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Beijer Upgrades New Adaptors Allowing Users to Access Historical Process Data From the Cloud

March 26, 2021 by Seth Price

Beijer recently released new network adaptors that allow users to search cloud-based historical data.

The new GL Network adaptors collect and archive data using various networks and protocols. The adaptors download and interface historical data using acirro+ for processing in several popular data analysis platforms. They have a small physical footprint, making them more useful for compact system installations.


Beijer GL Network Adaptor series.  Image courtesy of Beijer Electronics

 

Who is Beijer Electronics?

Beijer has been developing technology solutions since 1981. Their main focus is optimizing processes through hardware, software/services, and bridging the gap between human and machine. Beijer’s products include display, digitization, and automation hardware and software for collecting, archiving, and displaying process data.

 

The GL Network Adaptor Series

The GL Network Adaptor series is available for many popular network protocols, such as EtherCAT, Modbus, and PROFINET. CODESYS can control the system by adding a CODESYS module. The modules themselves have a small physical footprint (12 mm x 99 mm x 70 mm) and can handle up to 16 expansion modules, depending on the needs of a particular facility.

 

Beijer’s acirro+ Platform

These upgraded adaptors can use acirro+, a method for porting machine data to and from the cloud. The acirro+ platform also displays machine data in a visual format, making it easier to spot trends and troublespots versus manually perusing the machine data. These adaptors do not require significant rewiring yet provide a secure pathway to the cloud.

In this latest update, acirro+ has added a “download” feature, allowing machine data to be downloaded to a host from the cloud. 

This data is viewed and analyzed in several popular data management and display software packages, such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerBI, and numerous other third-party packages. With acirro+, the user can select which tags (machines, measurements, etc.) and date range to track, and the data can be downloaded as a .csv file.

 

acirro+ is a way to store machine data on the cloud securely and then pull the data for processing later. Image used courtesy of Beijer Electronics


 

This update aims to make it easier for users to view historical data. Access to this historical data can help troubleshoot a current problem or improve upon a process that has always been done a certain way.

For example, consider a machine that recently was damaging goods at a higher rate than before Or, suppose a motor is drawing too much current. The solution may be to figure out when the motor started drawing too much current and then match it to other data, instead of replacing the existing motor with a larger motor. 

With access to long-term historical data, engineers can start looking for where the problem began and perform root-cause analysis to find what changed and may be linked to the problem.

As most engineers and technicians know, the root problem of a process occurs long before the safety incident occurs, or out-of-specification goods are produced. With historical insight, engineers can begin to find the actual cause of a problem, rather than simply creating workarounds and bandaids to a damaged or inefficient process. 

The new GL Network adaptors aim to save physical space and money through their design, platforms, and ability to collect and store machine data.