Electricity monitoring in the furniture industry

The project delivered smart electricity metering in the production premises of Ekoltech, a furniture manufacturer in the Fiľakovo region. Its aim was to extend and modernise the existing metering system into a single platform for monitoring electricity consumption and tracking the key parameters of the electrical network in real time.

The solution is based on three-phase electricity analysers that provide accurate measurement of electrical quantities in line with IEC 61557-12. Data is collected and processed locally by a Revolution Pi edge device, and the existing metering devices were integrated into the system too.

The analysers were installed in switch rooms RM7 and RM9. Wiring, power supply, protection and cable routes were carried out in line with the applicable standards STN 33 2000-4-43 and STN 33 2000-5-52. The emphasis was on a clear installation, correct configuration of the communication parameters (Modbus RTU) and unambiguous labelling of all conductors and components according to IEC 81346-1.

The project was a complete implementation of a smart electricity metering system at the Ekoltech manufacturing plant. The solution included designing the system architecture and installing the metering devices, building the communication infrastructure, configuring data collection and commissioning the system.

The system was extended to a total of 28 metering points covering the main supply circuits and significant process loads. As part of the project, Nidex Technology s.r.o. installed three new three-phase electricity analysers, including their wiring, configuration and integration into the existing infrastructure.

The metering devices communicate over a Modbus RTU bus with each analyser uniquely addressed. Collection, aggregation and local processing of the measured data are handled by a Revolution Pi edge device with backup power. Data is transferred to the higher-level monitoring system over the company VLAN.

The project gave the manufacturer a complete and reliable smart electricity metering system that provides a continuous overview of consumption and the basic parameters of the electrical network in real time. Centralised collection and processing of data from all metering points lets the client work with uniform, verified data across the whole company.

The system creates a solid basis for better management of energy flows, identifying inefficient loads and optimising electricity costs. It also increases control over the quality of the electricity supplied and provides technical documentation for further development of energy management and for extending monitoring as the client’s needs grow.