October 30, 2018
Rockwell Automation has updated its process safety logic-solver platforms to maximize uptime for industrial producers who want to help ensure compliance with the latest safety requirements. As companies face increasingly demanding process safety applications — whether a new installation or part of managing the installed base of legacy systems — the AADvance fault-tolerant system and Trusted fault-tolerant system utilizing the common SIS Workstation software help producers meet the requirements of their process safety functions. They also maximize uptime through increased scalability, communication and resiliency features. All systems are compliant with the IEC 61508 functional safety standard.
“With next-generation performance capabilities, the updated process safety logic-solver offerings will help achieve process safety system performance requirements in connected operations,” said Steve Del Rio, global business manager for safety, Rockwell Automation. “These enhancements underscore our commitment to investing in high-performance safety solutions and supporting next-generation, logic-solver applications with maximum safety and system availability.”
SIS Workstation software: The latest SIS Workstation software converges the AADvance and Trusted design tools into one, resulting in easier system support. Through the merging of technologies, users can now learn a single platform, which improves training and streamlines communications for topologies using both platforms. The SIS Workstation software also uses a singular, modern configuration environment for both the AADvance and Trusted systems which enables faster and more reliable field commissioning and is supported by all Microsoft Windows platforms.
Trusted fault-tolerant SIS: The updated Trusted system can now execute code up to three times faster for higher-speed applications, such as turbomachinery control. The system includes triple modular redundant (TMR) controllers, a wide range of analog and discrete I/O modules and specialty modules for turbomachinery control.
It is designed to help minimize system trips and provide high availability and fault tolerance. The latest release also incorporates improved packaging to help enhance its performance in harsh environments — especially beneficial for applications in hot and humid conditions, such as offshore oil and gas operations. It also meets or exceeds the latest hardware design standards, providing more robustness in environmental and emissions performance at the board level.
AADvance fault-tolerant SIS: The updated AADvance system features enhanced communication compatibility with other plant-wide systems, such as ControlLogix controllers. By safely sharing information such as diagnostics and alarms with other plant assets, the overall ability for operations to respond to abnormal situations is improved.
With Canadian manufacturing suffering from a growing labour shortage, the participation of industry in skills development is emerging as a vital component in hiring and retention.
The needs are stark: The Canadian Exporters and Manufacturers Association says almost 40% of its members have jobs they can’t fill. Five years from now, 60% expect to be short-staffed, especially when it comes to skilled trades. Statistics Canada forecasts the country’s labour force growth rate will remain below 0.2% for the rest of the decade, below replacement levels.
This growing shortage is affecting companies of all sizes. Already, some manufacturers acknowledge losing out on contracts because they can’t find the manpower to fulfill them.
In reality, the challenge is two-fold: to replenish and expand the workforce to help close the gap between the number of job seekers and vacancies through 2030 when the last baby boomers reach age 65, and ensure workers get opportunities throughout their careers to upgrade or add to their skillset as current technologies evolve and new ones emerge. Festo, through Festo Didactic, one of the world leading provider of equipment and solutions for technical education, intends to help Canada meet this challenge on both fronts. In essence, the approach Festo has always taken is that the learning never stops.
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New Product
Emerson recently introduced the ASCO™ Series 209 proportional flow control valves, which offer the highest standards of precision, pressure ratings, flow characteristics and energy efficiency available in a purpose-built, compact architecture. With this combination of size and performance, Series 209 valves allow users to precisely regulate the flow of fluid in a wide range of devices that require exacting performance, like those found in the medical equipment, food and beverage, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industries.
Accuracy, response time and repeatability are critical in high-precision flow control applications, such as controlling tool speed in dental chairs, the flow of steam in coffee makers, water flow in cooling systems and hydrogen flow in fuel cells. Series 209 valves have low hysteresis (less than or equal to 5%), excellent repeatability (less than or equal to 1%) and high sensitivity (less than or equal to 0.2%) that contribute to their precision.
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Featured Product
Teledyne FLIR Integrated Imaging Solutions is pleased to announce the all new Ladybug6— the latest addition to its field proven Ladybug series. Ladybug6 is the leading high-resolution camera designed to capture 360-degree spherical images from moving platforms in all-weather conditions. Its industrial grade design and out-of-the-box factory calibration produces 72 Megapixel (MP) images with pixel values that are spatially accurate within +/- 2 mm at 10-meter distance.
“The new Teledyne Ladybug6 is designed for mobile mapping and all-weather inspection projects requiring excellent image quality and high resolution,” said Mike Lee, Senior Product Manager at Teledyne FLIR. “With the addition of Ladybug6, we are now pleased to offer a wider variety of spherical cameras with higher resolutions ranging from 30 MP to 72 MP.”
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