Learn how to increase productivity using automation and digital transformation.
About the presentation
Today, manufacturers need to defy unstable supply chains, labor shortages, and customer demand. The associated trickle-down effect of those challenges also applies to OEMs, system integrators, machine builders, and panel builders. They’re all tasked with discovering new methods of maintaining timelines and cycles for design, assembly, installation, or manufacturing with an eye toward unlocking increased efficiency and reducing operational costs. Modern manufacturing is driven by data and digitalization. Digital transformation is accelerating due to innovations such as edge and cloud computing, 5G, analytics, AI (artificial intelligence), and data standardization. Industry 4.0 relies on the use of technology to power and streamline essential processes. Manufacturers see the digital transformation journey as essential to their company’s success. This means investing in digitalization, leveraging automation, and realigning business models. Whether you’re a latecomer, first-timer, or leader in digital transformation, all industrial companies have an opportunity to reposition or establish themselves with innovative technologies and solutions. Learn how three companies have done so.
Meet your presenters
Michael Milam is the general manager of the south region for Rittal. With more than 20 years of experience in management and sales roles, Milam helps guide the vision and strategy needed to reach key operations goals while managing P&L to achieve financial targets. His strategic business plans have proven results in transformation by driving market expansion, rapid revenue generation, and exceptional customer satisfaction. Milam has a Bachelor of Science degree in business and management marketing from Sam Houston State University.
Dr. Dirk Pieler, Executive Vice President Business Unit Industry at Industry Rittal GmbH & Co. KG.
About the company
Rittal manufactures industrial and IT enclosures, racks, and accessories, including high-efficiency, high-density climate control and power management systems for industrial, data center, outdoor, and hybrid applications. Rittal’s off-the-shelf standard, modified standard, and custom-engineered products are known as high quality, affordable solutions for practically any industrial or IT infrastructure application from single enclosures to comprehensive systems.
Learn how OEMs use electronic sensors in measuring clamping force.
About the presentation
Röhm has been working since 2020 together with various machine tool OEMs (DMG Mori, WFL, and EMCO) to investigate the use of electronic sensors in clamping components to dynamically measure in real time the clamping force, temperature, and acceleration of workholding components (initially using lathe chuck jaws). The sensors are directly mounted behind the face of the workpiece clamp. The data from the sensors is transmitted wirelessly to the machine controls, and real time data can be displayed in the human machine interface. It can also be sent via a cloud to access using a handheld device with an app, which would open possibilities to retrofitting existing inventory and be available for various manufacturers’ equipment, ideal clamping or retaining the workpiece. At the same time, this avoids distortion or impingement, ensures perfect clamping force, uses margins for increasing efficiency, and moves forward with even more efficiency and safety.
Meet your presenter
Martin Stangl is the director of R&D at Röhm in Germany. He attended the University of Applied Sciences in Munich and previously worked at Bosch Rexroth.
About the company
RÖHM’S areas of expertise are the basis for our customers’ success.
On this basis, we ensure that your interests are looked after in the best possible way – right across the entire product development process: From the concept phase and full technical project processing right through to production.
With a worldwide network of manufacturing bases, distribution establishments, agents, and optimum distribution logistics, we guarantee our customers maximum flexibility and service at all times. At our production locations, we only use state of the art machinery and technology. Examples of this include the special portal turning and milling machines for processing workpieces with diameters of up to 4m and a weight of up to 25 tons. Another example is the world’s only drill chuck assembly line for the fully automatic manufacturing of keyless, self-tensioning, flat jaw drill chucks. This production line makes it possible to assemble approx. 92,000 drill chucks in 3 shifts on 5 working days. In a fully automated process, the engraving and quality control of the drill chucks is integrated as well as the assembly of the individual parts.
Association for Advancing Automation latest stats show the most robots sold in any quarter in North America.
For the third-straight quarter, robot sales in North America hit a record high, driven by a resurgence in sales to automotive companies and an ongoing need to manage increasing demand to automate logistics for e-commerce. According to the Association for Advancing Automation, of the 12,305 robots sold in Q2 2022, 59% of the orders came from the automotive industry with the remaining orders from non-automotive companies largely in the food & consumer goods industry, which saw a 13% increase in unit orders over the same period, April through June, in 2021.
“While automotive entities have long been the frontrunner in deploying robotics and automation, the last few years have seen food & consumer goods, life sciences and other industries grow at even higher rates,” says A3 President Jeff Burnstein. “While this quarter shows a marked shift back to historic norms with more robots going to automotive than to any other industry, the continued growth of robotics in food & consumer goods companies especially demonstrates the ongoing need to automate warehouse logistics for handling the exploding growth of e-commerce. We’re excited to share the latest on robots in the logistics space at our upcoming Autonomous Mobile Robots & Logistics Week in Boston in October.”
The 12,305 units sold in Q2 2022 is 25% more than sold in the same period in 2021 and 6% more than sold in the first quarter of 2022, which saw 11,595 robots sold. The Q2 2022 value of $585 million is the second-best quarter ever for revenue, down 9% from the previous record quarter – Q1 2022, which saw $646 million in revenue. When combined with 2022’s first quarter results, the previous record, the North American robotics market is off to its best start ever, with 23,903 robots ordered at a value of $1.249 billion. The market grew 26% and 29% for units ordered and revenue, respectively, over 2021.
A record fourth quarter in 2021 resulted in the strongest year ever for North American robot sales, with 39,708 units sold at a value of $2 billion, and 2022 is on pace for another record year. Alex Shikany, Vice President – Membership & Business Intelligence, A3, will discuss the end-of-year numbers in detail at the next A3 Business Forum in January.
“The larger trend towards robots being used to benefit more companies in North America continues,” Burnstein added. “This makes it critical to educate system integrators and users now about how to deploy robots while keeping workers safe. Our International Safety Robotics Conference (ISRC) will specifically address the most up-to-date safety standards, providing the best practices and use cases that will help all companies safely succeed with automation.”
In addition to ISRC, scheduled for September 27-29 in Columbus, Ohio, A3 will hold the Artificial Intelligence & Smart Automation Conference, a one-day event to help those interested start their journey to unlock the power of AI, with discussions on data strategy, advances in AI robotics and machine vision, and AI-powered optimization and prediction. The conference will take place September 29, also in Columbus.
AMR & Logistics Week, scheduled for October 10-13 in Boston, will be co-located with The Vision Show, designed to provide the right solution providers, the right technology, and the right expertise to implement vision and imaging systems.
A3’s Business Forum, January 16-18, 2023, in Orlando, Florida, an annual networking event for robotics, vision & imaging, motion control & motors, and artificial intelligence industry professionals, will be followed by The Automate Show (May 22-25, 2023, in Detroit), the largest and most inspiring showcase of automation in North America.
Join experts from the US Air Force and Librestream for a discussion on the current state of aviation.
Don’t delay and make sure to register for Reducing Aircraft on Ground: Solving workforce challenges with technology for military and civilian aviation operations webinar, taking place Wed., Sept. 14, 2022 at 11am ET.
Improving aircraft readiness is a top priority for both civilian and military aviation, yet maintenance challenges, supply chain issues and skilled labor gaps are making it difficult to mitigate persistent sustainment risks.
Join experts from the US Air Force and Librestream for a discussion on the current state of aviation and the challenges associated with worker shortages affecting mission capable rate goals. We’ll explore innovations in digital transformation and the application of technologies to help acquire and train new employees as well as mitigate or reverse the negative impact from knowledge loss and skilled labor deficiencies.
What you’ll learn:
Registration is free for Reducing Aircraft on Ground: Solving workforce challenges with technology for military and civilian aviation operations.
How reshoring can benefit your company.
About the presentation
For decades, the U.S. lost thousands of businesses and millions of jobs to offshoring. It’s clear shorter supply chains are lower risk and more profitable for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of which 20% to 30% of products are imported. More than 1 million jobs announced reshoring since 2010. Geo-political risks add further motivation. Find how to benefit from the trend.
Takeaways include how to:
Meet your presenter
Harry Moser founded the Reshoring Initiative to bring 5 million manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. after working for high-end machine tool supplier GF AgieCharmilles. He started as president in 1985 and retired In December 2010 as chairman emeritus. Largely due to the success of the Reshoring Initiative, Moser was inducted into the Industry Week Manufacturing Hall of Fame 2010 and AME’s Hall of Fame 2021. He was named Quality Magazine’s 2012 Quality Professional of the year and FAB Shop Magazine’s Manufacturing Person of the year. Moser participated actively in President Obama’s 2012 Insourcing Forum at the White House, won The Economist debate on outsourcing and offshoring, and received the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s Industry Advocacy Award in 2014 and the Made in America 2019 Reshoring Award. He was recognized by then Commerce Department Chief Economist Sue Helper as the driving force in founding the reshoring trend and named to the Commerce Department Investment Advisory Council in August 2019. Moser is quoted in the Wall Street Journal, NYT, Forbes, Financial Times, New Yorker, Washington Post, and USA Today and seen on Fox Business, MarketWatch, PRI, NPR, Manufacturing Talk Radio, and other national TV and radio programs. He received a BS in mechanical engineering and an MS in engineering at MIT in 1967 and an MBA from University of Chicago in 1981.
About the company
Reshoring is gaining momentum throughout the country. Many companies already repatriated their manufacturing efforts, and the Reshoring Initiative is continuing to spread the “return-manufacturing-home” message to help other manufacturers realize the United States is an advantageous place to produce goods. The Reshoring Initiative, founded in early 2010, takes action by helping manufacturers realize local production, in some cases, reduces their total cost of ownership of purchased parts and tooling. The Initiative also trains suppliers how to effectively meet the needs of their local customers, giving the suppliers the tools to sell against lower priced offshore competitors.