IEN: How can/will the sector answer industry demand for increased automation and flexibility?
FETTE: FETTE''s solution to meeting industry demands is to work closely with interested companies to address their production needs. Our most popular innovation, the fully removable and interchangeable die table, was developed based on a single customer''s need to decrease changeover time and increase production. By working side-by-side with our customers, FETTE is in a better position to anticipate future demands. FETTE also believes that a well-funded research & development department is the key to success and encourages the development of new technology instead of constantly revising existing pieces.
IEN: Will distributed control architectures continue to displace centralized controls?
FETTE: FETTE believes that many companies will embrace this trend in the future. We offer OCIF software specifically to help our customers integrate all of their presses with one centralized location. With an increased awareness on improving working conditions for the press operators, the distributed control architecture frees a person from having to stay by the press, thereby eliminating exposure to the granulation and the noise of the machine.
IEN: What innovations are in store for equipment, systems, peripherals, and software (MEMS, MST, Nano, etc.)?
FETTE: FETTE introduced several new innovations at the ACHEMA show in Germany in May this year. Among our new features are the DTS, or Driverless Transport System, for automated removal and placement of the die table, a wireless TSC controller, die table segments, a stainless steel fill-o-matic, the new "i" version of our 1200 and 3090 tablet presses and a new version of our Galenic software for use on the 1200 tablet press. FETTE also presented their new WeightMaster for sampling tablet weights and our success with the gum base trials. Our software has been redesigned to facilitate ease of use for the operators, including putting all critical parameters on one screen. FETTE is proud to be able to say that we have introduced, at our trade shows this year, more innovations than all of our close competitors combined.
IEN: How much progress has been made in resolving software and hardware debugging issues? Documentation challenges? Installation headaches?
FETTE: FETTE is serious about addressing debugging issues as soon as they are identified. Corrections are made and documented as soon as possible and, when necessary, new components are designed or developed to replace those that are not up to par. Documentation will always be a challenge because every company has a certain format and specifications as to what needs to be documented and how. Considering the importance of documentation and the mercurial nature of what is required by a given company at any given time, there will always be challenges with documentation. We are currently working with a company to improve and more closely monitor changes to our documentation, and we follow GAMP guidelines for ease of compatibility for our customers. Installation headaches for FETTE are relatively few and far between. Oftentimes, problems that occur are beyond our control but are always immediately addressed and resolved.
IEN: What advances do you see in plant floor connectivity? Open standards? Data sharing?
FETTE: OCIF and MES systems are rapidly gaining in popularity, in addition to software like CAT-X, allowing our customers to monitor all of their FETTE equipment from one location. FETTE also offers Teleservice where a FETTE technician can troubleshoot a customer''s tablet press via a modem connection for faster, less expensive resolutions to unplanned situations.
IEN: Where are other R & D hot spots?
FETTE: R & D hot spots, from FETTE''s point of view, include the development and enhancement of tablet-within-a-tablet, containment, LIF (Light Induced Fluorescence) and NIR (Near Infra Red) technology for measuring product uniformity and other properties, the compression of candies and gum bases, improved spark detection, and wireless technology are just a few of the many areas on which we are focused.
IEN: What role will wireless play in control technology?
FETTE: At ACHEMA in May, FETTE introduced their wireless control terminal. However, while it solves several customer needs, wireless also introduces a host of safety and validation questions such as interference and emergency situations. FETTE also currently offers Teleservice via a modem connection to the tablet press, which is not often utilized as it opens a formerly closed system to potential hackers and viruses. Therefore, until there develops more foolproof security methods and more advanced wireless technology, FETTE doesn''t see a large potential for wireless use. We are staying close to the technology because we believe there will be a greater call for it in the coming years, but presently it is not advanced enough to be practical.
IEN: Is Internet based control gaining traction?
FETTE: Again, along the same lines as wireless, the technology is there and FETTE is utilizing it, but presently there are still too many variables and safety issues for it to be fully realized. FETTE offers service via the Internet with their Teleservice feature, but many companies are hesitant to use it and open their operating systems to potential security and safety hazards.
IEN: How can companies maintain legacy equipment with advanced control technology, in the spirit of the lean enterprise?
FETTE: FETTE offers our customers the ability to upgrade newer generation machines with the latest technology through our upgrade kits. In order to meet current FDA requirements, companies can replace their older OS/2 operating systems with a Windows NT upgrade and various options that will make it 21 CFR, Part 11 compliant without having to purchase a whole new press, potentially saving our customers millions of dollars in capital equipment expenditures.