The digitization train is picking up speed and many companies in the process industry have already jumped on board to gain a competitive edge through a deeper understanding of their production and a better overview of their various systems and locations. In this process, more and more companies are exploiting the fast and pragmatic approaches offered by open-source software. Automation experts, such as those from Wago Kontakttechnik, in a team with system integrators combine sensor systems, gateways, container applications and cloud computing to extract even more information from company processes.

How good, agile service enhances a company’s reputation and becomes a gateway to the customer?Germany is not a service desert: For pharmaceutical machinery manufacturer Glatt, the after-sales service team is a source of pride. Martin Zemke’s technicians are available around the clock for customers worldwide. In an interview, Zemke reveals what makes the difference.

The Project Manager will fix it — really? If companies want to deliver successful capital projects in the future, a change in attitude is needed to build an inclusive culture to engage and motivate both employees and external partners.

The Antares Vision Group showcased a comprehensive ecosystem of solutions and technologies: inspection systems and machines, solutions for track and trace for transparency of supply chains and products and smart data management of products and processes to guarantee safety, efficiency and sustainability for the pharma sector.

Fieldcomm Group has recently announced the availability of test and registration services for Ethernet-APL infrastructure products. In this background, Pepperl+Fuchs’ Rail Field Switches are the first Ethernet-APL products to achieve registration.

Specialty chemicals company Lanxess is taking on a mammoth task and digitalizing all its process engineering, electrical engineering and automation documentation — including lifecycle management. Uniform plant and project documentation and comprehensive data management will increase quality and efficiency in production and maintenance operations going forward.

Global chemical company Kuraray switched the documentation procedure at its process plant in Höchst, Germany and opted for Rösberg’s Prodok NG computer aided engineering system for instrumentation and control. Stepwise and automatic migration of the existing plant data to the new consistent CAE system enabled Kuraray to set the course for future plant modernizations.

Is it time to dispel outdated notions surrounding the term “digitization?” —  Speakers at the Smart Process Manufacturing Conference, a virtual event organized by PROCESS, described a whole series of reservations or myths. The fact remains: Digitization is not a sprint, but a marathon — and sometimes even combined with a hurdle race. But it is also a fact that the benefits can be immense if tackled correctly.

The future of process plant communication will be triggered by one key technology: Ethernet-APL. This end-to-end Ethernet solution will enable the free flow of information to and from the field and finally unleash the full potential of the visions behind Industry 4.0.

Digital Twin Solutions is Now the New Normal – Covid-19 has transformed industries like never before and the oil and gas sector is no exception to this. The demand for digital twin technologies is at an all-time high amidst the pandemic and major industry players are already making use of this technology for numerous significant projects.