Recently the mixed feed cooperative Boerenbond Deurne implemented an advanced control system in its factory in Helmond. The existing systems for intake, milling and mixing, pressure lines and bulk loading are to be replaced in phases.   

GTI Industrial Automation was commissioned for this project by Dassen-LvH. This company supplied and installed the control panels and renovated the entire electrical system. Advice for the project was supplied byTebodin CCE. A large proportion of the feeds are produced to order and then transported direct to the customer by bulk tanker so it is not possible to produce a reserve of stock. This made it important that production should continue undisturbed, so production stops for the conversion were stringently planned to take place during a number of weekends.           

GTI MES Toolbox
The decision to award the contract to GTI Industrial Automation was partly thanks to the strength of the solution which was offered using the GTI MES Toolbox. This modular, scalable software platform enables the entire production process in a mixed feed factory ? from the intake of raw materials right through to bulk loading and journey planning ? to be object-oriented and integrally automated. All the necessary (MES) functions, such as visualisation (SCADA), article and recipe management, contamination control, integration with HACCP and quality measuring, journey planning with geographical data, lot tracking and tracing, maintenance registration and asset management are available as standard. This saves on the initial software expenditure and makes it possible to carry out expansions at a later date quickly and easily. The structure of the application software conforms completely to the ISA-88 and ISA-95 standards.

GTI MES Toolbox works in a client-server configuration. In total, 13 workstations and one engineering station were installed in the Boerenbond Deurne factory in Helmond. The use of internet technology means that the application can be started from a browser: the installation of specific software on the workstations is not necessary. This means that more workstations can be added at little extra cost. Bearing in mind the high availability which is required, the choice was made for a fault tolerant computer system from Stratus. The control system uses six Siemens S7-400 PLCs (with a total of around 7000 I/O points) which are linked via OPC drivers.

GTI Industrial Automation has already successfully implemented GTI MES Toolbox on a number of occasions in MES projects in the feed and fine chemicals industries, among others. The technology which is used has more than proved itself and has now been adapted to make it suitable for the specific requirements and demands of the mixed feed industry.

Together with the companies Axima, Elyo, ENDEL, INEO, Tractebel Engineering and Fabricom GTI, GTI is part of SUEZ Energy Services.

SUEZ Energy Services, European leader in installation and technical services, develops value added solutions for its clients in the industry, the building services and the infrastructure as for design, realization and maintenance of technical installations along with energy management and long-term multi-technical management. SUEZ Energy Services employs 66,000 people and achieved revenues of € 10,7 billion in 2006. SUEZ Energy Services is one of the four business lines of the international industrial group SUEZ. SUEZ's stocks are  listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

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