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AUTOMATION & ROBOTICS
INTELLIGENT TRACK SYSTEM ENABLES FASTER, MORE FLEXIBLE MOTION ACROSS HEAVIER PAYLOADS
The system expands the Rockwell Automation iTRAK portfolio with a specialised design that is optimised for heavier payload applications. It replaces the mechanical components and complex linkages of traditional conveyor systems, instead using electromagnetic force to generate motion. This revolutionary way to move goods provides an opportunity to design more reliable machines that require less maintenance and deliver new levels of productivity. The versatile system comprises of a variety of straight and curved tracks, offering the ability to tailor each system to its exact application requirements. The iTRAK 5750 Intelligent Track System enables companies to keep up
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with technology that allows independent movement of each individual carrier and simple control of motion through user-friendly software profiles. This can remove bottlenecks and boost overall productivity so that short runs can become more profitable, while margins can be expanded in standard runs. Seamless integration with complete Allen‑Bradley solutions provides optimsed communication and synchronisation with surrounding
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armflow, an innovative home heating technology company based in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, is to be the first company in Ireland to deploy the Plex ERP,
QMS & MES solution from Rockwell Automation. Established in 1970, Warmflow, a family-
owned business, is committed to digital innovation. By adopting the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform, it is positioned to optimize operations, enhance efficiency, and stay ahead in an ever-evolving marketplace. The Plex solution will replace several disparate systems with MES (manufacturing execution systems), ERP (enterprise resource planning), and QMS (quality management systems) under Plex’s single-platform cloud-based umbrella. Primary outcomes are to include a significant
reduction of capital investment in stock and more accurate production planning, both of which will be possible thanks to the real-time insight-driven forecasting delivered by the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. “Warmflow is an ideal customer for our Plex solution,” says Asa Arvidsson, regional vice president north region, Rockwell Automation. “It is well suited for mid-size companies to support cross-functional processes, such as ERP, MES and QMS, and to deliver a single, integrated, and intuitive view of manufacturing operations. Its cloud-based architecture also makes it eminently scalable and faster to implement.”
ockwell Automation has announced the iTRAK 5750 Intelligent Track System, providing companies the opportunity to redefine machine productivity using faster, smarter and more flexible motion.
devices, such as robots.With the capability to add exceptional speed, intelligence and flexibility to a wide variety of motion processes, the iTRAK 5750 Intelligent Track System helps transform the performance of automation systems and usher in a smarter manufacturing future.
Rockwell Automation
www.rockwellautomation.com
DEPLOYING THE PLEX SMART MANUFACTURING PLATFORM SEES MORE ACTIONABLE REAL- TIME OPERATIONAL INSIGHTS
The digital transformation project – including
new sequencing automation, control, I/O, and associated code – was developed in collaboration with ControlSoft Automation Systems, a member of the Rockwell Automation PartnerNetwork ecosystem as a gold-level system integrator. ControlSoft is an industrial automation company based in Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland, that provides turnkey solutions for process control, machine control, information, and energy control for a broad range of industries. An important element of this turnkey project was the development of a value engineering assessment report that examined the current situation and then compared it with typical results from the Plex solution over a five-year period. Substantial savings and a rapid return on investment (ROI) were immediately apparent by removing scheduling and stockholding pain points and providing more efficient automated data handling. “We are a family-owned business, providing innovative heating solutions to the community
for the last 50 years, so it's important we select the right ERP, QMS & MES partner as we take our next step towards the next 50 years,” explains Stewart Mclaughlin, manufacturing director at Warmflow. “Like any company we face operational challenges, and Rockwell Automation gives us a solution to these with its Plex software all-in-one solution. Its forecasting gives us room for advancement too, as we will be able to better schedule our highly qualified engineers and designers for more R&D work on our new, more-sustainable geothermal and heat- pump technologies.” All elements of this comprehensive digital solution integrate seamlessly with each other, with further operational value being added by a unified LifecycleIQ Services contract for both the hardware and software solutions, giving Warmflow a single point of contact for support for its new digitalised infrastructure.
Rockwell Automation
www.rockwellautomation.com
12 JULY/AUGUST 2024 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS
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