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Packagers beware: few controls guarantees

Most manufacturers of controls use their Web sites to communicate about their products and Y2K policies. Some feel undeserved blame for problems; others acknowledge product shortcomings.

In that report, we also provided some comments about the issue from end-users, although their names and companies were not identified. The phone survey, conducted by Frambach & Co. (Elm Grove, WI) early this summer, is confidential. In this report, PW covers the comments from controls makers. A related story (see below) reports on the comments made by packaging machinery builders about Y2K.

Like virtually everyone else, though, controls makers are less assured when it comes to how their products are used in a complete system. "All of our products have been checked," said a representative of a maker of PC-based control hardware. "But we can't guarantee how our components will be used. If they're used on non-compliant equipment, there could be a problem."

A respondent said that some of his company's products could have problems. "Even though the controller will process correctly, customers need to know that their program or software has to be written correctly to handle it. Programming will cause a lot of the Y2K problems," said the spokesman for a Japanese maker of sensors and controls.

Few guarantees offered

The "G" word (for guarantee) was largely avoided by the controls makers. Perhaps the representative of a well-known maker of a full range of controls and other components drew the clearest distinction: "We offer a warranty 'statement of readiness,' not a compliance guarantee," he reported. "Compliance assumes a system level, while readiness means individual components are ready." This firm is depending on its Web site to get the word out, but not exclusively.

"No one has had a problem finding us. Our sales force and other communications channels have been getting the word out. We do provide a service where we'll come out and assess a system for a fee."

A manufacturer of drives and motion controllers admitted some older models are date-sensitive. "We've sent out letters to major customers to notify them of any equipment with date-sensitive functions," said the company expert. "The information is also available to anyone using our Web site." But, he admits, his company can't identify where all these older products may be used.

"We have a unique problem because we also manufacture for a number of companies under private-label arrangements, so another name is on the product, not ours. For these, it's virtually impossible for us to know where these products are" being used.

Another maker of PC-based controls saw the Web site providing two-way communication. His company's Web site contains a questionnaire for inquiries about documentation. "Our site registers the individual or company when it provides documentation so we know who has received it."

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