Deck machinery designer and manufacturer Adria Winch used Beijer Electronics' QTERM-A7 HMI that include iX software, to control five oceanographic winches on an open deck of a Russian research icebreaker ship.
The QTERM-A7 HMI was specifically chosen because of its ability to operate in harsh environments and its compatibility with existing PLC systems, according to Beijer Electronics. The oceanographic sensors measured conductivity, temperature and the depth of the sea water on the ship's journey from the North Pole to Antarctica.
QTERM-A7 with iX manages the operating modes, settings, temperatures and calibrations of the winches, as well as monitors rope length (2 km to 8 km), speed and force used to deploy the sensors, according to Adria Winch.
"We chose the QTERM-A7 because of its robustness," said Miroslav Komlenovic, senior design engineer for Adria Winch. "The QTERM-A7 can operate at temperatures as low as -30 °C, has IP66 protection, and is compatible with our current PLC system."
The HMI feature a 7 in. widescreen TFT-LCD display with resistive touchscreen, 10/100Base-T Ethernet, two USB 2.0 full-speed host ports and two serial ports. The iX software has multiple drivers to communicate with automation equipment, vector-based graphics, open architecture and a variety of HMI functions, according to Adria Winch.
"The demanding conditions commonly found in this environment has put the QTERM-A7 to the test," said Bob Mullins, industrial product manager for Beijer Electronics. "But with the rigorous environmental testing and industrial certifications, we feel that our QTERM-A7 fits perfectly with Adria Winch and their marine requirements."
