How Mitsubishi Electric Helps Car Wash Operators Take Control in 2026
·9 min
The episode begins with a discussion on mechanical failures in car washes, where extra torque can indicate premature issues, and Mitsubishi Electric gathers this data for visualization and collection. Tim Heider is introduced as a guest from Mitsubishi Electric Automation, focusing on reliability, integration, and control systems. He provides background on Mitsubishi Electric, noting it started over 100 years ago, with the automation group operating in North America for 40 years and in the car wash industry for 20 years. He clarifies that Mitsubishi Electric Automation is separate from other Mitsubishi entities like Mitsubishi Motors, with over 600 individual companies under the umbrella. The host asks about car wash subsystems, and Heider breaks them down, mentioning components like controls, VFDs, and touchscreens. He details specific applications, such as door lifts where VFDs with permanent magnet motors allow precise positioning without sensors, reducing mechanical parts. Other subsystems include blowing water pump systems and brush control, where torque monitoring helps avoid damage like ripping off mirrors. All products are networked to centralize data for long-term performance tracking, with increasing torque signaling mechanical issues. Heider describes the car wash as a series of systems, with Mitsubishi acting as a conduit or nervous system. He delves into VFD technologies, noting PID loops for faster reaction times, similar to cruise control in vehicles, and internal PLC capability for logic decisions. The host relates this to operator control, saving costs and staff time. Heider addresses recent control-related issues, highlighting manpower challenges with younger operators and the need for quicker troubleshooting. Mitsubishi's solution involves HMIs that decode error messages, like overcurrent alerts, to guide staff without technical expertise. The episode concludes with a promo for the full version on carwash.org.
