New ABB Ability™ Collaborative Operations Center in Sweden to serve Process Industries

The new ABB Ability^TM Collaborative Operations Center will connect systems, software and services used by customers with ABB personnel to leverage the industry and informational expertise of both customers and ABB for higher overall operational efficiency. This approach leverages ABB’s extensive operational technology expertise to provide data-driven improvement areas for customers through remote connectivity, secure access, and technical support. ABB Ability^TM Collaborative Operations Centers are staffed with process experts and equipped with digital technology that serve specific customer needs. The Västerås center will support ABB’s mining customers, and will coordinate with other ABB Collaborative Operations Centers around the world to provide expanded support and additional expertise.

Sensors and operation-critical systems transmit data on the health, performance and location of plant equipment to Collaborative Operations Centers, where sophisticated software performs advanced data analytics 24/7. Insights gained allow engineers to quickly diagnose potential issues, advise on preventive maintenance, and recommend measures to improve performance. ABB experts and customers work closely together, taking data-driven decisions in real time that increase operational and business performance.

The new Collaborative Operations Center will support the recently announced ABB Ability^TM Performance Improvement for hoists service. This remote-enabled, software-assisted service analyzes mine hoist data 24/7, continuously gathering and analyzing data to automatically identify, categorize and prioritize issues to address. It delivers this data via predictive notification to customer and ABB personnel, so that fast action can be taken to improve condition and performance. This service reduces unplanned hoist stoppage and increases system safety and reliability. Other ABB advanced digital services deliver proactive optimization to ABB control systems, PID control loops, cyber security, drives and rotating machines.

"Our global network of Collaborative Operations Centers enable us to serve customers on a whole new digital level,” said Michael Ingo, Head of ABB’s Northern European Hub for Process Industries. “The cooperation between these centers in other parts of the world help us to provide an unsurpassed level of service and expertise to help customers keep operations running efficiently and safely. Collaborative Operations deliver true benefits of digitalization, providing advanced data analytics to both operations and management, to see details such as when motors need lubrication, up to which plant in an enterprise is operating most efficiently.”

ABB has a growing network of global Collaborative Operations Centers that serve customers in mining, pulp & paper, metals and other industries. Five new centers with a special focus on these process industries opened in 2017. In addition to the Västerås Center, additional centers are planned for 2018, enabling a true “follow-the-sun” approach to support customers around the world.

ABB Ability^TM Collaborative Operations is a true Internet-of-Things application, and is part of the company's portfolio of ABB Ability with industry-leading digital solutions. Collaborative Operations provides performance management, remote monitoring and preventive analysis technologies to ensure security, and improve efficiency and productivity in various industries. ABB Ability^TM Collaborative Operations Centers connect people in enterprise-wide production facilities and headquarters to ABB’s technology and expertise.

Source: abb.com