Commissioning Project Evolves into 24/7 Support

Interstates recently partnered with Shell Rock, IA-based Shell Rock Soy Processing on its greenfield processing facility, offering essential support services to ensure a successful launch. The project, which began with Interstates providing Electrical & Instrumentation (E&I) commissioning services, evolved to include comprehensive Operational Technology (OT) and automation support. Ricardo Romero, Senior Systems Analyst at Interstates, says, "The project started by providing commissioning services to help start up their brand-new plant. We then asked if the client would like a remote programmable logic controller (PLC) troubleshooter available on call to help keep the plant running as it moved out of commissioning and into normal plant operation."

Following the initial commissioning phase, Interstates conducted a thorough OT system assessment to identify opportunities for improvement. "Our first OT engagement was a site assessment," Romero says. "The client wanted to understand if the OT systems were optimal and if we saw any gaps or opportunities for improvement." Recommendations from the assessment led to the implementation of various enhancements, including improved network security, endpoint security measures, disaster recovery planning, and refined access control policies.

Flexible Support for Critical Systems

Adam Van Schepen, Automation Manager at Interstates, highlights the benefits of partnering with Interstates, regardless of whether we were initially involved in building the project. "Interstates is willing to support projects that were installed by others," he says, "especially when the technology and the industry are a great fit for our expertise." This flexibility enables Interstates to provide comprehensive support across multiple aspects of a plant's control and electrical systems. While the Shell Rock plant is now up and running, Interstates' 24/7 support services will continue to provide value to the client, ensuring uninterrupted operation of critical systems. "There is no set schedule for when a component fails at a facility," Romero notes. "Components do fail at 2 a.m. on a Saturday morning, and customers likely don't have technicians on staff during those off hours with the expertise to troubleshoot. Our experts are available at all times to help resolve issues."

This round-the-clock availability of expert support provides clients with peace of mind, allowing them to focus on their core operations without the worry of potential system downtime. About the Shell Rock facility, Van Schepen says, "This plant runs 24/7, so having a support system that covers their operational schedule is important."

Ongoing Holistic Support for a Healthy Plant

Looking ahead, Interstates remains committed to providing ongoing support to the Shell Rock Soy Processing facility, offering proactive maintenance, continuous system monitoring, and rapid resolution of any issues that may arise. "Interstates offers E&I, automation, and OT support services for many types of facilities," Van Schepen says. "We deliver these services from a team dedicated to maintenance and support, ensuring a holistic support structure for your electrical and controls systems."

With Interstates' comprehensive support services in place, the Shell Rock facility is poised for continued success and equipped with robust systems and backup assistance to navigate any operational challenges that may arise. Mike Helm, Director at Shell Rock Soy Processing, says, "The attractive part about Interstates' 24/7 OT support is having subject matter experts working for you that are highly competent in their field. The true benefit for us is greatly improved risk management coupled with having direct support resources a phone call away. Having the Interstates team to rely on will remove the over-whelmingness of OT issues if and when they happen."