“Better management of internal business processes thanks to ASCO Datacenter”

What is your role at ASCO Kohlensäure AG and what does it involve?
I work as Head of IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) Automation at ASCO Kohlensäure AG. My day-to-day responsibilities cover the entire automation of ASCO’s machinery, which means everything to do with electronics, power, sensors, and so on. A few examples of this would be the software development for the PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and HMI (Human-Machine Interface), as well as the configuration of gateways, the management and development of the cloud infrastructure, and I am also responsible for web development at ASCO Kohlensäure AG.

How did you come up with the idea of developing an ASCO Datacenter?
At IIoT Automation, we focused on expanding ASCO’s digital products and opted for a programme that offers added value for the customer and our customer service. With the help of ASCO Datacenter, the customer can view and analyse all the data from the ASCO machines they own.

What benefits do customers gain from ASCO Datacenter?
ASCO Datacenter is designed to help customers manage their internal business processes more effectively. The machine’s status is always visible to the customer via the platform, which can be accessed from anywhere. Furthermore, the monthly reports are enhanced, as machine data can be read directly at any time.

How does this help ASCO provide better services to customers?
Using the expertise of our customer service team, we can analyse the customer’s visible data and thus better pinpoint or immediately identify any faults.

How many machines can be included in the programme?
The aim is to include all ASCO i-Series machines in the programme. Any machine that a customer has purchased from us can be displayed in the ASCO Datacenter.

Is the ASCO Datacenter available for all ASCO machines or only for the i-Series range?
Currently, the ASCO Datacenter is only available for our P15i and P28i pelletisers, but we plan to include all ASCO machines in the programme. The ASCO Datacenter is only available for our i-Series-compatible machines, which, however, make up the majority of our product portfolio.

What data is collected via the ASCO Datacenter?
Firstly, we need to identify the various stakeholder groups, as different groups have different interests. We do this to ensure we can provide the best possible service to the customer. Important data includes, for example
: production output (quantity to be produced)
; production history (pellet type, quantity, various machine pressures, warning messages, etc.)
; machine status (is the machine switched on or offline)
; current production status (how much of the total quantity has already been produced)
; production mode (continuous production or fixed quantity)
; as well as general sensor values

How is the connection established between the machine and the programme?
Provided the ASCO machine is connected to the internet, the gateway sends the data to our cloud, where it is stored in a database. The connection can be established via SIM card, Wi-Fi or LAN cable.

What other features do you plan to incorporate into ASCO Datacenter?
At the moment, we have no new features planned, but as ASCO Datacenter is an in-house product of ASCO Kohlensäure AG, there are no limits to the product’s expandability.

When can we expect ASCO Datacenter?
Provided there are no unexpected production disruptions, we will launch the pilot programme for ASCO Datacenter with selected customers in 2023.