Product category:
HMIs/Operator Interfaces
News Release from: GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms UK | Subject: Cimplicity HMI software
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 22 June 2000
IMO smartens up car washing with GE
Fanuc control
On the car wash systems from IMO Autopflege, PC-based GE Fanuc Cimplicity HMI software collects data from 500 data points in each car wash.
With 286 car wash systems operated in Germany and 360 more sold abroad, IMO Autopflege GmbH is one of the leading companies in the European car washing market With more than 13 million cars washed each year in its German facilities, IMO Autopflege GmbH is the number one car wash service provider in Germany
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 19 Jan 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
HMI software controls automated key cutting
Mul-T-Lock Machinery has developed a novel high-security key-cutting machine that combines a range of GE Fanuc motion-control hardware and runs under control of Cimplicity HMI software.
HMI software used in water cooling plants in UAE
Tabreed, the National Central Cooling Company based in the United Arab Emirates, is using GE Fanuc technology to develop a network of district water cooling plants across the country.
The first IMO car wash was opened in 1966 and since then IMO has been setting innovation standards.
Back in the 1960s, IMO started using proprietary controllers for its car wash systems.
Twenty years later, the company decided to automate the entire washing process by using the then innovative PLC technology.
Today's systems contain a built-in PLC with 96 digital inputs and 128 analogue outputs.
The PLC controls all car wash-related functions, such as conveyor speed and switching the brushes on and off.
Further reading
Tyvek production machines under GE Fanuc control
Du Pont's Tyvek production machines are controlled by a triple-redundant PLC system as well as 1,500 distributed control blocks, with Cimplicity HMI software controlling and monitoring.
"Master recipes" speed time to market
During the execution of a formulation recipe, the set of global parameters and product formulation parameters are applied to the master recipe to create a batch.
Software tracks asset condition
Proficy Change Management V5.8 is capable of version management audit trails, central storage and automated backup and recovery.
The PLC also records the number of cars washed as well as the wash programs selected.
Initially, recorded data was noted manually at the end of the day and included in a daily report, which was posted to an accounting centre.
Though working well, this system was unable to take full advantage of the possibilities offered by modern telecommunication systems.
Therefore, IMO and GE Fanuc jointly developed a control concept based on the monitoring and control software Cimplicity HMI.
In 1998, IMO achieved a trend-setting innovative breakthrough with the so-called DETA system (Data Entry/Transfer/Analysis).
DETA is based on a concept which raises the communication between centre and car wash to a higher automation level.
So far, the PLCs of 120 car wash facilities have been connected to a central PC.
Communication between the car wash PLCs and the computer, operating under Windows NT, is via modem.
The PC hosts the GE Fanuc Cimplicity HMI software which collects data from 500 data points in each car wash.
The collected daily data is transmitted to the central server overnight, enabling IMO personnel at Head Office to access them via the company Intranet for daily analyses and to produce long-term statistics.
To support this kind of task, Cimplicity HMI provides the user-friendly and very powerful Trend Control tool.
Based on ActiveX technology, this "trending" tool enables thorough analysis and evaluation of the operating data.
'Point and click' business statistics and site operating rates are provided automatically in user-friendly screens.
In addition, the system allows the monitoring, evaluation and optimisation of operating results and events in a much more efficient way.
Of course, IMO is also able to establish an online connection with any particular car wash PLC.
This allows, for instance, the adjustment of prices stored in the PLCs easily and quickly.
However, the main benefits of such online connections accrue from the use of remote diagnosis functions or even remote control technology.
In the past, system failures very often required technicians to visit the car wash in order to solve the problems on-site.
With Cimplicity HMI, all that really belongs to the past.
PLC switching states may now be monitored and modified or corrected from the central PC screen.
This has allowed IMO to significantly reduce downtime and expensive local servicing.
The DETA system has also contributed to simplifying the work of the car wash personnel.
Both the manual entry of daily operating data and the creation of daily reports are no longer required.
Having more time left for customers, the operator is able to offer a better service.
The automated acquisition of operating data has also eliminated reading errors, thus improving the efficiency and quality of the administration.
When asked about his experience with the new system, Hans-Ludwig Hiller from IMO said: "The DETA System with Cimplicity HMI has by far exceeded our expectations.
The wide variety of possibilities provided by Cimplicity HMI is simply outstanding, and really easy to use." The network of IMO stations under the successful control of Cimplicity HMI will be systematically increased.
IMO is going to modernise the hardware concept before the end of the year and plans to integrate the more powerful Series 90-30 PLCs from GE Fanuc into its new car wash facilities. Request a free brochure from GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms UK ...
• GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms UK: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
