Automatic Control Systems Improve Plant Profitability

The addition or replacement of a control system for a concrete plant can make a dramatic improvement to the businesses overall profitability. Depending on the type of concrete plant you operate you will see increased profits and reduced expenses. Increases profits come from increased production as well as the ability to attract new customers, projects or products that require automation. You will also experience savings in your plant operations through reduction of man hours, inventory controls, and reduced batching errors.

Whether operating a precast plant or a ready mix plant your need for an automatic control is the same for the reasons already stated, but the type of control and steps you need to take to automate the plant may be very different. Any concrete plant can be automated, but the cost to automate will vary dramatically based on the equipment already on the plant and the level of automation desired. The equipment required for concrete plant automation are load cells, actuators, limit switches and of course the computer or PLC equipment. When you consider plant automation in this most basic form, it is easier to understand how old or existing concrete plant automation can easily be upgraded.

Concrete plant automation is commonly upgraded for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the addition of new equipment such as a mixer or probe will prompt a concrete plant automation upgrade. Other times a control will be replaced because the existing control is no longer supported by the manufacturer. Manufacturers will sometimes phase out product support over time as new products are released, sometimes product support is ended as a result of an acquisition or merger. Safety, efficiency and operational improvements at other common reasons for a company to replace or upgrade a concrete plants automatic control system.

Modern concrete plant control systems are typically able to store a large number of mix designs, have a memory of specifics of each batch produced, integrate admix and moisture probes to enable precise mix control, and in some cases interface with accounting and other software. Here is more info about System integrator indonesia stop by our own page.
The addition of safety switches to prevent accidental operation reduces hazards for your employees and may even reduce insurance rates. Some control systems offer as standard or optionally modules that also allow for sales and follow up data, accounting and billing, GPS tracking and live monitoring, centralized dispatch, remote operation, and other features that enable in depth monitoring and operation of your plant activity, inventory and assets. One of many important considerations when purchasing a control system for an automatic control system is the level of understanding the representative, dealer or manufacturer selling the product has in its operation and setup. Knowledgeable dealers and representatives of the control system can oftentimes offer product support quickly and even after manufacturer support may no longer be available.

The addition of a used or existing control is not unheard of but can be very tricky. Typically a used or pre owned systems for a concrete plant can only be done with the assistance of the manufacturer or a dealer who handles that manufactures equipment. The installation of an automatic control system, new or used, requires configuration programming, setup and calibration. Even the most experienced control operators usually never complete the setup steps required or only did once making experienced or factory support a requirement for any concrete plants automatic control system installation.