Coesia OptiMate provides operators with a modern and intuitive HMI system that streamlines operations and improves machine experience
Covington, KY – Today, companies across all packaging sectors are experiencing increased challenges within the workforce, such as labor shortages and turnover. As such, there is a need to make equipment easier to operate for newer employees. To address these concerns, R.A Jones is launching Coesia OptiMate, its new human machine interface (HMI), across a majority of its machinery to provide operators and maintenance teams of any skill level with a standardized, modern, and smart navigational system to optimize equipment performance and quality.
As part of the Coesia Digital suite, OptiMate offers a plethora of digital training resources and 3-D guided procedures showing operators how to perform activities such as format changes, quality checks, maintenance, cleaning, and troubleshooting. The platform also runs real-time machine condition monitoring — complete with exportable reports on production statistics and alarms — to provide a clearer understanding of equipment condition.
Human Machine Interface Developed Based on Feedback and Usability Tests
When developing this platform, R.A Jones leveraged customer feedback and executed usability tests to ensure OptiMate’s interface design remained straightforward and accessible. By equipping operators with the digital assets highlighted above, companies can upskill its workforce, increase the pace of standard operations while also improving overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and minimizing production loss.
OptiMate can help operators troubleshoot and resolve equipment issues faster than previous HMI protocols by up to 30%. Additionally, by streamlining machine processes across changing work shifts, customers can standardize business operability and create uniformity on the production line.
“When speaking with customers, we identified a common thread regarding the decreasing workforce pool and increased turnover,” said Paul Schuster, Product Manager at R.A Jones. “We designed Coesia OptiMate to be a user-friendly, intuitive HMI to support field operators during their day-to-day and enhance their experience while they interact with our machines, especially as we see newer personnel enter the industry.”
Starting first with cartoning machinery, R.A Jones plans to roll out Coesia OptiMate across its beverage, pouching, cup filling, and chub packaging portfolio to standardize its operating system. R.A Jones can also upgrade an older HMI on existing equipment to OptiMate so machine lines can have system consistency. The platform can also be purchased alongside other Coesia company machinery to create a fully integrated system.
R.A Jones’ support team will be available to help customers transition to Coesia OptiMate and provide training for machine operators when the service is rolled out. In the future, Coesia plans to offer remote assistance on the OptiMate platform, allowing greater digital support for operators on the production line. Click here to learn more about R.A Jones and its innovative suite of digital solutions.
About R.A Jones
R.A Jones is part of Coesia, a group of innovation-based industrial and packaging solutions companies operating globally, headquartered in Bologna, Italy and owned by Isabella Seràgnoli. Coesia companies include: ACMA, ATLANTIC ZEISER, CERULEAN, CIMA, CITUS KALIX, COMAS, EMMECI, FLEXLINK, G.D, GDM, GF, HAPA, MGS, MOLINS, NORDEN, R.A JONES, SASIB, SYSTEM CERAMICS, TRITRON, VOLPAK.
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Rick LeBlanc, EMBA, is the founder and editor of Reusable Packaging News (subscribe to the free newsletter) and editor of Western Pallet Magazine. A supply chain journalist with more than 30 years of experience, he specializes in pallets, reusable packaging, material handling and related operations. Rick is co-author of Pallets: A North American Perspective and Pallets & Progress: A Collected History of Pallets and Palletized Handling 1922–1945. He is also an advisory board member of the Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. Read Rick’s full bio.
