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Issue Q1 · 2007

Ferranti e-Newsletter


General

Business Solutions

Events


Nederlandse versie · Version française

Intro

Dear Customer,
Dear partner,

We are pleased to send you the latest edition of Ferranti's e-Newsletter.

This newsletter will inform you on some new developments within Ferranti, such as the renewal of the corporate web site, as well as on new innovating projects with some of our customers.

Enjoy reading,

Franky Baert
Managing Director

New Corporate Web Site Ferranti

Ferranti has unveiled a new corporate web site available at www.ferranti.be

The site was created to elevate the company's online image and bring consistency and efficiency to its global communications.

Microsoft Sharepoint Server 2007 is at the heart of this new web site, bringing extensive search functionality, RSS feeds, etc.

Check it out at www.ferranti.be

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Wallonia and Brussels sucessfully migrated to MECOMS and ready for liberalisation

On January 1, 2007 the liberalisation of the energy sector became a reality in Brussels and Wallonia as well.

To this end the Full Lib data migration for virtually all connection points in Wallonia and Brussels was recently successfully implemented in IMDMS, the Independent Metering Data Management System of Indexis. This system manages energy consumption data for all suppliers. Around 2.5 million new connection points were migrated in just 29 hours (EAN, devices, historic indexes/consumption figures and EAV calculation).

The total number of connection points in IMDMS currently stands at just under 7 million:

  • Electricity 4,344,024
  • Gas 2,296,684
  • Infeed 9,238

A further minor migration was to follow in December, after which these 2.5 million points were attributed a liberalisation index on January 1, 2007.

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Verano's Visualizer for RTAP on Linux brings Flexibility and Security to Mission-Critical SCADA Security market

- Verano Allows Operators to Work in a Windows Environment Without Sacrificing Security

Verano, Inc., the SCADA security company, today announced that its Real-Time Application Platform (RTAP) on Linux is now available with a Windows client, Visualizer for RTAP on Linux. Verano's highly scalable, mission-critical SCADA application now has the reliability of a Linux server combined with the flexibility and familiarity of a Windows-based operator interface available on low-cost, high performance hardware.

RTAP is a proven supervisory control platform running in thousands of industrial installations worldwide for companies such as British Energy, California Water Service Company, Enbridge Pipelines, RWE and Shell. From systems that manage the world's longest petroleum and natural gas pipelines to automated systems for distributing drinking water to more than six million people in London, RTAP is an industrial-strength automation solution for critical infrastructure with large scale, dynamic processes.

Verano has made this reliable control platform even more operator-friendly with a Windows client. Visualizer for RTAP on Linux was developed to meet the needs of diverse clients around the world who need the power and security of RTAP on Linux servers, but want the versatility of Windows for their operators.

"We have been integrating our applications on Verano's dependable RTAP platform for 15 years with great results," said Guido Van de Velde, business unit manager of Ferranti Computer Systems. "We respect their continued commitment to mission-critical SCADA and SCADA security, especially in applications where Windows-based servers are not ideal, but the flexibility and familiarity of Windows is desired on the client side, together with the integration possibilities with other desktop tools."

Users of mission-critical SCADA applications require reliability and security, but at the same time, want to offer their operators a familiar, flexible Human Machine Interface (HMI). Verano has created a solution that uses Linux on the server side, ensuring security and performance, with Windows on the client side, creating a familiar and accommodating interface for the operator.

"Many users in the mission-critical segments continue to ask for proven solutions that are capable of fulfilling their reliability, scalability and security requirements, while providing the familiarity of their Microsoft Office environment," said Bob Mick, vice president of ARC. "By expanding their architecture to combine the strong security and scalability of Linux-based server technology with a familiar and flexible Windows client, Verano has offered the mission-critical SCADA market an optimum solution."

With Visualizer for RTAP on Linux, mission-critical SCADA operators are now able to cost-effectively upgrade legacy systems and deploy new applications, while improving overall system performance and increasing levels of security. Upgrading with Visualizer for RTAP on Linux helps reduce hardware costs and expands the scalability of systems through the RTAP object-oriented database leveraged by the drag and drop flexibility of Visualizer on Windows. These are welcome options that meet the needs of companies in the power transmission and distribution, water distribution and treatment, gas and liquid pipeline, mass transit and power generation fields, particularly as increasing security requirements spur the need for better system usability and reliability.

Visualizer for RTAP on Linux is now available worldwide. For more information on Visualizer for RTAP on Linux, or any other Verano product, visit www.verano.com

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Ferranti Supplies Application for National CAR-PASS System

- Ferranti has secured the contract to supply a system to the CAR-PASS non-profit organisation, in order to combat tampering with used vehicle odometer readings -

There is still a great deal of tampering with the odometer readings of second-hand vehicles. The government and the motor trade are working together in order to combat this type of fraud through the CAR-PASS system.

As from 1 September 2006, the motor trade as a whole has been legally required to notify vehicle odometer readings to the central CAR-PASS database, each time work is carried out on a vehicle. All odometer readings are validated and stored in this central CAR-PASS database. Every vehicle will thus have its own specific mileage (kilometre) history, as a result of which readings which are too low will be flagged up at once.

Ferranti Computer Systems supplied the application to manage and process odometer readings for the vehicle population in Belgium. Ferranti did so making use of a solution which builds on its experience with the MECOMS system. This is a management system which has enabled Ferranti to boast successes in the energy sector in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Ferranti's Franky Baert explains: "MECOMS is used at various energy companies in order to read, validate and store gas and electricity meter readings. The CAR-PASS system in fact involves the same processes, but for odometer readings in this instance. Using MECOMS technology saves time, as a result of which we were able to ensure that the project would be implemented within a short timeframe."

The system has been fully operational since 1 December 2006 and capable of issuing the CAR-PASS. This is an official certificate containing a chronological list of odometer readings.

The CAR-PASS system is an initiative of FEBIAC (Belgian automobile and cycle federation), GOCA (Trade association for vehicle test and driving licence accredited companies) and FEDERAUTO (Motor trade and repair and Associated sectors confederation).

http://www.car-pass.be

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Seminar Communication & Collaboration
March 8, 2007 

Changing the way we work today!

For more information and registration, visit our website

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RTAP Users Group Conference
Barcelona, May 7-9, 2007

The RUG Executive Committee invites you to attend the Fifteenth Annual RTAP Users Group (RUG) Conference.

The RUG conference is held annually to provide the RTAP user community an oppor tunity to speak directly with other RTAP users and many of the RTAP developers. The conference is an oppor tunity to exchange RTAP experiences and to provide valuable feedback and direction to Verano.

The 2007 Conference will be held in Barcelona, Spain at the H10 Marina Barcelona Hotel. The beautiful city of Barcelona is located on the northeastern coast of the Iberian peninsula and the shores of the Mediterranean.

Visit www.rug.org for more information and registration

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