Smart Machines & Factories

Leveraging the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to connect digital systems is a crucial step for increasing manufacturing productivity, efficiency and quality. Jonathan Wilkins, director at industrial automation parts supplier EU Automation, explains what UK manufacturers can learn from countries leading the way.

Smart Machines & Factories takes a look at robotics and AI and the autonomous future of industry.

In 2018, Facebook faced a class action lawsuit over its use of facial recognition technology. The lawsuit alleged that Facebook gathered biometric information without users’ explicit consent. Technology has rapidly caught up with the human ability to read faces, progressing to a stage where facial recognition could improve industrial security. Smart Machines & Factories reports.

Smart Machines & Factories looks at how food and beverage manufacturers can reduce downtime using predictive analytics to enable prescriptive maintenance.

Various different terms have evolved to describe the Industry 4.0 phenomenon: but are they helping industry to understand the changes ahead or is language a barrier to implementation? Aaron Blutstein looks for answers in conversation with Steve Sands (SS) of Festo.

Over 1.7m new industrial robots will be installed between 2017 and 2020. Collaborative robots (cobots), machines that work harmoniously alongside humans, account for 3% of this market, but will reach 34% by 2025. Nigel Smith, CEO of TM Robotics, explains what manufacturers need to understand before they jump on the cobot bandwagon, as this investment may not be as low-risk as it first appears.

As a global automotive and industrial supplier, Schaeffler is digitally transforming its entire business, which involves the integration of its mechatronics components, systems and machines into the rapidly expanding world of the ‘Internet of Things’. Through its Machine Tool 4.0 project, Schaeffler wants to demonstrate that Industry 4.0 is not an abstract, remote vision, but can make a contribution to added-value today. Smart Machines & Factories reports.

Dividing up video games, fighting over who keeps the Netflix account and arranging joint custody of the dog. Breakups require delicate negotiation. Magnify to Brexit level and you can understand why negotiating who gets to be involved in space contracts is causing trouble. Here, Mark Sewell, CIO of leading Microsoft recruitment partner, Curo Talent explains why it’s vital for the UK to keep up with the space race post-Brexit.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has been described as the fourth industrial revolution. Like steam, the production line and information technology before it, the convergence of cyber and physical systems has the ability to utterly transform how factories operate. Jon Hill, business development director (pictured) , reports.

Robot tax? A tax on robotics is as absurd an idea as a tax on pencils. As Britain’s political parties discuss a potential tax on automation and robotics, Nigel Smith, managing director of Toshiba Machine partner, TM Robotics, explains why slowing down the machine economy would lead to a productivity disaster.

How can artificial intelligence be applied to accelerate the transition to more connected factories, where human and machine work collaboratively? What technological advances are being made – and how can we encourage robots (and humans) to learn? Steve Sands, head of product management at Festo, explains what the future workplace might look like.

The decision by Bosch Rexroth to introduce Industry 4.0 into its Glenrothes facility in Fife, Scotland, is evolution, rather than revolution.

Festo’s senior consultant, Training & Consulting - Neil Lewin, says the company has identified four key creativity techniques that can help to develop creative thinking and generate new innovative ideas. Smart Machines & Factories reports.

Siert Wijnia, co-founder, Ultimaker, explains the way in which organisations can leverage 3D printing to maximise the potential of the light bulb moment.

When plate glass got ten times cheaper, it changed the way buildings are designed and built. Here’s the next process to get ten times cheaper. Jon Bruner* and Eduardo Torrealba* reports.

First came the dawn of mechanical machines, succeeded by the introduction of electricity, quickly followed by the third industrial era, the advent of computers and the internet. Now, as we enter the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution, Industry 4.0 is moving from buzzword to reality. Martyn Williams, managing director of industrial software provider, COPA-DATA UK, examines what is needed to achieve Britain’s goal of becoming an Industry 4.0 leader in 2018.

David Hannaby, SICK’s UK product manager for Presence Detection takes a look at why sensors are the building blocks of Industry 4.0.

Martin Walder, VP Industry at Schneider Electric, looks at how the growth of robotics will generate better ROI and productivity.

Traditionally, machines in industrial environments could only provide actuation, but not anymore. As we enter the era of Industry 4.0, Nigel Smith, managing director of industrial robot specialist, TM Robotics, dispels some common misconceptions about implementing smart manufacturing.

Is Gigabit Industrial Ethernet adoption the key to achieving Industry 4.0 goals? Smart Machines & Factories spoke to John Browett, CLPA Europe general manager, who outlines the network requirements that will enable Industry 4.0.

Chris Johnson, managing director of specialist bearing supplier SMB Bearings, explains the importance of choosing specialised bearings and lubrication in robotic exoskeletons as the development into this technology advances in real life.

We are all witnesses to the sustained rise of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and the demand to ‘digitise’ within Industry 4.0. Yet legitimate SCADA-based questions, specifically in relation to IoT appear ignored, or at least unanswered. So we ask: “will IoT replace SCADA?” and “can the two concepts be integrated?” SCADA and Distributed Control Systems (DCS) are clearly prevalent automation standards, but as a new tidal wave of data from the IoT surfaces, what role will they play in the factory of the future? Samuel Walton at iconics UK reports.

Thorsten Meier, managing director of BOGE, explains how his company is putting industry 4.0 technologies at the heart of its business model - and into factories.

Will Bourn of Güdel UK, looks at the UK’s past record of investment in robotics and automation, and the positive impact that future investment in automation and robotics can have on UK competitiveness.

Digital technologies are helping SKF change the speed and flexibility of its production operations. For customers, that means shorter lead-times, smaller inventories and lower costs. Smart Machines & Factories reports.