INDUSTRY News
Partners to jointly develop residential heat pump fans
ABB COLUMN LOOKING FORWARD TO GROWTH
I’m fortunate to be taking on the role of General Manager at ABB Robotics for the UK and Ireland at a time when our business is expanding not only into new applications but into new customer sectors, too. We’re taking what we’ve learned over decades in high-value manufacturing and transitioning that into industries from food and healthcare to construction. It’s an exciting time.
Panasonic Industry Europe, known for its HVAC technology, and SIT, Italy-based climate control solutions provider, are to collaborate over fan solutions for residential heat pumps. These will incorporate Panasonic Industry’s motors with SIT’s expertise in fl uid dynamics and motor control. “We are proud to partner with SIT to provide reliable, sustainable and state-of-the-art systems. This collaboration showcases the alignment of Panasonic Industry’s motor effi ciency and durability with SIT’s commitment to excellence,” said Gerhard Scharf, Division Director at Panasonic Industry. The European heat pumps market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 20%. Fuelled by the European Commission’s heating electrifi cation policies and the impending F-Gas regulations (R290), a new generation of heat pumps is now expected to emerge Europe-wide.
“Entering the heat pumps market is a milestone in SIT’s growth plan. This partnership underscores our commitment to delivering high-quality products. By integrating Panasonic Industry ‘s motors, we aim to off er a best-in-class solution to the market,” said Federico de Stefani, SIT Chairman and CEO.
The fan solution, a synthesis of Panasonic’s motor and SIT’s optimised impeller and grid, is designed to meet the evolving demands of heat pump manufacturers. The heat pump fan provides a fl exible solution to ensure optimal performance, minimal noise and low power consumption. Both companies will also jointly promote the new system in their eff ort to advance the residential heat pump industry.
I’ve spent my career in automation, but it’s since I joined ABB in 2018 that I’ve seen a shift from awareness to intentionality in the market, with customers
increasingly coming to us looking for practical solutions to specific challenges. And the UK has certainly been facing some big challenges recently, with inflation and the high cost of capital compounding longer-term systemic issues around productivity and skills. But, we see good reasons for optimism, as well. The UK is fourth in the global innovation index, and we can see billions being invested in areas like EVs and battery manufacturing. We know that robotic automation can impact almost all metrics of value, be that productivity, quality, efficiency, or on-demand availability. These have always been important benefits, but flexibility and resilience are joining the top of the list. Customers can now invest with the confidence that they are getting flexible robotic systems that can be adapted and repurposed in future, thanks to innovations in programming and artificial intelligence. Automation can also make companies more resilient to external challenges such as labour shortages, which are a ticking time bomb.
Another big development is the roll-out of autonomous mobile robots, which can provide the missing link that brings together islands of automation, to generate systemic productivity gains of up to 30%. That’s game changing. Finally, I must acknowledge the fantastic business I’ve inherited from my predecessor, Nigel Platt. We’ve got a marvellous facility here, complete with world-class demonstrations and probably the biggest private robotics training school in the UK. More than that, we’ve got people with unparallelled experience in sales, operations and service. I’m confident that we can build on that solid foundation and continue to generate profitable growth for ABB Robotics going forward.
Dermot Lynch, General Manager, ABB Robotics, UK & Ireland Advancing machine tool software
ModuleWorks, a supplier of CAD/CAM software has partnered with DN Solutions, a CNC machine tool builder, to jointly develop machine tools software and create integrated solutions to drive the manufacturing industry’s digital transformation. DN Solutions will use ModuleWorks’s specialised software development resources to develop intelligent, highly-automated machining cycles and user-assisted solutions within a diverse range of machining applications. “Manufacturers are calling for easy-to-learn and easy-to-use solutions that minimise training costs and increase productivity. This means greater digitalisation with highly automated solutions that assist operators as much as possible. We realised the industry can get there faster by pooling its expertise and resources. Our Strategic Partner Program is designed to give solution providers
automationmagazine.co.uk
like DN Solutions the software development resources they need to empower their digitalisation strategies. We are excited to welcome DN Solutions as our strategic partner and look forward to advancing digitalisation in manufacturing,” said Dr Yavuz Murtezaoglu, Founder and Managing Director of ModuleWorks. Wonjong Kim, CEO of DN Solutions, added: “Our investment in a partnership with ModuleWorks serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation in the swiftly-evolving industrial landscape. This strategic collaboration is aligned to propel the digitalisation of our manufacturing processes. It marks a pivotal step towards transforming our machines beyond mere production tools, evolving them into intelligent, connected units that redefi ne the very essence of how we approach production.”
Automation | March 2024 7
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