The manufacturing sector has always relied on technology to allow the construction of high-quality products and components that are used in other industries or by the consumer. For many decades, manufacturing companies have kept a close eye on technological developments within the industry to see if they can be adopted in their organisation to give them a competitive edge. Some key pieces of technology become incorporated in the final product, and others may be used on manufacturing production lines to improve the efficiency of manufacturing processes.
In this article, there’s a broad discussion of three different pieces of technology that are commonly used in the manufacturing sector. This includes both relatively simple pieces of technology along with more advanced tech, but these all have significant value when creating products or improving production line processes.
1. Din rail enclosures
A wide variety of manufactured items will incorporate din rail enclosures in their construction. They’re also used when designing a range of manufacturing plants, especially when building ventilation systems or securing power supplies in the manufacturing plant.
For the uninitiated, din rail enclosures are protective cases for electrical devices and components. They can be used for both home and industrial automation (such as in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units, or HVAC) along with in-lighting systems. Their design may be relatively simple, but they’re vital in many finished items as they provide a safe and secure housing to mount different forms of electric equipment. Many different manufactured items will use these in their final products, and they’ve become a vital component in this industry.
2. Robotics
While din rail enclosures may be a relatively simple piece of technology in manufacturing (but still a vital and important component), modern robotics are significantly more complex. Many people will have seen robotic arms in the vehicle manufacturing industry, where they can efficiently and precisely undertake repetitive tasks, such as cutting and finishing, when creating components that create the finished product.
Robotics are increasingly being used in more diverse areas of manufacturing and are becoming increasingly sophisticated, which is allowing them to undertake a wider range of production line processes.
In addition, in recent years, the rollout of modular robots has become more widespread in the manufacturing sector. These robotic devices are created from different components that can be switched over, thus allowing one robot to be able to undertake a wider range of specific manufacturing tasks.
3. CAD systems
Finally, computer-aided (CAD) systems are now widely used in the manufacturing industry and are considered vital pieces of software for many design applications. These platforms can create incredibly accurate 2D and 3D designs for manufactured products or components. In the past, human staff were required to sketch such designs by hand and any modifications to the design would invariably result in the need to redo the drawings.
Today, CAD design software can even link with 3D printing equipment to create accurate prototype models of proposed designs. This allows manufacturing firms to reduce the time and costs needed for the design stages of their products and help to standardise the process.
