Improving life cycle and efficiency of existing power generation source.

Helping reduce carbon footprint and supporting Singapore’s 2050 energy transition goals

One of the turbine control systems at the 1,300 MW Keppel Merlimau Cogen (KMC) combined cycle gas turbine on Jurong Island in Singapore is to be upgraded to improve efficiency and reliability. ABB has been commissioned to complete this project. The scope includes replacing the existing Egatrol 8 turbine control system with Egatrol X, which is based on the ABB Ability™ System 800xA^® flagship distributed control system (DCS) and modern AC800M portfolio.

“As a global leader in the DCS market, ABB has both the expertise and technology to deliver flexible, customized upgrade installations in the fastest and safest way available,” said Per Erik Holsten, President of ABB Energy Industries. “Turbines sit at the heart of a power plant and our gas turbine control systems have been helping utilities to provide electricity to households across the world in the most efficient and sustainable way possible.”

Transferring full functionality from the existing application to the updated solution allows the customer to avoid downtime and install the control system in the shortest possible time. The project involves upgrading DCS components while keeping the overall structure as far as possible. Instead of having to rebuild the entire system in one go, ABB will provide a flexible, customized approach whereby older components are replaced as and when needed. This prevents unnecessary downtime, avoids the costs associated with loss of operation, and ensures a stable, reliable energy supply with high availability.

All control settings are adopted through an in-house software code conversion process, eliminating time-consuming adjustments of system parameters. The user interface, based on System 800xA, only requires minor adjustments, which eliminates operator retraining. The hardware design, featuring ABB’s latest I/O evolution kit, significantly reduces commissioning time and eliminates the risk of re-wiring errors.

As part of Singapore’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, the government is driving business transformation through grants for energy efficiency and emissions reduction. It is also investing in low carbon technologies to progress the energy transition . With power generation currently accounting for 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, the country plans to diversify its energy supply with a focus in four areas: solar, regional power grids, emerging low-carbon alternatives including hydrogen, and natural gas.

While natural gas continues to play an important role, as the country expands its energy portfolio, the KMC project showcases how ABB enables customers to enhance energy and carbon efficiency in gas power generation. This initiative not only safeguards current energy security but also supports the integration of renewable energy into the grid, driving forward shared energy transition goals.

“As a global leader in the DCS market, ABB has both the expertise and technology to deliver flexible, customized upgrade installations in the fastest and safest way available,” said Per Erik Holsten, President of ABB Energy Industries. “Turbines sit at the heart of a power plant and our gas turbine control systems have been helping utilities to provide electricity to households across the world in the most efficient and sustainable way possible.”

“We are pleased to renew the longstanding partnership between Keppel and ABB with the latest turbine upgrade project. Leveraging ABB’s strong domain knowledge, we are confident that KMC will experience a smooth and seamless migration to the updated system, which is critical to our productivity and ability to provide reliable power supply to the grid,” said Miguel Benito, Assistant Managing Director, Technical and Operations, Power & Renewables, Infrastructure, Keppel.

This is part of KMC’s ongoing initiatives to adopt automation solutions to boost system reliability and responsiveness, to achieve enhanced efficiency, lower fuel costs, and a reduced environmental impact.

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@ABB_Energy @abb_automation @ABBgroupnews @admiralpr #PAuto #Power #Singapore

Life science co-operative board announced.

Developing standards for holistic digitalised recipe platform to increase speed to market for life-saving drugs.

The new executive board of key life sciences leaders to help define, review and demonstrate prototypes for Emerson technologies will safely speed life-saving drugs to market.

Collaborating through Emerson’s One-Click Technology Transfer™ Board, Emerson customers FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, Merck and Pfizer will lead the development of strategies, solutions and guidelines to convert today’s life sciences manufacturing recipe transfer process into a digitalised production platform. Digitalising recipe technology transfer will reduce the time, effort and risk of managing, sharing and translating information to help get new drug therapies to patients faster.

Emerson will also open a dedicated research centre to accelerate the development of One-Click Technology Transfer software. Located in the Singapore life sciences manufacturing hub that is home to eight of the 10 global pharmaceutical companies, Emerson’s new research centre will design, develop and verify the software and digitalised production platform.

“What we learned through the pandemic was that with hyper-focused investment and coordination, new treatments can be brought to market safely and also at warp speed,” said Nathan Pettus, president of Emerson’s process systems and solutions business. “Bringing these key industry leaders together – and dedicating a new research centre to advancing technology and standards – will help make the lessons learned more systemic, accelerating the development pipeline and safely supporting patients with life-saving and life-improving treatments.

“This industry is highly regulated to ensure that life-saving and enriching medicines are of dependable and consistent quality,” continued Pettus. “Emerson is proud to facilitate this process of innovation with so many leading companies to drive standards that will accelerate the adoption of new technologies and the performance benefits they bring.”

Life sciences companies currently spend inordinate amounts of time and money to move information – recipes, process sequences, operating parameters, equipment characteristics, quality requirements and more – among disparate applications and databases, including enterprise resource planning, process and knowledge management, maintenance management, quality management and automation systems.

Emerson’s One-Click Technology Transfer capabilities will help digitalise drug recipes and recipe management, from discovery and development to production at scale, providing valuable translations between drug recipe requirements and manufacturing processes while establishing best practices and creating a framework to unify disconnected systems into a holistic platform. The board will define reference data models and objects for one-click manufacturing, create the framework for a centralised recipe transport and translation platform that is scalable and extensible, and define and implement standards for version and quality control while simultaneously ensuring the overall system is easy and intuitive to use.

Emerson’s Singapore Life Science Software Research Centre.
Emerson’s data scientists and software developers at the research centre will use the latest computer software development technologies to perform rapid prototyping to test and verify concepts. The software platform developed through rapid prototyping will be tested and proven, working across the One-Click Technology Transfer Board company supply chains as appropriate.

The new board builds on Emerson’s globally recognised life sciences leadership combined with the industry’s most flexible and integrable solutions. Bolstered by its acquisition of the Fluxa PKM™ solution and AspenTech’s software capabilities, including AspenTech DataWorks industrial information management software, Emerson is well positioned to develop the technologies and standards for a fully integrated end-to-end solution for the drug development pipeline.

“The life sciences industry is a very close-knit community and ecosystem where successful solutions can rapidly spread and completely alter the landscape,” said Lars Petersen, president and CEO of FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies. “The generations of life sciences expertise in the current partners of the One-Click Technology Transfer Executive Board will help ensure successful digitalisation solutions also promote scalability, standardisation and best practices as they influence the coming decades of life sciences innovation and benefits for patients.”

“Our vision is to move from document-driven processes to data-driven processes to accelerate our new product launch and technology transfer,” said Mike Tomasco, vice president of Pfizer Digital Manufacturing. “Life sciences commercial manufacturing requires significant capital investment in facilities. One-click technology transfer will help organisations determine facilities fit to help teams move more quickly, confidently and cost-effectively from research and development, through clinical trials, and into full-scale manufacturing.” 

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 @EmersonExchange @Emerson_News @EMR_Automation @HHC_Lewis #PAuto #EmrEx

Automation parts growth in APAC.

Automation parts supplier EU Automation is expanding its operations in APAC and the Far East, following a rapid growth in demand for its services in the region. The company specialises in supplying rare, reconditioned and unused parts to companies worldwide. It has experienced an impressive 1450% growth in turnover at its regional hub in Singapore in the last five years, prompting investment in larger premises and a strengthening of its global leadership team.

“Our customers’ best interests are always our first priority,” comments Darren Halford, Managing Director of EU Automation. “The investment in new premises, coupled with two strategic appointments, marks a new phase in our business’s mission to supply the manufacturing world with industry-leading parts and service at speed. It highlights EU Automation’s continuing commitment to global manufacturing and supports our mission to help customers avoid unnecessary downtime and save millions in lost revenue.”

Two strategic appointments form part of this new phase in EU Automation’s evolution. John Young will soon return to Britain, having accepted a promotion to Group Sales Director. He says: “Although it is with a heavy heart that I am leaving the Singapore branch after an incredible five and a half years together, I know the team will continue to thrive. I am looking forward to the challenge of a new role and am thrilled to return to the UK as Group Sales Director.” Neil Ballinger has accepted the role of Head of Global Operations. Based in the Britain, Neil has worked at EU Automation for over nine years and brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise to his new role. Neil says: “I am honoured to be leading our global operations during an exciting phase in the company’s development. The people who work within our global operations teams are vital to our continued success and our ability to reliably serve some of the largest manufacturers around the world.”

EU Automation currently supports more than 50,000 customers worldwide and sources over two million parts annually. Singapore is a strategic hub for the company, facilitating parts distribution into Asia Pacific, the Far East, and other areas of the world. The growth in demand for its services in the region is driven in part by global trends such as sustainability and the circular economy, but it is also the result of hard work from their dedicated Singapore team, who have built trusted relationships with multiple customers under the leadership of John Young.

As General Manager of the Singapore APAC office for the last five and a half years, John has overseen rapid business growth and expanded the team by 450%. As a result, EU Automation is now investing in larger premises at the Far East Finance Building in Singapore.

The new accommodation will enable the company to employ more account managers and native language speakers to serve the wider APAC region and deal with growing demand. The move will therefore ensure that EU Automation continues to provide the best, most efficient, service to their customers, by maintaining an agile business that can respond quickly to changing industry conditions.

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• The Singapore APAC office has relocated to 14 Robinson Road, #06-01 Far East Finance Building, Singapore, 048545

@euautomation @Publitek #PAuto #Automation

Innovation centre in Singapore.

Palomar Technologies, is expanding its Innovation Center in Singapore to meet a growing demand in Southeast Asia for process development and specialty OSAT for advance semiconductor new product introductions.

Palomar opened its Innovation Center – Singapore in November of 2018 to address a vital market need for process development, device package prototyping, test and measurement, process maturation, and low-volume production. In 2019, market demand pushed Palomar to make its first expansion. This second expansion gives the center the added ability to work closer with customers on their specific needs.

The Singapore Cntre currently supports a wide range of customer applications including:

• Micro optics used in 3D Imaging, LIDAR and Optical Sensors
• RF LDMOS and RF GaN power amplifiers
• High-reliability RF Microwave modules
• Silicon Photonics and laser diode placement bonding
• Thermal and Motion Sensors
• Optical transceiver packaging
• Active Optical Cable packaging
• VCSEL, EEL, EML, LED placement and bonding
• Lens placement and lens attach bonding

“Strong demand from our regional Asia Pacific customer base has driven us to expand the footprint of our Singapore Innovation Center for the second time in five years,” said Rich Hueners, Managing Director, Palomar Technologies (SE Asia) Pte Ltd. “This expanded area will serve to host plasma cleaning, dry boxes and customer-specific test equipment while the original lab area will continue to host the die attach, wire bond and vacuum reflow equipment. We are looking forward to forging ahead with new customer requirements in this larger space.”

 @PalomarTech #PAuto #Packaging

International cybersecurity expert panel announced.

ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance Members Schneider Electric, 1898 & Co., Dragos, and Idaho National Laboratory will serve as members of the international Operational Technology Cybersecurity Expert Panel* appointed by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA).

“Around the world, countries are planning their approaches to the persistent and significant cybersecurity threats to critical infrastructure and industrial operations,” said ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance Managing Director Andre Ristaino. “The US government is also painfully aware of the importance of protecting critical infrastructure, as highlighted by the recent attack on the Colonial Pipeline. This incident is only a wake-up call if you haven’t been paying attention. Our organizations have been advocating for smarter cybersecurity approaches for a decade or more through our standards committee, certification body, and most recently, the founding of the ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance.

The 11 panel members  • Marco (Marc) Ayala (US), and is Director of Industrial Control System Cybersecurity (ICS) and sector lead at 1898 & Co, part of Burns & McDonnell • Christophe Blassiau (France), an executive member of the WEF Cyber Resilience in Electricity and Oil and Gas Communities, and senior vice-president for cybersecurity and global chief information security officer at Schneider Electric • Eric Byres (US), chief executive officer of aDolus Technology, and senior partner at ICS Secure; • Robert Hannigan (GB), the chairman of BlueVoyant; • Dr. Ong Chen Hui (Singapore), the cluster director for the BizTech Group at the Infocomm Media Development Authority; • Joel Thomas Langill (US), a managing member of the Industrial Control System Cyber Security Institute, and founder of Scadahacker; • Robert Lee (US), chief executive officer and co-founder of Dragos; • Dale Peterson (US), founder and chairman of S4 Events, and founder and chief executive officer of Digital Bond; • Maggy Powell (US), principal industry specialist at Amazon Web Services; • Zachary Tudor (US), associate laboratory director at the Idaho National Laboratory's National and Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate;  Kazuo Yamaoka (Japan), senior solution architect at NTT Security Japan.

"Nearly 50 member companies, acting individually and as a group, are serving as subject matter experts in nearly every world region to drive adoption and usage of the ISA/IEC 62443 series of standards as the foundational basis for assessing and managing cybersecurity risk across all industry sectors.”

This will no doubt be of interest in Ireland following the catastrophic ransomware cyberattack that caused all of its Health Service IT systems nationwide to be shut down since last Friday (14 May). Recovery from this attack which will take weeks and months and at time of writing it is thought that the attackers will release some of the data including personal details of patients and clients of the service in the "dark web." 

It is alleged that the attack on the Colonial Pipeline systems led to a payment a ransom however the Irish Government have firmly rejected this. "The only thing paying a ransom guarantees is more ransomware attacks" says Ciarán Martin, founding Chief Executive of the Britain's National Cyber Security Centre. (Irish Times 22/5/2021). 

Singapore’s approach to global concerns over cybersecurity includes a defined plan created by their government and the country’s Cyber Security Agency (CSA.) CSA launched its OT Cybersecurity Masterplan in 2019, providing guidance to professionals working in OT environments with a focus on security industrial control systems. The three objectives of the masterplan are:

• To create awareness of the OT challenges faced across industries within Singapore
• To align the efforts of OT cybersecurity initiatives and to address cyber-threats, including a recommendation to leverage the ISA/IEC 62443 series of standards within the Cybersecurity Code of Practice (CCOP) as one of the key components of a strong cybersecurity approach
• To guide the development of effective cybersecurity initiatives, solutions, and to encourage partnerships with industry leaders and stakeholders

The international Operational Technology Cybersecurity Expert Panel will discuss issues ranging from governance policies and processes, evolving operational technology technologies, emerging trends, capability development, supply chain, threat intelligence information sharing, and incident response. The panel will facilitate the sharing of information between the public and private sectors with a goal of strengthening local cybersecurity capabilities and competencies, protecting critical infrastructure sectors, including energy, water, and transport.

Singapore's operational technology cybersecurity practitioners, operators, researchers and policymakers from the Government, critical information infrastructure (CII) sectors, academia, and other operational technology industries will have direct access to the experts, leveraging their knowledge to shape codes of practice, strategies for training Singapore’s workforce, the proliferation of compliance programs for devices, components, and systems, and more.

In 2019, the ISA Security Compliance Institute announced an agreement with TÜV SÜD PSB, the German training, testing, and certification giant, to conduct certification assessments using ISASecure certification specifications in South East Asia. Simultaneously, the Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC) and ISA signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide certification body accreditations for the ISASecure® cybersecurity certification programs in the region, including the second certification body DNV GL whose Singapore office has also signed on as an ISASecure CB.

* Establishment of Operational Technology Cybersecurity Expert Panel (3/5/2021)

@ISA_Interchange @CSASingapore @IrelandISA @ncsc_gov_ie #PAuto #Cybersecurity #Singapore #Ireland

Rapidly increase for biofuels.

Global renewable fuels leader will implement advanced technologies to accelerate its digital transformation and meet global demand

Emerson has been selected to support Neste’s digital transformation of its expanded refinery in Tuas (SG).  Emerson’s automation systems and software will help Neste deliver high-performance, efficient operations, supporting Neste’s plans to increase production by up to 1.3 million tons per annum by 2023. 

“By incorporating a digital foundation, advanced analytics and mobile collaboration capabilities into its expanded refinery’s operations starting from its construction phase, Neste is well positioned for long-term operational excellence,” said Ron Martin, president for Emerson’s process systems and solutions business.

Neste is the world’s largest producer for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel produced from renewable waste and residue raw materials. At the end of 2018, Neste made a strategic decision to expand its production facility in Singapore via the Singapore Expansion Project. On top of its existing 1.3 million tons annual production capacity of renewable diesel, the expanded refinery will have additional capacity to produce up to 1 million tons of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable raw materials for polymers and chemicals, supporting the company’s goal to reduce customers’ greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 million tons annually by 2030.

To ensure the construction of the Neste Singapore Expansion Project is on time and on budget, Emerson is working with Neste to incorporate its Project Certainty methodology, the company’s approach to ensuring successful capital project execution. Emerson will help Neste complete automation system implementation smoothly to bring Neste’s expanded refinery on-line by 2023. Cloud engineering capabilities enable global engineering teams to collaborate remotely to optimise project designs and accelerate project schedules. Smart Commissioning software automates device commissioning, enabling faster, smoother start-up of the production.

Neste will apply Emerson’s DeltaV™ automation system and software to control production for efficient performance and to deliver on-demand remote access to data and analytics. Emerson’s advanced systems, software, analytics and mobility tools – part of its Plantweb™ digital ecosystem – establish the foundation to digitally transform operations by turning relevant data into new operational insights and actionable information that empower better decision-making.

@Emerson_News @EMR_Automation @NesteGlobal @HHC_Lewis #Pauto  #Singapore

MES software wins!

Werum IT Solutions has won the “Best Bioprocessing Supplier Award: Software” for its out-of-the-box PAS-X MES software product. PAS-X is widely recognized in the industry for being a highly standardized, flexible and powerful solution that is adopted by the majority of the world’s top 30 pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers to help improve productivity, safeguard regulatory compliance and fulfill the process requirements of these industries.

David Margetts (left) with award!

“Biotech is a highly important industry segment for Werum”, said David Margetts, Managing Director, Werum IT Solutions Ltd., Thailand, at the award ceremony in Singapore. “Our PAS-X product is proven as the leading Electronic Batch Recording solution on the market. It is powering the paperless production of innovative medicines at plants across the globe with a complete and easy integration to the typical ERP, LIMS, DCS and smart devices found in bioprocessing. The complex processes required in biopharmaceuticals and cell & gene therapy are supported by PAS-X as a standard which means our clients gain the great benefits and value of digital processes with built-in compliance.

In Asia, our teams are highly experienced in supporting both regional and global biotech manufactures for many years to improve efficiency and quality using PAS-X MES. I would like to thank all of our customers, partners and employees for their continued support, trust and commitment. Such recognition encourages Werum to further advance our team’s strength and product portfolio to lead the digitization of the pharma and biotech industry.”

The award ceremony was held in conjunction with the 6th Annual Biologics Manufacturing Asia exhibition and seminar in Singapore celebrating outstanding bioprocessing organizations, technologies and individuals that contributed to achieving excellence in the biotech and pharma industries. At the ceremony more than 100 bioprocessing VIPs from over 9 different regional biologics hubs across Asia-Pacific came together to celebrate their peers’ success.

@Werum #PAuto #MES

Acquisition strengthens manufacturing automation software

Aegis has concluded the acquisition of diplan GmbH in Germany and diplan Asia based in Shanghai with operations in Singapore. This exciting combination of companies establishes what they are calling “Aegis 2.0” as the industry leader in manufacturing automation software with regard to product scope, technology, regional presence and customer base.

Aegis’ Manufacturing Operations Software has always offered the best and most complete solution from new product introduction through shop floor execution, traceability and analytics. diplan’s highly-evolved warehouse, materials control, and optimization and scheduling solution advances the Aegis’ MOS offering to a level of capability never before offered in our industry. The two companies represent a rare combination of complementary technologies, synergy of people, geographical locations and service infrastructures worldwide.

“diplan brought the electronics assembly market extraordinary software technologies a decade ahead of others. Their talented organization built strong distribution in Germany and Asia, and earned a large and enthusiastic installed base.” commented Aegis CEO Jason Spera. “We are truly excited to welcome our new colleagues to Aegis and look forward to bringing unprecedented software capability to the worldwide market as one company.”

Geographically, diplan greatly accelerates Aegis’ expansion into Europe and Asia. Their established strength in both markets immediately gives Aegis 2.0 a strong operational coverage of these regions. This fits perfectly with Aegis’ dominant presence in North America, where they have the overwhelming leading market share, and their established UK, Scandinavia and Benelux presence. diplan also has strength in South America. The acquisition significantly increases Aegis’ staff worldwide. The merged customer bases, particularly multinational customers, will enjoy follow-the-sun support. German-speaking nations will be properly serviced in their native language and the newly expanded Mandarin-speaking organization will better support Chinese customers.

Aegis 2.0 synergistically combines the success, innovation, unique skill and people of diplan with those of Aegis to generate maximally increased value. Accordingly, diplan’s founders, Dr Friedrich Nolting and Dr Schlüter, are becoming Directors of Aegis Europe and Aegis Asia. They are also joining a Management Council alongside Aegis’ CEO, Jason Spera and CTO, John Walls. The visionaries who created diplan’s success will bring that value to Aegis 2.0’s executive management.

“As founders of diplan, Dr. Schlüter and I wanted to ensure our staff and our products expand and prosper going into the future. We found we share a common vision and approach with the leadership of Aegis. We look forward to becoming part of Aegis’ executive staff and bringing diplan’s people, products and spirit of innovation to the Aegis group.”, commented Dr. Friedrich Nolting on the acquisition.

The innovation and scope of this new technology, together with Aegis 2.0’s truly global sales and service coverage, confirms the company’s position as the industry’s leading manufacturing automation software supplier.

Asia Pacific hub

New regional hub for data center technology in Singapore will provide data center product development, support and services for the Asian market

ABB is to create a regional hub for data center solution development and support in Singapore. This will be their first regional hub for data center technology in the Asia Pacific market.

The new center complements ABB’s existing operations in Singapore, and will focus on its recently introduced DecathlonTM suite of software, hardware, and services for data center management. Decathlon analyzes a variety of data such as IT load patterns, weather forecasts, contract and utility rate data to predict and adjust energy consumption to ensure data centers are more reliable and energy efficient. This new green technology can provide potential energy savings of 10 to 50 percent, and is expandable across multiple sites, which can result in savings worth millions of dollars for some enterprises each year.

“Singapore’s thriving internet economy, robust infrastructure, availability of talent, and the country’s business friendly environment are some of the reasons ABB chose to invest in Singapore,” commented Tobias Becker, Head of the Control Technologies business in the ABB Group, during a recent trip to Asia. “Singapore is already a global data management hub and holds about 50% of South East Asia’s data center capacity. We are confident that basing our regional hub in Singapore will best serve our customers in Asia Pacific.”

Digital information is now synonymous with electrical power. With the rise in internet use and cloud computing, data centers are rapidly expanding in size, creating a significant environmental and energy usage footprint. Data centers consume vast amounts of energy every year. Size for size they consume around 30 or more times the power used to run the average office building. In total, global consumption amounts to a staggering 80 million megawatt hours of electricity a year. Singapore's own data center capacity is projected to increase by 50 percent over the next few years, from 2.4 million sq ft in 2010 to 3.6 million sq ft in 2015.

In addition to Decathlon, ABB provides a wide range of products, integrated solutions and expertise to ensure that data centers operate with optimum reliability and efficiency. From AC and DC electric distribution systems to enterprise management and grid connections, ABB provides savings in installation, energy, space and maintenance. Customers include data center developers, owners and operators, IT equipment manufacturers, and utilities.

The new regional Data Center Hub, complements ABB’s other business growth activities in Singapore, which include Marine, eMobility, Solar and Energy Efficiency initiatives.

Wireless at Singapore show!

Several major process automation manufacturers joined the HART® Communication Foundation at the CIA2011 exhibition in Singapore (Nov 2011) to display a wide range of interoperable WirelessHART® products—a move that demonstrates united manufacturer support for the HART Communication Protocol and the IEC 62591 WirelessHART standard.

The venue in Singapore!

“Users worldwide are sending a clear message for industry suppliers to address their critical need for reliable, robust and secure wireless communication in real world industrial plant applications,” says Ron Helson, HCF Executive Director. “Suppliers are responding by manufacturing and shipping an ever-increasing range of WirelessHART products and solutions that meet user requirements.”

IEC 62591 WirelessHART, the first international, interoperable wireless communication standard for the process industry, builds on the solid foundation of HART technology used in more than 32 million installed devices worldwide—enabling users to quickly and easily gain the benefits of wireless technology while maintaining compatibility with existing devices, tools, and systems.

The HART booth at CIA2011 displayed WirelessHART products and solutions from ABB, Emerson, Endress+Hauser, MACTek, Pepperl+Fuchs, Phoenix Contact, ProComSol, Rohrback Cosasco Systems (RCS), R. Stahl, and Siemens. Live demonstrations showed the interoperability between transmitters, gateways and wireless adapters from multiple manufacturers made possible by the single WirelessHART standard.

“WirelessHART transmitters are able to support a full multi-hop mesh topology networking which eliminates the need for multiple backbone routers, and the cost and risk to run power and wired networking in the field,” says Helson. “This means wireless can be deployed even in a running plant. A self-organizing mesh topology establishes multiple paths between devices and is therefore very reliable without single points of failure.”

Plants around the world are already relying on WirelessHART transmitters in applications such as annulus pressure monitoring, filter/strainer plugging, heat exchanger efficiency, pump health monitoring, safety shower/eye wash monitoring, tank farm inventory and leaks, temperature profiling, turbine performance, and others.

Service and software solutions in Southeast Asia

Commitment to customers and Wonderware real-time operations management software from Invensys leads to partnership!

Invensys Operations Management has added an endorsed Wonderware systems integrator to its Partner Ecosystem Program in the Asia Pacific region. Agatos, a Singapore-based integrator, was selected for its demonstrated commitment to superior solutions and service for Invensys customers, as well as for building a strong business practice around delivering solutions built on the company’s Wonderware® software solutions.

“Agatos has continued to invest heavily and advance their knowledge of Wonderware software technology, which has helped establish the company as a preferred ecosystem partner, both within Invensys Operations Management and many major accounts in the Asia Pacific region,” said Stanley Kiew, business alliance manager, Invensys Operations Management. “As a top provider of control solutions and manufacturing execution systems, Agatos has a long history of helping Wonderware software customers achieve operational excellence. We have absolute confidence in their ability to deliver demanding and complex solutions that will help our customers in their pursuit of real-time business optimisation.”

To achieve the endorsement, Agatos underwent a detailed business process assessment, including certification of its proven expertise in implementing Wonderware software technology at customer facilities. Evaluations included a validated track record of delivering unique solutions built on Wonderware software that have accelerated operational excellence for customers by increasing their efficiency, reducing costs and maximising profits.

“Invensys is a leading provider of automation and information technology, and their Endorsed Partner Program really differentiates them in this market,” said Lee Chin Huei, business owner, Agatos. “We are proud to be named an Endorsed System Integrator. It enhances our status in the already competitive market, but most importantly it improves our ability to provide our clients the advanced, cost-effective solutions they need to move forward toward operational excellence."

Wireless distributor

LPRS appoints new distributor for ASPAC region

LPRS has appointed Veloxity Components  as their distributor for the Asia/Pacific region. Veloxity will principally sell the LPRS market leading easyRadio Advanced (eRA) industrial wireless communications modules as well as development kits and accessories.

(LtoR) Sandie Sharples LPRS Client Services Director, David Schmider, LPRS Technical Director and from Veloxity; Alex Khoo Account Manager, Tan Shu Qi Sales Executive and Tan Chia Boon Sales Manager

John Sharples, Managing Director of LPRS comments; “We see the Asian and New World markets as key to the continued sales growth of our products. We are confident that our British designed and manufactured wireless modules can not only compete on price in Asia but that their unique feature sets offer all system builders the shortest time to market for any industrial project requiring wireless communication.”
Based in Singapore, Veloxity Components is an independent distributor of electronic components with sales offices also in Malaysia and Thailand. Veloxity also offer a number of value-added services including supplier base consolidation, worldwide sourcing, excess inventory management, minimal MOQ restrictions, 3rd party programming , stocking and kitting, re-packing, taping, vacuum packing, baking, in-house visual/microscopic inspection and solderability testing, low volume PCB assembly and 3rd party testing.                                                                                 

In addition to its own easyRadio Advanced (eRA) wireless modules the LPRS product range now includes, narrow band long range wireless modules from CDP, the IQRF range of wireless networking components, the IQVC range of visual control panels together with antenna, wireless key fobs and a wide range of sensor products.

New sensor distributor for Asia

New Asian website launched in support of appointment

(L to R) Nelson Chuang, President of MaxMega, Alyson Ong, General Manager and Peter Whiteaker, Managing Director of Deeter Group.

The Deeter Group has appointed a new distributor in Singapore. Established in 1996 MaxMega specialises in sales of high performance electronics components and system integration services into the major Asia-Pacific markets.

Peter Whiteaker, Managing Director of Deeter Group, comments; "We have been looking for a well-connected and technically capable sales channel for the Asia-Pacific region for some time and enlisted the aid of the British High Commission to help us find a short list of possible companies. We selected MaxMega for a number of reasons; Singapore has a western business culture very much like the UK, has a great location, excellent infrastructure and is a gateway into our target markets. MaxMega has offices in China, Hong-Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand and India and is an experienced technical distributor which will be of great benefit to our Asian customers.”

The newly launched Deeter Asia website,  provides a local language portal into the main Deeter Group website which offers full technical specifications, data-sheet downloads and online shopping for their leading range of electronic sensors, wireless sensor systems and control and instrumentation systems.

The Deeter Group product range includes level switches, float switches, level sensors, continuous level sensors, 4-20mA level sensors, custom level sensors, water level sensors, liquid level sensors, tank level indicators, panel mounted displays, level controllers, wireless sensor systems.

HMI & SCADA distributor in Singapore

InduSoft adds a new distributor to its list of InduSoft Web Studio HMI and SCADA software distributors in the Middle East and Asia. Among the hundreds of international distributors for InduSoft Web Studio, AKOE TECH in Singapore will offer an additional foundation in a region where InduSoft Web Studio is expecting rapid expansion in the near future.

AKOE TECH is a HMI/SCADA software distributor located in Singapore, and serving the Asian market. Mr. Edward Chan of AKOE TECH had the following to say in regard to becoming a new IWS distributor. "Our focus now is to secure new projects with our existing customers so that there is a project reference for Indusoft Web Studio. We want to provide excellent support through familiarity and knowledge of InduSoft Web Studio products."

InduSoft is continuously adding to its range of distributors, certified system integrators, and original equipment manufacturers. (OEMs).

Control system for large biomass power plant in Singapore

Yokogawa has received an order from Marubeni Corporation to supply the control system for the boiler, turbine, and auxiliary facilities at the Tembusu Multi-Utilities Complex in Singapore, a cogeneration power plant that will rely on both biomass and coal as its fuel source. This plant, which will have a steam supply capacity of 1000 tons per hour and a generating capacity of 160 MW, is being constructed by TP Utilities Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Tuas Power Ltd., in the Tembusu industrial district on Jurong Island.

This large eco-friendly cogeneration plant is the first in the country to employ palm kernel shells as a renewable fuel source, a sustainable practice that is gaining acceptance industry-wide. The plant consists of three circulating fluidised bed (CFB) boilers, three backup boilers, and three steam turbines. This plant, one of the largest of its kind, is scheduled to start operation in 2012 and will supply steam to companies in the Tembusu district.

For this power plant, Yokogawa will supply its CENTUM® VP series integrated production control system, the PRM® integrated device management software package for remote monitoring and diagnosis of plant equipment, and the Exaquantum® plant information management system, as well as delivery, engineering, installation, and commissioning services for these systems.

Yokogawa was able to win this order because of Yokogawa Engineering Asia's excellent engineering capability and strong commitment to project execution, coupled with their extensive track record in the Singapore power plant sector, including the control systems for the Tuas and Seraya power plants, and the proven reliability of their products, not only in electric power plants but also in oil and chemical plants.

In addition to the cogeneration plant, other key facilities at the Tembusu Multi-Utilities Complex include a sea-water desalination plant and a wastewater treatment plant.

Encouraged by the success in winning this order, Yokogawa aims to develop its control business in the renewable energy field, including cogeneration plants which employ biomass fuel.