Manufacturing Update - April 2022 by jetdigitalmedia

MANUFACTURING PDATE www.manufacturing-update.co.uk

April 2022

Weidmiiller More productivity in your workplace with our THM MultiMark printer Let’s Connect

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MANUFACTURING UPDATE At the forefront of digital marketing, Manufactuing Update strives to bring its readers the latest in industrial manufacturing, in a format that provides the best usability and ease of use for it’s readers.

April 2022

www.manufacturing-update.co.uk Publication Director

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Kane Weller 01843 580 460 Kane@engineering-update.co.uk

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22/02/2021

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Manufacturing PDATE

Multi-skilled high performers.... Kawasaki robots deliver high-performance, reliably and consistantly, for the widest range of manufacturing applications. From high-speed precision assembly to taking the strain of handling ultra heavy products, there are Kawasaki robots world-wide helping businesses achieve their maximum potential.

Contact us now to discover more about practical and affordable leasing terms on all new Kawasaki robots. info@kawasakirobotuk.com robotics.kawasaki.com +44 (0)1925 713000

Kawasaki Robotics (UK) Ltd 3

Packaging Innovations and Empack 2022 Makes Anticipated Return to NEC Birmingham Packaging Innovations and Empack 2022, the UK’s flagship packaging event, will reunite the industry when it returns to Birmingham’s NEC on 25 and 26 May. The event will feature leading exhibitors from across the entire packaging spectrum, providing visitors with the opportunity to experience the most cutting-edge products firsthand and create new industry connections.

any of the exhibitors will be using the event to launch new products to market. Companies will highlight their latest innovations across the entire packaging process, including solutions aimed at professionals specialising in packaging design, development, packing, and fulfilment.

Manufacturing PDATE

Consumables Manufacturing, Bobst, Jindal Films, Epson, Cerm, Global One Pak, Roberts Mart & Co, Ranpak, Thermal Printer Support, and Yorkshire Packaging Systems are just some of the big names already signed up, presenting their new products live on the event floor. Also present at the event will be the likes of Actega, Damati Plastics, Esko, GMG Color, Jointak, PEFC UK, TAWI, WePack, and Zakka Multitec. Alongside a busy exhibition floor, the event will host an industry-led seminar programme across three stages to address packaging’s most pressing topics. The Empack Technology stage will feature sessions aimed at the manufacturing, processing, and logistics sectors, whilst the Innovation and Design 4

April 2022

stage and the Ecopack stage will dissect the latest industry news affecting packaging designers, agencies, and technologists. The event’s headline feature, The Big Debate, will tackle the latest packaging regulations, whilst the Dragon’s Den-style Ecopack Challenge will make its hotly anticipated return. Renan Joel, Easyfairs’ Divisional Director, comments: “After two years without the Birmingham event, we cannot wait for everyone to see the exciting things we have planned for this year. We have a wide range of manufacturing exhibitors presenting the latest innovation, developments, and technology, as well as a seminar programme packed with industry experts. There truly is something for everyone. We can’t wait to see you there!” To register to attend Packaging Innovations and Empack NEC 2022, please visit the registration page. For any further information, please visit the Packaging Innovations and Empack NEC 2022 website or contact the event team on +44 (0)20 196 4300 or PackagingUK@easyfairs.com.

Featuring

Packaging Innovations & Empack 25 & 26 May 2022 | NEC, Birmingham

Discover the future of your brand’s packaging and production journey!

Do you want the chance to see what’s new in the world of packaging and discover the latest innovations and technology? Then it’s time to add Packaging Innovations and Empack to your diary – and find out why thousands of brands make it their must-attend event. Over two days, experience... • 280 innovative suppliers • Free-to-attend seminars • Live demonstrations • Brand NEW interactive features • Networking opportunities with decision-makers and buyers

“It allows us to do a lot of meetings in one location and see what is new on the market, you can’t beat seeing things in real life rather than just online.” Ian Stapleton European Technical Packaging Manager

www.packagingbirmingham.com

“The UK is leading the way on environmentally friendly packaging. It’s great to see it showcased at Packaging Innovations.” Rob Cooke Packaging Design

Manufacturing PDATE

Social media has an important part to play in stemming the engineering shortage Written by Tom Smith, Managing Director at Advanced Dynamics

I want to start by telling you a story about my dad. 6

April 2022

Why is that important? Well, because apparently, there aren’t enough people like my dad anymore in the UK. Let’s start with the well-documented facts and the statistics:

Engineering is an ageing profession - in 2021, there was a spotlight shining on the state of engineering, with one report stating that the average age of people within the profession is increasing into the 50s.

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Substantial skills gaps - aside from that, a report carried out by Search Consultancy back in March 2021 showed that manufacturing and engineering was the worst affected sector for skills shortages, with 85% of businesses currently feeling the strain from a lack of skilled workers.

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Worsening situation - go back a little further and statistics registered in 2020 by Jonathan Lee showed that 19.6% of engineers in the UK are expected to retire in 2026.

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Big demand, not enough takers - a report by NewEngineer showed that EngineeringUK has been tracking the annual demand for engineers and technicians needed just to keep pace with infrastructure and other engineering projects. It was estimated, last year, that 203,000 roles are required annually more than half of which are engineers.

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What is an engineer - this is a key point here. Last year, EngineeringUK found that there was insufficient awareness of what engineers do as well as a misperception of what engineering is in schools across the UK. A report also stated that almost half of those between 11 and 19 years old say they know ‘little or nothing’ about what engineers do.

What we have known for a long time is that more needs to be done to promote a career in engineering at the school level, something that, in my opinion, is just as essential as subjects like Maths, English and Science. Movement in that area is starting to take place. continues...

April 2022

Manufacturing PDATE

ou see, my dad is a fantastic engineer. He’s a master with anything that involves mechanics. He can strip an engine down and put it back together in 30 minutes flat with his eyes shut. His mathematical skills are fantastic and after turning to engineering, despite leaving education with no qualifications, he’s made an excellent career for himself.

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You may have heard of the fantastic #EngineeringKidsFutures initiative, which is being led by a formidable group of more than 150 world-leading engineers and scientists, including major figures like Major Tim Peake, Carol Vorderman, MBE, and will.i.am. For context, #EngineeringKidsFutures is being led by Professor Danielle George, President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), and has been built to urge the Government to help tackle the UK’s skills shortage by embedding engineering into current primary school learning.

Manufacturing PDATE

“This focus and support for schools is fundamental if we want to futureproof the next generation of engineers,” Professor Danielle George said.

Her words could not ring more true. However, there is another strand to this. We cannot dismiss the role that social media is already playing in re-engaging young people in a career in engineering. In fact, it can be argued that it, scarily, is doing a better job than education right now.

Engineering influencers are a growing trend It’s impossible to argue with the trends. We live in a world that is dominated by social media, a world in which billions of short videos are being consumed every day on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

Instagram (posts with hashtag)

TikTok (video views with hashtag)

#engineering = 12,108,445

#engineering = 4.5 billion

#engineeringlife = 1,005,385

#engineer = 2.4 billion

#engineeringmemes = 870,092

#engineerlife = 136.9 million

#engineeringstudent = 652,098

#engineeringstudent = 195.3 million

#civilengineering = 2,616,928

#civilengineering = 639 million

#mechanicalengineering = 1,481,667

#mechanicalengineering = 241.1 million

#electricalengineering = 898,114

#electricalengineering = 169.3 million

#structuralengineering = 412,667

#structuralengineering = 7.6 million Note: the above data is correct as of Monday 7 March and is based on global information

April 2022

With that in mind, we hopped on both platforms to find out how hashtags - used as a primary tool to reach specific audiences - relevant to engineering are performing.

What is driving this popularity Natural curiosity is the biggest driver of the above engagement figures. It’s no secret that video is the most popular form of content right now on social media. The dance phenomenon is a great example of this, constantly reinventing itself and creating trends and sequences for others to replicate and follow. Engineering has gone down a different path, with its creators tapping into consumer curiosity by using video to showcase clever how-to guides and creative experiments.

Final thoughts Engineering has evolved as technology has. It’s my feeling that, actually, engineering is becoming cool again. People are beginning to understand that it’s not a boring job and a large part of that is down to the technological advancements we have seen over recent years. Engineering is a very futuristic, almost robotic, career. That is attracting more youngsters into the industry and it is platforms like social media that are, right now, leading the way in raising awareness about this.

But far more intervention is still required if we are to engage younger audiences and get them excited about a career in engineering. For far too long, education in this area has been neglected and as a result, we have a generation in which there are more people that are leaving school with no basic knowledge of DIY than those that are. As a nation, we’re far less hands-on than we used to be and over time, that has created a burden and reliance on those that have been engineering for years. In the short term, the engineering industry has some difficult hurdles it needs to overcome. But by incorporating elements of engineering from primary school age and better engaging with tools like social media, we stand a far better chance of engaging Gen-Z and bridging the gap in the long term.

Manufacturing PDATE

And not that engineering isn’t a cool discipline, but some of the content that is being created is by influencers like Mark Rober (767,000 followers) and Colin Furze (446,000 followers), as well as profiles like engineering_everything (198,000 followers), that are leading the way in promoting a career in engineering to a younger audience.

Advanced Dynamics Ltd specialises in the supply of fully integrated and bespoke filling, capping, labelling, sleeving, shrink wrapping, feeding, wrapping, cartoning, palletising and ancillary equipment and machinery. April 2022

Fixed focus radiation resistant lenses For close-up inspection tasks in high radiation environments. Resolve Optics offers both a standard range as well as customer specified fixed focus radiation resistant lenses.

Manufacturing PDATE

ark Pontin, Managing Director of Resolve Optics commented “Over the last 20 years we have supplied hundreds of radiation-resistant camera and sensor lenses for monitoring radioactive processes in nuclear power, reprocessing and waste storage plants. Where an application does not require the versatility of a zoom lens – a fixed focus lens can be more compact and lightweight as well as being more cost effective.

He added “Producing clear, sharp images free of a strong yellow tint has traditionally been a limiting issue when using radiation resistant lenses on colour cameras. To provide a solution for this problem, we developed the Model 313 - a 25mm focal length (f 1.4) fixed focus radiation resistant lens. Using specially selected glasses with the least amount of yellow tint, so that the image would be as natural as possible, the Model 313 offers excellent non-browning performance in environments subject to radiation”. Manufactured to the highest quality standards from cerium doped glass, Resolve Optics range of fixed focus non browning lenses can withstand radiation exposure of up to 100 kGy (100,000,000

April 2022

Selection of fixed focus, radiation resistant lenses (courtesy : Resolve Optics Ltd)

rads) and temperatures up to 55 degrees centigrade without discoloration. Starting from these proven fixed focus lens designs – Resolve Optics is also to quickly design and produce custom fixed focus radiation resistant lenses fully optimised to production the best results from your camera or sensor. For further information on fixed focus radiation resistant lenses please visit www.resolveoptics.com/nuclear/ or contact Resolve Optics on +44-1494-777100 / sales@resolveoptics.com.

Resolve Optics offers an extensive range of non-browning (radiation resistant) fixed format and zoom lenses for use in environments subject to radiation. All these lenses are manufactured to the highest standards of quality and performance. In keeping with Resolve Optics tradition of designing unique lenses the company is also able to provide custom non-browning lenses to meet your exact specification.

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3dgbire Announces New Partnership To Deliver Metal Additive Manufacturing

print specialist 3DGBIRE has announced a partnership with CMG Technologies – a leading provider of Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) – to bring UK-based debinding and sintering capabilities for parts which have been 3D printed with BASF Ultrafuse 316L and 174PH stainless steel filaments.

Manufacturing PDATE

The move will enable customers to rapidly introduce metal additive manufacturing into their businesses and produce pure, industrial grade metal prototypes and end use parts in as little as five days, without having to export them overseas for de-binding and sintering after printing. Leah Melling, marketing, sales and technical support manager at 3DGBIRE, explains: “This partnership with CMG Technologies will make it easier and faster than ever for customers to print metal parts and prototypes on FFF or FDM 3D printers and finish them with debinding and sintering - all here in the UK. “Previously, parts had to be shipped to Germany for processing, which was costly and time consuming, so we were naturally very keen to

April 2022

bring a de-binding and sintering offering into the UK that will ultimately enable business to realise the enormous cost and time savings of additive manufacturing.” The development helps businesses to reduce lead times, allowing them to quicky produce prototypes and begin production with additive manufacturing, whilst avoiding expensive tooling and mould costs if high volumes are not required. Parts are produced with Ultrafuse 316L and 17-4PH filaments, which contain high levels of stainless steel and polymer binders to enable easy printing. The binder content is then removed from the printed part via a catalytic de-binding process and the part is then sintered to a high density

to achieve its hardness and strength. The parts produced by this process are virtually identical to those produced by MIM or CNC, which are more costly manufacturing methods for small batches. Rachel Garrett, managing director of CMG Technologies, adds: “We’re very pleased to partner with 3DGBIRE and provide this full end to end service. By merging our specialist manufacturing processes, we have essentially helped businesses to cost-effectively begin producing stainless steel metal components in smaller volumes, with the flexibility to easily iterate them if they need to.” To learn more about 3D Printing with BASF filaments, visit sales@3dgbire.com

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4 Comm ports, inc Ethernet Built-in data logging to microSD Free no-limit programming Slim stackable design Multiple i/o wiring options Starter kit available

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Lamonde Automation Limited Quality Products: Expert Advice

Sustainable solutions for the food industry and innovations for robotics • Sustainable engineering and new product portfolio for the food and packaging industry • Expansion of the product range for lightweight robots and cobots • Presentation of strain wave gears with an integrated sensor system

Ralf Moseberg, head of the Industrial Automation business unit at Schaeffler

• Enlargement of the solution portfolio to include high-precision planetary gearboxes

Manufacturing PDATE

he food and packaging industry and the robotics industry, are two sectors with a high global demand for innovative solutions. These will be the main focus of Schaeffler’s attention at this year’s Hannover Messe. As Ralf Moseberg, head of the Industrial Automation business unit at Schaeffler, emphasized, the food and packaging industry is currently caught up in a maelstrom of sustainability, lower production costs, and strict hygiene guidelines. Schaeffler will be presenting its new food-based product range in Hannover, as well as demonstrating ways of solving the challenges faced by the industry using automation solutions which have been derived in practice. Ralf Moseberg and his employees view “sustainable engineering” as a major instigator in reducing energy and raw material consumption, while simultaneously securing considerable benefits for the customer. Designers and developers are encouraged to conduct more extensive analyses of existing solutions with regard to the use of resources, durability and wear, and operating costs, and to look for alternatives. Examples of

April 2022

how digitalization and sustainability can be combined to ideal effect in everyday operations will also be demonstrated in Hannover. For the second year in a row, robotics will be one of the Schaeffler topics taking center stage at the Hannover Messe. A substantially expanded range of precision strain wave gears and a sensor-based strain wave gear will be presented for the first time this year, both for use in articulated arm robots with a payload of up to around 20 kg. “We are adopting a new, innovative approach with the integrated torque sensors for each cobot joint, both in design and technological terms, which has aroused considerable interest among our pilot customers,” explains Moseberg. Schaeffler will also present its portfolio of PSC-series high-precision planetary gearboxes for industrial robots in Hannover. These are characterized by a torsional backlash that is ten times lower and a service life that is three times longer than the market standard. Such large leaps in development are seldom seen in mechanical engineering and allow new fields of application to be opened up.

New precision strain wave gear from Schaeffler with integrated torque sensor

Schaeffler will introduce its new product range for the “Food, Beverage & Packaging” sector at the Hannover Messe 2022. The plastic used in the new radial insert ball bearing and housing units has been optimized from a hygiene perspective.

www.schaeffler.co.uk

An unbeatable team!

Enhanced security for your food production RANTY AR

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With ifm you can monitor and control your hygienic production processes in a precise and, thanks to IO-Link, even more comprehensive and convenient way: The new TCC temperature sensor with integrated Calibration Check Technology continuously validates the measured value and protects the production process and product quality in equal measure. The LMT level switch works reliably even in highly viscous, sticky and foaming products . It simply ignores build-up. The full metal pressure sensor PM15 is the world’s first hygienically approved (3A and EHEDG) sensor with G1/2”process connection and ceramic-capacitive measuring cell. This enables greatly simplified and cost effective connection to small diameter pipework. The compact LDL conductivity sensors help you to establish efficient CIP- cleaning and increase the availability of your system. ifm - close to you!

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“Every time you touch something it costs you money” The labour market continues to be challenging with new pressures that hinder efficient and sustainable production. We offer unique services to help the short-term pathways for greater productivity with existing staffing, and cost justifiable automation with shortest return on investment.

Manufacturing PDATE

The challenges and opportunities • When did you last consider automation of your processes? • Are you up to speed on market innovations, harnessing technology and people? • Do your current processes involve specific manual action or series of actions? • Have you considered using automation for each and every task carry out by people? • Are your processes seamless? If not, why not? • Do you operate a ‘pull’ method of production? • Have you applied agile and lean production principle? • Do you require training at management level to embrace best practice, or technology, or management of change for greater efficacy? • Double handling is a financial killer. Eliminate it. • Do you have a skilled workforce challenge? • Are you looking to improve and advance the profile of your workforce? • Are the skills needed available in the UK marketplace? • Could you use input from experienced experts with proven track record, improving operations performance, scope your automation possibilities and plan procurement of proven robotics and automation technologies?

What we can help with? • Improving current manual practices. • Implementing immediate change(s) that increases productivity. • Design of production lines for efficient flow, avoiding double handling. • Scoping proven automation to combine with best practice for ‘lean’ and ‘agile’ operation.

April 2022

• Management of projects for procurement of automation, including legal contracting for a smooth installation process. • Supply of proven low-cost robotics as may be appropriate and investment justified. • Development of automated solutions on exclusive basis. • Improving labour planning through use of existing government legislation. • Assisting with funding solution as applicable, including grant finance for new automation.

How we would help and engage with your team? • A free initial 60-minute remote meeting. • Day visit to scope opportunities for improvements (this will be on a confidential and fee basis). • Initial assessment and immediate presentation with first recommendations, to be elaborated and submitted after the visit. • Report to be submitted within 5 days of the visit.

Who is in our team? • Skills Provision International: A leading Global Recruiter: www.skills-provision.com • Culmstock Technology Centre: A world leading authority on Robotics and Lean Production www. culmstocktechnology.com

How to contact us: • Website: www.skillsprovision.co.uk/contact-us • Email: enquiries@skillsprovision.co.uk • Telephone: +44 (0) 1373836776

R TE IS G OW RE N

7-9 JUNE 2022

NEC, BIRMINGHAM 25

NOW IN ITS 45TH YEAR 30

BACK THIS JUNE! THE UK'S LARGEST SUBCONTRACT MANUFACTURING SUPPLY CHAIN SHOW 70

CO-LOCATED WITH

SH W

Over 200 world-class exhibitors 3 days of cutting-edge conference sessions from industry thought-leaders Countless networking opportunities

AND SO MUCH MORE!

INTERESTED IN EXHIBITING?

Make sure you’re at the must-attend event for subcontract manufacturing buyers across all industry sectors! Get in touch with Jason.dante@markallengroup.com for more information.

WWW.SUBCONSHOW.CO.UK JOIN THE CONVERSATION

@SubconShow #SubconShow

Manufacturing PDATE

The UK’s must-attend subcontract manufacturing supply chain show Subcon is confirmed to return from 7-9 June 2022 at the NEC, Birmingham. Join the sector in-person as the show celebrates 45 years as the UK’s leading subcontract manufacturing supply chain show. 18

April 2022

The Engineer Expo The Engineer Expo is the dedicated event for the advanced engineering community that drives manufacturing and design solutions. It has been curated by The Engineer, the UK’s leading engineering publication, to provide a unique platform for engineers to source the latest advanced engineering technology, products and services, enabling them to optimise production and process throughout the manufacturing cycle.

Manufacturing Management Show After the success in 2021, the very popular Manufacturing Management Show (MMS) is also back this year. Brought to you by the team behind the industry leading Manufacturing Management magazine, MMS brings together everything you need to know about running a successful manufacturing site, under one roof - from maintenance, materials handling, sustainability, skills, IT and health & safety.

ollowing the success of last year’s event, Subcon is back bigger and better than ever before! With over 4000 visitors attending and more than 200 exhibitors to discover, Subcon 2022 will provide the sector with unbeatable face-to-face networking, the latest innovations and the very best business solutions. The 2022 show will see the return of international suppliers, extra networking facilities and an all new Supply Chain Theatre. Subcon remains the premier event for subcontract manufacturers and engineers that are looking to do business in person and reconnect with their peers.

Subcon, The Engineer Expo and Manufacturing Management Show will showcase the best British and International suppliers. Alongside the exhibition, there will also be

three conference theatres running in parallel, The Engineer Theatre, Manufacturing Management Theatre and the all new Supply Chain Theatre. Together they will provide visitors with high quality content, case-study led discussions and best practice to apply directly to their businesses. Previous speaking companies have included, AE Aerospace, BAE Systems, Make UK, HP, PwC and many more! New event director Jason Dante, commented “We’re delighted to welcome visitors and exhibitors back to the NEC for Subcon’s 45th year. “The show provides visitors and exhibitors with a unique opportunity to source solutions, share ideas and remain competitive within the sector. The last two years have provided unprecedented challenges to the industry, but the resilience and optimism within the sector is clear and Subcon is the perfect opportunity to celebrate this.“ “There are plenty of new and exciting changes and additions to this year’s show including the new Supply Chain Theatre which will tackle some of the sectors biggest manufacturing challenges. So keep an eye on the website and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the NEC this June!” Interested in finding out more? Visit www.subconshow.co.uk to find out about visiting the show or the exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities.

Manufacturing PDATE

and unrestricted access to all three shows and together under one roof, they will provide a pivotal space for businesses of all sizes to react to the impact of covid-19 and the adjustment to operating outside the EU.

This year, Subcon will once again be collocated with The Engineer Expo and Manufacturing Management Show. Visitors will benefit from free

April 2022

CWM Announces New Robot Test Facility at Gainsborough Site CWM Automation Ltd. are delighted to announce their new robot test cell facility, built at their factory in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. This facility will allow customers from a wide range of industries to see proof of concept for all of their pick and place solutions. Formed in 2006, CWM Automation specialises in providing customers with robust and reliable filling machinery, as well as end of line and fully bespoke equipment. Their mission is to exceed customers’ expectations in quality, delivery and performance through continuous improvement and customer interaction. Project Details CWM’s cutting-edge robot test cell facility comprises of an Autonox Delta Robot. Autonox pride themselves on designing lightweight, hygienic robotic solutions, with all equipment built at their site in Germany to ensure maximum quality and reliability. Attached to the delta robot is a Soft Robotics mGrip modular gripping system, which enables reliable, highspeed picking of traditionally hard-tograsp items. mGrip’s proven soft gripper technology allows robots to safely and efficiently pick and pack products while also increasing throughput and efficiency. CWM’s Bespoke Solutions

Manufacturing PDATE

With over 15 years’ experience in the automation industry, CWM Automation has gained the knowledge and expertise to offer bespoke solutions, including multi-robot systems. In 2017, CWM became official OEM partners with Rockwell Automation, facilitating their continuous improvement goals and providing them with access to high-quality Rockwell components. Following a period of progressive growth, CWM relocated to new premises in December 2019. Based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, their

April 2022

newly refurbished 36,500 sq./ft factory boasts enhanced facilities and enables them to accommodate more projects to meet ambitious growth targets. Their robot test cell is just another example of their growth and dedication towards innovation. More Information If you would like to learn more about CWM Automation’s robotic solutions, please visit their website: www.cwm-automation.com. Alternatively, if you are interested in arranging a visit to their site and utilising the robot test cell, get in touch with CWM by calling +44 (0)1427 614 222 or emailing sales@cwm-automation.com.

The new Interroll Split-Tray Sorter Fast, flexible sortation for everyone Interroll introduces the new Split-Tray Sorter: the perfect solution for small and mid-sized items. Efficiency and low maintenance make this new sorter attractive for those looking for lower operating costs and quicker return on investment. It is an ideal solution for the 3PL , E-Commerce, Fashion and CEP industries. Easy to install and reliable with its proven mechanical components & integrated control solution Lightweight and energy-efficient - with a single motor every 40 meters Compact but dense footprint with plenty of destinations Extremely quiet with only <70 dB(A) noise levels

Interroll Limited Unit 1a Orion Way Kettering, Northants NN15 6NL Tel. +44 / 15 36 31 27 70 Email: gb.sales@interroll.com

interroll.com

EXPANDED IOT OPTIONS FOR MICROSOFT AZUREAAA Companies using Microsoft Azure for Industrial IoT now have a wide range of new options available through the Skkynet DataHub® service for Azure. "The Skkynet DataHub service provides a way to securely integrate operations technology with IT on the popular and powerful Microsoft Azure platform," said Paul Thomas, President of Skkynet. "Users can now securely acquire, monitor, control, consolidate, and share their live process data. With support for standard industrial protocols like OPC UA or MQTT, they can connect directly to popular applications and programs that run on Azure, or at remote locations. Some key benefits of the Skkynet DataHub service for Azure: Solve your IoT connectivity issues. Secure your OT to IT data communications. Move your IoT projects from pilot to production. Cut your Industrial IoT project costs. Reduce your cyber-security risk profile.

Manufacturing PDATE

• • • • •

April 2022

Powering AI AI needs data, reliable data. Ideally, an industrial AI system could securely access process data in real time, as well as send signals back to the plant floor. The Skkynet DataHub service for Microsoft Azure seamlessly feeds production data to Azure IoT Hub or any analytical engine running on the Azure platform, and can relay commands back to SCADA systems, equipment, and processes, all in real time.

Integrating live processes on Azure IoT Hub Connecting to Azure IoT Hub should not require any engineering or custom code. With the Skkynet DataHub service, connecting to IoT Hub is fast, easy, and secure. Connect to IoT Hub at the edge or aggregate multiple connections in the cloud. You can integrate your live processes using standard protocols like OPC, MQTT, MQTT Sparkplug B, and Modbus, and connect SCADA systems, data lakes, and historians.

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April 2022

Enhancing Robot Performance With Smart Gripping Solutions from Schmalz

“As the physical interface between a robot and the product it is handling, grippers play an essential role in ensuring high levels of productivity whilst maintaining product safety and integrity during transfer and handling operations.” Robots come in a wide variety of configurations, and within the rapidly expanding warehousing and logistics sector, it is now not uncommon to find either six-axis robots, gantry systems, or in some cases a combination of both, handling products of many different types and sizes as they are prepared for shipment and delivery. In order to interact effectively with their environment and perform the tasks at hand, robots require appropriate end effectors, and in many cases, these are vacuum gripper systems. Vacuum gripping systems make it possible to handle workpieces gently, and the concept of gripping from above offers an efficient and space-saving design. Also, as there are no mechanical gripper fingers to get in the way, items can be placed adjacent to each other with no gaps, a major benefit in many product handling and packaging applications. At the heart of many handling operations is Schmalz vacuum gripping technology, which is used to handle products and pallets at various stages of the order fulfilment and distribution process. The company’s comprehensive product range includes special palletising and de-palletising solutions.

Product layers on pallets can have not only a wide variety of sizes and weights, but also very different properties. For example, some may be permeable, or some can become deformed during handling. Large area gripping systems or layer gripping systems from Schmalz adapt flexibly to the different products and surfaces which they encounter. This means pallets can be populated with different product variants as opposed of just one type.

The individual components and technologies available from Schmalz combine to form a highly efficient overall system, whilst at the same time enabling maximum flexibility in the specific application.

The Right Gripper for Every Robot and Every Task The growth in the use of small and lightweight robots, many of which are collaborative variants, has been significant in recent times. These robots, which generally have a payload of less than 25 kg, are finding their way into numerous applications within companies of all sizes and especially in small to medium sized organisations. Alongside the growth in the use of these flexible production tools is the demand for efficient and reliable gripping systems to deal with the multitude of different products and applications where these robots are being used. Schmalz offers grippers and vacuum generators for all of the common collaborative and lightweight robots currently on the market, providing individual and optimum solutions for a wide range of applications, with technology that is easy to select and easy to integrate. Lightweight robots and collaborative robots can be found across a wide range of assembly, handling, packaging, and logistics applications. They also offer the potential to automate quality control or loading and unloading operations on machine tools, areas where to date automation is still generally lacking. As the market leader in automation with vacuum technology, Schmalz is active in all manufacturing and processing sectors. Customers include small and medium-sized companies as well as large industrial companies and corporations. One of the major advantages for small to medium sized companies is the often rapid and simple commissioning for Collaborative Robots together with their vacuum grippers.

Many of these intelligent and highly efficient systems do not require complicated robot programming and instead use intuitive guided teaching methods. To make commissioning even easier, the Schmalz ControlRoom Smartphone app can be connected to the vacuum generator via NFC, allowing the user to view and evaluate data, adjust settings for the vacuum generator and if required order spare parts. As the robot and Cobot revolution continues at a pace, Schmalz vacuum gripping technology will continue to be a key part of the growing number of automated solutions which will be at the heart of our diverse manufacturing and logistics sectors.

schmalz@schmalz.co.uk

Ready To Connect Handling Technology The perfect solution from Schmalz for lightweight and collaborative robots. The vacuum generator, flange, gripper and connection cable are all included in a ready to go package. Simple to integrate and highly flexible. How will you use it?

WWW.ScHMALz.coM T: +44(0)161 266 1115 Schmalz UK Limited - 3000 Aviator Way - Manchester Business Park - Manchester - M22 5TG | schmalz@schmalz.co.uk