Honeywell Process Solutions has launched its latest version of Experion PKS Orion, featuring capabilities that allow industrial plants to implement automation projects faster and more efficiently, while making it easier to manage daily operations.

Today’s global business environment requires organisations to be more flexible and responsive to the changing supply and demand conditions. It is critical for industrial facilities to achieve their automation objectives both on time and within budget, while minimising operational costs.

Experion PKS Orion helps industrial plants meet those needs while leveraging process knowledge that makes project teams more flexible and efficient. The new system now employs a distinctive portfolio of scalable capabilities for innovative project execution and system management.

“Experion PKS Orion represents a shift in project implementation strategies based on new approaches such as virtualisation, Universal Channel Technology and using the cloud to design projects remotely,” said Frank Whitsura, vice president, Honeywell Process Solutions. “The project workflow, when implementing process control and safety systems, can now be adjusted to shorten schedules and minimise risk through every phase of the project.”

Experion Virtualisation Solutions and remotely configurable Universal I/O cabinets allow for late-stage design changes and better hardware management. Capabilities like Experion Collaboration Station and Experion SCADA’s Human-Machine Interface (HMI) provide teams with the ability to share information across geographically dispersed locations and simplify operations over thousands of assets.

Experion PKS Orion is the only industrial process system using Universal Channel Technology to allow instant, remote configuration of both process and safety I/O—without additional hardware—permitting the use of standardised cabinets. Universal I/O modules reduce equipment requirements and footprint, and can be quickly configured for multiple channel types.

The new Experion SCADA simplifies configuration over thousands of assets and improves operational performance with an enhanced HMI. Equipment-based configuration requires minimal effort by using best practice templates containing not just the SCADA points, but the entire operator interface. In addition, dashboard style presentation and task-based filters focus attention on what’s important.

Experion PKS Orion is also the first system to use blade server technology for advanced virtualisation capabilities. Leveraging virtualisation, upfront hardware requirements can be delayed so hardware is more current when the project is handed over.

With the Experion Collaboration Station, users can display both business and process information in a common view supporting faster resolution of routine or abnormal situations. Additionally, Honeywell is the only automation vendor to incorporate Abnormal Situation Management (ASM) Consortium principles in its SCADA design.

Related interoperability improvements providing engineering and operations flexibility include: expanded options with Profibus PA and Ethernet IP, modernisation of legacy controllers and unified operations with Distributed System Architecture (DSA) Events and System Alarm Routing.