Optimization technology evolves process-industry tool set into business solution.(ADVANCED PROCESS CONTROL)

Manufacturing Business Technology, July, 2005

Pavilion Technologies' release of Pavilion8 software for process industries is the vendor's latest step to position itself as a provider of business solutions rather than just automation tools. Pavilion earned its chops selling industry-specific advanced process control (APC) tools to process verticals, counting more than 350 customers in chemicals, consumer products, dairy, polymers, pulp & paper, refining, and others.

But while APC is used in these verticals, its value isn't always clear to the folks writing the checks. "We've been very tool-centric in the way we describe our products," says Pavilion VP Matt Tormollen. "Our customers always had to justify buying our products internally." Yet APC, an intelligent and active software layer...