To future-proof its products and services, grinding machine manufacturer VOLLMER WERKE Maschinenfabrik is embracing digitalization. A key focus is the centralized and efficient management of its globally deployed IoT devices. In collaboration with Kontron, a leading provider of IoT solutions, the machine and plant manufacturer from Biberach an der Riß has established a scalable infrastructure. This enables seamless integration of condition monitoring, continuous maintenance without manual intervention, and secure update management. The solution also complies with the strict regulations of the European NIS2 directive. As a result, VOLLMER benefits from lower development and project implementation costs, a shorter time-to-market, and a future-proof infrastructure for the centralized management and updating of its global fleet of IoT gateways.
The challenge: Secure digitalization in mechanical and plant engineering
The increasing interconnectivity of machines and systems requires not only an efficient infrastructure for data collection and analysis but also solutions that meet tightening security regulations, such as those outlined in the NIS2 directive. This calls for additional measures, including the long-term provision of software updates and protection against potential cyberattacks on deployed IoT devices. At the same time, the full potential of sensor data often remains untapped, leading to inefficient operations and missed opportunities in many manufacturing companies. Moreover, manual maintenance and machine updates frequently consume valuable resources, hindering rapid adaptation to new requirements.
A prime example of these challenges is the grinding machine manufacturer VOLLMER from Biberach, Germany. Specializing in sharpening machines for the woodworking and metalworking industries, VOLLMER faced the task of unlocking the value of unused sensor data while making its existing machine fleet internet-ready and future-proof.
The solution: Kontron’s IoT Infrastructure combines flexibility and security
To address these challenges, VOLLMER partnered with Kontron, a long-standing expert in IoT and embedded computing solutions, to develop a comprehensive IoT solution based on a flexible and future-proof standard architecture.
At the core of the solution are KontronOS and KontronGrid, which, together with the Kontron IoT-Gateway AL i.MX8M Mini, form the ManagedEdge IoT Bundle. KontronOS is a secure, hardened Linux®-based operating system that ensures stable and secure operation, even in critical applications. It achieves this through regular updates, long-term patch support, and a dual-partition system for seamless and fail-safe operation. KontronGrid is a cloud-based IoT device management solution that enables centralized monitoring and management of all edge devices integrated into machines and systems worldwide. Firmware and application updates for IoT gateways can be automatically and reliably deployed via the cloud, eliminating the need for manual on-site interventions and ensuring that all devices remain up to date.
For VOLLMER, Kontron developed a centralized IoT device management system that allows for efficient monitoring and control of the entire device fleet. This software solution manages security updates centrally, integrates applications such as health monitoring and fleet management and processes data directly at the edge using edge computing, minimizing transmission times and enhancing data security. This extends Kontron’s hardware solutions with a highly flexible and future-proof software infrastructure.
Another key component of the solution is a gateway infrastructure specifically developed for retrofitting older machines. This allows long-installed devices to be securely networked and integrated into the digital infrastructure. It enables the transmission of collected sensor data via standardized protocols such as OPC UA and MQTT. VOLLMER has implemented the former to provide users with the ability to collect machine data for performance analysis or design their own IoT processes using Node-RED. The gateways utilize local computing power, allowing initial data processing to take place directly on-site. This reduces the load on the cloud infrastructure while increasing both response capability and data security. The modular architecture allows VOLLMER to adapt the gateways flexibly to different machines and production environments, making the solution scalable and future-proof.
VOLLMER uses this IoT infrastructure not only for its own operations but also offers it to customers as a starter package. The package, with a duration of twelve months, includes the IoT gateway as a hardware component, a pre-configured dashboard, and the graphical development tool Node-RED. This enables users to flexibly connect hardware, devices, open APIs, and online services and create custom IoT processes.
The result: Production optimization and new digital business models
Through collaboration with Kontron and the implementation of the IoT solution, VOLLMER has made significant progress in utilizing and managing its device fleets. The new infrastructure allows the company in Biberach to gain complete transparency over deployed devices and their status. The result: significantly increased operational efficiency. The application build and update process can now be monitored more precisely and controlled more efficiently. This helps to minimize downtimes and improve response times.
Security standards have also been elevated to a new level, ensuring compliance with the stringent NIS-2 regulations of the EU. This not only enhances protection against potential cyberattacks but also guarantees high availability and updatability of machines. Additionally, the effort required for maintenance and updates has been reduced: IoT devices can be updated, configured, and maintained more easily using KontronOS, Webmin functionality, and KontronGrid, which also simplifies support in case of issues, ultimately leading to significant time and cost savings.
Thanks to the IoT solution, VOLLMER can now fully leverage its data potential, develop new business models, and offer specific applications such as health monitoring and fleet management, improving both its own operations and those of its customers.
