Global Equipment Framework in Practice

Semikron Danfoss is a globally operating family-owned company in the field of power electronics, formed in 2022 through the merger of SEMIKRON and Danfoss Silicon Power. As a technology leader, the company’s portfolio includes semiconductor devices, power modules, stacks and systems.

With 28 locations worldwide and production sites in Germany, Brazil, China, France, India, Italy, Slovakia and the United States, Semikron Danfoss has a strong global presence in the manufacturing of power modules, technologies and innovative solutions for applications in the automotive, industrial and renewable energy sectors.

Following the successful introduction of a shared framework for the efficient integration of production equipment as part of an initial pilot project, the solution was to be deployed at an additional site. A new automotive production line was planned, requiring reuse of the existing framework while accommodating new requirements.

A key objective was to ensure full traceability of all products and process steps across the entire production line.

The goal of the project was to integrate the new production line based on the existing equipment framework and to connect all machines to the site’s IT backend systems (MES).

At the same time, the solution had to enable end-to-end traceability of all products and manufacturing steps, providing the basis for high product quality, process reliability and automation.

The equipment integration framework, already proven during the pilot project, provided the technical foundation for implementation at the new site. It enables the simple, flexible and efficient connection of a wide range of machine types and once again proved to be a scalable and robust solution.

As approximately 40 machines, mostly of previously integrated types, had to be connected, only minor adaptations to the framework were required.

To ensure the successful commissioning of the new production line, MEGLA took responsibility for the on-site operational implementation of the equipment integration. This included:

• Connecting cleanroom equipment via SECS/GEM, OPC UA, IPC‑CFX and manufacturer-specific protocols
• Creating detailed test plans for the integration phase
• Executing tests jointly with process owners
• Ensuring full functionality in interaction with the framework and existing Semikron Danfoss production processes
• Clarifying technical topics and coordinating with machine manufacturers and all involved departments

While project management remained with Semikron Danfoss, MEGLA worked closely with the project team and contributed experience and optimisations gained from the pilot project.

• End-to-end traceability of all products and manufacturing steps
• Improved product quality through centralised collection of all relevant process data
• Automated removal of defective parts
• Efficient implementation based on a proven and scalable framework architecture

The experience gained during the pilot project, combined with the optimisations introduced, resulted in a significantly more efficient and smoother implementation overall. Particularly valuable was MEGLA’s ability to act independently in many areas, despite overall project management remaining on our side. This considerably relieved our team and noticeably accelerated project progress."