Factry Historian
Replace hindsight with insight
▶ Collect any data in a ▶ Unlock actionable ▶ Radically improve
single IIoT platform production insights factory operations
Factry Historian
Collect, store and visualise any type of
industrial data through a user-friendly
interface. Unlock new production insights
with confidence, speed and agility.
Table of contents
3 Your challenges
4 Data historians
6 Proprietary vs. open historians
7 Meet Factry Historian
8 How it works
10 For which industries
11 How Factry Historian is different
12 Standard features
17 IIoT in action: use cases
25 Schedule a demo
26 Change Log & System Requirements
28 About Factry
What are your
data challenges?
▶ The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is transforming the production industry
by enabling companies to make their processes more efficient, agile, and profitable.
▶ At the same time, many of them are still struggling to eliminate manual data
collection, or to capitalise on the production data they have gathered for years.
▶ Why? Production data is often scattered over different systems, databases and
spreadsheets or paper, making process analysis a highly complex challenge.
Can you check any of these boxes?
Paper and spreadsheets prevent you from getting accurate data insights
quickly, automating processes, and meeting new demands
Production data is only accessible to a handful of technically oriented
employees, resulting in poor data visibility throughout departments
In case of e.g. a client question concerning a past production batch, you
lack the historical data to go back in time and find the answers
You lack a coherent connection between equipment, systems, and
processes, or you're struggling to build a scalable technology stack
You’re exploring open technologies, yet struggling to launch a proof of
concept, or to scale it to one or more (complete) production sites
Your current historian licence with a traditional vendor is about to expire,
and you’re looking for other options that could drive new value
Then this is a great time to discover the power of the open data historian.
3
Data historians
At the core of transformation
Data historians or process
historians play a crucial role
in the digital transformation.
They provide detailed and
highly accurate information
about factory performance
at any given point in time, for
every metric that matters to
your operations, whether it’s
throughput, uptime, or quality.
As a result, historians enable
process improvement, real-
time production monitoring
and detailed reporting.
4
WHY YOU NEED ONE
The value of data historians resides in the actionable insights they
bring to people or provide to other IT systems, such as business
reporting software. By gathering and visualising data from sensors
and machines, your company can pinpoint issues and bottlenecks,
and prioritise services and products based on where the greatest
source of value exists. Furthermore, historians allow your business
to implement a continuous learning and improvement cycle.
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU
▶ Find & fix the root cause of process issues
▶ Reduce maintenance and repair costs
▶ Increase flexibility and agility of production
▶ Eradicate costly unplanned downtime
▶ Extend the lifetime of machines and equipment
▶ Increase factory throughput and productivity
▶ Reduce production cycle times
▶ Improve product quality and boost sales
Yet beware... not all historians are the same ▶
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Proprietary vs.
open historians
A new dawn
For 30 years, the historian market
was dominated by proprietary
historians sold by large vendors.
Accessing the full potential of the
data locked inside these traditional
historians required expert in-house
skills, patience and resources.
Today, new open technologies have
revolutionised the way companies
can access, manage and exploit
their production data, and have
made IIoT data collection available
to any global production company,
and every employee working in it.
Open historians enable any
company in the production industry
company to fully reap the benefits of
IIoT connectivity at scale, through a
robust and integrated user interface,
and a transparent pricing model.
Read: without spending a fortune.
6
Factry Historian
Get insights
out of the box
Digital transformation starts here ▶
Tired of spreadsheets, paper and inefficient processes? Factry Historian
collects data from different sources (PLC, SCADA, …) and presents it in
the right context within a single IIoT platform. Everyone in the company
– from operators to plant managers, local or on company group level –
gets access to real-time and historical values of thousands of metrics
across one or multiple plants. Custom dashboards allow anyone to gain a
maximal level of insight. It's fast, frictionless and ready for the future.
7
Factry Historian
How it works
1 2 3
Collect Store Visualise
Factry Historian collects Production data is stored Our platform ships with
data from any industrial in InfluxDB, a highly robust Grafana, a powerful
source (PLCs, automation and reliable time-series web-based trending and
systems, third-party database known for its dashboard solution.
applications) and brings it high performance and The built-in visualisation
together in a user-friendly efficient storage. The tool allows you to query
platform that delivers a system is built to scale, production data on the
single source of the truth. handle increasing amounts fly, perform historical
of data, and is very simple analysis, and create
Factry Historian sends
to install and manage. trends for any timespan
the production data to a
secured, standardised Furthermore, time series for one or multiple
IT web environment. data can also be stored metrics. Create custom
As such, it can be easily in a relational database dashboards by combining
made available to credited leveraging PostgreSQL, values from different
employees, or to other which allows for advanced metrics. Simply choose
applications such as MES, reporting, all within the an auto-refresh interval,
without posing any risk to historian or by integrating and you're set to monitor
the production network. it with your own BI tool. processes in real-time.
See IIoT
in action Schedule a demo session
8
FACTRY HISTORIAN SERVER
PRODUCTION NETWORK
COLLECTOR COLLECTOR COLLECTOR
SCADA PLC CUSTOM
9
Factry Historian
For which industries?
Food & Energy &
Chemicals
Beverage Utilities
Materials &
Textile Biotechnology
Mining
Waste & Heavy
Oil & Gas
Wastewater industry
10
Factry Historian
How it's different
Built on open Transparent Historian
technologies pricing As-a-Service
If data monitoring is not Factry Historian comes Minimise IT costs with
an industry-specific with a transparent pricing a “batteries included”
problem, why solve it model: within a single process monitoring
with industry-specific fixed-fee licence, an system, hosted in a
solutions? Our Historian endless amount of data, secure cloud or at your
is built on top of proven tags, users, or metrics can premises, and serviced
and well-maintained be added to the historian. and updated by Factry.
open technologies, such Collectors are managed
as InfluxDB, Grafana on local infrastructure, and
and PostgreSQL, which use a store-and-forward
were augmented with Effortless mechanism to prevent
robust collectors and IIoT integration data loss. All of
connectivity and allow for our historian installations
Whether you want to build
a scalable tech stack. are monitored 24/7.
new applications on top
of Factry Historian, or
connect it to third-party
Frequent updates equipment and software,
Scalable &
the open API’s allow
Don’t wait a decade
for smooth integration. flexible system
for another update.
Next to our default OPC Get a solution that meets
In contrast to SCADA
UA collector, standard your present, but also
systems or traditional
collectors for OPC DA, your future needs. Factry
historians, Factry Historian
Modbus, .csv and .xlsx Historian is built to scale to
is continuously updated
files are available, while up to 100.000s of sensors,
with new features, security
our collector API makes it while providing a solid
patches, bug fixes, etc. It's
possible to quickly write groundwork for any future
even possible to update
a data collector for your AI or ML application, such
or reboot the system is
specific system. as predictive maintenance.
without users noticing.
11
Factry Historian
Standard features
Web-based Easy-to-use
IIoT interface administration panel
Consult the Historian dashboards from Manage collector settings and
any location, on any web-enabled measurements through a user-
device. Since there is no limit on the friendly admin interface. Add
number of users, and the dashboards measurements one by one or through
are built responsively, production data bulk import. Live search and status
can be displayed on many screens as filtering allow you to find a particular
you want. From laptops and mobile measurement or detect any wrongly
devices, to large TV screens across the configured ones, and edit them on the
production facility. fly. Audit logs store who changed what
when. Collectors detect and apply the
updated settings without downtime.
Fluent user Automated
management process alerting
Factry Historian enables fine-grained For those parameters in your facility
user management, both locally and in that require quick intervention when
the cloud environment. Each user can crossing a certain threshold, Factry
log on with his own account. Managing Historian provides a user-friendly
the access rights is made easy by alerting system. In case something
authenticating with Active Directory fails, the right people are notified
or by using single sign-on. Having this via a visual warning, email or text.
unlimited freedom will help you raise More advanced integration allows
awareness for your IIoT project and for custom actions such as creating
increase adoption from day one. work orders in an ERP system by
development of custom webhooks.
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Highlighted feature
Event detection & data aggregation
REPLACE PROGRAMMATION
WITH EASY CONFIGURATION
Automatically create records in a relational database that meet certain
events in production, such as batches, recipes, orders, shifts, and
downtime. A seperate SQL database allows for complex querying
within the historian, and is compatible with any reporting tool.
Answer complex questions such as:
▶ How much energy was consumed per specific product or asset?
▶ What was the average temperature for a certain batch?
▶ How does the pH-curve compare to previous batches?
▶ What volume was produced on a certain asset in one week?
1. Event detection
Add context to raw production data
Abstract the data from the absolute time and approach it from a higher
perspective. Record any type of event through a generic, asset-based
event detection and contextualisation module. Instantly sample
historical data on those production events, without the need for custom
integration scripts. The event detection module allows users to:
▶ Create and configure an asset model of their process equipments
▶ Configure event detection based on incoming data or other triggers
▶ Sample data on those events, without custom integration scripts
▶ Connect the data to any reporting tool through an SQL database
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2. Data aggregation
Find the golden production batch
Aggregate process data in the context of a specific event type, and
perform in-depth process analysis - all within the Factry Historian platform.
Event data aggregation allows you to calculate KPIs, streamline quality,
find out why values differentiate, and enables smarter cost accounting
in relation to different parameters, such as energy consumption.
The data integration module allows users to:
▶ Aggregate process data in the context of any kind of process event
▶ Specify how the properties of event types should be acquired
▶ Overlay real-time production curves with previous runs or batches
▶ Compare production set points with real-time process values
15
Factry Historian
Around the world
16
Use cases
IIoT in action
Take a look at some of the most high-impact IIoT
use cases today, and find out how they have driven
new value for our clients in the process industry.
1 Process improvement
Algist Bruggeman
2 3
2 Asset monitoring
Van Damme Group
3 Products-as-a-Service
Ekopak
4 Plant benchmarking
Puratos Group
5 Root cause analysis
Vleemo
4 5
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1 Process improvement
CLIENT CASE
Say goodbye to
The Belgian yeast supplier Algist
manual processes
Bruggeman lacked insight into
its fermentation processes.
Radically increase factory
Production data was collected on
performance by eradicating
paper, making it difficult to compare
paper and spreadsheets,
batches, aggregate production
and monitoring processes
parameters or detect anomalies.
in real-time. Factry Historian
eliminates the flaws of manual
By automating its data collection
data collection and data silos,
process , the company is now able
and brings clarity for plant
to trace batches, instantly draw
managers and operators
production reports, build custom
alike. As a result, they can
dashboards, notice trend patterns
spend more time on actually
and compare product batches.
improving processes.
THE RESULTS
• Higher production efficiency
• Improved product quality
▶ Read full use case • Shorter delivery times
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Factry Historian creates value for
any company department, from
process optimisation to sales and
invoicing. We investigated multiple
systems and could not be happier
with our choice: the software meets
all of our needs, and offers us all
the data we need for predictive
maintenance on a silver platter
Pieter Loose - CEO at Ekopak
2 Production monitoring
CLIENT CASE
Fix things before
Group Vandamme is a producer
they break
of natural edible oils for the food
industry. They use our historian
Factry Historian offers
to automatically gather data from
managers and operators a
systems and equipment, and make
bird's-eye perspective of
it easily accessible to employees.
operations , and accurate
insight in the health and
Sensor data is measured 24/7. In
performance of production
case of anomalies, the right people
assets. With real-time
are instantly notified through email
notifications, operators can
alerts and alarms. This allows them
respond swiftly to small
to intervene more quickly and
concerns before they become
improve the safety of operations.
big issues that could affect
production operations.
THE RESULTS
• Higher production uptime
• Reduced maintenance costs
• Increased profitability
▶ Read full use case
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3 Water-as-a-Service
CLIENT CASE
Make your way into
Ekopak delivers renewable water
untapped markets
to industrial companies. IIoT data
collection through Factry Historian
Turn real-time data into a
has proven to be the cornerstone
competitive advantage. Grow
of their transition to a Water-as-a-
your company’s revenue
Service business model.
by providing customer-
centric options that deliver
Instead of selling water treatment
your product as-a-service.
installations, they now invoice
Accurate data collection
clients per cubic metre of water.
on seconds-level enables
The historian data allows them to
performance or outcome-
invoice the volumes correctly, follow
based products, such
up installations online, and schedule
as usage and uptime, by
preventive maintenance.
combining custom product
features with IIoT connectivity.
THE RESULTS
• A new business model
• Higher product value
▶ Read full use case • Reduced maintenance costs
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4 Plant benchmarking
CLIENT CASE
Streamline
Puratos is a multinational company,
global operations
specialised in developing
ingredients for the bakery industry.
Compare data from multiple
Due to its rapid expansion and
plants in a glimpse, and
numerous acquisitions, Puratos is
replace disparity in data
spread out over 65 sites worldwide.
sources and silos with
company-wide data visibility.
With Factry Historian, Puratos
Factry's open IIoT platform
is able to centrally access
enables you to gather, validate,
and manage data from any
and compare data across
manufacturing plant from any
plants, equipment, or lines,
location, giving them more insight
and to establish repeatable
into these production sites, in a
performance throughout the
quick and cost-effective manner.
entire company.
THE RESULTS
• Improved OEE performance
• Faster scaling to new sites
▶ Read full use case
• Better production insights
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Factry Historian has shifted our
paradigm from chart recorders
to databases that allow us to
capture and store any type of
data. The software improves OEE
performance and drives cost
reduction, while drastically reducing
complexity. It has really propelled
us into a brand new age.
.
Jerry Nunes - Operations Manager at Puratos Canada
5 Root cause analysis
CLIENT CASE
Improve processes,
Wind turbine operator Vleemo lacked
reduce costs
central management of its turbines,
often resulting in downtime. In case of
Find the root cause of
issues, a lack of easily accessible and
process issues, by collecting
interpretable data prevented them
any type of data in real-time
from finding the root cause quickly.
and investigating it in user-
friendly dashboards. Combine
Because Factry Historian collects
any process or equipment
and visualises data in real-time, they
parameters in a custom
can now take immediate action when
lay-out, and zoom in or out
issues occur, assess equipment
on them. Discover unknown
remotely before the intervention, and
process inefficiencies or
save time on machine maintenance.
bottlenecks, and continuously
improve factory operations.
THE RESULTS
• Decreased operating costs
• Less unplanned downtime
• Reduced maintenance costs
▶ Read full use case
24
Most clients say they should
have met us earlier. Don't
make that mistake.
Traditional historians Factry Historian
▶ Technology & vendor lock-in ▶ Open, scalable and flexible
▶ Pay-per-use business model ▶ Transparent pricing
▶ Artificial data limits ▶ Unlimited data, tags & users
▶ High maintenance & IT costs ▶ Regularly upgraded
▶ Difficult to interface ▶ Talks with any data source
▶ Cumbersome reporting ▶ Instant data insights
See it
in action Schedule your demo now
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Change Log
Q2 2022 • Addition of event registration and data aggration module
Q4 2021 • Addition of OPC-DA and Modbus data collectors
• Addition of Pause & Resume functionality to collectors
• Additon of P&R functionality to individual measurements
System Requirements
Collectors Windows (32 & 64 bit), Linux (i386, amd64, Arm)
Server Linux (i386, amd64)
Specific system requirements are dependent on the
expected read- and-write load to the historian.
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Product features summary
▶ Central web-based administration of collectors and metrics
▶ Collectors with store-and-forward mechanism and on-disk buffering
▶ Single-binary collectors without external dependencies
▶ One-command install of collectors
▶ Event detection and classification
▶ Efficient bandwidth usage with gRPC
▶ Status overview of collectors and measurements
▶ Central web-based administration of collectors and metrics
▶ Audit trails record changes in collector and measurement configuration
▶ Bulk importing of measurements
▶ Support for OPC-UA, OPC-DA, Modbus and Azure IoT Hub protocols
▶ Configure multiple InfluxDB databases
▶ Enforce standard naming convention with external API endpoint
▶ Deploy on-premise or in the cloud
27
About Factry
Innovative solutions for
radical process improvement
Factry is a Belgian software
company. Our team has over 20
years of experience in the global
manufacturing and processing
industry. Our core mission is to
introduce data driven, operational
improvements and greater insight
to our clients, by offering a scalable
platform to collect, store, and
visualise sensor data from any type
of industrial equipment or system.
When we started our business
in 2016, we believed that open
source technologies had matured
sufficiently to play an important
role in the production industry.
And, beyond that, to outplay the
proprietary historians sold by large
vendors in terms of performance
and functionality, user friendliness,
and pricing. We’re proud to keep
delivering on that promise each day.
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Oktrooiplein 1
9000 Gent, Belgium
+32 9 395 90 95
[Link]
info@[Link]
