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Emerson, the project's Main Instrumentation and Controls Contractor (MICC), also has begun integration and testing of the digital automation system. Upon completion of integration and testing, the company will install its PlantWeb digital architecture, assist with the expansion project's commissioning and startup, and provide operator training.

The control system is designed to produce consistency in production variability and a single electronic record of operations. The system will be used at Genentech’s Vacaville, Calif. plant, which is currently undergoing a major expansion.

Represented this year at ABB's Automation World were (18) internal business units, (4) communications partners, (10) media partners and (9) technology partners. The 40,000 sq ft of exhibits that housed this was indeed impressive. In the center of the hall was a café area where you could go and talk business with some of the over 2500 registrants from 36 countries.

The sensors replace outdated manual gauge- and fuel flow-reading processes that cost railroads time, money and personnel. The new automated fuel management systems provide railroads the ability to better manage fuel inventories and reduce labor demands.

The Emerson solution was chosen by Drax Power and Capula, the contractor undertaking the refurbishment, following presentations and demonstrations of interfacing the Rosemount 3420 fieldbus interface module to their Schneider PLC host system. Drax Power Station uses six steam boilers to generate up to 4000MW. At curre