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
Measure More with M: Introducing the New Multi-Sensor Measurement Line from OGP
Cross partner OGP recently launched their SmartScope® M-Series multi-sensor measurement equipment line. With instantaneous magnification, low image distortion and ZONE3 software, the M series delivers exceptionally accurate measurement results. This means you can maximize your machine up-time without compromise and with minimal costs.
The M series features both benchtop and floor models and can be paired with a variety of tactile, laser, and rotary sensors to create the most advanced 3D multi-sensor measurement system on the market today.
New to OGP?
Schedule a demo to see how the M Series stands out thanks to its ability to measure complex parts with ease, reliability, and speed.
Already have a SmartScope?
Ask us how patented technology in M allows you to measure more!
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?
Cross Provides New Pressure and Vacuum Relief Valves Faster than the Factory
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.
In the Market for a Coriolis Flow Meter?
Coriolis meters are among the most accurate flow meters on the market and in specific applications, it makes sense to use one instead of a different technology. Because they output directly in mass, their reading is not affected by temperature and pressure as volume is. So for applications with high temperature variation or for measuring expensive materials, a Corliolis meter may be the best choice.
Cross partner AW-Lake put together this comparison of popular brands of Coriolis meters to highlight the specifications, certifications, communications and price of each. As you can see, the Tricor Classic Series of meters from AW-Lake matches the specification of some of the leading brands without the sky-high price tag. If you’re in the market for a Coriolis meter, Cross Process Solutions can help you compare models to determine the right spec at the right price for your particular application.
Cross Provides Tangible Value for You
Improve Efficiency
In industries that rely on nitrogen blanketing for tank storage, like paper processing, 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.
Raise Quality
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 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 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.
Reduce Risk
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is the insulator of choice for use in gas-insulated switchgear, breakers, and gas-insulated lines found in the transmission and distribution (T&D) industry.
T&D plant safety depends on the purity of SF6 gas, as even the smallest leak means moisture will find its way into the equipment and contaminate the gas.
To detect minute leaks and to warn of escaping gas, Cross partner WIKA has designed a range of high-quality SF6 gas sensors, detectors, pressure gauges, analyzers, and emission monitors. Their self-sealing valves and permanently gas-tight connections ensure that the gas remains safely in its designated containers.
