The consulting companies DataSweet and Arsandis recently hosted a workshop on digiti- zation in the confectionery industry. Participants of the event were able to experience first-hand technologies such as Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality.

Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Internet of Things (IoT) are some of the many buzzwords people primarily associate with computer gaming, flight simulation or head-up displays in aviation. Many small and medium-sized businesses remain reluctant to take a first step with state-of-the-art technologies, not knowing where to start or unaware of their benefits in an industrial environment.

It comes as no surprise that Assisted Reality, AR, VR and IoT do not get the attention they deserve in the confectionery industry. Hence, it was good that, on the eve of this year's ISM & ProSweets in Cologne, Data-Sweet and Arsandis, consulting companies for the sweets business, organized a workshop in Solingen/Germany at DataSweet’s premises. Professionals from the industry were given the opportunity to get hands-on experience of these technologies and to understand their areas of application.

Consultants presented Vuforia Chalk, an easy-to-use and cost-effective Augmented Reality tool, which enables service technicians and support staff to exchange real-time information on service cases using smartphones or tablets. 3D notes and sketches can be applied directly to the live stream of machines shown on the screens. Capabilities were exhibited in a demonstration, in which a “service technician” was led live, in a separate room, through the maintenance of one of the three roll mills from Exakt Advanced Technologies.

Other Augmented Reality applications go further and show service technicians a virtual 3D-representation of the machine, along with real-time sensor data superimposed on the machine in the real world. Even the simulation of complete maintenance procedures, exploded views, installation or disassembly instructions can easily be visualized and brought to life. If you wear AR glasses, you can even work hands-free and still access the information you need. AR technology even works when machines are located on remote sites. During the workshop, real-size 3D projections of Stechel Coating Systems and ten Brink Engineering & Consulting came to life, and participants were able to explore features and functions of those machines.

Virtual Reality offers a slightly different approach: the user moves and interacts in a completely virtual environment. A few years back, dedicated “VR rooms” were state of the art. Today, laptop and VR glasses, stereoscopic vision, motion tracking and virtual hands make the illusion almost perfect. The manufacturers present were impressed how easily they could interact with their virtual machine assets. One can even create entire virtual factories and move around inside, which opens new opportunities in factory planning, training and marketing.

To make it easier for those in-terested to get started, Arsandis and DataSweet offer a VR Confectionery Starter Kit, which was developed in collaboration with well-known manufacturers. It includes a complete virtual production facility with hygiene stations, reception, auditorium and laboratory. It can be freely extended and equipped with different production lines.