Tuesday 31 March 2015

PanelView 800. Component Level Human Machine Interface Solutions.

When you want to add value and reduce the cost of your operator interface for your standalone machine, look to the all-new Allen-Bradley® PanelView 800 family from Rockwell Automation. Leverage on the high-speed processor, high-resolution display with LED backlight and internal memory, to help improve productivity and maintenance. 

Preferred integration with Allen-Bradley micro controllers offers you an ideal control and visualization solution for a wide variety of applications. PanelView 800 offers the fundamental features that you need on a full line of displays ranging from 4 in. to 10 in., and supports Ethernet and serial communications. PanelView 800 graphic terminals are part of the Connected Components solution which uses single software, Connected Components WorkbenchTM that provides a common environment for configuring Allen-Bradley HMI, PowerFlex® component-class drives, Guardmaster® configurable safety relays, SMCTM soft starters, Kinetix® 3 servo drive and Micro800 controllers in your standalone machine.

Features and Benefits:
>   Optimized for compatibility with Micro800® and MicroLogix™ controllers
>   Includes high-resolution display with LED backlight supporting 65K colors
>  Offers flexible application modes in landscape and portrait
>   Includes high performance 800MHz CPU processor with 128MB/256MB memory
>   Includes USB host port and microSD™ support file transfer or updating firmware
>    Alerts operators with alarm messages that include embedded variables
>    Provides ability to upload and download groups of data or parameter settings with 
           recipe capability




For more information email info@routeco.com or to buy online Click Here 

Wednesday 25 March 2015

Routeco achieve Cisco ‘Select Certified Partner’ status in the UK

Routeco are pleased to announce that we have recently achieved ‘Cisco Select Certified Partner’ status in the UK, having demonstrated technically that we are qualified to sell, advise and support Cisco solutions and products utilising our team of highly qualified Automation Specialists, Manufacturing Consultants and IT Solutions staff.
 
Cisco’s strategic partnership with Rockwell Automation combines industrial automation and control systems with Cisco networking products and services to deliver expertise and solutions for highly secure, smooth connectivity from the plant floor to the enterprise network, utilising a common network infrastructure of unmodified EtherNet/IP.
 
Damian Spall, Product Marketing Manager at Routeco says “Achieving this Select Certified Partner status with Cisco is an important step in our strategy to offer a comprehensive portfolio of products and services to our manufacturing customers, as they strive for convergence of their OT and IT networks to unlock the benefits of a fully Connected Enterprise”
 
Routeco’s ‘IT Solutions’ division ensures that our customers have access to a full range of Hardware, Software, Data Centre, Data Storage, and Networking products which complement our core Industrial Control & Automation portfolio.
   
From joint reference architectures to educational webcasts, learn how the collaboration between Cisco and Rockwell Automation benefits manufacturing and industrial companies by clicking here  
To discuss your requirements with one of our specialists please contact us on 0370 607 100 or by email at info@routeco.com  
 
 

Wednesday 18 March 2015

Quick and easy field wiring solutions


As we all know, in business time is money. The last thing you can afford is costly downtime due to incorrect field wiring and troubleshooting your field operations. Quick and easy field wiring solutions not only help reduce your wiring time and maintenance costs, but they allow for more accurate connections.
Let us help you meet your project deadlines with our versatile line of Allen-Bradley I/O field wiring interface modules and cables that can help reduce in-panel programmable controller wiring to discrete (on/off) or analog field devices by up to 75%. This means quicker, more accurate connections between control and factory devices when compared to traditional wiring methods.   

Features Include: 

  • Increases machine building productivity
  • Simplifies design and engineering time
  • Reduces wiring time and wiring error
  • Benefits from quality-looking panels

  • We can help you by providing point-to-point connections which reduce the likelihood of mistakes. Not only will you finish installation more quickly, but you’re most likely to be up and running the first time you start up your application. Troubleshooting an assembled wiring system is easy should an I/O problem arise. Simply pinpoint the problem by looking for glowing LEDs or blown-fuse indicators on selected IFMs. 

    If you require a more specific requirement we can manufacture a solution to your specification, email info@routeco.com to get in touch. 




    Monday 16 March 2015

    Simplify wiring and reduce panel space with the Kinetix 5500 Servo Drive and VP Low Inertia Motor



    Designed to connect and operate with the new family of CompactLogix controllers using Studio 5000 Software, you can now run motion applications on a single control platform, using a single EtherNet/IP network.

    Rockwell Automation has expanded its Integrated Architecture with the Kinetix 5500 servo drive with Integrated Safety option and VP Low Inertia servo motor offering. Combined as a system, they can provide a cost-effective motion solution that delivers the high performance and scalability you need to compete in today’s industry.
     
    With its innovative, compact design, the Kinetix 5500 requires less panel space and can be connected easily. In addition, you can reduce installation and commissioning time by using just a single cable. You can now get the feedback, motor brake and motor power all in one cable – simplifying wiring and reducing inventory. To further enhance the design, the Kinetix 5500 has dual Ethernet ports allowing for multiple topologies.

     

    Features & Benefits include;
     

    ·         Single cable including feedback, motor brake and motor power

    ·         Drive power ranges of 600 W to 15kW

    ·         Uses the Integrated Motion on EtherNet/IP Encoder for auxiliary feedback support

    ·         New option includes Integrated Safety over EtherNet/IP

    ·         Dual port Ethernet supports multiple topologies

    ·         Simplified mounting with zero stack drives capabilities

     

    For further information, please click here or email info@routeco.com

    Thursday 12 March 2015

    eWON launches Cosy 131 VPN remote access routers


    Machine builders and OEMs can access machine PLCs and HMIs, and troubleshoot  regardless of where the machine is located in the world.
    The Cosy 131 has a USB port for connectivity with additional serial devices, an SD card reader for simplified on-site configuration, and a configurable LAN/WAN 4 port switch.
    The eWON Cosy enables maintenance engineers to establish a secure VPN connection to the machine from anywhere, via eWON’s cloud-based remote connectivity solution, Talk2M. The router connects on the machine network, alongside the machine PLC and the HMI, allowing remote connection from anywhere, from any laptop, tablet or Smartphone.
    The routers are available with LAN, WiFi, and 3G+ connection options.
    For further information on:
    Product information, please click here.
    Pricing and delivery, please click here or email info@routeco.com

    Monday 9 March 2015

    Tailoring our events and training to meet your needs

    Routeco are pleased to announce a proposed program of workshops that we can deliver to enhance your knowledge, capability and plant performance. Our workshops are designed to give you the latest information in products, trends and technologies and how to use these as a competitive advantage.

    We would like to understand your particular areas of interest and what events you would like to see happen in 2015. 

    This survey is currently aimed at any of our customers in the Manchester area, we shall be releasing further survey's later in the year for other areas of the country. 

    The survey shouldn't take longer than a couple of minutes. 
    Click Here to take part in our survey

    If you would like any more information on our events please Click Here or email us on Techworkshop@routeco.com 


    Wednesday 4 March 2015

    Does EN/ISO 14119 affect me

    The Implications of EN/ISO 14119 Safety of Machinery – Interlocking devices associated with guards

    With over 40 years combined experience in ‘Machinery Safety’ our specialists have the knowledge and experience to offer the best machinery safeguarding solution whether you are a manufacturer or end user.

    We are able to offer advice on the implications of the ‘Machinery Directive’ 2006/42/EC and also compliance with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

    Combined with access to the largest range of machinery safety products available, our specialists are here to ensure that we can help you provide the best solution for your customers and employees.
    As with all new standards, there is the uncertainty of does EN/ISO 14119 affect me? When does it take effect? And do I need to do anything? I’m sure you have all read endless articles by various people highlighting minor points which can sometimes be taken out of context and can lead to potentially misinterpreting the content and may cause you to miss some of the principles that the standard is trying to bestow. No standards should ever be considered in isolation, which is why they cross-refer to other standards, to maintain as the name suggests, “a standard approach” rather than reinventing the wheel every time.

    This standard highlights many new things to be considered regarding the classification of types of products and some positive reworking of the old EN1088 standard, which has been in place for many years.

    In my experience there are two main points regarding safety system design to be considered, which are detailed below;

    1. Wiring of multiple dual channel door switches in a Category 3 wiring architecture. It has been recognised for a long time that it is possible to mask faults leading to a potential failure of the safety system under certain conditions. In your design you now have to account for this and the reduced diagnostic coverage will affect the validation of your design in ISO13849 and IEC62061. The publishing of ISO/TR24119 will offer some clarification on this, and this openly available leaked table will give you an idea of the implications. Key point to consider – are the doors opened more than once per hour?



    2. Guard locking has always been a contentious area and this standard certainly clarifies all of the issues. My approach has always been ‘power to release’ for personnel protection unless the risk assessment deemed it to be unsafe as this presented addition risks, so using ‘power to lock’ was a better solution. If it was just to protect the process from uncontrolled intervention then either type could be used. There was also the unwritten law that if you were using a switch for personal protection it needed to have a holding force in excess of 1000 newton’s. This always prompted the question of how much force is 1000 newton’s when applied to the handle to open the door. The good news is, apart from the clarification of personal and process locking, this standard has a table showing all of the maximum forces that you could apply to a door. It is in Annex1, Table 1 (click here) and it is worth purchasing the standard for this information alone, as it will be a major benefit when you are completing your risk assessments and guard door design. It certainly highlights the fact that a number of safety switches on the market should only be sold for process protection, rather than personal protection as they have been in the past.

    I am sure that the standard will affect you in some way and it is important to note that the full implementation date is February 2015. I would strongly suggest that you start to design your systems to comply with this standard now, as February is not far away and gives you chance to deal with the teething problems of the design changes that will no doubt ensue, before they become compulsory.

    Watch a video on safety interlocking devices here or for more information on the EN/ISO 14119 click here.

    Click here if you wish to purchase a Guard Locking Switch.

    If you require any further information or wish to discuss your machinery safety systems with one of our specialists please contact your local Routeco branch. Alternatively email info@routeco.com or call 0370 607 1000.