ATLANTA, October 19, 2005 – The Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. plant in Wichita, Kan., recently completed the first of two phases migrating from a decades old continuous process control system to Siemens SIMATIC PCS 7 distributed control system with SIMATIC BATCH management software.By the end of 2005, Air Products expects the new automation system from Siemens Energy and Automation will help reduce costs by several million dollars.The savings will come from a combination of improved product yield, lower energy costs, and reduced requirements for raw materials and laboratory analysis.
The migration also successfully preserved Air Product’s existing investment in field wiring and devices. “We now have a fixed means of producing our chemicals, and it will be consistent shift after shift, hour after hour,” Plant Manager Ramon Lopez said. “That reduces raw material costs. Being able to operate the equipment consistently all the time will also reduce the maintenance of that equipment.” The first phase of Air Products’ Automation Control Initiative (ACI) focused on its South Plant, a hydrogen reaction facility specializing in polyurethane curing agents, and additives sold to chemical, coatings, paint, and foam companies.
Depending on customer orders, the plant normally produces 35 different products, but has the capability of manufacturing up to 250. Air Products is a leading global supplier of gases, chemicals, and equipment to high growth markets, including electronics, performance materials, refinery hydrogen and energy, and healthcare. Operating in more than 30 countries, Air Products is headquartered in eastern Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, near Allentown.
About Siemens
Siemens Energy and Automation Inc. is one of Siemens’ operating companies in the U.S. Headquartered in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, Ga., Siemens Energy & Automation manufactures and markets one of the world’s broadest ranges of electrical and electronic products, systems and services to industrial and construction market customers.
Its technologies range from circuit protection and energy management systems to process control, industrial software and totally integrated automation solutions. The company also has expertise in systems integration, technical services and turnkey industrial systems.
For more information: www.sea.siemens.com .
Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) is one of the largest global electronics and engineering companies with reported worldwide sales of $91.5 billion in fiscal 2004. Founded more than 150 years ago, the company is a leader in the areas of Medical, Power, Automation and Control, Transportation, Information and Communications, Lighting, Building Technologies, Water Technologies and Services and Home Appliances.
With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA has sales of $16.6 billion and employs 70,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Eleven of Siemens' worldwide businesses are based in the United States.
With its global headquarters in Munich, Siemens AG and its subsidiaries employ 430,000 people in 192 countries. For more information on Siemens in the United States: www.usa.siemens.com
