The Cloud in OT.

The position paper, “Cloud Computing in OT Environments,” by the International Society of Automation (ISA), establishes a stance on when and how cloud technologies could be responsibly leveraged within operational technology (OT) systems. As OT and IT converge, this new paper provides guidance to help industry leaders navigate benefits, risks and implementation considerations for cloud adoption in automation.

The position paper emphasises that real-time, closed-loop control should remain at or near the physical process due to availability, reliability and latency requirements. At the same time, it highlights significant value for cloud enablement in appropriate OT applications, including improved data management, enhanced analytics, cost efficiency, scalability and better collaboration across distributed teams and sites.

Key application areas detailed in the paper include:

• Remote Operations: Cloud infrastructure can enable secure, robust, redundant operations and disaster recovery with system support in remote facilities.
• Predictive Maintenance: Machinery providers can apply advanced analytics such as vibration data processing to anticipate failures and reduce downtime and maintenance cost.
• Smart Manufacturing: Organisations can optimise supply chain operations from procurement and material planning to demand forecasting, inventory and logistics.
• Energy Management: Cloud computing can handle big data in smart grids, demand-side programs, building energy systems, energy hubs and dispatching.

The paper also outlines core challenges that distinguish OT environments from IT cloud migrations, including:

• Cybersecurity: Expanded attack surface and the need for defense-in-depth. Latency: Avoiding time-sensitive functions in the cloud. Reliability: Designing for loss of connectivity with proper on-site versus cloud allocation.
• Compatibility: Integrating legacy OT systems with modern cloud platforms.
• Culture and Change Management: Training teams accustomed to on-premise workflows.

“Cloud is not a one-size-fits-all solution for OT, but when applied to the right use cases, it can unlock meaningful improvements in resilience, insight and efficiency,” said Claire Fallon, executive director and CEO of ISA. “With this new position paper, ISA intends to advance the conversation around cloud computing and OT while upholding the safety, security and reliability that OT environments demand.”

As the leading developer of globally adopted automation standards, ISA provides the frameworks and competency programs needed to adopt cloud responsibly. The ISA/IEC 62443 series offers a comprehensive, flexible approach to industrial automation and control systems cybersecurity — foundational for any cloud strategy in OT environments. The ISASecure® certification program provides OT cybersecurity assurance by validating rigorous conformance of products and supplier practices to ISA/IEC 62443. ISA further supports the automation profession through education, certifications and alignment to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Automation Competency Model, ensuring today’s workforce can safely and effectively implement emerging technologies.

ISA’s latest position paper invites industry leaders, policymakers and academia to collaborate on standards development, education and workforce readiness to enable resilient cloud infrastructures that benefit the broader industrial ecosystem.

---

@ISA_Automation @automation_com #PAuto 

Enabling system upgrades reusing existing cabinets, field wiring, termination units and cabling.

Boosts plant reliability with seamless automation system upgrade.

The Ability™ Symphony^Ò Plus SDe Series from ABB is a portfolio of hardware products that help modernize existing process control system installations with minimal risk and disruption to plant operations. The new series enables plant operators in industries such as power, water, oil & gas, pharmaceuticals and pulp & paper to upgrade installed control systems to the latest technologies, driving efficiency and productivity improvements.

Offering innovation with continuity, the new SDe Series addresses one of the biggest challenges for control system owners: upgrading existing infrastructure without disrupting operations. SDe solutions enable stepwise evolution with minimal impact by preserving field wiring, termination units and module cabling, helping plant owners protect their Symphony^Ò Harmony and INFI 90^Ò investments as process controllers, I/O modules and automation technology evolves.

“ABB’s modular approach to multi-year evolution facilitates strategic upgrades over a realistic, cost-effective timeframe, enhancing operational productivity and sustainability for plant managers,” said Stefan Basenach, Senior Vice President, Process Automation Technology. “With the new SDe Series, we are helping customers across industries ensure their plants continue to meet regulatory requirements while increasing efficiency and adapting to changing markets.”

Providing seamless interconnections with smart field and electrical devices, as well as higher-level applications, the rugged control and I/O products of the SDe Series offer an extreme operating temperature range and a scalable architecture within a compact, modular footprint. Additionally, the series features sustainability improvements such as reduced power consumption and the use of standards-based technology that reduces plant owners’ total cost of ownership.

The key principles behind the SDe Series focus on evolving, enhancing and expanding ABB’s existing INFI 90^Ò, Harmony and Symphony^Ò DIN (SD) systems, which are currently installed in over 7,000 sites around the world. For Harmony Rack installations, the SDe series offers increased modularity, enhanced functionality, 1-to-1 module replacements and space-fit mounting options to ensure seamless evolution. Full compatibility with the SD series enables the expansion of SD systems using the latest technology and I/O hardware and software, delivering higher performance, reliability and capacity.

---

@abb_automation @ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @admiralpr #greenhydrogen #PAuto

Control on world’s widest paper machine.

ABB has been selected as a project partner for the installation of the world’s widest uncoated machine-glazed (MG) paper machine at Gascogne Papier’s kraft pulp and paper production plant in Mimizan (F) They began deliveries early in 2023, with QCS and drives deliveries to the plant planned for 2024, along with commissioning of the machine.

“We have an established relationship with Gascogne and are delighted to continue supporting them in their mill production goals,” said Pamela Murphy, European Operations Manager for Pulp and Paper at ABB. “The project also underscores our important collaboration and the complementary technology and expertise that we will bring to Gascogne.”

Replacing three older machines, the facility’s PM7 will be fully integrated and standardized using the ABB Ability™ System 800xA® distributed control system (DCS), the ABB Quality Control System (QCS) for pulp and paper, drives and motors. Advanced QCS controls will enable automatic grade changes and multivariable cross-direction. The full scope of supply includes 8000 I/O, ACS880 multi-drives and ABB’s energy-efficient SynRM IE5 motors. The package will help Gascogne Papier save on energy costs while simultaneously reducing waste by making more on-spec paper.

ABB’s technologies will be used on the new paper machine that has a web width of 6.8 meters and a design speed of 1,300 meters per minute. It will be capable of producing 125,000 tons per annum of basis weight paper between 25 and 120 grams per square meter, setting a new industry benchmark for uncoated MG papers.

IE5 ultra-premium SynRM motors are the same size and output power as commonly used IE2 induction motors but offer up to 50 percent lower energy losses and significantly lower energy consumption. Additional benefits include lower bearing and winding temperatures for enhanced reliability and long life, and less motor noise. They can be used in a wide range of demanding industrial applications for accurate control and high efficiency a range of speeds.

---

@abb_automation @ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @admiralpr #gascognepapier #PAuto #Paper

Call for action to accelerate global sustainability

Real Progress campaign begins with automation, electrification and digitalization in mining, metals and pulp and paper industries

ABB has launched a new global sustainability initiative, showcasing the power of technology and expertise to accelerate sustainability while enhancing productivity has been launched by ABB. Their Real Progress campaign is a rallying call to customers, partners and suppliers, inspiring them to harness technology leadership and the solutions that exist today to amplify their own impact across process industries such as mining, metals and pulp and paper.

For more than 130 years, the technology leader has been embedded in industries where emissions are hard to abate and where alternative solutions are either unavailable or difficult to practically implement. Today, ABB is combatting many changes happening in the world, such as rising emissions, water and energy scarcity and workforce skills challenges. The company is showing that the power of bold ideas and pioneering technologies can overcome these challenges, step by step, together with the wider industrial and societal ecosystem.

The decarbonization challenge unites the mining, metals and pulp and paper industries with leadership teams striving to meet increasing market demand with a more rapid increase in energy and resource efficiency to reach their committed sustainability targets such as more carbon-neutral operations. Across these vital process industries, there is a growing recognition that automation, electrification and digitalization are essential components of their journey towards meeting climate targets set out by businesses, legislation, governments and international agreements over the next 25 years and beyond.

“The journey toward sustainability isn't a gradual progression; it's a bold transformation. The actions and decisions we take today, together with every innovation we embrace, are powerful steps towards a sustainable future, and we're unapologetically leading the charge,” said Joachim Braun, Division President, ABB Process Industries. “Every day, ABB is working side by side with customers in their mines, their mills and their plants, to provide complete technology solutions with automation, electrification and digitalization to radically reduce emissions and energy use. Together with our great network of partners, we are proud of driving real progress in sustainability, but we know that more can and must be done. We’re part of the journey and commit to making real progress always.”

In the metals industries, ABB is committed to enabling customers to use less energy and raw materials when producing steel and aluminum through advanced automation and electrification systems, combined with industry-specific equipment and digitalization, across plants. One solution that brings autonomous plants to life is ABB Ability™ Smart Melt Shop. It facilitates operational excellence by combining real-time crane and ladle tracking, automatic and optimized crane scheduling and heat loss prediction. Benefits include raising casting speeds by 4-5 percent, 5 degrees Celcius less arcing per heat, reduced delays, less material rejection and increased human safety​.

As steel companies move from traditional blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) to more sustainable electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking, technologies such as ABB’s ArcSave® electromagnetic stirrer (EMS) can also be deployed in the melt shop to create equilibrium in the melt, enabling more steel to be made, faster and using fewer resources. In partnership with Tenova, this solution has been deployed on the world’s largest EAF, operated by customer Acciaieria Arvedi in Italy. The results include an 18 degrees Celcius lower tapping temperature, a 3.6 percent reduction in electrical energy consumption and a 38,000-ton annual reduction in CO₂e emissions at the plant. EAF productivity has also increased by 5 percent.

ABB Ability™ Energy Management System is a digital solution that provides monitoring and optimization of energy consumption and CO₂e footprint across the metals enterprise. Benefits of this solution include improved planning of operations and 5 to 15 percent energy cost savings in the entire plant.

Electrification is a key pathway to more sustainable metals manufacturing. Leveraging 100 years of metals process know how, ABB experts work together with customers to tailor drives and motors solutions to perform reliably and precisely according to the demands of each process. From primary steelmaking through rolling and processing, using ABB medium and low voltage drives and motors means more efficient energy use, cutting operating costs.

“Alongside some of the foremost steelmakers and aluminium producers in the world, we’re facing a reality that the industries consume large amounts of energy and are responsible for a large proportion of CO₂e and greenhouse gas emissions today,” said Frederik Esterhuizen, Global Business Line Manager, Metals, ABB Process Industries. “We’re enabling mills to take control of their processes and equipment to improve process efficiency, product quality and yield while maximizing resource and energy efficiency. In this way, we will help to limit climate change and create real progress for future generations.”

“Sustainability isn't an option; it’s an imperative for every business leader in our rapidly evolving world. To thrive and create a better future, we must embrace sustainability at the core of our operations,” said Rohit Sharma, Global HSE and Sustainability Manager, ABB Process Industries. “It’s not only about being responsible but also about staying competitive and resilient in an ever-changing global landscape. Our commitment to sustainability today will define our success and impact generations to come.”

---

@ABBgroupnews @abbindustryserv @abb_automation #Steel #Pauto

The start of digital transformation!

The technology that revolutionized gas analysis and emissions monitoring in chemical plants and refineries, the pulp, paper and metal industries, power generation, cement, and others.

URAS was created by German engineers Erwin Lehrer and Karl Friedrich Luft. In 1988, the technology was further improved by adding gas-filled calibration cells. Because it no longer needed high-pressure test gas cylinders, the cost of operation dropped significantly and increased the ease of use.

When launched 85 years ago, 1938, URAS was known as the first “ultra red absorption recorder” (in German, Ultra Rot Absorptions Schreiber), a continuous gas analyzer capable of instantly measuring the concentration of more than 100 gases through infrared spectroscopy (light absorption technology).

“This technology was truly revolutionary from the day it was invented. Today, it is a benchmark for uncompromising environmental compliance. With URAS, numerous industrial companies around the world are able to monitor emissions and safeguard the environment,” said Ben Goossens, ABB Measurement & Analytics.

URAS is used by industrial companies around the world as a key solution for ensuring environmental compliance. With its unrivaled monitoring uptime, this technology is used in the continuous monitoring of gases that come out of industrial chimneys. It also measures emissions from marine vessels, helping shipping companies comply with environmental regulations.

As a continuous gas analyzer, URAS has a wide range of applications beyond the industrial segments – from helping save lives in hospitals by measuring the CO2 levels in diagnostic breath tests to supporting the process of ripening of bananas during shipment by analyzing the concentration of ethylene.

In 1996, URAS was used as a foundation in ABB’s groundbreaking Advance Optima modular analyzer, which unified the operation for all types of gas analyzers in one single design. With this, URAS became the first network analyzer with its own IP address. This was the beginning of the digitalization of analyzer technology.

“Decades before the Internet of Things, URAS communicated digitally. Today, it’s all about the digital transformation and this is where it all started,” said Ben Goossens.

@ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @abb_automation #PAuto #Gas

Reducing Waste by reducing defects.

AMETEK Surface Vision has helped a major Japanese paper product manufacturer improve the quality of its papermaking, as part of an upgrade to its production facility.

Based in Osaka, Japan, Rengo Co. Ltd provides paper solutions to support the flow of goods in a range of industries, including general packaging. Its Kanazu plant is a corrugated board base paper production facility, which underwent the upgrade in 2017.

Initially, AMETEK Surface Vision’s SmartView system was added to inspect the paper for defects. This was supported by a single-camera Advanced Winder Advisor (AWA) tool, which enables automatic stops at the detected defect location. Designed specifically for paper inspection systems, it allows immediate resynchronization after a web break or sheet splicing.

Due to the enhanced stopping accuracy of the AWA, defects are dealt with much faster, leading to increased production speed and product yield. This led to a further investment in the SmartAdvisor's web inspection system to reduce the number of paper breaks by identifying the cause of the defects.

They installed a SmartAdvisor system with 12 cameras alongside the existing SmartView system. In addition, the SmartSync tool was also applied, which integrates the multi-camera video monitoring power of SmartAdvisor with the flexibility and proven quality of SmartView surface inspection.

This enhanced level of surface inspection provided an immediate identification of the cause after the defect occurred, leading to rapid results and a reduction in the amount of waste paper created by defects. Additionally, paper breaks reduced by 17% year-on-year.

Takefumi Nakanishi, Rengo’s Deputy General Manager commented: “Before we installed SmartSync, it took me a while to find the information I needed. Now we have succeeded in narrowing down the paper break and defect information.

“Our next step will be to install more cameras and require a more accurate system performance, which we are able to do thanks to the modular nature of the AMETEK Surface Vision solution.”

The SmartView and SmartAdvisor systems can be applied to the full spectrum of paper, packaging, and tissue applications, enabling customers to inspect the surfaces of materials to improve quality, reliability, and speed.

• Read the full Rengo case study here.

@surfacevision @AMETEKInc @AmetekUK @codacomms #PAuto #Paper

Veterinary case study on laboratory information management system.

Autoscribe Informatics has released a new veterinary laboratory case study focusing on the benefits that Matrix Gemini LIMS has bought to Scone Equine Hospital. The LIMS is in daily use in the largest equine veterinary practice in Australia.

Explaining why Scone Equine chose Matrix Gemini LIMS the laboratory supervisor said “We ended up deciding on Matrix due to the flexibility that the system offered. Many LIMS are based around how pathology labs work, which to a degree covers what we do. However we work in the veterinary and thoroughbred industry and our clients have particular requirements on how they like things done. To accommodate that we had to have something more flexible than a traditional LIMS. We felt that Autoscribe could be adaptable in their approach and work with us to actually get what we wanted to meet our requirements”.

One of the key benefits from the introduction of a LIMS has been the increased level of automation. The integration of instruments with the LIMS ensures results are free of transcription errors and immediately available for review. Once approved, test results are automatically sent to the referring veterinarian or owner (depending on the rules defined in the LIMS), improving the level of customer service that the organization can offer its clients. The time savings realized from these changes alone has saved 2-3 hours a day during the equine breeding season, eliminating some of the burden of employing extra staff members during this busy period.

Improved visibility of samples awaiting test enables staff to provide more accurate updates to clients. Easy access to the test results along with results from historical testing quickly provides a holistic view of every equine patient.

“Our experience with Autoscribe Matrix LIMS has been excellent – more efficient, more accurate, more user-friendly. Following the initial engagement, the company devoted significant resources to understanding our business and requirements to ensure a smooth transition to the system,” said Cameron Collins, the Managing Director at Scone Equine. “Implementation of the system has resulted in improved efficiency for our team, a significantly enhanced search capability for our clients and increased accuracy of results due to reduction in data transcription errors.”

The comprehensive audit functionality supplied as standard with Matrix Gemini LIMS ensures that any changes to data, from registration to testing to approval, can be queried and tracked. Autoscribe Informatics and Scone Equine Hospital have worked as a team to configure several system changes and improvements since their initial implementation. This includes amendments to the way that microbiology results are entered, made possible without coding, due to the inherent flexibility offered by the Matrix Configuration Tools.

@AutoscribeLtd @AutoscribeCorp #LIMS 

Valve for heavy slurry service.

Emerson’s Clarkson™ KS1 Knife Gate Valve is a true bi-directional, full bore, ASME Class 150 valve designed for the rigours of heavy slurry service. Its advanced, patented sealing system delivers zero-leakage isolation for longer, enabling increased run time and throughput.

The new Clarkson KS1 Knife Gate Valve, designed to help mine, oil sands and pulp & paper operators achieve increased availability of their most challenging slurry processes has been announced by Emerson.

“The Clarkson KS1 is a compelling innovation for operators of heavy slurry processes, such as tailings lines,” explained Mike Gordon, director of Emerson’s knife gate valve business. “This valve is purpose-built for extended zero leakage isolation in these tough environments, so these processes run uninterrupted for longer to improve throughput and minimise valve maintenance costs.”

The new knife gate valve features a patented gate edge seal design that creates a continuous seal around the gate, together with a precision-moulded elastomer seat. This heavy-duty seat increases the contact area and resilient sealing ability of the valve compared to standard O-ring designs, resulting in superior isolation performance over an extended lifecycle.

The valve design has been optimised to thrive in heavy slurry conditions with a full round port that eliminates protrusions into the flow, which minimises turbulence across the valve and reduces wear on valve components and downstream equipment. Reversible, rotatable wear rings also come standard on both sides of the valve to protect the seat and extend maintenance intervals.

Maintenance teams were also top of mind during the design of the KS1. The valve is repairable with standard tools and readily available spare parts. Adjustments can be made to the packing system externally that dynamically self-adjust pressure to the gate edge seal system. The KS1 is also designed to standard MSS SP-135 face-to-face dimensions for simple changeout and upgrade of underperforming installed valves.

The Clarkson KS1 comes built tough for the rigours of severe slurry service in sizes 2” through 30” with a variety of available flange patterns, an ASME Class 150 pressure rating of 290 psi (20 bar) at ambient temperature and a temperature rating up to 300°F (149°C). Alternate materials are also available to combat extraordinary abrasive and corrosive process conditions and a variety of automation options can be configured to suit.

@Emerson_News @EMR_Automation @HHC_Lewis #Pauto #Slurry

Lab instrument data reports accessible site- and enterprise-wide.

ABB’s new, web-based L&W Lab Management System makes lab instrument data reports accessible site- and enterprise-wide to improve productivity, quality and profit and quickly solve production problems

ABB has launched its newest automated data acquisition and lab reporting solution, offering pulp and paper manufacturers rapid analysis of lab quality information, with reliable data storage, management and reporting. Purpose built for paper testing labs, the scalable, web-based L&W Lab Management System replaces ABB and other legacy systems, halves procedure times, and tailors lab reporting to users’ specific workflow preferences.

The system collects, analyzes and reports on information from lab instruments, as well as ABB’s L&W Autoline automated paper testing solution. It compares up to four paper properties and plots trends against previous batches. With instruments connected directly through a local area network (LAN), information is instantaneously accessible through any web-browser equipped device, via a user-friendly dashboard that shows sample data, trends, historical references and KPIs. This eliminates the need for desktop PCs connected to each instrument.

“Our new system is purpose-built for how labs operate,” said Per Sandstrom, head of lab and process testing measurements for ABB pulp and paper. “It will significantly reduce the manual work and IT infrastructure which is typical for lab operations in many mills. This is a tool that will help production and quality managers to immediately see and act upon a lab’s quality information to improve profit potential, which is our goal for all ABB customers.”

Results generated by the L&W Lab Management System can be exported as xml files to external mill-wide systems. Reports generated can also be integrated with the ABB Quality Data Management system and/or the ABB Ability™ Manufacturing Execution System to enable lab information to be included with other key process indicators.

Part of ABB’s end-to-end quality control solution for the pulp and paper industry, the L&W Lab Management System is suitable for mills seeking efficiency gains with automatic lab data collection, including those combining L&W Autoline automated paper testing with other stand-alone instruments, and larger mills needing to collect and export lab data to ERP/MES systems effectively.

#PAuto #Paper @ABBgroupnews

Slurry Sensor and Transmitter for high noise applications.

Flow measurement solution helps improve product quality, reduce raw material cost and minimise waste and re-work.

Emerson’s Rosemount™ MS Slurry Sensor with the 8782 Slurry Transmitter is a slurry magnetic flow meter specifically designed for high noise and slurry applications for use in the oil and gas, mining, and pulp and paper industries. Featuring robust coils and advanced signal processing, a responsive yet stable flow signal is possible even in high noise applications. With over 25 years of experience delivering products for these challenging applications, the new Slurry Magnetic Flow Meter helps improve product quality, reduce raw material cost, and minimise waste and re-work.


“Through the utilisation of advanced features, the Rosemount Slurry Magnetic Flow Meter can help our customers better achieve their operational goals,” said Laura Chemler, product manager with Emerson’s Automation Solutions business. “The advanced signal processing is able to adapt to changing flow rates without getting bogged down by traditional damping practices, providing more accurate flow rate feedback when it’s needed most, which in turn helps to ensure an efficient overall process that minimises waste and optimises utilisation of precious resources.”

The Slurry Magnetic Flow Meter, or Slurry Mag, provides a flow measurement solution for customers with fluids that contain large solids, mining ore, pulp or sand, or that experience high process noise or signal instability. Featuring the latest advanced signal processing that is the first to adapt to changing process conditions in real time, the Slurry Mag eliminates noise from the flow signal without using excessive damping, giving operators confidence in their measurement calculations.

Accurate measurement of process flow rates is essential to running a plant or mill efficiently - that is why the Slurry Magnetic Flow Meter uses advanced signal processing with real-time diagnostics to deliver flow measurement confidence and the ability to automatically control the loop.

The Slurry Mag Meter includes more standard diagnostics such as the grounding and wiring fault detection that helps ensure the meter is installed correctly the first time. Optional advanced process diagnostics help provide insight into performance through a high process noise detection diagnostic, as well as enable proactive maintenance in applications where coating may be a concern, such as in pulp digester applications where pitch from the wood fibres may result in coating of the meter.

Finally, the 8782 contains Emerson’s patented Smart Meter Verification capabilities providing a simplified means of troubleshooting or verifying the meter, taking a process that used to take hours and simplifying it down to minutes. While the 8782 transmitter is designed to work with the MS sensor, it is also compatible with existing 8707 installations, making the performance, signal processing and advanced diagnostic capabilities available to anyone who is already using Emerson’s solutions for these challenging applications.

 #PAuto #Oil @Emerson_News @EMR_Automation @HHC_Lewis

Magnetic flow meter transmitter.

Emerson’s New Magnetic Flow Meter Transmitter Simplifies Installation, Maintenance and Operation

The Rosemount 8712EM Wall Mount Magnetic Flow Meter Transmitter from Emerson, has additional protocols, powerful diagnostic capabilities and usability features to help users in the pulp and paper, metals and mining, and other industries gain quick and easy insight into their processes.

The meter’s local operator interface was designed using Human Centered Design concepts, making it easier and faster for technicians to navigate in the field. According to Scott Dudek, product manager for Rosemount magnetic flow meters, “The Rosemount 8712EM melds usability pioneered by Emerson’s Human Centered Design Group with the quality, capabilities, and reliability that customers have come to trust from Emerson.”

The Rosemount 8712EM’s diagnostic suite includes high process noise detection and ground fault detection. The electrode coating diagnostic offers two set points to alert when coating is present and when it is affecting flow measurement, enabling preventative maintenance. Smart Meter Verification continuously monitors the health and performance of the meter for ultimate measurement confidence.

Universal transmitter capability allows the 8712EM to operate with any existing magnetic flow meter sensor and allows backwards compatibility with all Rosemount magnetic sensors. This feature not only makes the transmitter easier to integrate with older units, but it also enables the use of the 8712EM’s advanced diagnostic features.

The Rosemount 8712EM supports HART 7 for 32-character-long tag capability for reduced start-up time, as well as options for intrinsically safe HART outputs and Modbus RS-485.

@EMR_Automation  #PAuto

Networking in Japanese paper plants.

Yokogawa Solution Service Corporation, has completed the installation of a software-defined networking (SDN) solution at four paper plants in Japan that are operated by group companies of Oji Holdings Corporation (the Oji Group). This is the first-ever plant-wide implementation in Japan (based on a March 2017 Yokogawa market survey) of SDN, a software-based technology that enables the creation of virtual network environments. As part of this undertaking, Yokogawa assessed the company’s IT infrastructure, including its existing networks, and designed and deployed SDN-based networks at these facilities.

With conventional plant networks, network devices (i.e., routers, firewalls) must be installed and configured for each individual application, location, and facility. The software-based SDN technology enables flexible implementation of virtual networks for each individual application, linking network devices using the same physical network. This facilitates the integrated management, implementation, and reconfiguration of networks. Also, this helps to reduce the required number of network devices and the amount of wiring that needs to be performed, saving both operating and management costs. Furthermore, the visualization of network status leads to enhanced security. Problems can be easily identified, and network operators can remotely shut down specific segments of the plant network in the event of an emergency.

Yokogawa won this order because the customer highly valued its solid track record in delivering production control systems, wealth of production site knowledge, and experience in providing solutions that lead to enhanced productivity, safety, and product quality.

For this project, they chose to use a proven SDN network device solution, NEC Corporation’s UNIVERGE PF series of controllers and switches. While minimizing impact on plant operations is usually difficult when replacing IT infrastructure, Yokogawa was able to do this by leveraging its abundant experience and knowledge of production sites. At each of this customer’s plants, Yokogawa assessed their IT infrastructure, including existing networks, and based on this assessment then designed and deployed its SDN technology solution.

The company is also providing on a trial basis a security management service that monitors the status and health of the networks throughout these plants. While enabling timely preventive measures that help to maintain the health of the networks in these plants, this service also ensures that prompt actions can be taken in the event of an emergency.

In plants around the world, there is an increasing need to improve productivity, safety, and maintenance efficiency, and this is being achieved through the introduction of Industrial IoT (IIoT) technology. Networks help to create new value by connecting various types of devices, but it is essential to be able to flexibly change their configuration, quickly respond to surges in data volume, and ensure more secure operations. For the optimal implementation of IIoT technology, attention is now increasingly turning to the use of SDN technology in plant IT infrastructure. This also will help company IT departments manage the IT infrastructure at their plants in a more integrated manner.
Capitalizing on its production site know-how, Yokogawa will continue in its endeavors to introduce SDN and other cutting-edge technologies that will enable the realization of smarter plant IT infrastructure.

@YokogawaIA  #PAuto #Japan

Variable speed drive helps tissue manufacturer.

A leading manufacturer of tissue and paper-based consumer products has upgraded to Control Techniques Unidrive M variable speed drives.

UNIDrive M700 Family

Soffass SpA, based in Porcari (I), is part of the Sofidel group of companies. It produces a range of products including Regina, as well as a wide selection of other products aimed at the global consumer tissue paper market. These include toilet paper, kitchen towel, napkins, paper tablecloths, handkerchiefs, facial tissues and sheets for medical and industrial use.

The company is a long-term user of Control Techniques variable speed drives. However, with mature products such as Commander SK and Unidrive SP moving into the next stage of their lifecycle, the benefits of upgrading to the latest industrial AC drive technology, Unidrive M, were clear.

Unidrive M is capable of fully replacing and enhancing Commander SK and Unidrive SP installations. It offers full mechanical compatibility in terms of dimensions and weights, and when retrofitting surface mount drives existing mounting holes can be reused, negating the need for additional drilling. Furthermore, Unidrive M offers the same power and control wiring philosophy and the same menu and parameter structure. Indeed, parameters can be transferred from Unidrive SP and Commander SK using Unidrive M Connect software, or via a smartcard (Unidrive SP only).

The maintenance team management at Soffass, lead by Giuliano Dinelli (Maintenance Manager) and Luca Manfredini (Electrical Engineer), was keen to tap into the extra benefits offered by Unidrive M, and were able to do this quickly and easily thanks to a number of key design features.

“Previously we used Commander SK and Unidrive SP drives with the SM-Applications and SM-Safety modules, and even though we knew these products would continue to be supported for the next 10 years at least, we thought it provided a good opportunity to take advantage of Unidrive M,”  he  said. “As a result of the upgrade we now use Unidrive M200 drives for asynchronous motor control in the conveyors, and Unidrive M700 drives in the remainder of the applications.”

Among the principal uses for Unidrive M at Soffass is the embosser, where paper veils are matched together to make the final product thicker and softer. The drives also control the print units, as well as the winder/unwinder, which delivers materials to further stages of the process.

“We have complete trust in the Unidrive M platform and wanted to upgrade for many reasons, not least the ease of programming, set-up, commissioning and cabling,” says Mr Dinelli. “Furthermore, we liked technical features such as synchronous Ethernet, on-board AMC and the multi-protocol encoder connector. This multi-axis system with multiple controls is the perfect fit for our converting machinery at Porcari. In total, we have now purchased around 100 Unidrive M drives from Emerson.”

Such has been the success of the upgrade programme that Soffass is now considering the use of additional products from Control Techniques and its sister company, Leroy-Somer, in future projects. Specifically, the company has earmarked the adoption of permanent magnet (PM) motors as they can offer energy savings in equipment such as paper mills, where power requirements are typically high.

“We like Control Techniques because its products are reliable and easy to use,” concludes Mr Dinelli. “In addition, Control Techniques has supported us in the design and development of the machines, and responded positively to our demands in terms of throughput and budget.”

@CTandLS #PAuto @Emerson_News #Italy @sofidelsharing

PLC paper wins award at Italian event!

Itris Automation, provider of innovative software solutions for the automation industry, was rewarded during the opening ceremony of SPS IPC Drives in Parma (I) for the excellence of their concept of Software Factory.

This first participation of Itris Automation as exhibitor at the largest Italian fair in the sector of industrial automation is already a huge success for the company, which has just announced the development of its activities in Italy.

The article presented by Itris Automation at the round table dedicated to Automation 4.0 was considered the most successful and inspiring and that was among another hundred of contributions during the conference.

This price constitutes the recognition of the relevance of Itris Automation’s approach by experts represented by more than 30 companies and prestigious Italian universities. Itris Automation’s paper proposes in fact to industrialise the development of programs for logic controllers in order to make the factory of the future more efficient. This approach is made possible by Itris Automation’s range of tools for quality verification (PLC Checker), automatic translation (PLC Converter) and the generation of documentation (PLC DocGen).

Denis Chalon, Technical Director at Itris Automation and co-author of the decorated paper explains: "The programmers of logic controllers play a crucial role in the dispersion of programming techniques in the industrial world. By supporting them with our tools throughout the whole life cycle of the installations, we are enabling industrial innovation that is flexible, productive and shared by all."

Eric Pierrel, President of Itris Automation, added: "This award recognises the outstanding effort of our teams. The fact, that the committee is composed of industrial experts confirms our vision. After the first commercial and technical successes in Italy, we are encouraged to emphasise on our presence and to advance in our international development."

New leader to focus on #Power, Pulp and Paper Industries!

Maverick Technologies has hired Bud Blankenship to fill the role of Industry Manager for Power, Pulp and Paper. In this capacity, he will oversee the company’s efforts to develop and fulfill client relationships and projects in these critical industries.

Bud Blankensop

Blankenship brings more than 40 years of experience in operations management, business development and project management related to automation in the U.S. and internationally.

“My career has spanned several decades, a great portion of which was as a client and the other providing automation engineering solutions to a variety of industries. Having experienced both sides of this industry, I am very excited to have the opportunity to join this world class organization with one-of-a-kind solution delivery capabilities and a client focus rarely seen anywhere,” said Blankenship.

Prior to joining Maverick, Blankenship served as manager of business development for Mustang Automation and Control. That stint followed more than 20 years as the manager of refinery process operations for Ashland Oil, the director of refining at Litwin Engineering, and the global refinery management for ABB.

“I’m proud to have Bud as a part of our world class team,” commented Paul Galeski, Founder and CEO of Maverick Technologies. “We help Our customers keep their plants running better on an ongoing basis, often enterprise wide, long after individual projects are completed. Providing this kind of service requires an effective leader to maintain and enhance these long-term relationships. I know Bud will excel in this role, and our customers will benefit greatly from having him as a trusted resource.”

Bill Stewart, Maverick Vice President of Operations added, “Bud knows what customers want because he’s been there himself. All his experience has been building to this new position, where he’ll provide a critical combination of technical knowledge with a strong service mindset.”

Hydrocarbon dew point!

Increased confidence in hydrocarbon dew point measurements

Hydrocarbon Dew-Point is a critical parameter in determining the quality of natural gas. High levels of heavy hydrocarbons in natural gas present possible safety issues and may cause damage to pipeline transmission systems and jeopardise operation of gas turbines.

Online HCDP analyzers provide peace of mind that the process is monitored continuously, however, over time even these reliable instruments need calibration and maintenance. Verifying the online HCDP measurements not only ensures gas quality, but also protects equipment, ensures maintenance is carried out in time and avoids costly penalties for non-conformance to standards.

Michell Instruments have published a white paper which takes an unbiased look at the reasons for carrying out field verifications of hydrocarbon dew point measurements, and the benefits of each of the currently available options.

Michell Instruments are marketed in Ireland by Instrument Technology

White Paper on Cloud Computing for Scada

Moving all or part of SCADA applications to the cloud can cut costs significantly while dramatically increasing reliability and scalability.

We have published a White Paper from InduSoft  titled “Cloud Computing for SCADA” that describes how cloud-based SCADA systems can cut software costs while providing the latest technologies each time a user logs in.

Cloud-based computing offers users IT services and features that are accessed via the Internet such as networks, applications, redundancy, data storage and more. By utilizing cloud-based SCADA, companies can significantly reduce costs, achieve greater reliability and enhance functionality.

By using cloud computing, companies no longer have the expense of purchasing hardware and software licenses, as well as creating disaster recovery sites they may never use. Instead they procure new resources on demand if and when they need them.

The cloud inherently provides more secure redundancy as data is saved on many servers in various geographic locations. Factor in the costs a business would otherwise incur to manage an IT infrastructure, and the savings of moving to the cloud can be huge.

In addition to eliminating the expenses and problems related to the hardware layer of IT infrastructure, cloud-based SCADA users can also view data and receive alarms via smartphones, tablet computers, SMS text messages and email. This feature is especially attractive to users whose traditional SCADA systems do not provide the capability to easily develop screens for smaller devices or web browsers.

Although some are concerned about the security of cloud-based SCADA systems, they do offer enhanced security in many areas, such as the immediate distribution of patches and other security measures. Finding a good, reputable cloud provider is essential to safeguarding data. A cloud provider should use the most advanced security technologies and have dedicated security teams to keep abreast of the newest security methods.

Increasing process efficiency while reducing maintenance costs in paper

Vortex flowmeter enables reliable and accurate flow measurement in paper mill, reducing downtime, lowering production costs and enhancing safety

BillerudKorsnäs has improved its pulp digester process efficiency and reduced maintenance costs at its paper mill in Gävle, Sweden by installing a Rosemount® 8800 Vortex flowmeter from Emerson Process Management. The accurate and reliable flow measurements provided by the new meter have reduced downtime and lowered production costs.

With over 1500 customers in 100 countries, BillerudKorsnäs is a world-leading manufacturer of strong primary fibre-based packaging material. The mill had previously used a magnetic flow meter to measure the flow of white liquor used in a pulp digester. This technology is frequently used for this type of application; however, it was unsuccessful in this case because the flowmeter was occasionally subjected to a significant vacuum that partially collapsed the liner. This caused the magmeter to read a higher flow rate, resulting in too little alkali input which reduced digester performance. As the process could not be stopped outside the scheduled shutdown period, it was not possible to replace the meter immediately.

"When the flow measurement was inaccurate, unreliable, or completely failed, the alkali-to-wood ratio could not be accurately controlled," said Peter Hallenberg, Project Leader Process Automation, BillerudKorsnäs. "Replacing the meter tied up our maintenance team and incurred a cost of about •3,400 per unit. We needed an accurate and reliable measurement device for this challenging application."

Since the pulp digester is a critical part of the production process, the company tried other technologies to overcome these issues including using an ultrasonic flowmeter. However, this trial proved to be unsuccessful as the solids and fibres in the liquor would build up on the meter walls, causing unpredictable flow readings.

The mill solved this flow measurement challenge by installing a Rosemount 8800 Vortex flowmeter, which is not affected by the high liquor temperature, vacuum, coating, or suspended solids in the flow.

Vortex flowmeters are not typically considered for this application, as the fluid contains solids and fibres that would clog the crevices and ports common to traditional vortex flowmeters, impacting the meter performance. However, the unique design of the Rosemount 8800 Vortex eliminates crevices and ports and thus eliminates the risk of clogging. In addition, the 8800 is balanced so it is not affected by vibrations in the pipes that are typical in mill applications. The resulting flow measurement is accurate, stable and reliable.

For BillerudKorsnäs, the more accurate flow measurements translated to more consistent pulp quality and a lower cost per tonne of pulp. The mill has also reduced maintenance costs by eliminating the need to remove and clean the failed flowmeter. This has also enhanced safety at the plant because operators no longer need to maintain faulty equipment. In addition, the reliability of the vortex flowmeter has enabled BillerudKorsnäs to detect that a decrease in the flow reading was being caused by progressive plugging of the heat exchanger. Operators are now able to proactively take corrective action, increasing process efficiency.

"Emerson’s flowmeter has been working reliably for two years with no downtime for cleaning or repair," Hallenberg added. "The accurate and reliable flow measurements provided by the Rosemount 8800 Vortex flowmeter have improved pulp digester process efficiency. In addition, process availability has increased and maintenance costs reduced."

pH sensors and what to do with them....

We have published a white paper from Endress+ Hauser entitled  "pH Sensors: Know whether to calibrate the sensor, clean the sensor, perform a calibration check or ...?."  This is a non-commercial white paper that outlines the proper procedures for maintaining and calibrating pH sensors.

All pH sensors in a process need to be inspected, cleaned and calibrated on a regular maintenance schedule to ensure accurate readings. In some companies, however, maintenance and quality control directives may not be specific enough when dealing with pH sensors.

For example, they may not describe the exact procedures involved in calibrating a pH sensor, or the proper timing for when to conduct pH calibration and maintenance. On the other hand, the instructions may be too specific, detailing many more procedures and operations than are actually required.

The white paper describes:
• Knowing when to do a pH sensor calibration versus a calibration check
• How to properly clean a pH sensor
• How to perform a pH sensor calibration

The paper includes a complete decision tree diagram that shows, step by step and in great detail, the proper procedures and operations required to maintain pH sensors.

• More papers published or hosted by the Read-out Signpost!

Transducers for paper!

Transducers developed for paper production measurement

RDP Electronics has developed transducers designed to withstand the corrosive environment encountered in pulp and paper manufacturing processes.

Their transducers have been widely used in paper machines for many years and the company has developed a special transducer version in response to the requirement for resistance to the effects of paper stock. Particularly around the slice indication application, where LVDTs measure the gap through which the paper pulp is extruded on to the webbing, there is a high tendency of the transducer to be splashed and wetted with paper stock which contains corrosive chemicals. These chemicals are corrosive, even to some steels so transducers for this application are designed to provide protection against the chemicals in the paper stock, as well as protection against the cleaning functions that are undertaken using high pressure hoses. The transducers typically have a built in 4-20mA amplifier for easy interface into the paper machine control system.