Schaltanlagenbau Gormanns GmbH
Smart wiring makes sorting 120 tons of potatoes a one-man job.
Making high-capacity potato sorting fully automated and easy to control.
Gormanns GmbH was responsible for developing a new electrical power supply and drive concept for what would be an extensive new potato sorting plant. The capacity and the complexity of the automation were significant: 250 drives were needed for the conveyor belts, pumps, fans and machines. More than 32 kilometers of cable would have to be laid to support the entire plant.
Sebastian Gormanns, the founder and CEO, was drawn to the challenge. And Eaton was ready to help Gormanns realize his vision.
The new sorting plant was designed to process 120 tons of potatoes per hour. This process required the harvested crop to be fed through conveyor belts where the “stone and clod” separator could remove unwanted materials. Potatoes are guided to several vibrating screeners to separate them into seven categories according to size. Then they are washed, dried and polished before being weighed and bagged for transport. All with little to no human intervention.
Gormanns realized that Eaton‘s revolutionary SmartWire-DT connection and communication system was perfect for the job. Instead of the individual wiring connection of switchgear, sensors and actuators to the central controller, SmartWire-DT enables these components to be connected directly with the single “green” cable. It provides individual stations with power, while at the same time implementing data communication, so all stations on the system can communicate.
Reducing wiring. And commissioning time.
SmartWire-DT combined with PKZ motor-protective circuit breakers and DIL contactors put the project on a fast, efficient track. SmartWire-DT technology cut wiring time to an eighth of traditional methods. The cabling in the panels was reduced by 40%. And greater data transparency minimized troubleshooting.
The plant’s commissioning time was an extraordinary 1.5 days versus an expected 2 weeks, which allowed for the flawless completion of a fully automated plant in less than four months. The savings in money and labor were enormous. The owner of the plant now has a fully automated process that requires only one operator switching the controls. And 120 tons of potatoes ready to go in an hour.
At Eaton, we see beyond what’s possible today. Innovators like Schaltanlagenbau Gormanns GmbH see it that way too.
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