polab® Linea - Fully automated, modular and customisable laboratory systems
The polab® Linea laboratory automation system is thyssenkrupp’s full-size solution for medium to very large cement plants. The polab® Linea features a narrow design and sample transport via transport belts and handling units. The system is fully modular allowing for easy upgrades in the future. Its small footprint allows the system to fit easily into existing buildings in the plant, thus reducing investment costs.
The system is fully enclosed in a modern housing of aluminum and glass, allowing access to the room while it is in operation. During service and maintenance, individual modules may be removed while the overall system remains in operation, thus limiting interruption in a plants quality control.
The Linea is controlled by the new polab® AQCnet software, which can be adapted to the customer's requirements. Service and spare parts are available on a long-term basis.
The polab® Linea is thyssenkrupp’s belt-based laboratory system, optimised for laboratories with space constraints and low to medium sample throughput requirements. In its maximum configuration, the polab® Linea houses one pneumatic tube receiver and two polab® APM mill/press units and is capable of handling up to 16 samples per hour. Sample storage for daily composite samples and a particle sizer may be included if desired. The polab® Linea is controlled via an included tablet computer mounted on the housing, or from any mobile device or computer connected to the system. Each module is linked to a central dedusting system to minimise daily and weekly maintenance.
When leaving the Linea, the pressed tablets for XRF, XRD, or colour analysis travel on a belt system to the respective analysers, where they are analysed and then returned to the automation system. Sample tracking, their movement through the laboratory, and the data management are handled by the polab® AQCnet software system, which also operates the Linea.
The housing of the polab® Linea system, and the modular design of the machines inside the housing allow for easy accessibility. Most individual units are mounted on a self-aligning rail system to allow complete removal and reinstallation in minutes. This concept facilitates maintenance work without stopping the whole laboratory automation system. The housing provides maximum work place safety for employees, and the laboratory around the automation system can be used as a working space.
polab® AQCnet - Interface to analysers
polab® AQCnet communicates with instrumentation supplied by all known analyser manufacturers. Typical installations include XRF and XRD analysers, as well as laser particle sizers. Depending on local requirements, common additional analysers may include colour measurement, moisture measurement and C/S analysers. The open interface concept can be used to interface with other components based on the customer’s needs.
Innovation
polab® laboratory automation systems are continuously adapted to the needs of customers with regard to sample preparation and analytical methods, providing state-of-the-art developments to meet all requirements. The polab® APM housed in the larger system supplies optimum pressed tablets for XRD analysis, which are indispensable for checking clinker and cement quality in plants that use alternative fuels and raw materials.
Today, polabCal closes the link between production control and cement quality. Fast isothermal calorimetry provides reactivity data of clinker and cement within 60 minutes to maintain targeted product qualities.