What is to be the next generation of automation systems, to take advantage of the Internet of Things (IoT)? The large automation systems offered by the major suppliers of today were initially developed 20 years ago, as the ‘next step’, moving the technology up from the original scada systems in use at the end of the last century. They then added proprietary communications systems, fieldbuses, and wireless communications, refreshing and expanding their system capabilities. The offerings for 2017 add more ‘features’, to make them ‘IIoT ready’. Could this be their last attempt to stop the bursting of the ‘Major Automation Contractor’ bubble? Even ExxonMobil, with their open discussion about a possible new software design concept, is seeking a different approach to the current offers.
Ignition
Scada/HMI systems still exist, and are used to provide – well, supervisory control and data acquisition, with human-machine interfaces. Several of the major suppliers of these were acquired by the major automation companies, and so absorbed (and hidden away) in the automation systems businesses. One company has gone along a different route. Inductive Automation in California was started in 2005, founded and owned by Steve Hechtman. His latest scada automation system – Ignition – launched in 2010, turns all the industry norms upside down. For cost-effective IoT and scada developed in-house or by a local systems integrator, his approach is making waves.
Steve says he has four business principles underlying this scada. He will not sell his business – although there have been many acquisition offers. The software, based on Java linked to an SQL, will run on any operating system, and is web-based, so clients can be added across the plant network and also over the Internet. It includes ERP, MES, asset management and track and trace. Data translation uses either OPC-UA or MQTT protocols. Their licensing model turns the industry standard upside down: a single affordable price no matter how many clients or tags are used, with a published price list showing add-on options for the customer to select. These include SMS or text alarm messaging, and Allen-Bradley, Siemens and Omron Drivers. The operating packages on the price list vary from $10 000 to a maximum of $22 000, a relatively low entry cost. Plus, you can download a trial system from the Internet to see how it works. The Ignition software is open to third-party module developers, and users/developers can then offer their modules for sale to other users, through a sort of app store.
The community of Ignition users is growing, as evidenced by a capacity audience of 430 at their recent user group conference, and this is what drives Hechtman and his team. Sales have seen double digit growth since launch in 2010, and profitability has been positive in every quarter since then, so they are in the business for the long term. They want to sell by supporting their users and giving examples of successful applications, so present such stories on their website – for example from the Sierra Nevada brewery.
Sierra Nevada wanted an upgradable system that they could roll out to where they wanted, a system that they could modify simply, themselves, without having to call in expensive external software guys from the system supplier. The Ignition CTO, Don Pearson, claims 1200 control system integrators use Inductive Automation products regularly: the map of the world shows where their sales are scattered – which covers everywhere except southern Africa!
So how have other automation suppliers reacted?
So far, publicly, there has not been much comment. Privately, there have been many offers to buy Ignition, all rebuffed. It is now rumoured that Wonderware will shortly launch a new pricing strategy to compete with the Ignition product pricing approach.
It was Schneider Electric who bought the major Australian scada supplier Citect, back in 2006: it seemed the Citect product then disappeared. You may then remember that Schneider made a major acquisition bid for Invensys in July 2013. Just before this bid became final, Invensys acquired US-based InduSoft, a provider of HMI and embedded intelligent device software for the automation market. Now branded as Wonderware Indusoft, its WebStudio 8.0 is described as Scada/HMI software for Intuitive Dashboards, OEE and the IoT. Wonderware InduSoft is sold in Europe via an office in Germany.
So Schneider has two distinct scada packages available, Citect and InduSoft. Possibly the pricing strategy change will only apply to one brand – to differentiate them in the automation market? It is therefore relevant to note that SolutionsPT, a major UK systems integrator and the exclusive UK Wonderware distributor, last month announced the launch of the Schneider Citect scada and HMI solutions: its Wonderware UK website does not mention InduSoft.
It is too soon to say whether these open systems initiatives will disrupt the established automation industry, but I am watching with interest.
Nick Denbow spent 30 years as a UK-based process instrumentation marketing manager, and then changed sides – becoming a freelance editor and starting Processingtalk.com. Avoiding retirement, he published the INSIDER automation newsletter for five years, and then acted as their European correspondent. He is now a freelance Automation and Control reporter and newsletter publisher, with a blog on www.nickdenbow.com
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