NEWS A SILVER LINING
Bill Carrick, product director, Aggreko explains how the pandemic
has been a catalyst for digital energy solutions... The coronavirus pandemic has
changed every aspect of our daily lives. To adjust to this ‘new normal’, many businesses have fast-tracked implementation of digital technologies, innovative approaches and new ways of working. Within the space of a few short
months companies across the world had to come up with ways to radically reduce their workplace numbers. With two remote monitoring centres in Texas and Louisiana, Aggreko has had the technology to remotely monitor, operate and measure equipment around the world since 2013. This has allowed us to continue to service our clients and offer innovations that can support them. Not only have remote
technologies enabled projects to be set up, they have also allowed us to gather real-time data from across the world on one platform to collect insights about how our equipment is operating. This allows us to improve our operational set-up and servicing to ensure maximum efficiency. With these data insights, we
are able to perform predictive monitoring, which allows us to identify anomalous behaviour and take pre-emptive action before any failure occurs. All this helps to improve the safety of our assets and deliver maximum efficiency. Innovative solutions can, and
have, helped address the challenge of keeping teams safe. These solutions also have longer- term advantages, and will support a safe return to work.
www.aggreko.com
How has 2020 reshaped manufacturing? A
t the outset of 2020, none would have predicted the course that the year would take due to COVID-19. The global pandemic, and the response to it, upended many manufacturing businesses and fundamentally shifted what plant operations look like. Stephen Hayes, managing director of Beckhoff UK, takes a look at how the events of 2020 will reshape the coming years for manufacturing.
The manufacturing industry has been on a course for enhanced
connectivity for many years, but there have often been roadblocks to adoption for many businesses. Amid the new challenges presented in 2020 by COVID-19, one positive long-term change for industry has been that these barriers to connectivity have been forcefully overcome. Adoption of Industry 4.0 has been accelerated for many manufacturers in order to remain agile, adaptable and even operational during the pandemic, which sets each business in good stead for the years ahead. The adoption of connected digital technology looks different for each business. For example, electronics manufacturers may increase investment in machine vision (MV) systems to improve quality assurance of products, or in new material handling systems that can streamline certain other processes — including MV quality assurance — while meeting stricter washdown requirements than the industry previously held.
However, the increased move towards digitalisation and automation does mean one thing for all manufacturers: there will be a greater focus on communication efficiency and ease of use. One of the issues that early industrial adopters of Industry 4.0 technologies have encountered is that newer systems can present new technical challenges that require highly specialised staff. Similarly, connecting systems and machines together requires reliable and fast communication between these devices and control systems, which drives a need for an efficient fieldbus. With 2020 being a turning point in industry’s adoption of automation, more manufacturers are going to encounter these types of challenges. This will drive a move towards automation providers consolidating more functionality into traditional control systems, to reduce the need for specialist skills and to improve network response times.
For example, Beckhoff has already made progress towards this by extending the functionality of TwinCAT 3. The EtherCAT-based control software brings a range of functions, including MV configuration and programming, into a familiar control environment, so engineers can easily integrate those technologies into their workflow. As new technologies become commonplace, Beckhoff will continue to expand the functionality available in the TwinCAT platform. As more automation providers move to open platforms and make new technology more
accessible to manufacturers, we can expect to see a tangible revolution in industry in the years ahead.
www.beckhoff.co.uk Danfoss appoints inconsys as service partner S
ystems integrator iconsys has been appointed as a Danfoss Drives Authorised Service Partner. A platform-independent provider of integrated automation solutions, iconsys combines knowhow with innovation and commitment to provide performance enhancements for its customers across
multiple industries. And now, thanks to its membership of the Danfoss partnership program, the company can offer even more comprehensive and effective support services to new and existing customers. Steve Moore, solution sales manager at Danfoss Drives, said: “...iconsys was an attractive partner for us as the company has extensive and well-proven expertise in retrofit applications and drive repairs.” Cliff Sedgley, production and service manager at iconsys, said: “We’re confident that the partnership with Danfoss will support the continuing growth of iconsys, helping us to further consolidate our company’s already strong position as one of the leading system integrators in the UK.”
www.danfoss.com
“The original designer and manufacturer of coaxial valves with 60 years of experience”
Te
Ema : Emaill:
john.osborn@coaxvalves.co.uk Web:
www.co-ax.com
Tel: 01908 067583 We
High flow, high pressure, unique valve solutions for all standard and arduous Applications”.
6 FEBRUARY 2021 | PROCESS & CONTROL
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