FOLLOW RIA
Sella Controls and Amey Rail have been developing a COTS Safety PLC based Level Crossing solution for 4+ years based on a range of safety PLCs. Using standard proven industry safety PLCs in Level Crossings and railway signalling is a logical step and has been done by railway administrations in other countries. The main advantages are significant cost reductions and increased system performance. Use of Safety PLCs simplifies the design and testing. PLCs have significant design tools to simplify the design process and further reduce costs. The function block logic used in PLCs is easily suited and understood by signalling engineers. Amey Rail and SELLA CONTROLS have produced the Generic Application Safety Case (GASC) for the introduction of a safety PLC into the UK and the Specific Application Safety Case (SASC) for application to Network Rail level crossing work. The purpose of the trial site is to gain Network Rail Product Acceptance which will then allow us to supply our control system to Network Rail and Tier one contractors which will be used to upgrade outdated relay-based level crossing systems over the coming years.
About Sella Controls Established in 1974 as Sella Controls, the company was appointed agent for HIMA Paul Hildebrandt for safety system products in 1983; and became Hima-Sella Ltd in 1994. In 2001, Hima-Sella Ltd received the first ever CASS certificate - awarded for functional safety management in accordance with IEC 61508. In June 2017 the company changed its name back to Sella Controls. The change of name reflects the successful and continued development of the business across an increasing number of industry sectors, whilst maintaining its long standing relationship with HIMA Paul Hildebrandt GmbH of Bruehl, Germany. Today, Sella Controls is recognised as a market leader in ‘engineered solutions’ for safety, control, automation and telecommunication applications in the oil & gas, petrochemical, rail, steel and power industries. Current services include completely integrated systems, panel building, sub-assemblies, product development and on-site support. The company is an active member of RISQS – the standard database from which companies in the rail sector select their contractors and suppliers; First Point Assessment Limited (FPAL, the industry database from which those operating in the oil and gas industries select their contractors and suppliers); and the Joint Qualification Scheme (JQS, the prerequisite for suppliers to the oil industry in Norway and Denmark, as used by the top 20 oil companies in those countries). Sella Controls is also a member of several associations and industry-based councils, including the Railway Industries Association, Rail Alliance, Energy Industries Council, the Institute of Measurement & Control, and the Nuclear Industry Association, keeping the company up to date with the changes in legislation and standards. Recent multi-million pound contracts won by Sella Controls in the rail sector are the design and supply of full integrated telecommunications system for the Central Line, Traction Power SCADA Renewals works across AC/DC Electrification and Tunnel Ventilation SCADA for the Piccadilly Line. (In the oil & gas sector the upgrade of critical safety equipment in Norway, at the world’s third largest liquid petroleum gas (LPG) processing plant, as well as offshore system in the North Sea and Indian Ocean. The company is based in Stockport, Ashby de la Zouch and Coalville in Leicestershire. In total, Sella Controls employs more than 100 full-time personnel and has a turnover in excess of £12million. The company’s quality management system has been approved to BS EN ISO 9001 since 1989. www.sellacontrols.com