See which machines are running — without controller integration.
Clip-on sensors and a gateway give you live machine status on your phone or PC. Running, idle, or stopped — without controller access or software on your machines. Not deep MES data. Basic visibility, fast to deploy.
- Typical setup takes hours, not weeks — minimal disruption
- No MTConnect, no PLC connection, no controller access needed
- Designed for mixed fleets, including older machines
- Much lower cost and complexity than traditional monitoring systems
Your machines stop. You find out too late.
In most CNC workshops, the only way to know a machine has stopped is to walk over and look. That means unplanned idle time adds up — quietly, every shift, every day.
Without monitoring
- A machine stops and nobody notices for 30+ minutes
- You rely on operators to report issues — if they remember
- Overnight and weekend stops go undetected until Monday
- Utilization is a guess — you have no actual numbers
- Late deliveries happen because you cannot see delays forming
With Linewatch
- Get an alert within minutes when any machine stops
- See running / idle / stopped status from your phone, anywhere
- Know how many hours each machine actually ran today
- Spot patterns — which machines stop most, and when
- React faster and protect your delivery commitments
If one machine sits idle for an extra 30 minutes per shift because nobody noticed, that is over 250 hours of lost production per year — on a single machine. Multiply that across your shop floor.
You probably don't need a full MES.
Most shops with 5-50 machines don't run ERP-integrated scheduling. Before you need job routing or OEE breakdowns, you need a more basic answer: which machines are actually running right now, and which are not?
What a full MES gives you
- Job scheduling and routing
- Quality management and traceability
- ERP integration
- OEE with detailed loss categorization
- Requires controller integration (MTConnect, OPC-UA, etc.)
- Months of implementation, significant cost
What Linewatch gives you
- Running / idle / stopped status per machine
- Alerts when machines stop unexpectedly
- Daily and weekly uptime data
- Works without any controller integration
- Typical setup takes hours, not weeks
- Lower cost, lower complexity, lower risk
This covers what most small shops actually need day-to-day. And if you do grow into a full MES later, you will start that project with real utilization data instead of guesses.
3 steps. Minimal disruption.
Your maintenance team can handle this. No CNC controller changes. No software to install on any machine. Machines keep running during setup.
Clip on sensors
Small sensors clip onto the machine's stack light or power cable. No wiring changes, no controller access needed. This gives you machine status, not deep controller data — but it works on most machines, including older ones without network interfaces.
Plug in the gateway
One small box per shop floor. It connects to your Wi-Fi or mobile data and sends machine status to the cloud securely.
Open your dashboard
Go to linewatch.io on any phone or computer. Your machines appear live. Alerts start immediately. No app install needed.
Basic visibility. No complexity.
Linewatch is not an MES. It answers four questions about your shop floor — and answers them well.
Which machines are running right now?
See every machine as Running, Idle, or Stopped on one screen. Updated in real time.
Did a machine stop unexpectedly?
Get notified by WhatsApp or email when a machine goes down. Find out in minutes, not when someone walks past it.
How many hours did each machine actually run?
Daily, weekly, monthly uptime per machine. Real numbers instead of estimates.
What is happening when I am not on the floor?
Check your shop from your phone, from home, or while traveling. Works in any browser — no app needed.
Linewatch vs. traditional machine monitoring
Traditional MES and machine monitoring systems are built for large factories with dedicated IT teams. Linewatch is built for shops that want visibility without the project.
| Traditional MES / Monitoring | Linewatch | |
|---|---|---|
| Controller integration | Required (MTConnect, OPC-UA, PLC) | Not required |
| Installation time | Typically weeks to months | Typically hours, not weeks |
| Works with older machines | Often limited or requires retrofitting | Sensor-based — works with many machines, including older ones |
| IT involvement | Usually significant — networking, servers, config | Minimal — plug in gateway, open browser |
| Production disruption | Often requires downtime for installation | Minimal — sensors clip on while machines run |
| Typical cost | Often tens of thousands, plus ongoing fees | Significantly lower — built for smaller shops |
| Time to first data | Usually weeks or months after contract | Typically same day as installation |
| Complexity | High — training, configuration, ongoing maintenance | Low — open a browser, see your machines |
| Best for | Large factories with IT teams and MES budgets | Shops with 5-50 machines that want visibility now |
Good fit
- 5-50 CNC machines — milling, turning, EDM, or mixed
- No MES in place today — you track machine status manually or not at all
- Older or mixed machine fleets — machines without network interfaces or modern controllers
- You want data, not a project — visibility into uptime without months of implementation
- Based in Southeast Asia — early access is currently focused on the region
Not the right fit
- You need job scheduling or ERP integration — Linewatch does not manage production orders
- You need detailed OEE with loss categorization — we show uptime, not categorized downtime reasons
- You need process parameter monitoring — we do not read spindle speed, feed rates, or program data
- You already have a working MES — Linewatch is for shops that have nothing in place yet
No black box. Here is what you are getting.
Simple hardware
Clip-on current sensors or stack light sensors detect whether each machine is running, idle, or stopped. One gateway per shop floor collects the data and sends it to the cloud over Wi-Fi or mobile data. Designed to work with your existing network — in most cases, no infrastructure changes are needed.
Your data, accessible anywhere
Machine data is stored securely in the cloud and accessible through a web dashboard — no app to install. Works on any device with a browser. We handle hosting, updates, and uptime.
Small team, direct contact
Linewatch is built by a small founding team. When you write to us, a founder replies — not a support queue. We are in early access, working closely with pilot partners. Your input directly shapes the product.
Want to see if this fits your shop?
Tell us a bit about your factory and we will get back to you personally — usually within one business day. No sales deck. Just a straight conversation about whether Linewatch makes sense for you.