Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating a machine system (1) comprising a plurality of machines (2). Said machines (2) are in particular machine tool devices with numerical control, NC, or programmable logic controller, PLC, control systems and are connected to a computing system (3) of the machine system (1). The machine system (1) further comprises human-machine-interfaces (8; 9; 10; 11) to present machine (2) information and at least one operator detection unit (6; 7). Said operator detection unit (6; 7) detects a machine operator (4) being in the proximity of a machine (2) and/or walking past a machine (2) and collects operator behavior data (5). The operator detection unit (6; 7) sends the collected operator behavior data (5) to the computing system (3) which selects information to be presented to the machine operator (4) in dependence on the operator behavior data (5) and selects at least one of the human-machine-interfaces (8; 9; 10; 11) to present said information.

Abstract: A method of operating a machine for a production facility, in particular a machine tool. According to the method, at least one machine condition signal; characterizing an operating condition of the machine is obtained and at least one audio signal representing the at least one machine condition signal is generated. The at least one audio signal is presented to an operator operating the machine. Further, at least one relative position in space is assigned to the at least one audio signal and the at least one audio signal is presented to the operator such that it is deemed to emerge from the relative position in space assigned to the audio signal.

Abstract: A method of operating a production system that includes a job optimization unit and at least two machines, wherein each machine is allocated to a process optimization unit. The job optimization unit receives a job request and broadcasts a manufacturing request based on the job request to some or all of the process optimization units. The process optimization units analyze the manufacturing request based on the current status of the machine, processes allocated to the machine and resources needed to complete at least a part of the manufacturing request and report to the job optimization unit which parts of the manufacturing request they can produce along with production parameters. The job optimization unit collects the reports, generates an optimized production plan, and broadcasts a manufacturing plan which is based on the production plan to the process optimization units. The machines produce products according to the manufacturing plan.

Abstract: A method of purifying waste water, for example waste water from a coking plant, comprises supplying waste water to be purified to the upper part of a stripping column comprising a plurality of substantially horizontal plates disposed above one another, supplying vapor to the lower part of the column, and supplying a strong base to the column laterally at one or more levels, wherein the water to be stripped is passed downwardly from the top of the column across a number of successive plates sufficient to permit the pH of the water to decrease to a value below 7, and wherein the base is supplied at a level or levels lower than that at which the pH has decreased to the above value.

Abstract: Waste water from coke ovens is purified by passing the waste water and a stripping fluid through a stripping column in counterflow. Non-volatile ammonium compounds are removed in one region of the column, phenolic compounds are removed in another region, and volatile ammonium compounds are removed in yet another region. The region in which phenolic compounds are removed is disposed at such a location that no ammoniacal vapor can traverse it. An acid and a strong base are fed laterally into the column at two different levels.