The group "automation" of the Karel De Grote college has, with financial contribution of European Social Fund (ESF) and the Flemish Government, a very well equipped lab in PLC/PC/robotics and networks.

Today, our lab is used for the education of both our students and technical personnel from many different companies.

Till now, by completing several HOBU projects, the group has built up a lot of experience in collection of production data out of automatic control systems for succession of the production (Overall Equipment Efficiency, Tracking and Traceability etc.) by means of the open communication standard OPC.
During last 6 years, the activities of our research lab are intensively accompanied by the use of OPC. Whether the main goal was investigation of modern automation devices like soft- or slotPLC's, fieldbusses, connectivity between control devices and PC applications, MES applications or the most recently subject: structurised modelling of production systems, the use of OPC had allways high priority.

Currently our team is researching methodologies for recipe machine control with the use of MES software. We base our research on the ANSI/ISA S88 (also known in Europe as IEC61512) standard and also on guidelines of the Open Modular Architecture Controls (OMAC) users group to construct a very good control interface of the machine.

If you are interested in our research, training or consultancy do not hesitate to contact us.

Dominique Daens
Project Manager
E: dominique.daens@kdg.be
T: + 32 (0) 3 820 67 36