Plant safety and security
Collaborating to create a secure data handling process (21/05/2013)
Controlling and managing a complex system in some process and infrastructure industries, such as surface rail, airports or underground metro systems, have the added complexity of having to achieve this over long distances with the possibility of 1000's of I/O points.
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Ex d Enclosures: understanding the standards (02/04/2013)
When specifying explosion-proof (Ex d) enclosures to house electrical apparatus for use in explosive atmospheres, engineers need to understand the implications of modifying the enclosure as part of the certified equipment prior to and after installation, says Toni Ott, manager test, certification and patents at Cooper Crouse-Hinds GmbH.
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Cyber safety – what happens next? (01/03/2013)
Recent industrial incidents have provided a timely reminder of the importance of taking effective measures to protect process control systems and infrastructure from attacks from cyberspace. Thomas Lantermann, senior business development manager at Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V., Factory Automation – European Business Group, looks at where vulnerabilities lie and how the problem will be exacerbated in the future, and looks at new security standards that offer protection.
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Addressing maintenance issues 26/02/2013
With a survey suggesting that the drive to reduce downtime is compromising health & safety, a trip to MAINTEC 2013 might be in order to discuss the latest developments in predictive, preventive and corrective maintenance solutions, which can help to reduce downtime and increase efficiency.
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Tackling data security in industrial networks 26/02/2013
Suzanne Gill reports on the Open DeviceNet Vendor Association’s (ODVA) vision for securing the flow of CIP data and Etherent IP assets in industrial networks, which was presented by Katherine Voss, executive director of ODVA at SPS/IPC/Drives 2012.
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IO solutions for hazardous areas 19/02/2013
An alternative approach to bringing IO signals from hazardous areas to a DCS is said to deliver cost and efficiency benefits. Steve Leech, product manager for the Process Automation business at Siemens Industry Automation in the UK, explains.
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Schneider Electric's choice to secure critical industrial infrastructure 29/01/2013
Schneider Electric has selected Belden’s Tofino Security technology to protect its industrial automation systems.
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The changing network security landscape 21/11/2012
Security requirements for industrial Ethernet networks are rapidly migrating from enterprise networks to process control and other industrial environments. The recent issues with the Stuxnet malware have been a wakeup call, and we now need to take a fresh look at how security is managed within industrial networks. John Browett of CLPA considers the potential threats to industrial network security, and how to mitigate them.
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Focusing on security 23/10/2012
Rick Kaun, Industrial IT Solutions at Honeywell Process Solutions, discusses the urgent need for improved defense-in-depth postures for industrial control systems.
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Safeguarding your safety set-up 02/10/2012
David Collier, of Pilz Automation Technology, asks whether your safeguards are as safe as you think, and discusses the ‘fault-making’ phenomenon.... There are many machines fitted with multiple guards which are monitored in one circuit by series connected switches with dual channel wiring to what appears to be Category 3. But, can any of these guards be opened simultaneously?
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Know your safety limits 24/07/2012
Suzanne Gill reports on a new module for an alarm management software system which aggregates, validates, and displays physical, design, and safe operating limits, allowing a process to work more closely to its safe operating limits.
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Wireless conductivity transmitters help prevent chemical discharge 16/11/2011
Korsnäs Gävle is using Emerson Process Management’s Smart Wireless conductivity and temperature transmitters to collect critical leak-detection monitoring data at its board and paper production unit at Gävlebukten, Sweden, enabling it to verify its compliance with environmental monitoring legislation.
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Strategies for reliability in oil and gas 14/11/2011
A plant breakdown or accident in the oil and gas sector can have huge financial implications, which puts a strong emphasis on maximising safety, reliability and performance in every aspect of operation. These three crucial factors are not independent of each other – it is impossible to maximise plant safety and performance without addressing reliability.
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Industrial video solution helps users meet safety and security regulations 08/11/2011
Honeywell has introduced the latest addition to its industrial wireless portfolio. The new OneWireless Video Solution, which allows for the enhancement of perimeter security by deploying industrial video cameras over the OneWireless network.
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Integrated safety, control and hazardous area capability 08/11/2011
Addressing functional safety and regulatory control in a single system has been a challenge for many years – even more so when systems are destined for use in a hazardous area.
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Upgraded emergency shutdown systems at Lucite’s Cassel Works 04/10/2011
Hima-Sella, has started work on the upgrade of Emergency Shutdown (ESD) systems for Lucite International at its Cassel Works site in Teesside. The upgrade applies to MM7 - one of the site’s two methacrylate-based monomer plastics processing plants - and will see the gradual replacement of around 24 legacy ESD systems with a solution implemented using eight HIMA HIQuad H51q programmable electronic systems.
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Safe shutdown of motors up to SIL 3/PL e 12/07/2011
Two new fail-safe digital modules from Siemens Industry Automation & Drive Technologies (IA&DT) have been implemented with the motor management system, Simocode Pro for safe shutdown of motors in process automation.
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Safety is good business 05/07/2011
Stringent regulatory norms in Europe are supporting the strong growth of the machine safety market in the region. Enhanced productivity and profitability of processes and plants due to safer working environments provided by machine safety systems are set to boost market prospects.
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Machinery safety for packaging machines 14/03/2011
Following renewed risk assessments that led to an updated machine safety design concept for a servo-driven film wrapping machine, BVM Brunner now has the flexibility to meet a variety of customer requirements while ensuring the safety of machine operators.
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Radiometric safety monitoring offers visible benefits 22/02/2011
In addition to their temperature measuring duties, thermal imaging cameras can also offer cost-efficient monitoring and control capabilities, and are being used increasingly in safety monitoring applications
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Adopt new Machine Safety standards…now 21/02/2011
Machine builders should be adopting the Machinery Directive EN 13949-1 standards sooner rather than later, says Kevin Ives, Machinery Safety Consultant at Pilz Automation Technology.
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A safety solution for hand-fed platen presses 30/11/2010
With the Health & Safety Executive in the UK about to commence on-site inspections of hand-fed platen presses, users of this high-risk machinery need to ensure that their presses meet the required safety standards. CEE finds out about a novel, high integrity safety solution for a hand-fed platen press, which uses light beam sensors and a modular safety control and monitoring system.
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Safety switches get SIL 3 certification 21/10/2010
Independent testing by SIRA has seen Honeywell’s Mirco Switch, safety switches receiving SIL 3. This makes them suitable for a wide range of safety applications worldwide, including assembly, material handling, packaging, machine tools, conveying, metalworking, and robotics.
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