System Spotlight
Glass Mold Industry Process Measurement
In the "Global Economy" that today's manufacturers compete in, much attention is being paid to production efficiency, maximized throughput, reduction in rejection rates, and overall process/quality control. The glass container industry is no exception. One of the leading producers of glass containers for the food and beverage industry had a need to measure the temperature of the containers exiting the cooling ovens in order to ensure proper curing and temper. A non-contact infrared sensor was selected following weeks of in-plant testing. The information from these sensors was to be used to control the speed of the fans that maintain the even distribution of heat in the chambers. At a joint meeting of Pearse-Bertram technical personnel and representatives from the plant engineering and operations departments, a "wish list" of additional measurement requirements was developed. P-B was now tasked with providing the appropriate data acquisition package to accept and process signals from a variety of temperature sensors, vacuum sensors, liquid and air flow meters, discreet signals from blowers and motors and signals from scales and pressure sensors. In addition, P-B had to ensure that the information received by the controller could be transmitted, via Ethernet, to the plants main computer and 3rd party data acquisition and trending software package. The PLC/HMI unit, all appropriate power and expansion modules, and sensor amplifiers were housed in a NEMA4X enclosure that was assembled and tested by P-B's Engineered Products Group in Bloomfield, CT.
The scales, pressure sensors and flow meters were specified and supplied by the Bertram Controls Division of P-B. The appropriate pipe and fittings were assembled and supplied, as a package, to the site.
Four "Leer Process Control Systems" have been built and delivered by P-B's Engineered Products Group since the initial inquiry.
Leer Process Control System
