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:
Advanced DCSs preserve what must not change while enabling
Schneider Electric South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Next-generation DCSs, such as Schneider Electric’s Foxboro, are preserving the best of the old while introducing the new in a less disruptive manner.
Read more...
DCS for maximum plant efficiency and reliability
ABB South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
ABB has introduced SPR2025, the latest Symphony Plus DCS package release to enable modernisation and efficient performance for the process and power industries.
Read more...
Robust PLC for field applications
ifm - South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
ifm is a leading suppliers of robust control systems for mobile use. Its ecomat series comprises PLCs, I/O modules and sensors that can withstand the harsh environmental influences of mobile applications.
Read more...
ABB’s new flagship DCS
ABB South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
ABB has launched the latest version of its flagship distributed control system, to help industrial operators modernise without disruption and accelerate their path toward next generation automation.
Read more...
Adroit Technologies drives global SCADA for Iochpe-Maxion
Adroit Technologies
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Adroit Technologies has been appointed by Iochpe-Maxion, parent company of one of the world’s largest wheel manufacturers and producers of structural components in the Americas, as its global SCADA partner. The partnership will standardise operational visibility, reliability and control across 34 manufacturing facilities worldwide.
Read more...
Extended DCS enables industrial innovation with continuity
ABB South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
ABB has introduced its Automation Extended programme, a strategic evolution of its distributed control systems (DCS), designed to help industries modernise without disruption.
Read more...
Valmet’s automation powers world’s largest air-to-water heat pump
Valmet South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Valmet will supply an automation system for Helen’s Patola air-to-water heat pump plant and two electric boilers currently being built in Helsinki, Finland. When completed, the air-to-water heat pump plant will be the largest in the world with a full heating production capacity around 30 MW.
Read more...
All eyes on the modern DCS platform
Schneider Electric South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Modernised DCS platforms are no longer confined to hardware-dependent architectures. These systems have evolved to combine the strengths of both PLCs and DCS while adding capabilities that make them more open, resilient and collaborative.
Read more...
Automation solution for waste management at incineration facility
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Valmet is to deliver an automation system to Seongnam City’s incineration facility currently under construction in South Korea. By leveraging intelligent automation, the plant will optimise energy production, minimise emissions and deliver efficient, consistent performance throughout its entire lifecycle.
Read more...
Valmet’s supplies DCS to Europe’s largest electric boiler plant
Valmet South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Valmet will supply an automation system to Helen’s Hanasaari electric boiler plant and a thermal accumulator being built in Helsinki, Finland. Once completed, it will be Europe’s largest electric boiler plant.
Read more...
printer friendly version