The latest version of the OpreX™ Collaborative Information Server, a product in the OpreX Control and Safety Systems lineup, feature enhancements that strengthen its usability, multi-vendor integration capabilities, and overall system security, thereby increasing its operability as an integrated human machine interface (HMI). OpreX Collaborative Information Server provides an information infrastructure that collects and centrally manages the vast amounts of data generated by equipment and systems in plants, wherever they may be located around the world, enabling cross-functional visibility across all production activities. By delivering the necessary information at the right time through integrated and remote operation environments, the system supports efficient plant operations and rapid decision-making. Throughout the process industry, many different kinds of machinery and equipment are in use at manufacturing plants and other types of facilities. This is driving the need for an integrated HMI environment that will enable efficient operation and monitoring while providing an overview of the entire production facility. At the same time, this demand by field operators for the migration to new systems is accompanied by a desire to retain the same screen layouts and operational look and feel of the control systems they are currently using. Although OpreX Collaborative Information Server is now increasingly used as an integrated HMI, additional engineering has sometimes been required to ensure a familiar operational environment and high compatibility with the human interface station (HIS) of this company’s CENTUM VP integrated production control system, which is part of the same OpreX Control and Safety Systems lineup. Furthermore, as the use of devices and software from a variety of vendors has expanded in recent years, reducing the application development workload, improving interoperability, and enhancing security have become key challenges in building a common platform.
Source: Yokogawa
With OpreX Collaborative Information Server’s integrated operation and monitoring interface, it is now possible to directly access specific operation and monitoring windows of CENTUM VP’s HIS. This enables field operators to use OpreX Collaborative Information Server as an integrated HMI environment while maintaining the same functions, screen configurations, and operability as a conventional HIS. In addition, screens from connected systems can be displayed via a remote desktop, further enhancing the convenience and usability of the integrated HMI environment. OpreX Collaborative Information Server’s OPC Unified Architecture (UA) server information model function has been enhanced to support the use of multiple information models when connecting to equipment from different vendors. This makes it easier to accommodate differences in device and system configurations, thereby improving the efficiency of application development and achieving high levels of integration and interoperability. — Yokogawa Electric Corp., Tokyo, Japan