Live from Automation Fair 2018

Alliance with PTC brings FactoryTalk Innovation Suite

Analysts say connected devices will total 31 billion by 2020, and 75 billion by 2025. One-third to one-half are in industrial environments. Rockwell Automation’s John Genovesi discussed the company’s digital strategies to tackle all that data during the welcome address at this week’s Process Solutions User Group meeting. Read more.

‘Play big’ to deal with digital future

Nancy Giordano believes that in the face of today’s exponential advances in technology and the potential disruption they represent, we’d all be better off if we opened our imaginations to what the world could be. “We all deserve to be better held—by each other, by the systems we design, by the technologies we advance.” Read more.

Rockwell Automation offers process solutions roadmap

Rockwell Automation process experts charted the company's progress in process safety, PlantPAx control system, advanced analytics and global process solutions during the Process Solutions User Group meeting in the run up to Automation Fair 2018. Read more.

MPC raises quality at Jim Beam distillery

“We see Pavilion8 MPC as a modern control strategy for a legendary product, to allow our operators to focus on high-value tasks, to optimize without compromising any of our process or quality," said Kevin Ludwig, senior electrical engineer, Beam Suntory. Read more.

Zinc refinery ramps up with migration to PlantPAx DCS

"Our challenge was to replace the old control systems that were incompatible with modern technology, and do it without impacting production," said Nexa Resources' Daniel Izarra. Read more.

Control upgrade satisfies Feds at Kentucky spirits facility

“We couldn’t upgrade the existing batch software, and the original integrator was not available to us, so we went looking for a new system,” said Ryan Williams. Read more.

Headlines from Tuesday, Nov. 13

Rockwell Automation leads through people, partnerships

“We’re looking forward to 2019, and are looking at double-digit growth and continued inorganic investments in partnerships. We don’t do it all, but we’re able to harness the expertise and market access of our partners.” Read more.

ConnectedProduction enabling oil & gas transformation

Rockwell Automation’s Allan Rentcome explained how it connects the multiple, disparate systems common to this industry, then cleanses and makes sense of the data. "It provides the foundation of success and the ability to gain operational insights." Read more.

Manufacturing academy on verge of 100th veteran graduate

Graduates of the Academy of Advanced Manufacturing and companies that hired the U.S. military veterans who completed the program shared perspectives on its ongoing impact. The program was created to provide a path for veterans to leverage the technical expertise gained during their tenures in the military. Read more.

Fresenius finds solvent solution in centralized control

"Productivity depends on reliability, which means repeatability and reproducibility. Those suffer when operators intervene in the process,” said Piyush Rao of Fresenius Kabi Oncology as discussed how the company implemented a PlantPAx DCS to reduce manual intervention and provide a scalable platform for future expansion and automation. Read more.

5 Conditions create perfect storm for cyber threats

Five conditions have created a perfect storm for cyber threats, including cross-connectivity; convergence of IT and OT; lack of a common language or protocol; lack of visibility; and the active threat landscape. Read more.

AngloGold modernizes displays with PlantPAx

"Though it wasn't part of the initial concept, MSG decided to adopt PlantPAx because it could deliver more without costing more," said André Carvalho Guerra de Almeida of Tagna, explaining how AngloGold updated its HMI displays. Read more.

DCS modernizes outmoded multimodal port

The largest port in central Chile, Los Ventanas, is now also its most modern after a new CEO helped to automate all the processes in the port using a PlantPAx DCS. "Five years ago, the port was old and unsophisticated." Read more.

Headlines from Wednesday, Nov. 14

FactoryTalk Analytics go deeper, broader 

Rockwell Automation is showing its commitment to helping its customers make sense of industrial data, and its partnership with PTC is accelerating the company’s foray into The Connected Enterprise. For example, the scalable power represented by the company’s FactoryTalk Analytics solution enables manufacturers to meet the dynamic demands of the marketplace. Read more.

Long day’s journey into user-centric design

“The data and analytics we’re getting now are starting to expand our world,” said Pearson Packaging System’s Pete Lawton  about his company’s digital transformation journey. Read more.

Today’s smart devices are ready to give lessons

The vision of seamless connectivity and smooth integration throughout automation and information systems became more real on the show floor at Automation Fair, as Rockwell Automation demonstrates the latest technologies of The Connected Enterprise. Read more. 

Innovation needed to unlock potential gains

According to Deloitte's Paul Dunn, the chemical industry is lagging in digital technology. "It’s used it for control, safety and yield, but it needs technologies that unleash innovation and unlock gains." Read more. 

CIP Security adds trust to device communications

Rockwell Automation’s Michael Bush explained some of the security assurances, such as setting up cryptographic checks, that are now embedded within the company’s Integrated Architecture. Read more. 

Copper smelter goes all in on PlantPAx DCS

Beginning in 2010, ENAMI's upgrade team began researching PCS solutions and suppliers that could replace its legacy Bailey controls, eventually settling on PlantPAx and supporting components and software. Read more.

Headlines from Thursday, Nov. 15

Concept factory demos advanced technologies

Where dreams meet reality, where concept meets creation, and where digital meets physical, the Innovations booth demonstrates how the digital and physical can blend together in a production facility. Read more.

Mondeléz rolls out its Integrated Digital Factory

Mondeléz's Bob Pegher describes how the company has begun to roll out a standardized data-enablement methodology across its global fleet of production facilities. Read more.

Rockwell Automation defining journey to I4.0

Besides helping clients define that journey, the newest and perhaps the most exciting tool in Rockwell Automation’s digital transformation arsenal is FactoryTalk InnovationSuite, which combines FactoryTalk Analytics with PTC ThingWorx integration and Vuforia augmented reality capabilities. Read more.

Peaking plant speeds turbines with parallel programming

When is a peaking plant not a peaking plant? When it can’t start fast enough to fulfill its purchase power agreement. EthosEnergy’s Andy Dieball shared how the company leveraged Rockwell Automation technology and the “race cars of the gas turbine world” to meet the Utah Municipal Power Agency’s needs. Read more.

New skills, new strategies needed to fill new roles

“Eighty-seven percent of employers indicate they’re going to need to increase or maintain their need for talent,” said ManpowerGroup's Chris Layden who shared survey results during the Workforce Development Forum at this week’s show. Read more.

From ‘manualmatic’ to Water Treatment 4.0

Rockwell Automation is helping end-user customers, OEMs and partners realizeThe connected water plant and shared examples of its successful solutions during the Water/Wastewater Industry Forum. Read more.

Future engineers strut their stuff at Automation Fair

"Even at six years old, the kids are doing a bit of programming,” said STEM Ambassador Jay Flores. Rockwell Automation demonstrated how it supports a progression of activities designed to nurture interest in STEM careers. Read more.

For miners, digital journey starts with business value

"Mining operations are traditionally very wasteful," said Metso's Jani Puroranta. "Customers are asking for mining solutions that are more efficient, smaller and smarter." Read more.

Small SIS streamlines performance at PPG

PPG Industries wanted to reduce risk in the chloroformates unit at its specialty coatings and materials plant. Following its evaluation, PPG adopted an AADvance safety instrumented system from Rockwell Automation. Read more. 

10 technology touchpoints ahead for biopharma

Robotics is one of the 10 strategic development arenas defined by the BioPhorum Operations Group, Lonza’s Rajesh Beri reported at the Life Sciences Forum. “Our goal is to create awareness of collaborative robots.” Read more.

The digital supply chain revolution is here

"The digital world is exploding and is having a major impact on our supply chains. It's on demand and always on," says Deloitte's Scott Sopher, discussing developments expected in the next three to five years. Read more.