PC-APR22-PG ADV.qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2022 09:38 Page 56
ADVERTORIALS
TECHNOLOGYIN ACTION RMGroup appoints AMR/AGV specialist
In a move designed to add impetus to the growth and development of their AMR/AGV offering, leading robotics and automation com- pany, RMGroup, has recently appointed Paul Smith as product manager - mobile robotics and automation. Paul brings nearly
30 years of compa- rable experience to the role, working mainly for a leading lift truck manufacturer and managing their AGV interests. A software engineering graduate, he was also responsible for the design, delivery and support of the firmware of PLC, HMI and technicians’ programming tools, for vehicle behavioural control systems, integrated on over 1,500 vehicles globally. In his new role, Paul will be providing technical and specialist
knowledge to deliver appropriate AMR/AGV solutions to a varied customer base. Since ABB’s acquisition of ASTI Mobile Robotics Group (ASTI) last year, and the creation of an AMR division, as a distributor
partner, RMGroup has since benefited from increased product portfolio integration. Offering the broadest range of AMRs and AGVs from box movers, platforms, tractor units and the more traditional forks based lifting vehicles, the AMR division provides the RMGroup with every opportunity to provide customers with a fully automated solution for fulfilment, distribution, and manufacturing operations. “I see my role as having the ability to illustrate, explain and
present technical concepts in an easy-to-understand way, so that customers can fully appreciate our solutions,” said Paul. “RMGroup has a clear pedigree in industrial automation and their enthusiasm for growth and development of the AMR/AGV side of the business is very evident, particularly at a time when there is huge demand and opportunity with these types of vehicle. I’m very much looking forward to working closely with the sales team, meeting customers, providing technical and specialist knowledge and demonstrating our competence in this growth area." Mark Tucker, RMGroup’s managing director, added: “We are
delighted to welcome Paul to RMGroup. His multi-faceted AMR/AGV experience will be crucial for the next phase of our ongoing growth plans, and I look forward to seeing him really make a difference in this key role.”
RMGroup +44 (0)1686 948003
sales@rmgroupuk.com
The path to value-adding IT/OT convergence In effect, knowledge can only be developed by combining the large
Future-oriented manufacturers know that data-driven smart manufacturing practices are crucial to enhancing competitiveness in a fast-paced marketplace. Well-executed integration and interconnectivity are at the core of successful digital transformation strategies. The combination of Process Analytical Technology (PAT) and automation solutions offers a quan- tum leap forward in closing the gap between the industrial edge and the enterprise edge to create connected factories. Martin Gadsby, Director at Optimal Industrial Automation, looks at
how PAT-driven automation can turn operational data into business intelligence. Just like a living organism, the ideal smart factory is a self-
regulating, self-organising entity. Its activities and processes generate data that can be analysed to support better-informed decisions and provide suitable real-time responses to maintain peak performance, productivity, quality and efficiency.
Blurring the boundaries between organisational silos Perhaps the biggest barrier to creating this interconnected infrastructure is the traditional separation between the shop floor and the enterprise level. This is represented by the divide between operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT).
volumes of raw data that is generated in the OT domain and using the IT tools to turn this input into meaningful and accessible information. A PAT framework can bring these two worlds together when it
comes to real-time quality assurance and process control. More precisely, it encompasses the shop floor analysers that monitor the critical quality attributes (CQAs) of a product and report this information to data analytics and predictive software tools.
Connecting the dots An extra, highly beneficial step that manufacturers can take to support IT/OT convergence strategies is to use a PAT knowledge management platform, such as synTQ. This is a market-leading software that is a true digital transformation toolkit. It connects to all available analysers, modelling and data analytics programs as well as various enterprise-level solutions. As a result, synTQ can form a unique gateway to capture different
network flows and maximise visibility. Moreover, it offers an intuitive visualisation platform with key control functions. synTQ-assisted manufacturing delivers optimum results and
effectively reacts to processing changes on-the-fly to ensure maximum quality.
Integrating for convergence To set up a highly effective, converged infrastructure based on a combination of industrial automation and PAT, businesses should partner with an expert system integrator, such as Optimal. For over 30 years Optimal has been delivering PAT-based automation solutions to numerous sectors.
Optimal 01454 333222
www.optimal-ltd.co.uk/
56 APRIL 2022 | PROCESS & CONTROL
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66
