Ready for the Next Generation: Rehm Goes Industry 4.0

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Rehm is always at the forefront when it comes to setting new standards in the field of thermal system solutions. Rehm Thermal Systems is also among the leading innovators in plant engineering who are addressing the issue of Industry 4.0. An innovative concept with worldwide Augmented Reality Support should make maintenance, documentation and on-the-job-training easier from now on. The advantages are obvious: reduced travel costs, availability anywhere in the world and shorter response times are just some of the highlights offered by the ViCI.

ViCI stands for Virtual Communication Interface and is intended as a portal for maintenance support in modern electronics production. The innovative portal solution offers concrete support with the help of smart glasses, guided maintenance scenarios on tablet or smartphone as well as a comprehensive and expandable knowledge base.

The three pillars of the ViCI in detail:

The Documents area includes a library with all the relevant documents needed for operation and maintenance of our systems. These include the system documentation, circuit diagrams as well as the operating and maintenance instructions.

The Instruction area includes training course content and step-by-step instructions which can be projected directly into the given tasks with the help of smart glasses. The end user is trained in his specific field, directly on the system using the available scenarios – at the precise point in time when the exact knowledge is required. In addition to scenarios for the smart glasses, videos for other devices such as tablet, smartphone or PC are available.

If the help of a service technician is necessary for service and maintenance tasks or troubleshooting, Support is available quickly and easily using smart glasses. To diagnose a problem, the operator on site and the service technician look at the system at the same time. The service technician then guides the operator easily and efficiently through the process, he can also send documentation to the glasses to help or make markings in the operator’s field of vision. Clear advantage: This allows them to solve the task together, spontaneously and in a very short time, no matter where they are.

The bottom line is that ViCI helps to reduce machine downtimes and costly service visits and thus ensures maximum system availability at all times. Scheduled maintenance visits and spares management also ensure that production is working to full capacity. Critical areas of the plant can be continuously monitored and activity reports of maintenance work to be carried out displayed.

The ViCI is currently being tested and developed in collaboration with pilot customers. Together with our cooperation partner artiso GmbH, we will be showing an initial demo version with live hook-up to one of these pilot customers at the Rehm Technology Days on October 10 and 11, 2018 in Blaubeuren.

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About Rehm Thermal Systems

Specialised in the field of thermal system solutions for the electronics and photovoltaics industry, Rehm is a technological and innovative leader in the state-of-the-art, cost-effective manufacturing of electronic assemblies. As a globally active manufacturer of reflow soldering systems with convection, condensation or vacuum, drying and coating systems, functional test systems, equipment for metallisation of solar cells as well as numerous customised systems, we have a presence in all key growth markets and, as a partner with more than 25 years of industry experience, are able to implement innovative production solutions that set new standards.