Saltec S.A., an international leader in large-scale surveying equipment and industrial contracting solutions, has chosen to implement ICP DAS embedded controllers at the Altamira Iron Ore Mining Facility in southern Chile.
For this project, Saltec deployed a series of ICP DAS I-7188XGD ISaGRAF-powered embedded controllers to manage railway safety functions within the mining facility’s ore transport system. By integrating ICP DAS’s I-7188XGD modules, Saltec is able to monitor and control an emergency “runaway track” in the event of a brake failure on any of the facility’s locomotives.
The I-7188XGD is a robust member of ICP DAS’s family of compact embedded controllers. The module is powered by a 40 MHz AMD CPU with 512 KB of static RAM and 512 KB of flash memory. It also features a real-time clock, battery backup, optional 10BASE-T Ethernet port, remote configuration and diagnostics capabilities, and 14 user-defined I/O lines.
The specific controllers used by Saltec operate on a proprietary version of ISaGRAF control software, enabling them to function redundantly as reciprocal fail-safes. This setup ensures consistent and dependable safety within the facility’s ore transport system.
Saltec was extremely satisfied with ICP DAS’s ability to provide a product capable of withstanding harsh environmental exposure while maintaining exceptional control performance and reliability. Because the I-7188 series embedded controllers are rated to operate between –25°C and 75°C, they can easily endure the extreme and variable environmental conditions of southern Chile.
Saltec also noted their appreciation for the high level of technical support provided by ICP DAS during the setup of the dual-redundancy safeguard function.
By implementing ICP DAS embedded controllers, Saltec has enhanced both the safety and operational efficiency of the Altamira Iron Ore Mining Facility.
