TECHNOLOGY | TEMPERATURE CONTROL
combines powerful equipment monitor- ing and visualisation functions with advanced cloud-based data storage and analytics. In TCUs, or any auxiliary equipment for that matter, a wireless adapter or ‘hub’ connects the control to a database that automatically collects and stores process data (set-point and actual temperatures and flow rates) and presents it to the proces- sor in ways that are tailored to their needs. Key performance indicators can be monitored
closely with trends analysed over
Above: The TW-P from Conair: P stands for premium and these units are available with a higher level of customisation — more pump sizes, for example — than the S or standard model
Right: Installation of Conair temperature- control units
time for process optimisation purposes. Alarms
are also logged for analysis, and the system can alert key personnel via text message or email when they need to attend to a particular problem. This increases efficiency and helps to ensure that a critical alarm is not overlooked. In the near future, as SmartServices is more fully implemented, Conair says that it will be able to capture information on such factors as how many times a valve or heater cycles or many hours a pump runs. This means that it will be possible to predict, for instance, when a given heater contactor is likely to fail and take preventative action. The company reports a lot of interest in this kind of innovation. Aquatech, a Piovan company, has introduced Easytherm, a new line of temperature controllers for Industry 4.0 production. The company says that mould temperature control is a crucial parameter in plastics processing and must be steady, strict and precise as it directly influences production costs and the quality of the final product. Easyth- erm has a new interior and exterior layout, rede- signed ergonomic control and high-end compo- nents, resulting in a versatile machine that guarantees reliability, accuracy and intelligent consumption management. Easytherm works with temperatures up to 90°C. According to Aquatech, a temperature control- ler must operate smoothly in any atmospheric and production environment. In order to meet the diverse requirements of mould temperature control and management, Aquatech has designed Easytherm to be easy-to-use and to minimise the impact of critical production factors. Features include a new deep-drawn tank made of AISI 304 steel, with welding reduced to a minimum, and an Incoloy 825 heater that provides high chemical resistance even against aggressive fluids. In addition, the internal layout of the components has
48 INJECTION WORLD | June 2018
been designed to separate hydraulic and live parts from the electronic boards and controls, which provides protection from vapours, humidity and extreme temperatures. Maintenance work is claimed to be easy due to removable side panels. Key components also include: a brazed plate heat exchanger for a quick and effective cooling phase; a precise level sensor; an optional hot wire flow meter for applications that require maximum accuracy in the continuous monitoring of process parameters; and Speck pumps, single or double, depending on the model. The company adds that the temperature control- lers in a moulding plant are generally placed next to the machines, often not an optimal position for the operator to monitor. Easytherm has been re-designed to make it possible to see the main operating parameters at a glance, including a large 4.3 inch TFT display that is easy to read even in low light environments. The compact design allows it to be easily moved around a factory. Easytherm is also designed for use in Industry 4.0 environments with open standards, such as the integrated OPC-UA server. It connects to the other parts of the system and also externally due to the Ethernet interface. It is also ready to be used with Winfactory 4.0, the Piovan supervision software that allows communica- tion between different machines within a plant. Wittmann Group has introduced the Tempro Basic C120 temperature controller that features pressure-dependent temperature set-point
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