Small brewery PLC/HMI ideas

Industrial workplace = industrial gear - breweries are wet, steamy and dusty all in the same morning. But also think small brewery/small space.

The server/client would be in the brewery. Panasonic toughbooks are cheap and we can hose them down. But clearly it also has to work as intended.

I could use a physical HMI, if the price was right for rugged gear. I just don't see it, but that's why I'm asking. My experience has been maintaining large industrial systems from the big players, I need better field of options for this. There's very little experience around here with anything else. I'm looking at that PEAK now, thx.
 
If I were you.... I think I would take a tour of your local ones and see what they are using, I know I have a few microbreweries and a couple distilleries within a hour from my shop, I do think most have tours and I would think some are up to having a conversation of what worked and what did not and yes anything that has the "washdown" label is not cheap, the microbrewery I help with was in a bar and he had the HMI in his office with display only screens out in the bar
 
Oh I've been the local joints, brewing and QA lol. There's no office here, it's a table on the brew floor, much more common than not. The toughbook will work environmentally, but it has to work technically.
 
I still come back to thinking about reinventing the wheel... what are the others doing in your industry, if your the 'norm' than they should have half of your trial and errors down so it would be nice to let them make (made) the mistakes

Also how about your suppliers of the equipment, most will have ideas of what their other customers are doing for best practice
 
We're not re-inventing the wheel here. There is no wheel hahaha, seriously. Nobody does this, which is part of the reason why I'd like to make it work efficiently. So to your second point, there's no suppliers to talk to either, and I know all the locals. We're talking small brewery remember. Money is tied up in stainless steel and rent.

Also, looking at your PEAK, am I right there is no serial support for Logix (5555)?
 
As i said I'm the controls specialist here at Rhinegeist Brewery in Cincinnati.

I can answer any questions you'd like.

If you already have a brewhaus and it's not on a propitiatory system then you are free to develop any way you chose.

All of our temp controls are 4-20 mA output TMR 31 E+H units, very few RTD or TC units. They're much easier because you can use an analog card for those and pressure without having to get a special RTD or TC card and an analog in and that works for Micrologix or Micro800.


Todd
 
Yeah, that's the trick isn't it, balancing those IO slots. I'm a little the other way, more temp loops than flow, pressure, level. But when things work things expand. Is that all you do there, controls? En veee us heh heh heh. I may have questions as things begin to take more direction. I'm just soaking up the possibilities right now.
 
We're not re-inventing the wheel here. There is no wheel hahaha, seriously. Nobody does this, which is part of the reason why I'd like to make it work efficiently. So to your second point, there's no suppliers to talk to either, and I know all the locals. We're talking small brewery remember. Money is tied up in stainless steel and rent.

Also, looking at your PEAK, am I right there is no serial support for Logix (5555)?

I cant believe you are the first one... but I am on the other side of the bottle :)

Do you have a ENBT on the rack?

I think I would take Todd up on the conversation
 
No I don't have an ENTB, its on the to do list. I assume the OPC DA isn't an option either. I do have a 1215C here, I should be able to make that work.

Here's the problem. To deal with the local suppliers, they are going to spec. Siemens/AB/Schneider at prices that would buy multiple brew tanks. Its not worth it, not even close, as those prices. And support will be equally $$$, if required. You do it yourself, or find a friend who's interested. That's me lol.
 
I am the control specialist and I help out on the maintenance side because we're small and don't always need automation support but we have a lot of projects coming uo due to growth.
We also have a substantial packaging side since we can and keg. Next month we're installing a case erector/packer for our cans and cases. It'll all be A/B compactlogix--I have to tie it with our existing 12 pack can case erector and our 6 pack machine. (also CLX) .
 
Here's the problem. To deal with the local suppliers, they are going to spec. Siemens/AB/Schneider at prices that would buy multiple brew tanks.

Just pick their brain and not your AB/Siemens suppliers, I was talking about the equipment manufactures of the brewery equipment such as the boiler, vats, cooler

Siemens 12xx are great little PLC's if you go that route
 

Similar Topics

...and I agree. Context: TIA Portal/HMI = KTP1200 (12" screen) In the attached redacted image, the values in the white boxes are entered by the...
Replies
10
Views
608
Hi all, I’m new to programming and want to write a simple routine. Push start button, turns on sensor. 2 second delay before anymore logic read...
Replies
1
Views
289
Hi! I'm wondering if PLCs are used for small-scale production. I've got four machines doing different things with textiles, and I'm exploring the...
Replies
16
Views
1,302
I am looking at an application where I will need to detect small hairline cracks in stamped metal parts. The sensing will need to be done in the...
Replies
10
Views
1,068
Anyone know what the little green triangle on SCREEN 3 means ? See picture Thanks
Replies
2
Views
433
Back
Top Bottom