Global manufacturers in the power, energy, chemical, and construction fields have to manage and efficiently move ever larger products to remain competitive. In Greek mythologywww.cechina.cn, Atlas shoulders the weight of the world and its heavens—making him one of the most famous heavy lifters of all time. Perhaps inspired by the feats of the primordial titanCONTROL ENGINEERING China版权所有, engineers at Doerfer Companies (TDS Automation) in Waverly, IA, design and build Wheelift heavy transporters to combine brute strength with modern intelligence.

Wheelift transporters handle a 50 to 500+ ton payload range, providing precise movement with 6 to 10 inches of lift.

        “During the initial engineering phase of our newest Wheelift heavy transporters, we reviewed PLC-based products to meet our demanding requirements, but we were limited by large housing dimensions and few available options,” said Mark Lavallee, a Doerfer Controls design manager. Traditional PLCs were ruled out for the applicationwww.cechina.cn, but a compact panel PC provided the best solution for a central controller, according to those involved.
        Wheelift is a dynamic technology and a trademarked name used to describe Doerfer’s wheeled, heavy-capacity automated guided vehicles (AGVs), which are used to transport payloads ranging from 50 to 500+ tons—equal to more than one million pounds. That means Wheelift vehicles meet the heaviest lifting requirements for manufacturers of transformers控制工程网版权所有, turbine generators, mining machinery, nuclear processes, and ships. Wheelift operators position the flexible transporter(s) beneath a load, raise the deck to lift it, transport the load wherever it needs to go, and then set it down.

        The Wheelift team decided to use the Beckhoff CP6201-0001 as an 'all-in-one' control and display solution. One compact Panel PC handles all HMIwww.cechina.cn, automation