igus Helps Companies Get Started With IoT Using i.Sense CF.Q
The Internet of Things (IOT) has growth potential of trillions of euros. However, many companies are having difficulty digitalising. igus explains how to get started using i.Sense CF.Q.
The Internet of Things: Are We Living Through The Next Tech Revolution?
But what exactly is the ‘internet of things’ and why will it prove to be such an important force in the years to come?
Retooling Tomorrow’s Manufacturing Workforce for a Safer, Digital Future
Evolving to smart manufacturing operations is not just about retooling facilities to support new equipment, systems, data and processes. It’s also very much about retooling the workforce to support digital transformation initiatives today and tomorrow.
Rockwell Automation Aims To Double Market Share By 2025
Rockwell Automation, the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, has appointed Pham Kieu Trinh as Country Manager for Vietnam effective immediately.
A*STAR And Arcstone open S$18M Joint Lab To Accelerate Digital Manufacturing In Singapore
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and local manufacturing software company Arcstone opened a joint laboratory at A*STAR’s Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (ARTC) to develop smart manufacturing solutions to help businesses speed up digital transformation to make operations more efficient, effective, and sustainable. Minister for Trade and Industry Mr Gan Kim Yong graced the joint lab’s opening.
This era of Industry 4.0 allows for real-time extraction and monitoring of operational data, as well as the ability to control machines digitally and remotely. Today’s manufacturing execution systems (MES) face limits, however, such as in the optimisation of production processes. Against this backdrop, A*STAR and Arcstone will collaborate to give today’s MES added intelligence – or “adding a brain to the body”, as Arcstone says.
With a total investment of S$18 million over three years, the A*STAR-Arcstone joint lab will transform Arcstone’s existing solutions into a next-generation MES suite. The MES will incorporate technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to help manufacturers make better decisions – through visualisation, control, optimisation, and sustainability. For example, the MES will not only provide information about what is happening in a production process in real time but also recommend ways to improve that process, such as by optimising production scheduling.
Manufacturers, including local SMEs, will be able to tap on these smart manufacturing solutions to increase manufacturing transparency and improve production scheduling across the supply chain, paving the way for more competitive and robust supply chains. The solutions will also help manufacturers go green by enabling them to optimise energy usage. The joint lab will place special emphasis on the user-interface for the MES, making it easy to configure and use, especially for first-timers. The joint lab will work on projects in the following areas:
- Improve production through real-time visibility
- Control production using IIoT technologies
- Optimise production using simulation and artificial intelligence
- Make production greener through data and optimisation
Collaborating with A*STAR will help Arcstone halve the time needed for its own R&D to achieve its goals. The joint lab aims to create about 30 engineering jobs over the next three years.
Professor Alfred Huan, Assistant Chief Executive, Science and Engineering Research Council, A*STAR, said, “The challenging economic environment sends a reminder to many companies of the constant need for innovation to stay competitive. At A*STAR, we collaborate with companies such as Arcstone to help them build new capabilities to move up the value chain. Such public-private partnerships continue to play an important role in encouraging businesses to adopt technologies to differentiate themselves from the competition. This collaboration with Arcstone is also an example of how local SMEs can deploy their new solutions to help other local SMEs speed up digital transformation in their factories, driving increased digitalisation across the board.”
Mr Willson Deng, Chief Executive Officer, Arcstone, said, “Our goal with the joint lab is to rapidly produce cutting-edge technology to give SMEs and global manufacturers a leg up in efficiency, productivity, and most importantly, long-term sustainability and environmental competitiveness. We are confident about achieving this goal, for we have in ARTC a trusted R&D partner that will bring us results – we know this from years of collaboration with ARTC’s scientists and engineers.”
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Hyundai Motor And Singtel Collaborate To Advance Singapore’s Smart Mobility Ecosystem And Industry 4.0 Journey
Hyundai Motor Company and Singtel has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on a range of ventures to support smart manufacturing, connectivity for electric vehicle battery subscription service. The MOU follows Hyundai Motor Group’s announcement in October 2020 that it is setting up a new state-of-the-art Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Centre Singapore (HMGICS) to conduct studies on future mobility and explore innovative solutions, services and disruptive technologies to revolutionise commuters’ transport experience.
Hyundai Motor will combine its expertise in developing innovative automotive and manufacturing solutions with Singtel’s capabilities in 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), and next generation info-communications technologies and solutions to develop Industry 4.0 advanced digital solutions to transform the way vehicles are currently manufactured. The parties will develop and pilot a 5G-enabled smart factory use case for HMGICS’ intelligent manufacturing platform, and potentially scaling it up for deployment across Hyundai’s manufacturing plants globally.
“Hyundai is delighted to work with Singtel, implementing next-generation communication solutions that will enhance mobility experiences for our customers,” said Hong Bum Jung, Senior Vice President of HMGICS at Hyundai Motor Company. “We also hope to explore future innovative solutions and business opportunities with Singtel to help realise Singapore’s Smart Nation vision.”
Hyundai and Singtel will also work together on an IoT communications solution for the batteries powering Hyundai’s electric vehicles (EVs) in Singapore. The IoT system enables Hyundai to monitor the telemetry, or automatic data transmission, of the batteries’ real-time status and performance. The data-driven insights can enhance the EVs’ reliability, advancing Singapore’s EV ecosystem and Smart Nation vision of connected and sustainable mobility solutions.
Andrew Lim, Managing Director, Government and Large Enterprise, Group Enterprise at Singtel said, “Our collaboration with Hyundai Motor is timely given the Singapore Government’s decision to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles by 2040 and the recent Budget announcement on new policies to encourage more Singaporeans to switch to driving electric vehicles. By pushing the boundaries of what is possible with 5G, IoT and other advanced technologies, we also want to build up Singapore’s smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 capabilities and strengthen its innovation ecosystem.”
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Sustainability A Key Priority For Automotive Sector In 2021 And Beyond
Sustainability will remain a key strategic agenda for automotive companies in 2021 and beyond, with over 75 percent of vehicle manufacturers focused on sustainability in 2020, according to GlobalData. Pirelli & C. SpA, Audi AG and Volkswagen AG were the top companies with mentions of ‘sustainability’ in their filing documents in 2020.
In the automotive sector, Internet of Things (IoT), sustainability and electric vehicles (EVs) continue to be on top of the agendas for automotive companies. Global production of EVs is likely to reach 7.6 million units by 2025, and tightening regulations are likely to force companies to focus on large-scale investments in sustainability and EVs, or face uphill challenges in the future.
“The EV market has the potential to facilitate clear environmental benefits, coupled with steady and sustainable growth. Hence, even contemporary environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) reporting frameworks, such as Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) is also encouraging corporations to report about topics such as Fuel Economy & Use-phase Emissions. Sustainability in general has gained traction in recent times due to regulatory and technical advancements, enhanced social awareness and investor preferences. These have been the major drivers in redirecting the flow of capital from conventional to sustainable automotive businesses,” said Srobon Banerjee, Practice Head, ESG at GlobalData.
“As we emerge from the pandemic, the automotive industry is heading in a greener direction with sustainability as a key driver and theme. Not only are we seeing increasing pressures from the market and regulators tilting the industry rapidly towards electric cars, but manufacturers are seeking to reduce their carbon footprints wherever possible and examining activity all along the value chain,” added David Leggett, Automotive Analyst at GlobalData.
GlobalData’s Job Analytics database also identified rising job postings for electric vehicles. For example, Hyundai has sped up its eco-mobility hiring, while Apple has also stepped up hiring for its future electric car.
Pereira adds: “Another rising trend in the auto sector is the hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). Mentions of FCEVs and related keywords in all filings rose by around 10 percent in 2020.”
By 2040, GlobalData expects passenger cars to be the most prominent new application of hydrogen.
Pereira concludes: “Initiatives by Ford and Land Rover to go all electric in specific regions in the next few years is commendable. Long-term sustainability strategies are necessary for auto companies to regain trust amid several emission scandals, while also avoiding governance laggards.”
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Choose Digital, Choose the Right Drill
James Thorpe, Global Product Manager of Sandvik Coromant, explains how by combining advanced software with the correct machine tools, manufacturers can digitalise profitably, and on their own terms.
Whether Simple or Complex: Motor Control Systems for Manufacturing Automation
New motor control systems from igus ensure a speedy start-up of linear and rotational systems.
Setting up control systems to drive axes is usually time-consuming and can require software programming knowledge. To help manufacturers address this issue, igus has developed two new cost-effective and easy-to-operate control systems so that users—from all areas of industry—can quickly start up their motorised drylin E drive axes. The D3 dryve controls simple linear or rotational axes with DC motors without any software or a PC. For more complex travels such as with multi-axis robots or delta robots, igus offers the D1 dryve, which is a control system for stepper motors, DC motors and EC/BLDC motors. The motor control system can be modified live or simply operated via a web browser.
Industry 4.0, Internet of Things (IoT) and M2M are fields calling for real products and solutions that promote factory digitalisation and automation. With its low-cost automation range, igus offers myriad solutions for a variety of applications. In its drylin product range, igus has been offering lubrication-free linear axes with matching stepper and DC motors for several years. From low-cost solutions, for very simple movements, to rails made of stainless steel, igus offers a large diversity of options to suit any application requirement.
Depending on the process, the customer is supplied with the axis or linear robot that will best meet their requirements. With drylin E, users can deploy the already-configured lubrication-free linear or rotational axes, which are ready-to-install and can be motorised in different installation sizes as a single axis, or a linear robot structure in the case of format and height adjustment systems or pick-and-place applications. For easy control and operation of the axes, igus’ D3 dryve offers a motor control system for simple movement and the D1 dryve a motor control system for more complex tasks. This allows a variety of tasks to be automated without the need for advanced programming.
D3 dryve: Quickly Set, Directly Automated
The D3 control system was developed to perform simple tasks quickly and cost-effectively. The control system is designed for all standard DC motors.
“When developing the D3 dryve, we mainly focused on enabling a simple, user-friendly start-up for anyone,” explains Rene Erdmann, Head of Business Unit drylin E Drive Technology.
No licences or software are needed for installation of the control system as all functions have been integrated into the device directly. Simply connect the control system to a 24V power supply and set the operating mode, end-position switch-off, and the motor current by means of DiP switches. The speed can be adjusted with an integrated rotary controller. Current-limiting is done by means of a screwdriver with another controller. Once made, the settings are permanently stored.
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ZEISS Partners Microsoft To Accelerate Cloud Solutions For Efficient Manufacturing
ZEISS Group and Microsoft Corp. has announced a multi-year strategic partnership to accelerate ZEISS’ transformation into a digital services provider that is embracing a cloud-first approach. By standardising its equipment and processes on Microsoft Azure as its preferred cloud platform, ZEISS will be able to provide its customers with enhanced digital experiences, address changing market needs more quickly and increase its productivity.
Leveraging Azure high-performance compute, AI, and IoT services, ZEISS will work with Microsoft to provide original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with new quality management solutions, enable microchip manufacturers to build more powerful, energy-efficient microchips and deliver new digital healthcare solutions for improved clinical workflows, enhanced treatments, and device maintenance. Furthermore, ZEISS will create a seamless experience for its customers through one digital platform and manage all digital ZEISS products through one cloud-native platform to enhance continuous and agile product development.
Connected quality platform drives industrial efficiency
Initially, ZEISS will enable its solutions in the Industrial Quality & Research segment to be run on a connected quality platform built on Azure, allowing direct integration into the customer’s production process. The platform will help gain business insights and foster collaboration across domains, assets and processes that have traditionally been managed in siloed, proprietary systems.
ZEISS provides metrology and quality assurance solutions delivering meaningful information on parts dimensions, component behavior and defect detection. Real-time and large-scale analysis of data that is collected at all stages of the manufacturing process is key to efficient and effective quality assurance, tightly integrated with today’s and tomorrow’s IoT-enabled production processes.
Quality is also a key objective of a new ZEISS audit trail solution, initially focused on highly regulated manufacturing industries, such as medical technology which is particularly sensitive to quality assurance. The solution will allow customers to identify root causes and react quickly on quality issues to reduce down-time and keep productivity up. The software will allow customers to track, trace, visualize and analyze process and product data with the help of Azure AI services to identify failure root causes more quickly.
Data-driven healthcare solutions improve patient care
ZEISS Medical Technology provides comprehensive solutions for ophthalmic professionals and microsurgeons, consisting of devices, implants, consumables and services. Through the partnership, ZEISS will connect its medical technology to Microsoft’s cloud and leverage Azure AI and IoT technologies for new digital services such as improved clinical workflows, enhanced treatments, and device maintenance in a secure environment that enables compliance with regulatory requirements in the health industry. These solutions will help improve the quality of life of patients and drive progress, efficiency and access to healthcare.
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