Answering to the call by Industry 4.0, Rittal’s Blue e cooling units can now integrate into existing condition monitoring and IoT systems thanks to a special adaptor that retrofits comprehensive communications capabilities.

Digitalization is at the top of the agenda for companies around the globe and adoption rates in South Africa are steadily increasing. While the movement is welcomed, what happens to expensive machinery that lacks communication interfaces?

Rittal’s solution is an innovative digital retrofit. Existing machinery and equipment can now be kitted out with suitable communications technology without the need to upgrade. The adaptor is suitable for Rittal’s Blue e cooling units.

Higher system availability

The new adaptor can be used to set up condition monitoring for up to ten cooling units in a master/slave arrangement. That means not only can data be recorded, but efficiency analyses can also be carried out on the cooling solution. A monitoring system that issues automatic notifications can also be set up to detect faults and limit breaches, thereby helping boost availability and prevent expensive machine downtime.

The new adapter is compatible with all Blue e units that use a Comfort Controller and both wall and roof-mounted cooling units can be made fit for Industry 4.0. This applies to both standard units and stainless steel versions, too. Similarly, Rittal cooling units with a NEMA 3R/4 or NEMA 4X classification – which are often used outdoors – are ideally suited for incorporation into IoT applications. Typical examples of outdoor applications for these units include renewable energy facilities such as solar and wind power plants. As these plants are usually located in isolated areas, it is essential that they incorporate remote monitoring for panel building and switchgear manufacturing.

Straightforward commissioning

Blue e cooling units are integrated into higher-level systems using the same IoT interface that Rittal markets for units from the successor range, Blue e+. Rittal has developed the new IoT adaptor because the older Blue e units cannot communicate directly with the IoT interface. The whole system can be configured and commissioned via the web server integrated into the IoT interface – quickly, conveniently and without the need for any programming.