OMAC Now Accepting Corporate Members

Research Triangle Park, NC (11 February 2008) -- OMAC (the Open, Modular, Architecture Control User Group) is proud to announce its new Corporate Membership Program, and invites companies to join.
The OMAC Corporate Membership Program is designed to provide a value-added proposition for its members by providing a communication and collaboration mechanism that enables, promotes, and facilitates:
•    Collective derivation of common solutions for both technical and non-technical issues in the development, implementation, and commercialization of open, modular architecture control (OMAC) technologies
•    OMAC development among control technology providers and OMAC adoption among end users, OEMs, and system integrators
•    Collective derivation and capture of OMAC requirements and operating experience from users, software developers, hardware builders and OEMs in manufacturing applications
•    Accelerated development and convergence of industry- and government-developed technology guidelines to one set that satisfies common use requirements
•    Collaboration with users groups around the world in pursuit of common international technology guidelines
There are four major Corporate Member categories. The first category includes Large and Small End Users & Original Equipment Manufactures, which are companies and organizations that purchase OMAC-based automation equipment to produce commercial and/or military products and that supply automation, manufacturing, assembly, and process equipment with integrated OMAC compliant technologies. The second category includes Large and Small Technology Providers, which include companies and organizations that (1) seek to develop, integrate, and/or supply OMAC compliant systems and components, and/or (2) gather, analyze, and disseminate business and technology information on OMAC technologies. The third category includes Non-Profit and Government Organization. The final category includes Academia groups.The Benefits of OMAC
Corporate membership vary slightly based on which category the company belongs to. The general benefits include:
•    Use of the OMAC and OMAC Working Group logos
•    Access to OMAC Working Groups via direct introduction to Working Group Chairs
•    Company member discount to all OMAC conferences and symposiums
•    Listing as an OMAC Corporate Member on OMAC mailings and promotions, where applicable
 
o    OMAC Technical Conference (Call for Papers, Preliminary Program, & Final Program)
o    OMAC organizational brochure
o    OMAC Update, quarterly newsletter (featured in OMAC Corporate Sponsor spotlight section with logo, company description, and web address)
•    Company Logo and link to company website listed on OMAC website
•    Access to OMAC best practices and technical guidelines (e.g. OPW Packaging Guidelines, MUGSecure Best Practices)
•    One seat on the OMAC technical advisory board (TAB)
•    Opportunity to post an organizational article in the OMAC Update, quarterly newsletter
•    Priority as a demo sponsor/participant for OMAC demonstrations (i.e. Pack Expo Packaging Line Integration demonstration)
One of the most important benefits OMAC Corporate Members receive is a seat on the OMAC Technical Advisory Board (TAB). The primary purpose of the TAB is to advise the OMAC Board of Directors on the organization's technical direction, strategy, objectives, and goals. Each member of the TAB will be an appointed representative for each of the OMAC Corporate Member companies. This opportunity is a Corporate Member benefit only, and will last the term of one year or the length of time the company remains a paid Corporate Member of OMAC.
For its first two years of operation (2008-2010), the three co-chairs of the TAB will be appointed by the Board of Directors. Two of those three co-chairs have already been named: Doug Gray of Coors and Bob Tain of Okuma. During subsequent years, the TAB co-chairs will be one-year term elected positions, with nominations coming from TAB members.
Some of the tasks to be performed by the TAB include conducting quarterly meetings to address OMAC initiatives, providing formal reports to the Board of Directors on the status of and progress made in all OMAC initiatives, promoting and supporting all OMAC programs and initiatives, and serving as the technical voice and conduit between OMAC membership and OMAC leadership.
The underlying goal of the OMAC TAB is to provide Corporate Members with a voice. This voice will allow them to exchange ideas, concerns, and issues concerning their companies and the industry, and to guide the direction and initiatives of OMAC.
Bruno Kisala, Managing Director of the Automation Federation, elaborated on the intent of the TAB. "The TAB will serve as the voice of our Corporate Members, a mechanism that never existed in the past. It will give our Corporate Members the ability to identify common industry issues and challenges, allow them to articulate their thoughts to the OMAC leadership for evaluation and action, and serve as a conduit for greater industry collaboration in developing solutions. The members of the TAB are in an excellent position to influence change and shape the technical direction and future of OMAC," he said.
To learn more about the TAB or OMAC Corporate Membership, visit www.omac.org/membership.
Okuma to Host 2008 OMAC Integration Symposium
Research Triangle Park - (29 November 2007) OMAC is pleased to announce that the next OMAC Integration Symposium will be hosted by Okuma in Charlotte, North Carolina, in November of 2008.
Okuma is the US based affiliate of Okuma Corporation, a world leader in the development of computer numeric controls (CNC) and machining technology, founded in 1898 in Nagoya, Japan. Okuma is known for its technology leadership and world-class manufacturing, product quality and dedication to customer service. Okuma products are used in the automotive, aerospace and defense, construction and farming equipment, oil and energy, medical, mold and die, and fluid power industries.
Bob Tain, Senior Director of Controls for Okuma America Corporation, said, "Okuma is deeply honored to host the OMAC Symposium in 2008. OMAC played a key role in the development of the functional specifications for THINC, The Intelligent Numerical Control, and OMAC members acted as beta test sites for this one of a kind machine tool control. The Partners in THINC facility offers an excellent opportunity to see the OMAC vision realized and to see in action the possibilities of this vision to improve the bottom line of the end user community."
Okuma is also home to Partners in THINC, a one-stop shop for the end-user. The facility consists of a showroom with the latest technologies from world-renown companies ranging from ABB to Zeiss, where customers can come to see their own parts being cut in real time and find the best solutions for their specific manufacturing needs. A tour of the Partners in THINC facility will be a prominent feature of next year's event.
For more information about the OMAC Symposium, visit www.omac.org/techsymp2007.
To learn more about Okuma or the Partners in THINC facility, visit www.okuma.com and www.partnersinthinc.com.
Okuma Media Contact:
Jolyn Key, Communications Analyst, Okuma America Corporation, 704-504-6484, jkey@Okuma.com