Page 4 - Summer 2024

• Using CAD Data to drive Data Fusion and 3D programme, which encompasses support for
Visualisation (Airbus Defence and Space)
• Enabling Smart Factories with 5G-driven
Computer Vision - A Case Study (Hitachi
Astemo Americas)
• Unlock Smart Manufacturing Potential and
Production Improvements with IoT and 5G
Private Networks (Ericsson)
Further presentations were also made by The
Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) in collaboration
with the University of Cambridge covering
how to select the right automation solutions
with the IfM’s tried and tested automation
assessment tool and showcasing the latest
low-cost technical demonstrations from
the IfM’s Shoestring Digital and Connected
Factories projects, illustrating different paths to
digitalisation including an AR-based support
solution for manual assembly, multi-site
inventory tracking, and vibration and power
monitoring.
The May 2024 issue of Controls, Drives and
Automation and the April/May issue of
Hydraulics and Pneumatics both emphasise
the educational focus of this year’s event and
the important role played by peer-to-peer
learning.
Both publications elaborate further on the
Industrial Data and AI Summit, now in its
seventh year. It focused particularly on Data
Management and Data Insights with its four
keynote presentations and two 60-minute
roundtable discussion sessions from presenters
including the Head of Digital and Data at
BAE Systems and Senior Director of Data and
Analytics at Mars. The roundtable sessions
notably offered a unique opportunity for in-
depth discussions on subjects such as Data
Integration and Management, Developing a
Data-driven Business and Generative AI.
Both publications also expand on the
Manufacturing Digitalisation Summit which
had eight keynote presentations, two panel
discussions and four 60-minute roundtable
sessions. The focus here was on how
digitalisation is changing how products are
designed, produced, used and maintained as
well as transforming the operations, processes
and energy footprints of factories and supply
chains. This summit was divided into two
streams, namely the Enterprise Stream for
those working within businesses with revenues
over £100 million, and the Growth Stream for
those working in businesses with revenues
under £100 million (essentially SMEs)
Elsewhere attention is given to the STEM
4 5
the IMechE Apprentice Automation Challenge
and Formula Student Programme, and the
FANUC Industrial Robots Qualifiers in which
teams of two 16 to 20-year-olds competed
in dynamic challenges designed to test their
ability to gather and apply information, work
effectively in teams, follow instructions and
create excellent robot programmes.
In addition Controls, Drives and Automation
highlights the inaugural Connect+ Live Hosted
Meetings Programme, which was run in
partnership with Newbridge Events, specialists
in business matchmaking. Its objective was to
enable visitors to make personalised matches
by aligning an exhibitor’s offering to their
specific needs.
Both publications focus on the key theme of
innovation and, in particular, the Innovation
Alley which was sponsored by HVM Catapult
and Innovation UK, and ran through the centre
of Smart Factory Expo. Particular attention was
given to two exhibitors, namely Insphere and
Addition Design.
Insphere launched IONA, a scalable network of
sensors that deliver metrology-grade positional
SUPPORTING
data to automated manufacturing processes.
The data is used to improve the accuracy and
performance of industrial robots, including EXHIBITIONS
identification and correction of errors in the
production line. Using IONA, manufacturers
can make sub-millimetre corrections to robot
positions and alignment with parts before
mistakes are made.
Addition Design meanwhile has designed a
new process that allows food manufacturers to
access production parts that meet food safety
Subcon
requirements through additive manufacturing.
The process extends Additive Design’s • Technology Integration and Data-driven
Subcon is the UK’s largest manufacturing supply
‘AddParts’ service, which supplies digital Decision Making (The University of Sheffield
chain show and is billed as the premier event
spares for automated production lines using for manufacturing buyers across all sectors. AMRC Factory 2050)
3D scanning, digital data management and There were 159 exhibitors supported within an
industrial 3D-printing, into the food processing Innovation Zone, a Workshops and Learning • Further details are outlined in the May 2024
sector. The new technique addresses several Space and a Manufacturing Insights Theatre, issue of Production Engineering Solutions.
issues that currently affect the industry’s ability which in all featured around 50 presentations.
to incorporate 3D-printing, whilst at the same
time complying with food safety regulations Presentations included:
and addressing the need for production line • Empowering Sustainability - Digital Visit our website!
efficiency. Solutions for Supply Chains (Thyssenkrupp Why not head down to our website
Materials UK Limited) and read more news in our blog?
Updated daily with hand-picked
• Sharing Experiences from the WM-HTIA articles from around the web...
Project (Manufacturing Technology Centre)
institutionofelectronics.ac.uk
• Using Simulation to accelerate Robust
Design of Composite Components (The
Centre for Modelling and Simulation
Limited)
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