Augmented Reality: Examples of application for cooling and heating
For some, it's the future; for ENGIE Refrigeration, it's everyday practice. As a driver of innovation in cooling and heating, we consistently integrate Augmented Reality into our Industry 4.0 processes – from development to quality assurance. The result? Targeted application examples for Augmented Reality that take efficiency and customer service to a new level.
Discover Augmented Reality in Industry 4.0!
Smart development
At ENGIE Refrigeration, we integrate Augmented Reality for Industry 4.0 into all development stages of our chillers and heat pumps. With our partner Hololight, an expert in AR and VR technology, we refine the processes in a targeted manner.
By using Augmented Reality, we create application examples that spatially map our products before a physical prototype exists. This helps us and our customers to make informed assessments of space requirements, for example.
Direct machine comparison
At ENGIE Refrigeration, we want to be technological pioneers. Our collaboration with Hololight contributes to this: Augmented Reality creates examples of applications that allow us to compare a new product precisely with its predecessor model.
To do this, we superimpose existing chillers and heat pumps in the system with virtual new developments. Differences become immediately visible without the need for complex simulations – an example of the efficient use of Augmented Reality in Industry 4.0.
Transparent design review
The design review contributes significantly to quality assurance during the development of chillers and heat pumps – Augmented Reality effectively complements this process.
The combination of the two enables us to identify errors at an early stage, validate safety and performance requirements, and check feasibility for production, assembly and service. And thanks to Augmented Reality, we can do this with application examples that are closer to real-life situations than ever before.
Reliable quality testing
Our chillers and heat pumps are often used in temperature-sensitive areas, whether in data centres or in chemical industry. It is therefore essential that they run consistently, reliably and energy-efficiently.
At ENGIE Refrigeration, we use innovative technologies to achieve this: Augmented Reality supports our team with application examples, enabling them to carry out all steps of the quality inspection in a structured manner on the actual object – and reduce errors.
Flexible integration on site
ENGIE Refrigeration's claim is that our chillers and heat pumps optimally meet the requirements of their destination. Augmented Reality provides guidance here with tangible application examples.
It allows us to superimpose a three-dimensional model of a product onto its future real-life environment before installation. This gives our customers a precise experience of the product before it is installed, enabling them to make sound decisions.
Fine-tuning in Space Manager
The Space Manager shows the invisible working zones around a chiller or heat pump in detail.
From compressors to Green Heat Recovery: Space Manager uses Augmented Reality to reveal all the components of our product in Industry 4.0 and simultaneously displays all the necessary free space. This simplifies the work required after delivery – an advantage for ENGIE Refrigeration and for customers alike.
In summary: What added value does Augmented Reality mean for Industry 4.0?
Augmented Reality is a key technology in Industry 4.0 for developing and optimising complex systems such as chillers and heat pumps, integrating them on site at the customer's premises and providing targeted maintenance. AR glasses enable comparisons to be made between the previous model and the new system, making quality checks more efficient.
In addition, Augmented Reality in Industry 4.0 allows the respective system to be displayed as a three-dimensional model at its intended location prior to installation. Space requirements can be realistically assessed using an AR-supported space manager.
The benefits of Augmented Reality in Industry 4.0:
- Augmented Reality in Industry 4.0 makes internal and external processes more efficient.
- AR technologies improve cross-team collaboration.
- Augmented Reality reduces sources of error through precise visualisations.
- The use of AR can increase the energy efficiency and operational reliability of chillers and heat pumps.