Thorsten Hardt

Digital Machine File with Edge Device and Equipment Cloud

The episode shows how the PVA Group is enabling its machines from the field of high vacuum and heat treatment to become data capable and how digital services are built on top of that. The starting point was the internal challenge of making knowledge centrally available, creating transparency and standardizing service processes. In parallel, customers required a secure way to integrate machine data into existing IT and MES systems without disclosing sensitive process data. Together with Kontron AIS, an edge device using the OPC UA for Machinery model and a digital customer portal were implemented. The hardware enables secure and standards-compliant provisioning of machine data. The portal serves as a central platform for master data, documentation, maintenance plans, tickets and customer communication. In the future, this will form the basis for a digital twin including lifecycle data. The modular solution addresses internal efficiency and scalable customer services and enables future use cases such as preventive maintenance, automated spare part diagnostics or AI supported recommendations. The episode is particularly relevant for machine builders, industrial operators, service managers and companies that want to develop their own IoT product strategy. It explains why data access, standardization, platform logic, trust and iterative implementation are key.