NHP News Room Spring 2019 News Room FINAL | Page 7

common conveyor belt and an automated unload process featuring an
arrangement of pneumatically actuated panels, to increase throughput
and limit manual handling requirements.
configuration. These compact drives also offer embedded EtherNet/IP™
communications and standard safety features.
“Given that margins for pet food are not near margins for human
consumption, the opportunity for automation becomes more and more
important,” said Justin Van Klaveren, Managing Director, VK Logic. NHP
supported this project by identifying the most appropriate equipment
to meet the application requirements. The Allen-Bradley Kinetix® Servo drives provided advanced motion
control for the system and the capability to standardise on a single
communications network for easier commissioning, configuration
and start up. FactoryTalk® View SE human machine interface was used
to monitor and control the plant. To help with remote assistance and
maintenance, VK Logic has VPN access to the site.
“There’s no technology that rivals this new patented system. The solution
allowed Cool Off to increase throughput, reduce downtime and redeploy
operators that were doing manual labour,” commented NHP's Jason
Campbell (Business Development - Automation). Cool Off’s patented plate is now installed in over 30 Australian abattoirs
and allows Cool Off to control all aspects of quality with minimal
abattoir labour input freezing and has increased plate freezing capacity
by 120 percent.
Combining integrated control and safety, the Allen-Bradley®
GuardLogix® was selected as the most appropriate choice for this
application. The Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture® system
including PowerFlex® 527 drives with safety over EtherNet offers an
innovative, modular design to support fast and easy installation and “The development of our patented automated plate freezing system, in
combination with the abattoir chilling system, has given the Cool Off
production team a massive international competitive advantage in quality
and processing efficiency,” said Edward Staughton, Managing Director of
Cool Off and Staughton Group.
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