Skip to main content

Effective optimization due to machine transparency

A system that promotes “visualization and optimization of heat treatment plants” led by the manufacturing site as a line supervision that connects a superordinate host-system and the production site.

As a top manufacturer of vacuum heat treatment equipment, IHI Machinery and Furnace Co., Ltd. has won high praise and recognition from customers for its performance and reliability. In a rapidly changing social environment, IHI proposes unprecedented value by utilizing digital solutions such as SIMATIC WinCC Unified regardless of conventional thinking.

IHI Machinery and Furnace Co., Ltd. aims to be a "base" for promoting Digital transformation at customer sites. “FURNACE EYE®” was developed as the first step in this process. "In this product development, we believe that it is essential to develop and strengthen the IT skills of engineers who have OT technology, which is an issue in promoting Digital transformation throughout the industry. We were looking for a product with a high degree of freedom that would allow us to build a digital solution that combines the OT technology and know-how we have cultivated. This product visualizes the know-how cultivated at the customer's site and realizes further promotion of Digital transformation through co-creation with the customer." Mr.Masahiko Takebayashi, Director of IHI Machinery and Furnace Co., Ltd. told why they decided to use SIMATIC WinCC Unified.

Key benefits

Line control with modern UX Design and remote access

Combine modern design with highly intuitive usability and optimal user experience for operators, both locally and remotely.

OT/IT Integration and Optimization of Furnace Machines

Central data storage and openness, are key for future MES integration and to identify optimization potentials based on KPIs.

Smooth integration of Mitsubishi Q-series PLCs

The seamless integration of third party controllers reduces complexity across heterogeneous environments.

Screenshot of the start screen of the visualization system.

Modern HMI solution with excellent screen design

To develop a visualization system at IHI Machinery and Furnace Co., Ltd., their requirement was a product that could realize the visualization based on the screen design created together with a design company. SIMATIC WinCC Unified is a product that uses the latest web technology that can flexibly realize screen design. They built a wonderful visualization system and realized detailed expressions using JavaScript. SVG was used for equipment images that were particular about the concept of shadow pictures to show information in detail.

As a development environment, SIMATIC WinCC Unified has the same usability as a conventional HMI system, so it is the best product for engineers who are new to web technology.
Masayoshi Hamamoto, Assistant Manager, IoT Engineering center, IHI Machinery and Furnace Co., Ltd.

Mr. Hamamoto says that he was able to demonstrate the user's own engineering ability without being bound by conventional concepts and ways of thinking and was able to proceed with development that incorporates a functional design which is based on the real factory space.

Screenshot of a dashboard in the visualization system.
A worker interacting with a screen showing the furnace monitoring system operation panel

Supervisory for Furnace Machines

The SCADA system SIMATIC WinCC Unified PC Runtime runs on a SIMATIC IPC627E, which is suitable for industrial site environments.

As one of the requirements for this project, as an equipment manufacturer, it was important to be able to collect data in one place from connected equipment in a system to be able to realize added value such as visualization of KPIs.

Globally, there are many configurations that connect to SIMATIC S7-1500, but due to the characteristics of the Japanese market, they collected and displayed data by connecting to other companies' PLCs. It can be said that the smooth connection enabled us to achieve the connectivity required for visualization without any problems.

"Due to these functions and features, customers who have actually used it can now make a start to visualize the factory by simply introducing FURNACE EYE® in the IT and digital transformation promotion of the production site, which is difficult to progress. It has been well received with the expected feedback". Mr. Hamamoto says.

Web technology for remote access

Previously, the machine was operated as a stand-alone unit, but now, as a new initiative for the production of FURNACE EYE®, there was a concept of visualization, that can be reached even remotely. By connecting to the constructed network, we were able to smoothly meet this requirement by being able to monitor the device using a web browser on the tablet. IHI Machinery and Furnace Co., Ltd. would like to provide customers with new value and solutions with this WinCC Unified-based product that consists from latest Web technology including these functions.

A person holding a tablet, looking at the dashboard via a web browser.

About IHI Machinery and Furnace Co., Ltd.

IHI Machinery and Furnace Co., Ltd. Is a top manufacturer of vacuum heat treatment equipment. Founded in 1973. They design, manufacture, and sell vacuum heat treatment equipment that improves the quality of machine parts, such as vacuum heat treatment furnaces, vacuum carburizing equipment, hot presses, and new material manufacturing equipment.

Learn more