THE BENEFITS OF PLC INTEGRATION INTO CURRENT MANUFACTURE OF PTFE COMPRESSION MOULDED ROD TUBE PRODUCTS

摘要

This paper investigates the benefits and how they are achieved in a "new" application which integrates new technology into a long established manufacturing environment. Compression moulding of PTFE products in the partner company, in a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project with the University of Hertfordshire, has remained unchanged for the last 40 years. The proposal focuses on upgrading the current technology and methods of manufacturing with long term expansion opportunities. There are two alternatives to the current production methods in the cold compression moulding area which are the purchase of two new semi-automated presses or integration of the equipment by upgrading the controls of the presses and linking in Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). The estimated cost savings are subject to 10% contingency and are based on the comparison of current performance against future state of the cold moulding cell at 90% efficiency.