Dutch case-packing specialist Case Packing Systems BV has implemented a modular industrial automation system based on Rockwell’s FactoryTalk Optix platform. It has become one of the first manufacturers in the Benelux region to adopt the technology.

The Dutch company is using the human machine interface (HMI) and data-visualization software to streamline the design, test, and development of the programming for its modular case packing technologies. Employing the full Rockwell Automation hardware architecture, the new machine platform can support production internationalisation as the company sets its sights on the North American market.

CPS is seeing quicker production development and faster to market through smarter manufacturing. The new platform generates significantly more operational data than the company’s previous solution. End-user operators also have gained a clearer and more-intuitive HMI interface.

The integrated architecture was developed with help from Routeco Netherlands, a member of the Rockwell Automation PartnerNetwork ecosystem as a value-added authorized distributor and authorized service provider (ASP) partner. Routeco Netherlands passed the configuration on to VerAutomation BV, specialist in industrial automation, and part of VINCI Energies, a Rockwell gold-level system integrator, that developed the PLC code with Studio 5000 Logix Designer software and the control application programming interface (API) using the FactoryTalk Optix platform.

“Our FactoryTalk Optix platform offers machine builders and end users more power and flexibility when designing, building, and testing operational programming,” explains Jan Van Den Bossche, regional VP technology & domain expertise at Rockwell Automation. “Highly scalable and cloud based, it can drive digital transformations and help companies save significant time, engineering effort, and programming costs, for both redevelopment projects, such as this one, or completely new builds. Tight and seamless integration into our other automation and information solutions delivers turnkey capabilities from what is a highly adaptable and agile architecture.”

“All our machines are built using modules, so each customer application is made up of a different combination of technologies that require their own unique HMI programming and testing,” said Gunter Beurs, software engineer at CPS. “The FactoryTalk Optix software allows us to reuse software modules and add-on instructions multiple times, which helps us shorten overall development lead times. We also gain an automation solution that is widely accepted in the North American market.”

Carlo Geers, product sales specialist at Routeco Netherlands B.V., added: “As soon as you power on the HMI, it detects the modules in the programmable logic controller and generates the HMI application; in fact, 80% of the program is generated during start up. Case Packing Systems gave the FactoryTalk Optix software a real workout, pushing it to new levels of performance thanks to support from the ASEM team in Italy.”

“With the PLC code developed according to ISA-88 and by making use of FactoryTalk Optix, we delivered CPS a software solution which is essentially future-proof,” said Gerrit Huijbers, senior project engineer, software, VerAutomation.