|
THE HERE AND NOW OF PC CONTROL
24 February 2005 - Hayes Control Systems Ltd
| While it's true to say that PLC and PC technology can be mixed and matched to meet the needs of many industrial applications, it must also be realised that there is no longer a need for these technologies to complement each other. Embedded PCs provide versatility, performance and value for money and simply cannot be rivaled by PLCs on any level. |
While it's true to say that PLC and PC technology can be mixed and matched to meet the needs of many industrial applications, it must also be realised that there is no longer a need for these technologies to complement each other. Embedded PCs provide versatility, performance and value for money and simply cannot be rivaled by PLCs on any level. For a start, PC-based control systems offer totally dependable, deterministic real time performance, even in the most demanding control applications, making the PC platform remarkably stable. What's more, PC control is no longer futuristic or fanciful - it is practical and deliverable. Continental's tyre manufacturing plant in Timisoara, Romania was the world's first fully PC controlled factory as well as Europe's most advanced factory for the mass production of tyres. By using PC control the plant cut installation and commissioning costs by half compared with PLC based technology. The increasing use of industrial Ethernet is creating even more pull for PC-based control. By using conventional Ethernet components to link all PC controls, data can be archived, recipes managed centrally and data acquired directly from the production plant control system. Ethernet is widely understood, available anywhere, reasonably robust, has high bandwidth and high speed. Communication options such as Bluetooth and broadband will soon be playing a larger part in the factory and PC-based control is already opening the door for these. The scalability, reliability and flexibility of PC-based systems mean it is undoubtedly the future of control. Strong evidence proves that specifiers are rapidly turning their backs on expensive and inflexible proprietary PLCs, as PC-based control consistently proves that it is no longer only suitable for specific applications, but that it is capable of running entire factories.
http://www.hayescontrols.co.uk
About: Hayes Control Systems Ltd
Hayes Control Systems LtdHayes Control Systems Ltd was appointed Beckhoff's UK and Ireland Distributor in 1994 and specialise in PC based control systems. We offer a comprehensive service including pre sales support, specification, training and application software development. Based in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire there are regional sales and support offices in Doncaster and Glasgow. Beckhoff Beckhoff Automation provides advanced, open automation products based upon proven technologies so that customers can implement high performance control systems faster and at a lower overall cost than traditional PLC and Motion Control systems. Beckhoff’s “New Automation Technology” Product range includes: Industrial PCs
Automation Controllers
MMI’s and Control Panels
I/O (IP20 and IP67)
Servo Drives & Motors
Programming Software (Sequencing and Motion)
History of Beckhoff Electro Beckhoff GmbH was founded in 1956, and in 1980 created a new division called Beckhoff Industrie Elektronik to develop innovative automation systems, since 1986 based upon real-time PC based control technology. Since then, through an aggressive and continuing commitment to new product development, Beckhoff has grown rapidly into a global automation solutions company.
World-wide Presence With representation in 35 countries, Beckhoff is well positioned to provide sales & service to its customers. Sales and service is handled directly, no intermediaries involved, to provide faster response and easier communications. Beckhoff subsidiaries are located in: Germany (HQ)
Switzerland
Austria
Finland
Sweden
Italy
Poland
China
USA
Canada Other countries are directly handled by partner companies that are fully focused on Beckhoff products and systems. |
More News:
• For February 2005
• From Hayes Control Systems Ltd
• For PC Control Systems
|
