Schneider Electric has announced the EcoStruxureTM for Mining, Minerals and Metals, a new system architecture and platform that leverages innovative digital technologies and the IoT.

The EcoStruxure allows companies to seamlessly connect, collect, analyse and act on data in real time to improve safety, efficiency, reliability and sustainability. It integrates innovation at three levels, connected products, edge control and applications, analytics and services.

“The mining, cement, steel, and glass industries face constant challenges that place a premium on operational excellence. Fortunately, there has been a significant transformation in digital technologies that are now available to help deal with many of these challenges. By leveraging this transformation, EcoStruxure for Mining, Minerals and Metals helps our customers improve how they manage their operations and plants to improve the bottom line,” says Schneider Electric president of mining, minerals and metals segment Rob Moffitt.

Field devices with embedded intelligence such as sensors, circuit breakers, meters, variable speed drivers and process instrumentation provide the link to real-time data that is essential to higher-level control and decision-making.

Real-time and runtime control systems are connected to field devices and collect data from them, analyse current conditions against goals and past performance, and make autonomous control decisions to improve process performance. At the heart of the edge control layer is the Modicon M580 Ethernet PAC (ePAC), the automation controller that uses open Ethernet standards to enable process efficiency, flexibility, and cybersecurity.

At the highest level of the EcoStruxure architecture, sophisticated problem solving and analysis is performed on an enterprise-wide basis to optimise business operations and maximise results. On this level, Schneider Electric provides an industry-leading portfolio of software and associated services. These include advanced predictive analytics for process and equipment, leading-edge virtual and augmented reality for operators and maintenance personnel, energy/ process optimisation and simulation and integrated operations, planning and supply chain management.

“With EcoStruxure, Schneider Electric is redefining automation and power connectivity as well as adding an unprecedented layer of software applications and services to help our customers get the most of their assets. By bridging IT and OT, EcoStruxure enables them to maximise the value of data and translate it into actionable intelligence for better business decisions,” said Rob.

EcoStruxure for Mining, Minerals and Metals provides added value in three key areas, the digital supply chain, next generation workforce and operational excellence.
“To be clear, EcoStruxure is not just another platform limited to asset performance analytics. It’s a complete set of digital technologies and applications that can improve the performance of the entire organisation, from people to operations to supply chain,” said Rob.