R2,1 m project for Associated Systems

January 2005 News Infrastructure

Johannesburg systems integrator specialist, Associated Systems, is hot commissioning the electrical and instrumentation control for the vacuum furnace at Avalloy's plant near Pelindaba. The design and installation contract is worth R1,2 m, representing another major project undertaken by this skilled nine-year-old company.

Avalloy is part of the African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) mining group and, when fully on-stream, will be producing 4 kilotonnes of a variety of high performance superalloys per annum. The mining house has signed an agreement with Rolls-Royce to supply alloys in cast stick form to the aerospace division. Nickel-based superalloys are ideally suited for jet engines as they retain strength under high-temperature operation.

The furnace software program, for the electrical and instrumentation control system, was written by Associated Systems for a Siemens S7400 PLC on an ASI network backbone consisting of 3000 I/O. As a recognised Siemens integrator, Associated Systems is familiar with ASI systems used on several other projects. All 41 motors and variable speed drives are driven by Siemens switchgear on a Profibus network.

For more information contact José Permuy, Associated Systems, 011 477 2572.

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