GE Fanuc brings distributed strategies to process control

Using strategies and utilities usually found in distributed control systems, GE Fanuc Automation’s Cimplicity OpenProcess is expected to give process control engineers the open system tools they need to design, implement, document, and maintain process control systems. GE Fanuc will launch OpenProcess at Booth 953 during ISA Tech/99, Oct. 5-7, in Philadephia.

The company says OpenProcess is a hybrid technology that produces a standards-based system capable of more than control. It adds that OpenProcess reflects the industry’s migration from closed, proprietary distributed control to more efficient, cost-effective open architectures.

“OpenProcess uses the latest object-oriented technologies, graphical user interfaces, and easily used software to reduce lifecycle costs by 30-40%,” says Ralph Rio, Cimplicity’s marketing manager. OpenProcess generates these savings by allowing users to:

Enter project design specifications only once, using a fill-in-the-blank menu to set up the I/O configuration data file for the process controller;

Use standard drawing commands for control strategy development, for example, by selecting a function block from the 60-block library and assigning tag and wiring data; and

Configure the control project in one step by automatically generating the point database and connecting to Cimplicity HMI SmartObjects, which includes a faceplate library.

Because it is self-documenting, Open Process also reduces labor and potential errors by eliminating manual generation of design documents, bills of materials, wiring diagrams, and operator interfaces. Repetitive programming of control strategies for advanced control is also no longer necessary, while configuration time is reduced by eliminating data input duplication.

OpenProcess’ software also features a suite for continuous control strategy development and HMI in an open Microsoft Windows NT client/server architecture. It also supports all Cimplicity features, such as Internet and intranet connectivity with WebView and wireless monitoring with PocketView.

Users can also choose from several Cimplicity OpenProcess controllers, including PA-30 for applications with 100 loops in 350 ms that need Profibus and Devicenet connectivity; PA-70 for application with up to 100 loops in 60 ms; and PA-70H that offers a hot standby function.

For more information, visit www.controleng.com/freeinfo .

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