Automation system and integrated controls used at Davenport Cement Company Buffalo Plant

The authors describe the automation system with its integrated controls in use at the Buffalo plant of Davenport Cement Company. Following a brief description of the plant itself, the authors discuss the hardware and software control strategies being used. It is noted that the combination of the distributed control system and the integrated programmable logic controllers that were added during the previous ten years of operation helped to bring the plant to its present production levels. As the plant progressed to full production, enhancements to the distributed control system were also installed. The result of each change was that the control system became more reliable and, in turn, contributed to decreased downtime by being used as a tool to solve equipment and process problems. The result is that the Buffalo plant is operating at approximately 15% above original design capacities. This has decreased manufacturing costs while, at the same time, increasing operating efficiency