If a customer operates at the final stage of expansion, all they need to do is feed the parts for processing into a material accumulator. The rest happens fully automatically: from loading and storing the raw material, to various machining steps and, finally, to unloading the finished workpieces. All the data and resources are managed by the cell controller, which receives the orders directly from the end customer’s ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system.

Communication between the individual components provides invaluable benefits. For example, it can safeguard production reliability by monitoring the condition of machines, greatly reducing costs relating to maintenance and downtime. It also provides an opportunity to monitor and control energy requirements and consumption throughout the manufacturing process, optimising energy management. By better utilising their capacities and controlling production, companies can greatly increase their profitability or generate growth.

The components in the Starrag IPS system also address issues like mobility by making information available on mobile end devices or state-of-the-art humanmachine interfaces such as “smart operation”. Humans play a central role when it comes to “Industrie 4.0”. They are, after all, the ones who ultimately monitor and take over responsibility for the production.

The “Integrated Production System” is a crucial contribution towards achieving the aim of digitalisation, as it provides a platform for meeting the upcoming challenges. It offers support for users and operators of Starrag production systems and machines as they carry out the complex task of using data in a way that adds value in a networked world of production. Starrag IPS allows customers to gradually automate their production process so that they can ultimately take full advantage of all the options provided.