Motion Control

Lawtronic has developed several motion control systems including working with a leading Ultrasonic Cleaning equipment supplier. In conjunction with this customer we have developed their system from a conventional control basis to dedicated microprocessor control giving greatly improved accuracy and flexibility. The project has been handled on a continual improvement basis over a number of years and we are continually working on revising the control system, which will ensure the use of the latest technology and will continually improve the system control at a minimal additional cost.

All systems have been EMC tested and approved and have full CE certification.

Pumping Stations

Pumping stations and Water treatment plants have become more sophisticated over recent years with the introduction of ultrasonic level control and improved monitoring systems. But the key design issues remain the same. Generally these installations incorporate high power motors and therefore require high fault level capacity systems, typically 50ka for 1 second. Coupled with the fact that these installations are often situated in remote areas with a dedicated power supply line the problem of starting loads needs to be carefully considered and designed within the scope of the supply rating.

Lawtronic has a wide range of experience in the field of water treatment and pump control ranging from pumping stations with a pump load of 350kw, to sewage treatment works and monitoring units, and fully automated weedscreen cleaners which are used to clear weed and debris from the pump intake points.

Can Handling

One of the additional strengths and expertise at Lawtronic is the design and control of automated canning production lines and can-making lines.

We have designed, manufactured, and installed empty can handling production lines for most of the UK and overseas can making companies and also for numerous fully automated canning plants throughout the UK. Many of our customers in the canning industry are major multi-national companies, which are household names in the UK.

Our expertise and experience in the can making, can handling, and can filling industries enables us to give sound advice and assistance to our customers based on our wide ranging knowledge gained over a number of years.

Our work within the food industry has also given us a clear understanding of the health and hygiene requirements of the line control equipment for these applications.

Packaging Systems

Another area within the food industry where Lawtronic has considerable experience is food packaging. We have assisted a major food packaging machinery company in the development of their standard range of packaging equipment over a number of years and have assisted them in gaining full EMC approval and CE markings on their machines.

We have also worked closely with this same customer to develop new types of packaging equipment, which has allowed them to diversify into new areas of the packaging industry and also generate increased business for their range of packaging materials.

Lawtronic has also worked with this customer and a Japanese machinery manufacturer to develop an existing machine for the European market, with full CE compliance, with the end product aimed directly at the major supermarket chains' packaging requirements.

Refrigeration Control

Lawtronic has worked with a major world commercial refrigeration manufacturer to pioneer new concepts in the preparation of food for large scale catering operations. These methods are now widely used in airports, in-flight catering, hospitals and many other areas where rapid production of large volume catering is required. This method of food preparation involves compliance with strict regulations governing the control of product temperature at all stages of the chilling operation within stringent timed phases. This meant that the system had to be designed to operate accurately and efficiently in conjunction with the customer's refrigeration equipment and that each unit had to be stringently tested and calibrated under controlled conditions.

More recently Lawtronic has worked with the same customer to assist in the development of the control systems for a range of bakery products for the growing market of in-house bakery products.

Quality Inspection

Lawtronic has successfully installed a number of vision inspection systems. These systems allow 100% on line inspection and are generally linked to a high-speed reject device. As well as giving the benefit of on line inspection a high reliability factor is built in and the information concerning the rejects can be collated and analysed. This data can assist in identifying problem areas and allow corrective action to be taken where necessary, to minimise rejects.

Recent developments in vision technology allow the systems to be linked to a PC for collation and analysis of data. The PC link will make the system more flexible and allow easier access to information generated by the system.

Although vision inspection systems are relatively expensive to install the long-term benefits easily outweigh the initial costs. A reduction of manpower, savings on wastage, constant 100% on line inspection, and feedback data all contribute to an extremely cost efficient machine.

PLC Software

Programmable Logic Controllers, more commonly known as PLC's are the cornerstone of line automation and any other complex control requirement. Lawtronic has a wide ranging knowledge of almost any form of PLC type or application including operator interface units such as the Allen Bradley panelview system and the Telemecanique Magellis range.
Lawtronic produces all their own PLC software in-house and have a working knowledge of both the hardware and the software of the majority of makes of PLC available.

Currently we hold in excess of £20,000 of PLC software packages.