When laundry items talk to the strapping machine

Modern industrial laundry services use a fully automated process to wash, dry, and iron towels, tablecloths, uniforms, and bed linens. At the end of this complex line, a device folds the individual pieces which are then secured for transport by a strapping machine. For this process to work smoothly, all steps must be perfectly coordinated; the machines must be capable of automatically recognizing and sorting the laundry. This also applies to Mosca’s network-compatible strapping machines. They are used as the final link in the production lines at Kannegiesser, a company specializing in commercial laundry systems.

Private customers who take their clothing to a laundry service want to have the exact same items returned fresh, clean, and readily packaged for the trip home. Commercial customers expect the same – but on an industrial scale. A hotel, for example, regularly sends hundreds of towels, bed sheets, and service uniforms to an industrial laundry service. This presents a huge challenge for cleaning and logistics operations. At the end of the process, everything must be clean, sorted, bundled, and delivered to the right hotel.

Kannegiesser, a manufacturer of laundry processing lines and technology based in Vlotho, Germany, meets these challenges with their ‘Smart Laundry’ concept. "This describes our approach to fully-automated laundry processing," explains Christian Wollmann, head of the conveyor system product line at Kannegiesser. "From the washing line to folding machines, our equipment is optimally coordinated by a central control system and capable of fully automated processing. This intelligent solution tracks laundry-specific data and assigns items to a delivery batch."

Open interfaces for a fully automated production line

Mosca machines have been integrated into systems supplied by Kannegiesser since 2012. Full-scale networking capability, standardized data interchange formats like JSON, the OPC_UA machine communication protocol, and open interfaces, make it possible to integrate Mosca strapping machines into automated production lines. Scanners detect clean laundry bundles and strap them once or twice as necessary. "Our customers appreciate the fact that the system is uncomplicated," Wollmann adds. "They want to quickly get things up and running based on the plug & play principle. The fact that the Mosca machines can be perfectly integrated into our data system is a key benefit."

Clear and simple: Industry 4.0 applications

Industrial laundry services are only one of the many industries using strapping machines. Other important sectors include corrugated cardboard and paper, food and beverage, newspaper and graphics, building materials and ceramics, mail order and logistics. For these industries, strapping machines should be easy to integrate, and above all, easy to operate. Mosca relies on Remote Monitoring Interfaces (RMI) and other browser-driven applications to enable users to access and control networks. "A simple display of the machine, components, and programs make the operator's job much easier," explains Reinhard Broghammer, Head of Electrical Engineering at Mosca. "This enables him to immediately see which machine is malfunctioning or which strapping programs are selected." IT security is a key factor. Customers can access their strapping machines via the company intranet, which prevents possible attacks from the outside.

Around the world thanks to remote maintenance

If a machine fails to operate properly, Mosca service teams can quickly diagnose the problem via remote maintenance. To do so, the experts directly access the customer's computer connected to the affected machine by LAN cable. This enables them to quickly carry out an analysis using an application activated by the customer – anywhere in the world. Broghammer comments: "One of my colleagues takes a trip around the world every day. With the Mosca Remote Service we are able to troubleshoot problems, control user software, and launch new programs."

Ready for the future with RFID

The Mosca Industry 4.0 potential goes beyond strapping machines. Similar to the way that laundry items assigned to the right stack and customer, strapping materials produced by Mosca can be automatically inventoried and reordered. In cooperation with ERP specialist PSI Automotive & Industry and the Winckel company, Mosca has developed an ordering system based on RFID tags. With it, Mosca clients can store and reorder their straps fully automated. "The RFID system is a good example of what Industry 4.0 can mean," Broghammer explains. "We are working with our customers to explore the possibilities of Industry 4.0. Sometimes it's a challenge to make them aware of which problems can be solved by a network. Once we cross this bridge, we can develop completely new solutions."

Mosca's road to the future!
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