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UPDATE #19

• Summary

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In this issue:

• Integrated Architecture capabilities expanded with ControlLogix® redundancy
• Next-generation Safety Relays
• New Drives and Motion Accelerator Toolkit
• MCCs with Embedded EtherNet/IP Capabilities
• Power Option Bay provides a cost-effective solution
• New HART modules simplify commissioning, operation and maintenance
• EtherNet/IP connectivity offers seamless and transparent data flow and sharing
• Process solutions set the standard
• Creating a baseline to maximise asset performance
• How secure is your automation solution?
• FactoryTalk AssetCentre V 4.0 now available
• Historian now offers native connectivity to OSIsoft PI system

PlantPAx Process Automation System Release 2.0 offers multiple enhancements

We are pleased to announce System release 2.0 of our PlantPAx Process Automation System, which further strengthens your ability for plant-wide optimisation.


PlantPAx System Release 2.0 improves on existing capabilities across multiple disciplines: system high availability, device integration, asset management, design productivity, batch and sequencing control and operations productivity.

In addition, we’ve also introduced a focused programme to help process equipment builders reduce their overall cost and minimise their time to market; all the while simplifying the integration of their equipment into an end users’ PlantPAx Process Automation System.

High availability is nothing new to PlantPAx; indeed it is a critical attribute of any DCS. However, with PlantPAx System Release 2.0 we’ve added significant flexibility and scalability – allowing you to achieve the necessary availability without unnecessary investment.

PlantPAx also has a broad portfolio of connectivity options for the traditional process communications protocols including HART, ProfiBus-PA, and Fieldbus. System Release 2.0 expands on these offerings for an even more scalable portfolio.

Another important tenet of PlantPAx, which is reinforced in System Release 2.0, is the integration and asset management of other devices in the system. These include intelligent motor control centres, variable-frequency drives, condition monitoring and power control components.

We also recognise that not all batch applications are created equal. A spectrum of solutions must be provided, based on the diversity of both the physical architecture, (the number of units and recipes, distribution of control and visualisation and the functional requirements) and items such as interfaces to an ERP system or validation and track and trace needs. PlantPAx System Release 2.0 addresses the entire spectrum.

At the most complex level, new batch server software adds key capabilities such as intelligent recipes, improved runtime user control, expanded data collection and reporting, and enhanced material management.

For simpler sequencing requirements (packaged process equipment or simple start-up sequences), our new Logix Batch and Sequence Manager, an S-88 compliant engine, offers simple configuration and execution and minimises costly and risky design and maintenance aspects associated with custom code. This unitscale sequencer also easily integrates into a higher-level batch strategy, helping ensure that packaged solutions such as clean-in-place process equipment easily plug in to plant-wide production operations.

PlantPAx users tell us that a significant amount of their automation investment – up to 60% in some cases – is spent integrating equipment from various vendors into their DCS. PlantPAx System Release 2.0 takes steps to help customers with this non-value add expense as well by introducing a programme for process equipment builders.

This initiative introduces a set of architectures and efficiency tools to not only help equipment manufacturers deliver their scope quicker, but also offers the end users simpler integration to, and more consistency with, their PlantPAx Process Automation System.

To facilitate this we’ve characterised a set of packaged equipment architectures leveraging more scalable controller and I/O systems typical of single unit-sized applications. We’ve also delivered our PlantPAx library in a configuration that can be deployed in these packaged applications, ensuring consistency and common interfaces with the larger DCS applications, giving end users plug-and-play integration.

For more information, please e-mail us at: info_update@ra.rockwell.com ref: 'PlantPAx 2.0'.