Online automation `superstore` opens its doors

A British company has set up what it describes as "the world`s first online industrial automation superstore". Middlesbrough-based ASR Technology says that the Web store, called Scadacentre, will allow automation buyers to mix-and-match products from leading suppliers including Advantech, Citect, GE Fanuc, Pepperl+Fuchs, Rockwell Automation, Siemens and Wonderware.

In one area of the site, companies will be able to buy and sell obsolete or discontinued products. This will allow purchasers to prolong the lives of their installations by sourcing products no longer available from the manufacturer, while sellers will be able to capitalise on products they no longer need. In future, ASR aims to add an auction facility, similar to eBay. There will be no charge for using this section of the site.

"We have often wondered why there wasn`t a specific location for sourcing Scada and automation products," explains ASR`s operations director, Altaf Rahman. "Most systems involve products from multiple vendors and it can be an absolute nightmare trawling through all the different Web sites to obtain prices and datasheets. With Scadacentre, we want to offer all these products in one place, without compromising on price!"

Visitors to the site will be able to download free technical papers. ASR, which has been active in the automation market for 14 years, is also planning to introduce technical comparisons and reviews of products.