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Intelligent Wiring Concept
machine operation. Storing, analyzing
and evaluating data on the operating
statuses of a machine form the basis
for predicting potential defects in
machine parts and components, so
that maintenance can be scheduled
and carried out even before a
failure occurs and results in machine
downtime. By minimizing unexpected
downtimes and therefore production
shortfalls, machine availability and
productivity increase while servicing
and maintenance costs decrease.
Modernization and upgrades ensure
productivity
Requirements can always change over
the long operating period of a machine.
Regular adjustments and upgrades are
essential to ensure that the machine
continues to meet demands. It is
therefore beneficial to have a machine
concept that allows for easy integration
of new modules and components.
Furthermore, as the components
age, machine performance reduces,
the frequency of errors increases and
servicing and maintenance costs rise.
For this reason, it is advantageous
when modernization measures, such
as replacing old drives and controls,
can be implemented with minimal
downtimes. With new components,
even a 15 or 20-year-old machine
can keep up with a new installation in
terms of productivity and downtimes.
Transparency right down to the sensor
Growing requirements for power
management, condition monitoring
and predictive maintenance increase
the process monitoring and analysis
workload. An ever-growing amount
of data is required to facilitate
confident
decision-making
and
predictions about the machine status:
information on energy consumption,
machine statuses, temperatures,
switching times and much more
should provide as comprehensive
a view of the machine as possible.
Only by considering the entire chain
of processes is it possible to quickly
identify critical machine statuses and
deviations from the normal condition
and prevent downtimes. However, this
approach requires a great amount of
data that has been recorded previously
as a matter of course – not just status
data for more complex electronic
components, such as controls or
drives, but also information from
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