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Control and load management combo slashes OEM costs
Published:  11 April, 2019

At the recent Hannover Fair, Schneider Electric announced a cloud-linked controller and digital load management combination which, it claims, will give OEM machine-builders an “unprecedented” ability to integrate IIoT (the Industrial Internet of Things) rapidly into new and existing machines. When used together, the Modicon M262 logic and motion controller and the TeSys multifunctional load management system are said to slash commissioning and servicing times by about half.

The TeSys is a digitised, IoT-connected load management system that saves on design, wiring, and commissioning time for applications with loads up to 80A. Object-orientated avatars act like digital twins on top of the physical objects. The system eliminates the need for auxiliary wiring and reduces the need for I/O modules, making it 40% faster to integrate, and cutting installation costs by 30% compared with traditional approaches, according to Schneider.

The M262 controller has embedded direct cloud connections and encrypted communication protocols, and supports up to five separate Ethernet networks for fast logic and motion performance in demanding applications. The controller is said to deliver 30% faster motion and four times faster CPU execution than rival systems.

Schneider’s open, IoT-enabled EcoStruxure platform is said to allow the M262 and TeSys island combination to be integrated up to 40% faster into machine-to-machine, machine-to-plant, and machine-to-cloud environments, using open standards, with end-to-end cybersecurity that offers encrypted communication and network segmentation. The combination eliminates the need for additional hardware for cloud connections, with testing and commissioning capabilities to facilitate upgrades of existing equipment.

Schneider is backing the hardware with software tools – the EcoStruxure Machine Expert configuration and commissioning software, and the EcoStruxure Motor Configurator. These tools allow multiple teams to program and control designs simultaneously, reducing time-to-market.

Schneider says that its new controller and load management system, combined with software tools, will save time and money for OEM machine-builders

The EcoStruxure Machine Advisor tool gives engineering and maintenance teams remote access to information on any machine at any time. This allows OEMs to offer new cloud-supported services, such as preventive maintenance. The load management system provides preventive maintenance data and pre-alarms which avoid machine stoppages if unusual electrical load behaviours are detected. This can halve the time needed time for corrective actions.

The Modicon M262 controller is said to allow quick plug-and-work embedded system access for easy network configuration and replacing devices without needing any installation.

“Machine-builders and OEMs have traditionally looked for solutions which could lower their costs and improve machine performance,” says Schneider Electric Industry executive vice-president, Peter Herweck. “This is still true, but now they also need to digitise to stay competitive. With EcoStruxure Machine Expert, Modicon M262 Logic & Motion controller, and TeSys island digital load management system, OEMs have a future-proof solution that brings digitisation to reduce configuration time, reduces wiring and I/Os, and increases processing speed. This solution will enable OEMs to quickly see the advantages of the IIoT.”