ICT modernises Evonik’s industrial water production

ICT was given the contract to replace the outdated control system with a completely new automation system based on a DCS (distributed control system). The new system was built using Siemens Simatic PCS7 architecture, which offers scalability and fully integrated sensors, controls and management information. This makes the Siemens Simatic PCS7 system highly suited to applications in the high-grade process industry.

Evonik’s Antwerp-based operation has its own processing plant that produces high quality water to create steam for the energy supply of the chemical plants at the site. The site is highly dependent on this process, as a lack of water would very quickly result in the failure of the power supply for the entire site. The water production plant therefore has two demineralisation/condensate production lines to safeguard the continuity of the power supply.

What experts say about the cooperation

Philipp Kotter, project manager at Evonik: “Evonik was pleasantly surprised by the professionalism of the ICT employees, who proved highly motivated and put in a great deal of personal effort to solve any problems that emerged. Working very closely with our own staff, they made sure that the production of demineralised water could continue uninterrupted, even during the system migration.”.

Martin Bijl, Business Development Manager ICT: “Thanks to our close cooperation with the Evonik technicians, ICT was able to realise the migration to the new system in a very short space of time and to make sure that the installation remained fully operational throughout the entire migration process.”.

About Evonik

Evonik is one of the global market leaders in the field of specialty chemicals. The company’s head office is in Germany and it has production facilities in more than 100 countries. Evonik’s Antwerp-based operation is one of the group’s largest foreign production units. The site in Antwerp covers some 109 hectares, includes 11 production units and employs more than 1,000 people. The plant manufactures products for a wide range of activities, such as raw materials for silicon used in the electronics and communications market and materials for animal feed and solar cells.