EcoStruxure allows organizations to improve energy efficiencies across multiple domains of business including process automation. PlantStruxure integrates bothagement solution that allows companies to optimize their energy usage and drive maximum efficiency within their operations while also improving productivity.

PlantStruxure combines a platform from the Citect software acquisition along with manufacturing automation, building automation and electrical power products and expertise. On top of these are support for a variety of networks, especially Ethernet-based technologies.

The company reorganized its operational and consulting services business, under the VigilantPlant Services name. It includes three basic types of services: Opportunity Identification; Solution Implementation; and Lifecycle Effectiveness. Opportunity identification includes identifing new improvement possibilities and optimum solutions through free plant analysis, comparative effectiveness analysis, management seminars, master planning and leader development programs. Yokogawa provides services to help implement solutions.

Finally, Yokogawa continually maintains and reevaluates these solutions for its customers to ensure that they remain effective throughout the plant lifecycle. Yokogawa has announced at ARC’s 2010 World Industry Forum the launch of Modular Procedural Automation (MPA). "Operational knowledge and the accompanying skill sets are leaving the workplace due to retirement, and consequently the availability of good operators to run process systems is diminishing," states Maurice Wilkins, vice president, Yokogawa IA Global Marketing Center "By applying MPA a company can preserve the knowledge of the best operator on his or her best day
every day, which enables running a process in an optimal state."

MPA is an open and modular approach to procedures that is production centric, not bound by systems and defines the right balance between manual, prompted, and automated procedures. MPA starts with a consultative assessment of a site’s procedural needs. A recommendation will then be made as to the best platform for the customer to achieve their desired result. Prompted procedures may be implemented on any control system using Exapilot, while fully automated procedures may need Centum VP solution or a combination of both.

One confusion about InFusion is that it is a specific product. The name really describes technology and strategy for integrating first the company's many products assembled through acquisition over several years. One cannot discuss licenses for InFusion. Rather the question on penetration of the market would relate to number of products that are incorporated within the platform. Therefore, this release expands that number.

Kepware Technologies announced today that it has released KEPServerEX version 5.2. New in this release are inclusion of OPC UA Client and Server, an Alarm and Event Condition option, updated drivers and enhanced Custom Interface Driver (CID).

The combination of OPC UA Client and Server interfaces, in addition to all other KEPServerEX interfaces enable it to be a "Standards Based" Tunneling solution. Tunneling solutions are a replacement for Microsoft DCOM communications in distributed OPC DA (data acquisition) applications. The company points to security inherent in OPC UA making it "an excellent choice for real-time data sharing in Automation related Real-time Business to Business (B2B) applications."

The Alarm and Event Condition option gives the ability to monitor variables and configure conditions with which to trigger Alarm or Event messaging. Further enhancements include additional CID (Custom Interface Driver – OPC Toolkit) sample code in C#, an updated Allen Bradley ControlLogix Driver – now supports 1024 Programs and multi-byte Strings, Mettler Toledo – scale controls, IDEC Driver – expanded ranges for MicroSmart and Open models, and Modbus Ethernet – Global settings changes at runtime.

It has been selected as the device communications provider for APC by Schneider Electric. APC’s InfraStruxure Management Software portfolio provides data center managers and IT executives the ability to take a holistic view of data center physical infrastructure service quality, end-to-end energy use, facilitate short- and long-term planning, and properly forecast costs. As part of the solution, APC will use Kepware's "IT and Infrastructure Suite" with its InfraStruxure Central platform to deliver the latest OPC interoperability standards. This capability expands the ability to manage all devices supporting the data center. The OPC offering will maintain an OPC Foundation “Certified” status.

Further, Kepware Technologies has been selected by Predator Software as its interoperability provider. Predator Software will leverage KEPServerEX client interfaces; Standards such as OPC DA, OPC AE, OPC UA and native interfaces, to achieve proven interoperability with Kepware’s array of HMI/SCADA, Historian, MES and ERP partners. Predetor is focused on shop floor control including CNC networking, machine monitoring, data collection, machine simulation and verification, tool and gage crib management and traveler management.

I thought the game was good, decided by a great individual effort on the interception and return for touchdown. Have to say I was underwhelmed by the ads. Got a little tired of underware. Bud kept up its consistent message that men are morons. Google amazed the technology industry by running an ad showing Google is a great search engine (they needed to point that out?).

Today I'll head over to the Rosen Center where I'm told the annual ARC Forum takes place. I've been every year starting in 1998. This year's agenda for Gary is pretty much non-stop interviews and conferences with technology suppliers. For the first few years I was here, there were great presentations by practitioner thought leaders. Then there were several years of presentations by ARC Clients (suppliers) who had their CEO share stage (sometimes more sometimes less) with customers. This year I'm not sure about the sessions. Looks like lots of panels where several suppliers share the stage. There are four simultaneous tracks and one of me--do the math.

Meanwhile, suppliers see this as an ideal stage to get in front of the media. Therefore today I'll be in six hours of press conferences (11 in total, they give us a rest room break). If there is any news, I'll post later. ARC also scheduled 3 more press conferences for tomorrow morning before the sessions start. I already had a breakfast appointment before I found out, so I won't be there. I'm sure I'll get the news if there is any. Have a bunch of other meetings during the week.

I just hope I can get to enough sessions to meet the famous Dr. Edgar from the University of Texas.

Emerson Process Management

The first reflects a growing trend with large petrochemical projects. Emerson Process Management, an Emerson Corp.  business, has entered into a five-year Global Framework Agreement (GFA) with Shell to serve as a Main Automation Contractor (MAC) on future capital projects globally. Under the Agreement, Emerson will provide project and support services for Main Automation Systems, including Distributed Control Systems (DCS) and Safety Instrumented Systems. The contract also provides for ongoing maintenance of existing systems, plus the supply of new systems for Brownfield and Greenfield facilities.

While Shell has utilized a MAC strategy in its Downstream businesses for years, the Company is expanding the concept to make it a center-point of an enterprise-wide automation strategy. "This Global Framework Agreement marks a completely new approach within Shell," said Nick Curley, upstream automation portfolio manager for Shell. "It is a long-term, competitive, collaborative, performance-based relationship that will facilitate the delivery of considerable value to both parties.  We will be looking to emulate this approach in many other key global categories in the future."

"This new agreement will put Emerson in a position to substantially broaden its Main Automation Contractor footprint within Shell," said Ronaldo Marques, general manager, equipment, for Shell's Enterprise Categories & Suppliers division.  "For the first time in history, Emerson will have full and open access to all Shell business units - Upstream, Downstream, Wind, Power and Biofuels - plus affiliated Joint Ventures."

Honeywell Operator Rounds

Honeywell has acquired rights to technology developed by Shell Global Solutions (Shell) for gathering field data and helping industrial plants to safely increase production while reducing maintenance and operating costs.

This acquisition is said to strengthen Honeywell's reliability and operational excellence offerings and delivers an integrated solution for the mobile field worker. In combination with Honeywell's OneWireless network and Dolphin mobile computer devices, this technology will allow manufacturers to optimize communication, coordination, execution and tracking of critical field tasks and activities in real-time.

The operational and technical task for efficient rounds (OTTER) technology is currently used in more than 25 sites to help guide field operators as they execute key field surveillance tasks that keep assets running within safe operating limits and at optimum performance. It also delivers best practices to all field operators; provides decision support capabilities; improves regulatory reporting; and facilitates communication between groups to address problems immediately.

Honeywell will integrate the OTTER technology in its operational excellence solutions to provide operations teams complete sets of relevant data for all production assets. This data can help customers optimize plant performance and comply with health, safety and environment regulations.

Shell, for example, uses the OTTER technology along with Honeywell’s Operations Management Pro (OM Pro) solution as part of its Ensure Safe Production (ESP) program. The ESP program has reduced Shell's unplanned downtime and process safety incidents and is being rolled out to its facilities globally.

"By providing timely and convenient access to relevant data in the field and improving communication between teams, OTTER gives operators the information they need to make the best decisions, which can ultimately improve plant and business performance. Honeywell has a strong future vision when it comes to solutions for the integrated mobile field worker and I am sure that OTTER technology will be a strong addition to their portfolio," said Mark Stevens, vice president downstream technology services at Shell Global Solutions.

Jim Cahill's Emerson Process Experts on Optimum Combustion for Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Actually, I bookmarked that one for information for an article on sustainability I'm writing for our March issue of Automation World. Thanks, Jim.

Jim was back later with Similarities and Differences in Fired Heater Safety Standards. He also posted Electronically Dispatching Work Procedures. The idea of promoting internal experts to the community is good marketing and a community service.

Greg McMillan continued his Exceptional Opportunities in Process Control series with Middle Signal Selection.

Eric Murphy at the OPC Exchange Blog writes about OPC UA's adoption as a standard within NIST's Framework and Roadmap for Smart Grid Interoperability Standards.

Speaking of OPC UA, I've been wondering about it versus OPC Xi -- the standard built on Microsoft .Net that the large systems suppliers seemed to want for a quick fix to the COM/DCOM problems of classic OPC. There'll be more coming after some press conferences Monday in Orlando, but the gist is that there will be a number of companies coming out with embedded solutions that will expand OPC UA into a number of new areas. So, if you are just updating your OPC communication from field devices and controllers to HMI or databases, Xi will get you there quickly. If you're looking for additional opportunities for communication, stay tuned to OPC UA.