Remote-monitoring capabilities keep workers at safe distance

By Karen Hanna

Remote-monitoring systems are helping OEMs finding ways to boost productivity, reduce repetitive-risk injuries and, in this pandemic era, break the chain of transmission.

Arburg and Milacron, for example, both reported using Industry 4.0 and remote-monitoring solutions now more than ever to help their customers.

“If there is anything positive that we can take from the coronavirus pandemic, it is that it has propelled digitalization to the forefront of our operations,” said Gerhard Böhm, managing director of sales at Arburg.

Milacron's ei 3 Symphony is an asset monitoring and predictive maintenance solution that combines smart sensor technologies with machine learning and AI to deliver unique insights into a machine's inner workings.

Such tools allow remote monitoring and maintenance of equipment, which eliminates the need for a technician to travel to a plant.

Milacron’s M-Powered suite of customer-support services leverages Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology and data from real-time machine learning to monitor equipment and send alerts, when appropriate.

“Nearly two in five issues can be resolved remotely, and there’s usually a smaller window of time needed to troubleshoot prior to a technician coming to the customer’s facility to intervene or repair the problem,” said Eddie Jump, digital analytics leader for the M-Powered business unit.

He said the company last year connected the same number of machines to M-Powered services as in 2019, but at a faster pace, owing to the four-month shutdown in operations it endured at the start of pandemic.

And Milacron’s customers continue to invest in the technologies, said Ron Gulbransen, a technical product manager for auxiliaries for the company.

“Some customers had some delays but are following through with their previous initiatives to become smarter or create smart factories. Using predictive analytics or monitoring downtime instances have become useful as some manufacturers are experiencing bottlenecks in production needs when compared to capacity,” Gulbransen said.

In addition, he said the company has conducted a record number of robot installations over the past year.

Karen Hanna, associate editor

[email protected]

Contact:

Arburg Inc., Rocky Hill, Conn., 860-667-6500, www.arburg.com