Rodolfo set for remote start-up at new India tire plant

Solbiate Olona , Italy – Rubber machinery manufacturer Rodolfo Comerio is to remotely start up a calender-line at a new off-highway-tire plant being brought on line by the Mahansaria Tyres Private Ltd (MTPL) group in India.

The start-up will mark the first project for a newly “activated” remote control room at Rodolfo’s HQ site in Solbiate Olona, according to a 20 Aug company statement from.

“We already started the I/O testing and, the connection will start at the very beginning of September,” Rodolfo Comerio sales and marketing manager Nicola Fedele explained in a written statement to ERJ.

Equipped to remotely perform all electrical, mechanical and automation operations of plants, the new control room employs advanced plant-management systems – managed by Rodolfo Comerio’s software, electrical and mechanical engineers.

For the remote start-up process, a VPN router in the main electrical cabinet connects with a VPN server located at Rodolfo Comerio’s headquarters facility.

The remote-connect server is stated to have “the most updated features” for security and prevention of unauthorised access both on the Rodolfo Comerio and customer side.

The Rodolfo Comerio router is connected to customer company LAN cabled connection with RJ45 connector, enabling remote monitoring and intervention services on the machine in real-time.

Another feature is the use of augmented reality systems including ‘smart glasses’ for use by the operators on site.

Video cameras are installed on the whole line, in support of the smart Glasses, for the remote control of all the steps for the start-up of the plants, said Rodolfo Comerio further pointed out.

According to Rodolfo Comerio, its new remote control room will be able “to start-up several plants at the same time and manage the most complex dynamics as if it were on site.” 

Another advantage, it pointed out, is all the sub-suppliers can be involved in the process in real-time and so give input to ensure a quicker start-up of the plant.

Last November, MTPL unveiled plans to build a €90-million greenfield off-highway-tire manufacturing plant in Panoli in the south west Gujarat. The 127-acre facility, it said, was due for completion by the yearend.