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ABB adds OPC extension to 800xA

10/05/2012

ZURICH – ABB announced that it has introduced an extension to its System 800xA integrated control system based on the new OPC-ADI specification that will simplify communication with process analyzers and multivariate data modeling programs.

System 800xA now features Analyzer Device Integration Connect (ADIc), a device interface that allows System 800xA to integrate with analyzers and chemometric predictors.

ABB developed ADIc based on the OPC Analyzer Device Integration (OPC ADI) specification, an information model that defines a common method for data exchange for process and laboratory analyzers. It is an extension of the OPC United Architecture (OPC UA) specification.

System 800xA has a 10-year history of integrating industrial devices into a unified process control environment. Now, with ADIc, System 800xA is enhanced with advanced predictive analysis capabilities by leveraging the Unscrambler X ADI Insight Server from CAMO Software. The Unscrambler X ADI Insight Server applies powerful multivariate models to data collected from analytical instruments  and/or standard process values within the System 800xA environment. It is the first multivariate data analysis (chemometric) software to follow the OPC ADI specification.

"System 800xA is all about integration. ADIc is another step towards incorporating islands of intelligence, such as analyzers, into a single automation environment," said Tobias Becker, head of ABB's Control Technologies business. "ABB takes this further by adhering to the OPC ADI specification to demonstrate that System 800xA's analytical device integration is fast yet secure, reliable and standards-based."

Complex industries that are heavy users of analyzers, as well as industries that implement process analytical technology (PAT) and quality by design (QbD) initiatives stand to reap benefits from this System 800xA extension.

ADIc also supports the integration of analyzers to manufacturing systems such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) and manufacturing execution system (MES), including production management systems such as ABB's cpmPlus.