Welcome to Comber Engineering Pvt.Ltd.

AUTOMATION AND CONTROL SYSTEM

The COMBER automation division develops and manufactures control systems that were designed to meet the specific requirements of the market and are thus optimized for the control of COMBER machines.

Technically mature and extensively tested systems were developed by close co-operation of experts from automation, process technology, mechanical design and manufacturing. Though developed in design and functionality primarily for operating production machines, the systems are suited to control the filtration and drying processes of production machines as well as pilot or lab size machines.

These systems perform the best solid-liquid separation and drying process experience, obtained both in field and laboratory, with essential constructive and functional essential characteristics of production plants.

Service

Modular and expandable systems with a performance and functionality level conforming to customer specific requirements as well as to the latest technological standards and practices. On request comparatively basic systems can be supplied whose degree of automation can be progressively raised at a later stage.

The performance of a control system depends on the environment in which the control system is to be used, i.e. if a single autonomous machine or a complete production line is to be controlled as well as the degree of automation, i.e. manual, semi-automatic or fully automatic control.

Goals achieved with COMBER automation systems include:

   Active and passive safety devices, to protect the operating personnel, the production machine as well as the process itself.
Dynamic adaptation of interlocks to specific operations such as maintenance inspections or manual CIP.
  Automatically initiated commands to perform machine operations in the correct sequence.
Optimized control of the hydraulic unit and auxiliary functions.
Control and monitoring of the agitator operations, including the limiting of the agitator lowering if the current draw of the drive exceeds a preset value.
Expansion of the controls to include heat transfer systems, vacuum systems and process variables, to permit full automation of the entire production cycle, e.g. with     inerting, leak testing, filtration, reslurrying, washing, drying through dry product discharging.
Alarm monitoring and initiation of safety interlocks as required.
Systematic recording of process variables and production parameters, manual inputs, alarms etc. for the evaluation of data at a later stage as well as for process        validation.
Statistical evaluation of production cycles for maintenance purposes (machine operating hours and indications as to the wear on individual machine components).
Comparison of actual process parameters with reference values to detect and warn of critical deviations automatically.

COMBER automation systems are CE certified and comply with the guide lines for machine safety 89/392/CEE (including subsequent modifications) and the relevant standards for control panels. Design and manufacture to other standards on request.

Test, Qualification and Validation

Simulation and test equipment permit extensive and process-like testing of the software. This limits any additional work required during the commissioning of the machine to a minimum.

By observing Good Engineering Practices, COMBER control systems conform to the GAMP standards and to the FDA validation standards for computer related systems validation.

Technical documentation and test protocols can be issued in the customers preferred format and as per validation specifications, and are useful for equipment qualification (Design Qualification, Installation Qualification, Operational Qualification, and Performance Qualification).

The COMBER automation division operates in compliance with UNI EN ISO 9001 standards. The COMBER control units are CE certified.

Hardware architecture

COMBER automation systems are based on differential control technological platforms (PLC, PC, DCS, SCADA) using the most recent peripheral types (Field bus connections and distributed I/O, operator interfaces without wires for clean rooms, etc.).
The aim is to adequately answer to each single application requisition and such as to make integration with the existing technical/producing context natural.

Electric interfacing with hazardous area ranges done by means of intrinsic safety circuits, with active barriers for galvanic separation and certified components. They are also suitable for installation in extremely dangerous places (Zone 0, Division 1); internal overpressure protections (EEx-p) can solve particular applicative problems.

Stainless steel local control panels with minimum protection IP-65 (Nema-12) can be integrated to process machine and have an ergonomic design "C.I.P. orientated"; special facilities are available for sterile applications.

Components used are the result of continuous qualitative choices and checks carried out on world-wide market production; specific requirements can be complied according to customers specifications.

COMBER automation systems carry the EC label and comply with Machines guidelines 89/392/CEE (and subsequent modifications). However, it is possible to provide supplies according to Extra European stamps.

Design, execution & testing (HW & SW) are according to the guidelines for suppliers GAMP 4

COMBER Monitoring System

It consists of a monitoring system applicable on all COMBER machines through a Control System based on PLC. The control is made on those machine components having wear dependent on the operating time.
Monitored components are for example:

	Electrical motors		Solids discharge valve
	Speed mechanical reducer		Hydraulic cylinders
	Mechanical seal and rotary joint		Hydraulic power pack
	Agitator bellows

Thanks to this, the wear situation of the different components is detected in real time. The data is visualized on a monitor showing different coloured zones: green zone (go!), yellow zone (attention!), red zone (stop! High risk!).

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