Mozzarella line 2: Biggest ABB System 800xA Probase installation in the Benelux

Milcobel

Milcobel
Milcobel officially opened its completely new mozzarella production line at the Langemark site on Friday, 5 September 2014. In the past two years, the company and its contractors have worked hard on setting up a second line next to the existing mozzarella production line in order to double the capacity of the mozzarella factory from 25,000 tonnes per year to 50,000 tonnes per year.
The company Industrial Automation Services (IAS) in Zundert was responsible for the complete automation of this production line and thus closely involved in the implementation of this major project.

About Milcobel
Milcobel is a Belgian dairy cooperative of 3,300 milk suppliers and shareholders. The Milcobel Group has 9 offices in Belgium, France and the Netherlands. The dairy cooperative Milcobel is a market leader in Belgium and collects 1.1 billion litres of milk each year from the dairy farmers with its fleet of 60 tankers. This milk is processed into a range of products in several factories. At the Langemark site, the milk is processed into mozzarella as well as butter and ice cream.

Construction of a second mozzarella production line started in Langemark in August 2012. This line doubled the capacity of the mozzarella factory from 25,000 to 50,000 tonnes per year. The mozzarella is destined for pizza bakers and lasagne makers in Europe, the Middle East and Russia. The total investment for the new production line amounted to EUR 30 million.

IAS from Zundert was responsible for the complete automation of this production line. A project team from IAS with an average of eight members worked hard on this major project over the past two years. IAS collaborated on it with machine builders including Tetra Pak and Sulbana.

Biggest ABB System 800xA ProBase installation in the Benelux
The System 800xA system of ABB was used in combination with the ProBase library for the automation. The new mozzarella production line at Milcobel in Langemark is the biggest 800xA/ProBase installation realised in the Benelux and comprises 9 operator workplaces and 5000 new I/O. The new installation is integrated into the existing SattLine/Foocos environment. IAS developed special modules for this so that the SattLine/Foocos and 800xA/ProBase environment transition seamlessly to each other.

IAS B.V. has also implemented many other software projects at the Langemark site over the years in addition to the new mozzarella line. A few projects:

  • Provision of a 24/7 service for the ABB SattLine and System 800xA installation
  • Complete automation of a second mozzarella production line (ABB 800xA)
  • Implementation of SattLine OPC server (SattLine Foocos)
  • Coupling with MES application (SattLine Foocos)
  • Various applications in SattLine/Foocos installation
  • Implementation of Alf-O-Matic (ABB System 800xA)
  • Implementation of Hydrofoor (ABB System 800xA)
  • Implementation of MES application Proficy Plant Applications
  • Application training