I/Gear Announces Web-Based Monitoring and Reporting Service for Machine Builders

May 4, 2009 - PRLog -- I/Gear Incorporated, a world leader in manufacturing solution software, announced the launch of a new web-based service which allows machine builders and their customers to monitor capital equipment like welders, robots, and cutting tools remotely. The service, dubbed MachineOnline, can also provide usage statistics, alert notifications via e-mail or text message, and audit trails to document quality and other traceability requirements.

The heart of MachineOnline is I/Gear's Data Transport Utility (DTU) software. Widely used in the manufacturing industry to integrate plant floor systems, the DTU rapidly collects data from on-site equipment and sends the information to secure servers hosted and maintained by I/Gear. This arrangement requires little or no on-site set up or maintenance. Machines need only to be provided an internet connection for the machine, and they do not need to be connected to the plant's internal network. Anyone with the appropriate permission can view their reports using only a web browser.

Besides enhancing the functionality of their products and the ability to provide "lights-out" manufacturing, machine builders also gain a benefit from collecting data from all their machines running in the field. This usage and fault data enables the manufacturer to provide preemptive maintenance and support to their customers. It also allows manufacturers to see how their products are actually being used in the field, so that they can create maintenance schedules to match.

I/Gear has already partnered with some major equipments manufactures including the #1 arc welding company (Lincoln Electric) and the #1 water jet cutting manufacturer (Flow International), who are now offering this service to their customers.

In a time when manufacturers are being tasked with providing more results with fewer people, I/Gear's MachineOnline service offers a low-risk, high-reward solution.

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I/Gear, Inc. is a software company focused on improving manufacturing competitiveness. Solutions utilizing I/Gear software products leverage the connectivity of people and technologies to solve manufacturing challenges.