In 2009, TTS Automation developed the first camera system for Ex areas. The idea was born out of the fact that industries in which hazardous and explosive atmospheres occur in the form of mixtures of air and combustible gases, vapors or mists are subject to explosion protection. When it came to developing an explosion-proof solution for tank loads, the company based in Neustadt an der Weinstraße faced a major challenge: tank loading processes are complex because they go beyond mere process and plant monitoring. Irregularities in the loading must be quickly recognized and remedied. “Our experience has shown that leaks at loading fittings are often preceded by events such as jerking of the pipeline or slumping of the tank vehicle. So we wanted to develop a solution for tank loading that would detect dangers before they arise," recalls Michelle Striegel, who is responsible for marketing and project management at TTS Automation.
It soon became clear that the camera needed intelligence to detect and evaluate potential dangers preventively. For this purpose, controlling the functional sequences must be required on the system side. In search of a suitable system, TTS Automation found the solution at WAGO. “The WAGO IoT Box was exactly the right component for an intelligent camera system,” recalls Wolfgang Laufmann, Global Key Account Manager Digital Plant at WAGO and contact person in the project for TTS Automation.
