Smart Machines & Factories

For many years Turck Banner has used smart solutions using “middleware” to interface directly to customer’s databases and ERP / MES systems. Smart Machines & Factories reports.

Global integrated mechanical and electrical services company EnerMech has announced the appointment of industry heavyweight Christian Brown as its new chief executive officer.

One of the world’s fastest digital manufacturer of custom prototypes and low-volume production parts has released investment on a £5million expansion plan at its European Headquarters in Telford.

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) will be taking on more than 200 apprentices for its 2020 intake.

Siemens has signed an agreement to acquire Atlas 3D, Inc., a Plymouth, Indiana-based developer of software that works with direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) printers to automatically provide design engineers with the optimal print orientation and requisite support structures for additive parts in near real-time.

A new study from the Capgemini Research Institute has found that smart factories could add at least $1.5 trillion to the global economy through productivity gains, improvements in quality and market share, along with customer services. However, two-thirds of this overall value is still to be realised: efficiency by design and operational excellence through closed- loop operations will make equal contributions. According to the new research, China, Germany and Japan are the top three countries in smart factory adoption, closely followed by South Korea, United States and France.

A new generation of swarming robots which can independently learn and evolve new behaviours in the wild is one step closer, thanks to research from the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England (UWE).

Leading experts from across UK industry were lined-up as speakers for the conference: Demystifying the jargon: How to make the digitalisation transition, (https://www.smartconferences.org.uk) which took place on 20th November 2019 at the MTC in Coventry. Smart Machines & Factories reports.

EPMA, through the collaboration of the EuroAM Sectoral Group, has launched the 3rd Edition of the well-received Introduction to Additive Manufacturing Technology booklet. The recently launched edition at the Euro PM2019 Congress & Exhibition in Maastricht, The Netherlands, looks to build on the previous versions by further expanding the depth and range of case studies from several industries, as well as, providing an update of the AM technical processes and new ‘Non-Destructive Testing’ aspects, from the two previous editions. Since its original launch in 2013 all editions have been widely distributed and downloaded from EPMA.com, as well as, distributed at many industry related events throughout Europe and more recently cited as reference text for academics, during the last 6 years of the brochure being in circulation.

Construction workers could soon benefit from voice-activated technology that beams real-time audio instructions in their earpiece, and augmented reality (AR) graphics onto their helmet visor, thanks to technology being developed at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol). Using artificial intelligence (AI), the system will voice and display information, thereby removing the need for walkie-talkies or consulting hard copies of blueprints.

As of 2019, SPS IPC Drives has a new name: SPS – Smart Production Solutions. While the title of the exhibition may have changed since its inception thirty years ago, the concept and areas of focus will stay the same and continue into the future.

This year's TCT Show was a platform for helping to drive to increase awareness and adoption of additive manufacturing and 3D printing technology, with more than 250 exhibitors showcasing a myriad of innovative applications.

Government, Industry and the Trade Unions have come together in an unprecedented way to launch a new set of Guiding Principles for Digitalisation to help companies and the workforce make the most of the increasing drive towards a new digital era for manufacturing.

The third annual TCT Awards recently celebrated the people, technology and collaborations behind the best in design-to-manufacturing innovation. Ford Motor Company, Siemens AG, Renishaw and XJet were amongst the prestigious award winners.

Confirmed Quality with Automated Tests - During the development and enhancement of PROFINET devices, developers and system testers have extensively and successfully used the continuously expanded Automated RT tester (ART tester) from PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International). This has become an important component of quality assurance, and an increasing number of device manufacturers are integrating it in their testing during the development process. This is the feedback of the PI community from the most recent events and meetings.

On 24th September TCT Show will open its doors to almost 10,000 visitors from 80 different countries, for the 3-day event. The event will showcase the latest additive manufacturing technology solutions and innovations from nearly 300 leading exhibitors from across the globe including HP, Ultimaker, Trumpf, BOC, Formlabs, Siemens and Renishaw.

One of the world's leading automation companies Mitsubishi Electric is hosting a national event where visitors can explore the very latest technology being applied in smart manufacturing and discover how leading companies from a variety of industrial sectors are navigating their path towards digitalisation.

Are your motors providing you with the data driven insights to enable informed decisions around energy consumption, productivity and preventative maintenance? Find out how Schneider Electric’s extensive portfolio of industry leading smart motor management solutions enable investment, operating costs and energy efficiency to be optimised.

Analog Devices has opened the doors of its new headquarters office in Hayes, London. The global manufacturer of semiconductor-based technology solutions and systems says that the location will strengthen its ability to connect customers with the best engineering talent in the UK and overseas.

The Board of ABB has unanimously appointed Björn Rosengren, as Chief Executive Officer. He will join ABB on February 1, 2020 and succeed CEO, Peter Voser, in this role on March 1, 2020. At that time Peter Voser will revert to his position at ABB solely as Chairman of the Board.

A fifteen-year mission to bring engineering into primary classrooms has taken its most ambitious step yet as Primary Engineer officially launched The Institution of Primary Engineers and The Institution of Secondary Engineers at the House of Lords last month.

The Coventry-based Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) has been appointed a lead auditor by the British Automation and Robot Association (BARA) - the trade body which aims to promote the use of robotics in British Industry.

This year, DIRA Business (November 14 2019) is set to be even bigger and has been expanded with a conference with presentations from end-users from specific industries, who will among other things, share their experiences regarding automation and, not least, outline the opportunities available to automate a production process.

Presented by PROFIBUS and PROFINET International and hosted by Endress+Hauser, this event addressed the key practical issues arising from the use of digital communications technologies in automated manufacturing and process industry applications, with particular attention to Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

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