• ABB and Hewlett Packard Enterprise announced a strategic global partnership on Nov. 28 that will combine ABB's digital offerings such as ABB Ability with HPE’s hybrid IT solutions. ABB and HPE will deliver joint industry solutions that merge OT and IT to turn big industrial data into insights and automatic action, combining cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure with IT systems running in corporate data centers and at the edge of the network.
• Schneider Electric reported Dec. 5 that its process automation product development centers in Calgary, Alberta, and Lake Forest, Calif., have been certified by exida, a globally recognized ISO 17065 certification body. These designations complement exida’s first certifications for Security Development Lifecycle Assurance (SDLA) awarded to three other Schneider Electric product development centers in 2016. Schneider Electric is also the first process automation firm to receive an ISASecure SDLA Level Two compliance certification, which was also awarded to its Calgary location.
• In collaboration with Endress+Hauser, Aucotec AG reported Nov. 15 that it's created an online link from the engineering department to current device information of the measuring technology manufacturer. This gives users of its Engineering Base (EB) software direct access to data throughout the service life of measuring devices, and includes instruction manuals, certificates, maintenance details and calibration procedures. Endress+Hauser will supply this data via its W@M Life Cycle Management Portal, which stores the details of about 24 million devices.
More signals and indicators:
• Auburn Systems and FilterSense have merged to create a leading provider of particulate monitors and intelligent controls for filtration systems, such as baghouses, dust collectors etc., and related material flow processes. They report that their new company, Auburn FilterSense LLC, will leverage more than 60 years of combined experience and application knowledge from over 75,000 installations. The merger is growth-oriented, and all employees, product brands and sales channels will be retained.
• Emerson Automation Solutions reported Nov. 6 that Engie has awarded it a contract to replace legacy combustion turbine controls with Emerson's Ovation turbine control technology at Engie's DK6 800-MW, combined-cycle power plant in Dunkirk, France. Existing controls on the plant’s two Alstom GT13 combustion turbines are obsolete. The Ovation controls will be installed at each unit during a 13-day outage.
