Smart factories could boost the global economy by at least $1.5tn over the next five years, so long as manufacturers can adopt the technologies necessary for the transformation.
By manually generating manufacturing drawings, routings and bills of materials, businesses are overlooking a huge opportunity to reduce cost and lead-times, eliminate errors and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
For the first time, Ford has introduced a team of collaborative robots that works alongside human engineers to ensure every Ford Fiesta has a perfect finish.
The latest International Federation of Robotics figures show global sales of US$16.5bn in 2018, with a total of 422,000 industrial robots shipped - up 6% compared to the previous year.
Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM), a technology which allows a device to map its environment while positioning itself in it, is a crucial driver for the future of robotics.
You may have heard of world-leading manufacturer of wire joining systems, Gripple, but you might not know Gripple Automation, its sister company that makes the machines powering some of the smartest factories there are.
No matter how you cut the automation cake, the rise of the robots appears unstoppable. On the one hand, automation will not only complement the work of humans, but will also allow us to lead happier lives, cites a new report from The Economist Intelligence Unit. On the other, robots will replace up to 20 million jobs globally by 2030 (almost 9% of the global manufacturing workforce), according to a new study by Oxford Economics.
An autonomous dolly that moves bags from planes to luggage halls has been developed and trialled at Heathrow Airport by Britain’s self-driving vehicle specialist Aurrigo.
Siemens UK has been in the vanguard of industry’s drive for a meaningful governmental
industrial strategy and the adoption of digital technologies in manufacturing.
Nick Peters visited the Siemens factory in Congleton, Cheshire, to discover
just how well Siemens is managing its own digital revolution.
