Integrating Systems from Different Suppliers
Like many businesses, you may have a mix of control systems acquired as separate packages, which you now need to expand. This could be to add a
new production area or link existing Production Information Systems.
Whether you have a DCS or a Weighing System; interfacing with existing equipment is a very cost-effective method of growing a system.
Can we help you find a solution?Contact us.
Key Benefits
- Update or expand systems without the cost of replacing or re-engineering existing control systems
- Create a more open system making it easier to expand further
- Better integration of information by linking control systems to: SQL databases, Web pages, SMS paging, Email, etc
Capabilities
There are many ways to exchange data between control systems; OPC, DDE, Serial Protocols, File shares, etc. Experience shows
that a successful integration design will often require more than one method.
- OPC (OLE for Process Control)
- OPC is the modern standard for linking systems over networks. We routinely use OPC to link systems from different manufacturers.
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- DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange)
- DDE was widely used to exchange data between MSWindows applications and continues to be used in many older systems.
- Serial Protocols
- We have over 20 years experience developing and debugging serial communications with a wide range of control & I/O
equipment. Where possible, we prefer to use standard protocols such as Modbus but, where required, non standard protocols can be supported.
- Data Sharing
- Where other options don't exist, file sharing is the most basic method of exchanging data between applications, but great care is
needed to avoid conflicts and timing errors.
Reference Accounts
- Centre Desk System
- Jim Crombie, director of Generation at the Manx Electricity Authority explains, “Over
the years, a number of different vendors have been used to provide
industrial software solutions for turnkey projects. As we grew, it became increasingly clear that all the information
being collected from these individual sites needed integrating onto single screens.”
- Cockenzie Power Station
- Hexatec have worked with Cockenzie Power Station since 1989 to create an integrated network of SCADA systems.