Rockwell Releases New Version of PlantPAx

ARC has several people attending the Rockwell Automation Process Solutions User Group (PSUG) and Automation Fair this week in Chicago.  Lots of news releases this week from the event, and the first is the latest version of the Rockwell Automation PlantPAx process automation system.  The latest version includes pre-built process control strategies, new design and documentation capabilities, built in model predictive control (MPC), and other features.  ARC has always considered PlantPAx to be a true DCS, and this latest version continues to expand on those capabilities.

The latest release of the PlantPAx modern distributed control system (DCS) from Rockwell Automation helps industrial producers across multiple industries modernize their plants and reduce time-to-market. New system capabilities include a more productive design environment to enhance automation productivity; easier adoption of new enabling technologies to improve user experience; and enhanced control capabilities to help meet operational goals. “The latest release of our modern DCS platform focuses heavily on improving automation productivity,” said Jason Wright, PlantPAx system marketing manager, Rockwell Automation. “The system now includes pre-built process control strategies to help users greatly reduce the effort and risk to deploy new applications, which helps improve their time-to-market.” Increased Automation Productivity: To provide operators with reliable and accurate system configuration, the PlantPAx system now includes expanded estimation, design and development guides. The updated documentation and design capabilities help dramatically increase automation productivity; decrease the time required to deploy a maintainable and modern system; and reduce life-cycle costs. New pre-built control strategies developed within the Rockwell Automation library of process objects provide a consistent user and maintenance experience. Improved User Experience: Leveraging network improvements and built-in mobility, the PlantPAx system delivers an improved, reliable user experience. Expanded industrial Ethernet switches support Layer 3 topologies, enhancing scalability for a variety of applications. Smaller control systems can now be integrated into larger enterprise networks with a common, fully supported network infrastructure. The network switches include embedded Cisco technology to integrate and translate operations technology (OT) and information technology (IT). This makes it easier for process operators to configure and manage system networks. The PlantPAx system also now includes a mobile component that enables users to create displays and interact with process data across any HTML5-compliant mobile platform. The software is responsive to the user’s specific device, allowing operators and plant managers to access and view performance metrics and data analytics in their preferred format. Enhanced Control: New built-in control features – such as integrated PlantPAx model predictive control (MPC), alarm management and batch management – now operate in a common environment, helping to improve plant efficiencies and operational performance. Control-based PlantPAx MPC provides the ability to predictably manage external and complex process disturbances, and maximize process performance up to process constraints. This allows continuous improvements within the process while reducing waste and variability. The updated system also leverages the recently introduced batch application toolkit to help reduce the risk, time and cost of implementing batch control systems. Containing documentation, application examples and sample code, the toolkit gives engineers a starting point to build and maintain a consistent batch control system. It also provides flexibility to customize system elements for increased functionality. With the expanded capabilities of its modern DCS platform, Rockwell Automation continues to improve enterprise integration, scalability and open communication via EtherNet/IP and local support for its customers.

Press Release: Rockwell Automation Reduces Time-to-Market and Improves User Experience With New PlantPAx System Release