RFID Journal has published a case study from Deere-Hitachi Construction Machinery Corp., showing how they’re using AeroScout technology to track the assembly of construction machinery in their North Carolina facility. Read the Deere-Hitachi case study on the RFID Journal website The article covers: the background and history of Deere-Hitachi Construction Machinery Corp. why they were looking to implement an RTLS solution the current methods of managing production the solution requirements details of the solution and how it works the benefits gained by Deere-Hitachi

CAD Control Systems is one of the leading manufacturers of control systems for major drilling contractors, and needed back up power for blow-out prevention. They required an ATEX Zone 1 rated UPS system that would provide 1.5kVA for at least 2 hours. Background CAD Control Systems, headquartered in Broussard, Louisiana, is the industry leader in the design and manufacture of Control Systems and High Pressure Test Systems for the world’s leading drilling contractors. Operating in over 30 countries, a key product for CAD is their Blow Out Prevention Control System which is used in drilling operations throughout the world.   The Problem CAD’s BOP control system needed to conform with the directives of the American Petroleum Institute (API) – Specification for Control Systems for Drilling Well Control Equipment –  to provide a backup power source for […]

RFID Journal has published a case study from Continental Tire, showing how they’re using AeroScout technology to increase production and reduce wastage at their factory in Sarreguemines, France. Read the Continental Tire case study on the RFID Journal website The article covers: the improvements that AeroScout technology has brought to Continental Tire the reasons for installing an RTLS solution previous methods of monitoring production about the AeroScout solution how Continental Tire use the AeroScout system why they chose AeroScout

Fine Organics, a leading chemical manufacturer, needed to create a cost-effective wireless network to access process data from within their hazardous areas. Background Fine Organics Limited is a UK based manufacturer of high quality fine chemicals. The company produces pharmaceutical, crop-protection and speciality chemicals at its manufacturing facility at Seal Sands, near Middlesbrough. The Problem The need for real-time data is particularly acute in a multi-use batch plant such as Seal Sands.  Without effective monitoring, equipment faults can not only hold up a single batch but potentially shutdown a whole manufacturing plant. Fine Organics had introduced a successful programme to capture and analyse real-time process data which formed the basis of their continuous improvement initiative. The system was computer based and the major stumbling block was how to cost-effectively network the units, particularly in the hazardous areas.  Traditional […]

The Cordell Group had a requirement for an Intrinsically-Safe backup power supply within a Zone 1 area. Extronics designed and built a system. The battery back up system was designed and certified to operate in an ATEX Zone 1 area and IP66 rating.  The system comprised of a Flameproof Ex d enclosure containing a 24V DC PSU / battery charger, DC-DC converter, threshold relay, galvanically isolated barriers to provide intrinsically safe outputs and an Increased Safety Ex e battery enclosure for the redundant supply. During normal operation when 240V AC power is available, the system was designed to charge a bank of lead acid batteries via a charger unit, which also supported and supplied power to a DC-DC converter that could accept a wide DC input voltage. The output of the converter was a constant 24VDC […]

Extronics received an enquiry to build a Zone 1/21 exhaust control system installed in a weighbridge pit, utilising two redundant supplies and dual control circuits. The request to Extronics was to control 2 exhaust fans, duty and standby, which would keep the weighbridge pit clear of Hazardous atmosphere. The control panel was to be fed from 2 different supplies and the main objective was to keep the area clear in the event of any or all of the following fault conditions:- Failure/ Shutdown of either incoming power supply Failure/ Shutdown of either duty or stand-by fan Failure/ Shutdown of either control circuit transformer   Extronics designed the control circuit that if any or all of the above occurred then the appropriate backup would automatically start and sound an alarm and/ or show a remote indicator, maintaining […]

Extronics was asked to assist in the design & provision of a control panel to facilitate an Ethylene batch loading system from a plant’s production process to a ship’s cargo hold. The control panel supplied by Extronics was a replacement for an ageing pneumatic system which was no longer serviceable. Ethylene is a colorless gas having a faint, slightly sweet odor and has a boiling point of minus 104ºC which means that it has to be transported as a compressed gas or cryogenic liquid. The safe loading of Ethylene is crucial and requires continuous and accurate analysis of pressure, temperature, level and flow, to ensure that the transfer of product into a ship’s cargo is conducted safely and the volume of Ethylene transferred maximized. Extronics provided a 316 stainless steel control panel which included five Intrinsically Safe CTR210i […]

atg UV Technologies, located in Pemberton near Wigan, had a requirement to build two high specification control panels for the disinfection of water using UV radiation in a hazardous area.

There are maximum EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power) levels allowed in hazardous areas. This affects the deployment of hazardous area wireless devices. The risk is that RF induced in plant structures can act in the same way as an antenna, with the subsequent energy having the capacity to spark at ignition capable levels. To ensure real time data collection of the Sense® platform, John Crane needed an RF isolation solution as part of their hazardous area wireless gateway. The gateway communicates directly with the John Crane Sense® Turbo to offload data to the cloud and Sense® Apps. Extronics iSOLATE technology offers OEMs’ a high quality and extremely competitive RF isolation solution. Providing intrinsically safe RF outputs, John Crane can deliver a wireless solution  compliant to IEC 60079 directives. Read the full use case below.