Data acquisition
revolutionise all areas of manufacturing - including the global feed grain market, which is poised to grow from $50.0 billion in 2024 to $70.0 billion by 2034, according to ‘Future Market Insight’s. The growth will be driven by factors such as the expanding livestock industry, the surge in population and rising demand for high-quality animal feeds. With the continued rise of Industry 4.0, we can expect to see digitalisation and AI algorithms become the norm with industrial milling machinery in the coming years. Another essential factor in optimal machine performance is predictive maintenance, crucial in preventing unscheduled downtime and breakdowns. Predictive maintenance has been gaining traction for a few years now. Ninety-eight per cent of manufacturers surveyed in Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC)’s ‘Digital Factories 2020’ report said they expected predictive maintenance would increase their manufacturing efficiency. Nevertheless, in 2024, manufacturers must overcome a number of hurdles if they are to implement an effective predictive maintenance strategy. Indeed, Deloitte cites several challenges: “Economic upheaval, a tight labour market, rising costs and continued supply chain stresses.” These factors, says the report, “underline the importance of agility, resilience, and efficiency in manufacturing operations.” Traditional approaches to maintenance are increasingly at odds with these challenges. For instance, a maintenance engineer might drive five hours to perform a 15-minute adjustment on a piece of equipment. Or skilled engineers may be needed onsite
D
eloitte's survey found that nearly half of manufacturers are already using IoT sensors, devices and digitalised systems. Industry 4.0 will continue to
SUPPORT WHENEVER IT IS NEEDED
Seventy per cent of manufacturers surveyed by Deloitte say they have integrated advanced technologies, like data analytics and cloud computing, into their manufacturing processes. But, as manufacturers increasingly embrace digitalisation, competition is sure to intensify - and the vital role of predictive maintenance must not be overlooked. Here, Gary Kernaghan, automation manager at Technidrive, the specialist supplier of industrial drives, electrical motors and gear units explains why remote maintenance is vital if manufacturers are to stay competitive.
continually for ongoing repairs and diagnostics. Manufacturers can ill afford such inefficiencies, time and costs, or labour shortages, in today’s competitive markets. So what can be done? Deloitte recommends that “technology is poised to play a significant role” - but that is only half of the story. What if advanced technologies
like data analytics and cloud computing can also open up manufacturers to an entire world of skilled, expert support? Specifically, remote maintenance.
REMOTE ACCESS
Remote maintenance will be vital to more efficient milling operations. First, let us consider the more familiar concept of remote IT support for office environments. The service provider uses online tools and software to connect to a client's computer or network, and solve issues from a distant location. This concept can also be applied to milling machinery.
Connecting to an office worker’s Mac or Windows PC is one thing, but how does remote maintenance work in more complex industrial manufacturing environments? A simple approach is demonstrated by Technidrive, whereby preloaded tablet devices are supplied to the customer. The tablet is equipped with remote access software, specifically TeamViewer, allowing seamless and cybersecure communication between the customer’s in-house operators and Technidrive’s experienced maintenance team, as part of its Technicare remote support offering. Technidrive's remote support offering is particularly advantageous for feed milling applications because it allows for quick
58 March 2024 Instrumentation Monthly
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
