C J Waterhouse Co. Ltd. Were tasked with delivering a Minor Ingredients batching system to provide high accuracy weighing and bagging of multi-ingredients at high throughputs for internal use within the clients manufacture facility.  The resultant system involved the development of bespoke AGV,s (automated guided vehicles) by C J Waterhouse with integrated weighing system and automated bag clamping assembly.  A total of 28 AGV’s operate simultaneously, each of which is equipped with Siemens Micro Drives and PLC systems which coupled with the use of Siemens Simove software provided a customizable solution via their TIA portal.  Fine tuning of the drive parameters and control algorithms provided precise positioning and an efficient material batching system.  The system is further enhanced by fully automated bag manufacture, placing, sealing and accumulation systems all controlled via a number of Siemens S7 PLC and HMI displays to provide a fully automated turn-key solution.

Numerous Siemens products were utilised within C J Waterhouse’s solution including the Micro Drive, S7 PLC’s both within the AGV carriages and the central automation panels providing control of material storage, dosing and weighing together with the automated bag manufacture and handling systems.  Before adopting the Siemens Micro Drive AGV system the customer outsourced all its minor ingredients as pre-weighed batches.  The introduction of this bespoke system has provided great benefits to the customer with respect to throughput, accuracy, repeatability and flexibility.