ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE ANNIVERSARY SUPPLEMENT
35th Anniversary
BUILDING ON THE SYNERGIES BETWEEN FACTORY AND PROCESS AUTOMATION
the welding guns and to clamp metal sheets as well as cooling water to keep the processes in the optimum temperature range. Bundling these two media supplies together increases process reliability and ensures maximum system availability. And by offering a solution that manages the interfaces and controls the process in one unit offers long-term benefits for plant operators such as flexibility and increased availability. The result is tailored solutions that optimise the cycle times, precision and quality of welding processes. Developed, produced and supplied by Festo, these solutions reduce system complexity to a minimum. Process monitoring and diagnostic management are available as optional enhancements – by adding liquid and gas pressure and flow monitoring coupled with network terminals for integration into fieldbus and ethernet networks. These network terminals are in
Festo says the innovation and synergies between factory and process automation will result in integrated solutions, and have a positive impact on a wide range of applications
F
esto is expanding its decades of experience in factory automation and
successfully applying it to process industries. As well as using its knowledge of actuators and pilot valves, Festo is utilising its extensive controls and systems as well as its design and build expertise in the process industry. Its widening product portfolio allows customers to integrate their process and factory automation needs and to look at their overall plant requirements. This enables them to increase productivity, reduce lifecycle costs and improve operations management in their plants. Innovation is shared between the worlds of factory and process automation and technologies like the ‘Internet of Things’, or Industry 4.0 have exciting applications in both fields. Dr. Eberhard Veit, Chairman of the
Management Board of Festo AG explained: “To enhance the competitiveness of the process industries in markets that are becoming more and more volatile, flexible processes are needed; Festo is investigating these in a diverse range of research projects and
S18 JUNE 2015 | PROCESS & CONTROL
specific applications relating to Industry 4.0. Adaptive, self-configuring and self- organising facilities with a high degree of networking are a key requirement here. Our new innovative concept for the automation of modular production units enables water treatment systems, for instance, to be rapidly and flexibly installed and conveniently adapted whenever required, without the need for comprehensive reconfiguration. This reduction of complexity not only enables products to be rapidly launched on various markets, but also reduces costs in the planning, manufacture and commissioning of production facilities; in addition, these systems are more energy- efficient in view of their smaller dimensions.”
INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS A good example of integrated factory and process automation solutions are complete systems for supplying compressed air and cooling water for welding guns specifically for body welding in the automotive industry. Welding robots require compressed air to move
Process and factory automation combined in one system solution
themselves also working harder. The CPX automation platform from Festo already picks up on the needs of integrated industries. The electric terminal for valve manifolds not only offers a connection to the field and management level, but also performs diagnostics and is able to take on condition monitoring tasks. Plus it offers direct integration of the media monitoring to offer reduced complexity back to the main control system. These systems have an OPC UA interface for integration into Industry 4.0 HOST environments. And now this integration is available within the air preparation itself negating the need for an additional network module. Ideal for process applications where many distributed nodes are required, adding intelligence into the basic system components makes not only the overall solution less expensive but diagnostics and maintenance easier too. Smart and intuitive solutions based upon decentralised system intelligence, a high degree of flexibility, easy system engineering and commissioning are at the forefront of many designer’s requirements. Festo is able to address core questions for machines and processes, networking the real and virtual worlds together.
Festo T: 0800 626 422
www.festo.com/gb
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