New Podcast: Seamless Legacy Control System Migration
In our latest episode of our podcast Innovating the Industrial World, Cross CEO John King talks to Process Solutions Director of Engineering Robbie Peoples about what goes into ensuring a legacy control system migration is seamless. From upfront planning and documentation to final acceptance testing, Robbie and John talk about the “secret sauce” to making sure a migration is as fast, efficient and effective as possible. Watch the podcast to make sure when you upgrade your older control system, it’s as seamless as a Formula One pitstop!
Technical Guide: Creating a Network of Virtual Machines for Cost-effective Control System Development and Testing
Modern industrial control systems are more complex and interconnected than they’ve ever been. They’re also expected to be robust, reliable, easy to maintain, predictable, secure, fast, intuitive, and to require less and less operator interaction to function properly.
Field installations of these complex control systems will often involve a network of computers, perhaps including separate physical computers, a stand-alone virtual machine (VM), multiple VMs hosted on one physical computer, remote operator stations of various types, and more.
When system integrators such as Cross are developing a new control system or modifying an existing one, we often need to reproduce the customer’s system to properly perform our development, testing, and validation. For many systems, replicating the physical architecture would be cost-prohibitive. Senior System Integration Engineer William Hughes created this technical guide to showcase one solution, creating a network of multiple VMs that more-or-less replicates that architecture.
The Cross Process Solution team is highly experienced in new and legacy control system migrations. Get in touch today to talk about your particular application.
What's New at Cross
Upgrade your Analog Tank Load Cells with IND360 + MultiACM™
Tank and vessel weighing data is critical for product production in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. But sometimes it’s not cost or time effective to upgrade your older analog load cells underneath your tanks to digital ones to capture all that data.
Cross partner Mettler Toledo has recently introduced their IND360 digital weight indicator, paired with MultiACM™, which allows data collection and transmission from tank systems without the time or the cost of full load cell replacement. This enables you to detect errors and trends faster than your analog system, as well as upgrading connectivity to industrial ethernet.
Did you know?
Upgrade your Analog Tank Load Cells with IND360 + MultiACM™
Cross partner Brooks Instrument recently worked with a global biologics & pharmaceutical manufacturer to improve the gas flow control in the benchtop bioreactors the team uses to run small, pre-production batches.
In particular, the EtherNet/IP™ communications protocol enables real-time process information. With their Restricted Flow (Choked Flow) Alarm, the operator is alerted to a loss of flow due to pressure drop or other causes of restricted flow, allowing the issue to quickly be resolved preventing potential batch loss.
With the new Brooks Instrument SLA Series MFCs, the company realized enhanced reliability, easier troubleshooting and improved operational efficiency.
The flow experts at Cross Process Solutions can help you determine exactly which MFC is right for your production or pre-production process. Read the case study and get in touch to discuss your particular application.
Increase Data Collection from your Scale
The need for data, particularly when weighing in production, is critical and growing. We need information, we want it to be accurate and we want it fast. Data collection from your scale in real time can help improve your product quality and process efficiency.
If you have an older scale indicator that is sending weight data to any other devices, it is likely doing so using RS232. Newer devices utilize Ethernet TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) to transmit data. Whether you need to send the data to your ERP or quality system, record the data in an Excel spreadsheet, or even connect the indicator to a printer, Ethernet TCP provides the needed connection. Scale manufacturers also offer data collection software for individual scales or networking a hub for multiple scales.
Cross Provides Tangible Value for You
Reduce Risk
When it comes to ordering a specific pressure relief vent, vacuum relief vent, or a combo PVRV, you often face months-long lead times. This isn’t ideal if you need to get back up and running quickly. Cross’s Process Solutions Group is proud to be the only certified assembler of GROTH pressure and vacuum relief vents outside of GROTH themselves. This can mean significantly shortened lead times, maintenance, and downtime.
Currently, we can provide pressure relief vents, vacuum relief vents, and combination pressure/vacuum relief vents (PVRVs) in 16 different configurations, including stainless steel, carbon, and aluminum. Looking forward, we are excited to expand our offerings to 72 configurations, including blanket gas regulators and flame arresters.
Improve Efficiency
Cross partner Ohaus’s comprehensive selection of lab tools is designed to meet the diverse needs of life science research. The equipment they provide is known industry-wide for its precision, durability, and design simplicity.
From centrifuges and shakers to vortex mixers and dry block heaters, Ohaus provides solutions for life science applications able to enhance productivity while ensuring accurate results.
Improve Efficiency
In industries that rely on nitrogen blanketing for tank storage minimizing nitrogen consumption can yield significant cost savings. The Groth Blanket Gas Regulator 3011L is specifically designed to help facilities achieve these savings through advanced control of blanket gas flow.
By maintaining optimal pressure levels within tanks, the 3011L reduces excess nitrogen usage, prevents contamination, and enhances safety, translating to substantial cost reductions and operational efficiencies. Implementing the Groth 3011L Blanket Gas Regulator can reduce nitrogen usage by up to 30%, depending on tank usage and environmental factors.
