ePS contributed to COSI 1.0, the first common standard for corrugated machine data, and connects it to shop floor data capture and control across machinery of any age.
The German Corrugated Board Industry Association (VDW) has published COSI 1.0, the Corrugated Standard Interface, the first industry-wide standard for exchanging machine data in corrugated board production. ePS contributed to the standard, with André Seifert, Product Manager at ePS, serving as technical editor and advisor to the working group.
What is COSI 1.0?
COSI 1.0 gives machines and plant software a shared language for performance, setup, quality and maintenance data. Supported by the European association FEFCO, it was developed by a working group of board producers, machinery manufacturers and software providers. It runs on MQTT, the industry-standard messaging protocol for sharing machine data in real time, and plants keep full control of their data.
Why it matters for the industry
Until now, every connection between a machine and plant software has been a project of its own, with different interfaces and data formats each time. COSI defines that interface once, so plants spend less time on integration and more on results. It also gives practical shape to the EU Data Act, which gave plants the right to access machine data but set no common format.
Native COSI support will reach new machines gradually over the coming years. Most plants, however, run equipment of every age and will keep much of it for a long time. The full value of COSI therefore depends on capturing data from the whole shop floor, not just the newest machines.
Why it matters for ePS
Helping shape the standard. As technical editor and advisor, André helped turn the industry's requirements into clear definitions and a coherent, testable specification. Working on the standard from the inside also gives ePS first-hand insight into how machine data will be structured across the industry.
Data capture across machinery of any age. ePS combines hardware and software to capture shop floor data from machines of any age. COSI-ready machines can publish straight to the plant's MQTT broker, while older machines and legacy corrugators are captured through ePS hardware and control solutions, so one data flow covers the whole plant.
Built to fit our Control offering. Because COSI runs on MQTT, it integrates seamlessly with ePS Control Systems for corrugator control and shop floor data collection. That data already feeds the ePS CommandCore ecosystem today, which connects shop floor control (including AC4D and Escada) with execution in Optima MES and planning in PrintFlow and CorrTrim.
What it means for our customers
Plants can start capturing data from their whole fleet now, rather than waiting for every machine to become COSI-ready. They can turn that data into action on the shop floor, from faster setups to tighter control of production, and with CommandCore, actual progress, settings and results can feed straight into the next plan.
“COSI gives our industry a shared language for machine data, which until now has had to be reinvented with every project,” said André Seifert, Product Manager at ePS. “The real value comes when plants can capture data from every machine they run, new and old alike, and turn it into better planning, faster setups and tighter control. Our hardware and software already do that today, and COSI makes it easier for the whole industry to build on.”
ePS (eProductivity Software), empowers packaging companies around the globe through cutting-edge technology, strategic partnerships, and over 30 years of industry expertise. Its comprehensive ERP, MES, and industry-specific solutions enable seamless workflow management across the corrugated, folding carton, label, and flexible packaging segments. By integrating advanced automation capabilities, these solutions enhance product quality, minimize waste, and maximize throughput, helping businesses lower manufacturing costs, improve efficiency, and achieve sustainable growth. Addressing the unique challenges of the packaging and corrugated industries, ePS helps companies optimize operations, boost profitability, and thrive in competitive markets.
The full technical guideline and specifications are available on the VDW website: https://www.presseportal.de/pm/71327/6383036
Want to see how this would work in your plant?
Talk to the ePS team about connecting your corrugator and shop floor data
