Digitalisation is Changing Automation in the Process Industry

June 25, 2018

Digitalisation is affecting the entire automation pyramid, including in the area of process automation.

Pneumatics goes digital

For the first time ever, valves on an automation platform will be controlled using software apps. So with just one piece of hardware you can implement a huge variety of functions for which you currently require more than 50 components. At Achema, Festo will exhibit the Festo Motion Terminal VTEM for the first time in combination with applications specifically for the process industry. Thanks to software that is embedded directly at field level, energy efficiency is improved and self-adaptation to process deviations is easy to achieve using software commands. There’s no need for maintenance staff to physically intervene. “By showing actual examples, we want to discuss the potential benefits for plant operators, OEMs and manufacturers with interested visitors at Achema”, explains Dr. Eckhard Roos, Head of Global KAM and ISM Process Industries. 

Complete solutions made even easier

New online configuration tools simplify planning and design engineering. With just a few clicks, users can configure complete process valve units and control cabinets themselves to suit their own applications. This saves time and money in engineering and purchasing. .

Safety first

From control components at management level to process valves at field level, SIL and explosion protection products and solutions make process industry applications safe. 

Volatile markets and market requirements that are changing ever faster need flexible and modular production systems. 

More productivity for machine builders and end users

The Festo cloud, combined with dashboards that visualise the information gathered, significantly increases the transparency of systems and processes. 

Festo works on important standardisation

Festo will be a co-exhibitor for the automation of modular systems at a joint stand together with Germany’s most important industry associations, i.e. NAMUR, ProcessNet, VDMA and ZVEI. 

Bionic Learning Network

In addition, Festo will present a Bionic Learning Network project to the public for the first time. Festo is working closely together with renowned universities, institutes and R&D companies to transfer principles from nature to the technical world of automation.

Contactless measuring and weighing

With the SupraSensor, various physical quantities such as weight, density, viscosity and temperature can be recorded using a force-based measuring system. 

www.festo.com/process

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