- February 08, 2013
February 8, 2013 - Williamson announces Temperature Process Control (TPC) for aluminum extrusion plants that automatically optimizes process temperatures and press speeds.
The TPC System’s closed-loop-control software makes presses operate more efficiently, thereby increasing recovery rates and product consistency while reducing cycle times and scrap rates. Its graphical interface and database of process “recipes” enable any operator to meet Best Practices Standards for each die and order. Advanced utilities and reports identify and eliminate process bottlenecks for ongoing process improvement. A “Best Extrusion Analyzer” uses the average RAM speed and recovery rate to automatically capture the “recipes” used for the best five extrusions of each die.
Unlike speed- and pressure-based control systems, which use temperature inputs only to select the appropriate control model, the TPC System uses live temperature feedback to attain still greater improvements and maintain consistent quality. It continuously tunes the process, automatically adjusting billet temperature, profile temperature, die temperature (optional), quench temperature (optional), etc. to compensate for variations. System diagnostics monitor the network and automatically switch the system to manual control if communications are lost.
The system integrates Williamson Pro Series infrared temperature sensors, programmable logic controllers, and personal computers with the plant’s existing furnace, press, and puller controls. An optional liquid-nitrogen cooling module typically increases press speed by another 30%. Installation and training can be completed in less than seven days with little or no downtime.