EPLAN’s software engineering solutions - Power for electrical engineering

EPLAN Electric P8 will enhance your efficiency in designing, documenting and managing the automation projects for your machinery and plant.

The EPLAN Platform integrates all relevant disciplines in the development and design process. Interdisciplinary working becomes reality thanks to the many different functions and the direct connection to fluid power, electrical instrumentation, control engineering and control cabinet engineering.

For more information please click here to download the pdf.

For further information please contact us at info@routeco.com or visit our website at www.routeco.com

Multi-voltage MasterPLUS interface relay from Finder

The new multi-voltage MasterPLUS interface relay from Finder is the latest addition to the popular 39 Series of fully featured interface relays that continue to push the boundaries of flexibility and space saving well beyond that of conventional relays.

Specifically, it has a multi-voltage capability to accept an input/coil voltage anywhere between 24 V and 240 V, be it AC or DC, all in the same unit. Additionally it boasts the option of Push-in terminal technology as well as an optional output fuse module, with or without LED status indicator.  

This product will offer benefits in applications such as emergency or standby systems with the need to function from either mains electricity, or a DC battery backup supply.

To see the full range of Finder interface relay products available on the Routeco website, click here. If you would like any further information please email us at info@routeco.com 

Watch the new, innovative iTRAK in action!

Milton Keynes’ Area Sales Manager, Phil Huntley, recently took a key account, a blue chip end user, to Rockwell Automation’s demo suit in Kiln Farm to see the innovative  iTRAK in action.

Rockwell Automation has developed the most innovative motion solution on the market today – iTRAK The Intelligent Track System. 

iTRAK is a modular, scalable linear motor system that allows for independent control of multiple movers on straight or curvilinear paths.Gone are the rotary driven chains, belts and gears of the past. iTRAK replaces hardware with simple, effective software profiles redefining speed and flexibility in automation.

Features of the iTRAK system include:

• Independent control of multiple movers across straight and curved lines
• Can offer increased productivity
• Reduces downtime
• Fully integrated Rockwell Automation solution

At Routeco, we believe it will change how you move items around the plant floor. If you would like to know more or would like to arrange a visit to see iTRAK in action please email info@routeco.com or phone 0370 607 1000.

Watch the above YouTube video to see the customer demonstration and how the iTRAK system works. 

Support Routeco as they ‘ride the extra mile’

Four members of Routeco’s Peterborough Branch have signed up for a gruelling 500 mile cycle ride across France.

Robert Norman, Carol Clasper, David Jakeman and Ollie Gregg are taking part in  one of the Extra Mile Challenges – ‘Bike to the Future’ to raise money for the Milton Keynes Community Foundation.

The challenge is set in France and consists of a 500+ mile cycle ride over three days, starting in Le Mans, taking them through the Alpes Mancelles via Monts Blonde and Monts d'Ambazac and ending at the Futuroscope. At some point the foursome will be climbing up to 1900ft so this will be no mean feat!

  

The Milton Keynes Community Foundation helps transform lives and strengthens communities across Milton Keynes. They fund community projects and charities across MK that work to make a real difference to vulnerable, isolated and disadvantaged people.

If you would like to know more about the challenge or send your messages of support to the riders, please email info@routeco.com

The Virgin Money giving link for the challenge is here. 

Powerful performance, flexible control with the Powerflex 523 AC Drive

PowerFlex 523 AC Drives from Rockwell Automation are cost-effective and ideal for standalone machines that require installation flexibility, communications and energy saving features.

The drives provide an innovative, modular design that supports fast and easy installation, and configuration.

Allen-Bradley’s PowerFlex 523 AC drives offer a power rating of 0.2 to 22 kW with global voltage classes from 100-600V.

In addition, they offer USB programming, application-specific configuration, and flexible mounting options. They also support a wide range of motor control, offer a compact footprint, and operate at temperatures as high as 70 °C (158 °F).

Features include:

• Innovative, modular design
• Power ratings of 0.2 to 22 kW with global voltage classes from 100-600V
• Excellent Reliability
• Power Saving economizer control mode, helping reduce energy costs
• Ease of Configuration
• Integral RS485/DSI port supporting multi-drive networking
• Sensorless vector control as standard which improves low-speed performance

Maximise your system performance and reduce your time to design and deliver better machines.

The Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 523 series is available to buy online here.

For more information click here, email info@routeco.com or call 0370 607 1000.

Wire harness engineering in 3D/2D with EPLAN’s Harness proD

EPLAN Harness proD is a technologically leading solution for the efficient design and documentation of cables and wire harnesses in 3D/2D environment.

Thanks to the openness of the system, the transfer of mechanical information from multiple MCAD systems and connection information from ECAD systems is quick and easy.

Using EPLAN Harness proD reduces the challenges when combining mechanics and electronics, minimising errors such as lack of space when laying cables, multiple iteration steps when designing and manufacturing, as well as incorrect length calculations.

For more information click here to download the pdf.

You can also contact us at info@routeco.com or visit our website at www.routeco.com

Last stop this year for the Rockwell Automation Safety Bus

Throughout the summer Rockwell Automation’s safety product demonstration vehicle toured the UK, visiting Routeco branches and customers. This tour ended on Thursday 30^th August at Routeco’s head office in Milton Keynes.

The demonstration vehicle’s trip ended on high with the Milton Keynes branch hosting 30 key accounts for a morning’s safety seminar followed by a buffet lunch with the opportunity to visit the bus and see safety product demonstrations from Routeco franchise partners. Safety Product Sales Team Leader Kevin Kirby was also on hand to answer questions.

Please watch the below video to see highlights from the day. If you would like to find out more about the event or would like to know about future events please email info@routeco.com.

Routeco would like to take this opportunity to thank all attendees and support staff for making this a fantastic tour! 

Modernising and migrating your industrial communication technology

Integrating new machines into existing networks can be difficult, time consuming and expensive. But however off-putting migrating now sounds, it can save you time and money in the long run.

Do you have a remote device you have to manually visit to collect the data? Two industrial radios can solve that problem for you.

Is your building automation system connected to your network? Think of the money you could save if you had real-time data on how much and where your energy is being used.

Do you have a hazardous area in your plant? If you could monitor this area remotely with remote video monitoring you could potentially detect dangerous situations early and contribute to increased work-place safety.

The future is in wireless. The Industrial Internet of Things is ever-growing and it is expected that within 10 years everything will be wireless. Look into today’s industrial wireless products and make a five-year plan on what you will make wireless, so you will be ready for the needs of the future.

A migration plan is needed to allow you to layer new data communications technology over the top of existing technology. For more information on how to begin planning for migration, read this white paper from ProSoft Technology.

At Routeco, a member of our Technical Specialist team can help you with your needs for migrating and modernising your industrial communication technology. 

To speak to one of our Specialists about your requirements please contact us by email info@routeco.com or call 0370 607 1000.

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 visualisation 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:

• Optimised 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 

Register today for Rockwell Automation’s Technical Workshop series

Experience the benefits of building effective control systems using Integrated Architecture from Rockwell Automation.

Traditional control systems can require separate control structures for each part of the application but using Rockwell Automation’s Integrated Architecture, control systems are connected, scalable and information enabled, simplifying maintenance, reducing design and implementation times and providing a seamless and secure connection to other business systems.

The Technical Workshop series provides engineers with the opportunity to develop an understanding of Rockwell Automation’s Logix control platform through hands-on exercises using PACs, Variable Speed Drives, Remote I/O, Motion Controllers, HMI, Safety and Ethernet/IP products and the chance to convert from an SLC program to Logix.

Integrated Architecture

Integrated Architecture links a host of compatible devices enabling machine builders and end users alike to benefit from increased control systems capability. Using a single platform, CompactLogix, a versatile controller and a suite of integrated products, you can now drastically reduce development and commissioning time. The latest 5370 CompactLogix controllers are featured in these workshops.

Ask the Specialist

This is your opportunity to discuss any aspect of automation face-to-face. Whether you have a simple ‘How-to’ question, or need a detailed discussion around your next project, our Automation Specialists will be on hand to provide answers and application experience.

The dates for these events are below:

Milton Keynes

Migration CompactLogix Workshop

• Wednesday 26^th August 2015
• Wednesday 30^th September 2015

Generic CompactLogix Workshop

• Wednesday 2^nd September 2015
• Wednesday 16^th September 2015

Sandbach – Cheshire

Migration CompactLogix Workshop

• Wednesday 9^th September 2015
• Wednesday 23^rd September 2015

Register here.

Can’t make a date but interested in attending? The good news is you can now register your interest for future events.

Reduce the Effects of EMI/RFI in your control panels

One of the core issues affecting the performance and reliability of industrial control systems is electrical noise emitted from devices. This electrical noise can create voltage spikes in victim wiring, affecting component performance.

Proper noise mitigation and panel layout practices help to ensure system productivity, quality, and safety. Panel designers have historically used air spacing between components and wire pathways for noise mitigation, per IEEE recommendations.

With Panduit® PanelMax™ Shielded Wiring Duct and Noise Shield, panel designers can provide noise mitigation with reduced air spacing requirements allowing for a space optimised control panel layout.

These products route, separate, and shield sensitive wiring from noise emission. This allows pathways to be placed in closer proximity, saving valuable space within industrial control panels. The shielding provides up to 20dB reduction in noise (EMI/RFI), or 90% noise voltage reduction (NVR), which is equivalent to 6 inches of air spacing between sensitive and noise-emitting wiring.

Several wire routing and segregation configurations are possible with the innovative Shielded Wiring Duct and Noise Shield, delivering greater design flexibility to satisfy a wide range of applications.

These products are part of the broad range of reliable product systems offered by the Panduit Industrial Automation Solution. These product systems aid in reducing design and assembly time, create valuable panel space savings, and provide easier installation and maintenance.

For further technical information on this new innovative product please click here and for pricing information and to buy online from Routeco please click here.

Certified GRP Enclosures

Our CEP range of ATEX GRP enclosures are designed to meet the highest standards of protection demanded by electrical and electronics designers for a wide range of industrial applications. 

Overview and key features: 

• Highly resistant to corrosion
• IP66 and IP67
• Atex Component Certified (Black only)
• Inc. Certified with terminals   Ex e, Ex nA, Ex i Ex t-40°C to +80°C standard, 
• 50°C to +120°
• Fire resistant versions
• Colours Black RAL RAL9005
• Stainless Steel fasteners

With a high resistance to corrosion, petrochemical products and fats, and combining strength with a light weight, these GRP enclosures are designed to meet the highest standards of protection.

Certification includes: 

• SIRA 08 ATEX 3213 & IECEx SIR 13.0039X
• Ex II 1 GD, Ex ia IIC T5 and T6,
• Ex ta IIIC T85°C and T100°C,
• Ex II 1 2 GD, Ex e IIC T5 and T6,
• Ex tb IIIC T85°C and T100°C

Click Here for pricing information and to buy online.