, helping you to make the most out of your training.  Training Advisor gathers the results and identifies areas for potential training and development, helping you to make the most out of your training. The straightforward online assessment allows you to learn more about your workforce in a short period of time.

TRAINING SCHEDULE UPDATE
Places are still available on the following courses – book early to avoid disappointment.

November 2013
Description	Course	Days	Start Date	Price
Introduction to Integrated Architecture	CIA101	3	11	£995
ControlLogix Fundamentals & Troubleshooting	CCP299	4	25	£1,250
ControlLogix System Fundamentals	CCP146	2	19	£695
RSLogix5000 Maintenance & Troubleshooting	CCP153	4	4	£1,250
RSLogix5000 Function Block Programming	CCP152	2	11	£695
TUV Functional Safety Introduction	SAF-TUV1	3	18	£1,045
GuardLogix Fundamentals & Troubleshooting	SAF-LOG103	1	4	£415
GuardLogix Application development	SAF-LOG101	2	5	£735
FT View ME & PanelView Plus Programming	CCV204	3	19	£995
Ethernet/IP Design & Troubleshooting	CCP178	3	4	£995
DeviceNet & RSNetWorx Configuration & Troubleshooting	CCP164	2	7	£695
ControlLogix Motion Fundamentals	CCN130	1	8	£395
RSLogix5000 Motion Programming using ladder logic	CCN142	3	26	£995
Powerflex drives fundamentals	CCA101	1	29	£395

 

December 2013
Description	Course	Days	Start Date	Price
CE Marking for Machinery	GBR8601	2	12	£735
TUV Functional Safety Technician	SAF-TUV3	2.5	2	£1,045
CompactLogix Fundamentals & troubleshooting	CCP298	4	2	£1,250
Basic ladder logic interpretation	CCCL21	2	10	£695
Logix5000 maintenance & troubleshooting	CCP153	4	16	£1,250
Logix 5000 Basic ladder logic programming	CCP151	2	5	£695
FTView ME & PanelView Plus maintenance & troubleshooting	CCV209	2	11	£695
FT View SE Programming	CCV207	5	2	£1,595
FT VantagePoint Configuration & Reporting	FTVP	3	9	£995
Xcelsius Dashboard Builder	XCL101	1	12	£395

For more information click here

Customer Satisfaction Survey

‘Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning’ Bill Gates 

Looking at the results of our previous Customer Surveys, the majority of our customers are happy to give us top marks. However, not everyone has the same experience therefore it is important for us to ask you regularly how well we are doing. 

 

From our last survey, you said that Good Communication and high levels of Customer Service were considered most important when working with a Company like Routeco, more important, in fact than the price of goods and our ability to deliver on time. 

 

Our mission statement refers to our goal of becoming a Partner of Choice to our customers, since the last survey we have focused on a number of actions to maintain and improve the service that we can offer to you:

• A lot of work has taken place in the development of our sales teams, through the introduction of robust recruitment processes and high levels of investment in technical and account management training.
• Work is in progress mapping the ‘customer journey’ identifying critical touch points to develop strategies to enhance your customer experience.
• Our Company Objectives have been re-launched to highlight our increased focus on customer loyalty and retention, all of our departmental and individual objectives will have a clear connection with these.
• Our customer issues/complaints process is currently being re-designed; to clearly define the lines of communication and expectations on resolutions to enable reporting/analysis of data to highlight trends and define actions for improvement.
• We recently invested and are currently implementing a new intranet to provide a more dynamic platform to communicate information across the business; this will enable updates on products, feedback, and technical information to be shared more effectively.

We will be conducting our next Customer Satisfaction survey mid-November and I really hope you will take the time to give us your views, a summary of the results will be communicated on our blog.  

I would like to thank you in advance for helping us with your feedback.

Clare Lundberg

The Next Generation of Powerful Performance

Allen-Bradley introduces the new PowerFlex 523 AC Drive.

Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 523 AC drives are ideal for standalone applications that require installation flexibility, communications and energy saving features in a cost-effective solution.
Maximise your system performance and reduce your time to design and deliver better machines.

• Innovative, modular design - made up of two modules that can be detached for simultaneous and independent wiring and software configuration with both vertical, horizontal and side-by-side installation, with a compact footprint.
  
  
• Ease of Configuration. To make configuration easier, machine builders can use a standard USB connection for uploading and downloading drive-configuration files. They also can program the drive through its built-in human interface module (HIM), which displays data on the drive’s LCD with scrolling QuickView text and detailed explanations of parameters and other codes. The HIM also has multiple language options to address global needs.
  
  
• Excellent Reliability - meet your needs for flexibility and space savings, the PowerFlex 523 has high temperature tolerance, Drives operate in ambient temperatures from -20°C (-4°F) to 50°C (122°F). With current derating and a control module fan kit, up to 70°C (158°F)
  
  
• Power Ratings:  0.2...11 kW / 0.25...15Hp in global voltage classes from 100-600V to meet a wide range of applications
  
  
• Power Saving: Economizer control mode can help reduce energy cost
  
  For more information click here
  To purchase the PowerFlex 523 click here
  
  For any further enquiries, email: sales@routeco.com or call: 0370 607 1000

Prosoft's AN-X2-AB-DHRIO Gateway

Prosoft's range of AN-X Gateways help users to migrate legacy either remote I/O or data highway plus PLC's to ControlLogix or CompactLogix PAC's.
 

 

 
Prosoft's gateways enable your remote I/O PLC to control the latest Ethernet/IP Powerflex drives or Panel View Plus 6 terminals.
 
For more information, email: sales@routeco.com or call: 0370 607 1000 

Thank Routeco It's Friday! (TRIF)

This week, the news highlighted a terrifying story of a school that was closed due to an outbreak of Britain’s most venomous spider (the false widow). In light of this, our marketing team have been talking about what we are most scared of, this ranges from spiders and wasps, to Sharks and Claustrophobia. All relatively normal fears, we thought it might be interesting to look at some of the more unusual, but medically classified phobias in the world.

Ombrophobia (Fear of rain)

Ombrophobes have an abnormal fear of rain, which if severe can cause anxiety attacks. It is thought to be triggered by a number of reasons, including young children being warned not to go out in the rain because they will get ill. (Not a great fear to have if you live in the UK).

Triskaidekaphobia (Fear of the number 13)

Many people are superstitious about the number 13 due to its close association with Friday the 13^th, although only few have a full phobia. Suffers will take great care to avoid using, or doing anything related to the number.
Somniphobia (Fear of falling asleep)

This compromises and excessive fear of sleep. Somniphobes may fear falling asleep because they associate going to bed with dying. It may also result from the feeling of losing control or suffering nightmares.

Sciophobia (Fear of shadows)

We’ve all heard the saying about being scared of your own shadow, but some people actually take this literally. Adults are aware that this fear is irrational, yet the fear or confronting it can bring on serious symptoms such as panic attacks. (I too had a similar fear, after watching Peter Pan as a child I was worried my shadow might run off!).

Nomophobia (Fear of being without mobile phone coverage)

(I think we also suffer from this to an extent) according to recent surveys more than half of people in the UK suffer from this. The phobia is brought on by fear of running out of battery, losing signal and even losing a mobile phone.

Feel free to share if you have any unusual fears.

Have a great weekend!

Rachael