Integrated sensor technology for detecting signs of wear
Paderborn/ Lemgo The company Zecher from Paderborn manufactures printing rollers and anilox rollers, among other things, for use in printing technology or surface finishing. The anilox rollers are installed in systems that companies use in continuous operation. Chemical substances are applied to the roller, and excess ink is scraped off the roller’s surface. In addition, the roller continuously rotates at high speeds. As a result, the roller wears out after some time, and Zecher replaces the rollers.
Mr. Knauer, CIO at Zecher, is satisfied with the project results and reflects: “Digitalization is essential for the future of SMEs, especially when it comes to new digital business models. One should not wait too long here.”
He particularly appreciated the cooperation and testing opportunities at SmartFactoryOWL, as the research in Lemgo was presented in a very application-oriented and practical manner. Knauer generally sees a great need for action among SMEs:
“How are SMEs, in particular, supposed to achieve international connectivity if digital topics are foreign to them? Aversion to technology often arises in SMEs because the digital topic has not yet fully arrived in Germany. If I have hardly any daily contact with digitalization, such as digital bus tickets or digital taxi rides, it is difficult for me to imagine use cases for my own company. Demonstration centers like SmartFactoryOWL are therefore very important for creating these approaches and points of contact.”
In further projects, Zecher plans to further develop the transmission and energy supply of the solution together with the researchers in Lemgo. Both partners look forward to future cooperation.
Zecher cannot predict whether initial signs of wear will render the roller unusable after two or five years – as there is little information about its use in the system. This was intended to change within the framework of the transfer project at Digital in NRW.
Together with Fraunhofer IOSB-INA, Zecher developed a method to sensorically query the condition of the roller. Speeds and rotations were recorded via an integrated sensor and transmitted to specially developed analysis software. The results were readable, providing Zecher with initial approaches for further development and product launch.