A large automotive company has contracted ONYX Engineering to install a 21st century control system on a 1953 vintage press.  The Bliss press ONYX is converting is one of the trial presses tool and die makers use to develop and test new dies.  It currently uses a dynamatic eddy-current clutch drive which still has the original drive system employing obsolete mercury vacuum tubes.  Mechanically, the press is still in excellent shape.  Together with some upgrades to the mechanical system, ONYX will help convert this press to a state of the art trial machine.  ONYX will employ an electronic drive that will deliver smoother operation and better control of the press stroke.  ONYX will replace the master operation panel with a touch screen operator station with prompting and advanced diagnostics.  The controls will employ dual redundant processors for motion and safety systems.  It will completely gut the wiring on the machine and replace with a turn-key plug and play system which will be factory tested prior to shipment.  ONYX will also add a die height measurement system accurate to about 1 thousandths of an inch accuracy.  The design phase has been completed and manufacture of the control system is in progress.  Upgrades to the press are scheduled to be complete by the first quarter of 2011.

The Windsor Utilities Commission has awarded Phase 2 of their SCADA and Controller systems upgrades for the city's water treatment facilities to ONYX Engineering.  Phase 1 of the city initiative to upgrade their water treatment facilities was already awarded to ONYX late last year. Phase 1 was the conversion of eight different systems, each made up of various platform PLC’s to dual redundant process automation controllers. It also replaced the older SCADA application equipment with Factory Talk View Site edition on redundant servers. Phase 2 involves the complete re-write of the SCADA applications together with the implementation of Factory Talk Historian for ministry data logging.  This project also involves the integration of wireless mobile tablets to allow technicians to monitor and control the process while performing activities away from the control room.

ONYX Engineering has been awarded the supplier of Process instrumentation and Control Systems (PICS) for the upgrade and expansion to the Amherstburg Pollution Control Plant.  The PICS project supplier requirements involve the design and supply of new Controllogix processors, computer subsystem for SCADA system upgrades and instrumentation for process upgrades.  The changes to the plant include new polymer feed systems, UV treatment, new effluent water pumps and blowers.   The project is expected to be complete by 2011.  Mid-South is the electrical contractor, and CH2MHILL is the consultant on the job.