Already producing 17,500t of bread improver a year, Manchester-based Bakemark has increased its total plant capacity by 60% and can now also handle 10,000t of cake mix.

The plant mixes and batch processes, drawing raw materials from 16 silos each capable of holding between 10t and 50t.

A new control system has been installed, upgrading programmable logic controllers (PLCs) originally supplied by Mitsubishi Electric. Q series PLCs have been added and connected to the plant-wide Ethernet network. Although software has been redesigned by the installer, Advanced Technical Software, the programming time was reduced by the use of Mitsubishi's GX IEC Developer software.

As the plant operates on a continuous three-shift system a high-integrity control system has been installed to avoid stoppages and guarantee the reliability of the main server.

Dual power supplies and memory have been fitted and additional hard disc drives installed. Communications have been upgraded to Ethernet for high-speed, two-way data transfer and to provide a distributed systems architecture instead of the centralised structure used previously.

Among other controls provided, are those handling raw material movements from storage hoppers to mixing lines.

Contact: Mitsubishi Electric,

Tel: 01707 276100