FieldComm Group names Tianxin its 2026 Plant of the Year, recognizing its innovative approach to preserving HART investments while advancing digital connectivity.
HART-IP over Ethernet-APL Across 15 Production Workshops
Tianxin Pharmaceutical exemplifies what the FieldComm Group Plant of the Year Award is all about, turning technology innovation into meaningful operational results. Their implementation demonstrates that manufacturers don’t have to choose between protecting proven investments and advancing digitalization. By bringing Ethernet-APL and HART-IP together, Tianxin is establishing a practical model for smarter, more connected industrial operations.
Ted MastersPresident and CEO of FieldComm Group
Located in Leping, Jiangxi Province, China, Tianxin‘s modernization project supports more than 40,000 signal points across 15 main production workshops, including over 12,000 Ethernet-APL intelligent instruments. By bringing HART-IP communications directly to the field over Ethernet-APL, Tianxin has created a more efficient digital infrastructure while preserving the HART knowledge, tools and workflows familiar to its operations and maintenance teams.
Measurable Results from the Modernization
Driven by evolving production requirements and stringent safety regulations, Tianxin’s modernization delivers measurable results, including:
- Lower CostsApproximately 400 km less cabling and 80% less cable-tray space.
- Faster Commissioning10 months in commissioning now, reduced 3~5 months compared with previous.
- Improved SafetyIntrinsically safe instrument spur wiring for hazardous-area operations.
- Greater FlexibilitySimplified plant modifications and future expansion.
A Multivendor Architecture with SUPCON as DCS Provider
It is a great honor to be named FieldComm Group’s 2026 Plant of the Year. Our goal was to create a safer, more efficient and adaptable manufacturing environment. HART-IP over Ethernet-APL has helped us achieve this while building on our existing HART expertise. We are grateful to FieldComm Group, SUPCON and our industry partners for their contributions and look forward to continued collaboration and innovation.
Mr. Tang YongDeputy Chief Engineer of Tianxin Pharmaceutical
The project brings together technologies from multiple industrial automation suppliers, with SUPCON serving as Tianxin’s distributed control system (DCS) provider and supplying approximately 60% of the intelligent field instruments. The remaining instruments are sourced from other manufacturers, demonstrating the value of an interoperable, multivendor architecture.
Lessons Applied to the Greenfield Plant in Ningxia
Tianxin is applying lessons from its Jiangxi modernization project to its greenfield manufacturing development in Qingtongxia, Ningxia. Its achievement reflects the purpose of FieldComm Group‘s annual Plant of the Year Award, which recognizes industrial facilities demonstrating exceptional use of FieldComm Group technologies to improve plant operations, maintenance and asset performance.
Read the full Tianxin 2026 Plant of the Year award story at https://www.fieldcommgroup.org/2026-plant-of-the-year-tianxin.
