Teamwork: Halo and Pantec implement OPC UA integration for Bandex

The Bandex ribbon weaving mill in Koblach, Vorarlberg, is one of the leading manufacturers of curtain and drapery tapes and supplies technical tapes to a wide range of industries. Together with the Liechtenstein control specialist Pantec, Halo digitalized production from warping and weaving to finishing: today, 52 ribbon weaving machines and 2 warping machines are connected bidirectionally to the inteos^® MES via OPC UA.

At a glance

• Bidirectional OPC UA communication between machine and MES
• Touch displays on all machines, practically paperless production
• End-to-end integration of machine, control and software
• Uniform control for different machine types
• Regional competence cluster: Bandex, Pantec and Halo

Goals and requirements

Bandex was already using an MES from another provider, but it was no longer maintained or supported. Over time, it had reached the limits of its capabilities: literally, in that the maximum possible number of machines had been reached, and in the less tangible sense of unsatisfactory machine response times and outdated control of the OHP machines.

In view of the discontinued support, modernizing the existing system no longer seemed worthwhile. Because the old MES had been heavily modified and precisely tailored to Bandex’s needs, the new solution was naturally expected to offer the same degree of customization and adaptability.

After a thorough review of the existing situation, Bandex drew up a specification and, on this basis, a detailed invitation to tender with precisely specified requirements. Halo emerged from this tender as the winner with inteos^®.

The aim was to fully digitalize production from warping to weaving to finishing, bringing the transparency and consistency of data acquisition up to the latest technical standards.

Because the machine-side control technology in weaving and warping also had to be modernized at the same time, there was an opportunity to work with the Liechtenstein company Pantec, which Bandex had commissioned to overhaul the machine controls and port them to the OPC UA protocol.

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Implementation & challenges

The key technical feature of the project is the OPC UA interface, which enables state-of-the-art bidirectional data transmission. OPC UA is a platform-independent protocol for machine communication developed by the OPC Foundation.

52 ribbon weaving machines from Müller and Gomez and 2 warping machines were integrated into the MES via OPC UA servers implemented as an on-board solution. The machines were fitted with 10-inch touch displays whose operation was designed in close coordination with the specification and the requirements of the machine operators.

As we know from other projects, this personalization increases acceptance of a new and initially unfamiliar solution. Thanks to its intuitive guidance, the touchscreen operating logic differs markedly from the “classic” operating solution previously in use and contributes significantly to productivity and job satisfaction.

The weavers’ work is considerably simplified, and production is practically paperless.

Regional cooperation

Beyond the direct benefits for production at Bandex, the project highlights another aspect: the importance of regional technology clusters, exemplified by the cooperation between Bandex, Pantec and Halo. The amount of know-how that could be mobilized within a relatively small geographical area shows how well the Rhine Valley region is prepared for the challenges of digitalization.

Existing know-how and production structures are intelligently linked, creating technical and interpersonal synergies. We consider this kind of regional clustering essential for fostering a climate open to innovation, securing competitiveness on the world market and offering an attractive environment for technology investment, research initiatives and highly qualified professionals.