Monday Morning In A Bread Factory:
The packaging system suddenly breaks down. A minor component has failed, resulting in potentially long downtime and high repair costs. The most annoying thing about it is that a small investment in digitalisation and networking would have been enough to implement measures to warn the operator of the problem through the Internet of Things (IoT). Few German companies are implementing smart condition monitoring despite its economic efficiency.
A survey by International Data Corporation (IDC), a US market research company confirmed the same. "To accelerate the pace of digitalisation, we joined the Berlin-based IoT Use Case Network of experts in October 2022," said Richard Habering, Head, Smart Plastics Business Unit, igus.
He added, "By doing educational work, with best practice examples, sharing expertise, and generating synergy effects, we hope to make it easier for companies to get into the IoT and enhance their future competitiveness. Companies should set the right course for digitalisation at an early stage."
More than 80 industrial partners from more than 15 countries have now joined the community of technology and industry experts, including Microsoft, Siemens, and Schaeffler. The experts share knowledge and discuss how to improve the quality, security, and dissemination of IoT technology. Interested companies can read over 350 use cases and projects from the network, follow expert podcasts, and easily exchange ideas with like-minded companies.
IoT has enormous potential for the economy, and its value in factory environments will rise to $3.3 trillion by 2030 according to McKinsey. "So it is important for companies to set the right course for digitalisation now so they do not fall behind in international competition," said Habering.
igus Enriches The Network:
Smart plastics are sensor systems that monitor the status of energy chains and cables, enabling technicians to plan and react early to maintenance work and impending component failures. Among the users is GHD Georg Hartmann Maschinenbau. The company has equipped a bread packaging machine with igus i.Sense CF.Q. Habering said, "i.Sense CF.Q's advanced technology detects impending cable breaks before they occur."
Visitors to the SPS automation trade show in Nuremberg in November 2022 saw products showcased by igus from the smart plastics sector - including i.Sense TR.B, an intelligent condition monitoring system for 3D energy chains on industrial robots; the low-cost i.Sense EC.W service life sensor; and its latest i.Sense CF.D prototype for monitoring used data cables. An IoT Use Case community meeting was also held at the trade show.
