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Latest News announced in Automation Today 2-2009





Rockwell Automation Announces Global Agreement With ProLeiT

We have recently announced a global agreement with ProLeiT AG that will allow ProLeiT to more tightly integrate its proven Plant iT industry solution with our Logix Control Platform.

Aimed at applications in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, especially for breweries, the agreement will provide users with faster start up and commissioning of applications in an open-architecture development environment.

Steve Eisenbrown, Senior Vice President, Architecture and Software, Rockwell Automation
Field-proven in a large number of applications worldwide, ProLeiT’s Plant iT solution relies on a programmable logic controller - based platform for production control and data acquisition. Under the agreement, ProLeiT will develop its Plant iT industry solution to more closely integrate with Allen Bradely programmable automation controllers (PACs) from Rockwell Automation® (Logix). ProLeiT will also utilise FactoryTalk® VantagePoint software, formerly known as Incuity, a manufacturing intelligence solution from Rockwell Automation.

“ProLeiT has established a strong reputation for providing PLC-based, industry-specific solutions in many areas of the brewing, beverage and related industries, and we look forward to helping the company expand on that effort,” said Steve Eisenbrown, senior vice-president, Architecture and Software, Rockwell Automation. “This agreement allows ProLeiT users to take advantage of the flexibility, scaleability and multidisciplined attributes of Logix, the industry’s most versatile PAC platform.”

The Logix Control Platform is a fully integrated, multidisciplined control system designed to help users optimise production and improve the flexibility of their manufacturing operations. The platform’s open architecture design allows users to integrate data between multiple systems to help reduce programming time and ease future migration.

“We look forward to working with Rockwell Automation and are excited about the performance-improving capabilities the Logix Control Platform will bring to our process control solutions,” said Wolfgang Ebster, CEO, ProLeiT. “This collaboration significantly improves the value of our process control offerings and gives our customers access to a proven, world-class control platform that offers superior design efficiency and broad application connectivity.”

For more information, please e-mail us at: info_at@ra.rockwell.com with ref: ProLeiT


FactoryTalk Pharma Suite Software Launched

Building upon our reputation of delivering market-leading MES software for regulated industries, supported by state-of-the-art FactoryTalk technology, FactoryTalk Pharma Suite is tailored to the needs of pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers.


FactoryTalk Pharma Suite can be configured as a stand-alone system, or tightly integrated with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). It incorporates functionality that tracks material, equipment and personnel in order to establish a complete and correct batch record and includes comprehensive documentation and templates based on latest industry-standards, such as GAMP5.

“Pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers face considerable challenges,” explains René Schwarz, product manager, Life Sciences, Rockwell Automation. “Our Life Sciences industry experience, combined with FactoryTalk delivers an offering well suited to the fast-paced evolution of the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.”

The FactoryTalk platform leverages a service-oriented architecture (SOA). Its object-oriented design makes it easier to build and modify applications, as well as roll them out across multiple sites in a consistent form – ultimately helping to establish best practices for manufacturing operations and regulatory requirements in discrete, hybrid and process industries.

Our vertical-industry-specific applications utilise reusable ‘libraries’ to provide manufacturers with configurable, off-the-shelf software to help meet their bespoke needs. Solutions based on industry best practices for operational and enterprise process workflows not only help reduce total cost of ownership and deployment times, they also support and enable strategic enterprise initiatives.

We also offer further industry-specific applications on our FactoryTalk Production Centre platform for medical device, food, beverage and automotive manufacturers, as well as key production execution and performance management features across discrete, hybrid and process industries.

For more information, please e-mail us at: info_at@ra.rockwell.com with ref: FTPharma Suite

Enabling Process Innovation with Plant-wide Control & Enterprise Integration



PlantPAx is the new name for the unified portfolio of process systems and solutions. It represents the culmination of significant investment in organic growth as well as strategic partnerships and acquisitions with market leaders in the process industry.

Built on Integrated Architecture, PlantPAx systems have Logix and FactoryTalk at the core, but may also include integrated solutions and technologies provided by partners like Endress+Hauser and OSISoft, and acquisitions such as Incuity, ICS Triplex, and Pavilion. Continued progress in integrating the core systems of Rockwell Automation and those of our partners and acquisitions is a testament to Rockwell Automation’s commitment to ongoing, value-add investments in their plant-wide automation roadmap.

There are many key benefits of the PlantPAx system, they include:

System Engineering – This environment will offer process and batch control users a new library of reusable control objects with tools to simplify its deployment. The recently released Advanced Process Controls (APC) functions to enhance the performance of slow-response process loops also are included.

Control and Visualisation Platforms – Control strategies and accompanying visualisation are configured using modular and reusable objects, simplifying design, commissioning and maintenance with continued advancements around system high availability, serve to minimise or eliminate downtime and process disruptions.

Performance and Process Optimisation – This includes fuzzy logic, basic and advanced process loop tuning and, at the high-end, Model Predictive Control (MPC) suite from the acquisition of Pavilion Technologies. The MPC suite helps manufacturers achieve efficient economic performance from production assets.

Batch and Sequencing – The core batch and sequencing technology adheres to ISA-88 standards and presents a scaleable batch control capability that includes a controller-based state machine for local sequencing applications to more comprehensive server-based batch control with material tracking and electronic batch records advantages.

Process Safety and Critical Control – Further development of our process safety capabilities offers the broadest coverage of safety integrity levels (SIL) and fault-tolerance requirements. ICS Triplex – a leader in process safety and critical control – is integrated with the PlantPAx system to help deliver the highest availability safety solutions worldwide. The integration over EtherNet/IP allows users of ICS Triplex safety solutions the advantages of Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture.

Asset Management – The asset management suite includes new data delivery capabilities, tools and procedures that track assets and their performance. Version management, calibration management and valuable diagnostics for HART and process fieldbus devices are included and a subsequent release will add enhancements to the company’s device configuration philosophy.

Plant Information – The historian capability – based on the PI System from OSIsoft – is integrated with the Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk Integrated Production and Performance Software Suite. The new FactoryTalk VantagePoint enterprise manufacturing intelligence and reporting software helps enable aggregation, analysis and display of plant information.

Rockwell Automation working closely with Endress+Hauser in support of pretested interoperability between instrumentation and control. This includes preferred integration documents illustrating the unique control advantages and diagnostics for asset management provided by the joint solution.

For more information, please e-mail us at: info_at@ra.rockwell.com with ref: PlantPAx