MHD is the channel partner for Honeywell CentraLine make of building management system. A brief on BMS in general & Honeywell CentraLine BMS is as below:
BMS: A Building Management System (BMS) is a computer-based control system installed in buildings that controls and monitors the building’s mechanical and electrical equipment such as ventilation, lighting, power systems, fire systems, and security systems. A BMS consists of software and hardware; the software program, usually configured in a hierarchical manner, can be proprietary, using such protocols as C-bus, Profibus, and so on. Vendors are also producing BMSs that integrate using Internet protocols and open standards such as DeviceNet, SOAP, XML, BACnet, LonWorks and Modbus
SCHÖNAICH, APRIL 2009 – Almost five years, in May 2004, Honeywell created a new brand which concentrates on the networked automation of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in buildings. Under the CentraLine name, the company has since been offering systems Europe-wide which are tailored exactly to the demands of commercial and/or public buildings. The solutions are available exclusively via selected CentraLine partners who offer customers flexible and competent local support.
The partner concept is a key pillar of the CentraLine strategy. Meanwhile, more than 350 highly-qualified partners have been acquired throughout Europe enabling comprehensive distribution. Based on four original markets (Great Britain, Germany, France and the Netherlands), the concept has meanwhile been launched in more than 30 countries. Customer proximity is writ big under the motto of “close to you”: partners ensure smooth project operations including planning, installation, commissioning and maintenance of the CentraLine solutions.
One essential component of the concept includes regular training of partners, all of whom are experienced and independent control specialists. CentraLine supplies them with a highly-professional team of sales, marketing, research and development experts. Coupled with a distinctive market orientation, this permits solutions which are tailored to the respective customer requirements.
In the form of COACH, CentraLine offers its partner firms highly-efficient software for generating control and steering applications for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. COACH enables all applications to be generated easily, swiftly and fault lessly, whereby COACH unites all of the advantages offered by simple configuration software with a degree of flexibility previously only offered by freely-programmable systems. The user configures his system by inserting the individual components such as boiler, heat exchanger, heating circuits and all other components from the template library via drag and drop into his project. These system components contain the entire know-how of Honeywell application experience which is depicted comprehensibly for CentraLine partners and made available free of charge. The user only needs to select and activate the functions he requires in the list of functions given. The components then connect automatically in line with a patented algorithm.
In many buildings, a wide variety of systems are used in parallel. These systems generally run as stand-alone solutions without any co-ordination which can incur high added costs for energy and management. The new Web-based CentraLineAX
integration platform allows a variety of systems to be connected seamlessly with each other and with a superior building management system if necessary. The increasingly important integration of consumer data in corporate applications, e.g. accounting systems, service and maintenance systems and Facility Management systems, is also supported, thus paving the way for “consumer-based energy cost analysis”. Furthermore, the platform also permits comprehensive monitoring, automation and optimisation of processes which translates into a significant reduction in energy consumption and therefore operating costs.
The CentraLineAX integration platform avails of an integrated Web server which means that it is not reliant on a PC. This dispenses with complicated operating system conversions and updates. Thanks to the Web-based solution, system managers can access the connected sub-systems at all times and from anywhere using standard browsers via CentraLineAX.
The platform is therefore convincing thanks to its low operating and maintenance costs as well as outstanding availability in terms of time and space. At the same time, it can easily communicate with PC-based IT systems and data bases such as SAP, Oracle or Microsoft SQL servers.
CentraLineAX comprises the Hawk integration platform, optional ArenaAX operating software and CoachAX configuration software – for an optimum interplay between the various CentraLine products. Experience has shown that CentraLineAX can significantly reduce the costs associated with technology, installation, operation and maintenance by integrating stand-alone solutions in the building to form an overall system with superior optimisation.
When it comes to controlling heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, operators and planners rely on a system which is easy to operate, works reliably and depends on technical standards with a future. Furthermore, they require a single contact person who is capable of responding swiftly and expertly to their respective queries. This is exactly where the CentraLine partner concept comes in with both planners and end customers benefiting equally from this concept.
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