SMC and Software AG cooperate
IoT platform makes production fit for the future
SMC and Software AG cooperate to drive digital development in production.
Data and information only provide an advantage if they are interpreted and used quickly - every minute is valuable if production comes to a standstill, for example. SMC and Software AG therefore want to work together to develop solutions for responsive and sustainable digitalized production. "We are combining the advantages of our companies in a partnership," says Ralf Laber, Managing Director at SMC. "With our practical know-how as a leading manufacturer, partner and solution provider for pneumatic and electrical automation technology and the IT expertise of Software AG, we are shaping the digital future of production and automation."
The aim of the partnership is to develop a solution for even faster response times if, for example, a system failure is imminent. "Many people are familiar with conventional cloud systems from everyday life, for example by storing their documents with various online providers," explains Alwin Schauer, CEO of SAG Deutschland GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Software AG, and Senior Vice President Germany, Austria and Switzerland. "In the smart factory, computing power has mainly been centralized so far." The various sensors and pneumatic actuators first send their raw data to the central processing unit, which evaluates and interprets it. Ralf Laber: "But when it comes to detecting leaks or failures, things have to happen very quickly. That's why we are working with Software AG to provide solutions that speed up the data processing process."
Simplified networking and edge computing
Project teams at SMC and Software AG continuously exchange information and drive development forward. The basis for this is SMC's comprehensive portfolio of sensors and actuators with bus
bus connection and IO-Link integration from SMC and a powerful IoT platform from Software AG. With increasing networking, the aim is to make the integration of various end devices into the system as simple and flexible as possible while optimizing the processing of the collected data. "The collected data can not only be used to identify acute maintenance requirements, but preventive maintenance is also becoming increasingly important," says Ralf Laber. In order to optimally monitor the actuators and sensors and improve processes, the masses of data collected must be evaluated on site and not in the cloud. This is possible with edge computing. Control systems, actuators and sensors are still closely networked with each other, but the data evaluation does not take place centrally, but directly at its point of origin at the "edge" of the network. This significantly reduces latency times, avoids the risk of faulty production or functions and prevents downtime or rejects.
The cooperation between the two companies goes beyond the pure technical development of smart field analytics. Ralf Laber: "Our two marketing departments are coordinating how our new solution for digitalized production is to be marketed. The collaboration ranges from joint trade fair appearances and social media activities to appearances with our customers." And the topic of smart field analytics will not be the only one in which SMC and Software AG work together - further projects are to follow.
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