Flour milling facility gets fully automated

October 2001 System Integration & Control Systems Design

AIB Bakery erected a fully automated flour milling, premix manufacturing and packaging facility in Mount Edgecombe to supply its franchise of bakeries with premix.

NC Automation Engineering was awarded the automation and electrical contract of the green fields project, which involved the automation of wheat intake and transfer; cleaning and tempering; wheat milling; the bulk flour intake system; finished product recipe batch handling; a built out-loading system; finished product packaging; purchases and sales systems; stock control system; maintenance log and reporting; production reporting; and lab test reporting.

The system was designed around a Windows NT Ethernet network, connecting two of Omron's CS1 PLCs to two Adroit 4.2 scada PCs via a 100 Mbps Switch. A central server PC supports the plant SQL Server 7.0 database.

Using an OPC client driver on a Klinkmann Omron Ethernet OPC server, high-speed communication between the Omron's PLCs and Adroit was made possible. All other computers on the site network have access to both the intranet and the ability to view live scada information via a remote user interface.

The completed system is split into two areas - intake and mill section, and the finished products section. Each section is controlled by its own Omron PLC and Adroit Agent Server.

The wheat intake system is able to bring in wheat from multiple rail or road trucks and has an electronic plug ID device sequence that keeps track of all data associated with the corresponding wheat being offloaded. Gross and tare masses, truck details and other important information is captured in the database.

The switched Ethernet network provides robust and high-speed access between the scadas and the PLCs, and between the scadas and the server, while facilitating access to both PLCs from the maintenance PC and access to the intranet from any PC on the network.

Information entries - such as recipe design, dispatch details, stock takes, maintenance reports and the results of laboratory tests - are logged through to a central SQL database from any PC on the network via custom-designed web pages making up the sitewide intranet. Production floor information obtained via the sensors connected to Omron's PLCs is logged through Adroit 4.2, via its new DBAccess agent, to an SQL database. Two Adroit 1 500 Tag Agent Server computers were used - one computer associated with the mill section, and the other with the finished products section.

Yelland Control

(011) 874 7770

[email protected]

www.yelland.co.za

Further reading:

The time is now for systems integrators
Editor's Choice System Integration & Control Systems Design
Integrators combine sophistication regarding technology innovation with practical, hands-on experience. Collaborating with systems integrators is the means to significant productivity improvement, powered by the convergence of automation and information and operations technology.

Read more...

---

System integrators are a diverse market
Editor's Choice System Integration & Control Systems Design
System integrators (SIs) combine expertise on emergent technologies with real world experience. Working with SIs, it’s inevitable that at some point someone will say, “We’re not a typical SI.” And in many ways, it’s true. SIs come in all shapes and sizes.

Read more...

---

Avoiding the pitfalls of PLC and scada control system integration
Iritron System Integration & Control Systems Design
Upgrading your control system by integrating PLCs with scada systems should be a simple seamless process. Regrettably, the industry is plagued with control system integration and upgrade myths and misconceptions that can lead to liability issues, project delays, cost overruns and decreased plant performance.

Read more...

---

EtherCAT measurement terminals for vehicle development at Mercedes-Benz
Beckhoff Automation System Integration & Control Systems Design
At the Mercedes Technology Centre plant in Sindelfingen, Germany, car axles are examined with the highest precision on four test benches, in parallel with road tests and simulations. All data is acquired using PC-based control from Beckhoff.

Read more...

---

Loop signature 23: Tuning Part 2.
Editor's Choice System Integration & Control Systems Design
It is my opinion that most tuning methods are very crude. They do of course also offer a starting point for tuning if one is not fortunate enough to have a sophisticated tuning package like a Protuner around.

Read more...

---

PIC microcontrollers with integrated FPGA features in TME
System Integration & Control Systems Design
The new PIC16F131xx microcontrollers in TME’s offering from Microchip are ideal for the evolving and miniaturising electronic equipment market, offering efficient power management and predictable response times for controllers.

Read more...

---

Five smart machine trends you need to know
Adroit Technologies System Integration & Control Systems Design
The last ten years have brought about dramatic advances in technologies that OEMs had never realised would affect their designs or the saleability of their machines, much less impact business models and profits so dramatically. The following discussion will cover key advancements and recommendations all OEMs should be adopting in their design processes to stay current and competitive.

Read more...

---

36 years of innovation and success
SAM Systems Automation & Management Editor's Choice System Integration & Control Systems Design
Systems Automation & Management was established in 1988 at a time when there were no other systems integrators (SIs) in the process business. SA Instrumentation & Control’s editor caught up with managing director, Claudio Agostinetto to find out more about how this thriving company has prospered over the last 36 years.

Read more...

---

Understanding the role of AI in generative engineering design
System Integration & Control Systems Design
When a design engineer sets out to design a new part, component, or assembly, the intent is to meet the design requirements for fit, form and function, and also incorporate a certain degree of innovation and elegance to the overall design. There is no reason to re-invent the wheel by introducing a new design.

Read more...

---

PCS stays up so you don’t have to
PCS Global System Integration & Control Systems Design
Maybe it’s time to look at a solution that stays online 99,99999% of the time so you don’t have to. This the world of Stratus computer platforms, tailor-made for your critical applications.

Read more...

---