AI & IIoT
VEGA Controls inVEsts in trAininG CEntrE And UK HQ
‘Metior House’, Maresfield, in the heart of Sussex. A Harry Potter and the
internet of things In J. K. Rowling’s fictional series, Harry receives a mysterious cloak of invisibility. Older machines could soon become equally invisible if they are not retrofitted with connective technology. Neil Ballinger, head of EMEA at EU Automation, explains what manufacturers can do to keep their machines visible and connected to the Internet of Things (IoT)
connected to the internet. Half of these devices will fall into the category of the IoT, making this the fastest growing connection technology. Industrial automation suppliers have embraced the IoT with companies like ABB, Honeywell, Rockwell and Siemens all offering interconnected products. They build motors with sensors that monitor speed and vibration, or robots that have sensors to see and touch their work. The amount of information that plant
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managers gather from manufacturing processes is growing exponentially. A lot of the data they require to make decisions about manufacturing processes is now processed on edge devices. The key is that data is crunched as close as possible to where it is needed. Many devices now have the data processing and storage capability to process information locally, before sending it to a server in aggregated form for further analysis.
SHROUdEd IN lEgAcy TEcHNOlOgy? Does this mean that machines that are older than a few years and have no IoT connectivity are no longer up to standards? Worse, could legacy equipment become invisible in a world of data-driven decisions? Fortunately, there are technologies available to upgrade the connectivity of industrial machines and get them ready for the world of IoT. How can older machines be upgraded
with connectivity? First, they need to be fitted with sensors. For instance, ABB, the Swiss-Swedish electrical equipment
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isco, the telecommunications equipment provider, forecasts that by 2023, 29.3 billion devices will be
supplier, supplies sensors that can be fitted to pumps or motors. These sensors come as an easy-to-install kit, including a receiving mount, a mounting bracket, a tube of putty and the necessary screws. By adding a retrofitted sensor, the pump
or the motor that has been doing its job loyally for years is turned into a powerhouse of data generation. The sensors measure parameters such as overall condition, vibration, bearing condition, balance and temperature. With this data, plant managers can make judgements on the equipment’s efficiency, spot potential problems, such as misalignment and perform early preventative maintenance. With the Orange Box from B&R
Industrial Automation plant managers can upgrade almost any type of legacy equipment with IoT capabilities. The orange box reads the data output of the machine, through I/O channels or a fieldbus. First, the software on the orange box converts the data output from the machine into KPIs and an OEE rate. As a second step, the software on the orange box has the capability to convert the data it collected to a form that an ERP software is able to read, via an OPC UA connection. The orange box does not require any
software or hardware changes on the manufacturing machine itself but opens up the entire world of IoT to machines that did not previously have this capability. As the numbers of machines connected to the internet rise exponentially, it is important that no factory and no machine has a cloak of invisibility.
EU Automation
www.euautomation.com/uk/
The facility benefits from almost 10,000 square
feet of training and meeting facilities for VEGA customers and stakeholders to use. These include: over 15 working, hands-on equipment and application models of level and pressure technologies, sited in their own networked demonstration area; state of the art AV amenities; full sets of operational training equipment and interconnected desks to help train people to the highest standards. It also boasts a spacious cafe/dining room, with access to an outdoor seating and breakout area adjacent to woodland. Managing director Ray Tregale comments:
“Along with our exciting new product portfolio, this is our vision and investment for the long term. Purchasing the land and carefully designing the building we need, was not just for now, but for decades to come.” He adds: “It's a statement of intent and shows
our commitment to support product users and engineers across all industries, as well as our staff of course, and to demonstrate our confidence in the future of UK business”
fter a year-long build, VEGA Controls has opened its own purpose-built training and seminar centre and UK head office at
The location is around a 40 minute drive
from Gatwick airport and 20 minutes from mainline railway stations connecting to London. Ample parking with EV charging is also available. The carbon-neutral building also houses offices and service workshops to provide staff with generous space to work in, to provide support and service for customers. Tregale concludes: “When the situation allows,
our doors will be open and we will look to encourage visitors for in-person product education and application training, and even for them to use just as a meeting place. It’s available to all our customers and stakeholders with an interest in the UK instrumentation and process automation sectors, as well as others beyond. We can’t wait to see you!”
www.vega.com/en-uk
January 2021 UKManufacturing
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