2.2011
trends in automation
Synergies
28
–
29
A
fter the Greek’s victory over
Troy, the Greek mythological
hero, Odysseus, took ten long
years to get back home. He had
the goddess of wisdom, Pallas Athene,
to thank for the fact that he survived the
dangerous sea voyage without a scratch.
Luckily it does not take as long as it did
in the Ancient World for heroes of modern
times to reach their destination. Athene
shortens the journeys of trainees, service
engineers and engineers with the learning
factory from Festo Didactic and Adiro
Automation technology at Siemens
Nuremberg.
Controlling, adjusting, automating
In line with the theme of the Greek
goddess the computer systems of the
training equipment bear the distinctive
names Mars and Zeus – the God of War
and the Father of the Gods. Since 2007
potential automation experts have been
given in-depth preparation for real-life
scenarios using the technological trio.
Although they are installed in the same
room, the equipment for process and
production automation is not directly
linked to each other in the Siemens’
training system. Future automation
experts must first of all concentrate
fully on controlling one of the two
sub-systems. Nevertheless, in order to
remain extremely close to real-life use,
simulation and training exercises on
the specific connection of the two sub-
systems are carried out on the mobile
module, the “route control”.
Mixing, filtering, temperature control
In the process automation field Athene
teaches trainees how to deal with liquid
media, such as those used in the
pharmaceutical and food industry. Future
automation specialists acquire practical
knowledge on how to program the
processing of formulae, how to prepare
equipment documentation or read
electronic, measurement and control
system circuit diagrams. The micro
production system filters, mixes and
controls the temperature of different
liquids. Using state-of-the-art control
systems trainees, technicians and
engineers check the temperature, level,
pressure and flow values in order to control
pumps, flaps, valves, slides and ball valves.
“It was particularly important for us to
use control systems as they are used
in practice, such as the Siemens S7 400
master control unit with the industrial
Ethernet switch, the Scalance X-400,”
Complete production automation
in a very small space:
Athene fills,
packs, identifies and checks, puts
stock in and takes stock out of
stores and recycles returns.
“The automation industry
needs people who think
in process and production
dimensions.”
Thomas Roehrer,
Section Manager Siemens AG
“With the learning factory
Siemens provides future and
existing automation experts
with valuable practical
expertise.”
Andrea Hupel,
Technical Specialist Siemens AG