Simple digitalisation minimises tough fault decisions

Digitalise more. This is the challenge from the exhibitors at Subcontractor TechArena, and it’s an easy one to understand: digitised processes save time, raise quality and provide new insights. So why wait?

A digital twin of the physical product that stays with it along the entire refinement chain. While this may not sound that impressive, the fact is that it saves time and raises the quality of both the process and the product.

This is the claim of Victor Andersson, CEO of the company ChainTraced, which has developed a digital traceability platform, primarily for companies in the steel industry. Each recipient in the refinement chain can readily see that all regulations and requirements have been met, down to the smallest substance in the material. This is particularly important from a sustainability perspective, to check the material’s chain of custody.

“The impetus to digitalise is in the time saving in production processes, while it’s also good for customers as it improves credibility. As a company, you’re also future-proofed and prepared for when this becomes a requirement,” says Victor.

ChainTraced is one of seven exhibitors in the new Elmia Subcontractor initiative, Subcontractor TechArena. It showcases the potential of digital technology by showing innovative cases from Swedish companies, which should ideally convince visitors to start a digital journey.

“Awareness and knowledge about digitalisation have increased among visitors and exhibitors alike since I started working with Elmia Subcontractor in 2017. So that’s a positive sign. Even so, we need to impress upon industrial companies that they must have the courage to digitalise, and that’s why we’re here to help them find their way,” says Magnus Mörstam, Event Manager for Subcontractor TechArena.

Digitalisation is not just about software, and CombiQ is a prime example of this. The company’s offering includes both a wireless, battery-powered smart sensor that collects data, and a cloud service where the information is visualised in different graphs.

“The unique thing about us is that we’ve made everything, from the hardware to the cloud service. The advantage of the system is that it’s possible to learn more about your own process, including service and maintenance,” explains Kai Walkendorff, CEO of CombiQ.

There are virtually endless applications for the CombiQ sensors. But for CombiQ, founded in 2006, the focus is primarily on the manufacturing industry and the production process.

The basic idea is simplicity, and CombiQ hopes to lower the threshold for companies in industry that want to start digitising their operations.

“We try to make things as simple as possible, such as simple pricing both for the hardware and the service through the software. That’s where we’re really flexible. I also think it’s best to start small with one process, and then build on that. Experience has taught us that customers often find problems they didn’t even know they had,” Kai Walkendorff concludes.