System allows recycling machinery to automatically adapt to plant conditions

This story appeared in the Winter 2017 edition of Plastics Recycling magazine.

S.M.A.R.T. Dialog: NGR's machine monitoring and communication system provides what it calls Self-Monitoring Analysis + Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) capabilities. The system collects and uses data to allow machinery within a recycling line to automatically adapt to changing conditions. Data specifi c to various organizational functions, such as maintenance and quality control, are packaged and stored in the cloud so they are accessible to those who need them.

What's new? The system, which NGR introduced at the K show as part of its demonstration of its PET recycling line, the P:REACT, pictured at left. It will be commercially available worldwide on all NGR machines by April.

Benefits: Greater access to machine data, which gives users the information they need to improve their production and maintenance practices. Data showing a wide range of parameters can be sent to mobile devices. For instance, using S.M.A.R.T. Dialog, users have easy access to information about part-production and maintenance history, machine output, energy consumption and melt characteristics. S.M.A.R.T. Dialog also can transfer such data to enterprise resource planning systems, which can provide comparisons and calculations about operating costs, downtime and other issues.

Next Generation Recycling Machines Inc., Norcross, Georgia, 678-720-9861, www.ngr.at