Rockwell Automation launches controller-based batch and sequencing capability.
Rockwell Automation has extended its PlantPAx process automation system with the new PlantPAx Logix Batch and Sequence Manager. The application solves a wide range of local controller-based batch and sequencing needs, by allowing users to configure sequences directly in the controller through the HMI using a standard interface.
With this feature, the need for engineering intensive custom code for system integrators is eliminated. OEMs can now design a common process control solution for end users requiring local sequencing that can easily integrate into a larger plant wide solution. The Logix Batch and Sequence Manager is ideal for standalone units like mixers, blenders and reactors that require flexibility in the sequence of the process and formulas for the recipe. It is also well suited for common continuous sequencing applications like process start-up or shutdown, grade changes and cleaning control.
Many applications require sequence management capabilities, but the complexity of the process may not be great enough to warrant a server-based batch software package. This solution allows the user to start small, but if at any point the requirements grow, users can simply migrate the Logix Batch and Sequence Manager into a comprehensive software solution like FactoryTalk Batch without costly re-engineering and testing.
Today, most custom controller-based recipe management solutions only allow for set-point downloads to a fixed sequence. As a result, users are forced to change the code when the sequence must change. This not only adds risk to the process, but also significant cost to re-test and validate the system. The Logix Batch and Sequence Manager provides users with a standard configuration tool needed to change both the sequence and formula. In addition, the application comes with intuitive, pre-developed configuration and run time HMI screens for easier control and maintenance.
The application is based on ISA-88 standards, which provide a consistent framework for the application. This consistency helps the end user troubleshoot problems faster and thus increase throughput and improve quality.
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...Control system for deep antenna Rockwell Automation
Motion Control & Drives
When a major university in South Korea set out to build a 21-metre deep space antenna, the researchers needed a control system that could track celestial objects with pinpoint accuracy, a level of precision they thought was out of reach. By partnering with Rockwell Automation, they discovered that the right technology and support could turn their vision into reality.
Read more...Protecting industrial networks with resilient defence RJ Connect
IT in Manufacturing
Network security is no longer just about preventing hacking or data breaches. For operational technology networks, resilient defence and consistent uptime are crucial. They are the core tenets that underpin Moxa’s guarded uptime and resilient defence (GUARD).
Read more...The metaverse is now: are you ready to reimagine your business?
IT in Manufacturing
The convergence of the digital and physical worlds, driven by spatial computing and the metaverse, is rapidly reshaping business landscapes. This transformation extends beyond the mere novelty of virtual reality headsets and augmented reality filters, signalling a fundamental shift in how organisations operate, collaborate and innovate.
Read more...AI and cyber security: South Africa’s next battleground
IT in Manufacturing
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a double-edged sword in the world of cybersecurity. In South Africa, where cybercrime is on the rise, AI presents both an opportunity and a threat.Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a double-edged sword in the world of cybersecurity. In South Africa, where cybercrime is on the rise, AI presents both an opportunity and a threat.
Read more...Addressing the cooling needs of the modern data centre Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
The rise in hardware density in data centres is gaining speed and is largely driven by the demands of artificial intelligence and machine learning, requiring more powerful servers and specialised hardware.
Read more...South Africa’s next cyber security frontier
IT in Manufacturing
AI-powered agents are rapidly transforming how South African businesses operate, from chatbots managing customer inquiries to automated systems processing financial transactions. While these AI-driven assistants increase efficiency and reduce operational costs, they also present a new, and often underestimated, cybersecurity challenge: identity management.
printer friendly version