DATASTOR’

Automation BYTES

Distributed I/O Solutions Over the last 18 months we have delivered numerous projects utilising distributed I/O architec-

tures due to space limitations within our clients facilities. Many OEM’s have solutions to assist with

this growing problem, Allen Bradley have their Point and ArmorPoint & Siemens with the ET200 to

name a couple, further to this there is the Bürkert Valve Islands, which when coupled with the

aforementioned solutions not only save build / installation time & space but also reduce PLC hard-

ware due to comms operation and improves remote support ability via PLC program interrogation.

In places where panels cant be located we provide the Allen Bradley ArmorPoint and Siemens

Et200iSP equipment which can be directly mounted on the

machines in harsh environments. To understand how these

solutions can work for you please contact our sales

department today. sales@datastorsystems.com

this issue

P.1 ABN Legacy Control Migration P.2

Crown Paints P.3 Latest Industry News P.4

Journal of Automation Excellence Issue 514

`

Acton Delta is a privately owned

company established in 1991, to

provide electrical design, PLC panel

& MCC panel build and electrical

installation services to the industrial

& commercial sector.

Over the past twenty six years they

have successfully delivered quality

electrical engineered solutions to an

array of clients from SME’s to Major

Blue Chip companies, whom they

are proud to continue a longstanding

relationships with to this day.

Acton Delta Ltd joined the Datastor

group in 2010 whilst retaining their

existing management structure with

the addition of the Datastor’s Man-

aging Director to support with the

commercial control of the business’s

operations.

Since joining our group they have

grown the business by developing

their existing commercial/retail sec-

tors market share, as well as contin-

uing to support their existing clients

in the industrial sector and building

new relationships with Datastor cli-

ents.

To find out how ADL can assist your business please contact them on Mail@actondelta.co.uk

Datastor Groups Marketing

Department Shine The Spot-

light On our sister company,

Acton Delta Ltd.

Legacy control infrastructure at ABN migrated by Datastor Systems to state-of-

the-art integrated automation solution Faster, more robust and more economically

effective network and automation infrastructure

ABN recently reviewed its network capabilities and automation products at its Bury St Ed-munds plant. The review highlighted that equipment was beginning to show its age – both in terms of performance and obsolescence – and was in need of upgrade and replacement. It called upon Rockwell Automation Recognised System Integrator Datastor Systems Ltd., a privately owned UK software house that specialises in the industrial automation arena, for support. Recognised System Integrators are competent and committed to lead with Rockwell Automation and have a mutually supportive relationship with the Rockwell Automation sales and/or distributors. Following an appraisal of the existing infrastructure, Datastor Systems, which boasts an im-pressive record of plant modernisation projects in the UK and around the world, recommend-ed a system migration over to a new Integrated Architecture control and network solution based on Allen-Bradley® products from Rockwell Automation and running on a modern, state-of-the-art EtherNet/IP™ network. Challenge: The primary challenge faced by Datastor Systems was the development of an effi-cient and effective migration strategy, which encompassed the phasing of the old system over to the new infrastructure – without too much disruption on the daily production opera-tions at ABN. This meant that the old and new system had to overlap and operate in tandem before the final switchover. A robust and effective migration solution had to be deployed. With obsolescence and migration becoming more commonplace as automation solutions undergo constant evolution, Rockwell Automation already had in place a migration solution that has been successfully deployed in multiple industries and countries across the world. This meant that a lot of the hard work could be removed from the project, with just the ap-plication-specific demands creating the actual unique challenges. Solution: According to Bill Wright, Managing Director at Datastor Systems: “Datastor is seen as the preferred supplier for process control at ABN. We started working with ABN back in 1989 with the deployment of an Allen-Bradley PLC-5® solution for ABN’s automation needs. Over the years the system successfully provided the control required for the manufacturing processes, but like many older automation products, the PLC-5 was heading for obsoles-cence, with the possibility of putting ABN at risk in terms of hardware failure. “We compiled a document based on a traffic light system,” he explains, “that detailed the current state of spares in terms of ‘available’, ‘not available’ and ‘readily available, but head-ing into obsolescence’. The completion of this analysis highlighted the need for a new solu-tion and it was at this stage that we spoke with Rockwell Automation and discussed its Logix system and its PLC-5 migration tools.” The large migration at ABN, phased over four weekend shutdowns, comprised the replace-ment of the core network, multiple controller changes, and the incorporation of a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) solution that runs on PCs above the new program-mable automation controllers (PAC). “We decided to utilise the Allen-Bradley 1771-to-1756 IO Swing-arm Conversion System,” Wright ex-plains. “This enabled the current PLC-5 I/O to be used, while using the latest Allen-Bradley PACs, thus mini-mising the need for new electrical wiring. As a result, it provided a cost saving to the client. You can use the existing swing arm with terminal wiring and use push plugs into new backplane. The changeover time is a lot less as you don’t have to rewire, thanks to the reuse of existing terminals and backplanes”. To continue reading the entire Case study please follow the link. Our sales team have the knowledge to assist with your legacy and obsolescent hardware concerns, contact us today via Sales@datastorsystems.com to see how we can help.

Intelligent Blender Control During December 2016 Datastor completed the installation of a

new blender speed control system for a large paint manufacturer

based in Yorkshire, UK. The existing tank agitators were fixed

speed with no automated control, the client required intelligent

control of the agitators based on tank fill levels. The requirements

were achieved by the installation of a new Siemens PLC complete

with HMI and 4 off 37Kw Siemens G120 invertor drives.

The new PLC com-

municates with

the drives over

Profinet to set the

running speed

which is automati-

cally determined

based on the tank

fill levels from ex-

isting load cells.

The existing MCC

was modified to

allow fitting of the

4 large drives,

forced cooling is

provided for each

unit by fans and

filters mounted on

the enclosure

doors.

Following completion of

this project Datastor were

awarded another contract

by the client to upgrade an

obsolete Mitsubishi A Se-

ries PLC to a Siemens S7

1500, this project is under-

way and a write up will be

available in our next edi-

tion.

Better Analysis

& seamless Integration

allows greater Control

and Efficiency

Siemens Energy Monitoring Solution

We have recently deployed a Siemens based Energy monitoring solution at 2 sites in the far east. The solution utilises the Siemens

Sentron PAC3200 energy meters coupled with Siemens Powermanager PC based analysis software allows the client to accurately

record and analyse energy usage at the 2 sites in Vietnam and Malaysia from their European offices of web browser interface.

Further plans are in place to roll this solution out across their numerous site locations around the world.

Imperium,

Incessant Improvements,

Imminent Installs.

Regular readers of our newsletters

and our social media followers will

be fully aware of our latest system

release, Imperium. A continuously

developed and ever improving

batch control solution designed for

use across many industrial sectors

such as Animal feed, Surface

Coatings, Building Products & Phar-

maceutical to name but a few.

Many of our clients are now taking

full advantage of the market lead-

ing functionality Imperium provides

With numerous others making the

move from either our previous

generation systems or incumbent

control system provider. The com-

ing months will see the commis-

sioning of Imperium at an Aqua

feed plant, paracetamol factory,

Adhesives manufacturer and 2

animal feed mills. On completion

of these works site personnel will

instantly realise the benefits of

having all of their process data at

their fingertips allowing them to

make informed business decisions

to improve their plant efficiency.

Global pharmaceutical companies

lose an estimated $75 billion annually

to counterfeit, grey market, and sto-

len product. Regulations will require

pharma manufacturers to track and

trace products across the supply

chain. Rockwell’s serialization solu-

tion takes an holistic approach to

product tracking and traceability.

Providing a single approach to ad-

dress regulations, product counter-

feiting, and recalls.

If you would like to find out more

please follow link or contact our Sales

Team.

DATASTOR’

Automation BYTES

ISSUE 514

Greater Supply Chain Integrity Improves Profitability

More than a third (39.4%) of US businesses with a base in the UK said they are considering moving it to elsewhere in the EU because of Brex-it, according to a new report by international law firm, Gowling WLG...

Birmingham manufacturer, Grayson Thermal Systems has seen sales increase to £28m after securing a string of new orders for its E-Drive electric fan technology and battery thermal management solutions…..

BMW UK welcoming apprenticeship applications

Young people with a passion for the automotive industry are being encouraged to apply for a place on BMW Group’s UK apprenticeship programme…...

Grayson Thermal Systems enjoys £3m sales boost

Latest Industry Headlines

Datastor Systems Ltd 74 Manchester Road

Congleton, Cheshire

CW12 2HT

+44 (0) 1260 277 025 Tel

www.datastorsystems.com

Member Of Datastor Group Holdings

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