Honeywell introduces turnkey virtualisation system
August 2013
IT in Manufacturing
Honeywell has launched the newest Experion virtualisation solutions package, its first turnkey blade solution optimised for virtualisation and the needs of the process control industry. Offshore oil and gas, refining and petrochemical customers are now able to increase operations availability and reduce the total cost of ownership of their control systems.
By applying virtualisation to industrial control systems, processing plants and refineries can simplify their computing environments, streamline maintenance and reliability, and reduce the amount of hardware space needed at facilities such as floating offshore oil rigs, where space is at a premium.
Virtualisation is a major productivity and efficiency tool for commercial and industrial operations. Process controls typically require separate servers to support different applications, requiring additional space, hardware and significant maintenance costs. Virtualisation allows a single server to run multiple operating systems and applications, insulating the operating systems from hardware changes, improving overall server utilisation, simplifying maintenance and reducing costs.
The newest member of the Experion virtualisation family, called the Premium Platform, is based on blade server technology. It provides an alternate offering for the ultimate in lifecycle and availability features being demanded by the process industry. The Premium Platform reduces setup time, generates 40% more energy savings, has 22% greater density than alternative virtualised server platforms and allows recovery from a processor failure in minutes.
“Customers are demanding higher availability from their virtual environments, says Jason Urso, vice president of technology, Honeywell Process Solutions. “Virtualisation solutions using blade servers offer that extra layer of reliability, but it is about more than just reducing downtime: virtualisation simplifies operations and allows manufacturers to modernise their facilities and turn them into true business assets.”
The new Premium Platform leverages blade server technology from IBM. Honeywell chose the IBM BladeCenter S to power the new Premium Platform offering because of its highly integrated design especially in the area of storage and its focus on markets where simplicity is critical. IBM’s long-term support along with its significant worldwide support infrastructure and the maturity of this platform were considerations in our decision.
For more information contact Boni Magudulela, Honeywell Southern Africa, +27 (0)11 695 8000, hsa@honeywell.com, www.honeywell.co.za
Further reading:
Looking into the future of machine vision
Omron Electronics
IT in Manufacturing
Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving a significant transformation in all areas of industrial automation, and machine vision is no exception. Omron’s AI-powered machine vision systems seamlessly integrate state-of-the-art algorithms, enabling machines to analyse and interpret visual data meticulously.
Read more...
Driving digital transformation in the truck industry
Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Tatra Trucks, a leading truck manufacturer in Czechia, has adopted the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software including Teamcenter software for product lifecycle management and the Mendix low code platform to help increase production volume and strengthen its ability to manufacture vehicles that meet specific customer requirements.
Read more...
Opinion piece: Digital twins in manufacturing – design, optimise and expand
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Digital twin technology can help create better products, fast. It can also transform the work of product development. This strong statement from McKinsey reinforces how far digital twins have come in manufacturing.
Read more...
Asset tracking is key to driving operational excellence and sustainable growth
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Asset tracking plays a critical role in the success of industrial businesses. By effectively managing and monitoring assets, companies can optimise their operations, ensuring that resources are used efficiently. This leads to improved productivity and reduced costs.
Read more...
Siemens democratises AI-driven PCB design for small and medium electronics teams
Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Siemens Digital Industries Software is making its AI-enhanced electronic systems design technology more accessible to small and mid-sized businesses with PADS Pro Essentials software and Xpedition Standard software.
Read more...
Predicting and preventing cyber-attacks with AI and generative AI
IT in Manufacturing
The speed at which cyber threats are evolving is unprecedented. As a result, companies need to implement state-of-the-art technology to protect their data and systems.
Read more...
Real-world lessons in digital transformation
IT in Manufacturing
Synthesis has helped businesses across multiple industries with their digital transformation by solving their unique integration challenges.
Read more...
Enhancing cyber security for industrial drives
Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
The growing connection between production networks and office networks as part of IT/OT integration and the utilisation of IoT have many benefits for industrial companies. At the same time, they also increase the risk of cyber threats. Siemens ensures that your know-how and plants are protected at all times.
Read more...
Immersion cooling systems for data centres
IT in Manufacturing
The demand for data centres in Africa is growing. The related need for increasing rack densities brings with it escalating cooling requirements.
Read more...
Transforming pulp and paper with automation and digitalisation
ABB South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
The pulp and paper industry in South Africa is undergoing a significant transformation from traditional manual processes to embracing automation technologies. Automation in pulp and paper mills aims to improve various production stages, from raw material preparation to final product creation.
Read more...
printer friendly version