In the era of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), nearly every industry can enhance its processes. This was recently proven to be true in the food industry thanks to a partnership between Behr Technologies Inc. (BTI) and PixelMechanics.
“The combination of the PixelMechanics IoT platform and MIOTY LPWAN technology will unleash the power of sensor networks and big data for manufacturers,” said Albert Behr, BTI CEO. “We’re solving two major pieces of the puzzle: reliable access to invaluable data and translation of that data into meaningful insights that will not only improve operational efficiency but also enable innovation and intelligent decision making.”
BTI, known for its IIoT MIOTYTM LPWAN solutions, and PixelMechanics, which specializes in IIoT lifecycle management and visualization, recently put their partnership to the test in its first pilot project for Witte Spezialitaten, a renowned manufacturer of Nuremberg traditional gingerbread and German bakery specialties.
Food manufacturing requires strict quality control. Witte Spezialitaten’s products need to be stored at just the right temperature and humidity level to ensure their freshness. MIOTY-enabled sensors in its storage facilities and retail locations monitor and measure those levels and transmits data every 75 seconds to a PixelMechanics IoT Platform. Algorithms are used to turn that data into visual information on a real-time management dashboard. The system alerts the bakery of any deviations that could affect its goods.
The successful pilot points to a new solution for a multitude of industries to improve quality and optimize production. It has the potential to monitor workplace environments—such as air quality, heat and noise—and provide instant notification if the conditions change and could harm employees. From an infrastructure standpoint, these tools could also help optimize a building’s energy consumption, as well as provide real-time control of multiple buildings.
“Actionable information is paramount to understanding product quality, performance and customers, under a myriad of operating conditions,” said Michael Rohrmueller, PixelMechanics CEO. “However, to access this key data you need robust and reliable connectivity. With MIOTY by BTI we can now provide manufacturers an end-to-end predictive and value-driven IoT ecosystem.”
Interested in learning more about IIoT? Check out The Connected Factory and More: 5 Examples of How IIoT is Changing Manufacturing and How to Use the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) in Your Factory.