MDSI Expands into India with Advanced Research Company as Partner

MDSI and Advanced Research Company partner to develop Indian market for MDSI's OpenCNC^® software

ANN ARBOR, MI—Manufacturing Data Systems, Inc. (MDSI), the leader in Internet-enabled software CNC and software motion technology, and Advanced Research Company (Orion, MI), a major machine tool control integrator, today announced a strategic distribution and support agreement to jointly develop the Indian market for MDSI's OpenCNC software CNC applications.

Michigan-based Advanced Research Company, which has provided implementation, training, and support services to machine tool builders and Fortune 100 and other manufacturing companies since the 1980s, will develop and train a network of integrators and resellers in India for MDSI's OpenCNC software.

"We are very excited about the opportunity to represent MDSI in India where there are significant growth opportunities as machine tool companies upgrade their control systems for export," says Bill Sharp, president of Advanced Research Company. "The combination of MDSI’s true open architecture CNC software plus our established network of control implementation and support in India will provide Indian machine tool makers the total systems approach they require to be successful."

Unlike traditional CNC controls, OpenCNC software requires no proprietary hardware or motion control cards. Combining a soft CNC, soft PLC and HMI in one application, OpenCNC’s open, modular, all-software architecture provides robust CNC control, connectivity to the enterprise and easy integration of third-party software. MDSI customers have increased productivity, streamlined manufacturing processes, reduced machine tool control costs, and extended the productive life of their machine tools.

"We are very pleased to welcome Advanced Research Company as our partner to jointly develop the Indian market for OpenCNC products," says James R. Fall, president and CEO, MDSI. "Indian manufacturers are seeking cost-effective control upgrades and open solutions. We look forward to rapid development of our OpenCNC business in India."

About MDSI

MDSI supplies web-based shrink-wrapped software motion control applications that increase manufacturing flexibility and enable agile manufacturing for the Computer Numerical Control (CNC), General Motion Control (GMC), and electronics equipment markets. The company's soft motion and soft CNC products reduce machine tool control costs, increase productivity, extend the productive life of machine tools, and leverage the Internet for real-time data collection and remote diagnostics. Unlike traditional hardware or proprietary-based motion controls, MDSI’s soft motion solutions use no proprietary hardware or motion control cards.

Now running on over a thousand machines, MDSI's foundation soft motion technology provides a common and open control across virtually any kind of machine tool—from simple conveyors to five-axis machine tools, and from transfer lines to semiconductor fabrication equipment.

MDSI's business strategy emphasizes technological and price/performance leadership, hardware independence and comprehensive customer-support. Visit the MDSI Web site at www.mdsi2.com.

About Advanced Research Company

Advanced Research Company, Orion, Michigan has been a leading supplier of automation controls and systems since 1982. Advanced Research Company customers include leaders in automotive and machine tool industry.

Advanced Research Company offers its customers a spectrum of services that include engineering and consulting design services, packaged components, machine control implementation, and turnkey systems. Advanced Research Company was a pioneer in the adoption of PC based controls for manufacturing solutions and machine control in the automotive industry, with hundreds of successfully implemented systems. These services help Advanced Research Company customers minimize total life cycle costs and maximize productivity.

MDSI, the MDSI logo, and OpenCNC are registered trademarks of Manufacturing Data Systems, Inc. Significant Events, MDSI Motion, WinMotion, and eFactoryProfit are trademarks of Manufacturing Data Systems, Inc. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.