Unitronics’ new Vision350 incorporates all the advantages of colour into a compact all-in-one PLC/HMI device. This power PLC and enhanced HMI is equipped with a colour touchscreen, an improved processor and diverse I/O options. Adaptable to most TCP/IP/serial protocols, the Vision350 offers exceptional communication features, such as Ethernet connection via TCP/IP, GSM/SMS/GPRS, Modbus and CANopen, and also includes remote access utilities.
The Vision350’s fully functional HMI features a 90 mm colour touchscreen display, capable of supporting 3 MB of application memory for images, and 512 k for fonts, allowing about 250 images and 1024 displays per application. Five programmable keys allow customisation of customer logo and function keys (keys could be labelled as arrow keys using a supplied keypad slide). Enhanced programming features include trending, built-in alarm screens and easy HMI language support.
This high-speed PLC allows for 1 MB of logic memory and a scan time of 15 μsec per 1k of typical application. It also offers up to 38 onboard digital and analog I/Os that can expand up to 166. This includes digital and analog I/Os, temperature measurement and load cell inputs and recipe programming. Add 24 PID loops with auto-tune, onboard thermocouple and PT100 inputs, and the Vision350 incorporates a full functional temperature controller.
This new and improved combination of features enables engineers and systems designers to benefit from a powerful PLC and HMI that requires a bare minimum of cabinet space and wiring.
ABB updates distributed control system ABB South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Leveraging 30 years of continuous innovation and reliability, ABB’s updated Freelance 2024 distributed control system (DCS) offers greater plant adaptability, faster and more reliable device communication, improved system security, and seamless data exchange.
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With the growing importance of digital transformation, HMIs and scada have evolved from control panels to vast operational hubs. Next-gen HMI/scada can bring together data, personalisation, and advanced insights to successfully achieve organisational goals, it is important to think about HMI/scada holistically within the operations ecosystem.
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In the early days of industrialisation, control systems were primarily mechanical, and relied on manual intervention and simple feedback loops to manage processes. Now, in the 21st century, industrial process automation systems are mind-blowingly intelligent, and provide almost unparalleled control and monitoring capabilities, making them integral to modern industrial systems.
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The proportion of renewable energies from solar, wind and water is rising continuously. However, sufficient storage options are of the essence to use these energies as efficiently as possible. GKN Hydrogen offers a particularly compact and safe option, low-pressure metal hydride hydrogen storage systems with PC-based control from Beckhoff.
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ABB has secured a landmark contract to modernise Smurfit Kappa’s Paper Machine 5 at its corrugated cardboard mill near Mexico City. ABB will provide Smurfit Kappa with DCS, accompanied by a comprehensive paper machine drives system, encompassing some of the market’s most advanced drives and motors meticulously designed to optimise PM5’s performance.
Read more...The synapses of the distributed control system Schneider Electric South Africa
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Industrial operations require a distributed control system (DCS) to coordinate and control their process subsystems in real time. Like the brain, a DCS is a multitasking maestro, controlling and coordinating complex processes in a myriad of industrial setting such as large manufacturing plants, providing valuable top-down control.
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JR Automation delivers custom automated solutions for numerous industries. It has done this through its scalable, modular automation platform, FlexChassis, which speeds up time to market while cutting costs. The company chose the XTS linear transport system from Beckhoff because of its speed, and modular design that allows for multiple configurations.
Read more...Selecting the best remote access solution for your application
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
In today’s Internet of Things (IoT) world, remote mobile access is a necessity for many industrial applications. There are several ways of implementing this connectivity with routers and virtual private networks.
Read more...PLCs and PACs simplify data acquisition
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Data acquisition, data logging and data analysis are required functions for most modern industrial control systems. The simplest and lowest cost way to provide these functions is often by using the same platform providing real-time control, namely the PLC or the PAC.
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PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
In the twenty-first century, the ability to put together custom electronic devices has become much more accessible to smaller companies, and even the private user. With the open nature of these platforms, potential developers can start learning systems easily, and do not need a massive capital output to do so.