Advanced technology, IIoT and augmented reality, to rebound stronger than ever

The engineers at System Ceramics in Italy and at the System China branch have remotely installed and started up a Superfast 19000 press in the factory of a leading Chinese ceramic producer, which now plans to order a new Superfast 25000

From smart working to IIoT, the post-lockdown return to business was an opportunity for System Ceramics to support its customers with the innovative Industrial Internet solutions it has been developing for years through extensive R&D activities in the field of IT Engineering and Digital Industrial Design. The Fiorano Modenese-based company had taken up the challenge of digitalisation and augmented reality tools even before the health crisis broke out with a view to implementing cutting-edge manufacturing methods.

System Ceramics has completed major orders in recent months despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the international market, demonstrating that its plant engineering technology is capable of reaching even the most distant geographical areas from the Italian headquarters thanks to a network of foreign branches and the wealth of knowledge offered to customers.

Despite the severe travel restrictions in place, for example, the company recently installed and started up a new Superfast system in the factory of one of the top ceramic tile manufacturers in China. The operation was completed to the customer’s full satisfaction thanks to collaboration between the group’s Italian headquarters and the System China subsidiary.

Specifically, for its new production line the Chinese ceramic producer chose a Superfast 19000 mouldless press with a 1200x2700 mm pressing area capable of satisfying the criteria of flexibility and sustainability required for the production of traditional sizes with variable thicknesses and zero waste.

Thanks to the technology developed by System Ceramics, it was possible to install and start up Superfast on schedule and in complete safety. The operations were carried out by installing cameras in the customer’s factory, after which System China provided on-site assistance and managed the project remotely in close cooperation with the Italian headquarters. The technicians used latest generation technologies, such as augmented reality optical devices for AR Smart Assistance applications, which are particularly suitable for industrial environments thanks to their reliability in terms of both wearability and safety.

For some time now, System Ceramics has been implementing remote access and smart assistance solutions for the installation and maintenance of its plants and machines worldwide.

In particular, its technology is able to interconnect operators with device and system data via a state-of-the-art Industrial Internet of Things infrastructure, integrating all the machines and plants involved. The System Ceramics IIoT guarantees visibility of the processes, resulting in constant optimisation and analysis of the entire plant. This digitalised environment facilitates predictive plant maintenance based on condition monitoring solutions.

In the specific case of the new Superfast line started up in China, the client was able to adopt high performance technological and digital solutions allowing for remote plant start-up, management and testing. This is a particularly important factor in the current scenario in which connectivity plays a fundamental role. In view of this success, the same client has decided to install another Superfast press in the near future (in this case, a Superfast 25000 with a pressing area of 1200x3600 mm), again remotely.

The Industry 4.0 system proposed by System Ceramics offers manufacturing digitalisation solutions that are particularly suitable for remote activities, allowing the company’s customers and partners to remotely monitor the status of the plant and machinery installed in their factories and verify the operating parameters.

As an industrial partner, System Ceramics is committed to helping companies manage their automated lines with ease and continuity thanks to remote working and smart assistance solutions, enabling them to resume their operations and address the challenge of the global market with greater strength and resilience than ever.