Polymer Production Monitoring and OEE via OPC

Victrex PLC is a supplier of high performance polymer solutions and is listed on the FTSE 250.

The company’s headquarters and manufacturing facilities are based in the UK with technical and customer support facilities in multiple markets, serving more than 40 countries.

The company invested in a PlantRun OEE system for accurate polymer production monitoring across three powder plants, melt filtration and compounding system.

The Powder Plants comprise twenty five assets including poly reaction vessels, leaching processes and driers, controlled by an ABB DCS system. An OPC link allows data connection with the PlantRun system. Custom screens on existing PC displays act as an operator interface.

System facilities include product and job tracking, monitoring to detect slow speed running and entry of reasons when this occurs.

The Melt filtration and Compounding areas use PlantRun DTM04 Outstations as a rugged, cost effective operator interface, that also allows connection of the signals required from each asset. The Outstations were supplied with flashing red/green light stacks for andon calls.

PlantRun Display Node hardware was supplied for each area to allow straight forward installation of large screen KPI displays using low cost LED TV’s. Health and Safety messaging packs were included for display of health and safety graphic signs that automatically change on a weekly basis.