Choosing the right PC
October 2004
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) have found wide acceptance as the core devices of control subsystems in the factory automation field thanks to their high speed, easy programming, low prices and other merits.
However, industry now finds itself in the midst of severe economic conditions and societal transformations, and to overcome these will expect PLCs to offer even greater performance and functionality. Users of PLCs embedded in mechanical equipment, in particular, are demanding high speed and sophisticated control performance, in the interests of higher productivity, and also that they are available at low cost. Yet at the same time users are also demanding features that will enhance operating efficiency, such as the ability to connect to multifunctional display devices to simplify machine operation, and failure diagnostic capabilities to reduce machine downtime when failures occur. Moreover, it has become mandatory to provide communication capabilities that will allow machines to be connected into company-wide networks to implement production monitoring and command facilities as parts of CIM systems.
Thus for a PLC to compete in today's market it must integrate high-speed control, data processing, and communication capabilities while still remaining inexpensive.
Emphasis is required on the following areas:
* Ultra high speed - Make input ->computation ->output time as short as possible, for fast response.
* Stable control with time management capabilities - strictly minimise the impact of software growth due to man/machine interface and failure diagnostic features. Design so that communications with higher-level network and remote I/O will not affect control stability.
* Size reduction - reduce size in the interests of control panel standardisation, and of simpler and more efficient control panel design and installation.
* Positioning control - fast start-up time, high-speed pulse output rate, smooth S-shaped acceleration and deceleration, and the ability to change target positions without stopping.
Yokogawa is offering its FA-M3 R3 Factory Ace PLC, which has been designed with the above-mentioned requirements in mind. Available for many years in Japan and the Far East, the FA-M3 has now arrived in South Africa. It provides the same level of ruggedness and reliability as has been field-proven with the rest of the Yokogawa product range, resulting in an extremely low long-term cost of ownership.
For more information contact Johan Pretorius, 011 681 2500, [email protected], www.yokogawa.com
Further reading:
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.
Read more...
printer friendly version