Smart Machines & Factories

Part one of the Stratus Technologies Smart Factory series delved into what’s driving the adoption of digital technology, what’s holding it back and what the most sought-after benefits are from the factory floor. The results showed that manufacturers are under constant pressure to be more efficient and profitable which is leading them to new technologies. But what about outside of the organisation? Are customers with more information and specific needs driving the need for digitalisation? Greg Hookings, head of business development – digitalisation, Stratus Technologies, explains further.

Neil Sandhu, SICK UK product manager for Imaging, Measurement and Ranging, takes a look at why in a digitised world no sensor is an island, and that it must connect and interact with other devices and feed its data into software and digital services.

Andy Pye, consultant editor for Smart Machines & Factories, speaks to Vikaso director Vaibhav Boricha, who plans to come out of lockdown all guns blazing to accelerate the update of collaborative robots.

DFA Media, the publisher of Smart Machines and Factories and its sister magazines Drives & Controls and Plant & Works Engineering, has launched Talking Industry, a new series of live digitally broadcast panel discussions with leading experts from the industrial, automation and manufacturing sectors.

3D printing (additive manufacturing, or AM) has hit the headlines with its role in producing emergency ventilator parts and supplies of PPE. But is it a serious competitor to established mass manufacturing methods? Andy Pye looks at how the boundaries are being extended.

A collaborative digital technology project between Siemens and Hosokawa Micron Limited (HML) has helped its customers improve productivity by 15% and reduce energy costs by 10%. Smart Machines & Factories reports.

Food and beverage manufacturers of all sizes are facing huge operational challenges right now. Emma Ryde reports.

It seems a long time ago now since various malware attacks on the operational layer changed the security landscape and highlighted vulnerabilities in the de-facto automation architecture. However, as we move along the road towards Smart Manufacturing with a view to improving efficiency, productivity and reliability of supply using the principles of Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), the subject of cyber-security is becoming arguably even more important. Chris Evans, marketing & operations group manager at Mitsubishi Electric

John Roberts, director of Idhammar Systems, addresses 5 developments manufacturers need to seriously consider this year, and shares his predictions for the manufacturing industry in 2019.

Two funding competitions for Britain’s most innovative businesses to come together to develop world-leading digital technologies to boost supply chain productivity and resilience to turbo-charge the COVID recovery, have been launched by Made Smarter and UK Research and Innovation.

Made Smarter, the movement helping SMEs join the Industry 4.0 revolution, has reached a major milestone having now funded more than 100 businesses.

Benjamin Stafford, materials science expert at materials search engine Matmatch, explores the future relationship of aviation and additive manufacturing.

The biennial co-located events; Smart Industry Expo, Drives & Controls, Fluid Power & Systems, Plant & Asset Management, and Air-Tech Exhibitions, which will be taking place between January 25th-27th 2021, alongside MACH, is on track to potentially be the largest UK manufacturing event in a generation.

INCASE (“Industry 4.0 via Networked Control Applications and Sustainable Engineering”), co-organised by PROFIBUS & PROFINET International (PI UK)and the European Interreg Project, are free-to-attend seminars that will address the key practical issues arising from the use of digital communications technologies in automated manufacturing and process industry applications, with particular attention to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0. Smart Machines & Factories reports.

Car manufacturer Honda was recently attacked by a cyber attack, which affected its ability to access its email and internal systems. The attack was felt across its entire global network, with experts widely suggesting it could be the work of the “Ekans” or “Snake” ransomware strain, designed to attack industrial control systems networks.

One in three UK adults see a key role for the use of robotics in tackling the COVID-19 crisis and future pandemics, recent research has highlighted. The public poll, commissioned by the EPSRC UK Robotics and Autonomous Systems (UK-RAS) Network, which has been released as part of the annual UK Robotics Week, which returns for its fifth year from 22nd – 28th June 2020. 



Now in its 12th year, the Make UK Awards acknowledge and reward the extraordinary work of the UK manufacturing sector. The 2020 Make UK Awards seek to recognise leading lights within the manufacturing industry, looking for those apprentices and businesses that have made significant contributions across the industry.

Manufacturing Technology Centre Training has collaborated with Aston Business School to provide an MBA degree tailored for the development of leaders in manufacturing organisations of all sizes and sectors.

The biennial co-located events; Smart Industry Expo, Drives & Controls, Fluid Power & Systems, Plant & Asset Management, and Air-Tech Exhibitions – have been rescheduled to January 25th-27th 2021, due to the COVID-19 outbreak. These extra months will help give the industry the space to recover and the opportunity to present their technologies, innovations and solutions in an upturning market with no restrictions on travel. The events will continue to be co-located with MACH.