Nyrstar Hobart chooses process automation system to replace DCS

16 November 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.

The Rockwell Automation PlantPAx™ process automation system. The system will incorporate 7,000+ distributed input/output connections.

Commenting in the company's choice, Jeremy Kouw, general manager, Nyrstar Hobart, said: “Our current DCS would be cost-prohibitive to upgrade. Hardware was failing and repairs were becoming expensive and required longer lead times. The Rockwell Automation solution provides us with better integration between different process areas, improved diagnostics, maintaining plant uptime and delivering improved plant performance reporting.”

According to research performed by the ARC Advisory Group, the global process industry loses approximately 5% of annual production, due to unscheduled downtime from aging DCS systems.

Rockwell Automation won the order by developing a three-year phased integration with a back-up option that uses custom input/output cabling to ensure process continuity, coupled with technical support for the existing installation. NHP Electrical, a Rockwell Automation authorised distributor, provided long-term committed support to the project, which also weighed in the favour of Rockwell Automation.


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