And you thought TV through your wireless provider was cool. Now Wittmann Battenfeld Inc. has developed TechConnect, a small box that links the company’s technical support staff directly to any 8 Series Wittmann robot anywhere, using wireless access.

Technicians at the operation in Torrington, Conn., developed TechConnect.

Once a customer initiates an Internet connection via WiFi, an Ethernet cable or even by tethering to a cell phone or tablet, a member of the Wittmann Battenfeld support staff will be able to perform most of the primary functions needed to adjust or troubleshoot the robot. Those functions include the use of the robot’s VNC, the oscilloscope, the configuration tool and the WinSCP.

According to the company, traditional customer support centers average 4.3 calls per issue, often extending over several days. But by connection directly to the VNC, Wittmann Battenfeld technicians can do a program review/verification, view input/output signals including those going to and from the molding machine, the error buffer and current alarms. The oscilloscope allows the technician to visually access axis movements and digital inputs or outputs, as well as monitor the robot’s torque, current and velocity.

The connection is safe and secure, since it does not connect with the customer’s severs or intranet, according to Wittmann Battenfeld.

Tel. 860-496-9603,