project Specifics
Automating multi-axis anode pallet handling for safer, faster operations
Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL) sought to eliminate a high-risk manual task in a hot, dusty environment by automating the Anode Pallet Station on Lines L1 & L2. Our Team engineered multi-axis control with remote operation, integrating PLC, HMI and SCADA while meeting Australian machine-safety requirements. The commissioned system streamlined sequences, improved reliability and enabled ongoing optimisation support.
Delivered in 2018 with a project value of $290,000, the upgrade reduced cycle time and boosted throughput. Giving safer, faster, more consistent production.
About the Anode Pallet Station
BSL’s Anode Pallet Station manages the handling of anode pallets within the smelting process: positioning, transferring and sequencing heavy components for downstream operations.
Reliable, repeatable motion control and safeguarded access are critical to maintain production pace, operator safety and equipment availability in a demanding smelter environment.
What We Delivered
Services:
- Safety system risk assessments
- Electrical design & layouts
- PLC & SCADA programming
- Equipment supply
- Electrical works supervision
- Commissioning
- Post-commissioning support
- System optimisation
Delivery Method:
- Electrical engineering consultant
Outcome
The automated station removed high-risk manual intervention, standardised complex sequences and decreased cycle times. Operators gained safer, remote control with clear HMI/SCADA visibility, and production benefited from improved reliability and maintainability. BSL received a fit-for-purpose solution with ongoing optimisation support and strong stakeholder approval.
A Welcon Project
This project was completed by our Welcon Team.
Since September 2024, Welcon Technologies has become part of SGA in a strategic move that leverages the strengths of both companies.
Welcon’s Team
