Simplifying batch production processes
April 2008
IT in Manufacturing
GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms has announced the release of the latest version of Proficy Batch Execution - Version 5.1. This release is highlighted by new features that focus on ease of use, performance, and system integration designed to improve customer productivity and reduce system operational costs.
This is according to Daniel Coetzee, manager for Africa, GE Intelligent Platforms.
"This new version of the industry-leading Batch Execution software product introduces a variety of features to simplify and improve the design, maintenance, and operation of batch processes. Included in the release are a Tabular Recipe Editor, new ActiveX Controls, integration with the ground-breaking Proficy Process Systems, performance enhancements, and ease of use features," Coetzee states.
"We are finding more customers in more industries interested in taking advantage of our ISA S88-based Batch solutions," he adds.
"Our latest release greatly simplifies batch systems development and deployment while providing the comprehensive capability and power of S88. Whether providing batch solutions for an OEM skid or replacing a previous Custom Batch system, Proficy Batch Execution software provides a cost-effective Simple Batch approach that can be scaled and can be standards based. Our new Tabular Recipe Editor, with its spreadsheet feel and style, allows engineers to be much more efficient in managing their batch operations."
"In today's ever challenging global manufacturing marketplace, we are finding more customers looking for that competitive edge, for a more comprehensive approach to close the gap that has long existed between information and automation systems and obtain process visibility and analytics to help them optimise their processes, to deliver performance," continues Coetzee.
"Our Batch 5.1 release closes that gap, leveraging our Proficy architecture and strong suite of execution, analytics and optimisation applications, Plant Applications, which includes Batch Analysis, Production/Genealogy, Quality, and Efficiency modules. The ability for customers to seamlessly integrate our Batch Management capability to our Process Control System, Proficy Process Systems, means that they can obtain even greater value from their GE Fanuc process solutions."
Batch Execution 5.1 software also introduces a new ActiveX Control that simplifies the operation of the batch system. The control allows users to view the active phases of the recipes being executed, along with the key parameters that are being collected for each phase. The ActiveX control is designed to work in both GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms Proficy HMI/SCADA - iFIX and Proficy HMI/SCADA - CIMPLICITY products, as well as other ActiveX containers.
Other significant features include new driver support, enhanced tag templates, key quality parameters, recipe export to XML, and performance enhancements
For more information contact Daniel Coetzee, GE Fanuc Automation, +27 (0)31 583 3640, Daniel.Coetzee@gefanuc.com, www.gefanuc.co.za
Further reading:
AI data centres, nature and innovation
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Artificial intelligence is driving unprecedented demand for data centre capacity, with liquid cooling now central to managing the heat generated by high-density GPU clusters. Schneider Electric examines how next-generation data centres can balance performance with environmental responsibility.
Read more...
Siemens powers next-generation reusable spacecraft development
Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
A European aerospace startup focused on reusable space systems, has adopted Siemens Xcelerator software to connect engineering disciplines, reduce rework and accelerate spacecraft development, cutting the path from concept to flight hardware to nine months for its orbital demonstration capsule.
Read more...
How to navigate the high-stakes economics of AI infrastructure
IT in Manufacturing
Nearly 60% of data centre operators are expected to adopt liquid cooling within five years as AI workloads drive demand for higher rack densities. Understanding the full financial picture of liquid cooling, from capital investment to long-term operational savings, is now essential.
Read more...
Protecting the digital mine
RJ Connect
IT in Manufacturing
As mining becomes increasingly connected and automated, cyber threats are emerging alongside the benefits of digitalisation. RJ Connect and provides rugged networking, edge computing and cybersecurity technologies from MOXA to help protect critical mining operations from evolving attacks.
Read more...
SICK launches AI-powered 3D quality inspection
SICK Automation Southern Africa
IT in Manufacturing
SICK has combined deep learning with 3D height data analysis in its Nova machine vision platform.
Read more...
Predictive maintenance is the critical enabler for AI data centre liquid cooling systems
IT in Manufacturing
As liquid cooling becomes essential for AI data centres, predictive and condition-based maintenance are emerging as critical enablers of thermal stability. Schneider Electric argues that the infrastructure is already generating the data needed and the question is whether operators are equipped to use it.
Read more...
Siemens software scales with Simple Energy EV development
Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
: Simple Energy, an Indian electric two-wheeler manufacturer, has expanded its use of Siemens Xcelerator software to manage complex vehicle variants and enterprise-level bills of materials, accelerating product development as its EV portfolio scales.
Read more...
ESG as a growth lever
RS South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Leading organisations are treating ESG not as a compliance obligation but as a practical tool for operational efficiency, supply chain resilience and business performance, with data and collaboration central to unlocking its value.
Read more...
Preparing Africa’s data centres for the demands of autonomous AI
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Africa’s data centre infrastructure must evolve significantly to support agentic AI workloads, with GPU-intensive computing, advanced cooling and reliable power demanding a fundamentally different approach to facility design and investment.
Read more...
Virtualising the control room to reshape building management systems
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Schneider Electric explains how virtualising building management systems frees facilities teams from ageing hardware, delivers stronger cybersecurity and enables portfolio-wide control from a single interface.
Read more...