igus chainflex CFSPECIAL.192 hybrid cable for hanging travels of up to 50 metres.

Machines have to work reliably around the clock in such areas as material handling. Warehouses are getting bigger, and increasing mast heights mean high cable demands. To ensure trouble-free operation even in demanding hanging applications, igus has developed the CFSPECIAL.192 hybrid cable. It is the only cable on the market specifically for hanging applications in e-chains, suitable for SEW-EURODRIVE’s MOVILINK DDI. A high-tensile aramid support element in the cable jacket allows mast heights five times that of standard cables.

With 1,354 cable types for data, bus and hybrid systems, control systems and drives, igus offers an extensive range of cables for moving applications in various industries. igus has developed the chainflex CFSPECIAL cable series for application areas with special requirements. The CFSPECIAL.192 is new to the product range. It is the first chainflex hybrid cable for hanging applications, suitable for SEW-EURODRIVE’s MOVILINK DDI drive technology. “Hybrid technology is becoming increasingly popular, so demand for new single-cable solutions is also growing,” says Rainer Rössel, Head of Business Unit chainflex Cables at igus. “Especially in the material handling field, many companies use SEW-EURODRIVE’s MOVILINK DDI digital motor interface, for which we already offer various cables. Hanging applications, however, such as stacker cranes, whose masts can be very high, place special demands on cables. The CFSPECIAL.192 is our newly developed
cable solution for stroke heights up to 50 metres.”

More than 4,200 newtons of tensile force
“The challenge with hanging applications is that you need a cable suitable for chains and can absorb enough tensile force that it does not break even over great distances and stroke heights,” explains Christian Strauch, Industry Manager of Material Handling at igus. According to the standard, the cable has to bear its own weight – 15 newtons per square millimetre of the main core. The cross-section can be enlarged, but that does not automatically mean more cable length because the coefficient of friction also increases. “To solve this problem, we have incorporated a high-tensile aramid braid into the CFSPECIAL.192’s PUR outer jacket. Tests in our in-house laboratory show that the tensile strength is 500% higher than that of a standard cable for MOVILINK DDI,” says Rössel. “Our new cable achieves a tensile force of over 4,200 newtons, making it ideal for vertical applications, such as storage and retrieval units.”

Lower costs and guaranteed longer service life
The new igus hybrid cable reduces customer costs by eliminating the need for a second cable and time-consuming cable bracing in the energy chain. At the same time, the single-cable solution requires less installation space and reduces the weight the system must bear. In addition to lower costs, users benefit from the much longer cable service life in hanging applications. All igus cables are subjected to numerous tests to calculate the service life of each cable – and the online tool makes it very easy. “That is why we are the only supplier in the world to offer a 36-month guarantee on all our chainflex cables,” says Rössel. “This way, users benefit from a durable solution that ensures reliable, trouble-free operation even at great heights and over long distances.

World’s first-level sensor with integrated cyber security delivered to customers.

VEGA, the Black Forest manufacturer of level, switching and pressure instrumentation, is on a security mission. In January 2023, it delivered what is unquestionably the world’s first-level sensor with built-in cyber security features to its customers. With this new development, VEGA wants to send a strong message: it recognizes the increasing threat of cyber criminality in the industry and is taking action to combat it.

From the outside, you wouldn’t see anything different or unusual: The VEGAPULS 6X radar sensor, together with its documentation, fits perfectly into its tailor-made carton, which, at the end of the packaging line, gets its shipping label. Address: A chemical company in northern Hesse, Germany. But the customer receives something quite different from all the other level sensors previously available in the market. This sensor has cyber protection as an integral component for the first time ever. It was developed in compliance with Industrial Cyber Security Standard IEC 62443-4-2 and thus meets the highest standards currently implemented in the process industry.

Florian Burgert, who was involved in the conception of the universal level sensor from the beginning, says, “Being able to use secure measurement data at all times is now one of the most important requirements of our customers. We hear this from customers in almost every industrial sector.” For pervasive security, the production system as a whole must be secure, and all the built-in components as well. Everything must comply with the standards.

Especially in cyber security, plant operators want equipment they can depend on to stay one step ahead of the latest threats. And now, VEGA doesn’t want to rest on its laurels after developing one instrument compliant with IEC 62443. With its certification as a guide, the company plans to develop future products with all existing security requirements immediately. Protective measures will be consistently expanded to create a reliable basis for secure plant operation in the future.

Reduces the cost of measuring in 3D by improving your global dimensional management process.

InnovMetric, the independent software development company that empowers manufacturers of every size to digitally transform their 3D measurement processes announced the launch of PolyWorks 2023. This new release expands the PolyWorks universal 3D metrology platform to offer a digital ecosystem integrated into the four phases of a manufacturing organization’s global dimensional management process: product design, process design, validation, and production.

In addition to optimizing the performance of 3D measurement teams through universal platform enhancements, PolyWorks 2023 further reduces the cost of measuring in 3D in three different ways:

• PolyWorks offers improved Model-Based Definition (MBD) and Measurement System Analysis (MSA) digital workflows that help manufacturing organizations minimize the number of software used within their global dimensional management process.
• The PolyWorks data management solution can now be deployed in less than 15 minutes in the cloud and be interconnected with a corporate identity server.
• Finally, PolyWorks integrates new root cause analysis tools into its data management solution that can automatically identify the factors that impact production quality.

“For 10 years, we have invested heavily in digital technologies, which today allows us to help our customers increase their use of 3D measurement data while reducing their operating costs. What is our secret? We digitally interconnect our customers’ platforms, such as CAD and PLM, PolyWorks, and Microsoft solutions. As a result, we can now easily provide business processes that previously required three or four different software and react in real time to problems on the production line while our decisions are based on factual 3D measurement data. Moreover, our customers can now deploy our data management solution in less than 15 minutes, which is a major breakthrough for small- and medium-sized enterprises,” says Marc Soucy, President of InnovMetric. He concludes, “For manufacturing organizations that are still questioning the relevance of their digital transformation, the question to ask is no longer why, but when.”

Product and process design phases

The PolyWorks|Inspector™ solution helps reduce time-to-market by measuring, controlling, and analyzing 3D dimensions at every stage of the product and process design phases. With PolyWorks|Inspector 2023, 3D measurement specialists can now set up measurement templates and perform 3D measurement tasks more efficiently. They can:

• Analyze and edit large measurement sequences quickly by finding steps using keyword searches or navigating through step types, such as errors and warnings;
• Replace the source objects of a dependent feature and preserve all related objects, data alignments, and reports created from this feature;
• Create curve-based features in a single click over a polygonal model of a measured piece to rapidly inspect a piece without CAD data.

Mixed reality display technologies provide localized visual guidance, measurement feedback, and access to inspection functionalities, without encumbering the hands of operators. The PolyWorks|AR™ 2023 mixed reality app offers new powerful tools to guide laser scanning, review inspection results, and collaborate with colleagues. Users can now:

• Position the hologram of the PolyWorks|Inspector 3D Scene window within the operator’s field of view to see scanning progression, perform additional scanning in areas of poor data quality, and pinpoint exactly where to scan features;
• Review feature deviations and color maps directly over the measured piece;
• Call colleagues through Microsoft Teams to review inspection results collaboratively and discuss manufacturing issues efficiently.

The PolyWorks|PMI+Loop™ Model-Based Definition solution allows manufacturing organizations to manage all the dimensional controls defined by the design and manufacturing teams within their native CAD platform. By associating dimensional controls to CAD geometries within CAD software, PolyWorks|PMI+Loop can automatically update these controls when the CAD model is modified and provide the digital traceability needed to accelerate the integration of a CAD design change within an inspection project. With version 2023, InnovMetric has improved the speed of its MBD solution by an order of magnitude and significantly reduced CAD file size. PolyWorks|PMI+Loop is available for the Siemens NX, PTC Creo, and DS SolidWorks CAD platforms.

Validation phase

Measurement System Analysis tools are essential to guarantee the capability of 3D measurement processes prior to certifying production tools. Since version 2021, users could launch a repeatability or gauge R&R study directly from PolyWorks|Inspector, be guided to capture the required probe, scan, or gauge data, and review the results within an updateable Excel spreadsheet linked to the inspection project. With PolyWorks 2023, InnovMetric has improved the speed of data transfer to Excel while removing previous limitations in terms of the number of dimensional controls, iterations, measured pieces, and operators.

Production phase

PolyWorks 2023 offers major evolutions to manage data from production lines and resolve manufacturing issues faster:

• Customers can now store up to one million pieces sampled from a production line within a single inspection project;
• Operators can monitor the production’s dimensional trends at a glance by displaying hundreds of charts at once within the PolyWorks|DataLoop™ Web Interface;
• PolyWorks|DataLoop users can now automatically find the root causes of issues by performing statistical analyses of association, identifying the factors that impact production quality, and reviewing results presented in plain language with clear graphical aids.

Data management

The PolyWorks|DataLoop data management solution stores 3D measurement data on central servers and digitally interconnects all the people that capture or need access to 3D measurement information. With version 2023, InnovMetric has simplified the deployment of PolyWorks|DataLoop:

• InnovMetric now offers templates to install, configure, and start its data management solution on the Microsoft Azure or Amazon AWS cloud infrastructure in less than 15 minutes;
• PolyWorks|DataLoop now supports Azure AD and the SAML 2.0 authentication protocol to interconnect with corporate identity servers.

Mitsubishi Electric India has recently launched a new range of sustainable and technologically advanced machine tools – the M800V and M80V series. These machines are equipped with unique features that increase productivity and contribute towards creating a sustainable industrial environment.

Mitsubishi Electric recently launched the M800V and M80V series of Computerised Numerical Controllers (CNCs) in India with advanced solutions to drive smart manufacturing. The company aims to promote development and provide better opportunities for the country. By incorporating IoT and Artificial Intelligence into manufacturing, Mitsubishi Electric contributes to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The new product range incorporates innovative technologies that facilitate smart and advanced manufacturing in India.

CNCs are electro-mechanic devices that use computer programming in the Machine Tool industry. These devices are widely used for manufacturing processes and have positively impacted the industry. With its state-of-the-art CNC solutions, Mitsubishi Electric has always been at the forefront of innovation and technological advancements in India. In line with the post-pandemic era of remote access and control, the M800V and M80V feature the industry’s first CNC with built-in wireless LAN, enabling efficient work without time and space constraints.

The M800V and M80V control functions have been designed to perform various tasks quickly and accurately. This product range has the potential to reshape the machine tools industry and efficiently optimise manufacturing from the perspective of time and tasks. Mitsubishi Electric is committed to meeting manufacturers’ needs and technological advancements.

The new M800V and M80V series of CNCs offer a range of innovative features and advantages that make them stand out in the market. Here are some of the key features:

Increased fine segment processing capability and several control axes: The new M800V and M80V have improved hardware, including a dedicated CPU, significantly enhancing fine segment processing capability and machining program processing. The number of control axes has also been increased, enabling smooth control of more complex mechanisms.

Cutting Load Control: The “Cutting Load Control” feature automatically controls the cutting load, leading to longer tool life and shorter cycle time.

Multi-touch operation and Improved Screen Design: The enhanced technology of the new M800V and M80V enables multi-touch features for smarter operations and high accuracy. The screen design and colors are optimised for readability, providing better visibility and increased work efficiency.

OMR-CC (Optimum machine response-contour control): The M800V and M80V series come with Optimum Machine Response-Contour Control (OMRCC), which reduces cycle time while maintaining machining accuracy. This enables the machining process to work faster and saves time due to control processing, automatically correcting programmed/actual position errors.

Two-dimensional barcode engraving cycle: The two-dimensional barcode engraved directly on the workpiece allows the automatic selection of programs and tools, which helps implement easy workpiece traceability.

Built-in wireless LAN: The M800V and M80V series introduces the industry’s first wireless LAN functionality, enabling machine engineers to operate remotely with a tablet connected. This improves work efficiency for machine tool operators, frees them from time and space constraints, and allows them to work remotely.

NC Machine Tool Optimiser: The M800V and M80V product range comes with an operation monitoring software called “NC Machine Tool Optimizer.” It visualises the status of various equipment in multiple factories and connects with various controllers on the shop floor. It can monitor and analyse equipment operation in multiple factories, helping increase productivity. Automatic email notifications are sent upon occurrence of an alarm and alarm diagnostics, in addition to the built-in remote service gateway unit functionality in the NC control unit, reducing machine downtime

The integrated Internet Protocol-based access control solution is designed to physically secure the racks housing mission-critical equipment, assets, and enterprise data.

Experience 190 motion plastics innovations comfortably at your  desk with individually guided online tours 

No time to visit the Hannover Messe 2023? No problem. The motion plastics specialist is offering the so-called Remote Scout Service for the first time this year. The igus experts equipped with data glasses show visitors live the new products that are of interest to them in individual online tours.

For the first time, igus will take people to the trade show stand in Hannover who are somewhere else – in Hamburg, Dresden or Munich. Interested parties can simply book a so-called Remote Scout online. The igus experts are equipped with data glasses and transfer the latest motion plastics products and solutions to the web browser on a PC, smartphone or tablet in 30 minutes. Interested parties see 1:1 what the igus scouts see. They have both hands free and can demonstrate everything in the same way as it would be possible with an appointment on-site. 

The Remote Scouts present 190 real innovations 

The Hannover Messe 2023 is not only one of the trade show highlights of the year for igus. Here, the motion plastics specialist will be presenting a fireworks display of innovations from 17 to 21 April. With “enjoyneering” igus shows 190  real innovations and digital revolutions at two trade show stands. At the trade show stand for product innovations in Hall 6, extremely wear-resistant polymer plain bearings for the highest loads can be seen, as well as highly dynamic energy supply systems that can be quickly opened by hand. Visitors will also see innovations from low-cost robotics, such as the extended ReBeL cobot family. This also enables small and medium-sized companies to get started with automation intuitively and at low risk. At the trade show stand in Hall 17,  everything revolves around exciting digital possibilities such as igusGO or the iguverse, a virtual space in which users can experience products as digital twins and design new machines, systems and vehicles together.

Corona provided the impetus for the Remote Scouts 

The idea for the Remote Scouts came about during the corona pandemic.  Because of the contact restrictions, trade shows were on hold. An unusual situation to which igus responded quickly. A real, 400 square metre trade show stand was created at the company headquarters in Cologne, the award-winning igus motion plastics show (IMPS). In addition to a virtual visit, sales experts use the cameras of their smartphones or tablets to show interested parties the innovations from the world of motion plastics. A successful concept that is now starting the next round at the Hannover Messe with the Remote Scout Service. 

A self-draining design, iglidur high-performance plastic and stainless steel ensure an exceptionally hygienic linear guide

Cleaning with chemicals is a daily occurrence for machines in the food processing industry. Even the smallest blind spot can collect moisture and can lead to contamination within the machine. More and more operators are therefore designing parts with an emphasis on Hygienic Design. igus is a member of the EHEDG and has developed the first linear guide system, based on the Hygienic Design guidelines. Using FDA-compliant materials such as the high-performance polymer iglidur A160, high-alloy stainless steel and a washable interior of the carriage ensures the hygienic design is adhered to.

Special rules apply in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. Hygiene is the highest requirement that is placed on parts within machines. It is important to ensure that there is never any contamination on products. Therefore, machine builders and plant operators ensure they design parts with the best materials for the components. Best case, they comply with the FDA and EU regulations. “More and more customers want an optimised design based on hygienic design principles. They are looking for parts to have an open design that withstands regular cleaning processes with chemicals, steam and high pressure water,” says Stefan Niermann, Head of drylin Linear and Drive Technology at igus GmbH. Companies are now demanding lubrication-free components that can be cleaned quickly ensuing downtimes are limited. igus has now developed a drylin W linear guide according to hygienic design guidelines. The plastics specialist has joined the EHEDG, an association of suppliers to the food industry, universities, health authorities and research institutes.

A gap-free construction with the right materials

The main challenge was how to construct a gap-free design. The focus was on designing a self-draining carriage and rail that would allow liquids to drain freely without collecting water. “This is a brand new innovation for the linear technology market. So far, most hygienic design solutions have been based on a completely enclosed unit,” explains Niermann. This new self-draining carriage consists entirely of the high-performance polymer iglidur A160, one of the FDA- and EU10/2011-compliant igus materials. The lubrication-free material has already proved itself as a plain bearing material in numerous applications in the food industry. Hygienic screws and large grooves are also used as a method to prevent water from accumulating and bevelled edges allow cleaning solutions to run off easily. The bottom seal protects the space under the rail from dirt accumulation, ensuring no residues of food can be caught. The shafts are also sealed to prevent any gaps from collecting debris. A corrosion-free and high-alloy 316 stainless steel is used as the linear rail to avoid microscopic surface structures that prevent dirt from adhering.

Vikram Dhingra as Associate Vice President, Sales will be leading the marketing outreach for the company.

WIKA India (WIKA Instruments India Pvt. Ltd)—a wholly-owned subsidiary of WIKA Global (WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE & Co. KG, Germany), has appointed Vikram Dhingra as Associate Vice President, Sales who will be leading the marketing outreach for the company. The global major, a specialist in precision component manufacturing associated with the test and measurement market like Pressure, Temperature, Level, Flow, & Force for critical industrial applications, has decided to focus on India for a major market penetration domestically and as a base to neighboring countries.

Announcing the engagement of professional leadership, Gaurav Bawa, Senior Vice President of WIKA India, mentioned, “We welcome Vikram Dhingra as one of the top management officials in the company who can work with the other leaders to fulfil the targets that WIKA has set for itself in India. He is an experienced Strategy Architect with expertise in implementing product roadmaps backed by analysis of business performance, situation and possible bottlenecks. These insights help the management make relevant decisions and continue to grow during challenging times.”

Vikram has had varied experience with major companies like Crompton Greaves, Larsen & Toubro, Kirloskar, BCH Electric Limited, Polycab and many others. Always a part of core industrial manufacturers, Vikram is expected to plan the channel intervention for a new tech-enabled product line of WIKA. The major instrumentation plans to double its turnover by 2025, needing expert handling of its supply chain and future orders.

WIKA India, with a firm foothold in India, strategises future intervention in a way to maximise the market share in the segments where they are present through prudent localisation. Vikram, a distribution channel specialist, is expected to advise on the best moves to WIKA to realise their dreams.

The technology company Freudenberg demonstrated resilience in a difficult environment during the fiscal year 2022 and was able to increase both sales and profits during the year.

The technology company Freudenberg demonstrated resilience in a difficult environment during the fiscal year 2022. It was able to increase both sales and profits during the year. Aside from the impact of the war in Ukraine, the Freudenberg Group had to grapple with disrupted supply chains, high inflation, and the availability of energy and raw materials. “We have handled the current challenges well so far,” said Dr. Mohsen Sohi, CEO of the Freudenberg Group, as its financial figures were made public. “Freudenberg is growing profitably, investing heavily, and driving the energy transition.” At €442 million, sales were significantly higher for Freudenberg in India as well. Operating result for 2022 has improved very robust over 2021”. Said Mr. Georg Graf, Regional Representative India, Freudenberg India.

The figures in detail 

At €11,753.1 million, sales for 2022 were significantly above the figure of €10,038.7 million for the previous year. The increase largely resulted from inflation-related price increases of about €700 million, positive exchange rate effects of about €500 million, and an increase in sales volume of about €400 million. 

In 2022, Freudenberg was able to achieve an operating profit of  €941.8 million. This was significantly higher than the figure of €877.3 million for the previous year. 

At €607.7 million, cash flow from ongoing business activities was below the amount for the previous year, which was €861.8 million. One reason for the change was a substantial rise in working capital. The already comfortable equity capital ratio increased again in the year under review and is now 54.0 percent (previous year: 50.2 percent).

The international ratings agency Moody’s Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, has continued to give Freudenberg an “A3” rating with a stable outlook. The Freudenberg Group has thus earned the excellent “Single-A Rating” once again.

Research and development

“Our business success enables us to invest in the future of the company – in research and development, machinery and equipment, and the technologies of the future,” Sohi said. Freudenberg has significantly increased its spending on research and development. During fiscal year 2022, it invested €576.8 million (previous year: €500.2 million). That is an increase of about 15 percent. It brings the total investment in research and development to more than €2 billion since 2019. Out of our total sales, the proportion of new products – those less than four years old – is 31.6 percent (previous year: 32.4 percent). 

Here are two examples: The hermetically sealed housings for lithium-ion vehicle batteries require special attention to equalize pressure. DIAvent was developed by Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, one of our Business Groups, to meet this need. DIAvent combines several functions in a single part: It equalizes pressure during normal operation; opens up quickly and reliably for emergency degassing, and then closes after the successful pressure equalization The element not only ensures greater safety – it is also more robust than conventional solutions. During its development, DIAvent started out as a single product, but it has now become a complete product family for a wide array of potential uses. We have received numerous series orders from vehicle and battery manufacturers. 

Freudenberg Performance Materials facilitates the transmission of clean energy with water-blocking tapes that it produces for use in undersea cables. The newly developed materials for this application are indispensable for a successful energy transmission. They ensure that high voltages can be reliably transported over great distances underwater from offshore wind turbines. 

Investments 

Adjusted for acquisitions, investments in intangible and tangible assets, as well as real estate held as a financial investment, amounted to €401.5 million (previous year: €304.8 million.) 

The Freudenberg Group has invested worldwide: As a part of the strategic investment announced in 2020, Freudenberg India, in Dec 2022 began the construction of 2 plants, Vibracoustic and Freudenberg NOK at Morinda in Punjab. The project is on track so far and construction work will be completed in early 2024.

The entire design and construction are done with environment-friendly concepts. We will have a robust rainwater harvesting system in place. Photovoltaic installation is also being ensured to cover about 30% of the total power needs for the facilities. Modern utility arrangements like Bus duct systems for power distribution to machines, energy-efficient HVAC systems etc. to have been considered to achieve minimal energy loss and maximum efficiency.  Entire wastewater (both process and domestic wastewater) is fully treated and reused to ensure zero discharge and minimal usage of fresh water.

Formed in April 2022, the new Business Group Freudenberg e-Power Systems has started to build up its production and assembly capacity for battery systems in Midland, USA. In Parets des Vallès, Spain, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has begun building a state-of-the-art factory for the production of elastomer products for the auto industry. Vibracoustic has expanded production and assembly capacity for bellows in Europe, the USA, and Mexico. And Freudenberg Performance Materials has continued to invest in facilities for needle-punched nonwovens at its Škofja Loka production facility in Slovenia. 

The investments in Germany come to €144.3 million (previous year: €88.0 million). Freudenberg Performance Materials expanded its factory for gas diffusion layers – key components for fuel cells – at its Weinheim facility to meet future demand in the fast-growing market for the systems. Production is due to begin this summer. 

Vibracoustic increased its capacity for the production of air suspension systems in Hamburg. EagleBurgmann launched modernization projects at the Innovation Center at its Wolfratshausen site and for the production of mechanical seals and other products in Eurasburg. 

Portfolio

In December 2022, the Freudenberg company SurTec International GmbH in Bensheim, Germany acquired Munich-based omniTECHNIK Mikroverkapselungs GmbH, which specializes in thread-locking products. The transaction included the acquisition of all shares of Precote USA LLC, East Lansing, Michigan, USA, by SurTec Inc. of Upper Arlington, Ohio, USA. 

Employees 

Last year, Freudenberg hired about 7,800 employees. That is about 1,000 more than during the previous year and an increase of 14 percent. Europe, North America, China and India were the main focuses of the hiring. 

As of December 31, 2022, Freudenberg Group had more than 51,000 employees of 146 different nationalities, working in 60 countries. There was growth in every region: Employment rose to 12,413 in Germany (previous year: 11,918); to 14,924 in Europe, excluding Germany (previous year: 14,450); to 11,867 in North America (previous year: 11,528); to 10,711 in Asia (previous year: 10,474); to 543 in Africa/Australia (previous year: 542); and to 1,004 in South America/Central America (previous year: 924).

Freudenberg is investing in training for young people: During 2022, 123 people began training programs (previous year: 91) at Freudenberg companies in Germany. That is roughly one-third higher than the figure for the previous year. In all, 351 people were in training programs in Germany alone. The company also provides training in 14 other countries. 

Mobility: Preparing the battery and fuel cell businesses for the future 

Freudenberg products are driving forward-looking topics like the energy transition. The Freudenberg Group is investing in the mobility of the future – in battery, hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, along with high-tech components for commercial vehicles. The strategy is working, as shown by a sales increase of about 50 percent for components, for example.

Based on opportunities for growth, a new Business Group – Freudenberg e-Power Systems – was formed in April 2022. Building on its extensive experience and expertise in battery and fuel cell technologies, the company is offering emission-neutral energy systems for heavy-duty applications. About 100 experts are already working at Freudenberg’s fuel cell technology center in Munich. The Business Group has achieved a milestone with the world’s first type-tested methanol-fueled fuel cell system for the maritime sector. The system makes it possible for oceanic shipping to operate climate-neutrally, efficiently and safely. 

Freudenberg e-Power Systems has also finalized a collaborative project with the automotive supplier ZF Friedrichshafen. The goal is to develop a fuel cell and battery drive system as well as the components for it. These emission-free fuel cells will replace conventional diesel powertrains in buses and trucks and find uses in maritime applications. Road tests of the first prototype vehicles and the launch of series production are expected this year. 

Freudenberg e-Power Systems and LG Energy Solution have signed a multiyear contract for the delivery of lithium ion battery cell modules, enabling Freudenberg to expand its capacity and keep up with rising demand. 

In early January 2023, the Business Group acquired the remaining shares of XALT Energy, LLC, Wilmington, Delaware, USA. To that point, Freudenberg had held 50.1 percent of the shares in the joint venture. XALT Energy manufactures lithium ion battery cells, and its subsidiary Freudenberg Battery Power Systems, LLC, Wilmington, Delaware, USA, develops and produces complete battery systems. 

Climate-neutral by 2045 – a multistep strategy 

“We are driving the energy transition,” Sohi said. “One example is the expansion of the battery and fuel cell business. Another is our ambition to be climate-neutral by 2045.” Freudenberg is turning to a multistep strategy of energy savings, electrification, and purchases, along with compensation for CO2 emissions and its own production of green electricity. This is making the in-house generation of green electricity increasingly important. The approach mainly relies on photovoltaic systems on the roofs of buildings at Freudenberg facilities around the world – from China to Mexico to Spain. 

Freudenberg is supplementing its in-house power generation programs with the purchase of green energy. The Freudenberg Group is considered to be a reliable partner, enabling it to conclude long-term contracts with energy companies for the supply of green energy. In one case, solar energy is being supplied by the Tramm-Göthen Solar Park, the largest facility of its kind in Germany. In another, the company receives a share of the electricity produced by the Offshore Windpark Nordsee Ost. At the end of 2022, Freudenberg sites in Denmark, Sweden and Austria were purchasing 100 percent green electricity. Other sites will follow in 2023. In Germany, the company’s facilities in Berlin, Hamburg, Oberwihl and Emmerich are among its CO2-neutral facilities. During 2022, Freudenberg increased its share of electricity from renewable sources from 21 to 30 percent of its total electric power consumption. 

Social commitment

Freudenberg has been socially committed since its founding. With its “Education and Environment” program, its social involvement is being strengthened. The goal is to give people access to jobs and education while promoting environmental protection. Since the start of the program in 2015, the Freudenberg Group has provided €18 million to promote charitable projects and has funded 170 of them, including 40 in Europe. 

Here’s one way the funds are being used: Many children in Vietnam live in harsh social and economic conditions. Abandoned by their families or orphaned, they are on their own. SOS Children’s Villages in Vietnam cares for children in these situations. Last year, Klüber Lubrication employees in Vietnam supported the work of SOS Children’s Villages in Ben Tre and Da Lat in South Vietnam.

Outlook

We can expect economic and political uncertainties to continue. Challenges and risks are emerging, sometimes exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and the COVID 19 pandemic. They include the energy supply, raw material bottlenecks, price increases, suppliers’ delivery problems, and labor shortages. To deal with these challenges, we will continue to be agile at each of our locations and respond quickly and flexibly to the constantly changing requirements – with an unflinching customer focus. This principle applies to every industry and region. We will meanwhile continue to invest in long-term projects. For us, the key strategic themes continue to be the transformation of mobility, digitalization and sustainable solutions.

The luxury crystal glassware manufacturer from Waterford in Ireland selected the ELGi EG Series oil-lubricated screw air compressor to modernise its high-precision engraving operations.

Waterford Crystal needed to replace its existing compressor and commissioned Airtec Compressors Ltd.. Airtec Compressors, the air service partners for Waterford Crystal for over a decade, conducted a detailed site study and recommended installing a new ELGi EG22V (variable speed) -installed in April 2021. 

 The Irish manufacturer of fine luxury crystal chose the EG Series EG22V from ELGi Compressors Europe to modernise the compressed air system at its plant in Waterford, Ireland. The manufacturer required reliability and energy efficiency from its new lead compressor. It will provide 24/7 operations for a large proportion of their industrial machinery and high-precision engraving tools, highlighting skilled craft.

Terry McGuire, Regional Manager UK & Ireland at ELGi said, “We are proud that an ELGi unit is at the heart of operations of Waterford Crystal – a world-renowned luxury crystal producer – supporting the creation of beautiful crystal pieces through its reliability and energy efficiency. At ELGi, our vision is to be ‘Always Better,’ Our EG Series embodies this approach with innovative technology options that help our customers be more efficient, lower life cycle costs and reduce the environmental footprint. The EG Series stands out for its patented technologies, high efficiency, and ten-year market-leading warranty on the airend.”

Tony Elsted, Engineering and Maintenance Manager at Waterford Crystal said, “The main reasons for purchasing the ELGi machine were its market-leading 10-year airend warranty and the efficiency improvements it offered. The ELGi EG22V is our new lead compressor and has been operating seamlessly at our factory for over a year. Since installing the EG22V we have seen a large reduction in our energy consumption versus our older compressor. Despite the increased cost of electricity, the compressor has given us a payback in less than two years.”

The EG Series compressor range’s design enables operations at extreme temperatures – from cold to hot and from dry to extremely humid conditions. This leads to improved reliability of the compressed air system. ELGi’s high-efficient airends are equipped with in-house developed η-V profile rotors, with the 4/5 lobe combination, designed to run at low rotor speeds. This unique design reduces pressure losses and, together with the OSBIC (Oil separation by impact and centrifugal action), 3-stage separation provides best-in-class energy efficiency.

Airtec Compressors is ELGi’s Channel Partner in Ireland for a solution since 2020. Tony Elsted from Waterford Crystal states, “Airtec Compressors have been our compressed air service partner for over ten years. Their expertise, knowledge, and recommendation have improved the efficiency of our compressed air system, and they have exceeded our expectations.”

Jungheinrich opens its new integrated facility in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra which will help increase its footprint in India. 

Jungheinrich, a German giant in the field of warehouse equipment and intralogistics, with a decade-long presence in India, opens its new integrated facility in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra. The facility comprises Equipment & Spare Parts Warehouse, Workshop & Training Center for its all-electric forklifts trucks and warehouse equipment. What sets Jungheinrich apart is its focus on automation and its environmentally sustainable approach.

The Indian market for material handling equipment is currently around 20,000 units a year and is likely to grow at double-digit CAGR for the foreseeable future. The company, besides initiating the modernization of warehouse working in India, is all set to substantially expand its capacity with an aim to meet the growing demand for forklift trucks and other such warehouse equipment in India. Manojit Acharya, India Head of Jungheinrich said, “Our aim is to set the trend for modernization in Indian logistics sector. As part of this growing eco-system Jungheinrich now plans to position itself as an ‘automation solution provider’ by introducing new machines in the Indian market such as Automotive Guided vehicle (AGV).”.

India’s warehouses are still dominated by diesel-spewing forklifts and old-technology warehouse equipment operating in an archaic labour-intensive go-down culture. With its focus on automated solutions and all-electric forklift trucks and equipment, Jungheinrich aims to change that. This change to a more energy-efficient and time-saving mode of working is essential if India is to forge ahead with its ambitious
modernization and industrial model.

Manojit Acharya adds, “The big thrust the present Government is giving the logistics sector has inspired us to not only expand our present capacity but also to have a long-term focus with an aim to increase our overall footprint.”

To further cement its leadership position in India, the company is planning to make considerable and meaningful additions to its product line.  Christian Erlach, Member of Management Board of Jungheinrich AG, said, “Besides expanding our capacity, we are also bringing in a new line of products for the Indian market and in the process substantially increase our present market share. All the products that Jungheinrichbrings to the Indian shore come from our state-of-the-art factories in Europe and China”.

The city of Bhiwandi in Maharashtra continues to be the base as Jungheinrich expand its presence in the country. The city being a hub in logistic warehousing along with a strong customer base and a nearby seaport offers a perfect place for overall smooth functioning of its entire operations.

Environmental and sustainability model

As a publicly listed family-owned company, ecological, social and economic responsibility is the focus of all of Jungheinrich’s business activities. Keeping this in mind, the German intralogistics giant brings into India only the electric-based equipments with a lower carbon footprint.  In addition to electric motors and drive controls, Jungheinrich also manufactures matching lithium-ion batteries and chargers. Almost all trucks are available with lithium-ion technology. These batteries besides offering the advantage of less rechargeable time and longevity are also far less damaging to the environment.  Further, the company has plans to set up solar panels in the next one year so that the warehouse works fully on a renewable energy model.

The company in its bid to further help the environment plants a tree for every equipment it sells.

Manojit Acharya said, “Another major thing that we do in the direction of environmental sustainability is recycling all our old equipment. We refurbish our equipment from our rather successful rental market and resell them. This is a huge step towards reducing our carbon footprint and it saves a huge number of resources which would otherwise have ended as scrap or waste,”

Manojit Acharya adds further, “This is an extremely environment-friendly option because reconditioning used equipment saves about 80 percent CO2 compared to new production.”

Mr. Rajshekhar Uchil is Senior Life Member of the International Society of Automation. He is extensively involved with the ISA Executive Board for education in building automation and aerospace division in India. He has a professional experience of around 4 decades in marketing and sales experience at high technology organizations for instruments. Mr. Rajshekhar spent more than 2 decades in the field of sound and vibration sensors, conditioners and systems. Also, he gained experience in instrumentation for process control and motor speed control for a decade. He is also a Life Member of the Acoustical Society of India. Mr. Rajshekhar is a Senior Life Member of the International Society of Automation.

#Oemupdate #IndustryTalks #automation #digitalisation #AIandIoT #industry5.0and5G #robotscobots #hyperautomation #technological #productionchains #workflows #marketing #processes #Artificial #Intelligence #Machine #Learning #Robotic #Automation.

Mr. Rohit Sadaphal is Senior Manager for Digital Transformation and Experience Management at Tata Motors. Earlier he worked as Program Manager for digital transformation, innovation, and sustainability associated with the Executive Director office at MCIE Automotive. Mr. Rohit is PG in Advance Digital Manufacturing and Smart Factories from the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore. He specializes in innovation management, digital transformation, circular economy, sustainability, project management, and change management. He also did a Master’s in Sustainable Urban Development from TERI School of advanced studies. Previously Mr. Rohit held a position as Senior Planning Engineer in L&T, creating digital tools for data sourcing, traceability, and analysis.

#Oemupdate #IndustryTalks #automation #digitalisation #AIandIoT #industry5.0and5G #robotscobots #hyperautomation #technological #productionchains #workflows #marketing #processes #Artificial #Intelligence #Machine #Learning #Robotic #Automation.

Mr. Anup Wadhwa is a Director at Automation Industry Automation. Coming from an engineering background in Electrical and Electronics, he is an Alumnus of IIT Delhi. His passion for Digital Electronics started in college that later took him to an exciting career in the field of Industrial Automation. He is an evangelist of the Samarth Udyog Ecosystem, an initiative of the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

#Oemupdate #IndustryTalks #automation #digitalisation #AIandIoT #industry5.0and5G #robotscobots #hyperautomation #technological #productionchains #workflows #marketing #processes #Artificial #Intelligence #Machine #Learning #Robotic #Automation.

Technology is developing and every sector is striving to update itself with evolving technology. Hyperautomation is a means for real digital transformation. It eliminates human involvement in low-value processes. There is the rapid acceptance of the technology across numerous business verticals. It can become a key factor for organisations adapting to change processes.

The hyperautomation will be one of the technological trends that will have impact in the coming years. It increases automation of business processes such as production chains, work flows, marketing processes, etc. by introducing Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Robotic Process Automation. RPA plus AI and IoT will enable customers to go for automation that will innovate the style of working. Global hyperautomation market is booming due to high adoption of combined advanced technologies, such as predictive analytics and AI by various industry verticals to improve their operational efficiency.

OEM Update has an interactive session cum conference on Scope of Welcome Hyperautomation on February 23, 2023, from 4.00 PM to 5.30 PM. The interaction engaged session, industry experts who discussed about the future of automation, digitalisation, AI and IoT, industry 5.0 and 5G, robots and cobots as well as hyperautomation technology trends and significance for operational efficiency occupying the upper deck in future

PANELISTS

1)Mr. Anup Wadhwa, Director of Automation Industry Association: “Automation and Digitalisation convergence for Smart Manufacturing”.

2)Mr. Rohit Sadaphal, Senior Manager, Digital Transformation and Experience Management, Tata Motors:”Enabling ease of Manufacturing with Hyperautomation”

3)Mr. Rajshekhar Uchil, Senior Life Member, International Society of Automation:”Evolving world of Industrial automation”

#Oemupdate #IndustryTalks #automation #digitalisation #AIandIoT #industry5.0 and 5G #robotscobots #hyperautomation #technological #productionchains #workflows #marketing #processes #Artificial #Intelligence #Machine #Learning #Robotic #Automation.

Industry is facing numerous challenges. It needs to reduce energy consumption due to sharp cost increases, reduce its carbon footprint.

HANNOVER MESSE trade fair for industry is themed as “Industrial Transformation– Making the Difference”. It offers the solutions to the challenges both at exhibitors’ stand and up on the forum stages. The Industrial Transformation Stage in Hall 3 is dedicated to cross-technology interchange and cross-industry networking. The spotlight will be on the latest trends for smart, energy-efficient and sustainable production. Partners and experts from a variety of disciplines will present high-class sequences and offer use cases, insights and solutions. Over the five days of the tradeshow, the focus will be on the five megatrends of industry as well as the current topic of ESG – Environmental, Social, Governance. These three buzzwords stand for the topic of sustainability and range from climate change and workforce diversity to sustainable financing strategies. The exhibition program is complemented by a series of conferences and forums. On April 18, the Industrial Transformation Stage will focus on AI in industry. Industrial applications in the field of artificial intelligence often differ significantly from consumer applications. The day will conclude with the presentation of the MIMA 2023 Microsoft Intelligent Manufacturing Award. It recognises new technologies and intelligent solutions for manufacturing companies that contribute to process or product improvement, open up new revenue opportunities, or have a positive impact on sustainability and energy efficiency.

On April 21, the Industrial Transformation Stage will kick off with the panel “Decentralized! Resilient! Renewable! Is energy self-sufficient industry an unattainable ideal or a realistic opportunity!”

HANNOVER MESSE fair unites the display sectors of Automation, Motion & Drives, Digital Ecosystems, Energy Solutions, Engineered Parts & Solutions, Future Hub, Compressed Air & Vacuum and Global Business & Markets. The key topics include CO2-neutral production, energy management, Industrie 4.0, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and hydrogen and fuel cells.

During 17 – 21 April 2023, At HANNOVER MESSE 2023, the three partners, VDMA, ZVEI and Deutsche Messe, will jointly present the “Industrial Wireless Arena + 5G Networks & Applications” to provide a practical illustration of how it all works.

Wireless communication systems are integral to digital transformation in all sectors of our economy and society, offering flexible and scalable connectivity tailored to industry-specific needs. Hannover Messe, the world’s leading trade fair for the industry, will feature over 4,000 companies from mechanical engineering, electrical and digital industries, and the energy sector showcasing technologies and solutions for a connected and climate-neutral industry.

The world is at a turning point in international economic and energy policy, marked by rising energy prices and disrupted supply chains. However, many manufacturers are taking action to combat climate change. Hannover Messe 2023 provides an ideal setting for developing speedy solutions in political, economic, and technological innovation. Artificial intelligence is an important focus for industry trends, and it is already being applied in plant and mechanical engineering, with initial projects being presented by innovators.

The Green Deal objectives for the EU are to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% below 1990 levels by 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. This implies that every company is responsible for reducing its carbon footprint and cutting CO2 emissions.

Industry 4.0, the update on “Made in Germany” for the German industry, brings together sensor manufacturers, automation companies, robotics producers, software creators, and users. With its premiere at Hannover Messe over ten years ago, the next step for Industrie 4.0 will be the focus of discussion.

Hannover Messe 2023 will also focus on energy trends and hydrogen and fuel cells. As the Partner Country, Indonesia will present over 150 exhibiting organizations ranging from large industrial companies to small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, industrial estates, industrial associations, and government ministries and institutions.

With a new plant near Bengaluru, the HÜBNER Group is strengthening its presence in India and significantly expanding its production capacities for the mobility markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Together with business partners and other guests of honor, company owner Reinhard Hübner, Managing Director Kai Mentel and Site Manager Uwe Sperber took part in the official inauguration ceremonies for the “Namma Factory”. 

Kai Mentel, Managing Director of the HÜBNER Group said “The new ‘Namma Factory’ makes it possible for HÜBNER to operate more effectively, more flexibly and with shorter delivery routes in India’s growing market. With local production at the new location, we are not only meeting localization requirements and reliably serving the needs of our customers, we are also strengthening the entire global production network of the HÜBNER Group.”

A production location with great prospects

For HÜBNER, India is a location with great manufacturing potential for the mobility markets in India itself as well as in the Asia-Pacific region as a whole. Kai Mentel said “In line with our strategy, we are also focusing on proximity to our customers in India. We want to manufacture in India for India. And, as the HÜBNER Group, we aim to strengthen local know-how and to expand local engineering expertise.”

HÜBNER’s Indian subsidiary HUBNER Interface Systems India Pvt. Ltd. (HIN) moved from its previous location in Dabaspete and commenced operations at the new plant in Malonagathihalli, Nelamangala Taluk near Bengaluru with approximately 125 employees at the end of 2022. By the end of 2023, the number of employees is expected to grow to around 175.

Flexibly adapting capacities flexibly to meet customer needs

The new plant is part of the “Namma Factory” project (English: Our Factory) which was launched in 2020. The facility has been designed as a “green” factory. Uwe Sperber, Site Manager of HUBNER India said, “We are very pleased that ‘Namma Factory’ will really become ‘our factory’ with its official inauguration – in the fullest sense of the word. With a plant that has been precisely tailored to our needs, we can now run production more independently of supplies from other HÜBNER Group sites and flexibly adjust capacities for our local customers as required.” In addition to sewing and assembly steps, complex metalwork is now also possible, including CNC milling, bending and welding.

Including the property acquired in 2016, HÜBNER Group has invested a total of approximately eleven million euros in the new plant. The plant previously used in Dabaspete were leased and had become too small.

Production for rail projects in India and Oceania

In “Namma Factory”, HÜBNER will primarily produce gangway systems for rail vehicles. With its products, HÜBNER is represented in renowned projects throughout the subcontinent. Ongoing major projects include the metros in the Indian capital Delhi and in the financial metropolis of Mumbai, as well as the metro in the Australian city of Sydney.

In addition, a total of 540 gangway systems will be delivered to Indian Railways for the Vande Bharat Express (Train 18) by autumn 2023. Train manufacturer Alstom has also ordered a total of around 400 gangway systems from HUBNER India for the new RRTS regional express train and the metro projects Pune, Kanpur & Agra and Bhopal & Indore.

Supplier for Indian Railways, Alstom, BEML and CRRC

Another HUBNER India customer is the local manufacturer BEML, which will purchase a total of 800 gangway systems for metro lines 2 and 7 in Mumbai by 2025. For the metro in Bengaluru, whose trains are being built by the world’s largest manufacturer CRRC, HÜBNER is producing 135 gangway systems, plus 70 gangway halves.

HÜBNER’s new capabilities become clear when comparing the size of the previous and the new locations. In 2016, HÜBNER had acquired a 38,000 square meter plot of land for the new plant in Malonagathihalli, Nelamangala Taluk near Bengaluru. The new building now has a total area of 8,500 square meters, of which 6,500 will be used for production. At the old location, there were only 3,000 square meters to handle all of the company’s processes, and this space was distributed among three locations, which were several kilometers apart from each other.

Local companies build with sustainable materials

For the construction of the new plant, HÜBNER relied on the expertise of a consulting company for resource-saving construction and is now the proud holder of a Green Building certificate in Platinum. As little soil as possible was moved at the construction site. After completing the work, the building was handed over to HUBNER India on schedule in November 2022 by the contracted construction company CICON Engineers Pvt. Ltd.

Bettina Kraft, HÜBNER project manager of “Namma Factory” said, “When building the ‘Namma Factory’, it was important to us from the outset to use sustainable materials and local companies and suppliers whenever it was possible and made sense. It was equally important to us that with the new plant we offer our employees a workplace where they can feel comfortable thanks to optimal ventilation and plenty of daylight.”

The focus was also on sustainability in regard to building services. The new factory features with solar panels, an in-house wastewater treatment plant, a passive ventilation system (wind and thermal buoyancy) for the production hall and rainwater harvesting. In addition, as few areas as possible have been sealed on the factory premises, with large areas devoted to vegetation and an on-site pond. 

The objective for Doosan Industrial Vehicle is to innovate and build efficient, sustainable, and reliable custom-made AGVs that exceeds their customers’ future requirements.

Doosan Industrial Vehicle (DIV), a global South Korean forklift manufacturer, partners with Kollmorgen to secure their leading position in the material handling industry. The objective is to innovate and build efficient, sustainable, and reliable custom-made AGVs that exceeds their customers’ future requirements.

Present in over 90 countries, DIV is known for their award-winning vehicles that focus on powerful performance, comfort, and ease-of-use. Their product line of over 179 vehicles ranges from cushion, electric and pneumatic forklifts, to reach trucks, stackers, and various other warehouse vehicles.

Chankyo Chung, Vice President, Doosan Industrial Vehicle said “Our vehicles are a preferred choice among many of the world’s blue-chip companies. That requires us to always be at the forefront of technology and deliver reliable products to the highest of standards. We selected Kollmorgen for that exact reason – being a partner that invests heavily in R&D with a proven track record of solid automation solutions.”

Tobias Byfeldt, Vice President, of Kollmorgen Automation said “Doosan Industrial Vehicle has a solid reputation in the market for dependable performance and intelligent design. Their philosophy is to build efficient products with a high longevity, which aligns closely to our own way of business. Coincidentally, we both share a history of over 50 years of experience in the material handling industry – a combined know-how of over 100 years that offers tremendous value to our joint customers.”

Trontek receives AIS-156 (Rev 3, Ph 2) certification for its entire range of EV batteries. 

Trontek, India’s first and largest EV battery manufacturer introduced Lithium Phosphate (LFP) battery to its range of EV batteries. With this, the company has become one of the first in India to have its range of LFP and NMC batteries AIS-certified in both phases, in compliance with the EV battery standards set by MoRTH (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways) in September last year.

The company has cleared the rigorous testing process for Lithium Iron (NMC) as well as Lithium Phosphate (LFP) battery range. The phase-2 certification means that Trontek’s Li-ion batteries now meet stringent safety requirements for battery safety, reliability, and performance. These include thermal protection, audio-visual warning systems and IPX7, including smart BMS and Smart CAN enabled chargers.

Commenting on this feat, Mr. Samrath Kochar, Founder & CEO of Trontek said, “It is a major milestone for us as we become one of the first to achieve the AIS-156 certification for our entire range of e-2W and e-3W batteries, and also have approval for our LFP battery chemistry. This is a major milestone that we have achieved well in time, complying with the new norms, and ensuring a safe EV ecosystem in the country. The rigorous certification process involves comprehensive tests to ensure that our batteries can withstand various factors, while assuring customers of their safety and reliability.”

Trontek’s NMC batteries offer up to 3.6 KWh for E2W while LFP batteries offer 1.5 kWh to 3.64 kWh for E2W, and 5.35 KWh to 10.7 for E3W.

The new compliant NMC batteries have completed over 50,000 Km on-road testing validation for E2W and, and LFP batteries have completed 75000 Km for E2W-E3W correspondingly.

“Trontek has been pioneering tech innovation in EV batteries for years, and our primary aim is to provide safe products that customers can completely rely upon. The government has been persistent in promoting ease of manufacturing and encouraging innovation in the battery manufacturing segment, be it in terms of providing subsidies or even amending the EV battery testing standards and implementing them,” said Mr. Kochar.

It is noteworthy that Trontek was one of the first companies to receive AIS 156 certification in the first phase of AIS 156, last year. With the second phase certification, Trontek has further cemented its position as a leader in the EV battery space in India, and is committed to providing safe and reliable batteries for the country’s growing EV ecosystem.

Indium Corporation’s senior product specialist Jenny Gallery will deliver a presentation at the International Conference and Exhibition on High Temperature Electronics (HiTEC), hosted by IMAPS, in Albuquerque, New Mexico on April 20, 2023. 

Indium Corporation’s senior product specialist Jenny Gallery will deliver a presentation at the International Conference and Exhibition on High Temperature Electronics (HiTEC), hosted by IMAPS, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The presentation, scheduled for April 20, will cover the findings from a technical paper titled AuSn Preform Thickness’s Effect on Thermal Management in Semiconductor Laser Applications. 

80Au20Sn is a great choice to ensure good performance and reliability for the plethora of applications that require a high-melting die-attach solder, especially when used in one of its most highly demanded applications: semiconductor laser die-attach. However, the widespread use of semiconductor lasers has been prevented due to the difficulty managing thermal heat transfer. The longevity and potential of these devices become limited when the operational heat increases. One option to improve thermal transfer is the use of a thinner 80Au20Sn preform in the bondline, which allows the heat to transfer to the heat-sink more quickly and efficiently. Defining the voiding percentages for several 80Au20Sn preform thicknesses—ranging from 0.002” to 0.00035” thick—allows for conclusions to be drawn on 80Au20Sn preform thickness’s effect on thermal management in semiconductor laser applications.

“At Indium Corporation, we are constantly improving and expanding our capabilities and the development of an innovative material such as the AuLTRA™ ThInFORMS™—a product that is four times thinner than the average human hair—embodies that core value. In addition to being able to manufacture such a product, generating the data to support its unique qualities authenticates our dependability as a solder materials supplier,” said Gallery. “The opportunity to educate others in the field of electrical and electronic manufacturing on this new technology is a great privilege and I would like to thank IMAPS for giving me the platform to share my expertise at HiTEC.” 

As a senior product specialist for the high-temperature business, Gallery is responsible for driving and supporting precious metal-based sales activity and revenue growth by identifying regional market opportunities, leading product and process support, facilitating relationships and driving new business development in the field. She also provides product and process support for solder preforms, wire, ribbon, and paste. Gallery earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the University at Albany. She has past experience as a Pharmaceutical Scientist in the clinical and non-clinical research industry, is certified in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), and is also a Certified SMT Process Engineer (CSMTPE).

The newly opened ÖLFLEX CONNECT plant of LAPP India is 16,000 sq. ft. in area. 

As part of the expansion of its end-to-end solutions network, LAPP India, a leader in cable and connection technology has launched its fifth ÖLFLEX® CONNECT plant in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu to provide customised solutions to customers. The facility was inaugurated by Gary Bateman, Managing Director, LAPP India along with M. Sankar, President- TMD- LMW Ltd., Varun Karthikeyan. R- Roots Group of Companies, G.D Rajkumar, Director- GEDEE Weiler Pvt. Ltd. and R. Krishnan, Vice President – AQUASUB Engineering and AQUAPUMP Industries. 

The facility is spread across a wide area of 16,000 sq. feet. It is equipped with the latest machinery, trained manpower and specializes in producing end-to-end standard and complex harness solutions. The plant is situated in the larger LAPP facility housing a warehouse offering 24×7 stock availability. The facility will cater to the cable and connectivity requirements of multiple segments, with a special focus on the textile industry which is dominant in Coimbatore. The focus of the plant is to be the trusted and preferred one-stop solution provider for the growing customer base in Tamil Nadu. 

This state-of-the-art ÖLFLEX® CONNECT plant is equipped with the facilities to manufacture all types of harness with/without over moulding requirement, single-core wires, multicore cables, flat/bonded/ribbon cables from 50 MM to 50+ mts as well as customised harness as per the design requirements of the customer. It includes machines for various operations involved in cable assembly and testing such as cable cutting, stripping, crimping, marking, push-pull testing and continuity testing. The infrastructure capabilities available here include tensile tester, electrical crimping machine, pneumatic crimping fix, pneumatic stripper, inkjet printer, HST cutting machine, battery operated crimping machine, cable cutting machine, cutting and winding machine, pneumatic cutting fix and lead-free soldering.

Speaking on the occasion, Gary Bateman, Managing Director, LAPP India said, “We are excited to announce the opening of our fifth ÖLFLEX® CONNECT plant in India. As we continue to grow our local presence, harnessing business will remain a priority and growth driver for us. We will focus our efforts towards being the trusted and preferred end-to-end cable and connectivity solution provider for more customers in the coming years.”

With the intent of serving customers 24×7 and offering high-quality end-to-end cable and connectivity solutions at closer proximity, LAPP India plans to open similar plants across various cities in India in the coming years. 

Cummins has announced that in addition to recent investments in Fridley, the company is investing more than $1 billion across its U.S. engine manufacturing network in Indiana, North Carolina and New York.

President Biden visited Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) in Fridley, Minnesota (USA) on 3rd April, as part of his Administration’s Investing in America tour. During the visit, President Biden discussed how his investing in America agenda is supporting manufacturing, innovation and a clean energy economy, as well as creating good-paying jobs in communities like Fridley and across the country. 

“I am delighted that we will have the chance to show President Biden the innovative work we are doing at our Fridley plant and our incredible Cummins employees who are doing it,” said Jennifer Rumsey, Cummins President and CEO. “In just a few weeks, we will begin manufacturing one of the key pieces of technology for green hydrogen production that will help decarbonize our economy and drive the clean energy transition – the electrolyzer. Support from the Biden Administration and Congress with legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act are driving the clean energy economy forward in the United States and critical to our decarbonization efforts.”

Coinciding with the visit, Cummins has announced that in addition to recent investments in Fridley, the company is investing more than $1 billion across its U.S. engine manufacturing network in Indiana, North Carolina and New York. The investment will provide upgrades to those facilities to support the industry’s first fuel-agnostic engine platforms that will run on low-carbon fuels, including natural gas, diesel and eventually hydrogen, helping decarbonize the nation’s truck fleets today. 

“The historic investments included in those pieces of legislation played a key role in our decision to manufacture products here in the U.S., creating more clean-tech jobs and positively impacting our communities,” Rumsey continued. “The electrolyzer production in Minnesota and investment in our Indiana, North Carolina and New York facilities are reflective of our dual path approach of advancing both engine-based and zero-emission solutions – an approach that is best for all of our stakeholders and our impact on the planet. We can’t do this alone and are grateful for the continued partnership and collaboration with congressional leaders and the Biden Administration.” 

Over half of all medium- and heavy-duty trucks on the road in the U.S. today use Cummins engines. This investment is intended to retain the thousands of current engineering and manufacturing jobs and support the creation of hundreds of new jobs across the company’s New York, North Carolina and Indiana footprint as Cummins invests in its people and facilities to grow innovation and manufacturing and accelerate our decarbonization efforts.

The following information highlights the company’s plans to continue investments in its Jamestown Engine Plant in New York and information regarding recent investments in Fridley, Minnesota. Information on additional investment in Indiana and North Carolina will be made public later. 

Jamestown Engine Plant and the First Fuel Agnostic Engines Arriving to Customers

The announcement includes Cummins’ plans to invest $452M in its Jamestown Engine Plant (JEP) to upgrade its 998,000 square-foot facility in Western New York to produce the industry’s first fuel-agnostic internal combustion engine platform that leverages a range of lower carbon fuel types. The X15N is part of the new fuel-agnostic 15-liter engine platform produced at JEP.

Cummins customers, including Walmart, Werner, Matheson, and National Ready Mix, among others, are beginning to test the very first engines of the fuel-agnostic platform, the X15N. Walmart will receive the very first field test unit later in April to take part in the field test of this industry-first, 15-liter advanced engine platform running on renewable natural gas.

Cummins U.S. Electrolyzer Product in Fridley, Minnesota

At the Fridley facility, Accelera by Cummins — Cummins’ zero-emission technology brand – manufactures electrolyzers, which are a critical piece of the green hydrogen economy. Hydrogen produced by electrolyzers can power hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as well as industrial processes like steel production. Building electrolyzers in Fridley is helping bring the supply chain for zero-emissions vehicles to the United States – particularly in heavy trucking industries – and is employing hundreds of workers in the area with good-paying jobs.  

The Cummins Power Systems factory is a 1.1 million square feet full-service facility, concentrating on design, product, service engineering and manufacturing located just north of Minneapolis. Established in 1969, Fridley employs over 900 and will plan to dedicate 89,000 square feet of the existing facility to electrolyzer production starting April 24. This is a $10 million investment that will support 100 new jobs by 2024.

In the private sphere, digital assistance and communication systems have become indispensable. In a professional environment, even outside of the office, supporting systems are increasingly gaining equal status. As a machine tool manufacturer, the UNITED GRINDING Group offers digital products that not only make work easier for its customers but also save time and money.

What makes working on machines in an industrial facility easier? “That I can get help quickly and easily when the machine stops” could be the answer from a machine operator. A maintenance employee may say, ” I have an overview of all upcoming maintenance tasks and thus no longer miss any important schedules”. The answer from the production manager might be, “I can also see whether all the machines in my production are running when I’m on the road.”

Different user groups have varying demands on modern production. As one of the world’s leading machine tool manufacturers, the UNITED GRINDING Group offers digital assistance systems that make work easier for various user groups.

Remote Service

Remote Service offers uncomplicated and fast assistance, for example, in the event of machine downtime. By triggering a Service Request, customers can request quick and uncomplicated help by pressing a button. This service request can be submitted by the customer via a smartphone and the corresponding Digital Solutions app or via the Customer Cockpit. With a machine equipped with the modern C.O.R.E. technology, this is now even possible directly on the machine. In addition, a video conference can be conducted via the integrated camera in the C.O.R.E. panel. This again significantly increases the benefit provided by service support. The whiteboard function also makes sharing drawings, and notes on pictures or documents easy. This way, the Customer Care Team can assist remotely, saving time and money.

Service Monitor

The Service Monitor relieves those responsible for maintenance by clearly displaying all the important maintenance tasks based on the current machine’s operating hours. The Service Cockpit can even be used to centrally manage, monitor, and document maintenance due dates for several connected machines. Only necessary maintenance work is displayed. Unnecessary work is thus avoided. On the other hand, the necessary work that ensures the smooth operation of a machine is not forgotten. And thanks to this optimal maintenance and care, the availability and working life of the machine are increased, which in turn has a positive effect on productivity.

Production Monitor

Production managers can monitor the production output of the machinery at any time using the Production Monitor. Production benchmarks, such as operating and non-productive times, production quantities, and downtimes, are displayed in real-time. The latest version also supports the global communication standard umati UA4MT (Universal Machine Technology Interface for Machine Tools). Not only machines from the UNITED GRINDING Group but also machines from other manufacturers can be easily integrated into the Production Monitor—from anywhere and at any time—thanks to the Digital Solution App. This overview makes it possible to discover optimization potential in the production and operation of the machines.

Growing Importance of Digitization

UNITED GRINDING Digital Solutions™ products were presented to an interested audience at the MECSPE 2023 trade show in Bologna. As a result of the Corona pandemic, the overall importance of digital assistance systems has increased noticeably. Remote solutions were the only way to stay in contact with customers and provide assistance during lockdown periods. During this phase, UNITED GRINDING had more than 2,500 remote deployments worldwide. The trend towards flexible working models and working from home or on the road has also driven the demand for app-based solutions. Digital assistance systems are already an indispensable part of everyday production, and demand will continue to rise. The UNITED GRINDING Group is continuously expanding the functionalities of its current products and constantly adding to its range of digital solutions.

You can find more information here: https://www.grinding.ch/en/digitalization/

Socomec, a leading global specialist in Low Voltage (LV) power management, announced the appointment of Deepak Singh Thakur as the Power Conversion Business Application Director for its India operations. 

Deepak is a seasoned leader with over 22 years of experience in driving business growth, developing effective sales strategies, and managing high-performing teams. He is passionate about new business development, key account management, segment strategy, and team building. With a track record of delivering excellent results in turnaround, business expansion, growth, and solutions business, Deepak brings a wealth of experience to Socomec India.

Meenu Singhal, Managing Director of Socomec India, said, “We are thrilled to have Deepak join Socomec India as our Power Conversion Director. His extensive experience in sales leadership and business growth will be instrumental in driving our strategy forward and expanding our solutions business. His passion for customer success and innovation aligns perfectly with our company values, and we are confident that he will make significant contributions to our team.”

Deepak holds a Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Master of Business Administration from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Speaking on his appointment, Deepak said, “I am excited to join Socomec India and lead the power conversion business. Socomec has a strong reputation for delivering high-quality solutions and excellent customer service, and I look forward to contributing to the company’s continued success.”

As Power Conversion Director, Deepak will be responsible for leading the Power Conversion team and spearheading the development and execution of strategies that will accelerate growth and drive Socomec market share in India. He will also be responsible for fostering the creation of new solutions and partnerships to address the evolving needs of customers and enable them to achieve their business objectives.

RSB Transmissions (I) Ltd, a Rs 3000-crore+ multi-locational global enterprise, has expanded its footprint in Sri City, AP, with the inauguration of its 13^th State-of-Art Modern Plant, matching global standards, to manufacture Propeller Shaft Assembly and cater to future requirements of South customers.

The plant was inaugurated jointly by the hands of – Mr Rajesh Mittal, President IEBCI & Deputy President Isuzu Motors India, Mr Naohiro Mukaida, Vice President – Purchasing HQ, Isuzu Motors and Mr Jagadish Hegde, Senior Vice President & Director- IEBCI. Mr Rajesh Mittal in his keynote address expressed satisfaction in selecting RSB as a partner in their progress.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr RK Behera, Chairman, RSB Group, said that we have a lion’s share in the propeller shaft market with high-end excellence in quality and ruggedness, meeting global standards. Our 13th Plant is the outcome of trust and confidence reposed on us by global giants for SCV/M&HCV segments. Mr M Sankaranaryanan, Executive Director – Operations, said that our prime objective enshrined in our quality approach is Customer Delight at all times and proactively offer upgraded products through continual research & development, product differentiation and tap areas hitherto untapped.

Mr Nishit Behera, Executive Director – Business Development & Strategy, speaking on the occasion, added that it will be a state-of-art plant meeting stringent quality requirements of Izuzu Motors, also cater to other customers in South and will be in a sprawling area of 1.3 lakh sq ft area with green backdrop/future expansion and state-of-art facilities housed in 64,000 sq feet with high-end facilities, while Mr Rajnikant Behera, Executive Director – Group Finance, said that this will boost our significant pan India and global presence as a leading industrial institution in auto segment with our Auto Vertical having world-renowned business excellence practices with Deming Prize and TPM awards from Japan.

The initiative will bolster the Make In India initiative, providing support to local manufacturers and companies who produce batteries, motors, and 75 other components required for drone production.

Garuda Aerospace, India’s leading drone startup, has teamed up with over 120 Make In India companies to achieve complete indigenization of the drone industry. This initiative will bolster the Make In India initiative, providing support to local manufacturers and companies who produce batteries, motors, and 75 other components required for drone production.

Garuda Aerospace will collaborate with its partners through joint ventures, technology transfers, supplier arrangements, and investments to help local manufacturers meet the growing demand for Made In India drones. The company aims to make India a global drone hub by 2030. Notable partnerships include Central Government, Public Sector Undertakings like BEML, and State government bodies like TIDCO. Valdel is already supplying to IPO Bound Idea Forge and Adani backed General Aeronautics and Vector Technics. They have also agreed to partner with Garuda Aerospace to supply drone components.

Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO, Garuda Aerospace, stated, “Garuda Aerospace’s vision is not only to produce Make In India drones but to become an Atmanirbhar Bharat and export to the world. With the support of local organizations, I believe India has the potential to become a Global Drone Hub by 2030. This partnership with 120 Make In India companies marks a significant step towards achieving this goal and making India a global leader in the drone sector.”

“The recent discovery of lithium in Jammu and Kashmir has presented opportunities for Garuda Aerospace to use Lithium-Ion or Lithium Polymer batteries, the primary power source for drones. The global drone parts and components market is currently dominated by China, with 80% of parts originating from the country. India aims to reduce its dependence on China and become self-reliant.” concluded, Agnishwar Jayaprakash.

Garuda Aerospace is the first-ever Made in India drone startup to receive the Dual DGCA certifications of both Type Certificate for manufacturing and RPTO for training drone pilots. The company also raised $22 million, the largest ever Series A funding in the drone sector. Garuda Aerospace has also recently showcased its indigenous disaster management drones to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah and Director General NDRF at 3rd session of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR).

Sushil Virmani, a veteran of the power industry, will be instrumental in fuelling the growth of BPE as a global player.

BPE (Best Power Equipments), India’s prominent manufacturer of end-to-end strategic power solutions, has appointed Sushil Virmani as the managing director of BPE. Sushil Virmani, a veteran of the power industry, will be instrumental in fuelling the growth of BPE as a global player. Before this, Virmani was the managing director of Socomec Innovative Power Solutions Pvt. Ltd. for around 8 years. Under his leadership, Socomec has achieved a profitable business growth and consistently outperformed the market in all areas of operations, namely power control and systems, critical power, energy efficiency, etc.

Welcoming Mr. Sushil Virmani as its Managing Director, BPE’s Founder and Group Managing Director, Amitansu Satpathy, said, “In the last 20 years, we have built a strong customer base and channel network. Expressing confidence in Virmani’s leadership, Amitansu further added that we aim to build a large enterprise customer base across the globe. We look forward to a new golden period under his leadership to make BPE the best power company globally.”

Sushil Virmani, upon his appointment, said, “I am excited about my new role. I look forward to new challenges as well as the opportunity to further strengthen our customer base by leveraging the established channel base and introducing a product portfolio that is developed based on the insights of the market.”

Virmani has also worked at Eaton for close to 15 years. As Director—Sales and Service, he was responsible for the sales and service of Eaton Electrical products in South Asia. He was first among a few employees when the startup operation of Eaton was set up in the year 2000. At Eaton, he has worked in diverse functions ranging from product management, sales and service, channel development, strategic planning, business process development, and six sigma certifications.

Before Eaton, Mr. Virmani worked for close to 14 years with Siemens and rose to the position of chief manager. He was responsible for the sales and marketing of industrial products and systems in North India. He has also worked with Siemens AG in Erlangen, where he spent a few years, gained excellent exposure to international business, and improved his competence in handling large projects. The tenure also helped him enhance his knowledge of various industrial applications to provide the best techno-commercial solutions to the industry.

B. Karthik reveals that Fuji Electric India has an aggressive expansion strategy to become the leading provider of energy and automation solutions in India, including the launch of new products and solutions, extended sales reach, and adding people resources, R&D, and manufacturing capability in India. Given the expansion drive, we have invested in a new facility dedicated to automation in Chennai, aiming to produce 120K drives annually.

Can you describe the experience of Fuji Electric in serving the Indian market?
Fuji Electric has been active in the Indian market for over 30 years. The company began operations in 1985 through joint ventures to manufacture and distribute automation and instrumentation products. In 2009, Fuji Electric India Pvt. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fuji Electric Group, was established. Over the past decade, Fuji Electric has expanded its presence throughout India, becoming a leader in drives for the lift and escalator industry and a provider of motion control solutions for packaging and special-purpose machines. Following its acquisition of Consul Neowatt, a prominent Indian UPS firm, in 2019, Fuji Electric India has a nationwide presence with over 1,000 employees serving customers in all industry verticals. Fuji Electric India has an aggressive expansion strategy to cement further its position as a leading provider of energy and automation solutions in India, including launching new products and solutions, expanding its sales reach, and investing in people, R&D, and manufacturing capabilities in India.

How are the automation and robotics landscape and drives and controls changing in Indian industries?
India is experiencing a period of substantial infrastructure development, with government policies driving large-scale industrial growth. India is poised to become a global manufacturing hub in a post-pandemic world. With the government’s focus on developing the manufacturing sector, it has become clear that increased efficiency, quality, and competitiveness are essential for success in the global market. As a result, many Indian industries are adopting automation to improve factory operations.

To capitalise on these developments, we have invested in a new automation facility in Chennai, which aims to produce 120K drives and 200K PCBs annually. As a market leader, Fuji Electric India offers advanced and complete machine and factory automation solutions, including servo motors and amplifiers for motion control systems, programmable controllers, and human-machine interfaces. As more sectors embrace automation and robotics, it has become an essential part of industrial processes.

How has Covid-19 affected automation in factories?
Automation has been around for a while, but now more than ever, there is a sense of urgency to invest in, acquire and implement new automated systems and services. This can be the key to our economic recovery after the pandemic. Automation not only improves efficiency and makes the workplace safer and less tedious, but it also helps businesses manage economic downturns and times of crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic.

Fuji Electric, for example, believes that to compete in the Indian market, they must create competitively priced products that can perform well in the challenging site and power conditions. They will leverage local R&D resources to achieve this and provide environmentally friendly solutions emphasising energy efficiency.

What steps can be taken to overcome the challenges SMEs and MSMEs face in adopting and implementing automation?
As automation faces new challenges and opportunities in the age of digitisation, particularly with Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), managing the interoperability challenge in multi-vendor systems is considered the greatest obstacle to factory automation. Other concerns include integration and scalability issues, which can be difficult to incorporate into existing workflows and may require reorganisation and disruption. Cybersecurity is also a developing concern, as wirelessly connected machines could be vulnerable to hackers.

Despite these challenges, manufacturers can successfully adopt and implement automation if they understand the risks and take the necessary precautions. Companies must make strategic decisions at multiple levels, such as determining which operations to automate and how much automation to deploy using various technologies, from simple programmable logic controllers to sophisticated systems led by sensors and smart adaptive algorithms.

When evaluating the long-term benefits of factory automation, how do you factor in cost complications?
The pandemic significantly impacted productivity across various industries, and the manufacturing sector is still recovering from its effects. This has prompted manufacturers to reconsider the adoption of automation solutions.

Implementing factory automation systems can lead to faster production rates, improved product quality, and increased competitiveness, which are crucial for long-term success. Automation also enables round-the-clock productivity, reduces manufacturing time, eliminates repetitive tasks, and reduces the likelihood of human errors, resulting in higher product consistency and quality.

Despite potential cost complications, the benefits of automation make it a necessary investment for industries of all sizes. Switching to automation is essential for the survival and growth of businesses in the current market, and the long-term gains will likely outweigh any initial expenses.

What is your outlook on the future of the factory automation market, given the growth in automotive manufacturing?
According to SNS Insider, the factory automation sensor market is predicted to reach USD 25.69 billion by 2030 and grow at a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period from 2023-2030. This suggests a positive trend for the industrial sensor industry. Governments in several emerging economies are funding the adoption of advanced automation technologies to improve industrial operations.

At Fuji Electric, we are also preparing for this growth in demand. Our Automation division’s R&D team in Chennai is developing embedded firmware for AC drives specifically designed for the Indian environment and applications. We use cutting-edge HILS (Hardware-in-the-loop) simulators to test complex embedded systems with real-life conditions, reducing development time and validating performance under all actual site and power conditions. Japanese experts are present in India for joint product development and to train Indian engineers.

We are well-positioned to meet the increasing demand for automation in various sectors with our new automation factory in Chennai and a robust product portfolio, allowing us to serve the market efficiently.

Discussing automation, Amol Bari divulged that as a leading provider of safe automation technology solutions, we at Pilz India are committed to providing safe and secure automation solutions for plants and machinery. Moreover, the industry benefits from our comprehensive service portfolio ranging from risk assessment and safety validation to full engineering.

How have changes in technology impacted the automation and robotics industry in India?
India’s automation and robotics industry has seen significant changes due to the rapid evolution of technology. Indian companies are increasingly adopting advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digitalisation of operations to achieve higher productivity, increase efficiency, and reduce costs. In doing so, they are exploring next-generation automation solutions such as real-time monitoring of production data, predictive maintenance solutions, optimising production processes, and identifying opportunities for process improvements. However, the convergence of IT and OT has left manufacturing setups vulnerable to cyber-attacks, and safety and security have become a prime challenge for machine builders, factories, and plants.

How does Pilz support the automation of plants and machinery?
As a leading provider of safe automation technology solutions, Pilz India is committed to providing safe and secure automation solutions for plants and machinery. They offer a wide range of innovative, safe automation solutions to help machine builders and manufacturing plants overcome safe, efficient, and secure plant operations challenges. With their safety systems, businesses can rest assured that their personnel and operations are protected from potential hazards. Pilz offers comprehensive services ranging from risk assessment and safety validation to complete engineering, assisting machine builders and factories with safety through the whole machine lifecycle. Their international machinery safety compliance services and certified trainers provide training on various machine safety topics.

How do new technologies help optimise automation in operational practices?
Industrial automation has moved from being a means to reduce the human effort to becoming a way to optimise operations and processes for increased productivity, efficiency, and profitability. Predictive maintenance, prescriptive maintenance, digital twins, remote access, and business intelligence are notable technologies that have impacted the past few years in optimising various processes and operations. We offer complete automation solutions based on core safety skills and partners with customers to help them optimise their solutions while integrating safety and automation.

Please talk about the trendsetting new product developments by Pilz?
We are globally recognised for providing innovative, safe automation solutions that shape the future of the automation industry. They are pioneers in bringing innovative automation technologies to safe automation and recognise that industrial automation is moving towards digitalisation. Our company has launched PITmode fusion, an access management system that offers operating mode selection and an access permission system to prevent incorrect operation and tampering, protecting both humans and machines. The device uses RFID technology, enabling functionally safe operating mode selection and controlling access permissions in plants and machinery.

What can be done to help SMEs and MSMEs adopt automation despite their barriers?
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) often need help to adopt automation due to financial constraints, lack of technical expertise, and fear of the unknown. Governments, industry associations, and automation solution providers can take various measures to overcome these barriers.

Technical assistance can guide SMEs and MSMEs in selecting and implementing the right automation equipment. Workforce upskilling through training and development programs can bridge the skill gap. Access to advanced technologies can help these businesses leverage automation’s benefits, making them globally competitive. It is also crucial to prioritise safety and security in SMEs and MSMEs.

SMEs and MSMEs should view automation vendors as partners who can guide them through every process step, from design to implementation and optimisation. Mutual trust is essential for a successful partnership. Pilz India has consistently partnered with various SMEs and MSMEs, helping them overcome barriers and enjoy the benefits of increased productivity, efficiency, cost optimisation, and safe and secure installations.

What is the impact of robots on productivity and efficiency in factory automation?
Robots have revolutionised the industrial landscape by reducing human effort and increasing throughput and product quality. As a result, factories’ productivity and efficiency have significantly improved over the years. Reports suggest that the use of robots in manufacturing and production lines will continue to increase, with revenue projections estimated to reach over USD 700 in 2023 and expected to reach USD 900 by 2027. Collaborative robots are also being deployed for better human-robot collaboration.

Safety is vital in automation, whether using robots or collaborative robots. Therefore, it is crucial to have safety equipment for safe automation solutions. Pilz India offers a range of safe and reliable solutions for industrial automation that optimise production processes and costs while maintaining the highest safety standards. Our innovative automation solutions help businesses improve their productivity and efficiency, from small-scale industries to large manufacturing plants.

What are the long-term benefits of factory automation, considering the cost implications?
Implementing automation solutions in machines, production lines, and manufacturing plants depends on the total investments required, perceived returns, and the time required to achieve them. Therefore, stakeholders must evaluate the cost factors and any short-term and long-term benefits of implementation. The cost of safety and security measures is often viewed as a disadvantage.

However, safety and security have become critical for manufacturers who want to export their machines worldwide and overcome complex compliance and legal issues. Pilz India assists businesses in conforming to regulatory requirements such as CE marking in Europe, OSHA/UL in the US, NR-12 in Brazil, KOSHA in Korea, GOST in Russia, and CCC in China. Safe automation reduces the risk of workplace accidents, thus improving worker safety.

In the long run, factory automation can help businesses remain competitive and adapt to changing market conditions. While upfront costs may be associated with automation implementation, the benefits can lead to significant cost savings over time, making it a worthwhile investment for many companies.