SCADA Guru

Over the years control systems have evolved from the basic to extremely complex. This evolution has happened, but documentation on how it has evolved is very sketchy. To try and document some of this through the change that I have experienced is the rationale for this website. I am trying to collect up information and present, in a modern format what has gone before, before it is all lost or forgotten. I sincerely regret all the systems we pulled out and replaced with the latest, without keeping any of the gear or even photo's. Almost everything we removed either went to landfill or scrap. That equipment should have been kept to now be displayed in a technology museum. It is my hope that this may be of use, or interest to someone.

I have been doing SCADA stuff since before we knew what we were doing would develop a catchy name and become mainstream technology. I first worked on PLC systems in the mid '70's and have seen them evolve from somewhat primitive magic boxes with very limited program functions to the extremely powerful systems we use today. The programming tools have changed as well, going from single line instruction displays on nixie tubes, to current Windows based software with more features and functions than any engineer is ever going to master.
On the PLC side I have worked on most major and some of the lesser known brands. My predominant expertise is with Modicon, through all of the brand's ownership permutations.
On the HMI side I have worked with other systems, but mainly Citect since 1988. That was the DOS Citect version 1.0 Beta.
I have worked on various DCS brands, Honeywell and Yokogawa and worked with Bailey and Foxboro systems.

I have been there and done it, or watched someone else do it. Now I have time to think about it and play with features I never had the time to investigate previously.
This seemed like a good time to collect up some of my memories and stories and publish them.

I am supposed to be retired, but still do a little systems work.
There are still companies that have not been significantly involved with new technology and don't realise what even small systems could do for their efficiency and overall operational performance.
I also dabble in website design. I am finding that by using some of the 'AI' models I have been able to do some things that I would never have tried.
This all helps to keep the mind ticking over.