Austrian automotive supplier
An Austrian automotive parts supplier uses smart plastics from igus for its indoor gantry cranes, which handle engine blocks automatically.
With igus energy chains, cables and plain bearing products, we aim to improve the technical performance of your equipment on site, or reduce your costs. Ideally, we can improve technical performance and lower your outgoings by providing products from igus that are more wear-resistant and have to be replaced less frequently. The sensors and isense systems enable predictive maintenance of e-chains, dry-tech plain bearing products and chainflex cables.
Defects are detected before they occur, downtimes are avoided, repair times are shortened due to early intervention, and machine availability is increased. Scheduled maintenance inspections become unnecessary and employees can be more effectively employed.
Under the name "isense", igus supplies various sensors that detect the status of igus components such as cables and energy chains. They measure wear, among other things, and alert the user or switch off the machine as soon as a component needs to be repaired or replaced. By networking with the icom communication module, the data is transmitted to an intelligent system. The module can be connected to all igus isense sensors. For example, with sensors for the measurement of abrasion or the amount of wear of the energy chain's pin/bore connection, as well as sensors for the detection of breakage and push/pull forces and for cable monitoring as well.
Once the measured values from a sensor have been transferred to the icom module, they have to be "interpreted" in order to generate instructions about what now needs to be done. This is possible via the connection to the igus cloud. Due to the increasing importance of IT security, however, many companies are increasingly relying on creation of their own SCADA systems. This is why igus has developed the "icom. plus" model. With this module, individual customers can integrate the data in the way that is most appropriate for their equipment and their company.
With the icom.plus and icom communication models from igus, you can decide how you would like to use the data acquired via the sensors. When you want to integrate the data into your system or read out the data, you are free to do so offline in the case of restrictive environments or establish a link to the igus server.
There are several ways of finding the right system. Starting from the area of use, for example energy chains, or with the question of what is to be achieved with the systems. Are the systems to be used for predictive maintenance where the remaining service life is displayed or is an alarm to be given in the event of components becoming worn or defective?
Online monitoring and predictive maintenance with the icom module, machine learning and networking with the igus cloud and IoT (Internet of Things).
Offline monitoring and predictive maintenance of energy chains, cables and bearings. With the icom. plus, the display of information is integrated into the customer's own system.
In the case of an existing or imminent defect, the systems recommend a machine stop in order to prevent damage to the entire application.
Output of alarms, service life data and raw sensor data to the customer's existing system. Online and offline use possible.
A wide range of smart plastics products is available.
Please fill in the form so that we can put together a suitable system that is tailored to your specific needs.
Download the "igus smart plastics" brochure (PDF)
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