CTL-02 · Building control & integration

SCADA systems and industrial integration for factories and utilities

SCADA collects the signals of a plant, shows them to operators and records them. We build the monitoring layer and bring the plant's cameras, thermal monitoring, access and power systems into the same picture.

PLC, RTU and HMIHistorian and alarmsModbus, OPC UA, DNP3, IEC 60870-5-104OT network security

What a SCADA system consists of

Field instruments and drives connect to controllers (PLCs or RTUs). The SCADA software gathers their values, shows them on operator screens (HMI), raises and logs alarms, and stores the history for reports and analysis. A good system is judged by its alarm quality and its screens: operators must understand the state of the plant at a glance and not be buried in nuisance alarms.

One plant view: process, video, temperature and power

This is where we add most. A plant usually has separate islands: the process system, the cameras, the electrical monitoring and the gates. We integrate them so the operator sees, beside the process values, the furnace or kiln camera, the temperature of the electrical cabinets, the cameras in hazardous areas, the power and UPS status, and who entered a restricted area. The integration uses open protocols such as Modbus and OPC UA, and DNP3 or IEC 60870-5-104 for utilities.

The control network is kept separate

A plant network is not an office network. We segment the control network from the business network and the internet following the zones-and-conduits approach of IEC 62443, control remote access, and keep backups of controller and SCADA configurations. Changes to process control logic are made with the plant's process engineers and under the plant's management-of-change procedure.

Our part, start to finish

What we do on this kind of project

We select the equipment to fit your site, not to clear a stock list. We design the system, install and commission it, and keep it working.

DESIGN

Design & consulting

Signal list and architecture with the plant's engineers
Operator screens and alarm philosophy
Network segmentation and remote access design
Integration design for video, thermal, access and power

BUILD

Installation

Controllers, panels and field wiring where in scope
SCADA configuration, screens, alarms and historian
Gateways and protocol integration
Factory and site acceptance testing

RUN

Maintenance

Configuration backups
Alarm review and rationalisation
Software and security updates
Additions as the plant changes

Before you buy

Questions to settle first

These decide cost and performance more than the brand on the box. We work through them with you at survey stage.

Which processes and utilities must be monitored, and which controlled?
Which controllers and protocols already exist on site?
How many operator stations, and is a redundant server needed?
Which other systems should appear on the operator screen?
Is remote access needed, and by whom?
What reports and how many years of history are required?

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between SCADA and a BMS?

Both monitor and control equipment. A BMS is built for building services such as air conditioning and lighting. SCADA is built for industrial processes and utilities, with faster data, alarm management and a historian.

Can SCADA be connected to our existing PLCs?

Usually yes, if they support a standard protocol or the maker's driver is available. We survey the controllers and the network first and confirm what can be read.

Can the cameras be shown inside SCADA?

Yes. Video from process and security cameras can appear on the operator screens beside the process values, and an alarm can call up the related camera automatically.

Works alongside

Related systems

CTL-01