Real-Time Remote Monitoring
Control system upgrade & wi-fi remote access
Packaging
What was required:
A Yaldhurst plastic packaging manufacturer was seeking to upgrade its control systems processor, as their existing one was 20 years old and becoming problematic.
The business essentially produces plastic bags, liners and sheets for supermarkets and food manufacturers.
The three-storey tall machine takes marble-sized plastic balls and heats and expands them before they are rolled out to cool and be printed on. Then they’re cut and sealed ready for distribution.
What we did:
Fitzwilliams Electrical carried out a month-long overhaul of controls for the soft plastics machine.
- They commissioned the Compact Logix Control System from Rockwell Automation.
- They then connected the new control system to an existing processor via remote wireless technology.
- Heating controls for the extrusion machine were upgraded to advanced PID loops.
- Remote monitoring of the machines was set up via industrial wi-fi connectivity.
How it helped:
The new control systems processor improved production efficiencies overall. The plastics manufacturer reported a lot less downtime from machinery stoppages. The heat generated from the extrusion process was better controlled and harnessed.
Maintaining and servicing the extrusion machine was also made easier due to the remote monitoring capability. This allows Fitzwilliam Electrical to log in remotely to see what's happening within the machine and advise more accurately on what needs to be done.
