BioDiesel Production is based on Proficy

GE Fanuc is working with SunBio Systems to provide biodiesel production systems using the Series 90-30 controller and I/O, Proficy Machine Edition automation software, and QuickPanel touch screens

GE Fanuc Automation is working with SunBio Systems, of Santa Clara, to provide biodiesel production systems to companies looking to meet the increased demand for a renewable, environmentally-friendly fuel.

The SunBio Systems skid-mounted, "quick-start" biodiesel machines range from university grade research and development systems to mid-sized plants that produce up to 60 thousand metric tons of biofuels per year.

The SunBio biodiesel machines are based on GE Fanuc controller systems featuring the Series 90-30 controller and I/O, Proficy Machine Edition automation software, and QuickPanel touch screens as operator interfaces.

"The GE Fanuc products provide a lot of advantages to our customers," said Steve Austin, president of SunBio Systems: "Our mission is to be a leader in the emerging market for renewable energy, and we know that GE Fanuc will help us to fulfill that mission".

One of the SunBio systems will be used by Silicon Valley Biodiesel of Sunnyvale, California.

The company produces biodiesel using local recycled fats, oils and greases as the feedstock, which provides a cost effective disposal process, while supplying renewable biodiesel fuel to the local market.

The first Silicon Valley Biodiesel production facility meets the Biodiesel Fuel Standard ASTM D6751.

The company will use the SunBio standard process control platform coupled with GE Fanuc scalable solutions to start up five more plants in California over the next two years.

According to Walt Bacharowski, Founder and President of Silicon Valley Biodiesel, "We had several very specific needs for this project and all are being met by the SunBio/GE Fanuc solution.

And, we also like the fact that the system web access allows SunBio Systems to stay engaged with us to provide process advice when needed.

Among the system requirements were:.

* Powerful instrumentation and automation for several plants.

* Overall control and visibility into remote biodiesel locations reporting to a central home office.

* Standard operating procedures for automation and biodiesel processes.

* Data history to run statistical process analysis and control to optimise processes.

* Web access to easily view operations from any location.

"We are very pleased to be working with Steve Austin and his team at SunBio Systems as a value-added supplier of systems in this industry," said Ron Bednar, GE Fanuc Market Manager for BioFuels.

"The company's international focus and alliances with universities to produce alternative energies fits in perfectly with the GE ecomagination initiatives to focus on products and services that provide significant and measurable environmental performance advantages to customers".

The Series 90-30 PLC is a family of controllers, I/O systems and specialty modules designed for versatile industrial solutions.

With its single overall control architecture, the Series 90-30 is the PLC of record in more than 200,000 applications, such as high-speed packaging, material handling, complex motion control, water treatment, continuous emissions monitoring, mining, food processing, elevator control, and injection moulding.

The GE Fanuc Proficy Machine Edition automation software deploys HMI, motion, and multi-target control in an integrated environment that provides a common user interface, drag-and-drop editing, and a rich set of development tools.

The rugged QuickPanel touch screens connect easily to all major PLCs and PLC networks, providing an information-rich, graphical interface.

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