and maintenance costs and making
information more easily accessible
throughout the plant.
Manufacturers should look for an
automation platform where PLCs
and dedicated CPUs are consolidated
on a single backplane with a single
high-speed system bus. These various
CPUs will be responsible for different
aspects of automation control – in-
cluding robot control, motion control,
process control, etc. Other benefits of
a consolidated single platform are the
reduction of interconnecting networks
and large data bandwidth capability.
The platform should also extend to
the operator interface, typically an
HMI, or a mobile device, improving
productivity through multiple ad-
vanced functions, while acting as a
seamless interface to other contro-
llers within the production line. At the
same time, the platform can provide
an interface to higher level systems,
delivering IT information to and from
the plant floor. This offers further
tools for system design, programming, With around 124.000 employees
debugging and maintenance, ensuring the company recorded consolidated
consistency of the complete lifecycle group sales of 39.3 billion US Dollar*
of the system. in the fiscal year ended March 31,
We can see, then, that while choosing
control components from a single
2014. Our sales offices, research &
development centres and manufac-
turing plants are located in over 30
supplier provides very real benefits, countries.
going a step further and adopting an Electric Europe, Industrial Auto-
automation platform can deliver so mation – UK Branch is located in
much more. It gives food and drink Hatfield, United Kingdom. It is a part
manufacturers the tools they need to of the European Factory Automation
Mitsubishi
take a holistic view of their operations Business Group based in Ratingen,
and push the efficiency, productivity,
Germany which in turn is part of
speed of development and reliability Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V., a
of their production processes to new wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubi-
levels. shi Electric Corporation, Japan.
with the enterprise. ABOUT MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC The role of Industrial Automation –
All of this can be achieved with With over 90 years of experience
opportunities to optimise processes,
as well as offering improvements in
traceability through direct connection
significantly reduced system confi-
guration costs, as communications
can be established without having to
in providing reliable, high-quality
products to both corporate clients
and general consumers all over the
UK Branch is to manage sales, ser-
vice and support across its network
of local branches and distributors
throughout United Kingdom.
world, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Further Information:
boundaries. is a recognized world leader in the Website: gb3a.mitsubishielectric.com
The advantages of an automation electrical and electronic equipment platform go beyond just optimisation used in information processing and of control processes. A further key communications, space development benefit of a true automation platform and satellite communications, consu- is an integrated engineering environ- mer electronics, industrial technology, ment, delivering further reductions as well as in products for the energy in total cost of ownership. This single sector, water and waste water, trans- engineering environment provides portation and building equipment.
worry about network hierarchies and
manufacture, marketing and sales of
FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk 27