Stay competitive in an era of increasingly stringent regulations

1420-V2-ENT More regulations are being passed around the world to ensure food safety. Against the backdrop of increasingly stringent regulations, many businesses are finding it difficult to get the data they need. Using iot data, businesses can monitor food in the supply chain, reduce waste and prevent food safety incidents. For example, companies use sensors to comply with specific regulations such as temperature, humidity, and food expiration dates.

These sensors are monitored remotely, and they can control the operation of the machine 24/7 and monitor the status of the machine anytime and anywhere. In the UK, Howard Town Brewery uses sensors in the brewing process, giving it full control over production. This ensures that the beer meets the highest quality standards and saves on human resources. By monitoring these sensors remotely, it is even possible to start, stop and adjust production equipment. In addition, the remote monitoring solution can generate reports via email that plot online trends of performance over a period of time, which is very useful for optimizing machine and raw material handling.

Stay competitive with iot solutions

1420-V2-ENT The main resistance to change has been security concerns. Companies have shied away from the change because of fears of hacking, hijacking attacks and competitors stealing information.

To avoid these IT issues, the key is to choose a cloud solution that is certified, secure, and continuously tested. At HMS, security is a top priority and we integrate security into every aspect of our solution framework.

Another concern for companies is the difficulty of landing the technology. Many of the new machines have Internet access, but they are concerned that some older machines may not be able to adapt to the new technology. Our Industrial iot solutions have none of this, and many older machines can be adapted to use network equipment. Network devices such as routers and switches can connect directly to the Internet, connecting sensors on existing machines to the Industrial Internet of Things.

1420-V2-ENT Reduce downtime and create flexible factories

The main advantage of using network data is to help understand the causes of machine failures and find solutions to reduce downtime. This includes using more robust components or finding alternative configuration solutions.

A common machine network connection problem is a mechanical failure of the physical medium, such as a broken cable or a leak of electricity. This kind of failure is especially common in rotating systems using slip rings. As a contact part, the slip ring will wear and fail over time, increasing the need for maintenance. In addition, the frequent use of strong detergents can also damage data cables and connectors.

1420-V2-ENT In response to these problems, people are turning to wireless technology to connect machines to the network. Wireless connection technology eliminates cables and slip rings, reducing mechanical failures. It also increases the modularity of the machines, making the factory configuration more flexible. For example, the dough mixer of the Swedish bread maker Ostras brod uses this technology. They installed wireless devices on the top of the roaster and on the control cabinet, which not only reduced wiring costs, but also eliminated potential points of failure, thereby extending the uptime of the machine.

Reduce factory production risks and ensure worker safety

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA incident data, the most common violations related to automated machines include locking/listing, machine protection, and electrical safety. In food and beverage factories, ensuring worker safety is of Paramount importance.

One way to mitigate these security risks is to provide machine data so that machine owners can know in real time when a device is in an unsafe state and take protective measures accordingly. The data also helps users more easily predict major failures and correct them before worker safety is compromised. The edge gateway plays a key role in this process, providing data to multiple computing platforms.

1420-V2-ENT The most effective way to protect workers is to reduce their physical interaction with automated machines. Technologies that enable this include local connections outside the machine using wireless networks and the use of remote access gateways that enable maintenance personnel to make software management and changes to the machine anytime, anywhere.

Join hands with HMS to embrace Industry 4.0

HMS Industrial Networks is a leading provider of industrial networking and communications solutions focused on a wide range of products and services for the food and beverage industry. These solutions are designed to help customers address key industry challenges, including:

Food safety monitoring: HMS provides industrial communication solutions that monitor key parameters such as temperature and humidity during food production in real time to prevent food spoilage.

Traceability and quality control: The company’s solutions enable product tracking throughout the supply chain to quickly locate the source of food contamination or quality issues.

Production process Automation: HMS provides manufacturers with industrial communication technologies to automate production processes, thereby increasing production efficiency and reducing costs.

Data Management and Analytics: The company’s solutions also include managing and analyzing data generated by industrial equipment and machines to help customers gain insight into their operations and extract valuable information to make more informed decisions.

HMS’s technology will provide customers with a number of benefits, including cost savings, reduced downtime, product tracking, and improved safety.