Bridon
Examples of BRIDON factory automation control systems upgraded 
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BRIDON #2 THE HERZOG 1088/32 CLOSER

Bridon International Ltd is the world leading specialist in the manufacture of wire and rope solutions for the most demanding applications. Bridon operates eleven manufacturing units worldwide with market focused technical and sales offices, supported by a global network of agents and distributors.

The Herzog 1088/32 Closer is one of the world's largest rope closing machines. This machine takes up to 32 huge bobbins of strands and twists them together to form massive ropes. The machine consists of a large rotary base onto which 32 bobbins are loaded. Each bobbin contains a strand of twisted fibre. The strands are typically 1 inch in diameter. The strands are all combined and fed through the eye of the machine. The rope is made by pulling the combined strands through the eye at the same time, interleaving the strands as they rotate on the bed. It is like a giant maypole. The new rope is tensioned over large overhead capstans and wound on to a large take off reel.
  • What We Did

    Like a lot of other equipment brought into the Coatbridge plant, it was in very poor condition. Mechanically, the in-house engineers were able to renovate all of the mechanical parts over a long period of time. In due course, the electrics required bringing up to a new standard. The decision was made to install modern PLC/HMI controls to the machine. Coldcurve were requested to design a suitable system. Because of the mechanical complexity of the machine and the need for access to all parts of the equipment, access gates were in frequent use. It was important that the new control system design incorporated checks of the interlocks of all the access gates. 


    The main control system was designed and built at Coldcurve's premises. It was then shipped to Bridon and over an extended weekend, the old wiring and switchgear were removed and the new system installed. There was a very short running in / debugging period and the machine was handed over.


    The new safety features, in the form of graphic depictions of the interlock switches, makes the operators safety conscious from the minute the machine is switched on. 

BRIDON #1 THE NIEHAUS STRANDER

The Niehaus Strander is a magnificent machine. It is used to twist fibres into strands which in turn are further twisted to make ropes. The ropes produced are used in the gas, oil, and shipping industries. Originally the machine was used in the manufacture of steel rope. It had reached its usable life in this area and was then converted to be used in the production of fibre wire. 

However, the machine, which was built in Germany in 1974, was not in its best condition when installed in the rope factory of Bridon International factory in Coatbridge. Its wiring was in an extremely dangerous condition. Together with similar other large pieces of rope-making equipment, it contributed to an overall poor productivity/high downtime performance in the Coatbridge facility.

Over an extended period of time the machine had been modified so many times that the condition of the electrical and mechanical components was very poor. The Bridon factory maintenance department set about upgrading the mechanical components of the machine. Coldcurve were requested to update the electrics on the machine.

An outline machine specification was agreed between the rope manufacturer and Coldcurve. The specification was developed between Bridon and Coldcurve based on extensive discussions with operators, process engineers, and the safety officer.
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