Mohawk paper plant has complex data monitoring

July 14, 2008

A paper machine is roughly the size of a football field and houses a “microcosm of hundreds of different machines and controls working in unison,” says Paul Stamas, vice president of information technology at Mohawk Fine Paper, Cohoes, N.Y. Across five plants and additional converting facilities, the company tracks as many as 20,000 data points.

A mix of discrete, batch and continuous process operations call upon real-time controls and software from ABB, Rockwell Automation and GE Fanuc. An OSIsoft Pi process historian serves as a “giant octopus” that connects once-disparate data, and now trends and correlates time and events such as paper machine speed, ambient temperature and energy usage.

“Our plan is to feed condition-based data from the factory floor into Pi, and then into the Infor EAM system,” Stamas says, going live in June. He says that Mohawk, with revenues under $400 million, is the second-largest producer of wind power in U.S. manufacturing (behind much-larger Johnson & Johnson). “For both economic and socioeconomic reasons,” he says, the company is considering adding Infor’s new Asset Sustainability Edition.

Sponsored Recommendations

Limitations of MERV Ratings for Dust Collector Filters

Feb. 23, 2024
It can be complicated and confusing to select the safest and most efficient dust collector filters for your facility. For the HVAC industry, MERV ratings are king. But MERV ratings...

The Importance of Air-To-Cloth Ratio when Selecting Dust Collector Filters

Feb. 23, 2024
Selecting the right filter cartridges for your application can be complicated. There are a lot of things to evaluate and consider...like air-to-cloth ratio. When your filters ...

ASHRAE Standard 199 for Evaluating Dust Collection Systems

Feb. 23, 2024
This standard ensures dust collection systems are tested under real-world conditions, measuring a dust collector's emissions, pressure drop, and compressed air usage. Learn why...

Dust Collector Explosion Protection

Feb. 23, 2024
Combustible dust explosions are a serious risk, and an unprotected dust collection system can be a main cause. Learn what NFPA-compliant explosion protection you need to keep ...