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GEFRAN at PLAST 2026
From June 9 to June 12, 2026, in Milan, Italy, Gefran will collaborate with machinery manufacturers to implement advanced digital infrastructure for extrusion and molding processes.
www.gefran.com
The deployment of interconnected automation components in the plastics processing industry addresses the requirement for continuous data acquisition and process optimization. By integrating hardware controllers with cloud-based analytics, industrial operators can maintain process stability across extrusion, injection, and blow molding applications.
Modular Automation Architecture and Control Infrastructure
The technical solution centers on the G-Mation platform, an EtherCAT-based control system designed by Gefran. This infrastructure simplifies automation architectures for machine builders by utilizing the G-Mation P6 controller as the central processing unit. The hardware achieves deterministic cycle times down to 250 µs, establishing precise control loops required for high-speed plastic processing.
Connectivity and interoperability are managed through native industrial protocols, including MQTT, OPC UA, and Euromap standards, ensuring compatibility with existing plant-level Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES). Security and edge computing capabilities are handled via integrated Virtual Private Network (VPN) agents and a Docker container architecture, allowing standard applications to run directly on the control hardware.
Data Analytics and Generative Assistant Implementation
The industrial automation platform interfaces directly with two digital systems to transform raw process data into operational metrics:
- Machine Analytics Expert (MAX): An industrial internet of things (IoT) platform that aggregates and analyzes machine variables to identify energy inefficiencies and mechanical anomalies, facilitating predictive maintenance schedules.
- Gefran AI Assistant (GAIA): A virtual assistant utilizing generative artificial intelligence to parse technical documentation, machine status reports, and consumption metrics, providing operators with contextual troubleshooting data.
System Integration and Validation
Gefran Soluzioni acts as the system integrator, managing the transition from hardware fabrication to digital deployment. This includes the production of custom electrical enclosures, on-machine cabling, and full commissioning up to the final acceptance test.
The validation of this integrated architecture was demonstrated at the PLAST exhibition from June 9 to June 12, 2026, in Milan, Italy. The implementation was verified using a compact laboratory extruder configured for single-layer cast film production. In this installation, the G-Mation P6 controller managed the mechanical parameters of the extruder while simultaneously streaming real-time process data to the MAX and GAIA digital platforms, verifying the continuity of data flow from physical sensors to cloud-based analytics.
Edited by Evgeny Churilov, Induportals Media - Adapted by AI.
www.gefran.com
Gefran Soluzioni acts as the system integrator, managing the transition from hardware fabrication to digital deployment. This includes the production of custom electrical enclosures, on-machine cabling, and full commissioning up to the final acceptance test.
The validation of this integrated architecture was demonstrated at the PLAST exhibition from June 9 to June 12, 2026, in Milan, Italy. The implementation was verified using a compact laboratory extruder configured for single-layer cast film production. In this installation, the G-Mation P6 controller managed the mechanical parameters of the extruder while simultaneously streaming real-time process data to the MAX and GAIA digital platforms, verifying the continuity of data flow from physical sensors to cloud-based analytics.
Edited by Evgeny Churilov, Induportals Media - Adapted by AI.
www.gefran.com
