Real-time OEE and downtime tracking from external sensors, with no PLC access or machine modification
Weighted average across 12 criteria
The vendor does not publish a figure. Their pricing page was checked .
No comparable figure: this vendor publishes no rate that normalises to a per-unit year. Price is scored on whether a buyer can see a number at all, not on how large it is.
Pulsar is a manufacturing intelligence platform built around real-time OEE. Its pitch is that it never touches the controller: current sensors, proximity sensors, relays and smart cameras attach to the outside of the machine and feed a Pulsar Smart Hub, which processes the signals and sends them to the cloud over Wi-Fi. The vendor says this works on equipment of any brand or age, including legacy machines with no connectivity, and that it installs without stopping production.
The software calculates OEE automatically and tracks downtime, stop causes, cycles, speed and output, with a digital Andon for alerts and escalation. Pulsar also says it monitors energy, temperature and vibration. Its hardware list names a current sensor, so power is a first-class signal, and Pulsar ships vibration sensors of its own, so vibration is native too. Pulsar describes no predictive maintenance capability.
The commercial side is opaque. Pulsar publishes no pricing, no contract terms and no API reference. It does list a public API and says it exchanges orders, products and shift data with ERP and MES systems. Installation is handled by Pulsar, typically in one visit, with data flowing within a few days. The vendor reports more than 200 plants across Mexico, the United States and Latin America, and names customers including Toyota, Carrier, CEMEX and Gruma.
Platform fit rated by sector and use case.
External sensors and a hub mean OEE without PLC access, controller protocols or machine modification, whatever the brand or age.
More than 200 plants reported across Mexico, the United States and Latin America, with named enterprise customers.
No published pricing, a vendor-performed install and a mid-to-large plant focus make budgeting hard for a small shop.
| Feature | Pulsar | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring | ||
OEE Tracking Overall equipment effectiveness |
Yes - Core | Calculated automatically from sensor data; downtime, stop causes, cycles, speed |
Power Monitoring Current/energy sensing |
Yes | Current sensor in the standard hardware list; energy monitoring stated |
Vibration Monitoring Mechanical vibration analysis |
Yes | Pulsar supplies its own vibration sensors; no frequency analysis described |
PLC Integration Controller data |
Bypasses PLC | Deliberately external; never connects to the controller |
| Commercial Terms | ||
Pricing Subscription cost |
Not published | Free demo offered; no figures on the vendor site |
Installation Who installs |
Vendor-installed | Pulsar handles setup, typically in a single visit |
Open API Integration |
Public API listed | ERP and MES exchange described; no public reference found |
Evaluated from the frontline technician, plant manager, and operations director perspective.
Sensors go on the outside of the machine, so nothing in the controller changes. The data explains why a machine stopped, not whether it is about to fail.
Automatic OEE, stop causes and output by machine and shift, available within days of the install visit.
Named enterprise customers and a 200-plant footprint lower the vendor risk. The lack of published terms raises the evaluation effort.