Chemicals company selects Aspen PM software to improve reliability

Aspen Technology, Inc has announced that Borealis, a provider of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertilisers, has selected Aspen Mtell software. The scope of the first rollout is the company’s production site in Stenungsund, Sweden.

Aspen Mtell is part of the aspenONE Asset Performance Management (APM) software suite combining big data, machine learning and process knowledge expertise to maximise performance across the design, operations and maintenance asset lifecycle. Aspen Mtell mines historical and real-time operational and maintenance data to discover the precise failure signatures that precede asset degradation and breakdowns, predict future failures and prescribe detailed actions to mitigate or solve problems.

The company’s selection of Aspen Mtell was based on its successful performance in a competitive predictive maintenance proof-of-concept project for a business-critical compressor on-site. Predictive maintenance is a key initiative for Borealis and this initial project effectively demonstrated the tangible benefit of automating such data analysis and knowledge work. The decision to move forward with Aspen Mtell was further supported by the demonstrated rapid speed of deployment, accurate early detection of asset degradation and ability to scale the solution system-wide.

“Borealis has embarked on a digital journey and the ability to bring transparency to all our operating processes is a priority for us,” Borealis Executive Vice President Operations Martijn van Koten said. “Aspen Mtell predictive maintenance software’s ease of implementation will allow us to develop data analytics, including pattern recognition and early anomaly detection, in all operating functions, leading to increased performance in safety, quality, reliability and overall improved performance in manufacturing.

“With significantly earlier warning of asset degradation provided by Aspen Mtell software, we will have the time to work collaboratively to mitigate the losses of unplanned downtime and to minimise disruptions to our customers.”

Through asset performance management — enabled by a blend of historical and real-time process, asset and enterprise data — organisations can transform asset maintenance into optimum reliability, extending the life of assets and maximising the return on capital employed.