Bulk truck loaders get smart with Industry 4.0 makeover

Bulk truck loaders get smart with Industry 4.0 makeover

Van Beek, Drunen, the Netherlands, has introduced the Dino Wireless Monitoring System which can be incorporated to its range of Dino bulk truck loaders as well as being retrofitted to existing machines. Dinos are widely used for transferring the contents of bulk bags and conventional sacks into road powder tankers. In accordance with the principles of Industry 4.0 – also referred to as Smart Industry – sensors collect and transmit all sorts of data from a machine so that, where necessary, remedial action can be taken. By fitting Dinos with sensors and their own internet connection, Van Beek can collect data remotely on the operation of the truck loaders. Based on this information, the company can better predict when maintenance is necessary or there is a risk of a malfunction occurring.
 
"It is also possible to solve problems without a mechanic having to visit", said Mark Jonkers, who has been working closely with Van Beek on the new wireless monitoring system. "For example: someone calls because his Dino is suddenly no longer working. We can then see remotely that, for example, a hatch has not been closed properly."
 
He went on: “We have sensors to measure the vibration of a bearing. Every type of bearing has its own healthy vibration and you can compare this with the vibration that you are measuring. So you know immediately whether the bearings need replacing or not. We then replace the components just in time." The company is in the near future starting a large-scale field test with the Dino Wireless Monitoring System. Existing Dino owners are invited to register with Van Beek to take part in these tests. www.van-beek.nl 
 
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Dino bulk truck loader

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