Mintchell Video Report: Automation Outlook for 2011

This is the first Mintchell Video Report for 2011 and Gary Mintchell, Editor in Chief, touches on what he sees for the upcoming year in the automation space. He envisions a big year for small-scale acquisitions and reviews what the big players, such as ABB, Rockwell and GE, might do. Leading off the video report is a discussion on lean manufacturing and where its going. (Approximate time - 12:23)

Jan 18th, 2011

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CPGs Lean on OEMs During the Pandemic

From equipment startups to training to more automation, manufacturers are asking machine builders to adopt new technology and service roles in difficult times.

CloudRail.Box features enable direct sensor-to-cloud connections.

Connecting Sensors to the Cloud

The “last mile” connection of lower-level plant floor devices to the cloud is the focus of a new partnership between ifm and CloudRail.

CloudRail

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Honeywell and Wolters Kluwer Connect Worker Safety Technologies

Integrating workforce management and environmental health and safety technologies provides the flexibility and intelligence companies need to operate safely during the pandemic and navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

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Vision and Control on One CPU

Though combining multiple control functions on one controller is not particularly new, the high compute and bandwidth requirements of vision have typically required it to exist on a separate controller. Technology advances are changing that reality.

What is the Advantage of Combining Vision and Control Technologies?

In this episode, we connect with Daymon Thompson of Beckhoff USA to learn about the trend of combining previously separate automation functions into one system for ease of access and use, specifically the combination of vision and machine control.

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Why ABB Recycles Its Robots

Remanufacturing programs for used robots appear to be a compelling business model for ABB, and a flexible option for various end-users.

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The Long Term Effects of Remote Access

The virtual world is creating new end user expectations around how products are delivered and serviced, requiring OEMs and technology suppliers to partner in new ways.

Using Beumer Smart Glasses provides operators with hands-free troubleshooting, and helps to mitigate the costs of a technician traveling to the customer site.

Smart Glasses Ease Troubleshooting Communication

Beumer has added augmented reality to the tools available to its customers while servicing equipment, enabling faster, easier support. The OEM even used the smart glasses technology to commission and install new equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Brenton RP1000 robotic palletizer with integrated Orion MADX stretch wrapper.

Robotics Integration in End-of-Line Packaging

Showing how various modules can be integrated into a packaging line with robotic capabilities, Brenton highlighted innovations in case packing and linear servo tracks.

Bryan Nguyen, engineering manager at Oriental Motor, demonstrates the BMU and BLE2 series of brushless motor and drive systems.

Motor/Drive Systems Maintain Speed Regardless of Load

Oriental Motor highlighted its BMU and BLE2 series of high-performance, IP66 motors that feature speed and torque monitoring.

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Blister Machine Features Vacuum System for Reject/Transfer

In the compact TF1pro blister machine, a vacuum arm lifts ‘good’ blisters, precisely lowering them to the transfer actuator. Another key safeguard: an upper seal plate that retracts when web motion stops to prevent unnecessary heat exposure.

With Aveva Insights, users can see details showing the specific operating parameters that have been crossed by the motor, the consequences of motor failure to the line, and prescriptive actions he can take to solve the issue.

Guided Analytics Software Streamlines Equipment Maintenance

Aveva demonstrates how the guided analytics capabilities of its Insight software alerts users to performance anomalies, directs repairs, and provides deep, user-specific equipment details.

Brian Jeppesen, automation engineering supervisor at Omron Automation’s Technology Center, explains the Traceability 4.0 concept.

Improving Product Quality with Automated Traceability

Omron Automation demonstrates how it uses the MQTT industrial communication protocol to track work-in-process and finished goods.

Machine-centric robotics is about merging the robot controller into the machine controller so that users can manage servo control, I/O, and visualization from one industrial PC.

What Is Machine-Centric Robotics?

End users’ increasing retrofits of machines to process more SKUs is driving the integration of ABB’s robots with B&R’s control system to speed up cycle times, minimize dwell times, and eliminate extra hardware like external encoders for tracking.

Opportunities for Robotics in Omni-Channel Fulfillment

Fanuc shares stats on e-commerce growth as well as provides insight on the opportunities for using robotics in a number points along the logistics supply chain.

Rich Carpenter, general manager, product management of machine automation solutions at Emerson Automation Solutions, demonstrates the capabilities the Movicon.NExT software adds to the forthcoming PACEdge IIoT.

New Edge Computing Platform Combines Data, Analytics, and Control

The forthcoming PACEdge IIoT controller from Emerson Automation Solutions combines Emerson’s technologies with those from its recent acquisitions of GE Intelligent Platforms and Progea.

Shawn Cheney, Chief Controls Engineer at Pearson Packaging Systems,

End-of-Line Automation: Risk Reduction Through Digital Twin Technology

See how digital twin technology can speed design and concept level processes for risk reduction and faster machine development solutions.

The new machine platform offers complete versatility: High performance, flexible formats and functional modules, including the OPTIMA Zero L1 for feminine hygiene and light incontinence products.

Modular Platform for Healthcare Manufacturing

Optima's new Zero machine platform offers extreme flexibility in packaging for a range of products in one system, including feminine hygiene and light incontinence products.

Yaskawa Motoman HC20XP

A Cobot for End-of-Line Palletizing

Yaskawa Motoman’s HC20XP collaborative robot with a 1.7 meter reach is IP67-rated, easy to program, and safe and flexible enough to work alongside people or move between conveyors.

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B&R uses four of its technologies to create an adaptive machine: AcoposTrak, integrated machine vision, machine centric robotics, and digital twins.

The Adaptive Machine for Mass Customization

B&R’s adaptive machine concept includes its AcoposTrak, integrated machine vision, machine centric robotics, and digital twin technologies.

The Alvey890i palletizing system from Honeywell Intelligrated analyzes real time and historic data to detect any condition that could impact performance.

Palletizer System with Built-In Analytics

The Alvey 890i series from Honeywell Inteligrated is a fully automated palletizing system that also analyzes real time and historic data to detect any performance-impacting conditions.

Kate Cramer, automation engineer at Omron Automation, explains the features and functions of the new HD-1500 autonomous mobile robot.

Autonomous Mobile Robot

Omron’s new HD-1500 mobile robot is guided by sensors and laser technology to move safely around production environments to pick up and drop off materials and products.

Aaron Donlan, product manager at Epson Robots, explains the features and capabilities of the new C12XL robot.

High-Payload, High-Reach, Lightweight 6-Axis Robot

The C12XL 6-axis robot from Epson Robots is the company’s highest payload, highest reach robot and can be used for packaging, kitting, machine tending, or palletizing.

Nord Gear's LogiDrive system includes a high efficiency Nord gearbox, IE4 or IE5+ permanent magnet synchronous motor, a decentralized variable frequency drive, M12 signal connectors, and an incremental encoder.

Modular Drive System with High-Efficiency Motor

With an eye toward reducing total cost of ownership, the new drive system from Nord Gear features high-efficiency components such as Nord’s high efficiency gearbox and compatibility with IE4 or IE5 motors.

Worker using Honeywell Intelligrated's TechSight to receive guided maintenance assistance.

Audio-Visual Headset for Maintenance and Repair

TechSight from Honeywell Intelligrated allows for hands-free visualization of maintenance and repair procedures with remote support.

ABB's IRB 390 has a 35% faster pick speed and 45% increase in payload (up to 15 kg), compared to ABB’s IRB 360-8/1130 FlexPicker.

Delta Robots for Packaging Line Optimization

New pick-and-place robot from ABB picks faster, handles higher payloads, and operates with software that uses digital twin technology to optimize packaging station design.

Lenze's i950’s drive-based motion includes two of the servo drive’s modes: drive parameterization using Lenze’s pre-configured FAST software application and custom configuration using IEC 61131-3 programming languages.

IIoT-Enabled, Multi-Purpose Servo Drive

The new i950 servo drive from Lenze features three modes, providing flexibility to OEMs to use the drive in multiple standard and custom-configured packaging machine applications.

Danielle Belskis, automation engineer at Omron Automation, demonstrates the FH Series 3D camera for robotic bin picking applications.

Combining Robots and Vision

Omron Automation’s 3D cameras and artificial intelligence-driven vision are designed for precise picking of objects with varying weights, shapes, and orientations.

XTS Hygienic is made of FDA-approved, anodized Nituff coated aluminum and features a stainless-steel rail.

Beckhoff Introduces Hygienic Linear Transport System

The eXtended Transport System from Beckhoff is now available in a hygienic version for use in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries.

Beckhoff Automation's XPlanar tiles levitate by use of traveling magnetic fields to move as needed by automatically lifting, lowering, weighing, tilting, or rotating while traveling.

Floating Tiles Provide Maintenance-Free Material Handling

Beckhoff Automation highlights its XPlanar system, which moves materials and products on levitating tiles powered by magnetic fields.

ABB's Baldor-Reliance EC Titanium integrated motor drive uses permanent magnet rotor technology to achieve IE5 ultra-premium efficiency.

Integrated Motor Drives and Smart Sensors

ABB’s ultra-premium efficiency motor drive and ABB Ability Smart Sensors are two products OEMs and end users can use to modernize existing and new equipment.