Kaneka Selects Siemens’ SIMATIC IT UA PI for MES

Siemens announced that Kaneka Belgium, a subsidiary of the Japanese leading technology-driven chemical company Kaneka Corporation, has selected Siemens’ state-of-the-art MOM platform, SIMATIC IT Unified Architecture for Process Industries (SIMATIC IT UA PI), as its new manufacturing execution system (MES). By implementing a digitalization strategy with Siemens’ MES solution across three plants on the Belgian production site, along with adding an additional production line, Kaneka hopes to increase production capacity while also reducing scrap and avoiding errors. To help the products meet the highest quality standards, SIMATIC IT R&D Suite will also be implemented for lab and at-line testing and fully integrated with the MES.

“To expand our business, we needed to increase existing production capacity, and the state-of-the-art MES solution from Siemens will help us do so,” said Jean Vandael, Kaneka Plant general manager. “At Kaneka Belgium, we are excited to start with the implementation of a digital strategy to truly integrate our manufacturing operations, and look forward to the increased value we hope to be able to deliver to our customers.”

Kaneka Corporation is an innovative solution provider, with business activities spanning a broad spectrum of markets, from chemicals, plastics, food products, life science, and synthetic fibers to electrical and electronic materials. Kaneka Belgium in Westerlo is active in the field of functional and foamed plastics, with three operational production sites for polymeric impact modifiers, liquid polymers and expanded polyolefins. Through the realization of a strategic MES solution, Kaneka expects to see improvements in their overall production process, including the reduction of yield loss, improvement of their pelletizing operation, and optimized and shorter batch cycle times. Kaneka is looking to increase their production capacity while avoiding the use of additional resources, and reducing costs through savings in energy consumption and maintenance.

Using SIMATIC IT UA PI offers Kaneka an integrated and open MES platform for the digitalization of the business. The native flexibility of the manufacturing system offers the possibility to easily adapt and model the business process to new requirements and business drivers. Part of the SIMATIC IT Unified Architecture portfolio, this innovative Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) solution enables the complete digitalization of manufacturing operations. Providing a new approach to integrated manufacturing operations based on shared services, a common data model and composed applications, it provides the ability to evolve from disconnected applications towards an integrated collaborative application landscape in a scalable way to realize innovation.

“As they look to grow the business, Kaneka can benefit from our SIMATIC IT UA PI solution, which focuses on enhancing productivity and flexibility through both innovative technology and industry-driven features,” said Rene Wolf, senior vice president of Manufacturing Operations Management Software for Siemens PLM Software. “Using this system can help Kaneka evolve their business towards digitalization with an integrated collaborative application landscape in a scalable way.”

For further information on SIMATIC IT UA PI, please see https://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/global/en/products/manufacturing-operations-center/simatic-it-unified-architecture-process-industries.html.

About Siemens PLM Software

Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens Digital Factory Division, is a leading global provider of software solutions to drive the digital transformation of industry, creating new opportunities for manufacturers to realize innovation. With headquarters in Plano, Texas, and over 140,000 customers worldwide, Siemens PLM Software works with companies of all sizes to transform the way ideas come to life, the way products are realized, and the way products and assets in operation are used and understood.

For more information on Siemens PLM Software products and services, visit www.siemens.com/plm.

About Siemens AG

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for 170 years. The company is active around the globe, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of efficient power generation and power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2017, which ended on September 30, 2017, Siemens generated revenue of €83.0 billion and net income of €6.2 billion. At the end of September 2017, the company had around 377,000 employees worldwide.

Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.

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