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A New Lease of Life for the Machine and Valuable Hands-On Experience for a Young Technician
Modernising the control and safety systems of production equipment in the hands of our young technician, Vojta.
As part of the retrofit of a haul-off unit designed for the continuous removal of material from a production line, we completely modernised its control system, drives and safety functions. The new solution uses a Siemens S7-1200 PLC, a Weintek HMI panel and a LENZE i550 frequency inverter.
The result is reliable and user-friendly speed control, clear diagnostics and safe operation of the equipment. Our colleague Vojta worked on the project during his summer placement under the supervision of our experienced technicians.
Modernising the Control System, Drives and Safety
The haul-off unit is designed for the continuous removal of material from a production line. Two motors, operating through gearboxes, drive opposing belts that grip the material using clamping force and continuously pull it away from the production process. Operators can intuitively adjust the haul-off speed in increments of 0.1 m/min, monitor inverter diagnostics and control the pneumatic belt clamping system. The HMI provides a clear user interface and quick access to operating information. Correct integration of the safety functions was also an important part of the retrofit. If the safety doors are opened during operation, the drives are safely disconnected and the belts move apart.
Retrofit as an Alternative to Purchasing New Equipment
Projects like this demonstrate that retrofitting an industrial machine can make sense from both a technical and an economic perspective. Where the original mechanical components are still in good condition, we can modernise the electrical systems, controls, drives, operator interfaces and related components, adapting the equipment to current production requirements. Each retrofit is assessed individually according to the technical condition of the equipment and the requirements of the specific operation. The aim is not simply to “get an old machine running again”, but to create a solution that will operate reliably in day-to-day production – which is exactly what we achieved in this case.
A Real Project Instead of a School Assignment
We give young technical talent the opportunity to gain real-world experience on actual projects. Our cooperation with Vojta, who studied automation at SŠTE Chotěboř and has been interested in the field since the age of nine, will continue while he studies at university. Thank you, Vojta, for your excellent work. We wish you every success with your studies and look forward to working together on more projects in the future.
Machine and Equipment Retrofit
Do you operate a machine that still meets your needs mechanically, but its outdated control system and limited diagnostics are becoming a problem? We provide complete retrofits of both the mechanical components and control systems of industrial machinery, including replacement of field instrumentation and cabling, as well as the installation of a new control cabinet.