Secure Manufacturing with IMA Schelling
aimi®: The Intelligence Behind Connected Machines
With aimi, IMA Schelling combines machine control, security management and connectivity in a compliant software platform. Furniture manufacturers benefit from a complete solution from a single source – including updates, vulnerability management and secure communication. The EU adopted the Machinery Regulation 2023/1230 in 2023. As of January 20, 2027, it will replace the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and uniformly regulate safety requirements, conformity assessment, and the placing of machinery on the European single market. The Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) complements this as a separate EU regulation and will become mandatory from December 11, 2027. aimi meets the requirements of the Machinery Regulation and at the same time bridges the gap to the CRA. This means that IMA Schelling’s machines are designed today to meet the requirements of the connected production of the future.
aimi stands for “artificial intelligence meets machine intelligence” and is a central component of IMA Schelling’s software strategy. “We are consistently rolling out aimi across all new machine types and taking a holistic approach to the technology,” says Stefan Rische, Division Manager Software & Commissioning. “This enables our customers to rely directly on a dependable, future-proof solution.”
Compliant: Machinery Regulation, Cyber Resilience Act, Operator Obligations
aimi is the standardized control platform at IMA Schelling and is currently implemented consistently across all machine types. In addition to machine control, connectivity, and data integration, aimi fulfills the requirements of the Machinery Regulation and is designed to meet the Cyber Resilience Act. Furniture manufacturers can trust that their systems with aimi are continuously kept up to date, connected, and compliant. EU-wide operator obligations are also supported through integrated security mechanisms. “With aimi, we provide a technology that meets the Machinery Regulation and is designed for the Cyber Resilience Act,” says Stefan Rische.
Secure: Encryption, User Management, Patch Handling
aimi protects machines and systems in multiple ways: all communication channels are encrypted, and unsecured channels are closed. In addition, the IT infrastructure surrounding the systems is adapted to ensure secure communication and full compliance. User administration is integrated, and updates as well as remote services remain secure throughout the entire lifecycle. “We develop a wide range of solutions to continuously secure aimi and protect systems against unauthorized access,” explains Division Manager Rische.
Simple: One System, One Contact, Full Control
Since 2019, aimi has been under continuous development. All new machine types will be based on this software. Individual machines with aimi can be ordered from fall 2026, and connected systems from 2027. “With aimi, it’s not just a piece of software that changes, but the entire system. Everything that is controlled by software in a machine is fundamentally reorganized,” explains Stefan Rische. Existing machines cannot be retrofitted but receive additional protection through an added security layer.
Practical: Operations, Security and Integration
Because every IMA Schelling machine speaks the same language through aimi, data flows remain consistent and no longer require translation layers between machines. The platform therefore provides the foundation for secure and efficient production operations. Stefan Rische, Division Manager Software & Commissioning, emphasizes: “Smarter, safer, and simpler manufacturing – IMA Schelling is a partner that offers future-ready technologies from a single source. In this process, aimi plays a central and reliable role.”
