Robotics smoothes tote loading

Pack Flow Concepts showed a robotic system that takes individual packs from a tote or case and places them efficiently in a delivery tote.

Pat Reynolds
Feb 4th, 2013
Luigi De Bernardini, CEO at Autoware, and president Autoware Digital,
Operations & Supply Chains After COVID-19
How supply chain operations and processes will need to change to have the best chance of success after the coronavirus, and where system integrators can play a role in the transition.
Jun 29th, 2020
2006 F1 1
Why Conveyance Technologies Remain an Industry Lynchpin
Conveyor technology is no longer just about moving goods and components back and forth. Automation advances are transforming it into a core aspect of production strategy.
Jun 11th, 2020
Screen Shot 2020 04 10 At 11 48 15 Am
Six Business Imperatives Driving a Connected Manufacturing Strategy
As industrial facilities become increasingly becoming connected, these businesses are also creating new connections to innovate how they leverage data for productivity gains, savings, and revenue growth.
May 19th, 2020
Sven Hamann, SVP Bosch Connected Industry; Ralf Waltram, vice president IT Systems Production and Logistics, BMW Group; Dr.-Ing. Michael Bolle, member of the board of management, Bosch Group; Scott Guthrie, EVP Cloud & AI, Microsoft; Werner Balandat, head of production management, ZF Friedrichshafen AG
Open Manufacturing Platform Expands
Three steering committee members and new working groups have been added to the The Open Manufacturing Platform to help guide manufacturers through digital transformation.
May 13th, 2020
Getty Images 1219171461 (1)
7 KPIs to Fix COVID-19 Supply Chain Problems
The pandemic put a spotlight on numerous manufacturing supply chain issues. The good news is that many of these supply chain insight problems can be addressed with existing automation technologies when aligned with the proper key performance indicators.
Apr 23rd, 2020
Ralph Rio, vice president, ARC Advisory Group
Meeting the Capacity Requirements for Industrial Blockchain
Though blockchain, as it is configured now, isn't capable of meeting the transactions-per-second needed for full-production industrial supply chain applications, private and permissioned configurations may be the key to changing that.
Apr 3rd, 2020
Getty Images Empty Store Shelves (1)
The Potential of ERP Amid a Pandemic
Automation on the plant floor can keep production flowing to refill store shelves. But the biggest problem manufacturers face right now is a disruption to the supply chain.
Mar 26th, 2020
Swiss machine builder Credimex deploys Beckhoff transport technology to maximize small parts production.
Modular Machine Maximizes Production With Linear Transport Technology
With modular machines making their way onto the factory floor, the Swiss machine builder and system integrator, Credimex, took advantage of linear transport technology to enhance production and create flexible and expandable processing stations.
Mar 21st, 2020
Larry White, Resource Consumption Accounting Institute
When to Drop a Product
After spending time and effort building a product, it's hard to see when the time has come to drop it. But it you pay attention to the signs shown here, you'll know when the product's time has come.
Mar 7th, 2020
2001 F2 1
Meeting E-commerce Expectations with Automation
As online retailers shape consumer buying behavior by offering customized goods, manufacturers are turning to technology suppliers and machine builders to add flexibility into production, packaging, and supply chain processes.
Jan 28th, 2020
Sawmill processing stations turn logs into finished lumber for crates and pallets.
Wood Packaging Producer Achieves Productivity Gains
Denmark’s biggest wood packaging producer recently upgraded to a CC-Link IE communications network to achieve an estimated $330,700 USD in annual savings.
Dec 7th, 2019
Blake Moret, CEO and chairman at Rockwell Automation, on the Perspectives stage during Rockwell Automation Fair.
Rockwell Automation Launches Its Digital Partner Program
As more industrial companies look to digitally transform their operations, Rockwell Automation is growing its Digital Partner Program to help guide and simplify the deployment of advanced digital technologies.
Dec 4th, 2019
Jeff Miller, director of project management, Interstates
Agile in a System Integrator World
From project development to general productivity, having an agile system in a systems integrator world is extremely beneficial. Jeff Miller lays out how your company can benefit from an Agile project delivery methodology.
Nov 4th, 2019
Aveva Integrates EPC Software for Collaboration
Aveva Integrates EPC Software for Collaboration
The integrated portfolio of engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) software is designed to help customers streamline the way capital-intensive process industry projects are engineered and executed.
Oct 16th, 2019
Bumble Bee Uses Blockchain to Track Tuna
Bumble Bee Uses Blockchain to Track Tuna
As the first food company to use the SAP Cloud Platform with blockchain-as-a-service, Bumble Bee can provide visibility throughout the supply chain by following the fish from the ocean to your table.
May 28th, 2019
Blockchain and the Making of Machine-as-a-Service
Blockchain and the Making of Machine-as-a-Service
New technology platforms that leverage a secure, distributed, digital ledger will transform the way OEMs and manufacturers interact.
Mar 18th, 2019
Walmart Gets Bold About Blockchain
Walmart Gets Bold About Blockchain
The retailer is mandating some suppliers onboard to IBM’s Food Trust platform as the need for fast and transparent traceability across the supply chain increases.
Jan 31st, 2019
The Physical Supply Chain Goes Digital
The Physical Supply Chain Goes Digital
As manufacturers adopt new machine technology to produce “batch of one,” Cloudleaf gives the supply chain a digital makeover, as well.
Aug 28th, 2018
Alliance Aims to Digitize Packaging and Supply Chain Processes
Alliance Aims to Digitize Packaging and Supply Chain Processes
Quality Packaging Specialists International and Supply Chain Wizard are teaming up to build digital factory and distribution competency models for the pharma and CPG industries.
May 14th, 2018
Managing Serialization Data
Managing Serialization Data
Antares Vision introduced an enterprise-level software system that manages the flow of serialization information between manufacturers, third-party logistics, healthcare and government agencies.
Apr 9th, 2018
More in Supply Chain Management
Demand-Driven Digital Supply Chains
Demand-Driven Digital Supply Chains
Accenture and SAP collaborate to deliver predictive material requirements planning capabilities, providing more supply chain flexibility to respond to disruptions or new customer requests.
Mar 20th, 2018
Aw 245287 Blockchainoneweb
Is Blockchain a One-Trick Pony?
Despite an array of applications for blockchain, the technology is fighting some headwinds from knowledgeable naysayers. Is it just an overhyped tool for cryptocurrencies, or does it hold critical answers for industry’s supply chain and cybersecurity issues?
Feb 22nd, 2018
Blockchain Meets the Manufacturing Supply Chain.
Blockchain Meets the Manufacturing Supply Chain
Despite early confusion about the technology, suppliers are developing network frameworks and apps that will make blockchain an essential part of food and pharma industries.
Oct 24th, 2017
Stop Counterfeiting Straight From the Farm
Stop Counterfeiting Straight From the Farm
TruTag’s optical microtag authentication technology will soon be utilized to protect China’s livestock in the supply chain, beginning with pigs.
Aug 10th, 2017
Aw 135667 Blockchaintechg
Is Blockchain Coming to Manufacturing?
Wipro launches a number of blockchain-based offerings, four of which are directed at manufacturing to improve process efficiencies and reduce costs.
Jun 26th, 2017
Strengthening the Supply Chain
Strengthening the Supply Chain
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. This is becoming clear to the pharmaceutical industry as it struggles to comply with FDA regulations that will require the electronic exchange of serialization data.
Apr 13th, 2017
Chris Howell, senior director of global engineering and technology at Patheon
Serialization Lessons from a CMO
PACK EXPO East: Patheon, which has invested a lot of time and energy designing and building out serialization on pharmaceutical packaging lines, has learned a lot from the experience. Here’s what you need to know.
Mar 1st, 2017
Could Blockchain Solve Pharma’s DSCSA Challenges?
Could Blockchain Solve Pharma’s DSCSA Challenges?
The industry is asking how to share serialization information between supply chain partners. Blockchain’s distributed record-keeping technology could be the answer.
Jan 26th, 2017
Tackling the Drug Supply Chain Security Act in 2017
Tackling the Drug Supply Chain Security Act in 2017
GS1 US updates guidelines to help pharmaceutical manufacturers comply with new item-level traceability requirements.
Nov 15th, 2016
Aw 104894 It Ops 1
IT and Operations Disparities
Responses to a recent Automation World reader survey indicate marked differences between IT and operations personnel around cybersecurity, safety, supply chain and remote access/mobility technologies.
Aug 30th, 2016
Luigi De Bernardini, CEO, Autoware
3 Industrial Apps for 2016
If 2015 was a year of study and analysis, then 2016 should be a year of testing and implementation. The exercise to define objectives is done, now begins the daily activity and effort to realize them.
Jan 12th, 2016
Aw 89532 Analysis Paralysis 750x422
Paralysis By Analysis
Having a specific, goal-oriented strategy in place is critical to breaking the paralysis-by-analysis stranglehold on your company’s automation technology mindset.
Nov 12th, 2015