For many businesses, manual assembly continues for form an important part of their production. These sub-assemblies can be an integral part of the final product, so it is essential they are correctly assembled. Integrating…
Productivity News & Insights
IT-systems/IIoT Changing Industrial Network Market
According to the latest HMS Networks survey, industrial network markets are reflecting the need for integration between factory installations and IT-systems/IIoT applications. Market information is important not only for product marketer,…
Technology Transfer from Autonomous Cars
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%)…
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…
Plastic Extrusion Machines benefit from AC Drive Update
Most older plastic extrusion machines were driven by DC drives, but few new ones nowadays do. What has driven this change are new generations of high performing AC motors and VSDs. Using AC drives…
High-speed Container Capping with SMAC’s LAR Series Actuators
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…
High-speed Bottling Rejection gets Soft-landing
Reliably rejecting damaged containers is paramount to bottling operations. If a damaged container, especially a glass one, gets through the system it could become a high liability. This can be costly in both money…
Robot Deburring of Components Improves Quality and Output
When a car buyer makes the decision to buy a vehicle made by a premium manufacturer, it is not only the performance and design of the vehicle that must be right but also the…
Light Guided Operator Assembly Systems help Eliminate Picking Mistakes
Despite an increase in the use of robots for assembly work, many applications are simply not suitable for assembly by machine. For many producers, manual assembly is the only practicable solution. However, by introducing…
Sustainable Competitive Advantage in Factory Automation
In their white paper Business Models for Smart Machines, Schneider Electric argues for machine builders to think about creating sustainable competitive advantage for their organisations. They need…
Predictive Maintenance Boosts Productivity
An important new growth market is predictive maintenance, which is being driven by condition monitoring technologies. Specifically, it helps users predict equipment life and plan maintenance for reducing unplanned downtime. Predictive maintenance reduces costs,…
EcoStruxure Machine Advisor offers Remote Maintenance
Manufacturing machinery is a complex blend of electronic and mechanical components integrated into a single machine or production line. The designs are sophisticated, and the technology used is complex, even for the designers. More…
Prescriptive Maintenance: Going Beyond Condition Monitoring
In a recent white paper discussing profitable reliability, Schneider Electric identifies four levels of maintenance from reactive through to prescriptive maintenance. Prescriptive maintenance uses information from predictive maintenance tools…
Single Sourcing reduces Machine Builder costs
When it comes to new production lines, the automotive industry focuses on reducing its supplier base to improve efficiencies and reduce costs. Tangible benefits are lower development costs and a faster time-to-market for new…
Altivar 600 Drives Water Processing Using Fewer Resources
Schneider Electric has developed the Altivar 600 specifically for the water & wastewater segment to treat and deliver safer water, with improved reliability and performance, lower operating costs and using less energy.
The world’s…