Circuit Breaker Industries is the authorised distributor of Mitsubishi Electric products in sub-Saharan Africa and is proud to be part of the growing success of this key market player. This year represents Mitsubishi's 25th year of innovation, quality and outstanding performance.
Mitsubishi Electric launched the 'mother of all PLCs', the original PM series, in 1977. It was the first 'all-in-one' PLC and was originally used only in Mitsubishi's own automobile works. In 1981 the company launched the MELSEC F series, the first compact controller in Europe. This system revolutionised the controller market and was the foundation of Mitsubishi Electric's worldwide success. Today, the company markets a comprehensive range of compact controllers with models catering to the needs of every imaginable application.
Applying the principle of 'ever more performance into smaller and smaller units', Japanese engineers have systematically refined and improved Mitsubishi's FX controller technology, culminating in 1994 with the launch of the first powerful commercial PLC in credit card format. Japanese engineers had succeeded in reducing the dimensions of FX units by half in comparison to the compact PLCs of the FX series originally launched in 1990. In 1999 Mitsubishi Electric presented the FX2N, a compact PLC solution with a program cycle period of just 0,08 µs, an achievement that remains unchallenged in this market segment.
Performance is not the only important criterion and Mitsubishi Electric has developed expansion modules for features like analog I/O, high-speed counters and efficient positioning functions for easy control of stepping and servomotors. These modules make it simple to configure customised solutions for individual requirements.
The latest member of the compact PLC family is the FX2NC, a new standard in miniaturisation and performance. Despite its ultra-compact, modular design the smallest base unit, measuring 35 x 90 x 89 mm (width x height x depth) also delivers the most powerful processor performance. With a cycle period of 0,08 µs, just like the FX2N, the FX2NC is one of the fastest in its class, while occupying a quarter of the cabinet space required by its 'big sister'. This means that since 1981 Mitsubishi has reduced the sizes of its controller units by 80%. In addition, the series has comprehensive networking capabilities and expansion options, giving it plenty of reserves for additional performance when needed.
These enhanced performance and expansion options have made compact controllers powerful and flexible, so that they can be used to configure solutions for everything from standard, low-end tasks to demanding and complex applications. Over five million Mitsubishi compact controller systems have been sold worldwide. In the micro range up to 32 I/Os the company is the world market leader and it is also the second-largest vendor worldwide in that sector, up to 128 I/Os.
Circuit Breaker Industries, a company wholly owned by Reunert, is an authorised distributor of the Mitsubishi Electric range of automation products. This range includes programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human machine interfaces (HMIs), variable speed drives (VSDs), servo drives and Mitsubishi motor control equipment (ie, magnetic contactors, medium and high voltage vacuum contactors, thermal overload relays and electronic motor protection relays). A qualified team of sales engineers is able to advise customers and supply back-up support and service. All products carry a 12 month warranty.
ABB technology for greater circularity in metals and mining industries
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
ABB has been selected by GreenIron, an innovative Swedish company working in the mining and metals industries with its patented materials reduction technology, to provide automation and control system solutions for a first commercial facility in Sandviken, Sweden.
Read more...EtherCAT Box modules for confined spaces Beckhoff Automation
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Users of EtherCAT and EtherCAT P Box modules from Beckhoff’s EP and EPP series benefit from 25 years of IP67 expertise in the I/O sector. The broad product range for decentralised distribution of the I/O level directly at the machine or system has been continuously expanded and further developed during this time.
Read more...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.
Read more...Four ways modern operations control can boost sustainability and efficiency
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
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.
Read more...The convergence of intelligence: DCS, SCADA and TLC Schneider Electric South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
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.
Read more...PC-based control for advanced hydrogen storage technology Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
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.
Read more...ABB modernises key board mill ABB South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
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
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
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.
Read more...Modular assembly platform for clean manufacturing Beckhoff Automation
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
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.
printer friendly version