Invensys and Cutler Technology Corp. sign global Advanced Process Control agreement

Invensys and Cutler Technology Corp. sign global Advanced Process Control agreement

Invensys adds CTC's new ADMC technology to its portfolio of asset performance management solutions; will help HPI plants utilize previously untapped production capacity

Invensys Process Systems (Foxboro, MA) announced at a press conference here today that it has signed a sales and marketing agreement with Cutler Technology Corp. (San Antonio, TX). Under this agreement, Invensys Process Systems becomes a global re-seller and a certified implementer for CTC's patented Adaptive Dynamic Matrix Controller (ADMC)™ technology. This technology represents the first major development in Advanced Process Control (APC) in 30 years.

With nearly 300 advanced control, simulation, and process optimization solutions consultants based around the world, Invensys is now the largest authorized CTC re-seller and certified implementer. CTC's unique ADMC technology will play an important role in Invensys' asset performance management strategy by helping refineries, petrochemical plants, and other complex process plants that find themselves in a production-constrained business environment to utilize previously untapped capacity. (SimSci-Esscor's well-proven Connoisseur® multivariable predictive controller will remain Invensys' preferred APC solution for central station and industrial power plants.)

ADMC was developed by Dr. Charles Cutler, inventor of DMC (Dynamic Matrix Control)™ and DMCplus, the most widely used multivariable controller technology in the HPI industry. Dr. Cutler's new ADMC is the world's only Adaptive Multivariable Controller™. This technology, which has already been proven in a large-scale US refinery, utilizes a unique open loop (all valve) model of the process. This eliminates the PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) process controllers from the control hierarchy to solve many of the problems encountered with conventional APC technology in complex, interactive HPI processes. The ADMC technology allows the controller to automatically adapt to inevitable changes in the process, improving performance and minimizing support costs over time. It also provides the ability to utilize the full range of control valves, thus permitting the controller to operate safely with valves fully open. In many situations, the ability to maintain optimum control with the valves fully open can enable capacity-restrained plants to increase production by as much as two to three percent. In a typical HPI plant, this can help increase bottom-line profits by hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.

Additional economic benefits can be obtained by implementing the ADMC technology in conjunction with Invensys' well-proven ROMeo optimization solution. In these implementations, ROMeo would establish the optimum setpoints for the ADMC controllers. Invensys can implement these solutions in conjunction with the Foxboro I/A Series distributed control system (DCS) or any other popular DCS that might already be in place.

Under the recent agreement, Invensys is certified to implement ADMC on process units and will also provide ongoing training and other support services for ADMC implementations.

For more information on Invensys' global ADMC implementation and support services, readers should contact their local Invensys Solutions sales representative or send an e-mail (indicating physical address) to stuart.parker@ips.invensys.com.

For more information on the Invensys portfolio of advanced control and optimization solutions readers should visit www.simsci-esscor.com.

For more information on Invensys' unique Asset Performance Management approach, readers can visit www.InFusionECS.com.

About Cutler Technology Corporation

Cutler Technology Corporation (CTC) was formed in 1999 by Dr. Charles R. Cutler. Dr. Cutler was the creator of Dynamic Matrix Control in the 1970's and the founder of [DMC] Corp. in 1984. He has over 40 years experience in Advanced Process Control.

About Invensys

Invensys is the world leader in industrial asset performance management. In addition to its rapidly expanding Global Solutions and Performance Management services groups, Invensys' automation businesses includes industry-leading brands such as Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, Wonderware, and Avantis, whose products are installed in more than 100,000 plants across the world. These range from small hybrid and batch plants to the world's largest upstream projects, refineries, gas plants, petrochemicals plants, power plants, and pulp and paper mills. For more information on Invensys' process automation businesses, please visit www.invensys.com/ps.

The Invensys Group (www.invensys.com) is headquartered in London and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, with approximately 30,000 employees working in 60 countries.