I'm looking to find the key players withim process automation / SCADA systems.
Anyone who can tell me what SCADA systems or suppliers you think are the best? Or that you consider as thought leaders within this space?

Thanks,

Viktoria

SCADA and PAC ---- GE Intelligent Platform - Proficy

There are some regional differences depending on whether you're in Asia, Europe, or North America.

From a North American perspective the following vendors are the major market players:

Siemens - PCS7 DCS / S7 / WinCC
Emerson - DeltaV DCS
Honeywell - Experion DCS
ABB - 800xA DCS
Rockwell/Allen-Bradley - ControlLogix / FactoryTalk suite.

The GE hardware platform is, in my experience, less popular in North America than others. The HMI/SCADA package is a little more popular, as some people use it with non-GE controllers.

It's a relatively mature product space, so I wouldn't say any of the vendors are "thought leaders"

It is not only depending on region, but also the industry (power, gas/oil, pharmacy,...)you are making the selection for. Most systems are mainly focussed on specific industrial markets.

I agree with Alan, those are the normal options available

Also worth considering the Mitsubishi MES module for their iQ platform and GOT HMI's. This removes the need to the 'gateway/ polling' PC as it takes information from a PLC and puts that information straight in to the database. Can use SQL, Access, SAP to name a few. Being asked more and more for the Data Acquisition element of SCADA. Supervisory control element can be by remote access on LAN or WLAN or 3G directly to HMI's and PLC's. Speak to Mitsubishi for more details.

We tried Indusoft SCADA from USA and have more than 1000 installations in India for different application. It is one of the most convenient SCADA software that we used it. Indusoft is web based software and works on all the Windows OS as well as WinCE Operating system.

Ever tried NI's LabView? It is a little different from the "usual" SCADA systems that you see in process control.

If you consider SCADA top-end software separate from process automation hardware:

GE iFix and Wonderware InTouch/Application Server are market leaders in North American SCADA software (data acquisition, HMI, historian, reporting, web services). They are probably top players worldwide - again if you consider the SCADA top-end separate from distributed field hardware.

I have experience with several packages and solutions. My very first application was in 1991 with Controlview (does any body remember that from Allen Bradey?). It usd to run on Chronos OS. Anyway that is way back then.

There are few factors to consider for selecting the right product for your needs.
- Support,
- Your budget,
- Which hardware you will need to retrieve data from? Do you have multiple vendors in your site?
- Which industry etc..

Based on experience I would prefer hardware independent solutions. Since their only product is SCADA Software their support is better so is the update on the package.

We use Movicon from Progea (Italy) for last few years and quite happy with it. They have flexible product which has developped effectively. If you need any detailed info let me know.