News & Press Releases

Industry Recognizes R & B's Superior Controls Technology

June 25, 2008

In an article published in the June 2008 edition of Control Engineering magazine, R & B is recognized as having developed machine controls technology superior to other OEMs. Utilizing Siemens as a development partner, R & B is successfully utilizing a standard off-the-shelf PLC (Simatic S7) to control all the machine movements via proportional hydraulics thus eliminating the need for individual control cards for each valve. In addition, R & B is managing the 100 point parisaon programmer and over 30 zone of heat control through the same PLC.

The results achieved have been tremendous and translate to direct benefits for R & B's customers. Being able to significantly improve the machines productivity through reduced cycle times, improve reliability by using well proven technology requiring fewer components and at the same time lowering the cost is a real winner!

Compared to PC based controls, a PLC based package offers many advantages to the processor including a more rugged unit, use of solid state memory, no dependancy on third party operating systems, longer product life cycles, and better long term support for parts and service.