Integrated Computational Materials, Process and Product Engineering – IC-MPPE 2022

The voestalpine Group’s High Performance Metals Division focuses on producing and processing high-performance materials and customer-specific services such as heat treatment, high-tech surface treatments, and additive manufacturing processes—increasingly using digital technologies. Thanks to its unique sales and service network, the division offers its customers material availability and processing as well as local points of contact at about 140 sites around the world. Sawing machines are therefore a widespread asset type in the High Performance Metals division and offer high potential to generate value by date-driven optimization of operations. voestalpine High Performance Metals DIGITAL SOLUTIONS GmbH (subsidiary since 2021) built an IIoT based solution to increase transparency for sawing operations called HPMconnect. It uses a unique architecture in combination with cloud services and an IIoT platform to manage the system and leverage the created information. An edge device collects data from several machines, aggregates it and stores it securely in the chosen database – cloud or on-premise solutions are possible.
Legacy assets are equipped with a retrofit sensor box, measuring current and vibration to determine the actual state. All components are industry-proven automation standard from the DIGITAL SOLUTIONS IIoT development partner and global player in the automation control market, enabling competitive pricing and reliable service.
HPMconnect is productive at several locations in Europe and at the first location in Asia. Runtime data builds the foundation for further use-cases e.g. advanced analytics, tool performance, energy management and predictive maintenance. Designed as a platform, container technology is used to extend its functionality and value over time.
A very active community around HPMconnect contains current and future users, lean managers, production managers etc. Most members have operations background and the necessary know-how to shape future development to an increased value-add of the whole solution.