GUIDING YOU ALONG THE ROAD TO DIGITALISATION
Mitsubishi Electric has released a whitepaper entitled ‘Industry 4.0 – The road to digitalisation in future manufacturing’, which looks at the real meaning of the Industry 4.0 ‘utopia’ and offers guidance on how to implement a smart factory. Mitsubishi Electric marketing &
operations group manager Chris Evans, said: “The real impetus behind Industry 4.0 comes not just from the link between the plant and the enterprise but once we have this link, not only can we have the means to improve performance but also to measure actual performance against an ideal model – the cyber physical system if you will.” It is this ability for in-depth
analysis and continuous improvement that Evans says defines the true spirit of Industry 4.0 - but how do we get there,
and are the UK’s manufacturing plants ready to be smart factories? “
...the challenge with many
manufacturing plants is that their automation systems have evolved over many years, resulting in disparate automation platforms, poor network infrastructure, no data management strategy and very little genuine knowledge of how to get the relevant information out,” he commented. So how does a manufacturer start out on the road to digitalisation? Evans says it’s all about the planning. “You have to define exactly what it is the manufacturer is trying to achieve, what are their business drivers and you have to understand where their problem areas are. You have to look at what automation currently exists and what automation network infrastructure
is already in place, if any. You have to accept that it’s going to take time...and it’s going to take investment. The key is to look for the quick wins that will demonstrate fast returns against a moderate budget and which prove that the path you’re taking will deliver much bigger benefits over the longer term.” He goes on: “understanding what is happening at the production plant is essential and an infrastructure must be created to achieve this, even if this is approached in stages, whilst always keeping an eye on the end goal.” Mitsubishi Electric has also
highlighted what can be achieved, by undertaking smart factory implementations at its own facilities - such as at the Kani Works switchgear production site.
eu3a.mitsubishielectric.com/fa
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OVERVIEW OF IMPENDING AMENDMENTS
Exhibition season is almost upon us, and this month’s issue is packed full of event previews to help you make the most of your show visits. First up is the SPE Offshore Europe 2017 show, taking place in Aberdeen on 5th-8th September, next is RWM 2017, running from 12th-14th September at the NEC, Birmingham, and last, but by no means least, is Sensors & Instrumentation, also taking place at the NEC, but later in the month on 26th-27th September. Michelle Lea - Editor
As a provider of industrial training, MCP offers this overview on the more significant amendments to the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations, due to be published on 1st July 2018. Although just under a year away, it is not too early to review your company’s training, procedures, methods and safety overview. 1. Protection against overvoltage and transient overvoltages. This means protection of installations of overvoltage from within as well as from external overvoltage sources could be provided by Surge Protection Devices (SPDs). 2. Protection against Fire - although RCDs may be used to reduce the
effect of fire, these do not distinguish between series or parallel arcing between live conductors. For this reason, the BS7671:2018 will include for the installation of arc fault detection devices (AFDD) to reduce the risks of faults within the fixed installation. 3. Section 753 (Floor and Ceiling heating Systems) will be extended to include embedded electric surface heating. 4. A new section to provide for Energy Efficiency, addressing the need to reduce the energy consumption of installations.
www.mcpeurope.com
Aurelius Environmental, buyers and processors of end-of-life (scrap) lead acid batteries with a commitment to improving the recycling process, has developed a new battery recycling technology with Cambridge University. When the first industrial prototype
plant is commissioned in a few months’ time, the new process promises to change the way batteries are recycled in the market. In the meantime, Aurelius says it is already putting value back into battery recycling, by offering a much better deal for scrap lead-acid batteries than the market does generally. The company welcomes the
opportunity to speak to any business or organisation that generates end of life batteries, and not only offers excellent payments for end of life scrap batteries, but can help process clients’ materials in a much more sustainable way for the future.
ael.global
WAGOs I/O system, 750 XTR, is extremely weather resistant and can operate from -40 °C up to +70 °C, making additional heating or cooling equipment unnecessary. It is highly resistant to electromagnetic interference as well as insensitive to vibrations and impulse voltages up to 5 kV, ensuring secure communications in demanding applications. With up to 16 channels in a 12 mm wide housing it requires less space, and has lower energy and maintenance costs; taking automation into extreme environments.
To request a catalogue call , e-mail
ukmarketing@wago.com, or visit
www.wago.com
/ PROCESS&CONTROL PROCESS & CONTROL | JULY/AUGUST 2017 5
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