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The success of any industrial process plant depends on the safety and performance of its control systems. These systems reflect the core functionalities implemented during the design phase. To achieve high performance, system vendors and instrumentation and control (I&C) specialists must maintain clear communication. They ensure that technical data aligns with the project’s specific requirements. Consequently, plant operators gain the ability to navigate system facilities and respond to real-time process changes effectively.

China has become the center of industrial automation, deploying more than two million robots across its factories. These machines weld, assemble, and package products with unmatched precision. As a result, China now leads the global race in factory automation, setting new benchmarks for efficiency and scale.

Manufacturers often rely on separate platforms for process control, power management, and factory automation. However, this fragmented approach increases installation costs, complicates maintenance, and magnifies risks such as downtime and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. A unified platform eliminates duplication and streamlines operations, reducing total cost of ownership.

In 1976, three visionaries tackled a critical safety issue at Monsanto. Manual drum lifting slowed production and injured workers. They founded PALCO, introducing a mechanical palletizer that proved automation could succeed where manual labor failed. This breakthrough laid the foundation for modern factory automation and shaped PASCO’s mission for decades.

Cellular Origins, a UK-based automation pioneer, has won the Innovation Award for Manufacturing Automation at the 2025 Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards. The company’s Constellation ecosystem integrates mobile robotics, PLC-driven control systems, and advanced bioprocess equipment to scale cell and gene therapy production. This recognition highlights how industrial automation can reshape biopharmaceutical manufacturing by reducing costs and improving reliability.

ABB, a global leader in industrial automation and control systems, has partnered with HDF Energy to develop megawatt-scale fuel cell units for large vessels. This collaboration, formalized through a joint development agreement, builds on their earlier memorandum of understanding signed in 2020. The initiative highlights how factory automation and advanced PLC/DCS integration can accelerate maritime decarbonization.