Cases & enclosures


aUTomaTIon oF WIRe pRoCeSSIng Wiring control panels is a time-consuming, painstaking job: the wire must be cut to length; stripped; crimped; labelled and finally, the finished cable must be routed and connected to a terminal. Not surprisingly, wiring accounts for


roughly half the time needed to build a control panel. Automating these processes therefore will offer significant improvements in operational efficiency. Rittal’s Wire Terminal (WT machine) is a


compact and fully automatic wire assembly machine, available in WT24 and WT36 variants, and is designed to improve wiring procedures. WT24 will process up to 24 wires at a time; WT36 will process up to 36 different wires in cross sections ranging from 0.5 mm² to 2.5 mm². Work such as cutting to the required length, wire stripping and crimping can all be carried out without any manual intervention, freeing up time for engineers to focus on other work. Around 240 wires can be processed in an hour. The optional printing system prints directly on


to the wires, either in black or white. Wires are then moved on to the next steps in processing via the controlled classification system; a 13-way storage arrangement with wire-rail magazines that can accommodate up to 1,300 wires. The Wire Terminal can include a ‘lift’ option,


for a quick changeover to different automatic crimping machines if these are needed. The standard version incorporates the RC-I


insulation stripping and crimping machine allowing five different wire cross-sections (from 0.5 mm² to 2.5 mm²) to be processed without having to change the wire end ferrules.


SImpLe and SeamLeSS daTa FLoW If a workshop is to adopt efficient automated work-streaming, then consistent data management is absolutely vital and this is something which is integral to The Wire Terminal WT. The data provided through the construction planning process on the EPLAN Pro Panel is used for wiring pre-assembly, either through a seamless digital interface or entered into the machine by hand. Pre-assembled wires are stored and sorted


sequentially by the machine using the EPLAN “smart wiring” tool. This allows users to locate the correct wire within the system quickly and easily, just by following the Smart Wire schedules.


SUmmaRy Using a Wire Terminal WT for wire processing means this phase of the control panel build can be up to eight times faster. That means automated wire processing, used in conjunction with EPLAN software can drastically reduce manufacturing time and costs. At the same time, using fully automatic manufacturing guarantees users a consistently high quality.


Rittal www.rittal.co.uk Instrumentation Monthly February 2021 Keeping cool in Food & Bev


Karl Lycett, Rittal UK’s product manager for Climate Control, explains how to deliver optimum IT cooling in the food and beverage sector


every-day pleasures. However, there is a simple reality for those


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of us who work in support of the IT infrastructure used by the industry and that is, while their products are enticing, food and beverage factories can be hostile places for any electrical equipment. Raw ingredients, such as sugars and yeast, need to be controlled and prevented from entering enclosures to maintain output and maximise the lifespan of the expensive machinery contained inside. This need – effectively to create a sealed


enclosure within which the electrical equipment can function – needs to be balanced with the equally important requirement for optimum temperature management. Indeed, one of the critical factors in creating a ‘protective environment’ for this equipment is effective climate control. All electrical equipment generates heat as a


by-product of its activities, and this heat needs to be removed. Plus, of course, there is the ambient heat of the environment in which the equipment is sited. Maintaining a stable temperature within an enclosure ensures that electrical drives etc. can work to their full potential, thereby ensuring that the production equipment it controls can operate at high speed. All this has a major impact on productivity and turnover; the faster a pallet- wrapping machine works, for example, the more goods can be shipped. Normally, operators who are specifying the


right climate control for an enclosure have a large selection to choose from. But food and beverage manufacturing creates specific challenges which must be fully understood before making a selection. The main one is the ‘Hygiene Zone’ in which the equipment lies. Hygiene Zones are defined by the EN 1672-


2:2005 Standard which determines the level of exposure the raw ingredients have to the environment and possible contaminants.


Zone 1 – Food Zone: Surfaces come into direct contact with foodstuffs, which will then return to the product stream. In most instances, these areas will be exposed to regular if not continuous cleaning regimes and will be sprayed down with high-pressure cleaning fluid. It is important to ensure that both Hygienic


Design (HD) enclosures and HD climate control equipment is used within these areas. This equipment is designed specifically to ensure both that they can withstand the rigorous cleaning and high-pressure jets, and that there are no nooks and crannies which can harbour germs and cause a bacterial build-up.


Rittal’s range of HD Air-to-Water Heat


Exchangers are an extremely versatile option which meet the requirements of the Standard while maintaining an acceptable temperature for control equipment. They connect to a chilled water supply and come in different output sizes to remove large levels of heat for whatever size project is being planned.


Zone 2 – SpLaSh Zone: Defined as having surfaces that will come into direct contact with foodstuffs which will not return to the product stream. These areas will still be exposed to regular cleaning routines and the floors may be sprayed, but the enclosures and climate control equipment will not. It is strongly advised that operators install


stainless steel products in this area. The reason is that although there is no direct spraying of the enclosure or its associated climate control equipment, there may be some splashing which occurs so a higher level of protection is advisable. Rittal can supply its cooling unit range in stainless steel as an option.


Zone 3 – non-Food Zone: This could be a warehouse or logistical space where finished goods are transported from, or taken into, the plant. There are no raw foodstuffs present in this area. It is unlikely in most instances for there to be


any cleaning activity in these areas, apart from the occasional sweeping of debris. It is therefore acceptable (depending on your specific guidelines) to either use mild steel or stainless- steel products. This opens the full range of climate control products and the final selection can be based upon the specific scenario.


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he food and beverage industry gives us some of life’s most defining and uplifting moments – from exotic feasts to simple


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