POWER SUPPLIES: Tips for

ensuring power and process

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SOFTWARE:
These three technologies are driving change in enterprise
OT & IT: Why you
need to introduce an
IT network into your
environment. p.23 asset management. p.17 factory floor. p.14
PM 40065710

HANNOVER
WRAP-UP Couldnt attend this years
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MAY17 AC Branding Front Cover Banner (MA).qxp_Layout 1 4/20/17 3:32 PM Page 1

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June 2017
Vol. 32, No.4

DEPARTMENTS

4 From the editor

5 Automation upfront
The latest industry news,
deal makers, and movers
and shakers

20
16 Centre stage
Mike Bajurny, operations
officer and plant manager,
Flow Water

COLUMNS

CONTENTS
10 Industry watch
How we can help make our
industry millennial ready
12 Machine safety
Six easy ways to ensure
conveyor safety COVER STORY
14 Going digital
Theres nothing to fear 20 Hannover Messe wrap-up
but fear ITself Couldnt attend this years Hannover Messe? Catch up on what
30 Backstory you missed
Are you forcing the wrong By Alyssa Dalton
supply chain optimization

10 17 Taking charge
to fit your organization?
Three technologies driving change in enterprise asset
management
NEW PRODUCTS By Patrick Zirnhelt

26 Hydraulics & pneumatics 22 Hannover highlights

26 HMI & operator interface A collection of standout demos from the show floor
27 Motors & drives By Alyssa Dalton
27 Connectivity
28 Test & measurement
29 Sensors
23 Quality power
Ensuring power and process stability in a manufacturing
29 Robotics

17
environment
By Yves Bouhadana
COVER PHOTO: DEUTSCHE MESSE

MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION June 2017 AutomationMag.com 3

MA_Murr_Nov.indd 1 2016-10-27 9:20 AM
 FROM THE EDITOR
BY ALYSSA DALTON
NOTABLE Your resource for Canadas industrial
TWEETS automation news
EDITOR

Auto strength in Canada

@destacochat Alyssa Dalton
Highlights of adalton@annexweb.com
#Automate2017
including PUBLISHER

A
#oneDESTACO ccording to Brendan Grand Caravan and Chrysler Pacifica Klaus B. Pirker
Virtual Reality Sweeney, growth is the one minivans. kpirker@annexweb.com
demo from word that can be used to sum This proportion is likely to increase VICE PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER
@Automation- up the findings of a recent in the near future as Toyota replaces Tim Dimopoulos
Mag report that examines the stability of Corolla production with the RAV4 at tdimopoulos@annexbizmedia.com
the overall Canadian vehicle produc- its assembly plant in Cambridge and as
@RIA_robotics tion and auto industry employment GM begins to assemble pickup trucks in ART DIRECTOR

RIAs Carole over the last five years. Oshawa, Sweeney said. As well as the Graham Jeffrey
Franklin Sweeney is the author of A Profile ongoing economic recovery in Canada gjeffrey@annexweb.com
spoke with @ of Canadas Automotive Manufacturing and the United States, the auto industry ACCOUNT CO-ORDINATOR
AutomationMag Industry 2012-2016 and project manager has benefited from recent investment Kathryn Nyenhuis
about common of The Automotive Policy Research announcements stemming from con- knyenhuis@annexweb.com
#robot safety Centre, headquartered at McMaster tract negotiations between Unifor and
misconceptions: University in Hamilton, Ont. He notes Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler. CIRCULATION MANAGER

http://ow.ly/ that employment in vehicle assembly Also, the federal and Ontario govern- Urszula Grzyb
SFJO30bk6ej and automotive parts manufacturing ments have implemented and refined ugrzyb@annexbizmedia.com
3D PRINTING: Acquisition
expected to help Canadian SHOW RECAP: BACKSTORY: The necessity
of using planning and
grew every year to 140,404 in 2016, several public policy tools to support COO
signifying an increase of 14,704 people, investment in traditional manufacturing
manufacturer ramp up Automate 2017 highlights include cobots, smart machines scheduling software to
innovation. p.20 and virtual reality. p.24 measure improvement. p.30

TED MARKLE
while annual vehicle production aver- and emerging vehicle technologies. tmarkle@annexweb.com
A SKILLED
WORKFORCE How an Ontario machine shop finds,
aged just below 2.4 million units over In order for Canadas automotive
PRESIDENT & CEO
trains and retains its next

the past five years. The report finds the industry to continue growing, Sweeney
generation of employees p.16

Mike Fredericks
PM 40065710

increase in employment and slight de- believes it must expand its existing foot-
crease in vehicle production is due partly print. If were going to grow, we need to CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
MAY 2017

to a shift away from the production of build more plants, he stressed. Yves Bouhadana, Kevin Deveau, Paul Hogen-
MAY17 AC Branding Front Cover Banner (MA).qxp_Layout 1 4/20/17 3:32 PM Page 1

Automation, electromechanical, cabling, and

interconnect products from 300+ manufacturers.

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doorn, Rick Huijbregts, WSPS, Patrick Zirnhelt
MA_AlliedBanner_May.indd 1 2017-04-21 11:48 AM
passenger cars and towards light trucks, And just about a month before
@MSAccel which require more person-hours to the report was published, Ford of
Great piece from assemble, and to a shift towards higher Canada, along with the federal and
#MSAalumni value-added vehicles. provincial governments, announced a Manufacturing Automation is published seven
@DataRPM - Its interesting to note the FCA $1.2-billion investment in its Windsor times a year by:
How #IoT can Windsor minivan plant, which employs operations with others in Ottawa, Annex Business Media
help predict & more than 6,000 people, as well as Ford Waterloo and Oakville, creating and 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto,
ON M3B 2S9
prevent failures: Oakville and Toyota Cambridge are maintaining 800 jobs. Tel 416-510-5187
https://aka.ms/ among the six largest manufacturers in We must all invest in growth initia- Fax 416-510-5170
gex57h Canada by employment, according to tives in order to remain competitive.
Printed in Canada
the report. It also estimates roughly two- Now is the time to invest in innova- ISSN 1480-2996
@Universal_ thirds of all vehicles produced in Canada tion, people and automation. | MA
Publication Mail Agreement #40065710
Robot include medium-sized SUVs, such as
Think of Toyota RAV4, Ford Edge, Honda CR-V, CIRCULATION
#cobots like a Chevrolet Equinox as well as Dodge email: lmalicdem@annexbizmedia.com
Tel: 416-510-5187
tool for changing Fax: 416-510-5170
tasks Americas Mail: 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON M3B 2S9
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EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
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4 @AutomationMag
 AUTOMATION UPFRONT

INDUSTRY 4.0

CRIQ and Festo open Sandvik, PARC partner

Canadas first cyber- to advance digital
physical laboratory manufacturing Long-term strategy: The parties say the deal will help them develop
solutions in digital manufacturing and Industry 4.0.
The Centre de recherche indus- Sandvik Coromant says it is
trielle du Qubec (CRIQ) has strengthening its capabilities in
opened what it says is Canadas digital manufacturing by signing a footprint in Silicon Valley and agreement, PARC will allocate
first-ever cyber-physical laboratory a research agreement with PARC, R&D resources in digital manu- resources to conduct R&D tech-
in Saint-Laurent, Que., describing a Xerox company. The deal means facturing. nologies within digital manufac-
it as an investment that will give PARC will provide Sandvik with Under the terms of the turing for Sandvik Coromant.
Quebec-based manufacturers ac-
cess to a real factory of the future.
Described as a comprehensive,
smart factory to be used as a learn-
ing and research platform, the
laboratory will allow participants
to observe and understand the
affects of Industry 4.0 technologies
before having to commit to the
investment required to transform
their own company.
Thanks to our partnership with
Festo a worldwide giant in In-
dustry 4.0 technologies we will
be able to provide value-added ser-
vices to companies along with the
innovation ecosystem and thereby
accelerate the digital transition in
the Quebec manufacturing sector,
said Denis Hardy, president and
CEO of the CRIQ.
Festo Canada regards Industry
4.0 as a group of key technolo-
gies which together can enable
smart and agile manufacturing
systems. An increasingly pro-
ductive manufacturing sector is
a major contributor to a thriving
economy. Investment in Industry
4.0 technologies can make that
vision a reality for Quebec. We are
delighted to be a part of this initia-
tive in Quebec through our highly
constructive co-operation with our
colleagues at CRIQ, added Roger
Hallett, president and CEO of
Festo Canada.
Lab equipment will be provided
by Festo Didactic.
After successfully providing
educational training and industrial
solutions in Quebec for forty years,
PHOTO: SANDVIK COROMANT

opening the cyber physical with

CRIQ to fuel the advanced manu-
facturing sector is a natural next
step, said Thomas Lichtenberger,
CEO of Festo Didactic North
America.

MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION June 2017 AutomationMag.com 5

MA_Beckhoff_June.indd 1 2017-05-18 2:04 PM
 AUTOMATION UPFRONT
As well, Sandvik will acquire all
intellectual property and technol-
ogy related to PARCs software for
process planning and automated
manufacturing cost estimation for
subtractive manufacturing.
This partnership is a natural
step and in line with Sandvik
Coromants long-term strategy
to develop attractive solutions in
the field of digital manufacturing
and Industry 4.0, said Magnus
Ekbck, vice president and head
of business development and
digital machining for Sandvik
Coromant. With this cooperation
we will significantly strengthen
our capabilities within digital
machining.
Manufacturing is entering a
dynamic new phase as the cyber
and physical worlds converge,
and the complex and diverse
industry needs significant in-
novation to truly progress, said
PARC CEO Tolga Kurtoglu. The
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6 @AutomationMag
MA_Encoder_June.indd 1
automation and manufacturing
of complex products has been
the integrated coupling of design
and manufacturing, which we
have been developing at PARC
for many years. Were pleased to
partner with Sandvik Coromant
to see these innovations come to
life on the global stage.
ROBOTICS
North American
robotics market surges
32% in unit volume
North American robotics com-
panies posted the strongest ever
first-quarter results, according
to the Robotic Industries Asso-
ciation (RIA), a not-for-profit
trade association, adding that
both robot orders and shipments
achieved record levels.
An all-time high total of 9,773
robots valued at roughly $516
million were ordered from North
automotive component suppliers
2017-05-12 10:12 AM
Robot record: RIA finds a record high of 9,773 robots were ordered
from North American robotics companies during Q1 2017.
American robotics companies
during the first quarter of 2017,
a 32 per cent growth in units
over the same period in 2016.
Meanwhile, order revenue grew
28 per cent over the first quarter
of last year. Robot shipments also
reached new heights, with 8,824
robots valued at $494 million
shipped to North American cus-
tomers in the opening quarter of
the year, noted RIA, adding that
this represents growth of 24 per
cent in units over the same period
in 2016.
The automation industry con-
tinues to grow robustly as compan-
ies invest to increase productivity
and boost competitiveness while
also providing opportunities for
workers, said Jeff Burnstein, RIA
president. We are excited to hear
about the new jobs being created
and how companies such as Ama-
zon, GM and others are training
and retraining their workforce
to enable them to embrace these
higher skilled jobs.
Growth in automotive related
industries soared in the first
quarter of 2017. Robots ordered by
The Government of Canada
were up 53 per cent while orders
by automotive OEMs increased
32 per cent. Another good sign
for the future of robotics was the
continued growth in non-auto-
motive industries like metals
(54 per cent), semiconductors/
electronics (22 per cent), and food
and consumer goods (15 per cent).
June 2017 MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION
OPERATIONS
CRRC to build plant in
New Brunswick
CRRC has announced it will
build a plant in Canada to further
expand its marketing channels
in North America. The plant will
manufacture heavy load, special
railway vehicles and railway
vehicle brakes.
The new facility, located in
Moncton, N.B., will create more
than 200 jobs in the first phase
and generate more than $1 mil-
lion in tax revenue for the local
government annually, says the
company.
The plant was jointly set up by
Sichuan-based CRRC Meishan
Co., Ltd., a freight train maker
under CRRC, Moncton-based
ARS Canada Rolling Stock Inc.,
a local railcar manufacturer and
service supplier, and a CRRC
subsidiary in Hong Kong.
Potato processor
invests in new tech
has announced support to help
upgrade the processing facility
PHOTO: PHONLAMAIPHOTO
at East Point Potato 2009 Inc. in
Souris, P.E.I.
The $500,000 repayable con-
tribution, made available from the
Atlantic Canada Opportunities
Agency (ACOA), will allow East
Point Potato to purchase and
 install new equipment in an effort
to increase productivity.
Shareholders of East Point
Potato 2009 Inc. come from sixth
generation potato farms that pack
their own potatoes as well as prod-
uct from farms in the surrounding
region.
3D PRINTING
New group works to
help enterprises build
additive manufacturing
strategy
Stratasys says its new Expert
Services Group in North America
is designed to help manufacturers
build their additive manufactur-
ing strategy and workflow to
gain the benefits of 3D printing for
improved production processes.
PHOTO: RENISHAW
printing, automation and manu-
facturing digitization, and will
offer a range of services to help
accelerate the capture of bene-
fits from additive manufacturing
across all stages of technology
adoption and across all vertical
markets.
We can support companies
across the entire maturity spec-
trum from the novice first looking
to assess the technology, right
through to a highly experienced
multinational that has decided
to scale up its use of additive
manufacturing, said Dr. Reeves,
who holds more than 20 years of
experience delivering and man-
aging consulting services in the
additive manufacturing industry.
Services include:
Opportunity evaluation to
that could be removed with
3D printing;
Technology mapping to deter-
mine feasibility of 3D printing
for production;
Strategy development to maxi-
mize 3D printing profitability
through capital investment
planning and supply chain
development; and
Safety and environmental
management.
Renishaw opens
additive manufacturing
solutions centre
Engineering and technologies
company Renishaw has opened
its first North American additive
manufacturing solutions centre in
Kitchener, Ont., complementing
its existing network of solutions
Expert network: The centre will
connect customers with additive
manufacturing technology.
investment into making additive
manufacturing a mainstream
process used in series production
in various industries, including:
aerospace, automotive, oil and
gas, and consumer products.
Staffed with application engin-
eers, the solutions centre provides
customers with access to additive
manufacturing technology
and expertise at a predictable,

Led by Dr. Phil Reeves, Strata- determine where and how 3D centres in the the U.K., Germany, manageable cost, explains the
sys Expert Services aims to target printing can add value; India and China. U.K.-based company, adding that
the entire digital manufacturing Data analysis to find waste, The new Canadian centre, customers can also gain know-
ecosystem, it says, including 3D bottlenecks and inventory it says, is the latest step in its ledge and confidence in a secure

It helps the business from a cost,

productivity and capacity standpoint.
Phil De Mauro, Manufacturing Engineering Manager,
Whippany Actuation Systems

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MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION1 June 2017 24/05/2017 16.047
AutomationMag.com
MA_UniversalRobots_June.indd 1 2017-05-25 9:31 AM
AUTOMATION UPFRONT
development environment.
The new solutions centre
will provide customers with a
cost-effective, rapid learning en-
vironment where companies can
build confidence and knowledge
in the applications of additive
manufacturing, said Marc Saun-
ders, director of global solutions
centres. The Canadian centre
forms a vital node in the global
network.
Officially inaugurated last Nov-
ember, the centre offers a range of
Renishaw technologies including
the AM250 and AM400 additive
manufacturing systems, as well
as metrology and finishing equip-
ment.
INTERNATIONAL
UNITED STATES
Honeywell starts up
new auto refrigerant
production plant
In an effort to meet the growing
demand for its next-generation
mobile air conditioning re-
frigerant, Honeywell has started
commercial operations at its new
Geismar, La., manufacturing
plant.
With this start-up, the plant
becomes the worlds largest site
for producing the Solstice yf auto
refrigerant.
According to the company, the
plant is one of its most advanced
production sites and will showcase
some of Honeywells own process
and automation technologies,
including Honeywell Connected
Plant.
A done deal: Methods 3D and Markforged executives shake on it.
8 @AutomationMag
Honeywell says it invested
heavily in the construction and
supply of the Geismar facility,
increasing its workforce by more
than 20 per cent, as well as sup-
porting nearly 1,400 construction
jobs as part of the project.
Our new Geismar plant will be
a leading source of supply of Sol-
stice yf for our global automotive
customer base, said Rick Winick,
automotive refrigerants business
director.
INDIA AND AFRICA
Chevrolet announces
plans to pull out of
several markets
General Motors has announced it
will pull the Chevrolet brand out
of India, South Africa and East
Africa by the end of the year.
The company says it will focus
its GM India manufacturing
operations on producing vehicles
for export only and will transition
GM South Africa manufacturing
to Isuzu Motors.
As the industry continues to
change, we are transforming our
business, establishing GM as a
more focused and disciplined
company, said GM Chairman
and CEO Mary Barra. We are
committed to deploying capital to
higher return initiatives that will
enable us to lead in our core busi-
ness and in the future of personal
mobility.
Barra explains the company
wants to focus on markets that
will help drive its profitability and
strengthen its business growth.
The automaker expects to save
Auto announcement: Chevrolet to exit the Indian, South African and
East African markets.
roughly $100 million per year as
a result of the changes, adding
that it will take a charge of $500
million in the second quarter to
complete the actions.
DEAL MAKERS
BFM names two new
Canadian distributors
The maker of the BFM snap-fit
flexible connector system has
appointed two new distributors to
help service the Canadian market:
HiTech Piping (HTP) and Rate
Technology Systems.
Quebec-based HTP will pro-
vide sales service to the province
of Quebec and the rest of Eastern
Canada, while Rate Technology
Systems, which is based in To-
ronto, will cover Ontario and
until additional distributors are
appointed the rest of Western
Canada.
BFM Global Ltd describes the
fitting is a spigot and snap-in flex-
ible connector system that boasts
a 100 per cent sealed transition,
promising to eliminate the prob-
lems associated with traditional
hose-clip connector systems.
Methods 3D signs
partnership deal with
Markforged
Methods 3D, a provider of 3D
printing solutions, says it will pro-
vide sales, service and support for
the Markforged line of 3D printers,
which includes the Onyx series,
Mark Two and Mark X. According
to the parties, the partnership will
expand access to both companies
June 2017 MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION
advanced additive manufacturing
solutions to manufacturers across
North America.
Markforged describes itself
as an innovative 3D printing
company that delivers same-day
working parts made of carbon
fiber composites, noting that it
invented a continuous carbon
fiber filament printing method.
Markforged printers are
an ideal complement to our
extensive suite of additive manu-
facturing solutions, said Jamie
Hanson, Methods 3D COO. With
Markforged, we will significantly
enhance our customers pro-
duction efficiencies by enabling
them to quickly create tools, jigs
and fixtures for myriad industrial
applications. Our deep experience
in metalworking manufacturing
combined with Markforgeds
expertise in high strength parts
is a perfect match for meeting to-
days demanding manufacturing
challenges.
The partnership will also
enable Methods Machine Tools
Automation Group to design, in-
tegrate and provide solutions for
its CNC machining automation
systems with the ability to print
unique end of arm tooling com-
ponents for robots, jigs, fixtures
and more.
Methods 3D offers a broad
additive manufacturing platform
PHOTOS: METHODS 3D; STRATOL
and is on the leading edge of 3D
printing as well as traditional
manufacturing, added Greg
Mark, CEO of Markforged. We
are excited to partner with a com-
pany that has a proven track record
of delivering excellent, innovative
manufacturing solutions.
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Wago Canada
is announcing
Patrick Butler as
its new regional
sales manager
in Southwestern
Ontario.
Born and raised just outside
of Toronto, Ont., Butler has
spent 16 years with Phoenix
Contact as a district application
specialist, a regional sales
manager, and regional channel
manager.
MPW Industrial Services has
named Justin Pierce director of
engineering and manufacturing,
responsible for technology
and fabrication capabilities
companywide. With nearly
3,000 employees and 72
locations in Canada and the
United States, MPW Industrial
Services provides industrial
cleaning, water purification,
and facility and environmental
management services to
customers in various industries
such as chemicals, refining, oil
and gas, automotive, and food
and beverage.
Intelligrated, a
North American-
based automated
material handling
solutions
provider, has
announced the
election of Matt Wicks, vice
president, product development,
manufacturing systems, to the
Robotic Industries Association
(RIA) board of directors.
Wicks two-year term began
following the boards January
meeting. RIA said Wicks was
elected for his background in
systems integration and robotic
applications in high-growth
logistics markets, including
experience with warehousing,
distribution and e-commerce
fulfillment operations.
The board of
directors of
Bison Gear &
Engineering
has announced
John Burch will
lead as company
CEO. He joined Bison Gear in
2008 as regional sales manager,
later progressing to his role
in November 2015, as the
executive vice president, Go To
Market. Burch succeeds Marcus
J.S. Bours who, since June 2016,
has served as the interim CEO.
NAI, a existing and new customers,
manufacturer says the company, as well
of end-to-end
connectivity
solutions, has
named Jason
E. Porter as
director of engineering and
continuous improvement. In this
position, Porter will report to
CEO Jon A. Jensen. Jason has
deep product, manufacturing,
and quality systems experience
in the connectivity marketplace,
especially for high-performing
technologies that both NAI
and our customers build and
support, said Jensen.
Luigi Guido has been named
vice-president of sales for
the Global Retool Group
(GRG) America LLC, the North
American subsidiary of the
globally based Global Retool
Group. In this role, Guido will
oversee relationships with
as direct efforts to build
awareness and drive sales
for the companys expertise
in production machinery
rehabilitation and retooling. | MA

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MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION June 2017 AutomationMag.com 9

MA_Advantech_June.indd 1 2017-05-18 12:00 PM
 INDUSTRY WATCH Paul Hogendoorn is the co-founder of FreePoint Technologies,
Measure. Analyze. Share. (Dont forget to share!). He can be reached
BY PAUL HOGENDOORN at paulh@getfreepoint.com or www.getfreepoint.com.

Making our industry millennial ready

W
e are at a very interesting
time in our industry;
indeed, we may be at
the cusp of a significant
paradigm change, and a critical one.
We still have more than seven mil-
lion hands-on, value-adding jobs in our
small- and medium-sized plants in Can-
ada and the U.S. and a large percentage
of those workers are planning to retire
in the next five to 10 years.
Automation efforts continue re-
lentlessly, and Industry 4.0 and Smart
Manufacturing are objectives on the
horizon, but that is still a relatively long
way out. In Canada, an estimated 85
per cent of our machines are 28 years
old or older. In the U.S., the numbers
are likely better, but it is still an issue.
Our people will be retiring faster than
these machines will be replaced, and
companies are finding it a challenge to
attract and then retain a younger
workforce. A manufacturing job is a good job. It plant communities healthy again.
The reasons for this difficulty is generally pays a decent and sustainable Our factories once provided more
a story in of itself, but this column wage, and its economic multiplier than jobs; they provided a sense of
is about the opportunity that is pre- effect is estimated to be a healthy sev- community, belonging and even
senting itself to forward-thinking en-times direct revenue factor. Every family. Our millennial generation
manufacturers as a result of the changes dollar created by a manufacturing craves things like community, social
going on in our society and in the way company is estimated to bring seven interaction and being part of some-
the next generation communicates. additional dollars into that community. thing exciting. As we start to adopt
It is inevitable for our manufacturing Contrast that with many retail jobs, some of their attitudes and adapt to
industry to change significantly in the where most of every dollar spent leaves this changing reality, we can make our
next five to 10 years, but the question the community. It would be foolish to companies more exciting as well.
is, will it be for the better or for the imagine, or aim for, a manufacturing Admittedly, this column is a 30,000-
worse? Because hands-on manufac- industry that automated away these foot view, but thats appropriate because
turing jobs are critical to the economic seven million hands-on jobs. its actually being written at 30,000
well-being for so many families and Our factories But heres our challenge: many of the feet Im currently on a plane flying
communities, Im hoping it will be once provid- people doing these jobs are retiring, and to Silicon Valley to share these thoughts
for the better. Aiming to eliminate ed more than the next generation is in little rush to with others in the software industry.
those jobs through automation doesnt jobs; they step in and take them. A big reason is The future of IT in manufacturing
serve our society well; in my opinion, provided because the factory work environment has to be about more than simply
integrating the younger generation of a sense of is not aligned with how this generation connecting machines, collecting data,
workers in the workplace in a more works, communicates, interacts and and making data decisions. It has to be
community,
meaningful way is a better course. thinks. Trying to fit them into these about connecting people as well, and
Henry Ford is often credited with belonging workplaces is like trying to drive square reconnecting meaning with work.
making the automobile affordable for and even pegs into round holes. We are not going Our jobs yield more than products
the average person. What he doesnt get family. to be successful if we think we have to and income, they return satisfaction
enough credit for, however, is raising change them to fit our jobs. and contribute to purpose as well. Our
the average wage so the average work- However, I believe we can be ex- society needs these things as much,
er could afford an automobile. As he ceedingly more successful if we can or more, than it needs the products
brought the price of cars down, he also make our jobs fit them. By doing that, and the income. To me, sustainability
brought the annual workers income we will not only attract more young ultimately means making sure the
PHOTO:SOLSTOCK

way up. people to our factory jobs, we will industry remains healthy and vibrant
In my opinion, Henry Ford created get the benefit of fresh thinking, new for the next generations benefit and
the middle class we still enjoy today. perspectives, youthful enthusiasm, purpose, and the next generation is
and a chance to get our internal, in coming now. | MA
10 @AutomationMag June 2017 MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION
MACHINE SAFETY Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) is a leader in providing
impactful risk management solutions. WSPS offers unparalleled health
BY WSPS and safety expertise, insight and solutions. Learn more at wsps.ca.

Six easy ways to ensure conveyor safety

D
ont let emergency stop but-
tons and pull cords lull you
into a false sense of security.
Theyre the conveyor equiva-
lent of the engine oil light on your cars
dashboard: If the light goes on or
youre reaching for the emergency stop
button it may be too late.
Being able to reach the emergency
stop does not mean you are safe, said
WSPS machine safety specialist Mi-
chael Wilson. Safeguarding is about
protecting you from getting to the
hazard itself, or stopping the hazard
before you can reach it. An emergency
stop achieves neither.

Applying the hierarchy of

safeguarding controls
Wilson recommends six types of solu-
tions to ensure conveyor safety. Our
first step would be to approach any risk
through elimination or substitution,
he noted. They sit at the top of the
hierarchy of controls, a concept that
ranks types of solutions from most to
least effective. Heres more on each of
the six types.

1. Elimination
Ask yourself these questions. Can we
automate the process? Separating
people from the process reduces the
risk. Can we eliminate pinch points
and other hazards when sourcing a new
conveyor system? During the design
phase, can we reduce the frequency of
under-conveyor clean-ups, conveyor
maintenance, removing jams, and other
risky activities?
2. Substitution
Can we replace dangerous equipment
with safer equipment? Is your main-
tenance department still using that
nasty chemical cleaner, or have they
replaced it with a less hazardous clean-
er? It may not clean parts as well, but
may be less harmful to the people who
have to use it.
3. Engineering controls
This is where safeguarding comes into
play. Buying equipment? Make sure the
manufacturer meets the CSAs recently
revised CSA Z432-16, Safeguarding of
Machinery. Adding guards to existing
12 @AutomationMag
equipment? Follow the standard.
When do you need a guard? Think
MAC (Moving Parts + Access + Conse-
quences). Can a person reach around,
under, through, or over? Dont confuse
deterrent devices, such as guardrails,
with safeguarding. Deterrent devices
can reduce the probability of access to
the danger zone but wont totally pre-
vent access. Thats what safeguards do.
Also, consider designing equipment in
a way that allows routine maintenance
tasks to be performed without remov-
ing guards.
4. Awareness
Keep employees aware of hazards. These
devices can raise awareness among even
the most distracted employees:
lights, beacons, strobes
computer warnings
signs
restricted space painted on floor
beepers, horns, labels
posted procedures
5. Administration
Use administrative controls, like safe
work procedures, to ensure the safe
and correct use of the equipment.
Options include:
safe job procedures
safety equipment inspections
training
lockout during maintenance
Safeguard- workflow planning and design
ing is about
protecting 6. Personal protective
you from equipment (PPE)
getting to the While protective headgear, safety
hazard itself, glasses, hearing protection and other
forms of PPE reduce the risk of injury
or stopping
or damage, theyre the least effective
the hazard control.
before I once worked with someone
you can named Jason, Wilson said. He didnt
reach it. An like the way his safety glasses cut into
emergency the side of his head. Rather than find
stop achieves a different pair, he broke off the arms,
neither. drilled through the lenses, and with
twist ties hung the armless glasses
from the baseball hat he always wore.
To anyone walking by, it looked like
he was wearing the glasses, but they
offered no protection. Watch out for
the Jasons. | MA
June 2017 MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION
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 GOING DIGITAL
BY RICK HUIJBREGTS
Theres
nothing to
fear but fear
ITself
O
ne of the most significant
opportunities available
to factory leaders is the
convergence of operational
and information technologies (OT and
IT) on the plant floor; and yet, adoption
of IT in Canadian factories remains
slow, a fact due at least in part to
several misconceptions and fears about
Ethernet-based networks. I understand
why the introduction of IT into your
industrial environment sounds fright-
ening. An IT network increases your
vulnerability to cyberattacks, right?
And it makes floor management more
complex? Oh, and didnt you hear that
youd lose control of the factory floor
once an IT network is in place?
The truth is that an Ethernet net-
work does not increase your vulner-
ability to cyberattacks, does not make
floor management more complex, and
certainly does not surrender control
of the factory to your IT colleagues. In
fact, the right IT network will not only
make your factory more secure, more
efficient, and give you more control
it will make your job easier.
Myth #1: An IT network makes
my factory floor vulnerable to
cyberattacks
While it is true that legacy industrial
controls are vulnerable to outside
threats once connected to the Internet,
the myth that IT makes your factory
floor vulnerable is false. The reality is
that this vulnerability exists whether
an IT network is in place or not. The
industrial automation and control sys-
tems (IACS) on your factory floor are
already a security risk. Your machines
were never built to protect against
sophisticated threats.
It is a fact that as more of your indus-
trial control systems become connected
to the industrial Internet, more of these
vulnerable machines become a target
for hackers. In 2014, the Dragonfly mal-
ware program targeted more than 100
IACS. Attacks on industrial networks
14 @AutomationMag
continue to rise each year. It is vital
that these legacy control systems,
which can be 20 years old or older, be
secured against todays cyber threats.
But concern over vulnerabilities is not
a reason to avoid an IT network on your
factory floor. Why? Because the right
IT network a secure IT network
mitigates these threats and improves
your floors security posture.
A secure IT network intelligently
and logically monitors traffic, giving
your IT team end-to-end visibility of
possible threats. As a result, you can
rest easy knowing your machines are
protected against attacks that could
trigger production downtime, physical
machine damage or IP theft.
Myth #2: An Ethernet
network will complicate floor
management
A common misconception about IT
on the factory floor is that an Ether-
net network, be it wired or wireless,
makes production management more
complex and time-consuming. In fact,
the converse is true. The introduction
of an IT network simplifies equipment
management by providing a single
pane-of-glass view for floor managers.
Imagine this: Instead of walking the
floor and manually recording data from
each machine on your line, you simply
open an application on your tablet and
see how each machine is performing in
real time. In addition to performance,
the application also overlays historical
data into the results, giving you alerts for
machines that may need maintenance
soon or are underperforming. And all of
this is because your industrial control
systems are connected to a common IT
network that collects this data in one
space.
You can get hours back in your day,
freeing you for more strategic priorities,
such as improving OEE or identifying
Rick Huijbregts is the vice president of digital transformation and
innovation at Cisco Canada. He leads a team responsible for fuelling
the digitization of customers across the country. He can be contacted
at rhuijbre@cisco.com.
areas for improved utilization. An IT
network also signals the end of the
days of the closed-loop legacy network,
where information wasnt shared
between systems. Advancements in
protocols such as Time Sensitive Net-
working (TSN) are ensuring the future
of factory floor management will be
easier and more intelligent than before.
Myth #3: I will lose control of
the factory floor to IT
Relinquishing control is a concern I
frequently hear from floor leaders who
are hesitant to deploy an IT network in
their factory. If you share this concern,
know you are not alone. Converged IT/
OT networks is an emerging reality for
The right many manufacturers, and managing
IT network these networks requires open com-
will not only munication from both teams. But here
make your is a secret you should know: IT doesnt
factory more want to manage your factory floor.
secure, more Your companys IT team is plenty
busy with user and device manage-
efficient,
ment, network administration, security
and give you updates and patches, and many other
more con- day-to-day tasks. The last thing they
trol it will want to do is add management of the
make your factory environment and all those
job easier. machines to that list. But IT will
want to work in tandem to ensure your
factory is secure and up-to-date. So,
while this means having to negotiate
when to schedule downtime to perform
Dragonfly network upgrades and repair machin-
The Dragonfly ery, it also means you have greater
malware was
reportedly designed visibility and insight into production
to target without giving up control.
pharmaceutical The time to delay deploying Ether-
companies,
according to various net networks on the factory floor has
security experts and passed. To be competitive in todays
media sources. global market, Canadian manufactur-
ers must embrace the advantages of the
industrial Internet and an automated,
responsive IT network. Take heart,
floor leaders, the truth is theres noth-
ing to fear but fear ITself. | MA
June 2017 MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION
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MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION June 2017 AutomationMag.com 15

 CENTRE STAGE
Flow Water operations officer and plant manager, Mike Bajurny,
gave Manufacturing AUTOMATION a tour of the tetra-pack-water
producers new Aurora, Ont., plant which began operations last
month.
MA: Tell me about the
production operation here.
How much of it is automated?
MB: The majority of the plant
uses automation, all stages of the
process filling, capping, and
moving of the product with
the exception of palletizing.
The line operates with only four
people.
The water goes from the
one micron absolute filter (the
pre-filter), into the 0.2 micron
absolute filter. This filter is so
small, its actually the same filter
they use to wash the water to
clean microchips, and because
the [filter] is very, very tiny,
it doesnt affect the water at
all. We dont do any industrial
processing, no distillation, reverse
osmosis, ozonation, chlorination
or anything like that. After going
through the UV light, the water
moves through the stainless steel
piping over to the filler.
As the rotational jaws close,
they seal the top of one, the
bottom of the other package
and at the same time, its filling
it from the top. You get the
unfolded packages that go into
the rotary, final folder and they
come out the other side, folded
and aseptically sealed. We put
the time and date stamp on
them and then they go through
the conveyor system. All the
machines are connected to one
another. If theres a stoppage in
the system, then the machine will
shut down and thats what we
dont want we want to keep it
rolling.
At the capping station, there
is a 1 litre and a 500 millilitre
capper, which heats it up, glues
the cap, holds it in place and
PHOTO: A. DALTON
carries on. Over at the cardboard
packer, the machine pushes 12
packs into the box and sends
it out the other side, glued and
ready to be placed on pallets.
16 @AutomationMag
With the new plant, the
new packaging and the new
machine, we now have the
bio-cap which is made of sugar
cane. Its a fully renewable
resource so that puts us at 74
per cent renewable resources.
This [makes] us a world leader in
my understanding. We are very
excited about this. If you look at
our original packs, they have a
different cap, a PE polyethylene
one. Our new caps have a little
leaf stamped on it and feature a
larger opening, making it easier
to pour out the last little bit of
delicious water. We actually
had suggestions from a lot of
customers who were calling and
emailing us I cant get the
last little bit and we are very
happy to introduce the new cap
with this new operation.
MA: It looks like some areas
of the building are still under
construction. Whats next on
the to-do list?
MB: Were right at the beginning
phase. Operations are just
starting this week (first week of
May). Weve done lots and lots of
testing weeks and months of
it and were ready. Right now
we are running six- to eight-
hour shifts, four days a week. In
one days production, we can
produce 43 pallets of water with
one tanker thats a lot of sales
to do. But once we get to that
point, well go to five days, then
six days, then maybe a night shift
as well.
Everything on the production
side is complete, we just need to
finish the rest of the office space,
the locker rooms, the change
rooms, and the office drywall.
The lab is finished now. The thing
to note is the size of the plant
we have lots of room to grow.
Eventually we hope to have a
machine to make the pallets for
us but they run a couple million
dollars each, and were just not at
that phase yet. Baby steps, right?
MA: Why did Flow Water
choose Aurora as the location
of its first brand-owned
production facility?
MB: The proximity to Toronto
is a big factor. Its very close to
[the downtown core] and being
in Aurora doesnt take us out
of the Greater Toronto Area for
shipping purposes. Its also very
easy to get to the [water] source
in Bruce County, Ontario. Getting
a four-axle, 53-foot-long water
tanker in and out of downtown
Toronto was not the easiest thing
to do, so it was [important] for us
to try to stay out of that area.
Theres always the question
of why not put it at the source,
but then youve got to transport
your pallets, your paper [for
packaging], caps, empty pallets,
and your finished products and
get everything out the door. By
choosing [this location], were
saving a lot on shipping and fuel
costs, which in turn affects our
environmental footprint. | MA
June 2017 MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION
AUTOMATION SOFTWARE

TAKING CHARGE
Three technologies
driving change in
enterprise asset
management
BY PATRICK ZIRNHELT

B
usinesses in every industry are
currently undergoing massive
digital transformation, creating
opportunities to leverage emerging
technologies and enable innovative
approaches to business practices.
But these are not just flash-in-the-pan
technologies. They are long-term shifts in the
way we use technology, requiring a strategic
approach if they are to provide bottom-line
benefits. Here are three of the top tech-
nologies set to disrupt the enterprise asset
management (EAM) landscape: the Internet
of Things (IoT), machine learning, and the intelligence. But as we move into a world IP-enabled remote cameras are starting to
next generation of mobility. where everything is connected, a new smart make their way into the cockpits of large
infrastructure will need to be put into place, earthmoving vehicles used in mining. These
1. First, the Internet of with planning and asset management tools cameras can be connected to centralized soft-
Everything capable of dealing with the scale and lifecycle ware which uses facial recognition to monitor
Businesses are reaping the rewards of IoT. of dispersed but connected assets. for signs of tiredness and either trigger an
Industry experts predict that by 2020, the audible alarm to alert the driver or a produce
number of connected devices worldwide The connected EAM Proactive a response from HR to pull the operator from
will top 50 billion. IoT is allowing organiz- accident avoidance active duty.
ations to collect more information, quickly This is where modern enterprise asset While this will minimize the risk of serious
respond to changes and act on new business management shows its worth. For example, accidents, it will of course have knock-on

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MA_Pilz_Feb.indd 1 2017-01-05 8:57 AM
AUTOMATION SOFTWARE
effects on operations with increased down-
time as a machine sits unmanned. With the
right EAM in place, however, a dynamic
scheduling tool can automatically adapt and
quickly reschedule a suitably qualified and
available alternative employee. This is the
type of scenario that will play out across the
entire enterprise. With more real-time data
facilitating immediate operational decisions,
it is the EAMs job to produce business actions
to minimize the disruption to operations.
The new formula: CBM+IoT
IoT is taking this approach one step further
with condition-based maintenance (CBM),
enabling the EAM solution to automate in-
telligent responses to potential faults. CBM
monitors the health of assets to determine
if any maintenance is required and create a
maintenance history for ongoing analysis.
Sensors in the asset monitor for specific
indicators which signal asset deterioration
or performance decrease.
This data can be captured, shared and ana-
lyzed before being fed directly into the EAM
to get an enterprise-wide view of asset status
and automatically schedule work orders, all
in real-time. In addition to this, it allows
organizations to build up aggregate data sets
on performance and operations which can
be analyzed to inform repair or replace and
other asset lifecycle decisions.
2. Second, we have machine
learning and predictive
analytics
IoT is expanding rapidly, but the important
question decision makers need to ask is, What
actionable intelligence is it producing? If IoT
is the capture, exchange and storage of infor-
mation, then it is the analytics capabilities of
enterprise solutions which will be providing
the answers to that question. EAM software
today must not only accept incoming data
from connected devices. But it must put exec-
utives in control of that information, enable
them to drill through to actions taken as a
result, and configure observation workflows.
The rise of the machine...learning
Condition-based maintenance was designed
to combat entire production lines grinding
to a halt by providing real-time maintenance
indicators, allowing quick responses to faults
that are happening right now. But machine
learning is taking condition-based mainten-
ance one step further to ask, Can we predict
what maintenance will be required ahead of
time?
Unlike CBM, machine learning doesnt
rely on pre-programmed algorithms but
18 @AutomationMag
Because machine learning systems use data collected
from IoT-enabled sensors, they can constantly refine
models to make analytical predictions on asset
performance and efficiency.
enables the machine to learn from huge ag-
gregate data sets to identify new trends and
insights. Because machine learning systems
use data collected from IoT-enabled sensors,
they can constantly refine models to make
analytical predictions on asset performance
and efficiency.
Machine learning in action
For example, an operating motor creating its
own vibrations can monitor and feed back
this data in real-time. If vibrations suddenly
spike outside a set threshold, an engineer
might be scheduled to perform maintenance.
But what if the spike was caused by a truck
driving too close to the machine rather than
a fault in the asset?
With machine learning, the analytics soft-
ware will know to ignore such spikes and only
dispatch an engineer for maintenance when
it receives signals of asset degradation that fits
the data. EAM will automatically schedule a
work order for an available engineer with the
right skill set to perform maintenance work,
as well as identify the right tools and parts for
the job. These advanced warnings will allow
organizations to efficiently leverage global
supply chains, streamline resource allocation
for maintenance operations and reduce local
stock levels for spare parts.
3. Third, future mobility
Mobile technology has been benefiting busi-
nesses for some time now, with improved
communication, field access to computing
functionality and documents, accurate data
recording and more. But there are a couple
of technologies starting to make their way
into the enterprise which are set to have a
significant impact.
Can augmented reality solve resource
shortages?
A common problem facing asset-heavy organ-
izations is having people with the right skill
sets in the right place at the right time even
with the right scheduling tools, workers cant
be in two places at once. Companies are
working to bring forward a remote expert to
assist in complex maintenance augmenting
workers skills with virtual over-the-shoulder
coaching. With these solutions, not only can
the expert engineer see the issue at hand,
but augmented reality (AR) can guide a
technician through even the most complex
of tasks using visualized hand gestures and
tools.
This is just the type of technology which
could be extended to provide mechanics and
technicians virtual sight of components
hidden from view behind other systems or
structures, or pin-point exactly where a fault
lies by augmenting reality with reference
plans and drawings. The key benefit of con-
text-aware AR technology will be reducing
the time it takes to complete complex main-
tenance tasks in difficult environments.
Interactive voice control
The role of a maintenance engineer is very
much a hands-on job, and its not uncommon
for them to work in confined spaces or challen-
ging environments. It is for this reason that the
list of potential benefits from interactive voice
systems in mobile apps should make strategic
planners take notice. Productivity, accuracy
and efficiency would all rise as engineers no
longer need to sacrifice wrench time to input
data at the end of a shift or even manually
interact with EAM on a mobile device. In some
cases, voice-driven computing for hands-free
operation could mean techs could interact
with EAM software in situations where they
need use of both hands, increasing both pro-
ductivity and safety.
This technology has the potential to trans-
form how engineers work, with an engineer
asking their mobile device to report the status
of an IoT-enabled asset, requesting parts data
or accessing instructional or asset documen-
tation.
Prepare for change
EAM software is now taking advantage of
disruptive technologies like IoT, augmented
reality and hands-free computing, but the
fundamental fact remains that executives
need to manage assets in a safe and reliable
way which guarantees their availability, safe
operation and productive capacity. These
human and machine interfaces for EAM
software must make asset data usable for
decision support, and be configurable and
agile enough to adapt to changing business
needs. | MA
Patrick Zirnhelt is the vice president of Enterprise
Service & Asset Management at IFS North America.
June 2017 MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION
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HANNOVER MESSE
WRAP-UP
Catch up on what you missed at this years
mecca of industrial automation technology
BY ALYSSA DALTON
T
aking place April 23 to 28,
Hannover Messe 2017 drew
roughly 6,500 exhibitors and
225,000 visitors together for
five action-packed days of in-
dustrial technology. The lead
theme of Integrated Industry Creating Value
put a spotlight on the benefits of Industry
4.0 and the role of humans in tomorrows
integrated factories. It is clear that robotics
continue to be a driving force behind the
advancement of automation technology in
manufacturing.
The next era of robotics
It seemed like the new generation of robots
was everywhere at this years event, driving
home the fact that robotics both traditional
and collaborativewill continue to transform
manufacturing operations by communicating
with humans and other machines through
connectivity, artificial intelligence (AI) and
sensors.
The key element weve shown in the past
is sensitivity [and] we want to be able to have
20 @AutomationMag MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION
these safe, sensitive robots that are outside
of their cages so that means we can interact
with them and have them be more present in
our lives, said David Fuller, chief technology
officer at Kuka Roboter GmbH, at an exclu-
sive media press conference.
One innovation highlighted at the Kuka
booth was Kuka Connect, a Cloud-based soft-
ware platform that allows users to connect
with their robots from anywhere at any time.
It seems kind of basic with all this talk of In-
dustry 4.0, but this is fundamentally how we
start the vertical and horizontal integration of
new platforms and new capability. From this,
you can gain better efficiency and uptime [be-
cause you know] when to service your robot,
There was huge interest in the displays in
the robotics halls. Not only are cobots an
exciting prospect for large companies
many SMEs were also at Hannover Messe
to find out about these new helpers.
and can better manage and commission it,
and in the end, deliver better cycle time and
overall throughput, Fuller said, describing
Kuka Connect as the very beginning of a
platform that will eventually grow to include
production optimization, condition monitor-
ing and predictive maintenance applications,
among others.
One of the things that were more
optimistic about...is that if you have a safe
robot that can be out of the fence the
barrier to its usage is the cost to implement
the specific solution. With deep learning and
AI, we believe over time, you just simply train
your robot to follow what youre doing and it
can learn the process and thus have robots do
more things. And this is really the heart, the
promise of AI, noted Fuller.
These robots can learn from one another,
but its still humans telling them what to do. In
other words, they are universally deployable
intelligent tools designed for use by factory
workers, said Dr. Jochen Kckler, member
PHOTOS: A. DALTON
June 2017 MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION
of the managing board at Deutsche Messe,
noting that collaborative robots will become
increasingly attuned to and be able to sup-
port humans in their work. There was huge
interest in the displays in the robotics halls.
Not only are cobots an exciting prospect for
large companies many SMEs were also at
Hannover Messe to find out about these new
helpers.
Multimarket commitment
Beckhoff Automation is just one of the doz-
ens of companies that debuted new product
innovations at Hannover Messe 2017. The
company introduced several new products
designed for process technology applications
at Hannover Messe, including the CPX series
control panels for use in hazardous areas and
the ELX series EtherCAT terminals, announ-
cing a stronger commitment to the oil and
gas, process-oriented industries. This closely
follows the release of what the company de-
scribes as the worlds smallest Industrial PC,
the C6015. Introduced earlier this year, the
IPC measures 82 x 82 x 40 mm and features
a quad-core CPU for compact and powerful
control solutions.
At a press conference, manager director
Hans Beckhoff noted that the company
generated global sales of 679 million euros
in 2016 a 9.5 per cent increase over the pre-
vious year crediting much of the success
to new product development, broad market
penetration and improved distribution net-
work coverage.
We really feel that with our offering today
in that space, [it is] almost to the point where
we can connect to any kind of network thats
existing. We can go into a process facility and
have our tools, not just from a hardware offer-
ing standpoint but also from the communica-
tions standards, that we are now able to work
with and from a software standpoint, said
Aurelio Banda, Beckhoff Automation North
America CEO. Having the FDT, DTM type
interface gives us the ability to come right
into an existing environment and get applied,
and moreover, get learning so that way in the
MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION June 201
2017
future, its a new type of installment. It gives
us the ability to embark with new customers,
to give them the lead affect that they need to
have for their specific designs.
Top honours
The jury selected fleXstructures GmbH of
Kaiserlautern, Germany, as the winner of
this years Robotics Award for its IPS robot
optimization software. The award recognizes
technological innovations that make a contri-
bution towards robot-assisted solutions in the
field of industrial automation or towards the
development of mobile robots and autono-
mous systems.
fleXstructures GmbH says its IPS robot
optimization software primarily helps auto-
motive manufacturers gain a competitive
edge by programming and commissioning
their robot cells faster and more flexibly. By
simulating millions of potential robot path
combinations, the software coordinates
movement paths and sequences across mul-
tiple robots in an effort to maximize efficiency
and avoid collisions, explains fleXstructures,
adding that the simulations optimize move-
ment paths to ensure maximum service life
for the hoses and lines attached to the robots.
Meanwhile, the Hermes Award went to
German company Schunk GmbH & Co. KG.
for its self-learning gripping system, which it
says is ideally suited for Industry 4.0 manu-
facturing environments where humans and
robots will collaborate closely. An intelligent
modular gripping system for human-robot
collaboration, the JL1 co-act gripper is
capable of interacting and communicating
with its human operator, and it features
sensor systems that create a safety bubble
by tracking the proximity of humans to avoid
direct human-machine contact.
An international affair
As this years offical Partner Country, Poland
sent a total of 200 companies to Hannover,
with research and startups a special priority
for the country, as noted by Polish Prime
Minister Beata Szydlo in her address at the
opening ceremony. Show organizers said the
largest number of foreign visitors came from
China (9,000), followed by the Netherlands
(6,200), India (5,300) and Poland, whose
5,000 visitors set a new Partner Country
record. | MA
Visit bit.ly/2qtMgPJ to see our photo highlights, and
save the date for Hannover Messe 2018, which runs
April 23 to 27 with Mexico as the Partner Country.
AutomationMag.com 21
HANNOVER HIGHLIGHTS
A collection of standout demos from the show floor
BY ALYSSA DALTON

FESTO
Drawing a large crowd at the Festo
booth was the BionicCobot, a seven-
axis lightweight robot which is moved
solely using pneumatic semi-rotary
drives. Dr. Elias Knubben, head of
Corporate Bionic Projects, says the
cobots movements are based on
the human arm. Currently a concept
model, Dr. Knubben predicts the
BionicCobot will hit the market in the
next three to five years.

HITACHI
Hitachi says its Lumada IoT platform
is able to deliver the most advanced
capabilities available today, turning data
into intelligent action in an effort to
drive manufacturing, energy and other
industrial businesses. During a virtual
reality presentation of Lumada at the
booth, company representatives said
Hitachis rich expertise in OT and IT
allows Lumada to help customers solve
their challenges by turning them into
competitive advantages.
OMRON
Attendees had the opportunity to
HIWIN sharpen their table tennis skills at the
Omron booth thanks to Forpheus,
Who knew that robots are also Star
a ping-pong robot that promises to
Wars fans? Hiwin RA605 series six-axis
interpret, predict, learn, think, act,
robots put on quite the lightsaber duel,
connect and communicate with
swiping back and forth to the classic
humans. The third-generation robot
blockbuster theme. Designed for light
not only plays against its opponents
industrial work, the robots are best
but works to tutor them so they
suited for pick-and-place and assembly
can become better players.
applications, says Hiwin.

HUAWEI
The Huawei booth featured a series
of manufacturing solutions, including
a 5G-based industrial robot jointly
demonstrated with Kuka that
PHOTOS: A. DALTON

entertained crowds by rocking out

on the drums. The parties say the
robot enables flexible manufacturing,
delivering cost savings
of 40 to 50 per cent.

22 @AutomationMag June 2017 MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION

POWER SUPPLIES

QUALITY POWER
R
obotics, variable frequency transients, waveform distortion, noise or
Ensuring power and drives (VFDs) and program- frequency variation.
process stability mable logic controllers (PLCs)
are prevalent in many manu-
An interruption in power to a PLC, for
example, can mean lost production due to
in manufacturing facturing environments. These downtime, increased scrap rate or rework
environments microprocessor-based control
systems have enabled plants to automate
costs, as well as clean-up. Depending on the
plant, the financial impact can be substantial.
BY YVES BOUHADANA many functions and processes, increasing It is critical for manufacturers to look at the
repeatability and precision in a wide array of causes of these most common power anom-
industries. These same plants, however, are alies and how to safeguard against them.
also more susceptible to variations in power Manufacturing processes that rely on
such as anomalies or fluctuations caused motor controllers and VFD systems require a
by under- or over-voltages, interruptions, stable DC voltage to ensure smooth operation.

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MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION June 2017 AutomationMag.com 23

MA_Harting_June.indd 1 2017-05-19 10:54 AM
POWER SUPPLIES
A loss of quality DC power would dis-
able the appropriate speed and torque
control of the motors that drive the
manufacturing process. A process
that uses a conveyor indexing between
manufacturing stations, for example,
would shut down when power to the
conveyor motor is interrupted. De-
pending on the duration of the outage,
work in process on the conveyor at
the time might need rework or to be
scrapped.
Ideally, power coming from the
utility company would have a clean
waveform. Viewed on an oscilloscope,
this clean sine wave would look like
Image 1.
The waveform would look similar
whether the voltage was 480V 60HZ,
Image 1
24 @AutomationMag
240V 60HZ, or 208V 60HZ, which
are the most common three-phase
voltages in North America. Incoming
line voltage can be distributed as is
or stepped down as needed (480V to
208V, for example, or 240V to 120V).
A load requiring a new neutral is more
sensitive to anomalies than loads not
requiring a new neutral. The most
common primary power disturbances
are shown here along with their wave-
forms as seen on an oscilloscope.
1. Transients: This anomaly occurs
during switching of high current
loads such as when another motor
switches on within the vicinity.
Refer to Figure 1.
Figure 1
2. Interruptions: A momentary or
longer-term power outage. Black-
outs can occur when utility power
lines are downed due to storms or
accidents or occurrences which
temporarily stop the flow of electri-
city in the power lines. See Figure 2.
Figure 2
3. Under-voltage or sags: Here the
ramping up of high current loads
overloads the power source, causing
a damping of the voltage or causing
it to sag. These typically occur when
multiple pieces of equipment are
powered up simultaneously, at the
start of a shift, for example. Refer
to Figure 3.
Figure 3
4. Over-voltage or swells: A rapid
load reduction provides a surplus
of power in the utility, delivering
a swell of power to the equipment
still running (Figure 4). This
occurs at the end of a shift when
a lot of equipment is powered
$100K/hr down simultaneously. The system
is used to supplying a higher level
Oracle Corporation
estimates that of power and when that demand is
equipment downtime
can cost large
quickly reduced, the excess voltage
businesses an is delivered to whatever equipment
average of $100,000 remains operating.
or more per hour.
IMAGE/FIGURES: RIELLO UPS
Figure 4
5. Waveform distortion: Non-linear
loads like iron motor cores disrupt
June 2017 MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION
 and distort the waveform, yielding
a non-uniform sine wave; a low
power factor input from a PLC is
another example. See Figure 5.
Figure 5
6. Noise or electromagnetic interfer-
ence (EMI): This is typically caused
by high current radio frequency
waves introduced into the system.
Radio frequency noise can result
from radios used in feedback loops;
refer to Figure 6.
Figure 6
7. Frequency variation: This is gener-
ally caused by the acceleration of
deceleration backup of generators
(Figure 7).
VFDs are often installed on the plant
floor in rugged environments where
www.kuka.ca | (905) 670-8600
MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION June 2017
MA_Kuka_June.indd 1
Figure 7
switching constantly occurs and
with it come the inherent transients,
sags and swells. Since these anomalies
impact the DC output of VFD, the
speed and torque of the downstream
motors are also impacted, as well as
the manufacturing process.
If the power supply is stable, and no
outages are anticipated, supercapaci-
tors can store energy to compensate
for sags. If outages are anticipated,
then batteries can compensate for
outages and interruptions. Batteries
offer ride-through times (supplied
power during the disruption of utility
power) of six to 30 minutes, versus
supercaps which have a ride-through
time of seven to 24 seconds.
Stability of the DC Bus can be
achieved in several ways. An uninter-
ruptible power drive (UPD) rectifies
the AC voltage, stores energy in
capacitors and supplies that energy
to the DC Bus when a sag is detected,
resulting in a limited deviation of the
DC voltage at the DC Bus.
If the DC Bus is not accessible, or
multiple VFDs need to be protected on
the same electrical network, then an
Depending on the duration
of the outage, work in
process on the conveyor
at the time might need
rework or to be scrapped.
uninterruptible power system (UPS)
provides power at the input of the
VFD, resulting in a stable DC voltage.
Double conversion UPS systems with
capacitors, which convert AC power
to DC power then back to AC power,
provide a clean waveform to the VFD
as well as 15 seconds of outage ride-
through. | MA
Yves Bouhadana has more than 26 years in
the quality power industry, having worked for
Emerson Network Power and currently Riello
UPS. He is a graduate of University of South
Florida with a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering.
Bonitron and Riello UPS have partnered
to supply power quality solutions for the
industrial manufacturing industry.
For the latest news and
features, follow us at
@AutomationMag!
Worlds largest range of robots
for low payload applications
The KR CYBERTECH robot family
is the specialist in handling
applications for large components,
machining, assembly, palletizing
and arc welding
AutomationMag.com 25
2017-05-24 9:34 AM
NEW PRODUCTS
HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS
Hydraulic chuck for
machine spindles
Big Kaiser says it is introducing
the worlds smallest hydraulic
chuck for
HSK-E25
machine spindles,
completing its
range of Super
Slim hydraulic
chucks. The
Super Slim type
of Hydraulic Chucks (HDC) are
the perfect tool holders for
precision finishing processes
in confined areas with drills,
reamers, ball mills, end mills,
diamond reamers and grinding
tools, says the company, adding
that cutting tools with shank
diameters of 3 or 4 mm can be
clamped directly and are suited
for high-speed micro machining
applications. The Super Slim
HDC require a single wrench
for clamping and unclamping, a
much easier and safer solution
compared to heat shrink tool
holders, explains the company.
The external body diameter of
the chuck nose is 14 mm and a
gauge length of 40 mm. Each
tool is balanced for speeds
up to 60,000 rpm and runout
accuracy of less than 3 microns
at 5xd.
www.us.bigkaiser.com
Pneumatically powered
gripper
Schunk says it has introduced
several improvements on the
original PGN-Plus by way of
its new PGN-Plus-P gripper.
According to the company,
permanent lubrication is
provided through continuous
lubrication
pockets in the
guidance,
adding that
for short
strokes in
particular, the
principle of
minimum
quantity
lubrication
ensures
quick
and even
26 @AutomationMag
distribution of the lubricant in
an effort to extend the grippers
service life. The PGN-plus-P
also features an enlarged drive
piston area which
increases grip
force so that
higher workpiece
weights can be
handled, notes
Schunk. In
addition to the
larger piston, the wedge drive
mechanism has been redesigned
for lower friction and greater
surface area, it adds. The
PGN-plus-P is suitable
for use in areas with high
temperatures, contamination,
and aggressive media as
well as for cleanrooms.
On request, the module is
available with spring safety,
mechanical gripping force
maintenance, compensation
units for compensating
angular misalignment, dust-
proof versions, or as special
HMI & OPERATOR INTERFACE
Configurable panel PC
Advantechs IIoT Automation
Group has launched the
PPC-6151C, a 15-in. resistive
touch TFT LCD display modular
configurable panel PC with a
2.5-in. SATA HDD bay. The PPC-
6151C can be equipped with
or upgraded to include various
certified mini-ITX motherboards
and configured to specific
application requirements, says
the company. In addition to
multiple I/O ports, including
RS-232/422/485, DisplayPort
1.2, VGA, USB 3.0, Line-Out,
Mic-In, the system features an
high-precision versions.
www.us.schunk.com
Hydraulic punch
ITC Electrical Components
Akku-Compact flex hydraulic
punch by Alfra is a handheld
unit where the punch head
is separate and connected
through a high-pressure hose
to the pump unit. The maximum
punch hole size is 82 mm in 3
mm mild steel and 152 mm in
2 mm mild steel. According to
the company,
a pressure-
limiting device
prevents
damage to
the tool when
the punching
is complete.
ITC Electrical
Components
is a master distributor of
electrical components based in
Concord, Ont.
www.itcproducts.com
integrated PCI/PCIe x 4 slot for
expansion.
www.advantech.com/ea
Control panels for
hazardous areas
Beckhoff Automation says
machine builders and manufac-
turers can use its new CPX control
panel and panel PC series for
applications in hazardous areas,
classified Zone 2/22. The CPX
portfolio boasts a wide selection
of screen formats, sizes, instal-
lation options and features. The
range of formats includes 15-in.
(4:3), 19-in. (5:4), and 21.5-in.
(16:9 widescreen) versions, says
the company, adding that process
industry applications can also
benefit from advanced capacitive
June 2017 MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION
Automated hydraulic
ball valves
Bonomi North America has
released a line of high-pressure
carbon steel ball valves that
come in two-way and three-way
configurations with a choice
of NPT or SAE thread end
connections. Suitable for use in
hydraulic applications, both the
two-way valves (3200 NPT/3300
Series SAE) and the three-way
valves (3400 NPT/3500 Series
SAE) are available in 3/8-in.
through 1-in. sizes. While a
lever handle is standard, an
integral ISO 5211 mounting pad
simplifies actuation on the new
valves, says Bonomi.
www.bonominorthamerica.com
multi-touch technology. Both the
CPX29xx and CPX39xx series offer
control panels for integration
into control cabinets, as well as
IP 65-rated standalone panels
for mounting-arm installation.
The same applies for the fanless
Panel PCs in the CPX27xx and
CPX37xx series.
www.beckhoffautomation.com
Touchscreen controller
Cypress Semiconductor is
offering a capacitive touch-
screen controller that boasts
best-in-class waterproofing,
glove touch and resistance to
electromagnetic interference.
The Automotive TrueTouch
CYAT8165X controllers, which
target screens up to 8.5 inches,
is suitable for fingers of different
sizes and gloves of various ma-
terials and thicknesses, including
ski gloves, and automatically
switches between glove and
finger tracking without requiring
the drivers to switch settings.
www.cypress.com
 MOTORS & DRIVES
Sensor for motors
provide health checks
ABB says its ABB Ability Smart
Sensor for motors uses sensors
to pick up multiple data from
low voltage motors and provides
information about motor health
and performance through a
smartphone or a dedicated web
portal. By converting regular LV
motors into intelligent, con-
nected machines, the solution
promises to enable advanced
maintenance planning that will
CONNECTIVITY
Software toolkit
aims to simplify IIoT
connectivity
Honeywell
Process
Solutions
has released
a software
toolkit that
promises
to simplify the interconnection
of industrial software systems,
enabling ma-mag-BOXER-AD-march-2017.pdf solutions,
them to communicate 1 07/03/2017
with each other regardless of
MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION June 2017
MA_Lafert_June.indd 1
help businesses to cut costs
and boost productivity. ABB
says predictive analytics based
on data from the solution can
reduce downtime by up to 70
per cent, extend motor lifetime
by as much as 30 per cent and
cut energy consumption by up
to 10 per cent. Sensor modules
can be factory fitted on new
motors or retrofitted on installed
motors within minutes, says
the company, adding that they
are available for both ABB and
non-ABB motors. Initial mon-
itoring functionality will cover
bearing health, vibration, surface
temperature, speed, supply
frequency, and number of
starts. Later releases will expand
the range of functionality, and
platform, operating system or
size. The Matrikon FLEX OPC
Unified Architecture (OPC UA)
software development kit (SDK)
is suitable for applications
where minimal memory and
processing resources are
common. Growing adoption of
the IIoT and Industrie 4.0 is driv-
ing requirements for open and
secure connectivity between
devices and edge-to-Cloud
explains
11:16:25 AM Honeywell.
www.honeywellprocess.com
energy consumption monitoring
is expected to be added during
Q3 2017.
www.abb.com
AC motors
AutomationDirects IronHorse
line of general purpose three-
phase motors now includes
the MTRP-series 56HC-frame
premium efficiency motors
available from 1 hp to 3 hp.
The rolled steel motors are
available in 1800 and 3600 RPM
models and feature 4:1 constant
torque and 10:1 variable torque
speed ranges, TEFC frames,
cast aluminum end bells and
removable mounting bases.
MTRP-series motors meet RoHS
and Low Voltage Directives, and
are CSA and EU approved.
www.automationdirect.com
Product sizing tool
helps machine builders
design stepper motors
into their applications
Kollmorgen has released
a product selection tool,
Kollmorgen Stepper Optimizer,
which it says provides multiple
ways for machine builders to
discover which Kollmorgen
stepper motor works best in
their application. The tool offers
two main features: browse and
application sizing/selection. The
Browse feature is most useful
when a Kollmorgen motor wind-
ing is already identified, or when
users want to quickly access
catalogue part numbers. Users
can review performance and
thermal curves for each winding,
and even modify the available
voltage and current to match
their stepper drive configura-
tion. Each winding page also
includes motor specifications
and ratings. The sizing feature
is recommended for machine
builders designing and sizing
an application from scratch.
Optimizer will first ask for any
known application requirements,
such as: available current, input
voltage, ambient temperature,
and duty cycle.
www.kollmorgen.com
AutomationMag.com 27
2017-05-11 3:28 PM

SEPTEMBER 25 28, 2017
THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE,
MISSISSAUGA (TORONTO), ONTARIO
THE
CUTTING
EDGE
Canadas national stage for
manufacturing technologies, best
practices and industry connections.
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Featuring
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Official Media Partners
28 @AutomationMag
MA_CMTS_June.indd 1
NEW PRODUCTS
TEST & MEASUREMENT
New features added to
digital IC amplifier
Several new
features
have been
added
to Mahr
Federals
Millimar
C1200
Digital IC
amplifier,
increasing
its application
range and user security.
According to the company, the
new functions include dynamic
measurement capability,
enhanced display tolerance
viewing, and password pro-
tection for the setup menu.
The Millimar C1200 Digital IC
amplifier is designed to replace
analogue meters, boasting
analogue-like display perform-
ance with very fast response
technology. The display provides
digital and analogue readings
with selectable resolutions/
scales. The measurement
capability added to the C1200
allows users to capture max,
min, or max-min (TIR) values.
Finally, security is enhanced
with password protection for
the setup menu, which can now
be locked and accessed using a
four-digit PIN number.
www.mahrexactly.com
System monitors fixed
and mobile assets
Globalstar and Proactive Sensing
describe the ProactiveOne as a
revolutionary industrial-grade
system capable of monitoring
both fixed and mobile assets,
just about anything, anywhere.
Combining Globalstar satellite
technology with Proactive Sens-
ing monitoring and notification
capabilities, the ProactiveOne
June 2017 MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION
COMPANYB
2017-05-26 8:57 AM
requires no external connections
and is suitable for monitoring
and recording environmental
and equipment conditions at
remote, unattended locations
where power and cellular ser-
vice is unavailable. Boasting
out-of-the-box operations,
ProactiveOne is compatible
with existing third-party
web platforms and supports
a range of both integrated
and external sensors. Ideal
applications include monitoring
temperatures of refrigerated
transport, tank level pump
performance in oil fields, and
flow and pressure monitoring for
wastewater treatment plants.
www.globalstar.com
www.proactivesensing.com
Dual-display digital
multimeter
Saelig describes its Siglent SD-
M3065X benchtop multimeter
as an economical 6-1/2 digit
dual-display digital multimeter
that is suited to high-precision,
multifunction and automation
measurement applications.
According to Saelig, it combines
basic high-accuracy measure-
ment functions with multiple
math and display choices, and
features that include histogram,
trend chart, bar chart, statistics,
hold measurement, dBm,
etc. The front panel features
a 4.3-in. (480 x 272) colour
TFT-LCD display that shows the
2,200,000 count readings. Its
interfaces for remote storage
and communication include USB
Device, USB Host and LAN. The
Ethernet connection interface
supports the common SCPI
command set, adds Saelig, not-
ing that the unit includes built-in
cold terminal compensation
for thermocouple temperature
measurements.
www.saelig.com
SENSORS

Pressure sensors aim to and commissioning. These freely programmable SPAU

set new value standards
Festos next generation pressure
sensors SPAU and SPAN promise
to offer customers excellent
functionality and versatility
along with fast, easy installation
ROBOTICS
Shaft collars and
couplings for robot
design
A range of standard and
custom manufactured shaft
collars, couplings, clamps,
mounting devices, and
rotary encoders are being
introduced to robot makers
by Stafford Manufacturing.
The shaft collars, couplings
and mounting components
include 4,000 standard parts
additions to the Festo range of
sensors are designed to simplify
choice and reduce complexity
for engineers. SPAU is Festos
flagship machine and cell level
pressure sensor, while SPAN is
an all-new 30 x 30 mm model.
According to Festo, the IO-Link
functionality makes SPAN and
SPAU fast and easy to set
up and commission and also
enables remote maintenance
and parameterization. The
in various materials, sizes and
configurations.
www.staffordmfg.com
Harnessed robotic
dress packs boasts
quick replacement
Igus is now offering standard
readychain ready-to-use
robotic dress packs for simple
installation as well as multi-axis
cable guidance and protection.
The standard assembled dress
packs consist of triflex multi-
axis cable carriers, chainflex
continuous-flex cables, hoses,
and other components that can
be adapted to suit the needs
of each customers individual
needs, says the company. In
an effort to suit the needs
of all robotic systems, igus
pre-harnessed dress packs
are available with optional
connectors harnessed to more
than 20 manufacturer standards.
www.igus.com
comes with either protection
class IP65 or IP67 and can be
employed with six possible
electrical connections including
plug, 4-pin, M8 and M12 as
well as nine possible pneumatic
connections. Meanwhile, SPAN
shares the same intuitive menu
guidance used in SPAU and
is available with or without
a built-in visual display. The
display version boasts a clear,
two-colour, back-lit LCD to let
users monitor their systems.
www.festo.com
Wireless laser tracker
Automated Precision Inc. (API)
has introduced the OT2 Core
wireless laser tracker that utilizes
wireless and controller-free
laser tracker technology. The
company describes the OTC
Core as a high-performance
laser tracker that delivers
ADVERTISER INDEX
Acklands Grainger
Advantech Industrial
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Allied Electronics Inc.
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AutomationDirect
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Encoder Products
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Festo Inc.
HARTING Canada Inc.
essential laser tracking
measurement capability,
adding that its size and wireless
operation promise high
accuracy measurement. Based
on APIs Omnitrac 2 laser tracker
unit, the OT2 Core boasts many
of the same features including
an Autolock sensor that can
recapture a lost beam. The laser
tracker features no external
controller so no cable is needed
to connect the tracker to its
operation system.
www.apisensor.com
15 KUKA Robotics
Canada Ltd. 25
9 Lafert North America 27
1 Murrelektronik Canada 3
13 Pilz Automation Safety 17
2 SCHUNK Intec Corp. 31
5 Siemens Canada Ltd. 32
28 Universal Robots 7
11
TO ADVERTISE
6 Contact Klaus B. Pirker
19 kpirker@annexweb.com
23

MAs Technology Handbooks

are a series of digital magazines that focus
on a single product category within Canadas
manufacturing industry. Posted on MAs website as
an interactive flip-style magazine, our Technology
Handbooks provide specific market and product
information, as well as trends within that specific
product category, to machine builders, component
manufacturers, end-users and system integrators.

For more information, contact Klaus Pirker at

kpirker@annexweb.com or (416) 510-6757.

MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION June 2017 AutomationMag.com 29

MA_HandbookAd_1.4_2017_GWJ.indd 1 2017-05-18 1:33 PM
 WHAT MA
BACKSTORY PUBLISHED
IN...

2008
Manufacturing
sector struggles
to maintain
workforce, study 2014
says. Many corporations are redefining
their supply chain, considering more
2010 regionalized forms of manufacturing,
Manufacturers and in some cases, reshoring from
continue to more remote supply locations to be
experience high close to the customer.
levels of supply
chain risk.

2011
We believe that
the utilization
of standard,
unmodified
open Ethernet
technologies
is critical to
the future of 2016
an optimized Its an industry where theres a lot
plant and supply of respect...between the whole
network, and supply chain and the value that each
the ability to of us bring in the supply chain, and
drive continued one where [we are] able to innovate
advancements in not only in product but in servicing.
productivity.

2012
Youve got to

Are you forcing the wrong

know where you able to identify what questions they
are, youve got want answered from the outset, and

supply chain optimization to

to know where begin gathering and analyzing the
you want to get right data, right away.

fit your organization?

to, and youve These questions will be dependent
got to know how on the organization. For example,
youre going to better demand responsiveness and

H
ow is your supply chain opti-
mization solution working
for your organization? For
years, Canadian manufac-
turers have understood the potential
of using supply chain optimization
(SCO) solutions to solve complex
operational challenges and improve
their supply chains. A recent research
project conducted by IndustryWeek
Custom Research and FICO found
that three out of four manufacturing
companies have been using or plan
to use supply chain optimization
solutions within the next 12 months.
While a select few have successfully
been able to leverage the potential
benefits of these increasingly sophis-
ticated analytic tools, many have only
scratched the surface.
Implementing a supply chain
optimization strategy has been a key
business priority for manufacturers in
hopes of either maximizing capacity
utilization, identifying and sustaining
process improvements, finding people
with the right skills, improving cus-
tomer satisfaction or improving their
bottom lines overall. However, many
organizations are not able to see or
measure the benefits from their SCO
investments.
It all comes down to the analytics.
For many of these organizations,
the problem lies in not being able to
identify what their key priorities are
ahead of deploying a SCO program
and this is an issue. While additional
analytic solutions can be added to
complement existing ERP implemen-
tations, supply chain optimization can
be most effective when a company is
get there. cost reduction are likely high prior-
ities for Company A, whereas finding
2015 talented people is a higher priority for
Scheduling Company B.
promotions and Many organizations are still trying
discounts tightly to force SCO strategies that simply
in conjunction are not meant to serve their needs.
with production FICO/IndustryWeeks report found
and supply-chain that more than half (54 per cent) of
planning can responding manufacturers had been
yield even more using SCO solutions for more than a
predictable year, yet of those, well over half feel
results. that their SCO optimization efforts are
trailing or just keeping pace with their
competitors. | MA
Kevin Deveau is vice president and managing
director, Canada, at FICO. He is responsible
for growing FICOs Canadian market share
and strengthening client relationships. To
read the full version of this article, visit bit.
ly/2qOiuco.

30 @AutomationMag June 2017 MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION

 2017 SCHUNK INTEC, Inc
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More than 1,200 Modules Feed-through

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Changing Gripping
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for precise gripping and safe holding.
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Remote, yet reliable
SIMATIC RTU3030C: the new energy self-sufficient
Remote Terminal Unit for harsh environments
Measuring points in remote locations are a tremendous challenge for
plant operators. But now theres a solution! The SIMATIC RTU3030C
remote terminal unit (RTU) works reliably even in the most remote
regions and under the most adverse environmental conditions. This
means that it can monitor measuring points and reliably transmit the
collected data wirelessly to the control center. The SIMATIC RTU3030C
can also report an alarm when threshold values are exceeded. And
thanks to its optimized energy consumption, the SIMATIC RTU3030C
requires no external power source. It supplies itself either from a battery
or accumulator with solar panel. The RTU is thus fully autonomous and
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siemens.com/rtu3030c