CR Automation provided a complete site electrical redesign as well as network and control architecture design, supply of instrumentation and control equipment, software development, commissioning, and 24/7 support.
Due to the unavailability of documentation, functional descriptions for the plants systems were created based on what outdated software was still available. All stand-alone machines were incorporated into a new plantwide control system, implemented using seven Rockwell GuardLogix PLCs. The site’s updated control system also utilized over 30 point IO racks and had over 200 Schneider Altivar drives on the network. This system involved many automation aspects such as process control, burner control, hydraulics control, product weight sampling, historical data logging and trending, sitewide alarming and a significant upgrade to the plant’s safety system.
The entire plant’s control system is also now integrated into a modern SCADA system, built using Inductive Automation’s Ignition platform. Operator interfaces to access the SCADA system include monitor screens, touch screen displays and tablets for portability around the plant.
