First Mining Drc-Zambia 2023 First Mining Drc-Zambia July -August 2023 digital magazine | Page 16

TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY

Making a world of difference with process automation

Integrated process and electrical control and power management increase energy efficiency of operations , and reliably incorporate renewable energy sources . Digital technologies furthermore allow experts to cost-effectively design and deploy such integrated systems for efficiency , ease-of-use , and energy optimisation .

Across societies and economies , many of us take it for granted that we have reliable power at the flip of a switch , that water flows at the turn of a tap , or that goods are available at our fingertips . What we rarely think about are the sophisticated , interconnected processes , systems , technologies , and operations working around the clock to enable everyday life as many of us know it .

ABB ’ s ‘ Making a World of Difference ’ programme demonstrates how its automating , electrifying , and digital technologies are making a world of difference by enabling industries to become more efficient and sustainable , from hydrogen and mining to water , shipping , emissions monitoring , and automation . ABB ’ s involvement also extends to hydrocarbons , pulp and paper , ports , food and beverage , and metals . “ Our technologies and experts orchestrate industrial processes , machinery and systems to operate seamlessly and efficiently to enable our everyday ,” says John Manuell , Local Division Manager , ABB .
At the heart of this seeming ‘ magic ’ in the background is process automation . For nearly 50 years , automated measurement and control of plants and processes has been central to empowering the industries that provide the basic building blocks of our everyday lives – power , water , metals , minerals , chemicals , transportation – to reliably meet our needs .
Today , fuelled by economic and population growth , these industries are working hard to meet one of their greatest challenges : reducing emissions and increasing the share of low-carbon sources in their energy mix . ABB ’ s integrated automation and electrical systems are essential to supporting industries on their sustainability journey , helping control production while optimising the use of power and navigating the energy transition .
For more than a century , automation systems have been enabling industries that provide the basic building blocks of our everyday lives . And for over 40 years , ABB has built and maintained a leadership position in Distributed Control Systems ( DCS ) that are at the heart of some of the largest and most critical operations on our planet .
For many producers , a key action is to electrify processes formerly powered by combustion and fossil fuels , to enable a transition to greener energy sources .
To maximise economies of scale , many plants today produce single commodities . At the same time , demand for customisation drives smaller , specialised plants that are close to the customer . Automation must scale to address these varying needs . Automation is a significant asset base for producers , and often the digital core of the business . As digitalisation progresses , operational and information technology will converge , allowing valueadding applications to run on the ‘ edge ’ of the process , or in the cloud .
“ The control system of tomorrow will leverage new business models that facilitate change , while conforming to work-place expectations . ‘ Automationas-a-service ’, with readily accessible and selectable applications , will provide options alongside traditional business models ,” predicts Manuell .
Without the energy , materials and commodities that underpin our lives , and the technologies , systems , and people that automate , electrify , and digitalise the infrastructures that provide them , our world would not be the same . We are proud to contribute to orchestrating industries and society to run safer , smarter , and more sustainably , and help conduct the magic behind our everyday lives – through process automation .
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