Citect Extends SCADA Networks with Mobility Solutions

Citect has extended its mobility solutions to allow operational and management personnel to monitor their factories, plants and mining sites from any location. These solutions enhance the capabilities of a SCADA network by providing access via a greater range of mobile devices.

“The ability to be continually connected to plant data leads to more intelligent plant decisions, which can in turn increase productivity,” says Stephen Flannigan, Global Director, SCADA, Citect. “A consistent user interface across a wide range of hardware systems can increase an organisation’s competitive advantage through the decision-making power it brings operations and management staff.”

The mobility solution allows CitectSCADA to be viewed over multiple hardware systems, such as thin-client terminals, PDAs and even mobile phones. The solution also includes a CitectSCADA Web Client, a maintenance free, fully functioning extension of a SCADA network that is accessed via Windows Internet Explorer.

Citect’s mobility solutions also allow for all clients to be managed from a central location, reducing the operational overheads associated with control system maintenance.

“Centralised software administration and management lowers IT costs by reducing the number of servers hosting the software,” explains Flannigan. “This approach also means that upgrades are automatically rolled out across all mobile clients, reducing software administration and minimising downtime for upgrades.”