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February 201 www.marinelink.com 21 can take advantage of the convenience these systems provide. If a project calls for the construction of a new facility with new communications infrastructure, it would be the ideal time to consider im- plementing a SCADA system. However, with the hardware and software available on the market today, systems have be- come more expandable than in the past.

Organizations that do not have SCADA systems in their facilities or that have very simple small HMIs and are looking to either upgrade or expand their system have many implementation options.

Some organizations choose to install sin- gle or multiple HMIs monitoring a dedi- cated machine or a single system in the facility. Others choose to implement a simple master station in a remote control room at first and add to the system over time. Control system integrators, such as

Governor Control Systems, Inc. who offer HMI and SCADA systems as part of their product and service offering have experience in many applications across multiple industries. These companies de- velop a library of standard screens that can be applied to new projects. While every project and site is different and will require some custom work to be done, much of the development time is elimi- nated through the reuse of screens and concepts from past development. Taking advantage of this type of experience can not only result in a better system, but also eliminate some of the costs associated with installing and commissioning a

SCADA system. Regardless of your in- dustry, the benefits of SCADA systems are many. As with any investment, there must be a return. The savings that come from operating more efficiently will quickly offset the initial cost of installing a SCADA system. With the advance- ments in modern HMI and SCADA tech- nology, your possibilities are endless, only dependent on your budget and imag- ination.

About the Author

Jim Martz is an Applications Engi- neer for Governor Control Systems,

Inc. Jim has engine control systems design experience with Caterpillar,

Inc. and engine and power manage- ment systems experience with Wood- ward Governor Company. GCS offers comprehensive control system sup- port, from engine and turbine systems integration to turnkey project man- agement for a broad range of marine, power generation and industrial proj- ects.

Email: [email protected]

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