DELIN Elettronica

DELIN Elettronica, a Modena-based system integrator specializing in industrial automation, faced a substantial technical challenge when deploying process control packages for an oil and gas extraction facility in Otumara, Nigeria. The project — covering gas dehydration, glycol regeneration, and low-temperature separation — was initially scoped with minimal automation. Mid-project, the end-customer imposed strict standardization requirements: full hardware and software segregation between a Process Automation System (PAS) and Safety Instrumented System (SIS), SIL 2 safety compliance per TÜV specifications, CPU/communications/I/O redundancy across both systems, and Foundation Fieldbus management for smart field equipment. Meeting these requirements demanded a complete re-architecture of the control system under active project timelines.

DELIN Elettronica selected Rockwell Automation's PlantPAx distributed control system (DCS) as the foundation, deployed across a redundant EtherNet/IP network infrastructure using Device Level Ring (DLR) technology for fault tolerance. Remote I/O was configured in fully redundant arrangements, with high-end process controllers deployed in both standard and SIL 2 configurations. Foundation Fieldbus technology managed smart field instrumentation with redundant linking devices, while HART-enabled analog I/O cards provided additional instrument-level diagnostics. The Rockwell Automation Library of Process Objects enabled standardized, reusable function blocks and faceplates — and DELIN's engineers extended these with custom blocks to meet project-specific requirements. Redundant OPC communication links via dedicated industrial PCs provided remote monitoring and synchronization with the plant's wider DCS. Rockwell Automation provided direct support from global product specialists throughout the implementation.

The PlantPAx deployment delivered measurable operational and strategic outcomes for DELIN Elettronica:

• SIL 2 compliance achieved across the Safety Instrumented System, meeting TÜV specifications and end-customer mandates
• Real-time equipment diagnostics became available through Foundation Fieldbus integration, enabling predictive maintenance assessment
• Full redundancy across CPU, communications, and I/O reduced single points of failure in a safety-critical, hazardous-area installation
• Project standardization — the Library of Process Objects became a reusable baseline for future Oil & Gas applications
• The engagement strengthened DELIN's long-term partnership with Rockwell Automation, opening joint opportunities across additional industries beyond Oil & Gas

The Foundation Fieldbus architecture also improved total cost of ownership (TCO) through better asset utilization and reduced maintenance overhead.

• Impose architecture reviews early: mid-project standardization mandates from end-customers can force complete re-architecture — surface safety and redundancy requirements before design is locked.
• Modular process libraries reduce rework: reusable function blocks and faceplates (such as Rockwell's Library of Process Objects) accelerate compliance and create a portable baseline for future projects.
• Foundation Fieldbus enables predictive maintenance: integrating smart field devices at the fieldbus level surfaces diagnostic data that reduces unplanned downtime in remote or hazardous installations.
• Vendor partnership matters on novel architectures: DELIN's first Foundation Fieldbus implementation on PlantPAx succeeded in part because of direct support from Rockwell Automation's global specialists — plan for that dependency.