Machinery manufacturer Windmöller & Hölscher (W&H) has released a new internet of things (IoT) system called Ruby that aims to digitise the value chain in the packaging industry.
By connecting digital data with process knowledge W&H offers several possibilities for data-based optimisation of the production process, from increasing productivity to quality management.
Ruby is offered as a standard platform with tailor-made extensions for extrusion, printing, and converting.
W&H says the system has a user-friendly interface that displays all data and data services.
W&H head of extrusion software Wolfgang Hoffmann said: “Since the 90s, W&H has had a central, digital information system called ISP, which many customers have used to collect and display production and process data. RUBY automatically evaluates this data and is the basis for additional digital services to further optimise these processes.”
With the extensions, W&H offers enhancements for each specific type of machine.
Hoffmann said: “As an example, RUBY supports extruders using algorithms to evaluate production data, analyse trends and define thresholds for good production, which the system then monitors for adherence.”
Then, Ruby can link production data with quality data from the lab and downstream processes.
W&H says Ruby helps customers maximise the potential of their production data by using data to optimise process parameters enables more effectiveness though higher productivity and better quality.
According to the company, data-based error detection and alarms translate into higher efficiency, less waste and less downtime.
Hoffman said data are valuable treasure in production.
“Production data that are stored securely and able to be used any time from anywhere are valuable for damage control,” he said. “With RUBY we want to help our customers uncover their data.”
