Efficient data acquisition is essential to achieve complete transparency in the production process, so that production can be more sustainable and efficient. The Data Collection Box was developed precisely for this purpose, as it can be used to collect extensive energy and process data without influencing or disrupting ongoing operations. Thanks to the modular and compact design, both greenfield and brownfield applications can be easily implemented with the different versions of the box.
In terms of IIoT and Big Data, factories currently offer a wealth of data that is ripe for acquisition. While measured values, such as temperature, water, pressure conditions, or machine data, were recorded locally and evaluated individually in the past, data is now collected, consolidated, and evaluated holistically. This provides a comprehensive insight into the actual state of machines, systems, and processes in production.
In addition to providing an overview of the resources used, this also allows potential process or quality issues to be identified so that new potential can be unlocked. It is only in this way that a factory can be gradually transformed into a sustainable, CO₂-reduced net zero factory with increased overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
This requires a reliable solution for acquiring a wide range of OT data. However, this is particularly difficult with existing systems, because interfaces are often not available or system conversion is associated with the corresponding loss of certification as well as technical risks. This can lead to unplanned downtimes. Furthermore, data acquisition should be fast, cost-effective, and customizable. This creates the conditions for intelligent and real-time-capable data acquisition in the Digital Factory.
Suitable for every application:
From ready-made solutions to custom designs that are tailored to your needs
Comprehensive and coordinated product portfolio:
Smart products for the acquisition of process and energy data ensure easy and error-free startup in your production operations
Make data available everywhere:
Optional IIoT framework extension enables unlimited data exchange beyond OT into IT and cloud services
From collecting your data to analyzing it:
With the optional MLnext AI extension, even large volumes of data can be analyzed smartly for more targeted and faster optimizations
The Data Collection Box can be used in a variety of ways to collect energy and process data in greenfield and brownfield plants. The collected data is mostly stored locally, but with a few minor adjustments it can also be transferred to IT or cloud services such as PROFICLOUD. You can choose between standardized boxes or fully customized versions. Customization is not just limited to the hardware; it also extends to the software.
When selecting the Data Collection Box that is right for you, all you need to do is follow the two steps below.
A comprehensive product portfolio is available for the acquisition of energy data from your machines and systems. This allows you to select the right measuring devices and associated components to meet your requirements. For example, the EMpro energy measuring devices enable you to transfer your data either locally to the network or directly to the cloud. Discover the wide range of options for intelligent data collection, so you can pave the way for sustainable energy management.
When it comes the acquisition of process data, such as the duration of a particular process in your system, our remote I/O systems are ideal for the Data Collection Box. The focus here is on the Axioline F and SE I/O systems.
In order to acquire and process the required data in production, appropriate controllers, IPCs, or EPCs, are required in addition to the I/O system. With PLCnext Technology controllers and EPCs, you get a wide variety of different designs. This portfolio is complemented by a wide selection of powerful IPCs.
Various standardized solutions are available in the form of ready-made versions. They are already tested and ready for use in various applications, and only minor parameterization is required. This enables fast startup of the Data Collection Box.
Furthermore, the boxes are CE certified. Alternative certification, such as UL or CCC, can be implemented on request.
If none of the standardized versions fully meets your requirements, the ready-made solutions can be used as the basis for new versions.
Simply choose which modules you want to use for process and energy data collection and for data processing, and which type of housing you need. It is even possible to integrate third-party components.
Even when your requirements and applications are very specific, we will work together with you to develop a completely new Data Collection Box. You can freely select the modules for data processing and for process and energy data collection, plus the housing, as well as all the other parameters. This ensures that the Data Collection Box is ideally suited to your application and needs.
The Data Collection Box is designed for data collection in the OT area. It can also be extended quickly and easily thanks to the PLCnext Technology open control platform. This means that data exchange beyond OT can be implemented by means of the IIoT framework. The framework can be used to reach any IT or cloud system for unlimited data exchange. In addition to the existing OT, IT, and cloud connectors, you can also add your own ones independently.
Furthermore, MLnext provides you with machine learning software that makes it easy to evaluate even large and complex volumes of data using neural networks. Here you can choose between different versions where evaluation is started manually, semi-automatically, or automatically. Appropriate optimizations, e.g., to the processes in your Digital Factory, can be implemented through the use of AI-based algorithms.
An average of 2.7 million data points are recorded per day in the electronics production at our PLCnext Factory in Bad Pyrmont (Germany). The Data Collection Box is already being used in many positions to help shape resource-efficient production. Our experts discuss the current challenges associated with data collection. You will also discover how a corresponding version of the box can be integrated quickly and easily in practice.
