Fit for digitalization
Connectivity Suite optimizes digital services
In the context of Industry 4.0 and IoT, the focus is shifting to digitalization. From remote machine maintenance to after-sales service - if you want to be successful on the market, you need modern solutions. Swiss-based machine and plant manufacturer Bystronic Maschinen, which is part of the Finnish Glaston Corporation, also follows this principle. The company relies on the Connectivity Suite from NetModule for its service business.
Bystronic Maschinen AG manufactures glass processing machines for automotive and thin glass applications. The product range extends from basic components to automated, customer-specific complete systems for glass processing. This is where terms such as predictive maintenance and condition monitoring, which are on everyone's lips in the wake of the Internet of Things, Industry 4.0 and Big Data, come into play. The areas of service, digital services and spare parts play a central role in aftersales.
The initial situation
As a rule, the customer contacts the service technician to solve a problem. Bystronic has been providing this reliable online support since 2000, initially with the help of a telephone modem and later via the customer's own VPN connection. As connectivity increases, so do the security requirements. In modern security networks, logging into VPNs with Windows XP machines is virtually impossible or only possible with an enormous amount of time (e.g. 4 hours to resolve a five-minute problem). Ultimately, the entire aftersales area suffers as a result - an absolute no-go in digital times where speed is of the essence.
A solution was therefore needed to meet the high level of digitalization and to cover the needs of customers more quickly and comprehensively. At the same time, it needed to facilitate remote access to the machines. The customer's requirements included
- stable connection,
- security,
- reliability,
- speed,
- simple and efficient handling,
- good price-performance ratio.
After carefully examining various solutions, NetModule was awarded the contract - the communications specialist was not only able to meet the requirements, but also "deliver connections with a stability that renowned competitors cannot achieve," as Matthias Rilinger, Training and Support / After Sales Service Bystronic Maschinen AG, emphasizes.
The NetModule support team from Frankfurt also demonstrated a quick solution for connecting to the NetModule Connectivity Suite to resolve problems. In a proof of concept, the team explained how the desired requirements such as fast connection, remote maintenance and stable and secure connections are met.
The practical implementation
The Connectivity Suite, a web-based and modular management platform, makes it possible to securely integrate, configure and manage the routers used in the network. This makes it easy to create secure VPN networks and quickly identify and solve problems. The central component of the platform is a user-friendly dashboard that provides a quick overview:
- The device list shows all integrated routers with their characteristics (type, firmware version, online status) and which sub-networks they belong to.
- The online status of the devices is indicated via the Status (Health ) component.
- The Configuration component enables the management of configurations and firmware updates.
- If configurations are to be managed and scheduled updates are to be installed, this is done via the Deployment function.
Once the routers have been put into operation, device management is also carried out via the dashboard. The optional grouping of routers is advantageous here, whether for logical grouping or for easier management of configuration and firmware updates. Individual devices or device groups can in turn be assigned to individual users or user groups.
The security
The VPN connections between the platform and the routers are established independently. The Connectivity Suite uses OpenVPN with TLS encryption for encryption. This ensures the confidentiality, authenticity and integrity of all exchanged information and data. Furthermore, an optional key switch script separates the router from the VPN network. This creates trust and transparency for the end customer. All connections with users are also logged - this makes access traceable and prevents misuse.
For Bystronic, customer protection and safety are always at the forefront. Bystronic currently has over 100 NetModule routers installed, with access to machines and systems worldwide.
Specifications fulfilled
After the project implementation, there were several advantages for the machine and plant manufacturer:
- The online service or remote maintenance is now faster and, above all, very reliable. Service technicians can connect in around 20 seconds.
- An encrypted VPN infrastructure for secure communication is possible anytime and anywhere - this benefits working from home.
- Remote software and configuration updates are easy to handle - technicians can work as if they were on site. Should an incident occur, the Connectivity Suite enables immediate access to any device and the associated system at any location, and therefore access to the software or configuration.
- Automated and scheduled OTA (over-the-air) remote updates and configurations can also be easily controlled and individually regulated.
- Several secure communication channels enable separate access to the device level for service technicians despite XP controllers, and thanks to the Cloud Switch feature, the Connectivity Suite establishes a communication channel via the broadcast level of the XP controller to the individual end devices via a bridge (XP controllers are still used in many production plants because it is not possible to switch to a new operating system due to the need for individualization and the costs involved).
Time is money. In order to be more agile on the market, digital solutions are taking center stage so that customer needs can be met more quickly and comprehensively. With faster and better online service, Bystronic Maschinen AG has positioned itself well for the future. Because the Connectivity Suite is powerful enough for projects with several hundred routers, it can grow with the application - investment security is therefore guaranteed.
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