PLCs/PACs/DCS/controllers

Making motion control easy 24/01/2012
Mitsubishi Electric has expanded its MELSEC L-Series range of positioning modules with the new Simple Motion Module, enabling advanced motion control functions such as positioning, speed control, torque control, cam control, synchronous control and mark detection to be realised easily with just simple parameter settings and a sequence program accredited to IEC 6M3N-3 standard. Full Story...

All-in-one automation solution for power plants 04/01/2012
The Metso DNA automation system has been updated to include new control applications designed for steam and gas turbines, pulverized coal-fired combustion optimisation, and overall machine condition monitoring. The DNA system is also pioneering usability applications in process control work. Full Story...

Evolution of Foxboro I/A series includes a time-saving marshalling solution 12/12/2011
At its annual OpsManage event, held in Paris in November, Invensys Operations Management introduced a major evolution of its Foxboro I/A Series distributed control system. Full Story...

Upgraded control systems help cut the cost of iron production 28/11/2011
Tata Steel’s Scunthorpe steel plant produces carbon steel by the basic oxygen method. The existing pressurised oxygen plant produced high pressure oxygen at 42 Bar for steel production, but the three operating blast furnaces only require an 11 Bar supply. Producing oxygen at 42 Bar and then reducing it to 11 Bar was not cost-effective which led the company to look for a more efficient solution. Full Story...

Evolution of the Foxboro I/A series 21/11/2011
At its OpsManage 2011 event, held in Paris early in November, Invensys Operations Management introduced the next evolution of its Foxboro I/A Series DCS. Full Story...

Nyrstar Hobart chooses process automation system to replace DCS 16/11/2011
Nyrstar Hobart, a leading global multi-metals company, has awarded an order to Rockwell Automation and its Global Solutions team to replace a distributed control system (DCS) at the company’s zinc smelting operation in Hobart, Tasmania. Full Story...

Live demo of cutting edge process automation solution at Offshore Europe 19/09/2011
Rockwell Automation ran live demonstrations of its PlantPAx process control solution for the oil and gas industry at the recent Offshore Europe 2011 event. Full Story...

Upgraded control systems help cut the cost of iron production 13/09/2011
Tata Steel has succeeded in cutting the cost of iron production at its Scunthorp plant. Full Story...

An alternative to DCS or PLC/SCADA? 06/09/2011
Traditionally, users have had a choice between a DCS or a PLC/SCADA approach when selecting a control system for use in process control applications. Richard Sturt, Rockwell Automation business development manager, process Industries, believes that Rockwell can offer a solution for users needing elements of both of these approaches. Full Story...

Auto tuning of PID control loops 06/09/2011
Many PID control loops are still operated manually. CEE looks at an auto tune solution which offers the benefit of having a clear view of the information on a large-screen HMI. Full Story...

Batch controller ensures exact dispensing 16/08/2011
Precise sensing and dispensing of liquids into a container or process vessel in food, chemical, pharmaceutical, oil & gas and other process industry applications is promised by the new RA33 batch controller from Endress+Hauser. Full Story...

Large actuator control helps to safely regulate oil flow 26/07/2011
Surgutneftegas has announced that it is to use Actuator Control Systems (ACS) from ASCO Numatics to control large actuators at its Kirishi refinery near St Petersburg in Russia. Full Story...

A neat DCS migration solution 12/07/2011
CEE reports on the importance of upgrading aging process control systems, and looks at the options currently available. Full Story...

Connecting and controlling in food processing 14/06/2011
To help improve productivity and quality control, many food and beverage operations are now integrating their myriad operations and making them conform to automation standards, says Hector Lin, Industrial Automation Group at Advantech Corporation. Full Story...

Directly connecting the plant floor to the business level 07/06/2011
Today’s manufacturing processes rely as much on physical automation as they do on communications protocols to seamlessly integrate all areas of the production process. Full Story...

Newsprint producer upgrades paper machine control system 20/04/2010
Aylesford Newsprint orders new process control system and commissioning services from Metso for its PM14. Full Story...