Contact us today:
(847) 934-4500
tdaro@bernardandcompany.com
Contact us today:
(847) 934-4500
tdaro@bernardandcompany.com
VR Series “cut and stack” accumulator utilizes leading-edge motion control products to efficiently transfer film blanks from point of cutting to positioning in counted stack
Drilling Technical Services Inc. (DTS) in Milford, Ohio is machine builder specializing in the mid-width and narrow web press market. Its sister company, Pre-Owned Press & Parts Solutions, offers full reconfiguration engineering and remanufacturing services, plus full installation and commissioning on pre-owned presses
As a machine builder specializing in the design, engineering and system integration of narrow and mid-web label solutions as well as flexible packaging and folding carton machinery, Drilling Technical Services (DTS) of Milford, Ohio sees this global industry from many perspectives. Much of the machinery and equipment solutions devised by DTS end up on the production lines of major label and filmic product producers worldwide. Recently, company owner Joe Drilling and his team had one of those “light bulb moments” where a specific market need could be addressed by a better solution.
It involved the delicate world of thin film substrate processing and the need for a high-speed cut-and-stack solution.
The VR Series “cut and stack” accumulator stacker machines for thin film in-mold label (IML) substrate processing features Siemens HMI, drives and servomotor technology to handle the delicate thin film substrates processed, with precision, accuracy, high speed and with fast changeover for the machine user
As Joe Drilling explains, “The primary challenge was to create a solution that took into consideration the unique environmental and material factors of each customer. The materials our machines process are normally very thin film products that accumulate static quite easily. Due to their structural instability, it always requires special transport
techniques to convey these products from the point of cutting to the point of positioning in a counted stack.” Superior blank control throughout the process, converting blank shapes in multiple streams and integrating the equipment into continuous print cut processes or offline converting systems further complicated the challenges.
DTS team handles the design, engineering, build and line integration of the company’s various machine types for customers in the label, film, packaging and printing industries
Further, the DTS team saw the industry trends toward smaller footprint equipment, greater energy savings, quick changeover and portability. Collectively, these factors presented a daunting set of circumstances to Drilling and his design staff.
DTS realized the control scheme on the machine would be vital, so they turned to their longtime partner Siemens for assistance. Through the integration of high-precision Sinamics drives and Simotion motion control, coupled with the complementary suite of Simotics servomotors and Simatic HMI touchscreen product, the VR Series of in-mold label (IML) accumulator stacker machines began to take shape.
Unique blank shapes are accumulated in 1, 2 or 3 streams on a small footprint machine requiring only 3’ x 4’ of floor space, capable of handling web widths from 13”-26”. The VR Series machines from DTS provide end users with simple matrix separation, while diverting scrap at the process start-up or as a component in the overall quality inspection system. The machines can create serialized groups through a “bottom up” stack format with total static control, so they can be utilized in a normal press room environment. 
Noting the high-precision servo technology and motion control accuracy of the Siemens equipment onboard the VR Series, Drilling observed, “The axes communication and control are also extremely compact and this facilitated our designing a very portable machine with quick changeover capability, something our customers consistently demand.”
DTS further relies on the Siemens international sales and technical support teams, as this builder’s equipment is found in labeling, printing and converting plants worldwide. Drilling notes his company has received a high level of consistent service, application engineering assistance and support from the Siemens personnel and affiliated contractors.
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Joe Drilling has a pride in his company that’s classic American entrepreneur. After years at a leading label machine builder, he founded DTS as a virtual engineering company specializing in the mechanical, electrical and process engineering of mid-width and narrow web printing, drying, converting, RFID and digital print equipment. DTS has a particular emphasis on web transportation, die-cutting and laminating solutions. As the installed base grew and in response to current market conditions, Drilling founded a second company in Milford, Pre-Owned Press & Parts Solution LLC (POPPS), specializing in the evaluation, reconfiguration, remanufacturing, sale, commissioning and servicing of pre-owned presses.
Another vital component of the business models at both DTS and POPPS is the engineering of energy recovery systems for containment of utility costs, an ongoing challenge in the printing and labeling industries. The two companies primarily serve the needs of the flexible packaging, folding carton, tag and label, health and beauty, wine and beer, plus other label market segments.
For more information on this story, please contact:
DRILLING TECHNICAL SERVICES INC.
6062 Kells Lane
Milford, OH 45150
Phone: 513-831-2952
Fax: 513-831-4825
Web: www.drillingtechservices.com
Email: jdrilling@drillingtechservices.com
Attention: Joe Drilling, President
or
SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
Drive Technologies — Motion Control
390 Kent Avenue
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Phone: 847-640-1595
Fax: 847-437-0784
Web: www.usa.siemens.com/motioncontrol
Email: SiemensMTBUMarCom.industry@siemens.com
Attention: John Meyer, Manager, Marketing Communications
Sinamics Startdrive from Siemens now enables seamless integration of the drive system into the Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) Portal
CHICAGO — Siemens announced today that the latest version of the Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) Portal now gives users the ability to commission and configure Sinamics G120 drives using Sinamics Startdrive.
As an engineering framework designed for maximum efficiency and ease of operation, TIA Portal offers seamless integration of the drive system using Version 12 of Sinamics Startdrive. This allows users to quickly and easily configure Sinamics G120 drives from a single graphical user interface. The same applies to drive parameterization, which is easy-to-handle thanks to the use of graphical screens. The task-based sorting of drive functions reduces the start-up time for users as they are guided directly to functions via the specific task. As with the Simatic programmable logic controllers (PLCs) in TIA Portal, the Sinamics drive is also displayed as a station in the project navigator. Simotics motors can be easily integrated into the engineering framework via Sinamics Startdrive. In addition, optimized safety function views have been integrated into Startdrive to ensure efficient commissioning of safe drive systems, which means that engineering for standard and safety-based programs can be implemented with TIA Portal.
Efficient drive engineering in TIA Portal is possible thanks to the identical handling of controllers, human-machine interfaces (HMIs) and drives. Sinamics G120 drives can be configured in the same manner as an existing controller. The hardware catalog stored in the program can be used to add components. Bus connections can also be made via simple drag-and-drop. Since TIA Portal’s library is used, uniform data storage and consistency are assured. Existing parameterization can be reused in the same or in a different project via the library. Additionally, since the power module is easily replaced via drag-and-drop menus, engineering can be quickly modified even when power requirements change. This saves time when implementing follow-up projects.
Communication settings are uniform for every device as a part of the integrated device and network configuration, avoiding duplicate entries and consistency errors. The package includes the Profidrive drive profile for all industry-based applications, as well as Profisafe for failsafe communication. Using Step 7 Motion Control to optimize interaction between the Simatic S7-1500 controller can reduce the time and effort involved in engineering and Sinamics G120 drives. The uniform application engineering for controller and drive includes a guided configuration and parameterization of Sinamics drives and allows fast access from the Portal view.
Sinamics Startdrive permits intuitive and efficient drive diagnostics. Information and status messages are displayed without the need for programming. As part of the uniform display concept, status messages for the drive are available in plain text in TIA Portal, the CPU display, the HMI and the web server. Detailed information can be called up in the diagnostic and online editors, which support fast troubleshooting and help to significantly reduce downtimes.
The new Sinamics Startdrive features an integrated trace function to optimize motion sequences and increase application productivity. Up to eight signals can be monitored in two separate trace jobs simultaneously. User guidance is identical to Simatic-S7-1500-Trace, with controller and drive traces being managed centrally in TIA Portal, making the complete diagnosis possible without the need for an additional tool. Since the motion sequences are intuitively recorded and optimized, there is less mechanical stress on the machine or system.
Siemens is continuing to develop TIA Portal with the intention of opening up the intelligent engineering framework for more and more hardware components. The ultimate goal is to reduce the time and effort required for engineering, thereby, maximizing efficiency in order to boost user productivity and competitiveness. TIA Portal’s intuitive and efficient software architecture allows users to design every engineering and production process throughout the entire value chain from one single screen.
For more information about Siemens solutions for the conveyor and material handling industry:
SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
Drive Technologies — Motion Control
390 Kent Avenue
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Phone: 847-640-1595 Fax: 847-437-0784
Web: www.usa.siemens.com/motioncontrol
Email: SiemensMTBUMarCom.industry@siemens.com
Attention: John Meyer, Manager, Marketing Communications
With its new Sinamics V20 drive, Siemens offers a single-axis drive for basic applications, which is easy-to-install, easy-to-operate and makes it easy to save money
CHICAGO — Siemens introduced today its new single-axis Sinamics V20 drive for basic applications featuring short commissioning times, easy operation and excellent cost and energy benefits. The Sinamics V20 comes in four frame sizes covering the performance range from 1/6–20hp and is used to operate pumps, fans, compressors and conveyor systems, and is also used for simple drive tasks in the processing and handling industries.
This compact drive can be connected directly in-line and mounted as a push-through installation in addition to the conventional wall-mounting method. Since no further modules or add-on options are required for operation, the installation time is minimized. Additionally, the integrated Basic Operator Panel (BOP) enables trouble-free on-site commissioning and operation. Besides the universal serial interfaces that allow for easy connection to Simatic PLC controllers, a Modbus interface is also included for communication with third-party controls. Pre-built connection and application macros are used for facilitating application-specific settings. For units with power ratings higher than 10hp, a braking resistor can be connected directly to integrated braking chopper.
Operation of the new Sinamics V20 drive is just as easy as its commissioning. Parameters that have been optimized for one application can easily be transferred to other units using SD or MMC cards via the BOP interface or the battery-operated Parameter Loader — even without powering up the drive. The current firmware can be easily loaded as well.
Tailored inter-connectivity and application macros (i.e. for pumps, fans and compressors) provide the correct settings for the particular application. The Keep Running Mode automatically adapts the Sinamics V20 drive to the power supply to achieve higher availability when operated on unstable networks. In this mode, line fluctuations are compensated for internally and error messages are acknowledged autonomously. Due to the enhanced cooling concept and coated PCBs and electronic components, the Sinamics V20 is extremely rugged, both electrically and mechanically, making the unit reliable even in harsh environments.
The demand-driven regulation of the motor speed also provides increased energy savings even for basic applications. The Sinamics V20 is equipped with an energy-optimized control mode (ECO-mode) for increased energy efficiency. ECO-mode automatically adapts the magnetic flux in the motor to the optimum operating point. In addition, the DC link coupling enables efficient energy utilization of drives grouped together. Further, the Sinamics V20 can be set to hibernation mode, which prolongs the service life of the motor and also reduces system component wear (i.e. pumps). Additionally, by displaying real-time energy consumption on the operator panel display, the operator always has the drive’s energy and cost efficiencies in focus at all times.
For more information about Siemens solutions for the conveyor and material handling industry:
SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
Drive Technologies — Motion Control
390 Kent Avenue
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Phone: 847-640-1595 Fax: 847-437-0784
Web: www.usa.siemens.com/motioncontrol
Email: SiemensMTBUMarCom.industry@siemens.com
Attention: John Meyer, Manager, Marketing Communications
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Planning and partnerships lead to success on export machine series
C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Company Inc. has been in business for over 120 years, serving the OEM paper converting industry and providing contract manufacturing services for more than 60 years. Bretting is located in Ashland, Wisconsin on the southern shores of Lake Superior. The fourth generation of the Bretting family leads the business today, while the fifth generation is currently on deck.
Bretting paper converting machine, utilizing all Siemens controls, including motors, drives, PLC and motion controller plus related software. Bretting builds machines for various paper converting operations such as napkins, interfolded paper towels, bathroom roll and boxed facial tissues.
OEM paper converting equipment converts rolls of paper into folded and rolled paper products such as napkins, interfolded napkins, singlefold facial tissue, multifold paper toweling, kitchen towel rolls and bathroom tissue rolls. Bretting is an industry leader in global sales and service of OEM paper converting equipment. Machines are designed, manufactured, assembled and tested at the Ashland factory, prior to shipping to the customer’s site for set-up and commissioning.
Simotion motion controllers, Sinamics drives, Simatic PLCs and various Simotics motors were used in the building of the first all-Siemens controlled platform machine at Bretting.
Bretting recently delivered its first paper converting machine controlled entirely by Siemens hardware and software. The project was a major undertaking for Bretting, Siemens and Standard Electric (local Siemens distributor) and was deemed a great success, according to Dave Vedder, director of engineering, C.G. Bretting. “Planning and partnerships with our vendors were keys to our success on this first 41-axis Siemens-controlled machine. We planned for success and achieved it. The project started more than 24 months prior to delivery of the machine to the customer.”
Vedder continued to explain the process.
“The project started with listening to our customers, who had been requesting Siemens automation on our equipment for some time. Meeting customer needs is a Bretting strength. We realized it was time to act. The Bretting Leadership Team commissioned an effort to provide an acceptable solution. That solution comprised Sinamics drives, Simatic PLC and Simotion motion controllers.”
The purchasing department then met with the local distributor, Standard Electric. Meetings were organized with Standard Electric, Siemens and Bretting within several weeks. Planning for the first Siemens machine was initiated. It was determined the products and software available would satisfy the full range of Bretting machine functionality and other requirements. Initial planning included:
A formal customer inquiry for a new machine followed about six months later. The inquiry included a requirement for a full Siemens automation solution on the customer’s new paper converting machine. Bretting, Siemens and Standard Electric were now well prepared and ready to respond, Vedder explained. Proposals for the machine with full Siemens automation solutions were shared with the customer. A new set of planning protocols was started, one that focused specifically on the first Bretting paper converting machine to be equipped entirely with the new vendor’s products and software onboard.
First machine planning included-
The customer ordered the machine approximately six months after the initial inquiry. The plans for the first machine were approved and authorized for production. Some checks and adjustments were required during the machine engineering and build process. “The combined talents of Siemens, Standard Electric and Bretting addressed and resolved any issues as they occurred,” Dave Vedder explained. “The customer approved the machine during the Final Machine Checkout process. The time from Order to Checkout was similar to other machines we’ve produced during recent years.”
The machine was then disassembled and shipped to the customer’s site in Europe. The reassembly, startup and final commissioning proceeded without issue. The machine is currently running successfully in the field, with no significant service issues reported, according to Vedder.
Planning and partnership were key to the success of this first export paper converting machine with Siemens automation onboard, all made possible by the combined efforts of the machine builder, the controls supplier and the local value-adding electrical distributor.
Bretting is an ISO9001:2008 Certified manufacturer with sales representatives worldwide.
For further information on this story, please contact:
C.G. BRETTING MANUFACTURING INC.
3401 Lake Park Road
Ashland, WI 54806
Phone: 715-682-5231
Web: www.bretting.com
Attention: David Vedder, Director of Engineering
or
SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
Drive Technologies — Motion Control
390 Kent Avenue
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Phone: 847-640-1595 Fax: 847-437-0784
Web: www.usa.siemens.com/motioncontrol
Email: SiemensMTBUMarCom.industry@siemens.com
Attention: John Meyer, Manager, Marketing Communications
Test stand builder collaborates with Siemens Industry, Inc. on variable speed drives and motors to affect green, lean solutions for testing Apache, Blackhawk helicopter powertrains at Department of Defense customer; over 20 test stands reduced to five.
RedViking test stand for evaluating performance on transmissions from multiple helicopter OEMs
RedViking, located in Plymouth, Michigan, made its mark in automotive power transmission test stands, beginning in 1981 as Superior Controls. Today, the company is providing multi-disciplinary engineering and equipment construction services to major corporations such as Caterpillar, GE, Boeing, General Motors and others. Spun off in 2010, RedViking designs and builds a variety of powertrain test equipment, metrology and production solutions for government and commercial OEMs alike.
For a recent Department of Defense (DoD) customer, RedViking was presented with a challenge that involved an existing bank of over 20 individual test stands, used for dynamic testing of performance factors on helicopter transmissions, primarily in the Apache and Blackhawk classes. The existing test stands ranged from 20–50 years in age and had been built with single-purpose functionality. This scenario resulted in constantly increasing maintenance requirements for the customer, plus excessive power consumption and plant floor space capacity overload. The test stands suffered from a lack of readily available spare parts, required unique training to operate each stand, and did not produce the desired level of data for analysis.
When a unit test was required, the test article would be built up and dressed within the envelope of the test stand, fully connected, then tested, disconnected and removed from the work cell. This procedure resulted in extremely long downtime impact on the customer’s equipment utilization, with various corresponding logistic challenges. Coupled with the age of the equipment and the excess power used by the older equipment, this situation presented the RedViking engineers with a series of hurdles to overcome.
New testing system requirements included better compilation of test data, automatic closed loop operation of the machinery, true speed and torque measurement with a local Test Executive as the main operator interface to the test machine and finally, a standardized control platform to allow easier operator cross-training on the equipment.
The customer targeted a goal of three to four tests per working shift versus the current one test per shift being achieved with their multiple machines. RedViking performed its onsite assessment and subsequent situation analysis, and then devised a solution that utilized common components and an entirely new material handling strategy. A series of five flexible test stand designs was determined to be sufficient for the replacement of all existing machines.
To accomplish greater efficiency in the utilization of these test stands, a series of workpiece carriages was designed, allowing the Units Under Test (UUT) to be mounted and staged outside the envelope of the test stand and then brought into the work cell for faster connection, test, disconnect and exit. RedViking terms these devices Transportable Test Fixtures (TTFs), which automate shaft connections, clamping and positioning, as well as providing 360° access to the UUT. This design provides significantly greater efficiency as well as a safe and ergonomic operator environment. As RedViking explained, hours of test setup time are reduced to minutes.
RedViking Controls and Software Manager Jason Stefanski at the main transmission flexible test module.
RedViking Controls and Software Manager, Jason Stefanski, and his team devised an entirely new, modular software system and common Human Machine Interface (HMI) platform for all five test stands, with a common user interface and plug-in architecture, comprising common function blocks, I/O coding and CAT 4 safety functions. This design approach allows the software to be easily configured to accommodate the various transmission models being tested.
Once the test article in the TTF is automatically positioned and attached, RFID tags on the TTF identify both the article and its test profile configuration and communicate them to the Test Executive.
All test profiles are generated and stored offline, with modifications made by the customer’s engineering staff outside of the test cells. Test profiles are then linked to the UUT type and model data for further system integrity.
The main software feature of the test machines is the ability to execute a fully automated, repeatable, and traceable test. To provide this functionality, RedViking has developed a Test Sequence Set (TSS) Editor, allowing all parameters to be set by the customer, downloaded to a Test Executive from a localized laptop, thus eliminating the need to modify validated machine code.
The TSS editor provides the customer with adaptability to easily modify future or existing test profiles.
After a thorough review of the potential suppliers for the power components and controls on these new test stands, Siemens Industry’s Drive Technologies Division was chosen to provide the motors and AC flux vector drives packages with regenerative braking for increased energy efficiency. RedViking worked closely with Siemens to devise an AC system, utilizing the regenerative technology found in Sinamics drives with 480V and 690V standards. Jason Stefanski recounted a number of field trips to Siemens customers to investigate the performance and application specifics of regen drives used with 3000 hp motors.
SINAMICS “Drive Alley” houses the main drives for the RedViking test stand
The use of Siemens regenerative braking technology allows a system to recover power, minus the parasitic losses. Conventional dynamic load testing requires loading to occur via an eddy current or fluid brake system, which requires additional energy, maintenance and up front capital investment. In more innovative industrial environments, according to Siemens, Sinamics regenerative drive technology can enable energy savings of 40 percent or more.
With a common DC bus architecture, this allows for only one AC to DC conversion in the motoring direction and the regenerative braking power goes straight to another inverter, which is motoring via the common DC bus link. This method eliminates two conversion points where energy would be lost which increases the overall efficiency. In addition, the common bus solution paired with the active front end (AFE) has the ability for power factor correction, which will further increase the overall savings of a common bus system. All AFE drives allow for unity power factor and low total harmonic distortion (THD) that meets IEEE 519 harmonic standards. This means these drive systems can improve the present power factor displacement in a customer’s facility.
RedViking estimates that a test on the Main Transmission Flexible Test System, while running at full capacity, will cost approximately $400 less per hour to operate than current comparable systems. With improvements over the conventional non-regen testing process, the RedViking Main Transmission Test System could generate approximately $500,000 in annual power savings.
For this project, Siemens Industry, Inc. supplied its high-performance asynchronous Simotics 1PL6 and 1RN4 motors, the largest being 3000 hp, to power the various mechanisms on the RedViking test stands. When in operation, these motors simulate the power generated by the helicopter’s jet engines, in addition to simulating the loading of the main rotor and tail output blades. This allows RedViking to test the helicopter transmission components to the full speed and torque requirements as specified by the military with very precise closed loop control.
On the Tail and Intermediate Gearbox Flexible Test Module, it was determined that the use of two more Siemens Simotics motors was less expensive and more efficient than the previous test stand’s gearbox design. This solution involves multiple motor connections to an output variable frequency drive (VFD) with auxiliary connections, thereby eliminating the need for additional VFDs.
Stefanski noted that one of the reasons that Siemens was selected for this project is their global support structure combined with a U.S. base of manufacturing. RedViking prides itself on designing and building systems in the U.S. and seeks out vendors who build their products in the U.S. as well.
Joshua Gibbs, RedViking Manufacturing Coordinator, commented, “We knew we were building these test stands to validate the performance of military helicopters that see wartime action. We take it very personally at RedViking to ensure these systems protect man and machine alike, as well as provide the ultimate in test validation.” RedViking further noted the substantial energy savings and operational efficiencies realized by the RedViking customer gave their entire team considerable pride of accomplishment on this project. RedViking currently performs both DO and DX contracts for the military and its subcontractors.
For more information:
SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
Drive Technologies — Motion Control
390 Kent Avenue
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Phone: 847-640-1595 Fax: 847-437-0784
Web: www.usa.siemens.com/motioncontrol
Email: SiemensMTBUMarCom.industry@siemens.com
Attention: John Meyer, Manager, Marketing Communications
OR
RedViking
46247 Five Mile Road
Plymouth, MI 48170
Phone: 1-734-927-1460
Web: www.redviking.com
Engineering TV is now featuring Siemens from PackExpo 2012!
Click here to check it out.
Lee Teschler of Machine Design talks to Bill Henderson, Business Development Manager at Siemens about industrial ethernet connectivity solutions and networks used in several manufacturing environments.
Hosted by: Lee Teschler Videography by: Terry Knight Edited by: Terry Knight
For specific product information and inquiries, call (800) 879-8079 ext. Marketing Communications or send an e-mail to: SiemensMTBUMarCom.industry@siemens.com.
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Siemens Industry Sector is the world’s leading supplier of innovative and environmentally friendly products, solutions and services for industrial customers. With end-to-end automation technology and industrial software, solid vertical-market expertise, and technology-based services, the sector enhances its customers’ productivity, efficiency and flexibility. With a global workforce of more than 100,000 employees, the Industry Sector comprises the Industry Automation, Drive Technologies and Customer Services Divisions as well as the Metals Technologies Business Unit. For more information, visit http://www.usa.siemens.com/industry.
The Siemens Drive Technologies Division is the world’s leading supplier of products, systems, applications, solutions and services for the entire drive train, with electrical and mechanical components. Drive Technologies serves all vertical markets in the production and process industries as well as the infrastructure/energy segment. With its products and solutions, the division enables its customers to achieve productivity, energy efficiency and reliability. For more information, visit http://www.usa.siemens.com/drivetechnologies.
Continue readingATLANTA, Oct. 18, 2012 — Siemens Industry, Inc. today announced its plans to open an assembly and manufacturing plant as part of the company’s Drives Technologies Division, Mechanical Drives Business Unit. The 45,600 square-foot facility will be located in the city of Mauldin in Greenville County. Siemens anticipates opening the facility later this year.
“The new South Carolina geared motor facility will place the company and its products manufactured in South Carolina closer to machine builders and manufacturers in the Southeastern United States,” according to Doug Keith, President of Siemens Drive Technologies Division in the U.S.. “The announcement of this plant adds to Siemens ability to be a single-source provider of integrated drive train solutions for industry. Our portfolio of gears, motors, drives and automation is helping to lead a global transformation of the industrial and manufacturing sector, by increasing productivity and energy efficiency to the highest possible levels.”
The facility will assemble Siemens new Simogear family of geared motors, featuring helical, parallel shaft, and helical bevel gear units primarily used in modern conveyor systems often found in warehousing, logistics and distribution, airport baggage handling, automotive manufacturing and food and beverage processing.
Keith added that the site combined all of the necessary elements Siemens was seeking in a location, including proximity to transportation infrastructure, including interstates and ports, a highly skilled workforce with reputable educational institutions nearby, a green-minded community and a dedicated group of business partners.
“It’s a great day in South Carolina when a world-class company like Siemens chooses to locate new operations in our state. We celebrate the company’s decision to invest in South Carolina and create new jobs. Announcements like this show we are doing the right things to attract businesses from around the globe to our state,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.
Throughout the site selection process, Siemens officials worked closely with several entities that were instrumental in the decision to locate in Mauldin, including the State of South Carolina, Greenville County, the City of Mauldin and Laurens Electric Cooperative.
“It’s exciting to see a company like Siemens bring a new manufacturing operation to the Palmetto State. Every one of these jobs will have impact locally. Announcements like this are made possible by a strong team effort from state and local officials,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.
Local Siemens officials are currently working with readySC and Greenville Technical College on workforce development and training needs. Siemens plans to begin hiring in October and individuals interested in learning more may visit the Siemens career web site at www.usa.siemens.com/careers.
Siemens Mechanical Drives Business Unit manufactures mechanical and electrical drive equipment typically used in mechanical designs, including processing, transport and conveying systems, power generation and many off-shore applications. This portfolio particularly concentrates on gear technology, ranging from geared motors to industrial gear units and couplings as well as large gears for power stations and wind turbines. This portfolio of products and solutions are the mechanical foundation to Siemens’ Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) platform.
For more information visit: http://www.usa.siemens.com/answers/en/#683050?stc=usidt100004&sp_source=usidt100004.
Siemens Industry Sector is the world’s leading supplier of innovative and environmentally friendly products, solutions and services for industrial customers. With end-to-end automation technology and industrial software, solid vertical-market expertise, and technology-based services, the sector enhances its customers’ productivity, efficiency and flexibility. With a global workforce of more than 100,000 employees, the Industry Sector comprises the Industry Automation, Drive Technologies and Customer Services Divisions as well as the Metals Technologies Business Unit. For more information, visit http://www.usa.siemens.com/industry.
The Siemens Drive Technologies Division is the world’s leading supplier of products, systems, applications, solutions and services for the entire drive train, with electrical and mechanical components. Drive Technologies serves all vertical markets in the production and process industries as well as the infrastructure/energy segment. With its products and solutions, the division enables its customers to achieve productivity, energy efficiency and reliability. For more information, visit http://www.usa.siemens.com/drivetechnologies.
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New Simotion Scout version 4.2, a visualization tool for parameter configuration of Simotion, the Siemens motion control system for production machines.
CHICAGO, PACK EXPO — The motion control business of Siemens Industry, Inc. has announced that Simotion Scout, the engineering system used for configuring Simotion motion controllers, has been updated with a wide range of usability improvements. As more and more demands are put on modern production machines, this system enables all of the application functions and tasks to be implemented within one uniform user interface.
Simotion is the scalable motion control system that quickly and easily handles increasing machine demands by enabling central machine functions to be implemented with just one controller.
It is available in three variants: drive-based, PC-based and controller-based.
Simotion Scout facilitates the configuration, programming, testing and commissioning of applications. With its graphical-based programming, Scout further facilitates system configuration for new users. Users of Scout 4.2 will also benefit from new features such as automatic drive integration and detailed comparisons for graphics-based programming languages.
The most significant innovation of Scout 4.2 is its simplified interface to the Siemens Sinamics drive system. This feature provides users with an automated means of integrating drives and components into the Simotion system. Using the new symbolic assignment of technology objects (TOs) and I/Os to drive objects, users no longer manually configure communication with message frames and addresses because Simotion Scout now automates this task. Object-to-object assignment takes place via a new inter-connection screen. In this screen, all compatible partners are listed hierarchically and the symbolic connection of the components to be inter-connected takes place by simple selection.
For more information about motion control solutions and services from Siemens, point your web browser to www.usa.siemens.com/motioncontrol.
For specific product information and inquiries, call (800) 879-8079 ext. Marketing Communications
or send an e-mail to: SiemensMTBUMarCom.industry@siemens.com.
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The new Simotion D motion controllers for production machines cover all levels of performance, from simple positioning tasks to demanding applications with extremely short cycle times or large numbers of axes, up to 128.
CHICAGO, PACK EXPO — Siemens Industry, Inc. announced today the extension of the upper performance range of its popular Simotion D motion controllers. The new generation of Simotion D445-2 multi-axis controllers has new features such as onboard Profinet interfaces, high-speed I/O, and with three times the performance, a single controller can support up to 128 axes of motion.
Simotion D motion controllers are the ideal solution for production machines covering all levels of performance — from simple single-axis positioning tasks to complex synchronous applications — with extremely short cycle times on a large numbers of axes. Thanks to its scalability, Simotion D offers users a high degree of flexibility for the ever-changing demands on machine automation. The Simotion D drive-based multi-axis control not only offers PLC, motion control and advanced technology functions, but also an integrated drive control based upon Siemens Sinamics S120 drives.
Today, with the new Simotion D445-2 DP/PN and D455-2 DP/PN versions, the performance range has been extended even higher. Compared to the previous generation, the maximum quantity has been doubled to 128 axes and the memory capacity significantly expanded. This has increased the PLC and motion control performance by a factor of three. With Simotion D445-2 DP/PN and D455-2 DP/PN, the previously optional Profinet I/O interface has now been integrated on the modules as standard. This frees up the option slot for other expansion cards. The onboard interface is equipped with an integrated three-port switch and facilitates different network topologies such as line, star or tree structures, without the need for additional external switches. The interface not only supports real-time (RT), but also isochronous real-time (IRT) data exchange and can be operated as a controller and / or device of another controller.
In addition to the Profinet interface, Simotion D445-2 DP/PN and D455-2 DP/PN also have two Profibus and two Ethernet interfaces, as well as 28 digital I/Os, of which 16 can be used for technology tasks such as output cams and measuring inputs with micro-second resolution.
For more information about motion control solutions and services from Siemens, point your web browser to www.usa.siemens.com/motioncontrol.
For specific product information and inquiries, call (800) 879-8079 ext. Marketing Communications or send an e-mail to: SiemensMTBUMarCom.industry@siemens.com.
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The Sinamics S120 drive platform from Siemens provides users maximum flexibility with industrial Ethernet connectivity.
ATLANTA — Siemens announced today that its versatile Sinamics S120 drive system has been expanded to include Profinet, Ethernet TCP/IP and EtherNet/IP connectivity, thus providing maximum flexibility for industrial Ethernet communication while offering innovative concepts for those wanting a single network for the entire plant.
Whether a greenfield project with multiple vendors or an OEM supporting different platforms on their machines the importance of industrial Ethernet connectivity for drive systems is today’s top requirement.
“In many instances, plant managers have the requirement for a single-plant network, particularly with large automotive, packaging, plastics, metals, food and beverage as well as material handling companies,” says Craig Nelson, Siemens product manager, Sinamics S drives. “Our Sinamics drives platform provides communications without limits to a specific network type.”
Sinamics S120 drives support, as standard, Profibus DP and Profinet to ensure seamless communications between all the components involved in a typical automation solution, including HMI (operator control and visualization) and I/O. Additional higher-level functions including Safety Integrated telegrams and synchronized mechanisms for even the highest-level motion applications are also included in these innovative solutions.
Profinet can transmit operating and diagnostics data simultaneously to enterprise-level systems using standard IT mechanisms (TCP/IP) for an integrated factory environment. The new addition of an EtherNet/IP stack offers another option for Sinamics users. Having the flexibility to communicate with the most common automation systems via Profinet, EtherNet/IP or basic Ethernet TCP/IP makes the Sinamics drive system easily adaptable to the current Industrial Ethernet boom.
Sinamics S120 drives are designed to handle virtually any drive requirement and facilitate vector, servo and variable-frequency drive (V/Hz) applications with the choice of single- or multi-axis offerings. The modular design and system architecture, combined with new communication connectivity features, makes Sinamics S120 a truly advanced drive offering in today’s market.
With a wide power range (0.25 – 1,600 hp), highly scalable solutions, including safety integrated functionality and convenient start-up with automatic configuration of the drive system, through the innovative Drive-CLiQ interface, Sinamics S120 is a powerful solution for a host of applications, including packaging, plastics molding and extrusion, textile, printing and paper machines, handling and assembly systems, machine tools, rolling mills and test stands.
For more information about EtherNet/IP connectivity to Sinamics S120 drives, visit our website: www.usa.siemens.com/eip.
For specific product information and inquiries, call (800) 879-8079 ext. Marketing Communications or send an e-mail to: SiemensMTBUMarCom.industry@siemens.com.
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