Ultramax^® NEWSLETTER, April 2011 Welcome partners, customers, agents, suppliers, friends and visitors… Version Ultramax^® 7.2 released In April, 2011 the first License of 7.2 was delivered to the Facultad de Ingeniería, Uruguay, to its Institute of Mechanical and Industrial Production Engineering (IIMPI). The salient improvements of version 7.2 over 7.1 are: - Plotting of overall achievement in reducing constraint violations; i.e., in improving the fulfillment of minimum technical and business requirements. - In a SEO Cycle, automatic collection of new run data from a spreadsheet. - Better understanding of performance under various Scenarios (machine / product configurations). - Easier access to the software for broad self-training. - Faster optimization: use information in run data even when some input values are missing. - Optimizing on-off decisions (in addition to gradual adjustments). - Enabling automatic cycles with operating data obtained from a simulation program. See www.ultramax.com/Umax72.htm for more details and more improvements There is a minimum 30% discount to existing and past Clients for upgrading to the new version – up to ‘for free’ to those with a paid-up Annual Support & Upgrade Program. 7.1 is no longer supported by Ultramax Corporation and its Agencies. Some thoughts… Ultramax: Effective use of resources: The summary of Ultramax in the first page of the Blue Book emphasized not only the greater business utilization of physical assets, but also the creativity and productivity of engineers and other plant personnel when engaged in the activity of adjusting systems to get the most performance from their operations. It also addresses the advantages over other technical solutions to this problem. See www.ultramax.com/Introduction.htm. Ultramax enables green production / manufacturing: Ultramax enables users to achieve the most desirable operating performance possible for the users’ evaluation metrics. The user achieved greener production by including metrics related to energy consumption, emissions and efficiency. See, for instance, www.ultramax.com/Applications/Paper_Energy.pdf and www.ultramax.com/Applications/Blow_Molding.pdf Latest Publications about Ultramax^® Optimization: See Bibliography for full details: www.ultramax.com/Bibliography.htm Lipták, Béla G. and Eren, Halit (to be published 2011) “Instrument Engineer’s Handbook”: Process Software and Digital Networks, Vol #3, Edition #4, CRC Press. Chapter 4.5 “Operations Optimization with Sequential Empirical Optimization” (2010). Moreno, C.W. (2009) “Fast Analytical Technology for the Optimisation of Operations in Power Plant Boilers and Auxiliaries”, Tech Pro Conference, Hyderabad, December 17-18, 2009 on "Thermal Plant and Equipments PADO (Performance Analysis, Diagnosis & Optimisation) Systems”. Colosimo, B.M., del Castillo, E. (2007). “Bayesian Process Monitoring, Control and Optimization” Chapman & Hall / CRC. ©2007; Boca Raton, Florida, USA. Chap. 11: “An Application of Bayesian Statistics to Sequential Empirical Optimization” Invitation for New Agencies We continue looking for new Agencies/Representatives; either regionally, vertical by industry, or a combination. We also offer customers the option to designate potential Agencies – with whom they already have close relationships -- to provide License and Services for the Ultramax solution. The most desirable characteristics of an Agency are: 1. Is an established firm with good reputation, or has a well funded start-up business plan. 2. Is engaged in marketing, selling and providing technical services to production and manufacturing. Good – and complementary – expertise areas are: Process Control and refinements, Automation, Instrumentation, Manufacturing Execution Systems, Real-time metrics, Integration, Quality, Six-Sigma and Lean Manufacturing. 3. Is truly customer-oriented 4. It is not required to have specific process expertise except when aiming at a vertical market focus. The Agency could capitalize on past areas of success, such as anything dealing with Combustion (e.g., power generation), Chemicals, Molding (injection, blow, foam, extrusion, etc.), Paper, Fibers, Food Processing, Painting and Coating, Metal Cutting and Machining, and Semiconductor Processing (Fab and Development). UMC has particular interest today in the areas of Bio-Fuels, Glass and Food Processing. Ultramax Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA www.ultramax.com ultramax@ultramax.com