Brewery Modernization and Expansion Project

This project required the programming of the operator interface package used by the customer in the packaging plant. Factory Link is used for this area of production and is their standard operating system. The operator interface, or GUI (Graphics User Interface), programming included developing screens to give an overview of an entire packaging line down to the layout of the conveyors and the instrumentation on them.

Screens were developed for each major piece of equipment in the packaging line and included for example, the Filler, Capper, Pasteurizer, Labelers, Packers and Palletizing. On these screens, the photo-eyes, limit switches, and motors were added with animation to indicate the state.

Programming also included the interface for operating the packaging line and the means for getting operating information into the plant’s information management system. An additional responsibility incurred was to develop a means to troubleshoot DeviceNet items using the Factory Link operator interface. This included identification of failed devices and their DeviceNet address on an overview screen. Devices monitored included only the solenoid valves and limit switches located along the packaging line.

Once equipment was in place at the Houstfon site, the operator interface team, including Emerson Process Management, commenced checkout and startup of the operator interface package.

The project was completed on schedule with a successful startup run. The quality of work done on the operator interface package was up to the client’s expectation. The customer achieved its goal of increased capacity for the Houston location and the modernization of the operations using Factory Link.

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