Ditch the black box and increase diagnostics!

Wherever fuel is burned – furnaces, ovens, kilns, dryers, boilers and other kinds of facilities – there is burner management system (BMS) in play. The basic nature of these systems with the use of explosive gases and extreme temperatures makes safety paramount. Historically the control systems running these processes have been “black box” solutions that are expensive and tough to troubleshoot. A recent revision to NFPA standards now allows the use of SIL3 capable off the shelf PLCs in place of […] Read More

Ethanol plant on cruise control with the assistance of Trident

Golden Grain Energy turns Iowa’s bountiful corn crop into ethanol energy and to do it, they use “cruise control” for their plant. Each year, the corn crop is converted to 120,000,000 gallons of ethanol in a state-of-the-art production facility. The staff of about 50 manages daily production thanks to an efficient and dependable DCS system with oversight by Trident Automation. Trident has been working with the plant since 2004 and Golden Grain CEO Chad Kuhlers credits Trident with facilitating the […] Read More

20 years – Evolution of ownership

        As we enter our 20th year in business, we welcome two new additions to our ownership team. Yogesh Maheshwari is our Director of Engineering and Manufacturing and has been named a principal in Trident Automation.  As the leader of our engineering division, Yogesh believes the biggest challenge faced by our customers and team members is managing continual change to adapt to the future of business. He has worked in controls engineering for his entire career and […] Read More

Trident Automation marks 20-year anniversary

Right now, ethanol plants are fermenting on schedule, factory processes are running efficiently, and new technology is being switched on thanks to Trident Automation. This year, the controls automation firm celebrates 20 years in business designing process controls for manufacturing environment. “We like to think of ourselves as ‘in the pipes’ type of guys,” says Jason Hurst, CEO of Trident Automation. “Our job is to regulate and control anything that flows through a pipe or requires measurement in an automated […] Read More

Get in control with Trident Automation

Meet Ryan Kuper, our newest employee who knows automation from the customer side and the consultant side. Ryan is Trident’s Process Control and Automation Strategist based in the heart of corn country, Ackley Iowa. He made the jump from customer to consultant after 25 years in process automation for the ethanol, food, and agricultural chemical industries. He provides an “inside the plant” perspective for customers and has some best practices based on real-life experience. Having worked on both sides of […] Read More

Relationships matter: Siemens Solution Partner

All the bright ideas in the world don’t matter if you can’t get your hands on the technology. That’s why Trident Automation has developed and maintained deep relationships with the world’s top DCS manufacturers. We do this so our customers depend on fast turn around and access to the latest technology. Trident Automation is one a few companies in the United States recognized as a Siemens Solution Partner. Systems integrators that demonstrate specialized market expertise in a specific industry sector […] Read More

Service Spotlight: Design and maintaining systems for your unique needs

Trident Automation engineers have an uncanny ability to translate solutions between different platforms. We integrate existing control systems to make them better, faster smarter. Or, we create advanced solutions where none exist. Our HMI solutions have a range of features and applications. We work with you to find the solution that works within your specific environment. We keep you serving your customer. Our service and support are there when you need it with technicians and engineers who are on call. […] Read More

Trident installs one of first Siemens SPHA systems

MilliporeSigma produces chemicals used in the life sciences and semiconductor industries and tasked Trident Automation with finding a solution to upgrading its control systems. The company previously relied on APACS using Windows 95 running the MycroAdvantage HMI. To implement a more modern DCS, they wanted a solution that was scalable, flexible, intuitive, required minimal downtime for installation, and reduced total cost of ownership. Before moving to the solution phase, Trident engineers first had to learn the MycroAdvantage system—an older platform […] Read More