PRODUCTS

New OPC server offers universal connectivity for vendors and OEMs

Toolkit update simplifies OPC UA development

OPC server release extends DNP WITS functionality

CASE APPLICATION
Hydroelectric utility sees direct ROI on OPC data historian
Cordova utility mines seven years of continues data collected by Canary Labs data historian to detect a failure and avert an incorrect repair. Data also identifies revenue opportunities at a fraction of the cost of a traditional analysis The Power Creek Hydroelectric Project, located in Cordova, Alaska, automated two hydroelectric plants at a cost of $750,000, recovered within three years. Canary Labs trending software was a key component of the savings derived, and continue to derive, from the automated system. Read on to see two specific examples of cost savings, focusing on access to raw data for engineering studies and evaluations, preventative maintenance, and emergency maintenance... Read More»

TECHNOLOGY NEWS
New technology enables rapid-refresh, high-performance display of OPC data on Web-based HMI's
Latest generation of OPC-enabled middleware from Cogent Real-Time Systems permits high-performance Web-based HMI applications with point-and-click screen editing, real-time integration, millisecond data update rates, fast screen refreshes, and high-quality graphics. As the world continues moving towards the Web, and pulls the industrial automation sector with it, we are demanding better quality Web-based HMIs. In the past, taking data from an OPC server and attempting to display it on the Web produced disappointing results. Graphics were low quality, and data rates were abysmally slow. You needed a full off-line development environment and coding skills just to build real-time Web displays. Now, recent advances in browser capabilities allow browser-based screen editors to deliver the kind of point and click simplicity that makes anyone a page developer. With this advance come greater expectations—a demand for top performance... Read More»

CASE APPLICATION
Steelmaker expands interoperability with MES, SCADA and PLCs
Gerdau Ameristeel's QMOS MES running in 11 plants relies on KEPServerEX from Kepware Technologies to manage PLC's from multiple vendors including Rockwell, Siemens, and GE. Scalability issues are easily overcome. Gerdau Ameristeel is the second largest mini-mill steel producer, and steel recycler in North America currently has 11 mini mills running a manufacturing execution system (MES) called QMOS. While QMOS oversees the management of information to the company's ERP system, it relies heavily on KEPServerEX from Kepware Technologies of Portland, Maine, to manage the myriad of diverse PLCs distributed throughout the mills. The company uses some 19 PLCs from about five different PLC vendors (primarily GE and Allen-Bradley). Problems were arising because of scalability issues. They wanted to add additional Wonderware terminals and were finding the PLC scan rates were being taxed and becoming too slow. “As we added more terminals, some of our processes were nearing the limits of their scan cycles,” said Jarrod Parrotta, Improvement Facilitator at Gerdau Ameristeel Jacksonville plant. "This was causing us to have data issues"... Read More»

CASE APPLICATION
How an OPC-UA server enables robust, easy PLC data collection
Systems integrator discusses why Ignition OPC-UA from Inductive Automation is being used as a standard PLC connector in all its Ignition installs. Users are reporting that the OPC-UA server provides a robust set of features that enable secure, stable, fast and easy PLC data collection. Control systems in more than 50 countries around the world use Ignition OPC-UA to communicate with PLCs—a good indication that companies are putting their trust in the no-cost OPC-UA server. Jason Russell reported that his company prefers using Ignition OPC-UA, regardless of what PLC or other software exists on the control system. Russell owns Russell Automation, a control system integration company in Vancouver, Washington... Read More »