Automated Control Systems Are Essential Components Of The Aggregate Industry

Automated control systems are prevalent across many industries. This is especially true of the aggregate industry. In fact, the US is one of the leading producers of sand and gravel products worldwide.

What is it that makes automated control systems so important for this industry? In this article, we look at why automated control systems are essential components of the aggregate industry. We closely examine their uses and benefits for aggregate plants and highlight how this can benefit your business.

What Are Automated Control Systems?

Automated control systems perform the various operations your site requires, without the need for human intervention.

The automated control system can manage, control, and regulate the operations of all your machinery and electronic devices. Usually, this is achieved through programmable logic computers or PLCs.

This reduces the labor needs of the business and protects existing workers against exposure to on-site hazards. Automation also allows faster and higher levels of production, higher quality control, and a more integrated system of connectivity between your various technological components.

Why Are They A Key Component Of The Aggregate Industry?

The aggregate industry is multi-faceted, with many detailed processes taking place at any given time. Rocks need to be sized, graded, shaped, and sorted. Aggregate loads must be moved from one place to another. And orders have to be weighed and packaged for shipment.

Naturally, within this hive of activity, a high degree of accuracy is essential. The higher accuracy provided by automation control systems allows aggregate businesses to produce products with less error, and less wasted time and materials.

Your aggregate business is subject to the same pressures, time constraints, and rigorous quality inspections as others in the field. We know that your top priorities are the safety of your workers, the seamless production of aggregate products, and the punctual fulfillment of orders. Automation control systems streamline and optimize your processes to help improve multiple facets of your business.

The benefits of automated controls have a positive effect on the customer, too. They get high quality end-products so they can do what they need to do.

How Automated Control Systems Have Benefitted The Aggregate Industry

The benefits of automation are endless, but in the aggregate sector, there are some very industry-specific factors to consider.

Automated control systems can offer aggregate plants these major advantages:

• Automatic start-up of your aggregate plant at the start of the workday
• Monitoring of equipment for anomalies that could lead to equipment failure
• The halting of feeders and conveyors in the event of an error
• Automatic shut-down of your aggregate plant at the end of the workday
• Safety protocols in accidents and incidents including the shutdown of specific or all machinery
• Control of radial elevating stackers, primary feed hopper levels, and crush feeder speeds
• Reduction of labor and greater safety of workers, which means less downtime
• Less reliance on human intervention, thus fewer human error-based incidents
• Automated loading of products onto waiting trucks ensures accuracy and punctuality
• Efficiency, productivity, and even incidence reports for better repairs and maintenance

The best thing about all of these benefits is that the automated control systems that regulate all these features don’t have to be fixed in one place. They can be as mobile as you need to be and can be modified to meet your particular needs. You can opt for pop-up control towers or control trailers for improved functioning of your sites.

Numerous aggregate producers have all learned the benefits of working with a licensed ETL 508A panel workshop for their automated control system needs. See some of the projects we have worked on below.

Examples Of Automated Control System Benefits

We’ve built customizable and portable control stations for the aggregate industry, like this rock crusher switchgear trailer with its pop-up operator cab. It offers automation and a high view for on-site convenience. The operator has a clear view of all operations but is freed from the most repetitive tasks.

Then there’s the switchgear crushing trailer that we supplied with custom-built motor control panels, push-button controls, plus a dedicated wiring trough, for Miles Sand & Gravel. They have all the controls at their fingertips while on the go, behind safety-certified panels that are robust and durable.

Yet another example of the benefits of automated controls is the amp breakers, line and load reactors, and transformer we supplied to Advanced Crusher Technologies (Actech). Thanks to these components they are safeguarded against electrical overloads, and harmful current and voltage spikes that would cripple their operations.

Conclusion

Automated control systems are essential components of the aggregate industry, as well as other manufacturing and industrial plants. In our 20 years of business, we’ve helped countless businesses improve their operations, through increased productivity levels and improved safety.

For reliable, certified automated control systems that work as hard as you do, contact us today.