Projects

Driftwood Technology has worked on projects for a variety of clients. Generally the projects involve the migration from an existing solution built using legacy technology that is no longer supported to Windows based technology. The technology of choice is Schneider Archestra with InTouch running on Windows Server for the SCADA and Microsoft VB.NET / C#.NET with Sql Server for the Operations database. For IIoT applications either C#.NET or Java is used.

Project: Viterra (now Bunge)

Viterra operates multiple grain handling facilities across Canada. Viterra has been modernizing the SCADA systems at these facilities as part of an ongoing maintenance program. Driftwood Technology has been involved with a number of these projects.

One major project was the replacement of the legacy SCADA system that was built on DEC OpenVMS Alpha systems. DEC has not existed as a company for a considerable time; so, no matter how good the DEC technology is, using unsupported hardware and operating system presented a significant risk to the company. The SCADA system was replaced by the Schneider Archestra applications suite that runs on Windows Server and uses a customized version of Sql Server as the Historian. The facility runs 24/7 and has a PLC network with 50,000+ I/O points. Over a 5 year period the SCADA functionality was migrated (live) from the OpenVMS system to the Archestra system; the two systems were running in parallel until all of the functionality was fully implemented in Archestra. One of the benefits that resulted from the migration was the number of after hour support calls dropped from 300 per year to less than 20 per year.

A second major project was to implement the Archestra system at a second facility that was essentially run in manual mode with very minimal automation. The facility was almost 100 years old, with very little in Automation. The plant used Allan-Bradley PLCs controlled from classic Intouch applications. The project migrated the InTouch applications into Archestra graphics and prepared the infrastructure for ongoing projects to modernize the plant equipment, workflows, and automation.

Project: Kalama

Kalama is an export terminal located in Washington state. The facility is modern and well run. However, they had a legacy DOS application written in DBIII that was used to manage the terminal operations. Since DOS application developers are a rare sight, this presented an operational risk to the company. The DBIII application was replaced by a WinForm application written in VB.NET, using Entity Framework as the ORM, Sql Server as the data store, and Sql Server Reporting Services as the reporting engine. The database was designed to integrate in with the Archestra SCADA system running the facility, to exchange real time information between the plant floor and the operational database.

Project: GrainCorp Malt (Canada Malting Corp)

GrainCorp Malt is one of the top 5 producers of malt in the world. As part of their commitment to remaining a top 5 producer, the company is doing a technology refresh to replace applications built on legacy technology. Driftwood Technology is working on the SCADA refresh, Operational database refresh, and ERP integration.

Project: Control Stuff

Control Stuff is an Automations and Control Systems company. One of their products is the AccuDraft system, which is a virtual scale for barges. Accudraft "weighs" the amount of product loaded onto a barge. The application was written as a legacy Windows 3.0 application written in VB 6; this application didn’t work very well when running on Windows XP systems. Driftwood Technology updated the application to VB.NET and added modern features like email notifications.

Project: CMC Industrial Electronics (now AGI)

CMC IEL designs and manufactures Hazard Monitoring Systems and other industrial control devices. Driftwood Technology developed User Interface applications to configure various devices built by CMC IEL. The applications were developed using C#.NET or Java with a customized Modbus driver (supporting both Serial and TCP/IP protocols). User Interfaces were developed for configuring the Accudraft communications module, the General Electric pump controller, and EZSentinel Web Server.