One system replaces many and enhances mobility
Category: SCADA, MES & IIoT | Customer: LCS
Project Scope
- Tags: 5,821
- Screens: 35 in Vision and 10 in Mobile, to be converted to 30 Perspective screens
- Users: 10 continuously active, several occasionally
- Alarms: 580
- Devices: 4 iPads and various laptops
- Architectures: Currently standard, soon to be expanded with a central Ignition architecture for connecting enterprise and control networks
- Databases: 1 Microsoft SQL Server (expansion planned)
- Historical data: 20 tags recorded, with additional manual logging
Project Overview
AT-Automation utilized Ignition to develop a multifunctional system that serves as an HMI, SCADA, and MES tool for LCS. The machine interface, initially set up with Ignition’s mobile module, now operates on the new Ignition Perspective.
Problem
LCS, which specializes in high-quality washing machines and offers washing services including machine, labor, planning, reporting, and maintenance, sought a new system for Royal FloraHolland. Given the length of the washing machines (65 meters), a mobile HMI was essential for operators to troubleshoot while moving around. LCS also aimed to create a uniform system that could serve as a pilot project and, upon success, be rolled out to other clients.
Ruud Verbeek, LCS
Solution
Ignition was used to create an integrated HMI, SCADA, and MES solution accessible via both regular and mobile devices. Users can log in with role-based dropdown navigation for specific functions.
Additionally, a mobile project was developed to allow the HMI to be used on the go. After the release of the Perspective module, this mobile project was upgraded to an enhanced mobile version with additional control options. Since LCS offers washing services, the number of washed products per machine, day, shift, and every 10 minutes is recorded, which is crucial for billing.
The system also includes scheduling capabilities that are compared with actual washed quantities and reported to Royal FloraHolland. As the solution will be deployed across multiple clients, the name “LCS Logic” was chosen.
Result
Ignition (LCS Logic) is now used for all activities related to controlling washing machines and washing services. Before implementing Ignition, LCS used various systems such as WinCC, Excel, scheduling software, and reporting software. Ignition now centralizes all functionalities into one system, eliminating the delays associated with switching between systems. This ensures that the process is always available for both management and clients, unlike the previous manual updates at the end of the week.
The mobile project initially faced challenges due to the large volume of information, but the transition to Perspective has improved the mobile HMI. There are also plans to migrate some Vision functions to Perspective for easier third-party access.
LCS intends to roll out LCS Logic throughout Europe. Future expansions will centralize the MES layer of Ignition on a central server in a data center, with local servers for HMI and SCADA at each washing location, and a central server as a redundant backup to ensure uninterrupted production.
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