Project report: Polymer plant modernization includes major service contract

Kraton Polymers has signed a five-year, $20 million plus contract with Invensys Process Systems (IPS) to provide comprehensive industrial automation services and solutions for its Belpre, OH, facility upgrade.

A copolymers industry pioneer and a leading producer of styrenic block copolymers, Kraton Polymers operates facilities in the U.S., Germany, France, The Netherlands, Brazil, China and Japan.

Under the reported terms of the contract, IPS will deliver services and solutions to modernize specific operating aspects of Kraton’s Belpre facility. IPS will implement its InFusion enterprise control technology, replace the Belpre plant’s existing distributed control system (DCS) and digital automation system with IPS’ I/A Series DCS, and install Foxboro instrumentation, batch management software, and linear and non-linear advanced process control (APC) applications.

Steve Blair, IPS president for North America said, “By leveraging the entire portfolio of IPS services and solutions, Kraton has embarked on a site modernization project that will help maximize production and minimize operational costs as Kraton continues to address the needs of their customers, employees and communities.”

Because of its age and current mix of automation systems, IPS says Kraton’s Belpre plant requires an integrated solution built on a site-wide, unified automation platform that supports continued growth. IPS will also provide configuration, installation, start-up and lifetime support services, all of which are expected to lead to higher returns for Kraton on investments in operations, efficiency and production.

“IPS understood our specific needs, and by being able to include instrumentation and APC, along with the core distributed control system, they were, in our judgment, the lowest risk, single-source supplier of an automation solution for the Belpre facility that should be completely manageable and scalable,” said Ken Stach, Kraton’s VP of operations.

—Edited by Peter Welander, process industries editor, PWelander@cfemedia.com , Process & Advanced Control Monthly Register here and scroll down to select your choice of free eNewsletters .

Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our CFE Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.