Waste Management – Materials Recovery Facility / PLC & HMI Project

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SCADA Connectivity for Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)

SCADA Connectivity for Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)Our client  is the UK’s largest family-owned supplier of integrated waste management and environmental services. Founded in 1929, they have developed a distinctive approach that has helped them to maintain a leading position within the waste industry. They are committed to quality of service, innovation and technical progress, together with a genuine and demonstrable concern for the environment.

SCADA Connectivity for Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)

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The Challenge

The Baling / Bunker Area on the site is an incredibly noisy area to work in, so mobile phones or 2-way radios for communication with the control room are not a practical option.
Communication is usually done visually by the operators in the Baling / Bunker area and the Control Room operator. This relies on an operator being in the Control Room at the same time and more importantly, physically being able to visually see which Baler / Bunker the operator needs to stop or open. This method was not only impractical and frustrating but also time-consuming.
What was needed was for the control of the Bunker / Baler area SCADA (supervisory control & data acquisition) system to be handed over from the Control Room to the operators working in that area and for the operators in the area to stop and open the required Bunkers and Balers as required.

The Proposal

Following a discussion with the client, Opensoft Systems proposed a solution that involved installing a secondary Control Screen in the Bunker / Baler area linked directly to the Control Room Systems via RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol).

The Solution

Opensoft systems proposed solution effectively gave operators control locally which allowed them to complete their operation on the Baler.  Once they’re finished with their operation, control was returned to the main control room.
Opensoft also advised the client on the Ethernet cabling required. A network switch was located into the main PLC cabinet which enabled connectivity of their new industrial panel mount PC. Commissioning and training were undertaken within one day without any disturbance in our client’s operations.

Client's System

Client's Feedback

“Opensoft Systems’ solution was implemented well and serves our needs perfectly. It enables the operation of the Baler smoothly and safely. Thanks to all involved.”

Site Electrical Engineering Manager 

Grundon Waste Management

Grundon Waste Management