To date, food producers have so far often been sceptical about the use of connectors in sensitive areas. Given their profiles and footprints, they fear that interfaces will interrupt the smooth, easily washable surfaces needed for cleaning in areas close to the product.
Machine and plant manufacturers adopting consistent modular approaches are often particularly successful. This article draws conclusions from the experiences of mechanical engineering customers of the HARTING Technology Group and illustrates how they can make the modularization of their products as efficient as possible. In these concepts, interfaces play a central role in these concepts.
It’s no surprise that the coronavirus is impacting manufacturing, with production site shutdowns and travel and meeting restrictions. In fact, last month, IHS Markit estimated that manufacturing was the third most impacted industry, behind wholesale and services. This has hit manufacturers in various ways. Some companies, even those whose primary products or components are manufactured in the hardest hit regions, have seen little or no impact to their ability to meet customer demand.
As many as 20,000 individual parts go into the production of a single vehicle, and each of these parts must be subjected to rigorous tracking. There are many ways to mark a part – including laser marking, dot peening, inkjet marking and labeling – and automakers generally use several of these, depending on the situation.
WestRock Company—a provider of differentiated paper and packaging solutions—has selected ABB to replace its dry end drive system. This includes upgrades to its PM12 paper machine drives, motors and the installation of the ABB Ability System 800xA control system at its mill in Longview, Washington, USA. Installation and commissioning of the project is planned for completion by year-end 2020.
Whether it’s increased productivity, lower costs, greater flexibility, or reduced time to market, we often talk about the benefits of automation technology as they relate to manufacturers. The right technologies, incorporated effectively into the production processes, can make a significant difference on your business results.
The relationship between humans and robots in manufacturing is constantly evolving. Technology advancements and safety improvements have made it possible for manufacturers to move robots out from behind the cage to interact more closely with workers. Depending on the type of application, this collaboration can open new possibilities for increased productivity, efficiency, and flexibility.
Gone are the days when the primary examples of robotic safety were electromechanical switches on automotive welding systems. At this year’s International Robot Safety Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, most presentations featured solid-state technology used with mobile and collaborative robotic applications in the packaging or warehouse industry.
The digital age has transformed the face of almost every industry around the globe and manufacturing has been no exception. Modern industrial automation helps improve speed, efficiency, quality and safety. This gives manufacturers the tools to thrive in the face of increasing competition. The pace of innovation continues to grow exponentially with new technologies being released weekly by the world’s leading robot and automation suppliers.
The food and beverage industry has seen great momentum when it comes to addressing cyber hygiene – the starting point for industrial control system (ICS) cybersecurity. Where we used to have a lot of conversations about network infrastructure, cybersecurity techniques and strategy are now taking center stage. But how did we get here?
Panduit IIoT ecosystem helps noosa yoghurt speed production at maximum efficiency while increasing network reliability and productivity. At the recommendation of Malisko Engineering, Inc., a Panduit ONESM Gold Partner, noosa yoghurt consulted with Panduit Advisory Services to design the complete physical layer of its new industrial network.
Edge computing has been around for a long time, but is now celebrating a revival in industry. Not all industrial users are convinced by the cloud. Rittal has discovered the potential of the edge and developed a corresponding product portfolio. Sales of the company’s optimization software will begin in the autumn. Rittal’s new Industrie 4.0 plant in Haiger serves as a ‘live’ laboratory.
Protecting operators from the safety hazards introduced by automated machines and robotic equipment demands an understanding of both the appropriate safety guarding level and the machine safety components needed to get the job done. As always, the designer must identify the safety risks, plan the best ways of addressing them, and ensure the proper application of safety components.
You might be looking to see if you can operate a little leaner and lower those steep maintenance costs. With FANUC’s factory automation support, they offer a number of great benefits that can help your bottom line and keep you running.
JMP Solutions, an independent robotic systems integrator, recently announced that their very own, Ken McLaughlin has been elected to the RIA Board of Directors to represent the System Integrator Category. The RIA Certified Robotic Integrator program was established in 2012 in response to an industry need for a benchmark to evaluate technical and robotics safety acumen, as well as overall system integrator business excellence.
Unscheduled downtime is the single largest source of lost production time for manufacturers. When equipment goes down, the entire production environment is disrupted, and an unresolved issue with one machine can result in delays, cost overruns, unhappy customers, and a loss of trust and reputation.
This project is funded [in part] by the Government of Canada.
Ce projet est financé [en partie] par le gouvernement du Canada.
