by Gary Mintchell | Dec 4, 2014 | Automation, Manufacturing IT, Networking, News, Operations Management
This announcement came to me yesterday afternoon. ABB is joining the Industrial Internet Consortium.
This announcement is interesting in a couple of ways. First, it reminds us that ABB is a large company that plays in the discrete (factory automation) space, as well as, power and process automation. Second, it is the first I’ve seen that ties the Industrial Internet Consortium to Germany’s Industrie 4.0.
Following is the press release:
ABB has for years advanced the Industrial Internet via the company’s control systems, communication technology and industrial sensors. These help customers use data to optimize operations on offshore platforms, in mining and robotics, aboard marine vessels and in the chemical and paper industries.
ABB will join the IIC starting in 2015 to foster collaboration among technology companies as they seek to establish global standards for the Industrial Internet. ABB will work with others to ensure that end users reap the benefits it promises: improved efficiency, reduced costs and higher revenue.
“This gives us more opportunities to influence what is happening in the development of the Industrial Internet,” said Claes Rytoft, ABB Chief Technology Officer. “The Industrial Internet holds incredible promise to transform manufacturing, energy and resource industries.”
The Industrial Internet reflects the accelerating application of sensors, software and improved communication technology, allowing engineers to leverage enormous volumes of data from industrial systems to boost efficiency.
The Industrial Internet is at the core of Industry 4.0, Germany’s initiative for increased computerization of manufacturing. ABB has actively contributed to the creation of the Industry 4.0 vision and is actively working towards implementation of this ambitious undertaking.
“The Industrial Internet is transformational – it changes the way we work,” said Dr. Richard Soley, Executive Director of the Industrial Internet Consortium. “The Industrial Internet presents new opportunities for cost savings, energy savings and other efficiencies.”
ABB centrally monitors thousands of industrial robots and for decades and has helped utilities collect data crucial for a deeper understanding of how to make their electricity grids safer and more reliable. And ABB has thousands of software developers dedicated to improving the functionality of the Industrial Internet, leading to leaner operations and faster response times.
Today, evolving communication technology and lower sensor costs, combined with higher performance of computers, offer new opportunities to collect, evaluate and integrate even more information from industrial facilities to boost efficiency, fine-tune maintenance and trim energy costs.
“The Industrial Internet makes it possible to collect and integrate much more information than we ever have before,” Rytoft said. “The question is, what will that lead to going forward? It’s still a bit early to say, but there are many exciting opportunities.”
by Gary Mintchell | Nov 24, 2014 | Automation, News, Process Control, Technology
Rockwell Automation now unabashedly calls its process control a Distributed Control System (DCS). For the first few years of its development of a true process control organization and product line, executives seemed reluctant to say “DCS.” No more. Every senior executive has taken a deep dive into process. In fact, Rockwell is downplaying the name “manufacturing” since it has connotations of discrete processes.
Side note: Ouch! I thought long and hard about a name for my revitalized blog and settled on “The Manufacturing Connection” simply because I couldn’t find anything else where I could also buy the domain name.
Anyhow, here is the product update release. They showed me more exciting updates to come by early next year. Stay tuned.
Rockwell Automation has added new virtualization, batch management and integrated motor control capabilities to its PlantPAx process automation system. With the latest system release, Rockwell Automation extends the capabilities of its modern distributed control system (DCS) platform to simplify the system’s design, deployment, operation and maintenance.
“We continue to invest in our modern DCS platform, making major strides to achieve our goal of providing the most highly distributed, cost-effective and performance-driven system on the market,” said Jason Wright, PlantPAx system marketing manager, Rockwell Automation. “The extended capabilities further enhance the PlantPAx system, helping simplify design and integration, reduce risk, and streamline operations and engineering efficiency across a user’s enterprise.”
Integrated Virtualization: Virtualization has become the rule more than the exception in global process facilities. It speeds system integration time, lowers hardware costs and burdens, and extends the life cycle of plant equipment. The PlantPAx platform now makes it easier for users to implement virtualization. Built into the core documentation of the system is a selection guide that provides guidance and best practices for adopting a virtualized automation system.
Batch Recipe Management: Upgraded batch software tightly integrates with the PlantPAx system for a range of applications, from small, basic sequencing to large, complex batch and sequencing. With new version-control capabilities, the software automatically tracks recipe changes and genealogy, and provides approval traceability in order to more easily manage recipes. This helps simplify the management of recipes throughout their life cycle.
Rockwell Automation has also updated the batch and sequence manager in its modern DCS platform. This helps reduce engineering time for process machine builders and system integrators by allowing users to configure sequences directly in the controller. Incorporating batch management and optimizing continuous sequencing, the batch and sequence manager is well-suited for both skid control and stand-alone process units, such as mixers, blenders and reactors.
Intelligent Motor Control: Through premiere integration with motor control devices – such as the Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 520-Series of AC drives, and Allen-Bradley motor starters and electronic overload relays – the PlantPAx system eases motor control configuration and delivers advanced diagnostic information directly to the operator at the HMI level. This helps ease maintenance activities and allows operators to diagnose issues before they occur. System users can monitor key process conditions leveraging the EtherNet/IP network. Tying intelligent motor devices into the unified, plantwide control architecture helps make an immediate, measurable impact on asset availability, operational efficiency and energy management.
by Gary Mintchell | Nov 11, 2014 | Automation, News, Process Control
The annual press release from ABB just arrived. According to the ARC Advisory Group, ABB has retained its leading position in the worldwide DCS (distributed control system) market. According to the study, the global DCS market grew about 4 percent in 2013.
According to the study, ABB was the regional market share leader for Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and the worldwide leader in key global verticals including oil and gas, pulp and paper, mining and metals.
If you recall, ABB entered the DCS business by buying a number of small players. It then pioneered the industry with its 800xA platform that served to bring all the platforms together and position the company for the future.
It’s all about services
The report also notes that the DCS business has continued to be primarily a service business over the past few years, with combined project, engineering and operational services accounting for more than half of total revenues. The Main Automation Contractor (MAC) approach in which the automation vendor manages the overall project and includes a strong project execution and services component, continues to grow stronger and expand.
“For years ABB has cultivated its capability to serve major projects as the Main Automation Contractor,” said ARC Senior Analyst Harry Forbes. “The electric power, motor, and drive capabilities across ABB Group augment its process automation expertise, making the firm an attractive choice when capital projects require large or complex electric power systems, especially offshore and sub-sea systems.”
ABB View
“ABB is well prepared with a broad DCS portfolio including its flagship system 800xA Extended Automation platform, Symphony Plus control system, Freelance process control system for small to medium process applications, as well as its prior generation systems. All ABB control systems offer a secure evolution path forward to next generation technologies to protect and enhance the control system investment over its lifetime,” said Tobias Becker, Head of ABB’s Control Technologies business.
by Gary Mintchell | Oct 21, 2014 | Automation, Internet of Things, M2M, Operations Management, Technology, Wireless
True to my word about accelerating IoT announcements, here is one about wireless IO. FreeWave Technologies Inc.., a leader in industrial, secure Machine to Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) wireless networking solutions, released the WaveContact product family. The new product family expands FreeWave’s wireless I/O solutions for industrial M2M and IoT applications in remote hazardous locations. WaveContact extends reliable connectivity to sensor networks across wide areas and simplifies the M2M network setup for the Oil and Gas, Factory Automation, Industrial Control, Water/Wastewater, Smart Grid, Government and Defense and Agriculture industries.
“As industrial markets focus more on safety, automation and improving operational efficiencies, the demand for intensive monitoring, measurement and process control has naturally followed,” explained Glenn Longley, senior product manager for I/O and software at FreeWave Technologies. “The WaveContact family of industrial M2M wireless I/O solutions are ruggedized for use in hazardous environments, and offers connectivity with many devices and I/O applications over both short and long distances simultaneously.”
Two New I/O Offerings
Industrial markets require simple, yet dependable monitoring and control of M2M devices over distances to maximize the value of production assets. The WaveContact product family adds to FreeWave’s extensive I/O solutions by providing customers with end-to-end wireless networking capabilities for any environment where process automation is needed.
WaveContact 10i EndPoint
The WaveContact 10i EndPoint is a Class 1, Division 1 (C1D1) certified wireless I/O solution that delivers a versatile design for enabling multiple process automation and control capabilities for hazardous locations. Designed with a self-contained, explosion-proof enclosure, it combines the versatility of up to six analog voltage inputs and an RS485 interface. The 10i EndPoint includes a rechargeable battery and integrated solar panel, and a 1 watt 900 MHz or 500 mW 2.4 GHz wireless M2M communication module. It is a complete solution designed for easy installation, thus eliminating any significant integration work.
WaveContact 50i Data Concentrator
The WaveContact 50i Data Concentrator aggregates telemetry from multiple sensors and other wireless M2M devices for simple and flexible connectivity to a data center or SCADA network. With both serial and Ethernet connections over wired or wireless connections, the Data Concentrator serves as an M2M gateway to the 10i Endpoints, other FreeWave wireless I/O modules, and also provides outstanding functionality as a Serial Radio Master for connecting serial devices with existing FGR/FGR2 (900 MHz) or GX/I2 (2.4 GHz) FreeWave networks. It provides a built-in terminal server for hard-wired Ethernet connections, Modbus TCP to Modbus RTU translation and Ethernet I/O.
“As the industrial IoT rapidly expands in usage and complexity, FreeWave remains committed to providing highly reliable, long range M2M connectivity – from remote sensor networks dispersed in the field to the corporate office,” said Ashish Sharma, CMO of FreeWave Technologies. “The new WaveContact family allows our customers to deploy IO anywhere it is needed, thus enabling greater visibility and control of production assets for real-time decision-making.”
by Gary Mintchell | Oct 20, 2014 | Automation, Education, Internet of Things, Manufacturing IT, News, Operations Management, Organizations, Process Control, Safety, Security, Software, Technology
It is time to start thinking about the annual ARC Industry Forum. I’ve attended every one beginning in 1998. It is a major industry gathering. It is largely about ARC’s clients, but the only industry people I don’t see in Orlando are competing analysts. A good place to see and be seen as they say.
ARC Advisory Group has announced the keynote presenters for its 19th Annual Industry Forum in Orlando, Florida, February 9-12, 2015. These include: Peter Holicki, Corp. Vice President, Manufacturing & Engineering and Environment, Health & Safety at Dow Chemical; Gregory Touhill, Deputy Asst. Secretary, Cyber Security Operations & Programs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; and Stephan Biller, Chief Manufacturing Scientist at General Electric.
These keynote presenters and a large number of other distinguished engineering, IT, and operations executives will share concepts, approaches, and success stories that address the forum theme: Industry in Transition: The Information Driven Enterprise for the Connected World. The event will address top-of-mind concerns about the impact of new business models and disruptive, IT-based technologies on energy companies, manufacturers, and other industrial organizations.
In -depth workshops include cyber security, developing the future workforce, sustainable reliability, and the Industrial Internet of Things.
Individual forum sessions
- Reducing the cost and duration of capital projects
- Creating and sustaining a proactive maintenance culture
- Gaining value from predictive analytics
- Approaches for integrated control and electrification
- Enterprise recipe management
- Asset performance management (APM)
- Building a secure-by-design Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
- Future directions for process automation systems
- Latest trends in operator training simulators
- Information continuum for plant design and operations
- Complex event processing
- Network best practices for connected assets
- Best practices for selecting technology and partners for greenfield and brownfield projects
- Workforce improvement through targeted training
- Enterprise manufacturing intelligence (EMI)
- Remote monitoring and diagnostics
- Machines as a service enabler
- Leveraging smart field systems
Forum attendees will learn about field-proven processes and techniques that are helping improve quality, performance, and agility at leading manufacturers and other industrial organizations around the world. As always, there will also be ample opportunities for attendees to network and socialize with their peers over the course of the four-day event.
