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The term "remote management" refers to a set of combined services and technologies that make it possible to control industrial activities that may be distant from each other and from their operator, from a remote and safe location, including handling systems.

This may be limited to reading data features or operations monitoring, or it may involve actively driving of handling operations from a remote pulpit or operator chair.
Industrial remote control comes together with a mix of IT, electronics and telecommunication technologies that collect data in real time to intervene remotely, to interact promptly with the system, and to correct inefficiencies or apply any actions the specialist may consider necessary.
Whatever handling system we talk about, continuous monitoring and the possibility of checking component status, anomalies and predictive conditions from remote pulpits allows significant economic and management benefits.
Remote Terminal Units (RTU) and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) play a fundamental role in this field. These are peripheral electronic devices assigned to data acquisition and equipped with "intelligence" capable of processing and managing the flow and transmission of information. Combined with modern, web-based communication technologies and a network of sensors, they allow the creation of SCADA systems essential for all industrial IOT applications and for the future of industry 4.0.

Danieli Centro Cranes is providing a complete system of RTU for handling equipment used in the metal industries.

The system is based on the following devices installed on cranes:
• Safety PLC and related coding.
• Safety absolute encoder installed on all moving systems.
• A WiFi connection between the overhead crane and the Remote Pulpit on ground.
• Cameras for video surveillance and hook tracking.
And, on the ground:
• Remote Location devices, complete with surveillance monitors and crane driving controls.

Shown here is an example of the network architecture.

All the technologies listed are essential to have at all times, at the highest level of safety (SIL 3), with all the data necessary to define the machine loading and unloading targets.

The application of a Remote Pulpit can lead, case by case, to apply several benefits in different fields.

  

PRODUCTIVITY
(with automatic functioning and remote monitoring)
> Optimized mission management
> Standardized crane efficiency at machine pace
> Increased working comfort for operators

SAFETY
> No personnel in the bay (no man on board)
> Reduced risk of machine collision
> No blind-spot operations

OPEX
> Centralized control station
> Reduced crane operators fleet

 

Many options can be applied to such installation to implement such improvements and integrate the remote station into the existing production process.
In the Metlshop, the handling of buckets and ladles by Charging and Teeming Crane can be done in automatic or semi-automatic mode, enhancing the interaction with Transfer Cars, with EAF or CCM ladle turret.
In the same way multiple shipping bays and warehouse yards dedicated to finished and semi-finished material can be controlled from a single remote pulpit, where a single operator can monitor and control up to four automatic cranes equipped with the ultimate generation of cameras with Eyes-On Technology© components.