MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS

Markers made easy!

Making cost-effective custom cable markers and component labels, whether working in a factory, in an office or even on-site, is a fast and simple task with the new MK8 ProMark Pro USB, says marking and labelling expert Partex.

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he printer uses a thermal transfer printing process, combined with advanced ribbons, to produce legends that are both easy to read and durable. It is compatible with a huge variety of Partex media. These include

standard marker profiles, heatshrink tubes, flat profile sleeves, self-adhesive profiles, and adhesive tape for the wrap-around labels now popular for use on data cables. A QWERTY keyboard is provided to allow rapid entry of legend

information and up to 15,000 characters can be stored in the printer’s internal memory for subsequent re-use. This means, for example, that all of the markers used by a particular type of control panel could be stored and printed with a few simple keystrokes whenever they were required. As well as standard alphanumeric characters, the printer has a library of common symbols, such as Ω, the ground symbol,

and mm2 . Legend data can also be downloaded from a PC via

the printer’s integral high-speed USB interface and, when this is done, its printing capabilities are extended to include custom symbols, small diagrams and even pictures. A high print speed of up to 25mm per second makes the MK8

ProMark Pro USB ideal for use even for large jobs, while the built-in automatic cutter means that the labels it produces are convenient and easy to work with. Among the accessories available to further increase the

versatility of the Partex MK8 ProMark Pro USB are; a profile heater that facilitates use in cold environments, an automatic profile feeder, and a tough aluminium carrying case that has been designed to allow the printer to be used while it is still in the case, making it ideal for site working.

Apriso reports software revenue growth

Apriso, a provider of software solutions, has announced that total revenues for 2010 set a new company record, led by software revenue growth of 62% on a year-over-year basis.

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electronic workflows that address every major stage in the S&OP process, allowing global teams to gain consensus and make higher-confidence decisions faster. Infor also says that it is the first dedicated S&OP solution

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to integrate extensive “what if” scenario building tools directly into decision-making workflows. This allows teams to model potential changes based on up-to-date demand data, choose the action that results in the highest potential increase in revenue

s the fifth consecutive year of total revenue growth, 2010’s record growth was achieved by expanding license revenues from existing manufacturing execution system deployments and by adding 17 new customers. Growth occurred in the Americas, European and Asia Pacific regions, with the America’s expansion the most pronounced. New customers were acquired in the automotive, aerospace & defense, cleantech, industrial & heavy equipment, consumer goods, packaging and medical

device industries. “Apriso’s customers continue to extract even greater value from their FlexNet deployments, which is driving more demand for

our software – manufacturing operations are now a ‘top of mind’ issue for both IT and operations executives. Our 2010 growth reflects this focus,” explained Jim Henderson, president and CEO of Apriso. “We are entering 2011 with a strong backlog of active customer and prospect engagements and anticipate continued future growth across all our targeted regions and industries.”

Infor offers S&OP solution

Infor, a provider of business application software serving more than 70,000 customers, has announced the general availability of Infor Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) version 1.0.

nfor S&OP is an entirely new solution, purpose-built by Infor for the unique needs of manufacturers, suppliers and distributors. Infor highlights that the solution provides unprecedented capabilities for creating, managing and using

or margin, then finalise and populate the changes automatically across the global supply chain. “For decades manufacturers have struggled with how to

best align operations with demand, and today that challenge is greater than ever,” said Bruce Richardson, chief strategy officer, Infor. “What is needed is an entirely new way of thinking and acting on the problem. The true solution must align manufacturing, sales, finance and operations around the most profitable and achievable build plan. That is what we mean by the ‘New Generation of S&OP’ and that is what Infor is delivering for our customers today.”

128 Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 68 March 2011