Philipp Jauch believes that change to both machinery and business models are needed to allow us to really see the full potential of Industry 4.0.
Industry 4.0 has now moved well beyond the concept stage although there is still a long way to go. The next generation 5G wireless networks and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be crucial elements to enable Industry 4.0 to be wholly implemented, says Steve Sands.
Manufacturers are having to move beyond traditional cost reduction strategies when it comes to energy. Instead there is a move towards cost avoidance, says Vincent de Rul.
Paul Hingley believes that servitisation is set to transform every aspect of modern manufacturing.
Find out how Hydro Extrusions Hungary has been able to reduce quality problems in the finished profile of its extruded aluminium products.
Harri Vaara explains how sugar beet processors are increasing productivity and energy efficiency through the use of variable speed drives (VSDs).
As industry starts to engage in digital transformation programs, Control Engineering Europe finds out more about the challenges facing engineers tasked with managing this change.
It is critical that suppliers of remote I/O systems can connect to the most important networks used in industry today. PROFINET, EthernetIP, EtherCAT® and Modbus are all common networks used in Industrial Automation but how does a manufacturer of machines standardise, when their various customers specify different networks in their factories? Nigel Dawson, head of Business Development Electric Automation at Festo explains.
Suzanne Gill finds out how industrial communications are supporting and simplifying the digital migration process.
Remote monitoring can offer a wide variety of benefits for industry, including a reduction in downtimes and an increase in productivity. However, there are some challenges that must first be overcome.
Suzanne Gill finds out more about the cyber security issues that face industry today and gets advice on the steps that should be taken to ensure greater plant level security.
Today components and systems frequently become available which are too technologically advanced for current standard requirements and cannot support the assessment of device functional safety appropriately. Suitable approaches are therefore required to protect systems against unauthorised access and safety-relevant manipulation of the safety functions embedded within hardware and software, argues Stewart Robinson MIET MInstMC.
An ABB control system is helping to increase productivity, lower waste and reduce energy costs for UK cable manufacturer.
Suzanne Gill visits British Salt to find out more about the plant’s Industry 4.0 aspirations.
The basic configuration of electrical power systems for industrial and commercial applications has altered little for decades. A disruptive new technology – hybridisation – is expected to change this, according to Steve Moore.
Yonatan Hyatt discusses one of the latest developments in machine vision which sees the technology starting to think for itself.
Denny Nelson explains how the latest non-contacting radar transmitters can overcome food processing challenges using frequency modulated continuous wave technology.
Tim Foreman argues that companies should be looking to benefit from the potential of technologies such as ‘AI at the Edge’ strategically and thoughtfully for business success and competitive advantage.
Rotork linear actuators have been selected to control the flow of hydrogen gas at a fuel cell power plant in South Korea.
A new non-PID control algorithm, rate-predictive control (RPC), is adaptive to changes in process gain. This is helpful, says Allan Kern, given the difficult history of loop tuning, auto-tuning, and model maintenance.