RFID factory automation

Austrian factory designers use the IFAST RFID radio frequency identification system to provide fully automatic cleaning services for animal transport vehicles. After using RFID technology, when the driver uses the high-pressure cleaning device, the powerful solution can record water consumption, detergent usage and cleaning time. Wait for data.

Whether it is cable car tickets, hotel room cards or hot spring bath admission cards, the application of radio frequency identification technology is very common in daily life. This convenient identification technology is also used more and more in the industrial field. For this reason, a modular system has been developed based on CODESYS, which is independent of the PLC manufacturer and can be connected to almost all control systems. When providing a fully automatic cleaning service for animal transport vehicles, the type of transport vehicle and the time registration of the cleaning process are automatically identified via an RFID key, and the water pump can only be started when the chip is deemed "yes". Ness-Schneider was founded in 1994 and is located in Grünau, Vienna, Austria. The company began as a trading company supplying sewage treatment components, but over the years developed into a manufacturing enterprise. In 2004, the company was acquired by NTA, a manufacturer of plants specialized in the food industry. Since then, the business has been privately owned by the Steinmaurer family. Today, Ness-Schneider is a research-oriented company that provides services to drinking water supply plants, mainly providing environmental protection equipment and components for wastewater purification systems. Ness-Schneider's customers are mainly from the food industry. "We provide complete design solutions for wastewater treatment plants - from biological treatment technology to project management, development and construction, providing specific machinery and equipment and on-site installation and commissioning services. "In this process, we act as general contractor." Managing Partner “Only during the construction process (e.g. concrete work) do we engage partners, everything else comes from us”, explains Walter Steinmaurer, emphasizing that “we rarely build for the community Sewage treatment plants focus more on industrial sewage treatment. "

Powerful identification system

“It is our daily job to meet our customers’ needs and often generate solutions that are then incorporated into our standard product range,” says Steinmaurer. “We often come across scenarios where we need to perform identification tasks, and this is Why We were looking for a suitable identification system that already exists as a proven solution and is also being continuously expanded. After all, we would like to establish a good long-term partnership with our supplier. The company finally found IFAST. For many years Since then, plant designers have purchased various components for measurement and control technology from the Mülheim-based automation specialist. After a complete testing phase, the IFAST modular RFID system proved to be perfect and meets the requirements. All requirements. The first project for the application of the IFAST system was the upgrade of an automatic cleaning station for animal transport cleaning vehicles in a slaughterhouse. According to the EU health directive, the transport vehicles must be cleaned immediately after the animals are unloaded, and the resulting sewage must be discharged into Sewage treatment plant. Slaughterhouse operators must provide cleaning facilities, although these facilities are costly, so the cleaning station is designed for unmanned operation. Ness-Schneider engineers carefully designed a set of RFID technology using IFAST Library-self-service-borrowing-and-returning-machine-source-manufacturer-UHF-touch-screen-borrowing-and-returning-machine.html target='_blank'>self-service high-pressure cleaning device. The RFID tags used in this scheme are very small, and each driver loads a "time-stamped pass" onto the data carrier, which starts if the RFID tag is placed in front of the RFID read/write head Identification. “All the data in the tag is automatically read, such as the name of the driver and transport company, the license plate number and any other data you want to add. The system software checks whether the owner is authorized to use the cleaning station. " Steinmaurer said. If the recognition is passed, the lock on the hose box door will automatically open. The driver can pick up the cleaning gun and start cleaning the vehicle. The system will automatically record the water consumption, detergent usage and usage time. After use The process must be ended by rolling up the hose and locking the door and placing the tag again in front of the read/write head, at which point the driver will reauthorize the user or the cleaning station will not be available next time.

Industrial solutions that can be used outdoors

This was an advantage of the IFAST RFID system and led Walter Steinmareer to make the final decision. The RFID component housing is rugged and meets IP20 and IP67 standards. The application temperature range is -25 to +85°C and is guaranteed for outdoor use. In addition, different FRAM data carriers (tags) are available in different sizes and styles, and the carefully designed modular system provides fully encapsulated heads that can be used to protect IP69K, RFID I/O modules and gateways, and other expansion hardware. “For us, an open control concept is particularly important. Our plants are spread all over the world, so we have to be very flexible when it comes to control hardware. Currently, we are using four different PLC systems,” explains Steinmaurer. "The IFAST system can accurately connect these four PLC systems through standard fieldbus or through Ethernet. These gateways are developed based on the CODESYS development platform and use CODESYS IDE for unified programming. Because the interface is very open, the software can be directly integrated into Ness-Schneider system. “I am very satisfied,” praises Steinmaurer. “The IFAST solution is very effective. We also received great support from Alfred Frost, sales manager of the Austrian company IFAST. We found a reliable partner and the system was developed in just a few days and less than 100 hours of work. "The company is already considering applying the RFID system to other industries." Walter Steinmarer finally admitted: "For example, in the process of delivering milk to the dairy factory, it is necessary to provide relevant documentation and traceable proof of cleaning of the transport truck." necessary".