Initiative encourages openness in plant control

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 28, 2006

Companies launch open, non-exclusive, standard-based and interoperability-driven partnership for integrating field devices with production control and asset management systems.

Yokogawa Electric and its group companies have launched the Vigilant Integration Partners (VIP) Initiative, an open, non-exclusive, standard-based and interoperability-driven partnership that enables Yokogawa customers to integrate best-in-class field devices supplied by VIP member companies with the Centum production control and the PRM asset management systems.

Dresser Masoneilan, Flowserve, Metso Automation and Samson - all suppliers of control valves - are joining the VIP Initiative to develop and deliver open and interoperable plant asset management.

The initiative assures smooth integration and full interoperability between the field devices supplied by VIP member companies and Centum and PRM.

The interoperability is guaranteed by support of field device tool (FDT) and electronic device description language (EDDL), which are supplier independent and complementary standards.

This guarantee of open standard-based interoperability enables Yokogawa customers to implement the latest plant asset management systems flexibly and efficiently, avoiding compatibility concerns and supplier-enforced limitation.

Yokogawa and VIP member companies are further joining forces for the ongoing development of plant asset management systems such as predictive diagnostics and process performance diagnostics that can be deployed by customers using open standard-based production control and plant asset management systems.

Yokogawa and the VIP member companies can jointly promote the field devices supplied by the VIP member companies to the rapidly expanding list of customers using Centum and PRM systems.

The technical collaboration framework is fully open and standard-based, enabling VIP member companies to avoid proprietary RandD costs associated with supplier-specific non-standard frameworks.

The plant asset management methods developed under the VIP Initiative are fully compatible with any plant asset management systems that support the open FDT and EDDL standards.

A VIP member company must be a supplier of field devices and must support both FDT and EDDL.

In addition to the control valve suppliers, Yokogawa will expand the VIP membership to collaborate with other field device suppliers that complement Yokogawa's field device portfolio.

With over 120 years of experience, Dresser Masoneilan supplies general and severe service control valves, actuators, instrumentation, accessories, software and field service support.

The firm has a presence in virtually all corners of electrical power generation, hydrocarbon exploration and production, oil and gas processing and refining, as well as the petrochemical, chemical, food and beverage, pulp and paper, and mining industries.

Flowserve provides fluid motion and control products and services.

Operating in 56 countries, the company serves the chemical, power, oil and gas industries.

Flowserve's valve business provides known brands of control valves and digital products including Valtek, Kammer, NAF, Schmidt and PMV.

Metso Automation's Neles product line's smart positioners, partial stroke testing, control, on-off and ESD valves, accessories and software products provide construction, operation and maintenance features to optimise process performance in oil and gas, petrochemical, refining, pulp and paper and other process industries.

Metso operates worldwide and has sales and customer support units in 34 countries in Europe, North and South America, Asia, Australia and Africa.

Founded in 1907, Samson is a manufacturer of engineered control valves, positioners and accessories for all industrial processes.

Modular design of its products offers quick local supply.

A worldwide network of 44 subsidiaries and 91 associated engineering and service centres provide global expertise and service support.