Purchase price and basic operating costs are not the only relevant factors for the cost effectiveness of modern production machines. Instead, complex and difficult to calculate cost structures result from variable operating, maintenance and modernisation costs - depending on the age of the machine and its area of application. Thus, the exact analysis of the "life-cycle" of the machine has become a central aspect in viewing the machines cost effectiveness.

Sustainable concepts regarding this are based on modern information and communication technologies. Using independently acting sensors and radio controlled supervision, analysis and control devices allow the optimisation of operating costs, minimisation of maintenance costs, they also allow downtime to be avoided - and extend the life of the equipment.