Technology/IT ¦ IDM
The SPX FLOW team brings real time data to the customer, enabling fast data-driven production decisions
Jonathan Reed, Global Head of
Automation, Electrical & Digital
Engineering, SPX FLOW: All our
cloud operations are strictly
separated from the customer’s IT
July/August 2021 ¦ international-dairy.com · 13
cloud automation solution and when the
customers requires a change we modify,
test and optimise the system in the cloud
before bringing a perfect modification to
site in the same way".
Needless to say that all this cloud
operations are strictly separated from the
customer’s IT. When developing, testing
and modifying solutions, SPX FLOW generates
input data like tank level, throughput
or temperatures from the traditional simulation
tools. The virtual PLCs can’t detect
the difference, of course, so that all work
can be done in a clean and safe environment.
Also, a migration from say Windows
7 to Windows 10 for increased cybersafety,
the test can be made (and tested for driver
and communication functionality for example)
in the cloud first before it is actually
applied to the customer’s automation hardware.
This greatly reduces downtime and
risk once on site in the real environment.
Even FATs (Factory Acceptance Test)
can now be done remotely via the cloud.
And instead of sending three to five SPX
FLOW workers to the customer’s plant for
installation there may be only one, if any,
required to attend. This, Jonathan adds,
reduces costs that the customer has to bear
greatly. Having the cloud image, customers
with the help of SPX FLOW can easily add
machines or modify the line set-up at any
later stage and test the full integration
before attending site for a shut down.
Optimisation and
modification
Line optimisation is a constant demand
that SPX FLOW gets from customers.
Jonathan told IDM of a very special case
that was all solved remotely. A customer’s
finance leader was alarmed that a production
line consumed more electricity than
in period before and called SPX FLOW
for clarification. Talking to the production
manager, SPX FLOW saw that the
reason for the "flaw" was a sequence of
products that were heat treated in a less
efficient production schedule. Changing
the sequence took out several intermediate
CIP phases and energy consumption
was down again to normal.
The Automation, Electrical & Digital
Engineering part of SPX FLOW is growing
rapidly now, says Jonathan. Headcountwise
it is currently one third of the Nutrition
and Health solutions delivery engineering
team and is rapidly expanding to signifi-
cantly increase headcount. In recognition
of its success, Automation, Electrical &
Digital Engineering was recently awarded
by SPX FLOW CEO Marc Michael with the
Global Award for Innovation at the annual
awards ceremony. As a prestigious award
in an environment of innovation it was a
real success for the team.
/international-dairy.com
