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DLR, Germany: Embedded PC controls the exact tracking of the sun for Diskus solar concentrator
The Institute of Solar Research at the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt - DLR) in Cologne- Porz is engaged in the development and qualification of concentrating solar systems that generate electricity, heat and fuels. A parabolic mirror with a diameter of 1.5 m can concentrate the sun’s rays so precisely and to such intensity that on one point, 1 and 5 cent coins melted in a DLR experiment.
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ARC Specialties, USA: Fully automatic welding robots ensure greater productivity and profitability
One of the major trends in automation is the increasing use of robots in order to increase production yields and to lower costs. In its fully automated welding machine, the Texas company ARC Specialties combines the use of robotics with an open PC- and EtherCAT-based control solution from Beckhoff to give its customers genuine competitive advantages.
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McCall Farms, USA: Stainless steel Panel PCs help ensure hygiene standards in the food industry
McCall Farms, manufacturer of Southern-style foods including canned fruits and vegetables as well as heat and serve meals, has been enjoying significant growth since 2006. In order to keep up with the still growing demand, the company has installed a new automated spice blending facility and kettle room with control technology from Beckhoff. Stainless steel Panel PCs with gapless housing design ensure compliance with the high hygiene standards in the food processing industry.
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Odevis, Germany: Patient positioning with high accuracy of ± 0.3 mm
Local cancer treatment methods include X-ray treatment with photons and irradiation with protons. In both techniques the direction of the beam can be determined accurately. With proton irradiation, the irradiation range can be controlled more precisely, thereby minimizing the harm to the surrounding healthy body tissue. During this procedure the positioning of the patient plays a key role in the treatment.
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Foshan Henglitai Machinery Co. Ltd., China: Fast and precise pressure control increases quality of ceramic tiles
A boom in the real estate market and increased construction of large public buildings has triggered an increasing demand for high-quality ceramic tiles in China. Foshan Henglitai Machinery Co. Ltd. is among the largest manufacturers of ceramic presses in China. Henglitai has implemented a PC-based controller from Beckhoff in its newly-developed type YP4200 hydraulic press. Through the use of EtherCAT and the TwinCAT Hydraulic software library, the press is easier to adjust and produces more tiles in a higher quality than previous models.
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Pattyn Packing Lines, Belgium: Bag-in-box foodstuff packaging
As is the case with mechanical engineering in general, packaging machines are subject to increasingly higher customer requirements with regard to speed, flexibility and costs. In practice this means that the machine manufacturer must keep step with the respective market developments in order to survive in the competitive marketplace. Belgian packaging machine manufacturer Pattyn Packing Lines relies on a high degree of automation for its advanced foodstuff packaging machines. The company balances performance and cost on the basis of state-of-the-art PC-based control technology.
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Thalmann AG, Switzerland: Embedded PC controls double bending machine
Complex nine-axis CNC machines can be automated in the best possible manner with the compact Embedded PCs of the CX series from Beckhoff. This fact is proven by the bending machines made by the Swiss company Thalmann AG, which have been equipped with Beckhoff control technology since 2010. The open PC- and EtherCAT-based control platform provides greater flexibility when implementing customer enhancements, which also results in improved accuracy and increased production speed.
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Ferry Porsche Congress Center, Austria: State-of-the-art energy and space management
The Ferry Porsche Congress Center in Zell am See, Austria is an excellent example of how buzz words like comfort factor, energy efficiency and sustainability are not always empty promises. The multi-functional building has room for up to a thousand visitors and impresses event and conference managers with its almost unlimited flexibility in space configuration. The prerequisite for this is an innovative building control system, which was implemented with intelligent, integral building automation technology throughout from Beckhoff.
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OCTANT Siebdruck GmbH, Germany: Customized plant retrofit
In order to ensure the reliability of their screen printing line, OCTANT Siebdruck GmbH decided to initiate a retrofit. This had three advantages over a new installation: securing long term production at the company’s Bielefeld, Germany site, protection of the company’s own know-how and protecting the investments already made. The short amount of time available for the retrofit was among the challenges faced: An engineering team from Beckhoff had only three weeks to help OCTANT convert the PLC-controlled screen printing line, built in the age of parallel wiring, to modern, PC-based and EtherCAT-based control technology.
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VMS-Maschinenbau GmbH, Germany: Precision accurate to the point
Plants with machinery that fill and dispense liquid and paste-like substances for the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food industries must naturally meet the highest requirements for precision and throughput. VMS Maschinenbau GmbH, based in Engelhofen, Germany, specializes in filling plants for the foodstuffs and chemical industries. This leading machine manufacturer uses the PC- and EtherCAT-based control platform from Beckhoff as the control system throughout the company’s production range.