Reitz Silo Upgrade
Silo owner and operator Vrystaat Koöperasie Beperk (VKB), headquartered in Reitz, recently upgraded its Reitz silo interlocking system with an LG GLOFA PLC supplied by Anadigi and an Adroit SCADA package. VKB operates 12 silo complexes across the north-eastern Free State, with its most prominent complex situated along the N3 Highway at Villiers.
Werner Swemmer, a member of the engineering staff at VKB, commented on the project:
“Having operated the previous interlocking system at the Reitz silo for over 20 years, the system had reached its maximum capacity, and most replacement parts had become obsolete.”
Modern Replacement System
A year ago, VKB management decided to invest in a modern replacement system. The requirements included:
- Full plant depiction and control via SCADA
- Evaluation of multiple PLC and SCADA vendors
- Selection of a competent integration partner
- Consideration of costs, reliability, and expandability
- Minimal operational downtime, with the changeover to be completed within a single weekend
After a detailed assessment, C&H Controls, led by Sycann Tulshi, was chosen as the system integrator. The system hardware was built around the GLOFA GM4 PLC, supplied by Anadigi, while Adroit SCADA was selected as the interface for plant control and operator interaction.
Reitz Silo SCADA Implementation
Phase One
The first phase of the project included:
- 960 PLC I/O points
- 150-tag SCADA for embedded control and monitoring
- User-friendly programming with expandable controllers for future automation
The LG GLOFA PLC solution was chosen for its power, ease of programming, and cost-effectiveness. The offer included free-issued programming software for both PLC and HMI, as well as an OPC Server for SCADA integration.
“The new controller has now been in operation for four months, and we are extremely pleased with its performance, as well as the support and service from C&H Controls and LS Industrial Systems SA,” said Swemmer.
Project Execution & Challenges
Reflecting on the execution, Tulshi of C&H Controls stated:
“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution. Having implemented structured project execution rules, we minimized risk, optimized resources, and successfully completed the upgrade on time and within budget.”
Despite the challenge of replacing the old system while the silo was operational, the team managed a seamless transition in just two days with zero downtime.
Tulshi continued:
“Having worked with various PLC vendors in the past, I am highly impressed with the LG GLOFA GM4 PLC solution. We appreciate the support from our alliance partners, Anadigi, which played a vital role in the success of this upgrade. We look forward to collaborating on future VKB projects.”
About the Companies
???? Anadigi is the official South African distributor for PLC, HMI, and VFD/VSD products from LS Industrial Systems (formerly LG Industrial Systems).
???? C&H Controls specializes in plant-wide automation, offering a broad range of engineering services.