In this episode of Control Amplified, editor in chief Len Vermillion runs down highlights from the Safety and Risk Conference at the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center at Texas A&M University and Aveva World 2024 in Paris.

Len Vermillion and the rest of the Control team was in Houston for Yokogawa’s YNOW users’ conference during the week of Oct. 28. He came away with five key points that were made throughout the conference, topics that found their way into several sessions that were on the tops of people’s minds.

It’s already been three years since Emerson unveiled the concept of Boundless Automation as its future vision of operational technology architecture at Emerson Exchange 2021 in Nashville. How has the automation landscape evolved since then? Joining Control publisher Keith Larson for a wide-ranging discussion on AI, sustainability, Boundless Automation and a bit of a preview of next spring’s Emerson Exchange Americas event in San Antonio, is Peter Zornio, chief technology officer for Emerson.

Resilience, the ability to carry on in the face of adversity, is a hot topic among those who manage industrial systems. Automatic server failover is an important building block for making automation systems resilient. Not long ago, this was a luxury only large systems could afford. With increased accountability and advances in technology, industrial users of every size are now obliged to consider how redundancy can increase system resilience.  Chris Little, media relations director at Trihedral Engineering Limited, creators of VTScada software, talked with Control about five questions users must ask to ensure a new SCADA application will support redundancy.

In this episode of Control Amplified, written by Ajinomoto's Meg Lashier and Control Station's Ziair DeLeon, editor in chief Len Vermillion shares how Ajinomoto amped up production with technology investments.

Len Vermillion talks about something that’s been on the tongues of many for a couple of years now, but it seems to really be heating up again now that digitalization and remote operations are in the forefront of everyone’s minds, and that is Ethernet-APL.

In this episode of Control Amplified, editor-in-chief Len Vermillion discusses flow measurement in the second half of a two-part series.

In this episode of Control Amplified, editor-in-chief Len Vermillion discusses flow measurement in the first half of a two-part series.

In this episode of the Control Amplified podcast, publisher Keith Larson talks with Shalab “Shalli” Kumar, founder and chairman of EZAutomation.

The classic economic definition of the total cost of ownership (TCO) is the purchase price of an asset plus its operating costs over the asset’s lifespan. While this may be relatively easy to calculate for hard goods like a piece of machinery, the cost factors for soft goods, such as SCADA software, are more complicated to ascertain due to their wide range of features and licensing models. Control talked with Barry Baker, vice president of Trihedral Engineering Limited, to gain some insights from his more than 30 years of SCADA systems experience in many diverse industries.

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are becoming more prevalent as electrification takes hold of energy and transportation sectors. The manufacturing of these batteries requires a production and distribution process model that can keep up with the growing demand. Control spoke with Kenny Marks, Lithium and Battery Business Development Manager at Emerson, to get a sense of the challenges that customers encounter and innovative automation solutions that can help increase speed to market and help ensure reliable project execution.

Mark Darby works extensively with gas refineries and chemical processing plants. He also serves on the advisory board at Texas Tech University.

Marcos Peluso served as director of development for fieldbus at Emerson. Peluso worked on many projects over the years, but his work on developing Foundation Fieldbus is the capstone to a stellar career.

Joe Weiss is managing partner of Applied Control Solutions Inc., and an ISA99 ICS cybersecurity pioneer and blogger.

You're probably aware of the important role that supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) software plays in managing automation systems used by water or power utilities, national broadcasters or scientists. You’re also likely aware of the role custom coding plays when configuring these applications for users. However, you may be less aware of the ongoing price of each line of code that, if not carefully managed, can reduce performance, reliability, and longevity of critical SCADA systems. Control talked with Chris Little, media relations director for Trihedral Engineering Limited, to find out how systems integrators and in-house developers can create advanced SCADA solutions that aren’t limited by rapidly aging code.

Automation is becoming increasingly open and vendor-agnostic. Likewise, field devices that must be digitalized and interoperable for reporting, maintenance, analytics and decision-making are becoming more remote and automated. Recently, Schneider Electric’s Marcel Rameil, global offer manager for Control Software for Foxboro DCS, and Thad Frost, business leader for Foxboro DCS, talked with Control about today’s best practices for all aspects of plant automation, and how autonomous plant operations can be achieved.

In this episode of Control Amplified, group publisher Keith Larson speaks to Gerry Abbey, manager of analysts, relations and insights at Rockwell Automation, about Rockwell's ninth annual State of Smart Manufacturing report.

Tom Reiter has more than 35 years of application and engineering expertise in the electronics and automation industry. He has been with Schneider Electric and Pro-face for more than 10 years as a sales and product application engineer focusing on digital factory and HMI solutions. His knowledge of programming, device connectivity, and customer solution development has been crafted throughout his experiences in the field and customer interactions. With a lifetime of experience, he can look at any situation and provide a unique, thoughtful, well-rounded solution. His inspiration comes from the excitement of seeing automation in practice and thrives on the challenge of exceeding customer needs.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a hydrocarbon gas consisting primarily of propane, butane, or a mixture of both. Because it produces lower greenhouse gas emissions than traditional solid fuels, there's increasing demand for LPG across the world. In fact, some governments have implemented policies and initiatives to promote the use of LPG to reduce air pollution and improve public health. This increased demand puts the onus on storage terminals to use their capacity as efficiently as possible, by optimizing inventory management and safety. This can be achieved by integrating non-contacting radar level gauges into tank gauging systems. Control’s editor-in-chief, Len Vermillion, spoke with Tomas Hasselgren, manager of global business development at Emerson, about the challenges of LPG tank gauging, and the benefits that can be achieved by using non-contacting radar level gauges rather than traditional level measurement technology.

Upgrading the operations of a plant most likely involves automation. Software-centric open automation streamlines operations while increasing collaboration and productivity in industrial environments. So, what’s the true value of open automation to industry? To get the answer, Control’s editor-in-chief, Len Vermillion, talked to Domenico Napoli, future offers leader for process automation at Schneider Electric, during a recent episode of the Control Amplified podcast.

Coriolis meters have many benefits and advantages for process industry applications. Coriolis technology continues to gain popularity with operators because it offers a more direct approach to flow measurement than traditional flowmeters. Control’s editor-in-chief, Len Vermillion, asked Thomas Sautier, director of sensor product management at Emerson, about the innovative capabilities of Coriolis flowmeters, including the Micro Motion G-Series Coriolis flow and density meters, on a recent edition of the Control Amplified podcast. Specifically, they discussed how the technology can benefit industrial applications.

Len Vermillion is joined by Dustin Johnson, CTO of Seeq, to dive into generative artificial intelligence and address how organizations can communicate their GenAI strategies effectively internally.

In recent years, rising inflation has led to increased pressure to control the cost of industrial projects. This is true of municipal utilities trying to responsibly use taxpayer dollars as well as manufacturers struggling to remain competitive. SCADA software manufacturers have always experienced this pressure. Chris Little of Trihedral Engineering Limited, makers of VTScada monitoring and control software, recently appeared on the Control Amplified podcast with Control’s editor in chief, Len Vermillion.  On the podcast, available at ControlGlobal.com/podcasts, they discussed why discounting software can never deliver the savings that industry needs. In fact, the key to unlocking those savings lies in how you use the supervisory control and data acquisition software itself.

Radar level measurement technology has gone through many changes over the years. Keith Riley, product marketing manager for level and pressure technologies at Endress+Hauser, recently spoke with Control editor-in-chief Len Vermillion about those changes and specifically 80 GHz radar level measurement technology.

Emerson recently launched the Micro Motion 4700 Coriolis Config I/O transmitter. To explore its capabilities, Control editor-in-chief Len Vermillion spoke with Brett Sibel, product manager at Emerson. Sibel worked as a product engineer and product manager in various industries such as electronics, biomedical design and automation solutions, so he understands the varying needs of plant managers.

Carbon-capture utilization and storage (CCUS) is one the most discussed techniques for curbing carbon emissions in the Earth’s atmosphere. Many oil and gas operators have looked at investing in carbon-capture solutions, particularly recently as calls for viable solutions to climate change grow louder. In a recent episode of the Control Amplified podcast, Brandon Bromberek, VP of oil and gas for Emerson's measurement solutions business, told Control’s editor-in-chief, Len Vermillion, how carbon capture can help usher in the energy transition and the value chain that coincides with its rise.

Generative AI is a topic on the minds of a lot of people these days. The emergence of automation intelligence, especially over the last two years, has disrupted the way industry thinks about future operations. Although scary to many people, generative AI ushers in new and exciting possibilities for manufacturers and process industries. It has the potential to reshape the way they analyze data, optimize operations and make critical decisions. To learn more, Control editor-in-chief Len Vermillion hosts Dustin Johnson, CTO of Seeq, which provides analytics software to process industries.

While innovation happens frequently in process automation, safety is sometimes “out of scope.” There are many reasons, but one primary reason is it can be a scary proposition for many operators to trust artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to do jobs that humans historically handle. And, with barriers such as cybersecurity concerns and a daunting amount of software tools to choose from, the prospect of handing over security and safety in process applications sometimes ends up being pushed to the background. However, even if there’s reluctance to work with software for process safety applications, tomorrow it will be a reality. Chris Stogner, Triconex safety and critical control leader at Schneider Electric, talked with Control’s editor-in-chief, Len Vermillion, for a recent episode of the Control Amplified podcast to discuss the barriers to adoption and how industry can overcome them.

Combining optimization and sustainability is no easy task because it requires reconciling some historical differences between these two goals. To help customers resolve these issues, Endress+Hauser relies on its expertise in energy efficiency in utilities and plant optimization with instrumentation. Mark Thomas, industry marketing group manager at Endress+Hauser USA, spoke with Control’s executive editor, Jim Montague, about these capabilities, and how its customers can implement them to go green and profit at the same time.

Len Vermillion is joined by Tyrone Visser, business development manager, Linux & IIoT, Wago

Traditionally, process plants were deployed with point-to-point wiring, custom, multi-pair homerun cables and large complex marshalling cabinets with hundreds or sometimes thousands of termination points. Deploying remote I/O in large-scale plants can deliver major positive impacts thanks to easier installation, simpler serviceability and reduced cabinet space. Jesse Hill, process industry manager at Beckhoff Automation USA, recently talked with Control’s editor-in-chief, Len Vermillion, about the many benefits of remote I/O, including enhanced physical layer diagnostics, wiring reductions, lower cost, and increased flexibility in plant network topologies.

Connecting operational technology (OT) with information technology (IT) in process applications offers many distinct advantages for processing plants. While technology has made the task easier, there are still challenges to consider. That’s why following several best practices can save plant operators a lot of headaches down the road.

One of the most important considerations for new and updated monitoring and control applications is scalability. The question is: once a significant investment is made, how do end users get the most return on their investment? Or more simply put, how long will the system last? Chris Little, media relations, VTScada by Trihedral, talked with Control editor-in-chief Len Vermillion as they wondered, "What if a SCADA system could last 100 years?"

Advantech is in the midst of a big year. Specifically, the developer of intelligent systems and embedded platforms for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, the company recently announced a succession plan for the future and a held a groundbreaking for a new North American headquarters in Tusin, Calif. Joseph Su, director of business operations at Advantech talked with Control editor-in-chief Len Vermillion about the company’s 40-year history and its future.

Measurement technology has become a vital piece of the puzzle for hydrogen’s growth as a resource for energy transition. But where and how can flow measurement, such as Coriolis sensors, help the overall process of hydrogen development. Mark Butler is an application innovation director in the measurement solutions business unit at Emerson, and he joined Control’s editor-in-chief, Len Vermillion, for a detailed conversation about hydrogen’s potential and the flow measurement technologies being used to facilitate the three main functions that deliver hydrogen as an alternative way of handling energy.

In today’s industry, the trend is to move away from standalone PCs. Why? Many end-users in the process industries find benefits in modularization. Marc Seissler and Aaron Severa, both of Pepperl+Fuchs, recently talked to Control editor-in-chief Len Vermillion about industrial PC trends and process automation to provide some answers. Seissler is head of product management for HMI and based in the Manheim, Germany, headquarters of Pepperl+Fuchs. Severa is a regional product manager and Level 2 technical support for the Americas region.

Power systems for plant-level process control continue to evolve, particularly as the quest to create efficient and sustainable operations garners increased importance for industry. Technology is already addressing operators’ need for high-powered, flexible and fast-distributed control. Chris Smith, Director of EcoStruxure Power and Process, Industrial Automation Business, Schneider Electric, talked with Control’s editor-in-chief, Len Vermillion, about the emerging landscape of power and process control systems.

A Control Amplified podcast with Christoffer Widahl, director of solutions management for radar new markets at Emerson.

A Control Amplified podcast with Chris Hamlin, capability development lead at Seeq.

A Control Amplified podcast with Ilya Rikhter, general manager of Rosemount Process Level at Emerson.

A Control Amplified podcast with John Wozniak, product manager for automation digital products at Wago Corporation.

Hydrogen is a sustainable fuel solution that is quickly gaining traction in the global marketplace. Despite it being an efficient and sustainable energy source, hydrogen dispensing requires the utmost safety parameters to ensure risk are mitigated. That is especially true for one of green hydrogen’s primary potential uses – vehicles such as trucks and tank cars.   Emerson Automation Solutions is on the forefront of solving the safety risks present in hydrogen dispensing thanks to one of its newest products, the Micro Motion High-Pressure Coriolis HPC020 Flowmeter, which is set to debut in March.   Genny Fultz, global product manager for Emerson Automation Solutions, talked with Control about the new unit, the increasing market interest in hydrogen, the challenges facing dispensing, and the safety and cost benefits of HPC020.    Read the transcript: https://controlglobal.com/33000065 

It’s been more than 10 years now since Marc Andreesen proclaimed that “software is eating the world.” To discuss the rise of software in the automation sector and other salient issues facing the industrial enterprise, Keith Larson is joined by Robin Saitz, chief marketing office for Rockwell Automation on this latest episode of Control Amplified: The Process Automation Podcast. Read the transcript: https://controlglobal.com/33000054 

When faced with challenges, having a little help can make the biggest difference. In this episode of Control Amplified: The Process Automation Podcast, Keith Larson is joined by  Skip Tierno, chairman, and Teresa Sebring, president, Measurement Control & Automation Association (MCAA), to learn how the association is assisting its members and partners in dealing with the challenges brought on by the COVID pandemic, the worker shortage, and more.  Read the transcript: https://controlglobal.com/33000023 

In November 2021, Compressor Controls Corporation (CCC) and Yokogawa Electric Corporation announced a partnership for a jointly developed integrated solution for process and turbomachinery control called CCC Inside. Just a couple of months ago, they released enhancements to their solution with additional function blocks. Historically, CCC is famous for turbomachinery controls and Yokogawa for process control. Now, they bring the two pieces together. Control Editor in Chief Len Vermillion is joined by Michael Ilchenko, product director, Compressor Controls Corporation, and John Gracia, system consultant, DCS, Yokogawa Electric Company to learn more. This episode of Control Amplified was sponsored by Compressor Controls Corporation. Read the transcript: https://controlglobal.com/21546058

In this special edition of Control Amplified: The Process Automation Podcast, we bring you an interview from the Remaking Industry podcast from Smart Industry magazine. In this guest episode, Smart Industry editor in chief Chris McNamara is joined by Paul Sereiko, director of marketing, FieldComm Group, to discuss the impacts of digitalization and some of the organization's latest collaborations to create standards that encourage interoperability. Learn more about FieldComm Group: https://www.fieldcommgroup.org/  Read the transcript: https://controlglobal.com/21439148 

It’s been some three decades since the Purdue model first formalized the seven-layer pyramid for “computer-integrated manufacturing." While the model’s intent was primarily functional, form often follows function, and the intervening decades have left us with complex strata and siloes of isolated data that is difficult to integrate and contextualize. Peter Zornio, chief technology officer for Emerson’s Automation Solutions business, joins Keith Larson to discuss a new vision of a flatter, software-based architecture for process automation that democratizes data and enables optimization without all the former hurdles. Learn more about Emerson Automation Solutions: https://www.emerson.com/en-us/automation/home Read the transcript: https://controlglobal.com/21438713

The touch panel has a long and storied history in the industrial automation arena. To better understand the changing roles and capabilities of the not-so-humble touch panel in today's production environments, Keith Larson is joined by John Wozniak, product manager for digital automation projects with Wago. Read the transcript: https://controlglobal.com/21438616