Hygenic Pigging Systems - CASE STUDY

Hygienic Pigging Systems is an integrated design and manufacturing company specializing in the development, production, installation and commissioning of pipeline pigging systems. Incorporated in 1995, HPS quickly established itself a world leader in the provision of pigging solutions for liquid process companies. Our mission is to build on our history of product excellence and technology innovation to fulfill market requirements, whilst maintaining the highest quality and product reliability to our world-wide clients. Watersaver and Jazz OPLC During production, a pipe work system’s internal liquid is often changed at the end batch or for a change in production demands. Normally, this would mean flushing the pipe work out with the cleaner while it is still full of production liquid until all traces of the liquid are removed. HPS supplies pigs that have a high tolerance fit to the pipe work. These are then moved through the pipe automatically (using a series of valves) to separate one liquid from another. This process makes cleaning (CIP) more efficient, reduces waste and minimizes down time on product change over. The Vision1210 controls the valves in this application and hence the “pig”. This allows an automated efficient change over from one product to another. HPS need demonstration facilities to show customers how a pigging system works and what equipment is involved. This needed to have an operator interface and a PLC to control the equipment, as well as enough IO to accommodate the equipment and a mimic with LED’s HPS decided to use the V1210, this was because they wanted a large display to enhance the graphics. Instead of having to buy a PLC & HMI this option enabled them to have both in one unit, this resulted in a reduced cost for the equipment and a more space efficient solution. The huge advantage of this PLC was that with everything being inbuilt the communications and use of tags in the HMI was so simple and intuitive. HPS used an expansion module and had the IO modules mounted on the back of the panel, if there were to be less IO the snap in IO for the back of the unit would be ideal. Ashley Parr, the HPS project engineer stated "Support from the guys at Unitronics & i4 Automation was excellent, within the first few days of playing around with the software I had a lot of questions about what I could and couldn’t do. The response was quick and solved my issues every time."