LB PLUS, integrated systems and services for an efficient factory

Stefano Puccini - LB Officine Meccaniche

To monitor data flows in LB plants and interpret them in real time, LB has partnered with innovative start-up AST4 to develop PLUS, a software compatible with Industry 4.0 production systems.

PLUS dialogues directly with machines and plants, exchanging the key information necessary for control and preventive intervention and with the possibility of direct access.

This new software consists of a monitoring and control cockpit which allows the data to be monitored and interpreted remotely and provides information on:

• Production efficiency
• State of health of the plant
• Control of consumptions.

The Industry 4.0 criteria (real-time acquisition, integration and sharing of big data between machines) are satisfied thanks to implementation of the following advanced functions typical of LB plants.

• Production reporting system

The management software records consumption levels of materials used in production and makes them available through reports. The reports can be generated using different user-configurable display filters. Consumption can be viewed on the basis of time, product recipe batch or coding of each individual material. Consumption levels of materials used are shown within each batch or time period.

The reports can be consulted via the supervision software interface or can be saved in an electronic form and exported or shared directly in the cockpit or on a multimedia platform.

• System for analysis and warning of need for maintenance work on machines

The management software processes a range of information from the field to inform the user which machines require maintenance or checking.

This information is exchanged continuously with the control cockpit, allowing LB to determine the state of health of the plant in real time so as to schedule preventive maintenance work.

Maintenance interventions performed on the plant are saved by means of a reporting system integrated into the software so as to create a life history of the plant and its constituent machines.

• System for analysis and warning of the state of efficiency of the plant

The management software processes the plant operation data in real time and compares these data with the optimal working configuration.

It generates user warnings and indicates corrective action that needs to be taken to maintain the degree of efficiency of the plant within the set ranges.

• Software interface 4.0

The software platform has an interface that can be used to exchange or store information and process data with any third-party external information system.

It allows the user to consult process information or statistical data remotely, operate the control interface remotely, collect data from a number of plants and unify them in a single analysis and control supervisor.

Warnings can be provided by email or telephone text message.

These are just a few examples of the functions that can be created according to the user’s specific requirements.

Following installation of the software interface 4.0, all the corresponding functions can be integrated subsequently to the initial plant design so as to meet any technical and management needs that arise during the lifetime of the plant.