Bosch and Bühler strengthen research cooperation

Bühler and Bosch Connected Devices and Solutions agreed to expand their existing successful collaboration for increased innovation and market launches, further leveraging the opportunities of the Internet of Things. New products are expected for 2017.

Bosch Connected Devices and Solutions and Bühler, two experts in the areas of the Internet of Things and food process technology, are joining forces. The companies have decided to expand their research and development partnership.

Contractual proceedings to form a commercial partnership were completed on August 22, 2016 at the occasion of the Bühler Networking Days.

The cooperation provides great opportunities to leverage Bosch know-how in electronics, sensor technology, and software around the Internet of Things for the food processing industry. The two companies successfully cooperated in a two-year research project to integrate cutting-edge Bosch MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) sensors into food production technology.
 

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Going forward, Bühler intends to equip all solutions with the latest IoT technology. Shown left is a Bühler batch mixer, with at the right a Bühler Multi Online NIR Sensor for the Bühler batch mixer.

The results are very promising: Individual rolls in rotating machines can now be equipped with wireless sensors to measure in real time temperature and vibration during the production process. This allows monitoring and optimization of the end product through better alignment of the rolls. Operators also benefit from predictive maintenance services, reducing down-time and operating costs. First applications from this intensified cooperation will be launched in 2017.

Johannes Wick, CEO Grains & Food at Bühler:
 

“Following our successful R&D partnership, we are pleased to take the next step to form a commercial partnership. We are excited to utilise this partnership to create process solutions and services that improve yield and performance at reduced operating costs for our customers.”

“During the last two years Bühler and Bosch have established a good relationship and met the demanding requirements with first selected applications in grain milling.”

Thorsten Müller, CEO of Bosch Connected Devices and Solutions:
 

“We are excited to continue and extend our partnership with Bühler, a major industry specialist and leading company in the field of food processing technologies.”

“At Bosch, we combine experience gained from our own manufacturing activities in more than 250 plants with our expertise as a leading provider of electronics, sensors and software for industrial IoT solutions.”

“We are not only optimizing our own worldwide manufacturing base, we are also actively seeking to work with partners like Bühler to build a value creation network beyond company boundaries and turn Industry 4.0 into reality.”