High Standards, Local Support

supplied just in time. This enables Geely to achievebetter stock control and lower materials costs, givinga fast return on the investment in the RFID system.At the controller level, three Simatic 317-2DP programmablelogic controllers (PLCs) are responsiblefor controlling the manufacturing processes in themain body, side body, and conveyor units. Thelarge-scale data communication between the PLCsroutes via Industrial Ethernet, and a DP/DP couplerfacilitates the transfer of real-time data. With dualSimatic PLCs with WinCC servers (for redundancy)and multiple client PCs linked via Industrial Ethernet,operators can monitor the manufacturing processand status of signals and alarms at any locationthroughout the plant.Satisfied with the resultsTang Sheng Guo, general manager of the body shopat Geely Ningbo, is very satisfied with Siemens. Hesaid, “It is important for Geely that the quality ofSimatic, Sirius, and Micromaster products is goodand that the Siemens system concept meets Geely’sbudget and degree of automation.” Tang added that“Siemens provides good communication, strongtechnical support, and close coordination betweenGeely and different OEMs, even those located overseas.”On the question of training and technical support,he said, “We greatly appreciate that the technicaltraining and documents for Simatic, Sirius, andMicromaster are all in Chineseand that ongoing technicalsupport and workshops areprovided by Siemens’ localoffices close to Geely.” Followingthe successful Ningbo plantproject, Geely used Siemensautomation products and solutionsto equip its second newcar plant located at Cixi city(near Ningbo city), ZhejiangProvince, with a capacity of150,000 cars per year.Geely will employ its advanced plants at Ningbo andCixi to manufacture the new flagship Emgrand seriesof cars, sport-utility vehicles, multipurpose vehicles,and high-end pickups. The company associates itsnew Emgrand brand with the core values of “Chinesewisdom, world quality.” With technology fromSiemens, the plants at Ningbo and Cixi are ready toproduce cars to reflect these core values. After theCixi plant comes fully onstream, Geely plans to builda series of additional greenfield car plants in variouscities. Siemens, with Simatic, is ready to supportGeely in these expansion plans. pinfocontactwww.siemens.com/automotivewei.ch@siemens.comstephen.sung@siemens.comFrom left: Li Ping,Yang Xiao Hong, TangSheng Guo, HuaMing, Ma Xin HuaMES SCADAApplicationserverWinCC clientSystem architecture ofthe Geely Ningbo bodyshop plantIndustrial EthernetSwitchPress shopserverDataserverBody shopWinCC server(redundant)Paint shopserverDataserverMain bodyprocesscontrolSide bodyprocesscontrolConveyorcontrolProfibusS7-317-2DPHMIS7-317-2DPHMIProfibusS7-317-2DPHMIDistributed I/OsRobotsDP couplerDistributed I/OsMotorsMM440 ASM456RF300readerRF300 tagmove up | 1-2010 19