Developing Cost-Effective Monitoring System for Plastic and Rubber Molding Machines

Currently, the plastic and rubber industry is undergoing significant changes due to the Industry 4.0 revolution. While smart factory solutions for plastic and rubber product manufacturing systems offer many benefits, they are challenging to implement for small- and medium-sized factories due to cost barriers and the stringent production process standards. This article proposes a data collection and monitoring solution for plastic injection molding machines and rubber compression molding machines, focusing on addressing the fundamental requirements of businesses with a more accessible cost approach for smaller enterprises. Experimental results from a manufacturing plant demonstrate that the proposed solution addresses some of the basic needs of businesses while laying the groundwork for infrastructure and data utilization for the adoption of more advanced technologies.