More frequent process changes. New technology. Larger datasets. Greater traceability and compliance requirements. Tighter budgets. Sound familiar? From oil refineries to food and beverage plants, process engineers are being asked to manage increasingly complex systems – and to do more with less. The good news is the latest distributed control system (DCS) platforms have kept pace with technological developments.
Light curtains go a long way in making your operations much safer for machine operators and maintenance personnel. That said, simply purchasing and installing one doesn’t ensure that all safety needs are fully met. It’s important to make sure that the light curtain meets all the requirements for reducing the risks of your particular application.
The phrase “up-time” is an oft-repeated phrase for IT professionals, reflecting the fact that a key measure of their success is service availability. Modern climate control systems support “up-time” but to understand why, you first need to consider the impact of poor climate control in order to decide which equipment to employ to take an installation to the next level.
Electrical enclosures need cooling units in order to enhance performance and prevent failure. The acceptable operating temperature for most electrical devices exceeds 40 °C (104 °F). Devices often placed in cooling enclosures include variable frequency drives (VFDs), servo drives, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), starter kits, power supplies, inverters, relays, terminal blocks, indicator lights, and transformers.
At BOLCi Bolu Chocolate, a Turkish manufacturer of elegant truffles and other delicacies, the opportunity arose for some improvements to its production system. With over 300 employees and a 20,000-square-meter factory, BOLCi has a product list of over 800 different items and produces and average of 200 tons of chocolate items each month.
A local manufacturer intended to complete the setup and installation of a high-speed printing machine as well as design and implement a packaging solution. They believed that the printing machine was ready to be deployed in their facility, and they were looking for a local company with automation expertise to fulfill this need.
In a joint venture, Pepperl+Fuchs, Neoception, and Bosch Connected Industries (BCI) have digitalized and automated the supply and picking processes of Kanban racks from end to end. In addition to automation expertise, Pepperl+Fuchs contributed the necessary sensor hardware—in particular a newly developed scanning sensor rail. Neoception was responsible for the software interface to the Intralogistics Execution System (IES) Industry 4.0 application developed by BCI.
Based out of Toronto, David Willick, VP & Regional Segment Leader for Mining, Metals and Minerals, Schneider Electric, is a mining industry veteran.
Innovative Automation is an automation solutions provider for the manufacturing, food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries located in Barrie, Ontario.
Flexible circuit boards offer numerous advantages. However, the mechanical fixation of these circuit boards is highly complex. HARTING has developed a new solution based on 3D-MID technology that is capable of replacing flexible circuit boards. Thanks to component carriers, cost savings of up to two-thirds can be achieved.
Many organizations are at risk of continued interruption to operations due to coronavirus and possible future pandemics.
Aalborg University Hospital is the largest hospital in the North Jutland region of Denmark. Up to 3,000 blood samples arrive here in the lab every day. They must be tested and sorted – a time-consuming and monotonous process which has been done manually until now.
Multi-Tasking adds efficiency to every aspect of manufacturing production. Because it enables start-to-finish production of parts that require a multi-axis approach to multiple processes, it cuts production lead times and part costs by eliminating, in many cases, the need for multiple clampings and multiple machines. That same single-setup ease and convenience also increases machining accuracy and part quality because parts stay on one machine rather than moving from one machine to the next involving numerous part setups.
FANUC recently introduced a new AI Error Proofing function in iRVision designed for part inspection that uses machine-learning technology. Error proofing determines that a production process happens according to plans. During production, there are typically known problem areas that result in the creation of a bad part.
When you commit to improving processes, some of the benefits are obvious – and some are not. It’s those “hidden” benefits that can’t be overlooked when assessing the total value of a new system. In a recent project with a global beverage producer, it’s those benefits that are producing some added bonuses.
If your plant is unexpectedly shut down due to the current crisis, you can use this pause in production as an opportunity to review and improve safety procedures. Why should you make maintaining your electrical infrastructure a priority?
This project is funded [in part] by the Government of Canada.
Ce projet est financé [en partie] par le gouvernement du Canada.
