MDSI Introduces FlashCNC™ and FlashMotion™ Control Systems

ANN ARBOR—Manufacturing Data Systems, Inc., (MDSI), announces a new embedded hardware platform for its WinMotion® and OpenCNC® products. The new compact platform offers machine builders and end-users a hardware solution that has pricing, packaging, and wiring advantages over other industrial PC-based solutions. The new FlashCNC™ and FlashMotion™ embedded systems offer an excellent solution to customers who need to minimize cabinet space, reduce integration time, simplify machine wiring, and reduce costs.

Both FlashCNC™ and FlashMotion™ offer: Windows® XP Embedded, choice of Flash memory or hard drive, 15" color LCD touch screen, and Yaskawa Mechatrolink^™ or SERCOS digital drive interface with dual channel Ethernet for network and I/O connectivity. MDSI will begin shipping units end of April 2004.

"We have previewed these packages to several machine tool builders and integrators in the general motion and CNC industry," said Michael Mason, MDSI, managing director. "Each and every one was excited about the high level of performance and flexibility they could obtain with such a small package. Particularly, they were impressed with the reduced cabling and reduced integration time the solution offers. These systems are robust, open, scalable and easy to integrate, all at a lower cost. FlashCNC^™ and FlashMotion^™ are the next evolution in control technology."

About MDSI

Manufacturing Data Systems, Inc., (MDSI) is a subsidiary of Tecumseh Products Company, an extensive user of MDSI’s Manufacturing Solutions and a $2 billion global manufacturer of compressor, gasoline engines, and pumps.

MDSI supplies factory automation solutions that increase manufacturing flexibility and enable agile manufacturing. The company provides complete hardware, software, and service solutions to the Computer Numerical Control (CNC—OpenCNC^® and OpenCNC Grinder^™), General Motion Control (GMC—WinMotion^®), and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES—MAXIMUM Factory^®) markets.

OpenCNC^® and WinMotion^® motion control solutions provide high performance, high speed, and increased flexibility to manufacturers and machine tool builders. For more information, visit www.mdsi2.com.

MDSI, the MDSI logo, OpenCNC, WinMotion, and MAXIMUM Factory are registered trademarks of Manufacturing Data Systems, Inc. Significant Events, OpenCNC Grinder is a trademark of Manufacturing Data Systems, Inc. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.