"We use many languages provided in TwinCAT's IEC 61131-3-compliant programming environment, including LADDER, function blocks, function-block diagrams, structured text and sequential function charts." "Most of our machines can be controlled using the TwinCAT PLC, but for a few specialized machine types, we need numerical control functionality, so we use the TwinCAT NC across the board as a standard software package," says Justin Kilgore, senior electrical engineer, GEC. GEC chose Beckhoff C6140 industrial computers (IPCs) with 2.4-GHz Pentium(R) 4 processors running Twin-CAT software as the control centerpiece for the Graham Wheel machines. Highest-speed processors currently available on the industrial PC market Īnd Software updates available to download from the Internet and available at no charge after the initial license purchase. The ability to offer an operator station with fully integrated pushbuttons The capability of direct communication to human/machine interfaces without requiring an OPC server Integrated, uninterruptible power-supply function blocks to handle proper PC shutdown Software to map the input/output (I/O) that is capable of running on any personal computer The ability to buy commercial, off-the-shelf components from any PC store to replace failed components, while adhering to advanced-technology-extended (ATX) open standards "Beckhoff was the sole vendor checked in seven of these critical evaluation criteria." These items included: "We found that only Beckhoff Automation LLC [ was able to meet every single item on our list," Fiorani says. More than 20 critical performance criteria were evaluated in each vendor's product offering. When the durability and processing power limitations of their PC-hardware vendor became apparent, GEC completed an exhaustive evaluation of industrial PCs from five major vendors. "In 2003, GEC had determined that our existing PC-hardware platform wasn't going to keep up with our machine design migration, so we needed to find a successor," says Dave Fiorani, engineering manager, GEC. GEC has heavily adopted personal computer (PC)-based controls, which have been its main controls platform for over five years. New industrial computers communicate with the human-machine interface without an OPC server. While being one of the first to adopt the latest technologies, GEC is still highly confident in its products, offering machine warranties that are among the best in the industry. True to its company motto, "Innovation Taking Shape," GEC machines are under a perpetual state of improvement to ensure that its customers' machines will be world class, yet integrate seamlessly with existing line components. While many machine manufacturers still fear rocking the customer's boat and rely on big-name PLCs as an excessively safe controls-specification position, GEC uses its automation and controls expertise to help its customers surpass the competition in production output, reliability, cost efficiency and safety. Up to six extruders feed plastic into a component known as a flow head to quickly form bottles in virtually any type of thermoplastic to the perfect shape and with the highest quality available. The main component of the Wheel spins around a horizontally mounted axis. They now represent a dominant technology in the production of high-output blow-molding systems. The Graham Wheel product, which was GEC's first major product entry into the blow-molding machine market, has been made for more than 30 years, with installations worldwide. A large number of GEC's customers also make empty bottles for resale in the same automotive, household and beverage industries. Its machines are widely used at plants that manufacture bottles to be immediately filled with automotive fluids, household detergents and cleansers, and beverages that are marketed in nontransparent bottles. (GEC [ specializes in high-end blow-molding machinery and equipment for the nonpolyethylene terephthalate segment of the fluid bottling and packaging market. Industrial Ethernet I/O technology provides high-speed control of the parison programmers on the blow-molding machines, thus assuring higher-quality bottles.
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