South African process control company signs international partnership

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IBG - SA Instrumentation & Control Buyers' Guide

September 2002 News

Local specialist condition management and process control company, Crusader Systems, has formed an alliance with international Outokumpu Oy, Finland, with a partner plan for South African technology to be used worldwide.

"Initially, we will be providing the Finnish mining and minerals equipment giant with our CSense technology," comments Crusader's CTO, Jacques Ludik. "These will be used to develop process modelling, decision support and control applications that will offer their customers highly advanced, efficient and pro-active workable solutions.

Crusader’s CTO, Jacques Ludik and Rebecca Hope with their ‘Toolkit’ for advanced process control

"Outokumpu, in line with its progressive philosophy of developing equipment, had a vision to enhance and expand the applications of its optimisation control and process decision support systems. A number of other products were evaluated, and due to our product meeting the requirements and criteria, we were taken on board with the partner plan agreement.

"The partnership agreement does not only constitute CSense application development rights and software licences, but also a comprehensive software support plan, software and applications training, user group support and marketing material," says Ludik.

Crusader Systems, founded in 1997 by Derick Moolman and Jacques Ludik in Stellenbosch, enjoyed a rapid growth, which enabled it to establish a critical mass team for research and development. Relative market opportunities led the company to focus on its CSense for remote condition management. This system manages the condition of equipment and processes in realtime. Information is distributed through remote and secure Web interfaces, e-mail notification and data uploads. CSense is also used to diagnose the health of equipment or processes.

The CSense Toolkit is robust and powerful software proven in large sophisticated applications. It has been used for supervisory, advanced process control with superior decision support for processing monitoring. The secure remote services of CSense include on-line equipment health index technology. The power of the CSense software has been used to develop specific applications that allow secure remote condition management from any location.

Process information combined with realtime operating data provides preventative downtime and maintenance programmes with the added benefit of getting optimum operating results and increased profitability.

"The partnership will enable Outokumpu to broaden its base as a leader in technology," says Ludik, "technological advancement across the broad spectrum of its products will benefit. Some of the markets are from hydro, pyro, milling, and flotation through to specialised mineral separation and processes. It is the only route to go as the market is demanding technically sound and advanced technology that is focussed, and offers remote condition management."

CSense local technology partners include Sasol Synthetic Fuels, which is using the technology for its own tailor made optimisation solutions, solution providers Energy Cybernetics and Iritron as well as the University of Potchefstroom, electrical Engineering Department.

For more information contact Rebecca Hope, Crusader Systems, 012 347 3110.

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