Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG will demonstrate a range of new innovations in Industry 4.0 techniques at ITMA 2019 in Barcelona, Spain, from June 20-26, 2019. These innovations will include ‘digital twin’ capability, which is now being made available for all Monforts machine systems and the latest advanced sensor technology through which comprehensive technical machine data can be virtually mapped in the cloud in real time.

The data can be easily accessed using the new Monforts Smart Support and Smart Check apps for an instantaneous status overview. All specifications related to the machine’s performance and the production process can be mapped, to enable vastly simplified and targeted analysis for controlled planning and production. Insights harnessed from such analysis can be used to optimise the actual production process. At the same time, potential sources of error can be anticipated and eliminated, enabling improved machine availability while considerably minimising downtime.

In addition, the digital twin system provides information on the individual wear parts of a system, such as converters or gears. Operators and mill managers are informed by Smart Check sensors when maintenance or the replacement of key components will be required, well ahead of time.

On request, Monforts can also virtually monitor machine performance and pro-actively alert customers to the need for preventative action. In such cases, however, data is only ever called from the cloud by Monforts when customers have given their full consent, in the interests of data security. Data from Smart Check, for example, can even be used to analyse a system’s energy requirements, allowing machine operation to be optimised by tailoring production runs to the peaks and troughs of electricity costs.