36 APPLICATIONS_FIELDBUS TECHNOLOGY

lending, as an independent procedural step in

development laboratories, has become more

and more important over the last couple of

years. Combined with the demand for small quanti-

ties and transferability to larger systems, a need arose

on this area that can only be fulfilled by few laboratory

blenders today.

Wolfgang Naton has dealt with the problem of

mixing and granulating on a laboratory scale for the

last ten years. The process engineer is the manager for

Somakon Verfahrenstechnik, a company that devel-

ops and sells blending systems for numerous fields

of application. The blenders from Somakon are used

in the research laboratories of the chemical indus-

try and the producers of pharmaceuticals and pesti-

cides. Along with their entry model, the LB, which was

designed as a pure blender, Somakon also offers the

MP blender family.

The Right Mix

Somakon Verfahrenstechnik uses Turck's HMI/PLC solution, VT250, for

intelligent control and operator guidance of its MP blender family

User www.somakon.de

Turck's HMI/PLC

solution, VT250, is the

central control and

operating element of

the MP blenders

Author

Jörg Süßmann is a

sales specialist at

Turck in Mülheim

Webcode

more11153e

36-37 Somakon_Vt250_EN_x.indd 36 24.03.11 17:29

The VT250 (at the slant) communicates via Ethernet over the BL20

remote I/O (upper left) with sensors and frequency converters

MP blenders from

Somakon can be

adapted to the

requirements of

the customer

1_2011

Modular blender concept

“MP stands for multi-purpose, which means that we

can configure the systems individually according to the

requirements of the customer,” Naton explains. “Many

customers start with a base model, but quickly request

further functions. With our MP solution, we have the

flexibility to update the base model according to our

customers wishes, and add temperature, pressure or

humidity measurements. With this you can handle

whole processes.”

In addition to blending, the MP machines can be

used for granulating, pelletizing, emulsifying, suspend-

ing, kneading, loading, crushing or drying – based on

the configuration level. Along with the containers and

tools, the blender is equipped with sensors and actua-

tors, depending on the process steps that are per-

formed. To offer the needed flexibility of its machines,

Somakon turned away from mechanical control ele-

ments and classic controls, and tried the VT250 from

Turck instead.

The VT250 is a compact operator terminal with a

PLC that was developed especially for independent

control and the operation of small and medium sized

machines – the ideal solution for the MP blender fam-

ily. VT250 includes a 5.7“-QVGA-TFT touchscreen in a

compact plastic housing; QViS visualization software

provides the communication between human and

machine, which is implemented by the common con-

trol software CoDeSys 3. “With the VT250 from Turck,

we have a PLC that meets all our requirements at an

The blenders at Somakon are very popular at the

research and development departments of renowned

industrial users, because they can be adapted individu-

ally to most tasks because of their modular concept.

To offer this flexibility at a good price performance

ratio, Somakon uses Turck's HMI/PLC, VT250, as efficient

control and operation unit.

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Quick read

optimal price performance ratio,” Naton adds. “We have

implemented the first project with Turck and received

a lot of support during the set-up of the new machine.

This includes the programming of the controls with

CoDeSys.” Naton has had bad experiences with other

renowned PLC providers in the past, especially in regard

to their support: “I worked with the PLC from another

provider, but as a comparatively small company, it takes

ages until you get the right contact on the phone. That

is different with Turck. We experienced exceptional sup-

port from the product management, as well as the field

and indoor service.”

As well as using the VT250, Somakon uses the

economy version of Turck's BL20 I/O system to con-

nect the sensors and drives of the blenders. The BL20

Ethernet gateway coordinates the communication

with four I/O modules and serves as the interface to

the controls within the VT250. For example, one mod-

ule with eight analog inputs may be used for PT100 or

pressure signals, another module with four analog out-

puts is used for the frequency converter, as well as two

modules with 16 digital inputs and outputs are used

for the binary signals.

Container identification via RFID

The subject of wireless container identification is

another important factor for the future plans of Naton.

In this area, Turck's modular RFID system, BL ident, with

tags that can be installed directly onto metal and the

possibility to connect the combined read/write head

via RFID module over the existing BL20 I/O system,

can be easily included into the machine. Alternatively,

there also is the possibility to connect the combined

read/write head to the VT250 directly. The RFID labeling

makes sure that containers or tools are used exclusively

for the process steps for which they are designed. That

increases the safety and the lifespan of the blender.

Concludes Naton, “Turck doesn't just offer the

fitting products for my requirements but also has

employees that are very supportive and find a solution

for everything.”



“

With the VT250

from Turck we have

a PLC that meets

all our require-

ments at an opti-

mal price perfor-

mance ratio.

„

Wolfgang Naton,

Somakon

36-37 Somakon_Vt250_EN_x.indd 37 24.03.11 17:29