Integrating client-centred solutions
ICT is focussed on bringing automation technology to life. We deliver engineering solutions in automation and control systems - the systems that control and monitor plant floor machines and processes and have significant impact on safety, repeatability, flexibility, throughput and hence minimisation of production costs.
Our clients rely on us to use our knowledge to distil down information, often from diverse sources, into concise, elegant solutions to meet their particular business needs. We devote time to researching and discovering what is new in engineering concepts and tools, instrumentation, hardware and software products. We then assess the potential of these products against our background of solid implementation practice.
Our experience includes the following knowledge areas:
- Distributed Control Systems (DCS)
- Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)
- Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems (SCADA)
- Information Technology (IT) core software, tools and infrastructure
- Data collection, historical reporting and analysis
- Statutory regulations, Australian and International Standards
- SIL analysis -Machine and Process safety.
Our diverse range of services is designed to provide ICT clients with the specialised engineering resources necessary to drive their automation project through from concept to design to commissioning and beyond. On-site, off-site, consulting, planning, sourcing, building, installing, documenting, training …
ICT's expertise in automation and control extends from the ground level (field devices and instrumentation), through the control, monitoring and data collection levels (PLC and SCADA), to the generation of reports and the transfer of production data to higher-level software systems (ie MES Integration).
Our specific areas of expertise include:
Automation and Process Control System Integration
Primarily concerned with the specification of automation or process control requirements, followed by the implementation of control systems accordingly. Implementation involves the selection and integration of commercial hardware and the configuration of off the shelf industrial software packages to meet the particular requirements of a customer's control or monitoring system application.
ICT has the resources and commitment to maintain up to date knowledge of the developments in control system hardware and software, both of which continue to undergo continuous and rapid evolutionary development. ICT’s knowledge and experience covers a range of automation systems and industrial environments. Areas include:
- Manufacturing Automation - automation of plant and machinery in an automotive or other manufacturing environment typically using PLCs and HMI or SCADA.
- Process Control - automation and control in a process environment such as is common in food and beverage manufacture, including the application of S88 Batch.
- Materials Handling - automation of plant and machinery in bulk materials handling such as fertilisers
- Implementation of SCADA systems including application of RTUs and protocols such as DNP3.
Our experience in these industries allows us to contribute expertise not just to the automation but to assist in resolution of process issues which may impact on the automation.
Machine Safeguarding and Process Safety Systems Design and Implementation
A fundamental requirement for any industrial plant installation is compliance with the statutory requirements for Machine Safeguarding and Process Safety under the OH&S regulations. The requirements for safety of control systems under this legislation, AS 4024.1 and IEC 62061 are complex, and in general poorly understood by machine builders and even many engineers. ICT has developed specialist knowledge in this area and has become a recognized leader in the field.
The scope of work undertaken by ICT in this field typically involves the assessment of risk and the implementation of Risk Controls accordingly. For machine safety, this includes the selection and application of hardware (safety switches, sensors, Safety Relays, Safety PLCs) and the implementation of software to exacting machine safety requirements. Applications include Emergency Stops and machine access interlocks.
For process and burner safety systems, the scope also includes the determination of SIL requirements then the design and verification of safety systems in accordance with AS61508 and AS 61511.
ICT has broad experience in the implementation of Siemens and Pilz Safety PLC and Safety Relay systems.
Projects completed by ICT have featured in magazines for Australian and international publication. ICT has also presented many papers at automation safety conferences and other venues
Download our basic concepts training presentation:
ICT Safeguarding 1 - Basic Concepts.pdf (PDF 3 MB)
S88 Batch Process Control Systems
S88 is an international standard which details structure, terminology and operating principles for the implementation of Batch Process Control Systems. These systems are increasingly used in batch process plants in food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries and provide substantial benefits for operations and management.
ICT is a leader in this emerging field, having implemented a very large system in dairy processing and having provided guidance, training and support on a number of subsequent projects.
Download our conference paper Automation in Food and Beverage Manufacturing - Factory of the Future August 2003.
Automation - Factory of the Future.pdf (PDF 1 MB)
Process Instrumentation
ICT maintains a strong capability in process instrumentation and associated petrochemical industry documentation techniques. This includes instrument selection, data sheet preparation, instrument data base and loop diagram drafting activities. This is combined with extensive field experience covering installation, commissioning and maintenance activities.
Click link below for ICT's Terms and Conditions for Consulting Engineering Services:
Terms and Conditions of Appointment for Provision of Consulting Engineering Services.pdf (PDF 38 KB)