Bakkersland goes automatic with eWON remote maintenance
Published February 2015. http://ewon.biz/success-story/bakkersland-goes-automatic-ewon-remote-maintenance
The main concern of the Bakkersland company is the possible standstill of machinery in a production process. Any standstill situation could lead to delays in the logistic process.
To avoid this kind of disruption, the Bakkersland Corporate implemented a project in which was planned that every machinery would be equipped with an eWON industrial router.
« We would like all suppliers to have direct access to their machines in our production line », Dennis van Scheijndel, technical specialist and directly involved with the technical automation at Bakkersland.
Standardization of the remote maintenance
The eWON routers are installed in the control room next to the PLC on the DIN rail. The structure works online and can provide a remote supervision of the machine to the operator through a secure VPN connection. The VPN connection enables the operator to avoid virus and prevent outside people from wanting to gain access to sensitive information.
« We therefore ask all our suppliers to install an eWON router on their machines. They are easy to work with. Moreover, this equipment can communicate with most common PLCs. We know that big suppliers such as Kaak, WP Haton and Benier are familiar with eWON technology. Some already install the router in the control cabinet next to the PLC. This allows for a standardised remote maintenance solution.»
eWON Cosy
The Bakkersland corporate chose the eWON Cosy router as remote maintenance system for their machinery. Compared to previous eWON products, the Cosy interface has been significantly simplified. For instance, the Cosy does not offer real time viewing on the built-in web server.
Also the data logging feature, as well as sending alarm messages or scripting in Basic are no longer available while they were possible with the previous eWON series.
Vincent Wagenaar from Raster Products explains why: « eWON has developed this product to meet the demand of a more simplified router with only basic features. Routers equipped with many features are often not used to their full potential. The Cosy eWON can be regarded as a replacement for the traditional modem, whereby the Cosy establishes an internet connection immediately, rather than using a telephone connection.»
What remain identical are the eWON options: direct access via a VPN tunnel, (PLC) software uploads and downloads, access to IP cameras, HMI and remote PC. As with the other series, the Cosy can be used to communicate with PLCs from brands such as Siemens, Rockwell, Schneider, Omron, Mitsubishi and Vipa.
Direct benefits
Van Scheijnde comments the multiple benefices of an eWON structure: « If there is an alarm, the operator may be able to indicate that a particular sensor is dirty or that the connection isn’t entirely secured. If necessary, the supplier will be able to make changes to the control.
It is not only us as a user who wins in time; the machine manufacturer has no further need to send an engineer out. In particular, suppliers who are located abroad benefit from this. I’m unable to give you an insight into long-term usage as the routers were only installed
recently.»
VPN connections can be established using Talk2M, an eWON online server. As soon as the manufacturer tries to connect to Talk2M, the server will inform the router which will subsequently establish a VPN connection with Talk2M.
Benefits
• Saving of time
• No more engineers send out for maintenance
• Link the machines in the internet network