One model produces multiple paybacks
15 Jan 2000
On page s5 we look at the current state of the market for process simulation products. To put those products, and their capabilities, into perspective one only needs to consider the benefits gained from a typical application of simulation technology. Ciba Speciality Chemicals is currently building a new production site in Shanghai, China, and is using Cape Software's VPLink I/O simulator (330 on enquiry card) to test more than 1000 pages of sequence logic for the plant's control system.
Control is via a Moore Products APACS system (see page s15) and includes more than 300 sequences with 20 controllers connected to 2500 I/O points for continuous and batch oprations.
Cape's London office supplied three copies of the VPLink package for use during system acceptance at Moore's US headquarters; on site in Shanghai; and at Ciba's engineering division in Kaisten, Switzerland. Jean-Claude Meyer, head of IT for Ciba at Kaisten, says: `It is impossible to test something on this scale rigorously without using simulation. We are very pleased so far.'
