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i.Cee smart plastics

Significantly reduce maintenance costs with predictive maintenance | i.Cee

In automotive production, the line never stops. Collaborating robot arms for assembly and welding are in continuous use, as are all the components that supply them with energy and data. It is in just such environments that intelligent concepts such as predictive maintenance make the most sense. For a new Industry 4.0 project or for efficiency-driven retrofitting, our smart plastics solutions are available as universal modular systems and can be individually adapted to any system.

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Advantages of our smart plastics solutions:

▲ Tech up

  • Extension of the maximum service life
  • Increase in overall system efficiency
  • Integration into Industry 4.0 / IIoT concepts

▼ Cost down

  • Reduce maintenance costs through early warnings
  • Eliminate unplanned downtimes
  • Reduce storage costs

Different production areas ...

... smartly networked

Structural work
Structural work
Car body construction

The process sequences in car body construction are fluid. If one machine part comes to a standstill, the entire production line comes to a standstill. igus® has developed its condition monitoring solution i.Sense to keep a constant eye on the electrical cables and feed packages of the robots in the rotating movement as well as the linear movement on the 7th axis. It provides information about the current operating status at all times, recognises irregularities immediately and thus prevents unnecessary machine downtimes.

Drive train
Drive train
Powertrain

The powertrain production line places high demands on the reliability of the machines. The various stations, some of which have long paths, form a complex, highly dynamic system, and any damage has an impact on the entire production line. In the best case scenario, production runs smoothly and downtimes can be sensibly planned with the help of i.Cee, the predictive maintenance solution from smart plastics.

Final assembly
Final assembly
Final assembly

Final assembly provides the finishing touches in the production chain. However, the demand for trouble-free processes is no less stringent here than at the start of production. Manipulators, which often support people in manufacturing during this step, should be easy to move. Here, lightweight yet robust energy chains made of plastic are just right. Supporting rollers allow even long distances to be covered easily and reliably in these applications.

smart plastic i.Cee - A whole lot of Industry 4.0 in one box

Condition monitoring | i.Sense

Condition monitoring

Such concepts are the simplest and quickest way to make a self-monitoring product. By attaching sensors, values (e.g. temperature, forces, sound waves/vibrations) are measured within pre-defined limits and an alarm or at least a notification is issued if these values are exceeded. The next steps (maintenance or shutdown) can be decided on the basis of this information. At igus, we summarise condition monitoring under the term i.Sense.

Go to condition monitoring

Predictive maintenance | i.Cee

Predictive maintenance

In contrast, predictive maintenance solutions use sensors and software to create a system that enables dynamic service life calculation and optimal maintenance times. Predictive maintenance is therefore the next step towards the implementation of a comprehensive smart Industry 4.0 system. The aim is always to maximise system and user safety as well as product life. We at igus call our predictive maintenance system i.Cee (derived from "I see ahead").

To predictive maintenance
Smart plastics white paper

The white paper on predictive maintenance

Increase system availability and ensure process conformity

In the white paper, you can find out about the following:

  • What is the difference between the two concepts?
  • What technologies are behind the respective systems?
  • What do both systems offer for energy supply in industry?
White paper download
i.Cee
i.Cee

How does predictive maintenance work at igus?

Only the smart networking of individual components creates the solid foundation for predictive maintenance concepts. At igus, we call our predictive maintenance system i.Cee.

The central element of this system is the i.Cee software. This software, combined with sensors on the energy chain, the plain bearing bushing or a linear carriage, transform stock products into smart products. This upgrade enables you to determine the maximum service life of your igus product and the i.Cee system specifies the perfect time for servicing. Algorithms adjust the service life and service time according to usage. With the software provided by us, a few sensors and the new i.Cee:plus II communication module, standard products available from stock can be turned into smart energy supply systems or bearing technology in no time at all.

Everything about the new i.Cee:plus II

You alone decide on the route & access of the data

Data transfer within your local company network (i.Cee:local) or via the secure cloud (i.Cee:cloud)

i.Cee:local

i.Cee:local

Your data does not leave your company network at any time, as the i.Cee software only communicates within the networks of your choice. The information spectrum ranges from a single energy chain within a machine to a complete machine park and its own output interface.

i.Cee:cloud

i.Cee:cloud

There are two ways to use the internet-based solution: either the sensors transfer their data directly to the cloud, where it is made available in a protected area via a browser dashboard. Or they make an intermediate stop via the i.Cee.net, a so-called data concentrator. The i.Cee.net is located on your premises, allowing you to customise the data exchange to the cloud at any time.

Complete smart plastics iSet

Sophisticated engineering made simple. A smart complete set in just 3 clicks!

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Industry 4.0: successfully implemented in practice

Application examples

Premium car manufacturer

P4.1 rol e-chains with modern breakage monitoring feature

Should an unforeseen difficulty arise during actual operation in such a highly dynamic application, this can be detected directly with the unique breakage monitoring i.Sense EC.B from smart plastics.

More information

Austrian automotive parts supplier

Austrian automotive parts supplier

In order to avoid unplanned breakdowns and plant downtimes, smart plastic from igus is used on hall gantries for the automated handling of engine blocks at an Austrian automotive supplier.

More information

Train washing station

smart plastics train washing station

Always clean trains and a reliable energy supply thanks to predictive maintenance.

Further information

Linear robots

smart plastics Güdel

By integrating smart plastic sensors into the energy supply, the customer's condition monitoring system is supplied with data.

Further information
"smart plastics" brochure

Complete overview of smart plastics

Insight into the complete product portfolio for Industry 4.0

Table of contents:

  • Condition monitoring (i.Sense)
  • Condition monitoring products
  • Application examples of condition monitoring
  • Predictive maintenance (i.Cee)
  • Application examples for predictive maintenance
  • How does the data flow with predictive maintenance?
Download brochure
smart plastics selection guide

smart plastics selection guide

Choose for yourself which smart solution suits you best

With just a little information about your application, our smart plastics consultation tool guides you in a target manner to a pre-selection of smart plastics solutions. During the selection process, the tool provides an overview of the current smart plastics options.

  • Start the selection guide now
    • Train wash case study

    Predictive operation without surprises: Smart energy chains for the most modern train wash in Europe

    Case study

    In this case study, we talk about how CFL, Luxembourg's national railway company, uses several energy chains from igus® together with intelligent sensor technology from smart plastics to overcome numerous challenges:

    • How exactly are failures prevented?
    • Which components were to blame for the failure?
    • How and with which tools was the entire project approached?
    • And how is it currently going?
  • To PDF download

    • Tested in the test laboratory for use in the real world:

    View of the test laboratory for e-chains and chainflex cables:
    At a total of 180 test stations, more than 10 billion test cycles are carried out per year with energy chains and igus cables.

    View of the dry-tech test laboratory:
    In the industry's largest test laboratory, iglidur plain bearings and drylin linear guides are tested regarding stress, wear and friction properties.

    Our plain bearings are tested with the front loader test rig in a heavy-duty test at maximum load. The test results can be transferred to other heavy-duty applications. Similar parameters are generally found in all fields that are driven by a hydraulic cylinder.

    igus corner

    The huge motion plastics sample box

    Trying things out made easy: With the igus corner, you always have the latest motion plastics right at hand that are individually tailored to your industry.

    We will bring the display to you, set it up on request and fill the compartments with the products of your choice. Or you can set it up yourself. As a permanent exhibition or for a limited period.

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    Consulting

    I look forward to answering your questions

    visnevksi
    Andrei Visnevski

    Regional Sales Manager

    +372 667 5600Write e-mail

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