DMC, Inc.
emergency stop buttons

Distributed Safety System for Pilot Plant

Summary

DMC was part of a joint effort among several defense contractors to design and program a control system for an R&D facility that performs mixing, casting, and assembly operations in a hazardous environment.

Solution

DMC was hired as part of a multi-company team that designed a standalone air-gapped network to host all the automated equipment for the client’s facility.

Our engineers created a control architecture with a standard hardware set. We utilized a standard library of process objects for PLC software and HMI controls. To allow operators to safely de-energize any piece of equipment from any of 11 remote control stations, DMC also designed a network of safety PLCs and other SIL 3 components.

Our team designed 30+ control panels to meet the UL508A standard. To meet hazardous location requirements, we utilized a combination of explosion-proof and intrinsically safe components. Collectively, we focused on the complete software development lifecycle, from requirements gathering to detailed design and programming, as well as the development and execution of test plans.

Finally, we coordinated with the construction team for power and telecommunication infrastructure.

Learn more about DMC’s PLC Programming Expertise and contact us for your next project.

Customer Benefits

  • Flexibility: operators can control or monitor any piece of equipment from any control station
  • Ease of training: standard user interface for all equipment
  • Maintainability: standardized controls hardware and software for all equipment
  • Safe operations

Technologies

  • Safety PLC Programming
  • HMI Programming
  • Network Design
  • Virtualization
  • Redundant PLCs