Software promises repeatable recipe consistency
A
GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms UK product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Oct 31, 2006
Ciba Specialty Chemicals chose GE Fanuc's Proficy Batch Execution software, operating on a Proficy HMI/Scada - iFix platform, for two main pigment manufacturing processes at its Paisley plant.
Ciba Specialty Chemicals chose GE Fanuc's Proficy Batch Execution software, operating on a Proficy HMI/Scada - iFix platform, for two main pigment manufacturing processes at its Paisley plant.
Key factors in the decision were the recipe consistency, the flexibility and the ease-of-use offered by the software, part of the Proficy Intelligent Production Solutions suite.
The Ciba Specialty Chemicals plant produces pigments that are used for colouring in a wide range of applications, including inks, paints, plastics and textiles.
Each of the two key manufacturing units has its own central operator area with twin-head displays of their respective Batch Execution and iFix operations.
There are 10 process lines in total, each with their own batch server, and 15 iFix client displays on the shopfloor.
Alan Sanderson, Control Engineering Manager at Ciba Specialty Chemicals, explained: "The legacy recipe system was developed in-house and the control system used commercial software that was no longer supported, so we needed to choose a supplier who we were confident would continue to provide support in the long term".
"GE Fanuc's Proficy Batch Execution ensures the vital, repeatable recipe consistency, with a multiple batch server front end enabling us to control the individual operations all from a central control room".
"It offered us flexibility and, by working in a graphical environment, ensured ease of development".
"It also minimised our database as we can interrogate the current readings of any piece of process hardware by clicking on its icon: the software automatically accesses the real-time data via a remote OPC server, without it being captured on the database".
George Walker, Sales Director at Kerrco Automation - a GE Fanuc Automation Solutions' distributor in Scotland and Ireland, added: "The installation is one of the largest Batch Execution sites in Europe".
"The system is far more flexible than the legacy system it replaced, provides important batch records and reports, and offers excellent capabilities for future development".
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Google Ads
Contact GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms UK
Related Stories
- Renault deploys Dassault V6 PLM
- DS acts as technical client for university project
- Controlair selects CDS Catalog and Modelserver
- Simulator receives FAA qualification
- Modelling research funded by Noble Denton
Articles by product category
- Consultancy and Services (903)
- Machine Building (4,517)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,179)
- Engineering Design Software (12)
- 2D CAD software (200)
- 3D CAD software (1,157)
- FEA and structural analysis software (369)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (334)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (914)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (196)
- Materials design and moulding design software (151)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (258)
- Electrical design software (164)
- Publishing and documentation software (229)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (317)
- Data, document management software (310)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (568)
- File conversion software, data capture (351)
- PLM and collaboration software (649)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,361)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (1)
- Precision Motors and Gears (411)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,276)
- Linear Drives and Motors (114)
- Industrial Motors (497)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,060)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (1,975)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,028)
- Plantwide control (1,324)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,174)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (387)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (184)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (201)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (562)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (294)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (806)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,459)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (494)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (472)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (630)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (703)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (440)
- Data loggers (422)
- Materials testing equipment (421)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (154)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (500)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,222)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,160)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (555)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (679)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (709)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (420)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (798)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (369)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (630)
-
Materials and Processing (2,963)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials and components (2,215)
- Rapid Prototyping (458)
- Materials processing and testing (285)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,093)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (562)
- Engineering Conferences (425)
- Engineering Seminars (400)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (633)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (349)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Training Courses (433)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (838)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Health and Safety Legislation (402)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (113)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (175)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (277)
-
Powertrain Design (3,598)
- Powertrain Design (2)
- Bearings (939)
- Chains and belts (326)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,441)
- Hydraulic Components (471)
- Lubricants (418)
-
Capital Equipment (3,387)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (468)
- Production line blowers and fans (62)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (510)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,093)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (930)
-
Sensors (7,080)
- Sensors (8)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (427)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (699)
- Pressure sensors (621)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (618)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (527)
- Linear Position Sensors (399)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (546)
- Proximity Sensors (700)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (284)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (152)
- Temperature sensors (612)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,384)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,623)
