show coverage Innovative Diagnostic technology takes center stage at iba trade show in Germany i n s i ght s by Dan Malovany T he latest in diagnostic technology allows bakers and their equipment suppliers to enhance performance or discover issues on production lines prior to when the problems occur to minimize downtime and maintenance issues. 42 * NOVEMBER 2018 * instore Throughout iba, such examples of digital diagnostics were prevalent along the exhibition floor. Baking & Snack editors saw pan stackers that told bakers if maintenance or repair is required because the vibration of the system exceeds 10% or if a motor's temperature gets too high on a sheeter line, requiring its replacement. Typically, such indicators from a supplier can be communicated via monitoring through the cloud or installed internally as part of a bakery's system. IBA "Imbedded communications technology, imbedded diagnostics and intelligent systems with wireless communication make units capable of telling bakers when it requires maintenance, what maintenance is required and how it should be done," said Jim Kline, founder of EnSol Group and contributing editor to Baking & Snack magazine. "They eliminate the planning of maintenance by telling you what needs to be done in advance," he added.