There are many possible causes of power failures. Even if utility companies were in a position to guarantee an almost one hundred percent failsafe electricity supply, there would still be a host of unfavorable circumstances which could trigger a total failure.

Excavator damage and extreme weather conditions are just two examples. The biggest weak spots however are always installation work, short-circuits in the building and human error. Downtimes are predicted to increase even further in the next few years in the wake of the electricity market’s liberalization and the ensuing cost pressures on utilities. The financial damage that results from stoppages of a component system - or in the worst case the complete plant - is immense. Even short production downtimes often require completely resetting the machines in a procedure lasting hours if not days.

A fully functional process control and vizualisation system is crucial for prompt resumption of production following a power failure. Special measures must therefore be taken to protect these systems against the possible consequences of sudden loss of power.