The SCADA middle way: the best of both worlds?

Proprietary SCADA provided by automation vendors can be challenging to use, restrictive in choice and expensive. Alternatively, independent SCADA software, controls and comms architectures demand significant expertise and resources in system design and integration. So, is there a middle way in SCADA implementation? Carl Nash, Technical Director at Products4Automation, explains how an independent SCADA package…

New UK training facility for SCADA

Products 4 Automation (P4A) is now offering a range of new UK training options for its popular suite of Movicon SCADA products. Accredited by Progea, the software’s producer, P4A’s UK training schedule is tailored to match all levels of experience, from first time users with no prior SCADA knowledge through to expert Movicon 11 and…

Super-yachts turn to industrial SCADA for reliability, safety and passenger comfort systems

Modern luxury yachts are fitted with a huge number of electrical systems and Italian company Uniproget is using Progea’s Movicon industrial automation technology to integrate them into one simple-to-use system. Natalie Turner, Sales Director at Progea’s UK distributor Products4Automation (P4A), looks at how personal comfort and safety is ensured in a demanding luxury living environment.…

Movicon SCADA drives up quality in bathroom ceramics production

For a renowned Turkish manufacturer of bathroom and sanitary ceramics looking to enhance its production with a modern supervisory system, the implementation of Movicon SCADA delivered improved management of the production process and played a key role in enabling the company to guarantee final product quality. While home potters and smaller pottery businesses tend to…

UK SCADA specialist adds to technical support team

Products 4 Automation (P4A) has appointed Jamie Biggs as a dedicated Technical Support Engineer for the UK and Ireland. His role includes product training, specification advice and tech support for users of Movicon SCADA, HMI’s and Industrial PCs.With a strong IT infrastructure background, Jamie is well placed to assist with all the most recent challenges…

SCADA keeps on embracing new technologies to improve and extend its capabilities

Ethernet connectivity and HMIs have driven change through SCADA control systems, making them radically easier to design, install and operate, thus lowering the cost of ownership for operators. The physical appearance of SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) control systems has changed notably over the last 10 years, but then so have control panels… Traditionally…

The role of SCADA in an Industry 4.0 environment

The era of Industry 4.0 heralds a model where individual production systems will no longer work in isolation but will be connected to business systems and be able to quickly adapt to changing needs. So, is there a place for SCADA in this emerging picture? As Carl Nash, Technical Director at Products4Automation, explains, SCADA is…

Control system grows with photovoltaic plant as Azerbaijan builds national renewable power network

Operators of a 22MW photovoltaic park in the Naxçıvan Autonomous Republic in Azerbaijan can control all its 8000 solar panels from one SCADA interface, which is designed to be easy and intuitive to use. The control system has been configured so that it is simple routine to accommodate extra equipment as the facility grows over…

SCADA synchronises production on opposite sides of the Atlantic

A high-volume automotive engine component production line in Italy is being integrated with a near-identical sister line in Brazil to synchronise production capacity. Key to the success of this ambitious project was the use of Movicon SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) software, which as well as being easy to connect securely with other remote…

Reduce HMI interface development times

The Movicon.NExT Project Builder provides an ideal environment to develop the HMI aspect of a project alongside the control / PLC based core automation functionality. This saves time and adds convenience for system integrators and machine builders alike. Developing applications to manage machines can increase in cost if – as is usually the case –…