SUCCESS STORIES - Kannegiesser
When the piece of laundry talks to the strapping machine
Modern industrial laundries wash, dry and iron towels, tablecloths, uniforms and bed linen fully automatically. At the end of the complex line, a folding machine folds the individual items and strapping machines secure the laundry packages for transportation. For this process to work smoothly, all steps must interlock perfectly - and all machines involved must automatically recognize and assign the laundry items. This also applies to network-capable strapping machines from Mosca, which are used by Kannegiesser, a specialist in laundry technology, as the final component of lines.
Private individuals who take an item of laundry to the dry cleaners want to get it back clean - packed quickly and safely for transportation home. Business customers place the same demands on industrial laundries - but on an industrial scale. For example, a hotel sends hundreds of towels, sheets and service uniforms to the laundry overnight. The challenges for cleaning and logistics are therefore great: on delivery, everything should not only arrive at the right hotel clean, but also sorted by linen type and bundled.
Open interfaces for a fully automated production line
Mosca have been used in systems supplied by Kannegiesser since 2012. Thanks to their full network capability, the use of common exchange formats such as JSON, the OPC_UA machine communication protocol and open interfaces, they can be integrated into automatic production lines. Scanners enable them to recognize incoming clean laundry bundles and strap them once or twice, depending on requirements. "What counts for our customers is the simplicity of the system," explains Wollmann. "They want to put it into operation quickly according to the 'plug and play' principle. The fact that Mosca machines can be perfectly integrated into our data technology pays off here."
Simple, clear Industry 4.0 applications
Industrial laundries are just one of many areas in which strapping machines are used. The corrugated cardboard and paper industry, the food and beverage industry, newspapers and the graphics industry, building materials and the ceramics industry as well as mail order and logistics are also among them. The machines should not only be easy to integrate, but above all easy to operate. Mosca relies on apps such as Remote Monitoring Interfaces (RMI), which can be used to access and control networked machines via a computer browser. "A simple display of the machines, their components and programs immediately makes the operator's work easier," explains Reinhard Broghammer, Head of Electrical Engineering Development at Mosca. "For example, he can immediately see which machine has a malfunction or which strapping programs are selected." The focus here is on IT security. Customers access the strapping machines via their intranet. This means that potential attacks from outside can be ruled out.
Ready for the future with RFID
Mosca 's Industry 4.0 potential does not end with the strapping machines themselves. Similar to the laundry items that are assigned to the correct pile and thus to the customer in the industrial laundry, this also happens with the strapping produced in-house. To this end, Mosca developed a system based on RFID tags in collaboration with ERP specialist PSI Automotive & Industry and the company Winckel. This allows Mosca's customers to store and reorder their Strap fully automatically. "The RFID system is a good example of what is possible for us under the umbrella term Industry 4.0," explains Broghammer. "Together with our customers, we are exploring the possibilities of Industry 4.0. One challenge here is certainly to make the customer aware of the problems that networking can solve. Once this hurdle has been overcome, we can develop completely new solutions."
Satisfied customer
Once around the world thanks to remote maintenance
If a machine does not perform as expected, Mosca can get a quick overview of the problem via remote maintenance. To do this, experts connect to the customer's computer, which is connected to the affected machine via LAN cable. This enables them to quickly carry out an analysis using the application already being used by the customer. And globally. "One of my colleagues practically travels the world every day," says Broghammer. "The Mosca Remote Service not only enables us to carry out a diagnosis, but also to operate all existing programs in the same way as the user and install new ones."
"Our machines are perfectly coordinated from the washing line to the folding machine and process the laundry fully automatically."