Case report 1:
Development of a safety box
Starting position
The safety box has to be deployed for experiments running overnight in chemical/pharmaceutical laboratories. The task is the monitoring of different temperatures, and when a threshold value is being exceed, the safety box has to raise the alarm at the trigger. This trigger in turn, switches off the power of all the power sockets in order to prevent an explosion, and alerts the fire department. At the application time, there is no person present anymore, which means that a secure operation has to be guaranteed. Malfunctions cannot be tolerated.
Our contribution
- Compilation of a specifications and duties sheet
- Development of the electronics, based on our technology
- Development of the firmware, based on our technology
- Development of the mechanics
- Construction of a prototype
- Optimization towards readiness for series production and easy assembly
- Creation of test plans and test execution
- Serial production by our partners
- On-site start of operation
- Training of the customer’s personnel
- Documentation
- CE-certification
Result
After only four months, the customer was already in the possession of a fully functional prototype. Six months later, the customer could put the first full set including documentation and CE-certification into full operation.
- Very short development period
- Very low development costs
- Meeting of the production costs
- Only one point of contact for the development, production, start of operation and training
Case report 2:
Reactor control in the explosion hazard area with on-site control panel
Starting position
A glass producer for chemical reactors sees a great potential to penetrate with his products into the domain of “automated reactors in the explosion hazard area”. For this purpose, he needs automation, as well as the opportunity to select and change important parameters inside the explosion hazard area directly at the site.
Our contribution
- Conception
- Various solution suggestions with pros and cons, as well as cost calculations
- Compilation of a specifications and duties sheet
- We are prime contractors, so only one contact person towards the customer
- Electronic components from our products portfolio
- Software
- App-development
- Production of an UL-conform switchboard
- Documentation
Result
In order to develop a cost-efficient product which can be applied in the explosion hazard area, a concept has been created, in which only the operating panel is located in the explosion hazard area. This is being solved with an explosion hazard secure purchasable tablet. This tablet has an app which has been developed by us, and which communicates via WLAN with the PC outside of the explosion hazard area. The switchboard is also located outside of the explosion hazard area and communicates via intrinsically safe isolated barriers with the actuators and sensors.
- Very short development period, as many already existing components are being used.
- Low development costs.
- The product can also be used by the customer for other applications without any additional development effort (e.g. outside the explosion hazard area without intrinsically safe isolated barriers and without an expensive tablet).
- Additional upgrade of functionality possible without any problems (e.g. triggering directly over the smart phone)