The Advanced Process Control (APC) from Aspen Technology, Inc. will help to support Messer’s drive towards Industry 4.0 by increasing levels of automation throughout the business.
“Our target is to have the most efficient processes in our industry. AspenTech’s APC solution allows us to reduce the variability of the human factor and consistently operate our units at the limits determined by the process, reliably, day in and day out,” said Ernst Bode, Chief Operating Officer of Messer Group GmbH.
“We can now collect tangible information to evaluate performance and expect real savings in energy consumption and a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions as a direct result of the solution. We have already initiated the first step of the roll out plan for additional plants in Europe.”
Aspen DMC3 was first implemented in one of Messer’s largest European plants and forms part of the company’s Industry 4.0 initiative. The software controls the multivariate, interactive nature of Messer’s process units and is able to reduce fluctuations in energy consumption.
By automatically engineering variables, normally changed by operators who run the unit, the process unit is optimised on a minute by minute basis. The initial pilot project exceeded all KPIs and the software was easily adopted by all employees on the site.
“Aspen DMC3 is a clear example of digital transformation in action; its uses data from within Messer to drive measurable benefits for the business,” said Matt Holland, Vice-President of Sales for Europe at Aspen Technology.