News & Knowledge

We’re your source for automation news. Keep up with the latest industry updates and E Tech employee spotlights, as well as tips and guidance from our manufacturing experts.  

E Tech Group Engineering Manager Presenting in a Plant Engineering Upcoming Webcast

E Tech Group Engineering Manager, Steve Scheffler is co-presenting a Plant Engineering Webcast on Tuesday, April 23rd. The webcast called: Motors and Drives: Are you advancing automation efficiencies with smarter components, systems? The presentation will discuss how a more efficient motor in automation applications can help advance efficiency goals. A smarter variable frequency drive (VFD) … Continued

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Optimize Your Data Historian by Working With a Systems Integrator

More Automated Manufacturing, More Operational Data The automation of process manufacturing has seen explosive growth over the last 10 years and is only projected to follow the same trajectory for the foreseeable future. But it stands to reason that the increased manufacturing volume will also increase associated byproducts, one of the most critical being operational … Continued

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Designing a Flexible and Scalable Automated Processing System for The Better Meat Co.

The Better Meat Co. collaborated with E Tech Group and Barnum Mechanical Inc. to design, build, and automate a full-scale processing system that has been successful in producing on-demand production and is scalable for future growth.

Our recent addition, Automation Group, an E Tech Group Company, completed this case study. A summarized version is below. Click here to read the full case study on their site.

Challenge:

The Better Meat Co. partnered with E Tech Group and Barnum Mechanical Inc. to design, build, and automate a full-scale processing system at their new mycoprotein fermentation facility in Sacramento, California.

Solution:

The Better Meat Co. partnered with Barnum and E Tech Group to build a full-scale processing system from scratch. The project team assessed existing equipment, and current system requirements, and collaborated with various stakeholders to best design the full-scale processing system, keeping alternative meat processing standards and scalable performance capabilities top-of-mind. They leveraged their expertise in automated control systems and process design to create a custom solution. The project team accomplished a software redundant control system that was capable of developer remote access support, redundant databases, recipe controls, historic data logs, and interactive reports. The system that Barnum and E Tech Group helped to build allows The Better Meat Co. to experiment simultaneously with different types of feedstocks so that they can sterilize different media to run different types of fermentations.

Results:

The Better Meat Co. implemented an automated system, developed with the help of E Tech Group and Barnum Mechanical, which has been successful in producing its products on demand. The CEO of The Better Meat Co. endorsed the value of automation. The system has been reliable since its deployment and is scalable for future growth.

Click here to view and learn more about the automation process in a video interview with the Better Meat Co. CEO

Ignition Platform Provides Organization-wide Access to Quality Data for Cherry Packaging Company

E Tech Group helped Prima Frutta increase productivity by 50% without hiring extra personnel by using the Ignition platform, which allowed remote operation of the production line and real-time data access from any smart device.

Our recent addition, Automation Group, an E Tech Group Company, completed this case study. A summarized version is below. Click here to read the full case study on their site.

Problem:

Manufacturers are facing costly workforce challenges, making it difficult to increase productivity.

Prima Frutta, a cherry packaging facility in Linden, California, was struggling to maintain its production levels. E Tech Group was called to help overhaul their control system with a tight timeline.

Solution:

The project was divided into three phases.

  • Phase One: Project Planning and Documentation:
    • In the project’s first phase, the Automation Group and Prima Frutta teams collaborated on planning, budgeting, and documentation. They used CSIA methodologies and standards, created a detailed budget, and documented all OEM hardware into schematics that were approved before proceeding to Step 2. This ensured the project remained on track and within budget.
  • Phase Two: Wireless Network Set-Up
    • The E Tech Group team has successfully established a wireless network, which enabled ten tablets to remotely operate the production line through the Ignition industrial application platform from Inductive Automation. Ignition was chosen because of its flexibility, affordability, and fast setup. The applications can be entirely customized quickly and easily, and data can be accessed from any smart device, including tablets, desktops, or any other smart device to allow real-time data access from anywhere the user is located. In this project, the tablets enabled a change in process flow from anywhere in the plant, providing full SCADA control, unlike a static location. The installation process of Ignition on the tablets was seamless and took less than two hours. The Ignition software also ran on more than 120 screens throughout the plant, providing real-time data and color-coded information to employees for quick and efficient reactions.
  • Phase Three: Development, Testing and Implementation  
    • E Tech Group used Prima Frutta’s existing server to develop modular software and PLC codes, allowing for quick deployment through component, template, and user-defined type reuse.

Results:

The project resulted in a 50% increase in production with no additional personnel, helping Prima Frutta become the world’s largest cherry production line. The Ignition platform reduced downtime and enabled the facility to respond to changing conditions.