Conair - Reliable Solutions for Plastics Processors

Learn more about Conair
Addresses for our locations
Let us know what we can do for you
See our products
Discover what's new at Conair
Visit CGCC for financing Conair equipment
Explore career opportunities at Conair
Find links to other valuable sites
Intranet - Password Access Only
Return to home page

Processors Can Put Auxiliaries on “Remote” Control Using Newest ControlWorks™ System from Conair; Plant Management Software is Customizable, Expandable

controlworks
 
Optional custom displays feature device IDs mapped onto a photo of the actual plant or manufacturing cell.
 

From a central location within a manufacturing plant, or anywhere in the world using a virtual private network (VPN), plastics processors can now monitor the operation of their blenders, loaders, dryers and heat-transfer equipment, and make changes to primary process set points. In fact the newest edition of the ControlWorks™ central system control from Conair allows users to perform remotely virtually any of the basic operational functions that would normally take place on the plant floor. This remarkable “portal to the process” can increase management efficiency and productivity dramatically.

ControlWorks is a real-time production and process monitoring control that combines customizable software with data collection hardware in a cost effective package that integrates seamlessly with most all Conair equipment in a plant. The interface is intuitive and simple to use. Easy-to-read screens allow users to navigate quickly from one type of equipment to another, reviewing or changing equipment settings, responding to alarms or accessing production archived data. Typical equipment access is through workstations connected to a plant-wide local area network. Similar access is also available through a secure VPN web-based interface, and ControlWorks can automatically email system priority alarms to key personnel based on need-to-know.

A CHOICE OF VIEWS
ControlWorks can be set up to allow two different pathways to monitor auxiliary equipment. The first would be to view all devices of a given type: all loaders, for instance, or all dryers, all blenders and so on.

Optionally, ControlWorks can present a home screen that displays all the different equipment in a small plant or processing cell. Screens are custom-made to reflect a plant layout. Equipment can be shown using graphic icons, or device IDs can be mapped onto a customer-supplied photo of the actual manufacturing cell. In order to monitor the dryer in that cell, for instance, the user would click on the dryer in the photo. To monitor the equipment in a central processing station – like a central blending installation – a photo of that station could be displayed in the system and each blender would be given a unique device ID. The processor could then access data on each unique blender by clicking on its image.

MODULAR/EXPANDABLE
The system is modular, so processors can implement some or all of its capabilities. Some users will want to use ControlWorks to manage just one or two kinds of equipment – blenders and dryers, for instance – while others may choose to integrate all their auxiliaries. There are currently nine modules in all.

  • Bulk Storage Module – monitors up to three Resin Level Display (RLD) systems each of which can monitor multiple silos or other storage vessels. ControlWorks provides a high-level alarm, a reorder-point alarm and low-level alarm. Module can also monitor up to 36 yo-yo or ultrasonic level sensors.
  • Blending Module – monitors up to 64 blenders, allowing set-up of blenders, downloading and entering of recipes and operating parameters. ControlWorks also monitors real-time operational data, logging material usage and generating material-usage reports.
  • Thermolator® Module – monitors up to 32 units, allowing entry of setpoints and parameters for mold-temperature controllers, portable and central chillers. Also displays and records operating values and alarms.
  • Central Water Module – monitors up to three central water systems, controlling all pumps, valves and fans. Displays and records operating values and alarms.
  • Dryer Module – monitors up to 32 dryers, allowing entry of setpoints and operating parameters and displaying and logging actual operating values and alarms. Dewpoint trending is included.
  • Resinworks® Module – monitors up to 32 hoppers connected to a central dehumidifying dryer, allowing entry of setpoints and operating parameters and displaying and logging actual operating values and alarms. ControlWorks can trend temperatures to track performance and report any variances.
  • Robot Module – monitors status, alarms and active programs on up to 32 Sepro robots.
  • ILS Loading Module – monitors up to three ILS loader control systems and allows users to set/change load time, purge time, discharge time, material alarms, regrind cycles and proofing.
  • A Miscellaneous I/O Module can monitor any combination of analog, digital, RTD or thermocouple inputs.

The ControlWorks workstation is a standard web-enabled PC desktop computer, which comes equipped with keyboard, mouse, DVD/CD reader/writer drive and two Ethernet network cards. The standard package includes dual hard drives with a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) controller which writes to both hard drives simultaneously. Norton Ghost* software is provided for a fail-safe backup system. The package also includes the Microsoft* Windows* operating system, Microsoft Excel* and ControlWorks supervisory control and data acquisition software. Reportable data can be stored in PostgreSQL or customer-provided Oracle database.

*Microsoft, Windows and Excel are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
*Norton Ghost is a registered trademark of Symantec Corp.

For more information, call the New Product Hotline at 1-888-486-6601

Contact us directly from our online form.