KNF Smart Pump – IoT App

Client: KNF Micro AG
Platform: Hybrid app
Industry: Industry 4.0
Year: 2018

Our services

Development of the operating concept
App development (HMI)
TouchPanel hardware provision
Windows App and Installer (MSI)
Definition of communication protocol

“Modular product platform instead of expensive individual projects”

The client

The KNF Group is a mechanical engineering company with 17 locations worldwide that specialises in the development, design, production and distribution of diaphragm pumps for the transfer of gases and liquids. The company’s pumps are used in medical technology, the inkjet industry, 3D printing, measuring devices and a wide range of industrial applications, among others.

The challenge

KNF specialises in the development of customised pump solutions. However, developing and manufacturing a completely customised pump is time-consuming and costly.

In order to be able to conduct projects more quickly and easily, the “Smart Pump” was created. This modular platform combines different sensor and housing variants with a uniform electronics and software basis that can be configured by the customer.

The customer can thus assemble a pump that meets the specific requirements of his industrial application without the need for a dedicated engineering project. The customer also receives a configuration and analysis software.

The result

An app with an interactive user interface (HMI) was developed that can display real-time data and enables the control and configuration of the pump.

This app can be run both on a touch panel (Raspberry Pi / Linux) and on a Windows PC (hybrid app).

The touch panel operation is ideal for monitoring the pump in continuous operation and recording data.
For operation as a Windows application, the pump can be connected to the PC via USB.

The connection to the pump is made via a serial interface (RS232). The pump’s firmware can also be updated directly via this interface. To do this, the HMI app downloads the latest available version from the internet.

KNF provides the app together with an “Evaluation Kit” to customers to enable easy evaluation & testing of the pump functions such as flow and pressure control.