EC: PlantPAx process automation system

Process Control Systems: The PlantPAx process automation system is a single, multidisciplined platform helping users achieve a plantwide view, and capable of managing the range of production automation applications, including process control, discrete control, power, information. This is a Control Engineering 2014 Engineers’ Choice award winner.

By Control Engineering October 17, 2013

The latest release of the PlantPAx process automation system extends scalability, helps enable operators to focus on the process for improved productivity, operator effectiveness and safety, and delivers new tools for engineers to streamline project implementation.

With the system’s new sequencer tool, users can easily automate process procedures, perform system modifications and sequence actions directly through HMI faceplates. If a process change is necessary or an abnormal event occurs, a user with the appropriate login privileges can modify the sequence directly from the HMI screen, rather than waiting for a control-system expert to modify the procedure code. The intuitive, user-friendly interface makes procedures repeatable and easier to track, helping operators easily see and understand the information they need.

The system also features an enhanced independent workstation (or network station) that offers companies more flexibility in plant design—especially when integrating best-of-breed skids into multiple plants worldwide. With the PlantPAx system, the skid-based controller can be added as a native control to the system, eliminating the custom data-mapping usually required for skid integration. Enhanced independent workstation capabilities help reduce the cost of integration by allowing the skid to share common infrastructure resources, such as user accounts and security settings, without losing application independence. This allows companies to leverage the specific application expertise of multiple skid vendors while providing a consistent operator experience.

All of these new system features further enhance the PlantPAx system, which integrates process control, power, information and safety together into one infrastructure. Combined, these reduce the total cost of ownership, and enable a highly distributed and cost-effective system.

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