PET Food Processing - March 2022 - 47

TECHENHANCED
SUPPLIER
SERVICES
How technology is making a big difference through the pandemic.
By Keith Loria | petfoodprocessing@sosland.com
W
While the pandemic resulted in many adjustments for
pet food manufacturers and suppliers, one major change
was caused by restrictions on traveling and gathering,
which forced many companies to get creative and embrace
technology to facilitate product support services.
For instance, things like augmented reality glasses and
expanded video production suites were implemented,
and this tech made things easier for business to proceed
without worry.
" The pandemic definitely changed the landscape of
how we collaborate and how we communicate across
project teams, " said Vince Naviello, a virtual design and
construction manager at CRB, Rockville, Md.
One of the earliest problems caused by COVID-19 was
not being able to get staff to the project sites because of restrictions,
lockdowns and hesitations, so companies needed
to think quick and come up with reliable solutions.
Getting creative
For CRB, one of the fastest things it implemented was
remote assistance technology, using augmented reality
glasses through the Microsoft HoloLens headset.
" This lets you see the world around you, but
overlaying digital information into that environment, "
Naviello said. " That really took off with
utilizing this for remote assistance. With the staff
we had on site, they would wear these headsets and
make remote calls, and essentially could project what
they were seeing on site and communicate back to
those remote users. "
That meant they could share 3D models and plans
and overlay the image into the physical environment to
help move along the collaboration process.
" It was a technology that has been around but really
hadn't been used to the extent that the capabilities were
there for, " Naviello said. " We also used it for virtual factory
acceptance testing for equipment. Manufacturers
www.petfoodprocessing.net | March 2022 | PET FOOD PROCESSING 47
that we had local and overseas could test the equipment
to ensure it was good to go before shipping and installation
in the field. "
Utilizing Autodesk's 360 Photos was also very big this
year for CRB. Naviello explained it essentially takes the
concept of Google Street View and allows a virtual walking
tour of a facility.
" This gives eyes and greater visibility to the team who
may not be able to get to a specific location, such as a
project site for surveying, " he said. " That was key this
past year and we continue to see growth with it. "
In late 2021, Lake Forest, Ill.-based Handtmann
launched HVISION, its own augmented reality smart
glasses technology. The glasses feature live motion
video with optical and digital zoom lenses, heads-up
display, Wi-Fi and cellular capability, ballistic rated
construction, microphone and integrated speakers, and
QR codes are
being utilized to
streamline parts
ordering online.
Handtmann
EQUIPMENT
http://www.petfoodprocessing.net
PET Food Processing - March 2022

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