The symmedia Data Collector – Making Data Streams Simple, Secure, and Flexible
Industrial machine parks are diverse – different manufacturers, control systems, and protocols shape the landscape. For operators, this often creates a major challenge: data remains trapped in silos and cannot be efficiently used for analysis, optimization, or new digital services.
This is exactly where the symmedia Data Collector comes in. It is an application running on the symmedia Edge Device and acts as a central data pipeline – from the shop floor to a chosen endpoint: into the Hub, into a cloud, or remaining within the operator’s network. In doing so, it becomes the link between machines, systems, and services – secure, flexible, and always under the operator’s full data sovereignty.
How does the Data Collector work?
The Data Collector gathers machine data directly at the source:
- It supports more than 300 industrial protocols such as OPC UA, MQTT, as well as retro protocols like ModBus or S7. This means both modern equipment and older machines (brownfield) can be seamlessly integrated.
- Data is first stored locally in an InfluxDB on the Edge Device. This ensures it remains available even in case of network outages.
- Using the InfluxDB replication mechanism, data can be flexibly routed:
- Back into the operator’s own Hub tenant
- Into the internal operator network
- Directly to the machine manufacturer
- Into external data spaces such as Manufacturing-X.
The Data Collector does not differentiate between “hot” and “cold” data. Through replication, all data is always fully available – a major advantage for analytics and reporting.
What advantages does it bring for users?
1. Full Data Freedom
Operators keep control over where their data flows. This ensures true data sovereignty – and data can be shared for any use case individually.
2. Scalability without Complexity
Whether you’re running a single Edge Device or an entire fleet of machines – configuration remains simple and centrally manageable through the Hub.
3. Straightforward Visualization
Data can be easily visualized with business intelligence tools such as Power BI, Grafana, or Tableau.
4. Seamless Hub Integration
No matter where the data is processed – at the operator, in the Hub, at the manufacturer, or in a cloud – dashboards can be reintegrated into the Hub via symmedia Portal Extensions and made accessible through roles and permissions management.
5. Security at the Highest Standards
The symmedia Hub is IEC 62443-3-3 certified – an internationally recognized benchmark for industrial IT security. This ensures that data transfer and access meet the strictest requirements, even in critical infrastructures
Practical Example: Turning Data into Value
A metal processing company uses the Data Collector in different configurations:
- On one hand, to collect production data from a heterogeneous machine landscape to monitor production and machine utilization.
- On other hand, to share service-relevant machine data directly with the manufacturer.
The result for operators:
- Transparency on machine conditions during production
- Improved production planning through visibility of efficiency
- Fewer unplanned downtimes
- Higher overall availability
The result for manufacturers:
- Early detection of anomalies
- Assurance of service SLAs
- A foundation for automated machine optimization
Getting started is simple: install the Edge Device, configure the Data Collector, set up dashboards – and data is available in real time.
Conclusion
The symmedia Data Collector is more than just a data collection tool. It is the key to making machine data usable – independent of protocol, age, or manufacturer.
With it, the symmedia Hub becomes a true hub for data and services – the foundation for condition monitoring, process optimization, predictive maintenance, and much more.
The Data Collector delivers transparency on the shop floor and opens new ways for digital services – secure, flexible, and without compromising data sovereignty.
Curious of what symmedia Hub can do for you?
Contact our sales team for more information.
sales@symmedia.de
+49 (0)521 9665 50
Author
Kay Andorf
Kay Andorf is symmedia’s Chief Product Officer with extensive experience in product development and digital transformation. With his passion for innovative solutions, he drives the development of the symmedia Hub together with symmedia’s Product Owners. At the symZone, he’ll give you valuable insight on how to fully leverage the opportunities of digitization.