Premier Foods Salt River Mill upgrade
September 2005
System Integration & Control Systems Design
Premier Foods Salt River Mill has been running for more than 30 years. Essentially the mill converts wheat into flour and is attached to a large Blue Ribbon bakery. The original PLC system architecture was based on a token ring network of which the hardware components have become obsolete. Furthermore the scada architecture at the time of tender was not locally supported. The urgency of the upgrade would render immediate spare PLC components.
A decision was made to keep the PLC vender (Omron) and upgrade using its latest technologies (CJ1G CPU with Ethernet IP). Wonderware was chosen as the preferred architecture for the management information system (MIS) and its Industrial Application Server (ArchestrA) as the redundant plant layer to facilitate a speedy upgrade path and ensure a solid standard for the Premier Foods Group (using intelligent objects and symbols).
The Omron PLC architecture allowed for a serial communication link to its existing fibre-optic token ring network. This gave an immediate gateway to the inter-PLC communication database. This means as each PLC node is replaced a stable network backbone is maintained.
ArchestrA was the preferred choice because Wonderware's Industrial Application Server allows for a scalable single application development environment using object-based technologies to create a process model of the entire factory. ArchestrA uses Microsoft .Net's software development platform, providing seamless integration between operations and business intelligence. This ensures fast, uninterrupted application development to the existing realtime platform.
Industrial SQL Server is the chosen Historian and when used together with ArchestrA is a mere filling-in-the-blanks process. This database compression engine uses Microsoft SQL server technology as its backbone.
Hirschmann intelligent industrial Ethernet switches have been selected for the upgraded copper and fibre-optic LAN. It provided easy to use configuration software tools to aid in the set up and implementation.
Issues addressed
The issues arising involved serial communications to the legacy weighing systems. This was achieved easily through the use of an Omron universal communication card allowing easy protocol macros to be developed and downloaded.
For more information contact Andrew Rennie, AMR Automations, 021 534 0838, [email protected], www.amr.co.za
Further reading:
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...
Four ways the global parts shortage has led to innovation and openness
System Integration & Control Systems Design
For those who use automation parts, the unpredictable nature of the supply chain is one of the biggest problems faced today. The shortfall has impacted every industry, but automation components have been especially affected.
Read more...
Iritron’s year of consolidation
Iritron
Editor's Choice System Integration & Control Systems Design
Despite the multiple challenges faced by businesses in South Africa, the buoyancy of the technology sector worldwide has produced some green shoots for automation specialist, Iritron.
Read more...
Five edge opportunities for SIs to maximise revenue in 2024
Editor's Choice System Integration & Control Systems Design
System integrators continue to face the challenge of doing more with less – supporting complex operations, while meeting production schedules with limited resources, and innovating to increase efficiency, maximise safety and reduce risk.
Read more...
Condition monitoring in a forging press retrofit
Beckhoff Automation
System Integration & Control Systems Design
Significantly increased vibration on machines can result in many forms of negative impacts such as reduced system performance or damage to the machine and foundation. Using the example of retrofitting a forging press with a maximum press force of 2000 tons, Wölfel Engineering explains how efficiently the process was tailored and implemented with PC-based control and measurement technology from Beckhoff.
Read more...
System integration in the digital age
System Integration & Control Systems Design
To meet the challenges of an increasingly competitive marketplace, many manufacturers (end users) must focus on their core competencies and outsource the rest to experts.
Read more...
Choosing a system integrator
Editor's Choice System Integration & Control Systems Design
Automation is an essential part of manufacturing today. Whatever the size, an upgrade or migration project can be complex, and the risks can be high. This is where system integrators (SIs) can help. They can bring together complex subsystems or components of a larger system and make them operate as a whole.
Read more...
Iritron awarded international contract for furnace control
Iritron
System Integration & Control Systems Design
Iritron has been awarded two international, multimillion-Rand furnace drying projects. The company has extensive expertise in furnace drying control systems, and provides solutions in the fields of electrical, instrumentation, control systems, and decision support systems.
Read more...
Capitalise on risks by turning them into opportunities for growth
Iritron
System Integration & Control Systems Design
In spite of the challenges facing the global and local economy, systems integration expert, Iritron remains optimistic for the year ahead, and believes that there are significant opportunities to be found during a challenging economic climate.
Read more...
printer friendly version