Expanded In-Plant Monitoring Capabilities

MiVue, a division of the ACS Group, has expanded its plant-monitoring capabilities across a broad range of ACS brands of auxiliaries. The company made this announcement in late March at the PTXPO trade show.

MiVue digital manufacturing connection kits provide plastics plant managers more insight into their equipment by providing a wealth of robust production data, including material usage. Data-driven understanding of their processes improves plastic processors’ uptime, reduces costs and improves service and maintenance operations, ACS says.

ACS says that as a result of positive feedback it received from customers over the year on beta tests with AEC gravimetric blenders and desiccant bed dryers, receiving excellent feedback from customers, it will be expanding MiVue capabilities to include  VacTrac Plus DiO conveying controllers; Accumeter Loss-in-Weight blenders; GH Gravimetric Feeders and GH Hopper Inventory Monitors; and T50 Central Granulators.

MiVue’s cellular router connects injection molding and extrusion machines with auxiliary equipment through secure and encrypted data transmission. Featuring powerful analytics and cloud-based data storage, MiVue software can be used on any web-enabled device. Users receive text and email alerts to keep processes running smoothly.

ACS says processors that incorporate MiVue into their operations will reap numerous Industry 4.0 benefits including:

• Improved uptime via alerts that allow equipment operators to react quickly to problems, analyze downtime types and reasons, and perform predictive maintenance by using data and analytic tools before problems arise.

• Reduced operational costs through expanded process insights that improve quality control, reduce scrap and control material usage by allowing users to set up material lists and generate material usage reports.

MiVue connection kits can be installed with new equipment, retrofitted with older equipment and incorporated into custom system integration projects.