Honeywell acquires simulation technologies from AspenTech

Process sector plant and enterprise IT giant AspenTech appears to have bowed to pressure from the US Federal Trade Commission, and sold plant modeling and simulation software to Honeywell for a song. Honeywell is to acquire Aspen’s Hysys modelling software and its Operator Training Simulation (OTS) business for $6 million cash and a further $4 million accounts receivable. When Aspen bought Hyprotech, it paid around $100 million. Nevertheless, Honeywell says the acquired technologies extend the capabilities of its existing Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS) by enhancing its ability to gather data throughout the plant, and coupling it with domain knowledge embedded in Hysys advanced process control and simulation models. Specifically, Harry Sim, Honewell’s vice president of marketing for process solutions, says the combined solution will put information in front of process sector decision-makers in an actionable format. There will be initial integration issues, but he refers to four key areas for improvement: better process performance that helps the plant process achieve the maximum output/yield; better asset effectiveness by deciding when/where/how to operate, maintain or repair equipment; better opportunity management over order-taking, plant use and pricing; and better operator effectiveness through training on startup, shutdown, upsets and abnormal circumstances. “Today’s process operations are increasingly complex. Operators not only manage profitability, they also work to comply with regulations and product quality constraints,” said Jack Bolick, president of Honeywell Process Solutions. “Powerful, integrated, automation-based solutions and a well-trained staff are an essential requirement. This acquisition not only allows us to obtain great new additions to our product portfolio, but we gain an incredible amount of process knowledge and experience from the new employees joining Honeywell.” Honeywell will also be able to enhance its Shadow Plant simulation offerings by merging capabilities offered by the Aspen OTS and Hyprotech technologies, and harnessing users’ own intellectual property embedded in existing Hysys models – ultimately providing a more robust and thorough operations and training solution to customers.