OPTIMA PROVIDES FLEXEL-BLE SOLUTIONS FOR HEATING SYSTEMS MANUFACTURER
17/01/2011 Optima Control Solutions Ltd
A leading manufacturer of radiant heating systems has recorded a significant boost in production at its factory in Scotland following a control systems upgrade by Optima Control Solutions Ltd.Flexel International Ltd, a global supplier of innovative heating systems, commissioned drive and control experts Optima for a complete overhaul of the machine manufacturing Ecofilm underfloor heating elements for laminate and timber flooring, at its Glenrothes site.
Optima proposed a total refit of the hydraulic, dancer-controlled rewind stand and upgrading of low performance, single phase, single quadrant DC drives. Its engineers replaced the mechanical drives with high performance Siemens A.C. vector drives with encoders for greater speed control accuracy. They also introduced a PID controller web transport system with loadcell tension transducers fitted at critical positions in the line.
The new system improved tension control in the 7.5M oven section of the printing and laminating line as did the integration of a motor-controlled rewind, together with a loadcell feedback control loop. The successful upgrade was completed with the incorporation of a new printing unit at the unwind end of the machine.
Keeping downtime to a minimum was key for Flexel, who were thrilled that the successful refurbishment of the drives and control system took Optima just two weeks and has transformed the performance of the machine.
Flexel's managing director, George Graham, said: "Optima has worked on several projects for us and we have found them a very good company to deal with. In this case the machine required a complete overhaul in the shortest time possible, which Optima achieved. Their engineering expertise is first-class and we now have much better web tension and speed control, as well as improved efficiency."
Blackburn-based Optima Control Solutions has an unrivalled reputation for designing, building and commissioning high-quality drive control systems. Established in 1995, the company has grown steadily since then to provide a blue chip service to an impressive client base both here in the UK and overseas, including customers in Europe, China and South Africa.
Optima's highly skilled engineers are passionate about finding the right solutions for improving machine performance and production line efficiency in any industry, as Flexel International will testify.
For further information, please contact:
Michael Hill, Managing director
Optima Control Solutions Ltd
Capricorn Park
Blakewater Road
Blackburn
BB1 5QR
Tel: 01254 272827
Fax: 01254 272828
Email: michael.hill@optimacs.com
Web: www.optimacs.com
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