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November 30, 2005
Out with the old, in with the new
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Computers similar to the ones that are used in millions of offices and homes now play a key role in providing computer control to the aluminium smelting pots at Portland Aluminium. This follows the final switch-off of the old system, which had been in service since the plant was commissioned in 1986.
Senior Staff Engineer for Victorian Operations David Peek says the new pot control system (called QLC or Quiet, Lean, Cool) relies on 12 standard desktop computers and two standard server computers. The system runs on Windows 2003 and a common set of control programs that are standard for all new pot control systems within Alcoa.
"Our team in Victoria had an idea many years ago to use standard desktops and a common system across the world. It took a lot of effort but it was finally agreed that this made good economic sense because it means common equipment and backup service, and economies of scale," David says. "The design effort for the common system saw us win the Alcoa Chairman’s Award for Global Collaboration in 2000."
The new system is the result of three years of work by the local team, assisted by several Systems Engineers from Alcoa Primary Metals Service Delivery Group. It replaces DEC PDP11 computers that were considered hi-tech in their time but are now old technology. One of the difficulties of the old technology was finding people with the expertise to fix issues. In fact, Luigi Bellamarino – a well know figure around PA – was practically the only service person for the DEC computers from 1986 until recently.
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