TPT January 2012

T echnology u pdate

Software systems for production and control IN today’s market, where margins for error are very low, businesses need not only a successful strategy but also highly efficient production and logistic processes, with controlled costs for each article and stage of the process, according to Stain, Italy. It says it is vital to measure all operating processes in real time and with reliable data in order to identify and measure all the hidden costs, which require timely corrective and preventive actions if they are to be minimised. This is not referring to evident costs, which have obviously been eliminated; but instead refers to the numerous little

wastages that are not eliminated simply because we are unaware of their existence. Recovering efficiency can no longer involve a single major point of improvement, because if this had already been done Stain would not be in the marketplace now. Stain has made and installed MES solutions for steel mills, pipe manufacturing, plastic moulding and drawing, die-casting, taps and fittings and machining for over 20 years. Its experience has taught it that gaining in overall efficiency is the sum of numerous small improvements throughout the production process. It is therefore fundamental to measure all the production and logistic processes at the factory in real time to discover hidden costs, which cannot be eliminated until they have been identified and measured accurately. For example, companies often fail to take into account that the incidence of micro- stoppages is a major factor in achieving a significant improvement in efficiency. If a machine stops for more than a hour, everyone knows about it, but if the cycle time is altered by a mere three seconds in a minute to meet process requirements and someone forgets to reset the standard time, you risk discovering it much later when you read the written report the following day, and the loss is 5 per cent on the total number ISEND SA has developed its own technology to develop, manufacture and maintain non-destructive testing (NDT) equipment based on eddy current technology. ISEND is entirely engaged with the continuous investigation and innovation to be able to offer a constant improvement of its technology and its equipment to companies from the iron and steel industry but also from other industries such as automotive, energy and petrochemical. ISEND SA has developed a wide range of different inspection systems with the best features on the market. Its equipment is able to perform an on-line inspection of semi-finished products, as well as an inspection of finished products off-line. Each one has been specially designed for one kind of defect and product category. The Encircling Inspection System is the most versatile system of the ISEND’s range to control punctual flaws in all

of items produced during the shift. To eliminate these hidden costs in production and logistics Stain has developed the STAIN+ suite based on Siemens PLC technology, which automatically gathers machine data and integrates it with ERP, with automated production and logistic flows via a fully modular user-friendly solution. STAIN+ is a set of tools that provide a lens for discovering hidden costs in the various departments, and collecting machine information automatically and in real time, and a gauge for measuring the benefits achieved by corrective actions implemented in view of continuous process improvement. STAIN+ is a comprehensive, modular suite integrated with packages that include data collection and production progress monitoring, automatic identification of each bin using barcode or RFID technology, computerisation of logistic flows in the departments, allowing the real-time management of stocks and work traceability, tool management (spindles, implements, inserts, dies and moulds), quality and statistical process control (SPC), and preventive and corrective

maintenance. Stain – Italy Website: www.stain.it

Detecting punctual flaws

varieties of bars, tubes or wires using eddy current technology. The system consists of an encircling magnetisation unit or an encircling support which houses an encircling coil. This encircling coil, independently of their size and form, involves the material inspected. As a result, it allows controlling the entire product perimeter with accurate results. During the inspection there is no contact between the probe and the material controlled. Cylindrical canyons are used to protect the coil from the product vibrations. Moreover, this system can be complemented with the ROTODiscover ® inspection system, which is able to detect

HDCT Slitting Line

Professional Chinese manufacturer of slitting lines, tube mills, tube toolings, etc., since 1980’s, the one-stop solution for the global market with efficient after-service. www.slittinglinelms.com info@lmsmachinery.com

longitudinal defects. ISEND SA – Spain Fax: +34 983 132 308 Email: contact@isend.es Website: www.isend.es

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J anuary 2012

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