food Marketing - Technology 2/2024

Packaging
to increase performance and product
quality.
How exactly can digital solutions
help increase OEE?
Hein: Digital solutions can help to
identify improvement potentials for
cost reduction, productivity increase,
or resource savings. Software lays the
groundwork for data-based decisions.
It collects, evaluates, and visualizes
production and machine data– and
provides full performance transparency.
Let’s take a look at some application
examples of digital solutions: The
most frequent reasons for machine
downtimes can be identified by evaluating
alarms, which are then visualized
by quantity and time, e.g., in a pareto
chart. Another example is the close
monitoring of the equipment’s power
consumption to identify saving potentials
– a huge advantage when aiming
for more sustainable production
processes. Finally, software increases
overall process transparency. It enables
manufacturers to compare production
data from different machines
at varying time periods to identify parameters
for increased productivity –
even across multiple production sites.
Sounds like digital solutions offer
a range of benefits. So why aren’t
more manufacturers using them
already?
Hein: Many manufacturers are reluctant
to invest in digital solutions since
they are not aware of the huge potential
they offer in terms of performance
improvement and cost reduction. The
first implementation also comes with
quite a few challenges: many manufacturers
have equipment from different
suppliers, of different types and
age on their shopfloor. Often, they
do not have standardized interfaces.
Connecting all machines to one platform
requires the right partner who
offers expert support during implementation.
Is there a solution for this connectivity
issue?
Hein: It depends whether we are talking
about new or existing equipment.
Uptime Sustainability power monitoring
Our new machines are all IoT-ready:
they have a standardized digital interface
that facilitates connecting
the machines with each other, to the
Syntegon software solution or to a
customer’s own Manufacturing Execution
System (MES). Additionally,
we are retrofitting legacy equipment
and offer an edge device that is compatible
with older machines. We are
also working on a sensor-based solution
for third-party equipment that will
allow us to collect information on the
output rate and the machine status.
Why should your customers
invest in digital solutions from a
machine manufacturer instead of
turning to a software specialist?
Hein: Machine manufacturers know
their own equipment best. This expertise
is invaluable if you want to exploit
the full potential in production.
With our new cloud-based software
solution Synexio, for example, our
clients benefit from our industry expertise.
But even more importantly,
we work together with our customers
in a true partnership. Our experts are
available to help interpret the data,
support with required machine modernizations
or provide operator
training.
Tell us a bit more about Synexio.
Hein: Synexio comes in three packages:
Monitor, Uptime, and Empower.
Synexio Monitor visualizes various
KPIs and provides a secure data
connection to ensure that the production
and machine data is stored in an
ISO-certified management system.
With Synexio Uptime, manufacturers
gain access to additional features to
boost their productivity. For example,
they can identify reasons for unplanned
downtimes and benchmark
various machines and time periods.
Additionally, Uptime’s sustainability
monitoring provides data on energy
consumption and waste production,
supporting customers to reduce their
carbon footprint. At this year’s Pack
Expo in Las Vegas from September 11-
13, visitors can experience the benefits
of Uptime firsthand and get a first
glimpse of Synexio Empower, the third
and most comprehensive upcoming
Synexio package. Empower reduces
unplanned downtime with condition
and time-based maintenance and empowers
customers’ workforce with ondemand
training content and improved
troubleshooting.
What was customer feedback
like, and how did you go about
the implementation?
Hein: We really wanted customers to
explore the benefits of Synexio Monitor,
so we offered a free trial-period.
Many were eager to go ahead with
long-term implementation even before
the trial period ended. Our customers’
feedback was very positive,
and many were seeing tangible results
from the beginning. One manufacturer,
for example, identified incorrect
film reel changes on his machines as a
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