Advanced Digitalization @ Nordzucker - Potential Analysis for Digitalization in the Sugar Production Process

The Advanced Digitization@Nordzucker project pursued the goal of identifying digitization potential in the processes and systems of Nordzucker AG. Advanced digitalization is interpreted here as the introduction of "Internet-of-everything" technologies. A combination of process and data analyses was carried out to identify potentials in the sugar production process and to show the effects with regard to future developments. The aim of the project was the holistic investigation of planning, order processing, production and maintenance processes as well as their digital representation. The project identified pilot projects for the implementation of digitization solutions based on a potential and data analysis. The pilots ranged from simple automation projects using Advanced PID controllers to the visualization of data to support process control and the use of neural networks to control complex automation tasks. Five pilot projects were implemented as examples to prove the technical feasibility and to illustrate the potentials.

The aim is to expand the use of data and improve support for complex processes. The production process is highly automated and is mainly controlled by a process control system. This initial situation requires sophisticated and innovative solutions.