Goodbye, Spaghetti Code! Grenzebach presents new control system architecture at glasstec

This time the world’s leading specialists in glass technology and systems have focused their attention on programmable logic controllers (PLC). The result is a solution that is as simple as it is innovative. At glasstec it will be presented to a wide range of trade and business professionals for the first time.



The significant innovation concerns the design of the software. Instead of relying on the traditional "spaghetti code", the new control system uses ideas and approaches of object-oriented programming. It is based on the certainly not very new knowledge - that the various components in the production process, such as drives or sensors, perform a limited number of recurring tasks. These are defined in modules and can then, with the help of a graphical representation, be easily linked and adapted to the respective requirements.

The approach developed by Grenzebach offers the customer a number of benefits that the conventional "spaghetti code" programming does not have. Time consuming service and maintenance as well as lengthy development periods, for instance, are now finally a thing of the past. Thanks to the modular design and the uniform, straightforward architecture all necessary development and maintenance jobs can be performed with greater speed and flexibility.

The modular and clear-cut structure is a significant improvement in the area of online service and commissioning. The service technician can identify and test the current software structure and the values of the respective interface variables at a glance. Comprehensive virtual total care for the plant control system - from troubleshooting to virtual start-up - is made possible.

In line with Grenzebach's good practice and tradition, the new control architecture was developed with a clear focus on the customers' needs and requirements. As a result, external machines and systems (ERP), for example, can be quickly and easily integrated into the modular and clear structure. Another feature customers are going to appreciate in particular is that the entire software is based on an open source kernel. This allows customers a maximum of flexibility in the use of the control system.

To sum it up, Grenzebach's new PLC architecture offers a variety of functionalities and advantages that customers will directly benefit from. It will be presented – along with other innovations – at the Grenzebach booth in Hall 15/Stand C42.