Our Expertise

We believe that our fundamental appreciation of machines and processes sets Optima apart from similar companies. Our knowledge, our wealth of experience and our understanding of complex control technology puts us at the forefront of control system engineering companies. We have successfully installed control systems around the globe on a wide range of plant and machinery in virtually all manufacturing sectors, from complex, high performance multi-drive systems through to simpler sequential automation applications. Our solutions are designed to improve our clients OEE; providing high reliability, producing higher quality output and higher production rates; this is how our clients, and we, measure a successful project.

Core Competencies

As an established systems integrator we have comprehensive experience and high skill levels with a wide-range of equipment including:

  • Allen Bradley, PLC, SCADA and Drives
  • Siemens, S5 S7 PLC, WinCC SCADA, MasterDrives, Sinamics and Simotion
  • Parker SSD Drives
  • GE Fanuc PLC and SCADA
  • Wonderware SCADA
  • Intellution SCADA

Fieldbus expertise including:

  • Profibus
  • Ethernet
  • As-i
  • DeviceNet
  • Canbus
  • ProfiNet

Machine safety experience with manufacturers including:

  • Pilz, PSS, PNOZ Multi
  • Siemens, Profisafe
  • Allen Bradley
  • Schneider
  • Fortress – Now Allen Bradley GuardMaster
  • SICK UK, programmable safety, scanners and lightguards

Accreditations

  • Siemens Solution Partner (Automation, Drives and Motion)
  • Group Schneider Systems Integrator
  • ABB Tension Systems Integrator
  • Wonderware Systems Integrator
  • Parker SSD Drives Distributor
  • Investors in People status

Recent Posts

Safety Scanner Issues and EN999

Optima were recently asked to advise on a safety guarding application for one of our customers. 

There had been a number of false trips of the laser scanner causing the machine to stop. As a result of this, a plastic chain ‘barrier’ had been fitted as a temporary measure with instructions to operators to not breach the barrier whilst the machine was running. 

The customer naturally wanted this rectifying as soon as possible, so Optima performed a short-notice service visit to site.

On the site visit, our engineer noted that the scanner was showing a code which indicated that the front screen required cleaning.

Once the screen was cleaned thoroughly the scanner did not show any faults or errors and was in normal run mode.

However, we performed further checks on the original software to ensure that the scanner configuration still met the requirements of the safety guarding application. 

The diagrams to the left show the Warning Field configuration (Yellow) and the Protective Field (Red). Both of these were confirmed to be operational. 

The warning field causes the klaxon to operate and the protective field caused an emergency stop of the machine.

We did, however find a few concerns that needed to be addressed.

1. None of the scanner safety circuit had been documented on any drawings.

2. Non-compliance with EN999 ‘Safety of machinery – the positioning of protective equipment in respect of approach speeds of parts of the human body’ includes a formula to be used to calculate the distance from a hazard that a safety zone must be triggered. Based on the stopping times of the machine, the scanner was placed too close to the machine to be effective in an emergency.

We are working closedly with our customer to assist them with this application and help them achieve a safe and effective solution to this.

If you need any support with safety applications or other upgrades, please get in touch.

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