The advantages of a “smart retrofit” 

To immediately become more efficient, more secure and more sustainable, EBNER customers are now adding value to their existing facilities by installing an EBNER SECBox. Established, stable production facilities that have been operating for some time are ideally suited for upgrades that will raise them to the next level of productivity.

To reach this next level, the equipment is connected to a private cloud by installing a SECBox – a type of edge device similar to a router – which enables a number of services to be accessed that improve performance. This kind of “smart retrofit” enables a customer to do the following:

• Securely connect existing facilities to a wide variety of systems, such as a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) or other in-house application, and connect far more data than ever before
• Create an independent, decentralized network to provide secure remote connectivity
• Independently manage access to critical infrastructure, e.g. how and where partners or suppliers like EBNER are allowed access for Third Party Maintenance (TPM) tasks
• Fully encrypt data at a level that meets the latest standards (e.g. the requirements of NIS-2)

The decentralized, device-centric network provided by an EBNER SECBox greatly enhances security without requiring a central access point, providing added protection against cyberattacks. EBNER networks meet all current industrial IT standards, and they can be easily and securely implemented by EBNER experts. This means that our customers never have to become dependent on external IT providers.

Both visionary and practical: The EBNER SECBox

EBNER is successful when our customers are successful – whether in terms of production output, quality or sustainability. A smart approach is when all this is possible without the need to invest in a new facility. The EBNER SECBox was developed with these goals in mind: it is easy to install, easy to use and can be integrated seamlessly into industrial systems and industrial tools. This supports one of the core competencies of our customers: continually improving their own processes. EBNER’s customers are able to make better decisions as they have up-to-date, detailed data, and this gives them an immediate competitive advantage.

An EBNER SECBox only supplies data to its owner, allowing our customers to decide for themselves whether data is only used in-house or is shared with EBNER and other external partners. When data is shared with EBNER’s simulation and heat treatment experts, numerous projects have shown that we can support our customers by optimizing recipes, reducing thermal energy input, reducing utility consumption and reducing maintenance downtimes. In one reference project, this type of support led to our customer saving over 100,000 euros a year in energy and utility costs at a single facility. As an added bonus, this also led to a reduction in carbon emissions.

The first steps

After a SECBox has been installed as part of a smart retrofit and data flows have been integrated into existing systems such as an MES, ERP, data management system or maintenance and tool management system, our customers will be able to benefit from a wide variety of improvements. Our experience has shown that the following use cases are most affected:

• Analysis of processes and recipes (heat treatment practices) 
  Discover how variables such as equipment, material, process and recipe affect outputs and product qualities 
• Maintenance
  Using data-driven insights, optimize the operating time of your equipment and minimize both planned and unplanned downtimes 
• Compare Equipment and plants
  Measure performance benchmarks across multiple sites and at multiple facilities; share best practices internally 
• Simulate processing technology
  Use historical data and models to accelerate and improve the industrial introduction of new products, processes, and equipment; this enables the virtual commissioning of new production lines
• Sustainability
  Reduce energy consumption and costs by comparing inputs and outputs under different quality parameters; automatically track CO2 emissions 
• Pattern recognition
  In 2024, artificial intelligence and machine learning systems can analyze patterns of data to deliver unexpected insights – particularly when data is linked to other sources such as other equipment or systems

Here at EBNER, we continuously strive to advance green, sustainable technologies. These include digital solutions like the SECBox, a “plug & play” device that quickly and safely supplies our customers with valuable data that can be used to optimize their existing facilities.

If you would like to give your existing facility a decisive advantage over the competition, please feel free to contact us. We would be happy to discuss the challenges you are currently facing and the advantages that an EBNER SECBox can bring.