Partner: ELVAC a.s.
Sector: industrial automation
ELVAC a.s. is a successful integrator in automation, electrical engineering, and industrial systems. It specialises in the development and implementation of mechatronic solutions, including the design and implementation of control systems, PLC and HMI programming, robotics system integration specialises in the development and implementation of mechatronic solutions, including the design and implementation of control systems, PLC and HMI programming, robotics system integration, and other related services. Their projects cover everything from initial analysis, studies, and design to construction, programming, testing, and virtual and physical commissioning. The company is based in Ostrava.
Cooperation between VSB-TUO and ELVAC on research projects has been ongoing for many years and will continue in the future. The cooperation arose from a shared interest in optimising and developing control systems and diagnostic functions within the digitalisation of industrial processes. ELVAC a.s. has recently utilised the services of the EDIH Ostrava project in digital transformation, specifically in the design and implementation of data structures, integration of diagnostic functions, and optimisation of HMI and PLC applications.
The main challenge of the cooperation was compatibility between different versions of TIA Portal and HMI panels (Unified and Advanced). Another important task was to optimise the processes of loading and generating data structures, including alarms and text lists. The company wanted to introduce new procedures for integrating symbolic addressing and solving application parameterisation while developing larger, complex projects.
Cooperation took the form of regular consultations and analyses of ELVAC’s requirements. Based on the feedback, iterations of the design, implementation, and testing of individual functions were carried out. Communication included technical discussions on optimising data structures and the code and coordination of development.
The cooperation resulted in creating new data structures and introducing more efficient tag and alert generation. Procedures for symbolic tag addressing were implemented. Synchronisation diagnostics between PLC and HMI panels were also improved. Higher application efficiency and reliability were achieved, enabling a reduction in the time required for the development, configuration, and maintenance of the developed systems and controlled technologies.
What were the three main benefits of this cooperation for ELVAC a.s.?
- The project outputs became part of the daily work of the Mechatronics Division, which made it possible to increase efficiency in several phases of project implementation.
- The optimisations implemented have improved ELVAC’s competitiveness in the market and enabled faster and higher-quality delivery of solutions to customers.
- Improved diagnostics and user environments have reduced development errors and increased the speed of delivering the finished solution to customers.
The cooperation between the EDIH Ostrava and ELVAC a.s. continues in areas related to the automation and robotisation of technological systems, including digitalisation in the form of digital twins of processes and technologies. In addition, students are exchanged, gaining practical skills and experience in the company.
“I regard the cooperation with the EDIH Ostrava as a positive step towards expanding cooperation between our company and academia at VSB-TUO Ostrava,” says Dušan Šelong, ELVAC a.s. Manager.
