When grinding becomes part of the digital ecosystem.
As factories embrace Industry 4.0 and digital transformation, the ability of machines to communicate seamlessly with management systems has become just as critical as their mechanical accuracy. Connectivity is now a core factor in efficiency, quality, and competitiveness.
Mar Srl., a company specialized in the design and manufacture of high-precision grinding machines, has taken a significant step forward on this path. In collaboration with Fagor Automation, it has successfully integrated the SECS/GEM protocol into its V600 grinder, creating a machine that is not only accurate to the micron but also fully connected to the digital production environment of the customer.
From precision to connection
In the era of the smart factory, machines must be capable of exchanging information with MES, ERP, and other management systems to enable real-time monitoring, optimization, and decision-making.
One of the key enablers of this shift is the SECS/GEM protocol (SEMI Equipment Communication Standard/Generic Equipment Model). Originally developed for the semiconductor industry, SECS/GEM has become an established standard for structured communication between equipment and factory IT systems.
For Mar Srl., integrating SECS/GEM into a grinding machine presented both a technical challenge and a strategic opportunity. Grinding machines are traditionally valued for their precision and reliability, but until now they had rarely been part of the highly standardized digital ecosystems seen in semiconductors or electronics.
Fagor Automation contributed its expertise in control systems, providing an advanced CNC platform capable of speaking SECS/GEM natively. Mar Srl. focused on adapting the machine interface and defining the process variables that needed to be made visible to the factory systems. The joint approach ensured that the V600 retained an ease of use and flexibility, while becoming fully compliant with the customer’s digital infrastructure.
A digitally native grinding machine
The result is a machine tool that combines micrometric precision with seamless digital integration. The V600 grinder can now:
- Transmit real-time production data directly to the customer’s MES or ERP.
- Receive orders and process recipes from the factory network.
- Report events, alarms, and machine status in a structured way.
- Integrate with OEE dashboards and predictive maintenance systems.
This combination of precision mechanics and standardized connectivity represents a step change in what grinding machines can contribute to a digital production line.
Customer impact and added value
By adopting SECS/GEM, the integration of the V600 into the factory environment is faster and more straightforward. Customers benefit from reduced setup and commissioning times, improved traceability of both processes and finished parts, easier collection and analysis of production data and full alignment with Industry 4.0 principles and requirements.
In short, the machine is no longer a stand-alone asset but an active player in the customer’s digital ecosystem, contributing directly to efficiency and quality.
Towards smarter machine tools
Thanks to the joint efforts of Mar Srl. and Fagor Automation, high-precision machine tools can now offer the same level of digital integration as highly automated industries such as semiconductors.
As the technical team at Mar Srl. explains: “We didn’t just connect a machine, we proved that even grinding can become an integral part of a digital ecosystem, actively contributing to the efficiency and quality of production.”
This achievement is only the beginning. The collaboration with Fagor Automation demonstrates how strategic partnerships can push the boundaries of both precision engineering and industrial connectivity.
“We didn’t just connect a machine. We proved that even grinding can become an integral part of a digital ecosystem.”