HIMA expands Asia Pacific operations by opening a new office in Taiwan
HIMA offers solutions for safety controllers and software for functional safety, which can be connected to existing control systems in process and rail applications.
- HIMA is the world’s leading independent provider of safety-related automation solutions for railway, petrochemical and chemical, energy (hydrogen, oil & gas etc) to protect people, the environment and assets.
- HIMA’s consulting helped APA, Australia’s largest natural gas infrastructure business, to ensure that the functional safety management systems for gas storage were robust, effective, and aligned with industry best practices.
- With World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2023 celebrating on 28 April, HIMA safety experts are available for comments on the topic of workplace safety.
HIMA, a leading provider of safety related automation solutions for the Process and Railway industries, announced its new branch office in Taiwan on 29th March 2023. Graced by Mr. Friedhelm Best, HIMA Vice President Region Asia Pacific, the opening of this office affirms HIMA's commitment to customers and partners in Taiwan and boosts HIMA's presence in Asia Pacific.
Process Industry
With over 50,000 safety solutions installed worldwide in 80 different countries, HIMA is looking to add to that number with more installations within Taiwan. The processing of chemical and petrochemicals is one of the most important industrial sectors worldwide, as well as one of the most competitive.
One solution used in different cases worldwide is HIMA's line of Emergency Shut Down Systems, with HIMatrix being a popular choice. Installed in APA Group's (Australia's largest natural gas infrastructure business) gas storage facility, the controller ensures maximum safety, long term availability, as well as future-proofing – since they fulfil all requirements for functional safety in the process industry (IEC 61511) and provide effective protection against the growing threat of cyber-attacks (IEC 62443), falling nicely in line with the HIMA's #safetygoesdigital tagline.
Rail Industry
For decades, railway companies in particular have had to turn to expensive, proprietary solutions in order to meet legal requirements for safety. However, with cost pressures and cybersecurity vulnerabilities on the rise in the digital age, solutions must be cost efficient, fast to implement and fulfil strict safety and cybersecurity standards. More system integrators, rolling stock manufacturers and railway operators are opting for a standardized commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) system for a cost-effective and sustainable safety solution.
"With recent railway incidents triggering awareness on safety within the industry, the priority of people's safety along with protection of the environment has become crucial topics that the authorities want to address. It is our commitment to provide the technological know-how and the best service to customers in Taiwan. The opening of this branch office will ensure they will receive it," said Ms. Tracy Lau, HIMA Taiwan branch office manager.
HIMA has nearly 1,000 railway safety installations in more than 30 countries, with applications ranging from interlocking, level crossing and rolling stock across high speed rail, mainline rail, metro and light rail, using the game-changing commercial-off-the-shelf COTS safety controllers developed by HIMA.
These open safety controllers enable any system integrator to integrate into their own safety solutions, and end customers to be independent of providers, yet meeting strict safety standards in the rail industry. HIMA controllers can be easily installed, quickly supplied with spare parts, and comply with the strict SIL 4 standard in accordance with CENELEC.
Presence in Taiwan
Despite the opening their latest branch office, HIMA is not new to Taiwan, having previously replaced existing relay systems with HIMA SIL4 COTS among railway systems within Taiwan. In doing so, the reliability and availability of the system was further improved, eliminating the constant train delay that was caused by the failing of the existing relay system. Elsewhere, HIMA also lists the LNG, refinery, petrochemical process, and power plant industries as areas where their expertise can improve functional safety within Taiwan.
www.hima.com
