Control System Upgrade – H.W.Carlsen

Another successful control system upgrade!

Last week our engineers did another successful control system upgrade. We get an increasing amount of requests for control system upgrades. As the old equipment is outdated, the systems need new hardware and software to stay up-to-date. But let’s take a step back before we explain how a control system upgrade works. Our control systems include specific equipment to operate the bulk material handling systems, like a PLC.
A Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is a digital computer that automates the unloader process. Unlike a typical computer, the PLC is designed for multiple inputs and output arrangements, extended temperature ranges, electrical noise immunity, and vibration and impact resistance. The program or ladder logic used to control the machine operation is stored in a battery-backed or non-volatile memory.
Nowadays, we can boost the available information and real-time visualisation by using OIT or HMI. The OIT or HMI (Human Machine Interface) is where humans and machines interact. It provides critical feedback from the machine, which aids the user in making the proper operational decisions. The OIT is a high-visibility, high-resolution touchscreen. The screen representations depicted are typical but may be modified depending on the application. These pages are representations of a specific unloader OIT control panel and may deviate from what is shown depending on the application. The unloader also uses a redundant system with specified controls to operate the machine if the screen fails or becomes damaged.
The advantage of having such information visualisation is that the operator is guided by the computer, in case of failure, for the correct troubleshooting steps to reduce downtime as much as possible. Besides this assistance, another option is gaining a track record of the pressures throughout the system during the conveying process. Analysing these values indicates the “condition” same as an electrocardiograph in humans.

Another advantage of upgrading your control system is the implementation of our remote access module. This allows H.W.Carlsen (Lion) to assist the customer with operation errors and or guidance from another location. For example, H.W.Carlsen (Lion) has customers around the world, like Canada, who we can help from our office in the Netherlands. In this case, it reduces costs as we do not have to charge travelling, boarding and lodging. And more importantly, the customer can be serviced on very short notice.
In some situations, it is still necessary to travel towards the bulk material handling system, but this can be determined very quickly by our remote service.

Are you looking to upgrade your bulk material handling system? Contact our engineering team. We will help you to move forward in creating an efficient material flow.