GE Fanuc Launches QuickPanel™, Control and View Visualization Solutions
New Touch Screens Combine Software and Hardware for Greater Productivity, Cost Efficiency 

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- May 7, 2003--  The new QuickPanel™, Control and View visualization solutions from GE Fanuc Automation Americas, Inc., an affiliate of GE Industrial Systems, combine the popular QuickPanel family of touch screens with award-winning CIMPLICITY®  Machine Edition software and a Microsoft Windows® CE operating system. With bundled capabilities on a single platform, QuickPanel Control and View provide users with maximum productivity and improved cost efficiency.

Now available, these new QuickPanel touch screens deliver flexible, scalable performance on a rugged hardware platform in combination with powerful automation software. The intuitive environment of CIMPLICITY Machine Edition - an open, integrated software package for machine-level programming, monitoring and data acquisition, and troubleshooting - can help users reduce application development time. A common database, for example, eliminates the need to re-enter tag names - which eases development and increases productivity.

The new QuickPanel Control combines controller and operator interface capabilities in a single, reliable solution. QuickPanel View offers visualization functionality not seen in a common operator interface - such as OPC connectivity (Client and Server), web publishing, and browser capabilities. Both new touch screens feature 6", 8" and 12" TFT color display sizes. Connectivity is made easy with a family of Ethernet and Fieldbus interfaces while a built-in web server provides access to data, panels, and logic via the Internet or intranet using any standard browser.

The new touch screens also include: expandable memory and communication expansion cards; CompactFlash; UL Class 1 Div 2 (A, B, C, D), ATEX Class 1 Zone 2, and CE Mark; functions from data collection and trending to system security and alarming; communication to I/O using Open Fieldbus, Ethernet connectivity and GE Fanuc Series 90™-30 I/O; multi-language support selectable by the operator when the system is online; and an extensive library of pre-configured animation objects. 

About GE Fanuc Automation
GE Fanuc Automation Americas, 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 collaborative production management, HMI/SCADA and plant intelligence software; nano to high-end controllers; embedded systems; 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 (NYSE: GE) 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.

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 Series 90 and QuickPanel are trademarks of GE Fanuc Automation Americas, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.