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Livingston
based Elite Control Systems to provide
process control system for the new
Macallan distillery which is scheduled
to open in 2017.
Elite
Control Systems Ltd, a leading provider
of systems integration and engineering
support services has been awarded the
contract to provide a fully operational
process control system for the new
Macallan distillery.
The Livingston based company have been
contracted to write the full process
software control package, and provide
ongoing support services following
commissioning of the new process control
system. This combination of technology
and 24-hour technical support will
ensure that the automated control
systems that The Macallan owner,
Edrington, uses to operate the whisky
making process at the new distillery
will function properly, so that
production remains on track and the
visitor centre remains open to welcome
thousands of visitors all year-round.
Construction of the new Macallan
distillery commenced back in December
2014, the design, installation and
commissioning of the new process control
system is one of the next steps in the
construction process and an indication
that the new Macallan distillery is
still on course to open to the public in
2017.
The new contemporary looking Macallan
distillery, which is part of £100
million investment from the Edrington
Group in The
Macallan estate, is nestled in the
parklands of The Macallan Estate in
Speyside, it promises to be, according
to Edrington, "a site of major
architectural significance," as well as
a huge boost to tourism and the local
economy. With architects Rogers Stirk
Harbour & Partners, designers of the
Millennium Dome and Pompidou Centre,
commissioned to design and build it, the
new facility will not only "complement
the natural beauty of the area," but be
highly innovative and environmentally
sound.
Prior to installing the software control
system on-site in Speyside, Elite will
make certain that it conforms with
Edrington’s specific requirements.
Initially, the control software will be
simulated, tested and fully documented
at Elite’s facility in Livingston to
ensure a smooth commissioning period,
with minimal programming required
on-site.
After the facility is up and running,
Elite’s dedicated Support Services
division will provide around-the-clock
support of the new distillery’s
state-of-the-art control system. Should
any hardware or network problems arise,
Elite Control Systems engineers will be
on standby to respond immediately to
rectify the situation so that operations
will resume as soon as possible. To make
certain that the system functions
properly, Elite will also conduct
regular preventative maintenance checks,
minor system modifications and training
of Edrington technical staff.
The latest information I have is that
the new Macallan distillery will have 24
stills (but don't quote me on that), compared to 21 stills (7 wash
stills and 14 spirit stills) in the
current Macallan distillery.
No matter when the new Macallan
distillery opens in 2017 it will be a
few years before we can sample the
whisky it produces but meanwhile you
will find the current range of The
Macallan whiskies produced at the
current Macallan distillery available
from specialist online whisky retailers such as
Master of Malt
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