AP&T adds online functions to help customers with Industry 4.0

AP&T has invested in new online functions to help customers and operators gain better control over their production equipment’s availability and efficiency. Together with a large manufacturer of sheet metal components for the automotive industry, the company is testing a new, complete Industry 4.0 system for press hardening lines.

“Since we are responsible for the complete line, all of the included units are fully integrated from the start. This makes it relatively easy to produce and analyze selected information and have it presented in an easily accessible manner,” said AP&T CTO Product Development Christer Bäckdahl.

The system generates different types of data to help users optimally use their equipment. The data can be used to achieve better control over production, optimize processes, prevent unplanned stoppages, increase availability, streamline energy efficiency, and improve the quality of the produced products.

Measurement data from the line’s various units is collected on an ongoing basis and then analyzed and stored in the customer’s database using AP&T's data acquisition platform. Advanced analyses are performed there, and information is presented in web-based format according to customer preferences. The customer decides who is to have access to the information and which classification level applies.

“All of the data is available and can be accessed through our cloud service for remote connection. You can have the data presented on your tablet or smartphone, on the control panels at the line, or on your computer at the office,” said Bäckdahl.

The tests will result in several commercial applications in 2018, the company reports. Some of the online features are performance monitoring, condition monitoring, process monitoring, energy monitoring, remote maintenance, and operation monitoring.