IIoT portfolio strengthened.

WIKA acquired a majority stake in Asystom SAS in December (2025). This is a French company specialising in industrial smart monitoring and predictive maintenance solutions. The measurement technology manufacturer and IIoT solution provider has held a stake in Asystom since 2024. As the majority shareholder, WIKA now intends to play an even more active role in shaping the company’s strategic direction. The global network of their subsidiaries is to strengthen the sales and servicing of the Asystom solutions – for example for installation. WIKA will also use its research and development resources to collaborate with Asystom on the continuous development of its portfolio.

Asystom develops advanced sensors and intelligent solutions for the remote monitoring of industrial systems. The company’s core offering is based on embedded acoustic and vibration data processing technologies, combined with AI-driven analytics and diagnostic tools that enable continuous machine health monitoring. Multisensor instruments support signal acquisition, while the IIoT software layer analyses the data and detects deviations using machine learning. This enables companies in the process and manufacturing industries to identify anomalies at an early stage and perform targeted maintenance on their systems. Users can therefore avoid costly failures and organise their maintenance processes much more efficiently.

“WIKA sees itself as a driver for the development of pioneering IIoT technologies,” says Thomas Hasenoehrl, WIKA’s Vice President IIoT Systems & Solutions. “The majority stake in Asystom is another strategic milestone in this regard. The IIoT offers enormous optimisation potential for the industry, particularly in the field of predictive maintenance. With its innovative, scalable solution, Asystom complements our partner network perfectly.”

Pierre Naccache, Asystom’s CEO, says: “Industrial players need solutions that stand the test of time. With WIKA, we combine global deployment capabilities and a shared technology vision to deliver a complete, integrable and scalable approach that brings together sensors, connectivity, software and services, addressing industrial needs in the short, medium and long term. Our ambition goes beyond predictive maintenance alone: we want to provide an open and future-proof foundation for collecting, processing and turning industrial sensor data into actionable value at scale.”

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@WIKANews  @asystom #PAuto  #IIoT

Empowering connection and supercharging production in the future.

A strategic investment through Emerson Ventures, Emerson's corporate venture capital arm, in First Resonance, a Los Angeles-based start-up transforming manufacturing with its ION Factory Operating System (OS) has been announced. Through Emerson Ventures’ value-add strategic investment approach, Emerson’s investment will support further growth and development of First Resonance’s ION Factory OS, which enables companies across industries to conduct day-to-day operations and connect workflows to power modern operations, from production to supply chain procurement and quality.

“As Emerson continues to accelerate its growth as a leading global automation company, we are constantly searching for innovative companies supporting the development of world-changing software and technologies,” said Thurston Cromwell, vice president of development and innovation, and head of Emerson Ventures. “This strategic investment brings together Emerson’s deep expertise in automation and First Resonance’s operating system that helps companies modernise their technology, automate their processes and build transformational products of the future.”

With its discrete manufacturing platform that equips manufacturers with a digital thread, ION helps remove barriers by providing tools to improve collaboration, move information more freely, and use the power of data to deliver insights that result in better quality and faster delivery.

“First Resonance’s mission aligns well with Emerson’s focus on innovation and its ongoing commitment to support manufacturers building revolutionary products,” said Karan Talati, co-founder and chief executive officer of First Resonance. “From climate and energy to new forms of transportation, space exploration and robotics, we are empowering companies to address the most pressing global challenges across both traditional and emerging industries. Through our people, the ION Factory OS, and now with the support of Emerson, we will continue to empower thousands of engineers, operators and manufacturers to connect and supercharge the future.”

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@EmersonExchange @Emerson_News @EMR_Automation @firstresonance @HHC_Lewis #PAuto #Manufacturing

Carbon fibre inspection.

The quality of aerospace-grade carbon fibre is still largely assessed manually, a process often rife with human errors. Automated monitoring solutions are necessary to ensure high-quality standards during production continuously.

Building off the success of the AirCarbon II automatic inspection system introduced in 2016, Fraunhofer IGCV, Europe's largest application-oriented research organization, partnered with SGL Carbon GmbH and Chromasens GmbH to develop the next generation AirCarbon III for monitoring carbon fiber production and adjacent processes. The AirCarbon III system relies on the Chromasens allPIXA wave line scan camera and a Chromasens Corona II LED line scan light to achieve seamless and continuous surface monitoring.

AirCarbon III detects protruding filaments, lint, and similar foreign bodies and distinguishes the types of defects in carbon fiber. Combined with data management and a user-centered interface, the AirCarbon III system enables carbon fiber production processes to be continuously and automatically monitored from precursor production through the various intermediate steps to the final sized fiber.

Compared to conventional CCD sensors, the significantly higher resolution of the Chromasens allPIXA wave camera's CMOS color line sensor makes the detection of the protruding filaments, which range from 7-12 µm in diameter, possible. To expand the sensor's measurement width, a novel and patented optical concept was designed and implemented that triples the Chromasens camera's field of view while keeping the data volume the same. The system was designed primarily for large-format line sensors up to 85 mm. However, it is transferable to smaller sensors or area sensors. To integrate the system quickly and easily into the process, it also provides autofocus, which also allows process-related fluctuations in the object plane to be compensated for.

Chromasens allPIXA wave camera

Since deep black materials such as carbon fibers absorb an extremely large amount of light, they are difficult to make visible in image processing. The particularly dark surface of the fibers therefore requires special industrial lighting to ensures that a high-contrast image is generated on the sensor. With the Chromasens Corona II illumination system capable of up to 3,500,000 lux, high-contrast images are provided that enable excellent fiber monitoring. The high resolution of the camera sensor allows defects to be made visible down to almost the filament level (up to 10 µm). In this way, even the smallest anomalies can be detected.

An image processing algorithm developed for fiber production was ported to a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). This is because high-volume image data is captured at up to one gigabyte per second. Thanks to FGPA, data can be processed in real-time. Downstream data processing was implemented in software developed in-house by Fraunhofer IGCV, which reliably handles defect detection. With a machine learning approach and selected training data, the reliable differentiation of the detected defects is successful. Thus, not only defects on the fiber material can be reliably detected, but also a separation according to defect types can be performed automatically. This eliminates the need for manual analysis while increasing the information content.

Fraunhofer equipped its own vision PC for AirCarbon III with all the necessary interfaces for CameraLink cameras, lighting control, Gig1000 Ethernet, and an enclosure to protect against flying fibers. After filtering and preprocessing, the image data is stored in a database on the PC. Data is analyzed using INFIMO (Inline Fiber Monitoring) software, which provides both roving-specific viewing of defects and a deeper understanding of the data.

The partners and scientific participants are already in the final phase of the project. Here, tests are being carried out at the pilot plant of the SGL Carbon, and data is being evaluated. The developed systems are being tested and improved both in the laboratory and in the pilot plant.

@chromasens @FraunhoferIGCV @sglcarbon @OConnellPR #Manufacturing #PAuto 

Bespoke signal conditioning service.

Where can you go when you need a custom signal conditioning solution? No doubt that there a few specialists that can build the system you need but they will be using components from different suppliers which might cause problems if a fault develops. 

The bespoke design and build service from Kistler uses in-house components and, when necessary, components from trusted suppliers. It is important to realise that Kistler takes responsibility for all the components, not just those with their own brand; if any component fails, Kistler will fix it.

One project recently completed was for a portable test system that can measure 160 channels. This required two portable, shock-absorbent and water-resistant racks each with twenty 8 channel charge amps, a 24 port Ethernet switch with time synchronization, shielded Ethernet cables and a DC power supply. To keep the temperature in the racks within the maximum 60°C operating temperature in an ambient of 21°C, active fan cooling was also required. Add to this, a high spec, custom build computer running specialised software was needed to control both racks.

Not every application will require 160 channels although some may demand even more. The bespoke signal conditioning system service from Kistler delivers exactly what is needed for any application, no more and no less, and with a guarantee that the rig will fully meet the detailed specification.

#Kistler #PAuto #TandM

Servo Drives with Developer Kit.

A new developer kit from Festo enables system designers and machine builders to familiarise themselves with the functions and application possibilities of the company’s CMMT servo drives.

The Festo CMMT developer kit allows users to explore the ease of installation, powerful networking capabilities and simple commissioning software available to help them specify and become familiar with the configuration of the best servo drive for their application.

Festo’s CMMT range of servo drives includes the high power CMMT-AS and the miniature CMMT-ST, which needs less than half the installation space. The developer kit provides users with a risk-free application development tool that enables them to try out CMMT servo drive capabilities and evaluate the connectivity available through Festo’s Automation Suite at their own pace. It also enables easy replication across the range functionally at a very low initial outlay.

The developer-kit contains:

• The CMMT-ST extra low voltage servo drive controller
• An EMMS-ST-42 servo motor
• Encoder cable (1.5 m)
• Motor cable (1.5 m)

The CMMT-ST servo drive controller makes connectivity simple. Users choose between EtherCAT, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP and Modbus protocols to integrate the CMMT servo drive seamlessly into the system environment of their chosen PLC. Necessary plug-ins and function blocks are provided – at no additional cost – for integration into host systems such as Festo, Siemens, Beckhoff, Rockwell and Omron environments.

Users of the developer kit can utilise Festo’s free “Positioning Drives” software to quickly size and select the correct components. They can then use the Automation Suite software for quick and easy commissioning of the drive system in just five steps. The positioning drives project can be imported into the Automation Suite, making the commissioning process even easier. E-Plan schematics and macros are also provided in the package, enabling developers to see how easy it is to speed up technical documentation using these tools.

For those who require support, Festo is offering a series of ‘how to’ videos available on the YouTube channel "Festo Service". These video tutorials show how to configure and commission the servo components and can be viewed on a smartphone or tablet, enabling the correct sequence to be followed at any time to suit the user, day or night. One-to-one online commissioning support is also available through the Application Support engineering team on your first system.

#Pauto @festo_global @Publitek

Temperature & system production facility inaugurated!

Endress+Hauser has invested more than €10.4 million (US$11.8m) in a new, state-of-the-art production facility at its location in Nesselwang (D). The 4,800-square-meter building contains new production and office space, in addition to technology and common rooms. With the expansion, the Group is making further investments in sustainable growth.

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Inauguration in Nesselwang (from left): Harald Hertweck, Managing Director of Endress+Hauser Wetzer, Klaus Endress, President of the Supervisory Board of the Endress+Hauser Group, Franz Josef Pschierer, Bavaria’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Franz Erhart, Mayor of Nesselwang, Matthias Altendorf, CEO of the Endress+Hauser Group, and Rainer Kühnel, Director Operations at Endress+Hauser Wetzer, cut the ribbon. 

The expansion was driven by the growing demand for innovative temperature technology and system products, as well as the introduction of new product lines. “We are constantly investing in our centers of competence in order to develop persuasive solutions for our customers and to increase production efficiency,” said Matthias Altendorf, CEO of the Endress+Hauser Group, during the dedication ceremony, which was held on Friday 26 October 2018, in the presence of representatives from politics and business as well as employees.

In many processes, temperature is a measurement parameter with a major influence on product quality. “We will continue to expand and round out our temperature and system product portfolio so that we can be in a position to optimally serve our customers in the future as well. To do that, we need additional space for research and development, production, logistics and quality assurance, which this new building provides,” said Harald Hertweck, Managing Director of the Endress+Hauser center of competence for temperature measurement technology.

The new building is eye catching with an impressive, intelligent architecture featuring a sloping facade that offers protection against the sun, plus glass fronts that let in an abundance of light. The new building also boasts a sustainable energy concept, including a photovoltaic system installed on the roof that provides enough electricity to completely power the basic production load. E-bike charging stations further underscore the emphasis on sustainability.

While the building was being constructed, the production and and logistics processes were also optimized and structured in accordance with Lean Principles and the One Piece Flow approach. This structure enables the center of competence to increase the individual responsibility of the employees, add more flexibility to the production process and optimally utilize the capacity of the machines and operational resources.

Centre of competence for temperature measurement technology and system products Endress+Hauser Wetzer, the Group’s center of competence for temperature measurement technology and system products, which is headquartered in Nesselwang, Germany, operates five additional production facilities in Pessano (Italy), Greenwood, Indiana (US), Suzhou (China), Aurangabad (India) and Benoni (South Africa). The company received several awards this year for the iTHERM TrustSens, the world’s first self-calibrating thermometer. In addition to awards in France (Mesures, CFIA) and the Czech Republic (Zlatý Amper), Endress+Hauser was also the recipient of the HERMES AWARD, a renowned industry prize, in addition to the AMA Innovation Award at the SENSOR+TEST trade fair in Nuremberg, Germany.

@Endress_Hauser  #PAuto #Germany

Absolute positioning system.

The PXV 2-D absolute positioning system from Pepperl+Fuchs sets new performance benchmarks when it comes to reliability and handling. With its large reading window, the system keeps a sufficient number of codes in view, even in relation to track switches and changes to the code tape. Precise positioning is guaranteed at all times.

The safePXV and safePGV sensor Six years of experience with the PCV system have helped to shape the development of the PXV. The reading window of the PXV has been enlarged to approx. 120 x 80 mm, meaning that the Data Matrix code tape is always located within the sending range. Mounting and commissioning are easier, and plant availability is further improved. The reading window has an increased depth of focus range, allowing it to capture even more codes simultaneously and also guarantee position detection through multiple redundancy. Unlike other systems available on the market, the PXV requires only a 2-D camera, ensuring that irritation relating to track switches is excluded. To prevent this, the cameras in the two-camera systems can receive the relevant differing position signals in these areas.

A certain degree of contamination on the code tape is often unavoidable during everyday operation. For this reason, the codes for the PXV have been expanded to 15 x 15 mm without compromising the resolution, and the "coarse-grained" design ensures that they are unaffected by contamination. Thanks to redundant detection, the system also cannot be disrupted by the destruction of individual codes. The code tape can be interrupted by a stretch of up to 80 mm without affecting position detection. Innovative safety technology

The new safePXV manages all that a single positioning system can with just one sensor. The new safety technology combines a 2-D reader with a three-colored Data Matrix code tape. The special code tape contains two overlapping Data Matrix codes in red and blue. The 2-D reader is equipped with two different colored LED rings—also red and blue. These rings are activated separately and then read just one Data Matrix code each. An SIL 3/PL e absolute position is always provided as the result.

• Pepperl+Fuchs producted are marketed in Ireland through Insteco.

@PepperlFuchs #Pauto 

Safety instrumented system enhancement announced.

The ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system from Yokogawa has helped prevent accidents by detecting abnormal conditions in plant operations and initiating emergency actions such as a plant shutdown since 2005. An independent certification body has certified that ProSafe-RS conforms to the IEC61508 international safety standard and can be used in SIL3  applications. Unlike conventional safety instrumented systems and distributed control systems, which are regarded as having different roles and functions and operate separately, the operation of ProSafe-RS and the CENTUM integrated control system can be fully integrated. ProSafe-RS is highly regarded by users and has been installed in more than 2,100 projects worldwide (as of April 2017).

The company is about to release (April 26) an enhanced version of the ProSafe®-RS safety instrumented system. This latest release, R4.03.00, includes an improved engineering function for configuring fire and gas systems (FGS) and new operation faceplates for the FGS operation and monitoring screens. These enhancements make it easier to adopt and use ProSafe-RS in FGS applications.


Development Background
In the oil, natural gas, petrochemical, chemical, and other energy and basic materials industries, various safety measures must be taken to prevent accidents and protect the environment. This includes the use of a safety instrumented system, which can secure plant safety by functioning as an emergency shutdown system (ESD) that detects abnormal conditions and safely initiates emergency shutdowns, and by functioning as an FGS.
Yokogawa’s ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system can be integrated with the CENTUM VP integrated production control system and is widely used mainly in ESD applications all over the world. Based on an April 2017 Yokogawa survey, ProSafe-RS is one of the top selling safety instrumented systems on the market today. Since releasing this system in 2005, Yokogawa has continued to strengthen its functions to satisfy a variety of customer needs. In response to the rising need for FGS solutions, this latest release includes features that make it easier to adopt and use this system in such applications. And by adding a new input/output (I/O) module and enabling the use of an alternate control network topology, we are giving our customers a greater range of choices in their ESD and FGS applications. Cybersecurity has also been strengthened.

Enhancements
1. Easier adoption and use in FGS applications
Software components (function blocks) that define the operations and functions to be performed when smoke, heat, and/or gas is detected, an essential aspect of any FGS application, have been added to the ProSafe-RS engineering functions. Standard FGS faceplates have been added for the integrated display of smoke, heat, and gas detector information such as gas concentration level and device status. In addition, the I/O module has a new function that can reset the detector that sends smoke and heat detection signals to the ProSafe-RS system. This eliminates the need for a reset circuit to restore communications after an abnormality is detected, thus reducing both the size of the hardware and its initial cost. With these enhancements, the ProSafe-RS is easier to adopt and use in FGS applications.
2. New I/O module
Yokogawa provides an N-IO (Network-IO) I/O device with channels that can be configured by software to handle either analog or digital signals. As most safety instrumented systems rely mainly on digital I/O signals, the company has added a new I/O module to its lineup that is used for only the input or output of digital signals. This new module reduces the total cost of ownership for users.
3. Ring network topology
For the Vnet/IP®  real-time control bus, ProSafe-RS has relied on the star network topology, in which all devices are connected to a central hub. The new ProSafe-RS is also compatible with the ring topology, in which devices are connected to each other in the shape of a ring. This feature affords our customers greater flexibility when configuring their systems.
4. Improved cybersecurity
As a result of enhancements made to the ProSafe-RS engineering station’s software security functions and changes to the Windows® security settings, users can now set their systems to a higher security level. This latest ProSafe-RS release also supports a Windows function that enables the centralized management of security settings. With this feature, users can apply the same security settings to multiple monitoring and operation PCs, thus greatly improving plant security.

The target markets and applications for the ProSafe-RS include emergency shutdown systems (ESD), burner management systems (BMS), and fire and gas systems (FGS) in process industries such as oil, natural gas, petrochemicals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electric power, and iron and steel.

Enhanced integrated production control system.

An enhanced version of Yokogawa's CENTUM® VP integrated production control system has been released. The enhancements in this latest release, R6.04, include a new input/output (IO) module that will give Yokogawa end users a greater range of choices.

Control systems rely on field IO devices to transfer data to and from field instruments such as sensors and valves in order to automate the control of plant facilities. CENTUM VP’s N-IO (Network-IO) is one such field IO device. As the universal IO module originally developed for the N-IO device can handle a wide variety of IO signal types, it is easy to install different types of sensors when constructing a new plant or renovating an existing facility; this saves significant time and effort, and makes it possible to complete such projects much sooner. There are cases, however, when users may wish to add sensors that do not require this versatile capability. For just such a need, Yokogawa has added to its N-IO lineup a new low-cost IO device that handles only digital signals.

Enhancements
1. New IO module
As the latest control systems often primarily use digital signals, a new, low-cost IO module that handles only digital signals has been added to the N-IO lineup. To accommodate both analog and digital signals, it can be used in combination with the universal IO module. In this way, the cost of a plant construction or expansion project can be reduced.
In addition, a signal conversion function is included in the new IO module’s adaptor. With the universal IO module, a dedicated signal conversion board is required to directly receive signals from a field instrument such as a temperature sensor. The incorporation of this function in the new IO module eliminates the need for this hardware.

2. Windows 10
This latest CENTUM version uses Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise, the optimum OS for control systems. Based on its Long-Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) service model, Microsoft provides five years of extended support in addition to the standard five years of mainstream support (free-of-charge support that includes security patch updates), thus enabling a 10-year product lifecycle. By such means, Yokogawa continues to optimize its systems and, in turn, ensures stable long-term performance.

3. Ring network topology
CENTUM VP’s Vnet/IP® is a control network originally developed by Yokogawa and features high reliability and quick response. CENTUM VP’s Vnet/IP® real-time control bus uses the star topology, in which all devices are connected to a central hub. This latest CENTUM version also allows the use of a ring topology, in which devices are connected to each other in the form of a ring. With this feature, more flexible networks can be configured to satisfy customer needs.

Major Target Markets include process industries such as oil and natural gas, petrochemicals, chemicals, electric power, pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals, foods, iron and steel, and water and wastewater in the operation, monitoring, and automatic control of plants.

@YokogawaIA #PAuto

Automation in water plant!

Modular products from Delta have been selected as part of an innovative automated system installed recently at a major water treatment facility in Romania. The solution, which is based on Delta modular hardware architecture components that include PLCs, industrial Ethernet switches, HMI, motor drives and around 1400 I/O points, is providing drinking water and wastewater treatment plant automation for a population of around 30,000 people in Sebes, Petresti and Lancram in central Romania.

The installation was devised by system integrator Costruzioni Dondi SpA, and involved providing a distributed control system to principal plant processes such as pumping stations and water level monitoring equipment.

The control system architecture comprises supervisory, network and control layers. A third party SCADA system with two redundant servers providing data acquisition and archiving in the supervisory layer, as well as process control and monitoring services via remote control.

In the network layer, Delta Managed Industrial Ethernet Switches with network redundancy technology and TCP/IP fibre optics (in ring topology network) are able to deliver tolerance to any network failures with a self-recovery time of less than 20ms. Here, data access protection is provided through a firewall.

The actual control layer for local visualisation and operation is made up of various Delta products, including three new generation, modular AH500 PLCs plus I/O modules, a DOP-B 7” colour touchscreen HMI, 1400 I/O points and CP2000 sensorless vector control (SVC) drives. SVC offers timely response to load torque increase/decrease which satisfies customer requirements for load changes while enhancing motor performance and helping reduce energy consumption.

“There are many reasons we opted to use Delta products for this important installation, including their excellent cost-to-performance ratio,” explains Valentin Tuturiga, Project Manager at Costruzioni Dondi. “In addition, the scalability of the modular Delta products was important, while the development software was provided free of charge. We also liked the ease of communication with Delta’s technical support team, who were able to help us whenever we required advice.”

The benefits for the water treatment plant have been wide-reaching and include higher productivity, reduced operating costs and better utilisation of staff with dependable process automation, communication and information management. This is in addition to easy control of pumping stations and monitoring of water levels. Furthermore, fast and efficient alarm management enables engineers to react quickly to failures and malfunctions, which in turn provides better environmental compliance and monitoring.

“The implementation of this project is a complete success and now serves as a model for other water treatment plants in Romania,” concludes Mr Tuturiga. “In fact, we have recently completed a further two installations in Neamt County and just placed an order for Delta PLCs and inverters for another three new projects.”

#Romania #PAuto #Water

Wider range of applications for compact IP65/67 IO system.

Siemens has expanded its product line of extremely compact Simatic ET 200AL IO systems, which have the high IP65/67 degree of protection, to include modules with the M12 connection system, higher output currents, and longer maximum distances between modules.

Analog and digital actuators, and sensors, such as IO-Link devices, can be connected to the new M12 modules, which have up to 16 digital inputs. The high channel density reduces both the wiring effort and the space requirement for higher quantity structures. As the output current is now twice as high, actuators with a current consumption of up to 2 amperes can be connected. The maximum distance between two modules has now been increased from 10 to 15 meters, which now makes the Simatic ET 200AL IO system suitable for widely distributed IOs in large machines and systems. Groups of actuators can now be shutdown safely according to SIL2 via the ET 200AL outputs.

Background information:
At IP65/67, this Simatic ET 200AL IO system has a high degree of protection, an extremely compact design, a small space requirement and a low weight. It has been specially designed for applications in confined spaces and those involving motion. The devices are mounted directly in a machine or assembly line on site, for example on drag chain conveyors, where the M8 and the new M12 connection systems are used to connect the actuators and sensors in confined spaces. The rugged modules are designed for use within a temperature range from -25 to +55 degrees Celsius. They can be flexibly screwed on through the front or side in all kinds of mounting situations, for example to give a perfect fit on a mounting rail. With module widths of 30 or 45 millimeters and up to 32 modules per station, the Simatic ET200AL offers a high IO quantity structure for a wide range of applications. The IO system is configured quickly and easily via the TIA Portal, and used in Profinet or Profibus networks. The wiring of the module has been made extremely simple: for example by means of a color-coded assignment of lines to interfaces, and the integrated mounting for cable ties. The plastic enclosure of the Simatic ET 200AL makes it especially suitable for mobile applications subject to sustained accelerations from 5 g up to a maximum of 10 g. The modules have electronic short-circuit protection, and restart automatically after a line interruption or exchange of modules.

LNG carrier control system order for Ichthys LNG Project!

Yokogawa has received an order from Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. to supply the control system for an LNG carrier that is being built for the Ichthys LNG project in Australia. This project is being carried out by a joint venture between INPEX (operator), Total, and several other companies. 

Gas from the Ichthys field, which is located offshore of northwestern Australia, will undergo preliminary processing at sea to remove water and impurities, and extract condensate. The gas will then be transported by undersea pipeline to onshore processing facilities in Darwin. The project is expected to produce 8.4 million tons of LNG and 1.6 million tons of LPG per year, along with approximately 100,000 barrels of condensate per day at peak.


The ship will be the world’s largest Moss-type LNG carrier and will be used for transporting LNG from an onshore LNG processing plant that is being constructed as part of the Ichthys LNG project. The ship is scheduled to enter service by the end of 2016, in time for the completion of the plant. The ship is also the first Moss-type LNG carrier equipped with a dual fuel diesel engine (DFDE), which burns both fuel oil and gas.

Yokogawa will deliver the CENTUM® VP integrated production control system for monitoring and controlling the LNG carrier’s LNG tanks and loading/unloading facilities as well as the supply of gas to the DFDE and the supply of power to other driving units. Yokogawa will also be responsible for the engineering and commissioning of the control system.

Yokogawa believes that the following factors were key considerations in the decision to give it this order:

1. The company has already delivered control systems for other DFDE ships.
2. The company has a global service network, ensuring that vessels can undergo maintenance at any LNG port.

They won the control systems order for other Ichthys LNG project facilities in 2012. These include the onshore LNG processing plant, offshore production/process facilities, and the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. With this contract, the CENTUM VP system will cover all project facilities, from production to LNG transport.

Globally, the construction of many LNG carriers is planned for the transport of LNG from North America, Russia, Africa, and other regions. Backed by this order, Yokogawa will expand its control business for marine resource development facilities, including LNG carriers, FPSO vessels, floating LNG (FLNG) vessels, and floating storage and re-gasification units (FSRU).