Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS) now offers ControlEdge Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), a new addition to Honeywell’s next generation family of controllers leveraging the power of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).
ControlEdge PLC, combined with the company’s Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS), is designed to provide secure connectivity and tight integration to devices from multiple vendors, with easy configuration, efficient operations, and reduced maintenance. ControlEdge PLC uses OPC UA protocol and built-in cyber security for integration to a range of instruments, equipment and software from multiple vendors. ControlEdge PLC offers Universal I/O, providing remote configuration and late design change flexibility for improved project implementation.
“ControlEdge PLC delivers a unique integration capability when combined with Experion PKS by leveraging Universal I/O technology and Honeywell’s LEAP project execution methodology,” said Jason Urso, vice president of HPS’ process measurement and control business. “Projects that combine both Experion and ControlEdge PLC can benefit from substantially reduced project risk, eliminate the impact of late I/O changes, and dramatically simplify project execution. Further, with Honeywell providing both distributed control systems (DCS) and PLC, we simplify process operations by providing equipment with common lifecycle and a highly reliable integration connection versus a custom interface. This integrated offering provides significant lifecycle cost savings, less engineering and higher reliability.”
ControlEdge PLC is focused on process industries requiring discrete control for specific PLC applications, such as water treatment; balance of plant modular equipment, terminal automation, and coal/ash handling. The PLC will be offered to end users, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies.
"Plants seek to maximize their return on assets (ROA) by making sure that their automation investments are scalable, future-proof, adhere to open standards, and can seamlessly integrate to existing assets, avoiding having to “rip and replace” current infrastructure,” said Craig Resnick, vice president, ARC Advisory Group. “Honeywell has addressed maximizing its customer’s ROA for its new scalable ControlEdge PLC by future-proofing the platform to be IIoT solution-ready, embedding the platform with OPC-UA open communication standards, and designing the platform to integrate with existing assets for either process or discrete applications ranging from DCS systems to variable speed drives, which is the reality found in most process plants.”
The emergence of the IIoT represents a digital transformation of manufacturing that shifts the source of competitive advantage away from physical machinery and toward information. Built on a proven and capable platform, ControlEdge provides an IIoT-ready open platform that enables users to better leverage data across their assets.