Specialist pump manufacturer Plad Equipment says it has become easier to customise systems for boosting water pressure in high-rise buildings since changing to ABB's AC500 PLC range.
Plad director Robert Delisle explains that all applications require some re-engineering, both in terms of form and function – not just to fit into the spaces available and interface to pre-determined inlet and outlet piping.
Before the switch to ABB, he says Plad had used ABB drives, but tended to buy PLCs from different suppliers, and to integrate the control system in house.
However, ABB's development of a modular 'water library' of PLC software, covering pump control and data collection, changed all that.
ABB proposed a pump control system based on the continued use of its ACS550 variable speed drives, but with control by the AC500 PLC equipped with a flexible master control program based on the water library using high level function blocks.
"Standardisation on a single control systems supplier makes a lot of sense: it means that we sidestep any potential system integration problems," comments Delisle.
"However, the key deciding factor in choosing ABB was its willingness to act as a technical partner and provide in-depth support," he continues.
"If a user needs new functionality, we can always call on ABB experts to discuss or help us implement a change. This partnership becomes very attractive – allowing us to focus most of our technical resources on our pumping technology and applications know-how."
