Founded in 1913, CLAAS is a family-owned global leader in agricultural machinery. With headquarters in Harsewinkel, Germany, CLAAS leads the market in forage harvesters and holds a strong position in Europe for combine harvesters. CLAAS also successfully manufactures tractors, agricultural balers, and green crop harvesting machinery. The product lineup includes advanced agricultural information technology. With over 12,000 employees worldwide, CLAAS reported €6.1 billion in revenue in 2023.
To streamline internal material flow and reduce workload for employees, CLAAS employs automated guided vehicles (AGVs) along the assembly line at its Harsewinkel site. To display system messages and provide employees with real-time assembly progress information, CLAAS planned to integrate a cycle time display on the production line. Additionally, CLAAS aimed to digitalize logistics by visualizing loading and dispatch data on dedicated screens. The current digitalization relied on in-house applications that were maintenance-heavy and not scalable for new applications—a limitation for a growing company looking to enhance its production.
CLAAS sought a flexible solution that could later display cross-interface quality data and scale as needed. Quick setup was essential, as explained by Carsten Warzecha, Project Engineer:
“The system needed to be ready quickly to display Cycle time and system messages for the AGV implementation. But it also needed the flexibility to display information from other interfaces later on.”
Peakboard, with its user-friendly design and flexible interface options, was the answer. The solution combines the Peakboard Box, a hardware device with an integrated operating system, and the Peakboard Designer software tool for dashboard creation. Alternatively, CLAAS could opt to use its own device with a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) approach. As Warzecha explains, “Peakboard won out both economically and technically.”
CLAAS uses Peakboard in production and logistics to optimize processes via digital workflow visualization. The solution supports over 110 interface types. Previously, CLAAS’s custom system utilized auto-generated text files. With Peakboard, initial data was gathered from REST services, with later integrations of MQTT and SAP data. Peakboard seamlessly integrates these interfaces. AGV Cycle information data is provided via JSON-formatted REST interfaces, while product quality data is pulled from SAP’s backend system. Working with Peakboard’s support team, CLAAS customized a Peakboard Designer interface to display dynamic data. This high flexibility also allows future expansion to display additional data. AGV error codes are shared via MQTT interfaces, and all processed information is displayed in real time on standard monitors installed three to four meters above the assembly line. Updates are made every minute or with critical changes, ensuring the cycle time display remains current.
The cycle time display significantly enhances real-time assessments of the targeted assembly rhythm, supporting continuous workflow. Quality data is also shown, offering immediate feedback and reinforcing quality standards. In logistics, real-time loading and dispatch data provides personnel with a clear overview, helping coordinate loading and verify order statuses efficiently.
Peakboard offers a solution that seamlessly integrates with CLAAS’s existing processes. Unlike CLAAS’s previous custom solution, Peakboard’s flexibility allows unlimited expansion and applications over time. Carsten Warzecha summarizes, “The key to data visualization is a solid data foundation and consistent data provision. In future projects, we’ll be planning for shopfloor data visualization from the start.” Currently, CLAAS uses 18 Peakboard Boxes along the assembly line, with plans to expand into other lines and departments.
