Anyone interested in reaping the benefits of remote monitoring and remote service should be aware of the dangers of not taking the proper steps to secure their equipment. Because the Shodan database shines a spotlight onto the devices which are not secure, the requirement for protecting machines behind security platforms has never been more urgent.

To learn more you can request a copy of the whitepaper Choosing a Cloud Platform for Smart Services.

MONTVALE, N.J., Nov. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ — Ei3 Corporation announced that a fully featured Web Service is available allowing customers to use their plant floor equipment data in a wide range of computing applications. This Web Service builds upon Ei3′s Software-as-a-Service offering by creating a secure way for companies to reap the benefits of Web 3.0 within the perimeter of their enterprise. It is a richly featured Application Programming Interface (API) that combines a security framework with a library of programming methods making it easy for third party computing platforms to exchange data with Ei3′s Remote Monitoring Cloud.

Ei3′s Internet applications are used by manufacturers to gather, processes and analyze large amounts of machine data. Users are provided with mobile apps, web pages, dashboards and reports that show key performance indicators describing the performance, uptime and quality of machine output. Actionable information about production becomes even more valuable when it is integrated fully into the enterprise. But the many technical challenges make integration of data a daunting task for many companies. Ei3′s Web Service solves this problem by providing powerful set of tools that link shop-floor data into ERP, Quality and other enterprise computing platforms.

The Web Service creates a powerful and convenient source of real-time manufacturing information that is available to authorized computing systems. The Web Service was designed to meet stringent security requirements because information is only provided if the request is accompanied by an authorization key and all transmission of data is done through secure protocols. As a part of the Ei3 Remote Monitoring Cloud, the Web Service creates a secure way for companies to reap the benefits of Web 3.0 within the perimeter of their enterprise. This richly featured Application Programming Interface allows authorized computers to use a library of programming methods to exchange data.

“We look forward to seeing customers use the Web Service to integrate information from their plant floor into ERP, business and quality systems. This API is open enough that customers can create their own secure apps and dashboards.” Commented Spencer Cramer, CEO of Ei3 Corporation, he added, “Ei3′s Web Service provides another way for customers to benefit from our investments in data centers, processing power, storage and bandwidth. Our infrastructure rapidly provisions entire manufacturing sites and meets the continually increasing demand for enterprise data.”

The Web Services API is available to all Ei3 Remote Monitoring Cloud users. The current API version is RESTful and has both XML and JSON outputs. An online development guide with example methods is provided for Developers to rapidly build apps that integrate machine data. With a Web Services subscription, developers also gain access to the Ei3 Support Team and receive personalized technical support.

For more information about the Ei3 Web Service, contact Ei3.

Media Contact: Spencer Cramer Ei3 Corporation, +1-201-802-9080, spencer@ei3.com

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From Ei3′s perspective these are welcome developments affirming our efforts over the past 12 years. We know that the Internet of Things is changing the way manufacturers produce their goods and unleash tremendous gains in productivity and sustainability. When one of the largest companies in the world takes concrete steps to address this market opportunity we applaud their efforts and wish them much success.

For those who want to immediately harness the powerful benefits of the industrial Internet, Ei3 has a unique service offering that might be just the right solution. We offer a full range of products including a robust industrialized appliance, a secure global network, data centers, and applications that create actionable intelligence that drives business decisions. Our Software-as-a-Service is white-labeled and ready to be delivered to end users by machine and device manufacturers. Ei3′s offering enables companies to pursue a low-risk industrial Internet strategy that ensures the fastest possible time to market.

Contact us to see how easy it is to participate in this technology-driven revolution.

GE Factory Floor

Read the Printweek Article Here

This app provides information 24/7, enabling users to track problems as and when they occur. The manufacturer is calling it a breakthrough

What is it and when was it launched?

Bobst Mobile Portal was launched at Drupa in May is an app for smart phones and tablets that remotely monitors machines and displays key production data. “It is aimed at production managers, production supervisors, production directors, owners – anyone who needs to see how their plant is performing on a machine by machine basis,” says Mike Rice, Bobst UK regional service manager for Ireland and Scandinavia.

Bobst-Mobile-Portal

What does it do?
The app gives access to cloud-based data that is stored on Bobst’s Connect Portal, an internet-based monitoring service. Connect Portal is currently a way in which printers can access in-depth data about machine performance from desktop computers and by which Bobst engineers currently provide remote service and maintenance to customers.

The app takes access to this information on the move for the first time. On the smart phone app, information including whether a machine is running, how long it has been running for, its speed, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) can be viewed. It can then drill down further into that data and display more detailed information.

Bobst says that the tablet version shows an even deeper level of detail, enabling users to track production historically over days, weeks and months. This information is displayed in easy to understand formats, says Rice.

“It is a highly customisable system that can present reports in numerous ways on multiple subjects. For example, you could have a graph showing production speeds over the past three months,” he explains.

How does it work?
With the app, you can monitor a single machine or multiple machines. Any Bobst machine built within the last 10-15 years is connectable, but any non-Bobst machine would need an extra bit of kit.

“Non-Bobst machines would have to have the Bobst Connect Box installed, which connects that machine remotely through a secure connection to the app,” says Rice.

Once you’ve got all the machines linked up, the Bobst Control Box sends the information to the software system, which combines the information with data from the company’s management information system. It then sends the combined data to a virtual ‘cloud’ via a secure connection.

It is compatible with all commonly used information interchanges, including JDF and XML, says Bobst.

What is its USP?
“Having information 24/7 and being able to do something about problems as you see them happen on the machine is a real breakthrough in machine monitoring,” says Rice.

He claims that there is no other product on the market that works in this specific way, and so describe it as a breakthrough for printers in all sectors.

How easy is it to use?”It is very easy to use,” says Rice. “It’s as simple as downloading the app – you need Connect Portal in the back-end, but we do that for you if you don’t have it. It will cause no hassle or complication for the printer themselves.”

How much is it and how many users are currently using the app?
The app is only £2.99 but obviously a lot of the cost will come from the back-end software and hardware. Bobst says most of the current range of Bobst machines have the Connect Box already built in, so they need nothing more. The price of the app is all you would have to spend. Older and non-Bobst machines will need the Connect Box installed, however, and possibly an interface – the cost of which will depend on make and model, says Bobst.

As for current users, there are none currently, but Rice says. “Although we premiered the app at Drupa 2012, we have only just begun to talk to potential users about it. Our remote machine diagnostics service is already used by customers in 48 countries, so we expect that clients will start adopting this app pretty soon, once we show them its many benefits.”

SPECIFICATIONS

Compatibility
Currently only on iOS devices (iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch with iOS 4.3 or newer). An Android version is expected to be available by the end of end of the year Price £2.99 via Apple’s App Store

Because of difficulty with the phone systems, we were unable to answer your calls for the past seven days but that is now fixed. If you did try to contact us, we apologize and hope you understand.  Special thanks to those of you who reached out to us to express concern and well wishes, your encouragement was greatly appreciated.

Recently I was asked by a client to investigate how Ei3′s remote monitoring cloud was making degree day calculations.  The client had noticed a change of 17% less heating degree days for a large group of buildings spread out across North America.   This change seemed to be too big to be correct because previous year-on-year changes were only around 2%. Was there a math error?  In response I researched the climate records at NOAA and found that 2012 is on track to be an exceptionally warm year.  This chart reveals a very disturbing fact about the weather in the lower United States.

To manage energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, first one needs to measure;  Following the well-known best practice of  “you can’t manage what you can’t measure”, packaging manufacturers will need to first measure their energy use.  Then they can use this information to better understand what is the energy use and sustainability of their production to launch meaningful reduction strategies. I see this as a exciting new opportunity, because by measuring the Carbon emissions of package production, we are creating a lens through which we can begin to understand and then reduce these green house gas emissions – while at the same time increasing our business competitiveness.Using less energy means paying less money to the utility company, thereby creating cost savings that can ultimately become a competitive advantage for a manufacturer. The good news is that there is a way to measure energy used and greenhouse gas emissions on the production floor and it is not hard.

The Opportunity for energy and CO2 reductions in manufacturing

In a report made back in 2007, the IEA attributed 33% of energy use and 36% of CO2 emissions to manufacturing industries. So working on reductions in the manufacturing process holds the promise of significantly reducing our emissions. In fact, this same IEA report claims that implementing commercially available advanced technologies we could reduce global CO2 emissions by 7 to 12% and reduce energy use by the equivalent of the entire energy use of Japan.

Advanced technologies already in commercial use would reduce global CO2 emissions by 7 to 12%, and be the energy equivalent of taking the entire country of Japan off-line.

Packaging manufacturers have a great opportunity to realize cost savings while improving of the sustainability of their products. In fact, savvy companies are already using sustainability as a lens through which to view and drive performance. Implementing a Sustainability program within the enterprise can have a positive impact much like a Total Quality Management program. By pursuing a sustainability program, companies can spend less for their purchased energy while maintaining their competitiveness.

The US Department of Energy has recently announced a program called Superior Energy Performance that aims to help manufacturers achieve the goal of reducing energy consumption while maintaining competitiveness. SEP follows the ISO 50001 standard to help companies plan improvements, measure results and get certified. With 3 year reductions of 5%, 10% and 15%, silver gold and platinum certifications are granted. The companies who participated in the pilot program include Volvo Trucks, Dow Chemical and 3M who all achieved reductions of more than 15%.

Throughout the supply chain bellweather companies are seeking accurate sustainability data. This trend is growing and manufacturers will be challenged to provide the CO2e emissions values for the items they produce. The sustainable supply chain is spawning investment into new companies who are developing novel business models to aggregate and track sustainability information.   One reason these efforts are made is to enable accurate Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions reporting into monitoring bodies such as the Carbon Disclosure Project. As awareness grows, sustainability will have an increasingly prominent role in business decisions.

Sustainability of Packaging

The manufacture and conversion of packaging materials is an important part of the sustainability of any product. I am an active participant in the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, a project of Greenblue.org. The SPC promotes awareness of the lifecycle of packaging, as shown in this infographic. By measuring the sustainability of the manufacturing and conversion phases of packaging it is possible to get closer to understanding the total sustainability of a package’s lifecycle.

The SPC recognizes the Global Packaging Project this organization has published a Global Protocol on Packaging Sustainability. One key metric prescribed is the Cumulative Energy Demand, or CED. The CED indicates the total amount of energy used to produce a package, a key part in understanding the sustainability of a package. Using the CED and the local Carbon intensity of energies used, it become possible to describe the CO2e emissions for each package produced. The CO2e number is a metric of great interest to organizations who are looking to report their sustainability.

Further, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol defines Scope 3 emissions in part as “Other indirect emissions, such as the extraction and production of purchased materials and fuels, transport-related activities in vehicles not owned or controlled by the reporting entity”.   So in the context of packaging, and from the perspective of further up the supply chain, Scope 3 CO2e emissions are those resulting from “the production of purchased materials” which in many cases describes the packages provided to global brands. Of course from the point of view of the manufacturer or converting factory, these emissions are reported as scope 2; even scope 1 in certain cases.

Despite having such a clear rationale for measurement and reporting, manufacturers are challenged by the difficulties incurred and often can not provide good information about the sustainability of their packaging. Measuring and reporting requires a diverse set of data needs to be accumulated and advanced analysis. At the most basic level the report needs to include information about:

• Machine production information
• Utilities used including Electricity, Water, Fuels, Compressed Air, Steam, Hydraulic
• Waste produced during manufacture by stage
• Building Energy use
• Carbon intensity of the supplied energies
• Local weather
• and other relevant factors

Getting all of this information and processing into CO2e numbers is a daunting task. For most organizations, it is not practical to produce reports by using manual excel worksheets. The time required for data collection and analysis is not scalable. As a result too often organizations become willing to settle for reporting approximations in lieu of accurate numbers.

The emerging solution to this challenge is to use a remote monitoring cloud application that can measure, compile and report on energy and CO2 emissions.

Consider the example of how Bobst is using remote monitoring and provide customers with the ability to measure and report on sustainability. The Bobst printing machine shown below is a Flexographic web-fed printing press. It can print on various substrates to produce cartons, bags, boxes and labels. This machine runs up to 2000 Feet per minute and can processes a web of 110 inches wide or almost 10 feet. This machine can be equipped with remote monitoring of electricity, fuels, water and compressed air.

Like all current Bobst equipment, this printing machine has an advanced system of computer controls that manages the many functions performed in production.  This particular machine also has sensors that measure sustainability factors including; the electricity for operation, gas for its dryers, water for its cooling rolls, and compressed air to make things move.  Each of these sensors are connected to the machine’s computer controls.  Once the sensor values are represented in the control system as digital numbers, the remote monitoring cloud interface gathers these values.  These digital values become the data that flows securely from the machines to the remote monitoring cloud’s global network of data warehouses.

Converting the CED into a number that can be reported showing the unit of production’s carbon footprint calls requires understanding the carbon intensity of the local electrical supply and other energies delivered. Because the remote monitoring cloud has a database of local carbon intensity values these values are integrated with the energy of production, providing a the CO2 emissions per unit of production. This number is provided to supply chain partners for their reports, or reported as part of the manufacturer’s Carbon Disclosure Statement.

A manufacturing sustainability report is provided by the cloud server, and it can be customized for different organizations. In its most basic form, the key metrics of energy consumption and CO2 emissions are provided on a job by job basis showing the values of units produced analyzed by job with the Energy and CO2 metrics are provided.

Most packages and products require operation on more than one machine.   When all the machines in a process are connected to the remote monitoring cloud, their Energy values are measured and an aggregate energy per unit can be reported along with the associated CO2e.  This aggregation method provides a report of the total impact of the converting stage of the package.  Having the energy use data makes helps with planning machine upgrades and even production scheduling.

Ei3′s remote monitoring cloud is a practical and effective way to measure and report on the sustainability of packages made in the converting plant. Plant personnel use the mobile apps, web pages, dashboards and reports, to use sustainability key performance indicators as a lens through which operations can be analyzed and improved. With accurate real time sustainability data, machines can be benchmarked in ways that help enlighten decisions about production and machine improvements. This information can be aggregated for multi-stage operations to create a complete CO2/unit of packaging thereby providing a transparent standards based report.

This is just the beginning. As more enterprises start to measure they will join a growing community that is seeking ways to reduce energy consumption and CO2e emissions while maintaining effectiveness.   There is still much to be learned and lots of work to be done to solve the challenges ahead.  My goal is to see that Ei3 provides the packaging industry with innovation, excellence and leadership required to define the limits of what is possible for the measurement and reporting of these important metrics.

MONTVALE, N.J., June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ –  Ei3 Corporation announced today that it will begin shipping a new generation of Amphion internet security devices. Called the Model 14, these devices are designed to exceed the expectations of the discerning machine builder and plant floor user by providing ease of configuration along-side sophisticated security policies in an industrial package. New Amphion features include the addition of USB ports for file transfers, upgrades to the configuration tools, more status indicators and a tighter integration with Ei3′s SaaS Remote Monitoring Cloud platforms.

“The Amphion Model 14 once again raises the bar by providing an easy to deploy and highly secure connection within the end customer’s network. Ei3′s engineering team focused on integration, product packaging, and important security details to address the growing needs of protecting industrial controllers and infrastructure. We refined every design element to build the very best product for this key part of our Software-as-a-Service platform” Said Spencer Cramer, Ei3′s Chief Executive Officer. “We also refined the links between this new Amphion and our applications so that customers can easily configure and use the Ei3 Cloud Platform for remote service and remote monitoring.”

One example of the improvements made to the new Amphion is the Auto Configure function. This function simplifies device management by storing configuration details about remote sites in the cloud. Once an administrator defines the Amphion’s networking details and remote devices to be monitored, Ei3′s Cloud Platform sends a small encrypted package to the Amphion for Auto Configure to take place on the next power cycle.

Three variations are released for immediate shipment, the flagship Amphion A-14 HM which enables quick connection to a plant network, and provides an on-board modem for a telephone line to enable out-of-band rescue. The Amphion A-14 H provides the same secure connection without a modem. The A-14 N performs Network Address Translation to give designers a tool to create individual access controls to various machines and on the plant floor behind a primary A-14 H.

All Amphion A-14 devices are compatible with Ei3 Remote Monitoring Cloud Platforms that deliver Smart Services, award winning web and mobile device apps, packaged solutions for M2M and Software as a Service to enable The Internet of Things. Examples include the secure control of access for servicing industrial machines and remote monitoring to measure production, performance, quality to drive lean manufacturing and six sigma programs.

More information is available at www.ei3.com/products/amphion-14-devices/

About Ei3

Ei3 Corporation’s Cloud Platforms for Smart Services deliver complete solutions that are used by leading global organizations to better understand the performance and life cycle of their manufacturing equipment, buildings and other assets. Customers rely upon Ei3′s platform to analyze remotely monitored data and deliver actionable Business Intelligence as web pages, dashboard and reports to desktops and mobile devices. Ei3 also provides immediate manufacturing data to third party systems through web services links to empower sophisticated business processes. Since 2000, Ei3′s Cloud Platform for Smart Services has helped companies in a wide range of industries including manufacturing, converting, printing, and information technology.

Media Contact: Courtney Cramer Ei3 Corporation, 201-802-9080 x 416, ccramer@ei3.com

SOURCE  Ei3 Corporation

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Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1fYFb)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/cyber-search-engine-exposes-vulnerabilities/2012/06/03/gJQAIK9KCV_story.html?hpid=z1

ATTENTION Ei3 Customers:

Don’t worry.  If you are an Ei3 customer you are protected against these and other vulnerabilities.    Our system has been designed to provide maximum security for mission critical equipment to be remotely monitored, accessed and serviced on the internet.

Bobst CEO Jean-Pascal Bobst (left) and Spencer Cramer, CEO of EI3 Corporation at Drupa presented the new App "Mobile Portal" for Smartphones that tracks machine productivity

Bobst introduces the Mobile Portal, an app for smart phones and tablets that remotely monitors machines and displays key production data.   Designed to meet the needs of the busy manufacturing manager or executive, Mobile Portal creates awareness about operations – whether the production floor is in the next room or on the other side of the world.

“Being the first major machine  supplier in the packaging industry to offer this type of Remote Monitoring demonstrates our commitment to providing our customers with innovation and excellence in services”, said Stephan Maerz, Head of Business Unit  Services for Bobst.  “Mobile Portal builds upon our capabilities in remote monitoring and puts the information into the hands of those who need it with a high level of convenience.”

Mobile Portal is an extension of Bobst’s Internet service called Connect Portal and is based on remote monitoring machines and storing data  in the cloud.  This platform uses highly secure Internet technologies to remotely monitor machines for the purpose of tracking production and benchmarking performance.  “People are used to banking, and buying things  online,  even storing sales contacts,  so it’s easy to explain the value of storing machine data in the cloud.  All the same benefits of convenience, back-up and strong security apply.” Said Massimo Ardito, Service Products Portfolio Manager at  Bobst.

Mobile Portal presents clear and attractive machine displays with real time numbers for speed, production, and material produced.  Also Bobst has adopted the Lean Manufacturing best practice of using OEE, (Operational Equipment Effectiveness) to provide a high-level view of each machine’s performance.  Mobile portal also serves as a launching pad for Bobst’s advanced apps including Remote Monitoring and Downtime Tracking.

“Having the convenience of viewing machine productivity in plants around the world is a powerful game changing technology that makes the Mobile Portal a very powerful tool to promote efficient production”, said Raphael Indermuehle, Business Unit Services Head of Sales and Marketing.  He added, “Bobst machines are currently being shipped fully compatible with Mobile Portal, and we have solutions for older machines.”

“Mobile Portal” was developed in collaboration with Ei3 Corporation of Montvale, NJ.

Deutscher Drucker, the oldest and most highly regarded print magazine in the world, covered this topic in a press release

http://www.print.de/News/Produkt-Technik/Remote-Maschinenueberwachung-mit-Smartphone-und-Tablet-PC_7075