Springfree Manufacturing (China)
The ‘Coupling’ of Spring Free technology with Swarm Intelligence technology, enabled the Springfree product to be designed, then engineered to their levels of total accuracy and quality. Swarm Intelligence provided the opportunity for the project to be completed to those same high standards with their electrical engineering contribution.
The project was executed utilising the latest software technologies, with no dabbling in expertise out of their scope.
Control Overview
As is the case with all their international projects, Swarm Intelligence ensures there is a seamless capability to connect remotely. This is essential in providing an efficient support component for the project, which is extremely important in any hi tech build undertaken. However local support is available within the family of those who are Allen Bradley integrators in China if required.
The initiative behind our choosing Allen Bradley Integrators, was due to the uncompromising quality and support that Allen Bradley represents.
Project Requirements
Through electrical engineering Swarm Intelligence designed and built the capacity to monitor and control the insertion of mechanical socket supports for flexible composite rods, into the Springfree trampoline frames.
This enabled power management over Hydraulic Systems to produce high speed, high quality manufacturing.
Hardware Overview
Hardware based in China and supported from New Zealand requires confidence and uncompromised quality. Swarm Intelligence built the hardware with this ethos in mind, and designed it with the appropriate conservative calculation according to the duty requirements of the plant.
The implications of some countries power supplies can prove to be an extra obstacle for plant reliability and robust operation. China has its own collection of concerns about supply integrity and connection. Swarm Electrical Engineering focussed heavily in this area in order to achieve problem free production on site.
Software overview
VantagePoint
An EMI which gives you manufacturing information when you need it, to make better informed decisions.
FactoryTalk View
A versatile dedicated HMI application that's a powerful solution for machine-level operator interface devices.
Studio 5000
Delivers standardised framework for discrete, process, batch, motion, safety and drive-based systems.
VMWare
Unified, software defined Virtualisation software.
Software overview
Developing dedicated software, customised to ensure uncompromised accuracy for critical component placement.
The mechanics of hydraulic positional control are challenging due to the high speed automated process involved. This proved beyond a doubt the most challenging aspect of Swarm’s involvement.
Clever mechanical engineering goes hand in hand equally with clever software, in order to create a unique and fit for purpose solution. The intelligence lies in the monitoring of this - demonstrating precision control with intelligent software!
The team at Swarm Intelligence delivered an electrical control system for the hydraulics on a family of key, custom tooling developed to manufacture our product. The ability to connect remotely to the control system and the active and ongoing support from Swarm has been integral to the successful implementation of this project.
ANZCO have already seen the benefits in Ashburton, here are just a few:
- Reduced energy use by 10.7% with energy costs down by 5.3%.
- Better chiller management and insights into actual capacity.
- Real time performance of plant.
- Compliance and reporting information moved to single portal.
- Lowered IT investment by virtualisation of the automation layer.
The benefits gained by Springfree's from collaborating with Swarm Intelligence:
Human intervention minimised
Minimising operator influence whilst maintaining consistent manufacturing.
Ensuring personnel safety with high quality assurance - this is only achievable when well designed automation is implemented.
Efficiency
The ability to set machinery to exact requirements leaving it do its job, equals mass production.
Cost recovery
With high end automation the initial capital investment is swiftly recovered due to improved productivity and quality.
Ongoing support
Any issues or concerns Swarm Engineering are immediately available to provide a solution.
