More efficient batch-process control

Dynea UK Ltd. (Mold, Flintshire), a leading producer of industrial adhesives, has purchased ABB’s System 800xA Extended Automation to update its existing system for its urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins and adhesives process. The overall process control system, including the phenol-formaldehyde (PF) segment, has over 1,000 I/O signals, with operator access via four operator stations for the UF plant and three for the PF plant.

Rick Hirons, plant engineer for Dynea, says, “One of the major benefits of the ABB system is that it includes batch management software, allowing Dynea to produce a more consistent product, based on the ability to call up stored recipes. The chosen system will allow Dynea to meet all forthcoming legislative requirements.”

Dynea chose the new system based partly on its strong relationship with ABB and previously Alfa Laval, which supplied the site’s original SattCon system.

System-800xA solution hardware includes two AC800M controllers and S890 I/O modules. I/O modules are ATEX certified, and the modules used for both plants provide commonality of spare parts and also feature integral, intrinsically safe area-barriers, reducing panel space.

System software collects production data, allowing production staff to identify and remove bottlenecks for future improvements. System 800xA reportedly allows software written for one part of the control system to be easily copied and re-used. Any changes or amendments made to the original software are updated in the copies and a change log maintained, thereby reducing software maintenance.

Future benefits will be achieved through the system’s ability to configure HART devices remotely over the fieldbus, centralizing maintenance and cutting costs.

Dynea and ABB personnel jointly engineered project hardware and software. Dynea engineers worked on the graphics as well as the functional design and test specifications.

System 800xA Extended Automation was chosen by Control Engineering magazine to receive an Editors’ Choice Award as one of the best products introduced in 2004.

For further information visit: www.abb.com .

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