Intralogistics
Retrofit of an AWT system (automatic goods transport)
The AWT system at Fulda Hospital controls around 360 transport containers underground and away from the flow of patients, with the help of which the supply and disposal of each hospital ward is ensured. The modernisation was intended to ensure the availability of the AWT system in the future and find a solution for the problematic procurement of spare parts as well as enable future expansions of the system. In addition, the basic functionality of the system had to remain as unchanged as possible despite the implementation of modifications and troubleshooting in order to minimise the training requirements for the hospital staff.
Realisation
HEITEC replaced the existing S5 controllers (SIMATIC S5 135U) with controllers from the S7 family (Siemens S7 TIA Portal). With PROFINET, a modern bus system was used and the outdated read/write technology (magnetic coils) was replaced by a modern and expandable RFID system. The existing sensor and actuator hardware was retained in accordance with customer requirements, but now integrated via ET200SP input/output modules (Siemens). The control system is now operated by a computer with WinCC visualisation software, whose visual representation of the system was largely adapted to the masks of the previously used InTouch system.
Customer benefits
- Ensuring plant availability and spare parts supply
- Use of high-performance systems from the latest generation of control systems, making it the ideal platform for future expansions
- Minimal downtime during the conversion phase thanks to parallel operation of the old and successor systems
- Step-by-step replacement of the old read/write technology thanks to the RFID concept
- Adaptation and optimisation of processes in line with the customer's many years of operating experience
- Incorporation of change requests and troubleshooting
- Minimal training required for system users by retaining familiar operation and visualisation of the entire system
