Invensys and Apprion Implement Managed Wireless Communications Infrastructure at PPG Lake Charles Chemical Complex
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Provides secure wireless network access for condition monitoring, video security and environmental monitoring, and human interface applications
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, USA (ARC BOSTON FORUM) - June 26, 2006 - As part of an ongoing automation upgrade at the site, Invensys -- in conjunction with its strategic partner, Apprion -- has successfully completed the first phase of a comprehensive managed wireless infrastructure deployment at PPG Industries' large chlor-alkali chemical manufacturing complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana. This infrastructure is designed to help further improve plant profitability, safety, and security, while providing a secure, flexible, and cost-effective foundation to support additional wireless applications in the future.
Invensys and Apprion implemented a common, layered network infrastructure following a comprehensive site assessment. The critical site assessment was conducted by a team that included Invensys, Apprion, and PPG personnel representing production operations, maintenance, safety, security and information technology functions. The new infrastructure incorporates multiple wireless technologies (both standard and proprietary), wireless devices, and wireless-enabled applications. Apprion's IONosphere software platform provided the key enabling technology for security, policy and performance management of the entire wireless infrastructure. Phase 1 wireless applications now in place at the site include:
o Wireless temperature condition monitoring
o Wireless site security monitoring (including remote video surveillance)
o Wireless environmental monitoring to help simplify regulatory compliance
o Secure wireless laptop and PDA access to provide authorized personnel with remote access to the site's enterprise network
"Wireless coverage, services, and applications for huge plants like PPG Lake Charles have been infeasible until recently," commented ARC Advisory Group Senior Analyst Harry Forbes. "This is clearly no longer the case. Now the challenge is to deploy and maintain a wireless infrastructure that can grow to support greater numbers and varieties of applications, and do so reliably and securely over a long period of time. It's encouraging to see a wide variety of applications in this first phase of the project. I expect many more will be added as the 'network effect' begins to occur at plants like PPG and they realize the potential value of this new infrastructure."
Introduced at the 2005 ISA EXPO in Chicago, Invensys' unique managed network wireless strategy centers around shared access point technology and common data and security models for all wireless devices - regardless of vendor or application. As currently demonstrated at the PPG Lake Charles facility, Invensys' comprehensive approach provides the freedom to select the wireless technologies that are best for any given application, while helping ensure appropriate levels of integration, robustness, and security for all industrial and enterprise wireless applications.
About PPG
PPG Industries (www.ppg.com) is a leading diversified manufacturer that supplies products and services around the world. The company makes protective and decorative coatings, adhesives, sealants, metal pretreatment products, flat glass, fabricated glass products, continuous-strand fiber glass products, and chlor-alkali and specialty chemicals - including photochromic ophthalmic lenses, optical materials, amorphous precipitated silicas and fine chemicals. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, PPG has 110 manufacturing facilities and equity affiliates in more than 20 countries.
About Invensys
Invensys is the world leader in industrial asset performance management. In addition to its rapidly expanding Global Solutions and Performance Management services groups, Invensys' automation businesses includes industry-leading brands such as Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, Wonderware, and Avantis, whose products are installed in more than 100,000 plants across the world. These range from small hybrid and batch plants to the world's largest upstream projects, refineries, gas plants, petrochemicals plants, power plants, and pulp and paper mills.
The Invensys Group (www.invensys.com) is headquartered in London and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, with approximately 30,000 employees working in 60 countries.
About Apprion
Apprion provides engineering, consulting services, an enterprise-wide architected software platform and applications that optimize the management, performance and business value of wireless systems deployed in industrial manufacturing environments. Apprion provides a secure, scalable and affordable method to deploy a common wireless infrastructure across the facility, and across multiple operational areas to help cut costs, improve efficiency, productivity and performance, enhance safety and security, and provide more meaningful analytical metrics of plant systems and assets. Headquartered at the NASA Ames Research Park in Moffett Field, Calif., more information can be found about Apprion at: www.apprion.com, by e-mail at apprioninfo@apparion.com, or by phone at 650/964-4321.
CONTACTS:
Paul Miller,
508/549-6240
paul.miller@ips.invensys.com
Andrew Bronson,
650 934-5722
andrew.bronson@apprion.com
