FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2001

GE Fanuc Enhances Next Step Program to
Simplify, Speed Plant Automation Upgrades
New hardware, software ease controller conversions
for faster ROI in uncertain economic environment

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.¾GE Fanuc Automation has expanded its Next Step Program, which simplifies and speeds plant automation upgrades while bringing new value to legacy systems and providing a faster return on investment in an uncertain economic environment.Two new additions to the Next Step Program further ease the conversion of Series Six™ PLCs to Series 90™ PLCs, enabling greater control functionality and Ethernet connectivity for plant-wide communications. The new S6-PIO Module provides the connection between older Series Six PLC I/O and the newer Series 90-70 PLC I/O.  Additionally, an upgraded software conversion tool allows GE Fanuc’s engineering team to convert older PLC ladder logic to new Series 90 ladder logic.

Together, the new Next Step Program enhancements provide additional value to users by further simplifying the conversion process and preserving the time and money invested in original Series Six PLC installations.

“With Next Step, users quickly can convert to Series 90 PLCs and obtain leading control technology, reliability and Ethernet communications capabilities while capitalizing on their previous investment – whether it was made five years ago or 15 years ago,” said Dave George, GE Fanuc’s director of services operation. The Next Step Program offers Series Six users incentives, rebates, and trade-in and conversion options to make the upgrade cost effective.”

In addition to providing the connection between the Series Six and the Series 90 PLCs, the S6-PIO Module allows replacement of redundant Series Six CPU systems. A new feature termed “Passive Mode Operation” allows GE Fanuc’s engineering team to install a Series 90-70 CPU in the Series Six parallel I/O bus without interfering with the Series Six control. This also allows for a complete check of conversion code prior to switching the control to the new system, which reduces risk to the user’s application.

Further easing Series 90 integration, the software conversion tool converts the ladder logic from Series Six to Series 90 in a fraction of the time that would be required to rewrite application code.The tool enables a 95 percent conversion rate of existing code—a 25 percent increase compared to previous conversion tools.

About GE Fanuc Automation
GE Fanuc Automation is a leading global supplier of industrial control systems and is a joint venture between GE and FANUC, Ltd. of Japan. GE Fanuc products and services include CIMPLICITY® manufacturing enterprise-wide software, nano to high-end PLCs, a wide range of CNCs, motion control systems, operator interfaces, industrial computers, CO₂ and YAG lasers, and a wide range of integration and customer support services. Headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., GE Fanuc is part of GE Industrial Systems.

About GE Industrial Systems
GE Industrial Systems is a $6 billion global leader in manufacturing products used to distribute, protect and control electrical power and equipment, and supplying product and service solutions for commercial, industrial, residential and utility applications. GE Industrial Systems is one of GE's major businesses.

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