Woodworking made izy connecting machines

A common language to connect all wood processing machines has been developed over three years by the seven leaders in woodworking machinery- BIESSE, BÜRKLE, HOMAG, IMA SCHELLING, SCM, WEBER and WEINIG. Woodworking made izy is a standardised interface to connect all their woodworking machines, machine to machine, and machines to the customers’ Manufacturing Execution Systems.

 Xylexpo will be an opportunity to share with the Italian and international woodworking audience the novelty of a standard interface as a Woodworking Companion Specification for OPC UA (Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture) enabling machines from different manufacturers to be easily integrated and connected.

Having to programme an individual interface will no longer be necessary, and an overall control of the production process can be set up very easily. The project has been named izy, inspired by universal languages, and it has solved a communication problem in an easy and streamlined way.

How it works:

Any technology, either cutting, sizing , edgebanding, cnc machining centres, drilling, moulding up to assembling and packaging will simply e connected on the shop floor.

In future, the same way as you connect your printer in the office world, just as easily you will connect a WEINIG automatic profiling machine to an SCM cnc machining center, and just as easily add a BURKLE surface finishing system to the process.

Once the machines have been installed, there will follow a straightforward testing of the interface together with the software developers, adjusting it to improve the level of performance.

It will not only be a matter of connecting the machines together, it will also involve monitoring the entire production process at a glance, identifying any weak points and acting swiftly, taking decisions on the data provided by the system concerning the entire cycle.

Why was izy needed:

Modern woodworking companies typically connect machines from different manufacturers within their production line. To date, this has been possible, but only after time and resources was dedicated in creating a new interface for each machine operating in the production line.

To provide a joint solution that would vastly improve manufacturing processes, the 7 member companies have put their customers at the heart of their businesses and teamed up to develop Woodworking made izy.

Now, with Woodworking made izy, woodworking companies are free to select machines and just plug in, with the same ease of connection a printer to a computer. Woodworking companies also require an easy connection of all machines to their Manufacturing Execution System controlling the flow and ensuring the effective execution of manufacturing operations to improve production performance.

Manufacturing Execution Systems help eliminate human error in manufacturing by collecting and processing accurate real-time data throughout the entire production life cycle; by monitoring and enforcing specifications, business rules, and traceability, all resulting in and process quality.

The project has been named izy, inspired by universal languages, and it has solved a communication problem in an easy and streamlined way.

Ifit used to take at least 3 days for wood processing companies to network machines with each other and with the MES (Manufacturing Execution System), now it will only take up to 3 hours to just plug in, just as easily as connecting a laptop to the printer with a USB cable.

At Xylexpo 2022, a purpose-built display offering information and running the latest videos on Woodworking made izy, will be located at the Entrance of Halls 22 and 24.

A Talk with key members of the Woodworking made izy Team is scheduled on Friday October 14 at Xylexpo Arena Hall 24, stand A48-B43.