Product category:
Plant Instrumentation
News Release from: Siemens Process Instrumentation | Subject: Aeroform Impex
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 18 April 2008
Siemens instrumentation puts Aeroform in
control
International sales, distribution and support, high end quality products and a totally integrated solution using Profibus PA proved to be the perfect solution for Dorset based Aeroform Impex
Founded in 2002, Aeroform Impex is a subsidiary company within the Aeroform Group, involved in the design, manufacture and installation of autoclave systems for the aerospace and automotive industries Aeroform Impex was formed in order to procure the IPR of a tobacco expansion system (called Impex), based upon autoclave technology
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 11 Oct 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
The case for widebeam ultrasonic flow measurement
Transit time ultrasonic flow measurement is the most commonly used method of flow measurement: the two types available, diametral and chordal, have different advantages and disadvantages
The case for widebeam ultrasonic flow measurement
Transit time ultrasonic flow measurement is the most commonly used method of flow measurement, but the two types, namely diametral and chordal, have both advantages and disadvantages
"The tobacco industry is relatively close knit and managing our reputation is therefore imperative" says Ben Davies, managing director of Aeroform: "Accurate and reliable instrumentation equipment is at the forefront of a customer's day-to-day operations, and any delay can severely affect production times.
The autoclave system produces a superior top end product and in order to maintain this competitive edge it is imperative that we provide a high quality system, featuring high quality instruments.
Siemens offers us that".
Further reading
Radar level transmitter for any solid medium
The Sitrans LR260 is the new 2-wire continuous level radar-based transmitter now available for use on virtually any stored solid medium from Siemens Industry Automation
Keeping level measurement simple
For tank, silo or vessel level measurement and control, Siemens has launched a new continuous level measurement device, ideal for the food and beverage, and pharmaceutical sector
Able Instruments to supply new Buzzard development
Able Instruments and Controls have been awarded the contracts to supply miscellaneous nucleonic level controls and allocation metering to the Buzzard field development in the North Sea
Historically, the Aeroform relationship with Siemens was based upon PLCs and Drives equipment with minimal experience of the instrumentation range.
However, acknowledging the ease of the commissioning process and the reliability of Siemens products, Aeroform specified Siemens massflow, temperature, pressure, valve positioner and level measurement technologies.
Already established with an existing instrumentation provider, it was not an easy decision to change the supplier, yet with previous experience of the Siemens brand, the diverse range of equipment on offer and the opportunity to have a totally integrated solution was too tempting to ignore.
The Siemens offering consists of all of the PLC equipment as well as components to help and enable greater control of the process.
This includes temperature, flow and pressure instrumentation equipment.
All devices installed at Aeroform are Profibus PA enabled enabling them to gain important detailed information on performance of both the process and the instruments concerned.
Greg Hale at Siemens commented: "At Siemens we invest heavily every year in the research and development of our products so our customers can be assured that they will do exactly what they are expected to do" Greg Hale continued: "Working within a time sensitive environment, it is crucial that if a problem arises, that it can be resolved quickly and simply to ensure minimum downtime.
This new complete and integrated system ensures just that; the ability to identify potential problems and react quickly, providing peace of mind to customers.
Siemens strengths lie in offering its customers a complete solution, which through the development of much closer working links it is possible to engineer the most innovative and efficient solutions available within the market place".
Operating a complete and integrated solution, Aeroform can be assured that should any problems arise, they can be resolved quickly and simply ensuring uptime is maintained.
Ben Davies, continued: "Downtime is a huge expense within this industry as delays can severely affect the secondary stage of our the production processes at our customer.
Missing completion times or any problems as a result of process failure would diminish our reputation, which is why we need to mitigate these risks when choosing a supplier of critical process components.
That choice is Siemens".
In fact, the ability to predict failure requires an intelligent process control system, which would traditionally have seen components hardwired and therefore making the delivery of diagnostic data very expensive and in some cases impossible.
Fieldbus technology, such as Profibus, now means intelligent components are 'networked' together, opening up the opportunity to exchange a broader range of information.
The process instrumentation element of the machine involves the use of Siemens Sitrans FC Coriolis mass flowmeters, for the highly accurate measurement of liquids and gases at extremely low flow rates.
The meter also acts as a universal measurement device, providing information on media density, fraction and temperature, ideal within this particular application.
Siemens also provide a specialist radar level transmitter, the new LR250, that allows the accurate non contact reading of very low DK value products.
In this example Siemens built PTFE free emitters and tested performance in their factory in Canada to meet the customer requirements for working with tobacco and Isopentane chemicals.
Point level devices, for high and low levels, were specified using the CLS200 product and the patented inverse frequency shift principle, enabling Siemens to monitor the changes in frequency when detecting a product.
This is a unique approach to point level and allows the same units to be used on both solids and liquids, unlike the Siemens competitors, who require to supply separate devices for the different media.
Furthermore, Pressure is controlled using the Siemens DSIII Absolute Pressure transmitters.
Local pushbuttons allow simple PA address setting before entry onto the PA bus.
Simatic PDM allows remote access to the PA Absolute Pressure transmitters for purposes such as simulation of measured value and PA output to check PLC programme responds correctly to a particular scenario without having to actually generate a real vacuum in the machine, thus saving energy and time.
Valve Positioners again connected to the PA network were also supplied by Siemens.
The Sipart PS2 allows customers to handle single or double acting, rotary or linear, half or quarter turn valves all on the same device.
The high specification diagnostics give warnings for valve wear and allows the end user to closely monitor the performance of his valves and plan maintenance outages.
Siemens is once again working with Aeroform to outline the capabilities of the available equipment and identify the key features that will add value to the end customer.
Ben Davies concluded: "Above all, the Siemens application will enable us to monitor any potential problems within the system at a single source and from one supplier.
Working with a company such as Siemens it is reassuring to know that we are partnered with a global supplier but are supported by a local support network.
The Siemens partnership ensures that we can rely on our equipment, so that our customers can continue to receive excellence as standard".
• Siemens Process Instrumentation: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Processingtalk email newsletter
• Processingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
