Industry 4.0 unplugged

>Furthermore, today's smart plants are expected to take decisions regarding production efficiency and safety autonomously. Industry 4.0 is more about machines doing the work and interpreting the data, than plants relying on human intelligence - as was the case until now.

>Thanks to the capacity of Industry 4.0 ready devices to process big data, they are able to offer statistics and trends that allow manufacturers to make their production lean and more fuel efficient. Saving electricity and water are key requirements for modern plant managers and they can achieve their eco-friendly goals by using smart plant connectivity.

>REO UK reports that it offers a number of products that integrate seamlessly into an Industry 4.0 plant environment. Automation solutions like recognition systems for product checking and sorting can be used to provide status reports. The information received from them can be sent straight to the quality department who can stop production if faults have been discovered. In addition, these recognition systems come with a program written as an instruction list, operating sequence or ladder diagram, as specified in the IEC 1131 standards. This makes them ideal for the track and trace requirements of the pharma industry, as well as those of food manufacturing plants.

>Vibration measurement instruments can also be integrated into smart plant strategies. The Reovib BK032 is a monitoring unit for vibratory feeders for instance. By using this measuring device in conjunction with an accelerometer, vibration levels can be easily monitored and introduced to a database.

>In the Reovib control system, an acceptance window can be set, defining adjustable maximum and minimum limits. If either of these values is exceeded, a corresponding relay will operate. During the unstable, start-up phase a time delay can be set so that spurious readings are ignored. The unit has a built-in sensor power supply for direct connection, which means that REO's measurement instruments not only collect data, but also react to it and take action as per the input programs.

>REO believe that Industry 4.0 will ultimately represent a significant evolution in manufacturing and industry. Furthermore, geographical and data boundaries between distinct factories will soon become a thing of the past, with smart plant concepts joining-up sites located anywhere around the world.  

>REO recognises that its own products are only a very small part of this bigger picture. Furthermore, it asserts that it has never set out to design an 'Industry 4.0' compliant device, just as customers never ask for an 'Industry 4.0' application. Instead REO sees itself as part of a trend in the electrical industry, and is keen to see how it develops.