Across the world we are spending billions of dollars a year developing technology for self-driving or autonomous cars. The attractions of fully automatic vehicles are clear. Most road accidents (maybe as high as 90%)…
Productivity Articles
Automation upgrade boosts traditional craft productivity
Installing a Mitsubishi Electric automation upgrade has halved Denby Pottery’s clay manufacturing times and cut lost production.
The automation upgrda has empowered the artisans with greater control over skilled manufacturing processes to improve product quality….
Using IoT to identify profitable products and customers
For manufacturers profits are under pressure from both ends of the supply chain. On one side, material, labour and energy costs are increasing. On the other, customers want smaller batch sizes, faster deliveries and…
AC drives to update plastic extruders
ABB AC drives update plastic extruders.
Most older plastic extrusion machines used DC drives, but few new ones do. What has driven this change are new generations of high performing AC motors and VSDs. Using…
Cost-effective high-speed container capping
Is the lack of high-speed container capping a production bottleneck you could do without? SMAC manufactures a unique range of precision electric moving coil actuators. They are unique in that force, position and speed…
Why production robots are worth a second look
If you are not using production robots, or not planning to, you are not alone according to a report from ifr.org. Whilst worldwide manufacturing is seeing a massive increase…
European engine plant adopts Gigabit open Ethernet
In seeking to increase productivity at their engine and power transmission manufacturing plant in Poland, the management had several priorities. Firstly, to increase production line availability, secondly to improve the data transparency. Finally they…
