Association news Keeping European machine vision competitive
As its new chairman, Mark Williamson sets out the priorities for VDMA Machine Vision
In October, the newly elected board met to identify the needs and challenges ahead for the European machine vision industry, and set the goals and activities for VDMA Machine Vision. Te board members are all aware that
the machine vision industry is in a state of transition. In recent years, we have all seen many changes including company consolidations along with significant technological developments. New players have emerged, including start-ups, international corporations, and internet giants. Te board itself reflects this, having representatives from start-up, multinational and consolidated companies, from component manufacturers and system integrators, all working together. Vision is seen as a key technology in the
trend towards digitalisation, both in and outside the factory, creating a lot of interest
and offering many opportunities. Between 2013 and 2019, turnover in Germany alone grew by an average of 9 per cent per year. In 2020, while turnover declined by 4 per cent because of the pandemic, the decline was nowhere near as drastic as in many other industries, with good prospects for future growth. While the European machine vision industry is in an excellent position, it is important to strengthen this standing, to open up further growth markets in industrial and non-industrial environments, and to include new players.
Marketing and communication Te VDMA, with its 3,300 member companies in the mechanical and engineering sector, is well positioned for promoting machine vision within the industrial field, and for opening up new business opportunities. In Europe, VDMA Machine Vision is the conceptual sponsor of the Vision and Automatica trade shows. It also has activities at the Embedded World show to raise awareness among the embedded computing community of the expertise in the machine vision sector. Meanwhile, through the VDMA’s foreign
department – with offices in China, India, Russia and Brazil – the association offers members advice, local support and networking opportunities, such as the VDMA Machine Vision pavilion at the Vision China Shanghai show, and the VDMA Robotomation symposium in India.
Plan projects early to accommodate delays
By Neil Sandhu, UKIVA chairman
The lifting of most pandemic- related restrictions in the UK by July of 2021 heralded the opportunity for the UK vision industry to really kick on in earnest in rebuilding from the effects of lockdowns. So far this has been rather a rollercoaster ride, with the pent-up demand from
industry to press ahead with vision projects tempered by supply chain issues that have significantly extended the lead times to fulfil orders. The increased demand for vision solutions across an enormous number of industries to address labour and skills shortages and changes in working practices resulting from both Brexit and the pandemic is very real. Many UKIVA members have reported significantly increased order books in recent months. However, with some 90 per
cent of vision components being imported from all over
22 IMAGING AND MACHINE VISION EUROPE DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022
the world, the UK is very much reliant on the global supply situation. The extended lead times has led to frustrations for customers and vision system suppliers alike, but members report that the situation can be patchy, with noticeable variations in lead times depending on the components required. UKIVA is an excellent
resource for UK businesses wanting to implement new or upgrade existing machine vision installations. UKIVA members (who are listed at
https://www.ppma.co.uk/ ukiva/
ukiva-members.html)
include vision technology providers, vision system integrators and consultants, and providers of solutions that use machine vision. Between them, they not only have access to and use most of the global vision components available, but also provide the expertise needed to be able to offer solutions designed to minimise lead times. With many manufacturers predicting that the disruptions to supply chains will continue for a significant period of time, it is even more essential to begin the planning process for vision projects at the earliest
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Technology and standardisation Another focus of activity for the VDMA Machine Vision board will continue to be technology and standardisation. Tere is a lot of innovation, with new trends, technological developments and new players both inside our domain and across the wider industry having an impact on our members’ future. For instance, how do developments such as data-driven business models impact the machine vision industry? Luckily, the VDMA, with its 36 trade
associations, offers a huge network and services to support the machine vision industry. It’s the VDMA Machine Vision board’s goal to make the membership aware of the challenges ahead, and to offer a platform to work on tackling them. In standardisation, major efforts will
continue in further developing the VDMA OPC Machine Vision initiative. Te goal is to make machine vision fit for Industry 4.0 by defining standardised interfaces for machine vision systems to operate and be easily integrated into the wider factory. With the VDI/VDE/VDMA 2632 series
‘Te board members are all aware that the machine vision industry is in a state of transition’
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