F
The Braben der MetaBridge is webbased, an d enables location an d pl independen atformt of measure monitoring ments – whether in the labora tory, the home office or w hen you’re out and abou t
MetaBridge
BUILDING DIGITAL BRIDGES FOR YOUR QUALITY ASSURANCE
T
he new Brabender MetaBridge software solution not only links the instruments and their measurement results, but also their users: internally within the company, across all sites, but optionally also suppliers and customers. The Brabender Farinograph-TS and the Moisture Tester MT-CA are now fitted with this new, intelligent network solution as standard. But there’s more: all instruments of the later generations, which have a USB port, can be fitted and therefore connected with the MetaBridge controller. All members of staff with the appropriate access rights can log in via a browser, and access every connected Brabender device. The really intelligent thing about the MetaBridge software is its web-based, and therefore site and platform-independent, user architecture. Multiple users can log in at the same time, so they can always communicate and comment on their data wherever they are in the world, using a PC/Mac, tablet or smartphone. This not only simplifies operational processes in the laboratory (or simultaneously in several!): the capability to directly track measurement processes is an important step towards online monitoring of processes – a dream come true for anyone involved in quality assurance. But the MetaBridge software’s network capability is not compulsory. Every device can operate totally independently, or alternatively, be integrated into its own network, without direct access to the company network.
More than just a new interface
This means that the MetaBridge is more than just a new interactive interface; rather, it makes laboratory work and results compatible. Multiple colleagues can simultaneously carry out, 52 | August 2016 - Milling and Grain
track or manage measurements – all using standard operating systems spanning Android and Apple via Blackberry and Linux to various Windows applications from Microsoft. The web-based software means that no local installation is required, which in turn enables equipment to be connected without problems occurring. And when it comes to security, this means that it has three plus points: • Password-protected login protects against unauthorised access; • The administrator mode enables you to individually customise access rights; • The Linux-based software architecture makes the system more secure on the web. The MetaBridge was developed by Brabender itself, especially for Brabender equipment, meaning that it is superbly geared to this equipment’s functions and measurement profiles. Thanks to adaptations for the widest variety of output devices, users benefit from consistent, company-specific, configurable performance. Multiple users can access the data at the same time, for example to track a current farinogram on various different end devices. This multi-access feature saves time, thanks to the continuous exchange of information between team members involved, but also when it comes to decision making on the part of those responsible for quality management. To this end, the MetaBridge solution has four important bonuses: • Info about updates of the instrument software is received automatically; • It is possible to receive feedback on measurement results directly from Brabender; • In the event of a fault, the Brabender service technicians can quickly help via remote access, removing the need for a site visit; • Within the device network, there are no charges for additional