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When a prominent manufacturer wanted to observe and interact remotely with their production line in real-time, E Tech Group software developers brought their 3D game development expertise to deliver an innovative digital twin of the line. The twin mimics the behavior of its real-life counterpart in real time, visible in a 3D environment via web interface.
E Tech Group is currently in the final stages of developing a design that interfaces with Inductive Automation’s Ignition, to support batch control while meeting ISA-88 standards. The resulting design will give batch control manufacturers access to Ignition’s open architecture, cross-platform compatibility, user-friendly development environment and flexible licensing model while meeting the strict ISA-88 standard.
Trent Meyers, P.E. assumes the role of Vice President of Life Sciences Central and Process Industries at E Tech Group, bringing over 30 years of industry experience in management and operations. His appointment reflects E Tech’s commitment to support growth in demand for the company’s industrial engineering and automation services. West Chester, OH – April 2, 2024 – E Tech Group, a leader in providing high-quality automation, control, and engineering services for industrial clients and Gold Certified Rockwell Automation Partner, today announced hiring Trent Meyers, P.E. as the new Vice President of Life Sciences Central and Process Industries. “We are excited to welcome Trent Meyers to the E Tech leadership team. Trent has proven engineering and leadership skills with a long track record of fostering organizational growth while enhancing individual and team performance. His extensive expertise in engineering and manufacturing operations in the core industries we serve will be invaluable as we continue our growth trajectory,” said Matt Wise, CEO of E Tech Group. Meyers brings nearly 30 years of experience in engineering and manufacturing operations, including holding numerous leadership positions throughout his career. He will be responsible for leading E Tech’s Life Sciences Central and Process Industries groups encompassing consumer products, food & beverage, material handling, general industries, as well as life sciences operations. In this role, he will oversee the engineering, project management, and project delivery groups while supporting sales and marketing efforts. “Trent will be dedicated to further enhancing our client’s experience ensuring our high-quality work remains nothing short of exceptional,” said Fred Fontaine, President of E Tech Group. “His leadership will continue to drive the growth of our business by delighting current clients and attracting new ones to the E Tech family.” Prior to joining E Tech, Meyers served as Vice President of Project Delivery and … Continued
An mRNA therapeutics manufacturer needed a new process facility in order to meet growing demand. E Tech Group partnered with Hart Companies to deliver a complete automation system solution for the client.
With a large pipeline of products in development, a Massachusetts-based leader in the area of oligonucleotide/mRNA therapeutics needed a new process facility to achieve its business objectives. The Hart Companies and E Tech Group were selected to provide a complete solution to satisfy this need.
The project involved retrofitting portions of a multi-story, multi-tenant building that includes retail establishments and offices in addition to labs. The client chose a collaborative approach for this facility automation project, contracting both us and The Hart Companies to provide a comprehensive automation and control solution.
Hart Design Group Ltd. provided the engineering services, including process engineering and design, sequence-of-operations, component specifications, panel design, and detailed electrical design. E Tech Group provided the integrated controls solution. Hart’s construction arm, HEC Corp., delivered the process installation, including piping, instrumentation, pumps, and tankage. The delivery method was a true self-performed design-build program.
In general, the mRNA platform relies on solvent-based reagents to synthesize strands of nucleic acids. These in turn provide the pharmaco-active therapeutic activity that patients need. The handling of solvents in occupied spaces is highly regulated via building codes, driven by NFPA standards.
The building codes and standards are extremely specific and limit the quantity of flammable materials that can be stored on various floors – with dramatically less volumes allowed on higher floors. Hence, the control of solvent inventory calls for automated systems to deliver material “just in time” for manufacturing and to remove waste material. This helps keep inventories within limits in designated “control areas”.
The project involved integrating subsystems for buffer mixing/formulation and distribution; reagent distribution; and waste handling and storage. This included multiple tank rooms, piping for pumped and gravity supply of reagents to synthesizers, storage of intermediates and final product, and waste handling and storage.
The design was developed to maximize modularization, which allowed the skids to be fabricated off-site in Hart’s Cumberland, RI fabrication shop. These were then shipped and installed onsite, saving a significant amount of time on the construction schedule.
TA total of 22 custom control panels were designed and fabricated. These enclosed hardwired I/O including a total of 133 analog inputs, 800 digital inputs, and 400 digital outputs. Also, five VFDs communicated via ethernet for agitator control.
Integration challenges were numerous. In addition to the hard-wired I/O, BACnetTM communications were used between the PLC and the BMS for data exchange. ModbusTM communications were established between the PLC and the gas monitoring system furnished by Draeger for O2 and LEL. This included 150 ModbusTM tags providing percent O2 or LEL as well as alarm values. In addition, Festo CPX manifolds for valve actuation communicated over ethernet IP.
A software FAT was performed at E Tech Group’s Seabrook, NH location with the client’s participation.
The system architecture also included an HMI server, historian and SQL servers, redundant operator workstation servers, and an engineering workstation server. Arista client computers were employed.
The facility included a space with a Class I, Div. II, hazardous classification. Stahl 9470 series intrinsically safe I/O modules were used there. ControLogix 1756 series I/O was used for the non-hazardous areas.
Scheduling for start-up and site acceptance testing (SAT) was done in stages based on completion by area. This occasionally introduced periods of downtime. Hart and E Tech Group were well-prepared and able to respond to the changing timeline.
Stemming from the number of prior solvent systems delivered together, the two companies followed the same guiding philosophy. Hart and E Tech Group’s approach was to build the system using known components and logic, introducing innovative components and subsystems where these provided a cost, efficiency, or reliability advantage.
Our companies’ close working relationship allowed Hart and E Tech Group to deliver a robust, flexible and fully functional system that satisfied the client’s demanding needs while assuring safety and complying with all stringent codes and standards.
The Hart Companies and E Tech Group duo are now working on their sixth solvent-based project together and plan to deliver similar successes for research and manufacturing clients well into the future.
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