JULY/AUGUST 2019 AUTOMATION
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monitoring of each vat even
more challenging.”
He adds: “Our cheese
makers had been doing their
best to keep track of timing and
procedures manually for all the
active vats by relying on their
memory, continuously looking
at the clock and making notes.
However, this approach is not
optimal and doesn’t support
continuing growth.”
To brie or not to brie
To address these issues
and ensure consistent
quality throughout the year,
Dewlay decided to support
its cheesemakers with an
automated control system;
one that would help them to
monitor the vats by providing
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on the cheesemaking process into its project
management software and was able to test the
software and its corresponding hardware off-line
and then quickly refine the programme online.”
Looking sharp
Dewlay’s cheesemakers can now monitor the
different cheese vats simultaneously, receive
alarms as well as adjust the processes parameters
in real-time and according to their expertise.
The primary interface is a Mitsubishi Electric
GOT2000 Human-Machine Interface (HMI). This
touch-screen operator terminal was networked
to a MELSEC FX3 Series programmable logic
controller (PLC).
The control system quickly fulfilled Dewlay’s
expectations by ensuring flexible operation and
simple process tracking. It has allowed Dewlay
to expand by increasing the number of cheese
vats that can be monitored as well as the number
of possible recipes in use. This allows existing
products to be produced more efficiently,
alongside perfecting new ones that can then
be added to the overall production schedule.
The upgrades also resulted in an increase in
productivity and overall efficiency.
Richard Lawton, account manager at
Mitsubishi Electric, concludes: “Customer
satisfaction is extremely important to us, so we
were really pleased that the system delivered
exactly what was requested. Helping to achieve
quality manufacturing and flexible operations
is a fundamental part of many automation
applications we are involved in. Fortunately,
we have both the product portfolio and the
experience to deliver on projects such as adding
intelligent automation to Dewlay’s traditional
production processes.
“Thanks to our strong partnerships with system
integrators such as TRITEC Developments our
cutting-edge technologies provide futureproof
solutions that will help keep food producers
competitive for years to come.”
live, accurate, actionable
insight, without limiting the
ability of cheesemakers to
intervene and modify the curd
production process.
To develop a suitable system,
the company contacted local
control system integrator,
TRITEC Developments. The
team at TRITEC Developments
turned to its preferred
automation supplier Mitsubishi
Electric to help create a bespoke
solution. The components
selected were supplied by
Mitsubishi Electric’s channel
partner LC Automation.
Jones says: “This was not
a straightforward automation
solution but rather an
implementation mindful of the
cheesemaking art. Mitsubishi
Electric and our system
integrator partner immediately
understood that. In
order to define our
needs and deliver
the right solution,
Mitsubishi Electric
worked closely with
us to add all the
relevant information
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