Project description
Intelligent system detects vacuum pump failure
Vacuum pumps are used in a wide variety of scientific and industrial applications such as in food and semiconductor processing, and in pharmaceutical and chemical production. They remove gas from a sealed volume, leaving a partial vacuum. Malfunctions or breakdowns caused by improper maintenance or settings cause great revenue losses. The EU-funded StarLink project is developing a system that will leverage data analytics and machine learning to identify vacuum pump malfunctions before they occur. It will propose corrective maintenance actions and will automatically adjust the operation parameters. The proposed system will reduce costs related to vacuum pump downtime by 30 % and increase their productivity by 50 %.
Objective
Vacuum pumps are used in thousands of industrial applications, playing a vital role in food processing, semiconductors, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and many other manufacturing and assembly processes. However, today’s pumps are currently unable to provide any type of insights that could help users anticipate a pump malfunction, plan maintenance procedures or setting the adjustments. Pump malfunctions or breakdowns, due to unplanned maintenance or improper settings, cost millions of euros in lost revenues every year as production and logistic lines lie idle waiting for pumps to be fixed, and when they are not optimized their productivity decrease or their energy consumption go up.
But now, DVP, a vacuum pump manufacturer, has developed the solution to these challenges through StarLink, the world’s first intelligent vacuum pump system. StarLink is a patent-pending system that uses data analytics and machine learning to identify pump malfunctions before they happen, propose actions to be taken, and automatically adjust the operation parameters if the problem relates to the setting. This will reduce pump downtime-related costs by 30%, increase their productivity by 50% and make easier the operation manager tasks.
The combination of our deep knowledge of vacuum pumps needs with the machine learning expertise of the university of Ferrara will create the most intelligent device to improve the competitiveness of European companies. Additionally, StarLink will contribute to DVP’s growth in terms of employees and product portfolio since we will be able to offer a wider range of products and services related to vacuum pumps, which will allow us to enter new markets and sell more units. By 2023, it will generate €3M in yearly revenue with net profits of €2M to our company.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesinternetinternet of things
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugs
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicsproduction economicsproductivity
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencemachine learning
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
40018 SAN PIETRO IN CASALE
Italy
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.