News
Powerscreen upgrades automation and control systems

August
30, 2012, Dungannon, Northern Ireland
– Powerscreen has announced a series of improvements to the plant controls used
in its crushing and screening equipment. The latest advancement within
Powerscreen crushing and screening equipment is in automation and control systems,
simplifying the interaction between operator and machine.

August
30, 2012, Dungannon, Northern Ireland
– Powerscreen has announced a series of improvements to the plant controls used
in its crushing and screening equipment. The latest advancement within
Powerscreen crushing and screening equipment is in automation and control systems,
simplifying the interaction between operator and machine.

Initially
launched in 2011, Powerscreen began implementing a wide-ranging upgrade to its
plant control system to coincide with the redesign of its machines to be compliant
with Tier 4i/Stage IIIB emissions legislation.
The upgrade transformed the user interface into a more streamlined and
integrated solution. In earlier iterations within the mobile cone crusher range,
the system had a multiple controller setup with different interfaces for
engine, cone setting, choke control and machine power. With the latest
generation system, all engine and machine functions are controlled and operated
on a single, intuitive and graphically driven Human Machine Interface (HMI) colour
display.

The
menu interface and display are designed to provide the operator with a balanced
amount of process detail for any given task, from tracking the machine to
crusher setting to full plant operation. An operator can access more detailed
information through a secondary menu within the setup, diagnostics and alarm
settings menu, which can help an operator or service technician identify and
resolve faults. Within the screening range, the new colour HMI display provides improved diagnostic capabilities,
such as fault log history, electronic engine information and fault code
support, while retaining the industry-standard fault icons for shutdown and
derate warnings. A small PLC (Programmable Logic Control) inside the display panel
houses the main operational software.

The aligned
rollout of these systems with Tier 4i/Stage IIIB-compliant Powerscreen machines
mean that the 1000 Maxtrak, 1000SR and 1300 Maxtrak cone crushers, as well as
some Warrior and H-Range screens, that are already dispatched and in operation include
the new plant control with HMI display. The same models with Tier 3/Stage IIIA
engines are expected to be upgraded soon.