April 19, 2009 — Risk exists wherever hazardous materials are stored, processed or handled. These risks are especially complex in the specialty chemical industry, where hazards have the potential to impact large populations and surrounding environments. A white paper from Rockwell Automation, “Process Safety in Specialty Chemicals: Turning Industry Challenges Into Opportunities,” examines how new industry safety standards and technologies are helping protect people, equipment and the environment while reducing costs in specialty chemical applications. The specialty chemical industry employs many types of control systems that continuously manage parameters, such as temperature, flow, pressure, weight and viscosity.
“Until recently, these manufacturers largely depended on separate, independent and diverse systems for control and safety,” writes Art Pietrzyk, critical process control and safety segment manager, Rockwell Automation. “Today, investing in more integrated platforms for safety and process controls provides a common infrastructure that mitigates production risk, simplifies asset management, as well as reduces operation, maintenance and training costs.” The biggest advantage of this integration is the ability to leverage the data and diagnostics streaming from critical production assets, making production more efficient and keeping companies highly competitive, according to the paper. Rockwell Automation, Inc.
(NYSE: ROK) is a leading global provider of industrial automation power, control and information solutions that help manufacturers achieve a competitive advantage for their businesses. The company brings together leading global brands in industrial automation that include Allen Bradley controls and services, and Rockwell Software factory management software. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., the company employs about 20,000 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.