Accelerating the journey towards business optimisation!

Invensys Operations Management will host its annual series of international user and industry events. OpsManage’11, (#Opsmanage) a multi-discipline networking and educational experience, offers manufacturing executives, engineers, operators, IT professionals, maintenance workers and solutions providers an in-depth understanding of how to use their production systems to empower people and accelerate the journey towards business optimisation. The company’s open InFusion Enterprise Control System is to be in the spotlight, including the key automation, operations management, workflow and collaboration components that fully embrace a customer’s existing investments and together deliver the platform for that journey.

• Last year Read-out attended and our report Innovation is everywhere! was filed in November 2010.

The events kick off in Europe at the CNIT La Défense Conference Center in Paris, France November 3-4, followed closely by the event in North America, to be held November 8 to 10 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. Additional OpsManage’11 conferences will be held November 14 to 16 in Queensland, Australia; November 15 in Tokyo; November 20 and 21 in the United Arab Emirates; November 24 in Seoul, South Korea; December 9 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan; and December 14 in Mumbai, India.

The OpsManage’11 event in Paris will include panel sessions, presentations and EXPO demonstrations covering topics such as asset management and effectiveness; mobile solutions; safety practices; manufacturing intelligence; process automation; cyber security; collaboration and workflow; plant and enterprise application integration; and energy management. Invensys brand users groups, including Avantis® , Foxboro®, Triconex® and Wonderware® will be held as part of the events, and customer sessions will show Invensys Operations Management solutions in practice, focusing on specific application areas and vertical industries, including chemicals; food and beverage; hydrocarbon processing; pharmaceuticals; power;  upstream oil and gas; infrastructure and water and wastewater. More than 80 different sessions will cover virtually every aspect of enterprise control, from industry and business solutions; to instrumentation, automation and safety; to connecting operations and maintenance with ERP strategy.

“OpsManage’11 is an opportunity for Invensys employees, clients and partners to share, learn and accelerate their journey towards business optimization. Given the current global state of business, there is heightened awareness about the importance of manufacturing to all economies, and OpsManage is a great opportunity to see how technology from Invensys Operations Management can help,” said Mark Davidson, vice president, global promotional marketing and communications, Invensys Operations Management. “OpsManage’10 drew more than 4,000 attendees and received a 97 percent approval rating. This year, attendees will be able to collaborate with Invensys and other industry experts in interactive sessions designed to help them balance the need for operational excellence across four critical areas: Control, Asset, Environment & Safety and, most importantly, People. Not only will they learn how to capitalize on new economic opportunities that help differentiate themselves in the market, they’ll see innovative new technology that links, informs and accelerates real-time business decisions, making the most of their most valuable and strategic asset—their people—to optimize their business performance.” 

The OpsManage’11 EXPO in Paris will offer hands-on demonstrations of Invensys Operations Management and partner solutions, including offerings from the company’s industry-leading Avantis, Eurotherm®, Foxboro, Eckardt, SimSci-Esscor®,  Triconex® and Wonderware brands, all components of the InFusion Enterprise Control System. A variety of Invensys ecosystem partners will present methodologies, solutions and expertise for optimizing business performance, and the latest open technologies and collaborative business models will be explored. As global sponsor, Microsoft will be on hand to discuss the results of co-innovation between Invensys, Invensys partners and Invensys customers using their latest technology capabilities.

Keynote speakers in Paris will include Senior Customer Executives and Sudipta Bhattacharya, the company’s president and chief executive officer.

#OpsManage Releases on Day one

These are the official releases on the first day.

Invensys Operations Management Wins Contract with Bluewater
Invensys Operations Management, a global provider of technology systems, software solutions and consulting services to the manufacturing and infrastructure operations industries, today announced that it has entered a contract with Bluewater (Glas Dowr) NV, a company specializing in the design, development, lease and operation of tanker-based production and storage systems. Read More

O.N.G Automation one
of three European SIs
announced at OpsManage

Invensys Adds Endorsed SIs to Expanding Partner Ecosystem
Invensys Operations Management, a global provider of technology systems, software solutions and consulting services to the process and manufacturing industries, today announced the addition of three endorsed systems integrators (SIs) to its global ecosystem of partners. The endorsed SIs, all based in Europe, have demonstrated a commitment to providing superior solutions and service to Invensys’ Wonderware® software customer base and to building a strong Wonderware practice within their individual businesses. Read More

Invensys Operations Management Signals Expansion in Algeria
Invensys Operations Management, a global provider of technology systems, software solutions and consulting services to the manufacturing and infrastructure operations industries, signed an agreement today with Algiers-based North African Automation (NAA), a specialist supplier of control and control-related equipment. Read More

New standard for HF catalyst analysis

 Breakthrough to significantly reduce cost of safe, accurate real-time HF catalyst monitoring

A typical alkylation unit. Output of high-value alkylate depends on close monitoring of hydrofluoric acid (HF) and water levels, as small deviations from optimum can cause output to plummet—or even cause dangerous acid runaway

Invensys Operations Management has announced the availability of its ACA.HF Advanced Alkylation measurement solution, a non-spectroscopic acid catalyst measurement solution that simplifies and dramatically lowers the cost of online monitoring of hydrofluoric acid (HF). On view at OpsManage in Orlando this week, the new solution replaces conventional manual sampling and Fourier Transform Near Infrared (FTNIR) analysis, with a measurement system that monitors HF levels in real time by analysing differential responses from online sensors.

Hydrofluoric acid is a common catalyst used in petroleum processing, and accurate analysis of how much HF is re-circulating within the process contributes significantly to maximising the yield rate of crude stock. Early approaches to HF monitoring involved taking manual samples and analysing them in a laboratory, however that sample approach offers limited accuracy and exposes lab workers to toxins. More recent FTNIR techniques are very accurate, but adaptation for real-time online monitoring is complex and costly. A global refining company and Invensys Operations Management have now teamed up to validate new online HF monitoring models that deliver highly reliable results at significantly lower acquisition and operating costs.

Implementing the new ACA.HF Advanced Measurement solution costs about half that of an FTNIR system and requires minimal maintenance because its core components are built from rugged materials long proven in industrial HF applications. The monitoring models run inside of the new Foxboro® PAC System controller, making for a cost-effective and easy-to-setup application environment. Contributing to precise control excellence is advanced analytical software that reads the response “spectrum” that is directly analogous to that produced by a traditional FTNIR. Based on established industry methods, estimated mean time between failures (MBTF) of the solution exceeds 29 years. There were, in fact, no maintenance costs in the first year of implementation at the test refinery.

This unique measurement and control solution also contributes to asset excellence by minimising the potential for corrosion, and supports environment and safety excellence by eliminating any potential sample exposure for plant and laboratory personnel. The ACA.HF solution is an integral component of the company’s InFusion™ Enterprise Control System, as it shares a common communications and applications development environment that enables the solution to be part of a larger plant and enterprise control, information and decision support system.

New programmable automation control system provides entry for Enterprise Control System

Invensys Operations Management introduced its new Foxboro® Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) System at OpsManage 2010 in Orlando (FL US). A powerful, versatile programmable automation controller and I/O subsystem, integrated with Wonderware® software, the new Foxboro PAC System offers robust control and information capabilities for installations with fewer than 3,000 input/output (I/O) points, while providing a foundation for a larger and even more capable Enterprise Control System (ECS).

“The Foxboro PAC System was created specifically for hybrid market clients who want a powerful and reliable control system at an affordable price,” said Rick Morse, vice president, control and safety, Invensys Operations Management. “Although these smaller systems typically have fewer than 3,000 I/O points, our customers are more and more sophisticated in terms of their integrated automation and information needs. Therefore, we have designed a PAC system that is faster, smaller, easier to apply and cost competitive. The Foxboro PAC System user should feel comfortable knowing that Invensys Operations Management systems control some of the world’s largest and most complex plants, and we have incorporated that industry knowledge and innovation into the new PAC system.”

The Foxboro PAC System is ideal for delivering control, alarm management, historian, web reporting and batch functionality for applications in the food and beverage; glass; metals, minerals and mining; life sciences, plastics; water and wastewater; and other industries. The controller marries high-density I/O modules with cost-effective redundancy options, energy efficiency, continuous analog, logic and sequential control and secure data recording at point of measurement. Additionally, all controllers, I/O modules and power supplies can be swapped without interrupting or shutting down the process operations, which is essential in regulated industries.

“Because it is deeply integrated into the entire portfolio of Wonderware software applications using open, ArchestrA® technology, the Foxboro PAC System is an easy-to-use, entry-level offering for customers to rapidly build upon as their operational excellence needs evolve. The Foxboro PAC System provides unparalleled flexibility to integrate with other Invensys and third-party systems, such as PLCs, safety instrumented systems, SCADA and business systems,” said Terry Minns, director of PAC products, Invensys Operations Management. “In short, it provides advanced integrated control, data acquisition and storage functionality at PLC-level pricing.”

The Wonderware PAC Software includes a single, common integrated development environment, a familiar tool to Foxboro and Wonderware users alike. The Wonderware PAC Software package also includes Wonderware InTouch 10.1, the industry-leading HMI software.

Affordable environment and safety excellence

Invensys Operations Management introduced its new Triconex® General Purpose System at OpsManage 2010. The new offering provides a lower-cost entry point into the market-leading Triconex safety system product line. The Triconex line allows clients to optimise their choice of safety system for their specific requirements, enabling them to meet new safety standards, counter global competition and address cost pressures by lowering investment and lifecycle costs.

TUV-certified for Safety Integrity Level 2 (SIL 2) applications, the Triconex General Purpose System is an important new component of the company’s InFusion™ Enterprise Control System (ECS). The Triconex General Purpose System is supported by familiar engineering tools and applications and can communicate with other control systems. 

“The new Triconex system delivers high-availability in a variety of safety and critical control applications, as well as offers secure integration with other systems. By providing the highest system availability and reliability in the market today, we can help protect plant personnel, secure production assets and achieve compliance with rigorous environmental standards, thereby driving environment and safety excellence,” said Mike Chmilewski, vice president, technology innovations, Invensys Operations Management. “Our customers can utilise the Triconex General Purpose System to maximise process and plant uptime, meet or exceed safety targets and mitigate environmental impact.”

For many businesses, improving operational excellence by maximising gross margins, product quality and financial performance, while reducing operating expenses, has become a top priority. At the same time, stringent health, regulatory and environmental compliance issues are driving an even greater focus on safety. The versatility of the new Triconex General Purpose System enables businesses to fulfill requirements for critical control applications needing high availability, for example, turbomachinery control, as well as SIL 2 safety applications, such as emergency shutdown, fire and gas protection and burner management. It is also compatible with Invensys’ Triconex Tricon™ and Triconex Trident™ safety systems that already meet SIL 3 requirements. High-availability architecture means that any Triconex safety system never needs to stop, improving clients’ performance and profitability and allowing them to generate more revenue.

The new Triconex system comes with rich safety and critical control application libraries, proven in some of the world’s most demanding applications, and its powerful functionality is proven to reduce engineering and maintenance costs, providing optimum safety and maximising plant uptime. It also integrates with all well-known process control systems using industry standard protocols, and for added protection, is Achilles-certified, protecting it from cyber attack.

New offerings can easily communicate and integrate as part of a unified ECS

Invensys Operations Management are unveiling host of new and upgraded components of its InFusion™ Enterprise Control System (ECS) at OpsManage’10.

In addition to enhancements and new releases to the company’s Wonderware® System Platform 4.0 software and flagship Foxboro® I/A Series® 8.6 distributed control system (DCS), OpsManage attendees will see a number of new InFusion ECS components, including a new Foxboro Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) System, a new Triconex® General Purpose Safety System, a preview of new software-based workflow capabilities, a new Eurotherm® nanodac™ data controller/recorder and a new Wonderware endorsed-partner application that provides a software as a service (SaaS) mobile reporting solution.

“The new and updated products and solutions we are demonstrating at OpsManage’10 exemplify how the InFusion Enterprise Control System can holistically unify old and new system applications to create a unified ‘system of systems,’” said Rashesh Mody, senior vice president, portfolio and marketing, Invensys Operations Management. “Each of these products and solutions delivers unique standalone functionality in its own right, but because they are also built on open, industry-standards-based ArchestrA® software technology, they easily and affordably integrate with manufacturing and business systems from multiple vendors, enabling the creation of an Enterprise Control System that can accelerate Operational Excellence across our customers’ enterprises. This unique ability to more simply and easily integrate open technology from Invensys, legacy applications and third-party offerings is what sets the InFusion ECS apart from anything on the market today.”

The products and solutions Invensys will introduce this week strengthen the entirety of the company’s portfolio of offerings, most of which are components of the InFusion ECS. “Going forward, virtually all of our new products and solutions will participate as InFusion ECS components, as will a growing number of the products and solutions we will develop and deliver in collaboration with our global Ecosystem of partners,” Mody said.

The new Foxboro Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) System 1.0 integrates Wonderware System Platform software with a next-generation Foxboro automation controller and I/O package. The new Triconex General Purpose System provides Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) for basic safety systems, but at a lower price point and in a TUV-certified SIL 2 safety instrumented system (SIS) platform, based on the company’s industry-leading Triconex technology. The new Eurotherm nanodac controller/recorder combines powerful graphical recording capabilities with versatile control, communications and reporting in a 3.6” by 3.5” enclosure. The new SmartGlance SaaS mobile reporting solution, delivered through Sarla Analytics, an Invensys partner, brings industrial and manufacturing intelligence and process data, archived in plant automation systems and data stores, directly to smartphone users.

The company will also display and demonstrate additional upgraded components of the InFusion ECS, including:
•    An upgraded Wonderware System Platform version 4.0, which supports Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 and facilitates deployment of technology advances such as 64-bit operating systems and Hyper-V virtualization technology;
•    A v8.6 release of the Foxboro I/A Series DCS, which enables easy upgrade of older Series 100 I/O modules to the latest high-performance, more-compact Series 200 I/O, reducing implementation and upgrade costs;
•    And an updated Avantis.PRO™ 5.0.1 enterprise asset management software, which facilitates real-time coordination of plant-floor data and predictive maintenance technology to support supply chain decision making.

“Today’s process manufacturers face a whole new set of challenges. They are losing highly experienced people, who are taking all of their knowledge with them. The process automation infrastructure continues to age and require replacement. And things that were fairly constant, like the cost of energy, are now real-time variables that change drastically over the course of the day,” said Larry O’Brien, research director, ARC Advisory Group. “The principles of a real-time process automation system increasingly need to be applied across the manufacturing enterprise, which is the real promise of the InFusion ECS. It operates as a system of systems to which Invensys Operations Management’s offerings, clients’ existing systems and third-party solutions can all belong. Invensys made the right move in forming Invensys Operations Management. Now we are seeing some of the fruits of bringing together all of the company’s automation-related businesses under one roof.”