Page 11 - Summer 2024

FULL PROCESS DATA FROM

MULTIPLE FLUID DISPENSERS

NOW ACCESSIBLE THROUGH

E-CELLS LABORATORY OPENS SINGLE PLC OR WEB

AT BOLOGNA UNIVERSITY INTERFACE

The E-Cells Laboratory, a dedicated research “ Close collaboration across industry and Industry 4.0 has brought a range of on the network, allowing two or more devices to
centre for electrochemistry within the academia allows us to accelerate the research benefits to manufacturers, particularly exchange data - and a widely known protocol
University of Bologna, has opened with the aim on safe, efficient and sustainable battery with improvements in the exchange of data used to create Ethernet-based networks. It is
of increasing knowledge of the materials and innovations significantly .” between production processes, but fluid now no longer necessary to visit each dispenser
the chemical and physical properties of lithium dispensing has been one area that has station to set up or update.
cells. Reference: ‘Inauguration of E-Cells Lab’, Process Engineering, Control continued to experience problems with a lack
of direct communication between equipment,
and Manufacturing, Issue 68 2024, p.20-21 Line, volume, weight and time dispense modes
The lab, which is promoted by Ferrari in inadequate data capture, difficult in-place provide versatility for a wide range of assembly
collaboration with the University of Bologna troubleshooting, tedious programming and steps that may require applying fluids such as
and electronics company NXP, consists of two poor dispensing parameter visibility. adhesives, coatings, gap fillers, sealants, TIM
areas, the first dedicated to the preparation material and others to a part.
of electrochemical materials, and the second Now, a ‘major breakthrough’ has been
to the analysis, testing and determination of made in the monitoring and managing of NX also delivers improved process
characteristics of these materials. There will be processes involving multiple fluid dispensers documentation, with the ability to download
a particular focus on solid-state fast charging, with the introduction of NX functionality for dispense log data remotely and directly to a File
thermal charging, cell safety and performance fluid dispensing by Nordson EFD which allows Transfer Protocol site providing data relating to
through which Ferrari hopes to develop a shared process engineers to program, monitor, perform dispense cycles, capturing pressure, vacuum
language with its cell suppliers with the aim of diagnostics and access full process data from and time settings as well as the date and time
optimising the performance of the batteries that multiple fluid dispensers directly through a when the actuations started and stopped.
will be assembled at its Maranello plants. single PLC, or with a web interface from a central
computer, tablet or mobile device.
Reference: ‘A Fluid Situation’, Fastening and Assembly Solutions and
Jens Hinrichsen, Executive Vice-president and Technology, Issue 2, 2024, p.26-27
General Manager of Advanced Analog at NXP, The protocol supports Smart Factory
comments: connectivity with comprehensive functionality for
centralised remote control of all fluid dispensing
parameters by way of Ethernet connectivity
and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
Protocol (TCP/IP) - a set of rules and formats that
govern the communication between devices

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