Emerson to enhance BASF chemical plant13 June 2019
As part of its five-year investment to boost capacity and operational excellence within its global plastics additives business, BASF has awarded Emerson a multi-million-dollar contract to modernise automation software and controllers at its specialty chemical production facility in Lampertheim, Germany.
Jens Grimm, automation manager at BASF Lampertheim, says that to maximise operational efficiency and production flexibility, the company will “continue to implement the latest automation technology and systems”.
“Emerson is a trusted business partner with the proven expertise to help ensure a seamless system migration as we partner to modernise Lampertheim for successful, long-term production,” Grimm adds.
BASF will implement Emerson’s new hybrid automation solution that replaces existing programmable logic controllers (PLCs), used to control 20 reactors, with Emerson’s DeltaV PK Controller. The new hybrid technology integrates into BASF’s existing DeltaV automation system, which will reduce the cost, time and complexity of modernising the automation system, minimise start-up time for new production batches, and make switching production easier.
“Embracing digital transformation technologies and strategies is critical to achieving top performance levels,” says Jim Nyquist, group president of systems and solutions for Emerson’s Automation Solutions business. “Through the implementation of Emerson automation technologies, BASF is well-positioned to drive business performance and remain the market leader.”
Emerson will also replace an obsolete system controlling the tank farm and distillation columns at the facility, which produces additives that improve characteristics for plastics and coatings. The expansion of Emerson’s DeltaV distributed control system, which is already used to control other parts of the plant, will ensure continued efficient production and enable BASF to standardise its control architecture, helping to reduce integration complexity and operator training costs.
A key part of the project is to expand automation security protections. This advanced technology, developed with Emerson to address cybersecurity threats, has been applied at other BASF manufacturing plants. Emerson will also provide approximately 8,000 hours of on-site engineering services, a separate virtualised system to reduce hardware capital and operating costs, and lifecycle support services.
Adam Offord
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