From Traditional Machine Building to Smart Industry: How Suppliers Shape the Future

On Thursday, December 6, the Machinebouw Event celebrated its fifth edition. The central theme was: “How can suppliers help create superior solutions?” A diverse lineup of talks offered attendees deep, practical insights into smart industry, Industry 4.0, and Industrial IoT.

For the second consecutive year, we participated in the event, engaging with machine builders on how to securely connect their equipment to the cloud. This enables remote access from anywhere, anytime, and supports faster, higher‑quality service. Leveraging Cloud Logging within IXON’s all‑in‑one IXON Cloud, users can capture and analyze operational data to optimize performance, enable predictive maintenance, and minimize downtime. Together with Dinnissen Process Technology, we presented a seminar on shifting from conventional machine building to smart industry and the advantages it brings to manufacturers.

Perry Koning of Dinnissen opened the session by outlining the company’s journey to adopt an industrial remote‑access solution. Founded in 1948, Dinnissen is a respected specialist in powders and granules, offering in‑house developed, tested, and produced products. Perry emphasized the importance of their “Dinnissen Productivity Platform” across global projects, noting that the scarcity of skilled service engineers has amplified the need for remote machine access.

Why does Dinnissen connect its machines to the cloud?

Dinnissen’s decision to connect its equipment to the cloud rests on three core motivations: first, to enable remote access from anywhere, at any time; second, to unlock actionable machine data that supports new revenue models like predictive maintenance; and third, to analyze and share insights with end users. Perry’s key takeaway for fellow manufacturers is straightforward: define clear objectives, safeguard data, select appropriate tools, partner with a customer ready to pioneer the journey, and choose a collaborator who can facilitate secure, seamless cloud connectivity.

Perry then passed the floor to Job Euwes. Job reflected on the initial steps manufacturers take toward IIoT and remote access. “I observe that when I discuss Industry 4.0 and remote access with customers, they recognize the need to act but lack a clear starting point,” he noted. Echoing Perry’s guidance, Job cautions that cloud connectivity alone does not guarantee predictive maintenance. He recommends partnering with a like‑minded customer to pilot the approach, beginning with an enhanced remote‑service portal accessible to both parties. “The presentation title asks, “What’s in it for you?”” Job added, “The answer is for you to discuss with your customer: what do you aim to achieve, and how will you visualize machine insights?”

Once a company commits to remote access, it unlocks opportunities for new business models. Field service engineers are often on the move; remote support eliminates onsite visits for issues that can be resolved virtually. With remote service embedded in operations, businesses can then adopt data logging to monitor equipment performance and visualize trends, paving the way for models like pay‑per‑use or predictive maintenance.

Think big, start small, scale fast

The seminar’s central message: take the first step. Identify a customer ready to pioneer the journey, set precise objectives for smarter machines, and collaborate with a partner who can establish a secure cloud‑based portal. Start modestly, then scale to a comprehensive Industrial IoT deployment.

Ready to embrace Industry 4.0 but uncertain where to begin? Contact us at info@ixon.cloud or +31 (0)85 744 1105—our team is eager to support you.

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