ABB Accuray Systems Measurement systems

Accuray Systems

AccuRay designed, manufactured and marketed computer-based automation and management

information systems for manufacturing processes to save raw materials and energy,

increase productivity, lower costs and improve product quality. AccuRay automation systems

controlled manufacturing processes in the pulp and paper, rubber, plastics, textile and metals industries.

AccuRay systems measured the basic properties of materials, such as weight, moisture, thickness, width, opacity and component content.

The technologies for performing such measurements employed a variety of physical and electronic principles that included nuclear,

X-ray, infrared, radio frequency, optical, pneumatic and electromagnetic techniques.

AccuRay technology and expertise has helped ABB maintain its status as the leading provider

of measurement and control technologies for the Pulp and Paper industries.

Technology Trends

Technology is changing our behavior at a fast pace. A large part

of today’s modern process automation system now consists of

server-client technology, inherited from the office automation

(IT) world. With the introduction of open standards for operating

systems and standard PC hardware and software, a new

challenge was introduced to process automation system owners.

In the past there was a level of protection from frequent software

updates and constantly increasing connectivity requirements,

now these parameters are in a constant state of flux. The

industry has embraced this technology as process automation

supplier’s shift from proprietary hardware and software to

custom-off-the-shelf (COTS).

The current technology environment creates both challenges and

opportunities to users when it comes to maintaining a modern

Quality Control System. The challenge for users is to ensure that

new PC-based software is kept up-to-date to maintain security

and performance levels. The opportunity for users with older

classic QCS systems is to extend support for their existing

control software investment, while establishing an affordable path

to the next generation of functionality. ABB QCS800xA Quality

Control solution built on the System 800xA platform is representative of this technology shift. The need for automation suppliers

to provide an active lifecycle management program is clear.

Automation Sentinel is ABB’s program designed to address

lifecycle management needs and provide the best overall ROI for

your past, present and future software investments and ensures

PC software is kept current for the latest QCS800xA solution.

Protect the value of ABB classic Quality Control Systems with lifecycle migration

to the latest QCS800xA solution.

However, Automation Sentinel’s subscription program goes

much further to target the installed base of classic 1180M, 1190,

and Nexus solutions to provide an affordable way to upgrade

software to gain productivity benefits from the latest System

800xA solution. ABB upgrade programs go beyond rip and

replace solely for obsolescence in an effort to reuse as much of

the existing equipment as possible. ABB addresses customer’s

business critical needs to bring value and increased capabilities

that truly increase customer ROI and solve problems. Let’s review

typical classic QCS system upgrades in greater detail.

AccuRay 1180M and 1190 Upgrades

For AccuRay 1180M and 1190 QCS systems, the Automation

Sentinel subscription program cost effectively maps existing

software over to the latest QCS800xA software. Expansion

software not available in these classic systems is available to

address business critical needs. With older 1180M and 1190

QCS systems there are often hardware obsolescence issues that

need to be addressed. A site survey by ABB engineers is a first

step to determine the lifecycle status of key QCS subsystems

and identify support and failure risks. Modular hardware upgrades

are available such as Measurement Platform to Network Platform

upgrades and the rebuild of the front-end electronics of Profiler

subsystems. By moving scanners and profilers to the latest

QCS800xA architecture users can upgrade to QC Aspect

Workplaces. Both scanning platform and profilers subsystem

upgrades are designed to reuse much of the existing hardware

to leverage previous equipment investments.