Rockwell Automation PlantPAx process automation system

Rockwell Automation has extended the reach of its PlantPAx process automation system to integrate critical rotating assets such as compressors, pumps, turbines and fans, giving users the ability to manage plant-wide operations with a single platform. The system combines the company’s core process automation capabilities and technologies with those of partners and acquisitions to deliver an integrated control and information solution.

Users can now tie intelligent motor devices into this unified-control architecture, making an immediate and measurable impact on asset availability, operational efficiency and energy management. The tight integration between process automation and motor control is especially beneficial in heavy industrial applications with considerable mechanical investments, such as metals, mining, cement, power, oil and gas, water/wastewater, and pulp and paper applications.

Users will have access to diagnostic information on any device in the system from any location - including motor control centres, drives, compressors, pumps, fans and instrumentation. Leveraging the EtherNet/IP network, engineers can monitor process conditions such as electric motor current, vibration signatures of key rotating assets and torque signatures of variable speed drives. This allows plant engineers to predict potential problems and help avoid equipment downtime - resulting in improved productivity and reduced maintenance costs.

Other key features with the system include EtherNet/IP network support for redundant systems and device-level ring network topology that provides a highly available EtherNet/IP network without any additional infrastructure costs; improved device integration and asset management; and accelerated design engineering.