At the Hannover Trade Fair 2005, Festo displayed its comprehensive range of high-speed solutions, services and condition monitoring capabilities. Across more than 40 dynamic displays spanning an area of no less than 1510 m2, Festo showcased the advantages of acquiring leading automation solutions from a single source.
For customers looking to eliminate faults and reduce downtime through high diagnostic reliability, whether it be for open circuits, short circuits or undervoltage, Festo has launched an innovative new product that presents the ideal solution. CPX-FEC, the electrical bridge for valve terminals with an integrated front-end controller for direct machine mounting, allows for remote diagnosis, remote monitoring, remote servicing and remote control - right through to process visualisation or diagnostic data on Web browsers in the network. Ethernet ensures integrated communication right up to management level, while one of the advantages of Web cams and new diagnostic functions is a reduction in costly troubleshooting trips. Machine reliability increases and productivity remains high.
It is just a small step from the key theme of the Hannover Trade Fair 2005 - condition monitoring - to the next megatrend in automation technology: striving for ever shorter cycle times, greater speed and precision. In line with this trend, Festo offers a number of ideal solutions. The company displayed a pneumatic high-speed pick-and-place unit HSP for cycle rates of between 0,6 and 1,0 seconds, together with electrical drives of the type DGE-RF with speeds of 10 m/s and fast-switching valves MHE for lightning-fast sorting, binding and metering.
Speed is, however, not the sole preserve of Festo products - Festo service also contributes significantly to ensuring that customer solutions are also made more efficient. Through its new version of the digital catalogue, the analysis of compressed air quality and consumption, and from its energy saving solutions to complete maintenance contracts, Festo has everything in place for the smooth procurement and operation of automation technology.
Further advantages of Festo's complete solutions include: relieving the load on personnel and containing design complexity and costs. The combination of pre-configured, pre-assembled or ready-to-install modules and Festo's assembly services ensure that users receive the full benefit of its modular mechatronic 3D CAD multi-axis modular system. Visitors to the stand were able to witness the fast transformation of a customer inquiry into a ready-to-install handling and positioning system. Specialists from Festo Systemtechnic have access to pneumatic, servopneumatic and electrical drives, as well as installation components for all mechanical and vacuum grippers and installation components for all mechanical interfaces.
The CAD hotline service offered by Festo Systemtechnic provides designers with 3D drawings in the required CAD format - infinite combinations of pick-and-place solutions through linear gantries to planar surface or three-dimensional gantries are possible.
Tested in advance, with all the necessary design data and circuit diagrams, plus a comprehensive guarantee of function and price, the ready-to-install handling solution shortens the journey from the initial concept to the machine, and reduces interfaces. Once fully assembled and tested, the ready-to-install system is delivered directly to the machine.
The factory automation and process automation exhibits at Hannover were juxtaposed and - not so coincidentally - the two branches also share similar challenges: the integration of intelligence and the increased use of networking. Decentralised intelligence and the increasing integration of bus systems require clear solutions from automation manufacturers. Festo can oblige, for instance in the form of the CPX valve terminals with Ethernet connection and TCP/IP protocol - even in process automation. This means that valves previously actuated manually can now be actuated via remote intelligence. It is even possible to control and monitor systems and valves (not forgetting fault diagnosis), from a remote location. A reliable system solution that guarantees continuous and uninterrupted system operation is such an important factor in the process industry.
Several South African delegates attended the Festo Techno Control Tour to the Hannover Trade Fair 2005. The trip included factory tours, group presentations and seminars. Derik Koegelenberg, a director from Prologic and a Control Tour delegate, found the tour of the Daimler Chrysler Truck manufacturing plant, which produces 400 complete trucks per 24 hours, most insightful in terms of the innovative technology employed. In addition, Ronnie Doyle of Techron Systems had this to say, "It was excellent. What really impressed me was the incredible range of technology, insight and experience one is exposed to on this tour. I would strongly recommend it to any fellow professionals who are interested in discovering more about the latest trends shaping the future of hydraulics and pneumatics".
For more information contact Heimo Spreng, Festo, 011 971 5500, [email protected], www.festo.com
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