Control components simply "snap together"

MOST, short for MTL Open System Technologies, has been established to provide open hardware and software technology-based components for use in the most demanding real-time system applications.

MOST, short for MTL Open System Technologies, has been established to provide open hardware and software technology-based components for use in the most demanding real-time system applications.

Users can choose one or several of these field-proven components for their control system needs, "snapping" them together to create sophisticated control systems.

OEMs can now be offered DCS functionality at PLC prices, and control system partners can reduce development expense and achieve a faster time to market.

MOST President Dennis Gillespie said: "The new MOST business unit was created to address a growing trend in the marketplace.

The industrial automation market is making a slow transition from proprietary systems towards a truly "best of breed" open operating model.

Many automation companies are moving toward the new, open world of enhanced end-user choice and value, which requires them to change from an existing solution to a new approach.

MOST is making a major investment in open control technology and is working actively with system integrators and OEM partners to help them provide open control solutions.

We believe that MOST is well positioned to benefit from this market shift".

With the announcement of this new venture, MOST is also introducing a range of new products with associated workbench engineering tools: the MOST hybrid controller supports concurrent execution of regulatory and IEC61131-3 sequential control strategies; the MOST process controller supports regulatory control strategies; and the MOST logic controller supports IEC61131-3 sequential control strategies.

Designed as rugged, field-mountable platforms, the MOST components are intended for process applications and can be 'snapped' together by third-party companies to create sophisticated control solutions.

Combined with MTL8000 process I/O system components, they offer cost savings over control-room mounted systems as well as flexible system design and high system availability.

The MOST component range can also use off-the-shelf HMI packages, including Wonderware, Intellution, Citect and Cimplicity The MOST components are built for use in harsh process applications, operating over the industrial (-40 to +70C) temperature range that is typically associated with industrial environments.

The powerful controllers provide a tight control loop response; assuring the system has the capacity for advanced control strategies.

Additionally, the controllers feature a rigorous redundancy model and have redundant Ethernet communications ports assuring both reliable system operation and high-speed communications.

The user may select between the various MOST controller types that offer both sequential and regulatory engines either as separate packages or combined into the hybrid controller.

The sequential control capability of the logic controller and hybrid controller offers the five IEC61131-3 automation languages - ladder diagram (LD), sequential function chart (SFC), function block diagram (FBD), structured text (ST), instruction list (IL)) plus flow chart.

The Workbench software suite is used to develop, download, simulate, debug, monitor, and edit application programs and allows process engineers to combine programming languages in the same project.

The Workbench Windows interface guides engineers through the development and commissioning of projects and its simulator allows the testing of programs before startup.

Completed applications are then downloaded to the controller.

The regulatory control capability of the process controller and hybrid controller offers an open, easy to use process control engineering and management solution that delivers comprehensive, distributed control functionality.

The advanced process control and instrument engineering system offers configuration tools, modelling, simulation, troubleshooting utilities, project drawing management and self-documentation.

It is a robust solution that provides the flexibility to configure control systems ranging from a few loops to thousands of points.

A flexible, scalable design allows cost effective system expansion.

In addition, the system's extensive use of industry standards simplifies integration with other packages.

The MOST product offering is targeted at the process automation market, including the following industries: chemicals and petrochemicals, water and waste water, oil and gas pipeline, cement, pulp and paper, power generation and electrical distribution, food and beverage.

The MOST components are an ideal solution for those process applications where a PLC solution struggles to meet the demands of the process user or designer Dennis Gillespie said, "MOST will be providing both hardware and software components for systems integrators and OEMs to incorporate into their product offerings.

The open nature of our products will also be attractive to sophisticated end users that want to install their own systems.

MOST's objective is to provide the process market with open, easy-to-use and cost-effective control components as an alternative to current proprietary and higher cost systems".

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