Industry 4.0 / IIoT

Mouser Electronics has signed a global agreement with Brainboxes to distribute the company's data and IO connectivity products. UK-based Brainboxes develops, manufactures and supports its own core technologies, including Ethernet, USB, Bluetooth, PCI Express and PCI products.

Data collection in manufacturing is a valuable asset for organisations to optimise their processes and better understand how their productions lines are operating but it has to date been very limited in scope. In previous times, data was gathered from a piece of equipment and scrutinised for areas of improvement.

Two vibrating fork (vibronic) level instruments have been released by Endress+Hauser. The FTL51B features Industry 4.0 and IIoT capabilities, including access via wireless Bluetooth technology, automatic proof tests and verification, and easy commissioning via a mobile device.

The implementation of the smart factory concept is designed to deliver ever increasing efficiency and productivity. By providing a continuous stream of data flowing across an entire enterprise and beyond, it is possible to monitor and manage manufacturing processes in real-time. Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) technology is bringing what was on the horizon for Smart Manufacturing closer by offering an increasingly holistic approach to industrial communications today. Here, John Browett, General Manager of the CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA) – Europe, looks at the key aspects of TSN that will change global industry and what to consider when adopting this technology.

FANUC’s open industrial IoT platform, called ‘FIELD system’, evaluates data from machines and systems centrally. The system can connect production machines of all manufacturers by means of a local network topology, enabling comprehensive data analysis of the entire process line. In this infrastructure, apps from FANUC and from third-party suppliers are used. Now igus has developed a smart plastics app for the new system. 

Critical Manufacturing launched their new version 7 of their modern Manufacturing Execution System (MES) for I4.0. V7 adds exciting, futuristic and valuable features to MES recognised for its I4.0-ready, highly adaptable and user-friendly design. The V7 comprises of four modules:

In a drive to increase on-site productivity and operational performance in the construction industry, BAM Nuttall has teamed up with tech-firm Iotic and researchers at Cranfield University to develop an AI-based, computer-vision system using new digital twin technology. The Learning Camera project employs a standard webcam, integrated with an IoT framework of smart sensors to collect real-time environmental data such as wind speed and weather conditions, combined with contextual information including location, date and time. All this data is fed into a cloud-based system to create digital twins, which bridge the physical and virtual world.

One of the key challenges for today’s businesses engaged in the process of digitalisation is connecting shop floor operational technology (OT) with IT infrastructure. New business models that improve how we design, build, sell and operate industrial services and machines are being created by improved connectivity between OT and IT. 

Increasing automation in the work place will continue to be a key trend in 2020 according to new research released today, with AI and robots taking on more roles from human employees. From building products to crunching numbers, machines will become ever more present in companies’ workforces.

Companies with a requirement to combine factory floor operational technology (OT) and IT systems now have a new option from Mitsubishi Electric. The MELIPC edge computing solution offers optimisations such as predictive maintenance or quality control with real-time data analysis and early feedback to the operator.