Non-stop kefir and cocoa!

In the palletising area at NÖM AG, relay-based muting controllers ensured that safety devices on 30 entry and exit points were muted while goods passed through. When these were discontinued, the dairy faced particular challenges: No replacement was offered, so they had to search for an innovative solution, which could imitate the functionality of the existing evaluation relays as well as the interaction with the light curtains, without intervening in the higher level controller. External competence was called for, to provide support with planning and to accompany the process through to safety-related approval. Today, the flexible, safe small controller PNOZmulti 2 provides seamless muting, for the safe infeed and outfeed of goods.

The cold store at NÖM operates 24/7; unplanned downtimes are a no-go. So two palletising systems were converted practically as the operation was running: the old muting controllers were dismantled and the light curtains replaced. The challenge: the higher level controller was involved in the muting. Today, PNOZmulti 2 replicates the functionality of the existing relays, more precisely: all safety devices have dual-channel operation: If the plant controller signals the arrival of a pallet, PNOZmulti 2 performs the task of the previous relays: it mutes two control outputs, has this operation confirmed by the higher level standard controller and enables the goods to be transported. In addition, the automation system PSS 4000 is responsible for multiple stations. This was also installed by Pilz in just one weekend.

• Powerful 1:1 replacement for obsolete muting technology: no need to intervene in the control level of the existing application
• The muting solution with PNOZmulti 2 is future-proof, configurable via software and open for all safety devices.
• Efficient retrofit, with practically no downtime

NÖM AG is one of the leading companies in the Austrian dairy industry and is based in Baden bei Wien. With more than 125 years’ experience in dairy processing, NÖM produces a wide range of dairy products, including milk, yoghurt, butter, curd cheese, drinks and much more. Each year the company processes several hundred million kilograms of milk from more than 2,300 farmers from the region, and employs more than 700 staff in Austria. The company uses the very latest technologies in its production and continuously invests in research and development.