Extrusion International 4-2018

29 Extrusion International 4/2018 Interconnectivity with factory information systems and remote loading of instructions/ Automated integration with factory logistics system, the supply network or other machinery of the production cycle ‘Industry 4.0’ means the possibility to intensively use, assess and analyze production data within the IT (Infor- mation Technology) systems of a com- pany’s corporate level. Nowadays, PLC programs are already collecting large amounts of data on production and process levels (pres- sure values, temperatures, totalizers). Thanks to Industry 4.0, the exchange of data between production and cor- porate levels of a company, or with other systems of the line, must be guaranteed and made available to IT systems in order to – for instance – im- prove product quality. Taking into account the fact that his- toricizing data and handling the com- munication with the logistics depart- ment are a customer’s task (or of a company on its behalf), one of the es- sential requirements for the success of Industry 4.0 is therefore the existence of a uniform standard to exchange data. As for Maris lines, the use of world- wide recognized and employed pro- tocols such as Profinet or open proto- cols as the OPC Unified Architecture (UA) makes reading and writing data available and easier to manage with no need to resort to a more specific purpose-oriented add-on software. Continuous monitoring of working conditions and process parameters through appropriate sets of sensors and the adaptability to process deviations This requirement is naturally fulfilled by Maris lines as it is vital to meet the basic process and safety needs of our customers. F.LLI MARIS S.P.A. Corso Moncenisio 22 - 10090 ROSTA (TO) Italy www.mariscorp.com Simple and intuitive human- machine interface The human-machine interface (HMI) – achieved by using color touch- screen panels – has been studied and thought to be easily understood and employed by means of intuitive icons always placed in the same position on the various video pages, function but- tons to start and stop several devices ordered and represented in logical se- quence, soft colors to avoid eyestrain. Moreover, diagnostic pages have been inserted as well in the perspec- tive of remote diagnostics purposes. Thus, the whole system status can be checked without opening the electri- cal panel or, better still remotely. Remote maintenance and remote diagnostics The machine manufacturers market has been using modem to modem connections to remotely access devic- es and systems for years. Nowadays, thanks to the Internet and the broad- band – through industrial VPN routers that easily guarantee excellent levels of connectivity and reliability – op- portunities to connect any type of system or device in plants and instal- lation sites worldwide are constantly increasing. An available remote connection for theMaris systems allows tomeet both the requirements of remote mainte- nance and of remote diagnostics. • control by means of PLC (Program- mable Logic Controllers); • interconnectivity with factory infor- mation systems and remote loading of instructions (recipes); • automated integration with factory logistics systems, supply network or other machinery of the production cycle; • simple and intuitive human-machine interface; • remote maintenance, remote diag- nostics or remote control systems; • continuous monitoring of working conditions and process parameters through appropriate sets of sensors and the adaptability to process devia- tions. Maris has already provided lines en- abling customers to benefit from a specific fiscal advantage. The follow- ing solutions have been chosen: Control by means of CNC (Computer Numerical Control) or PLC (Programmable Logic Controllers) Maris extruders are equipped with constantly evolving hardware and software PLCs. This allows the com- munication within different fieldbus- es and to meet the interconnectivity requirement as well. Although all our software is inhouse developed and is part of Maris’ know-how, no custom product and/or protocol is used for communication purposes.