Jan, process control and business system integration, let me explain this further.
Tava's primary business has been control system integration. This is the design and supply of systems that control industrial processes and machinery. Take the example of an automated food or chemical plant. The various ingredients that comprise the product's formula or recipe must be added to a batching tank in relatively precise amounts, and the type of systems provided by Tava do this automatically: Gallons of liquids are pumped thru flow meters, pounds of dry ingredients are conveyed thru piping using air pressure (kind of like when you put the tube into the drive-up station at your bank) or screw conveyors, and often ingredients are added manually using precise manual scales.
What are the elements of an automated process like this:
- someone must design the process - usually a chemical engineer with an intimate understanding of the product
- Individual machines that perform specific functions to cook, pasteurize, package, palletize, whatever
- Piping to carry liquids and solids, tanks to hold product in its various states
- Electrical and mechanical installation
- And, oh by the way, a computer based control system that ties all of this stuff together into a cohesive system that works.
Tava does the last item, and I am sure sometimes ventures into the other areas.
The "computer based system" is often a special purpose device called a programmable controller made by companies like Allen Bradley, Siemens, GE, and Square D. The various pieces of instrumentation (valves, pumps, agitators, flow meters, scales, etc) all are wired to and controlled by the PLC (for programmable logic controller). Operators control the process using a variety of devices ranging from pushbuttons and pilot lights to PC or minicomputer based systems that communicate with the PLC.
The role of the control system integrator is traditionally limited to controlling processes - generally because these automated plant systems are not tied to the corporate information systems. However, the trend is for manufacturing plants to connect their plant floor operations with the IT system. Integrators that truly have expertise in both areas are rare. The Information System aspect of Tava's business plan is very significant. The ability to service their clients all the way from the plant floor thru the division manager's desktop is the key to long term success. |
