CIBA CHOOSES PROFICY™ PLANT APPLICATIONS BATCH EXECUTION SOFTWARE

Ciba Specialty Chemicals chose GE Fanuc's Proficy™ Plant Applications Batch Execution Software, running on a Proficy HMI/SCADA ­ iFIX® platform, for two main pigment manufacturing processes. Key factors in the decision were the recipe consistency, the flexibility and the ease-of-use offered by the software, part of the Proficy Production Management solution suite. The Ciba Specialty Chemicals plant produces pigments that are used for colouring in a wide range of applications, including inks, paints, plastics and textiles. Each of the two key manufacturing units has its own central operator area with twin-head displays of their respective Batch Execution and iFIX operations. There are 10 process lines in total, each with its own batch server, and 15 iFIX client displays on the shop floor.

Alan Sanderson, Control Engineering Manager at Ciba Specialty Chemicals, explained: "The legacy recipe system was developed in-house and the control system used commercial software that was no longer supported, so we needed to choose a supplier who we were confident would continue to provide support in the long term. GE Fanuc's Proficy Batch Execution ensures the vital, repeatable recipe consistency, with a multiple batch server front-end enabling us to control the individual operations all from a central control room. It offered us flexibility and, by working in a graphical environment, ensured ease of development. It also minimized our database as we can interrogate the current readings of any piece of process hardware by clicking on its icon: the software automatically accesses the real-time data via a remote OPC server, without it being captured on the database."

The critical traits manufacturers are looking for in batch management applications are security, flexibility, and ease of use. Proficy Plant Applications Batch Execution addresses these CTQs as well as cost reduction, increased quality and added profitability. An easy to use graphical interface is combined with powerful monitoring and control functions to address specific FDA regulations such as 21 CFR Part 11.

George Walker, Sales Director at Kerrco Automation, a GE Fanuc Automation Solutions distributor, added: "The installation is one of the largest Batch Execution sites in Europe. The system is far more flexible than the legacy system it replaced, it provides important batch records and reports, and offers excellent capabilities for future development."

GE Fanuc Automation Corporation
 

The DataMan™ 7500V handheld verifier accurately verifies the quality of direct-marked and printed 2D codes for manufacturers implementing traceability programs in the automotive, aerospace, electronics, healthcare and defense industries. DataMan verifiers ensure uniform illumination and part presentation to achieve reliable, consistent performance over a broad range of parts. The verifiers enable compliance to the AIM Direct Part Mark ­ DPM Quality Guideline DPMI-2006. This new industry-wide standard for 2D codes is the first to take into account the range of mark types and part surfaces used for DPM traceability applications. The standard ensures consistent code quality verification results across different verification platforms, manufacturing environments and industries.

Cognex Corporation

FastPic Systems programmers have developed custom interfaces for a wide range of host programs including Prophet 21, SAP and J.D. Edwards and others. These interfaces allow users in manufacturing industries to efficiently move information between host systems and FastPic4 software in a simple text file format. Operations include downloading orders, receipts, and cycle count transactions, and importing part and kit numbers from the host system. Any FastPic4 software transaction can be recorded and uploaded to the host system using the same text file format.

FastPic Systems

Mini PCI fieldbus cards are now available for PROFIBUS, CANopen, DeviceNet and Ethernet networks. The resulting smaller PC size saves valuable control cabinet space, but like standard PCI fieldbus cards, the interfaces are optimized for fast controllers and real-time tasks. The newest Beckhoff industrial PCs are extremely compact but equipped with powerful Intel® M Class Processors. Each PC features 2 Ethernet ports and delivers high-performance PC-based control for Ethernet and next generation EtherCAT-based applications. Now these IPCs can be equipped with Mini PCI cards to integrate additional fieldbus technologies.

Beckhoff Automation

KUKA has extended its robot product offering with new robots for welding, cutting and measuring applications. The new robot models are designed for tasks requiring high speed accuracy. The robots' speed and accuracy will allow manufacturers to increase cost-effectiveness of a welding cell by reducing scrap in applications such as laser cutting. The robots have a payload capacity of up to 100 kg and reach up to 3000 mm. The robots are offered in three models.

KUKA Robotics Corporation

Providing advanced capabilities to the multi-functional iTNC 530 numeric control, the new NC software contains numerous new functions for machine manufacturers and users. Two of the new functions include: AFC -- Adaptive Feed Control (option) which makes it possible to now adapt the contouring feed rate to the spindle performance and GPS -- Global Program Settings (option) -- for tool and mould making which enables the user to enter data in a form, which are superimposed on the previous data during program run. Various functions are available from swapping or mirroring axes to entering additional additive datum.

Heidenhain

The ML17 Tru-Vue series photoelectric sensors are designed for fiber optic sensing. They feature a compact housing (29mm depth) with a typical sensing range of 100mm+ for diffuse fiber optic cables and 400mm+ for thru-beam fiber optic cables. These sensors can be easily mounted via an industry-standard M18 threaded slot or thru holes. Diffuse and thru-beam plastic fiber optic cables are secured to the sensor by an innovative quarter-turn locking mechanism. An assortment of fiber optic cables to suit specific application needs are available. The fiber optic models offer 360° visibility, LEDs, five connection options and 4-in1™ outputs. The 4-in1 outputs enable a single sensor to operate in NPN normally open, NPN normally closed, PNP normally open, or PNP normally closed configurations.

Pepperl+Fuchs

The CS6910F is a next generation FireWire digital camera that leverages a honeycomb-style Super CCD to achieve SXGA (1280 x 960) resolution images at up to 30 frames-per-second. The extensive feature set includes random trigger shutter, electronic shutter (1/15000 to 8 sec), and multiple video formats. Ruggedly built for industrial environments, it sports compact dimensions (44mm x 29mm x 65mm), minimal weight (160g), and the use of universal C-Mount lenses.

Toshiba Teli America, Inc.

The ATM 60-C Multi-Turn Absolute Encoders are electronically adjustable, provide resolution to 26 bits and feature a CANopen interface to satisfy virtually any application profile. They are available with face mount flange, servo flange or blind hollow shaft connections. The ATM 60-C is an extremely robust absolute encoder that provides reliable operation in environments with high shock and vibration. They are ideally suited for use in applications such as machine tools, textile machinery, woodworking machinery, packaging machinery and wind turbines, among others.

Sick Stegmann, Inc.

The UEIPAC Series of Programmable Automation Controllers offers a combination of compact size, industrial ruggedness and flexibility. Applications can be as varied as unmanned vehicle controllers, environmental controllers, test stand controllers as well as hardware in-the-loop simulators. The UEIPAC Cube is a complete, self-contained controller and includes an embedded computer running standard Linex operating system, two Ethernet ports, a serial port, an SD Card interface, an inter-PAC sync interface and either three or six slots for I/O boards. The Cubes are very rugged, having been tested from ­40°C to +85°C, at 5g vibration, 50g shock and up to 70,000 feet.

United Electronic Industries

NCCS has enhanced its tool path and machine simulation software, NCL/IPV along with its universal post processor, PostWorks. These tools speed up the machining process of complex components and reduce metalcutting inefficiencies that can often occur with high-speed machining. NCL/IPV simulates the metal removal process and the movement of CNC machines, simultaneously. Users can realistically simulate the exact movements of their CNC machines and automatically detect collisions between all machine tool components. PostWorks is a universal 2 through 10-axis postprocessor and postprocessor generator. It converts output from most major CAM systems into CNC codes, which can be used to run virtually any CNC device including mills, lathes, EDMs, lasers, CMMs, Mill-Turns, ultrasonic cutters, and routers.

Numerical Control Computer Sciences

Pro-face AGP3000 Series, GP-Pro Ex, and Pro-Server EX is a combination of HMI hardware and software that allows manufacturing facilities to standardize on one HMI development platform. The Pro-Server EX data management connectivity server software is a low cost solution to share and collect productivity, quality and maintenance data from each AGP3000 unit over an Ethernet network. The data can be monitored, logged and shared within a Windows®-based environment allowing fast and simple monitoring of factory floor conditions. Direct integration into MRP systems such as Access, SQL server, Excel, CSV is simple through the many data formats supported in Pro-Server EX.

Xycom Automation, LLC

The On Machine Verification (OMV) software is specifically written for machine tool inspection of prototypes, complex and large parts, multi-operation parts, and die & mould parts, employing original CAD data. The OMV enables off-line programming and graphical simulation of inspection routines without specialized programming or probing knowledge, using the CAD model. Programmed part inspection and measurement can improve process efficiency, integrate inspection and machining for greater process automation, and speed part throughout.

Renishaw Inc.

The ESM™ embedded system module is coupled with a carrier board, the EM6 single board computer (SBC), which uses either an Intel® Core™ Duo or single core Celeron® M processor as well as the Intel 3100 chipset. It is ideal for embedded industrial and communications applications where high computing power is necessary. The EM6's Altera® Cyclone® FPGA provides exceptional flexibility, since the required system I/O can be tailored for specific applications using IP cores such as IDE, graphics, addi tional fieldbus and legacy interfaces as well as binary I/O, and includes four UARTs.

MEN Micro, Inc.

VEA announces the addition of a Vision Components VC4XXX series-compatible software option to its PIATI™ family of ECC200 Data Matrix decoding solutions. PIATI™_SWO, available as an .NET version, was developed specifically for organizations and individuals who seek a robust decoding engine to implement in Data Matrix decoding software applications. It serves as an automatic identification component in comprehensive vision application development and implementation environments that include other vision tools and associated functions, or as the heart of their own fully integrated, stand-alone matrix code readers.

The Value Engineering Alliance

Canadian Industrial Equipment News May 2007

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