IT in Manufacturing


Keeping an eye on oil consumption with moneo

April 2025 IT in Manufacturing

Manufacturing companies in the metal industry need oils and other fluids that are consumed by their machines. To make this consumption transparent and to establish a link to the ERP system, Arnold Umformtechnik relies on the IIoT platform, moneo, in combination with the SAP-based software solution Shop Floor Integration (SFI) – both from ifm.

A specialist in high-quality and innovative fastening technology, Arnold Umformtechnik relies on the cold forming presses and rollers as the most important machines in its production process. All these machines require different fluids to ensure their operation. Five different oils, including waste oil and emulsion, are stored in a central oil supply system. There is a filling station in each department where employees can collect the oils for the individual machines.

In the past, the consumption of the individual machines was not transparent, and it was not possible, for example, to track which machine would consume which amount of oil. The company has now implemented an Industry 4.0 solution based on the moneo IIoT platform. The employee collecting the oil selects the machine for which the oil is needed at the filling station’s control panel. Flow meters then measure the amount of oil dispensed. The moneo agent accesses the controller to further process the information about the oil quantities, and can analyse the detected consumption and provide a clear overview. It is of particular interest to Arnold that the SFI solution from ifm feeds the data directly into the SAP system.

This solution thus creates end-to-end transparency of the consumption, so that quantities can be booked accordingly. Detecting the oil consumption of each machine offers another important advantage. If the oil consumption of two identical machines differs significantly, this will be noticed immediately. Arnold has known ifm as a sensor supplier for a long time. However, the fact that moneo is an open system is very important for the project. For example, Arnold uses sensors from a manufacturer other than ifm to measure oil quantities, but the data from these sensors can be seamlessly imported into moneo. These sensors were already installed in the plant.


Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

AI-based quality inspection scales across P&G operations
Siemens South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Siemens and Procter & Gamble are expanding an AI-based visual inspection system across P&G’s manufacturing operations worldwide, inspecting products in real time at full line speed, and reducing scrap rates by 10 to 20% depending on the product.

Read more...
How sustainability unlocks real business impact
Rockwell Automation IT in Manufacturing
Sustainability has moved from a compliance obligation to a strategic driver of resilience and value for manufacturers. Rockwell Automation explains how its Triple A framework and connected-data approach help producers cut energy, water and waste while improving productivity.

Read more...
Mining’s AI future will depend on people as well as technology
IT in Manufacturing
South Africa’s mining industry is embracing digitalisation and AI, but AvenirHoldings chief executive officer, Tshidi Mndzebele says the real test is whether the people behind the industry are equipped to move forward with it, and outlines five things mining needs to get right.

Read more...
How BIC overcame operational silos to integrate technology and people
Rockwell Automation IT in Manufacturing
Manufacturing giant BIC deployed Plex MES from Rockwell Automation at its Bizerte plant in Tunisia, replacing fragmented, partly in-house software with a single cloud-based execution system that broke operational silos and improved shop-floor visibility.

Read more...
Hygienic and accurate flow measurement
ifm - South Africa Flow Measurement & Control
ifm’s ultrasonic sensor detects flows of conductive and non-conductive media with high precision.

Read more...
AI in industry is an early warning system, not a guarantee
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Schneider Electric’s Paul Steyn argues that AI in industrial maintenance is only as good as the infrastructure and people behind it, and explains the three layers a facility needs before predictive maintenance can deliver on its promise.

Read more...
SA’s mining industry must put people at the heart of its digital future
IT in Manufacturing
South Africa’s mining industry employs around 470 000 people while its digital transition accelerates. Avenir’s chied executive officer, Tshidi Mndzebele argues that technology should enable and upskill the workforce rather than replace it, setting out five ways mining can make technology work for its people.

Read more...
Quality control supports efficient tissue production
Valmet South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Valmet’s advanced quality control technology is helping tissue producers improve product consistency while reducing energy and raw material consumption. Its latest installation at KORO Paper in Vietnam combines real-time measurement, process optimisation and non-contact, nuclear-free quality control.

Read more...
Patented algorithm maximises operator efficiency
Rockwell Automation IT in Manufacturing
Rockwell Automation piloted a patented anomaly detection algorithm and FactoryTalk DataMosaix at its Twinsburg electronics plant, giving operators 30 to 60 days’ advance warning of stencil failure, improving fail rates by 22% and achieving a 200% return on investment.

Read more...
Cybersecurity must become part of the next era of industrial automation
Adroit Technologies IT in Manufacturing
The EU’s Cyber Resilience Act is setting a global benchmark for connected products, making cybersecurity a core engineering requirement in industrial automation. Adroit Technologies and Mitsubishi Electric explain how building security into controllers, PLCs and drives from the outset helps South African manufacturers protect production and meet international expectations.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved