GE Fanuc Wins Two Technology Innovation Awards for
New Automation Software from Leading Publication
GE Software Among "Most Significant Innovations" of 2002

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va- January 15, 2003-  GE Fanuc Automation, an affiliate of GE Industrial Systems, has won two technology innovation awards for its automation software from the well-respected industry trade publication Control Engineering. GE Fanuc received Control Engineering Editors' Choice Awards for CIMPLICITY^® Machine Edition™ software and GE Fanuc Intellution infoAgent^®  software.

Editors selected GE Fanuc based on the company's technological advancement, service to the industry, and industry impact. According to Mark Hoske, editor-in-chief of Control Engineering, GE's automation software is among the "most significant innovations" of 2002.

Charlene Begley, president and CEO of GE Fanuc Automation, said, "GE Fanuc is honored to receive two awards from this prestigious industry publication and be recognized for the technology driving our automation software. Using Six Sigma methodology, GE develops and continuously improves its innovative products by working closely with customers to address their needs and deliver key benefits such as higher productivity, reduced inventory and a faster return on investment."

Control Engineering, www.controleng.com, has covered the $130-billion worldwide control, instrumentation and automation systems marketplace since 1954. With readership at more than 45,000 plants and circulation of 88,000, the magazine is the voice of the global automation industry, providing comprehensive information on technology, news and trends, to end users, OEMs, and system integrators.

CIMPLICITY^® Machine Edition software from GE Fanuc provides HMI, motion, and multi-target control capabilities in a unified environment that saves users time and reduces training requirements. Developed as part of GE Fanuc's digitization initiative, this powerful package provides the automation software components users need for machine-level applications that take advantage of global data sharing capabilities over the Web.

ARC Director of Discrete Automation Research Sal Spada said, "[CIMPLICITY Machine Edition] has leveraged the underlying benefits of PC-based software technology for machine control application development. Rarely does the market find such a comprehensive set of development tools that span the HMI, logic control, and motion control domains. The domain barriers are finally being dismantled, and machine builders will be the ultimate beneficiaries as their time to market is radically reduced."

infoAgent from GE Fanuc is a web-based tool for accessing, analyzing and reporting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in a clear, concise, jargon-free format that is relevant for each user throughout the organization. By viewing relevant graphical data in near real time, enterprise users - from an operator to maintenance manager to manufacturing vice president to CEO - are empowered to make rapid, proactive, and informed decisions, driving plant optimization. 

Because infoAgent is browser-based, this information can be made accessible across the building or across the world. Utilizing a web-centric solution, infoAgent is also easy to configure and use. Through infoAgent, users can configure customized views of production information including trend and event charts, XY-plots, calculations and annotations. Once a view has been defined, infoAgent retains that information and presents the information in exactly the same manner whenever the user logs-in once again... even if the user is using a different PC.

About GE Fanuc Automation
GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc., is a leading global supplier of automation solutions and is a joint venture between GE and FANUC, Ltd. of Japan. GE Fanuc products and services include the iFIX® HMI/SCADA platform, ROI-enhancing Plant Intelligence systems, CIMPLICITY® collaborative production management software, nano to high-end PLCs, a wide range of CNCs, motion control, operator interfaces, industrial computers, lasers, and a wide range of integration and customer support services. Headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., GE Fanuc is part of GE Industrial Systems. For more information, visit www.gefanuc.com. 

About GE Industrial Systems
Since the founding of the General Electric Company by Thomas Edison in 1882, GE Industrial Systems has been known for technical innovation. GE Industrial Systems has over 7,600 U.S. and foreign patents on products that help provide peace of mind for people, the properties they own and their workplaces. In 2001 alone, GE Industrial Systems filed more than 200 U.S. and 340 foreign patent applications.

GE Industrial Systems spans the globe as an industry leader in integrated industrial, electrical and security equipment, systems and services. The business brings to customers the latest technologies that are used to distribute, protect and control energy and equipment, and to provide premise management. GE provides innovative product and service solutions for commercial, industrial, residential and utility customers. For more information visit the website at: www.geindustrial.com.

About GE
The General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) is a diversified technology and services company dedicated to creating products that make life better. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging television programming and plastics, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com. 

For more information, visit www.gefanuc.com or contact: 
GE Fanuc Information Center, P.O. Box 8106, Charlottesville, VA 22906

Phone: (800) 648-2001, Fax: 434-978-5205, e-mail: gefanuc@gefanuc.com.

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CIMPLICITY is a registered trademark and Machine Edition is a trademark of GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc. iFIX and infoAgent are registered trademarks of GE Fanuc Intellution. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Editors: For more information about and photography of GE products that help to provide peace of mind for people, their properties and their workplaces, please visit our online media center at: www.geindustrial.com/presscenter.