Wintriss Hardware Solution Boosts Effectiveness of Production Software

Wintriss Controls Group’s Tracker hardware solution for its ShopFloorConnect overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and production tracking software is designed to simplify and maximize data collection, while minimizing operator involvement. For capturing and tracking process parameters, users can choose from several preprogrammed digital inputs such as run/idle and counting, and analog inputs including temperature, pressure, voltage and electrical current. Run/idle or count data is particularly well suited for metal forming and fabricating operations. Inputs are viewable in different formats, depending on operator preference.

The Tracker device automatically collects important data without requiring job information or a downtime reason to be manually entered by the operator. For example, a fabricator installed Trackers on four air compressors using the run/idle digital inputs to get a signal when each compressor is running, and an analog input connected to a pressure transducer to measure air pressure. The duty cycle and pressure information provided by the Trackers through ShopFloorConnect supply the user with the data needed for modifying air usage to balance the load on the four compressors.

“Based on customer feedback seeking a reimagined, easy-to-use hardware solution for tracking a range of inputs, we developed the new device to enable unique machine data to be automatically sent to ShopFloorConnect software, ” says Keith Magnant, general manager, Wintriss Controls Group. The Tracker is WiFi-enabled and pre-programmed to be easily integrated into existing and new ShopFloorConnect installations on virtually any type of machine, the company says.