SOLBIATE OLONA, Italy—Rubber machinery manufacturer Rodolfo Comerio will remotely start up a calender line at a new off-highway tire plant being brought on line by the Mahansaria Tyres Private Ltd. (MTPL) group in India.
The start-up will mark the first project for a newly activated remote control room at Rodolfo's headquarters site in Solbiate Olona, according to an Aug.20 company statement.
"We already started the I/O testing and the connection will start at the very beginning of September," Nicola Fedele, Rodolfo Comerio sales and marketing manager, said in a statement.
Equipped to remotely perform all electrical, mechanical and automation operations of plants, the new control room employs advanced plant management systems—managed by Rodolfo Comerio's software, electrical and mechanical engineers.
For the remote start-up process, a VPN router in the main electrical cabinet connects with a VPN server located at Rodolfo Comerio's headquarters facility. The remote-connect server will have "the most updated features" for security and prevention of unauthorized access both on the Rodolfo Comerio and customer side.
The Rodolfo Comerio router is connected to the customer's LAN cabled connection with an RJ45 connector, enabling remote monitoring and intervention services on the machine in real time.
Another feature is the use of augmented reality systems, including "smart glasses" for use by the operators on site. Video cameras are installed on the whole line, in support of the smart glasses, for the remote control of all the steps for the start-up of the plants, Rodolfo Comerio said.
According to machinery firm, its new remote control room will be able to start up several plants at the same time and manage the most complex dynamics, "as if it were on site." Another advantage is the sub-suppliers can be involved in the process in real time and give input to ensure a quicker start-up of the factory.
Last November, MTPL unveiled plans to build a $106 million greenfield off-highway-tire manufacturing plant in Panoli, in southwest Gujarat. The 127-acre facility, it said, was due for completion by the end of this year.