PPG chemical site going wireless
3 Jul 2006
The facilities include secure wireless network access for condition monitoring, video security and environmental monitoring, and human interface applications, said Invensys, which has completed the first phase of the deployment at the US site,
Phase 1 of the wireless project has covered temperature condition monitoring, site security monitoring and environmental monitoring as well as secure wireless laptop and PDA facilities providing remote access to the site’s enterprise network.
Invensys is applying its managed network wireless strategy at the Lake Charles site. This approach uses shared access point technology and common data and security models for all wireless devices — independent of the vendor or application.
The new infrastructure incorporates multiple wireless technologies, wireless devices, and wireless-enabled applications, said a 27 June Invensys statement. This, it added, will “improve plant profitability, safety, and security, while providing a … foundation to support additional wireless applications in the future.”
Invensys is collaborating on the PPG project with Apprion www.apprion.com, with a shared remit of implementing a common, layered network infrastructure following a comprehensive site assessment. Apprion’s IONosphere software platform is the main enabling technology for security, policy and performance management of the entire wireless infrastructure, said Invensys.
The PPG wireless project shows how this technology has now become highly feasible for large chemical plants, according to ARC Advisory Group Senior Analyst Harry Forbes.
“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,” said Forbes.
