The Challenge
A UK conveyor manufacturer based in Derbyshire came to Elmleigh to assist with the design, assembly, and electrical installation of a fully automated conveyor system. The client required a quick turn-around on the project and had a budget of between £25k-£50k. The team at Elmleigh had to work swiftly and efficiently to ensure the project could be delivered on time and on budget.
The Solution
Elmleigh installed a fully operational conveyor system, controlled from our main control panel utilising Siemens S71500 & ET200 distributed I/O. The system is fully autonomous in its operation, freeing up valuable resource within the business.
The client elected to specify a push-button interface as an alternative to the standard HMI we would generally supply, providing a simpler operator interface with system fault indicators. Our design process included safety analysis using SISTEMA software to validate safety circuit integrity to CAT3 Performance level 'D'.
The majority of the automated conveyor system uses 24VDC based roller drive units, while other key elements include inverter drive control and motor braking. Using our EPLAN 3D design software we produced a comprehensive set of documentation for manufacturing, assembly, and installation, including preparation of the final issue system manual for the client.
The Outcome
Our site team completed the electrical installation meeting crucial hygiene standards, utilising specified materials and methods applicable to the food industry. Final commissioning by our software and technical team concluded with successful handover and full production for the client.
Thanks to decades of experience working in demanding environments, the Elmleigh team were able to complete the project with minimal disruption to the client’s workflow. Within a week, the site was back to full production while making the most of an advanced automated conveyor system.
Darren Cornwall, Commercial Manager at Elmleigh, comments, “This project is a great example of a food-industry-grade installation delivered by Elmleigh as the control panel, cables, and containment were installed to allow for cleaning and visible hygienic inspection. We also developed the control system and software to control our customer’s sophisticated ZLP conveyor modules allowing for high throughputs and accumulation with a low energy demand.”
If you’re looking for an experienced electrical installation team or want to discuss the details of an automation project in more depth, call Elmleigh today on +44 (0) 1455 847045
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