‘The user will be interested in more data and value added services’
Published on : Monday 30-11--0001
Industry 4.0 – the 4th revolution is the current trend of automation and data exchange. It includes cyber physical system (CPS), the internet of things and cloud computing. The industrial internet creates higher production and resource efficiency.
The term Industry 4.0 originates from a project of the German government, which promotes the computerisation of manufacturing. Industry 4.0 is a term applied to a group of rapid transformations in the design, manufacture, operation and service of manufacturing systems and products.
The 1st revolution improved efficiency through the use of hydropower, the increasing use of steam power and the development of machine tools, 2nd on mass production with the help of electric power, the 3rd and most recent further accelerated automation using electronics and IT. The 4th revolution is based on CPS: it is a new pattern in which all the parts of the plant and infrastructure works hand in hand to optimise the operation thus resulting in autonomous and decentralised production. Through connected equipment and lines, Industry 4.0 systems make available real-time status information through Remote Monitoring.
A typical application scenario in Industry 4.0 is intelligent products, carrying all necessary information about their production process. These products communicate with available and appropriate production resources in the value chain and decide on their own, which steps to take next. Another scenario is intelligent machines that are able to predict breakdowns or quality problems and organise maintenance in time by making use of the predictive maintenance feature.
What are your views on Industrie 4.0 technology overview?
Field devices in process plants gather valuable additional data on their own condition and environment. Until now, this information could rarely be used due to a lack of continuous communication channels from the field to the control room.
But Industry 4.0 approaches like condition monitoring and predictive maintenance require this information. This is why we joined with partners to develop solutions that make this data available – whether in the control room, in cloud-based systems, or even on mobile devices.
What should the users look when seeking solution partners to help with Digital Transformation?
The user will be interested in more data and value added services. In close collaboration with field device manufacturers, Pepperl+Fuchs is developing solutions that make additional data centrally available, creating additional communication channels parallel to the 4...20 mA current loop. For example, the BULLET WirelessHART adapter enables valuable data from field devices to be transferred via a gateway to the cloud. This data can also be transferred via Remote I/O.
The interplay of Pepperl+Fuchs components and innovative software and cloud solutions from our partners enables predictive maintenance by allowing you to identify device maintenance requirements in advance.
What, in your view, are the common apprehensions of users about Industrie 4.0 technologies? How would you address them?
Industrial Internet Reference Architecture – IIRA, this standards-based architectural template and methodology enables Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) system architects to design their own systems based on a common framework and concepts. This simplifies all apprehensions of users.
From a vendor’s perspective, what new technologies do you offer for implementation in manufacturing plants?
Ethernet for the Process Plant Shop Floor – In process automation, continuous communication via Ethernet down to the field level is still no more than just a scenario. Together with other companies, Pepperl+Fuchs is jointly developing an "Advanced Physical Layer" (APL) to make Ethernet usable for demanding tasks in the process industry. This physical layer allows continuous, transparent communication across all hierarchy levels and makes Ethernet available in every corner of a process plant.
With a transmission rate of 10 Mbit/s, Ethernet is much faster than HART, allowing it to handle the large data volumes that go hand in hand with Industry 4.0. The robust wire can cover distances of up to 2000 m while supplying field devices in Zone 0/Div. 1 hazardous areas with power.
Do you have industry specific solutions – IIoT compliant products – that you will display at the Expo?
With explosion-proof mobile devices from ecom, a Pepperl+Fuchs brand, data is even available on the move. Whether you have it on your smartphone or on your tablet, always be connected and take your process data anywhere.
The rugged new Tab-Ex® tablet series is tailored to the requirements of your process plant. With innovative features like an augmented reality app, it simplifies the daily tasks of mobile workers.
Cloud Solutions from Neoception: The Pepperl+Fuchs subsidiary Neoception develops innovative software solutions and industrial IoT services that are specially tailored to our customers’ individual business processes and requirements. Neoception solutions allow field devices to be smoothly integrated into existing IT infrastructures with real-time cloud access to parameters. This central availability of field device data allows remote monitoring and custom analysis of processes, so existing processes can be optimised and potentials can be identified. For field device integration, users do not need specialised knowledge of the transfer technology--they can focus on selecting and analysing their parameters
What are the benefits to the user and what is the USP?
The essence of Industry 4.0 vision is the internet of things, i.e., the connection of people, things and machines. This would create a link between the virtual world and the physical objects within the real world. The integrated analysis and use of data are the key capabilities for the industrial internet. Horizontal cooperation allows for improved satisfaction of customer requirement. Digitisation of the product and service portfolio with Pepperl+Fuchs expertise in explosion protection is the key to sustainable co-operate success.