Stadler develops new cloud-based platform
Stadler develops new cloud-based platform
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Stadler, Altshausen, Germany, has developed the SDC cloud-based platform, which captures operating and sensor data from the equipment at the customer’s sorting plant. The information is securely stored in the cloud and accessible from anywhere on- or off-site through a web portal. The SDC leverages automation to optimize and increase the efficiency of processes in Stadler sorting plants and provide better, faster support to its customers.
Amela Sijaric, co-head of the SDC team at Stadler says, “The SDC puts the customer and our service department in direct communication with the individual machines in the sorting plant. It provides valuable insights into the operation and enables us to work more effectively with our customer to resolve any issues as they arise and to ensure that the plant continues to meet their evolving requirements effectively. The SDC is a tool with great potential, and we will continue to work with our customers to extend its capabilities with new functionalities.”
According to Stadler, SDC is equally effective in all types of sorting plants and can be implemented at existing plants, where it may just need updating some hardware. In these facilities, it can highlight areas where the process can be improved and can be used to implement updates to the existing equipment.
The SDC provides an overview of the operation of the sorting plant, with visibility on the individual machines. Stadler reports that the data captured by the system is a powerful tool to enhance the sorting process, identify any bottlenecks or issues and act to resolve them swiftly. Analysis of the historical data can help to optimize machine performance and reveal opportunities for improvements in the plant’s efficiency. When there is an issue, it can be resolved efficiently, Stadler reports.
“The system flags where the error is in the sorting plant’s flowchart, with a clear indication of the name of the device experiencing a fault,” Sijaric says. “The customer can see at a glance where to go to sort out the problem. If they need help with the issue, our technical experts can immediately access the machine data. They can understand the issue and provide a solution swiftly. This is particularly beneficial when the plant is a long way from Stadler Service Teams. By accessing the data, they can send the technician best suited to deal with the specific issue and take the parts they may need to resolve the issue.”
Downtime is reduced to a minimum by monitoring machine health and performance and fast service.
According to Stadler, the SDC has a section dedicated to providing customers with flexible access to a full library of documentation for each of the machines in their plant, so that it is always up to date. The SDC includes not only data sheets and operation manuals but also a spare parts catalog. When making an order, the customer will easily identify the correct part with the photograph, description and part number in the catalog. The documentation section also offers tutorial videos prepared by the Stadler service team, covering the maintenance tasks typically conducted by the customer.
Continuous innovation
The first pilot project with SDC started in late 2018 at a paper sorting plant in Ingolstadt, followed by other plants in Germany, France, Switzerland and Denmark. Plants include the AFM Entsorgungsbetrieb waste management facility in Feldkirchen, which has been using the SDC for the past six months.
Anastasios Melidis, chief executive officer of AFM, says he sees the potential of the new platform. “It enables us to analyze our plant’s operating efficiency and recognize a loss of performance, as well as fast detection of errors or damage,” he says. “It is also useful for our business, as it provides statistics that help us plan our operations.”
Melidis says he also found that “after a short introduction, SDC is easy to use.”
Christian Ascherl-Landauer, CEO of MAD Recycling GmbH, who has been piloting the SDC at his paper and cardboard recycling plant in Ingolstadt, Germany, says he agrees that the process of the application is clear and practical.
He has found that the availability of the plant has improved since the beginning of the pilot. Ascherl-Landauer says, “The monitoring of the plant has improved. We can analyze downtimes better and make changes to the ongoing operation. Also, improved troubleshooting and targeted measures will improve availability further in the future.”
The development with SDC is ongoing, with new projects starting in Europe and in the United States. “We are looking at new functionalities, such as volume stream management and temperature analysis. We are also working to introduce condition monitoring and predictive maintenance functions, which will further reduce downtime,” Sijaric says.
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Source: Recycling Today
Stadler develops new cloud-based platform
<![CDATA[Stadler, Altshausen, Germany, has developed the SDC cloud-based platform, which captures operating and sensor data from the equipment at the customer’s sorting plant. The information is securely stored in the cloud and accessible from anywhere on- or off-site through a web portal. The SDC leverages automation to optimize and increase the efficiency of processes in Stadler sorting plants and provide better, faster support to its customers.Amela Sijaric, co-head of the SDC team at Stadler says, “The SDC puts the customer and our service department in direct communication with the individual machines in the sorting plant. It provides valuable insights into the operation and enables us to work more effectively with our customer to resolve any issues as they arise and to ensure that the plant continues to meet their evolving requirements effectively. The SDC is a tool with great potential, and we will continue to work with our customers to extend its capabilities with new functionalities.”According to Stadler, SDC is equally effective in all types of sorting plants and can be implemented at existing plants, where it may just need updating some hardware. In these facilities, it can highlight areas where the process can be improved and can be used to implement…