Seeking comment on Plug-and-Pack proposals

1. a recommendation that the packaging community adopt the IEC 61131-3 standard for programmable controllers for packaging machine automation, including motion control

2. the creation of PackTags, the fundamental names of data elements (known as "tags") used for intermachine communication, data acquisition, and communication to upper-level SCADA systems and plant networks. Examples include total run time, total productive time, total downtime, wastage, etc.

3. an extension to the PackML language (www.packml.org) that defines various packaging machine operating modes, including automatic, semi-automatic and manual.

The OMAC (Open Modular Architecture Controls) Packaging Workgroup, a users group of packaging end users, machine builders, and controls suppliers, seeks comment on the above proposals prior to its next meeting in Orlando, FL, Feb. 13, 2003.

The proposals are listed as PDF documents under "Proposals for Peer Review" on the following Web page on the OMAC Web site:

http://www.omac.org/wgs/GMC/gmc_default.htm

Feedback can be sent to e-mail addresses listed in each proposal.

The meeting is open to packaging end users, machine builders and controls suppliers who want to influence the direction of the Plug-and-Pack guidelines. The agenda for the Orlando meeting is listed here:

http://www.omac.org/GenMtgs/0203MtgAgenda.htm