Gardner Denver, a leader in air and gas compressors, sought to transform its business by embracing Industry 4.0 and delivering real-time data solutions to optimize plant performance. To make this digital shift possible, they partnered with Pelion for its flexible, global connectivity. Pelion provided the robust IoT connectivity and global network coverage necessary to power Gardner Denver’s iConn platform, enabling remote diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and energy optimization. With Pelion’s seamless, scalable solution, Gardner Denver was able to focus on innovation while ensuring reliable connectivity for their global customers.

The Challenge

With over 150 years of experience in developing industrial solutions, Gardner Denver has long been a leader in air and gas compressors. But as the manufacturing industry embraced Industry 4.0 and the smart factory era, the company recognized a growing demand from clients for real-time data to optimize plant performance and eliminate downtime. Responding to this need, Gardner Denver developed iConn, a cloud-based Intelligent Compressor Data Platform.

At the heart of iConn’s capabilities are IoT-enabled sensors integrated into compressors, collecting vital data such as vibration and temperature readings. This data is transmitted via eSIM and a 4G network to a browser-based tool, enabling remote monitoring, analytics, and predictive insights. These insights not only highlight machine parameters but also predict trends that could signal potential failures, enabling predictive preventative maintenance (PPM) and reducing costly downtime.

Charles Joel, Gardner Denver's IoT & Analytics Director, says, "The manufacturing landscape has changed dramatically, but the industry’s technology has struggled to keep pace. Pelion allows us to create a secure and intuitive platform that helps facilitate that change."

A Game-Changing Partnership for Global Connectivit

To make this transformation possible, Gardner Denver partnered with Pelion, whose on-demand connectivity and global network coverage empowered Gardner Denver to offer 'Connectivity as a Service' (CaaS) to their customers. This offering enables remote diagnostics, reducing the need for costly site visits, and provides energy optimization tools to help clients lower their energy costs. Pelion’s access to over 600 global networks ensures competitively priced, reliable coverage, regardless of location.

One of the key challenges faced by Gardner Denver was how to extract value from data collected by thousands of devices in remote locations, while retrofitting existing equipment for IoT enablement. With Pelion’s robust connectivity solution, the company was able to focus on developing the iConn platform and enhancing user experience, instead of managing complex connectivity and network contracts.

Unlocking New Revenue Streams and Expanding Global Reach

Gardner Denver’s IoT-driven strategy also aimed at creating new revenue opportunities by offering intelligent solutions to new clients and increasing their share of wallet with existing ones. Pelion’s connectivity allows the company to extend their aaS revenue model, which complements their plant machinery sales.

Their retrofit kit, designed to connect existing compressors to the iConn platform, has seen early success due to its plug-and-play functionality. A retrofit can be installed in under 20 minutes, and within seconds, it begins relaying data to the cloud-based iConn platform.

This seamless integration and global network coverage means Gardner Denver can deploy their solution globally, maintaining consistent connectivity regardless of where a customer relocates their plant. This flexibility has proven essential for their international clients.

Building the Future of Manufacturing with Pelion

"The partnership with Pelion has not only transformed Gardner Denver into a service provider but also helped us expedite our growth from delivering basic analytics to offering cognitive data analysis processed at the edge,” says Charles Joel.

With Pelion’s cellular connectivity embedded into their compressor range, and their retrofit kit offering a low-barrier entry for existing customers, Gardner Denver is well-positioned for ongoing success in the digital age.

The agility of Pelion as a partner also enables Gardner Denver to scale quickly, adding resources as needed while maintaining a single eSIM for all territories, simplifying deployment and reducing operational complexity.

Charles Joel says, “The partnership with Pelion has transformed our approach and allowed us to scale global deployments with a small team, adding resources only as the proof of concept showed a return on investment."

Pelion Delivered

• On-demand Connectivity: Provided global network coverage, enabling remote diagnostics and energy optimization tools.

• Global Network Coverage: Access to over 600 networks, ensuring reliable and competitively priced connectivity, no matter the location.

• Seamless Integration: Enabled Gardner Denver to focus on developing the iConn platform rather than managing complex network contracts.

• Scalability & Flexibility: Helped Gardner Denver quickly scale deployments and expand globally with a single eSIM across territories.

• Low-barrier Entry: Supported the development of a retrofit kit that connects existing compressors to the iConn platform in under 20 minutes.

Pelion’s robust, flexible connectivity played a crucial role in Gardner Denver’s digital transformation, empowering them to offer data-driven, predictive insights and energy optimization tools. The partnership enabled global expansion, new revenue streams, and streamlined deployments, positioning Gardner Denver as a leader in smart manufacturing solutions.

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