Smart Cooling Equipment contributes to predictive maintenance
J. Schmalz GmbH
Vacuum automation and material-handling technology
Schmalz is the market leader in vacuum automation and ergonomic handling systems. Schmalz products are used all over the world, for example in applications in the logistics industry, the automotive industry, the electronics sector or in furniture production. The wide range of products includes individual components such as suction cups and vacuum generators, as well as complete gripping systems and clamping solutions. The Handling Systems unit offers innovative handling solutions with vacuum lifters and crane systems for industrial and handicraft applications. The family owned company has around 1,500 employees at its headquarters in Glatten and its 19 subsidiaries worldwide.
Dominik Bittner, Siemens AG, on how Schmalz builds on Siemens IIoT to bring more value to their customers.
Solution in a Nutshell
Siemens Industrial Edge devices running the Schmalz’ Connect Suite app are retrofitted directly onto Schmalz suction grippers equipped with vacuum sensors. While the edge devices process the high-frequency sensor data in real-time, the Schmalz’ edge app uses this data to determine the degree of filter contamination and the state of wear of the suction cups.
It also recognizes error patterns, classifies the causes, and offers recommendations on solving problems as they arise. The app outputs results and data to a website that users can access from any device in the manufacturing environment.
The edge-level devices can also upload the pre-processed data to the MindSphere cloud. Here you can use KPIs relevant to the gripping system to enable predictive maintenance. The suction-gripper data is continuously analyzed and tracked over time. Accessible anywhere and anytime, MindSphere provides manufacturers with the information they need to balance workloads within and across sites and to sustainably reduce their energy consumption. In addition, MindSphere manages the edge system and updates the Schmalz Connect Suite app remotely.
Project Scope
Connect Suite app uses Industrial Edge for bulk data processing close to the source. As a decentralized solution with local storage, the Siemens Industrial Edge allows data to remain on-site, saving off-site round-trip time, and bandwidth. As an edge-level infrastructure, it closes IT functionality gaps while ensuring short innovation cycles for industrial automation.
In combination with the capabilities of MindSphere you benefit from easy scalability, monitored services, complex long-term data analytics, and plug-and-play connectivity – without ever touching a single suction gripper.
Connected Assets
- SIMATIC S7 Controller
- IO-Link Master
- SIMATIC IPC227E
Queried data
- Vacuum value (mbar)
- Leakage rate (mbar/s)
- Differential pressure (mbar)
- Number of valve switching cycles
- Compressed air consumption (l/min)
- Quality (%)
- Performance (%)
Benefits
- 75% shorter commissioning times
- 80% shorter service times
Product Experience
A clean and clutter-free dashboard displays data, a cycle counter for RUL of valves, and performance indicators. Operators and technicians monitor time series of leakage, input pressure, free flow vacuum, and energy consumption. Access is simple, convenient, and secure. Users can pull up the Schmalz dashboard anytime anywhere in their manufacturing network on any connected device running a browser.
Voices
With Siemens, we have found a partner and a future-proof approach for the integration of our systems and digital solutions into the automation processes of our customers.
Dr. Maik Fiedler, Head of Business Units, Vacuum Automation and Handling Systems
Offers to replicate this use case
Cloud:
MindAccess:
MindAccess:
MindAccess:
MindAccess IoT
Value Plan
Visual Analyzer
SIMATIC Energy
Manager
SIMATIC Performance Insight
Edge:
MindAccess:
MindAccess:
MindAccess:
Schmalz Connect Suite app
Visual Analyzer
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