Into Africa - training facility opens in Morocco B


ack in September Haas Automation opened its very first Haas Technical Education Centre (HTEC)


showroom in Africa, at the Institute of Aeronautics and Airport Logistics (ISMALA) in Casablanca, Morocco. The ISMALA is a purpose-built facility and is one of


W


elcome to the penultimate issue of Automation


magazine for the year. As the curtain begins to slowly come down on 2014 it is time for reflection and we’ll be looking back over the last 12 months in our December/January issue, where we will be rounding-up the year that was with contributions and insight from some of the industry’s key players. As for November, we have a


bumper issue this month, including our latest supplement which focusses on PLCs & Industrial PCs - and features contributions from B&R, HMS, Omron and


Products4Automation. In the main issue our industry focus this month looks at both the renewable energy market and the automotive supply chain, where, respectively, Altra Industrial Motion looks at the future of tidal energy, and Cognex discuss an application that they have been involved with for KIA Motors in Korea, where the company’s barcode scanners have helped to increase read rates. Also this month, we take a


look at automated warehousing where W&H Systems look at the subtle differences between warehouse management systems (WMS) and warehouse control systems (WOS), and West Monroe Partners explain how to focus on internal processes to reduce idle time and increase efficiency in warehouse operations. CD Automation leads the way in our communications & networking feature, as their MD Jez Watson highlights how remote data access can help solve the everyday challenges faced by process engineers. In addition, we also have a busy sensors feature where sara LBS explain how sensing technology used on industrial doors can improve site safety, and Micro-Epsilon explain its involvement in the BLOODHOUND Project, a 1,000mph land speed record attempt that is scheduled to take place in 2016.


Joe Bush - Editor 4 NOVEMBER 2014 | AUTOMATION


more than 300 similar resources in Morocco created to prepare young people for work in growth sectors of the nation’s economy. As its name suggests, the Casablanca facility was built specifically to provide training in aeronautical engineering and other related subjects. After all, more than 100 of the world’s top aircraft and aeronautical parts manufacturers are present in Morocco. “This is a very exciting occasion for Haas,” said Haas


Automation Europe marketing manager Bert Maes. “The HTEC school partnership program is designed to offer the necessary training platform for students and teachers to succeed in acquiring the best CNC skills and competencies. For Morocco, which has to continue to attract more foreign investment, training young people is a top priority. This event is just the beginning - for Haas


and also for Morocco. We have decided to implement a minimum of three more certified Haas training centres within OFPPT institutes. This will allow many metal cutting manufacturing enterprises in Morocco to meet a big part of their workforce needs by employing fully trained personnel.” www.HaasCNC.com


ROCKWELL CEO AT IOT WORLD FORUM


Last month Keith Nosbusch, chairman and CEO of Rockwell Automation, addressed the Internet of Things World Forum 2014, held in Chicago. As part of his keynote presentation, Nosbusch discussed how industry is at a major inflection point, driven by the convergence of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT), and enhanced by the industrial ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT). Nosbusch explained how manufacturers are creating the ‘Connected Enterprise’,


built on standard internet protocol-based networks. He also discussed the current customer applications, as well as Rockwell Automation’s own journey with the Connected Enterprise, highlighting productivity and competitive gains realised from these efforts. The benefits include faster time to market, lower total cost of ownership, improved asset utilisation, and enterprise risk management from a safer,


more secure operating environment. “Today we see an inrush of technology that’s changing the landscape, from labour intensity to highly productive production processes; from older industrial age plants to clean, safe, efficient production facilities; from isolated operations to an integrated, responsive


supply chain,” said Nosbusch. “The Connected Enterprise brings together people, processes and technology, to achieve enhanced productivity, sustainability and economic performance. It is enabled by integrated control and information that allows us to provide a smarter, more productive and more secure environment.” www.rockwellautomation.com


NURTURING THE BRUNELS OF TOMORROW


Scarborough’s annual Engineering Week event, aimed at encouraging youngsters to consider careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), has just held its most successful event - attracting over 3000 schoolchildren and young students. Over 30 organisations - most from the Yorkshire region - put on educational and fun displays about careers in engineering today. “The UK urgently needs more engineers and


technologists, and attracting more of today’s youngsters to enter these professions is critical,” said Peter Wilkinson of the lead organiser Unison. “Scarborough Engineering Week shows how interesting STEM careers can be - and it’s helping to support the dynamic engineering hotspot that exists in the Scarborough area. The young students really love the interactive nature of this event, and who knows, maybe this country’s next Michael Faraday or Isambard Kingdom Brunel was among the visitors.” Over three days, more than 3,000 schoolchildren and


teachers toured the exhibition. Among many interactive and hands-on displays were simulators from Forum


Energy Technologies to control ROVs (remote operated vehicles) for subsea work; an ingenious look at the development of food processing automation from McCain Foods in the form of a wacky potato washing machine; a novel type of computer controlled tube bending machine from Unison; and 3D rapid prototyping machines of the kind that are currently revolutionising the design cycles of many types of product. www.unisonltd.com


/AUTOMATION


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