Project details: Textile automation at Inman Mills
Inman Mills is the sixth of seven textile manufacturing facilities Patti Engineering Inc. has modernized with custom designed automation technology. Technologies used include...
Georgia H. Whalen
Inman Mills is the sixth of seven textile manufacturing facilities Patti Engineering Inc. has modernized with custom designed automation technology. Patti Engineering is a control systems integration company based in Auburn Hills, Mich., with offices in Massachusetts and Texas, with expertise in the textile industry.
Inman contacted its supplier, and the supplier recommended Patti Engineering, which used the latest PC hardware, Phoenix Contact’s Steeplechase Visual Logic Controller (VLC), and Iconics Graphical User Interface (GUI) software to build a fully integrated electrical control system.
Patti Engineering is a certified Siemens Solution Partner with extensive Siemens expertise, and it restored the Siemens S5 PLC to full functionality for the the bobbin stripper.
Inman Mills plant manager Bill Hightower said, “Patti Engineers were very professional and knowledgeable about the complete automation system where the software was installed. They provided exceptional communication at all times during the installation, training, and implementation of the system. We are pleased as this installation by Patti Engineering has performed exceptionally since implementation. As we continue in our learning mode, if we have any questions about the system, Patti Engineering has been very quick to respond. I would not hesitate to recommend Patti Engineering based on the excellent results we experienced on this project.”
Patti Engineering’s first experience with this type of equipment laid the foundation for expertise in this market segment. On the original textile plant retrofit, the ring spinning system with a PC-based control systems and hardware and software was no longer supported. With complicated code written in German, Patti Engineering had to build the new software program from the ground up.
According to Steve Palmgren, senior electrical controls engineer and Patti Engineering’s Texas branch manager, “upgrading the controls on ring spinning equipment in textile mills is a real sweet spot for us now; our engineers understand the systems and we are well versed on designing the best controls software solutions to have the equipment operate at peak efficiency.”
Also read: Textile automation adds to thread-thin profits for more project details and six more photos.
- Georgia H. Whalen is director of marketing for Patti Engineering Inc. Edited by Mark T. Hoske, content manager CFE Media, Control Engineering and Plant Engineering.
- Related News:
Company builds oil industry experience through partnership - 27.09.2012 13:43- Motor manufacturing plant to support water company in Israel - 20.06.2012 10:29
- Why a production process needs information technology - 13.06.2012 11:46
- Textile automation adds to thread-thin profits - 08.06.2012 13:35
- CSIA: Newly certified members, news - 05.06.2012 17:06
- GSA retrofits to create integrated, intelligent buildings - 15.05.2012 14:48
Case Study Database
Get more exposure for your case study by uploading it to the Plant Engineering case study database, where end-users can identify relevant solutions and explore what the experts are doing to effectively implement a variety of technology and productivity related projects.
These case studies provide examples of how knowledgeable solution providers have used technology, processes and people to create effective and successful implementations in real-world situations. Case studies can be completed by filling out a simple online form where you can outline the project title, abstract, and full story in 1500 words or less; upload photos, videos and a logo.
Click here to visit the Case Study Database and upload your case study.
2012 Salary Survey
In a year when manufacturing continued to lead the economic rebound, it makes sense that plant manager bonuses rebounded. Plant Engineering’s annual Salary Survey shows both wages and bonuses rose in 2012 after a retreat the year before.
Average salary across all job titles for plant floor management rose 3.5% to $95,446, and bonus compensation jumped to $15,162, a 4.2% increase from the 2010 level and double the 2011 total, which showed a sharp drop in bonus.